Brett Hamil’s New Politically Charged Talk Show
Seattle writer and comedian books all-star guests for new show
By Seattle Mag October 2, 2015
Tickets for this thing will likely go quick.
Seattle comedian Brett Hamil, who writes for City Arts magazine and hosts a regular politically charged YouTube video series, has amassed a star-studded lineup for the inaugural episode of his new monthly talk show, The Seattle Process with Brett Hamil, debuting October 21 at 8 p.m. at the Northwest Film Forum.
Much like what Stephen Colbert did with George Clooney on his first show, Hamil will be interviewing well-known guests for his 90-minute program like Socialist councilwoman, Kshama Sawant, along with the brilliant and funny women of Seattlish: Alex Hudson, Sarah Anne Lloyd and Hanna Brooks, and feminist and Black Lives Matter advocate, Ijeoma Oluo.
The show, which is slated monthly on every third Wednesday, was born out of Hamil’s YouTube videos, which take to task the Seattle Police Department, giant Internet providers like Comcast and CenturyLink and other socially-relevant issues, which often affect the poor and working class most.
“We’ve packed the show with so many brilliant people, I just have to ring lead the thing,” says Hamil, 40, who’s preformed thousands of standup shows at venues all around Washington. “Even if I had no role in it, it would be an awesome show. There will definitely be some surprise elements that weren’t announced.”
Hamil, who moved to Seattle in 2001, is originally from Florida. He began his standup career in the city about 10 years ago and was able to quit his day job about four years ago to focus on comedy and writing, he says. “If my wife, Diana, was here she’d correct me on all the dates,” he smiles.
The Daily Show, he adds, is the “gold standard” for this sort of political talk show. “Every episode they roll out, they show you stuff that blows your mind. Or even the John Oliver Show. It’s real journalism within the context of comedy. I definitely want to capture that.” He adds that some videos will appear online, but the entire thing likely won’t be broadcast.
Hamil’s dream scenario, in fact, is that the show in the 100-person theater sells out and organizers have to have a follow-up late-night version “tilted toward artists and musicians, but right now that’s just a pipe dream.”
So, if you like this idea and want to see more, get your tickets now so you can buy more tickets later.
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