Lisa LampanelliMurat Theatre

Lisa Lampanelli proves to be an
equal-opportunity insult comic

Suitably referred to as the “Queen of Mean,” comedian Lisa Lampanelli succeeded in shocking her Indianapolis audience. But she also generated uproarious laughter throughout the one-time performance by Comedy Central.

For 90 minutes, Grammy-nominated Lampanelli seemed to hold nothing back as she delivered jaw-droppingly crude jokes in the near-full Murat Theatre.

The 47-year-old New Yorker threw insults at every race, creed, color and, in her words, “sexual abomination,” making fun of stereotypes. To say her jokes were “off-color” would be putting it rather mildly.

She even made fun of herself at one point saying, “Lisa’s so easy a caveman could do her,” making reference to the past GEICO insurance advertising campaign.

The bold blonde made no secret of her preferred type of man and also gave a plug for her soon-to-be released book, “Chocolate, Please,” adding that the title “may not mean what you think.”

Lampanelli proved she wasn’t the only one with a twisted mind.

“Some of my jokes get moans,” she told the crowd, “but Indy – you guys are [BLEEP]ing insane.”

Even amid wisecracks about people with disabilities, what seemed to draw the greatest criticism was her jab at the new Indianapolis International Airport. Nobody should take offense, though; the airport bit was nothing new … just a way to get a rise out of the audience.

Though Lampanelli certainly was entertaining, some people sat quietly through portions of her performance. Whether or not any of them were so offended that they left would be difficult to determine because so many people came and went during the performance. What ever happened to good manners? Oh, that’s right — Lisa Lampanelli threw them out the window.

by Cynthia Baxter