A friend of mine told me this story. He went into a restaurant in Santa Barbara and noticed John Cleese sitting at a table. He mentioned to the manager, "It must be great to have the funniest man in the world eating in your restaurant." The manager corrected him. "The two funniest men," he said and he pointed to another table on the other side of the place.
Dining there was Jonathan Winters.
What's interesting to me about this story is that I don't think there are too many people who would have a problem with it. They might think the list of the two funniest men in the world should include one or two other names but I don't think anyone would consider Mssrs. Cleese and Winters as unlikely contenders. The times I've been around Jonathan, conversations were often interrupted by people stopping by to tell him he was the funniest man who ever lived.
The amazing thing about him — and the thing that has so many of his peers in drop-dead awe — is that his humor is so organic. With most comedians, you can hear their sources and inspirations and maybe even, if you listen real hard, hear their staff of writers deliver the material. But what Jonathan does and has been doing for years comes out of nowhere and no one but Jonathan.
All of this is by way of telling you that when Stu Shostak launches his new season of Stu's Show Wednesday afternoon, his guest for 2+ hours will be Jonathan Winters. Way to go, Stuart.
I'll try and remind you tomorrow but for now you should know that you can experience Stu's Show two ways. The show starts at 4 PM Pacific (7 PM Eastern) and if you listen then at the Stu's Show website, it's free. If you can't listen then, all is not lost. Beginning shortly after, you'll be able to download the 2+ hours (betcha it runs close to three) from that site. It'll only cost you 99 cents but if you have a brain in that module you call your head, you'll select some other webcasts from the voluminous Stu's Show Archives and download four episodes for three bucks. It's a great bargain and it'll be a great interview.