Arlington Book Signing

I decided to make the haul up to Northern VA yesterday and go to the book signing at Olsson's Books in Arlington. It's a tad of a drive, about 3 hours, but I knew Lewis wasn't coming back to my area for several months so I figured if I wanted my book signed this year I might as well do it now. Plus, it was a GORGEOUS day for a drive and I needed a few hours off after the rowdy bunch of 4th graders earlier in the day.

So I put on CD 3 from the James Brown Mr. Dynamite collection, 'cause when you're driving the 64/I-95 corridor you gotta be grooooovin', and flew low all the way to Arlington.

I got to Olsson's about 6:50pm and the place was slammed. I picked up a ticket for the book signing, #75, and tried to get as close to the front as I could. There were well over 100 people crammed into the tiny store and the heat was going full blast. What a perfectly comfortable way to spend the next two hours. So I stripped off the jacket and tossed that to the floor, yet still proceeded to sweat like I was running for a bus.

Lewis came out a few minutes after 7:00pm to talk to the crowd and take a few questions. He thanked everyone for coming and related his incredulousness that anyone would even want to buy his book. He also gave some advice. "If anyone ever asks you to write a book, tell them to go fuck themselves." He continued by saying that writing a book while touring is nuts. "Every day is like when you were a kid and it's Sunday with the sun going down and you have homework due the next day."

Next came questions from the crowd. Lewis is exceptional at this. I'm so impressed how he gives his total attention to the person asking the question and gives a thoughtful answer. Well, at some point he gives a thoughtful answer. He does come up with some great off the cuff remarks as well. But he is more open with folks than you might imagine. It's a real pleasure to listen to him speak.

Some highlights from the Q & A...

When asked how to become a writer on The Daily Show... "You gotta blow somebody. Not me, 'cause I don't have any influence. But you're going to have to find someone to blow." He then went on to describe the brutal nature of writing for TDS and the near impossibility of getting a writing spot. But he encouraged the guy to just keep writing and submitting work where ever he could.

When asked about Mitch Hedberg Lewis became pretty emotional and had to take a moment or two. You could see how sad he was just thinking about him. He described Mitch as "one of the few people that could make me laugh," and "a tragic soul."

Some one brought up the upcoming correspondents dinner and we learned there was more reason than ever to catch it on C-Span. Not only was Lewis limited to what he can say, but he gets to perform AFTER Dick Cheney gives his thoughts on the passing of the Pope. "Well, the Pope is dead. Ladies and Gentlemen, Lewis Black!" He didn't seem to be looking all that forward to it.

A few minutes into the Q&A a woman worked her way past me and up to the front of the crowd. She just stood there in front of Lewis. He looked at her a few seconds with only a vague glimmer of recognition until she said, "You don't remember me do you? I'm the prom date!" I wish I had gotten a picture of Lewis' face at that precise moment. I've seen Lewis heckled, I've heard people ask him the dumbest of questions, but I've never seen him rendered completely and utterly speechless. And he was at that moment. Once the shock wore off a bit they exchanged hugs and pleasantries. For those who hadn't heard the exchange Lewis let the crowd know who she was. And as she made her way back through the crowd she looked back at Lewis and said "And you lied in the book!!! I DID NOT break up with you right after the prom!" Huge response from the crowd and another (almost) speechless moment for Lewis. "It was eight weeks, close enough!!!" He yelled back.

A 14-year-old boy asked Lewis for advice about becoming a stand-up comic. In the midst of his response Lewis said the word 'fuck' a few times. Imagine that. He apologized, sorta, saying the kid had certainly heard that word before. The kid responded that his mother said it "all the time." That broke Lewis up big time. Once he stopped laughing he said, "So much for family values, huh?"

I asked Lewis for any news on his TV shows in the works. He told the crowd that every year someone offers him a TV show just so he won't be disappointed he wasn't asked. He then described the new deal with Sony, how impressed he was with them, and asked if he could just skip the whole pilot process and they give him stock instead. Two shows are in the works. One, an unscripted show where Lewis travels on a bus to the 'Red States' and talks with people and a scripted show. He's working with Jeff Stilson (former Letterman & Chris Rock writer) on the unscripted show and with one of the writers from the Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (Lewis was a frequent guest on that show) on the scripted show. They are looking to cable for both shows, maybe FX or Showtime. After describing the shows and talking about the process Lewis wrapped up his response by saying, "But what that all means is nothing will actually happen." Let's hope not. I'd like to see Lewis on TV more than two minutes a week.

The last question someone asked him who were the comedy icons of the 20th century which inspired him. The short list....Marx Brothers, Shelley Berman, Bob Newhart, Richard Pryor and most of all Lenny Bruce.

After a good half hour, maybe more, of questions we got in line for the book signing. I had a great conversation with a couple of gals from Maryland and the line moved relatively quickly. Got my book and a CD signed and talked with Lewis for a few minutes. He was lovely as always. And as always I appreciate that more than he'll ever realize. It was a great event and I'm glad I made the drive.

Rolled out of Arlington about 9pm with Warren Zevon's I'll Sleep When I'm Dead anthology blaring on the CD player. There's nothing like flying through the darkness listening to Detox Mansion at top volume while buzzed on Mocha Frappachinos and Moonpies. Makes that long, dark ride from Richmond to the Bay a little more tolerable. And if it hadn't been for VDOT closing down the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel earlier than they said, I would have made a personal best time back to the house. Instead, I sat on the bridge for a good hour watching VDOT trucks roll back and forth for no apparent reason.