Carmen Electra, née Tara Leigh Patrick (born April 20, 1972), is an American actress who served as pit reporter for Seasons 4.0 and 5.0 of Comedy Central BattleBots.
She was one of three new additions for Season 4.0, alongside Arj Barker and Brad Wollack, featuring heavily in a promotional video for the season.[1] Electra directly replaced Traci Bingham, who served exclusively during Season 3.0. On camera, Electra's was referred to as the season's "botcaster" by Tim Green, and her role largely reflected that of her predecessors. She also featured heavily in skits during her two seasons, notably starring in 'Private Lessons with Professor Electra' - a series of short videos which saw her 'teach' various BattleBots rules and terminology in a highly suggestive and sexualized manner.
Her tenure proved divisive, however, with BattleBots co-creators Greg Munson and Trey Roski lamenting Comedy Central executive producer Debbie Liebling's decision to throw "bigger and better hot babes" at their creation to appeal to what she believed to be a predominantly young, male audience. While Munson and Roski were not against the idea of having an attractive, female pit reporter, they ideally wanted somebody more closely linked to STEM.
- "We gave them notes, but they rarely listened. I kept saying we need attractive geek girls, someone like Olivia Munn, good looking, but also funny and who could talk shop with these guys."
- — Greg Munson on their disagreements with Comedy Central executives
With the cancelation of BattleBots after Season 5.0, Carmen Electra's stint on the show came to a close.
Outside BattleBots[]
Carmen Electra was born in Sharonville, Ohio to parents involved in the music industry. However, Electra's professional career began as a dancer in 1990, and she adopted her stage name three years later.
In 1996, she made her first appearance on the cover of Playboy magazine, something which would become a frequent occurrence throughout her career. Her acting debut came in 1997's American Vampire, and she received her breakthrough role as Lani McKenzie on the hit show Baywatch that same year. Electra has since featured in music videos and films as well as television, largely taking up cameo roles in the latter.
Electra married NBA star Dennis Rodman in 1998, divorcing a year later. She later married Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro in 2003, documenting their marriage with an MTV reality television show titled 'Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave. The pair separated in 2007.
Trivia[]
- Carmen Electra was referenced by name by Faruq Tauheed during a World Championship VI introduction for Riptide.
- Electra featured as herself in a 2002 episode of The Simpsons, and later voiced character Lisa Silver in a 2005 episode of American Dad!.
- In 2007, Electra won the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress for her involvement in Scary Movie 4 and Date Movie. She was nominated three other times in 2006, 2008 and 2009.