Tig Notoro’s ‘Tig and Friends’ Has a Home at Largo

Sandra Miska

Born Mathilde O’Callaghan Notaro in Mississippi, Notaro was given the nickname “Tig” as a child. Before getting into comedy, Notaro worked in the music industry, managing bands under the name Tignation Promotions. Notaro’s comedy career took off after she relocated from Denver to Los Angeles. Her television credits include “Last Comic Standing,” “Community,” and “The Sarah Silverman Program.” Silverman has said that she considers Notaro to be a best friend, as well as one of the greatest comedians working today.

In 2012, she released her comedy album “Good One.” Notaro’s brand of observational humor includes making fun of parents who lightheartedly point and smile at fire trucks to their children’s delight: “’Fire truck!’ So exciting, but let’s not forget what is going on the other side of this siren. There’s a horrible tragedy.” She also talks about diarrhea in public pools, texting, and her own battle with breast cancer.

In July 2012, Notaro was diagnosed with cancer in both her breasts and underwent a double mastectomy. That same year, her mother passed away in a freak accident and a romantic relationship came to an end. Proving the laughter is truly the best medicine, Notaro turned tragedy into dark humor. During an appearance on Conan earlier this year, she explained how before her double mastectomy she often joked about her small breasts. “I think that maybe my boobs overheard me, and were just like, “‘Know what? We’re sick of this. Let’s kill her!’”

It was at the Largo where Notaro first joked about her cancer on August 3, 2012. She stepped onto the stage and opened with, “Is everybody having a good time? I have cancer.” Her bravery earned her praise from many of her fellow comedians, including Louis CK. The following day, he tweeted, “In 27 years of doing this, I’ve seen a handful of truly great, masterful stand-up sets. One was Tig Notaro last night at Largo.”

“I was scared of offending people and confusing people,” Notaro later said to NPR about that fateful night. “You know, thinking about people that maybe did have cancer in the audience, or had somebody that they loved that had cancer. And then the reality hit me that I have cancer – this is my story.”

While 2012 may have been her self-proclaimed annus horribilis, 2014 and 2015 has been a successful year for Notaro. She recently appeared in the Elizabeth Banks film Walk of Shame and currently hosts one of iTunes top podcasts, “Professor Blastoff.”

Tig Notaro hosts her show “Tig Has Friends” monthly at the Largo. Tig’s next dates are Oct. 2, Nov. 7 and Dec. 2.