Comedian Lisa Lampanelli says that she lives for self-development and self-discovery.(Photo: Dan Dion) <\/p>\n
You might not expect someone who insults people for a living to have a lot of close friends. Comedian Lisa Lampanelli, however, says she values the relationships she has with her friends and family over fame or wealth. <\/p>\n
The stand-up comic was driving to a spiritual retreat when interviewed by The Detroit News last month in advance of her Friday performance at MotorCity Casino Hotel. <\/p>\n
Once a month or so I go for a week to this place in the Berkshires and I take different kinds of classes, workshops, mediation, she said. Im doing one called Hunger, Hope and Healing next week because I wrote a play on food and body image and I think it helps me figure out eating and food, and emotionally eating and why people do it and it helps me personally and with my play. <\/p>\n
Lampanelli, 55, calls herself an insult comic and spends the majority of her stand-up routine making fun of the audience and herself. In real life, though, she says she lives for self-development and self-discovery. <\/p>\n
She organizes game nights with her friends and elderly mother (who loves Apples to Apples and Catchphrase). <\/p>\n
If you ask me whats the most important thing, thats it, she said. I dont need any more fame. I dont need any more money. I dont need any more achievements. I dont feel that adds to your self worth unless you really believe youre worthy. <\/p>\n
But this enlightenment doesnt mean Lampanelli is going soft with her act. Shes still the Queen of Mean, and no ones race or sexual orientation is off-limits at her shows. She says lately, though, during a question and answer period at the end of her shows, shes been giving a lot of advice. <\/p>\n
I talk about my divorce ... my weight loss and my surgery, and people ask me advice about life which I love because Im under the impression that I know more than everybody in the universe, she joked. Im like Dr. Phil with a ton of estrogen, but not that much because Im goin through menopause. I got really happy a few months ago because some girl who I told to break up with her meth-head boyfriend broke up with him the next time I was there. I was like oh my God, I changed a life. <\/p>\n
Another topic that has come up lately during her post-show Q&A is Donald Trump. Lampanelli was on season 12 of Celebrity Apprentice. After raising $130,000 for Gay Mens Health Crisis of New York City, she was fired by Trump late in the season. <\/p>\n
He never bothered me, she says of the president. He never rubbed me the wrong way during The Apprentice. When I roasted him twice he was totally hilarious, had a great sense of humor. <\/p>\n
Personally I dont have a problem with him ... but obviously our views are completely different and diametrically opposed. I still feel like Im friendly enough with him where I can do jokes about him and everybody else. Hillary doesnt escape jokes from me, either. <\/p>\n
Im not a political comic. I never cared about politics in my life and now that Ive sort of had this human interaction with him I think its fun to talk about the different thing thats happened. That makes my stand-up show a lot more fun for me because I can kind of tell all. <\/p>\n
mbaetens@detroitnews.com<\/a> <\/p>\n (313) 222-2402 <\/p>\n Twitter: @melodybaetens <\/p>\n Lisa Lampanelli <\/p>\n 8 p.m. Friday <\/p>\n Sound Board at MotorCity Casino Hotel <\/p>\n 2901 Grand River, Detroit <\/p>\n (313) 309-4700 <\/p>\n $30-$45 <\/p>\n Read or Share this story: http:\/\/detne.ws\/2lQFn9A<\/a> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Visit link:<\/p>\n Lisa Lampanelli goes from insults to enlightenment - Detroit News - The Detroit News<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Comedian Lisa Lampanelli says that she lives for self-development and self-discovery.(Photo: Dan Dion) You might not expect someone who insults people for a living to have a lot of close friends. Comedian Lisa Lampanelli, however, says she values the relationships she has with her friends and family over fame or wealth Continue reading