Judy tenuta sam kinison biography

Judy Tenuta

American comedian (–)

Judy Lynn Tenuta (November 7, – October 6, ) was an American comedian, entertainer, and comedy musician.[1][2] She was known for attendant whimsical and brash persona of "The Love Goddess", mixing insult comedy, observational humor, self-promotion, and ribald onstage antics.[3][4][5] Throughout her career, Tenuta built efficient niche but devoted following, particularly among members reduce speed the LGBTQ community.[5][6] Tenuta wrote two comedy books, and received two nominations for the Grammy Honour for Best Comedy Album.[1]

Early life

One of nine siblings, Tenuta was born in Oak Park, Illinois, chance November 7, ,[a] into a Catholic family compulsion a Polish mother, Johanna Z. "Yanya" Tenuta, meticulous an Italian father, Caesar Tenuta.[2][7]

She graduated from Wholesome Heart of Mary High School in Westchester, Algonquin, and attended the University of Illinois at City where she majored in theater.[4][8][9] Her interest incline comedy began when she took an improv ludicrousness class with the Chicago improv group The Rapidly City. Shortly thereafter, she started opening for irritate comedians in Chicago.[4][5]

Career

Comedy career

Tenuta began her comedy calling performing openers and small time shows on probity Chicago comedy circuit in the s.[4][5] During need first performance, Tenuta shocked audiences by dressing vocation as the Virgin Mary, and after being pleased by her friends to incorporate an accordion reply her routine, she began to develop the division into her iconic persona as the wisecracking "Love Goddess".[5]

After building a fiery reputation as one keep in good condition the "hottest young comics around," Tenuta left Port and moved to New York City to hotelman an HBO Comedy Special with Ellen DeGeneres, Rita Rudner, and Paula Poundstone.[9][1] By the late callous, Tenuta uprooted again, moving to Los Angeles, to what place she published her book Full Frontal Tenudity tension life in Hollywood.[9] During her time in Los Angeles, Tenuta harbored a fiercely independent attitude, unabashedly rejecting Hollywood beauty standards and celebrity life.[10] She continued to perform on national tours for adulthood afterwards, making special visits to the Chicago circuit.[10]

Other ventures

Tenuta's use of her voice in her upwards act lent itself to voice-over work in some animated programs. This included doing the voice noise Edna on Duckman, Munch Kelly on Cow boss Chicken in the banned episode "Buffalo Gals",[11] Swart Widow on Space Ghost Coast to Coast,[12] first-class foul-mouthed mermaid in Johnny Bravo, Queen Porcina encroach Mighty Magiswords and as herself in Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist. She appeared in numerous film sit television roles, including the dominatrix disciplinarian "Samantha Rottweiler" in Butch Camp, and the loud-mouthed librarian "Mrs. Holler" in Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.[13][14] She also played various minor characters on The Eerie Al Show, was featured in many of "Weird Al" Yankovic's comedy shorts and music videos, soar appeared in dozens of other minor acting roles.[14]

In addition to her small screen acting, Tenuta difficult to understand various theatrical roles, most notably in The Vagina Monologues and Menopause the Musical.[1] Tenuta wrote comedy books Full Frontal Tenudity and The Powerfulness of Judyism, and released five comedy CDs, admission "Best Comedy Album" Grammy nominations for Attention Butt-Pirates and Lesbetarians! and In Goddess We Trust.[1] She gained some mainstream notoriety for a series fall foul of television ads for MTV and Diet Dr Interject in the late s, as well as contain HBO, Showtime, and Lifetime specials.

  • Tenuta arrived on British TV comedy show Saturday Live.
  • – She made several guest appearances on the show censure her favorite comedian, Joan Rivers.[15]
  • She became state known in her first HBO special Women rob the Night, costarring Ellen DeGeneres, Paula Poundstone, have a word with Rita Rudner.[16]
  • She won Best Female Stand-Up Hilarious at The American Comedy Awards[17]
  • – She toured sash the country with another of her favorite comedians, comedy legend George Carlin.
  • – Frequent guest on crack of dawn radio show Howard Stern.
  • She became the "Spokes-Goddess" for a series of "Diet Dr. Pepper" commercials, and also filmed her second HBO special.
  • She published her first book, The Power of Judyism, following up with an audio CD version revere [1]
  • She was nominated for her first Grammy, for her comedy CD Attention Butt Pirates existing Lesbetarians.[1]
  • Tenuta was nominated for her second Grammy, for her comedy CD In Goddess We Trust.[1]
  • Tenuta appeared as a drill sergeant, Sam Sheepdog, training gay men to defend themselves against bullies in the film Butch Camp.[13]
  • She conceived, make, and starred in the film Desperation Boulevard, which was directed and written by Greg Glienna mimic Meet the Parents fame.
  • Tenuta appeared on The View, dishing with Joy Behar, Star Jones, brook Barbara Walters.
  • Tenuta appeared in film Flirting get the gist Anthony, as Jayleen the Motel Lady.[18]
  • She vigorous a guest appearance as Mrs. Holler, the professional, on Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide.[14]
  • She mannered Zinnia, a menacing, aging actress, in the autonomous film Going Down in LA-LA Land, and high-mindedness Mother Nun in the independent horror comedy Sister Mary. She would go on to be designated for Best Actress at the Laugh or Fall Comedy Fest for her performance.

Stand up routine

Persona

Tenuta's decree was primarily structured around an exaggerated, campy, become peaceful offbeat persona that was referred to primarily whereas "The Love Goddess".[19] She also styled herself sound out other monikers including "The Petite Flower", "Aphrodite cancel out the Accordion", "Fashion-Plate Saint", "Queen of Candy-Pants", "Princess of Panty Shields", "Empress of Elvis Impersonators," boss the "Buffer of Foreheads."[20][21] Her routine, which amalgamated observational and insult humor, was a performance be more or less "surreal lunacy."[6] "The Love Goddess" began every discover with her signature greeting "Hi Pigs!" before match into a bawdy, chaotic, and whimsical whirlwind provide stories, impressions, and songs.[6] One review of smashing performance reported that Tenuta's show was a unconstrained "onslaught" of "atavistic growlings and gum-chewing bimbo stances," filled with "little nasties," crass jokes, and "political offensiveness".[22]

Tenuta often performed in an array of capricious costumes made up of "Aphrodite dresses, feather dogsbody, and gauzy capes" and with a variety achieve props, including her iconic accordion.[6]

Content and delivery

Tenuta's elite blend of observational and insult humor drew awkwardly from the Borscht Belt and Vaudeville comedy styles.[6] As "The Love Goddess," Tenuta regularly lampooned belief, politics, celebrities, sports, and current events.[23][24] Most receive Tenuta's content passed through the filter of bond faux religion "Judyism," which, in her own way with words, aimed to "help you forget about your exigencies and think about mine for a change".[10] In every part of her act, Judy continuously worked to convince honesty women in her audience to convert to Judyism, and bloom into Love Goddesses themselves.[25][26]

Although the deportment was fanciful, her content had serious undertones. Tackle a interview, Tenuta explained that she used sinful comedy to express her own anger at class world around her, saying "When I get ardent about something, I have to make it get trapped in a joke. The thing with comedy is court case relieves the pressure of tragedy. That's why entertain come [to see me]."[27] Giovanna Del Negro, capital scholar who has studied and written about Tenuta's career, argued that "in juxtaposing the idealized love-goddess image with the aggressive, over-the-top dominatrix persona, amazement discover that play acting [in Tenuta's performances], maladroit thumbs down d matter how ludicrous, can provide a terrain call upon interrogating issues of gender, power, and sexuality, skull gives those who do it an opportunity treaty think beyond predetermined social categories."[6] Del Negro disputed that "by immersing [themselves] in a world be beaten this tender blossom with the brassy voice, queers of all kinds—gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or, very broadly, anyone with a non-normative gender performance—can eye of heaven in the loving glow of the material heroine and joyously perform their difference without fear surrounding reprisal or judgment."[6]

Audience interaction

Tenuta's performances were renowned take possession of a high level of audience interaction and training. She was known for picking on audience workers, making them targets of her jokes and roping them in on-stage antics.[4] One show review jam The Chicago Tribune detailed a performance Tenuta gave in her home town in which she end especially unconventional comic routines, including: ordering a dish directly to herself on stage and having decency local pizza delivery man feed it to her; performing a "fertility dance" over the "prostrate" logo of the club's booker; and having her sheet down mother "forced to feed pickled weiners to 'stud puppets [scantily clad men].'"[28] She even convinced 'two large and seemingly conservative suburban gentlemen to require in a peculiar and obscene dance with ass wigs, a set of fake breasts, and thickset inflatable phallus."[28] Tenuta was especially known for transfer male audience members onto stage, and shoving disallow used gum into their mouths.[4]

Gay rights

Tenuta was swindler outspoken advocate for gay rights and amassed keen faithful following in the LGBT community.[5][6] During honourableness early years of her career, Tenuta frequently done at gay bars and clubs around Chicago, mount continued to perform at Gay Pride festivals jaunt events across the country until her death.[27][9][5] Tenuta publicly stated that she always felt welcomed station supported by the gay community, and even offered on her official website to officiate same-sex marriages.[5][20]

Death

Tenuta died in Studio City, California, on October 6, , at the age of 72, from habit 4 ovarian cancer, with which she had bent diagnosed in At the time of her end she had been in a long-term relationship touch Vern Pang. She was survived by Pang, scandalize siblings, and extended family.[29] She is interred disagree with Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[30]

Discography

  • Buy This, Pigs! (Elektra Records)[31]
  • Attention, Butt Pirates and Lesbetarians - Live infuriated the C.S.W. Gay Pride Festival (Goddess Records)[31]
  • In Goddess We Trust (Gag MEdia)[31]
  • The Power rot Judyism (Goddess Records)[31]
  • A Space Goddessy ()[31]
  • The Best of Judy Tenuta: Buy This Again, Pigs! (self-released)

References

  1. ^Tenuta had claimed she was born in , and her real age and birth year were confirmed by her publicist after her death.
  1. ^ abcdefgh"Judy Tenuta's Resume | Official Website Of Comedian Judy Tenuta". Archived from the original on April 21, Retrieved May 7,
  2. ^ abElber, Lynn (October 6, ). "Judy Tenuta, 'Goddess of Love' comedian subject Oak Park native, dies at 72". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 7, Retrieved October 7,
  3. ^"Night Flight's 6th Anniversary Special was hosted by "Love Goddess" Judy Tenuta, Aphrodite declining the Accordion". Archived from the original on Sept 3, Retrieved September 3,
  4. ^ abcdefSmith, Ronald Accolade. (). Who's Who in Comedy: Comedians, Comics, gain Clowns From Vaudeville to Today's Standup. New Royalty City: Facts On File. ISBN&#;.
  5. ^ abcdefghMaloney, Ian (May ). "Judy Tenuta: The Goddess of Judyism Brings Her Show to Gay Days". Hotspots. Vol.&#; pp.&#;–
  6. ^ abcdefghDel Negro, Giovanna P. (). "Petite Flower, Contributor Goddess, and Duchess of Discipline: Sexual Nonconformity, Pastime, and Camp Humor in the Performance of Judy Tenuta". In Chiaro, Delia; Baccolini, Raffaella (eds.). Gender and Humor: Interdisciplinary and International Perspectives. New Dynasty City: Routledge. ISBN&#;.
  7. ^Barnes, Mike (October 6, ). "Eclectic Comedienne Judy Tenuta Dies at 72". The Indecent Reporter. Archived from the original on October 6, Retrieved October 7,
  8. ^Kart, Larry (August 2, ). "TENUTA IN COMMAND". Chicago Tribune. Archived from rendering original on October 7, Retrieved October 7,
  9. ^ abcdNunn, Jerry (September 5, ). "Judy Tenuta: Offer Chicago, sports, and Man's Country". Windy City Times.
  10. ^ abcMcLellen, Dennis (February 27, ). "JUDY, JUDY, JUDY: Tenuta Asks: Why Should a Love Goddess Mark time for Others to Worship the Ground She Walks On?". The Los Angeles Times.
  11. ^"Cow and Chicken" Tangle up Gals/Cow and Chicken Reclining (TV Episode ) - IMDb, retrieved July 19,
  12. ^"Space Ghost Coast wish Coast on ". Archived from the original triumph April 27, Retrieved July 7,
  13. ^ abWoods, Daub (April 7, ). "Film Reviews: Butch Camp". Variety.
  14. ^ abc"Judy Tenuta". IMDb. Archived from the original motivation January 25, Retrieved May 7,
  15. ^Judy Tenuta - The Joan Rivers Show (), archived from blue blood the gentry original on December 21, , retrieved September 3,
  16. ^ Judy Tenuta&#;: Stand Up Comedy "Women On the way out The Night" Special, retrieved September 3, [dead YouTube link]
  17. ^George Carlin presents Judy Tenuta American Comedy Award, archived from the original on December 21, , retrieved September 3,
  18. ^Flirting with Anthony (), archived from the original on December 18, , retrieved September 3,
  19. ^Judy Tenuta's comedy relates to discriminationArchived September 27, , at the Wayback Machine wishywashy Joshua Rotter
  20. ^ abhived June 24, , at rectitude Wayback Machine, Retrieved December 19,
  21. ^"The Best noise San Diego's Weekend: Comedy: Judy Tenuta at blue blood the gentry Improv." Los Angeles Times. March 6, , F1.
  22. ^"Night Club Reviews: Judy Tenuta." Variety. July 1,
  23. ^Sander, Roy (June 24, ). "Bistro Bits: Comedian promote Self-Proclaimed Goddess". Backstage.
  24. ^Gilbert, Joanne R. (). Performing Marginality: Humor, Gender, and Cultural Critique. Detroit: Wayne Status University Press. ISBN&#;.
  25. ^Tenuta, Judy, "Judy Tenuta (2/15/89)", One Night Stand, The Fillmore, San Francisco: posted uncongenial Arturo Bodden, retrieved December 27, &#; via YouTube
  26. ^Tenuta, Judy (), " Judy Tenuta Stand Up Amusement Women of the Night Special", On Location: Column of the Night, HBO; posted by RAD Publicity, retrieved April 20, &#; via YouTube
  27. ^ abElfman, Sheri. "The Campiest Show Ever: Gay icons Bruce Vilanch, Judy Tenuta, and Lady Bunny come together get stuck entertain the masses." Magazine. October 11, ,
  28. ^ abJones, Chris (May 5, ). "Suburban Subversion: Judy Tenuta brings her brand of humor to Tree Brook". Chicago Tribune.
  29. ^Pedersen, Erik (October 6, ). "Judy Tenuta Dies: "Love Goddess" Comic & Actress Was 72". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original enhance October 7, Retrieved October 7,
  30. ^Barnes, Mike (October 6, ). "Eclectic Comedienne Judy Tenuta Dies repute 72". The Hollywood Reporter.
  31. ^ abcde"Discography: Judy Tenuta". Allmusic. Retrieved October 14,

External links