The Angry American

If George Carlin was the heir apparent to Lenny Bruce as the leading comedic observer of the country’s cultural and political climate, Lewis Black is almost destined to be his successor. From his breakout segments on Comedy Central’s The Daily Show to his recent Grammy-winning album, The Carnegie Hall Performance, Black, in his own unique way, has mastered the delicate line of comedy and anger. He spoke with The Reporter prior to his upcoming appearance at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza about comedy’s role in politics, dealing with success and who he won’t be voting for in November.

VC Reporter: There’s obviously been a trend in comedy to comment on politics over the years, but it seems like it has been at an all-time high during the current administration. There are now a lot of people that trust and get their news from places like The Daily Show. Why do you think that’s occurred?

Lewis Black: Lately I think you’re bombarded with so much information during the course of a day that it’s overwhelming. I think The Daily Show and [The Colbert Report], in essence, act as some sort of a filter — not a conscience filter, mind you. All we’re doing is looking for jokes, but as a result it helps people take a step back from the bombardment of information. There’s a ton of information out there — we’re not getting the right information. Basically, what we as comedians are saying is, “We don’t know what the right information is, but we’re pretty sure you’re not getting it.”

That actually makes a lot of sense.

I’m serious. When there’s a war on and you have to go to page 15 to read about it, that’s a problem. The front page of the paper seems to have nothing to do with the reality of what’s really going on. It started way back during the Iraq War when they just started reporting the party line. It began then and it continues. I got a piece of information today in terms of the trade deficit, and we’re the 165th nation on Earth in terms of the size of our deficit. That comes from an alternative news Web site that’s fairly reliable. It’s kind of like, why isn’t that in the paper?

Are their any news anchors or programs that you think actually get it right?

I think that certain people who write editorials do a good job in finding what the real nuggets are. I think the shows that do the best jobs now are the ones that are on Sunday mornings like Face the Nation and Meet the Press, and the only reason they do any better is they actually drag these idiots in and force them to talk for more than two minutes. It’s tough. I’ve been watching the news lately in terms of NBC, CBS and ABC, and it’s absurd. We’re watching 2½ minutes and that’s supposed to be the news? It doesn’t matter if you turn on CNN or FOX. They actually have the time to do more and they’re ending up doing the same sort of thing. CNN just reports the same 2½ minutes over and over every hour. It’s as if nothing else happens.

On your new show Root of All Evil, it seems the episodes that are the most popular are the ones where you put celebrities and politicians on trial. Do you pick who and what gets covered?

No. It’s a combination of myself, the writers and Comedy Central. That’s the way the first round of it went, at least. When you work for a network, they’re gonna put their two cents in. That’s the price you pay to get paid.

Any episodes you’d recommend for a first-time viewer?

I like the Oprah vs. the Catholic Church one, and, just because it was so silly, Tila Tequila vs. Kim Jong-il. That was pretty funny. It’s just a silly-ass show in a lot of ways, and there again it serves the purpose of when you get sick of some of these people, we’re gonna go after them so you don’t have to think about them anymore.

You seem to work with and give a platform to a lot of new writers and comedians. For instance, on Root of All Evil, it’s your show and you could easily do it yourself, but you give just as much TV time to other comedians on every episode. Seems like a noble gesture in a very selfish industry.

Thanks. I try. I ran a theater in New York and the whole thing was to try to expose people that I thought deserved to be seen. I would rather see people I enjoy out there working. It guess that’s selfish. The other part is because it took me forever to break through. A lot of people that could have helped at the time didn’t help and didn’t get it. It’s nice to have the opportunity to help people get a chance. Like Kathleen Madigan — it’s absurd that she’s not a hugely known comedian. I was lucky, and I think of lot of things have to do with timing, but there are a lot of people that I know that put in the time and are extraordinarily gifted that don’t get the face time I get.

How do you feel when people mention you in the same company as comedic legends like Lenny Bruce or George Carlin?

It’s rewarding. You put that much time in and it’s nice to receive that recognition. To be seen in that light is kind of extraordinary. It’s pretty humbling. And then again, it puts more pressure on you. Like, really? I’m supposed to be like them? I better work harder.

You’re a good example of an artist that has gotten attention later in their career and life. Do you feel when that happens a person tends to have a greater appreciation of success?

I think it makes a difference. Frank McCourt, who wrote Angela’s Ashes, put it best when he said … that if he had achieved that fame early on, he’d be dead by the time he was 30. It’s a lot easier to deal with it when you’re older. I am sympathetic when I see someone younger get it and seem incapable of handling it. It is overwhelming.

Speaking of young age, the patron saint of the pitfalls of young Hollywood is Britney Spears. Does massive success at a young age, and not knowing what it’s like to struggle a little, cause that eventual downfall or is someone with her education and upbringing destined to end up that way?

I think it’s partly upbringing and education. It’s that and an overexposure that’s beyond belief. You look back during the Breakfast Club, Brat Pack Era, and there wasn’t nearly the kind of coverage that exists today. It’s absurd. Then you add YouTube into the mix and somebody can take video of you at any time of the day. You can’t make any mistakes on your own. It’s beyond belief. I said as a joke that eventually everybody will just have a camera in their homes and everybody will have their own channel. It’s like that’s where we’re headed. Imagine: You could have 24 hours a day of Britney — not that it doesn’t already exist in her case.

So who are you voting for in the election? Are you happy with any of the candidates?

If I could leave the country then I’d be happy. I have not made up my mind yet. I’ve only made up my mind that I find the choices beyond disturbing. I find none of these people to be addressing anything. During the last few months of this election, what’s been happening in this country has been staggering. There’s a leadership vacuum, and none of these people have stood up and said, “Here’s the problem. This is what I think should done.” I mean, what have they been doing? All of them, especially the three that are left standing. You’re all senators who are supposed to be back there doing something. Instead you’ve been wandering around the country while we’re going to hell in a hand basket! Fuck you.   

Lewis Black performs May 2 at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza (2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, 449-2787). For more information, visit www.ci.thousand-oaks.ca.us/theatre.