Leigh on Sedaris' radio career

From: "Leigh A. Esposito" 
To: 
Subject: david sedaris' big start
Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 16:43:21 -0500


    You could say that David Sedaris' debut in the public eye was a case =
of serendipity -- Serendipity of the Mid Life.
    Sedaris' first appearance on the radio was through Ira Glass, who at =
that time worked for "The Wild Room" on WBEZ. Glass first heard Sedaris =
at a Chicago club called "The Lower Links," where Dave would read from =
fifteen year's worth of diaries. Sedaris was a student for the School of =
the Art Institute of Chicago (where he was going for his third attempted =
degree), and enjoyed reading his work out loud. In fact, Sedaris claims =
that he writes his prose to be read out loud -- a Kerouackian satirist =
without a beat.
    A few years after meeting Glass, Sedaris moved to New York. One day, =
out of the blue, Glass called him -- he needed a holiday-themed piece =
for "The Wild Room," and wondered -- did Dave have anything? "Santaland =
Diaries" was the result. From "The Wild Room," David went on read on =
NPR's "This American Life." His first appearance was December 23, 1992 =
(just three days before his birthday), and he was asked back several =
times throughout the winter of 1993 to share further experiences in the =
life of Crumpet the Elf. This eight-minute appearance would skyrocket =
him to fame.
    Sedaris fully attributes his success to radio. He says: "When you =
read a book, you don't necessarily remember where you read it, but when =
you hear something on the radio, it's tied up in where you were at the =
time: in the car, at the office. It becomes personal. It becomes yours =
in a way that reading a book doesn't." His views on "Santaland Diaries" =
are far from positive, however -- he hates to be called "That Christmas =
Guy" and believes SD was his worst writing ever. He refuses to read from =
it now (so don't ask).
    When Sedaris, with his uncanny, odd-cadenced voice, started speaking =
on NPR in 1992, a lot of people were listening. Among them, an editor =
for Little, Brown (publisher), who promptly called Sedaris and asked him =
if he had any books ready for publication. _Barrel Fever_ was apparently =
collecting dust in his bedroom drawer and he quickly signed a multi-book =
deal. It should be noted that he continued to work for the cleaning =
company until _Naked_ was published, even entertaining the notion of =
performing housecleaning services for fans who would request such =
things. Larry Brown from Seinfeld was also listening, and entered a =
dialogue with Sedaris as to whether he would like to start writing for =
the sitcom (though they both realized that Sedaris was too wild even for =
that idiosyncratic show).=20
    Sedaris was also offered a position as writer for soap operas such =
as "Guiding Light" (which he refused), and offers to contribute to =
magazines such as The New Yorker, Mademoiselle, Mirabella, Esquire, and =
Harper's (which he accepted).=20
    It is interesting to consider that NPR has had no other openly gay, =
regular contributors; still, many of his fans write in to say that they =
love him for who he is, and not for what he is. Similarly, unlike =
Kushner, Sedaris bristles at the thought that he must make any one =
aspect of his personal life take precedence over any other in his =
writing or commentary. At present he can be claimed by the =
Greek-Americans, the Tourettes Society, and many Gay and Lesbian =
Organizations. While he is happy to share himself with all of these =
groups, he holds none as his highest cause. That position is likely =
occupied by "The Talent Family," as the Sedaris clan calls themselves. =
Still, NPR did worry about Sedaris' homosexuality before allowing him to =
appear, and such talk show hosts as Conan O'Brien and David Letterman =
have tried to corner him into sticking to their certain topics. Sedaris =
will not be pushed. Anything else Sedaris won't do?
    "I don't iron," he says ironically.
    We'll make sure to steer clear of that.