Beating Around the Bush

Are you fed up with your government? Are you sick and tired of your president’s Matrix-style dodging of war and economic issues? Do you want change, and do you want it now? Comics Against Evil hears you, brothers and sisters. In fact, team member Brian Malow can’t wait to dish on his group’s routine, which calls out Dubya, Rummy and the Evil Empire.

As soon as he finishes his bagel.

“Can you call me back in a few?” the Houston native now based in San Francisco asks. “This is a really good bagel. You know, one of those all-in-one bagels.”

Political spark ignited (and hunger satiated), Malow returns to his soapbox to describe the group’s traveling show, Bizarro’s PolitiComedy-a-Go-Go.

“It’s four different points of view, but we’re united against evil,” he explains. “It’s funny, just having a name like Comics Against Evil implies that there are comics for evil. Dennis Miller, apparently, is one of those comics.”

The four-man comedy show is the brainchild of Dan Piraro, creator of the nationally syndicated comic Bizarro. With some prodding by several Wesley Clark presidential campaign staffers, he formulated the show and handpicked three national comedy-circuit veterans, Michael Capozzola, Jeff Kreisler and Malow, to form Comics Against Evil. But when Clark called it quits, Piraro opted to continue developing the show and tour the nation, stirring up liberal unity (is there such a thing?) and pride.

The quartet aims to entertain, but could it actually rock the vote? “We’re trying to bring in like-minded people, but it’s a little ridiculous for us to think we could influence the election,” says Malow. “But we’re doing what we can do. We’re just saying the things that aren’t being said. The Republicans don’t hold back attacking the Democrats, but the Democrats don’t fire back as much.” Malow and company also plan to stump for “traditional” liberal causes. “It seems to me that the Democrats aren’t embracing the issues that should be liberal issues,” he says. “Like gay marriage. I’m a straight guy, but come on, doesn’t someone need to be for that? And shouldn’t it be the Democrats?”

Malow promises some good old- fashioned Bush-bashing, though he’s a little hesitant to spew in Dubya’s (purported) home state. “Are you trying to get me assassinated?” he asks. “I will say that George W. Bush is the only president in history with a staff of executive artists who help him draw conclusions.” A groaner, perhaps, but the joke is a classic. “I actually wrote it for Dan Quayle,” he recalls. “Back then I thought, ‘Once he’s gone, when are we ever going to have a guy that dumb in the White House?’ And now, well, hey, you’ve got to love America — or they’ll start a file on you.”

Expect zingers like that when the comics open in what they deem “Bush Country” (Houston, Austin and Dallas). So how will Malow handle potential right-wing, well-heeled hecklers? “Well, that’s what we’re up against,” he says. “Republicans can pay to see a show they know they’re going to hate, and most liberals can’t even afford to go to a show they’d want to go see.”