A. Whitney Brown

[Loach]

I almost exclusively know A. Whitney Brown from his segments on SNL years ago. Although I did not always agree with his opinions I thought he was clever and funny. At least so I remember, it’s been a while.

Lately I’ve been checking out various podcasts from comedians during my commute. On several occasions his name has come up and not in a good way. Especially those who were around SNL at the same time. And it’s not about his comedy. They seem to think he is a contemptable human being. If I read between the lines correctly (and there is no guarantee I have) it was implied he was at least partially responsible for getting Chris Farley off the wagon and headed towards his death. I gleaned this from several offhand comments over several months and multiple podcasts. Don’t ask me to quote anyone cause I can’t.

I haven’t been able to find any information about what those other comics were mad about. Maybe someone mentioned it in a book I haven’t read. Anyone have any other information?

[Mahaloth]

I remember him mainly from the Daily Show, where he was an early correspondent. I know that he had a bit involving alcohol and wouldn’t take a drink since he claimed to be an alcoholic.

Maybe the booze is what made folks hate him. He kind of gave off a creepy vibe to me.

[drastic_quench]

Yeah, I’ve read that he introduced Farley to H.

[FriarTed]

@drastic_quench

Yeah, I’ve read that he introduced Farley to H.

Here AWB admitted they got it from the same pusher & took some responsibility for it~

Carolyn Wonderland and Whitney Brown (Published 2011)

[Loach]

@drastic_quench

Yeah, I’ve read that he introduced Farley to H.

Looking deeper into it I found this article about his wedding in which he mentions it.

His time in the “S.N.L.” limelight had also coincided with the drug-fueled death of Chris Farley, with whom he had shared an office.

Mr. Brown’s own insubordination and drug abuse had stymied a critically lauded career and landed him in a rehabilitation facility. In an e-mail, he said, “Yes, as it turned out, Farley did get his first heroin from ‘my guy,’ ” adding, “We would go out and cop between dress and air.”

He said, “A man can be a good influence on his friends, or a bad one, and I am grateful that now I am more of a good influence.”

Also this article.

That could be the only reason. Maybe those that know him sober have a different view. But in the interviews I’ve heard it seems to go deeper than that. I seem to recall Rob Schneider in particular didn’t attempt to hide his dislike and both him and Brown started off at the same time in the SF comedy scene so they knew each other long before SNL.

[Dewey_Finn]

What does “cop” mean in that context? (“We would go out and cop between dress and air.”)

[Crotalus]

@Dewey_Finn

What does “cop” mean in that context? (“We would go out and cop between dress and air.”)

It means to acquire drugs.

[Dewey_Finn]

Thanks. I’m a little surprised that The New York Times would include slang like that without explaining it. (Or are most readers of the Times more hip to drug language than me?)

[Chimera]

I thought it was moderately well known among people who even knew who he was that it was the Horse that done him in.

[Crotalus]

@Dewey_Finn

Thanks. I’m a little surprised that The New York Times would include slang like that without explaining it. (Or are most readers of the Times more hip to drug language than me?)

I think that in a news story they probably would have explained it. They probably have different standards for semi-celebrity weddings.

[Loach]

@Dewey_Finn

Thanks. I’m a little surprised that The New York Times would include slang like that without explaining it. (Or are most readers of the Times more hip to drug language than me?)

I guess I’m jaded. It never occurred to me that someone wouldn’t understand the term.

[Dewey_Finn]

I’m pretty unaware of drug culture and language. (Last week, The Daily Show had a story about a cargo ship off Italy that was carrying thirty tons of hashish. When the Italian Coast Guard stopped the ship to search it, the crew set the cargo on fire. The Daily Show joked about marijuana clouds over Italy. That confused me, because I previously though that hashish was an opium derivative, until I looked in Wikipedia while watching the segment.)

[Exapno_Mapcase]

Read anything about those years and drugs are all over them. Read anything about comedians to see that self-loathing and depression are everywhere. That’s a bad combination. I’m surprised there weren’t a lot more deaths. How Pryor survived nobody knows.

I saw A. Whitney Brown in a small room once. When I say “room” I don’t mean the term used for comedy clubs. I mean “room.” I can’t remember after so long why anybody held comedy shows there.

But Brown was fantastic. He avoided jokes for long, but utterly brilliant stories that were hilarious. One of the best sets of comedy I’ve ever seen. I’m really sorry that his career never took off. If he’s the blame for himself, I bet he’s really sorry too.