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Navigated my way through a tricky chapter of the book. Still 6 chapters and about 4000 words to go to the first draft, but my editor seems to think we’re in good shape and I am hoping I can freewheel down the hill a bit now I’ve got the first 13 chapters (and intro) flowing pretty well.
I had done the hard work of researching the Bill Burr interview last week, so just had the pleasure of chatting to the great man for 80 minutes tonight. We covered some interesting territory, with much left to discuss if he ever wants to come back. That extra six months of podcasting he’s done has really made all the difference for his career, with high profile acting jobs in the enjoyable King of Staten Island and the Mandalorian and the setting up of his own company that allows comedians to produce their own content and the engaging F is for Family. I particularly enjoyed him talking about how wrong most dramas about the 70s get the look all wrong. I really like the way the characters looks capture the decade, without being stereotypes, but Bill’s point about the main character owning a car from the 60s rather than one from the 70s is very acute.
He is a liberal, though not afraid to voice uncomfortable ideas or to defend men. We talked a little about my thoughts on the patriarchy actually being a bad thing for the vast majority of men, yet weirdly how we defend it from attack. He didn’t concede too much on that point, but he’s open to discussing stuff and what makes him a disarming comment is his admission that he doesn’t really know anything. I like how comedy can be used to test ideas in a public forum and that you can say stuff that you wouldn’t see elsewhere. If you’re talking shit then you will soon find out.
Anyway, watch it if you want to see two tired middle-aged men with very young children who haven’t had enough sleep. We’re fast-tracking the podcast if you want to wait for that. It will be out next Wednesday.
It’s a big moment for the podcast. Our first international recording. The tech held up pretty well. This strange year keeps throwing top surprises. Different ones than I’d have been sharing if we hadn’t been locked down, but it’s not all been bad. I wonder who else I can get to talk to if I put some effort in!
I came downstairs afterwards where my wife was also recording her own transatlantic podcast with Ricki Lake. What a night for this house in rural Hertfordshire. Look out for the Drunk Women Solving Crime going international too.
RHLSTP with Mark Watson is now up
on audio
