Brendan Kirby - 'Wicked Late'
Brendan Kirby is the host of 'Wicked Late', a talk/variety TV show on public access television in Rhode Island. Since 2004 he has written, produced, and entertained viewers while also featuring local celebrities from television, radio, comedy, music, and more. In July 2012, Kirby plans to air his final episode of 'Wicked Late'. We asked Brendan to answer 10 questions before he calls it quits.
1. When did you start hosting Wicked Late?
"The first show was filmed on December 1, 2003 and premiered later that same month. I originally launched it as an Independent Study project during my final semester at Rhode Island College. I hadn't really realized how much work it would be just to get it on the air, so once that initial one was completed, I wasn't sure if it was going to become a regular show that I would continue to produce, write and host. After a few months of deliberation and preparation, we returned in March of 2004 and have produced a brand new, original episode (nearly) every month since then."
2. What made you want to host your own Talk/Variety Public Access TV show?
"When you have no friends and your family has disowned you, you need something to occupy your free time. What better hobby than a non-paying TV gig!? Actually, from a young age - probably 13 or 14 - I've had a fascination with late night television comedy/talk shows. There was always something about them that appealed to me. The immediacy of them every night; the jokes, the desk bits and remotes, the lights, the music, the guests...early on I just found myself drawn to that type of show and all that they offered from a creative standpoint. By the time I got to college, I knew I wanted to focus on one of two things: running my own escort service or television. When I chose the former, I really started to get serious about things. In my head I had this crazy idea that I could be "the guy" at the desk on my own late night show even if it was just at the local level. Later on in college I was lucky enough to land an internship in NYC at the 'Late Show with David Letterman'. As someone who had already been a huge admirer of Letterman's you can imagine how excited I was for that opportunity. Before that semester in Manhattan had ended I had already quietly decided that when I returned home I would launch my own talk show. I so desperately craved an outlet for the late night-style jokes and comedy I had started to regularly write and figured my very own production would be ideal for that. Also, the Letterman show had provided me with all the training I would ever need regarding how those types of programs are assembled. "
3. Is it a lot of hard work doing a new show every month?
"It is indeed a lot of work when you're not only hosting but you're producing every aspect of it by yourself - from writing to guest booking and research, to setting up, scheduling and producing guest segments and remotes, to wardrobe to pre and post-editing, so much goes into it; and although some months I've often wondered "why am I doing this?", when the show is edited, shipped off and played back, it is very, very rewarding to me. And when someone takes the time to approach me on the street and compliment me on it, I'm absolutely ecstatic...and I usually break out into a Hall & Oates acapella medley as a result of my giddiness. We all express emotions in different ways..."
4. How many episodes total have there been?
"The final episode will be Show #93. I had always hoped to make it to some milestone number like 100 or 150 but with our production schedule of one new episode per month, which is really all you can do without a full staff and crew at your disposal like a Leno, Conan or Letterman, it doesn't seem worth it to wait around for however many months just for the sake of hitting a number. It's too bad though. I had hoped to make the 100th episode spectacular a classy affair by having it at the 'Foxy Lady'. Oh well..."
5. Why have you decided to stop doing the show?
"As I've said in the last few shows, it's now time to pursue my first love: 'Competitive Ice Dancing'. Look for me in the 2014 games, America! In reality, it was a very hard decision. I’m considering all of my options at this point including the very real possibility of relocating. As much as I love Rhode Island, the reality is, I've realized I most likely cannot make a living doing what I love to do here in The Ocean State. If I could get paid to do 'Wicked Late' here, that would be incredible but it just isn’t feasible, at least at this time. By ending the show, I feel like I’m freeing myself up for whatever transition I want to make, whenever that time comes. I also do feel that I have gone as far as I can doing this show at this point which is sometimes hard for me to digest. It’s meant everything to me. As I’ve been looking back and assembling all of the old clips for the finale, the reality of it ending has really started to sink in. I will miss it terribly and I’m extremely proud of all that I’ve done with it."
6. What can viewers expect on the final show? Is it a best of? Surprise guests?
"For starters, it will be a one hour special. Barry P. Cook, who has a show called 'Voices In Your Head' which airs after 'Wicked Late', was kind enough to say "yes" when I asked if he would give up the first 30 minutes of his timeslot so I could go for one hour for our last show. There will be no sit-down guest segment. It will mainly be a ‘best of’ show, looking back at some of my favorite clips. It's been hell deciding what gets in and what doesn't; I'll tell you that! I can't wait until the lengthy project of reviewing, importing, and editing the old clips is done but I'm almost there. As for special guests, there could be one or two surprise walk-ons. If none of our past friends will show up, we're going to have past crew members, now doing time at the ACI, parade through the studio and tell me how much I suck. It promises to be a real tear jerker. My parents will be very proud."
7. What are some of your most memorable moments on the show?
"We've been lucky enough to have had some very cool moments take place on our pathetically under-decorated set. Unfortunately none of them involve nudity but they're still pretty awesome. I'd say the one that sticks out the most was when the late, great RI broadcasting legend Doug White stopped by in June of 2004. At that point, the show was still relatively new and I was very nervous about asking people to come on - without the aide of blackmail. So you can imagine what a thrill it was to have someone of his stature in this state agree to legally do it. It gave us some credibility when we booked guests moving forward from then. Not only that, he was hysterical! I'll never forget the way he joked about his own hair or how sharp and witty he was. The entire crew was cracking up throughout his segment. We were very saddened, as were all Rhode Islanders, when he passed away a few years later.
My good fiends Kim Zandy and Giovanni from '92 PRO-FM' have been more than generous with their time. Not only have they appeared and been awesome as guests multiple times but they've both participated in some terrific comedy cameos over the years. My favorites probably being the times Kim has surprised me and delivered a pie to my face during my birthday month show the last three Julys. It's the oldest comedy gag in the book for a reason!
Another favorite has been comedian Brian Beaudoin. I’ve always enjoyed having local comics come on and he has been amazing. He’s done a few hysterical comedy cameos and also been a sit-down guest. In February of 2010 we switched things up a bit and he came on the show and interviewed me which was great fun.
And I would be remiss if I left out Patrick Little from 'Eyewitness News Providence'. I interned for him in the Fall of 2002 and when I started 'Wicked Late' a year later, he was kind enough to be our first ever guest. He returned multiple times throughout our run including this past May when he was my final sit-down guest. I was very touched that he agreed to do that for me. The two of us always had great segments on the show.
Other than guests, some of my favorite comedy pieces have been when we went outside of the studio for remotes. I always wished we had been able to do more of them but they’re really involved when it comes to setting them up. I loved doing pieces at the Auto Show in Providence. My Mother is a High School teacher so I did a segment where I talked to a bunch of kids from one of her classes which was also great fun; they loved being on TV.
Another classic was 'WICKED LATE Batting Practice' where we'd just destroy common household items found in the supermarket. I'd lob them in and my friend and sidekick Eric Montaquila, who can really swing a bat, would just smash the items into nothing. That was always a crowd pleaser which we did every Spring at the start of baseball season."
8. Are you selling your desk?
"Well since 'The Smithsonian' hasn't called, it is possible the desk will be available on 'Craigslist' some time in the near future. I'm sorry but the potential buyer will be responsible for removing the stench of gin and Aqua Velva from it and all sales are final. I will, however, throw in my back issues of 'Tiger Beat' which I keep in the lower right hand drawer. Sounds like a good deal to me."
9. Are there any people you'd like to thank?
"Well, of course, The Academy for starters. It really wouldn't have been possible to keep it going for eight and a half years without the help and support of so many. From past crew members who helped execute the tapings to guests who gave their time, to friends of family who agreed to appear in various skits as extras or featured performers, the list goes on and on. I'll never be able to repay everyone for their time and contributions. Hopefully the cheap, sweatshop produced 'Wicked Late' t-shirts I gave the majority of them are a small indication of how much they have been appreciated. I also want to offer an enormous amount of thanks to anyone who has watched us over the years. When you're not on a major network or channel and you don't have a large budget for a promotional campaign at your disposal, your viewers mean even more to you. So to anyone that has come across the show and appreciated what we've tried to do and watched and enjoyed anything we've done over the years, to you I am extremely grateful and will never forget your kindness and encouragement. Lastly, I'd like to thank my good friend of 17 years Eric Montaquila for being by my side on the drum for the majority of the tapings. I couldn't have done the show with anyone else."
10. Where and when can people see your final show?
"It is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 10:30pm on RI COX 13 and Verizon 32. Again, it will be a one hour special, not the usual 30 minute episode we've done all along. It will air every Sunday at that same through July 29. It will also be available on demand at www.wickedlate.com at some point in July. Also, if anyone is interested in a written transcript of the episode as a keepsake, just get yourself a pen and paper and write really fast as it airs. I've enjoyed acting out many episodes of 'The Golden Girls' with my cats using this very same, successful method."
We wish Brendan the best of luck in his future endeavors and will miss seeing him on local TV.
1. When did you start hosting Wicked Late?
"The first show was filmed on December 1, 2003 and premiered later that same month. I originally launched it as an Independent Study project during my final semester at Rhode Island College. I hadn't really realized how much work it would be just to get it on the air, so once that initial one was completed, I wasn't sure if it was going to become a regular show that I would continue to produce, write and host. After a few months of deliberation and preparation, we returned in March of 2004 and have produced a brand new, original episode (nearly) every month since then."
2. What made you want to host your own Talk/Variety Public Access TV show?
"When you have no friends and your family has disowned you, you need something to occupy your free time. What better hobby than a non-paying TV gig!? Actually, from a young age - probably 13 or 14 - I've had a fascination with late night television comedy/talk shows. There was always something about them that appealed to me. The immediacy of them every night; the jokes, the desk bits and remotes, the lights, the music, the guests...early on I just found myself drawn to that type of show and all that they offered from a creative standpoint. By the time I got to college, I knew I wanted to focus on one of two things: running my own escort service or television. When I chose the former, I really started to get serious about things. In my head I had this crazy idea that I could be "the guy" at the desk on my own late night show even if it was just at the local level. Later on in college I was lucky enough to land an internship in NYC at the 'Late Show with David Letterman'. As someone who had already been a huge admirer of Letterman's you can imagine how excited I was for that opportunity. Before that semester in Manhattan had ended I had already quietly decided that when I returned home I would launch my own talk show. I so desperately craved an outlet for the late night-style jokes and comedy I had started to regularly write and figured my very own production would be ideal for that. Also, the Letterman show had provided me with all the training I would ever need regarding how those types of programs are assembled. "
3. Is it a lot of hard work doing a new show every month?
"It is indeed a lot of work when you're not only hosting but you're producing every aspect of it by yourself - from writing to guest booking and research, to setting up, scheduling and producing guest segments and remotes, to wardrobe to pre and post-editing, so much goes into it; and although some months I've often wondered "why am I doing this?", when the show is edited, shipped off and played back, it is very, very rewarding to me. And when someone takes the time to approach me on the street and compliment me on it, I'm absolutely ecstatic...and I usually break out into a Hall & Oates acapella medley as a result of my giddiness. We all express emotions in different ways..."
4. How many episodes total have there been?
"The final episode will be Show #93. I had always hoped to make it to some milestone number like 100 or 150 but with our production schedule of one new episode per month, which is really all you can do without a full staff and crew at your disposal like a Leno, Conan or Letterman, it doesn't seem worth it to wait around for however many months just for the sake of hitting a number. It's too bad though. I had hoped to make the 100th episode spectacular a classy affair by having it at the 'Foxy Lady'. Oh well..."
5. Why have you decided to stop doing the show?
"As I've said in the last few shows, it's now time to pursue my first love: 'Competitive Ice Dancing'. Look for me in the 2014 games, America! In reality, it was a very hard decision. I’m considering all of my options at this point including the very real possibility of relocating. As much as I love Rhode Island, the reality is, I've realized I most likely cannot make a living doing what I love to do here in The Ocean State. If I could get paid to do 'Wicked Late' here, that would be incredible but it just isn’t feasible, at least at this time. By ending the show, I feel like I’m freeing myself up for whatever transition I want to make, whenever that time comes. I also do feel that I have gone as far as I can doing this show at this point which is sometimes hard for me to digest. It’s meant everything to me. As I’ve been looking back and assembling all of the old clips for the finale, the reality of it ending has really started to sink in. I will miss it terribly and I’m extremely proud of all that I’ve done with it."
6. What can viewers expect on the final show? Is it a best of? Surprise guests?
"For starters, it will be a one hour special. Barry P. Cook, who has a show called 'Voices In Your Head' which airs after 'Wicked Late', was kind enough to say "yes" when I asked if he would give up the first 30 minutes of his timeslot so I could go for one hour for our last show. There will be no sit-down guest segment. It will mainly be a ‘best of’ show, looking back at some of my favorite clips. It's been hell deciding what gets in and what doesn't; I'll tell you that! I can't wait until the lengthy project of reviewing, importing, and editing the old clips is done but I'm almost there. As for special guests, there could be one or two surprise walk-ons. If none of our past friends will show up, we're going to have past crew members, now doing time at the ACI, parade through the studio and tell me how much I suck. It promises to be a real tear jerker. My parents will be very proud."
7. What are some of your most memorable moments on the show?
"We've been lucky enough to have had some very cool moments take place on our pathetically under-decorated set. Unfortunately none of them involve nudity but they're still pretty awesome. I'd say the one that sticks out the most was when the late, great RI broadcasting legend Doug White stopped by in June of 2004. At that point, the show was still relatively new and I was very nervous about asking people to come on - without the aide of blackmail. So you can imagine what a thrill it was to have someone of his stature in this state agree to legally do it. It gave us some credibility when we booked guests moving forward from then. Not only that, he was hysterical! I'll never forget the way he joked about his own hair or how sharp and witty he was. The entire crew was cracking up throughout his segment. We were very saddened, as were all Rhode Islanders, when he passed away a few years later.
My good fiends Kim Zandy and Giovanni from '92 PRO-FM' have been more than generous with their time. Not only have they appeared and been awesome as guests multiple times but they've both participated in some terrific comedy cameos over the years. My favorites probably being the times Kim has surprised me and delivered a pie to my face during my birthday month show the last three Julys. It's the oldest comedy gag in the book for a reason!
Another favorite has been comedian Brian Beaudoin. I’ve always enjoyed having local comics come on and he has been amazing. He’s done a few hysterical comedy cameos and also been a sit-down guest. In February of 2010 we switched things up a bit and he came on the show and interviewed me which was great fun.
And I would be remiss if I left out Patrick Little from 'Eyewitness News Providence'. I interned for him in the Fall of 2002 and when I started 'Wicked Late' a year later, he was kind enough to be our first ever guest. He returned multiple times throughout our run including this past May when he was my final sit-down guest. I was very touched that he agreed to do that for me. The two of us always had great segments on the show.
Other than guests, some of my favorite comedy pieces have been when we went outside of the studio for remotes. I always wished we had been able to do more of them but they’re really involved when it comes to setting them up. I loved doing pieces at the Auto Show in Providence. My Mother is a High School teacher so I did a segment where I talked to a bunch of kids from one of her classes which was also great fun; they loved being on TV.
Another classic was 'WICKED LATE Batting Practice' where we'd just destroy common household items found in the supermarket. I'd lob them in and my friend and sidekick Eric Montaquila, who can really swing a bat, would just smash the items into nothing. That was always a crowd pleaser which we did every Spring at the start of baseball season."
8. Are you selling your desk?
"Well since 'The Smithsonian' hasn't called, it is possible the desk will be available on 'Craigslist' some time in the near future. I'm sorry but the potential buyer will be responsible for removing the stench of gin and Aqua Velva from it and all sales are final. I will, however, throw in my back issues of 'Tiger Beat' which I keep in the lower right hand drawer. Sounds like a good deal to me."
9. Are there any people you'd like to thank?
"Well, of course, The Academy for starters. It really wouldn't have been possible to keep it going for eight and a half years without the help and support of so many. From past crew members who helped execute the tapings to guests who gave their time, to friends of family who agreed to appear in various skits as extras or featured performers, the list goes on and on. I'll never be able to repay everyone for their time and contributions. Hopefully the cheap, sweatshop produced 'Wicked Late' t-shirts I gave the majority of them are a small indication of how much they have been appreciated. I also want to offer an enormous amount of thanks to anyone who has watched us over the years. When you're not on a major network or channel and you don't have a large budget for a promotional campaign at your disposal, your viewers mean even more to you. So to anyone that has come across the show and appreciated what we've tried to do and watched and enjoyed anything we've done over the years, to you I am extremely grateful and will never forget your kindness and encouragement. Lastly, I'd like to thank my good friend of 17 years Eric Montaquila for being by my side on the drum for the majority of the tapings. I couldn't have done the show with anyone else."
10. Where and when can people see your final show?
"It is scheduled to premiere on Sunday, July 8, 2012 at 10:30pm on RI COX 13 and Verizon 32. Again, it will be a one hour special, not the usual 30 minute episode we've done all along. It will air every Sunday at that same through July 29. It will also be available on demand at www.wickedlate.com at some point in July. Also, if anyone is interested in a written transcript of the episode as a keepsake, just get yourself a pen and paper and write really fast as it airs. I've enjoyed acting out many episodes of 'The Golden Girls' with my cats using this very same, successful method."
We wish Brendan the best of luck in his future endeavors and will miss seeing him on local TV.