:: NEWS COCKTAIL aka BlahBlahBlog ::

:: 3.13.2003 ::

:: An American comic in London ::

From the Guardian UK:
Stars and slights
Try telling a bunch of Alabama rednecks that your song about killing George Dubya is meant to be ironic. William Cook meets Rich Hall, the US comic who finds his best audiences in the UK

"The last couple of shows, I've been doing this song called Let's Get Together And Kill George Bush - something I couldn't do in America."

Ironically, Bill Hicks, probably the most significant (and funny) US stand up of the late 80s and early 90s, was far bigger in the UK than he was in the US. Check out Hicks' inspired stand-up rant about the last Gulf War, on his second live album, Relentless (Rykodisc) - it's hardly dated (even the president's name is the same).

Hall's measured view of the current Gulf crisis is more middle of the road than Hicks'. "I just don't think he's a very strong leader," he says of Dubya. "I wish I could see somebody who could come out and just explain in really engaging and convincing terms why we should be getting rid of these assholes, [but] I don't think he's the guy. I don't think he's communicated his intent to the people, and that's why there's so much reaction to it. Nobody would have any problem getting rid of Idi Amin, but it's the idea of going to war in a country that's oil rich, being led by a man who's basically worked in oil all his life. That's the writing on the wall and he won't address it." But the strongest comics will.

"I am basically an apologist for America," says Hall, swigging an Old European Becks and drawing on an All American Marlboro Light.

posted by me

:: 7:37:00 PM [+] ::
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