Comedian Malkoff gets the key to the city

When comedian Mark Malkoff visited Milwaukee in June, he didn't get to see too much of the city.

Of course, he was living in an AirTran jet at the time.

Malkoff, whose month-long stint in the friendly skies attracted national media attention, returned to town Thursday to film a portion of his new video project entitled "Keys to the City." 

For 28 days, Malkoff is traveling around the country in a tricked-out Ford Fusion Hybrid. He's visiting as many mayors as possible and performing small community projects in an attempt to earn the keys to the city.

On Thursday -- the 16th day of his project -- Malkoff met with Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and spent time composting the remnants of the vegetable gardens that were planted on Market Street just outside City Hall.

The demonstration vegetable gardens were planted last summer and 185 pounds of vegetables were donated to Second Harvest of Wisconsin. The gardens were constructed and maintained by City Forestry staff and youth from the Learn to Earn summer youth employment program to showcase the Mayor's Urban Gardening Initiative. The City partnered with Will Allen of Growing Power, who donated plants, compost and expertise for the garden.

"I've never composted before," Malkoff said. "It's a new experience."

In the afternoon, he visited West Allis, where Mayor Dan Devine had him labor for a bit in the public works yard.

OnMilwaukee.com caught up with Malkoff as he and his film crew / support staff were beginning their day in Wisconsin.

OnMilwaukee.com: How did you come up with the idea for this project?

Mark Malkoff: I live in New York City and the mayor is always giving out keys to the city. I looked at the list dating back decades and there is no criteria for who gets the key.

For example, Nelson Mandela has one key and baseball player David Cone has three keys. Mother Theresa has one key, and so does soap opera actress Susan Lucci.

The Staten Island Little Leaguers got the key. Not only did they not make the finals, they lost. They still got the keys to the city. There just didn't seem to be any criteria.

I said to myself, "Mark Malkoff, you can go out and get keys to the city." I came up with the idea of doing public service in each city and we got started.

OMC: How has it been going?

MM: Great. In the first 16 days, I have been with 57 mayors. I'm at the point where mayors are contacting me and I've had to turn them down.

OMC: I understand that Mayor Barrett took a while to warm up to the idea.

MM: I wasn't getting e-mails returned. Then, I contacted you guys at OnMilwaukee.com and his office got right back to me. Within an hour, it was done.

OMC: Glad we could help. Flying on the plane for a month was tough. Have you experienced any hardships on this journey?

MM: I've gotten so many keys, that my biggest problem right now is where do I put them? Hampton, Virginia, has a 5-foot key. What do you do with a 5-foot key?

OMC: What are some of the tasks that you've had to do to get the keys?

MM: In Lancaster, Pa., they made me clean up after the police horses. In Fairfax, Va., they made me climb into a fountain and collect coins. I actually had to put on a wet suit and swim around. I think they're going to donate the coins to charity. In Chattanooga, they had me cleaning the monkey cages.

The thing these mayors don't understand is that I'll do anything.

OMC: It sounds like it's going to make for some good video.

MM: I'm having a really good time. We've had singing mayors. We've had mayors playing leap-frog with me. We've had mayors who have had mustaches for years who have agreed to shave them off on a dare.

OMC: Our mayor got rid of his mustache.

MM: I was in Illinois yesterday with eight mayors and most of them had mustaches. I'd say almost half the mayors I've met have had mustaches -- even some of the women. what is it with mayors and mustaches?

OMC: You make a joke about women with mustaches and here you are today wearing high heels. What's the deal with that?

MM: My female crew member has been complaining about wearing heels and driving and being uncomfortable. So, I wanted to do it for a day.

OMC: You seem like you're in pretty good spirits. The schedule has been pretty hectic, hasn't it?

MM: I feel good. We have 28 days. It's a marathon.

I'm telling you, sometimes, the day of, I'll call mayors and give them two hours notice and they'll say "Yes." Thursday in Indiana, I have zero mayors booked. But, I'm sure I'll get some to agree to do it. It's amazing that they'll take the time to do it. I'll go anywhere. I'll do anything. The funniest thing is that I ask these mayors "Why are you giving me the keys to the city?" and they say "Because you asked."

No one has ever done this before and I really didn't know what to expect. My goal was to get 100 keys in 28 days. It looks like it's happening. Who knew?

OMC: I know you're only halfway through, but do you have an idea about your next project?

MM: I have to take some time off. Everybody wonders if I have a hard time coming up with ideas. I have some weird stuff running through my mind. I want to do something in Milwaukee. I love it here.