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About Paula Poundstone
Paula Poundstone Live
A genuine original in the world of comedy, Paula Poundstone has been delighting audiences with her sharp, wry and sometimes absurd observations for more than four decades. Named one of the greatest stand-ups of all time by Comedy Central, Poundstone remains a uniquely skilled and versatile talent whose signature brand of comedy is just as treasured by TV viewers, podcast listeners and readers as it is by the crowds she attracts everywhere she performs.
Born in Huntsville, Alabama, Paula Poundstone began her comedy career in Boston in 1979 before moving to San Francisco, where she became a local sensation thanks to her wildly creative improvisational sets. In 1990, she wrote and starred in her first of several specials for HBO, the CableACE award-winner Cats, Cops and Stuff.
In addition to her many TV specials and appearances on late-night talk shows, Poundstone’s film and TV credits include Cybill and Hollywood Squares as well as voice roles in Inside Out and Summer Camp Island. She is the author of There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say (2006) and The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness (2017). Podcast listeners know her as the host of Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone and as a panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!.
Famous for never repeating the same show twice thanks to her still-formidable improv skills and love of crowd work, Poundstone continues to perform in clubs and theaters across the U.S. and around the world.
Paula Poundstone Background
Widely considered one of the best and most influential stand-up comedians in the history of American comedy, Paula Poundstone began her five-decade career in Boston in the late 1970s. The unique combination of her sharp and sometimes absurd brand of observational humor and her extraordinary improvisational abilities soon made her a breakout talent in the comedy world.
After moving to Los Angeles upon the suggestion of her fan and supporter Robin Williams, Poundstone became a regular performer on late-night talk shows. In 1990, she appeared in the first in a series of specials for HBO, Cats, Cops and Stuff. Besides winning the CableACE award for Best Stand-up Comedy Special, it was named one of the funniest specials of all time by fellow comedian Tig Notaro, who cites Poundstone as an inspiration.
Poundstone’s wide variety of TV and film appearances include working as a political correspondent for The Tonight Show, having a recurring role opposite Cybill Shepherd on Cybill, and performing voice roles on the animated series Science Court and Home Movies. In 2006, she published her first book, There’s Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say, which was followed in 2017 by The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness.
In 2016, Poundstone released her third comedy album, North by Northwest: Paula Poundstone Live. She continues to tour extensively and appear on such podcasts as NPR’s Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! and her own Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone.
Poundstone's standup is always wonderful. As she says, she doesn't have a set, she is naturally funny and often riffs off the audience. I highly recommend her to anyone who's unfamiliar with her, because anyone who is, is devoted.
I very much enjoy seeing Paula Poundstone- this is the second time I have seen her live. I laughed at most of the material. My wife felt only some of it was funny but I saw her laughing frequently. We agreed that more material and less ad libbing with the audience would be better. Overall, though , I recommend seeing her if you like a good laugh.
Paula Poundstone is fabulous! She is funny and smart. I love how wild and elastic her mind is. She made me laugh from the minute she came on stage until the end when she was on her back, her shoes talking to each other.
Paula Puondstone gives her audience a show to remember. She is a wonderful storyteller. The length of her performance was almost 3 hours and you’re exhausted (pleasantly) when you leave.
She used to be incredibly on point and funny…this show dragged for so long and the audience interaction was so long (no one wants to hear an unfunny chat with someone who sells insurance for 10 min!). And Paula herself said it best “I think you realize that I don’t really have an act”. We did and way before she was done, some 2.5 hours later.
Paula Poundstone is as funny now as she was in her 20's. She's an amazing person!! Totally enjoyed the show ... she was completed engaged with the audience and quick as ever ... so very entertaining. My friend and I figured we would be out of the theater in an hour and a half, but when Paula's conversation turned to how long she had been talking we realized we'd been there for two hours. And we were in no hurry to leave. It was great. She's been through some heavy stuff, and I've seen comics who get bitter as they age, but not Paula. She's as fun and upbeat as she's ever been. I remain a big fan (and I don't say fan lightly)!
Such a fun night!! Loved every minute of her time on the stage. So much improvisational talent that at times I almost couldn’t breath laughing so hard. She stayed after for pictures and autographs but we are old and could stay up that long. ;) purchased one of her books that I have been enjoying since.
Paula Poundstone was hilarious! She entertained the audience with her amazing quick wit!
I’ve been to see Paula twice live and faithfully listen to her podcast (Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone). Her interaction with the audience makes every show unique and I’d definitely see her again!
I saw Paula a few months ago in Fort Lauderdale and went to see her again in Pontiac. I was amazed how different the shows were! Her ability to create humor on the spot based on her interaction with the audience is indicative of her extraordinary intelligence! She has a ridiculous amount of energy and likely could have gone on well past the two hour mark if they let her! I get my Paula fix every week on Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone! Love her and the ensemble cast!
