Comic doesn't take politics too seriously

By Nick A. Zaino III, Globe Correspondent, 9/12/2003

The name Ken Fowler will appear on the ballot for Boston city councilor in November, but Fowler is wary of public appearances. His comic alter-ego Ben Joplin won't be on the ballot, but Joplin and members of his "Boston Chimp Party" will be holding weekly stand-up comedy shows disguised as rallies every Sunday, starting this weekend, at the Grand Canal Pub. Or is that rallies disguised as comedy shows? Fowler isn't entirely sure.

Fowler confesses he hates his legal name and says he might change it to Joplin permanently next month on his birthday, just to confound the election board. His campaign is, similarly, a mixed message. He talks of a crisis of leadership at the local and state level. But go to his website, www.benjoplin.com, where he keeps a "campaign journal" and writes short sketches about interacting with his advisers, and his slogan reads, "Candidate for Boston City Council -- District 1, maybe." His biggest campaign appearance has been an afternoon on the Freedom Trail handing out lollipops to potential voters.

When asked why he's running, he says: "I have a crush on [WCVB State House reporter] Janet Wu and this is the only way I know how to get her attention." Not a minute later, he gets serious: "Part of me is running because I'm just dissatisfied with the leadership we have, and the loudest vote of no confidence I could give was putting my own name on the ballot."

Even his opponent doesn't know exactly what to make of him. Councilman Paul Scapicchio says that he has seen the website and that Fowler seems like a good writer with some funny ideas, but he doesn't know much beyond that. "I haven't met him," he says. "Usually by now, you meet people. I've been out there, haven't seen him."

When asked outright if the campaign is a ploy to grab attention for his new Sunday night show, Fowler says, "Nothing could be closer to the truth."

"I'm trying to create a piece of entertainment that will attract people's attention, on the website and with this show we've got coming up," he says. "So it's going to be two forms of entertainment, and hopefully, really good satire that people enjoy."

He won't relent on politics. "To get my voice out there, it has to be as a comedian, not as a serious politician," Fowler says. "Nobody will take me seriously."

Hamell a Hicks fanEd Hamell, known to fans of his energetic antifolk music as Hamell on Trial, is a gutsy, funny songwriter. He is also a first-class comedy nut. Hamell, who plays the Tir Na Nog in Somerville on Wednesday, says he owes the success of his 1999 album "Choochtown" largely to two songs -- "Bill Hicks (Ascension)" and "Bill Hicks" -- both named for the cult hero comedian known for his brutal political material. He admires icons such as Richard Pryor and Lenny Bruce and loves modern comics like Eddie Izzard, but it was Hicks who had the biggest impact on his life. "I say it onstage when I'm doing the intro to the song," says Hamell. "I'll say, `For those of you that don't know, Bill Hicks was the greatest comedian slash philosopher slash I don't know.' It's way bigger than comedy."

Around town Tonight the Comedy Studio will feature Tony V, Chris Walsh, Larry Murphy, Chris Coxen, EJ Murphy, Jen Ruelas, and Amanda White. . . . Jake Johannsen plays the Comedy Connection tonight and tomorrow. . . . Kevin Knox, Peter Dutton, and John Pizzi play Giggles in Saugus tonight and tomorrow. . . . Monday's Comedy Hour at the Lizard Lounge features Mike Della Penna, Joe Wong, Dan Sulman, and others.