Black first became widely popular for his
cranky commentaries on The Daily Show,
which continue under host Trevor Noah.
f you thought dyspeptic comic Lewis Black was angry in the ’90s, when he began
delivering those vein-popping “Back in Black” commentaries on The Daily Show, then
you should ask him about politics these days.
“Things are just beyond appalling!” he thunders, his familiar growl rising as his unmiti-
joke about how awful both
— a framework large enough to encompass the insanity!”
socialism — is no fan of either major political party, and holds particular antipathy for President
Trump. “I live in New York, where he lives,” Black says. “One out of 10 people here
voted for him! We knew him! He walked among us! I was doing Trump jokes 40 years ago!”
do
diatribes — although they appear to presage
mental breakdowns — often contain
profound and irrefutable truths.
Black, 70, who describes his humor as “being
on the Titanic every single day and be-
to happen,” simply discovered that yelling
is funnier — and more effective in making a
I feel like a big, blown-up version of who I
really am,” says Black, whose background
is as a playwright. “I found that I was the
what I built my act around.”
The Joke’s on
Us! tour will blister the walls of the Walt Disney
Theater on Saturday, October 20. Showtime
is 8 p.m., and tickets start at $39.50. Appearing
with Black will be his longtime opener, innovative
comedic actor John Bowman.
You might even get to be part of the show.
52 artsLife | FALL 2018
and believe that only Black can adequately
channel your vitriol — then write him about
your rant to recite at the close of his regular
set. Locally generated rants are also live-
Sure, you can gripe about Interstate 4 con-
people get around down there,” Black says
— but be creative, and allow your misery
muse to lead you where it will.
click on the “Live Lewis” tab and look for
the form on which you can type and submit
“your little messages to the universe.”
Sometimes, Black says, the hometown rants
steal the show.
-
the quality of the writing I get is just amazing.”
Black, who was raised in Silver Spring,
Maryland, attended the University of North
I