Seattle comedy icon John Keister, who last made an appearance in Enumclaw during OktoBEERfest, returns this Saturday, Dec. 22 to co-headline a comedy show with local standup comedian Brooks McBeth and "Comic Fireman" Garret Smith affectionately entitled "Comedy in the Claw."
Here, he gives Patch a thoughtful synopsis on the new The (206) show set to premiere early next year lampooning the "New Seattle" while also sharing why you need to be there at the Expo Center this Saturday.
Q: We know The (206) will premiere on KING and KONG on Jan. 5 and 6, 2013. Give us a Patch exclusive on what the audience can expect.
The news around the area has generated a lot of great material since the demise of Almost Live. You can look forward to a lot of comedy aimed at the "New Seattle" - specifically the tunnel project, legal weed, and why there are so damn many bike trails everywhere.
Q: Is this the 2013 version of Almost Live? What's different from the original show? What can we expect to be the same?
Almost Live was a sketch comedy show that made a lot of comments about the people and politics of this area - so, of course, you can draw some similarities. But keep in mind Almost Live was done in a different world - a different Seattle - social media now exists, the Sonics are gone, Amazon is swallowing up South Lake Union. The old neighborhood distinctions have been destroyed. The 206 will be a new show that deals with a new reality and uses the new media. That being said, any time I've done a new project or had a club show its always been labeled "The New Almost Live" or "Almost Live night at the club." There doesn't seem anything I can do about that.
Q: What's the feedback been like from the public about The (206)?
It's been huge and very positive. We're getting far more press and publicity for The 206 than we ever did for Almost Live. It's very exciting. I love doing this kind of work and there seems to be a big appetite for it.
Q: What have you been up to since Almost Live went off the air?
I've been teaching scriptwriting at The Art Institute of Seattle for several years. I've also written for several shows (Including "Biz Kids" on PBS), and I do several corporate and club dates each year.
Q: Given the time that's passed, is there a joke about Enumclaw that worked back in the 90s that would still work today?
I think our bit "Enumclaw is talking about Malcolm X" (see YouTube video with this story) would still work.
Q: Why should folks come out to see you in Enumclaw on Dec. 22?
It's the last opportunity to see me before I get extensive plastic surgery.
Comedy in the Claw featuring Brooks McBeth and John Keister takes place Saturday, Dec. 22 at the Enumclaw Expo Center Field House beginning at 8 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. To purchase tickets, visit Brown Paper Tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/285146.
Click here to read Patch's Q&A with Keister's co-headliner Brooks McBeth.
