Susan Calman - Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast

Milk Tart
Weeks have passed for you in the Donald Trump President Elect alternate universe, but this was recorded less than a week after the result and Richard and the world are trying to process what he means. He makes a bold prediction that we can only hope has come to pass, before introducing the never efficiently researched Susan Calman.
There’s chat about the loneliness of touring, the terror of the new world order and what it might mean for minorities and whether we need more diversity on television. It gets pretty serious in places, but there’s lots of fun chat about filthy Miriam Gargoyles, having a drink with Cliff Richard, eskimo rolls, Princess Anne’s bun and whether it’s really necessary to apologise to everyone for absolutely every joke.
Support live comedy - more important now than ever. Check out Susan’s tour dates at www.susancalman... and Richard’s tour dates at www.richardherr....
The videos of these shows are now available for FREE on iTunes and KZbin and vimeo. If you'd like to make a donation to keep these services and this show running then give a one-off or monthly sum of your choice at www.gofasterstr....

[@twatwatwat]

Susan Calman is great. I could listen to this all day.

[@hillside21]

Caught this four years later, and it is a relief to see Ian Liberal as PM.

[@barblessable]

funny woman , enjoyed her political points ,would like to see her on question time.

[@EleanorPeterson]

She'd need a good few cushions to sit on before you could see her, though, Jock. Ach, she's awfy wee! 😁

[@barblessable]

@@EleanorPeterson Yes , and very likeable personality.

[@danceswithdirt7197]

Hello again, Mr. Herring. I just wanted to suggest (beg your pardon and of course you can tell me to get stuffed) that you maybe could find a censor beep that is a bit more headphone-friendly? That beep has angered my tinnitus a bit. Thanks!

[@danshaggy292]

danceswithdirt Don't listen to the Sofie Hagen one, then.

[@simac3880]

There's a Western whine if I've ever heard one!

[@robertadamgilmour3375]

Great episode

[@karinakay4686]

Happy New Year, thank you for the new podcast

[@billiesrus]

What the guy in the audience shouted out regarding kayaks and canoes was wrong but he said it so confidently everyone believed him.

[@YorwerthHiraeth]

You say that... but he was correct.

[@douglassandberg5557]

:D Cheers, Richard. You're the best.

[@dooovde]

Sad only to see comics come to Dublin when visiting Ireland, Cork is actually a nice spot to visit too.

[@Herring1967]

Someone needs to book me to play there, not the other way round.

[@dooovde]

ok

[@bushiebodge]

awesome thanks again

[@philmus1]

Peter Cook, not Tom Baker. Peter Cook and his wife lived in different houses. Also Helena Bonham Carter and Tim Burton who lived next door to each other

[@Herring1967]

Also Tom baker doctorwho.org.nz/archive/tsv50/tombaker.html

[@meu02136]

Claims she doesn't like computer games... who was it I saw on Dara O'Briain's Go 8 Bit?

[@RickGerritzen]

She claims here she doesn't like Playstation. Maybe she's an Xbox person.

[@JackGodot]

Maybe she's into handhelds- a lot of people her age are since they're more like older games.

[@RickGerritzen]

Or maybe she just really like Dara O'Briain.

[@MrRjhyt]

Yup, Chuckie Egg, ZX Spectrum a true classic.

[@peterptchronic9696]

This horseshoe theory talk is slightly infuriating. Just because most people are in "the middle" doesn't mean that their opinion is somehow more valuable or more "right", it just shows it's the current popular narrative (which changes all the time and is guided by media elites). Also, you're completely wrong about the media having people on "from both extremes". The closest thing you have to a genuinely radical left wing person is Jeremy Corbyn and as someone from the radical left, I can say with certainty that Corbyn is pretty fucking moderate as far as socialists go. You don't see people on TV or in print media arguing for the dismantlement of the capitalist system or for prison abolition etc etc. Just because someone's very liberal doesn't mean they're a leftist.

[@Herring1967]

Don't say that they are right, just if they combined they would be unbeatable. At the moment their lack of cohesion and focus means that they are likely to be ruled by a politics more to the left or (let's face it) the right than they are comfortable with

[@JackGodot]

But the problem with that is that the Labour party's tried the center for years before Corbyn, and no one was biting because people inclined to vote Tory vote Tory, not Tory-lite. Hillary Clinton was the physical embodiment of the center, but drove off people of color in Michigan, and huge swaths of people in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, because she thought that by tacking toward the center/center-right she'd win over a lot of Republicans. She acted like she was entitled to those nonwhite/working class/etc votes- never campaigned for them. So the black turnout dropped. Hence the vote totals in those states, and particularly the people who only voted downticket in Michigan. You can get a center/center-right person to vote for a left-wing party if you provide a coherent, accessible, and convincing vision that'll benefit them. Centrist Technocrats can't do that because they pride themselves on lacking vision.

[@MrRjhyt]

The trouble with extremists, is that they're preaching to their equally solid base, and not trying to attract new supporters over with argument. The bigger issue is they can be more entertaining to watch a UKIP fuckwit, talking about sluts and cleaning behind the cooker. Rather than debating the issues, and considering budgetary plans, which can be misleading, wrong, and boring. The extremists, love to throw around loaded language, and accusations of being unpatriotic, or elitist, etc. I enjoyed the serious side of the chat, but fuck if it's not depressing.

[@rmilrta]

What counts has extreme has weirdly changed in the national narrative. Very odd.

[@cats-uk]

Peter Thrupp The crazy far left people are the "identity politics" people. South Park did a great job at taking the piss out of them in series 20. Trump was elected as a backlash to these "trigger warning" "safe space" lunatics. These are the people who want to silence people at universities. They hurl abuse at 'white men', while themselves being.. white men.

[@cmitchell6927]

Seconding guilty feminist, it's very funny and thought provoking.

[@stephr7637]

The word 'wife' literally means woman, and is Germanic in origin via Old English. I'm baffled by people who get offended by '-ess' endings on words as an alternative to '-or'; They come from Latin and '-or' is a masculine ending whereas 'ix' (which has turned into '-ess') was a feminine ending. I've had conversations with friends who were clueless about this and believed that '-or' was a gender neutral ending and surprised to find they were opting for the masculine by default. (I would consider myself a feminist, and am a cis-gendered woman, for context to the above. I absolutely want people to be able to describe themselves in whatever way suits them (within reason, obviously if a friend said 'I'm a fascist soup tureen' I'd encourage them to seek help). My comment is about those who want to dismiss people who happily describe themselves using classically feminine/historically female words/titles, which many of the antagonists, aside from ignoring the rights of the individual to describe themselves however they like, seem to totally misunderstand the origins of).

[@truthtopowerbear4860]

Milk tart is a South African dessert.

[@LoneKharnivore]

48:48 Uh, they regularly bring it up on BBC NI's 'The Blame Gsme,' hosted and panelled by white straight men.

[@herbivarsawus4359]

Trump isn't dead, but something's happening...

[@MrRjhyt]

"Dear Susan, How are you?"

[@violetwrath5173]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@cats-uk]

It's great when people love cats BUT they are solitary animals who HATE other cats (unless they're from the same litter)

[@mrgrimsdale6733]

Richard Herring is still letting Himself go.

[@retcon1991]

Right, so Susan is pro conversation unless it's with someone she disagrees with? That strikes me as monumentally counterproductive. She wants comedy to respond to these situations but heaven forbid if a comedian voted for Brexit? She even says that all she saw on television was right wing punditry - come on! That's patently untrue. There's a valid point in there somewhere, buried beneath the militancy that causes these things to happen in the first place.

[@rmilrta]

Yeah it's all the fault of people who disagreed with it. Such militancy. That caused all of this madness. People can talk to who they want. I certainly don't find alt-right (neo-Nazi) supporters queuing to to talk to me. And why the f*** should I talk with them? Comedy is responding. It always will. You can never stop it, even if you stop people from saying it out loud. There were comedians in the concentration camps.

[@retcon1991]

rmilrta And comedy should respond - I look forward to it. My issue was with the double standard presented, especially in the face of a generally Left-leaning media. The militancy I was referring to regarded both Left and Right wingers. Both groups of people tend to just hunker down in their comfortable bubble, unwilling to confront opposition - that makes for a divided country and the lines are always drawn very starkly. No one from the Right has offered to a start a conversation? So your reaction is just to wash your hands of the whole affair? This is the problem.

[@cats-uk]

On the topic on feminism, sometimes it is mental : facebook.com/HeadbonksOfficial/posts/710197379135054

[@politure]

Sometimes it is mental, I think we can all agree on that. More importantly though is the question of how often this 'sometimes' is.

[@cuzned1375]

I’ve had a crush on Susan Calman since the first time i saw her on whatever panel show. I don’t know whether she’d be as bewitching without her delightful accent, but thankfully the question is moot.

[@mikeyandwho]

This one was flbloody hilarious hope she comes back on well done rich

[@ianclarke5404]

Exactly. Pence is like a vampire waiting in the shadows .

[@richardhall263]

What a great person Susan is, I love her.

[@aperson7584]

Just in case anyone wasn't aware, the beeped out word starts with P and ends in aedophile ...

[@capragoat8119]

Lugh Summerson There are accusations of him doing 'beano style'?I have googled this but can't find anything, maybe you're wrong?

[@idio-syncrasy]

Voice from the future. Seems like he was most probably correct.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Don't worry, Susan; you're not alone. I'm not a lezzer, but I AM a cynic and a pessimist, just like you. People say they feel sorry for me for having such a negative outlook on life - "Oh, you poor thing! Your glass is always half empty!" - but they're completely missing the point. The greatest thing about being a true pessimist it that you're never, ever disappointed. About ANYTHING. It's a wonderful feeling!🙂

[@brokenstyx]

10 downvotes already xD i was pissing myself, i guess somebody was offended

[@normandoyle1009]

If only that Trump prediction came to pass. If it were most any other human, I'd feel some shame for thinking that, let alone sharing it.

[@emdiar6588]

It would be a disaster. He has to be given the chance to majorly fuck up and piss Americans off enough to discredit him and make the electorate realise their mistake. If he were assassinated it would be as a martyr for the Right and an American folk hero for decades to come.

[@normandoyle1009]

em diar How about this even more shameful scenario - I imagine that, of those who voted for Trump, only the most fervent supporters will brave the potential freeze of a DC day to see him inaugurated. The 'Trump as pure protest' voters won't show. So taking all them out in one fell swoop... I'm sorry...been thinking too much like a certain stand up comedian.

[@amandahighmoor9410]

I love how Susan says. 'Richard,'

[@cats-uk]

Cats under the duvet are AMAZING. I've only ever had one at a time. I love it when they sit on your chest and purr

[@EleanorPeterson]

Cat under duvet, good. Tiger in hammock, bad.🙃

[@owencampbell8799]

Jeremy Corbin is not a great guy. She’s wrong.

[@RidesInforests]

I don't go out very much so thanks RHLSTP in general.

[@EleanorPeterson]

Even if you don't go out much, Chris, you're clearly one of the cool kids because you call the show... ... ... ... ... rurhalurstuhpuh...😁 Aww, poo. I wish I was as cool as you...

[@ThePollyLab]

Jesus, this comment section is amazing

[@AshArAis]

Dublin is a 4 hour drive from where I am, it can be a pretty difficult and expensive place to get to for anyone outside the city. I'm guessing that maybe our population isn't enough that you would do a Cork date as well? It's not as hard to travel to those outside Dublin but I understand if the numbers don't make it worth your while

[@Herring1967]

Also someone in Cork needs to book me. Not going to happen this time, but when I have ventured from Dublin there hasn't been much interest, it's true.

[@AshArAis]

Richard Herring Thanks for replying! It's the nature of the layout of the country, there's a million in Dublin and 3 mill elsewhere who aren't all into the same thing. It's the same with bands touring from elsewhere, they have to load so much gear on a ferry we're just glad they came over! I was only chancing my arm by asking, thanks :)

[@dooovde]

You could easily fill the Everyman in Cork (not a sex joke), just spend a few minutes on local radio plugging the event and you'd be in.

[@idio-syncrasy]

Susan Calman for president of Alba.

[@kathish]

The more interviews I see with Susan, the more I like her. And nicely done, Rich, alternating between listening and injecting levity. Ooh... you should have Bethany Black on! She seems cool.

[@rachaelsas]

also, really useful feedback for the manufacturers of Fredos

[@rachaelsas]

i am not a lesbian, but i really like Susan Calman

[@trippinonbud]

Was looking forward to round 2 of this chat. My money is on ms Calman coming out on top!

[@MrsMelrom]

I can't believe the audience aren't clapping the stuff Susan's saying more. I'd have been a whooping embarassment!

[@Arganoid]

45:57 👍

[@TheMJNicholls]

Clare Balding in the back and Perkins in the front

[@danceswithdirt7197]

It is all terrifying. I'm hopelessly depressed for my country. I think Bernie Sanders would've had more support than Clinton.

[@cats-uk]

danceswithdirt Yeah, Bernie would have defeated trump, probably. Bernie was cheated out of the nomination (proven by wikileaks)

[@Rushynet]

Seriously you two.. Get a room!

[@Fractometry]

I have to say I don't really know what Hillary Clinton's policies would've been. Most of what I heard from the campaign was how ashamed everyone should feel if they didn't support Clinton. I can't say I know a reason to support Trump, either, but I can see why people aren't motivated to vote in the US.

[@MsMorbeg]

As a girl that's slightly obsessed with comedy, I'm sad to say that I do *sometimes* feel trepidatious when I read that its a female guest on the show.. Of course there are tonnes of great female comics out there but there are also a lot of below average ones too that rely too much on gimmicks and come across as uncomfortable in this intense format. This was however, one of my favourite podcasts. Susan Calman is very confident, entertaining and interesting to listen to.

[@Stoic-Col]

What a pity. I was enjoying this until it all got serious. Not what I came here for, so I will quietly withdraw.

[@Herring1967]

Came so close to withdrawing quietly and then ruined it.

[@Stoic-Col]

@@Herring1967 That's very deep, Mr Herring. Not funny, but very thought provoking. Guess there's a lesson to be learned here. I must not criticise content of Podcasts, just fill each comment with compliments and thumbs up. I guess I touched a nerve!

[@Herring1967]

@@Stoic-Col Ha ha. No. Just my own criticism of your own comment and your failure to do what you said you'd do. I won't say I must have touched a nerve though, because that would make me sound self important! I don't think your comment is particularly harsh. Just this wasn't what you were expecting. I work as a stand up so my nerves are pretty untouchable. But yeah, the podcast is mainly funny, but has some serious stuff in it. So best avoid the rest if you can't cope with that mixture. Good luck finding something that you like.

[@Stoic-Col]

@@Herring1967 I can honestly say I have enjoyed, loved, every podcast I have watched in the past few days. My initial comment was trying to say that I didn't enjoy this one that much. I didn't want to be harsh but was trying to say - rather than not pass on an opinion instead of a thumbs down - that I prefer your podcast when they are not so serious: hence the withdrawing quietly. Your taking it so personally seems like overkill. I could hardly be considered a "troll" or, a heckler. I will, however, continues to watch more of your stuff. if that's ok with you of course!

[@dreads9536]

@@Herring1967 Hahaha! Brilliant wee bit of secret youtube comments gold

[@truthtopowerbear4860]

Trump wasn't chosen over A woman. He was chosen over A CERTAIN woman. Jill Stein would have been a fantastic choice.

[@RandomPlaceHolderName]

There's also the fact that the USA has been switching parties for 30 years now. After Obama, odds were the country would vote Republican.

[@PaulEcosse]

Awful, awful woman.