She's an out lesbian stand-up performer who isn't afraid to talk about "eating fish" who hosts a weekly Web series where she interviews lesbian royalty from the comfy confines of her bed - complete with her teddy bear, Baby Bridget - and she recently was selected by Curve magazine as one of America's Funniest Lesbians. And Bridget McManus isn't anywhere near done.
McManus is a busy girl: she's constantly popping up on-stage at events like the monthly Gays 'R' Us at the Improv in West Hollywood, Calif., and even guest starred in a three-episode stint on Web series 3Way. All that on top of having completed more than 70 episodes of her weekly video blog, AfterEllen.com's Brunch With Bridget, where she has interviewed such celesbians as Michelle Paradise (Exes & Ohs), Guinevere Turner (Go Fish, The L Word) and straight allies like Maeve Quinlan (3Way and South of Nowhere).
SheWired recently caught up with McManus between gigs to get to know the comic and discuss how hard it is to be an out lesbian stand-up comic.
SheWired: How and when did you get your start in stand-up comedy?
Bridget McManus: On a Monday night in 2007, I lined up for an open mike night at the Comedy Store with 39 other comics - all males - and I'm pretty sure some of them were homeless. The staff did a raffle and only a few comics got stage time. I was one of the lucky ones. I took the stage with my three minutes of lesbian material and I performed in front of the other comics who were in the back, writing out their set lists and not paying attention. Let's just say that my material wasn't a huge hit, but I felt fearless. I started going to open mic nights at comedy clubs four times a week and working out material. After three months, I started booking real shows.
SheWired: Is stand-up something you've always wanted to do?
McManus: Absolutely. My mom has pictures of me at age four holding a turkey baster pretending it was a microphone. I would stand on the kitchen counter and pretend it was a stage. I am very clumsy, so I'm surprised I didn't fall and crack my head open. Or maybe I did crack my head open and I just forget due to the head trauma? That would explain a lot ...
SheWired: Who are your comedic influences?
McManus: Carol Burnett, Lily Tomlin, Eddie Izzard, Miss Piggy and my Nana. My Nana taught me great swear words like bitch, shit and fuck.
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SheWired: How was Brunch With Bridget created?
McManus: When I first appeared on AfterEllen.com, I received a lot of positive feedback and I was asked to pitch a show that would run regularly on the Web site. My first thought was that I wanted to do an all-girl slumber party with teddy bears and pillow fights. My original pitch was one page with a big photo of Baby Bridget (my co-star/teddy bear) and numerous images of pajamas. I thought it would be kitschy to wear different pajamas every week but, after 70 episodes, I wish that idea never came to me.
SheWired: Who is your ultimate dream guest for Brunch With Bridget?
McManus: Hillary Clinton. I love, love, love her! If I actually met her I don't think I'd even be able to speak to interview her. I'd just stare into her eyes and hum the Titanic theme song. Hillary makes my heart go on.
SheWired: What other projects are you currently working on?
McManus: I am very excited about a new project that I'm throwing myself into but it's too premature to talk about it just yet. I'm Sicilian, so I believe in jinxes. Also, there are some great guests coming up on Brunch With Bridget, so you'll have to watch and see whom I'm welting with a pillow.
SheWired: Do you feel it's harder for lesbians to succeed in the stand-up comedy world? Why/Why not?
McManus: I think it's more difficult for all women in comedy, because there are only a few of us. Think about it. Stand-up is a medium that exists at night with a lot of drinking. Do you feel safe around a group of drunk men? When I first started doing comedy at straight venues, I stuck out like a sore thumb. I am a woman, obviously, and very openly gay, so at first I got a lot of attention because I was different. Luckily as time went on, no one cared that I was gay, they just wanted me to make them laugh. Did I mention that I am gay?
For more about Bridget McManus, go to bridgetmcmanus.com or find her on Facebook.
From Logo's Laughing Matters 2008 documentary:
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