Editor’s Letter – 9/6/17

When I saw comedian Yasamin Bayatfar perform at last year’s Okie Homie Showcase at Blue Whale Comedy Festival, I knew something hilarious, irreverent, and unique was brewing here in Tulsa.

“I don’t smoke weed because getting stoned means something a lot different where I come from,” she joked about her Persian heritage.

Evan Hughes hosted that showcase (both will be there again this year—check the festival’s full schedule here). As he introduced each Oklahoma comedian it became apparent that we have an overfull set of wickedly talented comedians at our fingertips. Thanks to many of them for gracing this issue’s cover.

They will perform in two local showcases this year, as well as with bigger names brought in by Blue Whale festival organizers. In this issue, we’ve covered several of those national acts, including an interview with Eugene Mirman and a profile of Byron Bowers, done by Tulsa comedians Andrew Deacon and Landry Miller, respectively.

And because it’s festival season yet again, we’ve also got our annual fall festival guide in this issue, as well an interview with Raekwon, who will be headlining Higher Plains Jazz and Hip Hop Festival later this month.   

Elsewhere in the issue are things neither festive nor funny—Barry Friedman interviews attorney and former Tulsa Public Defender Jill Webb about the high price paid by the poor to fund our court system. OK Policy’s Ryan Gentzler tackles the same topic. And Crystal Kline encourages do-gooders to donate money, not old clothes, to aid those affected by a disaster.

I hope to see you out this weekend at Blue Whale (come party with TTV staff at the God Damn Comedy Jam on Saturday night!), and at the many festivals to come.