Q & A: Ask Lewis Yourself Each week Lewis Black will answer a few questions submitted by visitors to this web site. Before you submit a question, please read the FAQ on this page and Lew's Bio, so you do not embarrass yourself by asking him a question he's already answered. He'll rip you to shreds if you do, so don't make that mistake. After you've done your homework, you may then Ask Lewisyour question.

Q: Where was Lewis Born?
A: Silver Spring, MD. August 30, 1948. Yes, that makes him a Virgo.

Q: Where did Lewis go to high school?
A: Springbrook High School in Silver Spring, MD. Class of '66.

Q: What about college?
A: A brief stint at the University of Maryland, then transferred to the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill to complete his undergrad work in Theater. Lewis completed his graduate studies at Yale Drama School in 1977.

Q: How tall is Lewis?
A: Taller than John Stewart and shorter than Conan O'Brien.

Q: What is his shoe size?
A: His shoe size? Why would you want to know his shoe...oh...Ummmmm...Lewis says his shoe size is 16.

Q: Is Lewis married?
A: No.

Q: Has he ever been married?
A. Once. For about eight minutes when he was in his late 20's.

Q: Does he have any kids?
A: No, the state won't allow him to.

Q: I heard Lewis has written a bunch of plays. Are any available to read?
A: At the moment none of the 40+ plays Lewis has written are available through Samuel French or Dramatists Play Service. However, The Deal is available as an extra in the paperback version of Nothing's Sacred.

Q: Have any of Lewis plays been produced on Broadway?
A: No, but several have been produced around the country in small theaters.

Q: Is Lewis writing any new plays?
A: No, but he continues to tinker with one or two he's already written. Most recently he has been working on One Slight Hitch, work-shopping the play in Tampa, FL in 2007 and overseeing a new production in 2008.

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Q: Where did Lewis first perform stand up?
A: At the Cat's Cradle in Chapel Hill opening for a friend's band. Lewis has often said it was the worst half hour of stand-up ever.

Q: So Lewis has been a stand-up comic since college?
A: Well, not quite, but stand-up has always been a part of his life whether opening for his friend's college band or emceeing the shows at the West Bank Cafe. Lewis went on the road as a full time comic in the late 80's. He's been touring nearly 250 nights a year ever since.

Q: The West Bank Cafe...What did Lewis do there?
A: Lewis was the playwright in residence at the West Bank Cafe for eight years during the 80's. He produced many works, including several from the likes of Dick Wolf and Adam Sorkin and was the emcee for every show.

Q: When did Lewis first appear on The Daily Show?
A: Lewis has been a part of The Daily Show since its inception in 1996. Lizz Winsted, TDS co-creator and one of its first hosts, caught Lewis' act and approached him to do a two minute spot on the show. He's been there, almost weekly, ever since. In fact, he's the only remaining member of the original line-up.

Q: Has Lewis ever had his own TV Show?
A: Lewis has filmed many, many pilots, but never had his own show until Comedy Central picked up The Root of All Evil for the 2008 season. The show is moderated by Lewis and pits two people such as Paris Hilton and Dick Cheney or pop culture topics such as You Tube vs. Porn against each other in an open debate setting. A rotating group of comedians will take the stage and argue who or what is most evil with Lewis making the final decision between the two. The show is scheduled to air March 2008.

Q: Is there any place I can send fan mail?
A: At the moment there is no address for fan snail mail. Lewis does have a MySpace account, so feel free to heap your praise and adoration through there.

Q: I'd love to have an autographed photo of Lewis. Can you send me one?
A: Like I have the time for that? So sorry, but the requests are just too overwhelming and our meager staff is ill equipped to handle the deluge. But all is not lost. Lewis often does signings after his shows and is happy to sign just about anything you bring up.

Q: Cool! So, when is Lewis coming to my town?
A: Check the appearance schedule. It's updated regularly and all of Lewis' scheduled dates will be there. If you have specific questions about a show or ticket sales please call the particular venue.

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Q: I'd love to meet Lewis. Can that be arranged?
A: Stand in line at one of the signings after a show and you can have your chance.

Q: My organization would like to book Lewis for a private function. Who do we contact?
A: All private appearances are subject to Lewis' availability. Please contact his agency for more information.
 

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