Podcast episode 447ish: Barry Crimmins

Here's a special episode. The legendary Barry Crimmins was in town for the JFL Northwest Comedy Festival a few weeks ago and he very generously agreed to sit down with me for an hour, despite being hounded to do podcasts wherever he goes. I first heard of Crimmins in 1988 when I heard the album Strange Bedfellows. Some know him from his book, Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal. And more lately, a whole new group of people know him from the Bobcat Goldthwait documentary, Call Me Lucky (on Netflix on a TV near you). He's also the godfather of the Boston comedy scene that birthed the likes of Goldthwait, Steven Wright, and Louis CK, all of whom he talks about in this episode.

Unfortunately, the sound is a bit crap. But whatcha gonna do? We can hear his words and that's the most important thing. Live and learn. The political satirist and activist talks about who he considers to be the best and worst president of his lifetime, his problems with Hillary, his experience on Air America (or "Err" America, as he dubs it), and the early days in the Boston comedy scene.

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Feb. 26: Barry Crimmins

The JFL Northwest Comedy Fest has come and gone. I saw a lot of good shows. Hope you did, too. I also got the opportunity to sit down with the legendary Barry Crimmins for an hour. That conversation runs tonight. Crimmins has been the preeminent American political satirist for the last forty-plus years. We spoke in his noisy hotel room. The sound quality ain't the greatest, but hopefully you can cut through the noise to the scintillating conversation, which ran the gamut from Trump and Clinton, to Air America, to the old Boston comedy scene from which he sprang and helped develop.

For those who may not be familiar with him, check out the Bobcat Goldthwait-directed documentary on him on Netflix, Call Me Lucky. It's fantastic. He's also the author of Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal. And I first heard him back in the late 1980s on a great political comedy album called Strange Bedfellows, which also featured Will Durst, Jimmy Tingle and Randy Credico. Check it out. It's all about the Reagan era but it sadly still holds true. And holds up comedically.

We're on the air tonight at 11 pm, as always, on CFRO 100.5 FM in Vancouver. If you're elsewhere in the world and can't wait until the episode drops as a podcast, you can livestream us at coopradio.org.