Paula Poundstone keeps getting laughs after 25 years in comedy

There are different reasons you might know comedian Paula Poundstone.

Perhaps it’s her regular appearances on NPR’s “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”news quiz show, or that she’s won several comedy awards for her sarcastic, observational humor. It could be that you recognize her stand-up uniform of suits, quirky ties and those black-and-white saddle shoes. Some longtime comedy fans may remember her high-profile drunken-driving scandal in 2001 and how she bounced back from it.

However you’re familiar with Poundstone, one constant is that she’s been making people laugh for the last 25 years. The comic, who performs at Anthology on Saturday, took some time to answer a few questions, including why she loves cats as much as she does.

Q: Besides the material, is there a difference between doing stand-up now and in the ’80s and ’90s?

A: I heard a piece on NPR today about diabetes being on the rise, due to the obesity epidemic, especially in young people, so one difference is that my audience’s health is in decline.

Social networking is a mixed bag of gains and losses for a comic. I have really enjoyed thinking of funny things and tweeting them for people who enjoy them, but I hate having to promote shows on Twitter and Facebook. The problem is, it’s the way the business works now. If I didn’t, I’d be the only one at many of my shows, and I am not an easy audience.

Wow. I hadn’t thought about it until now, but my job is a lot harder than it used to be. It’s a good thing I love it.

Q: How much do you need to study before going on “Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!”?

A: I always love the chance to clear up some of the misconceptions about my appearances on ‘Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me.’ So, here goes: Yes, I’m trying to win. Many people think I intentionally throw the match. In fact, I read stacks of newspapers in preparation. I’m just not very good, that’s all. Plus, the others cheat, I think. There’s a dark side to the show that never gets publicized — the betting, the bribery, the doping.

Q: How do you feel about the current spotlight on female comics: Is it a good or bad thing, and why?

A: This idea that women occasionally get the spotlight is silly. Who decides that? Funny is funny. Making a funny movie or show is a lot harder than people realize. As an audience member, I just love it when something is good. ‘Bridesmaids’ made me howl. It was screamingly funny. If there had been a part for Fred Willard in there, it would have been even screaminglier funnier. Laughs, which are healing by the way, are not determined by the gender of the practitioner.

Q: Why do you love cats so much?

A: It’s really the plastic balls with bells in them that I love, but if you have a bunch of those, and no cats, people think you’re weird.

Q: Do you still wear those black-and-white shoes?

A: Yes, I still wear the black-and-white shoes. They are a beloved part of my comedy uniform. I can’t wait to go to San Diego again. The crowds are great there.