On a quiet, late May afternoon, a man in a plaid shirt with a cane walks into the WestfordCAT studio. His wife, Mary, is at his side, and he’s already cracking jokes and hurling barbed insults, which he softens with a nod and smile.
Ed Cohen, 79, had arrived to tape his television show, “The Ed Cohen Variety Show,” of which he is the star. With the help of WestfordCAT staff, Cohen has created more than 200 episodes. On air, Cohen’s style is the same as when he is not being recorded. His antics, quick wit and interjections keep his interviewees on their toes as they try to keep pace with him. It makes for a lively conversation.
Cohen grew up in Queens, New York, and graduated from Newtown High School in Elmhurst—the same school that American comedian Don Rickles attended. Cohen did not know Rickles as he was much older, but he admires Rickles’ comedic style and tries to model it in his shows.
Instead of getting his start in Hollywood, Cohen earned advanced degrees in meteorology. After graduating with his master’s from the University of Wisconsin at Madison, in 1974, he began working for an environmental company.
His career brought him to Westford, where he has lived for nearly 50 years. His hobby of hosting a television show began around 2013 with an educational weather show on the WestfordCAT. He taped more than 40 episodes of that show and then started his variety show. He had used humor when he taught college courses, so he had some practice at it.
Cohen has opinions on a lot of things.
The 495 Corridor and Snow
Ed: “The weather does not go, ‘Oh, 495, I’m going to change to snow!’
Federal Funding Cuts that Reduce the Number of Weather Balloon Launches:
Ed: “I wouldn’t be surprise if forecasting got worse!”
Westford’s Use of Land
Ed: “When I got here it was so empty. They built it up too much!”
On that quiet, late May afternoon, Cohen welcomed to his show Marc Duci, executive director of ActonTV, the town’s community access television; Sarah Fletcher, executive director of WestfordCAT; and Gino Frattallone, his co-host, who also has a show on Acton community access. Frattallone arrived for taping with cannoli for everyone.
When asked what it’s like to do a show with Cohen, Frattallone, also a comedian, said, “I know him too long. I can’t say nothing.”
Before the taping began, Cohen made a comment about “talking turkey” and added, when asked what they might discuss that day, “Sex and violence… I’ll handle the violence part.”
The on-air topics included a discussion about the annual reports of the Acton and Westford community access stations and their need for funding as the fees from customers buying cable that used to fund the channels are steadily decreasing.
They also talked about the stations’ programming. Duci said ActonTV’s kitchen where people host cooking shows is popular.
Both Duci and Fletcher said their organizations provide community members with access to technology and training and the means of making themselves heard. “It’s about freedom of speech, access to education and government transparency,” Fletcher said.
They congratulated Cohen on his show and wondered aloud if they should create an Oscar The Grouch logo for him.
“I’m not grouchy,” Cohen said. “I tell the truth.”
Cohen would like to continue his show, but is having trouble finding people who want to come on air and chat with him. Through the years, he has interviewed many different people, including performers and government officials.
He’s open to anyone coming on who is willing to be on-camera and share something they are passionate about, mentioning local business representatives are welcome as are entertainers.
“All they have to do is keep their mouths clean,” Cohen said. “This is not a comedy club. And you can’t quote prices,” he said, adding businesses can talk about what they sell but not get into details on the cost.
Cohen said he keeps doing his show because he “started doing it and got used to it.” But there is likely something more, too, as the camera is turned off and he continues to verbally joust with his friends.
“Humor helps get you through a lot of things,” Cohen said, adding, “If you do humor, people pay attention.”
If you are interested in being on Ed Cohen’s variety show, contact him at edward.ecohen.@gmail.com.
