Joe List: Enough For Everybody [Comedy Special]

February 17, 2024 by Leave a comment

One of the most joyous things about being a fan of stand up comedy is definitely watching the evolution of success come to those who truly deserve it. Sadly, the well-deserving aren’t always the ones who seem to achieve such “success”, or whatever you would like to call it. But sometimes, just sometimes, a true genius will emerge in this very specific world of the arts and the aforementioned evolution can happen right before your very eyes. I firmly believe that today’s subject, the hilarious Joe List, is definitely in the latter category.

I first discovered Joe List around 8 years ago or so when I was first beginning to dive back deep into the world of comedy, mostly via podcasts and dabbling in comedy specials back when they were far less abundant. I can vividly remember standing in the kitchen of my rented home in southern Spain preparing a nightly family meal, listening to one of these “podcast things” that I had recently become interested in. The podcast for the evening was none other than the already long-lasting pod at the time, Doug Benson’s legendary game show, Doug Loves Movies. I had begun learning about some of the hot and upcoming acts of the time that I had been missing out on around that time via this very podcast. Frequent DLM guests like Bert Kreischer, Iliza Schlesinger, and Tom Segura were just beginning to work there way towards being household names. And wouldn’t you know it, there was one comedian that rose above all of them for me personally. One comedian that felt authentically fresh but also maintaining an old school appeal. Yeah this comedian really got to me.

That comedian was none other than Mark Normand.

Many of you hopefully know where I am going with this. I know that certain groups of comedians are somewhat hard to separate from one another even though they’ve had very different yet equally successful careers in comedy. And that can definitely be said about the Tuesdays with Stories boys, Mark Normand and, yes finally…Joe List. I listen to one episode of Tuesdays and was instantly hooked. And while I am still a big fan of Mark, if I had to make a bias choice between the two (which is stupid and unfair, but I’ll do it anyway) based solely on relatability in even the slightest sense, I have to say that Joe continues to be one of the top stand up acts working today.

And over the last almost decade of following the career of Joe List, it is almost astonishing just how much he has accomplished. I say almost, because I do not wish to negate the fact that Joe had been in the game for over a dozen years before I got around to noticing him, thus making Joe seem like an artist who didn’t put in the work to get where he is today. But in the second act of his career thus far that I have had the pleasure of witnessing, Joe has had specials on Netflix, #1 charting comedy albums, 3 brilliant self-produced specials, 3 very different yet equally unique podcasts (Tuesdays, Mindful Metal Jacket, and that one where he talks about movies with that weird little boy who knows nothing about movies). He even penned and starred in arguably the best film of 2022, Fourth of July. I’ve also heard his tales of getting married, and most recently his journey into the world of fatherhood. 

Yes, Joe has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with in the world of comedy. I had the great fortune of seeing Joe live at the SoHo Theatre in London a few months before the world shut down for a while, and it still stands as one of the finest stand up performances I have ever seen. And the future is only looking more and more bright as he continues to put out incredible work.

And speaking of incredible work, how about we finally talk about the titular reason anybody may have somewhat wanted to read these words.

With his 3rd special in just as many years, Joe List has once again given us his very best with Enough For Everybody. This special is nothing short of being poignant, topical, and absolutely fucking hilarious. The latter being the most evident and obviously most important. If there was any hint that Joe’s rise to stand up fame has affected his material, it is subtle at best. It’s only in his distinct sense of self-awareness that one would be able to recognize just how much of a rise this man has had over the last few years. Yes, there were obviously “Tuesgays” in the audience. But it did not stop Joe from writing the material that would accumulate in being one of the best stand up specials of 2023 thus far.

Enough For Everybody is one of those specials that is sure to stand the test of time. As I mentioned, there is a sense a good deal of topical and “of these times” material within the special, but I dare say this could not take away the timelessness of Joe’s art. I’ve often been quoted as saying that Dave Chappelle’s For What It’s Worth is the magnum opus of recorded stand up comedy. And 20 years later, some of its topics can seem a bit outdated. But the jokes still hit as hard now as they did then. And I am willing to bet the soul of Joe’s unborn child that Enough For Everybody will be a masterpiece that will fated the same. It’s really that damn good.

From powerfully simple observations, to unwarranted self-deprecation, and down to outright silliness, Joe List has created something here that is definitely not to be missed. It has been so damn exciting to watch Joe go from your favorite comedian’s favorite comedian, to a household name in his own right. And just as each special that has come before over the last few years, Enough For Everybody is definitely further proof that even though a couple of decades have already past, Joe is not going anywhere. In fact, it’s safe to say that the best of Joe List is definitely yet to come.

Head on over to comedianjoelist.com to see when Joe will be in a city near you (hint: it’s likely soon), and don’t forget to hit that subscribe button on YouTube, you know, algorithms and what not. Enjoy!

Filed under Stand Up Comedy

Kenny DeForest: Don’t You Know Who I Am? [Comedy Special]

February 15, 2024 by Leave a comment

Folks, it is with a very heavy heart that I repost this review of Kenny’s amazing comedy special from last August. It was actually one of the first that I had done for the now defunct Tragic Times Blog. His wonderful PR folks reached out to share it with me, and when I remember that he was the hilarious cat that I had heard on podcasts of days past (and would eventually here so much more in the months following the release of the special), I was instantly hooked and knew I needed to not just watch it, but share it with the world. It’s absolutely hilarious.

Unfortunately, just under 4 months later we would lose Kenny to a terrible accident. For me it was like losing a friend that you were just beginning to know and appreciate. But for so many more, it was a devastating heartbreak. And for everyone, it was a loss of a comic who was just beginning to receive the well deserved attention that he had been working towards getting for so long. We will never know what Kenny could have accomplished in his life had that motherfucking car just watched where the fuck it was going…but, we will always have the legacy that he left, and that is something to cherish even if we are just left wanting more. Rest easy Kenny. Thank you so much for the laughs.

****

Kenny DeForest has been one of those comics that I have, now shamefully, been hearing about for a few years now but never took the proper amount of time to really seek out enough. So, when Don’t You Know Who I Am? came across my inbox, I had to do a bit of a dive to remember why it was that Kenny had previously been on my radar yet I was ultimately unfamiliar with his comedy. And then it hit me…this was the motherfucker that once defended Alan Jackson on our old friends’ Tom Thakkar and Tommy McNamara’s podcast Stand By Your Band. And I didn’t even need to go back and re-listen to it to remember it as being one of my favorite podcasts episodes of all time. And for those who are unfamiliar, I highly recommend it. He’s also actually on the show’s latest episode as well defending Fuel, which I am looking forward to checking out.

But I shall refrain from making this about the Toms. Today is about Kenny and his absolutely incredible new special. In preparation for the special, I actually checked out his previously released special BAD Dreams that is also available now, should you find yourself looking to double dip on Kenny’s greatness. And while his hairstyle has changed drastically, his wit and comedic prose that weaves in and out of self-deprecation to observations that should seem obvious but often are hidden, has not changed much. He’s obviously grown as a stand up, as time will surely do for the naturally talented. And that is definitely the best description I can think of to explain DeForest’s comedic abilities: naturally talented.

One of my favorite traits that a comic can portray on stage has always been honesty. Honesty can bleed into self-awareness. And when such self-awareness is delivered with a positive attitude, it can make for some of the most magical and hilarious moments between one person and a microphone, as well as an audience who can probably relate all too well to the material being presented to them. And that can meet a lot when you consider that Kenny is a white guy who has been living in Brooklyn for years. I may not be the most knowledgeable as to what that really means, but it is certainly an aspect that should drive a comedic sense of self-awareness for damn sure. 

I whole-heartedly believe that saying that Don’t You Know Who I Am? is a return to form for DeForest would be quite the understatement. As previously mentioned, he does have a natural ability and feels on the cusp of reaching a massive status based on a distinct mass appeal at the very least. All of that to say that while BAD Dreams was phenomenal, Kenny’s latest offering is even better and should be regarded as one of the best comedy specials of 2023.

Don’t You Know Who I Am? is available TODAY on YouTube, as well as an album version from Blond Medicine records that will be available tomorrow, August 19th! Check it out below. Be sure to like, comment, subscribe…all of that shit. And checkout kennydeforest.com to see when he will be in a city near you!

Filed under Stand Up Comedy

Nathan Lund: Soup’s On [Comedy Special]

February 9, 2024 by Leave a comment

Note: This article was originally published on the short-lived TWS offshoot known as The Tragic Times. Seeing as though that site is now defunct, I am happy to make Trainwreck’d Society’s new home. Enjoy!

I simply could not think of a more appropriate and wonderful comedian to showcase for our inaugural post here at The Tragic Times than the hilarious Colorado-based comedian and amateur snake & crow wrangler, Nathan Lund. So, I stopped thinking about it, and am now just rolling with it. Let’s Live, Laugh, Lund you beautiful fools.

I have been a huge fan of this man’s work ever since I discovered him as a character in the book Running The Light written by his close friend, podcast co-host, and man who can’t seem to be not mentioned concurrently in articles such as this even if he has nothing to do with the showcase project, the great Sam Tallent.

After a couple years of becoming a “Chubby Chaser”, which entails religiously listening at least twice weekly to the podcast Chubby Behemouth hosted by the aforementioned Lund and Tallent, the anticipation I had for finally get the chance to see Nathan in full form via his own special. And brother, let me tell you, he did not disappoint! In his debut (I presume?) comedy special Soup’s On, Lund delivers a delightful batch of cultural criticisms, gripes, and overall disdain for a plethora of topics that range from topical to mundane. As well as a smattering of observations that may not offer reconciliation for the idea that society as we once believed it to be is crumbling around us, but acknowledges that human lives, while probably meant to be taken, should not be done so as such with any form of seriousness.

Soup’s On is a comedy special that will certainly bring joy to self-proclaimed “Lund Guys” scattered across the globe including for off regions such as the esteemed wrestling rings of the Denver comedy underworld, to exotic villages populated by the longing and the damned that oversee the Sugarite Canyon. But, it is also a special that any true fan of pun-tificated observational humor (which is very good done!) and average sped-whit would be a fool to not appreciate and desire. For Nathan Lund is not just a comedian. He should rightfully be described as a “comedian’s comedian”. And that comedian in which he is a comedian for, would be none other than Sam Tallent, who is (probably) legally obligated to be mentioned once more in this article.

All jokes aside, presuming anybody happened to find any sort of humor in my previous statements, Soup’s On is a raw display of everyman humor that is sure to titillate even the most fractured of funny bones. Discovering and becoming a fan of the work of Nathan Lund has been a damn fine journey. Whether it is through the enjoyment of listening to conversations forced upon him via his own wildly successful podcast or now having one of the best specials of 2023, there is little to no regret involved in becoming a Lund guy.

Follow Nathan Lund on Instagram: @nathanlundcomedy . And be sure to listen to Chubby Behemouth wherever you listen to podcasts, and join the Patreon!

Check out Soup’s On now for free on YouTube!

Filed under Stand Up Comedy

Annie Hart: The Weight of a Wave [Album]

August 15, 2023 by Leave a comment

When I walked into the Wendy Williamson auditorium on an unusually “warm” Saturday night here in Anchorage, I could feel the forthcoming elation from being entertained building up within me. I was there to laugh. A legend from the world of comedy, music, musical-comedy, etc. was making their first venture to the Last Frontier, and it was sure to be wonderful. SNL alum, Late Night bandleader, and overall hilarious human being Fred Armisen was in town. A rare treat way up here to say the very least. I was selfishly expecting to laugh, and feel the warmth of general entertainment. What I wasn’t expecting, however, was to suddenly fall in love with music again for the first time in quite a while.

Also somewhat more surprising was that Mr. Armisen would have very little to do with it (although he was delightful in his own act, and obviously has great listening taste in his own right). No, the sparks would ignite in the form of Fred’s tour mate and opening act, and an artist who’s voice has continued to occupy the sweetest space in my brain over the last few days. I’m talking about Annie Hart. And I can not stop doing so to anybody who will listen, or remain silent enough for me to eventually bring up Hart and her incredible new album The Weight of a Wave.

I should be entirely honest upfront, and state that my discovery of Annie Hart began entirely on the aforementioned night. I would soon learn that her on-going success has had a steady sense of escalation over the years, and for good cause. It is truly I who has been had my proverbial ostrich neck sticking out of the sand and just hadn’t realized that there is still some beauty to be heard in the world of music these days. To be even more honest, I didn’t even know there was to be an opening act to last Saturday night’s event. So, when it was announced that Hart was about to hit the stage, I was hit with a sense of intrigue of course, which bled into excitement with great haste. I mean it was almost immediately that I knew I was in for something brilliant. I started to feel the rhythm move through me before she even reached the vocals of the opening song “Falling”, and I was immediately saddened that this was a seated event, imagining how wonderful it would have been if the few hundred folks in attendance might have been on able to be on their feet for what they were experiencing.

Just as I watched Fred depart the stage, seeing him joyfully embrace his wife in a backstage glimpse I’m sure he was completely unaware of, I turned as quickly as I could to the lobby knowing that it was entirely necessary to grab a copy of The Weight of a Wave which I was promised would be available. And that is what I did. I didn’t, however, realize that I would awkwardly be the first in line and my social anxiety would overcome me to an extent. But my desire to have this album in my life outweighed everything in that moment. So after a couple of minutes of Annie being far more kind and nice than she needed to be to the weird dude in the ripped tam o’ shatner hat, I had the album in hand and began a journey redirecting me to the power of how music can make you feel when it is down to damn-near perfection.

For a surface-level description of Hart and her wonderful latest release, I would feel compelled to say something along the lines of it being a synth-pop treasure, a hazy soundtrack to a lucid dream, beautiful sung tunes about beautiful tragedies, and on and on with the descriptors that us aging millennials have been using for decades now. But there is a level of heaviness behind The Weight of a Wave that makes it a step above great, and nearing closer to perfection. This is an album that is so much more than just 10 pretty sounding tracks. It is a concoction of human emotions that swim like a salmon waiting to spawn, upstream and with purpose, and then back down with a willingness to live, but painstakingly aware that death is our only guarantee, but we can still go out knowing that we tried our damndest to live a life worth living. I mean…that’s my interpretation that is.

While I know my own sort of fanboy experience in seeing Annie live may not exactly be the biggest selling point on how great I think The Weight of a Wave is as a piece of art, it is definitely my truth, and the only way I can express just how impressed and downright in love I am with the work of the great Annie Hart. But, I hope that my somewhat childlike enthusiasm will encourage anybody who has felt like they have also been a proverbial rut lately when it comes to discovering new and exciting music. It can happen, Folks. And if you need a good jumping off point, or just to hear the best album of 2023, I would more than just recommend Annie Hart’s The Weight of a Wave.

Pick up your own copy of The Weight of the Wave and see where Annie is playing near you in the near future at her anniehart.nyc.

Look for Annie in a city near you:

August 16th – Washington D.C. – Comet Ping Pong – 9 p.m.

August 17th – Philadelphia, PA – The Dolphin Tavern – 7 p.m.

August 18th – Ridgewood, NY – Tv Eye – 8 p.m.

August 22nd – Seattle, WA – The Here-After – 8 p.m.

August 23rd – Portland, OR – Mississippi Studios – 9 p.m.

August 25th – San Francisco, CA – TBD

August 26th – Los Angelese, CA – Zebulon – 7 p.m.

Filed under Music

Hello…again.

August 12, 2023 by 2 Comments

Just over two years ago, I decided to close the digital shutters on the experiment known as Trainwreck’d Society, for what could notably be recognized for the second time. It was year 10 of the experiment, and it really felt like it was time to simply bow out of the game with what little grace and whatever version of “success” I may have had with the site over the last decade. It seemed as though I had built up just about enough memories and mementos of an on-line life that was (mostly) well lived, and that it was a reasonable time to call it quits and move into some sort of different direction. 

And that is what I did….briefly. I was awarded the great opportunity to continue my journey in independent film criticism under the guise of a truly unique and impressive Australian-based conglomerate, of sorts, known as MovieHole and Scare Magazine. Two uber-cool powerhouses of talent working together to produce two of the finest indie-centric sites I have come to know.   

So that is what I did…for a while. And I loved it. I got to preview some amazing indie projects I may have never been made aware of, as well as continued to work with some of my favorite PR firms, allowing the opportunity to showcase their clients to a much wider audience. It was a joyous experience. But then time elapsed and life got in the way. I will summarize the experience by saying that the search for anything joyous started to feel fruitless and downright insufferable. So, I simply gave it up. There were no theatrics involved, but a simple unwillingness and lack of yearning to be either creative or insightful. 

Of course, some dreams and ambitions never fully dissipate, and the yearning to turn said dreams into some form of reality snuck back in. And I guess that is where I am at now. After 25 months of silence and just a smattering of “what if” thoughts and half-heartedly begun projects idea hidden under the false label of “pre-production, I decided to simply just come back to the digital world I know and love.  That’s it. Once again, no theatrics. I’m just here. And I am excited!

If I’m being perfectly honest, it is only as of this writing that I am realizing that this latest iteration is actually somewhat derived from the concept of the aforementioned MovieHole/Scare Mag concept. MovieHole is a generalized means of showcasing a multitude of genres of film, while Scare Mag has it’s focus more on the dark arts of cinema in showcasing the world of horror. And in some purely coincidental ways, I am actually looking to do the same with this latest iteration of my conceptualized life on the internet.

Depending on where you are actually reading these words, you are either looking at the continuation of Trainwreck’d Society or the introduction to The Tragic Times: A Comedy Journal. Much like the above mentioned concept that I am looking to steal from, I mean “be influenced by”, MovieHole and Scare Mag, I wanted to continue to overseeing journey that TWS would allow, while also showcasing a somewhat dark art as well. That dark art would be the world of comedy. 

I managed to blend the world of comedy, stand up or otherwise, into the TWS realm with relative ease over the last iteration of the site. But, after a couple of years of reflection, it occurred to me that my “research” and downright love for the comedic arts could be showcased on its own, and probably should be done so.

So, this brings us to now. I am stoked to announce the launch of The Tragic Times. Essentially the site will be a forum for me to showcase what I believe to be the best of the best in the world of all things hilarious. Whether it’s PR porn for recently released or upcoming specials, albums, shows, etc., or just a random reflection of anything that I have found to be downright hilarious over the years. Think of that last sentence as a disclaimer that I fully intend to write about whatever the hell I want to, and do it only with a sense of shame that lies within, but will hopefully be projected with 

Trainwreck’d Society will eventually resume as a means to cover just about anything else outside of the world of comedy. Hell, maybe even sometimes within. Who knows. The main point here is….We’re Back!

Filed under Exclusive!

Goodbye

July 4, 2021 by 3 Comments

Well, Folks….it’s about that time. I know that Trainwreck’d Society has gone through different incarnations of departure and fleeting over the years, but it is truly time to fully dismantle the tracks, and move on. The wreckage is all but cleared and there really isn’t much else that really needs to be gawked at or has cause for wide-mouthed & rubbernecked glances. We’ve had our run.

10 years. For the last decade, I have put a lot of myself into this site. It’s served as an identity in a way, and it has yielded exciting opportunities and ventures, as well as, if I’m being honest, a bit of disappointment at times. But, why focus on the negative? Ever since that humid Independence Day that I spent alone in a hotel room in Biloxi, Mississippi back in 2011 when TWS was born, I’ve managed to move across the globe and having the digital pages of this site there to comfort me along the way. I’ve managed to establish some pretty great friendships, continue growing working relationships, and basically just discover new things to love as well as additional information on the things I already cherished so deeply.

Some shoutouts are always in order, amiright? On the professional side of the house, I have to thank all of the wonderful PR folks out there who always treated Trainwreck’d Society as a viable resource for promoting their projects and/or people. There have been a plethora of you fine folks, but it would behoove me to specifically shout out a few specific folks.

Clint Morris. Sweet, sweet Clint. Goddamn, Man. You have been through some shit lately, yet October Coast PR is still a thriving community of people who truly care about their clients. To you, and Alicia, and the rest of the team….THANK YOU! Thanks to you, I am certain that Uncork’d Entertainment and Wild Eye Releasing are my most viewed distributors of the last decade. Good or bad, I was always excited to see what you all had to show me with those wonderful screener links.

Kaytea McIntosh. Hey Kaytea! I feel an even more special kinship to you, as you followed me along my journey of putting words onto the internet since before TWS was a thing. Back in my Fensepost days, I remember getting those shimmering neon colored packages from you knowing that something musically captivating was enclosed within it. You’ve excelled at make XO Publicity one of the finest music PR firms in the country, because you truly give a shit. Your clients know it, I know it, and I am so grateful to have known you, and to watch your business and life grow into the wonderful thing that it is today.

I just realized that I am going to gush over everybody a bit too much, and probably should have reconsidered it at all while the tears start to well up. Anyway, let me just throw out some names here for the sake of encapsulating some iconic friends:

Janelle Rogers of Green Light Go! Publicity – Your digital presence in my life is one that I will also truly never forget. Thank you for being around.

Bill Benson & the entire Team Clermont team – I’m sorry that I didn’t use you guys as much as I should have. You’ve always got great stuff to share. Keep it going!

Jess Guinivan – If you ever looked at this site and asked yourself “How the hell did he get that comedian to be on this silly little site?”, the blame is solely on this goddess of a human being. For whatever reason, she believed in us enough to tell some of the biggest names in comedy right now to become involved. Thank you so damn much Jess for sticking your neck out there.

The entire Avalon Management team – echoing the same above sentiments to you. I was always shocked to hear back from your clients, sometimes directly from their own accounts. Kara Baker, Aaron Brown….all of ya’ll. Thank you!

And to everyone else I might be missing. I’m sorry if I didn’t get your name out there directly. You know you’re great though.

And……………

On a more personal level, I have some folks to digitally embrace and possibly embarass:

Dad – You’re support is obviously one of the things that I cherish the most in the world. You’ve done it with such ease ever since my self-published success/disaster of a book, and you have continued to do so to this day. Thank you for the tips on interview subjects. I don’t know when I ever felt more proud that when I got Greg Warren to do the site and have you ask the questions. And I have 3 kids! Love you, Pops!

Chris Eaves – Sir. I can say with absolute certainty that Trainwreck’d Society, for whatever it’s legacy may be, wouldn’t be possible without you. You’ve been my obvious #1 fan over the years, and I humbly bow to you. Thank you for being a part of the team. I can’t wait to have one of your now legendary burgers in the near future.

To Everyone that contributed to the site – I always wanted TWS to be a shared community. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen as much as I would have liked. BUT- it did happen sometimes. And each and every time I was extremely grateful. To the early contributions from my friends like Ray Wiggington, Dustin Retcher, and David Minne. Back to good ole Eaves himself, to one of my closest friends in the whole world, the legendary Adam Mattson. Tyler Averett, another soul who’s friendship I cherish, I’m pretty sure you got in there as well. Thanks to you all. And to all of the Guest Wreckers. Mike Phillips, you know you’re awesome. Alex Hallet (a.k.a. Bodi)….I can not begin to express what it has meant to be a fan and friend to you. Matt Beat…it’s been amazing to watch what you have managed to create in your time. You give YouTubers a good name. Michael J. Epstein & Sophia Cacciola, my favorite filmmaking team, it has also been amazing to watch you both grow. Phil the Tremolo King – another amazing early supporter, and one of the most talented human beings I know. Comedians David Gborie & Daniel Van Kirk – I’m certain you don’t even remember helping out with some questions, but thank you all the same. And everyone else that I know I am forgetting, and very sorry. But please know that you are appreciated.

To each and every one of the 633 interview subjects that we had on the site. Let’s make a list….

Just kidding. But, seriously, for anyone that has taken the time out of their schedules to share some responses for the site. Even the one guy who said he hated my questions, and won’t be named in this post, as this is supposed to be a joyous outro. Even you, thank you. From our first interview subject, Jess Walter, right down to our last subject, Sam Tallent….whether I sought you out or you were a given blessing, I’m so thankful to have you in our history.

And to those of you who managed to pass along free swag over the years? How fucking cool are you! Fred Fox – I will forever treasure the Family Matters script, and friend of the site Brady Berkenmeir will probably have a shrine to the “jumping the shark” script from Happy Days. I hope it’s okay that I gave it away. It’s a better home. Paul Chart – your art will always be an inspiration. Nobody brought out the best in Robert Forrester than you. Not even QT himself. Thank you Paul! Chris O’Conner – I honestly didn’t realize how much I loved your band until your gifts. It’s quite the testament to the longevity of this site to think about loving physical CD’s, as they were still a thing in our early days! Hillary Holladay – still one of the greatest authors to ever grace our pages. Thank you so much! Speaking of great writers…..

Sarah Darer Littman – I’ve thrown my thanks out to you quite often over the years for you giving me the “cool dad” cred that I so desperately desire. And for doing as such, you get your own block. Thank you so damn much! If Ava and I ever make our way to that illustrious northeast, we will be sure to hit you up.

Folks, I could probably ramble on forever here. There are just so many people to thank for a decade’s worth of work. So much we could look back on and smile about. Ultimately, I am so proud of what we have accomplished here at TWS. I always wanted to keep it simple. I wanted it to be about the content, not the consumerism. I never planned to make a dime financially from this site, and never did. But the memories and information and beauty that I took from my work on this site is more than enough for me. You simply cannot buy what I got out of working late into the nights and early mornings on these digital pages. It’s been a true “blessing”, for the lack of a better word. I’m going to continue down different creative ventures, and I hope you all will follow, but I will never forget what I, we, managed to create here at Trainwreck’d Society.

So without further rambling, and with a heavy heart, I bow to you all and can only say…… Have a wonderful day, and a beautiful tomorrow.

Filed under Uncategorized

Sam Tallent [Interview]

June 18, 2021 by Leave a comment

Hello Folks! And welcome to Trainwreck’d Society. Where for the last decade, we have had the pleasure of bringing you a plethora of interviews with some the best actors, writers, filmmakers, comedians, and beyond. It has been an absolute pleasure to serve. And now, I have to say that it is all over. This is it, Folks. After 10 years, I have decided to close our digital doors. It’s been great. And I am extremely proud of what myself and all the contributors to this site have managed to pull off. For everyone who has been reading on the regular for all of these years, again, thank you so damn much. This site started off as just a way to yell into the internet about movies at a time when I was only yelling into the internet about music. I plan on writing a big ole heartfelt goodbye in the coming weeks, so I’ll stop with the mushy shit for now, and get into the details of our amazing guest….

It’s Sam Tallent, Everyone! Sam is an absolutely hilarious human being with a DYI spirit that is extremely impressive. He is a road dog comic through and through, but also might be one of the most knowledgable and interesting folks in the game. He is also quickly becoming one of my favorite novelists of all time. Last year he released (self-released, just how we like it around here) the absolutely incredible book, Running The Light. As you all know, I love stand up comedy. I think it is one of the purest forms of entertainment there is, as it requires so little physically for the most part, but a whole LOT mentally. With that, Running The Light is definitely the best novel about stand up comedy you will have ever read. Now, the conundrum here is that I fucking hate telling people, “You’ll love this book, even if you don’t care about stand up”. Because while that’s true, it’s really not fair to Sam. The story in RTL is definitely outlandish enough that it could have been written by somebody with far less talent than, well, Tallent. But, I swear on children, this is one of the best pieces of writing I have ever consumed. But, the “even if you don’t like stand up” problem seems to deter people. It’s as if I recommended Tortilla Flats to people and said, “Even if you don’t like broke ass migrant workers, it’s such a well written book.” People may still read it! Well, that is how I feel about Running The Light. Sam Tallent has a skillset on par with a John Steinbeck and will only continue to prove as much in the years to come. Which is an affirmation that I will stand by until my untimely death.

Oh, and did I mention he is funny as hell? As most of you know, when it comes to having comedians on this site, we don’t generally allow those who are not funny. What the hell would be the point? I’ve always made it a point to make you all feel comfortable in knowing that if I have a comedian on this site, they are guaranteed funny. And Folks, Sam Tallent is guaranteed funny. I’m actually just two days out from getting to see Sam live and in person right here in Alaska! In fact, I believe as of this writing, the dude has to be at least on a plane headed this way, or already here suffering through his first sleep in the midnight sun. And you know what Folks, I already know he is going to crush. Guaranteed funny.

So, Folks, it is an absolute pleasure to say that our final guest on the site is one of the funniest human beings on the planet, and one of the best writers around today. I could not think of a better person to wrap this whole thing up with than Sam Tallent. My first two interviews were with a writer (Jess Walter) and a comedian (Timmy Williams). So what better way than closing it out with somebody who has mastered both. I am so excited to have Sam Tallent grace our digital pages today. And without further babbling, please enjoy some amazing words from the brilliant Sam Tallent!

Have a wonderful evening, and a beautiful tomorrow.

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What inspired you to get into the world of comedy? Was it something you have wanted to do since your youth, or did you just happen to find yourself in this world one day?


My family valued humor above all else. Everyone was very funny in their own ways. My mom was acerbic, my dad was a ham. My sister is a sniper: her quips are acidic and cutting and perfect. My uncles and my aunts and my cousins – they all love to cause and receive laughter. My paternal grandfather was hilarious and ridiculous; I have so many memories of him and me and my dad taking turns making my grandmother laugh until she cried. Funny was a balm applied liberally when times were tough, both emotionally and financially. Even when my parents weren’t getting along, they still laughed at each other. All the people I love and need are funny: I don’t have any friends who aren’t funny. My wife is a stunning, brilliant doctor, but I highly doubt we’d be married if she wasn’t funny (we definitely wouldn’t be married if I wasn’t funny). Funny has just always been the most important thing. There’s footage of me doing stand up – “I just flew in and boy are my arms tired” type jokes – when I was 3 or 4. I parroted these hacky 80’s jokes for my aunts and uncles – whether they fed them to me or showed them to me on TV, I have no idea – but these tapes exist. So I guess I wanted to be a comic before I could read. 

What was your first paid gig in the world of comedy? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affects your work to date?

My first paid gig was at Albums on the Hill in Boulder, Colorado. I learned that if you’re nice and funny and easy to get along with, people will book you for shows you don’t deserve, just as Brent Gill did for that gig. I still abide by that rule and now Brent is one of my funniest and closest friends. 


I have been following your stand up for quite a few years, and happen to know that you hail from the same small part of Colorado as our friend and past guest David Gborie, and that you two are as close as can be, and the stories you would tell on your podcast Shinin’ feel absolutely outrageous. With that in mind, how do you think the environment in which you grew up in affects your work to date? Is it always a constant reminder of where you have been and where you can go? Or is it simply source material for a life well-lived?


Growing up in Elizabeth, population 900, both David and I learned to make everyone laugh. You didn’t have the luxury of choosing your clique. The sample size wasn’t big enough to afford discernment. Parties were attended by cowboys, jocks, theater kids, nerds, burn outs, skaters, goths, preps, rednecks and the generally uninspired, all of them competing for each other’s attention. I don’t know if David would agree because we had different experiences due to the demographics, but I watched him evolve into the beautiful and admirable man he is today since we were 14, so I’m going to speak for him on this specific issue: I think that we each benefited from learning how to speak to the comedic sensibilities of disparate groups. As adults, we can make anyone laugh, and I think it was a skill we learned in our nonage sitting in basements and around bonfires cracking wise for every freak in town. 


We always like to ask comics who are regularly on the road this question: What are some of the more unique cities and/or venues that many people may not realize are actually great places to do comedy?


Cincinnati is pound for pound the funniest city in America. New Orleans is a great place to learn stand up. If I had to film a special, I would heavily consider Minneapolis and Milwaukee because the crowds are smart but they also occupy the center of the Venn diagram formed by drinkers who aren’t loud heckling assholes when they’re drunk. Portland, Maine is better than Portland, Oregon. The Comedy Fort in Fort Collins, Colorado is the best new club in the country. Comedians should go to Pensacola, Florida more because I want the scene to grow so I can eventually move there. Tuscaloosa, Kansas City, Omaha. Iowa City, Little Rock and South Dakota and Kentucky in general are much better than you’d assume. You can still raise hell in San Francisco. Also, never call SF “San Fran”, call it the City to impress locals. I want to spend more time in Boston, Philadelphia, Seattle, San Diego, Montana and Oxford, Mississippi. If I disappear, look for me in Key West or Chattanooga. No matter what happens, I will consider myself successful as long as I never have to perform in Gillete, Wyoming again.. 

Your book Running the Light is absolutely incredible. Obviously fans of stand up comedy will love it, but it’s also brilliantly written. So, what made you want to tell this story? Has the occupation of novelist always been something you’ve aspired to do?


Thanks, Ron. That’s very nice and flattering. Reading literary fiction is my favorite thing. If I could just read books, I’d be fairly happy. I’m confident to say that I have excellent taste in fiction. I was writing short stories, just tinkering, and I sent one of them to VICE. They liked it and they published a butchered version and it went viral in the comedy world. The success of that gave me the idea that maybe I could write, but I never intended to write that book. It came out of trying to write two other things and I got about 120,000 words deep on those before I met Billy Ray (the protagonist of Running the Light). And I know saying I met him sounds pretentious and bullshit but I had no intention of giving him life. I initially wanted to tell the story of his son, Jeremiah, the boy who was orphaned by him, and the first chapter of RTL was a vignette from that project, but as I wrote it, I realized I knew Billy Ray better than his son. The decisions he made were organic and he was easy to write; I never had to yank his strings or force him. So I just followed him on his mission and ten months later I had a book. And yes, if I’m honest, I have always aspired to be an author, which is weird to admit for some reason and I don’t know why.    

If you were given free range to create the biopic of any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

 I’m not a big fan of biopics. I don’t like happy endings. I like stories involing very high risk for very little reward. Like a highly orchestrated and well thought-out jewel heist is less interesting to me than a guy who robs a gas station with an unloaded gun and gets away with $300. I guess if I got to do a biopic, I’d do a movie about a guy like this guy here in Colorado who modified a bulldozer and used it to destroy a bunch of buildings in his small town before he blew his head off. As a story teller (I can’t believe I just said as a story teller. Jesus Christ.), I think it would be fun to explore what brought him to that point where he’s behind the wheel of this homemade tank smashing up VFW’s and Wendy’s. How pissed off do you have to be to build a killdozer? There’s a lot of steps involved. That’s not like a dude who snaps and takes a gun to the post office. You have to build a killdozer. You have to source the steel, order the rivets. You have to learn to weld. I’ve never been so furious that I learned how to weld. The killdozer demolition of Granby, Colorado isn’t the result of a guy having one bad day, it’s the culminaiton of a lifetime of bad days. And I think there’s probably a very human story in all of those bad days that would be intersting to tell. 

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to your readers? 

I’m touring again, building a brand new. My dates and my book are on SAMTALLENT.COM. I’m going to start putting out other peoples books on my publishing company, Too Big To Fail Press, which was a dumb decision, but I have to put out at least one so I can know exactly how dumb it is. I have an Audible Original coming out this fall. It’s a 30,0000 word short story about a teenage bare knuckle boxer. It’s violent and bleak and hopeless and beautiful and I’m very proud of it. I’m swimming and lifting weights and cooking plant based meals for my friends and family. I’m celebrating five years of marriage with Doctor Tallent and feeling grateful every day for everything. I’m reading the entire catalog of New York Tyrant, RIP Gian. I’m half assedly working on my second novel. I’m reccomending the book Preparation for the Next Life to your readers because it’s the best book I’ve read in a very long time. My comedy special comes out September 7th. And finally, after an 11 year hiatus, I’m obtaining the last 8 credits I need to get my undergrad so that maybe, one day, I can make college kids at a small  and expensive liberal arts school read my favorite books and have them tell me why they suck. 

What was the last thing that made you smile?


My wife just came home from work and did a half scoot/half run into the kitchen with her arms pinned to the side and told me it was called “the mini scuffle”. Then, on her way out of the kitchen,  she did it at full speed and informed me that version was called the “big mini scuffle”. 

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Varda Appleton [Interview]

June 17, 2021 by Leave a comment

 

Hello Folks! Today we are getting back to the roots of the site. I’ve always wanted to considered Trainwreck’d Society an arts appreciation site, and god dammit all if we don’t have a great interview to share with you all that absolutely fits that bill. While we have shared words from folks from all sorts of realms of entertainment, the performer has obviously been the key to our showcasing. Which is why I am so excited that this interview, or second to last ever, is with the brilliant Varda Appleton. She is an absolutely incredible actress, and I can’t think of anyone better to close out our conversations with performers than Varda.

I became intrigued by Varda’s work when she appeared in our friend and past guest’s, Zachary Ray Sherman’s, directorial debut, Barbie’s Kenny. It’s a damn near perfect film, and Varda plays a major role the film’s near perfection. She is an absolutely incredible performer, and we are so excited to have her grace our digital pages. Thank you Varda. You’ve made a mark on us here at TWS, and we will be forever grateful. I hope you dig this, Folks. She’s the last of her kind here at Trainwreck’d Society. And I couldn’t be more content with that.

So Folks, here it goes, please enjoy some wonderful words from the brilliant actress, Varda Appleton! Enjoy!

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What inspired you to get into the world of performance? Was it something you have aspired to do since your youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?

Definitely something I aspired to since my childhood but didn’t always have the courage to pursue full-time. I knew I wanted to be an actor, but saying that out loud was too scary. I remember seeing Equus on Broadway and thinking I must get into that world, some way. I started taking the bus into New York from Teaneck, NJ to study acting at the Herbert Berghof Studio and NYU summer programs. I was very much conditioned to choose a more “practical” route and went to school and worked as a neonatal ICU nurse while studying acting. But alas, I kept getting lured back to the “impractical” pursuit of a full-time acting career. 

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work to date?  

My first paid gig was doing children’s theatre in NYC. When Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman came to see the show with their kids and treated us like colleagues, that was exciting and inspiring. Lessons learned from doing theatre are invaluable and starting in theatre has definitely affected my work ethic; I’m so glad to have come up that way. It really gave me the stamina and concentration that sticks with me in any project, any medium. 

One project that you worked on recently was actually one of our Top 5 films of 2019, which was Barbie’s Kenny, written & directed by our dear friend and past guest Zachary Ray Sherman. I am curious to know what drew you to this project? What was it about this story that made you want to be a part of it?  

First, the people. I am such a fan of Zachary, he’s an amazing actor and an equally amazing and humble human being; these traits serve him well as a director. Second, I loved my role as an acting coach because I got to draw on all of the acting teachers I’ve had over the years. It was great to see it all come together.

You’ve done some wonderful work in film, television, the stage, and beyond. I am always curious to know which do you prefer? If you were only able to pursue one means in which to perform, what would it be? Why?

I absolutely love working – that’s the bottom line – I always say I’d love to do enough film to allow me to work on Broadway – that’s always been my dream. My ultimate goal would be to move fluidly between Broadway and film.  

If you were handed the opportunity to create and/or perform in the biopic of any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

Sherry Lansing made her mark in a male-dominated industry at a time when this wasn’t the norm.  I was always in awe of her and wondered how she mustered the strength and motivation to navigate her career.  I think it would be fascinating to explore her journey in more depth.

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

The future is bright. I am an optimist, and I am tenacious. I’m involved in a couple of very funny pilots that I hope will go forward this year. Recent work includes the dark comedy/horror film Cut and Chop and the thriller Manifesto (both streaming on Amazon Prime).

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Opening the email containing my vaccine appointment induced my biggest smile of the year. Being back on set, getting crafty in a box, working again, has kept me smiling.

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Doogie Horner [Interview]

June 15, 2021 by Leave a comment

Hello Folks! I sincerely can’t explain how excited I am to share this interview with you all. Today’s guest is somebody that I have wanted to have on the site for quite a while. And we finally got ’em, Everyone! It’s the brilliant comedian, illustrator, and writer Doogie Horner!

I first discovered Doogie’s existence in a fashion that has been a pretty routine occurrence around here at TWS. It was Doug Loves Movies. Much like just about every comedian we have managed to wrangle onto this site, you could probably play that weird Kevin Bacon game to track them back to DLM. In the last few years, Doogie has been such a presence on the show, and it lead me to dig into some of his work, including the amazing book, Some Very Interesting Cats, Perhaps You Weren’t Aware Of, that I will routinely break out when I just need a little pick me up when I’m feeling a bit down. It’s absolutely delightful. And wouldn’t you know it, he has a plethora of other great works that everyone should check out. We talk about of a few of them in the interview below, but it behooves me to let you all know that he is also the creator if a Die Hard coloring book. Yes, you read that correctly. Along with all of his other works, you should definitely buy that.

So Folks, please enjoy some amazing words from the hilarious Doogie Horner. And after you read this interview and definitely say to yourself, “Hey, this guy seems like the cat’s pajamas with the bee’s knees all over them, I should buy stuff that he does!”, be sure to head on over to doogiehorner.com to do just that. Enjoy!

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What inspired you to get into the world of comedy? Was it something you have been inspired to do since your youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?

When I was a kid, I loved old comedians like the Marx Brothers, Bob Hope, and Danny Kaye. I liked comedy movies, not necessarily standup. I also read a lot of funny comics like Bloom County and Calvin and Hobbes. I was always a funny (a.k.a. weird) kid, but I never thought of doing standup. I tried it on a whim, simply because I heard Helium (in Philadelphia) had an open mic.

What was your first paid gig in the world of comedy? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this experience that still affect your work to date?

When I started doing standup in Philly, standup was not as popular as it is now. So there weren’t many real shows at comedy clubs, or alternative shows in the back of bars. Most of the shows were poorly planned train wrecks, in hoagie shops or VFW halls. Surprisingly, they were generally fun. Because they were so bad, right out of the gate, that you didn’t feel any pressure to succeed. Just surviving was a big enough accomplishment.

The first paid show I did was way out in Delco; it was some kind of fundraiser, I didn’t really know for what. Once I arrived, I found out that it was a fundraiser for a police dog who’d died in the line of duty. The cops gave a eulogy for him and then I went on. There was no stage, and I performed in the round—directly after a Powerpoint eulogy for a dead dog. It was a big crowd, maybe two hundred cops, standing in a circle around me while tears dried on their cheeks, angrily listening to my weird jokes about rowboats and muffins or whatever.

Performing at those early train wreck shows helped me get used to being booed, yelled at, bombing my face off. There’s no way I can bomb harder than I did back then. That’s why when I performed on America’s Got Talent, and everyone at the Hammerstein Ballroom booed me, I wasn’t fazed.

I absolutely adored your book Some Very Interesting Cats Perhaps You Weren’t Aware Of. For those poor unfortunate fools who may not have checked it out yet, could you tell us a bit about it? And what made you want to tell this tale?

It’s an illustrated book of one hundred short, funny stories about cats. Cats are mysterious. You can never tell what they’re thinking. Whenever I leave my house, I always wonder, “What does my cat do while I’m gone?” I imagined him having a rich, secret life, and the book explores stories like that. The secret lives of housecats.

A couple of your more recent writings, such as the YA novel  This Might Hurt A Bit and the cute little comic David’s Dad’s Movies available on your website, have been geared toward a younger audience than your typical one. Obviously there will be differences, but I am more interested in what you feel is the same? Are there any core elements in storytelling that exist no matter what the genre or form may be, in your personal opinion?

This Might Hurt a Bit is a lightly fictionalized memoir about my teenage years, growing up in rural Pennsylvania. I didn’t intend it for a younger audience necessarily, but that book is appropriate for teenagers on up. There’s some heavy shit in there. Everybody who reads it cries.

David’s Dad’s Movie is for a much younger audience, five or six year-olds.

But to answer your question, yeah, telling a story to anyone, at any age, requires certain core elements if you want it to be interesting. Even stories with vastly different formats—a three-minute joke compared to a 300-page book—have similarities.

1. The story has to be coherent. The more the reader/listener understands, the more they’ll enjoy it. This rule sounds self-evident, but it’s amazing how often I forget to stop and ask myself, “Does the audience know what I mean? Are we on the same wavelength?” Kids especially value understanding, because they hear so many things they don’t understand every day.

2. The story has to be interesting, and the best way to do that is to make it relatable. There have to be some familiar elements in it, so the audience can relate to it. Add a few surprises too. But make one of them a surprise for the characters, but not the audience.

3. It’s helpful if things happen, if things change. In story-writing school they call this “character evolution,” but I hate that term. I hate how in movies (books do it less) the main character always learns and evolves. In real life, people rarely do that. Maybe that’s why we love to see it? It’s like believing in Santa Claus, this fairy tale that we can change who we are.

Anyhow, you can sidestep this rule somewhat if you really nail number 2. Movies like My Neighbor Totoro, or books like The Catcher in the Rye or Slaughterhouse Five don’t have a whole lot of character change, but they depict reality in such a clear, true way that that’s enough to keep the audience hooked.

Basically: Be interesting, connect with the audience, and, if you can, tell the truth.

The best book on writing I’ve read is Stephen King’s On Writing. And the best book about reading is How Fiction Works, by James Wood.

If you had free range, and an unlimited budget, to create the biopic of any legendary figure in American history, who would it be?

Well it wouldn’t require much budget, but I’d make a biopic of Bill Peet. Actually, maybe I wouldn’t. He already wrote and illustrated his own biography, and I don’t think I could top it. I’d only do a bio of him so that more people could know about his work. He’s one of my favorite illustrators, and he also worked on a lot of Disney movies. His biography is an interesting read, I highly recommend the book:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Peet

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

I’m writing and illustrating a comic book right now. We’re moving back to NYC soon; we’ve been hiding in the woods of Massachusetts during the pandemic.

The main thing I’d like to plug is my novel This Might Hurt a Bit. It’s a funny coming of age story about a kid whose sister dies of cancer. I know that doesn’t sound funny, but the book is generally funny.

What was the last thing that made you smile?

My son yelled, “Come into the bathroom!” and I went in and found him suspended near the top of the shower, supporting himself with his hands and feet pushed against the walls. “Help, I’m stuck!” he yelled.

I feel like that anecdote shouldn’t count though, because my son makes me smile ten times a day, so here’s another one.

I was visiting my Dad for a couple days, just the two of us because my Mom was at the beach with my family. My Dad had a stroke, so often he can’t think of certain words. We were shopping at the grocery store, and he was looking for something he couldn’t name. He struggled to explain it to me. “It’s round,” he said, drawing a circle in the air. “Like . . . tortillas. And . . . in a bag.”

After a minute I guessed, “Pepperoni?”

My Dad was so amazed I’d guessed it right that he laughed with surprise. His clues had been pretty bad (although, at the same time, spot on. Pepperoni slices are like little tortillas). He laughed and laughed and said, “this should be a game show.”

That made me smile.

And now, some other fun photos Doogie was kind enough to share with us:

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Sherilyn Fenn [Interview]

June 9, 2021 by 1 Comment


Hello Old Friends and New to another amazing interview here at Trainwreck’d Society. As we near that decade mark that will mark the end, we are going out with a bang! Today we are keeping the Twin Peaks love going with some more great words from another essential and brilliant performer who appeared on both the original run as well as re-appearing in the third season. It’s Sherilyn Fenn, Everyone!

You should instantly recognize Sherilyn as tantalizing and seductive Audrey Horne! Audrey was one of my favorite characters on the series, and so much of that is owed to the immense talented held, and holds, as a performer. She is as good as they come in my honest opinion. With a career nearing 40+ years and including projects on the horizon, she has never slowed down. She’s got Globe & Emmy nominations under her proverbial belt, and has appeared in some amazing projects over the last 5 decades. Especially in our beloved genre, which would be horror. She is an absolute beast in her career field, and just a gem of a human being.

So, I will cut this short, and allow you all to proceed to check out these amazing words from the brilliant Sherilyn Fenn! Enjoy!

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What inspired you to get into the world of performance? Was it something you have wanted to do since your youth, or did you happen to find yourself in this world one day?

I think my aunt inspired me as she had great success in the music business. But not for  the reason one might think. I come from a broken and unhappy childhood  as most  of us do. I saw what appeared to me to be a lot of love and attention from all of my family, grandparents, aunts and uncles. I wanted that love shown to me, I believe and I think that I thought IF I became ‘famous’ then I would get it from my family. Instead of feeling like a pillow on the couch. Just an inconsequential object. Or worse, a puppy dog because unlike a pillow, I needed care. My aunt also had some  of the most beautiful clothes that  I had ever seen. Clothes that she bought in London. I coveted pretty stuff  like that as well. I was a child with childish ideas. 

What was your first paid gig in the world of entertainment? And were there any sort of lessons learned from this project that still affect your work to date?

I am not sure if  it was my ‘first paid gig’ but I remember doing a small film in Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia (when it was still that). I believe I had my 18th birthday there. Walking to the set for the first time,  my whole body was shaking with  fear. All the lights were pointed to a place on the ground where I and a  boy were to sit and do a scene. I sat down, shaking. They said action andI looked down and blanked completely. I could not remember a single line, few though they were. The boy whispered ‘just keep going’ and I looked up- into the lens and said ‘cut’. I was told that the actor NEVER says cut. I learned it. Although now in all honesty, I still may end a take if something dodgy is happening, like a prop is missing, etc. But never from the place of ‘feeling lost’ because that is when the magic starts  to happen. To have the courage to be lost and keep going. Just like we  do in life. Not trying to control everything.

Your role as Audrey Horne in the highly original and beloved series Twin Peaks was absolutely perfect, on so many levels. You were absolutely amazing in the series. So, I am curious to know what drew to this project? What was it about the world of David Lynch that made you want to live in it for a while?

Who does not want to live in any DKL project? I was in my early 20’s and I had seen Blue Velvet and left the movie  theatre speechless. It had so many interesting aspects to it. It was absolutely frightening, Dennis Hopper with the oxygen mask crying for his mama to bizarrely hysterical, ‘Are you the one who found the ear??? I HEARD it. Or I am gonna honk the horn three times, one, two,three……what?????? And everything in between. My mind  was blown. 

Happily I rented The Elephant Man  so I could also see what a deep heart DKL had. 

I did not get to read the script. Just had a meeting with a genius filmmaker. Who would say no?

And how was the return back in 2017 for the latest installment? Was it like old times, and just jumping right back into the proverbial saddle? How was this experience?

The return was filled with many ups and downs. Twists and turns. I was filled with gratitude to work with DKL again as I always am and always would be. I was happy with the rewrite he did for Audrey. And also sad that she did realize her potential as a person in that story. That she was trapped in her own mind. 

The fandom revolving around Twin Peaks is one of wild devotion and extreme loyalty, I have come to notice. At least that is my perception. But as somebody obviously more well informed, I am curious to know what you think? How have your fan interactions been over the years?

The Twin Peaks fans are what I call a ‘sacred family’. They are amazing. And they keep growing. As a young actress I would say ‘if I do a role that stands the test of time, I will know I have succeeded’. Well Twin Peaks has done just that. I meet people younger than my son, Myles, and they are fans.I look at them and say you could be my child. But they  look at me as if I am still that very young woman, which at 56 I am not, with love and  joy i their eyes. And I feel blessed that my work actually touched people and still does. What a gift from God. It makes me so happy. It is a beautiful, beautiful thing. And I love  them all dearly. They are better to me often times than my own blood family. We connect, we laugh, we cry….it is truly a gift.

While you have worked in just about every genre imaginable, one of them happens to be one of our all time favorites around here. And that would be the world of horror. I am curious to know how you enjoy working in this world? What do you believe it is that sets it apart from other genres?

Well I am not big on ‘genres’. I just bring truth to whatever I’m blessed to be a part of. I guess Twin Peaks is considered ‘horror’. But not to me. I feel Audrey was  a light in that darkness. 

That is what I aim to be. A light in the seeming darkness  of the world. My beloved  grandma used to  love  horror movies. She would go and see them alone. She would giggle and giggle during the’ scary’ parts. They never scared  her. She thought they were ’silly’. She was so advanced and nobody could see it. She  was actually absorbing all the energy that others were releasing in the theatre unbeknownst to them. A conscious being shared about this and I realized how advanced she was. People don’t know what to do when they have a lot of energy in their bodies and often spend it in all these useless places. When it is contained and lifted one can access higher states of consciousness. 

If you were handed the opportunity to create and/or appear in the biopic of any legendary figure in American history, who would it be? 

Well, being my age takes away some my choices. But if age were not an issue…. Hedy Lamarr because she was beautiful but brilliant and pioneered the technology that would be the basis for today’s wifi. And my grandmother loved her. Marilyn Monroe, to finally show the woman. The real woman who was wise behind all the affectations. Clara Bow….. because she was a bright light.

Any amazing unknown to the world woman who showed up in her life to change the lives of people around her, not relations, out of the goodness of her heart and strength of character. 

What does the future hold for you? Anything you would like to plug to our readers?

The futures so bright I have to wear sunglasses. Many amazingly great things are coming together……it is quite a ride….. 

What was the last thing that made you smile?

Feeling God so deeply at work in my life. So loving. So kind. So present. Not because I am special, we all are. But because I am finally listening. Blessings.xxoo

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