Andrew J. Lederer

did rev. jen's first mo pitkin's show last night.

for those outside of new york, rev. jen (she's the star/co-creator of the electra elf films i've been appearing in) does a show filled with what she calls "art stars" every Wednesday night -- poets, comics, musicians, weirdos . . .

It can be very entertaining.

I was there, for example, on the now-famous night when performance artist La Ruocco mugged an audience member. (She was assisted by Michael Portnoy, who later notably disrupted the Grammy Awards by -- "disguised" as an ordinary background dancer -- taking his shirt off during the live broadcast to reveal the words "Soy Bomb" painted on his chest.)

I used to do the show all the time but hadn't done it in a long while and it felt good to be back. Especially as I'd chosen a gala night for my return, which featured dozens of "art stars" as well as ceremonies to mark the debut of the show in its new, more upscale home. For instance, "Mangina", who has (it appears) special male/female combo genitalia, presented Jen with the key to the city after removing it from his ass.

But mostly it was the regular show (which is what I wanted).

And hey, British readers -- the guy who went on before me was from Brixton and he was really good (a poet) but I wondered if he realized people in New York don't know the meaning of terms like "council flat".

Well, I was kind enough to explain it when I went up and then I put the guy -- and all English -- in his/their place for his/their (your?) inappropriate level of enthusiasm for Dick Van Dyke in "Diagnosis: Murder", which is hardly the jewel of his oeuvre. (I hope English comedian Natalie Haynes, who loves Dick/"Diagnosis", isn't reading this.) I adore Dick but like D:M mostly because he's in it; it's not that good.

However, talking about "Murder" was, in fact, the jewel of my performance, part of a couple of fast, improvisational tears that underscored my rightness for that Onion radio piece I might have screwed up the other day. (Rev. Jen even gasped impressedly at their pace and complexity. Meanwhile, it looks like they're rewriting the Onion thing, so what I did may not fit the new version regardless of its goodness.)

Oh yeah -- and I did a fraction of a hair of what I'm developing for Edinburgh '07.

(hey -- i just noticed that i started out doing this post in my quick, informal, "no-caps" style, then shifted into more proper presentation. it's like i'm a manic depressive or something, shifting between "poles" without even noticing it myself.)

anyway, the night was kinda fun.

and it took my mind off this potential job thing.

now it's daytime again and my mind is back on it (though maybe not as much as it should be).

can one be an art star in the harsh glare of sunlight?

would it make life easier if one could?

("phone" just "rang". actually, it was skype on my computer that was "ringing". i have my number going to the computer 'cause there's no money on my "pay as you go" cell phone, which is what my "skype in" number usually goes to.

it was the internet fake news guy; the potential job guy. i was hoping he'd call while i was online.

we had a nice conversation, except for those times when the skype went out. he told me more of what they wanted and i'm gonna send him additional stuff today.

keep your fingers crossed.)