Comedian Benson loves taking pot shots
Doug Benson’s popularity is at an all-time high.
The star of the “Super High Me” documentary and creator/writer/star of “The Marijuana-Logues” is a hit with nonsmokers; he’s been a finalist on NBC’s “Last Comic Standing” and a regular on VH1’s “Best Week Ever.”
But he’s best known for his cannabis comedy and not at all afraid to admit it. He recorded his new CD, “Hypocritical Oaf,” live on April 20; it’s set for release Aug. 31.
In an interview, he talked about that, “Tweet-able” jokes and the fine line between pop culture and pot culture.
Q: Tell us a little about your upcoming CD/DVD set.
A: It’s called “Hypocritical Oaf,” for no particular reason other than it seemed like a funny title to me when I thought of it. Later I discovered it that was also the title of episodes of “The Cosby Show” and “Rocko’s Modern Life.” It’s a CD with 45 minutes of my stand-up recorded at Acme Comedy Club in Minneapolis, and a DVD of the two episodes I did of “Comedy Central Presents …”
Q: It’s often said that there is a heroic quality that comics have when they are willing to say what everyone else can’t say publicly, whether it be political, cultural or otherwise. Is that a part of the motivation for what you’re doing?
A: I like talking about pot because people seem to enjoy me talking about pot. And I guess some of that comes from the taboo nature of it. But medical marijuana is legal in California, and when I do shows in Los Angeles, the people still laugh at pot jokes even though it’s more universally accepted there. On Nov. 2, Californians get to vote to make pot legal outright. And if it passes, I’ll still be making jokes about it. It’s part of my life, and my life is what my humor is based on.
Q: What do you think about the way the media covers pot culture, especially with pot’s apparent growing social acceptance?
A: The media isn’t as liberal as people (the right) say it is. Pot’s acceptance is growing, yet every pot bust is covered by local news stations with tremendous zeal. And when reporting something like marijuana possibly staving off Alzheimer’s, the anchor people read the story with a smirk on their face that says, “Oh, you crazy hippies.”
Q: When do you write your jokes? Do you deliberately write stoned?
A: I have to have a pen nearby whenever I smoke pot, because I’m going to come up with some stuff I have to write down. It might not all be great, some of it might be nonsense, but weed always helps me come up with some gems.
Q: You’ve got a dedicated Internet following because of tools like your podcast and “Tweet-able” jokes. What do you think of the way technology has changed the game for people in your position?
A: It has made us more accessible. People seem to like that. When I was growing up, I would’ve loved to have access to my favorite actors and comedians. I read most of what’s written to me on Twitter and respond to as much of it as I can.
Q: I’ve read that people are frequently giving you weed and that everyone wants to smoke with you. I imagine you come across some potent stuff. Are you ever afraid you’re going to end up in Debo’s pigeon coop?
A: Ha, good reference. No, I don’t worry about it. Most stoners are pretty nice.
Q: You’ve had substantial success with nonsmokers. Any desire to do more projects outside of pot culture?
A: I just try to make people laugh. Whether they smoke weed or not doesn’t matter to me. And I hope whether I smoke pot or not doesn’t matter to them.