1. What made you do stand-up comedy?
G-d only knows.
But I took a comedy class at an Adult Education Center.
I think the institution of school (no pun intended) needs to be re-thunk.
2. How do you come up with material?
Lately I've just been writing everything down. And making it funny later.
3. What makes you laugh?
The William Hung Phenomenon. Only in America .
My husband, Jeffrey C. Sherman. He's the funniest person I know. But he's painfully shy.
My friends Beth, Amy, Dina, Andra, Scott, Phil, Shelley, Janet, Julie, Debra, Lori.
People in my family, my sister Debbie, mother and father Toni & Ken, cousins Jonny and Andy. Sisters in law Tracy and Laurie, brothers in law Tim and Robbie. My two step sons. My niece and nephew.
Certain movies make me laugh.
Frasier, Seinfeld, Cheers, Mary Tyler Moore.
Strangers in the airport.
4. Where have you performed lately?
I got to open for Robert Schimmel at the Lance Burton Theatre at the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas , four shows in June. It was a great experience. Robert is hilarious.
Magician Lance Burton usually performs in his theater, but we were there while his show was dark. But this is funny: Mr. Burton uses birds or ducks in his show. Before each show they would announce time cues, like 30 minutes until curtain, 15 minutes, 5 minutes. And every time they said 15 minutes until curtain, the ducks or geese or whatever would start quacking. It was like they had a Pavlovian reaction – they knew what 15 minutes to curtain meant – and they were getting excited and they started quacking. It was like a duck rave.
Robert and his wife celebrated their baby boy's first birthday. They threw a beautiful party for the little guy. Robert had been told that he would probably never be able to have any more children, because he had undergone chemo for non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. So the fact that he had a 1-year old is miraculous. I got to meet Robert's parents who are also wonderful people.
By the way, the Monte Carlo is a fabulous hotel. (I've worked in many hotels in Las Vegas….)
5. What TV shows do you watch?
I watch CNN, but I also watch CN, Cartoon Network. Some of my favorite cartoons are Spongebob SquarePants (I can't wait for the movie to come out in the fall), Dexter's Laboratory, and my favorite cartoon of all Tom & Jerry.
I also watch 6 Feet Under, 24, Primetime Glick, The Sopranos, Bullsh*t, Cold Case Files, CSI Miami, Las Vegas, New York, Kentucky. CSI Little House on the Prarie.
I watch Letterman, Conan, Craig Kilborn, the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, Leno, and of course, Ellen. I think Ellen is the next Johnny Carson.
Lately I've been watching Last Comic Standing. I have worked with some of the comedians on the program. I especially like Kathleen Madigan, John Heffron and Alonzo Boden. Todd Glass made me laugh.
6. What movies have you seen recently?
Michael Moore's Farenheit 9/11. It inspired me.
Spiderman. The boys loved it.
Dodgeball. Really entertaining.
7. Did you work in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina ?
Yes, I did!
8. Are you really a chocoholic.
I love Peanut M&M's.
And chocolate milk.
Oreos.
9. Did you gain weight recently?
See #8.
10..What's the next movie you're going to see?
Super-size Me.
11. What would your personal ad say?
I'm married.
12. What would you be if you weren't a stand-up comedian?
Well, I like interior decorating. But I probably should start with my own house. But in my mind I'm an interior decorator. I guess that's a good place to start.
Maybe I'd run a homeless shelter. You have to be a saint to do that though.
13. Are you funny at home?
I try so hard to be funny for my stepsons (and my husband). There's nothing I love more than making them laugh. It means they know I'm trying to speak their language. And it's so personal. We have so many inside jokes.
Sometimes my stepsons roll their eyes when I'm trying to be funny. I can't blame them. My mother embarrassed me when I was younger (sorry Mom). I am turning into my mother.
I got my sense of humor from my mother. Which is why she doesn't have one anymore….
14. Any LA celebrity sightings lately?
I saw Brett Butler at the Supermarket. I saw Gary Cole on the sidewalk. I saw Halle Berry at a benefit for www.shanesinspiration.org . She is GORGEOUS DOT ORG.
15. What are you working on lately?
I just started writing a novel. I'm working on a one-woman show, though it'll be a one old-woman show by the time I'm finished.
I've been playing a lot of piano lately.
And laundry. Always. Laundry.
16.What else are you doing this summer?
Spending time with my family.
And I'm cleaning out the garage. That is a project. And organizing the CDs, DVDs and videotapes. That should take a month.
My husband thinks I'm a neat freak. But he won't let me get help for it.
I guess if you have to be a freak, that's a good one to be.
I'm also getting acupuncture and doing Alexander for a bad back (otherwise I won't be able to stand up anymore). Therapy and dentistry. They should just be dentist therapists, although you wouldn't be able to talk. I guess that's not a good idea.