In 1990, she wrote and starred in an HBO special called "Cats, Cops and Stuff," for which she won a CableACE Award, making her the first woman to win the ACE for best Standup Comedy Special. In March 2019, comedian Tig Notaro named "Cats, Cops and Stuff" one of The 5 Funniest Stand-Up Specials Ever for TIME Magazine. Poundstone went on to another first with her second HBO stand-up special, "Paula Poundstone Goes to Harvard," taped on campus in Sanders Theatre. Poundstone had her own Bravo special in 2006 as part of their three-part "Funny Girls" series, along with Caroline Rhea and Joan Rivers, titled "Paula Poundstone: Look What the Cat Dragged In."