Standup Spotlight: Lizz Winstead / Laurie Kilmartin, Hosted by Hoodo Hersi
Lizz Winstead has built her amazing career hilariously responding to the world. As co-creator and head writer of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show,” Winstead has forever changed the way people get their news. As co-founder of Air America Radio, she laid the foundation for such personalities as Al Franken and Marc Maron, all while hosting her own show called “Unfiltered”, sharing the mic every morning with the amazing Rachel Maddow and Hip Hop legend, Chuck D. As a stand-up she continues to tour, bringing her rapid response brand of comedy to theatres across the country and in 2014, was initiated into the Harvard Lampoon.
Winstead has now taken her satirical brilliance one step further, combining it with her passion for reproductive justice to form her latest passion project, "Lady Parts Justice," a non profit organization made up of comedians, writers and technologists creating videos that use humor and outrage to expose sexist, anti-choice local politicians in all 50 state legislatures while providing support to clinics around the country, working to remove the stigma around abortion. Winstead’s activism includes an ongoing comedy tour to raise money and awareness for Planned Parenthood and independent abortion providers and to date, she has raised over $7 million. The tour was turned into a documentary short called "Smear Campaign," which won “Best Documentary Comedy Short” at the Atlanta Documentary Film Festival. Her advocacy work has been recognized by many reproductive rights organizations including NARAL Champion’s of Choice awards.
In addition to performing and reproductive justice work, Winstead authored "Lizz Free Or Die," a funny and touching book of personal essays, that Elle magazine called, “Sharply witty and iconoclastic”. Lizz’s talents as a comedian and media visionary have been recognized by The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Entertainment Weekly’s 100 most Creative People issue among other print media. Winstead continues to appear on Comedy Central, HBO’s "Real Time With Bill Maher" and NPR, as well as her regular commentary on MSNBC.
Winstead has a lot to say about politics and currents events, and when she says it, it is always insightful and hilarious!
Laurie Kilmartin is a stand up comedian, late night writer and New York Times bestselling author. Laurie has performed standup on "CONAN," "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and numerous shows on Comedy Central. Her Seeso special, "45 Jokes About My Dead Dad," made Vulture’s Top Ten Comedy Specials of 2016, as well as Paste, Splitsider, Interrobang and The Decider. The New York Times pointed to, "sharply written one-liners captured the pain and frustration of caring for a dying loved one." Paste Magazine called it "hilarious... brutal, and cathartic" and Interrobang called it "innovative... twisted and dark.“
Before joining the writing staff at "CONAN" (2009 to present), Laurie was a staff writer on "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson," "Too Late with Adam Carolla" and "Tough Crown with Colin Quinn." In 2012, Laurie wrote the New York Times bestseller "Sh*tty Mom," a parenting book that Time Magazine called “criminally funny.”
Laurie has performed at the Edinburgh, Montreal, Bridgetown and Moontower comedy festivals. She's also done shows for the troops in Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait and Diego Garcia. Her podcast with comedian Jackie Kashian, "The Jackie and Laurie Show," is big with young comedians and middle aged men. Laurie lives in New York and LA. Video: http://www.kilmartin.com/video.html
Co-presented by SF Comedy Day $35/$25, ages 18+
