Why Rhode Island Was Once Called “Rogue’s Island” (Video)

…and what’s so funny about Columbus Day weekend in Newport.

As was discussed recently in Newsweek, Rhode Island, and Newport in particular, was founded as a bastion for the type of personal expression that more conservative types (the Massholes of the era) looked down upon. Comedian, MC and occasional nudist Doug Key has embraced a historical derogatory term used by the rest of New England to describe our fair state back when we were a haven for not-quite-puritan-enough Puritans, “Rogue’s Island”. He’s created the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, a 4-day, 8-show humor extravaganza the likes of which Newport has never seen. It will run October 8 – 11 and feature 40+ comics, most with extensive repertoires…and Dennis Hofer.

Anyhow, Doug has created a Kickstarter for the Festival. Not, as one would expect of a stand-up comedian, to beg for money for drugs and morning-after pills(because their couches may pull out, but they don’t), but to offer advanced tickets, VIP passes and the like to you, the member of the public with $10-$100 available for your own deferred comedic gratification. It’s like a laughter 401k, if you were to retire in October to Parlor, Hope, the Brick Alley Pub or Curl Up & Dye.

Anyhow, we’re glad to see Doug doing what he can to maintain Rhode Island’s centuries-old reputation as “The Sewer of New England”.

-Tristan Pinnock, Blast Comedy Correspondent