Out comedian and TV personality Julie Goldman is bookending the holidays in our area this year.
She will perform Dec. 24 as part of the “Moo Shu Jew Show” in Philadelphia — an evening of Jewish comedians and Chinese food for people who don’t celebrate Christmas — and will headline a New Year’s Eve show at the Rrazz Room in New Hope.
Goldman said she is feeling the pressure of having to deliver an evening of humor worthy of a New Year’s Eve show.
“New Year’s Eve is such a thing whether you are going to something or being a part of something,” she said. “Also it’s my New Year’s too. So it’s also pressure for me. I want to put on a good show but I also want to leave there like, ‘That was the best New Year’s ever!’”
Goldman is known for her comedic talents on stage and on screen, in front of and behind the scenes on TV shows like Bravo’s “The People’s Couch” and “Vanderpump Rules After Show,” as well as Logo’s “Big Gay Sketch Show” and E!’s “Fashion Police.”
Goldman said that working as a writer on the often-controversial and edgy “Fashion Police” with comedy legend Joan Rivers was a crazy and fun experience.
She recalled one instance in which TV host Wendy Williams called Rivers to complain about a joke, by Goldman and co-writer Brandy Howard, referring to Williams as a drag queen.
“[Rivers] was irritated that she got a finger wagging but after she vented about it she was like, ‘Whatever! What are we going to fucking do? Everybody gets fucking offended. Let’s sit down. Who needs to eat something?’” Goldman said. “She didn’t take it out on us and was irritated but she took it, which was awesome. She was awesome. You lived to just make her smile or laugh, which was almost impossible to do. She was self-deprecating and she was also very Jewish motherly. She would always offer food and at the same time be like, ‘This is the worst job you will ever have, so congratulations!’ It was mixed emotions but at the end of the day I would have nothing bad to say about her.”
Though her talents split between television and the stage, Goldman said live performances will always be a bit more special for her.
“It depends on my mood,” she said. “No matter what, I love being in front of a live audience. There’s nothing like it. It’s its own special, unique thing. It’s interactive and instant gratification, or not gratifying. It’s thrilling and exciting and unpredictable, so I live for that and would never ever want to let that go. But at the same time, doing television and collaborating with people is also uniquely special and I wouldn’t want to give that up either. So I guess in a way I like it all. It’s just sometimes I like one more than the other depending on what my mood is — and, quite honestly, how much I’m getting paid.”
To keep up with these changing times, Goldman recently added podcasting to her résumé.
“I just launched a new weekly podcast with Brandy Howard,” she said. “It’s called ‘Dumb Gay Politics’ and we’re excited about it. We’re trying this podcast game and having a stab at it. Not to mention that the political climate could be more … as horrible as Donald Trump is, for creativity and comedy, it’s a miracle, kind of in a gross way. It’s unbelievable and shocking but it’s also amazing.”
Goldman, like many comedians, said the recent election has had the effect of polarizing comedy audiences to the point where politically charged jokes can potentially derail a show.
Luckily for Goldman, for the most part her audience is full of people of like minds.
“I haven’t been in a situation where I performed for conservatives and liberals together,” she said. “I did do an Atlantis Cruise a few months ago and there was a Trump voter among thousands of gay guys and I know that he was causing some problems. And I would imagine that it is going to get worse. I think when he is actually president and his administration gets their clutches on stuff, I think it’s really going to divide people even more. I think it’s going to get worse before it gets better. Amy Schumer already had it and those were people going to see someone they know. If you’re going to see Amy Schumer, you know what she’s about. It’s not like you’re shocked if she says, ‘Fuck Trump,’ and the assholes are offended and they walk out. You knew who you were going to see and you’re offended? It’s going to get really weird.”
Goldman added that while some comedians might become less political and controversial on stage as a result, she doesn’t intend to be one of them.
“I already don’t give a fuck if you’re offended,” she said. “So I’m going to keep doing me and I’m probably going to sharpen my edges because the worst thing to me is being told what to do or how to feel by any type of authority. Anything like that for me is a red flag and makes me insane. Now the bull is inflamed and in the China shop knocking everything over. Chris Rock once said standup is the only place to find real justice. That speaks to me as to why I keep doing standup. I’m opinionated and I’m going to express my opinions. Even though it’s comedy and I’m not some legislator, there is the thing where I’m saying what I feel. I’m looking to speak my mind and empower people to speak their minds and feel empowered.”
Julie Goldman performs at the “Moo Shu Jew Show” 6-10 p.m. Dec. 24 at Ocean Harbor Restaurant, 1023 Race St., and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 31 at The Rrazz Room, 385 W. Bridge St., New Hope. For more information, visit www.gershmany.org/moo-shu-jew-show2016/ or call the Rrazz Room at 888-596-1027.