On a Podcast, http://www.earwolf.com/episode/63-relationships/ released on July 31st 2012, a comedian named “Tig” Notaro had discussed a series of bad breaks.
What she would describe as a “four month period,” had culminated in a doctor telling Notaro that she thought it “probable,” that Notaro had breast cancer in both breasts.
Notaro repeatedly referred to the day of the probable bilateral breast cancer as “yesterday,” on this podcast. So, we can be sure it was made a day before this was taped.
On this same podcast, she recalled “finding a lump in my teat a year before.” She then told her co- hosts(and whomever might be listening,) of doing the expected thing, a year before, and making an appointment with her “regular doctor,” to have it checked out.
This doctor had examined this lump, and upon completion of the examination, stated to Notaro, “This does not concern me.”
Evidently, such an expression of indifference, had led the normally “very health conscious,” Notaro to entrust an inordinate degree of faith in that particular physician.
So, in July of 2011, after being told that the lump was of no concern, by this trained medical professional, the lump’s presence appears to have evaporated from Notaro’s conscious.
Flash forward to March 1st of 2012- some nine months later. Notaro would tell on this same July 31st 2012 broadcast, that on the first day of March(some four months before), she started to feel a “tickle in her throat.” That morphed into a case of full blown pneumonia. Then, the antibiotics given her to treat the pneumonia, had turned on her. Not only didn’t they heal her pneumonia, but they went to war against all her good bacteria. This left her with the bad bacteria, in the form of the C-Difficile Bacteria. This bacateria had eaten at her intestines, and had left her having to follow a restrictive diet.
She would discuss doing online research, when faced with this mysterious bug, as well as speaking to doctors. From both sources, she’d learn that C-Diff is a virulent Bacteria that affects those who are hospitalized, and have compromised immune systems. Her podcast cohost, David Huntsberger, would recall that she had told him that “C-Diff is an old lady disease,” when she had complained of it.
Notaro went on to marvel how few knew of this virus, and how few could relate to her, or be capable of “reaching out and showing concern,”and how she didn’t even inform her seeming vast network of friends of her “isolated” struggle.
Notaro marveled aloud that the “isolation” improved considerably when the illness was cancer. Cancer had transformed all that loneliness into a wellspring of astounding support, she indicated. Not just astounding, but reminiscent of a fairie tale. We’ll get to the show and the afer, later.
Notaro also bemoaned the incessant testing that took place throughout her two hospital stays, on various installments of the same podcast. And, yet she admits that she never once recalled the lump, or made the connection that perhaps it had contributed to her compromised immune system, until many months later, when she’d gone back to that “regular doctor.”
Notaro speaks of being let out of the hospital sometime in early March, and told she’s ok. Once out, she soon felt strongly that she was not OK , by any stretch of the imagination -- A brutal a relapse of C-Diff- that forced her back to the confines of the hospital, and kept her there for “7-8” days.
In the same July 31st 2012 Podcast, Notaro recounted that in each day hospitalized, she lost a half a pound. She spoke of the nurses constantly coming into swab her mouth with water, so acute was her condition. Then, Notaro continued to tell of how when free to go home, the day of her release was her birthday. She’d found a happy birthday voice message from her free spirited mom. She’d ruefully recount how “free spiritied” this message was. “Full of life,’ as well.
Notaro had failed to respond, and a day or so later, she was met with a text by her “cold and robotic,” step father, who tersely texted, “Your mother fell. Is not going to make it.”
Clutching her tortured innards, she flew to Texas, where her mother now lay at death’s door. Notaro chose to sit alone, late in the night, at her mother’s bedside. As she sat vigil, she noted disturbing sounds coming from her dying mother. Notaro alerted the nurses to these, “death rattles,” before her mother’s life support was pulled. These nurses swabbed her mom’s mouth in an effort to silence these terrible sounds. Notaro must have been reminded of how the nurses had swabbed her own mouth, just a week before.
She then briefly described how she had to prepare for the funeral arrangements, while still- very ill. She had to pick out her mom’s dress for the coffin. Notaro, saw a silver lining in the blackness. She was “grateful,” that this all led her to have to stay put in Texas for a month, rather than return to her “blossoming,” career in Los Angeles.
It was” healing ,”to be in her mothers home for a month after, she stressed. She got to “process.” During that time, she was heartened to see that her mom had kept so many keepsakes related to her i.e her baby teeth. She also recounts a touching moment spend with her “cold and robotic,” stepdad, Rick.
After the funeral, Rick remembered how he had told her how he had been wrong to suggest she had wasted her life on comedy. She could not remember this discussion, she said. Rick then expressed his admiration for her, her choices, her career. He told her she was smart enough to be a doctor or a lawyer, but she had chosen the right path.
Then, when her own self preservation should have been paramount- she gave all her mother’s belonging’s to charity. She did in no way specify the charities, but she did refer to them as, “worthy.” It can be imagined that when her star would rise just a few short months later, the worthy charities made a killing on Notaro’s baby teeth!
Let’s flashback now to July of 2012, and the first evidence of cancer’s presence in Notaro’s life. How did it come to pass, that she, had the lump checked a year later? Well, we get this information on the August 7th 2012, podcast.
In the process of getting “check ups,” she sees that same “regular doctor,” sometime in July of 2012. This same woman that had shown a disconcern, bordering on malpractice, had again displayed such insufferable indifference.
12 months after conferring her trust, Notaro had returned to her and said, “ Just as a sidenote. I still have that lump.” This woman had once again inspected the mass and once again had responded, “ This does not concern me.” This time, however, a delicious irony existed when this doctor said almost as a “sidenote,” “ But it’s time you had a mammogram anyway.” Delicious because this time our heroine would not be lulled into a false sense of security. No longer would she let this lump fester in silence. She scheduled the exam for an unspecified time. Fateful as it gets, considering what we’d learn next.
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This latter portion of the indifferent doctor’s assessment(“It’s time to get a mammogram anyway,”) then must have been what then propelled Notaro to schedule a mammogram. She got one. Then, she tells of getting a call that it was “abnormal,” and to come in for a follow up. Abnormal results, and follow ups were normal, she would be told by “someone,” but no one in particular.
Though she spoke of a nameless gaggle of friends expressing worry, she re-iterated that at no time did she feel worried. When Hunstberger seemed disturbed by these mounting oversights, she explained that this wasn’t due to carelessness on her part. Instead, she explained to him- she felt so besieged by bad news that she found it impossible to conceive that more could exist.
And, she re-iterated that the doctor had said it was fine, and no one in the hospital, including herself, had had reason to think about the long neglected lump. When the cohosts became irate that she had been in the hospital for days on end and tested and tested, and they hadn’t found the cancer-- Notaro stepped in to soothe their outrage- “ They weren’t looking for it,” she appeased.
When told that she probably did have cancer in both breasts, she was so gobsmacked that she declined the staff’s offer to schedule the biopsies. She had a busy schedule, she continued, “- Conan taping on Monday. Off to Montreal on Tuesday…” In a later podcast, she’d speak of more commitments.
In particular, she was to host a “Tig has Friends” at Largo on July 29th 2012, and big stars were scheduled. It would be a big room show- 280 bodies. Twenty five dollars a ticket. Ed Helms, Bill Burr, Mary Lynn Raskub. There was talk that Louis CK would perform as a special guest.
If one is forced to take pause, and then investigate the mention of this Sunday show, that Notaro would say Mark Flanagan, cancelled for her, much suspicion is aroused.
On the August 7th 2012, podcast, http://www.earwolf.com/episode/tigs-cancer-diagnosisautism/ Notaro audibly states that upon learning of her cancer diagnosis on July 25th 2012, she was too bummed to think of hosting this show that was a mere four days away. She would tell Andrew Goldman of the New York Times, that though bummed not bummed enough to not have friend, Nick Kroll, get her to accompany him to Largo to see the Megan Mullaly(whom Notaro said, “she adored.” Once there Conan O' Brian sought out her eyes, and told her he loved her and she could come on his show anytime . She didn’t have to even perform. She could just “make fun of them on the couch.” He told her " I love you. My staff loves you." She enjoyed their special secret, she continued- she’d assumed a big shot like him would not know but she imagined that her call to cancel due to “needing biopsies,” got to him somehow.
That day too she called Largo’s owner, Mark Flanagan, and told him of her cancer diagnosis. Though, it was summer, the story that unfolds has a Christmastime feel. Mark Flanagan fits snugly in a Santa Suit, as he immediately responds to this sad news with, “I’ll cancel it. No problem. I’ll rebook it for next Friday.”
No concern is expressed for the losses associated with 280 times the 25 dollar ticket cost for that show. Not to mention, the pricey drink fees x 280 souls. Mr. Flanagan does not even try to seek another host, and leave it at a promise Notaro that she will be missed. No, he cancels the show, and then Notaro claims he said, “ If you can’t do it on Friday. We’ll cancel that one too. No problem.” The mind reels with the beneficence. What if those performers can’t make it for the Friday show? Were tickets purchased already?Two big room shows scrapped at a loss of fifty thousand buck, at best.
Interestingly, Notaro would advertise on her Facebook Page that she planned a return to Largo on July 16th 2012- thirteen days before.
- Don't miss Tig's return to Largo with very exciting and special guests. Tickets are going fast, click below to reserve yours now.
No evidence regarding this show, other than this posting exists, but it’s safe to say that the show did occur. In this writers mind, it is also safe to say that Notaro didn’t find this return sufficiently triumphant. In fact, it made no waves at all. No fanfare aside of two lukewarm comments on facebook that didn't refernce any returns.
Largo’s Facebook didn’t seem very enthusiastic about it either, since they didn’t even mention it as occurring. Strangely, if one clicks on the link to get tickets to the July 16th 2012 show, they will be brought to the “famed,” August 3rd 2012, set.
What also strikes me as strange is that when she would talk of why she taped the Largo show on August 3rd 2012 to Terry Gross and Ira Glass, and the lot of press(that turn out to be far more suspicious than one can easily imagine) that suddenlys seemed to discover her: “ I saw Ira in person in New York and he told me to work out material onstage about my last four months. This was why too she’d explain the taping of the special set.
In assorted interviews she’d change her story from article to article but here’s a doozy- http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/08/31/tig-notaro-cancer-stand-up-interview/
You see, Notaro figured how the story had to be. It had to be that this Largo show was special. Whe she heard Louis CK was coming she put her plan into motion.
Had she discussed how long after talking to Ira, she had a show at Largo, that was utterly uneventful—well…we can guess the story wouldn’t have the selling power.And, since the story was not true, it proved very difficult to remember.
So, she was booked for the July 29th 2012, show but it was cancelled, with grace, by this fine man. Sounds normal enough. Flanagan might be a real prince. But, not if you are in a position to see Notaro’s word as the opposite of sacrosanct. Not if you know her to be a sociopathic liar, and not if you know that Mark Flanagan is a greedy liar, as well.
Anyways, where were we? It is safe to say, at this point, that I am not an unbiased narrator. It is safe to say that I am a narrator with beefs that are now deeply rooted in beef ridden craw. That said, all of this is not a product of the subjective.
If I were to tell you that Notaro invented this July 29th show and that Largo played along, perhaps, my craw will have more company.
And, that is what I am telling you. She made it up for some nefarious reason. Likely, to explain away a lie told elsewhere. Something went wrong with the dates she was claiming, I more than strongly suspect.
Mark Flanagan, knew her tendencies, and for whatever reason would add this phony text to the ticket website: “Moved from July 29th 2012.” Perhaps, he believed she had cancer and threw her a bone, but how to explain that he would agree to pretend there was a July 29th 2012 show?
And, though the truth was that she had no show scheduled, she used this non existent show as means to sell the idea that she was cherished, and irreplacable . So valuable to Papa Flanagan that he’d lose thousands of bucks and had allowed his theatre to go dark, on her behalf. A mix of crazy and shrewd. A self-aggrandizing anecdote mixed with some damage control.
The story she told WBEC Radio, Entertainment Weekly, and then Terry Gross was that this was brand new material. Unplanned. Just work shopping stuff for her good pal and mentor, Ira Glass. Ira was hot on her tail, if you believe her. He couldn’t get enough. So much so that she was “pissed,” when he badgered her for her wisdom tooth story.
First time she ever decided to touch upon it, was the party line. First time she decided to tape it too. Her stories on why it was taped and how it was taped would change considerably too. .
It is clear in all podcasts I had to listen to, that one of her hapless cohosts, David Hunstberger,is not in on the “Joke.” He keeps pressing and mentioning things Notaro would prefer he not - On the August 14th 2012 Podcast he says, “ You told me you tried it out already and it went well.” Kyle Dunnigan pipes up immediately with , “Well it was still very fresh.” Notaro can’t dispute it, so she counts on Kyle’s explanation to make this flub disappear.
But, the fact that she already performed this material on July 16th 2012 is small potatoes, as you will see. TThe fact that she kept the presence of that show a secret is a smaller potato too. The fact that she invented a show as a means to cover up, and self aggrandize both, is also nothing compared to the other diabolical machinations, and huge lies she would tell, to profit from non- existing cancer. Not to mention the other lies she would tell in my case, and throughout her miserable life.
And,what a difference a declaration of possible cancer makes:
2 lacklusters comments left on her largo comeback facebook post of July 16th 2012-
With pre-cancer buzz and manufactured cancer cancer buzz:
53 comments urging others to see this show, or expressing great love and devotion.
And, I know the same unanswerable questions will result(whether verbalized or not) Why do that? Why did she say you stalked her if you didn’t. Why say she has cancer when she doesn’t. Why did she say police came when she should have known those things produce records. Why did she say her agent, Heidi Feigin, saw you do all sorts of things when Heidi would say that none of that was true?
Why did she think Heidi would just lie for her? Why did she tell people you were addicted to drugs when that never was the case. Why say your sister beat her up and that you beat up her family? Why say you pushed her and the people “in line.” Why lie and lie and lie? Why be so brazen as to create real talent agents as witnesses, and speak of talking to police that never existed?
Maybe, the question, in this case, too, is how do you know she doesn’t have cancer. Just because none of her stories add up doesn’t mean she didn’t get diagnosed. Maybe, she’s so stressed she can’t keep one memory straight?
Same answers: No good answers that a non-sociopath can understand. And, I don't have the pull to get her medical records(Not lucky enough to be bff's with Nick Kroll,) But, I’ll present you what I think is a slam dunk circumstantial case -- not only did she lie about having a stalker, but from second one, the whole cancer set was a set up. From conception to execution to the press, and all that would follow. A complete sham.
PART 2 COMING UP.