Drew Friedman at Drawger.comDrew Friedman at Drawger
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/
2009-06-17T13:37:30+00:00logo
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman
http://drawger.com/_images/drawger_leo_logo.giftext/html2009-06-17T17:36:40+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanWill Ferrell Commencement Speech
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8105
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/6252758907.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For the cover story of the NY Observer about NYC high school graduations, and the celebrities parents and administrators are jockying to acquire to deliver the commencement speeches. Will Farrell was drafted by a female celeb' friend whose daughter was graduating from a particular private school. He delivered a bunch of lame jokes that the adults enjoyed and the students had little or no reaction to. The complete line was "Dare to dream. Dare to dream. Love the Kardashians!". Ba boom.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-06-16T15:53:39+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanBasil Wolverton Exhibit
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8095
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/6965513360.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
http://www.drawger.com/kroninger/?article_id=4508<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-06-12T15:43:42+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanJudson Fountain
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=8068
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/5587011749.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
This image of Cult figure Judson Fountain, The "Ed Wood of radio horror dramas", was created for the cover of his most recent CD collection "DARK DARK DARK TALES", produced by famed WFMU host Irwin Chusid with Barbara Economon. This is a brand new limited edition print of the art, hilighting one of his most beloved "dramas". Judson had virtually no talent for writing, producing, or performing, but through his sheer enthusiasim and love for old-time radio, he managed to produce hours of gothic-tinged dramas in the late sixties/early seventies in the style of old time radio, doing most of the voices, including his trademark old hags and witches, cantankerous old men, and young punks usually named "Johnny". Sandor Weisberger was his trusted announcer, and the sound effects were courtesy of the Elektra sound effects albums. Judson has been "missing" for the last 14 years, his whereabouts completely unknown. I predict there will be a movie about Judson some day, although probably a lousy one.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-29T16:59:43+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanA Daring Move
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7939
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/2305582134.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For the cover of THE WEEK, like Tim O'Brien, I also had to do a rush job on Sonia Sotomayor. On Monday, the cover (due Wednesday, AM) was about California politics (Ah-nold, on surfboard about to be wiped-out by a tidal wave). Come Tuesday morning, the cover was switched after Obama announced Sotomayer as his Supreme Court pick. My nerves...<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-27T16:08:35+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanObama Season
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7921
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/9668807205.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For The New Republic, Dick Cheney's pursuit of President Obama puts me in mind of Elmer Fudd's pursuit of Bugs Bunny.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-21T15:52:10+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanMcSorley's New Label
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7871
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/6947816768.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/5082879637.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
I was asked to create the new label artwork for McSorley's beer, on sale now at your finer markets and tap rooms. McSorley's has been on E.7th St in NYC since 1854, a landmark bar, possibly the oldest, or at least second oldest in NYC. For this job, I just asked to be paid in beer.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-20T14:28:30+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanConan Takes the Plunge
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7864
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/6032592790.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For the cover story of the NY OBSERVER, about Conan O'Brien taking over the reigns of The Tonight Show from Jay Leno, moving to, and adjusting to Los Angeles, along with his staff. Harkens back to Johnny Carson transfering The Tonight Show from NY to LA almost forty years ago. This issue also kicks off the "summer season", so it serves dual purposes.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-15T14:43:28+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanThe Junior Senator from Pennsylvania
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7838
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/7215501379.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For THE NEW REPUBLIC, a portrait of Arlen Specter, the brand spanking new Junior Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania, author of the Warren Commisson's "Single bullet theory", Grand Inquisitor of Anita Hill, and cancer survivor.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-12T16:28:26+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman"Be Logical, Captain."
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7814
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/7038389250.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/3400451491.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
This was done for the cover of the NY Observer back during the campaign, for an article comparing Obama to Mr. Spock, but is relevant at the moment because : A) The new STAR TREK movie just debuted, and: B) The NY TIMES just ran an article on Sunday comparing Obama to Mr. Spock, running this photo illustration.<br />
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Great minds...<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-07T15:05:17+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanSexy TV Babes
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7786
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/8524660910.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
I've been asked recently why I never seem to draw sexy women. So just to put that question to rest, I present 3 of the sexiest ladies I've ever had the pleasure to paint (For a feature in TV Guide by Andy Borowitz) L to R: Aunt Bea, Lucy Ricardo, Granny Clampett. Go Nuts Boys!<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-04T17:00:25+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanSchlitzie
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7751
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/9287741653.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
This is a just completed privately commissioned portrait of "Schlitzie, the Pin Head", AKA Schlitzie Surtees, and born (possibly) Simon Metz, in the Bronx in 1901. Schlitzie had microlephaly, a disorder that gave him a small brain and skull, and the cognizance of a three year old. he stood about four feet and wore dresses (due to his incontinence), leading many people to speculate he was a woman. Schlitze was a sideshow performer and most famous for appearing in the 1932 Tod Browing film FREAKS, where he displayed his great joy and gleefulness. He died in 1971, and only received a proper headstone earlier this year, thanks to the persistant dedication of a group of fans and admirers.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-05-01T14:56:46+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanSwine Flu
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7724
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/9818686594.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For the cover of THE WEEK magazine, concept by the editors. I finished this tuesday afternoon and sure enough, on Wednesday, AM, the NY POST had a photo-shopped pig with a thermometer slapped on it's cover. #%@*#! </p>
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Oh well, "great minds..."<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-04-27T14:42:21+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanBobby Jindal's Memoirs
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7679
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/2412470596.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
"Litttle" Bobby Jindal, Republican Governor of Louisiana, is writing his "memoirs". Here he is getting started, for The New Republic.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-04-23T16:48:03+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanPeter W. Kaplan
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7651
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/3852326841.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
Peter W. Kaplan, the brilliant editor of the New York Observer for the last 15 years, announced yesterday that he's leaving the paper. Peter is by far the best, smartest, wisest editor I've ever worked with, and I'm proud to say, a close friend to my wife Kathy and myself.<br />
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Peter has always had a perceptive knack for using the best and the brightest writers, editors and artists in the Observer. I've been honored to do a once-a-month cover for the past 15 years, alternating with the always brilliant Victor Juhasz, Robert Grossman and Philip Burke. Stephen Kroninger and Barry Blitt are also featured in every issue. I was commissioned to do this portrait of Peter for his 50th birthday 5 years ago. I don't know what's in store for the Observer, but I do know it will never and could never be the same without Peter Kaplan. <br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-04-22T15:06:14+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman"The Front Page" 2009
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7637
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/7948206996.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For the cover story of today's NY OBSERVER on how Bloggers and "Twitterer's" are now the new press lords in Hollywood. Alec Baldwin, Ashton Kutcher (who became the first "twitterer" to attract a million readers, beating out CNN) and Demi Moore, who with one "Twit", can reach more people than VARIETY, who once owned Hollywood, does in a week. Peter Kaplan, the editor of the Observer, suggested placing them in a "The Front Page" setting, the 1928 Ben Hecht/Charles MacArthur Broadway comedy about fierce newspaper reporters and editors.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-04-17T15:26:02+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanThe Never-Ending Election
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7588
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/5954355587.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br><p>
For The New Republic, although (Jewish) Democrat Al Franken was just declared the winner of the Minnesota senate seat, (Jewish) Republican Norm Coleman is not about to throw in the towel. The election that will never end. So here's the two Old Jewish Comedian/Politicians (redundant?) in 2039, still at it.<br />
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<br><br>text/html2009-04-15T19:12:16+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanMan Boobs
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7573
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For the new MAD magazine, their 500th issue. Appears on the last page, facing the Al Jaffee fold-in. Will they make it 1000? Who knows?<br />
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Sorry if this isn't disgusting enough.<br />
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<br><br><img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/5423735187.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br>text/html2009-04-10T18:03:17+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanDino
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7535
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A while back I posted an illustration of Jerry Lewis. Here's the flip side, the one and only Dean Martin, just finished for a private commission. There's really nothing I can add about Dean Martin that hasn't already been written in possibly the best Show Biz bio ever," DINO, living high in the dirty business of dreams" by Nick Tosches (Doubleday).<br />
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<br><br><img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/1757399545.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br>text/html2009-04-06T19:14:05+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanThe Wicked Wit of the West
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7471
I did the cover art for this just released book by legendary comedy writer Irving Brecher, published by Ben Yehuda Press. Irv died last year at age 96, right after he completed the book (as told to Hank Rosenfeld) and it's a wonderful, hilarious autobiography recalling his 50+ year career in Hollywood, writing TWO Marx brothers films solo, as well as the screenplays for "Meet Me in St. Louis", and "Bye, Bye, Birdie", creating "The Life of Riley" radio and TV show (the first TV sitcom), and sharing stories of his close friendships with Groucho Marx, Milton Berle (who was naked the first time Irv encountered him in Berle's dressing room!), Jackie Gleason, Jack Benny, Judy Garland, and many others. I wanted to include Irv on the cover, surrounded by the celebrities, but he said "Who the hell knows what I look like?". Can't argue with a 96 year old! <br><br><img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/4339547699.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br>text/html2009-04-03T15:12:52+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanUncle Sam Wants Blow!
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7445
For the cover of THE WEEK. Uncle Sam is one of those "evergreens", like drawing candidates as boxers or someone as George Washington. So, when the editors wanted to illustrate Hillary Clintons remark that the Mexican drug trades thrives on the American drug habit, this is the concept we came up with.
art spiegelman once drew a New Yorker cover, (which they didn't run), of Uncle Sam injecting gasoline into his arm, but I hope this is the first depiction of the beloved icon snorting coke. Alas, who knows? Great minds really do think alike.
<br><br><img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/2045130128.jpg" hspace="5"><br><br>text/html2009-03-27T16:02:34+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanGood Ol' Timothy Geithner
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7369
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Geithner & kite001.jpg" hspace="5"><p>For The New Republic, poor Timothy Geithner just can't get the broken economy off the ground.</p><br><br>text/html2009-03-25T15:02:53+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanTopShop Girls
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7355
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/TOPSHOP001.jpg" hspace="5"><p>For the cover of today's NY OBSERVER, to illustrate a piece on the opening of Kate Moss's new Topshop store in NYC, featuring Kate surrounded by Topshop wearing fans Anna Hathaway and Sienna Miller. None of this was of any interest to me (I had to ask my wife who exactly "Sienna Miller" was), but I always enjoy drawing attractive young ladies posing with forced, phoney, trying too hard to be perky, grins.</p><br><br>text/html2009-03-11T19:08:29+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanThe New Godfather
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7267
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/The New Godfather.jpg" hspace="5"><p>For The New Republic. "Godfather" parodies have been done a million times but I thought this analogy would work well with GOP chairman Michael Steele groveling to his Don, Rush Limbaugh.</p><br><br>text/html2009-03-08T16:45:23+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanCheap Thrills
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7249
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Cheap Thrills.@72jpg.jpg" hspace="5"><p>This recent piece is a depiction of my old friend (and favorite artist) Robert Crumb presenting his original "Cheap Thrills" comic strip cover art to Janis Joplin, (with various members of "The Holding Company" lurking behind), backstage at the Filmore West in San Fran' in 1968. It was commissioned by the private collector who owns the original Crumb "Cheap Thrills" art, as a companion piece to hang along side it in his office. Interestingly, Crumb's original intention was for this art to run on the back cover and a portrait of Joplin to run on the front. But Joplin loved the the comic strip art so much, (she was an avid underground comics fan, especially the work of Crumb, and already at that point in her escalating career, had the power to hire her own cover artist), she decided to run it on the front. It's arguably the SECOND most famous album cover ever, after Sgt. Pepper. One amusing side note: bending no doubt to pressure, Crumb wore his hair for a time at it's longest in '68, which I try to show. Joplin was also encouraging him to "loosen up" and wear "hippie clothes and beads" but he just couldn't go that far.</p><br><br>text/html2009-02-20T17:06:08+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanAll Hail Jerry Lewis!
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7116
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Jerry Lewis.jpg" hspace="5"><p>I couldn't care less about the Acadamy Awards this Sunday, except for one reason. Jerry Lewis will be receiving the "Lifetime Humanitarian Award", which is the academy's way of buckling under the pressure to give him a "Lifetime Achievement Award". As an unashamed Jerry Lewis lover (I know, I know, you either love him or you hate him), I and many others have been calling for him to be awarded a special oscar for his outstanding contribution to film comedy and film direction.</p>
<p>I created this portrait of Jerry for my first OLD JEWISH COMEDIANS book in '06. After Jerry got his copy, he left me a phone message in his stern, serious voice (he had called me before to thank me for a piece I did for the NY OBSERVER demanding he get the special Oscar) "Drew, It's Jerry Lewis. Call me back". I nervously did what I was told and was instantly relieved when he screamed into the phone "JESUS CHRIST, I LOVE IT!".</p><br><br>text/html2009-02-12T18:33:20+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanTiny Tim!
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7078
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/TINY TIM001.jpg" hspace="5"><p>To help celebrate Abe Lincoln's 200th Birthday, my recently commisioned portrait of the beloved Tiny Tim. I predict there will someday be a movie bio on him. My pic for the lead...John Turturo.</p><br><br>text/html2009-02-06T16:10:00+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman"After the Deluge"
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7031
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/01 UPC COVER 0213.jpg" hspace="5"><p>Today's cover of THE WEEK magazine, portraying the cover story about Obama's economic stimulus package. I do one cover for them a month and was pleased with how this one turned out. BTW, for those not familiar with it, THE WEEK is an excellent news source magazine, reprinting stories, editorials and reviews from top publications around the world. AD is Geoffrey Giordano.</p><br><br>text/html2009-02-04T17:19:05+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman"Everybody Hates Dave"
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=7018
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Everybody Hates Dave001.jpg" hspace="5"><p>For the cover story of today's New York Observer about how all of a sudden, NY Governer David Paterson has no friends following the Caroline Kennedy debacle. Simple concept, suggested by the editor Peter Kaplan, an analogy to "Everybody Hates Chris", Chris Rock's (late?) TV show.</p><br><br>text/html2009-01-29T15:13:03+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanThe Three Literary Stooges
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=6977
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Three Stooge Writers001.jpg" hspace="5"><p>I was trying to recall if I had ever drawn John Updike, and I rememered I had just once, for a cover story in the NY OBSERVER a few years back for an article about Tom Wolfe just having dubbed Norman Mailer, John Updike and John Irving the "Three Stooges". In order for me to make the concept work, and it not seemed forced, each author needed to at least physically fit into a Stooge persona. Mailer had the same frizzy, wild hair as Larry Fine, Updike wore his hair in bangs like Moe, and although Irving has a full head of hair unlike Curly's buzz-cut, his stocky frame was very similar.</p><br><br>text/html2009-01-28T21:29:07+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanCigarette Break
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=6968
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Obama CIggie Break001.jpg" hspace="5"><p>Just done for The New Republic. Smoking is banned in the White house, Michelle doesn't want the president to smoke around her or the kids, so enduring the fridged temps, he's forced to nervously sit at the service entrance, out of sight.</p><br><br>text/html2009-01-26T15:13:27+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedmanNew Yorker Cover P.S.
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=6952
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/Obama Inauguration002.jpg" hspace="5"><p>Once again, I'd like to thank all the Drawger members who welcomed me to the group last week and had such nice things to say about my first post. Doing a cover for the New Yorker is always special, but having my debut cover be the Obama inauguration cover was beyond the norm. People seemed to be speculating about what the image would be before it even appeared and the spotlight was focused on it. Overall, the reaction I received was positive, although it was certainly interesting to learn from various blogs over the week that "the mole was on the wrong side" (it isn't), that he looked "wall-eyed", that "It should have been Abe Lincoln, not Washington" (Only done about 50 times?) and that the ribbon behind his neck was either the "Liberty Bell", a "Slave Bell" or a "Donkey penis". By mid-week, I stopped reading the blogs.</p>
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<p>I also wanted to thank my old friend Francoise Mouly at the New Yorker for believing in the cover from the start and pushing it through (I HOPE this doesn't sound like an Oscar acceptance speech!), Leigh Stein and the editor David Remnick. Coming after the wonderful recent campaign/election covers by Barry, Bob and Brian, the pressure was on, and while certainly not the "firestorm" that Barry had to endure last july, I'm still a bit exausted.</p><br><br>text/html2009-01-19T17:20:10+00:00http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman"The First"
http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/index.php?section=articles&article_id=6894
<img src="http://www.drawger.com/drewfriedman/images/CVS_TNY_1.26.gif" hspace="5"><p>Greetings to everyone on Drawger. I'm very flattered to have been invited to join the group.<br />
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I'd like to share the cover of today's New Yorker. Hopefully, it will help to kick off this extraordinary week in American History.<br />
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Enjoy!</p><br><br>