Q&A: Comedian Tig Notaro talks new CD, TV opportunities and more before tonight’s Norman show
A version of this story appears in Wednesday’s Life section of The Oklahoman.
Tig Notaro tries out TV, CD
The standup comic is performing live Wednesday in Norman, but she also just released her first comedy album and is developing a TV show with Sarah Silverman.
From the strange Spanish translation of a commonplace hotel sign to her awkward and frequent encounters with ‘80s pop star Taylor Dayne, comedian Tig Notaro has finely honed her knack for transforming life’s oddities into uproariously winding stories and drily hilarious one-liners.
As a standup comic, Notaro has been featured on the TV shows “Last Comic Standing,” “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” and her own half-hour Comedy Central special. In addition, she has performed at some of the world’s top comedy and music festivals, including South By Southwest in Austin, Texas; Just For Laughs in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Melbourne International Comedy Festival in Australia.
“I’m probably drawn to the uncertainty of it all. I truly love doing standup,” Notaro said in an email interview. “I was obsessed with it before getting into it and watched it on TV nonstop. Now that I’m doing it for a living, I rarely watch it, but still enjoy doing it nonstop.”
While Notaro will perform live Wednesday night at The Opolis in Norman, she also is taking her signature dry humor beyond the standup stage. She was a series regular on the 2009 sitcom “In the Motherhood” opposite Cheryl Hines and Casady High School graduate Megan Mullally, has made guest appearances on the shows “Community” and “The Sarah Silverman Program” and is working with Silverman on a TV version of “Tig Has Friends,” her popular regular live show at Los Angeles’ Largo Theater.
In addition, Notaro’s weekly podcast “Professor Blastoff” premiered at No. 1 on iTunes in May, while her debut comedy album, “Good One,” reached No. 2 on iTunes this month. The first and only comedian signed to the prestigious indie music label Secretly Canadian, Notaro fielded via email several questions about her burgeoning career:
Q: Why was this the right time to do an album? Did you have concerns that your comedy wouldn’t translate to an audio-only format? How did you handle those concerns?
A: It was never a concern, because people that can’t use their imagination when something is described probably won’t be into this CD. People that can seem to love those moments on the album. As for the time being right, I didn’t realize it was until I was offered the right deal, then everything fell into place.
Q: The deluxe version includes the DVD “Have Tig at Your Party,” described as “the human equivalent to the ‘burning log’ DVDs.” I guess my question would be how does a concept like that go from “I should do a human equivalent of the ‘burning log’ DVDs” to actual execution?
A: Just sitting around with friends who work on the production side of things really loving the concept and then insisting that we make it. It’s really so ridiculous and I’m very proud of it and how dumb it is.
Q: You are known for having a dry, laidback comic delivery. Is that just a reflection of your personality or a style you’ve deliberately developed because it appealed to your sense of humor? Who are your comedic influences?
A: I always say you wouldn’t be too surprised to meet me offstage. I’m sure there’s moments when I’m less laidback while hanging out with friends and acting stupid, but in general, I’m not a stretch from my stage persona. My influences now are my peers I’ve come up with like Sarah Silverman, Zach Galifianakis, Maria Bamford — those types. As a non-comic, I loved Paula Poundstone, Richard Pryor, Steve Martin, Joan Rivers — those types.
Q: You were a regular on the series “In the Motherhood” with a favorite Oklahoma talent, Megan Mullally. Feel free to talk about how great Megan is …
A: Megan is so crazy supportive of not just me, but other up-and-comers, and that’s pretty great coming from someone that’s basically a living legend. And her comedic sensibility is superb. I love Megan.
Q: You’ll have two talented local comedians, James Nghiem and James Draper, opening for you Wednesday in Norman. Do you enjoy or get inspired from hearing new comics perform?
A: I do like to hear what’s out there because I rarely have the time to seek it out. Most of the time I bring my own opener and MC, but this tour I’m using only locals. Looking forward to J & J (James and James.)
Q. What question do you wish interviewers would ask you that they never do? And how would you answer that question?
A: That question. Like this.
Going on
Tig Notaro
With: James Nghiem and James Draper.
When: 9 p.m. Wednesday.
Where: The Opolis, 113 N Crawford.
Information: www.starlightmints.com/opolis.html.
-BAM
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