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An Uncommon
1111101°

Comedy writer
Andy Breckman emcees
the 22nd Ann Arbor
Folk Festival.

C

JILL DAVIDSON SKLAR

Special to The Jewish News

Andy Breckman:
"If Woody Allen had
taken up folk singing,"
wrote the "New York
Times, "he would be
Andy Breckman."

1/29
1999

ndy Breckman's life started out fairly nor-
mal. Normal enough, anyway, to make just
about anybody wonder: "How did he end
up like this?"
This is-a man, after all, who on his weekly broadcast
for a New Jersey radio station reportedly called a nursing
home and made an elderly woman weep; he also had his
listeners searching for a piece of maaah hidden some-
where in the Garden State. This is a sharp-witted individ-
ual who wrote an anthem to New York — titled "Don't
Get Killed." This is a self-effacing kind of a guy who was
called in to rewrite Hot to T-ot, a-bomb of a 1980s movie
starring Bobcat Goldthwaite and a talking horse.
"You won't find Hot to Trot in the 'Classics' section
of your video store," he once wrote about the flick.
"Technically, it doesn't even belong in the 'Comedy'
section. This film deserves its own section. Its own spe-
cial rack. The 'Unwatchable Laugh-Free Drek' rack."
This also is the man who will emcee this weekend's
22nd Ann Arbor Folk Festival on Saturday, Jan. 30, at
Hill Auditorium. Featuring Emmylou Harris and eight
other acts, the festival is a benefit for the Ark, a non-
profit acoustic music organization.
The show is obviously bigger [than previous
ones]. We have a wide variety of acts including the
famous Emmylou Harris," said Linda Siglin, produc-
er of the event.
"But we are especially lucky that Andy agreed to
emcee. The Ark has always been a real fan of Andy. He
is extremely humorous, charming and a delight to
work with," Siglin said. "He is one of the most talent-
ed people in the business. He has never ceased to
amaze me with his wit and uncommon humor."
Breckman didn't imagine emceeing folk festivals
much less being a screenwriter of "laugh-free drek"
when he was a kid. The oldest of three children