As the news becomes ever more outlandish, how do we make sense of our current historical predicament and where are we heading? Cult American novelist Jarett Kobek has written a hilarious and provocative satire for our times: Only Americans Burn in Hell. Here at 5×15 he takes part in an unmissable conversation with acclaimed stand up comedian and writer Stewart Lee: an expert in satire this side of the Atlantic, and creator of Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle.
The book is set in 2019 and America is ruled over by a billionaire reality TV star. The media is owned by a transnational class of the shameless and the depraved. And the people have been silently robbed of their wealth, their dignity and their democracy. In this brave new world, going to see a superhero movie counts as activism, and arguing with the other serfs on social media is political engagement. BUT EVERYTHING’S FINE – as long as you never, ever ask yourself who makes money from the ticket sales and the ratings, or who owns Twitter…
“Jarett Kobek articulated things I’d been trying to understand but couldn’t find the words to” Stewart Lee
Recorded live in London in April 2019.
5×15 brings together outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations.
Guest1001, Youtube
Guest1001, Youtube
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
Yukio Mishima, dontstartmeoff.com
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
James Dellingpole, Daily Telegraph
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Lents, redandwhitekop.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
Pnethor, pne-online.com
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Wharto15, Twitter
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Fowkes81, Twitter
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XPIJONpsY, Twitter
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98rosjon, Twitter
Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
Zoot Cadillac, Twitter
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General Lurko 36, Guardian.co.uk
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Bobby Bhoy, Twitter
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Neolab, Guardian.co.uk
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Joskins, Leeds Music Forum
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Tres Ryan, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Esme Folley, Actress, cellist, Twitter
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
Meanstreetelite, Peoplesrepublicofcork
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Rowing Rob, Guardian.co.uk
Cyberbloke, Twitter
Cyberbloke, Twitter
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Brendon, Vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk
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Etienne, Chortle.com
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
Anonymous, The Northfield Patriot
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Emilyistrendy, Youtube
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Borathigh5, Youtube
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Syhr, breakbeat.co.uk
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Pudabaya, beexcellenttoeachother.com
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
Cojones2, Guardian.co.uk
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Genghis McKahn, Guardian.co.uk
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Slothy Matt, Twitter
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Carla, St Albans, Dailymail.co.uk
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Telegraph
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Aaron, comedy.co.uk
Brighton Argus
Brighton Argus
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Karen Laidlaw, Edfringe. com.
Shit Crit, Twitter
Shit Crit, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Peter Ould, Twitter
Stuart, Chortle
Stuart, Chortle
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Foxfoxton, Youtube
Herald Scotland.
Herald Scotland.
Keilloh, Twitter
Keilloh, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
Contrapuntal, Twitter
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Tin Frog, Twitter
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Someoneyoudon'tknow, Chortle.com
Rudeness, Youtube
Rudeness, Youtube
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Alwyn, Digiguide.tv
GRTak, finalgear.com
GRTak, finalgear.com
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Idrie, Youtube
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Chez, Chortle.com
Z-factor, Twitter.
Z-factor, Twitter.
Liam Travitt, Twitter
Liam Travitt, Twitter
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Gabrielle, Chortle.com
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NevW47479, UKTV.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Cabluigi, Guardian.co.uk
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Dave Wilson, Chortle.com
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
Aiden Hearn, Twitter
John Robins, Comedian
John Robins, Comedian
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mini-x2, readytogo.net
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Mrdavisn01, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Lucinda Locketts, Twitter
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Nicetime, Guardian.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Gmanthedemon, bbc.co.uk
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
Spanner, dontstartmeoff.com
FBC, finalgear.com
FBC, finalgear.com
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Ishamayura Byrd, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Sweeping Curves, Twitter
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Lee Mack, Mack The Life, 2012
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Guest, Dontstartmeoff.com
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Patrick Kavanagh, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Anon, BBC Complaints Log
Jamespearse, Twitter
Jamespearse, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
Pirate Crocodile, Twitter
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Kozzy06, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
Danazawa, Youtube
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Iain, eatenbymissionaries
A D Ward, Twitter
A D Ward, Twitter
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Meninblack, Twitter
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Alex Quarmby, Edfringe.com
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Dick Socrates, Twitter
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Frankie Boyle, Comedian
Mpf1947, Youtube
Mpf1947, Youtube
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
Dahoum, Guardian.co.uk
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
BBC iPlayer edition of discussion of Stewart Lee on A Good Read
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Anonymous, don'tstartmeoff.com
Tokyofist, Youtube
Tokyofist, Youtube
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Funday’schild, youtube.
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Stokeylitfest, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Henry Howard Fun, Twitter
Richard Herring, Comedian
Richard Herring, Comedian
Pudabaya, Twitter
Pudabaya, Twitter
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
Neva2busy, dontstartmeoff.com
World Without End, Twitter
World Without End, Twitter
Mearecate, Youtube
Mearecate, Youtube
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Rubyshoes, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
Zombie Hamster, Twitter
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Whoiscuriousgeorge, Youtube
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
DVDhth's grandparents, Twitter
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Secretdeveloper, Youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Bosco239, youtube
Al Murray, Comedian
Al Murray, Comedian
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Birmingham Sunday Mercury
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Coxy, Dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Johnny Kitkat, dontstartmeoff.com
Anamatronix, Youtube
Anamatronix, Youtube
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Horatio Melvin, Twitter
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Anon, dontstartmeoff.com
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Fairy Pingu, Twitter
Peter Ould, Youtube
Peter Ould, Youtube
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
Tweeterkiryakou, Twitter
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Clampdown59, Twitter.
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Robert Gavin, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Jackmumf, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
Len Firewood, Twitter
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
12dgdgdgdgdgdg, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Sidsings000, Youtube
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joycey, readytogo.net
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Joe, Independent.co.uk
Peter Fears, Twitter
Peter Fears, Twitter
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Maninabananasuit, Guardian.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Shane, Beverley, Dailymail.co.uk
Leach Juice, Twitter
Leach Juice, Twitter
Dan McCaid, Twitter
Dan McCaid, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Lenny Darksphere, Twitter
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Gwaites, Digitalspy
Visualiser1, Twitter
Visualiser1, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Microcuts 22, Twitter
Hiewy, Youtube
Hiewy, Youtube
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Tweeter Kyriakou, Twitter
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Sam Rooney, Youtube
Spursguy, Youtube
Spursguy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Lancethrustworthy, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Carcrazychica, Youtube
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Deepbass, Guardian.co.uk
Anon, westhamonline.com
Anon, westhamonline.com
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph
Dominic Cavendish, Daily Telegraph