Lesbian Comedy Spotlight: Tammy Jo Dearen

Southern California native Tammy Jo Dearen has a full calendar. In addition to taking part in regular stand-up shows at the Improv in Hollywood and across town, the comedian who always knew she wanted to be a performer also produces a comedy double-header every month at El Cid in Silver Lake and has a new radio show in the works. The comedian who regularly performs an "ode" to sign language instructors, dishes on her hair and often says things she wishes she hadn't, is SheWired's October funny lady of the month.

SheWired: How did you get your start in stand-up?

Tammy Jo Dearen: I started doing stand-up in the early '90s. I just knew it was what I needed to do with my life. I performed for a couple years, barely getting my feet wet and then I took a 14-year hiatus.

I worked at a restaurant called Bobby McGee's in Brea, Calif. Yes, I will come out: I am from the other side of the Orange County Curtain. Boo! I know, but don't judge. At Bobby McGee's, we dressed in costume and we were characters that would sing, dance and do a lot of improv and sketch with the guests. All of the humor was at the guest's expense and of course they loved it. Someone called the restaurant asking if any of the servers could do stand-up for their fundraiser. I was in a stand-up workshop so I thought it was a sign and I should go for it. Keep in mind this would be my first time doing stand-up in front of an audience. The fundraiser was in downtown Orange at this old historic auditorium. When I got there I felt ... doom. I scoped the layout of the auditorium and found the back door. Just in case. I soon found out that the fundraiser was for two children that were burn victims! Oh my gawd! The Shriners were sponsoring the event. I know they are amazing people of service, but I couldn't get over their funny red hats ... it was obviously a bad match!

I got the lineup ... I was scheduled to follow a video. OK ... right? No problem ... right? The video ended with child burn victims singing "Amazing Grace"! They were singing "Amazing Grace" in their little wheelchairs with their little mangled bodies and little bald heads where strands of hair fought to make their way out! We were all crying. I may have been crying because I knew I was next on-stage. They introduced me and three minutes later the emcee pulled the mike from my hand. She literally pulled it out of my hand. For some reason I actually fought her for a moment and then I released and walked proudly out the backstage door.

That is how I started doing comedy.

SheWired: Did you always want to be a comedian?

Dearen: I can't say I always knew I wanted to be a comedian, but I knew I wanted to be a performer. I was constantly creating audiences and finding ways to make them laugh. It wasn't until seventh or eighth grade when I had a revelation about how I could use all my talents on one platform. There was a talent show scheduled at my school. I was so excited and I was trying to figure out what I was going do. I lay in bed one night and thought up a whole stand-up routine. I was really impressed with myself. I was surprised that I was able to come up with so much to say and it was genuinely funny. I was either going to do stand-up or I was going do a dance with a broom and lip-sync to Frank Sinatra's version of "New York, New York." I couldn't decide and well, it didn't matter anyway because the talent show was canceled and I never got to perform.

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