Comedy

Writer David Sedaris is best known for his contributing work with Public Radio’s “This American Life.” He’s written three books of essays, “Barrel Fever,” “Naked,” and his newest “Me Talk Pretty One Day” (Little Brown)

Jon Stewart is the co-producer and anchorman of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.” The show is an alternative take on the news. Previously Stewart had a part on HBO’s “The Larry Sanders Show.” He also hosted Comedy Central’s “Short Attention Span Theater.”

Actress Amy Sedaris. She’s the star of the comedy series “Strangers With Candy” that airs Monday and Saturday nights on Comedy Central. Sedaris plays Jerri Blank, a 47-year old ex-con, ex-prostitute lesbian high school freshman. She’s the sister of David Sedaris, a humor writer who has been on Fresh Air several times. Amy and David have produced and written several plays together, including the 1996 Obie award winning “One Woman Shoe.”

Actress Tracey Ullman. She plays Frenchy, a manicurist married to an ex-con dishwasher in Woody Allen’s new comedy “Small Time Crooks.” She also worked with Allen on two of his previous films “Bullets Over Broadway,” and “Everyone Says I love You.” Ullman is the star of her own shows, HBO’s “Tracey Takes On,” and “The Tracey Ullman Show.”

We continue our celebration of Fresh Air’s 13th birthday by talking to a three comedians about bar mitzvahs-- Mel Brooks(Originally broadcast 7/30/91), Richard Lewis (Originally broadcast 6/16/88),and Richard Belzer (Originally broadcast 12/31/87).

Eric Idle was one of the six original members of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Idle wrote many of the songs from the show including "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." He has a new CD, “Eric Idle Sings Monty Python, Live in concert.” (Big Monkey Records). Idle is going on tour for this album, beginning 4/29/00 in Pheonix, AZ and ending 6/28 at NYC’s Carnegie Hall. Idle has also written a number of books.

Documentary director Dean Ward. His new film, "Let Me In, I Hear Laughter: a Salute to the Friars" is about the Friars club, the place where show business entertainers meet and then roast each other. Such comic luminaries as George Burns, Groucho Marx, Bob Hope, as well as entertainers Will Rogers, George M. Cohan, and Irving Berlin were members. Then we meet two current members of the Friars. The documentary premieres on Cinemax tomorrow, Tuesday, October 26th. Also Comedy Central features the Friars' Club roast of comic Jerry Stiller, Wednesday, October 27th.

Dean of the New York Friars' Club, Freddie Roman, and comic Jeffrey Ross, are both featured in the documentary, and the roast of Jerry Stiller.

Comedian Damon Wayans. Wayans was one of the stars on the TV sketch comedy show In Living Color. On the program, he created such characters as Homey the Clown and Handyman. He has starred in the movies Mo Money, Blankman, Major Payne, and Celtic Pride. Wayans has also done stand up comedy throughout his career. His recent book Bootleg includes some excerpts of his routines. (REBROADCAST from 6/14/99)