You might have heard that pioneering comedian Judy Tenuta passed away this week at the age of 72 due to an extended battle with ovarian cancer. Born in 1949, Tenuta passed on with a legacy of breaking new ground not only for women and Asians in comedy, but comics that dance on the weirder side of the form. Tenuta’s unmistakable voice that seems akin to Ursula from The Little Mermaid and punctuating jokes with an accordion was punk rock in the 80s and would probably even still be a welcome break from the norm in 2022 stand-up comedy stages.
So, while you’re diving down a YouTube rabbit hole for Tenuta, enjoy this set, dug up by 800 Pound Gorilla, from the 4th Annual American Comedy Awards in 1990 where Trump and the unhoused in LA were still issues, but the Lakers far outpaced the Clippers instead of being below .500.