Belle & Bernice: Livin' in the City - New Restaurant

The latest funny web short series. From Sue Galloway (30 Rock) and Neil Casey, two of my favorite people from the Upright Citizens Brigade in NYC, have created something very weird. Belle & Bernice are two sisters in the Big Apple, ready to go out on the town...with some cajoling.

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Del Close Marathon: "Yes, And..." Saturday

Saturday was a blur of Improv teams continuing the Del Close love by yes-and-ing and creating beats at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, The Hudson Guild, and Urban Stages. Over at the new UCBEast, among a massive line up of more teams, Matt Besser brought his show Improv4Humans from the podcast waves to the new stage in Alphabet City.

But as the day turned to night, I found myself back at the SVA Theater for Gravid Water - one of the most popular and incredible regular shows at The Upright Citizens Brigade in both New York and Los Angeles. The show couples improvisors with actors, and it goes like this:  The actor has memorized a legit play, and the improvisor, who hasn't seen the script or the play, will react to the scripted lines with improvised dialogue. It's a unique way of using "the game" to create a whole new level of improv. Plus, it can get absolutely insane.

Saturday's line up included Adam Pally and Julie Sharbutt who worked off the play Jailbait. Michael O'Brien and Tami Sagher did Sister of the Winter Madrigal. Jonathan Kaplan and John Lutz performed Painting X's on the Moon. Finally, Matt Walsh and Sandy Rustin enacted a scene from I Used to Write on Walls. Brilliant moments from Pally and Cross as their clueless off-the-cuff reaction to written dialogue propelled the action on stage in moments of genius.

With not much else to do but say "screw it" and wait on the long line at UCB, I headed over to the main place and eventually got in for the pre-midnight shows. This meant, that with the 12:00 Midnight theatre cleaning, where everyone gets kicked out and made to wait back on the long, long, line  outside. Leaving at midnight to face a mile long wait meant that I wasn't getting into The Benson Interruption, Match Game 76, and Sex In the City for Dudes. Oh well. The sadness is - the holy grail of DCM is Match Game; however, with  no Jack McBrayer again this year being degraded in hilarious good sportsmanship as the contestant all the faux celebrities love to hate, it's just not the same.

So, as mentioned, I made it in time for pre-midnight improv. Within that time block I saw the amazing NYC team The Chairman ...

...and ended my night with Ben Schwartz and his team Snowpants, a second performance for the weekend that was indeed a "sausage fest" but with the best sausages around: Schwartz, Walsh, Besser, Roberts, Adam Pally and Gil Ozeri.
 

The Del Close Marathon of 2012 ended for me that evening. Sunday was a busy day filled with catching up with friends and family before I headed back to Los Angeles. There were so many teams I would loved to have seen from around the nation and the globe. I didn't get to attend the regular shows Death by Roo Roo, Law Firm, The Stepfathers, The NY Mets Monoscene or Wicked Fuckin' Queeyah. I even missed Amy Poehler in ASSSSCAT.  But there will be new line ups, new teams and new scenes next year. And The Upright Citizens Brigade puts on the best shows in the world all year 'round.

Del Close Marathon 14 Weekend: Friday - "Spread the Love of Improv"

The 14th Annual Del Close Marathon happened this weekend in hot, sticky NYC at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. What would a 72 hour, non-stop cavalcade of improv groups from around the country and beyond, locked underground in a dark, leaky theater be without the temperature rising to 90 degrees and humidity clinging to your lungs? It might be uncomfortable waiting in the sun for hours just to watch Del Close's technique of The Harold unfold in that dank space, but it's worth the wait when you get into the theater and funny magic occurs.

As much as I admire the UCB, lack of time and the worry of heat stroke meant that I could only attend some shows - mostly the performances that were off site at the School of Visual Arts Theater a few blocks away. Here's an overview of some of the hilarity I encountered during the weekend starting with...


 Friday, June 29th: Press Conference: "Andy Dick is a Force of Nature"

The marathon kicked off at the Friday press conference with co-founders Matt Besser,  Matt Walsh and Ian Roberts greeting bloggers and journalists with an interactive audience discussion regarding how many people have been hit on by Andy Dick. Now, I've been in a few ASSSSCAT audiences where the guys kick off this survey - both in New York and L.A. - and in one given group of people, no matter on what side of America I've been, there are always at least 10 random attendees who've been sexually harassed by Mr. Dick.  Second in line in the pantheon of shag predator is funnily enough - Jeff Goldblum, a virtual dark horse in this race - who has come up from behind, as another celebrity whose strange encounters with regular humans are so prevelent, that in one given space, at least three people have a "Jeff Goldblum Hit on Me" story.

The DCM already started off on a different foot when the event itself was held earlier in the year than usual. Always a late July - August perennial, there was speculation among the bloggers and media present that June was an amiable time for the L.A. UCBers who are unable to attend due to late summer production schedules. Not so, as per Besser, Roberts and Walsh. It turns out that various venues, such as FIT, where other improv shows are held, were simply not available later this summer, hence the early dates. Even co-founder Amy Poehler, who hasn't attended the DCM press conference since I've been going, was unable to attend most of the weekend despite the early dates, since she is currently filming a movie. She did, however, participate in the ASSSSCAT show at FIT on Sunday, and also joined the other founders to record commentary for the upcoming season three DVD of their cult TV show Upright Citizens Brigade due to be released this Fall.

The conference continued and ladies in comedy was discussed. The usual questions were asked, spurned by the many controversial commentaries of late, on how men out number women in comedy.  Besser mentioned that women are always welcome in comedy, it's just that more men then women pursue it. (However, cries of "Sausage Fest!" hit the Instagram and Twitter feeds during Ben Schwartz's all boys show Snowpants.)
Also mentioned were how podcasts are killing it on the internet now, with members and friends of the UCB creating off the cuff, Improv shows that are going from streaming to television such as Comedy Bang Bang. Yet, as Besser, Walsh and Roberts mentioned, the beauty of the podcast is its outreach. Comedy fans who don't live in L.A. or New York are able to share the experience.

The nitty gritty of Improv was dissected as they discussed what "Working on the top of your intelligence means", what truly is "the game" and how a new wave of ironic detachment has swept the internet where impassive viewing of people doing dumb things for laughs is seeping into the comedy culture. Del would shed tears in his grave if he knew.

When Del was on his last few days on earth, Poehler, Besser, Walsh and Roberts were in the midst of filming Upright Citizens Brigade for Comedy Central. As he lay dieing in hospital room, Close decided to invite all his friends and students in one big goodbye party. They UCB Four asked their film crew to come along and document the event. It was here where he told them to "spread the love of improvisation".



Del Close is the Hare Krishna of comedy. He's the Guru of modern day, unhacky, intelligent and even super dumb laughs. For every SNL sketch, every funny movie, every single camera sitcom that has succeeded and made you snort- from John Belushi to Mike Meyers, from Gilda Radner to Tina Fey, from Will Farrell to Andy Sandberg - Del Close's technique of "Yes And...", "Follow the Fear" and every technique that unleashes organic, unforced comedy seen in humor today is linked to him. That is why his life is celebrated. If you love today's comedy, you have Del Close to thank.

Post Press Conference: And the Fun Begins: 

The weekend officially opened with Bangarang, one of the greatest super groups of Improv at UCB Los Angeles.  Now, there are no stars in Improv. It's an equal opportunity comedy show. Everyone helps to create a scene, heighten it, and then support each other so nothing falls through the cracks. But two words...BETSY SODARO!  This lady is a hilarious, odd, lovely funny lady who is a show stopper.

Doppleganger. Now, here's something you don't see very often in comedy. Three African American woman in an Improv group. This is pure bliss. These ladies are refreshing, hilarious, talented, brilliant women who are just as tight, foul mouthed and amazing as any dude out there. They should be given their own comedy show on Adult Swim or IFC. NOW!

I missed the hilarious team Stepfathers. Everyone was buzzing
on how their set was mind blowing. Their Improv was based on the suggestion "Rewind". They proceeded to create scenes that in turn went backwards to the beginning.  Ugh! That sounds amazing! Drats! However, I did see 30 Rock stars Scott Adsit and John Lutz perform their Improv act at SVA which was a mix of hilarity and heart. (Leave it to Adsit to provide those lovely emotional pauses, and Lutz to provide a zinger.)

The Chris Gethard Show is a public Manhattan access cable show originally performed at the UCB.  Gethard's weird gathering of odd people boarding on circus freaks is always interesting. I've enjoyed the program as it streams on the web Wednesday nights, but Friday night's show felt like a mixture of surreal wonder and a line up of camp activities at a Chuck e Cheese for Improv hipsters.  I've seen playgrounds more mellow than this show. But, there were balloons for all, and I didn't get hit by one of the exercise balls contestants threw at Gethard's crotch while he stood atop two garbage bins. WIN!

And as the glow-in-the-dark neck hoops, thrown from Gethard's nutty parade of weirdos,  faded out,  so did my Friday night.

Phew!  I need a breather. Next up, my Saturday!

Upright Citizens Brigade on 'Rock Plaza' Tomorrow Night

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The Chris Gethard Show

Maybe you watched Jimmy Fallon the other night. Perhaps you witnessed an appearance by the funny Chris Gethard who spoke enthusiastically about his public cable access show The Chris Gethard Show. Maybe you're interested in knowing what the hell that is. Well, here it is - a nine minute taste of the mayhem, insanity and disgusting behavior of young, funny comedians who somehow got loose from the UCB Theatre in New York. Check who's looking over your shoulder and mind your volume. This is NSFW.



For more on Chris on his show - check out his web page: http://thechrisgethardshow.com/

Then check out his book A Bad Idea I'm About to Do: True Tales of Seriously Poor Judgement and Stunningly Awkward Adventures.

Upright Citizens Brigade - the Los Angeles Version

For some New Yorkers and general Americans or people of other countries, Los Angeles appears to be a world of fake boobs, spray tans, plastic surgery, Lindsay Lohan amber alerts and getting groped "hello" by Andy Dick. I believe that only a fraction of this is true. For me, LA harbors some amazing comedic talent in the country. Many of them started in New York, and due to pilot season, TV development deals and other career opportunities, made the move out west. Yet, when they aren't appearing in a sitcom or film, they still work on stage and create comedy in intimate environs.



Heaps of articles on The Upright Citizens Brigade are written here because, like Juan Valdez who grows the richest coffee in Columbia, the theater harvests the best comedians on television and film today. Once they become big shots on 30 Rock or SNL, they still come back to entertain us little people as if they've never left - because they are basically funny, cool humans.

I've been at UCBLA many times, but I returned last week to haunt the theater in Hollywood to sort of bone up for next weekend's Del Close Marathon at UCB in New York. I caught some of my favorite left coast shows that are must see entertainment.

Here is what I saw with my own eyes:

ASSSSCAT 3000

UCB is known for Improv. They teach it. They worship it. The theater does some amazing sketch, but its building blocks rest on the many Improv teams that perform on both coasts. ASSSSCAT, to me, is the big granddaddy of Improv at the theater. It's performed each weekend at UCBLA and UCBNYC (check site because each coast has a different schedule) where a guest monologist tells a story based on an audience member's suggestion launching three or four beats (beats are kind of like scenes). What makes it amazing is that the guest for the evening could be anyone. Seth Meyers, John Krasinski, Billy Bragg, Will Arnett - anyone. Last Saturday's show had comedian Jen Kirkman, and her stories about her trip to France were hilarious, prompting funny scene work from Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, Sean Conroy, Danielle Schneider and Andy Daly. And by the way....they all have some TV projects coming up:

• Ian Roberts and Danielle Schneider are in Players, which has returned to Spike TV on Wednesdays.

• Matt Besser's This Show Will Get You High will be on Comedy Central during the 2010-2011 season. It follows the UCB as they do sketch comedy on the road. Besser will be previewing the show at the Del Close Marathon next Friday. More to come once I've clapped eyes on it then.

• Andrew Daly will be appearing in the upcoming NBC series The Paul Reiser Show.

Crash Test

Rob Huebel and Paul Scheer host Crash Test on the first and third Mondays of every month. It's basically orgasmic comedy. Paul and Rob have such a solid friendship and comedic chemistry that they are kind like two funny beasts with one back (but not in the sex way). They banter, rant, rave, laugh, talk about anything. But what also makes Crash Test so special is the audience. Many members of the crowd are regular attendees who have some back and forth discussion with Huebel and Scheer. These people are regaled with "baby"nicknames such as "Baby Stargazer", "Baby Twilight", "Baby Glenn Beck". Then, there is Frank Howley, (I call him "Baby Frank" - likely an unofficial baby name) who comes to every show (at least when I'm there) and sits in the same seat, first row, on stage. Woven between the audience banter, on stage antics and videos is a lineup of funny stand up comedians who take the laughter up a notch. Monday's show welcomed Heather Thomas, John Wengert, Sean Conroy and Rob Delaney.

Paul and Rob have upcoming TV projects already mentioned on this blog. Yet, mentioning it again won't hurt:

• Rob Huebel is currently appearing in the original web episodes of Children's Hospital on Adult Swim. The brand new second series of this very funny show will premiere in August - same channel.

• Paul Scheer will also be appearing in Children's Hospital new bunch of episodes, and will be returning in FX's The League this Fall.

Comedy Death Ray Podcast

Podcasts are busting with comedy talk shows, but Comedy Death Ray's weekly internet radio show, hosted by Scott Aukerman, mixes up the format with characters, sketch and straightforward interviews. It streams on Indie103.1 each Friday at 12noon PT/3pm ET. Once in a while, Scott will take the podcast live as he did on Tuesday night before Comedy Death Ray's weekly standard show, when he hosted a pre-Comic Con edition of CDR Radio with comic writer Gail Simone and comedian Paul F. Tompkins, known for his CDR characterizations of Ice Tea, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and TLC' s Cake Boss. My quick iPhone photo is above.

Comedy Death Ray

Proceeding Aukerman's Comedy Death Ray Radio Live was Comedy Death Ray itself - a weekly showcase of stand up and sketch. I was lucky to have gone on this particular Tuesday since David Spade and Louis CK dropped in to do some material. In between the comedians Jen Kirman, Kumail Nunjiani, Greg Berendt and Chris Hardwicke was UCB's own Jon Daly as Bill Cosby Bukowski, reading from his selection of Jello Pudding stories which made me loose a chunk of my lung from traumatic laughter.

• Watch Chris Hardwicke on G4's Web Soup.
  

Facebook

Every Wednesday at UCBLA the lucky people of Los Angeles can see Facebook - because they can. I wish we had this in New York. Sometimes I think I'm moving to this the west coast (next year, in fact) just so I can sit in the audience of this show every week. Two audience members are selected from the audience to share their Facebook accounts and Improv is performed based on their photos and stories. Last Wednesday's line up was out a few people. Paul Scheer usually participates, but I believe Comic Con took him away and regular Seth Morris was out, but Huebel, Chad Carter and Owen Burke, as usual, made Improv look so simple. (It isn't, but it's fun.)

So that's what I did on my summer vacation. I basically did what I do during the year when I can get to LA and did it even more. The excitement is rising for the Del Close Marathon next week, so more fun in the land of Improv will be had. I'll cover it here.

Upright Citizens Brigade

Over the years, The Upright Citizens Brigade has developed a talent pool for TV and film producers looking for new faces. Many an alumni have been plucked up for television and film. Jenny Slate (SNL), Bobby Moynihan (SNL), Donald Glover (Community) and Aubrey Plaza (Parks and Rec) are just a small example of UCB people who were performing at the theater as regulars recently as last year and have moved on to Hollywood projects; yet, they continue to be part of the UCB community.

I've just completed Improv 101 at Upright Citizens Brigade myself. It was not only a major blast to learn the basics of long form Improv (aka The Harold) created by Del Close, but it was a profound practice in trust, concentration and the weird, magic creation of scenes that are collectively produced, on the spot, by different imaginations. The result is usually hilarious, or not. But that's the beauty of the process. It's not a practice of telling jokes, but the job of working at "the top of your intelligence". You create a truthful situation, and humor can be produced organically as each member of a team builds and heightens a scene to bizarre levels.

UCB's training center devotes itself to perpetuating Close's teachings in a comfortable, non-intimidating way. It has been my refuge from the drugeries of life, and I can't wait to continue to the next level of work. In fact, I plan on going as far as a can in the UCB firmament. Who knows? And that's the beauty of it.

Some of the UCB trainees who could be the next familiar face on television were featured in NYTimes this weekend. No, I'm not one of them (I guess they weren't there the days I was slamming against walls at the Training Center.) Still...it's a nice display of people holding the Improv flame: Clown College, The Manhattan College.

Here are some videos of UCB performances like Asssscat and MySpace (now Facebook) that have inspired me to sign up for training. The videos might not load up on this site using Firefox. If they don't, just click on the titles to go to original site. Or - to watch more UCB comedy, go over to www.ucbcomedy.com


Asssscat


MySpace: Dreaming of Sharks


MySpace: Picture Time