More than a mere funny lady, comedian Julie Goldman's got her comic chops in so many pies, she's like contemporary Renaissance woman with a kick-ass sense of humor. These days, the out, lesbian, stand-up comic yucks it up with a top-notch cast on LOGO's Big Gay Sketch Show. Among the characters Goldman inhabits on the show, her Natalie from the Facts of Life is such a spot-on homage, it at once invokes belly laughs and awe.
Goldman also tackles a loud-mouthed lesbian Ralph Kramden based on the uber-masculine character from the vintage hetero-happy The Honeymooners television show. When not making sketch comedy, Goldman's gigging out with her stand-up routine, including an upcoming J.A.
P.--Jewish American Princesses of Comedy show. On DVD, in The D Word she plays a lovable, mop-headed version of The L Word's fave lothario Shane--replete with restraining orders against the scads of women she's scorned.
She's also featured in the film Big Dreams in Little Hope, which is getting its DVD release later this month. If that's not enough to keep a gal busy, Goldman's musical alter-ego Indigo Etheridge hits the LGBT film festivals this season with a video parody called "Commitment Ceremony". Goldman took time out to chat with us about Big Gay Sketch Show, 1980's telelvison and her upcoming projects.
She even indulged us in a little game of Who's the Top. TG: How did you arrive at standup comedy as a career? Were you the class cut-up?
JG: I knew very early on that that’s what I wanted to do. I was doing stand-up in high school. It’s all I ever wanted to do.
TG: You’re Natalie is a tour-de-force. Did you always do Natalie as a character and they just plugged it into the Big Gay Sketch Show? JG: No I didn’t.
They wrote the Facts of Life sketch and I thought I could do Natalie. It was a perfect match. TG: So when you were a kid were you crushed out on Blair or Jo?
JG: I wanted to be Jo and date Blair. I wanted to wear a motorcycle jacket like Jo. TG: Do you have a favorite character from Big Gay Sketch Show?
JG: Natalie was definitely one of my faves. I did a character on an America’s Next Top Model sketch, which was fun. It’s kind of like dressing up in drag.
I got to play stupid and silly. Ralph Kramden I liked doing. TG: I know that for Saturday Night Live, the cast often presents the writers with characters and sketch ideas.
How did you provide input? JG: We went to pitch sessions and pitched ideas. TG: Which of your characters wound up in the show?
JG: For this show? None of them. But for me, I got to do all this new stuff.
I enjoyed that. TG: Now that you’ve shot a season of the show and it’s gotten renewed, who would you love to skewer? JG: More political stuff like Ann Coulter.
I’d love to get the president, the Christian Right. There’s a lot I’d like to do… Suze Orman, the money lady. TG: Of the out lesbian celebrities, there seems to be an inordinate amount who are stand-up comics.
What do you attribute this to? JG: Expression and oppression. A lot of comedians are minorities to begin with.
They’re a lot more lesbian comedians and they’re not all out. Those who are out are a fraction compared to how many there really are. But people come out if they want.
It’s personal. TG: You said you were a comedian from an early age. Are you always on when you’re not performing?
JG: I’m not always on. TG: When I interviewed Suzanne Westenhoeffer I was floored when she told me she doesn’t’ prep her material for her gigs. Are you the type who works completely off the cuff?
JG: No. I’m constantly writing in notebooks and finessing jokes on stage. A lot of times you’ll hear a comedian tell a joke that’s just great but it’s been worked on for years.
But I go show to show with what happens spontaneously. There’s definitely some improv. TG: You were hilarious in The D Word as the Shane character?
If Ilene Chaiken called you up and asked you to appear on The L Word, what would be your fantasy character. JG: (slight pause) I would be a martial arts instructor and Alice would come to the dojo. We would have a crazy self defense relationship.
We’d fight crime. TG: I like it. Maybe Ilene’ll give you a buzz.
Other than the Jewish American Princesses tour, what else do you have on the burner? JG: A film I did with Erin Greenwell, Little Hope is being released May 29 on Wolfe. And a video I did for a song "Commitment Ceremony" is traveling to Outfest and NewFest.
TG: I listened to a clip of Indigo Etheridge on the Web. Hilarious. I get that it’s a spoof but the guitar playing is really good.
Is that you? JG: Yeah. I know about two chords and I really work on them.
I started playing when I was about 13 or 14. TG: This is a totally canned question but I still like to know who people are into. Who are your comedy heroes?
TG: I adore Ab Fab. Jennifer Saunders is a genius. Do you have a favorite line or moment from the show?
JG: Probably when Patsy says she hasn’t eaten since 1972. TG: So funny. I haven’t read much about your personal life.
Are you in a relationship? JG: Yes. I’m married in a relationship for seven and a half years.
TG: Will you indulge me? I’ve got a little game sort of like who would you rather do but mine is Who’s the Top. I’ll give you the names of couples and you tell me who would be the top—you know—if it were more than just my filthy fantasy.
TG: Salma or Penelope? JG: That’s my theory. She’s a super top.
TG: Alright. Angelina or Kate Winslet? LG: Oh, Angelina.
I think Angie has two cocks. TG: Courteney Cox or Jennifer Anniston? TG: That’s my call too.
Alright. Blair or Jo? JG: Jo.
Blair probably test drives once in a while. A girl has needs. TG: One more.
Mrs. Brady or Mrs. Partridge?
JG: Oh. Mrs. Partridge is so much more the top.
And they throw Alice in their once in while. TG: Wait. I’m sorry.
One more. Paris or her future cell mate? JG: Paris.
I think Paris could be anything she wants to be. For more on Julie Goldman, visit and .
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