Interview with Comedian Steven Wright

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Wright talks Red Sox, suicide by falling satellite debris, 'Boardwalk Empire' and what he has in store for his Borgata return Friday night.

By Jeff Schwachter

Add Comment | Comments: 0 | Posted Nov. 3, 2011

Newbury Comics?

Yeah, did that have records in it?

Yeah. That was actually one of the last ones to survive.

I remember that one from when I was in college in the late 1970s. 1976-'77-'78.

In Boston? 

Yeah, I went to Emerson College.

Oh cool. I worked with some friends who went to Emerson while I lived in Boston - during my high-school years and a little college. I used to work at the Staples behind Fenway Park. It was one of the first Staples.

Did you see some games?

I could actually walk out back behind the store, in the lot, and I could see the scoreboard. The Staples was like behind the Green Monster. I remember some of my friends at Emerson and were on their radio station.

I was on the radio. I had a rock show in the morning and Sunday afternoons I had a bluegrass show, and I knew nothing about bluegrass at all, so when I auditioned for the show I made up all the bands and all the songs the bands were playing, so the people, when they heard my tape, they never heard of any of the people or the bands or the songs that I was talking about, of course, but they thought, “Wow, he must know so much that he should get the show. And I did.”

They must have been thinking you went deep into the Appalachian songbook.

Yeah, yeah, yeah!

So that was sort of a preview to your appearance in Reservoir Dogs, right?

Yeah, accidentally rehearsing for Reservoir Dogs.

Steve Buscemi's in Reservoir Dogs. You had a lot of HBO work over the years. Steve Buscemi is starring in Boardwalk Empire, the second season of which just started. Do you watch it?

I love that show. It’s beautiful. I mean what’s happening on the show is excellent, but the way it just takes you back to that time period is amazing. And Steve Buscemi’s fantastic, of course. Great show.

Any other projects you’re working on right now or planning to work on?

I’ve been doing a lot of painting. I’ve been painting and drawing since elementary school, way before I did any comedy, and I go through phases where I do it and then don’t do it. This summer I was into it a lot, and some of the stuff is on my Web site. As far as comedy, I’m focusing on going on the road. I was on Craig Ferguson, I was on Louis CK on FX, so a few things like that here and there, but mainly performing live.

Will you do any raking of leaves when you get back to Massachusetts?

(Laughs). Yes, I will. I love the season.

Steven Wright (click here for concert and ticket info)

The Borgata, Atlantic City

When: Fri., Nov. 4, 8pm

LISTEN: To Steven Wright speaking with Atlantic City Weekly.

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