RITA RUDNER PLUS

Having raised her daughter with the same discipline that enabled her to graduate from high school in Miami at age 15, the mother-daughter duo share a piano background and love for travel and the beach. Tennis is the family sport, and according to Rudner, is вЂњalmost like stand-up comedy: youвЂ™re in charge of what you do on your side of the net.вЂќ Molly thinks she may want to take to the stage like mom someday, but her mom says she can also see her playing tennisвЂ“ with her guitar. But this weekend, itвЂ™s Molly who will make her first appearance on momвЂ™s stage as she joins opening act (and her music teacher from Dana Point DanmanвЂ™s Music Academy) Sasha Evans for a number on guitar and vocals. Together, Bergman and Rudner have loved co-writing several scripts and plays, one of which ( Tickled Pink) showcased at the Playhouse this spring and is now on its way to Tampa. вЂњI can always think of another joke I canвЂ™t get another husband.вЂќ And while she talks about family life, she knows her boundaries. Although surely sheвЂ™d be welcome as her material is famously clean and relatable. She has yet to be hit up to headline her daughterвЂ™s school fundraiser. A year ago when they moved from Vegas to the coast permanently, Molly worried, вЂњAre you going to be famous in Laguna?вЂќ But while here, Rudner says she is most frequently met with awkward phrases like, вЂњI think I know you.вЂќ There, sheвЂ™s the funny face on the billboard here sheвЂ™s just mom. The close proximity of airports to homes allows Rudner to commute quickly between Vegas and Orange County.

вЂњWe adopted Molly because the doctor told me IвЂ™d spent too much time in Jacuzzis and accidentally hard boiled my eggs,вЂќ she quipped, then continued to say she was glad she couldnвЂ™t have kids because she couldnвЂ™t have asked for a better daughter.

And Rudner feels tremendously lucky that later in life, she gets to do it all.

As a family, theyвЂ™ve taken an out-of-town friend to the airport, cheered Molly on to that victory on the tennis court, and will spend the evening cooking вЂњMommy PastaвЂќ and watching a Disney movie.

RITA RUDNER PLUS

The past month has been typical of her successful career that has been studded with appearances on Johnny Carson and Letterman, feature film roles, and as the writer of four books and co-writer of several plays: sheвЂ™s sold a show to BBC, guest starred as MelissaвЂ™s mom on sitcom Melissa and Joey, and jet-setted back and forth from Vegas to headline in her decade plus gig as the soft spoken,epigrammatist at the Venetian.Д«ut for today, sheвЂ™s mom. And Rita was relaxed, warm Rita, always quick with a one liner and a smile. Daughter Molly, 10, napped post-tennis match upstairs. Her writer/producer (and calendar manager) husband Martin Bergman typed away in the kitchen, penning the scripts of their life and business ventures. On a gorgeous summer Saturday overlooking the Pacific, we met to discuss life, laughter, and Laguna Beach art вЂ“ three things that exist aplenty in her oceanfront home. And by all appearances, sheвЂ™s balancing quite well. A self-proclaimed вЂњTiger MomвЂќ by day, and Vegas headliner by night, Rudner splits her time between Laguna Beach and Sin City, family life and show business. Such is the duality of the award-winning comedienneвЂ™s life. Rita RudnerвЂ™s calendar this week details a unique combination: вЂњBuy new school uniform for Molly.

Rita rudner