The LINE 9: Nina Tarr
Nina Tarr—actress, comedian, DJ, and champion of the moon—answers our LINE 9 Questionnaire and lets us in on the best places to see comedy in LA.
Q:
What your go-to conversation starter?
A:
Humor. I think it’s the best icebreaker. I’m a comedian so humor comes pretty naturally to me, and it also quells abit of my shyness and anxiety that I have socially. My usual instinct is “let’s throw out something funny. That will surely soften any social awkwardness for me and/or anyone else involved.”
Q:
If you could live in any movie, what movie would it be?
A:
There’s a scene in Goodfellas where Ray Liotta takes Lorraine Bracco through the back entrance of this Italian restaurant. The song “Then He Kissed Me” by the Ronettes is playing. He’s walking her down the stairs, throughthe chaos of the kitchen, and then they bring a table out right in front, next to the stage for them to sit at, and I just think it’s the most perfect moment. You know in the beginning of a relationship when a dude is just pulling out all the stops? The courting phase. It’s so romantic and charming. That scene just sweeps me off my feet every time I watch it. I want to live in that scene. It feels magical, but a magic that is actually accessible. It’s not mystical. It’s just really romantic.
Q:
Tell us about the best moment you ever had with a stranger.
A:
When I was 18 years old, I got into a really bad car accident. My tire exploded on the freeway and my car didmultiple 360s and I smashed about 40 feet of guard rail. It was really scary, but I was fine, thankfully. I got out of my car and both sides of my car were completely crushed, and there was glass everywhere, and I was just looking around in shock as to what had just happened. This woman, who had seen the whole thing, pulled over andrushed over to me and she just gave me a hug. That was the first thing she did, her first instinct. She asked me “what do you need? How can I help?” I was in total shock and this stranger, like a guardian angel, was just there to facilitate everything for me. I thanked her profusely and got her phone number. Later that day I texted her ask asked if I could take her out to dinner to thank her because I couldn’t imagine what I’d do if she wasn’t there. A few days later, we went out and we had a great time. We talked for hours, she was so sweet and smart and really interesting.
When I went to go pay the bill she had actually got there earlier and had paid for it already. The kindest stranger I’ve ever encountered. After that night, I never talked to or heard from her again. It was the most fascinating experience. She was like an angel.
Q:
Favorite Month
A:
I think October takes the cake. October is the best weather no matter where you are. You get to wear a lightjacket, it’s not daylight savings yet so it’s still light out late. The air is crisp. Not too hot, not too cold. Plus, you have Halloween, which is just the best vibe.
Q:
What’s an invention that you’d like to see in your lifetime?
A:
Teleportation. Imagine if you’re just like, “I want to go to Tokyo right now” or “I’m hankering for a deep dish pizza – I’ll just teleport to Chicago.” That would be so dope.
Q:
What’s a good place to see comedy in LA?
A:
The Comedy Store and the Improv are great clubs. But for LA comedy specifically, I’d recommend smaller more intimate backyard or bar shows. Bar Bandini has a good outdoor show, Stories in Echo Park, Best Fish Tacos in LosFeliz, The Virgil in Silverlake – just to name a few. One of my favorite stages to perform on in LA is Bar Lubitsch in West Hollywood. It’s a great place to see stand up and they have multiple shows a week. Also, pro-tip: they make a perfect martini too.
Q:
What’s your favorite piece of vinyl in your collection?
A:
There’s an Italian artist named Pino D’Angiò and he has an album called “…Balla!” Late 70s Italian disco. Everysong on the album is a banger. He has this really deep voice and his sound is so unique, almost like an Italian discorapper. It’s funky and sexy and no matter where I play it, it just works. It always gets people dancing.
Q:
Sun or Moon?
A:
The moon, always. That’s so easy. The sun makes you sweat profusely, it ages your skin, it gives you cancer forChrist’s sake. You can’t even look directly at the damn sun. The moon is exceptional. It’s beautiful. You can gazeupon the moon. Admire it. It controls the tides and is constantly in flux. Every time you look at the moon it looks different. You can do witchy ceremonial spells and stuff based upon what cycle the moon is in. And, lets face it,moonlight is the best lighting, it makes everyone look sexy as hell. Long live the moon!
Q:
If you could create one law, what would it be?
A:
For it to be illegal for men to wear flip flops in public. Unless you’re next to a body of water. When I see men in urban environments wearing flip flops, I’m appalled. There is something so aggressively casual about it and I cannot support that kind of reckless behavior. It’s like, the world is not your living room bro, I don’t want to see yourhangnail. Women – we have nice feet, we take care of them, we get pedicures. Men unapologetically flaunt they’re medically unwell feet and don’t even think about the likelihood of getting a staph infection under their toenail as they gallivant about the streets of a major metropolitan city. Like dudes, do you not have other forms of comfortable footwear to choose from? You literally get to wear flats all the time – tennis shoes, boots, loafers, sneakers all damn day. Women, on the other hand, basically still practicing ancient Chinese foot binding techniques, getting bunions trying to contort our foot into a Louboutin stiletto because it goes best with the outfit we’re wearing. What I’m saying dudes, is the least you can do is cover your hairy hobbit feet in public. I rest my case.
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