Paula Poundstone

Paula Poundstone (born December 29, 1959) is an American stand-up comedian, author, actress, interviewer, and commentator. Beginning in the late 1980s, she performed a series of one-hour HBO comedy specials. She provided backstage commentary during the 1992 presidential election on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. She is the host of the podcast Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, which is the successor to the National Public Radio program Live from the Poundstone Institute. She is a frequent panelist on NPR's weekly news quiz show Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, and was a recurring guest on the network's A Prairie Home Companion variety program during Garrison Keillor's years as host.

Infobox

Born

(1959-12-29) December 29, 1959 (age 65)Huntsville, Alabama, U.S.

Notable work

mw- Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human HappinessNobody Listens to Paula Poundstone, the comedy podcastCats, Cops and StuffPaula Poundstone Goes to HarvardThe French Trump Weekly Press Conference

Children

Years active

1979–present

Medium

Standup comedy, television, radio, print, internet

Genres

Standup, improvisational comedy, crowd work, voice acting, commentator, interviewer

Subject

Observational humor

Tables

· Filmography › Film

1984

Hyperspace

Role(s)

Karen

1991

Wisecracks

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Documentary

2003

When Stand Up Stood Out

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Documentary

2008

No Brainer

Role(s)

Herself

2013

Why We Laugh: Funny Women

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Documentary

Wait Wait Don't Tell Me Live!

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Panelist, live cinema

2014

3 Still Standing

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Documentary

2015

Inside Out

Role(s)

Forgetter Paula

Notes

Voice

By Any Means Necessary

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Documentary

2016

The Comedy Club

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Documentary

2024

Inside Out 2

Role(s)

Forgetter Paula

Notes

Voice

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1984	Hyperspace	Karen
1991	Wisecracks	Herself	Documentary
2003	When Stand Up Stood Out	Herself	Documentary
2008	No Brainer	Herself
2013	Why We Laugh: Funny Women	Herself	Documentary
2013	Wait Wait Don't Tell Me Live!	Herself	Panelist, live cinema
2014	3 Still Standing	Herself	Documentary
2015	Inside Out	Forgetter Paula	Voice
2015	By Any Means Necessary	Herself	Documentary
2016	The Comedy Club	Herself	Documentary
2024	Inside Out 2	Forgetter Paula	Voice

· Filmography › Television

1988

Poison

Role(s)

—

Notes

Writer, television film

1989

It's Garry Shandling's Show

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Episode: "Save Mr. Peck's, Part 2"

Not Necessarily the News

Role(s)

Commentator

Notes

1 episode

1993

Reasonable Doubts

Role(s)

Betty Tannebaum

Notes

Episode: "Thank God, It's Friday"

The Paula Poundstone Show

Role(s)

Herself/host

Notes

3 episodes

1995

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman

Role(s)

The Computer

Notes

Episode: "Virtually Destroyed"

1996

Adventures from the Book of Virtues

Role(s)

The Djinn

Notes

Voice, episode: "Work"

1997

Cybill

Role(s)

Minni Arbogast

Notes

2 episodes

1998

Hercules

Role(s)

Armageddon Bow

Notes

Voice, episode: "Hercules and the Secret Weapon"

1997-99

Role(s)

Science Court

Notes

Judge Stone

1999

Home Movies

Role(s)

Paula Small

Notes

Voice, 5 episodes

2000-01

Role(s)

To Tell the Truth

Notes

Herself

2013

Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious

Role(s)

Usher

Notes

4 episodes

2015

The HOA

Role(s)

Lorraine

Notes

Television film

2016

Major Crimes

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

Cameo, Season 5 Episode 4

2019

Summer Camp Island

Role(s)

Paulette

Notes

Voice, 4 episodes

2020

The Fungies!

Role(s)

Queen Antagonista

Notes

Voice, episode: "The Twins Bug Seth"

2025

Have I Got News for You

Role(s)

Herself

Notes

1 episode

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1988	Poison	—	Writer, television film
1989	It's Garry Shandling's Show	Herself	Episode: "Save Mr. Peck's, Part 2"
1989	Not Necessarily the News	Commentator	1 episode
1993	Reasonable Doubts	Betty Tannebaum	Episode: "Thank God, It's Friday"
1993	The Paula Poundstone Show	Herself/host	3 episodes
1995	Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman	The Computer	Episode: "Virtually Destroyed"
1996	Adventures from the Book of Virtues	The Djinn	Voice, episode: "Work"
1997	Cybill	Minni Arbogast	2 episodes
1998	Hercules	Armageddon Bow	Voice, episode: "Hercules and the Secret Weapon"
1997-99	Science Court	Judge Stone	Voice, 29 episodes
1999	Home Movies	Paula Small	Voice, 5 episodes
2000-01	To Tell the Truth	Herself	Regular panelist
2013	Wanda Sykes Presents Herlarious	Usher	4 episodes
2015	The HOA	Lorraine	Television film
2016	Major Crimes	Herself	Cameo, Season 5 Episode 4
2019	Summer Camp Island	Paulette	Voice, 4 episodes
2020	The Fungies!	Queen Antagonista	Voice, episode: "The Twins Bug Seth"
2025	Have I Got News for You	Herself	1 episode

· Filmography › Comedy specials

1989

One Night Stand

Role(s)

HBO

Notes

Broadcast/streaming

1990

Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops and Stuff

Role(s)

HBO

Notes

Broadcast/streaming

1996

Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard

Role(s)

HBO

Notes

Broadcast

2006

Bravo's Funny Girls - Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In

Role(s)

Bravo

Notes

Broadcast/download/streaming

Year	Title	Studio	Formats
1989	One Night Stand	HBO	Broadcast/streaming
1990	Paula Poundstone: Cats, Cops and Stuff	HBO	Broadcast/streaming
1996	Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard	HBO	Broadcast
2006	Bravo's Funny Girls - Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In	Bravo	Broadcast/download/streaming

· Filmography › Stand-up appearances

1983

The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show

Role(s)

Comedy special

1984

The Merv Griffin Show

Role(s)

1 episode

1987

On Location: Women of the Night

Role(s)

Comedy special, VHS

1981-88

Role(s)

An Evening at the Improv

Notes

2 episodes, stand-up compilation VHS/streaming

1989

Comic Relief III

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, VHS

Comic Relief '90

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, VHS

1984-90

Role(s)

Late Night with David Letterman

Notes

13 episodes

1986-92

Role(s)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Notes

14 episodes

1992

Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Comedy Video

Role(s)

Comedy special VHS

Comic Relief V

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, VHS

1994

Comic Relief VI

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, VHS

1995

Comic Relief VII

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, VHS

1992-97

Role(s)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno

Notes

15 episodes

1997-98

Role(s)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show

Notes

4 episodes

1998

Comic Relief 8

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, VHS

2003

Best of the Improv 2

Role(s)

Stand-up compilation VHS

2005

Just for Laughs

Role(s)

1 episode, streaming

2006-15

Role(s)

The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson

Notes

17 episodes

2019

William H. Macy: Comedy Ambassador

Role(s)

Comedy special, streaming

2020

Bring Back Laughs

Role(s)

Charity comedy special, streaming

2025

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Role(s)

1 Episode

Year	Title	Notes
1983	The 8th Annual Young Comedians Show	Comedy special
1984	The Merv Griffin Show	1 episode
1987	On Location: Women of the Night	Comedy special, VHS
1981-88	An Evening at the Improv	2 episodes, stand-up compilation VHS/streaming
1989	Comic Relief III	Charity comedy special, VHS
1989	Comic Relief '90	Charity comedy special, VHS
1984-90	Late Night with David Letterman	13 episodes
1986-92	The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson	14 episodes
1992	Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Comedy Video	Comedy special VHS
1992	Comic Relief V	Charity comedy special, VHS
1994	Comic Relief VI	Charity comedy special, VHS
1995	Comic Relief VII	Charity comedy special, VHS
1992-97	The Tonight Show with Jay Leno	15 episodes
1997-98	The Rosie O'Donnell Show	4 episodes
1998	Comic Relief 8	Charity comedy special, VHS
2003	Best of the Improv 2	Stand-up compilation VHS
2005	Just for Laughs	1 episode, streaming
2006-15	The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson	17 episodes
2019	William H. Macy: Comedy Ambassador	Comedy special, streaming
2020	Bring Back Laughs	Charity comedy special, streaming
2025	The Late Show With Stephen Colbert	1 Episode

· Discography › Comedy albums

2009

I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Maine

Role(s)

CD Baby/Lipstick Nancy

Notes

CD/download/streaming

2013

I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Boston

Role(s)

CD Baby/Lipstick Nancy

Notes

CD/download/streaming

2016

North By Northwest: Paula Poundstone Live! Vol. 1 & 2

Role(s)

HighBridge Audio

Notes

2xCD/download/streaming

2021

Paula Poundstone Goes to College (For One Night)

Role(s)

Clown Jewels

Notes

download/streaming

2022

Cats, Cops and Stuff

Role(s)

Clown Jewels

Notes

download/streaming

Year	Title	Label	Formats
2009	I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Maine	CD Baby/Lipstick Nancy	CD/download/streaming
2013	I Heart Jokes: Paula Tells Them in Boston	CD Baby/Lipstick Nancy	CD/download/streaming
2016	North By Northwest: Paula Poundstone Live! Vol. 1 & 2	HighBridge Audio	2xCD/download/streaming
2021	Paula Poundstone Goes to College (For One Night)	Clown Jewels	download/streaming
2022	Cats, Cops and Stuff	Clown Jewels	download/streaming

· Discography › Singles

2019

Not My Butterfinger

Role(s)

Lipstick Nancy

Notes

Download/streaming

Year	Title	Label	Formats
2019	Not My Butterfinger	Lipstick Nancy	Download/streaming

· Discography › Compilation appearances

1988

Women of the Night: A Comedy Album

Role(s)

A&M Records

Notes

LP/Cassette/CD

1989

The Best Of Comic Relief 3

Role(s)

Rhino Records

Notes

Cassette/CD

1990

The Best Of Comic Relief '90

Role(s)

Rhino Records

Notes

Cassette/CD

1994

Comic Relief VI

Role(s)

Rhino Records

Notes

1996

Comic Relief VII

Role(s)

Rhino Records

Notes

2000

A Prairie Home Companion: Pretty Good Jokes

Role(s)

HighBridge Audio

Notes

2xCassette/2xCD

2013

Laughter Therapy: A Comedy Collection For The Chronically Serious

Role(s)

NPR/HighBridge Audio

Notes

2xCD

2018

Just for Laughs - The Archives, Vol. 36

Role(s)

JFL

Notes

CD/download/streaming

Just for Laughs - The Archives, Vol. 60

Role(s)

JFL

Notes

CD/download/streaming

2020

Just for Laughs - Select, Vol. 12

Role(s)

JFL

Notes

Download/streaming

2021

George Schlatter’s Comedy Club

Role(s)

Clown Jewels

Notes

Download/streaming

Year	Title	Label	Formats
1988	Women of the Night: A Comedy Album	A&M Records	LP/Cassette/CD
1989	The Best Of Comic Relief 3	Rhino Records	Cassette/CD
1990	The Best Of Comic Relief '90	Rhino Records	Cassette/CD
1994	Comic Relief VI	Rhino Records	CD
1996	Comic Relief VII	Rhino Records	CD
2000	A Prairie Home Companion: Pretty Good Jokes	HighBridge Audio	2xCassette/2xCD
2013	Laughter Therapy: A Comedy Collection For The Chronically Serious	NPR/HighBridge Audio	2xCD
2018	Just for Laughs - The Archives, Vol. 36	JFL	CD/download/streaming
2018	Just for Laughs - The Archives, Vol. 60	JFL	CD/download/streaming
2020	Just for Laughs - Select, Vol. 12	JFL	Download/streaming
2021	George Schlatter’s Comedy Club	Clown Jewels	Download/streaming

· Bibliography

2006

There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say

Role(s)

Harmony Books

Notes

Print: Hardcover/Large Print/Paperback, Audiobook: CD/download/streaming

2017

The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness

Role(s)

Algonquin Books

Notes

Print: Hardcover/Paperback/E-book, Audiobook: CD/download/streaming

Year	Title	Publisher	Formats
2006	There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say	Harmony Books	Print: Hardcover/Large Print/Paperback, Audiobook: CD/download/streaming
2017	The Totally Unscientific Study of the Search for Human Happiness	Algonquin Books	Print: Hardcover/Paperback/E-book, Audiobook: CD/download/streaming

References

People
https://web.archive.org/web/20140420044010/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20135292%2C00.html
Notable Names Data Base
http://www.nndb.com/people/340/000022274/
austin360.com
http://www.austin360.com/entertainment/paula-poundstone-talks-crowd-work-robin-williams/cGcKxGhdbO8U0idW0Cg8DK/amp.html
Daily Beast
https://web.archive.org/web/20230613083258/https://www.thedailybeast.com/paula-poundstone-on-the-highs-and-lows-of-her-comedy-career
nypl.org
https://www.nypl.org/blog/2016/09/01/what-are-you-reading-paula-poundstone
time.com
https://time.com/5540098/funniest-stand-up-specials
NPR
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6514227
NPR
https://www.npr.org/programs/waitwait/
Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone
https://web.archive.org/web/20211220073650/https://paulapoundstone.com/
The Official Website of Paula Poundstone
http://www.paulapoundstone.com
Highbridge Audio
http://highbridgeaudio.com/northbynorthwest.html
ala.org
http://www.ala.org/united/about/news/poundstone
listology.com
http://www.listology.com/list/comedy-central-100-greatest-standups-all-time
San Francisco Chronicle
https://web.archive.org/web/20231225092121/https://www.sfchronicle.com/entertainment/article/comedy-day-2023-photos-18367608.php
Talk of the Nation
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6514227
Edge Media Network
http://www.edgemedianetwork.com/entertainment/celebrities/news//148422/paula_poundstone_lives_her_life_in_her_comedy_
There's Nothing in This Book That I Meant to Say
https://ffrf.org/news/day/dayitems/item/14900-paula-poundstone
Free thought Almanac
https://freethoughtalmanac.wordpress.com/2013/12/29/december-29-paula-poundstone-1959/
Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-sep-13-me-45143-story.html
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2002/01/22/arts/hard-road-back-for-paula-poundstone-comic-tries-save-her-career-after-arrest.html
thewaltdisneycompany.com
https://thewaltdisneycompany.com/disney-and-pixars-inside-out-2-reveals-new-trailer-and-voice-cast/
"Paula Poundstone"
https://www.dead-frog.com/comedians/comic/paula-poundstone
"Paula Poundstone"
https://www.discogs.com/artist/712930-Paula-Poundstone
"Paula Poundstone Shop"
https://paulapoundstone.com/shop/