Trust us, there is nothing more interesting to do in the Fort tonight than attend Q Cinema’s reception, screening and afterparty for the indie comedy ”Oy Vey! My Son is Gay!” We can’t vouch for the movie itself, but Q has brought in one of the film’s co-stars who also happens to be a totally original figure in American pop culture – Emmy winning writer-actor-public wit Bruce Vilanch.
It’s impossible to do justice to Vilanch’s eclectic four-decade career as a comedy writer here. He’s scribbled jokes for the good (many telecasts of the Oscars, the Emmys, and the Tonys), the bad (“The Donnie & Marie Show”), and the ugly (1978’s “The ‘Star Wars’ Holiday Special,” featuring Bea Arthur, Harvey Korman, and Jefferson Starship). He’s written stage material for Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Bette Midler, Whoopi Goldberg, and Billy Crystal (the latter three are confirmed fans of his). A 1999 documentary feature, “Get Bruce,” chronicled his extensive behind-the-scenes contributions to American comedy since the 1970s.
As a talk show guest and former longtime columnist for “The Advocate,” Vilanch is a classically trenchant social observer in the tradition of Dorothy Parker and Fran Leibowitz, though with more of a populist touch. All this is to say – can we put any more pressure on the poor guy when he appears at tonight’s Q Cinema reception and film (6:30pm at the Rose Marine) and afterparty (9:30pm at Grace)? Tix for the whole shebang are $35.
