Paula Poundstone
Poundstone in 2008
Born (1959-12-29) December 29, 1959
Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.
MediumStandup comedy, television, radio, print, internet
NationalityAmerican
Years active1979–present
Genresstandup, improvisational comedy, crowd work, voice acting, commentator, interviewer
Subject(s)Observational humor
Children3
Notable works and roles
  • Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
  • The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness
  • Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, the comedy podcast
  • Cats, Cops and Stuff
  • Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard
  • The French Trump Weekly Press Conference

Paula Poundstone (born December 29, 1959) is an American stand-up comedian, author, actress, interviewer, and commentator. Beginning in the late 1980s, she performed a series of one-hour HBO comedy specials. She provided backstage commentary during the 1992 presidential election on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She is the host of the podcast Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, which is the successor to the National Public Radio program Live from the Poundstone Institute. She is a frequent panelist on NPR's weekly news quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, and was a recurring guest on the network's A Prairie Home Companion variety program during Garrison Keillor's years as host.

Early life

Poundstone was born in Huntsville, Alabama, the daughter of Vera, a housewife, and Jack Poundstone, an engineer.[1] Her family moved to Sudbury, Massachusetts, about a month after her birth.[2]

Career

Poundstone started doing stand-up comedy at open-mic nights in Boston in 1979. In the early 1980s, she traveled across the United States by Greyhound bus, stopping in at open-mic nights at comedy clubs en route. She stayed in San Francisco, where she became known for improvisational sets at Holy City Zoo on Clement Street and The Other Café comedy club in Cole Valley.

In 1984, Robin Williams saw her act and encouraged her to move to Los Angeles. She performed her act when Williams hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live.[3] That year, Poundstone was cast in the movie Gremloids. She continued as a comedian and began appearing on several talk shows. In 1989, she won the American Comedy Award for "Best Female Stand-Up Comic".

In 1990, she wrote and starred in an HBO special called Cats, Cops and Stuff, for which she won a CableACE Award, making her the first woman to win the ACE for best Standup Comedy Special.[4] In March 2019, comedian Tig Notaro named "Cats, Cops and Stuff" one of The 5 Funniest Stand-Up Specials Ever for TIME Magazine.[5] Poundstone went on to another first with her second HBO stand-up special, Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard, taped on campus in Sanders Theatre. Poundstone had her own Bravo special in 2006 as part of their three-part Funny Girls series, along with Caroline Rhea and Joan Rivers, titled Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In.

Poundstone worked as a political correspondent for The Tonight Show during the 1992 US Presidential campaign and did field pieces for The Rosie O'Donnell Show in 1996. In 1993, Poundstone won a second CableACE Award for "Best Program Interviewer" for her HBO series The Paula Poundstone Show. She was then featured in her own variety show, The Paula Poundstone Show, on ABC (which lasted two episodes). She also appeared on Hollywood Squares and was a regular panelist for the remake of To Tell the Truth. Poundstone had a recurring role in Cybill Shepherd's TV series Cybill (1997).

Poundstone has also worked as a voice actress. She voiced Judge Stone on Science Court (also known as Squigglevision), an edutainment cartoon series done in the Squigglevision style that aired on Saturday mornings, on ABC Kids in 1997.

Staying with the makers of Science Court, Tom Snyder Productions, she was the voice of the mom, Paula Small, in the cartoon series Home Movies for the show's first five episodes, which aired on UPN. Between the show's 1999 UPN cancellation and 2000 revival on Cartoon Network, Poundstone chose to leave the show and was replaced by Janine Ditullio.

The show's character, Paula Small, was named and loosely modeled on Poundstone.[6]

Poundstone is a frequent panelist on National Public Radio (NPR)'s weekly news quiz show, Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me.[7] In 2017, she launched a new science-comedy-interview program on NPR called Live from the Poundstone Institute that released episodes weekly, then stopped suddenly, saying “the semester is over”. In July 2018, Poundstone began co-hosting the information-based, comedy podcast "Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone" with Adam Felber.

Poundstone tours the country extensively, performing stand-up comedy in theaters and performing arts centers. She is known for never doing the same act twice and spontaneously interacting with the crowd. Writes Nick Zaino III of the Boston Globe, "Her crowd work has always been unusual—her natural disposition, curious and ever-perplexed, allows Poundstone to aggressively question audience members without ever seeming threatening. And no one does the callback better." She has released three comedy CDs: I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Boston on April Fools' Day 2013;[8] North by Northwest: Paula Poundstone Live! (her first double album) in June 2016;[9] and I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Maine in January 2009.[8]

Poundstone at a book signing in 2007

Poundstone's first book, There Is Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say, was published by Crown in 2006. Her second book, published by Algonquin in May 2017, is titled The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness. She also wrote the column Hey, Paula! for Mother Jones (1993–1998) and articles for The Los Angeles Times, Glamour, and Entertainment Weekly, among others.

An avid reader, Poundstone has been the National Spokesperson for the American Library Association's "United for Libraries" since 2007. It is a citizens' support group that works to raise funds and awareness for their local libraries.[10]

Poundstone is No. 88 on Comedy Central's 2004 list of the 100 greatest stand-ups of all time.[11]

Personal life

Poundstone began serving as a foster parent in the 1990s. She has fostered eight children, and eventually adopted two daughters and a son.[12]

Poundstone identifies as asexual[13] and an atheist.[14][15]

In October 2001, Poundstone was charged with felony child endangerment in connection with driving while intoxicated with her children in the car. She was also charged with three counts of lewd acts upon a girl younger than 14.[16] The charge involved inappropriate touching of a 12-year-old girl.[17] In a plea bargain, she changed her earlier plea of not guilty, and in exchange prosecutors asked for the court records to be sealed, dropped three counts of committing lewd acts against a child, and added a misdemeanor count of inflicting injury upon a child.[16][17] Poundstone also pleaded no contest to one count of felony child endangerment.[17] She was barred from taking in foster children again, sentenced to five years of probation and six months in rehabilitation, and ordered to perform 200 hours of community service, attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and a child-abuse program, and receive random drug and alcohol tests.[17] In 2002, Poundstone talked about her personal responsibility for the events that led to her arrest and the steps she has taken, including a six-month treatment program for alcoholism, but she said that she did not commit any lewd acts or child abuse.[17]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984HyperspaceKaren
1991WisecracksHerselfDocumentary
2003When Stand Up Stood OutHerselfDocumentary
2008No BrainerHerself
2013Why We Laugh: Funny WomenHerselfDocumentary
2013Wait Wait Don't Tell Me Live!HerselfPanelist, live cinema
20143 Still StandingHerselfDocumentary
2015Inside OutForgetter PaulaVoice
2015By Any Means NecessaryHerselfDocumentary
2016The Comedy ClubHerselfDocumentary

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988Poison—Writer, television film
1989It's Garry Shandling's ShowHerselfEpisode: "Save Mr. Peck's, Part 2"
1989Not Necessarily the NewsCommentator1 episode
1993Reasonable DoubtsBetty TannebaumEpisode: "Thank God, It's Friday"
1993The Paula Poundstone ShowHerself/host3 episodes
1995Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanThe ComputerEpisode: "Virtually Destroyed"
1996Adventures from the Book of VirtuesThe DjinnVoice, episode: "Work"
1997CybillMinni Arbogast2 episodes
1998HerculesArmageddon BowVoice, episode: "Hercules and the Secret Weapon"
1997-99Science CourtJudge StoneVoice, 29 episodes
1999Home MoviesPaula SmallVoice, 5 episodes
2013Wanda Sykes Presents HerlariousUsher4 episodes
2015The HOALorraineTelevision film
2016Major CrimesHerselfCameo, Season 5 Episode 4
2019Summer Camp IslandPauletteVoice, 4 episodes
2020The Fungies!Queen AntagonistaVoice, episode: "The Twins Bug Seth"

Comedy specials

YearTitleStudioFormats
1989One Night StandHBOBroadcast/streaming
1990Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops and StuffHBOBroadcast/streaming
1996Paula Poundstone Goes to HarvardHBOBroadcast
2006Bravo's Funny Girls - Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged InBravoBroadcast/download/streaming

[18]

Stand-up appearances

YearTitleNotes
1983The 8th Annual Young Comedians ShowComedy special
1984The Merv Griffin Show1 episode
1987On Location: Women of the NightComedy special, VHS
1981-88An Evening at the Improv2 episodes, stand-up compilation VHS/streaming
1989Comic Relief IIICharity comedy special, VHS
1989Comic Relief '90Charity comedy special, VHS
1984-90Late Night with David Letterman13 episodes
1986-92The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson14 episodes
1992Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Comedy VideoComedy special VHS
1992Comic Relief VCharity comedy special, VHS
1994Comic Relief VICharity comedy special, VHS
1995Comic Relief VIICharity comedy special, VHS
1992-97The Tonight Show with Jay Leno15 episodes
1997-98The Rosie O'Donnell Show4 episodes
1998Comic Relief 8Charity comedy special, VHS
2003Best of the Improv 2Stand-up compilation VHS
2005Just for Laughs1 episode, streaming
2006-15The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson17 episodes
2019William H. Macy: Comedy AmbassadorComedy special, streaming
2020Bring Back LaughsCharity comedy special, streaming

Discography

Comedy albums

YearTitleLabelFormats
2009I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in MaineCD Baby/Lipstick NancyCD/download/streaming
2013I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in BostonCD Baby/Lipstick NancyCD/download/streaming
2016North By Northwest: Paula Poundstone Live! Vol. 1 & 2HighBridge Audio2xCD/download/streaming
1990Cats, Cops and StuffClown Jewelsdownload/streaming

Singles

YearTitleLabelFormats
2019Not My ButterfingerLipstick NancyDownload/streaming

Compilation appearances

YearTitleLabelFormats
1988Women of the Night: A Comedy AlbumA&M RecordsLP/Cassette/CD
1989The Best Of Comic Relief 3Rhino RecordsCassette/CD
1990The Best Of Comic Relief '90Rhino RecordsCassette/CD
1994Comic Relief VIRhino RecordsCD
1996Comic Relief VIIRhino RecordsCD
2000A Prairie Home Companion: Pretty Good JokesHighBridge Audio2xCassette/2xCD
2013Laughter Therapy: A Comedy Collection For The Chronically SeriousNPR/HighBridge Audio2xCD
2018Just for Laughs - The Archives, Vol. 36JFLCD/download/streaming

[19]

Bibliography

YearTitlePublisherFormats
2006There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to SayHarmony BooksPrint: Hardcover/Large Print/Paperback, Audiobook: CD/download/streaming
2017The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human HappinessAlgonquin BooksPrint: Hardcover/Paperback/E-book, Audiobook: CD/download/streaming

[20]

References

  1. ↑ Lambert, Pam (September 10, 2001). "Matter of Trust". People. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Archived from the original on April 20, 2014. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Paula Poundstone". Notable Names Data Base. Archived from the original on 2008-04-17. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  3. ↑ Roe, Dale (August 21, 2014). "Paula Poundstone talks crowd work, Robin Williams". austin360.com. Austin, Texas: Gatehouse Media. Archived from the original on July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ Ress, Arieh (September 1, 2016). "What Are You Reading? Paula Poundstone Edition". nypl.org. New York Public Library. Archived from the original on May 22, 2020. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  5. ↑ Notaro, Tig (March 1, 2019). "The 5 Funniest Stand-Up Specials Ever". time.com. New York, New York: TIME USA, LLC. Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
  6. ↑ "The Ups and Downs of Paula Poundstone". NPR.org. Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  7. ↑ "Programs: Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!". NPR. Archived from the original on January 21, 2009. Retrieved January 26, 2009.
  8. 1 2 "PaulaPoundstone.com". The Official Website of Paula Poundstone. Archived from the original on 2020-10-03. Retrieved 2020-10-31.
  9. ↑ "highbridgeaudio.com". Highbridge Audio. Archived from the original on 2020-10-31. Retrieved 2018-03-02.
  10. ↑ "United for Libraries Forms National Partnership with Paula Poundstone". ala.org. July 2, 2009. Archived from the original on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  11. ↑ "Comedy Central Top 100 Greatest Standups of All Time". listology.com. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved December 2, 2009.
  12. ↑ Conan, Neal (November 20, 2006). "The Ups and Downs of Paula Poundstone". Talk of the Nation. Washington DC: NPR. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  13. ↑ Nesti, Robert (August 21, 2013). "Paula Poundstone Lives Her Life In Her Comedy". Edge Media Network. Archived from the original on August 10, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  14. ↑ Poundstone, Paula (2006). There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say. Three Rivers Press. ISBN 9780307382283. Archived from the original on July 21, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2019. I'm an atheist. The good news about atheists is that we have no mandate to convert anyone. So you'll never find me on your doorstep on a Saturday morning with a big smile, saying, 'Just stopped by to tell you there is no word. I brought along this little blank book I was hoping you could take a look at.'
  15. ↑ Meyer, Ronald Bruce (February 11, 2011). "December 29: Paula Poundstone (1959)". Free thought Almanac. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 23, 2019. My family, we are atheists, and many times people have had the nerve to say to us, because this is a terrible thing to say to anybody, but they say it to me: "Where will your children get their moral guidance without religion?" And I quickly assure them that we have three seasons of "Lost in Space" on DVD [which, she says, "we use for moral and spiritual guidance."]. So I believe we're covered in that area.
  16. 1 2 Gorman, Anna (September 13, 2001). "Paula Poundstone's Plea Deal Ends Child Abuse Case". Los Angeles Times. Los Angeles, California. Archived from the original on November 25, 2016. Retrieved November 19, 2016.
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 Weinraub, Bernard (January 22, 2002). "The Hard Road Back For Paula Poundstone; Comic Tries to Save Her Career After Arrest". The New York Times. New York City. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved July 10, 2016.
  18. ↑ "Paula Poundstone". Dead-Frog.com. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  19. ↑ "Paula Poundstone". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  20. ↑ "Paula Poundstone Shop". paulapoundstone.com. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
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