Anoush Froundjian was slow to grasp casual wear
What were you like as a teen?
I loved watching and rewatching episodes of Comedy Central Presents in the early 2000s and drawing on my bedroom floor. It was my favorite thing to do. I also had a continual love for Fran Drescher and wanted to be Margaret Cho when I grew up.
My middle school and high school years were tough because I went from going to a small, Armenian elementary school to a public school (with lockers and an actual cafeteria), and would have to explain what Armenia was all the time. (This was pre-System of a Down, so people with Armenian names had to explain a lot whenever they met someone new.) I also enjoyed dressing up for school, i.e. skirts, stockings, heels, etc., because, although I loved wearing a uniform in elementary school, it slowed my grasp on casual wear.
Did you have an un-sexy starter job?
Working at Gino’s, the pizzeria in my hometown, where I took orders over the phone. This was one of the town’s main hangouts, and I’d gone with my family since I was a kid. I’d watch the guys behind the counter, laughing and having a great time, and secretly wanted to be part of that team. The manager and my dad also hit it off because they were both from Egypt and would chat at length in Arabic. Years later, I joined the team as their phone girl, and after years of feeling so complicated, I finally got the chance to be a kid.
What do you consider to be your biggest comedy achievement?
My set at my class show at St Marks Comedy Club.
When you were coming up in comedy, what helped you stick with it?
Really wanting to get good at it, and the idea that something completely normal can become funny just by making one, small change. It’s a puzzle you get to solve (or finesse) every day.
On your deathbed, what transcendent advice would you croak at a young comedian? From one of my teachers: “Fight your dreams, not your competition.”
Best comedy advice you ever got?
“Make ’em laugh.”
How has being funny helped you in your life?
It’s helped me pick up on patterns and to know when it’s the right time to tell a joke and when to keep quiet. When it’s done right (on or offstage) it can really cheer someone up!
What specific things do you think a novice comic or comedy writer should do to shape their voice?
Honor or invest in what made you laugh as a kid. (I also recommend having a low-stakes activity that you can do while cultivating ideas, i.e. doodling, jigsaw puzzles — any project that has a beginning and end.)
Was there one person who inspired you to go into comedy?
The storytellers in my immediate and extended family. Them, and Lucille Ball.
Do you have a writing routine?
I’ll let my story idea steep until I can feel the beats, then I’ll write it down word-for-word. As soon as the drafts become legible, it’s time to memorize.
What is your go-to show or movie?
Currently: Leanne, Succession
Eternally: I Love Lucy, Rhoda, The Nanny, The Sopranos
What single word always cracks you up?
Schmegegge. I use it repeatedly.
