Off The Grid with Russell Hicks

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT’S LIKE TO SIT IN RUSSELL SIMMONS' POOL

Brian Moses crosses the Atlantic to film his TV show ‘Roast Battle’ which will now be coming out on Comedy Central UK. Before he could do that though, he needed to throw out the international bat signal in an effort to draw out one former Southern California resident turned renegade ex-patriot.

Needless to say I heeded the call. Since I am so far off the grid as this podcasts title would suggest, I had no idea he was ver here filming a tv show. He treated me like a prince with red carpet full access pass to the festivities. It was incredible to witness such a production, especially since I realized I had known Brian since I was but a guppy in the great pond of live entertainment (I now have fully formed hind legs in addition to a semi retracted tail)

We sat down for an extremely candid interview about the process of having an idea taken from it’s raw form as a live show, to a full fledged, global, cable production.

New solo show at the Bill Murray in London:

‘psychobabble’.

Date is Nov 12th at 5:30pm.

All details including tickets can be found at russellhicks.co.uk

Hope to see you there.

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE ACCUSED OF FAKING CANCER

Quincy Jones finds me on his spiritual quest through Europe. All those who seek salvation will eventually come across the path of the great ex-patriot!

We talk about the old days in Hollywood, his cancer diagnosis, and how that resulted in an HBO special.

Then we speak in more detail about the events less reported on, that have occurred since the huge explosion of the HBO special.

This was an excellent interview recorded for the first time from my bedroom as the living room was in use.

I am performing at the Bill Murray in London on Nov 12! All details can be found by going to Russellhicks.co.uk

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE A GENUINE PUN COMPULSION

Behold! For I am the Pun Whisperer.

Darren Walsh may be the former pun champion of the world, but he is no one trick pony. He's someone who has always dazzled me onstage with his vast tapestry of visual mayhem. Off stage, we both share a deep discomfort with our general surroundings that seems to subside in each others company. When Darren gets uneasy he can tend to resort to a calming technique of spitting rapid fire puns in succession as is his specialty.

With me, however, he speaks for near sixty minutes in total linear dialogue.

Darren also subscribes to my mailing list. A man can't get much more classy than that.

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A PROFESSIONAL WRESTLER

Colt Cabana stops in for a chat during the witching hours amidst the Edinburgh Festival. We enjoy a late night chin wag of adolescent reminiscence. I reveal for the first time on the podcast that I used to do backyard wrestling as a teenager. While Colt tells me what it was like to be a professional wrestler in the WWE, and how that led him to find out what he really wants in life.

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU LIKE POTENTIAL TRAIN WRECKS TURNED MUTUAL ADMIRATION

James Adomian graces the podcast. Before spending this hour together, James and I had known each other for about ten minutes. After wrestling with each other verbally for 45 minutes we finally swap clothes and realize the problem was we both looked like dicks. Leaders of the world should use this episode as a model for future negotiations. In retrospect, I think that’s what James and I intended all along…

NOTE: photos of James and I switching clothes are available at russellhicks.co.uk in the Blogs section. If you can handle it.

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IT'S LIKE TO HAVE BEEN IN A COMA

Yeah, I know the title kind of sounds like I'm saying this episode will put you in a coma. More wrong an assumption, there has never been! Marlon Davis is a stand up comedian. He was in a car crash last year on his way back from a gig, that put him in a coma for two weeks. We talk about what it was like to wake up weeks later in a hospital bed after the last thing he remembered was driving on the motorway. Also, the strange hallucinations he experienced during his comatose state, where he believed he was once a 1980's superstar by the name of 'Black Star'. Also, what it was like to still believe he was 'Black Star' for a short while, even after he had awoke from the coma. This conversation totally floored me. Enjoy.

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU WANT TO LEARN HOW TO WIN A COMEDY AWARD (NOT REALLY)!

Christian Riley and I have driven up and down these British isles on many occasions. Our conversations range from deep political discourse to in depth comedy dissection. We do the exact same here. Primarily known for his musical comedy, I am pleased to share another side to the one man band that is Christian Riley. This man can go the intellectual distance my friends. Capitalists are challenged! Ideas are promulgated! And he even forgets to mention that he won the most prestigious award in British comedy (modest gent). Until I bring it up.

This is Christian Riley.

Dig in.

LISTEN TO THIS IF YOU LIKE STORIES ABOUT STAND UP COMEDY IN HOLLYWOOD FROM THE 1970'S AND BEYOND!

Rick Right is the reason I started this podcast. After speaking to him one night in a pub after a show at the King's Head, I realized someone like this needed a platform to get their stories out. Rick is like the Forest Gump of comedy. He has been on the periphery of some of the most iconic eras in stand up history. We talk about opening for Robin Williams on his first ever tour of America, being on Robin's TV show Mork and Mindy, and performing at the Comedy Store with Richard Pryor. Comedy nerds rejoice.

(to read Rick's eulogy to Robin Williams, visit rickright.com)