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More About

• Lisa Lampanelli
• Sarah Silverman
• Freddie Roman
• Don Rickles
• Racial Issues

Lisa Lampanelli wants you to know she's mean—the Queen of Mean is how she describes herself. She considers her act "bawdy" and has been compared to "a cross between Archie Bunker and Don Rickles." According to Friars Club dean Freddie Roman, she's able to "get away with saying anything." And so far, he's right. But is that necessarily a good thing? I know there's a difference between telling racist jokes and joking about racism. Sarah Silverman walks that line brilliantly. So why doesn't it work for Lisa Lampanelli? Is it because Silverman is prettier? Yes. But more so it's because Silverman's humor is purposely self-deprecating, whereas Lampanelli simply takes every possible stereotypical potshot at black men and shrugs it off with, "I know this because I've slept with so many of them." Then for good measure, she throws in a few jokes about Jews, Italians and Hispanics and a handful of fellatio references. Frankly, if I wanted to watch doughy white woman from Connecticut telling racist jokes and making lewd sexual remarks, I could pretty much just look in the mirror and read from my diary. Lisa Lampanelli performs May 24 through May 28 at the Addison Improv, 4980 Belt Line Road. Tickets range from $15 to $17. Call 972-404-8501 or visit improvclubs.com.
May 24-28