My day is always a bit better when the Greg Proops app announces a new proopcast, this one's called Magnets.
Greg Proops references are gettin' wider, raunchier and wittier 
than ever...that voice ringing and slinging just about every item skidding from the 60's into yesterday.
He's got an absolutely fantastic voice; luxuriously bizarre; slightly nasal, teasing and playful yet when doing impressions he channels his victims, (lovingly, always with love) by digging down to such a deep and sexy place I still find myself fantasizing about his bit 'bout hanging out with Tom Jones, mimicking 'the man' and his ways with such crystal clarity it still makes me laugh out loud in memorandum.
In fact, I laugh out loud often while listening to Proops which is less than convenient when passing a large crowd of Czech police as I did yesterday, twice, while at the metro.
His style, heavily political, historical, ridden with nobrow celebrity bon mots lends really well to podcast land. He fires everything with such a fluid rhythm, he may be up to date with news and politics but he's old school. He arrives, he performs, he satisfies, completely; that's what he's here to do.
I have to say, his San Fran is a bit different from my mother's, Muv's schedule was full of driving from their home in St. Francis Wood to the the St.Francis Yacht Club for lunch and high tea at the St. Francis Hotel with a social itinerary full of chaperoned double dates, sitting front center while watching Judy Garland and Frank Sinatra in the 40's, this type of thing. My grandfather had a large nursery, designing parts of the Presidio, his plants being a different variety than Greg's, which is pot, a substance he enjoys quite a lot. I understand, I miss the occasional 'space cake' I enjoyed while living in Amsterdam.
Greg's cultural life was far more colorful, emanating from Haight Ashbury a generation or two later and all that this might imply but they would have gotten along just fine. I used to direct drag shows in Seattle, Muv thought the idea interesting and supported all things creative.
That's the beauty of San Fran. Muv's life may have been more mannered but underneath the surface lived a talented artist and closet Bohemian, again, that's the beauty of San Fran. Some things never change. Allow for wit and style.
That's precisely why I love to hear him wax about his version of the city, perhaps the last independent city w/it's own state of mind, esprit, a place that inspires compassion and creativity, still, in spite of it all.
It's not as if Proops doesn't travel across the pond with ease, he's lived in London, does a pretty fierce Glasgow accent, takes the mickey outta the English which is refreshing, but with love, of course, always with love. He is from San Fran.
And, best news yet, he'll be in Paris soon, on April 3rd to be precise @ La Java 105 Tue du Faubourg du Temple. Phone: +33 (0) 1 42 02 20 52
Interesting to hear him bring up Eddie Izzard, I think Greg Proops is our version of Eddie in his former comedic life. I think I speak for many, we all miss chubby, funny tranny Eddie, I'm sorta sad to see Izzard's become so seriously American about his acting career and physique, all roles very manly now, alas, it's his life...
but thanks Greg, for taking us back to Eddie's red corset days, again, with love and affection, always.
So, as Greg would say, let's get our shit together and go to Paris. Fuck n A.....
Previous love letters:
Greg Proops has found his place in podcastland. He's been crowned emperor by his kittens though we've no idea what he's wearing; even if he be a most notoriously dapper dresser.
When listening, you'll hear not a whiff of class warfare in his riffs, resentment will not show up for a cameo, he's already arrived cuz he's been 'round the block and we'll all benefit if we just sit and have a lovely listen.
Laconic, channeled and very much in the zone; M. Proops is not soft but funny, focused, he's our modern truthteller. I laugh out loud, while alone or not. Each bit gets better, he doesn't suffer comedic remission, he's now entering the top of his game, a one-off, capable of blending the past and present, creating a jazzy, relaxing timeless kinda tune.
A wit, he reminds of thoughts forgotten, rejected, or best yet, musings one can almost recall if they'd just written it down.
If he must resemble someone it might be Eddie Izzard; well versed in history, capable of building his gigs off bon mots from the past, applying them quietly to the present but never, ever preachy, not his style. He swears, but so do I and it's a good thing.
Per usual, I must mention how wide his reference point, as well as the fact he has an awfully nice wife. He mentions her once or twice each time, sans snark, casually as if to say, "yeah, I'm lucky, know it, appreciate it, very, next." Listen, the guy's bizzzy, traveling along the continents, engaged in an active imagination and then absolutely rational as he gets our globalized lives.
Modernity may move quickly, randomly and he captures that but I sense a comforting and compatible perception of America within our larger world. Sure, change is imminent, its crazy, but then its always been crazy. Gore Vidal, prescient for 6 decades, America's biographer, was sidelined long, long ago. So let's not be naive, America's always boasted adolescent qualities but many of its residents don't and are quite curious as to whom might be wagging who and precisely why.
And yet I pine a little less for the past as I listen, his nostalgic qualities and leanings less than contrived and strangely alive, he hints quietly at our finer moments, we've had many...as an artist he can lie truthfully, I'm never anxious, its a natural 'act'.
He goes everywhere and we follow, we gladly take a pilgrimage with the Proopster. When he did a riff off the british rags it was less than predictable but perfectly in tune with the emotional environs, leaving the politics to suffer by simply not mentioning them.
I only speak of a few reasons to listen as we, his kittens have happily crowned our maestro King of podcastland. Our man aims high, each and every single time hitting the divinely comedic bulls-eye...thank you and have a good day.
June 15th
To The Desk of Greg Proops:
Comedian, Actor,
Smartest Man In The World
Dear Mr. Proops,
After listening to one of your electric podcasts I'm often inspired to send a blessay highlighing the obvious; you are audio pleasure parfait, a divine one-off, always.
However, this month I thought I'd write a letter and respond directly to your comedy concerns regarding Gwyneth Paltrow and The Future of Pot in Amsterdam.
First of all, let's get the delusional one out of the way; she's not fluent in Spanish, you have to sound native to the locals and she does not. I apologize in advance for my 'literal' behavior, it's one among many faults but lest we encourage the blonde that said, "I went on a macrobiotic diet to save my Dad's life," let's dismiss the myth. I'm sure beyond that, she's immensely competent in every endeavor, however, technically, she's not fluent, few people ever are.
Secondly, and far more importantly, the pot factor. This initiative is backed by the media driven politician Geert Wilders; the guy with the bad peroxide hair job, the one Dutch guy who's managed to travel to Israel 40 times in 20 years, the fearmongerer who says we're all under seige from brown people; the carbonated goofy looking guy named Geert Wilders.
He has, in the past, moved fast. He's swung from Roman Catholicism to Zionism with just enough time to find a close friend and ally in Pam Geller, the wingnut who makes Orianna Fallaci look like a diplomat, almost demure; a creature so vile even Fox News ignores her.
I write this to you because I know you 'care' as few do, like my Mother for you herald from San Francisco. You thrive on independent thought, appreciate style, wish to agree to disagree, to be odd, eccentric, even different. You operate within the knowledge we've all the right to be here, to be together; to be civil.
Alas, I'm afraid it's almost inevitable Amsterdam will lose its 'Alice in Wonderland' like quality. As you said, the food's not going to bring the tourists to this town. Indonesia's fine, for one night. But they won't criminalize pot, it's not their way, however, change is imminent, yes they're closing down a couple of shops located near schools.
Unfortunately there's always a Wilders in the world to stoke up the fear factor. It's almost too easy, everywhere. As you know, historically Holland's been relatively neutral, tolerant, wealthy and full of merchants knowing as well as anyone how to trade with the outside world. Alas, interviewing dozens of locals, (yes, I tend to do just this, when in another country) the pendulum appears to be swinging in the other direction. Slowly, so gradually, you barely notice it until you do. 
Once you lose the right, the privilege, the amendment, it's gone. Booze being unique.
People like Wilders and Roger Ailes insist we all agree with their deep belief 'we're all under siege. I too believe we're under siege, however not from Islam, but from another group entirely; the bankers.
Although, it's interesting to highlight and segue into the kind reality that Sharia law doesn't allow interest on the loan. Not such an evil idea, Jesus was into it, wasn't he?
Oh well, I'm not one to quote the bible, would not and could not when I had to while studying under the Jesuits way back when...
So, tho barely any of this missive is funny; you are Mr. Proopster, you're always 'M. Audio pleasure parfait'.
The riff on Obama's ability to break protocol and continue to do so while the Queen's anthem played on was such an adroit manifestation of his weakness; the fact the man's completely out of his depth. Btw, now that we're up to 5 wars with 8 on the horizon, do you think it's time for Obama to give back the Nobel Peace Prize. Just askin....
In fact you get funnier with each proopcast. I see why we're all conspiring to hear you more often online when you're too far away to see in person. The way you hit the wide reference points, the way you love/hate the cultural icons, aim high and hit the past and present on the bulls-eye. How you get heavy with the 60's and 70's and yet keep it playful, allowing just enough compassion to breath air into the intensity of our modern globalized lives. How you mix up all the cultural realities; that's just fun.
Well, this missive has rambled on long enough, basta cosi!
Allora, along with all the other kittens, we thank you.
Yours affec.
Baci.Bay
PS. I'm pleased to disclose, after a decade, I don't suffer from F. A. S. (foreign accent syndrome)
May 7th Greg's making us laugh in a land far, far away. The Proopster has packed his love for women and wicked wordplay for the southern hemisphere as he skids thru Perth, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington and then some, prior to hitting the northern american continent; New York to be precise.
There's one rather divine, adroit rant in particular; how we're all 'presumed guilty' in these mendacious, modern times and Proopsy has tons of fun fielding questions from the crowd; covering both Hitler and Trump and absolutely everything single thing in between.
And, bless his brilliant, beautiful and bitter heart; when the time arrives this man delivers. To one less than mentally agile audience member, his response is so quick and clever, so ironic he manages to quietly skewer and yet cover a continent of compassion and humanity. Doublespeak, indeed.
This man does improv like too few, he inspires, he gets it, he digests the world's environs just in time to regurgitate it on stage...I highly recommend Greg Proops; if you can't see him live, like me, just download and laugh away. It'll last and linger sweetly and oh so completely on the mind long past the end of his proopcast
April 5th Greg Proops audio mayhem is one very magical hour of being; a wordsmith worthy of Virginia Woolf, a truth-teller, a composer of comedic rock n roll. This, his, 'one off' stream of consciousness makes you think, laugh out loud, then look around and simply smile.
Proops begins, I paraphrase..."let's laugh at the trolls, let's rock with the warlocks, I too wait eagerly for the raspberry dawn and the bustle of heterodoxy that stimulates us all. Down with Mars the god of war, up with Venus the goddess of love and Bacchus the god of theatre and wine...fuck it, let's dance to the jokes let's joke to the dance. Let the good times roll..."
Again, I paraphrase but it's just such fun to stumble upon Greg's brain.
Learn, love and laugh for joy is much needed and freely given by Greg. Become one with me; another one of his kittens, his prupils as we gratefully, patiently await the next Proopcast.
March 15th podcast/Lines: Consistently unique, Greg Proops' latest podcast aims high, hits the bulls eye and knocks it outta the ball park. The man's witty with an awfully wide reference point; funky, erudite, uber san fransisco cool.
And he gives great twitter:
The news is too intense. I seek refuge with the Warlock. http://www.ticketmaster.com/Charlie-Sheen-tickets/artist/1568566
