Mort Sahl = intellectual crack

Mort Sahl is the cool, cerebral comic, a man whose brand of social and political commentary only went out of style when Americans decided they’d rather shop at the mall than question authority.

It’s a wonder a guy like that was ever in style.

“You’re right about the line shifting,” Sahl told Schnauzer Logic host Robin Goldstein. “It’ll get closer until you won’t be able to say anything, and you’ll forget what you believed in. Because you’re afraid of getting your throat cut.”

He recounted “the great American disclaimer — my opinions are not necessarily my own.” Continue reading

Posted in: Profiles at 1:00 am Sun, Apr 22, 2007.

Who’s your doctah?

Host Robin Goldstein is back after three weeks off to rest her surgically repaired brain, and I’m called in to consult on my own recent experiences with the health care system. Today we learn that CT scans are freakin’ hilarious!

But what the heck, we’re all Jews here, or we’ve all at least had the sniffles at one time or another. Doctors are our favorite topic.

Before the fun gets out of hand, though, entertainment reporter Jason Nathanson joins the conversation from Hollywood to dissect some casualties from the TV networks’ spring schedules. Andy Richter, anyone? Continue reading

Posted in: Interviews at 11:59 pm Fri, Apr 20, 2007.

Moist and airy

Big Phil’s in the bathroom this episode, making moist, airy sounds while “The Morning Poop” drones in the background, ostensibly dissecting the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.

Her Shit Don’t Stink has never been so embarrassed by its surroundings. Whatever would inspire a program host to abuse my tender love song in such a manner? Surely not the title.

Thankfully, Big Phil refrains from blasting another wet one until the last note fades. He follows up with a theme-appropriate melody from from Lynn Julian, If Farts Were Made of Super Ball Stuff. Continue reading

Posted in: Podcast Roundup at 12:31 pm Thu, Apr 19, 2007.

Where do I sign up to meet Jesus?

Taylor Kent is comfortable with his faith and tempers Snark Infested Waters’ religious message with a healthy irreverence. Or maybe that’s just his cynical plan to convert the unbelievers.

But I’m hooked. Where do I sign up to meet Jesus? This edition marks a satisfying return to the podcast, which featured The Ballad Of Morris The Cat on January 11 as part of Episode 107.

Telephone guest J. David Baker, director of Reserve Spy Training Corps, consumes most of the program. He’s seeking a mainstream audience for his “Christian Spy Thriller,” and good luck with that. Continue reading

Posted in: Podcast Roundup at 5:09 pm Wed, Apr 18, 2007.

Give Mondays a break!

What did Monday ever do to hurt anybody? Should Monday take crap because some people don’t like going back to work on Monday?

I suppose I should learn to empathize, though. If I had a job, I might not appreciate Mondays, either.

Actually, I did have a job once, but I didn’t like it very much. You couldn’t pay me to get another job, that’s how much I didn’t like it! Continue reading

Posted in: Dementia at 3:33 pm Tue, Apr 17, 2007.