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Faith and Uncertainty & Alex Edelman

Alex Edelman is an American comedian who seems to be doing quite well in Britain. I came across him in an episode of As Yet Untitled (an English chat show) and then stumbled upon a comedy bit he did about coming out.

He's not gay, but it's a funny bit. The premise is that he comes out every year at Thanksgiving to annoy his uncle, who hates gay people. It's become a tradition such that; "The turkey come out, the potatoes come out, I come out."

No doubt about it, he's cute too...and some of the comments talk about that, one reading "I kept staring at his butt." Hey, if he's gonna do a routine about Coming Out, that's what's gonna happen!

But let's not objectify him too quickly. I next stumbled on a radio series on the BBC (you can hear it online) called Alex Edelman's Special Relationships. It's a chat show with a variety of guests discussing a topic. Actually, it's sort of like As Yet Untitled.

The episode on Faith and Uncertainty was particularly good. Featuring activist Femi Oluwole, comedian Margaret Cabourn-Smith and West Wing star Richard Schiff, the discussion is not so much about religion, but faith in things—whether it’s political figures or sporting figures—and how we seem to have lost faith in nearly everything. I didn't agree with everything said, but it was thought-provoking.

The discussion of how the term 'experts' has been diminished had me thinking that cable news has a lot to answer for. They put on a succession of talking heads, and give them the air of authority, when often they are from groups with a specific point of view, rather than experts in a field.

Definitely worth checking out, but go there soon as that episode is only up for a few more days.

Twitter: @AlexEdelman | website


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