Janeane Garofalo is the winner of numerous comedy awards and recognitions and she officially began her career in stand-up comedy in the late 1980s during the pre-grunge era.

Her appearance was often in line with very late 1980s style: disheveled with thick black glasses and unkept hair. Her comedy is often self-deprecating. Garofalo's comedy shows involve her and her notebook, which is filled with article clippings and random observations that she uses for reference during her act for direct quotes.

Throughout the 2005-2006 television season Garofalo appeared on The West Wing as Louise Thornton, a campaign adviser to the Democratic presidential nominee.