Last week, in the midst of news that wheelchair-bound nonagenarian George H.W. Bush pats women on the rear and tells dirty jokes and that Brandeis University is canceling a play about Lenny Bruce because it’s offensive, came the announcement that the Chicago Comedy Film Festival has pulled its November 11 showing of a documentary about comedian Andy Dick.
Dick has denied the groping charge, but none of the many people interviewed in the documentary would be surprised by any of it; like the millions who’ve watched this pansexual free spirit with an admitted sobriety problem on television, film, and the Internet, they’ve been mostly laughing at it for years.
Carlson worked on the movie, which she calls a new style of documentary (because it includes the reaction of the subject to the film), for seven years, interviewing legions of smitten friends, including Ben Stiller, Kathy Griffin, Margaret Cho, Sherri Shepherd, and Dr. Drew Pinsky, without Dick’s knowledge. “Then I surprised him with it in a screening room and put his reactions in the film.”
Thu 11/9-Sat 11/11, various times and venues 312-344-3829chicagocomedyfilmfestival.com Visit website for ticket prices and availability.
Everybody Has an Andy Dick StoryDirected by Cathy Carlson 73 min Sat 11/11, 8:30 PM Liar’s Club 1665 W. Fullerton 773-665-1110 Free
Andy Dick Sun 11/12, 6 PM Zanies 1548 N. Wells 312-337-4027zanies.com/chicago $25 plus two-drink/food minimum
