LARRY GETLEN – WRITING SAMPLES (MY FAVORITE ARTICLES)
I’ve written easily over 1,000 articles in the past decade+. Here are a few of my favorites.
1. Esquire Magazine
What I’ve Learned: George Carlin
I spoke to George Carlin for five hours over three separate interviews. So many people have asked me about his language, and while it was no surprise to me that he was one of the most intelligent and thoughtful interview subjects I’ve ever had, it did surprise even me when over the course of five hours, he only cursed once.
What I’ve Learned: Al Green
I met Al Green in a hotel suite where for three hours he spoke alternately directly to me, and to a spirit hovering somewhere above my head. He was clearly having a separate conversation with God while I was in the room, but what wasn’t clear was whether God was talking back. In the end, though, it didn’t matter, because at one point, he serenaded me with “Love and Happiness,” and if Al Green wants to give me a private concert, then he can talk to whoever he wants.
2. Radar Magazine
“Take the Funny and Run.” An investigative piece about joke stealing in the world of stand-up comedy.
“Britney Spears – Paradise Lost.” In early 2007, Radar Magazine flew me to Britney Spears’ hometown of Kentwood, LA, to learn what effect Britney’s then-downfall had on the town, including on its morale and its economy. What I found was an oft-disillusioned populace, in more ways than one.
Britney Spears – Paradise Lost
3. New York Post
As a longtime regular contributor to the New York Post, I’ve written too many stories over the past several years to definitively decide on one or two favorites. So, here are a few I enjoyed writing.
Stevie Wonder tells me why music still excites him so.
SNL’s Andy Samberg and his Lonely Island mates talk about dicks, boxes, and their debut CD.
I examine exactly what went wrong with John Travolta.
John Legend tells me why he worries for President Obama.
I report for Page Six on director Steven Soderbergh’s porn surprises.
Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour tells me about the band’s bonding years.
Shortly after taking over one of the toughest jobs in show business, Jimmy Fallon spoke to me about the good and the bad of his performance thus far.
Katey Sagal, one of the stars of what I consider to be the best show on television this year, “Sons of Anarchy,” tells me how they filmed – and how she handled – her character’s horrific gang rape at the hands of white supremacists.
TV’s most lovable nerd – Jim Parsons, better known as Sheldon from “The Big Bang Theory” – talks to me about all things nerdly.
My review of Craig Ferguson’s engrossing memoir.
At Home with TV on the Radio’s Kyp Malone.
Neil Patrick Harris shares with me his favorite New York City hangouts.
The Monkees’ Davy Jones explains why The Beatles were the fake ones.
Carrie Fisher talks Star Wars fetishists, scary Bill Murray, and pervy Groucho Marx.
Mexican wrestling meets burlesque with Lucha VaVoom.
Growly comedian turned culty genius filmmaker Bobcat Goldthwait.
4. City Scoops Magazine
City Scoops is a 600,000 circulation lifestyle magazine I edit, and write the cover stories for. Here are a couple of my favorites.
1. The Naked Quest for Fame – For this story about the dogged pursuit of fame, I had no intention of putting the Naked Cowboy on the magazine’s cover when I arranged to speak with him. After we were done, I realized there was no other possible option.
2. My conversation with Rep. Anthony Weiner, at a time when a mayoral run was still a possibility for him. Little did I know that in addition to being very candid politically, he’d offer some surprising opinions about his former roommate, “Daily Show” host Jon Stewart.
5. The Black Table
Many stories have been written about competitive eating in the past several years, but most of them have fallen into one of two categories – the “look what these crazy people are doing!” or the “watch the wacky reporter bravely try to eat six hot dogs in 20 minutes.” In 2005, I decided to take a different approach, and treat the activity as seriously as those who spent all their free time training to excel at the art of wolfing it down. The result was an 8,000-word piece, “The Champions of Consumption,” that my friends at the web site The Black Table (whose founders and editors are now at New York, Esquire, and in Nick Denton’s Gawker empire) published in its entirety, eventually naming it one of their Top 10 stories of 2005.
6. Maxim Magazine
How to Get on Reality TV – a little life advice that everyone should know.
7. Wesleyan Magazine
A story about the intersection of DNA and the criminal justice system.
Forensic DNA: The Telltale Art: Forensic DNA has become a powerful tool for determining who is implicated in a crime, but its rapidly growing use poses numerous and thorny issues pertaining to privacy.
