30 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY FEBRUARY 5-11, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com ONSTAGE “Scary” was how Samantha Bee described the feeling as her body began going through changes that worried her, during the time she was producing and hosting her critically acclaimed late-night show Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. She experienced mood swings, forgetfulness, crying and hair falling out in clumps. “I attributed all of these changes to my body and my mind to this high-pressure job situation and raising three kids in New York City, but there was actually something metabolic in my body and I wish I would have known that because I would have felt less frightened,” she told CBS Mornings in 2024, when her one-woman show How to Survive Menopause was running off-Broadway. Once Bee had a name for what she was experiencing, perimenopause, she did what she has always done after 12 years as the longest-running correspondent on The Daily Show and seven seasons on TBS with Full Frontal: She confronted the topic in her own unflinchingly honest and funny way. “If we cannot laugh at this, we will cry—and we will cry, but we should laugh,” she said. She did a segment on menopause on Full Frontal in 2022, and from there developed the stage show, with hopes of helping women feel seen and give them a chance for shared laughter over a topic that’s been taboo in society for too long. “I can’t even tell you how much I love doing [the show],” Bee told The Express Magazine last August. “I’ve never had the experience of wanting to do a performance more in all my life. It’s a very self-selecting crowd, which is so important to me. Nobody is buying a ticket to this and thinking they’re going to get 45 minutes of Trump jokes.” When the TBS show ended, Bee was ready to leave political comedy behind. She’s on a new comedic mission to help erase the stigma of menopause and stand up for women of a certain age who’ve suffered in silence for too long. “I’m so tired of middle-aged women being the butt of every joke,” she said. “I think this is the single most important contribution I can make to the culture right now.” Samantha Bee performs at 7:30pm Saturday, Feb. 7. Sunset Center, San Carlos and 9th, Carmel. $50-$80. (831) 620-2048, sunsetcenter.org. Body Talk Samantha Bee takes on menopause in a head-on and hilarious way as only she can. By Pam Marino Comedian Samantha Bee has said she hopes her current tour lasts as long as perimenopause—two to 14 years. Her stop in Monterey is one day closer to that goal. The Peninsula’s Downtown Shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses Spend some time with us Downtown… oldmonterey.org 11:30am-close, 10am Sat & Sun 484 Washington Street Downtown Monterey 831.643.9525 www.melvilletav.com WOOD FIRED PIZZAS, BURGERS, PASTA, SAlADS & SANDWICHES INDOOR, PATIO DINING & TAKEOUT HAPPY HOUR FOOD & DRINK SPECIALS SUN-tHUR 4-6PM wEEKEND BRUNCH Family-Owned. Locally Loved. Since1980. Open Daily from 8am 1992– 2025 VOTED BEST Comfort Food Family Restaurant Desserts Now Open in Sand City! ’25 Celebrating 11 years in Downtown! Sunday–Thursday 11:30am-10pm Friday–Saturday 11:30am-11pm 426 Alvarado St. Monterery 831-655-BEER asb.beer Monterey County’s Best Local Beer/Brewery Best Bar for Gen X Best Server-Chelsea Dalhamer Best Place to Eavesdrop Best Podcast - KRML’s ‘Pub Talk” The 24K Gold Rose Through a special process a Real Rose has been treated and preserved in 24K Gold. ALL GOLD $120 and COLORED ROSE $82 This Valentine’s Day, give her a rose that will last forever 447 ALVARADO ST • MONTEREY • 375-5332 ’19 OMBA_1-3v_feb0526_gk.indd 1 1/30/26 3:27 PM ONLY $32.99 EVERYTHING YOU NEED Quality feed & pet supplies • DIY dog & cat vaccines • Premium hay at great prices Low cost vaccination clinic for dogs & cats. Microchipping. Prescription flea/tick medication. Open every Saturday 12pm-3pm 101 W. LAUREL DR, SALINAS • (831)443-6161 Mon-Sat 9am-6pm Sun 10am-5pm $5 OFF Any purchase of $25 or more $20 OFF Any purchase of $100 or more CHICK SEASON IS COMING! $10 OFF Any purchase of $50 or more CHICKS FOR SALE: STARTING FEBRUARY 6, 2026 OUR CHICK BREEDS: RHODE ISLAND RED BARRED ROCK AMERAUCANA GOLDEN SEX LINK BLACK SEX LINK CORNISH CROSS WITH THE BEGINNER POULTRY KIT! EXPIRES 2-28-26. CANNOT BE COMBINED WITH OTHER DISCOUNTS OR OFFERS. LIMIT 1 COUPON PER CUSTOMER. NOT VALID ON HAY, SHAVINGS, SERESTO, MAX BULLY, SPORTSTRAIL, OR LIVE ANIMALS. MUST PRESENT ENTIRE PHYSICAL COUPON AT TIME OF PURCHASE. COUPON MUST COME DIRECTLY FROM THE MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY. REPRINTS OR PHOTOCOPIES NOT VALID.
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