Rita Rudner on Life, Comedy, Dogs, and Staying True To Yourself

11/07/22 • 53 min

After leaving home at 15yo for New York City and finding success on Broadway, Rita Rudner turned her sites to comedy and became one of the most successful and hilarious comedians of all time.

My guest, Rita Rudner and I discuss:

Rita's memoir, "My Life in Dog Years"
Touring with Dennis Miller (including a stop in my hometown at Pine Knob Music Theater)
Performing with Tony Bennett at a state fair
Leaving home at 15yo for New York City
Touring with and upsetting Chita Rivera
Performing in Industrial shows
Making the decision to leave Broadway and become a stand-up comedian
Auditioning for the David Letterman Show
Standing firm on not changing her comedy style
Jack Benny's influence on Rita and the origins of Rita's unique style of comedy
Rita's difficulting getting booked on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson
Rodney Dangerfield and the 9th Annual Young Comedians Special
Her many collaborations with her husband, Martin
Vegas: becoming the Queen of Las Vegas and changing her life so she could have a family and still perform comedy
Danny Gans
HBO's Comic Relief
Debby Reynolds and Liza Minnelli
The Ask Rita Show
Writing for the Oscars with Carrie Fisher and Steve Martin
Being the first woman on the dais at the Friar's club
and a million more stories!