Barry Crimmins

Crimmins at the Montclair Film Festival, May 2015

Barry Crimmins (born July 3, 1953) is an American stand-up comedian, political satirist, author of Never Shake Hands with a War Criminal[1] released by Seven Stories Press, former Air America Radio writer and correspondent, and former comedy club owner.

Career

Crimmins founded two comedy clubs, The Ding Ho and Stitches, in the 1980s in Boston.[2][3] Shows at these clubs, produced by Crimmins, included performances by comedians Steven Wright, Paula Poundstone, Bobcat Goldthwait, Kevin Meaney, Jimmy Tingle and many others.[4][5]

Crimmins' satirical writing and comedy routines have focused through the years on the need for political and social change.[6] In the 1990s, in a more serious vein, he led a crusade against images of child abuse on the Internet, calling for police investigation of Internet service providers.[7] Crimmins received the "Peace Leadership Award" from Boston Mobilization for Survival, and was honored by Community Works with the "Artist for Social Change Award" for his years of activism.[8] Howard Zinn presented Barry Crimmins with "The Courage of Conscience Award" from Wellesley College and The Life Experience School at The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts.

Crimmins was featured on the podcast WTF with Marc Maron discussing his personal life and career as a political activist and his role in the Boston comedy scene.[9]

Crimmins has also been featured in a number of film and television appearances over the years, including When Standup Stood Out (2003), The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1988-1989), and The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion (1986). Crimmins has released two albums: Strange Bedfellows on A&M Records and Kill the Messenger on Green Linnet. His articles are regularly published in The Boston Phoenix[10][11] among other publications.[12]

Crimmins’ life and work in comedy and politics are the subject of a documentary entitled Call Me Lucky (2015) directed by Bobcat Goldthwait.[13]

On June 4, 2016, Barry Crimmins shot a special, entitled "Whatever Threatens You," in Lawrence, Kansas for Louis C.K.'s production company Pig Newton.[14] The special is available through LouisCK.net.

References

  1. ↑ Mike Bent (18 July 2009). The Everything Guide to Comedy Writing: From stand-up to sketch - all you need to succeed in the world of comedy. Everything Books. pp. 125–. ISBN 1-4405-0174-2.
  2. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Barry Crimmins' last stand". Loaded Gun.
  3. ↑ "For these two 'Un-Conventional' acts, politics is vocal". By Nick A. Zaino III. Boston Globe, July 11, 2004.
  4. ↑ Turbovsky, Rob. "Steven Wright inducted into Hall, a city's comedy history celebrated". Punchline Magazine. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  5. ↑ Baltrusis, Sam. "Steven Wright headlines Ding Ho reunion benefit". LoadedGunBoston.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  6. ↑ "Politics of Absurdism, Barry Crimmins Style". The Heights, Boston College 26 March 1990
  7. ↑ Philip Jenkins (1 July 2003). Beyond Tolerance: Child Pornography on the Internet. NYU Press. pp. 147–. ISBN 978-0-8147-4263-1.
  8. ↑ Cassel, David. "Chat Room Chaperone: Barry Crimmins, who tracked AOL's child porn problem, isn't your typical online morality cop". MetroActive.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Episode 443 - Barry Crimmins". WTFpod.com. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "Barry Crimmins: Latest Articles". The Phoenix. Archived from the original on 28 August 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  11. ↑ "Author Archives: Barry Crimmins". Weekly Wire. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  12. ↑ "Barry Crimmins". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "Bobcat Goldthwait shoots documentary about activist Barry Crimmins: Minister of Culture ". The Cleveland Plain Dealer.
  14. ↑ "Louis CK to Produce Barry Crimmins Hour Special in June - The Interrobang". The Interrobang. 17 May 2016. Retrieved 20 May 2016.

External links

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