thehefner | I'm Not David Sedaris

I'm reading SantaLand Diaries and while I am enjoying it immensely, part of me can't stop thinking of the five or six separate occasions that THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES have been likened to David Sedaris. I stress again, until just this hour I've *never* read Sedaris' work. The first three times I heard that, it was flattering and encouraging. Every time since has, well, kinda gotten me concerned. Defensive. Triggering my neuroses. I could just see it now:

"John Hefner-- the poor man's David Sedaris."

"That's Hefner guy's ok, but he's no David Sedaris."

"Pssh! Hefner's stuff is just cheap cash-ins trying to ride off the success of David Sedaris!

"Mr. Hefner! I LOVE your work, especially that story you did about being a Christmas Elf at Macy's!"

On the other hand, Dave Chapelle was the poor man's Chris Rock for several years there too. And honestly, I'm half-joking here. I'm not all that worried about it. Yet. I mean, let's get the books published first. Still, it gives me an idea for a Hefner Monologue, maybe even the title of a book:

THE HEFNER MONOLOGUES: I'M NOT DAVID SEDARIS

Maybe I can get David Sedaris to write the intro for it too. That'd be sweet.

(he said with a mixture of sincerity and knowing irony)