COMEDY-101: Poundstone Handles Mid-Show Medical Emergency

Here’s one of the most impressive things I ever saw a standup comedian do from stage.

One Saturday night in 1991, I got to watch comedian Paula Poundstone perform live to a sold out audience at Bonkerz Comedy Club in Orlando, Florida.

Two years prior, she had won the American Comedy Award for “Best Female Stand-Up Comic,” and her hilarious HBO specials had made her an instant star. That night smoky, boozy Bonkerz was buzzing, packed wall-to-wall with willing laughers and steady drinkers.

Five minutes into her set Paula was killing.

“The problem with cats is that they get the exact same look on their face whether they see a moth or an axe-murderer.”

“I get in fewer arguments when I’m alone.”

“I think we need a 12-step group for non-stop talkers. We’re going to call it On and On Anon.”

The ‘Incident’

The audience was rolling, hanging on Paula’s every word.

Then suddenly, in the middle of a joke, a young woman in the front row collapsed onto the edge of the stage. The upper half of her body was almost laying at Paula’s feet. The unconscious woman wasn’t drunk; she was having a medical emergency.

400 paying customers and Paula saw this lady flop forward.

We collectively gasped.

A comedian’s worst nightmare.

Paula’s Reaction

The lady turned out fine, but it was what Paula Poundstone did that’s worth mentioning.

Instead of panicking or crying or complaining (or bailing), Paula first made sure the woman got immediate help.

Then, as the crumpled lady was revived by the staff and taken away in an ambulance, Paula kept the audience calm and entertained by narrating the entire event like a news reporter live on the scene.

[Here’s my best recollection of how that went down]

“Her name’s Amy? Just dehydrated? Well, thank goodness, that’s better than the fatal heart attack I had diagnosed … with no medical degree or clinical experience …

“Amy’s giving me the thumbs up … like an astronaut who just landed safely … glad you’re back here on earth with us, Amy … welcome home …

“At first when you launched onto the stage, I thought you were trying to steal my new shoes … I have to admit, I almost kicked you …

“Now I realize you just need to drink more water … well, a LOT more water, apparently … that’s easy enough, in fact, great news, I believe here at Bonkerz the tap water’s free … Joe, can we get Amy a free tap water? Put it on my tab … yes, make that to go, I see her fancy ride has arrived …”

The Take Away

During the entire twenty minute incident, Poundstone got consistent laughs with her commentary without ever crossing the line or getting in the way.

In fact, she was so funny and respectful that when the incident was over she earned a mid-show standing ovation and got an even bigger one at the end.

Impressive and hilarious display of ‘Yes, and…’.

Paula showed me that night that life isn’t about what happens to you, it’s about what you do when life happens.

Oh, and it also taught me to drink lots of water, daily.