2012 was a hell of a year for Grammy-nominated comedienne Tig Notaro. After steadily growing her fanbase and platform over the span of her career, Notaro was busier professionally than ever before. Ashley York and Kristina Goolsby’s new Netflix documentary “Tig” chronicles the unexpected series of catastrophic events that dramatically changed Notaro’s life that year. As the comedienne summarizes in a new trailer for the spot, she collapsed, “doctors said [her] insides were inflamed beyond recognition,” a week later her mom died and then she discovered a lump on her breast.
After being diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer, Notaro delivered what was instantly recognized as a legendary performance in LA. The ultra-memorable gig opened with her saying, “Good evening, hello, I have cancer.”
“As soon as I was diagnosed, everything came over me as funny,” Notaro explains. “I love stand-up so much. I wanted to do it one more time.” During her 30-minute set, Notaro discussed her various ailments, physical and emotional.
“We had an incredible opportunity to be with someone at the precipice of great change,” said York and Goolsby in an interview with Women and Hollywood. “Here was someone who had just gone through some of the most devastating events that can happen in a life, in an incredible short period of time — only four months. How does one navigate through such a devastating period, and at the same time take on new challenges? What happens when your dreams come true at a time of devastating loss?” In Notaro’s case, you use humor to cope. In a review of “Tig”, Indiewire described her story as “a brave and fascinating one, because of the sheer perseverance and raw humor with which she applied her adversities to something as pure and fulfilling as comedy.”
“This is what being alive is about,” Notaro says in the trailer. “It’s so cliche, but it’s like, you’re alive — you might as well take chances.”
“Tig” will be available to stream on Netflix starting July 17. The “Transparent” guest star and “Inside Amy Schumer” writer will appear in her first HBO special later this year.
https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/07iaQBJ7-720.mp4
