Joe Pyne

I used to watch "The Joe Pyne Show" on WTTG, Channel 5, as a kid when I lived in Bethesdaa, MD outside Washington, DC in the mid 1960s. He was a pioneer TV host who hosted extremely confrontational interviews. 

He was at his best or worst maybe interviewing the stranger folks in America. He prided himself on denigrating them, berating them, and laughing at them. Perfect entertainment for an immature punk with a chip on my shoulder.

Joe's penchant for the weird and the odd allowed me to witness many strange people sit on stage with Joe. Some could not handle his nasty demeanor, but many could and would give as good as they got. Joe Never batted an eye. He could take it and never let up.

This meme crossed my FB feed thiis morning. It regarded an interview in 1966 with Frank Zappa. I had heard of Frank Zappa at that point, but had yet to buy any of his vinyl. He and his band played before the interview. His music was a revelation; outlandish and very disrespectful. I loved it.

Joe Pyne was MAGA long before MAGA had invented themselves. He was an ex GI who was shot in the leg in WWll, which later in 1955 resulted in cancer causing him to lose that leg below the knee. To his credit, I never heard him mention it.

Joe didn't flinch or show any compassion. He was a bull dog with a bone if he smelled fear. Oddly, he was often more willing to suffer a fool who made him laugh. General Hershey Bar was one such guest. I saw him several times. Gen. Hershey Bar was a street performer turned Peace Activist during the Vietnam War. Joe being a hardcore "My Country, Love it or Leave It" conservative was brutal with the General. General Hershey never faltered; never flinched. He held his own, and could put Joe in his place. Gen. Hershey helped me see the stupidity of war and aid me on my path to becoming the Libtard I am today, over 60 years later. And I have Joe Pyne, Conservative Hater Extraordinaire to thank for hooking us up.

Thank You Joe, you nasty SOB, you. Loved your show.

 

Keep your rubber side down and your sunny side up.......................

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Frank Zappa and his music has been a mainstay with me since I first saw him on the "Joe Pyne Show"so many years ago. I was 14 and his music fit me perfectly and still often does. I tasted many of Frank's songs today, trying to find the one that "fit". I decided "Joe's Garage" was the song. More I think because I had to hit the head and it was the last song I listened to.