Marion Barry arrived at the AFI Silver Theater for the world premier of The Nine Lives of Marion Barry, which closes the festival. Typically, emotions were stirred. After some limo-exiting negotiations, Barry emerged looking fit and trim and proceeded to walk away from the theater and down the block, past the long line of folks waiting in the stand-by line for the sold-out show. A festival source told me that Hizzoner had “30 people” in the line.

Good foresight. As soon as Barry’s foot hit Colesville Road, several people (at least one wearing the promotional Silverdocs tote bag) began chanting “Shame! Shame!” and variations on that theme. They were countered by a few cheers and applause and one woman who bird-dogged the Shamers with her “Marion! Marion!” song.

Barry seemed oblivious to the contretemps, basking, once more, in the attention as he headed around the corner toward…Panera Bread?

Shot, again, with my trusty Canon Powershot A5990. I am officially entering this video in next year’s Silverdocs.

I passed up the Silverdocs opening night film to attend Bobby Hill’s going-away party at WPFW. It was the right choice. Bobby was the station’s program director whose tireless efforts have increased both listeners and the number and variety of programming. A multi-page list of accomplishments under his watch was distributed, underscoring how much he will be missed. His tenure as PD was just under three years, but his attachment to the station stretches back 26. Normally, this would rate a news item, but I didn’t even find a mention on DCRTV. Sad.

The daily comedy segment I produce, “Laffs to Keep From Crying,” was Bobby’s idea and he’s been generous and supportive over the year-and-a-half I’ve been scrambling to come up with FCC-approved material. I’ve been quite proud to be a part of the station and pleased to babble a few words in his honor.

After many heartfelt speeches, food, wine, cake, and of course great music, I had to leave early to drop by the Silvedocs after-party at Jackie’s. If I don’t post anything more, you’ll know it was a good party.

A day late, but I’ve been sick. This week’s laugh-getter is Gabriel Iglesias. Known as “Fluffy Guy” — fluffy being his euphemism for fat, which he is — Iglesias also has a tendency to lapse into a bizarre high-pitched cartoon voice. I’m assuming he does a lot of weird voice work.

Anyway, the place is WPFW 89.3 on the FM dial; the time is 2:30 in the afternoon. Now go laugh.

It’s frazzled funnyman Jake Johannsen this week. When I was covering stand-up comedy for the Post, they sent me out to review Jake three times. Now, I like the guy; he’s one of the top comics working. His mind is quick, bright, and bizarre—a winning combination. Johannsen can turn a one-word epithet into a pithy sociological statement. But I ran out of ways to say “This guy is quick, bright, and bizarre.”

Maybe the editors were just huge fans, or maybe it was a case of institutional amnesia at the 15th Street behemoth. They didn’t want a Margaret Cho review. Or even post-rehab Brett Butler. But a Johannsen three-peat they got. So maybe I’ll keep playing him the next couple weeks…

One thing I’ve never been able to figure out is why sometimes you see Johannsen with glasses and sometimes you don’t.

It’s the comic stylings of Miss Margaret Smith. Whom I have not heard much from lately, and the reason is she has been a writer on the Ellen Degeneres show. Which I never see. Though I am an Ellen fan. Saw her when she opened the D.C. Improv. After the show (which also featured young Brian Regan), as folks were milling about, I caught sight of Ms. D across the room, her blond tresses shining in a pool of light, and thought, “Wow, she’s hot.” And then several other thoughts, which in hindsight are pretty darn ridiculous for so many reasons.

Anyway, Margaret, too, is a funny lady and I look forward to hearing more from her.

WPFW is the place.

Funny funnyman Rick Younger takes to the airwaves. Rick got his start in D.C., for what it’s worth, which is apparently a mention here.

As always, tune in at 2:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 89.3 on your FM dial or WPFW.org on your Internet dial.

It’s Joe Recca, late of our fair city, with some Baltimore-centric humor and other, as he puts it, “clean, hilarious comedy.” Catch it all week at 2:30 p.m. at 89.3 on your FM dial or wpfw.org.

It was a delight to meet and interview famed comedian/activist/
diet guru Dick Gregory during WPFW’s recent pledge drive. I’m also proud to say that I met my pledge goal during my hour. Now send in those checks!

Interviewing Mr. Gregory proved an easy task. After I said “Hello,” he pretty much filled the entire show with wonderful anecdotes of his pioneering days in comedy and philosophical stories of same. He’s a fascinating guy.

I will be hosting a one-hour show on WPFW Tuesday and Wednesday, Aug. 11-13. Be advised that this is part of the station’s pledge drive, so in addition to spinning comedy records*, I will also be demanding money. And you should pay up.

Wednesday, my guest will be the legendary Dick Gregory.

*By “records” I mean digital versions of vinyl hilarity.

Of course, it’s George Carlin. Man, 71 is just too early to go, especially for someone who showed no signs of slowing down, at least in the quality of his material. Last week was very depressing.

I interviewed George for City Paper and started with a softball question about any movies or novels he might enjoy. His quick response surprised me: “I don’t have time for other people’s dreams,” he said. It wasn’t a knock on anyone else’s work, rather an acknowledgment that he was busy filling his own mind with the facts and figures of the world, the better to understand, and deconstruct, it for our amusement.

Louis C.K. has a nice appreciation, as does, surprisingly, Michael Ian Black. (Though he also complains that Carlin’s death kept his book, My Custom Van: And 50 Other Mind-Blowing Essays that Will Blow Your Mind All Over Your Face out of the No. 2 spot. Wiseass.

I trust George is finally eating pork chops with Jesus.