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John Waters tells the filthy truth about everything, almost

John Waters started his career making films that strayed outside the boundaries of common respectability. For that, he won mad respect.

Waters’ films include “Pink Flamingos,” “Female Trouble,” “Polyester,” “Hairspray,” “Cry-Baby,” and what he considers his best movie, “Serial Mom.”

In the twilight of his brilliant career, Baltimore’s pencil-mustachioed purveyor of sly, filthy, risqué fun is sanguine about the road he forged.

His new book of essays about his life and work is “Mr. Know-It-All. The Tarnished Wisdom of a Filth Elder.”

Town Hall Seattle presented John Waters on May 29, in a funny, filthy conversation with writer David Schmader. Waters covered his successes and failures, his views on art, monkey art, Dina Martina, American politics, the Pope, Baltimore bars, censorship, not being bitter and the cemetery where he plans to be buried.

KUOW’s Sonya Harris recorded their talk.

Please note: This recording contains unedited language of an adult nature.

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