Thursday, January 31, 2008
Charlie Wiener finds humor in everyday life.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Comedian Charlie Wiener is busy.
“I’m still working on a new book, writing some songs for a new album, and I’m also kind of in the formulation point in writing a musical,” said Wiener, calling from the road somewhere in Maryland. “It’s called ‘The Great Lefty Liberal Pinko Musical.’
“It’s basically about a guy who has lost his way and has become a Republican, and the attempt to turn him away from his life of despicable Republicanism and conservatism.”
The Brunswick-based funnyman hopes to debut the latter project this fall. A songwriter since the early ’70s and a working stand-up comedian since the early ’80s, Wiener continues to perform in one fashion or another. This includes appearances on the Arts and Entertainment channel, hosting his own television shows “Wienervision” and “Off the Wall,” as well as headlining in comedy clubs throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Wiener views all of his projects as stemming from the same tree.
“I think writing is the thing that I like most,” said Wiener, who can be heard frequently on Y-103 FM’s morning show with Scott Kennedy. “But performing is something I’ve done my whole life. It pays the bills.”
He added, “There was always a certain element of comedy in everything I’ve done. I was a founding member of [punk act] Rocket from the Tombs, and we always had a few humorous things that went along with the absurdity of mocking other bands.”
Mocking life in general has been Wiener’s stand-up modus operandi for decades. In fact, he said his Friday and Saturday Funny Farm dates will be filled with new material detailing various topics.
“I have new stuff on smoking, and a new thing on the female suicide bombers,” Wiener said. “I’ve got more stuff on the relationship between men, women and children. So it’s a constantly evolving show because life doesn’t stop for anybody.
“It’s just from living. It’s reading the newspapers. It’s observing people at malls or whatever. We’re all the same people. The amazing thing is, I don’t care what color you are, what sexual orientation you are. If anybody is in a relationship, we’re all the same people.
“My whole show is basically about the reality of life and how absurd it is,” Wiener said. “And we all join in and have a lot of fun. It’s high-energy. It’s a good time.”