22 Feb 2021
Amy Sumpter
Co-founder of The Kates on Broadway and acclaimed Chicago comedy vet Amy Sumpter goes over her amazing 2019 set at Strip Joker in this season 3 finale!
We discuss making space for women in stand-up (and in the world), the time her breast ended up in an old lady's mouth on the subway, and what not to do when your gynecologist shows up to a pelvic exam dressed as a pirate.
Timestamps:
01:00 – Set from Strip Joker
14:00 – “I come from a pretty funny family”
Mentions of 7th Grade, Mean Girls, High School, Medieval Times, Jewel Osco, Bennigan’s
16:35 – “I want to be the weirdo; I want to be the character actor”
Mentions of College, Chicago, Second City
17:45 – “…And that’s where I met Kelsie Huff”
Mentions of Kelsie Huff, The Kates, Bear (The Nephew), Columbia College, Second City Conservatory
18:55 – The Kates Origin Story
Mentions of Frankie J’s on Broadway, Methadone Clinics, One-Woman Shows, ‘Huffs’, Tragedy Plus Time, ‘Enough is Enough’ Webseries
21:40 – “Chicago is very small”
22:25 – “Whenever I have issues [with someone], it’s usually a white dude” (SPOILER ALERT)
22:55 – “I have been getting onstage since I was twelve”
23:21 – “Open mics just make me want to quit comedy”
24:37 – “Talk about what you know”
24:54 – “Don’t try to emulate your favorite comics”
Mentions of Eddie Murphy, Lilly Tomlin, Amy Schumer
25:30 – Bad Sitcom Writing vs. ‘The Office’
26:10 – Amy’s First Open Mic Story
Mentions of Chicago Trolley, Corona Beer, Withered Lady-Boners, Eric Estrada, ‘Chips’, The Comedy Hole of Shame
32:02 – Moving to Chicago vs. LA
32:42 – ‘The Kates’ Begins
Mentions of Female Representation, Edgewater, Kate The Great’s Book Emporium, The Book Cellar, Facebook, Feminism
35:11 – Getting into the Set
35:13 – The High Kick
Mentions of Cartwheels, Counseling, Therapy, Macho Man Randy Savage
36:57 – Underwear Covered in Pubic Hair
Mentions of Gen-X, Shaving, Litmus Test
37:54 – 3-Year Old Nephew, Bear, Trying to Swear
Mentions of Child Psychology, Teaching, Testing Limits
40:11 – The L-Cup and “You’re Welcome!”
Mentions of Strip Joker, Specialty Bras, Motifs, X-Treme Commercials, Body Positivity, Believe Women
43:40 – Midwestern Politeness
44:20 – The Subway Incident
Mentions of Rebirth, Mid-Life Crisis, Hindsight, Turkey Dogs
46:27 – Mom Is Taller Than Dad
48:30 – The Tom Green Digression
Mention of ‘The Tom Green Show’
Season 1, Episode 9: ‘Parent Statues’
Season 2, Episode 11: ‘Best of Special’
Mention of Drew Barrymore
50:20 – “I’m not a virgin and that’s sad”
Mentions of Pound Town, Self Esteem
52:11 – “Why do some people just get to live in Pound Town?”
Mentions of Hot Privilege, Serial Monogamy, Relationship Baggage, Chemistry
54:57 – The Gynocologist
Mentions of Halloween, Speculums, Tinder, Salvatore Dali, Empowered Vaginas
57:10 – Revealing The Pasty
59:58 – Reviewing the Set
1:01:21 – “I don’t necessarily believe in ‘suffer for your art’”
1:01:45 – Advice for Aspiring Comedians
1:03:18 – Where Can We Find You?
Podcast: ‘Shaped’
She’s Crafty: Chicago’s All-Female Beastie Boys Tribute Band
The Kates @ The Book Cellar
Upcoming Comedy Album
1:04:28 – Final Words
