Remains of the Day (03/13)

Twitter: Duke's Grayson Allen knocked a North Carolina player over with his ample ass

Towleroad: Man who pushed a trans woman to her death won’t be tried, judge rules

Instagram: Yay or nay to Gus Kenworthy's new mustache?

Washington Blade: Judge issues decision favorable to Maryland trans student on locker-room use

Yahoo: Richard Simmons is not transgender, but must pay a tabloid $130,000 for saying he is

Dlisted: More than 20 years since "Good Will Hunting" and Matt Damon and Ben Affleck still make an incredibly hot gay couple

Gr8er Days: "Wonder Woman" Lynda Carter's nameless #MeToo story has Bill Cosby written all over it

KIT212: Chris Hemsworth sports a dirty pornstache in new movie

The Washington Post: No, Donald, it was never "fake news"*: everyone knew you were going to fire Tillerson (* not what fake news means)

Daily Intelligencer: Trump's choice to lead CIA oversaw illegal torture program, destroyed evidence

TV Line: Is another "Beverly Hills, 90210" revival eyed?

Boy Culture: Feast your eyes on the Gotham Nights, NYC's gay/inclusive rugby team

The Wrap: Frankly, I'd rather see Muir bottom for the NBC newsman

Greg in Hollywood: Point Foundation will honor Tig Notaro and Ronan Farrow at the annual Point Honors gala in NYC

Page Six: Adam Levine pays $35.5 million for Beverly Hills estate once owned by Pete Sampras and later Max Mutchnick ("Will & Grace")

The Randy Report: Trump aide fired for "serious financial crimes" investigation immediately hired by 2020 Trump campaign

NBC News: ICE spokesman resigns, saying he could no longer spread falsehoods for the Trump administration

Tennis Life: Thank god Venus beat comeback-trail Serena last night in Indian Wells, because if she hadn't she might as well've retired on the spot

The Village Voice: What Emmett Till teaches us today

OMG Blog: Jacob Pitts goes full frontal in "Sneaky Pete"

Homorazzi: Which Oscar-winning actor is selling his jockstrap?

Facebook: Miss Claudia Fontaine, popular British backup singer (The Jan, Heaven 17, Elvis Costello, Marilyn, Dusty Springfield) dies at 57

PinkNews: Republican candidate calls bisexual Parkland shooting survivor a "skinhead lesbian"

The Arizona Republic: From Tucson to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Linda Ronstadt's lifetime love affair with music

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UnPresidented Podcast: Russia has escalated its efforts to start a new Cold War with the West by recklessly poisoning a former Russian spy, his daughter, and a police detective in Great Britain

Five Women Accuse Louis C.K. of Sexual Misconduct -- UPDATE

Comedy's grossest and worst-kept secret is finally out. The New York Times reports that after many years of rumors, multiple women on the comedy circuit have gone on the record saying Louis C.K. masturbated in front of them without their consent.  (The story is extremely graphic, but I think it ought to be to really convey what these people endured.) After being contacted by the Times about the on-the-record accusations of sexual misconduct -- encounters that took place over a decade ago -- Louis C.K.'s publicist, Lewis Kay, said the comedian would not respond -- something peer Tig Notaro had implored him to do before it came to this.

Comedian Jen Kirkman, who was one of the first brave people to shine a light on the lurid rumors, raised eyebrows when she later deleted a pocast on which she discussed them on the grounds that we were all too stupid to get her "nuances." (A powerful man intimidating women into keeping quiet seems pretty black and white to me, but OK.) She was recently quoted as saying she thinks the situation "might be a case of there's nothing there" and that she didn't know why Tig Notaro was "talking about this stuff." (Um, maybe because women said they'd been violated and no one had been held accountable.) Kirkman's doing this -- essentially casting a doubt -- was the first time it ever entered my mind that maybe Louis C.K. wasn't the perpetrator (way to go, Jen). Thank god people DID continue to talk about "this stuff." We've come a long way in a very short time.

The lady doth protest too much, methinks.

Yes, she’s the real victim here. 

UPDATE: Louis C.K. admits everything

Song of the Day: 'Dreams' by Taken by Trees

Cute song I heard for the first time last night on "One Mississippi," Tig Notaro's Amazon series. (Did you see how the boss at the station Louis C.K.-ed her colleague Kate?)

Tig Notaro Is Not Amused by Louis C.K. Anymore

Interesting interview with Tig Notaro in The Daily Beast, in which she talks about the Louis C.K. sexual misconduct rumors. (He is said to have made female comedians who toured with him watch him masturbate, and I think anyone with a brain knows it's got to be true.) I agree with her that it's a very uncomfortable position for fans and colleagues to be in. Is it time for us to really get to the bottom of this -- Bill Cosby style -- or are we going to continue to compartmentalize his personal behavior and his professional works, Woody Allen style? (What he allegedly did is reprehensible. But it's not Cosby level, so perhaps coming clean, apologizing and assuring everyone it won't happen again would work.) Notaro is in a particularly tenuous position as C.K. helped catapult her into a higher level of fame, yet she has since accused him of plagiarizing a short film of hers and hasn't spoken to him in nearly two years. (He's still listed as an executive producer on her Amazon show, "One Mississippi," yet she goes to get lengths to tell everyone that he has NOTHING to do with the show.) I have no reason to doubt anything Notaro has said -- and I'm a huge fan. I guess the only thing I might add is that she has also had a big falling out with Amy Schumer -- and alludes to having had another "incident" with Louis C.K. from some time ago about which she does not elaborate -- which could mean that people who get very successful tend to behave horribly. Or it could be one of those situations where someone you know is constantly having fallings out with everyone and after a while you start to wonder if maybe it's them. Read HERE.

The story is out there. But is this what happens when David goes after Goliath?

What's Tig Notaro's Beef With Amy Schumer?

Well, add this to the list of depressing things from the past couple days. You know how we're always told the world always tries to pit women against each other? It turns out Amy Schumer and Tig Notaro -- comedians I adore and whom I'd hitherto thought adored each other -- seem to be on the outs. Only something tells me Amy doesn't even know about it.

In an interview with The Guardian, Notaro seems to be unusually thin-skinned and looking to be offended:

I tell her I was struck by something Amy Schumer once said to Vanity Fair about Notaro: “Looking masculine and being gay, the challenges of the road are 20 times harder for Tig than other female comedians. People fear what they don’t understand.” Has she found that to be true?

Anger sparks in Notaro’s normally calm eyes. “I don’t know what she was talking about. It sounds like offensive nonsense to me. I find that so offensive and weird,” she says, looking down, trying to control her very audible irritation. “If you knew me well, you would never say that.”

I thought the two of you were friends, I say, surprised. Schumer has spoken in the past about taking care of her “great friend Tig”.

“Ummm…” Notaro says, looking away. Did you just work with her? The atmosphere, previously relaxed, has palpably prickled.

“I’ve worked with her. I worked with her for the first season [of Inside Amy Schumer],” she replies curtly. Ironically, the episode in which Notaro appeared was about Schumer exaggerating their friendship and using Notaro’s cancer to look good in front of other people.

“Let’s leave it there,” Notaro says, closing down the subject.

Kinda sad. I liked the idea of them being best friends but wanting nothing to do with me! Still looking forward to the full season of Tig's show on Amazon. "Inside Amy Schumer" has been pretty damn good this time around.

Tig Notaro and Stephanie Allynne Tie the Knot

Congrats to the happy couple. I was worried Tig's lady was a Heche-in-the-pan, but it seems they have found wedded bliss. Hollywood Life reports that after two years together, Tig and Stephanie, an actress and director, said their “I dos” in front of an A-list crowd on Oct. 24. The pair tied the knot in Tig’s hometown of Pass Christian, Miss., with their family and friends in attendance. Among the more famous guests on hand for the big day was Lucy Lawless, Lake Bell, Alicia Silverstone, Sarah Silverman and Jessica Williams.

Has anyone watched Tig's Amazon Prime pilot? It's based on her real life, which is to say it's very funny and (at times) very intense. Hope it gets picked up.

Tig Notaro: Boyish Girl on Fire

  Don't even know where to begin with Tig Notaro's HBO comedy special, "Boyish Girl Interrupted." After seeing her recent Netflix documentary, I was truly concerned she'd lost her comedic mojo since becoming known at the "cancer comic," a title she neither shunned nor embraced. Where could she go from that infamous night at the Largo in which she brought the house down talking about how her life might be over soon? (Indeed, "this thing" was definitely "on.") Turns out I had no cause for concern. In an hourlong set of entirely new material, Notaro returned to top form with her slow-building observational humor that is truly like no other comic out there. No reason for me to spoil the jokes for you -- just be prepared to never hear a pig-snort laugh the same way again. Kudos, Tig! Truly sublime.

In what might be called an unfortunate moment of timing, Natasha Leggero had a comedy special the same night, "Live at Bimbo's," on Comedy Central. Tash has been one of my favorites for about a decade, but she seems to have abandoned her "Reinvented as a New England Socialite" persona for a more traditional kind of standup that I didn't think suited her nearly as well. There were still some funny moments, but not unlike her show "Another Period," the set was very uneven, a fact that might have been amplified by the fact that Tig is a tough act for anyone to follow.

Tig Notaro to Star in Amazon Comedy From Louis C.K., Diablo Cody

Watched and loved Tig Notaro's Netflix documentary, "Tig," last week -- get out your crying towel, people -- and couldn't be more excited to hear she's teaming up with Louis C.K. and Diablo Cody for a semiautobiographical sitcom on Amazon Prime. Here's hoping the pilot gets picked up. Read HERE.

Separated at Birth: Tig Notaro and John Davidson?

  He may be prettier, but she's waaaay more talented.

Page 1 Consider (10/11)

If you're in Washington, please tell me you're going to see Tig Notaro at Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival! Read HERE.

'Live' It Up With Tig Notaro

After a weekend of truly depressing news, it might make you happy to know that the hilarious Tig Notaro's cancer is in remission -- and her new standup album, "Tig Live," will be out tomorrow! Read HERE. Order CD or digital download HERE.

I'll Always Love You, Tig

Tig Notaro's "Taylor Dayne onslaught" rightfully leads the A.V. Club's list of "13 stand-up routines about real-life celebrity encounters." If you haven't had the pleasure, do yourself a favor and listen now!

 

Tig Notaro: Death (Scare) Becomes Her

As I mentioned last week, Tig Notaro's instant-classic stand-up routine at Largo from back in August -- in which she reveals that she was just diagnosed with cancer in both breasts -- is now available for 5 bucks via Louis C.K.'s site HERE. (Four dollars from each download will go directly to Notaro, "of which a portion will be donated to charities associated with fighting breast cancer.) I finally listened to it last night -- in bed with all the lights off -- and I must say despite all of the praise, she had no problem living up to the hype. How fortunate are we that such a sobering -- and occasionally hilarious -- moment was recorded for us to relive. (Pay special attention to the personal ad and transitioning moments!) Here's wishing Tig a full and speedy recovery in the (212) ...

Tig Notaro: What Doesn't Kill You ...

As I mentioned last week, Tig Notaro's instant-classic stand-up routine at Largo from back in August -- in which she reveals that she was just diagnosed with cancer in both breasts -- is now available for 5 bucks via Louis C.K.'s site HERE. (Four dollars from each download will go directly to Notaro, "of which a portion will be donated to charities associated with fighting breast cancer.) I finally listened to it last night -- in bed with all the lights off -- and I must say despite all of the praise, she had no problem living up to the hype. How fortunate are we that such a sobering -- and occasionally hilarious -- moment was recorded for us to relive. (Pay special attention to the personal ad and transitioning moments!) Here's wishing Tig a full and speedy recovery in the (212) ...

Tig In

  Tig Notaro's stand-up routine at Largo from back in August is now available on Amazon HERE. Not only is it being heralded as one of the best sets in the history of comedy, $4 from each download will go directly to Notaro, "of which a portion will be donated to charities associated with fighting breast cancer."

Tigging Her Scene

 Comedian Tig Notaro's instant-classic stand-up routine -- in which she reveals she has cancer -- will soon be available for those of us not fortunate enough to have been there night in Los Angeles that night. An online "album" will be sold beginning Oct. 5 via the Web site of Louis C.K., who had this to say about the experience: “In 27 years doing this, I’ve seen a handful of truly great, masterful sets. One was Tig Notaro last night at Largo." The set will also be the basis for a book of personal essays, to be published by Ecco, an imprint of HarperCollins. The tentative release date is 2015, which is hopefully when we will all be celebrating Tig's full recovery from this insidious disease. If you missed Tig in the New York Times Magazine a few Sundays ago, you definitely will want to check it out HERE. But you'd be even better off just watching this:

It's Always Something

 Coming off the heals of my Gilda Radner memorial post, I was crushed to read that Tig Notaro -- with whom I fell in love after hearing her tell the story of her unconventional relationship with Taylor Dayne during "This American Life Live" -- has been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's the latest blow to the funniest woman in comedy today, following the accidental death of her mother and bacterial infection in her digestive tract that left her hospitalized and down 30 pounds. Read about she announced the news in a stand-up gig that left the audience simultaneously laughing and crying in a way that you thought was merely a figure of speech HERE.

Tig the New Breed

Tig Notaro had me at Taylor Dayne, but this one might be just as funny -- and seeing her in action makes it even sweeter!

Tig Notaro Tells It to My Heart

Dragged my flu-ridden ass out of bed last night just long enough to see the long-planned screening of "This American Life Live" with a group of friends in Union Square. The show featured two of my favorite writers (David Sedaris and David Rakoff, who gave the most heartbreaking dance "recital" of all time) and one guy I'm dying to learn more about (Ryan Knighton). But the highlight of the evening -- by a HUGE margin -- was comedian Tig Notaro, whose custom-made-for-me story about Taylor Dayne was quite possibly the funniest thing I've ever heard in my life!

This one will get you.

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