Paula Poundstone has always loved the sound of laughter. That's probably a good thing since she's been pulling it from audiences as a stand-up comedian for more than three decades now.
"Socially, I'm a disaster. I don't ever say the right things. But I'm finally at a place in life where people are hoping I'll show up and say things," she says by phone from her home in Los Angeles. "I used to do shows with other comedians, but I perform alone now. There are guys who would kill to play with me -- not because I'm a walk in the park, but because I have the best crowds in the world. I want them to myself!"
FAQ
Paula Poundstone
WHEN — 8 p.m. today
WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville
COST — $20-$42.50
INFO — 443-5600 or waltonartscenter.org
Poundstone is a regular panelist on NPR's weekly news quiz show "Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me" in addition to consistent touring as a comic. Her wry humor comes through over the phone as she talks about being almost finished raising three kids, who she finds funny (the Three Stooges and Dick Van Dyke) and her comedy style. Poundstone would tell you that, honestly, not much of her material sets her apart from any other comedian, but she does admit every show she does feels different because of her interaction with the audience. She likes to let the relationship with the crowd build so by the end of the night, she says, it's like the audience is watching a play, getting to know characters in their midst.
"I had these neighbors -- the Rosses -- growing up. They were the fun house. When they would have us over for dinner, the kids would go down to the basement and just have a howlingly good time. It was silly and stupid, and we lived in fear of the parents coming down and saying we had to go. It's when you get to that point that anything is funny because everything is. That's the best. When a show gets to the point of the feeling I had in the Rosses' basement, that's a good show."
Human connection is one of the most important things to Poundstone -- for her show and also for her life. A big advocate of having fewer electronics in the schools, and in life in general, Poundstone feels people need to pursue more meaningful connections and relationships with each other. But she also wants you to know you can follow her on Twitter.
"If I wasn't in comedy, I think I'd be dead," she says. "The struggles I've had in my life, feeling like I was the only one or whatever insecurity I was facing, being able to talk about those insecurities and hear people laughing lightens the burden. They wouldn't be laughing if they didn't understand, and I hope people leave with that feeling of connection. Computers and electronics have stolen so much from us -- what we have on computers is neither friends nor connection. There's something about being part of a group of people who have come out to laugh for the night -- it's contagious."
NAN What's Up on 02/05/2016