Janis Lipton started comedy in 1997, driven by a need to escape the over-stimulation of her work in asbestos litigation. Plus, not known for her outgoing personality, it was a first step in actually getting a life. She has wowed audiences ever since, making them laugh at her subtle, simple jokes delivered by a droll and nerdy persona.

      Some of the highlights of her career in comedy so far have been coming in second at the 2000 Russian River Comedy Competition and getting a standing ovation from the crowd of 500 at the prestigious Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

     Janis sees herself as following in the footsteps of Steven Wright and Margaret Smith. Smart, wry, killer deadpan. She's really excited about it.   
No, really!

   "Janis Lipton is a dry, droll comic doing delightfully deadpan comedy in a bowling shirt and khaki pants, having been raised in a dysfunctional bowling family. "I was ten before I realized everyone's shoes weren't tri-colored," she quipped. She said her parents didn't give her a backpack for school but made her use a bowling bag. "It was hard getting my arms through through those little handles."

The San Francisco Bay Times

"...a female Steven Wright, she has the deadpan, low-key, self-effacing humor thing down cold."

The Vallejo Times-Herald

1997-2001

The Herbst Theater, San Francisco
The Russian River Resort, Guerneville, CA
Josie's Cabaret, San Francisco
Cobb's, San Francisco
The Punchline, San Francisco
Theater Rhino, San Francisco
Piaf's Cabaret, San Francisco
The Paradise Lounge, San Francisco