Paula Poundstone: current events and common sense

February 26, 2015 at 12:05a.m.

Comedian Paula Poundstone isn’t a hoarder, as much as she’s just practical.

She’ll be the first one to tell you she’s not about keeping up with the latest technological advances. In fact, she’s against such materialism. Take, for instance, the fact she still uses a telephone answering machine.

“I have it because it works,” said Poundstone, during a recent conversation from her Los Angeles home. “Everybody makes fun of me for having VCR, but I have thousands of videotapes. And my VCR works, so I don’t understand why I would throw it away if it works.”

When asked what the last movie was she watched on the VCR, Poundstone said “Fargo.” Sure, the movie came out in 1996, but she’s not talking about watching it during the Clinton administration.

“We had never seen it before, so recently we put it in,” Poundstone said. “Now, the box still had the cellophane, but we very much enjoyed it.”

When asked if her VHS-tape watching is indicative of her comedy career, which began in the late ’70s and started to thrive in the ’90s, the 55-year-old comic said, laughing, ‘What do you mean, stodgy and old?’

“I think of each of the steps forward that we take in the areas of technology come with a good deal of baggage, and I’m not sure we’re moving in the direction we should.”

Anyone who listens to NPR’s “All Things Considered” knows Poundstone is up on current events, which is where she takes the conversation about the negative aspects of technology. Specifically on her radar are video games. That’s because her 16-year-old son is addicted.

In fact, Poundstone, who was recognized as one of Comedy Central’s 100 greatest stand-ups of all time, admittedly has a vendetta against high-tech companies incessantly shoving new gadgets on the market.

“I talk about it a little bit on stage and I often get people who like to argue about it and defend video games,” said Poundstone. “There’s no defense for video gaming. They’ll say it helps with hand-eye coordination. It’s like, OK, in America we suck at math and science. I’m unaware we have a deficit in the area of hand-eye coordination unless we’re talking about the severely disabled.

“Is there really a dinner table somewhere where a child is inadvertently putting his fork into the side of his face. The father says, ‘You know, honey, little Jake seems to lack hand-eye coordination. I think it’s time to pull out “Call of Duty.”’”

A touring act for more than three decades, Poundstone said she’s excited about making her Youngstown debut Friday at Ford Family Recital Hall.

In addition to her stance on video games, Poundstone said she’ll be talking about raising a house full of kids and animals. She also finds great pleasure in interviewing audience members during a Q&A portion of her show.

For those fans looking to make an impression on the funny lady, perhaps they can bring a contribution to her VHS tape collection. Poundstone said she’ll accept donations but with one caveat.

“I like old movies and old television shows,” Poundstone said. “But nothing with Vin Diesel. So if Vin Diesel is in it, don’t bring it.”