Kristine Levine: Fat Whore

So, 'Fat Whore'. Is that a deliberate attempt to filter out people who might be offended, or do you just think it's a good name?
I didn't realize it'd act as a filter, but I'm glad you think it might. We needed a show name, quickly that summed me up. 'Butter Pussy' was also kicked around.

Can you tell us about the show?
It's like a TED Talk about abortion, revenge and guys who die while jerking off. Very smart.

Obviously, 'offensive' comedy is being discussed quite passionately at the moment. Do you think audiences have a right to take offence at comedy or does the comedian always get the benefit of the doubt?
People have a 'right' to be offended. They can choose that if they want. But the days of taking the hen party to Uncle Funniez Chuckle Hut because the bride-to-be is too shy for a Chippendale Review, and then blaming the comedian for not being good enough at a subjective art are dying, if not dead completely. I'm not trying to shit on anyone but for fuck's sake, if they can't Google it's not my fault.

Is it possible to make good comedy if you start by thinking 'I have to be careful not to offend anyone'?
For me, I've never been careful. I usually don't know I've offended someone until I'm being yelled at in the parking lot after the show. Obviously it's possible to make good clean comedy. In fact, I think its easier. I could make jokes about cereal, but there's no heart in it. So I make jokes about getting molested. Although it can be like kicking water up a hill.

Your life prior to standup seems pretty crazy. Is comedy a cathartic act for you still, or do you feel all that is behind you?
Through all of it, I've never been unhappy, and I love crazy. My last husband left me for a woman he met on startrek.com. What other people think is crazy, I think it's a goddamn gift.

How did working in a sex shop change your view of human sexuality?
I was a Walmart-shopping, sweatpants-wearing, Oprah-watching housewife when I got the job at the store. I couldn't even give a decent hand job because I didn't know lube existed. Before I worked there I thought sex was a precious, intimate act between two people who loved each other. About two weeks in I realized it's actually more like a sloppy, wet handshake.

Doug Stanhope detests the Edinburgh festival. Did he try to talk you out of coming over here?
He said it's like sex with a transvestite. Everyone should do it once.

Finally, who else do you intend to see while you're at the Fringe.
Kumail Nanjiani was on Portlandia with me, I'd love to see him. Mick Foley, Greg Proops and probably the Fringe's most unpredictable comedy show, Paul Provenza's Set List.