OXFORD Miss. – America’s founding fathers were humans, and humans make mistakes. For example, examine the first sentence of the Constitution, says comedian Robert Wuhl.
“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union …”
“There’s no such thing as more perfect,” said Robert Wuhl in the opening remarks of his critically praised HBO comedy show “Assume the Position.”
“You’re either perfect or you’re not. So, right off the bat, our country is based upon a grammatical (expletive) up.”
This off-the-wall, bizarre insight is just one aspect of the version of “Assume the Position” that Wuhl plans to share Sept. 23 at the University of Mississippi, just days before the presidential debate is hosted on campus. A play on words, “Assume the Position” is touted as a show that sheds light on the “stories that made up America, and the stories that America made up.”
The show begins at 8 p.m. in Fulton Chapel. The event is free for UM students, but students must obtain a ticket to gain admittance. Tickets at $10 each are available for UM faculty and staff, and can be purchased at the UM Box Office in the Student Union. Tickets for the general public go on sale Sept. 22. The event is sponsored by the Department of Campus Programming and the Student Programming Board.
“God no, this is not a lecture,” Wuhl said in a telephone interview. “This is a comedic monologue. It’s edutainment, e-d-u, because it’s both historical and hysterical.”
Wuhl said he believes history is generational and based upon sex, power, money and religion B the same issues that drive much of life.
“History doesn’t happen in the past,” he said. “History happens in the present.”
Although the show that he will present is based on the same premise of the HBO show, Wuhl said the event at UM will include fresh ideas and perspectives.
“There will be new jokes,” he said. “It’s going to be rocking.”
Following seven years of college at the University of Houston, Wuhl started performing in the late 1970s at The Improv in New York City. His routines were so well received that comic Rodney Dangerfield hired him to write his material.
Today, he’s an actor, writer, producer and director, and was creator and star of “Arli$$,” one of the longest-running original series in HBO history. Critically acclaimed for his work in films such as “Bull Durham,” “Good Morning Vietnam” and “Cobb,” Wuhl was twice honored with Emmy Awards, in 1991 and 1992, for writing the Academy Awards telecasts hosted by Billy Crystal.
UM hosts the first presidential debate of the 2008 campaign on Sept. 26. Sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates, the event is to be broadcast live from the Ford Center for the Performing Arts and covered by an estimated 3,000 journalists from throughout the world.
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