So I Might End Up on the Next Season of Buzzedwords
Last week, I was invited to guest on an upcoming episode of "Buzzedwords." Rather than give a solid answer, I simply said that the whole show makes me uncomfortable. I found the idea of alcohol abuse as entertainment irresponsible and, frankly, dangerous. The producer, Art Allen, set up a meeting to hear more.
I do drink, although not regularly, and sometimes I do so to excess. Sometimes I do to so much excess that I swear I'm going dry the day after. (That has yet to stick, though, in large part due to my own weekly show in a bar.) I've also been a guest on two episodes of "Screw It!" in which I drank wine and got a bit silly. I was hesitant about going on that podcast, too, but I listened to it ahead of time and it sounded like a pretty responsible level of silliness.
Listening to the Buzzedwords podcasts wasn't nearly as reassuring, and the live taping I'd attended also made me squirm. When I was asked to write it up for l'etoile, I made sure to mention, "Things may get uncomfortable as the night goes on. Last month, the two contestants were confessing their newfound love for each other in a way that seemed to grow decidedly less ironic with each passing shot. The month before, one guy reached the beligerent stage and had to be reined in after threatening his competitor."
Long story short: The meeting with Art Allen went well, so well that I told him I'd be willing to come on the show at some point. If that happens, and if you go, expect to see it toned down a bit, and to be reminded that you should drink responsibly, and that the contestants who are staggering and slurring for your amusement are doing so in a safe and controlled setting under the guidance of sober referees, because binge drinking is dangerous and generally just a really bad idea.