Fran Lebowitz Q&A Feb 28 2012

[@Allergictocatstoo]

My dear God, thank you for Fran Lebowitz.

[@jane.elliot5782]

I do, every time I laugh at myself for doing everything except writiing when I have writer's block.

[@7deepbreaths.sounds]

It is amazing to me that as a 6/7 year old Fran Lebowitz didn't realize that books were written by people. Fran says that she thought books were simply these naturally occurring things that were just here. Once she realized that books were written by people, she says, she knew that writing was something that she wanted to do. It is incredible to consider that her sensitivity to literature was THAT strong that she didn't make the connection. Even at the age of 5, I knew that Dr. Suess' The Cat In The Hat was written by Dr. Suess. Fran speaks so much profoundly insightful truth, it is difficult for me to disagree with her views on writing school.

[@trumancapote9097]

AMEN!!

[@deloreswilson1798]

Don't blame God...😆

[@chopin65]

Try thanking Fran.

[@lemon1657]

Absolutely timeless! I could listen to Fran from morning to night. If being on the supreme court is not in the works, please HIRE Fran to host her own pod cast/radio talk show. It'd be highly beneficial to the human race as a whole! Much love and respect.

[@dilbyjones]

Day & night!

[@janesmith8050]

@jonny benzene oh dear, you really might want to talk to a therapist about your self-esteem problem

[@gregorykelton118]

@@dilbyjones p

[@user-tk8qc5uq6v]

H😅😊​@@janesmith8050

[@susanlodgerelaxations5269]

Me too

[@easywind4044]

She is incredibly honest.

[@KitKatSukiKat]

Omg. I love Fran soooooo much! 🥰❤️🇨🇦

[@islandgirl45]

Love love love this lady....bravo Fran Lebowitz 💕🌟

[@psh1147]

Fran predicted 2021 in 2012. The monolog she does on the Congress of 2012 and what it portends for the future of the Republican party feels like I am listening to a talk from Feb 2021. This woman is simply brilliant.

[@me67226]

I agree with her.

[@brockreynolds870]

She certainly was wrong on her prediction of gay marriage, wasn't she?

[@louisepotier2784]

I'm glad someone brought up James Baldwin and that Fran was commenting on his life. He was an excellent speaker in both French and English. I've listened to interviews in both languages. I'm very happy to listen to Fran Lebowitz comment at all times. I enjoyed the piques concerning the ''high'' education at the University. LOL.

[@jayumble8390]

Yes, Fran is AMAZING!!! Fran is enlightenment!!! OMG!!! If I could make a living by transcribing Fran Lebowitz interviews, I would take that job. What a pleasure it would be!!

[@blondefox69]

Refreshing honesty, no pretense. So witty, and quick to respond with frank facts.

[@patricias5122]

Poor Fran, poor us; little did we know who we'd end up with in 2016!Thank God he's gone at last.

[@jodestella502]

I appreciate this humorous time and it was medicinal for my soul.

[@jskd2953]

We need more Fran Lebowitz's in the world. Of course they'd all move to New York and make it even more overcrowded, but hopefully more cultured...

[@goyaassfilms4551]

One of the few if only "celebrities"/public figures worth fucking listening to. Every word is pure gold.

[@easywind4044]

I want coffee that Fran made!

[@user-zb8lq4zv9u]

💯

[@nickbarcheck1019]

Absolutely brilliant.

[@davidrose1838]

I actually have, on occasion, listened to Fran from morning to night! Fran is a genuine national treasure!

[@keithnichols7926]

Fran is right-on regarding how to be a writer. If you don't love to read -- if you aren't fascinated by words individually and in sentences --you will not be successful at writing, or editing what others write. That's how you tell whether you should pursue a career involving writing. It's unlikely that a writing school can inspire enough love of reading to lead one to write well. Grammar is certainly useful, but if your writing or research is original enough, others will take care of the grammar for you.

[@trumancapote9097]

I never believed ANY great art could be taught. Talent is inherent. Like Fran has often stated, you've either got it or you don't.

[@deloreswilson1798]

She only published two books.I have seven on the back burner but have to scrape up royalties to use as capital.Its not easy without connections but I won't give up.I know I have talent.Besides,I'm tired of folks telling me "You should get published"... It takes money not my good looks.That will be realized later.😎

[@c.a.savage5689]

Delightful hour and 31 minutes. Like being back in NYC in the 80's. Never change, Fran.

[@ronaldschuurman3967]

I really do love her. She says things that make sense with a sophisticated edge of humor

[@bull419]

I may not always agree with her but I admire her honesty and sense of humor.!!

[@easywind4044]

I like my iPad because it brought me Fran. I am going to check out her books. I like to laugh when I read.

[@dilbyjones]

Easy Wind yes!

[@AChorister]

This could have been recorded yesterday for its timeliness and its timelessness. I was searching KZbin for her after having seen her again on this week's Jimmy Fallon..

[@JacWarner]

I too look around when I go about my life. And I look at people. The only ones I see not looking at their phones are the mad or dispossessed.

[@jacqueline755]

Jordon Van Dyke Now it is 4 years later-- and it still sounds current. Upsetting that so much of our time/thoughts/emotions are still being manipulated by the same powers that be--

[@mattjames7718]

Her laugh is so cute and sounds so different to her speaking voice......

[@JohnPKING-nj8nc]

She is so right about people who are constantly saying "oh I really think ..." They don't really think. They don't think at all. Most of the time they are just parroting something they heard on cable news or at the water cooler at work or in that vast electronic water cooler that is social media. They haven't stopped themselves long enough to look at a mental mirror and realize that they are being completely reactive and emotional. It's amazing how much time people will want to see how they appear and never stop and in fact are incapable of noticing anything more than everyone else's teeth, hair, clothes, cars, laptops and smartphones etc. We just exist as bright shiny objects - even to ourselves.

[@sosonolow5094]

National Treasure!

[@keadp1054]

think before you speak read before you think

[@jpapare]

To my fellow reviewers: Fran takes the lecturn at 30:45. If you, too, find yourself frustrated by the first half hour of this presentation, the last hour more than makes up for it. By the way, I do see the point of Fran Lebowitz's expressed opinion that during question and answer sessions she likes to be the only one with a microphone.

[@MoeGreensRightEye]

+Janet Paparelli what was so frustrating about the first half hour?

[@ashleyromero5302]

MoeGreensLeftEye the interviewer

[@gtx209]

Someone doesn’t get why the first half sucks. Of course, it’s a fellow (prob. Straight) male human being...

[@bethbarry6231]

@@gtx209 wow. Well at least you acknowledged that (maybe ) he was a human being.

[@tyleranyways]

I'm a college student, and Fran is spot on about the writing thing. My generation doesn't read enough, including myself. My former English professor (a nice woman) actually said at the start of the semester that she would teach us how to read then comprehend what we just read. Now I realize how ridiculous that was, especially as I take more classes and notice how uninformed and ignorant people are. It's getting worse.

[@1trschaefer78]

"Most of the intolerance in the culture is from the left. Most of the insanity is from the right!" LOL....Perfect!!

[@ladybug5859]

SORRY but as of a year ago-- no longer PERFECT! The LEFT has now entered the realm of insanity as well as intolerance. WHY? WITH covid they mandated that you take a vaccine that does not prevent you from getting it; does not prevent you from transmitting it; does not lower your viral load ;and with NO data presented-- they seem to think it keeps you out of the hospital-- despite the fact that in Israel 75% of the people hospitalized have been vaccinated. NOT only that, but they violated the First Amendments FREEDOM of SPEECH. The government censored anything that deviated from the vaccine mandate and they made sure all the media companies censored and private corporations censored and in consewmquence PEOPLE lost their jobs and their livelihoods. The entire number of dead was 1% and and frankly Fran is the age that you supposed to die and she's a smoker and she did not die. The people that died were already very sick people for the most part and there are exceptions and the exception proves the rule. So unfortunately Fran was not right in the end. A year ago you wrote this and it was true then and it's even more true now. AND I'd love to ask her what she thinks of the Mandate and the censorship around covid .

[@stellapatchouli6652]

She's a miracle. I thought the human spirit was dead. Fran Lebowitz represents all that's good about American psyche, ways, humor...and being a lady.🌹💎🎁💖

[@me67226]

Always have liked to listen to Fran L. ❤️☮️🌹🌻

[@tutonelylesnaranjo6311]

Superb Q&A. Leibowitz inspires in every way.

[@rosemaryparker2567]

Love it. She is my escape from the corona virus. Do cats get it? When my son comes home from work will insist he wash his hands oh I'm still there.

[@micahbrew9627]

Such a great talker and thinker, and funny.

[@georgiesinclair6951]

She Is nostalgic like every older person throughout history... You can run but you can't hide from it.

[@brockmeeks1695]

Design Forever I agree but she does have some good point on nostalgia.

[@calebcostigan2561]

39:56 she totally predicts a president being elected because he was never a politician. “He’s a businessman. That what we need!” Not remembering Harding and Hoover were terrible presidents.

[@GoldienOC]

So right on 'political correctness'! The rigidity and intolerance from the left is so spot on. The insanity comes from the right.. truth. This episode in American History has brought the sane people together. (Gd willing)

[@littlebitchontheprairie3321]

One of the most cerebral people of all time.

[@dominicherrera4610]

She brilliant!!!

[@JeffreyGillespie]

1:08:04 is the key. TIME. This is how I live, and it can be painful sometimes in terms of emotional support or resources, but it is so much less painful than giving up your entire personality in exchange for an avatar that goes out and collects a paycheck.

[@johngrasing1715]

Please God this woman has to be interviewed by Paula Poundstone!

[@janjacobs8260]

Oh My God,Please make it happen!!!

[@shumiatcher]

She’s on a roll ! Brilliant and funny !

[@psafety9355]

She is so dope!!! Love her!!!!

[@kenbranaugh8251]

Greatest interviewer ever.. ( so rare to see such erudite conversation thankyou )

[@karagi101]

One of the wisest people ever.

[@AlvaSudden]

38:45 "It's really dangerous to have so many stupid people making important decisions. The President of the United States--you have to be, I don't know, SMART."

[@MFYouTube683]

This obviously hasn’t aged well. Glad for the change in the US

[@Larkinchance]

Same thing is true for very expensive art school..It does not make you an artist..Practically all people end up doing paste-up for corporate...

[@hypatia4754]

I really hate when the "intellectual" interviewer starts an interview with an obscure phrase they have read from the author which they obviously skimmed to find and show how smart he was to find it.

[@johncooper3636]

I have yet to come across an intellectual interviewer or any interviewer worth his or her own salt. Remember, who is the interviewee!

[@jane.elliot5782]

Indeed 1:53

[@7deepbreaths.sounds]

1. "Even 3 year olds have opinions... they're called tantrums".... 2. Our post 9/11 culture = invasive policing... and intrusion upon our Constitutional Rights.

[@GH-oi2jf]

Worse is an interviewer who hasn’t done his homework.

[@AlvaSudden]

40:20 She is so right: this is the Confederacy vs the Union all over again. Let us be wise enough to let them secede this time.

[@gerardorcastellanos950]

Carmen R Yes! Build a wall and make them pay for it😏

[@easywind4044]

Laughing out loud is a criteria I use when judging a book.

[@gtx209]

As if F. L should feel thankful for the dude for being amused by her work....

[@byculla6]

Great interviewer! for a change!!

[@saprissa30]

Wow Nothing is more contagious than a bad old idea.

[@firouz4296]

Trump knew that!

[@iwnunn7999]

The most interesting woman on the planet

[@maximiliancrasser1605]

Unbelievable strong person.

[@perrycomeau2627]

Do not mess with with Fran and try to have a nice day,

[@shrimpflea]

She is so right about the marriage thing.

[@anton1949]

Would love to get Fran and Kieth Richards on a stage together.

[@rosemaryparker2567]

Another thing people say all the time is I'm so excited. When they say that you know their trying to sell you something.

[@frankfeldman6657]

Not much to conclude or take away from this other than that she's very fond of the sound of her own voice.

[@GH-oi2jf]

She makes a living by talking.

[@Jwilliamc89]

Time went on, and fame became the most admired. We are in the day of Instagram.

[@sammyyu4393]

I love Fran.

[@jacqueline755]

She thought that the Roberts Court was terrible. She couldn't have anticipated the 2019 Court!!!

[@frenchie1132]

If she only knew that Trump was coming along!

[@firouz256]

If Fran was ever to do a talk with Camille Paglia .... the world will explode and disappear ... forever!

[@gtx209]

Besides, the author is righ there. Why would this guy give a voice to a book, whose voice is right there in person....

[@carolclark5776]

Gore Vidal is also a clear witted person. No longer with us since 2012 but he says a lot about bush squared and hated Robert Kennedy , yummy stuff like fran

[@rberliner6680]

I hope her sense of self comes back into fashion.

[@ashleyromero5302]

These interviewers don't do their proper research. What she wrote when she was 22, c'mon man. The interviewer is so pretentious which Fran just cuts through.

[@MissTwix]

❤️

[@miololix]

32:31-33:01 a woman after my own heart

[@joshpuleston3086]

I'm very glad the camera is primarily on Fran. Who's the interviewer? He's a bit too eager.

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Fran looks like Oscar Wilde !

[@Tojazzer]

SuperAnimelover100 She IS Oscar Wilde.

[@SuperAnimelover100]

Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa , i love and you have a point !!! :):)

[@transgenderbasketballplayer]

she just be saying shit lol i love her

[@AlvaSudden]

01:14:14 "There are countries that are theocracies. They [the religious right] are free to move there. I will drive them." lol

[@constancemiller3753]

She's got a taxi. I say leave the meter running

[@brockreynolds870]

Fran is completely wrong about second hand smoke. One of my clients currently has lung cancer. She did not smoke, but her husband did. Incidentally... he died on lung cancer 4 years ago.

[@karagi101]

People do get lung cancer without having smoked or being around second hand smoke. Cancer can hit any part of the body. It’s rare but it happens. There’s also an increased risk if you are continuously breathing 2nd hand smoke every day. But lung cancer from 2nd hand smoke is still extremely rare.

[@debreed2558]

Timeless talk. And then Donald was President after Obama.

[@debreed2558]

Who said, "opinions are like assh&l# everyone has one."

[@jumpskirt]

OMG the riff on the stupidity of Ronald Reagan (as president). If she only knew what was coming!

[@carolclark5776]

My ex watched the three stooges like dirty but never could get it I thought something was wrong with me

[@elizabeth9134]

Where was this recorded?

[@rr7firefly]

Who is the interviewer and where did this interview take place?

[@RFranklinCarter]

If you look at the wooden lectern in front of Fran Lebowitz, you see the words Claremont McKenna College. It is in California. I think the interviewer is Eric Puchner. He is a professor and an author.

[@rr7firefly]

Yes, you are right. Thank you. I just realized he is the author of "MusicThrough the Floor."

[@gtx209]

@@RFranklinCarter He is a professor?!? Hmm.. well, of course, that explains...

[@kingturd757]

I thought Fran was Andy Samberg playing a character.

[@ladyfantastic765]

to be fair Fran, viagra was an accidental discovery when attempting to create a vasopressor. the mice all got woodies. lol.

[@williamwalker2964]

the sound on this was terrible -half way through it was unintelligible -bummed -because i really wanted to hear more

[@christinetrzcinski4561]

+William Walker same here the interviewer was mumbling so you couldn't hear the questions

[@jacqueline755]

When was this? She spoke of having a Black President before a Woman President. Was this before Obama?

[@dawsonwillibey9855]

Why was this shot on a vhs camera in 2012

[@parnamukherjee1162]

Can anyone tell me the name of the writer she is talking about in 11:45 mints ?

[@angstbeforebeauty]

Lorrie Moore.

[@stellapatchouli6652]

A liberal ...but her way of thinking about American culture and ways is very conservative.

[@GH-oi2jf]

She is an independent thinker, not a knee-jerk liberal.

[@Safinitzine]

Watching from 35:00 in 2021 is ... Is she a prophet?

[@GH-oi2jf]

She is a careful observer of culture.

[@cayetanotirado5907]

Bad focus! Why don't they also show the interviewee ? I like seeing the interviewee and the guest in a Q&A set up.

[@kristin1533]

While she's reprimanding the audience for not voting, they're laughing. They don't understand her point.

[@stellapatchouli6652]

She's so much like me...I mean she thinks just like me. I just can't express my thoughts the most amazing ways as she does. And my grammar suck. Censorship -its happening full blown now...as we speak.

[@ftjax]

Was this 2012 ? she be about 62

[@easywind4044]

Did she NYUastan?

[@yardgoods]

I admire FL but she's wrong about The Three Stooges. They're a laugh riot!

[@winnanne1]

You must be male.

[@johnbrowneyes7534]

Soiently!

[@amesino.i]

57:36 Q: "what is the purpose of education?"

[@Johnd161]

Became more and more stale as the talk went on (only started watching at 30 mins), good points made humorously, but for someone who claims to be a believer in science, expertise etc. she's extremely biased. but i suppose that's her charm

[@JohnPKING-nj8nc]

She likes be sardonically flippant and contrary to whatever current platitudes people are spouting at other people - as if the entire is hyper viral and tiresome. But you're right she often contradicts herself if you go back and read things she said years earlier. Still anyone who reads as much as she does and has lived in New York through all those years makes her pretty interesting - especially how she is able to describe the way people who are famous are all too prosaic in real life - I would venture to say Fran is as well - like everybody. The celebrity culture lionizes people so much they are expected to be the most interesting person around. Her books are usually quite short and pithy. When giving interviews you probably end up saying the same. things dozens of times to the point where you can't even remember which group or to which interviewer she told a particular story.

[@dorinafilippini9147]

Wish we could hang... You are so interesting

[@rutemalumadance4449]

21

[@trumancapote9097]

I adore FRAN but had to stop this video halfway thru as I cannot tolerate NOT being able to hear the questions being asked. Is it asking too much for a common mic to be available at one or more spots in an auditorium for speakers to actually BE HEARD?!!

[@GH-oi2jf]

As she said, she prefers to have the only mic. I suspect that’s to make it more difficult for someone to disrupt her talk if she says something controversial. I don’t have any trouble following it. She does give the gist of the question in more efficient language.

[@MikkoHere]

The interviewer has a bad habit of trailing off at the end of his sentences

[@arrystophanes7909]

Yes, with that jaded 'i don't see why I should respect you, the listener, enough to offer fully coherent intelligibility' type attitude

[@robertyoung1777]

(1hr 55sec) Cigarette smoking can’t be considered personal when smoker’s health care costs are passed on to others. It is “horrible” to pass smoking costs on to others. My feeling is that smokers should pay every penny of their smoking related healthcare costs. Same true for individuals choosing to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, drive a car drunk or without wearing a seatbelt. I don’t want to pick up the tab for the stupid behaviors of others.

[@Manchupacabra]

I thought her opinions on smoking were bizarre. Seemed like a topic that's too personal for her to see objectively. She called it an addiction that doesn't get respected like other addictions, but also diminished its negative aspects herself as well as that of second hand smoke. "I'm 61, and I've never seen anyone die from second hand smoke." Uhh...no shit. It's not like someone inhales a puff of second hand smoke and keels over. It's a cumulative effect leading to poorer health overall.

[@karagi101]

I’d like us all to review your eating and exercise habits, your alcohol consumption patterns, your driving abilities and a bunch of other lifestyle factors. Because it could cost us much more than smoking illnesses to keep you alive and functioning.