A March to Remember

Hellloooo! March has come and gone in the blink of an eye. And what did we learn? Well! My fave spot in Raleigh, Goodnights Comedy Club is moving to a new home! Huge news! Still in Raleigh! But what a historic moment! That club opened in 1983 so it’s the same age as my partner, Victoria! The halls are lined with black and white headshots of every celeb who has passed through and let me tell you: Ain’t no headshot like an 80s headshot.

🎶One last timeeeee

Love my colleagues 🤩

Raleigh excited to be here #punloversunite

March was also Women’s History Month and saw a lot of comedy! My friend Collin Chamberlin came into NC and I had the pleasure of opening for him out in Asheville! He flew in from NYC and we drove out from Raleigh to Asheville, had dinner and a walk around downtown Asheville before hitting the show and driving home. It was a ton of fun.

Road dogs. Aaaawooooooo!

If I may paraphrase RENT: Show Day But Today.

Some show highlights this month include: Getting to do my first (and second!) featuring set at Gooodnights Comedy Club! First for K-Von whose conservative crowd made me a bit nervous, I’ll be honest. But they were sweet and a lot of fun. Then I got to feature upstairs for the hilarious Kellen Erskine! Helen and Kellen? You kidding me? Let’s take this on the road. I went blonder. Did a final showcase at Goodnights for their closing weekend. Had an epic show in Mebane, NC — an adorable town with insane sunsets. I did a show in Greensboro, NC during the historic UNC vs Duke (which was on TV behind me) to a surprisingly engaged audience.

Absolute March Madness

Had my first ever late night Waffle House experience (thank you, I am assimilating to NC life!) where I got to sit outside and eat my food with my fellow comics. I secretly signed a wall that is about to be torn down, I donated to Ukraine, snuck up to Pittsburgh to see my family and watch the Oscars where “punchline” became the new “slapline.” I have mad respect for Chris Rock and the level of professionalism he displayed in an unfathomable moment. I gave the only standing ovation in the room as “Belfast” won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and had lunch on the floor of my best friend’s new apartment. All in all, a pretty terrific month.

Comedians next to cars eating waffles

I’ll be back with an April update because it is WILD. Check my Instagram story highlights for #snakegate

Love & Hugs (If you’re into that … if not, Love and Head Nods from Across the Room)

Finally a stage pic where you can see the SHOES. 👠

2019: So YESTERDAY

Happy New Year! I’m in Idaho at Victoria’s parents’ house, watching the blizzard outside, reflecting on this time last year. We were visiting for Christmas and had to rush home for my two New Year’s Eve shows as part of Pittsburgh’s First Night! Our flight was delayed just long enough for us to miss our connection and we were stuck in the Salt Lake airport for the night. We made it back just in time to get to the venue. Lots of friends (and strangers!) came to the shows: “The Complete New Year’s Eve Experience in 30 Minutes with Comedian Helen Wildy!” It was a ton of fun and the perfect way to start a new year: Doing the thing I love most with tons of my favorite people in the crowd. And rushing. The fun is in the rushing.

I can’t believe that was a year ago. What a year it’s been! Let’s talk HIGHLIGHTS! There have been so many personal highlights this year, including moving to Seattle and being welcomed so warmly by its brilliant comedy scene. Read on — or just look at the pictures. I’m not here to tell you how to consume blogs.

Comedy Highlights Include:

NEW YEAR’S EASE

Made it back to Pittsburgh in time for two shows at CAPA. Big thanks to the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for having me!

Playing it cool

In January, I got to feature for Aaron Kleiber in the gorgeous Oaks Theater in Oakmont.

Pittsburgh: Home Sweet Home

This year started with a January Residency at Burning Bridges Comedy Club.

A Wildy is always festive

I performed a musical set with my dad as “The Wildy Rovers” for Saint Patrick’s Day at Arcade Comedy Theater (If you wanna watch!)

Zawodni ZaSQUADni

In April, I did a guest set at the Pittsburgh Improv for headliner Ray Zawodni! (Thanks, Ray!)

Must Love Laughter

My partner, Victoria, endured a lot of two-drink minimums for the sake of good comedy.

Trying to be charming in Charm City

I was thrilled to be asked to headline Charm City Comedy Fest in Baltimore in May.

Detroit Women in Comedy Festival (Do I wear this jacket a lot?)

I performed two nights in Detroit — and took a workshop from the incomparable Stacey Smith.

Big Fannypack Energy

My fannypack and I got to headline at Arcade Comedy Theater in June!

Biggest take away in 2019: Don’t wear a jacket that looks like a brick wall

I featured for Aaron Kleiber at the Pittsburgh Improv in July.

5 Funniest!

I was selected by Pittsburgh Magazine as one of the “5 Funniest People in Pittsburgh (You Haven’t Heard Of)” Click here!

Best of the Burgh

I was nominated by Pittsburgh Magazine as “Pittsburgh’s Best Comedian” in 2019.

Midwest Queer Comedy Fest

Three nights in Louisville! (time to retire this jacket?)

Opening for Tamer Kattan in Seattle

I performed at Central Cinema (a super cool old movie theater!) to a massive crowd to open for Tamer Kattan in November.

About to get kinky at Safeword in Seattle

Safeword at Kremwork: A Kink Stand-Up Show where I was made to explore “temperature” — while making people laugh.

Pittsburgh: Is comedy in Seattle any different?

Me: …..

I was masked, and the host put ice cubes on my neck and a jalapeño shot in my mouth. …Comedy!

Honourable Mentions:

• A guest set for headliner Cameron Esposito at Helium Comedy Club in Buffalo, New York in January.

• I was a guest on Pittsburgh’s beloved “Ya Jaggoff!” podcast with Victoria.

• I was happily billed among friends on Queer-focused comedy shows at Unplanned Comedy and Arcade Comedy Theater.

• I advanced to the finals of the Pittsburgh Improv’s “King of the Spring Contest” in April (but was in Guatemala for the finals!).

• I was the Monologist at Arcade Comedy Theater’s “Hootenanny” and saw my stories turned into incredible improv scenes.

• I was part of Zach Funk’s album recording and Tim Ross’s album release show.

• I performed on the Not-So-Secret-House Show with the fabulous Samantha Ruddy in February, fresh off her Colbert set.

• I hosted at the Pittsburgh Improv for headliner Erik Griffin in April.

• I performed at “Pittsburgh’s Most Wanted” Showcase in June at The Pittsburgh Improv.

• I tested my crowd work chops at “Hurry Up; Say Something Funny,” a crowd-work-only show.

• I hosted “Sunday Sauce” at Pleasurebar every week in July.

• I was invited to the coveted Underground Comedy Club’s Callbacks show — three times.

• I hosted the Tuesday mic at Jai Thai in Seattle in October.

• I hosted “Laughsgiving” at Club Comedy Seattle in November.

• I featured at The Nest Comedy in Seattle’s Rendezvous.

• I partook in the hilarious and delightful “Gateway Show” at Club Comedy Seattle.

• I went home for the holidays and performed at Arcade Comedy Theater and Burning Bridges Comedy Club with some local and out-of-town faves!

BESTIE ON AND OFF STAGE

I got to share the stage and green room with my bestie, Sammi Travis, on The Early Evening Show at Arcade Comedy Theater as she was interviewed about her world travels (check her blog out!) before my stand up set. This is us on our last day as Pittsburgh roommates #dreamflat

Sammi encouraged me to do stand up and has been to almost as many of my shows as I have. She even came to meet me in Louisville for the Midwest Queer Comedy Fest to take in some more shows and explore a new state together. #bff

#TBT Cameron Esposito: Person of Consequence

Happy October 3rd, y’all! Not only is it my nephew’s birthday (HBD, buddy!!) and Mean Girls’ Day, it’s also what my friends and family lovingly refer to as my Camiversary.

Last year on this date, I had the great honour of opening for Cameron Esposito at the Rex Theater in Pittsburgh, PA. Cameron is not just an incredible comic, writer, and queer icon; she is also one of the kindest people I have ever met. She used her last special, “Rape Jokes,” to raise over $75 k for RAINN — the United States’ largest anti-sexual violence organization. In addition to hosting her podcast “Queery” and writing poignant, insightful articles for the New York Times, she has also guest starred on “Brooklyn 99,” written and co-starred in her own television show “Take My Wife,” and written a book that comes out in March 2020 called “Save Yourself” (which is available for pre-order here (If you’re not hyperlink savvy, I’ve spelled it out for you: https://www.grandcentralpublishing.com/titles/cameron-esposito/save-yourself/9781455591435/)

In a nutshell, she is busy killing the game. On her “Person of Consequence” Tour last year, she did the world yet another kindness by hand-picking local comics to feature for her in each city. Get you a real life comic hero who gives back more than Bruce Wayne. I could not believe my own life when I got the email that I had been selected to open for her. I waited a few weeks to make sure they didn’t recall it and send a “This has been a hilarious mix up” email, and then promptly told everyone I’ve ever met. Because Cameron Esposito is one of the best comics out there, so many of my Pittsburgh pals already had their tickets to see her and the show sold out the very lovely Rex Theater in Pittsburgh’s South Side.

I was nervously waiting in the green room when Cameron arrived. She was instantly warm and friendly. She astutely noticed that Pittsburgh is perhaps a hidden but ridiculously beautiful gem. It really is. (www.visitpittsburgh.com) Cameron brought me up to the stage with a Voice-of-God mic and I got to do 20 minutes of material before bringing her up (honoured!) and running to the back of the venue to watch her masterfully work out an hour. During the show, a member of the audience had a medical emergency and Cameron stopped everything to make sure that person got the medical attention they needed. Like a pilot deftly making an unexpected yet smooth landing, she made sure the rest of the audience remained seated, respectful, and quiet while a doctor and a nurse in the audience did their thing. Once she was sure everything was okay, she maintained the respectful silence of what just happened before expertly getting the audience back to a place of laughter. It was such a learning experience.

After the show, she went to the lobby and took countless photos with the audience. Later, from the green room, she texted me to come up and say goodbye (NBD! — just kidding, I died) and asked me if I was free to feature for her again the following night at The Comedy Zone in Harrisburg, PA. Yet again, dead again. It was my first ever road show! Eek! I was buzzing with excitement the whole drive to Harrisburg. At the hotel, Cameron asked me if I wanted to ride over to the venue with her because she’s straight up the sweetest. Being an earth-loving, Cameron Esposito fan, that was one carpool I could not resist. We had hilarious adventures at The Comedy Zone and, once again, I learned so much from Cameron. When they asked her who was in charge, she confidently said “I am.” #whoruntheworldgirls

She was gracious, kind, and professional when speaking with the staff while making sure we got everything we needed. She refused to let me go on stage with a wireless mic (thanks again!) and once again watched me do my set. As someone who had been doing comedy for 2+ years at the time, there was no greater education than seeing a professional, nationally touring comedian work out an hour for two nights in a row. The whole experience was like being an in episode of Oprah’s Masterclass. Once again, she stayed to meet every fan and take countless pictures. She’s a proper legend. After her legions of adoring fans had left, we went out for a bite and she gave me tons of incredibly priceless stand up advice and told me not to be afraid to be in touch. The next morning, I woke to a frenzy of texted screenshots on my phone, as the one and only Cameron Esposito had tweeted an adorable picture of us with a very kind caption. Such a generous and sweet thing to do. I’m telling you, she’s the best. Don’t forget to pre-order her book.

Say Yesposito to the Esposito.

Shout out to the hilarious and lovely photographer!