From 2/23/03: Barry Crimmins, "I Was Almost a Stooge For National Plutocrat Radio"

[KansDem]

I thought since we're watching and listening to the Whoreth Estate belittle Obama's stimulus package by giving large amounts of air time to Repubs, a trip back in time to February 23, 2003 would be in order:

I Was Almost a Stooge For National Plutocrat Radio
Boston Phoenix | 2/23/03 | Barry Crimmins

On Tuesday afternoon (2/18/03), I got a phone call from a representative of the National Public Radio show On Point. She told me she got my name from a friend of mine. She asked if I could do a brief piece on the burgeoning field of aspirants for the 2004 Democratic presidential nomination for a portion of the show called Radio Diaries.

--excerpt--
As ever, they approached me as if I were an unknown fledgling in need of guidance. Within the first thirty seconds of the call I knew two things: this woman had no idea who I was and what she wanted me to say on the radio was utter pap.

Two years into the court-appointed Bush administration's destruction of our way of life and the first call I received from NPR was a request to belittle Democrats. Ostensibly they wanted me to make fun of the fact that the field of candidates had grown very quickly in recent weeks. That's right; NPR was soliciting me to satirize democracy for showing signs of vibrancy. And so this young producer tried to steer me that way. She started by mentioning the size of the Democratic field and then asked, "Do you think any of them has the stature to take on George W. Bush?"

I said, "My dog Lloyd has the stature to take on Bush." But then I allowed, "Of course, I raised him myself."

We went back and forth and I said I could run down the field for her. She reminded me twice that the game I was to bag was of the Democratic variety. I said I'd put something together for her. I requested a list of candidates in case I'd overlooked someone. She sent the Dem roster and the next morning, I wrote the piece. They had my script by midday Wednesday. I was supposed to tape it Thursday. I figured if I got it in early, we could sort out any difficulties with time to spare. Like I said, I'm a professional.

--more--
DU thread

Yeah, "liberal media" my ass...:grr:

[slampoet]

1. Barry Crimmins is a hero in comedy.

He is the writer who wrote all of Dennis Miller's jokes back when Miller was liberal and funny.

He wrote/writes for Randy Rhodes.

He was an instrumental part of the Boston "Ding Ho" comedy scene that spawned Steven Wright, Denis Leary, Paula Poundstone, Jimmy Tingle, Lenny Clark, and Bobcat Goldthwait