King Diamond, Joe Franklin, and, Yes, My SoHo Playhouse Residency Is Extended Until November 4!

Three topics near and dear to my heart. Plus, bonus James Baldwin and Dick Cavett

It’s a Thursday in October as fall rears its delightful (e.g. super fun layered looks!) head and I come to you with equally delightful news about three of my favorite topics- King Diamond, Joe Franklin, and my Off-Broadway residency at SoHo Playhouse.

Let’s get that last topic out of the way first. I am excited to tell you that my residency at SoHo Playhouse in New York City has been extended until November 4, which means I am now doing twice as many shows as originally planned because folks keep coming out, which is great for me. And you, assuming you haven’t seen it yet. If you are in the area, please come out and if you are not completely satisfied with your Dave Hill experience, you can kick me in the taint after the show. I stand out front of the theatre each night, so you know I’m not messing around. The shows have been super fun and packed every night and I would like to continue that trend because I like people to be happy, myself included. You can get tickets right here for October 11, 14, 18, 21, 25, and 28 and November 1 and 4, the only nights left (so far?). Did I mention you can get tickets here? Yes, you can. Right here. Yes. And please.

And now I would like to focus on another subject dear to my heart, specifically the late, great Joe Franklin. I first became aware of Joe Franklin in the eighties after my dad finally gave in and got us Hill kids cable TV, which meant we suddenly got WOR (yes, broadcasting straight from beautiful Secaucus, New Jersey) and The Joe Franklin Show was suddenly beaming into our suburban Cleveland living room with glorious regularity. Joe was the first TV talk show host (according to him anyway and I choose to believe him). You might remember Billy Crystal doing a Joe Franklin impression during his stint on Saturday Night Live. It was a good one.

Joe had an amazing range of guests, everyone from Lucille Ball to Michael Jackson to the Ramones and on and on. And on. But his greatest guest, in my expert opinion, was Danish heavy metal god King Diamond, who appeared on the show in 1987 alongside a “rapping cop.” My favorite moment is when Joe bullshits to King that he has friends who are into him.

To me, King Diamond’s appearance on Joe’s show is perhaps the greatest moment in television ever after James Baldwin’s powerful appearance on The Dick Cavett Show. I don’t mention these two things together in a joking manner or to diminish either. I believe it with my heart. In fact, I insist you watch James Baldwin and Dick Cavett immediately after you watch King Diamond and Joe Franklin. You will thank me. Here is that clip:

I’ve watched this video about a hundred times. I will write about it here on my Substack separately very soon. Powerful stuff. It’s the best. Oh, and did I mention Dick Cavett came to my SoHo Playhouse show last week. He did. Proof below.

Your man,

Dave Hill