Oliver Ames Grad Is That "Strong And Good Woman" Behind Her Man

Kerri Louise Cotter has achieved national renown as a comic — having appeared on primetime television and on Oprah and on the stages of some of the top comedy clubs in America.

Kerri, who grew up as Kerri Louise Mather in Easton, and graduated from in 1987, was , and was the focus of which was published back in October 2010.

Her popular Mommy Minutes webisodes provide a funny look at the travails and good fortune of being a mother of three boys: twins, Cameron and Harrison, 9, and Tommy, 4 — and the wife of a comic, Tom Cotter, whose success and schedule keeps him busy outside the house.

Mommy Minutes has attracted such a following that this past Friday night a special hour-of-comedy event, featuring Kerri, was held at Comix Comedy Club at Foxwood Casino to celebrate the year anniversary of the series.

Kerri's family and OA and Easton friends were on hand. 

Yes, Kerri has done well.

And so has her husband.

In fact, Tom Cotter — born and raised in Providence — is a TV star, having advanced through the rounds of season seven of NBC’s America’s Got Talent (AGT), qualifying for the semifinals that will be held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) in Newark, NJ in late August or early September.

It was earlier this month when Tom earned that semifinal slot with his nationally televised live performance in the quarterfinal round which was held at the NJPAC.

“We had everyone down for the quarterfinals — his family and my family,” said Kerri, who lives with Tom and the kids in New York state outside New York City. “It was fun and stressful and crazy with so many people crashing the house. It was a few days of this.”

“That night, the night of Tom’s performance, it was out of control, all the emails and texts, and phone calls coming at once,” said Kerry. “It was like ‘ping, ping’ … ‘bing, bing’ … non stop.”

Kerri explained that the Cotter and Mather entourage was in the audience for Tom’s live performance — but it would not be until the next day, following more quarterfinals acts, that the judges would make their decision, and then the text and online votes of the American public would be tallied, and it all would be figured together to determine would advance.

(Click here to go to the Tom Cotter page at NBC AGT which includes his bio, photos, and videos of his AGT performances.)

“Yes, we had to do all again the next day for the results show,” said Kerri. “Tom got dressed up again, and we all went over, and it was then we found out Tom was going to the semifinals. It is all just such a thrill. I am so proud of him; he has worked so hard — and good things are happening.”

Actually, the day that the judges — Howard Stern, Sharon Osbourne, and Howie Mandel, along with the U.S. public — made their decision, Kerri had provisional plans for a big party back at the Cotter house.

“I tell you, God bless my neighbor — for when we were at the show, she came in and got everything ready,” said Kerri. “She had champagne there, and a big cake. I had prepared as well, and when we got in the house I took out cans of silly string I had bought and I totally doused Tom.

“When Tom walked into the house, he was just so happy, and he was also so humble. He thanked everyone for their support — and you could see how moved he was.”

Indeed, what Kerri talks about — her husband’s humility — is readily observable by everybody who has watched Tom perform on the show.

Tom Cotter is hilarious — and he is bringing it — and when he hears the news that he is moving on, he takes it with an expression of immense gratitude and thanks and modesty.

A comic has never won an America’s Got Talent competition.

But Tom Cotter is right there — and he can do it.

One of the big pluses that Cotter has going for him is that two of the judges, Stern and Mandel, have risen to stardom through comedy and their comedic wit. They know great comedy — and they appreciate just how rare a talent is someone like Cotter.

“When there was that vacancy in the judges panel, bringing in Howard Stern to fill it was a positive in the case of Tom,” said Kerri. “Howard Stern values comedy — and he brings to the viewership of the AGT a smart audience that also likes and appreciates good comedy.”

No suprise that Tom Cotter is one of the most popular AGT performers with the voting public.

Both Kerri and Tom have been at the comedy game for more than 20 years.

“Tom deserves this success; he has earned it,” said Kerri. “And it has been a long road of hard work.  He loves what he does — and he is thankful for those who have helped him.   And while we always have to be looking for the next gig or performance, or appearance, to pay bills — I find in some ways that we are fortunate because of this.

“I hear of people who have worked for several years at a job, and then they are let go. And it so difficult for many to find another job. I feel bad for these people; it must be so difficult. Yet in the case of Tom and myself, that is what we are about all the time — looking for work and looking for the job. We are used to it.”

Still, being able to get out of that habit might be a nice change.

If Tom Cotter were to make to the AGT finals that nice change may happen.

And if were to win … well … the possibilities and opportunities will stretch far and wide.

Kerri Louise Cotter, the kid from Depot Street in South Easton, believes.

Reflecting on her husband’s good fortune, and what has resulted from his labor and perseverance, she said, “I am thinking that I might want to drop the ‘Louise’ from my stage name — and go by the name Kerri Cotter.”