Tabyana Ali has plenty of drama in her life as Trina Robinson, but she also knows how to be funny. The General Hospital star has done stand-up comedy. In one of her routines, she pokes some good-natured fun at one of her favorite movie stars and stand-up comedian — Whoopi Goldberg. Ali recently chatted with Soap Hub about her comedy.
Tabyana Ali Gets Laughs
The actress says she started doing standup as a young teenager. “My manager at the time thought I was funny and that my comedy was like Whoopi Goldberg’s,” Ali says. “We went to the nearest comedy club. where I did my first show. The turnout was unexpected. I had 60-plus people.”
Ali’s stand-up reel can be seen here on her IMDB page. She’s done standup at different locales, including the Ice House in Pasadena, Calif. “I did the main stage at Flappers, too,” she shares. Has she ever had to handle a heckler? “I think I’ve been heckled maybe one time.”
Stealing Home
Ali recalls a struggling comic asking a question once when Ali was in the audience. Her response elicited a big laugh from the crowd, which is the last thing a comic wants — an attendee who’s funnier than they are. Oops. “He came back to me [later in the show] and was angry,” Ali recalls. “I was so sorry! I didn’t mean to steal his spotlight, but I had to take my shot!”
Has Ali gotten to meet Goldberg yet? “I have not had the chance to meet her. I’ve had friends who’ve met her,” the actress says, hastening to add she’d love to have a face-to-face encounter with the Oscar-winning host of The View. “Let’s pray about it,” she says.
Tabyana Ali A Rivers Runs Through It
Who are her other favorite comics? “I like Kat Williams, Kevin Hart, Tiffany Haddish, and, of course, [the late] Joan Rivers,” Ali shares. “She was something else. She’s funny! I used to watch her interview people. Funny woman. She’d run circles around people. It’s interesting. I think even in today’s climate, Joan Rivers could get away with saying things with her comedy. Why? Because of the way she was. She could do it!”
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