Convergence

Stories from two of my favorite authors appear in the same episode of PRI’s Selected Shorts: Aimee Bender’s “Drunken Mimi” and “Death Watch” (read by Bernadette Qugley) and Etgar Keret’s “Your Man” and “Shooting Tuvia” (read by David Rakoff).

Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy

…is it, James?

I heard this alluded to on the Bat Segundo Show podcast interview with James Lipton, but my jaw dropped when I looked it up.

Actors Studio host Lipton was a pimp in France
Last Update: 10/22 5:04 pm

James Lipton, the host of U.S. talk show, Inside the Actors’ Studio, once worked as a pimp in Paris, France.

The revered TV presenter, who has sat down with Hollywood’s biggest names for in-depth chats about their life and work over the last 13 years, has revealed he once procured clients for French hookers.

He says, “This was when I was very very young, living in Paris, penniless, unable to get any kind of working permit… I had a friend who worked in what is called the Milieu, which is that world and she suggested to me one night, `Look, you’ll be my mec… We would translate it perhaps… as pimp.”