For stand-up comedian Eddie Brill, Western Massachusetts—and the entire Bay State for that matter—is hallowed ground.

After all, he cut his comedic teeth in his late college days at Emerson College with local peers like Steven Wright and Denis Leary and Mario Cantone. He got stage time at legendary Northeast comedy centers like the Ding Ho and Nick’s Comedy Stop. After transplanting to New York City, he dove into comedy full-time while running the famed Paper Moon comedy club in New York City in Greenwich Village. Still, Boston and the Bay State was his home.

Soon after he was doing sitcom audience warm-up spots for Saved By The Bell and ultimately The Late Show with David Letterman, where he served as the in-house stand-up and talent booker for the legendary late-night talk show for nearly two decades. He’s had gigs at iconic comedy stops on both costs, won hundreds of awards, and has even found himself in the credits for cult-comedy bellwethers like Dr. Katz:

He’s still touring and cracking audiences up, and is no stranger to traveling from his home in New York to the Berkshires in Massachusetts to perform at places like Canyon Ranch while taking in the natural splendor of the bucolic surroundings. 

He’s back this weekend for a special Father’s Day conversation and cracks fest at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, MA as part of the The Berkshire Mountain Comedy Arts Festival conversation series taking place at the Tina Packer Playhouse, Sunday June 17 at 7pm:

“With BMCAF co-founder Kevin Bartini serving as Master of Ceremonies, the first half of the evening will feature Brill and his son Dan Madonia’s stand-up comedy, followed by a sit-down conversation between Bartini and Brill highlighting backstage stories, lessons, and advice from a life in the entertainment industry. From the heyday of the Boston comedy scene, his decades with Letterman, and sharing the stage with Paul McCartney, to getting drunk with Bruce Springsteen, Eddie has countless fascinating and hilarious stories.”

Canna Provisions caught up with the comedian for a quick chat that will no doubt continue when he rolls through for some Smash Hits cannabis and other offerings from the closest dispensary to New York in Massachusetts. 

WHAT WAS A HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR LETTERMAN DAYS AS A COMEDIAN?

Don Rickles said I love Eddie Brill on TV and my dad got to see that, and it was such a great moment in the world for me. One time I went to lunch with Letterman and Rickels and I made Rickles laugh for two and a half hours. That was a moment.

DOES YOUR COMEDY EVER HAVE A MESSAGE?

I’ve been doing a podcast in Finland and we talk about how in society everyone tries to get you to be different rather than be who you are. That’s probably my message, that as a comedian my job isn’t to please the audience but it’s to do what I love, what we love and if the audience is pleased—that’s the bonus.

YOU’RE A SELF ADMITTED CANNABIS FAN AND CONSUMER, BUT HAVE YOU EVER GONE ON STAGE STONED?

Never on stage, but I follow [George] Carlin who said “I wrIte sober and edit stoned”. I love the feeling of cannabis and love the health and wellness qualities. It can be used in a fantastic way. The fact that it’s a plant and it’s been given all this horror treatment as being evil and something you throw people in jail for, it’s just unfair and this incredible. [Cannabis] is important to our society. 

DESCRIBE YOUR MOST HIGH MOMENT

When I was at Emerson College in Boston, we did a bong a thon. 

A BONG-A-THON?

You do a bong hit until you couldn’t anymore. 

I UNDERSTAND

It was twenty people and it came down to me and another guy in the end. I readied myself and then I looked in a mirror…and saw my eyes closed shut. 

EVER MEET ANY OF YOUR COMEDIC HEROES OR CONTEMPORARIES? DID ANY SHAPE YOUR WORK AFTERWARD?

I knew [George] Carlin well and he was good to me and [Bill] Hicks helped me open up. He said “When we hang out you’re smart and funny, and then you go up with this love me-love me dance…you should go up there and talk like you talk.” That got me to be more vulnerable on stage. I already got laughs, but there was a part of me that I wasn’t bringing to stage. Hicks helped with that. 

Tickets for Comedy and Conversation: Eddie Brill and son at Shakespeare & Company here.

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About Canna Provisions

Canna Provisions is a recreational cannabis dispensary in the Berkshires as well as a recreational cannabis dispensary in the Pioneer Valley focusing on a unique and thoughtful customer experience. We are here to guide you and towards the right provisions to fit your lifestyle, and provide knowledgeable support every step of the way. Founded by established industry pioneers with extensive cultivation, regulation and consumer sales experience, Canna Provisions stores provide a broad range of top-grade craft cannabis products that are locally sourced and thoughtfully produced. Life is a journey. No matter the path, trust Canna Provisions to better your journey. To learn more, visit CannaProvisionsGroup.com. Join us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Please Consume Responsibly.  This product may cause impairment and may be habit forming. For use only by adults 21 years of age or older. Keep out of the reach of children. 

This product has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is limited information on the side effects of using this product, and there may be associated health risks. Marijuana used during pregnancy and breast-feeding may pose potential harms. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product.  KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN. There may be health risks associated with consumption of this product. Marijuana can impair concentration, coordination, and judgement. The effects of Edibles may be delayed by two hours or more. In case of accidental ingestion, contact poison control hotline 1-800-222-1222 or 9-1-1. This product may be illegal outside of MA.