Talia Reese
Talia Reese is an American comedian known for combining her Orthodox Jewish lifestyle with her career in standup.[1]
Early life and education
Reese grew up in Great Neck, New York and aspired to be a Broadway star.[2] Reese acted in school plays[2] and performed comedy in high school.[3] She noted that other girls wanted to be pretty, while she would "throw on a wig and be the wackiest character".[4] She attended the same high school as Sarah Sherman.[5] At the University of Pennsylvania, Reese performed with the all-female comedy group the Bloomers.[4] She grew up Reform and became Orthodox during college.[4] She attended Cardozo Law School.[4]
Career
Reese worked as a bankruptcy attorney at Paul Weiss before switching to standup.[5] When she performs at Stand Up NY, Comic Strip Live, and other clubs,[6] her material covers 'usual' topics like sex and family life.[1] At Caroline's, she joked that her first husband would "come home, walk up [to the bedroom] and say... ‘scooch down’" as if for a pap smear.[7] When she performs for Orthodox Jewish audiences, she adds jokes about her monthly visits to the mikveh, declaring “After all that, I should be able to go home with any man I want!”[7] She does not perform on Friday nights because she observes the Jewish Sabbath, noting "Basically I'm available 24/6."[8] Consequently, she has declined opportunities including an assistant position on SNL.[9] Her Jewish dietary restrictions have required bringing her own food on the road, even going to sound check with a "pot of kosher meatballs".[10]
Reese's comedic influences include Joan Rivers, Sarah Silverman, Rita Rudner, Dave Attell and Sebastian Maniscalco.[3] She incorporated Caroline Rhea's advice to "speak urgently, like she’s talking to a friend on stage".[4] Reese has opened for Rhea, Nick DiPaolo, and Ashley Blaker.[11]
Reese has touched on gender-based expectations, joking that her parents “did not want a daughter doing stand-up. I mean, they did not want a daughter…,” trailing off to indicate their disappointment.[12] Reese has been described as a 'momedian'[6] and has joked “Babies are like beer. There’s a lot of pressure to have another from people who should have stopped a long time ago.”[13]
After the October 7 Hamas-led attacks on Israel and subsequent war, Reese said she "didn’t think anything was really going to be funny again,” but noted that Jewish communities sought her comedy to cope with the stress and sadness, increasing her bookings.[14]
Awards
Top Female Comedian of the Year, International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP), 2024[15]
Personal life
Reese's husband is also a Jewish lawyer.[6] She is descended from Bukharan Jews.[4] After maternity leave, she wrote romance novels.[5]
References
- ^ a b Passy, Charles (2020-02-09), "Keeping Kosher, With a Side of Jokes", Wall Street Journal, ISSN 0099-9660, retrieved 2025-02-16
- ^ a b Valente, Joanna C. (2017-03-10). "Meet the Orthodox Jewish Mom Who Will Make You Blush with Her Edgy Comedy – Kveller". Kveller. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b Max, Rena (2019-02-01). "Synagogue Stand-Up". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b c d e f Zeitlin, Alan (2023-08-01). "Orthodox Jewish Comic Takes Her Skills To Clubs, Shuls And the Catskills". JewishPress.com. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b c Esagoff, Janet Nina (2024-12-19). "Focus on Great Neck Peninsula: Sherman, Reese carry on G.N.'s comedy tradition". LI Press. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b c Kaplan, Arielle (2019-02-20). "These 7 Jewish Comedians Prove Moms Are Really, Really Funny – Kveller". Kveller. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ a b Spiro, Amy (2017-03-27). "VIDEO: Toning her comedy act down for the rabbi". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Nahmod, David-Elijah (2023-12-05). "Kung Pao Kosher Comedy: Jewish comedy on Christmas in a Chinese restaurant :: Bay Area Reporter". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Sher, Abby (2017-02-06). "The Raunchiest Orthodox Mom Doing Stand-Up". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Singer, Jenny (2019-04-05). "7 Hysterical Orthodox Women Comedians You Should Know". The Forward. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Gordon, Larry (2018-06-22). "Great Neck Comedian Talia Reese Performing Off-Broadway". The 5 Towns Jewish Times. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Janiak, Lily (2023-12-11). "Kung Pao Kosher Comedy returns with Jews, stand-up and Chinese food". Datebook. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Johnson, Richard (2018-12-30). "Rabbi Shmuley Boteach on Pam Anderson at his Shabbat dinner". Page Six. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ Diamond, Jillian (2024-05-09). "Lots of Laughs Come to Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Comedy Show". Baltimore Jewish Times. Retrieved 2025-02-16.
- ^ "Talia Reese selected as Top Female Comedian of the Year by IAOTP". ABC4 Utah. 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-02-16.