Tickled Pink: Comedian Jessica Kirson Gets Funny For A Good, But Serious, Cause

At age 29, Jessica Kirson first found herself on stage as a stand-up comic — at the unrelenting behest of her grandmother, a breast cancer survivor and absolute character who saw her potential.

And so, just over two decades later, when the Ellen Hermanson Foundation approached the now award-winning comedian to headline “Tickled Pink” — an annual benefit dedicated to raising money and providing health care for breast cancer research and patients — Kirson didn’t think twice.

“I’m just very looking forward to doing this show for women, and women in need,” Kirson said. “When I’m not just doing a show for drunk people in a club, and it’s for a great cause and it helps people, I love to do it when I can.”

Established in 1997 in memory of Ellen Hermanson, the Hamptons-based organization has transformed its yearly fundraiser into its first-ever comedy night — unfolding Saturday at the LTV Media Center in Wainscott — and it fit right into Kirson’s hectic tour schedule, she reported during a telephone interview last Friday from Cincinnati, Ohio.

This past year has been a ride for Kirson, whose debut Comedy Central special “Talking to Myself,” produced by Bill Burr, premiered in December — though it is far from her first screen credit. The comedian has also appeared on “The Tonight Show” with both Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno, as herself in HBO’s “Crashing,” and was Robert DeNiro's comedy consultant in “The Comedian,” as well as a producer, writer and actor in the film.

“I feel like it’s all coming together,” Kirson said of her career. “There’s a good energy going on and there’s a good buzz. I think it can change at any moment — good, or go backward. It’s the business. But lately, it’s been really good.”

Known for her hilariously relatable performances, which range from ridiculous characters to moments of vulnerability, Kirson always steers clear of politics, but has no problem delving into her family — most frequently, her mother, who is a therapist and provides endless material, said Kirson, who holds a psychology degree herself.

“I didn’t even know I wanted to be a comedian,” she said. “I just was funny and the class clown, and one day my grandmother just told me I should do it when I was in my late 20s — and I decided to take a class, and then just started doing it, and loved it.”

Her earliest days on stage resembled those of any comedian, she said, except she was a woman navigating a scene dominated by men.

“I did a lot of shows, a lot of shows for no money, went up every night just getting stronger and stronger, trying to get stage time — and it was difficult for a long time,” she said. “But that’s what most people do. They just get on stage and deal with bombing, and you just get better and better over time.”

“It’s definitely harder as a woman,” she added. “When we get on stage, people think, ‘It’s a woman, she’s not gonna be funny.’ And it’s harder for us to get headline gigs. But it’s also like, if you’re good and you get strong, you can do a lot of work and get a lot of work.”

Recipient of the Nightlife Award for “Best Stand-up Comedian” and recently named “Best Female Comic” by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, Kirson is currently developing a documentary about female comedians for the FX Network, shining a light on their journeys and advocating for their place in the industry.

To the women in the “Tickled Pink” audience, Kirson encourages them to advocate for themselves, too — and to practice mindfulness and meditation, to stay in the moment, and to ask for help when they need it.

“And remember to laugh,” she added. “I think it’s really important to try and find laughter in everything, and be silly in life instead of being so serious all the time. I just like making people laugh — making people happy and helping them get out of their heads for a little while.”

The Ellen Hermanson Foundation will present its annual community fundraiser “Tickled Pink,” featuring performances by comedian Jessica Kirson and opening act Andrina Wekontash Smith, on Saturday, February 8, from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the LTV Media Center on Industrial Road in Wainscott. Tickets are $100 and $250 for benefactor level. For more information, call 212-840-0916 or email info@ellensrun.org.