Forward Freelancer Tapped as Funniest
Forward contributor Catie Lazarus won the “Funniest Reporter on the Planet” contest last week. But it seems that at least one person who attended the competition, held at the New York comedy club The Laugh Factory, needs to lighten up.
The New York Post’s famed gossip column, known as Page 6, quoted one of its spies as complaining about the results. “Lazarus is also a professional comedian,” the spy griped. “Is it fair that she won what was an amateur contest?”
Our humor champion makes no apologies for her victory, saying that she was not the only contestant who has experience in comedy.
“That said, I appreciate The New York Post kindly referring to me as a professional, or at least placing the word in spitting distance of my name,” Lazarus wrote in an e-mail to the Forward. “Maybe it will give Biff, who runs the 5 p.m. open mic in the basement of Charlie’s Chuckle Factory, the incentive to pay me accordingly. Until then, I will continue to write and, maybe one day, be able to afford health insurance.”
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
