Judy Tenuta

Dated. Very one-note. 80s comedy is not good.

The accordion schtick was bad. But she made me laugh when she called men “PIGS!!”

All in all, I like her.

I always got a kick out of her vocal gymnastics.

I remember my mother used to love her comedy and repeat her comedy bits, now I don't think she remembers who she is.

Luff huh. Where is the old girl now?

Didn't she parody Madonna? She did look a bit like the mad one.

Judy dated Emo Phillips!

R7, I think you mean Julie Brown.

Loved her, too. IIRC, I saw her perform at a gay bar in the late nineties. While enjoyable to see her, her recycled bits were disappointing.

Letter from prison…I am a glass blower. My cell mate Mr. Glass and I…

Did she pass?

I liked Judy but she got tired fast. She's 65 and never married. I also liked Pudgy but not sure many remember her. Both were from Chicago.

65 and never married: CONVICTED

The scholar, Giovanna Del Negro, has argued that in juxtaposing the idealized love-goddess image with the aggressive, over-the-top dominatrix persona, we discover that play acting in Tenuta's performances, no matter how ludicrous, can provide a terrain for interrogating issues of gender, power, and sexuality, and gives those who do it an opportunity to think beyond predetermined social categories.

R13 Lezzie in the 1st Degree

It could haaaapen!

I knew someone who worked as her stylist in the early 2000s, or *tried*. Apparently, she’s a good person but is about as scatterbrained as she comes across in her act - and her closet was a DISASTER.

I saw her in a small venue in Ann Arbor in the late 80s. She was amazing working a crowd of about 50.

I love Judyisms ~ Like the Sex Goddess of Love!

Saw her in Tempe in '96. She was fantastic and made us all laugh. I still think about one of her lines about asking for a dolly for Christmas and getting a 2-wheel push cart instead, and that her job if there was a fire was to get the washer and dryer out.

Tenuta came to Tampa in the mid-80s while I was working for an alternative newspaper. The editor interviewed her and they made arrangements to go have lunch and thrift store shopping the afternoon of her first appearance. I spent about three hours driving them around. A good time was had by all and she comped me and a guest to see the show. Sitting right down in front, we were subjected to insults, off the cuff comments and Judy spit her gum at me. We stayed in touch and whenever she'd appear in Tampa, she'd let me know and I'd come down with my friends. One of whom she pulled on stage and rode like a horse. Another time I was pulled up on stage with another guy and was forced to wear a dress and holding a paper accordion, lip sync to "Da Do Run Run."

Her stage persona is the Goddess. Offstage, she's quiet and funny, caring and sweet.

"Worship me, pigs!"

It doesn't let me link directly to the sketch but someone had uploaded all of the French and Saunders episodes on Internet Archive. If you scroll down the menu to episode 3x6 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, there's a sketch at 11:25 which I'm sure it's Jennifer Saunders doing a spoof of Judy Tenuta. Bring from the UK I had no idea who she was but I'm guessing that's who is being spoofed here?

Love her!

Sadly she’s fighting stage 4 ovarian cancer

the voice was more annoying than the accordian. . . as with many other kind of her ilk, she was better as a local niche performer than trying to go mainstream. But the curse of standup, esp for those with a niche, is not knowing when they'll get another opportunity.. so they go through the doors that open, and for most, it's what kills their careers... only a rare few transition, consider filthy untalented comedian Bob Saget.

I think Tim Allen was the only one to keep his schtick and still be somewhat normal when he transitioned over...

Obviously, Paul Reubens couldn't handle PeeWee taking over his life... most thought Judy would head that route become the Cyndi Lauper of comedy. . . but she short.

some blame Sandra Bernhard and Kathy Griffin for lifting aspects of her performance... and arguably doing it better or at least not so crass.

[quote][R7], I think you mean Julie Brown.

I know Julie Brown did Madonna. I remember her parodies.

Judy Tenuta definitely did Madonna too, here's a photo from Judy's website.

r23 thank you for the F&S link, you have made my day!

R26. Why do you think Judy was crass? Just wondering

I remember watching Larry King trying to interview her on his show. She stayed in character and didn’t take any of his questions seriously. He seemed exasperated.

Reminds me of madonna

Oooh, it's not easy being a petite flower! SOMETIMES YA GOTTA SWEAT LIKE A SOW!

Funniest, best, prettiest female comedian ever!

Judy 4 life

She was on some talk show with three other comedians some time last year. Her real-ish personae is much easier to take than her act personae. She was the most naturally funny of the four comedians there.

R1. Why one-note?

Everyone needs to go sign the petition on her website to get Judy a star on the Walk of Fame.. It really makes prognosis sound not great for her and its her dream to get a star.

I followed a link to her Facebook page and she seemed to take a big trip in April...It looks very much like a Bucket List trip..

Very sad- I loved her as a kid and thought that she was the funniest comedienne- as well as Joan Rivers.

Seems like a nice person

She hit on me via IG dm’s.

I blocked her.

Her nephew went to my high school at the time of my older sister. Apparently she paid for his tuition (it was Catholic school) off of her standup earnings.

R39 Sure, Jan.

Yeah, r41 , of ALL the people I could lie about hitting on me on IG, I chose Judy fucking Tenuta. SMDH

Is she not married to Emo Phillips or Geechy Guy, one or the other?

I have never heard of any bad stories about her. Has anyone?

How did she do it, r42?

I don't miss Judy Tenuta but I do miss Pudgy!

R46, why don't you miss Judy Tenuta? Just wondering.

Anyone agree that Judy Tenuta and Madonna lookalike?

She could be very funny

I still fondly remember her Cher imitation:

"If I could turn back time Then I could date a fetus."

She was interviewed by Alison "Nellie Oleson" Arngrim on her podcast.

I'm sorry to hear she is in poor health.

Always thought she was hilarious.

R39 Are you male or female? She also seems like she would hit on gay guys not realizing anything about their sexuality.

She aged well

Funny lady

She was awful.

R56, why awful? And who do you think is funny? Just wondering

Saw her in S.F. late 80's or early 90's. She was hilarious- there was one point where she took out her gum and demanded a guy to chew the goddess' gum, and HE DID IT. We were dying because she was even surprised he did it and started giggling.

I'm pretty sure that's an Ellen DeGeneres bit, R20. Possibly from a great special called Women of the Night that featured Ellen, Judy, Rita Rudner and Paula Poundstone.

She was the Kate Bush of comedy

This stand-up bit from the 80s would have her cancelled so fast today.

R60, what do you think are the similarities between her and Kate Bush? Just wondering.

She just disappeared