Judy Gold to bring a “A Jewdy Gold Christmas” to Carolines on Dec. 23, 24 and 25, talks New York City and more

by | Dec 22, 2015 | Coming Up, Culture, Entertainment

As a writer, comedian and actress, Judy Gold has been honored with more awards and nominations than your average stand-up headliner. While a producer with The Rosie O’Donnell Show, she won two Emmys. As the star of the off-Broadway hit 25 Questions For A Jewish Mother, she was nominated for a 2006 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Solo Performance; for the same role, she earned a GLAAD Award in 2007. Judy was twice nominated for Funniest Female Stand-Up at the American Comedy Awards. And long before that, she won a CableACE Award for her HBO special. In turn, it was not a stretch for Judy Gold to be hosting Comedy Central’s 100 Greatest Stand-Ups Of All Time program.

More than three decades since she started doing stand-up on a dare, Judy still works steadily in a variety of media. She acted in Clinton: The Musical, an off-Broadway production, earlier this year. With Lauren Hennessy, she launched the Kill Me Now podcast seven months ago; guests have included comic Jim Gaffigan, actress Christine Taylor, Everybody Loves Raymond creator Phil Rosenthal, and talk show host Dick Cavett. She hosted Mom’s Night Out on Nickelodeon, prior to that serving as host of HBO’s At The Multiplex for a decade. But most importantly, Judy still does stand-up regularly, and will be bringing a “Jewdy Gold Christmas” to Carolines On Broadway on Dec. 23, 24 and 25.

In support of her three shows at Carolines, I had the chance to do some Q&A with Judy for Downtown. For more info on Judy, click over to www.judygold.com or follow her on Twitter via the handle @JewdyGold.

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For someone who’s seen you on TV but never seen your stand-up live, what should they be expecting? 

Judy Gold: I can’t imagine that a person who has seen me on TV hasn’t seen my stand-up, but then again, stand-up on TV and stand-up live are two completely different genres. I don’t know a comic who doesn’t prefer live stand-up. It’s the way it’s meant to be experienced. I think I feel the most comfortable in life when I am doing live stand-up. I did stand-up for the first time when I was 19 years old. I am fearless and opinionated and may I say, pretty hilarious.

Given that it’s the holiday season, do your upcoming Jewdy Gold Christmas shows planned for Caroline’s differ from one of your regular headlining stand-up shows?

J: I think all of my headlining shows differ because I feed off of the audience. I have a plan, but I don’t always follow it. Since it’s the holiday season and I’m assuming the audience will be made up of Jews, families, people who cannot wait to get away from their families, and those who need to laugh during the most stressful time of year — except for maybe April 15.

How does a New York City audience these days compare to when you first started performing?

J: I cannot honestly answer that question, but I will admit, the PC factor can be an issue. I don’t care about being PC, so if people are offended by something I say, it is really their issue, not mine. It’s also a difficult question because I am not the same comic I was when I first started performing.

Is Wikipedia telling the truth that you first did stand-up on a dare? 

J: Yes, that would be the truth. Although there’s a lot of info on the site that is not accurate. My sophomore year in college, my Secret Santa left a note on my doing saying that I had to do five to ten minutes of stand-up comedy in the lounge the following night. I skipped my classes and spent the day writing jokes about everyone who lived on my floor. It was an enormous success and I got a high I had never experienced before. You could say that I’ve been chasing that high since 1982.

What was the first New York City club you performed in? 

J: Catch A Rising Star — it was THE club in the 70’s 80’s and early 90’s. Three NYC comedians — Adrienne Tolsch, Bill Scheft, and Larry Amoros — came to my college to do a comedy show. I don’t remember if I asked or someone else asked me to do five minutes on the show. After my set, Adrienne, who emceed and ran the new talent night at Catch, invited me to come in and she would try to get me on. I came in every Monday night until I finally got on, usually last. In those days, the shows would go to two or three AM, and there would end up being three people in the audience. I didn’t care, I just wanted to get on stage. And I figured out I was funny because the band and the waitstaff would watch and laugh, and those people had seen everything.

You’ve done a lot of theatrical work over the years. Do you primarily still identify as a comic? Or do you see yourself as a comic, writer and actress? 

J: Always as a comic first. I still go out about four to five times a week to do sets.

Earlier this year, you launched the Kill Me Now podcast. What was the first podcast you ever heard? 

J: Serial. I was addicted. The second season just came out. I’m so excited!

I first learned of you from the Tough Crowd With Colin Quinn show [on Comedy Central], which was arguably one of the best outlets for stand-ups to ever air on television. Is there anything you miss about that show? 

J: Anything? EVERYTHING! It was one of my favorite things I ever did in this business. It was perfect. It was smart, funny, provocative, and Colin is truly the best. I loved being with other comics. I miss Greg Giraldo a lot.

Do you have a professional accomplishment you’re most proud of? 

J: Just one? I don’t think so. There have been many. My HBO Special in 1995, two Daytime Emmys, my one-person shows, 25 Questions For A Jewish Mother and The Judy Show!: My Life As A Sitcom. I know this will make you want to puke, but my greatest accomplishment is being a mother to my boys.

Finally, Judy, any last words for the kids? 

J: Get off your fucking cell phones, be present, and take in your surroundings. You’re missing out on so much.

-by Darren Paltrowitz

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