Ken Rice anchors ‘Off the Record XVIII’ show
When he takes the stage at the Byham Theater Thursday, KDKATV news anchor Ken Rice will be hosting “Off the Record” for the 15th time. The show, an annual skewering of political and local institutions, has raised more than $600,000 for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.
It is, literally, an “off-the-record” collection of musical skits meant to satirize (in good fun, of course) everyone from the mayor, forensic scientist Cyril Wecht and the Stillers, plus a certain ginormous online retail company that’s been toying with our city for some time now. Just saying.
“OTR” is produced by the Newspaper Guild at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and SAGAFTRA’s Ohio-Pittsburgh union. “Off the Record XVIII: #YinzToo!” features Roman numerals, just like the Super Bowl. As Mr. Rice explained at a recent press conference, “the main difference being, Pittsburgh can count on having ‘Off the Record’ each year.”
As host, Mr. Rice does about 10 minutes of stand-up comedy, which is followed by a celebrity guest “pre-buttal.” Past respondents include Mayor Bill Peduto and former Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato.
His hosting duties, as with the entire show, are literally off the record — no tape recordings, no tweeting. What is said and done stays in the theater.
In between newscasts, rewriting eyebrow jokes and upping his snark game, Mr. Rice sat down for an interview: What makes a good host? One, you have to be able to take it as good as you give it. So I always make fun of myself, make fun of the TV news, as much as any politician, or the newspaper or the Steelers or Pirates. … When the pre-buttalists take shots at you, you have to be able to take that in good spirit.
You never want to be mean but still edgy. Sometimes, that’s a tough line.
How did you get involved in “OTR”?
I got the gig when my colleague [KDKA reporter] Paul Martino, who’s very active in the union, said they needed an anchor. Do you write this yourself? I collaborate with one of my best