SiriusXM announced today that is will exclusively premiere a long-lost comedy album from the legendary Lenny Bruce. Lenny Bruce Is Out Again will air in its entirety on September 25 at 8:00pm ET on SiriusXM Comedy Greats channel 94 – a full day before it can be heard anywhere else.
The unreleased album was fully authorized by Bruce’s daughter, Kitty Bruce, who will speak with SiriusXM host Ron Bennington for a special hour-long interview that will air at 5:00pm ET, shortly before the album’s premiere. Also joining the panel will be actor Luke Kirby, who won an Emmy Award for his portrayal of Bruce on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and comedian W. Kamau Bell. It’s a brilliant hour and a great introduction into the importance of Lenny Bruce for those who are un-acquainted, and full of great stories and insight for those who are already well familiar with Bruce’s life story. Kitty Bruce shares stories that have never been told publicly, Luke Kirby explains what its like preparing to portray a legend (Bell compares the portrayal to Denzel Washington’s critically lauded portrayal of Malcolm X), and political comedian W. Kamau Bell shares great insight about Bruce’s legacy and importance. You can watch a clip from the panel below.
Lenny Bruce is an icon who opened the door for comedians to talk about real life, real problems, politics, sex, race and religion. Bruce was frequently the target of law enforcement, leading to a much-publicized freedom of speech trial. He is now widely considered one of the greatest and most influential stand-up performers in history. There isn’t a great comedian working today who doesn’t owe a debt of gratitude for all that Bruce sacrificed in the name of change, truth, and righteousness.
The Ron Bennington special and the full Lenny Bruce Is Out Again album will also air on Saturday, September 26 at 4:00pm ET and Sunday, September 27 at 12:00pm ET. Comedy Dynamics has announced that they have teamed up with the Lenny Bruce Memorial Foundation to distribute the album following its premiere on SiriusXM.