Family Woman

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001 | 10:57 a.m.

Stand-up comic Paula Poundstone's life story could be called "Eight is Enough."

Since she became a foster parent in 1993 Poundstone has provided a home for eight children -- three of whom she adopted, and five of whom she cared for until they were placed in permanent homes. Currently her rotating household includes four children, nine cats and three rabbits.

Meanwhile Poundstone, who performs Friday at Sunset Station's Club Madrid, is a regular panelist on the syndicated quiz show "To Tell the Truth," which premiered in September and is seen locally Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. on KLAS Channel 8.

The Boston native has been a regular feature on the comedy circuit since first picking up a microphone in 1979. She won a CableACE Award in 1992 for her first hourlong stand-up special for HBO, "Cats, Cops and Stuff."

Poundstone, 41, wrote a column for Mother Jones magazine from 1993-98, and is a frequent performer in social benefits, such as the annual televised "Comic Relief" show for the homeless. The quiz show, however, allows her to spend a little more time closer to her Los Angeles home.

Las Vegas Sun: Tell us about "To Tell The Truth."

Paula Poundstone: It's a blast to do. The format of the show is that three people all come out onstage and all of them claim to be the same person. They read this affidavit and, like, a short biography about the person and each panelist gets 30 seconds to ask questions.

It's fun and it works great for me for a variety of reasons. Not only am I lazy, and would hate to have to memorize something, plus there is something exciting about flying by the seat of your pants. It's a syndicated show, on five (days) a week. We tape every other weekend, five shows on Saturday and five shows on Sunday. Those two days, it's a tiring schedule, but I must say the rest of the (gig) is pretty easy. I've never watched it, actually, because I get real embarrassed to see myself, but people tell me it looks like a lot of fun.

I actually think it's a good show. It's not rocket science, but it's largely clever. Of the game show formats, it's one of the more clever ones.

Sun: Besides the quiz show, what are you doing?

PP: I'm doing a lot of touring. I would tell you I'm writing a book (of humorous essays) but I've been saying that for years now. I generally go into the same city every couple of years and now, when I do interviews in these cities, they ask me how the book is coming. I'm not lying. I'm still writing it.

Sun: You have taken on a very important role as a foster mother in a single-parent household. How did that come about?

PP: I have no idea. I stumbled into it. I had a conversation with a friend of mine one day. She's changed her tune a bit now, but at the time she said something about, you know, the biological clock ticking, but she said that she was too busy to carry the kid, but she might get a surrogate to do that. I didn't have kids at the time, so I had no idea how grueling it was. I thought (her idea) was silly, but it did make me start thinking about how we have all these ways of creating life now -- not that there's necessarily anything inherently wrong with that, but I thought, "Gee, I have a funny feeling there are some kids out there who could use a break." I really didn't know anything then, it was just a general notion. It made me start thinking about just doing stuff for kids.

Sun: Tell me about your children.

PP: Currently I have four. One of my foster kids just went back to its birth family, and so we're waiting for a new baby. We were up to five there for a while. I have adopted three children so I've had eight all together.

Sun: Isn't it rough when it comes time for the foster children to leave? Don't you get deeply attached to them?

PP: Absolutely. That's the sacrifice. You feel like somebody has run over you with a truck. But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I'm not one of those mushy people who say, "Aren't kids great?" Not all of them are. I couldn't say that across the board. From kid to kid, it's different. Some of it's really fun and some of it is anguishing -- the worst, most horrible thing you can ever imagine. I'm not one of those glassy-eyed moms who thinks every moment is golden. Even having said that, I still wouldn't trade it for anything.

Sun: Do you talk about it onstage?

PP: Yes. My act is largely autobiographical, what I'm thinking, what I'm doing. I have never kept a secret before in my life. I talk about it. In fact, I'm pretty deliberate about it because there is a shortage of good foster families.

Sun: Do you use a lot of humor in rearing your children?

PP: I'm a deadly dull, irritable woman in real life. I have absolutely no special gift or technique. Having had eight kids, I think there's one or two things I've figured out. Do we have jokes? Sometimes. I wish I was somehow more clever.

Sun: What's the age range of the foster children you take care of?

PP: The majority are newborn. I'm especially good with them before they can talk. I figure as soon as they can talk, I'm screwed.