You’ll hear it in the show, and I’m not going to hide it: I was kinda intimidated talking to Richard Lewis. A brilliant comedian with a lightning-fast mind, Lewis has bested interviewers with far more supple intellects than yours truly. To add to my anxiety, I went into the discussion having watched DRUNKS, the 1995 feature film in which Lewis reveals a rarely seen facility for soul-searing drama. Fully aware of his range and his skill, I knew this discussion was going to be working at a wholly different level than my typical, cozy little chats.
And, bless him, Lewis was great. Our conversation focuses on RICHARD LEWIS: BUNDLE OF NERVES — a just-released two-disc set that includes DRUNKS, as well his acting debut, DIARY OF A YOUNG COMIC, a new-to-DVD HBO special, MAGICAL MISERY TOUR, and a bonus, documentary feature, HOUSE OF A LIFETIME. In the course of the conversation, Lewis discusses his inspirations, explores his ambitions, and just in passing points out that the host of a certain, film-centric podcast shouldn’t presume that everything can be filtered through the wisdom of Cahiers du Cinema. Click on the player to hear the show.
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