Tammy Pescatelli

Tammy Pescatelli
Pescatelli in August 2012
Birth nameTammy Gillespie[1]
Born (1969-05-15) May 15, 1969 (age 55)
Perry, Ohio, U.S.[2]
MediumStand-up comedy, television, film
GenresObservational comedy
Subject(s)Interpersonal relationships, everyday life
SpouseLuca Palanca

Tammy Pescatelli (born Tammy Gillespie, May 15, 1969) is an American stand-up comedian.

Life and career

Pescatelli was born in Perry, Ohio, and spent her childhood summers in her mother's hometown of Meadville, Pennsylvania.[3] Pescatelli worked as a morning radio show co-host, performer, TV spokeswoman and basketball cheerleader from 1990 to 1995 in the Quad Cities area of southeastern Iowa and northwestern Illinois.[4] Pescatelli's comedic career took off after appearing on NBC's Last Comic Standing in 2004.[5]

Pescatelli married Luca Palanca on February 11, 2008. Palanca and Pescatelli moved to Meadville in 2009 after their son was born.[3] Both Pescatelli and Palanca are of Italian descent, and her extended family lives in Meadville. She is often on the road as a stand-up comedian, so in Meadville her extended family helps look after their son. Part of her show's humor originates from the interactions with her and her husband's families.[3]

In 2010, Pescatelli won Comedy Central's Standup Showdown.[6] In 2004, she was a finalist on the second and third seasons of Last Comic Standing. She was one of the Final Five on NBC's Last Comic Standing.

Pescatelli co-created, executive produced, wrote and starred in a reality television show on WE tv called A Standup Mother (2011), related to Pescatelli's life as a mother, wife, and comedian.[7]

Her comedy special Finding the Funny was released with Netflix in 2013.[8] It was selected "New and Noteworthy" by iTunes editors and hit number 3 on the charts.[9]

In 2011, Pescatelli was diagnosed with stage 2 ovarian cancer. She underwent surgery, was told she was "free and clear" of cancer and did not have to go through chemotherapy.[4]

References

  1. ^ Felton, Chad (March 14, 2018). "Perry High grad returns to school to film Netflix comedy special". The News-Herald.
  2. ^ Koestner, Mark (January 24, 2011). "Perry Native Goes from 'Last Comic Standing' to One 'Stand Up Mother'". The News-Herald. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c Owen, Rob (January 25, 2011). "Comedian and Meadville star in reality show 'A Stand Up Mother'". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Burke, David (June 2, 2011). "Pescatelli tries to find humor in tough year". Quad-City Times. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  5. ^ "Tammy Pescatelli". Shippensburg Comedy Club. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  6. ^ HAYTCHER, BRIAN. "Ashtabula native releases new comedy special". Star Beacon. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  7. ^ "A Stand Up Mother". WEtv. Womens Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  8. ^ "Tammy Pescatelli - Artist Profile". eventseeker.com. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  9. ^ "Official Biography | Tammy Pescatelli". Archived from the original on May 29, 2015. Retrieved May 29, 2015.