While I was searching for comedy news worthy of posting on ChuckleDumper last night, I came across an item about noted director Ang Lee casting Demetri Martin as the lead in his upcoming film "Taking Woodstock." (link to story: http://www.variety.com/VR1117984968.html - and yes, ChuckleDumper was the first humor website to break this story). According to the article, he'll play "an in-the-closet gay man working at his parents' motel in the Catskills, who inadvertently sets in motion [Woodstock]."

This story took me completely off guard - I've never really thought of Demetri as a potential actor before. And I'm not even sure why that's the case, because the more I do think about it, the more I think he'll be terrific. On stage he has a presence that somehow allows him to be as engaging when he's doing nothing as he is when he's nailing a punch line. He just has a naturally captivating persona.

I'd be interested to learn how this all happened. It's not the first time someone from that crew landed an unorthodox gig (remember when Zach Galifianakis directed and starred in a Kanye West video? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpwgYsYWwdc). I'm sure there's a great story behind this one too.

-Jack