The Bentzen Ball Preview: Tig Notaro
To preview the upcoming Bentzen Ball—which runs from October 22 to 25—we’re interviewing several of the comedians who are performing at the festival. Today, we chat with the brains behind the whole thing, Tig Notaro.
By
Molly Lehman
Never heard of Tig Notaro? Maybe you should have. The tough, sardonic West Coast comic plays Officer Tig on The Sarah Silverman Show, and she has called Tig one of her best friends. Notaro is slated to appear as Joan Jett’s mom in the 2010 film The Runaways—and she’s the central, magnetic force behind the Bentzen Ball. She’ll be performing standup at the festival every night; view the schedule or purchase tickets for any of the shows here. You can catch her on opening night with Patton Oswalt, Todd Barry, Kyle Kinane, Ian Edwards, and Rory Scovel at the Lincoln Theatre. Read yesterday's interview with Lizz Winstead here.
So tell me about the Bentzen Ball. Where did the idea come from?
“I did the DC Comedy Fest last year and had a really great time, and Brightest Young Things interviewed me then, and we just connected on a personal level. I saw their ability to cover different arts in the area, and I thought it was really great. Then this year, the DC festival wasn’t coming back. I’d always wanted to put together a comedy festival, and I figured that since the DC festival wasn’t returning, I’d put one on myself. I brought it up to BYT, and they were totally on board. At first they didn’t think we’d be able to get all these big names, but we called some people and next thing you know, everyone is coming to DC.”
How did you choose where the proceeds would go?
“A portion of the proceeds will be going to Walter Reed Hospital, which I’m really excited about because I’ve always chickened out when I’ve been invited to the Middle East to perform, so I thought it’d be a good way to give back without actually having to go. I know that sounds—well, I’m a chicken. But all the comedians have been excited. There are some who have gone to the Middle East, and they’re excited about giving back.”
If you weren’t doing standup yourself and could pick one show to see at the Bentzen Ball, what would you go see?
“That’s so unfair.”
I wanted to make it fun.
“So your idea of fun is unfairness. God, it’s so hard to say. I’ve been helping to schedule the shows with my friend Andy Wood, and we were working on it until 9:30 last night. So to be honest, I don’t know the lineups of every show, because we just rearranged the schedule. But I can tell you that after we looked at the show, our minds were blown. There’s not one show that’s weak. For every show there are seven or eight performers, and about half are nationally recognizable. It’s truly a strong, strong festival. It’s mind-blowing. I’d buy a weekend pass for myself and take everyone I could. So there. You were unfair, I’m unfair back.”
That’s fair.
“The only time two unfair things make a fair one”.
Who’s a relatively unknown comic in the festival who you’re really excited about?
“Well, we have about 15 local comedians, and then there’s one in particular who came out of DC—he’s living in New York now—Rory Scovel. I think he’s tremendously talented. I saw him in Portland a few years ago and I walked away saying ‘Whoa, he was really funny,’ and I hardly ever walk away saying that. It’s just hard to see something new that could possibly excite me. We have some great up-and-coming locals.”
Let’s talk about your own comedy. Who are some of your influences or favorite comedians?
“These days, I love Maria Bamford, Zach Galifianakis, and Sarah Silverman. I think my friends are my biggest influence, but when I was starting out when I was a kid, I loved Paula Poundstone and Richard Pryor. I really don’t think anyone would see me and say, ‘Wow, Tig is a Richard Pryor ripoff,’ but I adored him.”
What’s the easiest or kind of person to make fun of?
“I love awkward people. I love quiet awkward people. I don’t like to make fun in a mean way—those are people I like to talk to: quiet awkward people. It’s like, 99 percent of the time they’re the perfect person to talk to, if not 100 percent of the time. That’s who I’m always drawn to.”
Have you performed in DC before? What do you think of DC crowds?
“I haven’t performed a lot in DC, but from what I’ve experienced, I’ve had really great shows. I think I’ve had one performance for the festival and one for the Inauguration show, but both were really great crowds.”
In Washington we can’t get anywhere without talking about politics. How should we solve the health-care crisis?
“If Obama came to me and said, ‘What should I do?’ man, I don’t know what I’d say. Maybe I’d just give every home in America a first-aid kit. Maybe that’s what I’d do. Everyone would just have a good first-aid kit.” Find out more about the Bentzen Ball here. More>> After Hours Blog | Arts & Events | Happy Hour Finder | Calendar of Events
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Comments
Alisa Spitzberg, you really need to get a life
Posted by: Shannon, Sep 22, 2011 03:04:20 AM
Tig Notaro is a nutcase. I wouldn’t work with her.
Posted by: hf, Apr 30, 2011 10:12:08 AM
wow that nutcase who’s writing all that shit about Tig all over the internet is fucking insane! They need to be in a mental home. Actually a house, not a home.
Posted by: wow, Apr 28, 2011 04:15:08 PM
The person who’s posted all this stuff (and it IS the same person using several different handles ) has a history of, allegedly, stalking Tig. She’s posted on every website that mentions Ms. Notaro in hopes of defaming her. Tig rocks. Ignore this nutcase.
Posted by: imanatta@yahoo.com, Feb 02, 2011 10:29:56 AM
Tig Notaro would rip off Richard Pryor if she could. She is smart enough to just rip off jokes from those who don’t have good lawyers.
Posted by: Tig Notaro is a douchebag, Dec 23, 2010 11:15:37 AM
Tig Notaro’s victims are never going to let her rest. Poor Tig.
Posted by: Tig Notaro is a piece of shit, Oct 11, 2010 02:28:30 PM
Tig Notaro is willing is an elder abuser
Posted by: juror no 4, Oct 11, 2010 02:25:26 PM
Tig Notaro loves quiet awkward people because she is a predator and a bully and they are perfect targets or pawns. Perfect example: Martha Kelly
Posted by: hu., Sep 28, 2010 10:24:47 PM
Why was she the only one cut from the Runaways ,and why does she now have an intern named Hunter Seidman "representing" her?
Why are those she stalked and harrassed and tried to jail and destroy- free to sue her for every penny she made while they had to fight her lies? Not to mention that if there is any justice Tig Notaro will be sent to prison for a long while
Hmmm.
Posted by: joo, Sep 28, 2010 10:21:50 PM
It’s a fact. Tig Notaro lied about everything. Many people despise her, and she needs to man up and admit it all.
She will be jailed for what she’s done. She should stop paying lawyers to make her mess worse. It will only get much worse for her.
Mathilde Notaro is a stalker, a liar, and an evil self destructive fool. You should write the name of this stalker she claims to have. Please Please do.
Posted by: name names, Aug 16, 2010 12:41:27 PM
I read that she made up a stalker to get press. I read that she got jealous of a better comedian and just really freaked out. Just sayin.
Posted by: comedy fanz, May 21, 2010 11:17:17 AM
Obviously YOU are her stalker. You stalk her online writing crazy comments from different names and your probably stalk her offline too.
Posted by: me, May 08, 2010 09:36:45 PM
Notaro is a liar. She falsely accused someone. I wouldn’t work with her.
Posted by: Heidi, Apr 30, 2010 07:12:44 PM
Tig Notaro is a liar.
Posted by: scott, Nov 02, 2009 12:29:16 PM
I am so sorry that this festival tanked. I’m a supporter of live comedy and I hope the failure of this doesn’t effect it.
Posted by: kalya, Oct 27, 2009 07:54:00 AM
Is sardonic the new word for retarded?
Posted by: pauly, Oct 25, 2009 09:51:20 AM
This sucked. The quality of the comedians is not good overall. Big waste of my time
Posted by: glen, Oct 24, 2009 01:45:34 PM
Thanks tig! I would never get this gig if you didn’t decide to invent a stalker.
Posted by: Jeff Klinger, Oct 22, 2009 10:23:29 AM
too bad I was planning on attending.
Posted by: harvey, Oct 21, 2009 08:40:34 PM
chickened out of going to the middle east? What a loser.
Posted by: juw, Oct 21, 2009 11:09:06 AM
It sucks that it was cancelled. I couldn’t wait to see the comic stylings of jeff klinger.
Posted by: oh well, Oct 21, 2009 11:04:59 AM
Damn, this was cancelled. Notaro says there is a criminally insane stalker of comics on the loose. Sorry, comedy lovers!
Posted by: tignation@hotmail.com, Oct 21, 2009 11:04:02 AM
Dear Rorschach,
Mellow out.
Posted by: <3, Oct 21, 2009 09:21:17 AM
http://losangelesjusticesreeks.blogspot.com/
Posted by: the truth about this human monster, Oct 15, 2009 02:12:51 PM
http://henypire.blogspot.com/
http://losangelesjusticesreeks.blogspot.com/
Search for Notaro: She has targeted an excellent human being and her family out of jealousy and she should be jailed for life, really.
Posted by: the truth about matilda notaro, Oct 15, 2009 02:10:27 PM
Tig Notaro is a psychopath who has created a huge disaster for herself and many people. She has no right to be free as she is a felon of the worst kind. She is as evil as it gets and you and everyone will soon no.. Where are Woodward and Bernstein when you need them?
Posted by: enuff, Oct 15, 2009 02:06:00 PM
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