Andrew J. Lederer

downstairs at the kings head last night and did great, perhaps the most effective in a line-up that included natalie haynes reading from her new book and owen o'neill presenting a short film he made in ireland.

in a bridge-mending frame of mind, i kept a respectful distance from natalie haynes, hoping to eliminate the stalkerish tinge generated by my decision to base my set on hers at the book club and by my follow-up e-mails featuring trivia about dick van dyke. (related posts at http://blogs.chortle.co.uk/andrewjlederer?s=natalie+haynes&sentence=AND.) to keep said distance, i stayed away from peter grahame's office, where natalie sat hangin' and chattin' before the show.

well, staying out of the office meant sitting in the showroom, so i was in a position of high visibility when susan murray, who recently accused me of creepily staring at her mouth and breasts (at a show where i was otherwise so triumphant, the audience practically carried me out on their shoulders) suddenly strode into the room.

now, it's true that i tend to stare but generally not at the things or for the reasons perceived by others, something i'd tried to point out to susan. still, when the attractive woman i was chatting up was asked by andrew clover if she was with me, her answer -- that she had come alone -- seemed to provoke some murray mutterings, no doubt about the unwanted advances i was foisting upon this unwary maiden.

well between a rock and a hard-place, personal image-wise, i nevertheless managed to be sympathetic in a story i told about (not) asking a girl to dance when i was a child. then, i accompanied the attractive, unattached audience-member part of the way home.

we had a great conversation and may get together on sunday.

take that, judgmental comedy chicks!