Sandra Bernhard :: Everything's Changed in Sandyland

She is reminiscent of, though perhaps with a bit more "spice" thrown in, the powerfully funny women who blazed a trail before her: Carol Burnett,
Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers and Lucille Ball to name few.

Sandra Bernhard is part too, of the long line of talented, funny women who came out of the '70s. Women who bucked the male-dominated world and blazed a trail through comedy clubs, theatres, television and film. A group that not only changed the face of comedy with their brand of humor, they also became the riotous denizens who managed to challenge and then break through, cultural norms that had bound so many of their gender, since, well... Forever.

Comedy, like any great art form, has the unique ability to force us to view things that we might be uncomfortable with. It challenges morays and rigid ideologies by poking fun at them and exposing each to the light of day, consequently challenging those in turn who use such things to inhibit.

Bernhard has unique skill in this realm, using her humor, wit, musical ability and intelligence to poke at those mechanisms and making many squirm. Which, in the end, opens the door to a greater understanding. Though admittedly doing so, can sometimes be like taking a stick to a hornet's nest.

I recently had the chance to take a whack at Bernhard's fierce personality and firebrand humor. As far as I can tell, I managed to avoid being stung by anything other than a master's humor.

Tell us a bit about your current show, "Sandra Monica Boulevard: Coast to Coast." What's new about this tour?

Well really, I mean what isn't new right now?

First of all, I've been doing my SiriusXM Radio show, "Sandyland," for going on two years. So, a lot of the material is of the moment, every day for me, because I'm constantly circling in on what's happening. That's sort of what I do naturally anyway, it's always been a big part of my shows.

In terms of broad strokes, the show is about my relationship, travels, people I meet along the way. Funny little chance meetings with people, whether they are known or totally unknown. There's a lot of splashes of color and a lot of spice, all intertwined with my music. I always try to do something current
and fresh, that hopefully, keeps people on their toes as well as myself.

It is one of the things that I truly enjoy about your performances and your comedy. My perception is that you are much less scripted in your work, it's always refreshing and unique.

I think one of my specialties that I've developed over the years, is to be able to make it seem that everything is improvisational. It is part of what I do as a performer, to make it seem conversational and of the moment. I like to always make sure it feels fresh, no matter how many times I've done a piece.

Let's talk a bit more about Sandyland on SiriusXM Radio. How's that been going?

It's been a really, great experience. I've had on such amazing guests and it keeps me inspired. Every day I walk in, we sort of talk about what's happening right now. Things from my life, little snapshots and things that I find quotidian and fun to talk about and to sharpen my skills.

Do you have an episode or show that stands out for you?

Really, every day... it just keeps getting better. I had Leslie Bennetts on today, who has written this great biography about Joan Rivers and tomorrow
I have Neil Diamond on. It's from one end of the spectrum to the next. There have been a few duds, mainly though, it's been great.

Live radio, that's got to keep you on your toes. Do you do a great deal of prep work for the show?

It does, one hundred percent, keep me on my toes, it is really fast and furious. I do have a producer who I work with, but we don't have writers, so I pick the songs, formulate the conversations and write the questions that I'd like to talk about. Thank god I have a great producer.

How about a new studio album of just music? Any plans for something new?

I am always working on things, working with producers and other music people who love my voice, I'm sure it will happen again.

It is still such a pleasant surprise to hear you sing, because I still see you primarily as a comedienne. I wonder, do you see yourself more as a comic, or do you see yourself as a musician?

Thank you. Music was always my first love. I wanted to be a singer, but I also wanted to be an entertainer as well. I approached it from a different starting point, but I have managed to come to the place that I wanted to be, so I can't complain!

I recently read somewhere that "Hello Dolly" was something that played a big role in your life. Can you tell us that story?

In my early life. I was only 8 years old, but those kind of big, huge personalities were much more prevalent when I was little then they are in a certain way now. Carol Burnett, Carol Channing, the list goes on and on and on. They were dames, they were broads and had big personalities. Even where I grew up in Michigan, when I was little, there were lots of women like that. So, for me it was a natural.

Isn't that an interesting development? People were performers first and not "famous personalities."

Back then, there was never a way to do it backwards, or any other way. Before social media, you had to work your way up the food chain, so
you had to have a real love for it-you had to have love, talent and passion for it-and you had to have smarts, as well. Those things don't seem to be as important now for many people.

We're living in such a different culture now in so many ways. I keep saying that its' going to be interesting to see where we end up.

I think we've gone past the point of no return. Especially when you look at the president who is leaving the White House and the one that's going in. Who knows, though, by the time he gets in, he may be impeached. There are so many things that he has done already that are outrageously illegal.

Unfortunately, most of the people didn't vote for him. If we had the popular vote, he wouldn't be the one who is heading to the White House right now. Really, it is kind of a hot mess.

The thing that is so disconcerting about the whole thing I think for many of us, is that we're still trying to figure out how to respond. In my "The universe is working in perfect order" place, I think that this is a reaction to all the progress that has been made on the social front. The paradigm has shifted, and we can't go back to what once was. Unfortunately, the response to that change is intense right now, but it is done.

We just don't know what will happen, it's all up in the air. Everything is sort of cyclical and things do come back around, it's just a shame that some feel the need to kind of punish themselves in between. I don't know and I don't really understand.

It has definitely had an impact on what I will be doing in the foreseeable future. I think it's important for people to have their artists be honest and not
pretend that everything is fine, because it's not.

One of the most important things about the arts community in my mind, is that we have the ability to challenge the norm and point out truths in a way that is more palatable.

Absolutely, in interesting and fun ways too, that's where we step in. I've always felt passionate about what's going on culturally, politically and in every other way. I feel motivated all the time. I'm not one of those people who needs something dire to happen to get up and every day and dig in. I think it's just my natural setting.

You seem like someone who has always been pretty driven.

I'm not driven for fame and fortune necessarily, though. I'm driven because I care about my world, I care about humanity and I would like to see people be open to other cultures, other ways of thinking and have it be an open, wonderful experience being on the planet. I mean other wise, what are we here for? To get all seized up and be small, cheap and stingy with our emotions and not care about each other? Let's put something more into it.

It's been a challenge to adjust to this new reality. Though really, it's just another old patriarchal, "top down" power structure again.

Right? (Laughs) That's what it is. Fortunately, patriarchy is dying; unfortunately, we keep getting these last gasps. I keep wondering when they are finally going to expire. (Laughs) Can it be enough already? (Laughs) I mean, we get it, you don't want to go. But you know what? You don't have to go. However, you must become part of the whole picture, not just the picture.

Isn't that the truth! (Laughs) I'm curious about who your other influences were. How you developed your sense of awareness. Or, do you think you just came out of the womb that way?

I think it's partially the way I came out, but, then people like Gloria Steinem and all the other women we just talked about influenced me, too. Women
of the entertainment world, people like Jackie Kennedy, growing up and seeing people like her who were sophisticated and filled with grace and fire. I mean, that was just the world and the way it was and to a great extend still is. Michelle Obama has inspired me for the last eight years. I continue to
be inspired by new people and by memories of those I grew up watching and listening to: Janis Joplin, Tina Turner, the list just goes on and on and on, it's a mile long. Women and men who have been fearless.

I'm curious how much being a parent changed your perspective on your work.

It deepened the experience, for sure. My daughter just turned eighteen and she voted. She is off to college and is motivated and activated and totally engaged politically. They are the next generation and have just had a big disappointment, so it was and is, a big wake up call for them.

It's a wake up call for all of us. It's one for the LGBT community in particular; to reactivate and not let the great progress we've achieved slide.

I just think it's about everyone who cares about humanity, about getting it together and really being one. No matter whether you are Muslim, Jewish, LGBT, Black or Native American or Mexican, when you are not the norm, we all need to find a common ground to make the world better. Everybody has the same basic needs. It's just curiosity and intelligence and longing to know each other that separates part of the culture from the other.

Tell me a little about what else is happening next for you. Will you be doing another album or book?

There will be a new CD at the show, along with other DVD/CDs, T-shirts and all the things that I sell only at my shows. I just think it's the best place to do it. (Laughs) In terms of a studio album, I hope so. I have my fingers in several different pots, trying to stir up a lot of stuff right now. I'm writing another book, working on scripted TV shows, another performance sort of film and all the things that I'm constantly trying to make happen.

There really isn't an endpoint to the game, is there? Well, I guess just death...

Yes. (Laughs) Well, maybe just for a day or two, and then it's back to the grind. You just have to motivate yourself and keep doing it.