Jump to content

Pudgy (comedian)

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Pudgy
Pudgy in 1980
Born
Beverly Wisniewski

(1946-03-19)March 19, 1946
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedDecember 24, 2007(2007-12-24) (aged 61)
Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
Other names
  • Beverly Wines
  • Beverly Cardella
  • Pudgy Cardella
EducationSteinmetz High School
Wright Junior College
Spouse
  • Michael Cardella
    ​
    (m. 1979)​
Children3
Comedy career
Years active1975–2007
Medium
  • Stand-up
  • television
Genres
Subjects

Beverly Wisniewski (March 19, 1946 – December 24, 2007), known professionally as Pudgy (stylized as Pudgy!), was an American stand-up comedian and singer.

Nicknamed the "Queen of Tease", she was honored as Rising Comedy Star of the Year by the American Guild of Variety Artists in 1981. The Association of Comedy Artists presented her with their Charlie Award for Best Female Comedian in 1982.

Known for her impeccable crowd work, Wisniewski starred in multiple TV specials for the Showtime network. She also starred in the second season of the E! reality series Vegas Showgirls: Nearly Famous.

Early life and education

[edit]

Born in Chicago, Wisniewski was given the nickname "Pudgy" by her father when she was an infant.[1] The nickname was bestowed due to her chubby cheeks.[2] She credited her father, a milkman with a dry sense of humor, as her inspiration for taking up comedy.[3] Her family was of German and Polish heritage.[4]

In her youth, Wisniewski played a small role in a community theatre production of Bye Bye Birdie, which she credited as her first experience in entertainment.[5] She graduated from Steinmetz High School in 1963.[3] Wisniewski considered becoming a mortician, applying to Worsham Mortuary College before deciding against it.[6] She attended Wright Junior College for three semesters, but dropped out before graduating to join beauty school and become a hairdresser.[6]

After developing an allergy to hair care products, Wisniewski left hairdressing to become a waitress.[7] At Toffenetti's Chicago restaurant, she began telling jokes, earning her a following amongst local dignitaries including Richard M. Daley, Joel Daly and Harry Volkman.[6]

Career

[edit]

1975–1979: Cabaret work and transition to stand-up

[edit]

Wisniewski was discovered by pianist Les Tucker while she was singing "Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah)" and telling jokes about her restaurant job at an open mic.[6] He gave Wisniewski regular work as a cabaret entertainer in 1975, allowing her to adopt the stage name Beverly Wines and quit waitressing.[6]

Local cabaret singers Cathy Ford, Karen Mason and Nan Mason befriended Wines and were supportive of her career transition.[8]

Adopting the stage name Pudgy, she opened for Barbara Eden at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in 1977.[9] Genie Campbell of the Daily Herald favorably compared Pudgy's performance to that of a young Totie Fields, opining that she should be a headliner.[9]

Gary Chichester made her a regular performer at the newly-opened Center Stage gay club in 1978.[10]

She expanded her stage name to Pudgy Cardella in 1979 after marrying singer Michael Cardella, who became her manager.[3][7] The couple met in 1978 while she was performing at Punchinello's on Rush Street, and they worked together to develop her act for a national audience.[3][4]

Author Robert Greenman described Pudgy's stand-up act:

Pudgy's style is to "work a room." The frenetic comedian, whose other name is Beverly Cardella, stalks the tables of a nightclub, insulting guests in a style somewhat reminiscent of Don Rickles but with less reliance on name calling or criticism of people's appearances.[11]

Chicago restaurateur Arnie Morton hired Pudgy to headline a 1979 party he threw for Hugh Hefner at Zorine's to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Playboy.[12]

William Morris Agency signed Pudgy, leading to her first bookings outside of Chicago.[3]

1980–1983: Success in Hollywood, television specials

[edit]
Pudgy filming The Unpredictable Pudgy! aboard RMS Queen Mary, 1983

After selling out New York's supper clubs, she began playing Los Angeles, and her act became popular among celebrities at the Studio One cabaret in West Hollywood.[4]

Pudgy appeared in the 1980 HBO special Don Rickles and His Wise Guys, and she often credited Don Rickles for supporting her early career and giving her that platform.[2]

In 1981, she was named Rising Comedy Star of the Year by the American Guild of Variety Artists.[3]

Her first Showtime special Ladies Night Out Starring Pudgy! was filmed in 1982 at the Chippendales nightclub in Los Angeles.[13] That same year, she was presented with the Charlie Award for Best Female Comedian by the Association of Comedy Artists.[14]

Showtime filmed The Unpredictable Pudgy! in 1983 aboard RMS Queen Mary in Long Beach, featuring Pudgy performing before a celebrity-filled crowd.[15]

The comedian moved with her family to the Chicago suburb of Deerfield, Illinois, by the end of 1983.[3]

1984–1992: Return to the East Coast

[edit]
Bally's Grand, which built Pudgy's Parlor to honor the comedian in 1992

Pudgy had a 1985 residency at Atlantis Hotel and Casino, opening for acts including Jerry Lewis, Sérgio Mendes and Bobby Vinton.[1] Don Rickles' longtime manager Joseph Scandore considered signing Pudgy after seeing her show during this residency, but they could not come to terms.[16]

She filmed an unsold pilot for Paramount Television in 1986, a daily call-in show where Pudgy would have discussed that afternoon's soap opera broadcasts with viewers.[1]

Pudgy performed at The Pump Room's 50th birthday gala in 1988 with Morey Amsterdam and Rose Marie.[17]

In 1989, she starred as Sister Mary Regina in the musical Nunsense when it played for two months at Harrah's Atlantic City.[18]

Pudgy returned to Los Angeles in 1990 to headline the opening of The Improv's new cabaret space, with Jaye P. Morgan as her warm-up act.[19]

Following her 1992 residency at Bally's Grand, the casino built a new cabaret space called Pudgy's Parlor to honor the comedian.[3]

1993–2007: Burlesque work and final years

[edit]
Flamingo Las Vegas, where Pudgy gave her final performance in 2007

Pudgy moved with her family to Las Vegas in 1993, where she began working comic relief for the burlesque show "Crazy Girls" at the Riviera.[15] In 1995, she appeared on The John Debella Show to promote her ongoing engagement with "Crazy Girls".[20]

She returned to Chicago in 1997 to launch her Gotta Heart Tour.[21] Later that year, Pudgy starred in "Camouflage aux Folles" at the Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.[22]

She starred in "More Glitz" at Grand Casino Biloxi in 1999.[23]

Pudgy performed in "Skintight" at Harrah's Las Vegas in 2003, and starred in the second season of the E! reality show Vegas Showgirls: Nearly Famous that documented its production.[24]

Beginning in 2006, Pudgy regularly performed in "X Burlesque" at Flamingo Las Vegas.[15]

Death and legacy

[edit]

She was "the next big thing," but because she had us (her three children), that was her main focus. She didn't want to do the Hollywood parties or whatever it took. We were her priority.[15]

— Michael Cardella Jr.

Pudgy died of a heart attack on December 24, 2007, after having performed earlier that evening in "X Burlesque" at Flamingo Las Vegas.[25] She had previously undergone bypass surgery in 1996.[26]

Her freeform style of comedy won over live crowds, but without traditional written jokes, Pudgy was unable to get booked on network outlets such as The Tonight Show that would have exposed her to a wider audience.[16] She had a loose format for her shows and refused to plan material ahead of time, preferring to go into each performance without seeing the audience beforehand.[3]

Joan Rivers had Pudgy escorted out of an L.A. Improv show in 1982, accusing her of joke theft.[3] Rivers was a regular guest host of The Tonight Show at that time.[27] Pudgy's husband denied Rivers' claim since her style of comedy made joke theft unnecessary, but believed the incident hurt her career.[3]

Phyllis Diller broke down Pudgy's sustained appeal: "She has a genius for people's names. She can remember so much. You can see her four shows a night and never see the same thing. And the way she uses her eyes, it's such a putdown. You take all of that, rolled up into one and add her sheer energy: I'm a mad fan."[3]

Personal life

[edit]

Pudgy performed at the first International Mr. Leather competition in 1979, and was a supporter of the LGBTQ community.[25][28]

She was politically conservative in her youth, having supported the Richard Nixon 1972 presidential campaign.[6] In 1986, Pudgy headlined a fundraiser for Democratic Chicago mayor Harold Washington at Navy Pier Auditorium.[29]

Pudgy and Michael Cardella had three children together.[3]

Influences

[edit]

Pudgy's influences

[edit]
Don Rickles, who Pudgy admired and was often compared with

Pudgy named her favorite entertainers as Don Rickles, Howie Mandel, Jackie Mason, Jerry Lewis, Jerry Seinfeld, Mal Z. Lawrence, Mel Brooks, Milton Berle, Phyllis Diller, and Totie Fields.[30]

Often referred to as the "female Don Rickles", she welcomed the comparison, but disliked being described as an insult comic.[2] Pudgy explained: "A man can use four-letter words and be effective. A woman can't."[31]

Her favorite films were Funny Girl, Giant, Good Morning, Vietnam, The Idolmaker, and The World According to Garp.[32]

Comedians influenced by Pudgy

[edit]

Andy Cohen was a fan of Pudgy, stating he wore out his VHS recording of Ladies Night Out Starring Pudgy! after repeatedly showing it to family and friends.[13]

Rosie O'Donnell personally requested that Pudgy headline her VH1 series Stand-Up Spotlight in 1991.[33]

Pudgy mentored Chicago cabaret singer Daryl Nitz, who described her as his role model.[34][35] San Francisco comic Tony Sparks, founder of the city's famed BrainWash Cafe open mic, named Pudgy as his all-time favorite comedian.[36]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1979 The Phil Donahue Show Herself 1 episode [3]
1980 The Mike Douglas Show Herself 1 episode [7]
1980 The Tomorrow Show Herself 1 episode [7]
1980 Don Rickles and His Wise Guys Herself HBO special [2]
1981 Madame in Manhattan Herself Showtime special [37]
1981–1984 The Merv Griffin Show Herself 2 episodes [38]
1982 Ladies Night Out Starring Pudgy! Herself Showtime special [13]
1982 People Now with Mike Douglas Herself 1 episode [39]
1982 An Evening at the Improv Herself 1 episode [40]
1983 The Unpredictable Pudgy! Herself Showtime special
Alternate title: Pudgy! Aboard the Queen Mary		 [4]
1985 Comedy Tonight Herself 1 episode [41]
1986 Untitled (Paramount) Herself Pilot (unaired) [1]
1986–1987 The New Hollywood Squares Herself (panelist) 10 episodes [3]
1987 Hamtramck Herself Pilot (unaired) [42]
1987 Regis Philbin's Lifestyles Herself 1 episode [43]
1987 Live on City Line Herself 1 episode [44]
1987 The Morning Program Herself 1 episode [40]
1990 Caroline's Comedy Hour Herself 1 episode [45]
1991 Stand-Up Spotlight Herself 1 episode [46]
1997 The Celeste Johnson Show Herself 1 episode [47]
1997 The Johnny Petillo Show Herself 1 episode [48]
1998 The Entertainment Files Herself 1 episode [32]
2003 Vegas Showgirls: Nearly Famous Herself 13 episodes [37]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1981 American Guild of Variety Artists Rising Comedy Star of the Year N/a Won [3]
1982 Association of Comedy Artists Charlie Award for Best Female Comedian N/a Won [14]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 "Pudgy's Genius: Sting with Style". Chicago Tribune. February 7, 1986. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Pudgy's Barbs Carry an 'All-in-Fun' Label". Chicago Tribune. October 21, 1988. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 "Funny About Mom". Chicago Tribune. March 14, 1993. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Pudgy". Patterson & Associates. Archived from the original on October 14, 2007. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  5. ↑ Unterbrink, Mary (1987). Funny women: American comediennes, 1860-1985. p. 223. Retrieved May 7, 2026 – via Internet Archive.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Pudgy". Chicago Tribune. June 6, 1993. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Ferretti, Fred (February 27, 1981), "Pudgy, First Lady of Insult, in Town", The New York Times, ISSN 0362-4331, retrieved May 5, 2026
  8. ↑ "CATHY FORD RETURNS TO OLD FRIEND, THE STAGE". Chicago Tribune. September 8, 1989. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  9. 1 2 Campbell, Genie (March 25, 1977). "Barbara Eden on stage banks on 'bottled' image". Internet Archive. Daily Herald. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  10. ↑ Lumen, Bill (September 1978). "In Touch with... Nightlife". In Touch for Men. p. 14. Retrieved June 20, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  11. ↑ Greenman, Robert (1988). "Words that make a difference and how to use them in a masterly way". Internet Archive. p. 152. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  12. ↑ "The World of Playboy". Internet Archive. Playboy. May 1979. p. 12. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 Cohen, Andy (2014). The Andy Cohen diaries: a deep look at a shallow year. p. 215. Retrieved May 8, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  14. 1 2 Ferretti, Fred (December 5, 1982), "New Breed of Stand-up Comics", The New York Times Magazine, ISSN 0362-4331, retrieved May 6, 2026
  15. 1 2 3 4 Brigham, Noble (December 29, 2007). "Time runs out for comedian Pudgy". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  16. 1 2 Spatz, David J. (March 20, 2008). "An Early Curtain for Pudgy". Atlantic City Weekly. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  17. ↑ Zwecker, Bill (October 20, 1988). "Seen on the Scene: Glitz and Glamour at Pump Room's 50th Birthday Bash". Skyline. Retrieved May 8, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  18. ↑ Klein, Alvin (August 20, 1989). "Theater; In Atlantic City, Less Is More, Sometimes". The New York Times. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  19. ↑ Heckman, Don (August 24, 1990). "Cabaret Review: Classy Combo Inaugurates Improv Room". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  20. ↑ McKim, Brian; Skene, Traci (January 4, 2008). "Beverly Wines Cardella aka 'Pudgy!'". SHECKYmagazine. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  21. ↑ Johnson, Allan (March 7, 1997). "Pudgy's Back, and Her Heart's in the Right Place". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  22. ↑ Zinman, Ruth (August 14, 1997). "casino hi lights". Ocean City Sentinel-Ledger. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  23. ↑ Susman, Lori Beth (July 18, 1999). "The Gulf Has Cool Shows in July". Casino City Times. Retrieved May 7, 2026.
  24. ↑ Weatherford, Mike (January 4, 2008). "January yields new shows on Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  25. 1 2 "Beverly 'Pudgy' Wines". Passages [Obituaries]. Windy City Times. January 2, 2008. Retrieved May 5, 2026.
  26. ↑ Vitello, Barbara (March 14, 1997). "'Queen of Tease' ready to revisit Chicago roots". Gale OneFile. Daily Herald. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  27. ↑ Smith, Sally Bedell (May 25, 1983), "Joan Rivers Sought for 'Tonight' Role", The New York Times, ISSN 0362-4331, retrieved May 10, 2026
  28. ↑ de la Croix, Sukie (May 21, 2003). "International Mr. Leather Hits 25th Anniversary". Windy City Times. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
  29. ↑ "As He Turns 64, Mayor Makes a Wish: A Better, Unified City". Chicago Tribune. April 16, 1986. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  30. ↑ Winston-Macauley, Marnie (2001). A Little Joy, a Little Oy: Jewish Wit and Wisdom. p. 106. Retrieved May 8, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  31. ↑ Ferretti, Fred (March 2, 1981). "Heard the One About the Female Comic?". The New York Times. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  32. 1 2 Lewin, Nick (August 10, 2020). "Pudgy on the Entertainment Files". YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  33. ↑ Petillo, Johnny (June 7, 2024). "The Johnny Petillo Show, A Tribute to Pudgy, Pt 4". YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  34. ↑ Burnell, Anne (May 31, 2023). "In the Spotlight: The Entertaining Mr. Nitz". Chicago Cabaret Magazine. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  35. ↑ Gordon, Carla (December 1, 2014). "Daryl Nitz: Bright Lights, Big City". Cabaret Scenes. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  36. ↑ Maginnis-Honey, Amy (January 11, 2019). "Let Sparks fly: Deville to host Comedy Crack Up". Daily Republic. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  37. 1 2 "Pudgy Cardella List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. October 10, 2019. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  38. ↑ "The Merv Griffin Show: Episode #18.219". IMDb. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  39. ↑ Thompson, Terrence (August 12, 2015). "Stand Up Comic 'Pudgy' Drives Everybody to Tears". YouTube. Retrieved May 10, 2026.
  40. 1 2 "Pudgy". WorldCat. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  41. ↑ Brooks, Tim (1988). "Comedy Tonight". The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946–Present. p. 163. Retrieved May 9, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  42. ↑ "The Airing of This Controversial 1980s Sitcom Pilot Drew Protest". HuffPost. January 29, 2013. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Monday". Times-News. August 7, 1987. p. 32. Retrieved May 9, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  44. ↑ "Live! On City Line: Pudgy/Lisa Sliwa". IMDb. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Felicia Michaels, Melvin George II, Jay Charbonneau, Pudgy, And Franken & Davis". TheTVDB. August 12, 1990. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Saturday Programs". Times-News. November 29, 1991. p. 22. Retrieved May 9, 2026 – via the Internet Archive.
  47. ↑ Johnson, Celeste (February 24, 2015). "The Celeste Show Starring Pudgy!". YouTube. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
  48. ↑ "'Wildwood Days' Comes to Middle Township PAC on August 20". Do The Shore. May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 8, 2026.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pudgy_(comedian)&oldid=1378549011"