Lisa Lampanelli

Lisa Lampanelli is also known as The Queen of Mean. In 2008, Lisa Lampanelli won a Grammy for The Best Comedy Album, "Dirty Girl." Lisa Lampanelli is one of my favorite comedians for her raw, honest and hilarious style.

Last night I watched Lisa Lampanelli on Comedy Central. You've gotta love this Dirty Girl. She tackles subjects nobody wants to touch. From homosexuality to dating hot black men to by-atches, The Queen of Mean goes the distance.

Lisa Lampanelli was born on July 19, 1961 in Connecticut to a middle-class Italian-American family. Lisa Lampanelli was born Lisa Lampugnale and only slightly changed her name for show biz.

Lisa Lampanelli attended Catholic school (isn't that where all the "good" Italian and Irish kids are sent) then went to study journalism at Syracuse University before attending a graduate program at Harvard.

Lisa Lampanelli worked for Rolling Stone mag, Popular Mechanics and Spy mag doing various jobs. Lisa Lampanelli once told Maxim Magazine Online, "I was a real journalist for Rolling Stone, Spy, Hit Parader. I interviewed those f**kin hair bands: Cinderella, Slaughter." I remember going to a Cinderella concert in the 1980s...and the band party afterward was incredible (what I remember about it).

Anyway, by the early 1990s, Lisa Lampanelli started her stand-up comedy career in New York (what better place for her honest brand of comedy). Her big break happened at the 2002 New York Friars' Club roast of comic giant Chevy Chase.

Lisa Lampanelli started doing roasts including Pamela Anderson, Jeff Foxworthy, Denis Leary, William Shatner, Flavor Flav and Roastmaster to Larry the Cable Guy. Lisa Lampanelli is also there for roasts at The Howard Stern Show including Andy Dick and Gene Simmons.

In 2005, Lisa Lampanelli released the comedy special, "Take it Like A Man" (gotta love that title). In the fall of 2006, Lisa Lampanelli taped stand-up special and CD "Dirty Girl" and its update in 2007, "Dirty Girl...No Protection." Lisa Lampanelli was featured in the movie "Delta Farce" starring Larry the Cable Guy and "Drillbit Taylor" starring Owen Wilson.

Wikipedia doesn't have to tell us racial and ethnic humor is a major part of the Lisa Lampanelli comedy routine. They let us know she said, "I can get away with it because I'm a nice person, I have a warm personality, my intention is good behind it. The thing is, peopple sense when you have the least bit of anger or hate towards a group...that's why you never make fun of people you don't like."

Harper-Collins published Lisa Lampanelli's memoir in 2009, "Chocolate, Please: My Adventures in Food, Fat and Freaks" (wow, is that my life story?). According to "Publishers Weekly, Lisa Lampanelli covers, " a variety of topics, from the Virgin Mary to vegans. Much is quite funny, and Lampanelli never pulls her punches. Despite her raw language and raucous writing, honest reflections and stark self-insights emerge as she probes her past."

It's good to know Lisa Lampanelli loves all the peeps she disses in her routine as "The Queen of Mean." Frankly, Lisa reminds me of one of my best friends (who is absolutely hilarious, by the way). We all need a little comic relief. If you like it dirty and mean, you've gotta check out Lisa Lampanelli.

Here's a link to some YouTube video footage of Lisa Lampanelli in action during the Gene Simmons roast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmoVKswuviE