Tammy Pescatelli to perform at Funny Bone

Even after 17 years, Tammy Pescatelli said she still enjoys her work as a stand-up comedian.

This weekend, Pescatelli will bring her latest routine to the Funny Bone Bloomington Comedy Club as the latest headliner. She said when people ask her where she gets her material, her answer is simple – she wakes up in the morning.

“All topics are fair game, including myself,” Pescatelli said. “I’m not a very chicky girl. I grew up with all boys; I’ve got a very male mentality.”

While she used to play on her Italian heritage, Pescatelli said she’s moved on to different material, though she still uses the fan favorite “What the hell is wrong with you?” shtick, directed at pretty much anyone, from 89-pound fashionistas to chubby women who wear belly shirts. While she would never say it to their faces, her routines are an outlet for that train of thought.

“I think it’s me to the 10th power,” she said. “It’s just me, but it’s bigger.”

Pescatelli recently finished filming both an hour-long special and a pilot for a reality show about learning to balance her career with her recently acquired roles of wife, and of mother to her 18-month-old son. Past credits include a Comedy Central special, competing on “Last Comic Standing” and guest appearances on “The Tonight Show” and “Last Call With Carson Daly.”

Indianapolis comic Matt Holt will be the feature act preceding Pescatelli. Holt described his shows as spontaneous and random, promising they’re never the same twice.

“I may just work with the audience,” Holt said, though he does come in with some jokes prepared. “95 percent of my material is based on true events.”

While Holt said he usually performs in Indianapolis, he’s also appeared at Bear’s Place.

IU alumnus Jamison Raymond won last Wednesday’s open-mic competition, earning the a guest spot for this weekend. The weekly challenge gives local amateurs the chance to perform with professionals.

“He does a really good job trying to promote local comedians,” Holt said of Funny Bone owner Jared Thompson.

Raymond said a lot of his material is self-deprecating about his failings, love life and his job as a secretary.

“A lot of it is me being me, but I do play on the dorky side of me a lot more,” Raymond said said.

Pescatelli gave a few simple predictions about this weekend’s show.

“Expect a great show. Expect sarcasm and humor,” she said.

Stand up Comedy
by Tammy Pescatelli
When: 8 p.m. today, Friday and Saturday, 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Where: Funny Bone Bloomington Comedy Club, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets
Tickets: $15 general admission, $8 with student ID