Tim Slagle
Encyclopedia
Tim Slagle is an American stand-up comedian, writer
/editor
and a political pundit. His material leans towards political satire
. He is known for his regular contributions to Liberty
Magazine. He currently lives in the Chicago
metropolitan area.
Slagle was born in Detroit, Michigan
, and adopted by a middle-class family, living in the blue collar area of South Suburban Detroit known as Downriver
. He was raised in Trenton, Michigan, graduating from Trenton High School in 1976. He briefly attended the University of Michigan
, and eventually dropped out without a degree in 1979 to become a fringe part of the Detroit Punk scene
in the band Boris Savage and the Primates. His career was extremely short since he is completely tone deaf, and was much more adept at breaking instruments than playing them.
In 1979 he started performing at the open mike nights at Mark Ridleys Comedy Castle in north suburban Detroit. As stand-up comedy clubs exploded around the country during the comedy boom of the 1980s, there were plenty of venues looking for comics, and by 1983, Slagle was traveling the country as a professional comic. After three years of living on the road, he settled in Chicago, where he became a regular in the Zanies chain of comedy clubs.
Slagle's style of comedy is observational and often ironic. He often illustrates the contradictions inherent in politics and the duality of political correctness
. He likes to point out that political correctness is never applied across the board, and that politicians seem to bend science
in order to fit their policies. He gets incredulous at some of the obvious double standards that seem to exist without comment. In 1989, Slagle first appeared nationally on the Showtime Comedy Club Network, and again in 1991 on the MTV
Half Hour Comedy Hour.
In 1996, he appeared on-stage in a small theater in Chicago, with comedian Tom Naughton
in the Slagle Naughton Report.
In 2000 he also produced and starred in a brief run on local Minneapolis television show: The Mudslingers Ball, with Lewis Black
, Will Durst
, Jeffrey Jena, and host Mike Lukas. It aired on KSTP
channel 5, an ABC affiliate.
He was interviewed and appeared briefly in the documentary
Michael Moore Hates America
(2004)
In late 2006, Slagle released his first CD, entitled Europa on Stand Up! Records
. The CD is notable as a best of from Slagle's career and also features a cover by noted illustrator Jack Davis
.
Slagle describes himself as right-wing, although the Libertarian Party
claims him as their own. His politics seem right in line with the Libertarian platform, and although he occasionally appears at Republican political functions, he has never disowned his affiliation with the Libertarians.
If you're talking about something like candy or cake, isn't a "Hunk" the same thing as a "Piece?" But not so with humans. People Magazine has no problem calling Brad Pitt
, "The Hunk of the Year," but they wouldn't dream of calling Angelina Jolie
, "The Best Piece of 2003."
I don't understand vegetarians. I don't understand what they feed their cats. And they all have cats. Isn't it strange that a person would go through their entire life saying, "Well, I don't think an animal should ever have to die just so I can eat... but Mr. Mephistopheles loves his giblets!"
Influences: Jack Benny
, Red Skelton
, Irwin Corey, Sam Kinison
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
/editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
and a political pundit. His material leans towards political satire
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
. He is known for his regular contributions to Liberty
Liberty (1987)
Liberty is a leading libertarian journal founded in 1987 by R. W. Bradford in Port Townsend, Washington, and currently edited from San Diego, California, by Stephen Cox...
Magazine. He currently lives in the Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
metropolitan area.
Slagle was born in Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
, and adopted by a middle-class family, living in the blue collar area of South Suburban Detroit known as Downriver
Downriver
Downriver is the unofficial name for a collection of 18 suburban cities and townships in Wayne County, Michigan south of Detroit along the western shore of the Detroit River....
. He was raised in Trenton, Michigan, graduating from Trenton High School in 1976. He briefly attended the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, and eventually dropped out without a degree in 1979 to become a fringe part of the Detroit Punk scene
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
in the band Boris Savage and the Primates. His career was extremely short since he is completely tone deaf, and was much more adept at breaking instruments than playing them.
In 1979 he started performing at the open mike nights at Mark Ridleys Comedy Castle in north suburban Detroit. As stand-up comedy clubs exploded around the country during the comedy boom of the 1980s, there were plenty of venues looking for comics, and by 1983, Slagle was traveling the country as a professional comic. After three years of living on the road, he settled in Chicago, where he became a regular in the Zanies chain of comedy clubs.
Slagle's style of comedy is observational and often ironic. He often illustrates the contradictions inherent in politics and the duality of political correctness
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
. He likes to point out that political correctness is never applied across the board, and that politicians seem to bend science
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
in order to fit their policies. He gets incredulous at some of the obvious double standards that seem to exist without comment. In 1989, Slagle first appeared nationally on the Showtime Comedy Club Network, and again in 1991 on the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Half Hour Comedy Hour.
In 1996, he appeared on-stage in a small theater in Chicago, with comedian Tom Naughton
Tom Naughton
Tom Naughton is an American documentary filmmaker, humorist, writer, and stand up comedian best known for the documentary film Fat Head. He is known for his advocating of a Paleolithic diet and speaking out against the Lipid hypothesis. Naughton is a former Vegetarian and alcoholic...
in the Slagle Naughton Report.
In 2000 he also produced and starred in a brief run on local Minneapolis television show: The Mudslingers Ball, with Lewis Black
Lewis Black
Lewis Niles Black is an American stand-up comedian, author, playwright, social critic and actor. He is known for his comedy style, which often includes simulating a mental breakdown, or an increasingly angry rant, ridiculing history, politics, religion, trends and cultural phenomena...
, Will Durst
Will Durst
Will Durst is an American political satirist; he considers himself a modern mix of Mort Sahl and Will Rogers....
, Jeffrey Jena, and host Mike Lukas. It aired on KSTP
KSTP-TV
KSTP-TV, channel 5, is the ABC affiliate for the Twin Cities. Its transmitter is located at the Shoreview Telefarm. It is the flagship station of Hubbard Broadcasting, which also owns several other broadcasting properties across the United States....
channel 5, an ABC affiliate.
He was interviewed and appeared briefly in the documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
Michael Moore Hates America
Michael Moore Hates America
Michael Moore Hates America is a documentary film directed by Mike Wilson that criticizes director Michael Moore. It premiered September 12, 2004, in Dallas, Texas, at the American Film Renaissance film festival.-Details:...
(2004)
In late 2006, Slagle released his first CD, entitled Europa on Stand Up! Records
Stand Up! Records
Stand Up! Records is an American independent comedy record label founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota by former -ismist Recordings label head Dan Schlissel...
. The CD is notable as a best of from Slagle's career and also features a cover by noted illustrator Jack Davis
Jack Davis (cartoonist)
Jack Davis is an American cartoonist and illustrator, known for his advertising art, magazine covers, film posters, record album art and numerous comic book stories...
.
Slagle describes himself as right-wing, although the Libertarian Party
Libertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
claims him as their own. His politics seem right in line with the Libertarian platform, and although he occasionally appears at Republican political functions, he has never disowned his affiliation with the Libertarians.
Examples
(On hate crimes) If you kill someone because you hate them, that's a lot worse, than if you just kill them. You know, like if you're robbing them or something, That's not personal, it's just business.If you're talking about something like candy or cake, isn't a "Hunk" the same thing as a "Piece?" But not so with humans. People Magazine has no problem calling Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt
William Bradley "Brad" Pitt is an American actor and film producer. Pitt has received two Academy Award nominations and four Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one...
, "The Hunk of the Year," but they wouldn't dream of calling Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is an American actress. She has received an Academy Award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards, and was named Hollywood's highest-paid actress by Forbes in 2009 and 2011. Jolie is noted for promoting humanitarian causes as a Goodwill Ambassador for the...
, "The Best Piece of 2003."
I don't understand vegetarians. I don't understand what they feed their cats. And they all have cats. Isn't it strange that a person would go through their entire life saying, "Well, I don't think an animal should ever have to die just so I can eat... but Mr. Mephistopheles loves his giblets!"
Influences: Jack Benny
Jack Benny
Jack Benny was an American comedian, vaudevillian, and actor for radio, television, and film...
, Red Skelton
Red Skelton
Richard Bernard "Red" Skelton was an American comedian who is best known as a top radio and television star from 1937 to 1971. Skelton's show business career began in his teens as a circus clown and went on to vaudeville, Broadway, films, radio, TV, night clubs and casinos, all while pursuing...
, Irwin Corey, Sam Kinison
Sam Kinison
Samuel Burl "Sam" Kinison was an American stand-up comedian and actor. Kinison was known for his intense, harsh and politically incorrect genre humor...