Gricel Mamery - Biography

Biography

Named after the song, Gricel, often interpreted by worlds famous tango Carlos Gardel. This is of no surprise after considering that her father Gilbert Mamery was recognized as one of the world class experts in documenting Gardel's biography and music. She attained elementary and upper school education at "Immaculate Conception Academy" a private catholic school in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, where she was regarded by her classmates as a naturally born comedian lighted by a charming and popular personality. She later attended the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez.

Gricel initial profesional life started in the radio industry. First works where engaged a part-time job in her native Mayagüez. At the request of her brother Eric William, Gricel performed comedy/woman themes at her father's radio station, WTIL-AM. She was quite hesitant about doing radio, given her brothers' and father's status as reputed radio personalities. She co-produced "¿Qué hay de nuevo?" with fellow station administrator, Toñi Basora. In typical comedy duo fashion, Basora was the "straight" face of the duo, and Gricel was the jokester reqaching good industry reviews mainly due to Gricel's impeccable sense of comedy timing, which complemented Basora's dry sense of humor. Limitations of the local radio market forced retirement of the show one year latter. Follow the end of the radio show perfoirmanc in 1990, Gricel accepted a job as the head hostess of Mayagüez Hilton Hotel's Night Club.

When the Piñeros moved to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and at the request of Hector Marcano, she moved to television in the late 1990s on Marcano's Super Show, which aired on Univision Puerto Rico, often appearing behind the scenes as a color announcer. Marcano later moved her in front of the camera to become one of the presenters in the show. Due to her quick wit, beauty and physical assets (she needed a breast lift after giving birth to her son and made this decision public; while gossip columnists incorrectly theorized about an augmentation, she was "all natural" at the time) she got plenty of attention from the media, often appearing in gossip magazine columns in local magazines Vea and TeVe Guia.

She later moved to WAPA-TV as the station's movie presenter, injecting her personal brand of humor to comments about featured movies. She would also introduce upcoming movies in a small segment within one of the highest rated television shows in Puerto Rican history, a controversial daily gossip and comedy show called SuperXclusivo, produced by fellow Mayagüez native, Antulio "Kobbo" Santarrosa. Although hers was a two-minute segment only showing her from waist up, this led to even more popularity, since La Comay was a regular #1 or #2 in the weekly and monthly ratings chart, and often made popular topic by magazines like TeVe Guia and Vea.

She was then hired to be the replacement hostess to one of the most popular late night television shows in Puerto Rico Anda Pa'l Cara, replacing Silverio Pérez, and having Puerto Rican stand up comedian Luis Raúl as co-host. Gricel reinvented her image as to provide a more serious, age-appropriate profile within the show. In part her sense of humor was subdued by a personal struggle: her husband had a bout with cancer (from which he has successfully recovered from since), and her father died. The show was a success during its many incarnations, from 2001 to 2005.

After a much publicized feud with the show's producers she was let go of Anda Pa'l Cara, and she decided to take a rest from the public eye. Public demand for her return to entertainment moved her back into radio, in 2006, with Raymond Arrieta as a co-host. Raymond, in turn, featured her regularly in his long running comedy show, El Show de Raymond, which was aired on WAPA-TV until early 2010. They currently host "Gozando en la mañana", a morning talk show, on Fidelity 95 radio in San Juan.

Mamery was featured as a presenter for ¡Qué noche!, a variety program on WIPR-TV, until January 2012 (see below). She also appeared in a 1980s period film, "Party Time" (directed by Juanma Fernández París), as the aerobics-obsessed mother of one of the film's teenagers.

Gricel became an occasional color reporter on Puerto Rican lifestyle and pop culture for Despierta América, starting in 2007. She later became an occasional guest presenter for Argentinian-born papparazo Javier Ceriani's "Papparazzi TV" program on Mega TV.