Image courtesy of Ovation
Dave Holmes has hung out with marionettes, chowed down at a “gospel brunch,” and watched acrobats dance on the side of a skyscraper, all in the name of television. The St. Louis native is the host of American Canvas, a new program on the Ovation network about culture that’s off the beaten path.
How many episodes have there been of American Canvas? We did a three-episode test run. I haven’t gotten the official word about whether we’re doing more, but I hope so.
The segment at the Ai Weiwei exhibit at Alcatraz is moving. That was really cool. The exhibit inside the prison is incredibly powerful and moving and timely. It’s something people need to see now. And to think that the man who did it is not allowed to leave his country, because he himself is a political prisoner.
If American Canvas came to St. Louis, where would you like to film? There was no City Museum when I was growing up. I’m a Magic House kid, actually. I’m aware that City Museum is largely for children, but I don’t care—I come back every time I come home. I’ve grown to love going down there and climbing on things.
Where else? I might try to hit Soulard. I spent a good amount of time at McGurk’s as a kid. Then there’s the burgeoning improv and standup comedy scene, like at the Firebird, and with my friend Bill Chott’s improv work, and the comedy at Brennan’s. I also like the Saint Louis Art Museum, places in the Grove like Atomic Cowboy, and Laumeier Sculpture Park.
You also write online columns for Esquire. They let me do a lot that I choose myself. My editor is supercool. I do a lot about pop culture and entertainment. They let me get on a soapbox sometimes, too. One of the last things that went really crazy viral was I found this weird Sizzler promotional film from ’91…
That was you?! That was me. A week after it was posted, it exploded. It was this weird crazy jingoistic super-1991 film for investors or franchisees. It’s so mesmerizing and so of-its-time and almost like a hymn to Sizzler. Then the kids of the composer of the jingle found me and hooked me up with their dad, and I interviewed him, too. It’s been this weird mini Sizzler storm. I turned on Good Morning America, and they were talking about it there.
You also took on Kid Rock. I wrote an open letter about the use of the word gay as an insult, to Kid Rock. He seems to think he’s some sort of freedom fighter for using the word gay as an insult. I’m not trying to police anyone, but I wanted to show others what happens to young minds when you use gay as an insult, and that blew up in a good way.
You worked for MTV, back when it played music. I was a VJ for five years, from ’98 to ’02. From there, I moved out to L.A. and started hosting shows for FX and CBS and Court TV. I was on Reno 911 on Comedy Central for a few years, which was the most fun ever.
Describe your Reno 911 role. I was a guy named Leslie Frost. I owned a curio and collectibles shop called Bi Curios. I have never been happier with myself than when they used that joke. I could have died that they agreed. I played Tom Lennon’s character’s ex-wife’s new husband. She’s this woman who used to be morbidly obese but got her stomach stapled, and she marries gayer and gayer men. After me, she moved onto Scott Thompson from Kids in the Hall. Everyone was an amazing comedic actor in that cast. It was superfun to work with everyone; I’m praying that show comes back someday. Niecy Nash—who is also from St. Louis—and I shared St. Louis restaurant tips every time we were on the show together. She’s the best.
I loved your blog entry about encountering a Michael Brown protest last Christmas Eve at the Cathedral Basilica. That was a really powerful moment. From a distance, coming over the hill and seeing so many sirens and police cars, I assumed something had exploded or something. It turned out to be just a silent candlelit protest.
You also do a podcast quiz show called International Waters. It’s for Maximum Fun. It’s a panel show in the British television tradition, like Never Mind the Buzzcocks. I am the host. There are two comics in a studio in L.A. and two in a studio in England, and we’re connected via Skype. Points are awarded, but no one cares who wins. We riff on the news of the day. The new embargo on British chocolate has been a point of contention on the last few episodes. They won’t import Cadbury to the U.S. anymore, and that is bullshit. So now we have to resort to illegal methods.
Any other projects? I also do a live quiz show called The Friday 40 with Scott Gimple, the executive producer of The Walking Dead. We ask 40 questions about the events of the last week, and the contestants drink 40-ouncers of beer. We do it at a theater called The Nerdist—it’s in the back of a comic store on Sunset Boulevard. Colin Hanks, Sarah Silverman, and lots of other great people have been guests.
And you have a memoir, Party of One, coming out next year. I get to write a lot of personal stuff for Esquire. I did the same for Vulture previously. The things that were the most personal and revealing got the most attention. My long-term goal was to write a book. It’s sort of like a collection of essays. It’s therapeutic; you start to see the narrative arc of your life and the things that repeat. I began to see my life very clearly as a series of barking up the wrong trees. I’ve always tried to join groups or change my personal identity, and it never worked. I only got my shit together in my forties. But all the dumb decisions I’ve made have led to a really fun life. I’m surprised someone gave me the opportunity to write about this, but I’m thrilled it’s going to be published.
