Rita Rudner

I first saw Rita's act on Saturday Night Live in the 80s. She had a few TV specials over the course of that decade, then sort of disappeared from view, at least on TV. I was happy to see she was doing a show in Vegas. I'd been unable to see it on my last two trips, therefore I was determined to catch the show this time.

I don't recall ever laughing so much. Rita's humor revolves, mostly, around relationships, especially wife-husband relationship involving herself and her husband (lucky bastard!) It's the kind of humor that would translate well into print, were it not for her manner of delivery. Rita's a pretty woman, not stunning but very cute. She delivers the punchline in an innocent girl tone, most of the time, that perfectly fits her looks. I think the tone can best be described as mildly puzzled with a wink, take it for what it's worth.

Here's an older joke from back int he 80s:

"I want to have children while my parents are still young enough to take care of them." She can get away with that without being offensive (humor is offensive much of the time) because she looks and sounds so innocent.

Anyway, in her current show she throws in a lot of Vegas related stuff. She opens up by saying "Wherever you're from, Las Vegas is the opposite. Gambling's legal. Prostitution is legal. The jails must be full of litterers and jay walkers."

But the funniest Vegas bit is about taking someone to the hospital: "First the doctors were betting on whether it was a heart attack. The heart surgeon wasn't available, but they had a heart surgeon impersonator."

The other reason she gets away with her brand of humor is that she dishes it on herself as well. Partly her bits on relationships turn as much on women as they do on men, which makes her fair, and partly she jokes about herself specifically. She comes off as sweet and likable.

Example, she talks a great deal about shopping. While she goes on the rant about bored husbands putting up with their wives' shopping expeditions, she also makes fun of the way she shops. She brings up shopping "for the free gift." Women don't need this explained (neither did I for other reasons), but most men don't know about it. Often on purchases of cosmetics and beauty creams and lotions stores offer a small free gift. This is what Rita says about it: "So we buy something we don't need in order to get the free gift we don't want! And the tote bag we won't use!"

Another funny Vegas bit concerns the guys handing out cards on the Strip: "They don't even look who they give the cards to. One guy gave me a card and said 'wanna have some fun?' I said 'Why? Do they want to go shopping?' Because from the pictures those girls could use some clothes."

She doesn't stay on a topic long, but jumps from one to the next and then retakes a few earlier topics. It's a fun show and if you enjoy Rita's brand of humor you won't stop laughing for 90 minutes straight.

I saw her many years ago when she was the opening act for Dennis Miller. When he opened after the first few lines he looked around and said "this is a very different act".

Rita is essentially counter programming. Since you expect most comedians to be vulgar she is now the exception. Her timing and stage presence is completely unique. You don't see anyone able to copy it very well.

In some sense she is a throw back to the days of Gracie with her quizzical views on the world. When she pulls out a slightly modern twist it makes it even funnier. I liked her line I married a younger man. Well, the old theory was "marry a older man because they're more mature". But the new theory is "men don't mature — marry a young one".

I think men who have a pierced ear are better prepared for marriage. They've experienced pain and bought jewelry.

Men reach their sexual peak at eighteen. Women reach theirs at thirty-five. Do you get the feeling that God is playing a practical joke?

Quote: pacomartin

In some sense she is a throw back to the days of Gracie with her quizzical views on the world.

THANKS!

I've often said she reminds me of an old time commedian, but couldn't remember who. Gracie Allen is it!

We totally agree. Rita Rudner is great! My wife talked me into going and we laughed through the whole thing. I happened to be the guy in the audience she decided to pick on, but it was all done in a good natured way. I reccomend her show to anyone with a good sense of humor. She proves that a talented person does'nt need to be vulgar to be funny.

Quote: timberjim

We totally agree. Rita Rudner is great! My wife talked me into going and we laughed through the whole thing. I happened to be the guy in the audience she decided to pick on, but it was all done in a good natured way. I reccomend her show to anyone with a good sense of humor. She proves that a talented person does'nt need to be vulgar to be funny.

the best 'clean' show on the strip.

Quote: timberjim

We totally agree. Rita Rudner is great! My wife talked me into going and we laughed through the whole thing. I happened to be the guy in the audience she decided to pick on, but it was all done in a good natured way. I reccomend her show to anyone with a good sense of humor. She proves that a talented person does'nt need to be vulgar to be funny.

+1 for Rita. Her delivery is what makes her star, not her jokes per se, which is how you know she is very talented and not merely a joke teller. I would describe her demeanor as "bewilderingly amused"...

I first saw Rita Rudner many years ago on an HBO "Young Comedians" special, I believe. I think I still have that video. Later, she got her own special.

A couple of other female standups I saw on HBO were Dianne Ford and Margaret Smith. I saw Ford in Reno live and Smith in Emeryville. Smith has a very slow, dry delivery. One example: "I wore one of those neck braces for a while. (pause) I wasn't in an accident or anything; I just got tired of holding my head up."

Ford uses her very "rubber-like" face a lot in her act, so you need to be able to see her up fairly close to get the full effect. She is of Swedish or Norwegian extraction, born, I think, in Minnesota, and tells a story about how her ancestors came from frozen Scandinavia to the US, pushing West, never stopping, never giving up, "until they found that one place that just as fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuckin' miserable as the one they'd left!"

I haven't heard anything about either Ford or Smith for a while, though.
Cheers,
Alan Shank

Quote: goatcabin

I first saw Rita Rudner many years ago on an HBO "Young Comedians" special, I believe. I think I still have that video.

That was 27 years ago.

Rita Rudner ... ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Save some money and go to one of the comedy clubs, where you'll see material that hasn't been warmed over for decades.

Quote: pacomartin

That was 27 years ago.

What, are you rubbing it in? >:-)
I have a lot of comedy from that era on videotape. I wonder if they'll still play?
Cheers,
Alan Shank

BTW, I found a Diane Ford video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SSwT744azR4

Her stand up is a lot like Tim Allen (Tim Taylor's) comedy. She was a writer for Home Improvement.