The unofficial but sincere
Maria Bamford Fan Site Newsletter
April 2004

Hello Bamford Fans!
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In this issue:
++ Maria is Tops Down Under!!
++ Newsletter Improvements
++ Calling All SuperFans
++ Upcoming Bamford Performances
++ Join Us Online!

Maria is Tops Down Under!!
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Maria Bamford spent a month in Australia as a featured performer at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Before it was over, she had accumulated lots of critical acclaim, a ton of new fans, and walked away with the coveted 2004 Barry Award for Most Outstanding Show of the Festival.

Way to go, Maria!!

In the March 31 edition of The Age, reviewer Andrew Murfett wrote:

" Thirty-three-year-old American comedian Maria Bamford's excellent stand-up show is a more emphatic success.

Drawing on a broad range of vocal and impersonation skills, Bamford dexterously dishes up a number of characters including her kooky father and one particularly amusing former office colleague.

Her show loosely follows her life's path from almost not finishing college to a droll take on the world of temporary employment agencies that obviously was fairly close to the bone for many of Sunday night's attendees.

Amid all the lazy anti-American schtick that is a part of this and every other comedy festival, it's nice to see an American comedian proving that not all Americans lack irony and a strong sense of humour."

In the March 24 edition of the Sydney Morning Herald, Bernard Zuel wrote:

" By the end of the festival we may want to claim the benevolent Bamford, in the now honourable Australian tradition of taking the best from overseas if we can make a tenuous link. For example, John Travolta is nearly Our John after becoming a travelling ambassador for Qantas (and replacing Our Tom Cruise as our favourite Scientologist).

Luckily for us all Bamford has kissed Travolta (who of course once kissed Our Livvy in Grease) on screen in the Nora Ephron film Lucky Numbers."

Maria's name even came up in reviews of other comedians. Andrew Murfett in the April 1 edition of The Age: "Yet, unfortunately, [name deleted out of politeness] is another local comedian guilty of some cliched anti-American material. Maybe [he] should check out American Maria Bamford's acerbic show?"

After numerous performances, a few TV appearances along the way, critical acclaim, and winning the festival's coveted award, Maria is headed back home. But not without a lot of new fans down under clamoring for more Bamford. (See the Chat Board for all the praise written by our new Aussie SuperFan members!)

Newsletter Improvements
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I've made a couple of improvements to the newsletter. One is to relieve some of the burden of maintaining a maillist, the other is in response to you -- the Maria Bamford fans, both casual and ultra-devoted.

The mailing list is now fully automated. You can click on the appropriate link at the end of this newsletter and either update your email address or unsubscribe with no delay.

I have also launched a supplemental newsletter called "Bamford SuperFan Updates". For those who like getting the monthly newsletter, but don't want additional messages in their inbox, you can stick with the monthly newsletter and now rest assured you won't get flooded with excess emails like the time we were working hard to drum up Comedy Central votes for Maria.

But many of you not only liked the additional emails, you expressed your thanks and gratitude. So you ultra-devoted SuperFans can now subscribe to "Bamford SuperFan Updates" in addition to the monthly newsletter and get the very latest news and performance dates without having to wait.

But you have to subscribe to get on the "Bamford SuperFan Updates" list. So, don't delay... go to http://mariabamfordfan.com/lists/?p=subscribe and follow the instructions to get "Bamford SuperFan Updates" right now!

Calling All SuperFans
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With her fame spreading across the globe, I found myself wishing I could have listed the Australian TV appearances by Maria on her official website. And sometimes Maria gets a booking on a very short notice and can't always get to her laptop to pass along the details to me.

But... we do have a growing international bunch of SuperFans out there who may have access to information. Like local TV listings, for instance.

And fans who get to see and meet Maria live often have tidbits of information that Maria herself may not think to relay back to me.

So I'm putting out the call to all Bamford SuperFans to keep your eyes and ears open for anything that may be of extreme interest to your fellow fans. Watch your local TV listings. Keep a camera with you when you see Maria live. And forward the information and photos to me so they can be shared with all the Bamford fans.

If you have anything Maria-related to share, contact me at webmaster@mariabamfordfan.com. Thanks!

Upcoming Maria Performances
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Live:
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April 30th, 8:00 PM **
Oregon State University -- Gill Coliseum
Opening for Rita Rudner.
Tickets are $32 / $24
Phone 1-800-GO-BEAVS (541)737-4455
Fax (541) 737-7895
Email: beaver.ticket@oregonstate.edu
Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday
** According to the OSU website. Call to confirm date and time!

May 6th
Santa Barbara, CA
Location and time TBA
Co-headlining with Jackie Kashian

On TV:
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April 23 — 11:00 PM ET
" Comedy Central Presents" on Comedy Central. A full half hour of stand-up by Maria Bamford .

April 30 — 9:00 PM ET
" World Comedy Tour 2003" on Comedy Central. Maria is featured in this hour of comedians from around the world shot in Australia.

Join Us Online!
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Things are picking up in the chat board since Maria made quite a splash in Australia. Come join us and welcome our new Aussie members! Just go to the fan website and click on Blossom's nose to enter.

Your humble Webmaster and Maria fan,
Eugene

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