Tina Friml had been trying to get a drink for the better part of two hours. But her every step toward the bar was thwarted by fan after fan wanting to congratulate the comedian, or excitedly hug her, or, in one instance, ask Friml to motorboat her. Ever the gracious host, Friml took every kudo to heart, returned each embrace — and, yes, even obliged the cheeky invitation to bury her face in a comedian friend’s chest. And why not? On this brisk Monday night in April at the No More Café, a sleek mocktail bar in Manhattan’s East Village, Friml could do no wrong. Working the room in a form-fitting white dress with pops of red that matched her lipstick, she reveled in the celeb treatment from the small crowd that had gathered to fête the latest milestone in her ascendant career. That afternoon, Friml, 31, had hit a new high. For the second time in a year and a half, the Vermont-born standup had taped a set on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” at NBC Studios in Rockefeller Center. The shindig at the No More Café was her watch party. But as the comedian is learning, being the center of attention comes with trade-offs. Like when all you want is a drink at your own party, but you have an adoring public to attend to. The 30 or so people bunched together on couches and barstools that night numbered some of the most important in her life — family and friends from Vermont; pals and comedian colleagues from New York City; a new boyfriend. They know better than most the challenges Friml, who has cerebral palsy, has endured to chase her dream. In the past two years, Friml has reached levels that few, if any, Vermont comics have touched. Now based in Brooklyn, she tours all over the U.S., headlining comedy clubs from Oregon to Florida nearly every weekend. She had a European jaunt last fall. Thanks to her relentless gig schedule, she hasn’t worked a day job since 2023. Her online presence is just as robust. Between TikTok and Instagram, Friml boasts over half a million followers, including more than a few famous comics who’ve helped her best bits about dating and disability go viral. Hari Kondabolu and Mike Birbiglia are fans. So is Maria Bamford, who tweeted her admiration of Friml in…
Comedian Tina Friml’s Rise From Vermont to “The Tonight Show”
