“We’re not adding content, we’re just adding another hour.” So says a ‘producer’ in the pilot of the great satirical send-up Wake Up World, one of comedian Lizz Winstead’s recent projects. Wake Up World — America’s Only 6-hour Morning Show! skewers the vapid network void that is morning television. All these perky idiots are sadly recognizable TV types, including its ‘guestperts’ and a ‘consumption advocate’. (Winstead’s onscreen persona is Hope Jean Paul.) The website nicely mimics segment teases with a “Coming Up…” box, as in, “Teenage Drinking: Five ways to tell if your child has had more than 10 drinks!”.

Winstead never seems to run out of creative vehicles for exposing the lazy media, venal politicians, and the wretched institutions that cynically exploit both to the detriment of our country. (She was also co-creator of Air America Radio, and can also be heard every Friday on MSNBC’s The Ed Show.)

In a recent conversation, Winstead — who, as co-creator of The Daily Show, brought on such talent as Stephen Colbert and Lewis Black, and has since worked with The Man Show and guested on Politically Incorrect — discussed women in television comedy. She immediately drew a distinction between the late night shows with their ‘boys club’ writers rooms, and shows like The Daily Show and The Colbert Report where the writing submissions are handed in blind, and there are many women on staff — phew, I really want to like those guys — adding, “These shows aren’t so much a boys club as a nerd club.”

Winstead’s latest project is the one-woman show, My State of the Union, coming to the Mixed Magic Theatre in Pawtucket. She is touring mid-sized cities discussing the events of the day, constantly tweaking the material as events play out, giving a slightly different show in each town. Ms. Winstead has concerns for our institutions of democracy, “It used to be we had the media to keep an eye on the politicians. Now we need the comedians to keep an eye on the media. We’re a sort of Fifth Estate.”

My State of the Union plays two shows, 7pm and 9pm, on Friday and Saturday (buy tickets here). Photo credit: Mindy Tucker.

[Additional Note: Saw the show and laughed a lot. She's mad about all the same things/people I'm mad about. Nice intimate little theater — it was like hanging with a smart, funny friend for about 90 minutes. Best unscripted moment: drunk blond girl wandered in from the festival looking for the bathroom. BC]

$20, Friday and Saturday (August 27 + 28th) Mixed Magic Theater, 171 Main Street, Pawtucket, 722.1881

Tags: Lizz Winstead, Wake Up World

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