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Filed under: Looked Into Tagged: comedy, events, Jesse Thorn, podcasts, radio, Will Franken
I saw the comedian Will Franken at Upright Citizens Brigade a few months ago, and I’m still reeling from, marveling at, trying to process the hilarity, erudition and outrageousness of Franken’s mind and his eerie gift for projecting dozens (multiple, manifold dozens!) of personalities in a single performance. Download his podcast. Listen to an interview he did with Jesse Thorn of The Sound of Young America (completely coincidentally, I appear as a voice at the beginning of this recording). Watch some videos. If you’re still not convinced, read this Gothamist interview. And see him live. The next New York show is this Saturday, Feb. 16, at Karma Lounge, 51st 1st Ave. (between 3rd and 4th Sts.), 8 p.m. And I’m not just promoting a friend; I don’t even know him yet. But please take my word for it—his talent and imagination are well out of the ordinary.
About us
Hello! We're a small band of media enthusiasts, culture addicts, and journalists based in New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles. Emdashes, formerly a New Yorker fan site, is our collection of conversations—mostly civilized—about magazines, movies, politics, design, punctuation, and other things that stir us.
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Tell me more
Dashes, some say, “are particularly useful in a sentence that is long and complex.” Emdashes—like an em dash itself—provides a thoughtful pause amid the hubbub.
Emdashes, founded in 2004, is written and drawn by Emily Gordon, Martin Schneider, Pollux, Jonathan Taylor, and Benjamin Chambers, as well as occasional guest contributors. All posts before October 2008 are by Emily Gordon.
The site was designed by House of Pretty with illustrations by Jesse R. Ewing.
Additional drawings are by Carolita Johnson and Pollux (author of our web comic, "The Wavy Rule"). The Emdashes pencil logo is by Jennifer Hadley, based on a 1943 Dorothy Gray ad.
Other writing by Emily Gordon
- Writing on theater: reviews (for Time Out Chicago; imperfect but workable search results)
- Profile: Valerie Casey, Designers Accord founder, is spearheading the design of sustainability (for SXSW World)
- Feature: Rea Irvin: visionary art director, bon vivant, New Yorker founding father (for Print)
- Slide show: the Coney Island Mermaid Parade (for NYCgo.com)
- Feature: Muslim immigration iconography in the Netherlands, and an interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali (for Print)
- Review: King's Gambit: A Son, a Father, and the World's Most Dangerous Game by Paul Hoffman (for Newsday)
- Homage: Celebrating lindy-hop legend Frankie Manning (for NYCgo.com)
- Inquiry: Does a New Republic redesign mean a change of tune? (for Print)
- Interview: James Surowiecki on what's next for the wisdom of crowds (for Assignment Zero)
- Interviews: four up-and-coming designers under 30 (for Print)
- Profile: novelist and dance critic Laura Jacobs (for Newsday)
Blogroll highlights
- Box Office Boffo
- World of Pollux
- Jonathan Taylor
- Carolita Johnson
- Songs for blogroll lovers (more links)
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Comments
Hello Emily,
Mr. Franken wishes to express his deepest gratitude for your appreciation of his art and your promotion of his upcoming shows. Please also note that he has recently finished the latest installment of his inventive podcast “Things We Did Before Reality,” entitled “BANG!,” which can be accessed here.
We look forward to seeing you at future performances. Please do say hello.
Sincerely,
Stealth Johnson
Personal Secretary to Wm. Franken
Well, that’s very nice to hear, Stealth! Wait, where did you go?
Note to readers: Will Franken is freakishly gifted.
I’m so jealous that you saw Franken. I’ve been meaning to see him for about a year, and he played the UCB Theater a month or two ago and I happened to be out of town, drat.
Come back to NYC soon, Will! And bring Stealth with you!
I return with happy tidings as Will Franken will perform an hour show at the Sidewalk Cafe (94 Avenue A, East Village), on Wednesday April 16 at 9pm.
The best part, the show is free!! (We will be “passing the hat” afterwards for voluntary contributions)
Tell all your friends!
-Stealth
P.S. For up-to-date showtime information, please click on the “shows” link at www.willfranken.com