Live Wire with Luke Burbank

Episode: Paul F. Tompkins and Meklit
Date: September 26, 2025

Episode Overview

This week’s Live Wire with Luke Burbank serves up the signature blend of wit, warmth and live performance the show is known for. The centerpiece of the episode is comedian, actor, and writer Paul F. Tompkins, who is celebrated for becoming Live Wire’s most frequent guest—a milestone marked by a hilariously chaotic onstage celebration. Tompkins discusses his prolific career, the joys and vulnerabilities of live variety shows, and the subversive decision to sing in earnest on stage. The episode balances laughs with heartfelt stories, crowd participation, and culminates in a rich musical performance from Ethiopian-American artist Meklit.

Tone: Playful, eclectic, and occasionally poignant—“late-night for radio,” full of banter and warmth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Kicking Off with Good News

[01:23–07:33]

• Connection and Kindness:
  Elena Passarello shares a touching story about an Uber driver, Diana Morales, who befriends her elderly passenger Leroy Burdick, forming an “adopted family” bond.

  “I learned from him that I can have family that isn’t my blood relation.” — Elena Passarello, [03:46]

• Sustainability through Ingenuity:
  Luke Burbank highlights Lauren Choi, a college student who recycles plastic solo cups into colorful fashion yarn, thanks to a grant from the company that makes them.

  “They don’t have to use any artificial dyes to make the sweaters these colors, because that’s the color that the solo cups were.” — Luke Burbank, [07:03]

2. Paul F. Tompkins’ Landmark Appearance

[08:32–12:41]

• Celebration Goes Awry:
  Paul is welcomed with a confetti-filled balloon pop, resulting in glitter everywhere—on his suit, glasses, and even his water. The hosts joke about the chaos and Paul’s patient good humor.

  “You sprung for the big glitter too. That’s nice.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [09:35]
  “It feels good.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [09:50] “I refuse to be cleaned up. I’m getting in the Uber like this.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [12:42]

3. The Magic of Varietopia: Paul F. Tompkins on Tour

[13:40–19:26]

• Show Structure:
  Tompkins describes his touring variety show, Varietopia, featuring a four-piece band (guitar, drums, sousaphone, trumpet), stand-up, musical guests, and a non-comedy ‘variety act.’

  “The band plays on their own. We have a musical guest… I do a stand-up monologue… a variety act, which is something that’s neither comedy nor music.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [13:52]

• The Challenge of Earnest Singing:
  He discusses singing pop covers earnestly—no jokes, no irony—which was initially hard due to the vulnerability and the comedic stigma (i.e., Joe Piscopo's album), but ultimately is more fun and surprising for both him and the audience.

  “I realized… it will actually be better if I do the best I can at this thing that I can do.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [15:20] “It is vulnerable. Comedian singing is always very dicey… I would rather run towards something like that that I’m afraid of…” — Paul F. Tompkins, [16:26–16:39]

• Surprise and Discovery:
  Varietopia never announces its guests, valuing spontaneity for both audiences and performers.

  “You’re going to see something that you didn’t know what it was going to be… as in the moment and as exciting for people as possible.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [17:22]

4. Viral Animal Videos & Possum Bits

[17:27–20:26]

• Nature Cam Comedy:
  Tompkins recounts setting up a squirrel picnic table and night-vision cam, delighting in repeat footage of squirrels and, later, a possum at the bench eating nuts, which he narrates for comedy bits.

  “It was the absolute best. I never got tired of it. It’s like he’s sitting at the bench like a person… but then you get your raccoons and your possums coming out.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [18:03]

• Nightly Goodnight Call Skit:
  Inspired by a TikTok trend, Tompkins and comedian Vinnie Thomas improvise a “goodnight” call with the possum, lampooning the awkward sincerity of male friendships.

  “I just have the possum saying different things… it works for me every time.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [19:08]

5. Wikipedia Fact-Checking & Comedic Process

[20:26–27:09]

• Wikipedia Lore:
  The hosts read and fact-check Tompkins’s Wikipedia, digging into his famous “peanut brittle” rant and confirming his sartorial style—foppish, “just this side of Cedric the Entertainer.”

  “I have one piece of glitter in my throat right now.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [20:58]

• Authenticity in Comedy:
  Tompkins reflects on evolving from “arch” or ironic comedy to embracing vulnerability and authenticity on stage, advice he’d give his younger self.

  “Hey, relax, man. Just calm down. Everything’s fine. Just relax.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [24:49] “You have just enough self-delusion, you get just enough laughs, that it’s like, okay, I’m onto something here.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [25:43]

• On Bombing:
  Early failures used to be painful, but now:

  “If I should bomb… it’s funny now… this is still happening. That’s amusing, right?” — Paul F. Tompkins, [26:25]

6. Comedy’s Best Hands: A Running Gag

[27:09–28:41]

• Tig Notaro’s Compliment:
  The episode checks in with a playful segment (via Tig Notaro’s podcast “Handsome”) about Tompkins’ “beautiful hands and fingers,” which he jokes he keeps “pristine… for one thing and one thing only: display.”

  “I was born this way, I’m sorry to tell you.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [27:55]

7. “Only Hands with Paul F. Tompkins”: Improv Game

[28:41–34:34]

A radio-improv challenge: Tompkins describes famous scenes involving hands (e.g. “Unchained Melody” from “Ghost”, Mr. Burns from “The Simpsons”, E.T. and Elliott), and Elena Passarello tries to guess the reference.
> “[On Ghost] That’s exactly right. Wow.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [31:04]
> “[On Simpsons] Look, if a show is gonna be on for 40 years, eventually they’ll get around to me.” — Paul F. Tompkins, [32:16]

8. Audience Stories: Most Unforgettable Surprises

[35:42–39:00]

• Heartwarming and Hilarious Listener Submissions:
  • Smuggled into Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade family area by a NYPD officer (“Uncle Dave”).
  • Anonymous generosity at a truck stop: car fixed, gifts for a child, $1500 envelope.
  • Flash mob of airport workers dancing about luggage, likely at Portland’s PDX.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Sometimes described as the herpes of the art world because it will be with you for the rest of your life.”
  — Interviewer, describing glitter, [09:51]

• “Aren’t we tired of all these Olivia Rodrigo jokes? Let’s move on.”
  — Paul F. Tompkins, [14:53]

• “I would rather run towards something like that that I’m afraid of and try to do it than forever be running away from it… It was very freeing.”
  — Paul F. Tompkins, [16:36]

• “I confirm that I did have a rant about peanut brittle. That’s my greatest hit.”
  — Paul F. Tompkins, [21:11]

• “I have steadfastly refused to do anything that would put my hands in danger… including playing the piano.”
  — Paul F. Tompkins, [27:55]

• “Hey, relax, man. Just calm down. Everything’s fine. Just relax.”
  — Paul F. Tompkins, on the best advice he’d give his younger self, [24:49]

Important Segments with Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |----------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Good News Round-Up (Uber driver, Solo cups) | 01:23–07:33 | | Paul F. Tompkins’ Chaotic Glitter Entrance | 08:32–12:41 | | Varietopia and Live Performance Discussion | 13:40–19:26 | | Squirrel Picnic Table & Possum Video Bit | 17:27–20:26 | | Wikipedia Fact-Checking & Comedy Process | 20:26–27:09 | | “Best Hands in Comedy” Segment | 27:09–28:41 | | “Only Hands with Paul F. Tompkins” Game | 28:41–34:34 | | Audience Surprise Stories | 35:42–39:00 | | Musical Performance by Meklit | 44:25–50:09 |

Meklit: Musical Performance

[44:25–50:09]

• Ethiopian-American vocalist Meklit shares “Tzita,” a reinterpretation of a traditional song, blending jazz, folk, and East African musical traditions. Spiritually rich and rhythmically layered, the performance demonstrates Meklit’s emotive voice and inventive arrangements.

Closing Thoughts

This Live Wire episode epitomizes the show’s appeal: spontaneous celebration, playful chaos, deep creative process talk, improv games, and an anchor in community and good news. Paul F. Tompkins is both vulnerable and hilarious, reflecting on a long career of embracing creative risk. Listeners come away both entertained and warmed by the stories—onstage and off—that highlight the enduring power of human connection.

If you’re a fan of variety, comedy, and a side of heartfelt storytelling, this milestone episode with Paul F. Tompkins and Meklit is an installment not to miss.