Today we’d like to introduce you to Adario Mercadante.
Hi Adario, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Anthony Adario Mercadante. I’m a gay, furry, stand-up comedian from Murray, Kentucky! I moved to Los Angeles in 2016 to pursue acting and standup just before Trump got elected, which was a good time to get out of Kentucky. Lol. I was on an improv team in Kentucky for one year called Paducah Improv, and we studied from the Upright Citizens brigade book. So, as soon as I got to Los Angeles, I was hitting up Improv jams at iO West, open comedy mics, and got an internship at Second City Hollywood, where I eventually was on a sketch comedy team for two years called Winnebago. I had so much fun getting used to exploding onto these new stages and exploring the freedom that came with moving to such a progressive diversity! I was working for Uber the first year in Los Angeles, and eventually ended up working as a bud tender in DTLA and became a customer service representative for a weed delivery app. Covid put an end to my Second City sketch group as well as my Customer Service job. However, I now have worked for Alo Yoga as a customer service rep which has enabled me to pursue all my passions of comedy and acting. I have my supportive partner of 11 years named Johnathan; we are both furries. Over the seven years I’ve been in Los Angeles. I performed at various comedy clubs, including Flappers, the ha-ha, and, most recently, the Icehouse. I was on the longest-running show in the history of the comedy store, the Ding Dong Show, for one year. I have been on Disney XD’s Polaris prime time. My first paid acting gig of any kind, and my most recent and greatest achievement, was becoming the season finale episode of the Prank panel on ABC Hulu. The show includes stars such as Johnny Knoxville, Eric, Andre, and Gabourey Sidibe, and is produced by Jimmy Kimmel, all of whom I have met through working on the show with them. The premise of the show is like Shark Tank for pranks, and if they like you or your prank idea, they will help you produce your prank. I had the best time pitching prank the celebrities, and making them laugh was a dream. Come true. I pitched an idea that involved Furrys, and when I pitched the idea, I was wearing a large tail that was attached to my belt loops. I feel like there are no furry comedians or that most people don’t have a real understanding of furry culture and the people in the community. However, long story short, they must have really fallen in love with me because the celebrity panel surprise me at the very last moment with a gift, which was my brand new, very own Hyena fur suit. I feel like I’m covering a lot of concepts and information here, but imagine how I feel! I cried like a baby in front of a live studio audience, and that day change my life for the better. It was an amazing thing to get recognized by my idols, and to keep up with them with witty banter, and showcasing my greatest strengths, which are my authenticity, humor, vulnerability, and kindness. I’m just a really lovable person, and I’m very confident that if I continue to be myself pretty soon, just like everyone at ABC found out, all of Hollywood will realize this incredibly funny, talented gay furry just seems to make everything he touches better, and I want to work with him as soon as possible! At least, that’s the story I feel like is in my head up until now. I’m just very thankful for my wonderful life. I’m so happy I have so many beautiful moments in Los Angeles, and my family is so proud of me, here I am as a member of the furry community in Southern California, and trust me. I am very loved by my community. Wink wink ha ha ha. The future is very bright, and in March. I will be at the south-southwest Festival doing stand-up comedy with Young Baca Productions, a hip-hop comedy producer I have worked with on many occasions since arriving in Los Angeles. I met so many of my favorite comedians while I was at the comedy store, and comedy is my thing. I’m a nerd for it. I love to laugh with the funniest people. I’ve gone from 230 pounds to a sexy 170 pounds in seven years. I work very hard at getting out and performing on stage, and I feel at home in front of audiences. My determination, hard work, and love of laughter will no doubt lead me to places I never dreamed of! I wouldn’t be here without my family, my countless supportive friends, and everyone who believes in me. My furry name is Yammo The Yeen my real name is Adario Mercadante. I feel like I am one of a kind and that I have never been more whole. My dream is to bring laughter to the world, and in a very big way, I have done just that.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It is hard growing up gay in Kentucky. I was hospitalized three times in college for mental health struggles and spent a month in rehab. Making ends meet financially has always been hard in such an expensive city. Being a full-time partner working full-time jobs while pursuing an art form that often takes place at night can be exhausting. Overcoming my past and working on bettering myself physically and mentally has meant many hours of working out, eating right, and meditating, as well as journaling. Living in Los Angeles while my family is in Kentucky will always make my heart fond of home, and I miss my parents. Losing my grandmother while I was in rehab was devastating, and losing my grandfather to Covid pneumonia just seems so unfair. Now I struggle to improve myself on the directing side of the camera and making content happen, requires a lot of dedication to processes that often times frustrate me. I spent all this time working on talented stuff, but now I really need to focus on editing footage and filming my brand of content, so it’s a never-ending journey of self-improvement.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as a customer service senior rep representative for Alo Yoga. I’m very proud to work for such a progressive company, and I love to practice yoga through their app called Alo Moves… The clothes are incredibly comfortable, and the healthy aspirations of the mind-body connection and the connection to our breath inspire me in my pursuit of physical fitness, and my job is supportive of my comedy aspirations. People are my passion, and finally, with Alo Yoga, I have a job that truly understands how valuable that is! Namastay!
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
The Tim Dillon Show podcast The Joe Rogan podcast
Monstercat called the wild (some of my favorite EDM music)
Steve Aoki’s podcast
Whitney Cummings
Pod saves America
Club random
Theo vons podcast
By far, my favorite app is Telegram
Because it’s the app furries use to communicate with, they have very, very emotive stickers that help us express emotions very effectively and in a really fun way, oftentimes as our fursonas. (Our furry personas)
I also love Furry Twitter (X)
Some of my favorite books are “Sick in the Head” by Judd Apatow. I also love Rodney Dangerfield’s Book It Ain’t Easy Bein Me, Any book by a Saturday night live album, books about SNL, books about comedians.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.tiktok.com/@adariomercadante?_t=8jvOGFP2mz4&_r=1
- Instagram: @adario1
- Twitter: @yammoyeen
- SoundCloud: https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AfRdp0ss3Red68EELtIgO?si=rOPrb_yrT7W3Y0AP4lRtEA
- Other: https://abc.com/shows/the-prank-panel/episode-guide/season-01/09-bride-swap-furry-double-cross
