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Tig Notaro has been doing a lot of email interviews lately.
That was pretty clear when I received the comedian's answers to the questions I'd emailed her weeks ago. Some were carbon copies of responses she'd given to publications elsewhere in the country. A few answers were identical to those published in the Oregonian and the Mercury.
Yes, journalists ask the same questions and, yes, it must be tedious to compose fresh and witty answers each time. But to provide duplicate responses to three papers in the same city? C'mon.
It's a shame, because Notaro's comedy is far more inspired and clever than that. In 2012, she shot from relative obscurity to national attention with a show in Los Angeles. The 30-minute set detailed the hellish series of events she'd endured over the course of four months: developing a life-threatening intestinal disease, losing her mother to a freak accident, breaking up with her girlfriend and being diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer. Louis C.K. hailed it as masterful. Notaro—known previously as an oddball comic who would push around a chair on Conan for two minutes or deliver deadpan one-liners about Chaz Bono—suddenly had a name.
Since then, the 43-year-old has written a book, due out next year, and has a forthcoming Showtime series in which she travels the country doing shows in her fans' living rooms—or basements or barns. She hits the Aladdin for a sold-out show on Wednesday, Nov. 12. Here are answers Notaro gave to WW that do not appear to have been copy-and-pasted from elsewhere.
WW: Were there any moments when you regretted being so open about your personal life?
Tig Notaro: Not at all. It felt quite therapeutic, and the response was so effusive, and I feel so inspired by all of those who have said the performance and openness helped them in some way. I almost can't remember or relate to life before all of this. My experience has given me more direction and more of a sense of purpose. Let's hope that sticks.
Has writing a book affected your standup? Are there other topics you'd like to tackle in writing?
Writing the book has been a whole thing of its own. No standup has come from it, but maybe I will see something down the road looking back or re-reading it. As much of a grind as it was to write, I'm thinking I'd like to do more. Maybe a book on my comedy career, relationships—who knows.
You had a small role on Transparent. What was that like? Any particularly memorable moments on the set?
People have been so kind and supportive and say, "You were AMAZING on Transparent!" and I'm like, "You know my left ear was the only thing that made it on camera, right?" But honestly, I am so incredibly excited for the series. Jill [Soloway, the show's creator] has mentioned that I will be returning next season, so let's all keep our fingers crossed that it happens and most importantly that I get to keep my pants on. But whatever happens, the show is just so great. And the cast, it's stupid—Jeffrey Tambor, Amy Landecker, Rob Huebel, me for two seconds—I mean, what more could you people want?! Oh, and a memorable moment on set—probably just the off-screen hysterical laughter fits between takes. Nothing too specific, just a blast.
And, because Portlanders love (and sometimes hate) hearing other people talk about their city: Any places you're planning to hit while you're here?
I have huge plans to walk all around. It's what I do every time I visit. If you pass me on the sidewalk, let's have a secret phrase, OK? Pass me and say, "Tig, you love left-handed people," and then that way I will know you are not some sort of freak.
SEE IT: Tig Notaro is at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., 234-9694. 8 pm Wednesday, Nov. 12. Sold out.
WWeek 2015