tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36261284101493687262024-03-12T11:25:50.680-07:00The UCB Comedy BlogThe official blog of UCBcomedy.com, the video site of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre!WillieBHineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15477426140646925262noreply@blogger.comBlogger222125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-27182939993405105122012-03-28T06:42:00.002-07:002012-04-12T13:10:05.136-07:00UCB's Matt Walsh Plays Mr. Bates in Downtown Arby's Video<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><a href="http://screen.yahoo.com/downton-arby-s-28723019.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfI_8wsj-NsyiYCrtuOEsFh1HjgX56m7ZBALRRnY5p2muS42htT8YtsY_E5bJkKc9oSfwPC-kI3J9_f7H9ht6rIcOl_wFfCOkFjrqwagBXwdF9BUic9vFfxkQpQpklhpYEXZRAX-Xe_lM/s320/Screen+shot+2012-03-28+at+9.34.10+AM.png" width="320" /></a><a href="http://screen.yahoo.com/downton-arby-s-28723019.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>Julie Gomezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14359269594968069489noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-14343385228975612792012-03-23T13:12:00.003-07:002012-04-12T13:08:00.749-07:00KONY 2012 from UCB's Horatio Sanz - New Video<object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/LoGvyWz_OMQ?version=3&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/LoGvyWz_OMQ?version=3&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object>Todd Bieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04715552186089385891noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-56581960787211951522012-03-21T18:33:00.000-07:002012-03-21T18:33:15.297-07:00Rob Michael Hugel on I Hate Being Single<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dm8DeJiVJDEuOzTWKAX07gTEOEZ9RmeTNB3Wnj6lUAPKjNKcSkfCCufCCX0QBxIhG8Pr_ubQgxCeMLbFbE1Fg2d3lsld6rN5xJX31v3nAQZ82BYafxz_vyboaDWZFd7xnFRSF29FLNM/s1600/photo-full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #222222; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dm8DeJiVJDEuOzTWKAX07gTEOEZ9RmeTNB3Wnj6lUAPKjNKcSkfCCufCCX0QBxIhG8Pr_ubQgxCeMLbFbE1Fg2d3lsld6rN5xJX31v3nAQZ82BYafxz_vyboaDWZFd7xnFRSF29FLNM/s320/photo-full.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://ihatebeingsingleseries.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">I Hate Being Single</a>, a video web series created and starred by <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/talent/view/8453" target="_blank">Rob Michael Hugel</a>, follows the life of an unfortunate young man living in Brooklyn without a lady to call his own. The series has been circulating the web and landing on websites like Splitsider and The Gothamist. I wanted a little piece of the action so I found him online.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>me: </b></span><span style="font-family: Arial;">let's gchat this up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Your web series, I Hate Being Single is great!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <b>Rob: </b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you so much!</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><b><span style="font-family: Arial;">me: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">The response from viewers has been very positive</span>.<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The show has a very personal point of view, were you expecting so many people to respond to it in the way that they did?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rob: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I can't say I expected people to respond a certain way. There was a while when writing and producing episodes where I kept thinking... I HOPE people like it. Writing from such a personal point of view, I was sometimes afraid they would look and say, "what the hell is he talking about?" or "what makes him so special that his life deserves a show?" or something like that. But what drove me to do it anyway was thinking about shows I like, and how personal they are. Freaks and Geeks, Seinfeld. The shows I like the most are where you watch and can see that this MUST have come from somewhere real in someone's life.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">me: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Something that makes this series stand out, besides the fact that it is quite funny, is that it seems like you invested a lot in the production value: the song, the opening, the brand; everything is top notch. Was this a goal from the beginning?</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial;">Rob: </span></b><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Thank you! Yes, it was the goal to invest (time not money) in the entire process of the show from top to bottom. I took a while just brainstorming ideas and adding them into the pot. I want the show to resemble TV or film in every way possible besides the length of time. I'm a stickler for quality, especially the basics of sound, lighting, and editing. My rule is, if it's something that was written and planned to film, then there's no excuse for distracting quality errors. It doesn't cost much more and there are people out there who do it for free if you can find them through friends/networking</span>.<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span> </span>If I am taking the time to write it, produce it, and put it on the internet where potentially millions could see it, I want to make it look as good as I possibly can so it has the best potential of being seen/accepted by the "internet"</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">aka WORLD.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><b>me: </b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">So what does the future hold for fictional Rob and real Rob?</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"> <b>Rob: </b> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">Fictional Rob still has some rough times ahead... He'll have a few bad nights, an uncomfortable party, another date gone wrong, he might find his place at the end of the season though, His ex might come back into the picture, he might join an underground group of outcast single dudes in Brooklyn.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Real Rob is very busy trying to keep the release of the series going strong, I'd like to work on season 2 as soon as the editing process is complete. I'm starting to pitch around to different places with ideas. Besides that, working on a comedy career on stage and continuing maude night, and doing stand-up. I'd like to pursue stand up more seriously in the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Check out the videos, FB, Twitter, and official website below!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://ihatebeingsingleseries.com/" target="_blank">Official link to the I Hate Being Single Website</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.Twitter.com/ihatebeingsingl" target="_blank">Twitter</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ihatebeingsingleseries" target="_blank">Facebook</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://blip.tv/ihatebeingsingle/pilot-episode-that-s-love-5874779" target="_blank">Episode 1</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://blip.tv/ihatebeingsingle/episode-2-i-m-a-mature-5988573" target="_blank">Episode 2</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://blip.tv/ihatebeingsingle/episode-3-the-banker-6019399" target="_blank">Episode 3</a></span></div>
<br />Julie Gomezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14359269594968069489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-45196341259306254942012-03-09T10:21:00.011-08:002012-03-09T11:01:06.224-08:00"Things That Seem Normal When You Live Alone" Interview with the Writer and Director<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ72xSVodDPWPkBzk1jsnDC1Cm1bK9vCT49D5WLDCcqyXDZd38Q-_X7IwP8gM7lv_p-pON1TRhBL6-TjwbJ1rhQ1ezBHgsLXQICXzpcvbnZ04CWViyJ8iVn7sItDext3EWSGD91yuPFFiD/s1600/photo+1.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ72xSVodDPWPkBzk1jsnDC1Cm1bK9vCT49D5WLDCcqyXDZd38Q-_X7IwP8gM7lv_p-pON1TRhBL6-TjwbJ1rhQ1ezBHgsLXQICXzpcvbnZ04CWViyJ8iVn7sItDext3EWSGD91yuPFFiD/s200/photo+1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717964931484268370" border="0" /></a><br /><br /> <style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Cambria; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} -</style><span style="font-size:100%;">Horse+Horse, one of the video BETA teams at UCBcomedy, has had some popularity on the web for their first video released, <a href="http://youtu.be/Yv_uwzlpx4A">Things that Seem Normal When You Live Alone</a>. The video has generated tons of positive feedback by fans relating to the perks of living solo.</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">I found Melinda Taub, Director and Writer of the video, on gchat today so, naturally, I requested an interview.</span><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> hey melinda, do you have a minute?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> sure</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> congrats on your video</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> thanks! we’re pleased. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> I wanted to do a quick interview with you about it, is that ok?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> ha, sure.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> great so can we do it now?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> now’s good.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> cool. So you live alone?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> I do.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> And so this is you in the video, correct? I can only assume.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> I plead the fifth. No, some of it is me, but most of it is heightened from what I actually do. I have been known to leave chicken defrosting in a pot in the bathtub, but not with me in it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> Nice. Seems to be getting really good feedback on the web, I don’t think you are alone.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> Yes, some of the commenters on Jezebel are concerned I’m going to get food poisoning, I think. It’s OK, guys! I’m eccentric but sanitary.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me:</b> I was also talking about the fans that strongly relate to farting and peeing with the door open.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda: </b>Ha, yeah. That struck a chord, I think. It’s one of the nicer things about living alone. You don’t have to spare anyone’s delicate sensibilities.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWc-6rx1MBfN3c170hZIE4XIbVZXj-usFj_w6NMf0u6t8zxQ7_6eZnQ6Ua1bAONDEOzme3COJYw4UzgP5M04vOSm4k44lou45GOVY1ZSVqly1lqHF5nabe0uHs5f8xet2zRwbGM-bx5Mx/s1600/photo+2.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiWc-6rx1MBfN3c170hZIE4XIbVZXj-usFj_w6NMf0u6t8zxQ7_6eZnQ6Ua1bAONDEOzme3COJYw4UzgP5M04vOSm4k44lou45GOVY1ZSVqly1lqHF5nabe0uHs5f8xet2zRwbGM-bx5Mx/s200/photo+2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717964993410128450" border="0" /></a> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me: </b>How long did it take you to film this?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda: </b>It took about five hours to shoot. We knocked it out on a Saturday morning/early afternoon in my apartment. Which I cleaned like a maniac, because people were coming over, and then had to re-mess for the video.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This one was the first thing I ever directed, but is was a total team effort, even more than these things usually are. Moujan [Producer], Kent [Editor], and Patrick [DP] were really the ones who made this as hilarious as it was. It was sort of ideal of how a BETA team should work: I had this idea, and everyone figured out how to shape it and fill it with funny stuff. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">me: </b>So does Laura do yoga? Or was that a pretty dangerous stunt?</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span><br /></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Melinda:</b> She does do yoga. No Laura’s were harmed in the making of this video.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTBJiVgNguOh4dTqpq9oHlHKrtiUfdGseCNP8qK-6GIIp0muXWCTOBnMwbQInTNw4bQ2SezqUeWytGJ2DA4koHfFWlSfbytXueiX3Lbj1C5WFeYDg-ZUbu_2IblToRd6_rJQTkczYuI69/s1600/photo+3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTBJiVgNguOh4dTqpq9oHlHKrtiUfdGseCNP8qK-6GIIp0muXWCTOBnMwbQInTNw4bQ2SezqUeWytGJ2DA4koHfFWlSfbytXueiX3Lbj1C5WFeYDg-ZUbu_2IblToRd6_rJQTkczYuI69/s200/photo+3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5717965199729577906" border="0" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">(Creepy guy in the back is Patrick, the DP.)<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Check out and subscribe to this video and other BETA teams’ videos here!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://http//www.youtube.com/ucbcomedy">http://www.youtube.com/ucbcomedy</a><br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p>Todd Bieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04715552186089385891noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-9308704225239302242011-08-10T12:13:00.001-07:002011-08-10T12:16:34.353-07:00Watch Matt Besser in Master ClassMatt Besser has created a new UCB Series.
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<br />Learn from The MASTER.
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<br />The students of the UCB Improv Master Class must vote out one member. Part 1 in the series.
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<br />The Master Class students must adopt the names of their comedic heroes.
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<br />The Master Class students do some gibberish exercises.
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<br />Todd Bieberhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04715552186089385891noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-44821712017756105902011-04-04T17:52:00.000-07:002011-04-04T18:10:08.433-07:00Trailer Released for Matt Walsh's "High Road"<iframe title="YouTube video player" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/W0jE_1V8S8I" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" width="640"></iframe><br /><br />Check out the trailer for <a href="http://highroadmovie.com/#%21/pages/home.php"><span style="font-style: italic;">High Road</span></a> -- a "totally improvised comedy...sort of" -- created and directed by Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder Matt Walsh. <br /><br />The film features a bonkers cast that includes Rob Riggle, James Pumphrey, Lizzy Caplan, Abby Elliot, Joe Lo Truglio, Rich Fulcher, Horatio Sanz, Dylan O'Brien, Zach Woods, Matt Jones, Ed Helms and Kyle Gass.<br /><br />The film will make its debut later this month at the <a href="http://www.newportbeachfilmfest.com/2011/">Newport Beach Film Festival</a>. Keep updated on showings through the film's <a href="http://highroadmovie.com/#%21/pages/home.php">website</a> and <a href="http://www.facebook.com/highroadmovie?v=photos">Facebook page</a>.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-32623398369237721232011-02-08T10:15:00.000-08:002011-02-08T19:27:11.886-08:00NBC Orders Presentation from Parham and St. ClairAccording to <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/nbc-picks-up-lennon-parhamjessica-st-clair-comedy-presentation/">Deadline</a>, NBC has ordered a presentation of a new single-camera comedy written by and starring UCB superstars <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/155/lennon-parham">Lennon Parham</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/181/jessica-st-clair">Jessica St. Clair</a>. <a href="http://www.deadline.com/2011/02/nbc-picks-up-lennon-parhamjessica-st-clair-comedy-presentation/">Check it out.</a><br /><br />Fingers crossed this show will be part of next year's Thursday line-up!Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-27002469188359634212011-01-06T06:37:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:45:43.263-08:00Behind the Scenes with Bored Cops!<table style="font-family: arial;" width="640" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/7524/bored-cops-i-spy" target="_blank">BORED COPS: I Spy</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/5eba6801764ded9ac782516265613098"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/5eba6801764ded9ac782516265613098" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="390"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/series"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bored Cops</span></a> is a new UCB Comedy web series written by and starring UCBNY favorites <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/25/anthony-king">Anthony King</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/166/jim-santangeli">Jim Santangeli</a>, as exactly that: cops keeping themselves occupied during a never-ending stakeout.<br /><br />"From what I understand, cops can be on stakeouts for really long stretches of time," says director <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/33/nate-smith">Nate Smith</a>. "Sometimes for 20-30 years. Sometimes a detective's whole career is just one stakeout, then he retires."<br /><br />UCB Comedy grabbed a moment with Anthony, Jim and Nate to discuss their very funny web series.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTbsz6x3u-O2TDJoHhAB6U0K_qx0ZxoAHhJnxMYS9strn8yfFNqUnKYn4wCXdsk8cvdB4FMY2l6sqFy7dKP67s9rNd2K5BrK4gkv0Zn4PnoAE2gvZB0dGda5OFb2KpkcJJ4SBNYVUFQ/s1600/Bored_Cops-IMG_0160.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWTbsz6x3u-O2TDJoHhAB6U0K_qx0ZxoAHhJnxMYS9strn8yfFNqUnKYn4wCXdsk8cvdB4FMY2l6sqFy7dKP67s9rNd2K5BrK4gkv0Zn4PnoAE2gvZB0dGda5OFb2KpkcJJ4SBNYVUFQ/s400/Bored_Cops-IMG_0160.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559088878986569010" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">On set with "Bored Cops</span>"</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">What was the inspiration behind <span style="font-style: italic;">Bored Cops</span>? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim:</span> This idea was Anthony's. He approached me saying, "I have this idea I want to do with you. It's about two cops on a stakeout with nothing to do." I thought that was a fun, simple idea and said, "Sure, sounds fun." Then he said, "Oh my God! Really? You'll do it with me? I'm such a huge fan of yours. You are so funny and handsome AND THIN!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony:</span> I think I can speak for Jim when I say that if we were not doing comedy, we would be cops. We know almost nothing about what it is really like to be a cop, but the things we've imagined all sound really fun. Did you know that cops get to use guns? Seems dangerous!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nate:</span> I'm pretty sure Jim and Anthony said to themselves, "What idea would Nate Smith be really good at directing?" And they built the series around that. They had the same thought with <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6837/craigslist-caterers">Craigslist Caterers</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How many episodes are planning to shoot?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony:</span> We have shot eight episodes so far. We're calling that the "first season" because for some reason things like this are grouped into "seasons." Hopefully we'll make a second season soon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6852VJpURLOg0wIEHT02qJrJ6mZo6gWYy8-DW0n4PHZE1kbtm5zY3x9R9-v-WOop5-gGJ5fVXEY9F6rUmpVMiey7d1sDy41OusdgUfY2f0mSyKlJaXJo7rB5nmeKVkJIC7SbLkwtuA/s1600/Bored_Cops-IMG_0186.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6852VJpURLOg0wIEHT02qJrJ6mZo6gWYy8-DW0n4PHZE1kbtm5zY3x9R9-v-WOop5-gGJ5fVXEY9F6rUmpVMiey7d1sDy41OusdgUfY2f0mSyKlJaXJo7rB5nmeKVkJIC7SbLkwtuA/s400/Bored_Cops-IMG_0186.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559089202044703970" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Director Nate Smith with Jim Santangeli and Anthony King</span></span><br /></div><br /><div class="im"><span style="font-weight: bold;">When have you been the most bored in your life? </span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jim:</span> I feel like I am never bored, but then again I think I have bad habits when I'm bored. Like eating, for example. So, I must be bored all the time. Because I eat all the time. This is honestly an innocent question that just made me feel like I need some serious therapy. I will say this, there is an episode about to come out about a birthday cake that we throw away. If I was bored, I would not throw that cake away. That cake could help me kill hours of time (or at least minutes). Thanks for depressing me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nate:</span> If there [was] 100 percent more masturbation in the show, then it would feature my primary boredom-fighting technique. But this show is about Jim and Anthony's techniques. There were some cross-overs from their anti-boredom styles to my own, but that one didn't make it. Singing did. I sing a lot. That episode is to come. <div><br /></div>I have been super-bored -- SUPER-bored -- in my life. One time I went to a funeral viewing that started at 1pm and ended at 6pm. Five hours of boredom-cake, iced with sadness-frosting. If we had an episode where the guys talk about how they'd like to make a funeral entertaining for five hours, that one would be based on my technique from that day. But this show is about Jim and Anthony's techniques.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anthony:</span> I believe that boredom is all around us. You just have to look for it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you haven't watched all four episodes of Bored Cops, check them out on <a href="http://ucbcomedy.com/">UCB Comedy</a>.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Episodes are released every Thursday.</span>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-81493257625115997592010-11-19T06:57:00.000-08:002010-11-22T11:13:58.800-08:00Interview: Vag Magazine<iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/17069048?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ba4ad9" width="400" frameborder="0" height="300"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/17069048">Vag Magazine Episode 6: "Revelling/Reckoning"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4830636">Vag Magazine</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><br /></p><p><span>Today's video releases include the <a href="http://tigerbeatdown.com/2010/11/17/but-what-will-happen-on-the-vag-finale/#more-2362" target="_blank">highly-anticipated</a> season finale of <a href="http://www.vagmagazine.tv/" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">Vag Magazine</span></a></span><span>, the web series about a feminist magazine funded by one really spectacular Etsy sale. The series, created by UCBNY mainstays </span>(and sketch teachers)<span> <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/901/leila-cohan" target="_blank">Leila Cohan-Miccio </a>and </span><span><a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/197/caitlin-tegart" target="_blank">Caitlin Tegart</a>, has been receiving a lot of Internet buzz, including coverage from <a href="http://msmagazine.com/blog/blog/2010/11/17/feminists-joking-about-feminism-a-chat-with-vag-magazines-creators/" target="_blank">Ms. Magazine</a>, <a href="http://thegloss.com/culture/we-talked-to-the-creator-of-vag-magazine/" target="_blank">The Gloss</a>, <a href="http://crushable.com/other-stuff/video-vag-magazine-discovers-menstrual-cups/" target="_blank">Crushable</a>, <a href="http://crushable.com/other-stuff/video-vag-magazine-discovers-menstrual-cups/" target="_blank">Tres Sugar</a>, <a href="http://jezebel.com/5666925/introducing-vag-magazine" target="_blank">Jezebel</a>, <a href="http://www.afterellen.com/people/2010/10/vag-magazine-is-a-webseries-with-funny-feminist-content" target="_blank">After Ellen</a> and more!</span></p><p>Prior to her foray into menstrual bucket humor, Caitlin wrote the UCB sketch show <span style="font-style: italic;">How Rude: Tim & D'Arcy Find the 90s</span> and the one-act play <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6939/waiting-for-obama" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic;">Waiting for Obama: A Night at the Hall of Presidents</span></a>. The latter show made a West Coast journey to UCBLA and the San Francisco SketchFest and was featured on Sirius XM Raw Dog Comedy. Caitlin currently writes for ESPN.com's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Pretty Good Sports Show</span>, the weekend sketch show <span style="font-style: italic;">Beneath Gristedes</span> and the Beta team <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/groups/view/143/diamonds-wow" target="_blank">Diamonds, Wow!</a>. Caitlin has also served as writer and director for the <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/1425">Maude team</a> Stone Cold Fox.<br /><br />Leila currently writes for the <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/1425">Maude team</a> High Treason. She wrote <span style="font-style: italic;">This Is About Smith</span>, a sketch show about Smith College that enjoyed a six-month run on the UCBNY stage. The experience marked the first Tegart/Cohan-Miccio collaboration, as Caitlin directed the show. <span style="font-style: italic;">This Is About Smith</span>'s cast now forms the core of <span style="font-style: italic;">Vag Magazine</span>: <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/320/sarah-claspell">Sarah Claspell</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1278/nicole-drespel">Nicole Drespel</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1342/jocelyn-guest">Jocelyn Guest</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/715/kate-mckinnon">Kate McKinnon</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1250/veronica-osorio">Veronica Osorio</a>.<br /><span> </span></p><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_OoQIV1SO-_X72WJXGRqgrcIa2jnU2EACp1ZujTY-6fRMCI05HXqsX8B0ics_HiC0LKlNyweRwYbEKNbXN1hxxt_e1sazSW_FI5XuqQXeFccBaWAKu97OA2SnxmKgaqOqpfjcLXPJQ/s1600/-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_OoQIV1SO-_X72WJXGRqgrcIa2jnU2EACp1ZujTY-6fRMCI05HXqsX8B0ics_HiC0LKlNyweRwYbEKNbXN1hxxt_e1sazSW_FI5XuqQXeFccBaWAKu97OA2SnxmKgaqOqpfjcLXPJQ/s400/-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541823127698653202" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Caitlin Tegart and Leila Cohan-Miccio (logo by <a href="http://ramseyess.com/">Ramsey Ess</a>)</span><br /><br /><br /></div>UCB Comedy sat down with Leila and Caitlin and discussed the multiple definitions of the word "partner," creating a web series and attracting corporate sponsorship to their project.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You’ve said that you created <span style="font-style: italic;">Vag Magazine</span> to continue working with the cast of your UCBNY stage show, <span style="font-style: italic;">This Is About Smith</span>. How far along in the run did you start working on the series?</span><br /><br />CT: It was about six months into the run or so into working with the full cast. Thank you, by the way, for reading our other interviews.<br /><br />LCM: An interviewer asked us the other day if we were lesbian partners.<br /><br />CT: It was so good. She goes, “Are you guys partners?” This was a conference call, all three of us in different places, with the most staticky connection, and it turns out Leila was making a feast at the time and banging pots and pans and shit.<br /><br />LCM: I was making dinner.<br /><br />CT: So, the woman asks, “Are you guys partners?” and I think Leila was like, “We work together a lot? What do you mean by ‘partners?' Romantic?” And the woman said, “Anything.”<br /><br />LCM: I said, professionally, yes?<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>CT: I guess? Because we wrote this? But not romantically. Then she asked, “Well, so who is a lesbian in the cast?” We were like, “This is not -- OK. Bye.” It was for a lesbian magazine, which you think would be more, I don’t know. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Where did the feminist magazine idea originate?</span><br /><br />CT: It was my idea. I wanted to do something about a feminist magazine because I thought they were funny. My friend from college, Lindsy, and I would always make fun of them -- about how it was mostly vegan sweet potato fry recipes and not a lot of feminist content. And we would always laugh about that together, and I thought, “This could be something great.” But I never had the right platform. When Leila first showed me stuff for <span style="font-style: italic;">This Is About Smith</span>, I thought, “This reminds me of some jokes I wrote down for that.” And initially, I was like, “Oh well.” But then I thought, “Wait! We could all do this together.”<br /><br />LCM: The <span style="font-style: italic;">Smith </span> cast got along ridiculously well and had good chemistry and they’re all such individually unique performers that we wanted to do something with all of them together. As soon as Caitlin brought me the idea, I was so excited because I had been independently making fun of feminist magazines for a long time.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When you created the character of Meghan, the holdover from <span style="font-style: italic;">Gemma</span> (a traditional women's mag), was it your intention to have a character that represents the audience’s “outsider” point of view?</span><br /><br />LCM: I don’t think we came into it with that but we approached it as, what could each actor do really well? And <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/320/sarah-claspell">[Sarah] Claspell</a> had a little bit of that attitude in <span style="font-style: italic;">This Is About Smith</span>. She’s so funny -- she has one of the best “bitch, please” faces.<br /><br />CT: I don’t think I thought about it then. But I am so glad we did it. She’s a strong female character that is not part of their craziness, and I think that’s important to show that we’re not criticizing strong women with ideas. The ideas just have to be good. <span style="font-style: italic;"> (Caitlin laughs.)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Both of you have addressed the media’s obsession with women working in comedy. Caitlin, you said, “Lucille Ball was a female comedian sixty years ago, why is this still a big deal?” Did all this media attention in recent years discourage you or encourage you to write a series about women?</span><br /><br />CT: It didn’t discourage us because we believe in the idea and it’s so funny to us. We’re like every comedian, where if it’s funny to us, we’re like, “Ahhh! Gotta do it.” But it is frustrating that people treat female writers like we’re novel, or “this is out of the blue.”<br /><br />LCM: Or “whaaaaat?”<br /><br />CT: The media is only positive to the extent that it means female writers are getting attention. But it’s like, “We’ve been here.”<br /><br />LCM: I don’t think “I’m a lady writer” instead of “I’m a writer.”<br /><br />CT: I could see people thinking “oh, you do stuff with women” leading to a possible stereotype about my work. But for me, personally, I’m coming off touring the West Coast with seven dudes for <span style="font-style: italic;">Waiting for Obama</span>, so no one can question my cred with working with dudes.<br /><br />LCM: And you do <span style="font-style: italic;">The Pretty Good Sports Show</span>.<br /><br />CT: I have done mostly dude stuff since this project.<br /><br />LCM: I write real girly.<br /><br />CT: I’ve heard people say, the reason that there’s so few female writers for late night is because there are male hosts. There is a correlation between behind the camera and in front of the camera. So it only benefits us as women writers to have more women in front of the camera.<br /><br />LCM: Exactly. When we sat down and started writing this, we didn’t talk about the feminist implications of this show. We sat down and talked about what we thought was funny. But I do think that we’re both into the idea of having a space for women where they could make these huge comedic choices. It bums me out when I watch TV or the movies and the girl is often reduced to playing the girlfriend or just “the girl.”<br /><br />But we’re also not the only people at UCB working with women. <a href="http://www.broadcitytheshow.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span></a>, obviously. A lot of the stage stuff. And <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/152/shannon-oneill">Shannon O’Neill’s</a> show, <span style="font-style: italic;">Prison Freaks</span>, is so -- I’m trying to find another word besides ballsy.<br /><br />CT: Ha! Vagina-y.<br /><br />LCM: Shannon O’Neill is vagina-y.<br /><br />CT: [The <span style="font-style: italic;">Vag</span> character] Fennel probably waits outside of UCB for Shannon to come out and then never speaks to her, runs into Gristedes and sits in there for an hour. She doesn’t want to be embarrassed.<br /><br />Working with Shannon O’Neill was so awesome and I feel like there are people who are royalty on the stage, and people forget to ask them to be in videos. But don’t ask Shannon O’Neill to be in any videos because I want all of her time.<br /><br />LCM: All of it.<br /><br />CT: I do get nervous when we’re represented in the media as the “funniest women of UCB.” Obviously, we’ll take that because it’s good publicity and we love being funny and we love UCB, but it’s like, “This is a FRACTION of what UCB has to offer in terms of female talent.” This isn’t everybody. This isn’t the women’s review of comedy. It’s tiny. When we think about actors -- not even writers or directors we want to work with, which would be a whole other group -- when we think about the actors we want to have on the series? It’s nuts. There’s so many good people; we won’t be able to do it.<br /><br />LCM: We’ll turn into a later season <span style="font-style: italic;">Will & Grace</span> where every time there’s three guest stars per episode.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You've joked a lot about season two, but is it happening?</span><br /><br />LCM: It’s in the works.<br /><br />CT: It’s going to happen one way or another. It’s so funny because Leila and I have put a lot of work going into conferences on digital media and web series, and everyone is like, “<span style="font-style: italic;">Vag Magazine</span>? Funny idea but won’t get brand sponsorship.” I don’t want to say anything specific, but we’ve had brand interest in representing us.<br /><br />LCM: We did not solicit that.<br /><br />CT: That’s been the biggest “fuck you” for us. Having guys -- yeah, I’m going to say it, guys -- tell us that brands won’t like us. And it’s like HA HA!<br /><br />LCM: And if all goes well, we’re hoping to film season two in January and then hopefully release them next spring.<br /><br />CT: We haven’t said anything about <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1543/zach-neumeyer">Zach Neumeyer</a> yet, our director, but he works for UCB Comedy and the UCB Beta team Diamonds Wow, too. As far of the look of the show, and the high standards of what he does -- it’s nuts.<br /><br />LCM: Caitlin and I were ready to borrow random people’s cameras and get a PA to hold a camera. And Zach was like, “This is a good script. What if we did it right?” We were like, oh, okay!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talking about process, as you gear up for season two, how do you work on episodes together? </span><br /><br />CT: I’m not sure how season two will work. During season one and our halcyon days of not knowing anything, we came up with the idea, outlined it, and sat down and wrote the first episode together.<br /><br />LCM: In the training center.<br /><br />CT: And then, I can’t totally remember, but I think I wrote episodes two and four.<br /><br />LCM: We knew what we wanted to happen in each episode, so we divvied up the middle four episodes, wrote it, but did pretty substantial rewrites.<br /><br />CT: We gave each other notes.<br /><br />LCM: It’s funny because sometimes my husband will ask me who wrote a specific line and 70% of the time I have no idea. It helps that we have really similar voices in a lot of ways, so I don’t think it reads like it wasn’t written by two people.<br /><br />CT: Zach also gave us notes.<br /><br />LCM: Zach is a total dude, but he’s been totally on board with all of <span style="font-style: italic;">Vag</span>. He sent us a really funny email the other day, because every episode title is a feminist album, and he sent us this ridiculous list of “outtakes.” He was like, “What about <span style="font-style: italic;">Call the Doctor</span>? <span style="font-style: italic;">All Hands on the Bad One</span>? <span style="font-style: italic;">X-Ray Spex Live At The Roxy</span>?”<br /><br />CT: He was determined to out-reference us.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What has been your favorite feedback from the show?</span><br /><br />LCM: My favorite right now is from a comment on <a href="http://www.afterellen.com/">After Ellen</a>, which is a lesbian blog that has been great to us and has posted all our episodes. On their episode five thread, someone wrote, “Am I the only person who sees something Meghan and Bethany romance blooming? Meghan obviously wants it.” Which I love! It makes me so happy. I was like, we have ’Shippers! We have people rooting for relationships on our show! I can’t ask for anything more than that.<br /><br />CT: My favorite comment was one where the person didn’t know Kate McKinnon’s name but said, “I like the blonde weird one.” Or that one guy who commented on Vimeo that it was ironic that he was attracted to the whole cast. We haven’t gotten any negative feedback that has been “women aren’t funny” or “these chicks are idiots” or “these chicks are ugly” -- even on YouTube.<br /><br />We haven’t gotten a lot of criticism but it is funny when someone my mom’s age will log in and will say, “Thank God someone said it about these young kids” or something. We’ll be like, “This is our age group but okay, fine.”<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What has been the response of older generations?</span><br /><br />LCM: My aunt-in-law is a lovely person who is a lesbian and a feminist, she was talking to me about the show. And she said, “I liked the show but I was shocked at the name of the rival magazine in episode four.” [<span style="font-style: italic;">Cunt</span>.] I think for older women, that’s sort of more of a deal breaker, because it’s such an offensive word.<br /><br />CT: That is true. My Dad’s favorite character is Jaybird, but he won’t say the name of her magazine either. Or remember the name of Jaybird. But he’ll be like, “I like the one that sits at the end of the table at the end of episode four.” And then I knew he didn’t want to say the other word. So I said, “The leader of the other magazine?” And he said, “Yeah, her. That’s my favorite.”<br /><br />LCM: <span style="font-style: italic;">Ms.</span> wrote a nice article about us and there was an immediate response that was a cut and paste from an older feminist that was like “younger feminists don’t appreciate the work we did.” She gave literally no specifics about that.<br /><br />CT: In person, we’ve gotten awesome support. <a href="http://www.susanmillerplaywright.com/">Susan Miller</a>, who was a writer for <span style="font-style: italic;">The L Word </span>and<span style="font-style: italic;"> Thirtysomething</span> and is huge into the web community, she’s been awesomely supportive and interviewed us. There are older generations of feminists involved in Internet culture who seem to like it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What can we expect from season two?</span><br /><br />LC: We get more into the exploration of characters when they are together. Like, what happens if you have Fennel and Meghan in a room together?<br /><br />We’re also working together on another web series, about elections and a female candidate.<br /><br />CT: In 2012. This is a long-term project.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tell us more about Fennel’s menstrual bucket.</span><br /><br />CT: Megan Lyons helped with set design and it looks so buckety. It’s perfect. I think she bought it at Kmart. It’s a good place to get props. If you go to the basement of the 34th St. Kmart, it’s like New Albany, Indiana, in there. They don’t specifically order items based on the location in the store.<br /><br />We have not addressed <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1618/nicole-shabtai">Nicole Shabtai</a> as an awesome, invaluable producer.<br /><br />LCM: We started off producing it ourselves, but when we realized how far beyond our heads it was, we decided to bring on Nicole as a producer and I can confidently say this series wouldn’t have happened without Nicole Shabtai.<br /><br />CT: She came through with our set designer, our location, our art director, our shooter, our gaffer, our make-up artist, Emilia Ademkiewicz.<br /><br />I can’t say enough good things about Emilia. We did not shoot the episodes in order and Emilia would have to remember and redo their hair and make-up styles. She was a hero.<br /><br />LCM: We filmed at <a href="http://www.ginlanemedia.com/">Gin Lane Media</a>, who have been very kind to us. Get your website done by them!<br /><br />We shot in June, it was about 110 degrees and we had to turn off the A/C, in a 5th floor office with lots of windows. It was disgusting. Between every shot, Emilia was powdering them. It was crazy.<br /><br />CT: Going from sketch comedy onstage to video is an adjustment. It’s hard. But I have no complaints about a hair and make-up person constantly being there.<br /><br />LCM: The other person who deserves a huge shout out for their work in continuity is Stephanie Streisand, who was there for our first five episodes and made sure everything was exactly in place.<br /><br />CT: She’d be like, “Oh, that notebook was on a different page.” It was crazy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did financing the project work?</span><br /><br />CT: The four executive producers -- me, Leila, Nicole and Zach -- just personally fund raised it. It was more money than any of us were imagining but when you look at the quality, it wasn’t that much.<br /><br />LCM: Interviewers have asked us about our budget and been shocked. It’s low for a web series but extremely high for our personal finances. But it was a great investment.<br /><br />CT: Most people worked for free or cheap, cheap, cheap for the hours they put in.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What would be your advice for people who are interested in writing and producing their own web series?</span><br /><br />CT: It’s so hard to give advice for me because we came into this as dum-dums, and we ended up with a product we are extremely proud of, and that’s not always going to happen with every project. I think you have to write what’s funny to you. So much effort and money goes in, so if you don’t love it, what’s the point?<br /><br />LCM: I think we’ve gotten press and attention that we never would have gotten if we had sat down and thought, “What can we write that people will like?”<br /><br />On the practical side, just do it. Just go out there and do it. And get a producer. Don’t do it all yourself. It turned out so much better because we delegated stuff outside of ourselves. And surround yourself with people you like working with, because it’s an intense, challenging experience.<br /><br />CT: Ask people for help. We’ve been overwhelmed with the support we’ve gotten from extras and PAs. People want to do those jobs. They want to learn and be a part of things. Ask for help.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Haven't seen </span><span style="font-style: italic;">"Vag Magazine?"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Watch episode one; the rest of the episodes can be found on the Vag </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.vagmagazine.tv/">website</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span><br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/15931503?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=ba4ad9" width="400" frameborder="0" height="225"></iframe><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/15931503">Vag Magazine Episode 1: "Fumbling Toward Ecstasy"</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user4830636">Vag Magazine</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-12239353209569779632010-11-12T06:56:00.000-08:002010-11-17T11:20:01.324-08:00Justin Bieber Gritty Movie Trailer Rivals Justin Bieber's Popularity<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.babelgum.com/embed/6003739" height="220" width="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.babelgum.com/embed/6003739"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><embed src="http://www.babelgum.com/embed/6003739" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" height="220" width="370"></embed> </object><br /><br /><span>UCB Comedy's</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Justin Bieber Gritty Movie Trailer </span>is burning up the Internet, currently featured on sites like <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/12/justin-bieber-biopic-parody_n_782822.html">Huffington Post,</a> <a href="http://www.deadline.com/hollywood/">Deadline Hollywood</a>, <a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/tosh.0/2010/11/12/8-kilometers-the-real-justin-bieber-story/">Tosh.O,</a> <a href="http://www.bestweekever.tv/2010-11-11/the-trailer-for-the-justin-bieber-biopic-is-finally-here/">Best Week Ever</a>, <a href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/celebritology/2010/11/justin_bieber_gets_biopicized.html">The Washington Post</a>, <a href="http://iliketowatch.latimesmagazine.com/2010/11/ucb-justin-bieber-gritty.html">the L.A. Times Magazine</a>, <a href="http://www.iwatchstuff.com/2010/11/8_kilometer_trailer.php">iwatchstuff</a>, <a href="http://www.thehighdefinite.com/2010/11/8-kilometers-the-justin-bieber-story/">The High Definite</a>, <a href="http://thedailywh.at/post/1549544724/this-is-funny-you-should-watch-it-of-the-day">The Daily What</a>, <a href="http://splitsider.com/2010/11/justin-biebers-new-biopic-is-surprisingly-gritty/">Splitsider</a>, <a href="http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2010/11/12/justin-biebers-gritty-biopic-trailer/?xrs=rss_undefinedname">Comedy Central,</a> <a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/blogs/risky-business/trailer-justin-bieber-story-8-44956">Hollywood Reporter,</a> and more!<br /><br />The video was written and directed by the equally-dreamy-but-not-at-all-related <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/657/todd-bieber">Todd Bieber</a>, UCB Comedy's Director of Content and Production. "When people ask me if I'm related to Justin Bieber, I refer to them to the <a href="http://tinyurl.com/2v87gtg">Michael Bolton scene</a> from <span style="font-style: italic;">Office Space</span>," says Todd.<br /><a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/675/emily-axford"><br />Emily Axford</a> plays the pop sensation, with <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/8/neil-casey">Neil Casey</a>, Nat Freedburg, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1256/kate-riley">Kate Riley</a>, Pedro Lee, Tanisha Long and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1607/don-fanelli">Don Fanelli</a> rounding out the cast.<br /><br />"I cast Emily because Justin Bieber looks like a cute girl. That's just a fact," notes Todd. "UCBLA did a Justin Bieber video a few months ago and they cast a woman as J.B. and I thought that was smart. I've worked with Emily Axford on a few videos in the past and she's a talented actress and super-funny. She just seemed like the natural choice."<br /><br />Other forces behind the gritty biopic include Alex Chinnici, Director of Photography; Julie Gomez, producer; Sarah Scheld, costumes and art; Sean Traynor, sound; <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1631/alex---adan">Alex Adan</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1906/andy-bond">Andy Bond</a>, crew and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1548/adam-sacks">Adam Sacks</a>, graphics.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-4290062468823143212010-11-01T18:57:00.000-07:002010-11-02T08:38:21.354-07:00Interview: Broad City<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0BQwGv3-YO2Hzssgraoc7ND5oH-3TputBwZ8TG-30QBgUfJ6IMhGtGX9-SBNqQ16b09WpkA92QL1vC2iuvaAEW6pbQ2I4gINikiQFpBlrNmm4AVh20yJzQ8wuJNRUcMSfSTwKx5OUQ/s1600/Katie+Osgood.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0BQwGv3-YO2Hzssgraoc7ND5oH-3TputBwZ8TG-30QBgUfJ6IMhGtGX9-SBNqQ16b09WpkA92QL1vC2iuvaAEW6pbQ2I4gINikiQFpBlrNmm4AVh20yJzQ8wuJNRUcMSfSTwKx5OUQ/s320/Katie+Osgood.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534782221006598258" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1609/abbi-jacobson">Abbi Jacobson</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/454/ilana-glazer">Ilana Glazer</a> are best friends with hilarious chemistry -- so they decided to write a web series about it. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.broadcitytheshow.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span></a> chronicles the real and imagined adventures of the BFFs "exploring life, love and lipstick in the Big Apple." Together with their partner-in-crime <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1341/rob-michael-hugel">Rob Michael Hugel</a>, who directs and edits the series, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.broadcitytheshow.com"><span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span></a> has more than one YouTube user admitting to elaborate fantasies where "Abbi and Ilana are <span style="font-style: italic;">my </span>best friends."<br /><br />Demonstrating the show is true to life, the <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span> gang finished each other's sentences while talking to UCB Comedy about their writing process, acting with Abbi and Ilana's moms, and their <a href="http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp?productid=T-MM5FN04">sold-out LIVE show coming up this Fri., Nov. 5 at 92Y Tribeca</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How did <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span> get started?</span><br /><br />IG: Abbi and I were the only girls in a long-dead improv troupe known as Secret Promise Circle.<br /><br />AJ: You don’t have to call it “long dead,” though.<br /><br />IG: I think it’s funny. It’s dramatic. We became friends.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What year was this?</span><br /><br />IG: I think 2003?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Long pause.)</span><br /><br />AJ: What?!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">(Laughter.)</span><br /><br />RMH: You were like sixteen!<br /><br />AJ: Ilana, I was in college in Baltimore in 2003.<br /><br />IG: It’s 2005 right now, right?<br /><br />RMH: It’s 1981.<br /><br />IG: What year is it? We met in 2007. I feel working relationships feel so much longer. I was just saying the other day that it feels like I’ve known you guys since middle school. So, the improv team ended and we were like, “We are so cute and funny! What do we do with this?”<br /><br />AJ: We also wanted to write something for ourselves.<br /><br />IG: But I really do think it was, as narcissistic as this is, we wanted to do something with our dynamic. Right?<br /><br />AJ: Yes. We were like “Oh, this is funny. We constantly fight with each other.”<br /><br />IG: And also, Abbi had this <a href="http://www.capesco.com/">Capes Coaching</a> class that was very inspiring --<br /><br />AJ: I really wanted to write my own material.<br /><br />IG: And that inspired me too, because she was talking about writing down goals.<br /><br />AJ: It was seriously a year ago. My year was Oct. 22. Capes is not paying me for this [plug] but I will welcome that!<br /><br />IG: Now we’re looking back over a year. So, we were at that pizza place across from UCB and we said, “Maybe we could do this thing about us and our relationship.” We were so stoked. I think you can feel it’s a project that you want to do and when you’re really going to like it. You can fucking FEEL IT!<br /><br />AJ: We wrote so many ideas of possible episodes. Probably half of our episodes -- even just anecdotes -- came from that meeting. And then so we started writing --<br /><br />IG: -- but we were like, how are we going to get someone to shoot? And to edit? But then we were like, “Let’s collaborate with people!” And we did that for a while with directors. Initially, we were going pay Rob as an onetime thing.<br /><br />RMH: For the first episode.<br /><br />AJ: We were friends with Rob. But not good friends.<br /><br />RMH: Once a year at Harold auditions, Abbi and I are always in the same group.<br /><br />AJ: And Rob wanted to do it --<br /><br />RMH: -- I was just going to edit that one episode.<br /><br />IG: But over the season, as we worked together more and more, Rob heavily contributed to the voice. We consider ourselves each a third of the voice. Not only was Rob’s editing like, “That’s exactly what we wanted!” -- but the working relationship? Oh my God, I’m getting CHILLS. Inspiring! He was comfortable saying, “I don’t like that idea.” Not that everyone has to work that way, but it matched our way.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDTKgaw3N9s2y_ENTjA6J_0d6UpqKvGJIE_ACCBIsct1kuUpII_d06E1OvtyxUiA87_nRLYHJHLEXpknOyfJNSuoh9kLvnl3oiCtwfzuEhz7IKqw4GqyfS-L6rEzGLG1j4nM0ks7Ckg/s1600/photo.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDTKgaw3N9s2y_ENTjA6J_0d6UpqKvGJIE_ACCBIsct1kuUpII_d06E1OvtyxUiA87_nRLYHJHLEXpknOyfJNSuoh9kLvnl3oiCtwfzuEhz7IKqw4GqyfS-L6rEzGLG1j4nM0ks7Ckg/s320/photo.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534782037442883666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What’s the process behind each <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span> episode? </span><br /><br />IG: I’m huge into defining the process. They make fun of me because I act like I'm in a college class, like, “Um, Professor, can we define the process?” We’re still finding the rhythm. We were increasingly prepared throughout the season.<br /><br />AJ: <span style="font-style: italic;">Tried to be</span>, I will emphasis that. But we do leave room to improvise. And while we’re shooting, there’s always something that pops up.<br /><br />IG: At first I was like, “Let’s make a chart! The first week we’ll do this..." but you can’t set the process until you do it.<br /><br />AJ: A big part of the series is that we want it to be based on truth: either something that has happened to us, or a friend.<br /><br />IG: Abbi is the anchor for that. “We’ve got to bring it back to reality.”<br /><br />AJ: I think reality is funny. It’s important.<br /><br />IG: On the other hand, I could be like, “And then we get in a hot air balloon!” And Abbi will be like, “Hold up. Good idea but...”<br /><br />AJ: We write about things that we find funny about our own lives so other people relate to it.<br /><br />IG: People are like, “Oh my God, that happened to me!”<br /><br />AJ: So we brainstorm things that we think are funny that happened to us. Most of the time, we’ll write on our own, because apparently we’re never apart in our lives.<br /><br />A&I: (in unison) We work together.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wait. Your day jobs are together?<br /><br /></span>A&I: (in unison) Yes.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EQjIgfBb7KIZNj02VUE9bfz1S_8uiasSXh-0RRvZk-36iyTa0bZbolT-hz_rvE2y2ibBdZ4O42Z8i3RhRM8R1LCCcFDRabt8JTlPnP_skuVdZgIy09qo3Ketj46WhTQDeFO7x9ekAg/s1600/574917219.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-EQjIgfBb7KIZNj02VUE9bfz1S_8uiasSXh-0RRvZk-36iyTa0bZbolT-hz_rvE2y2ibBdZ4O42Z8i3RhRM8R1LCCcFDRabt8JTlPnP_skuVdZgIy09qo3Ketj46WhTQDeFO7x9ekAg/s320/574917219.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534783058978889986" border="0" /></a><br />AJ: We write a lot, mostly because we’re together all the time, and bring these outlines and scripts to Rob, and then it’s a collaboration from there.<br /><br />IG: We decompress a lot in the beginning of our meetings, where we like "update" for a half an hour. But those conversations become the material.<br /><br />RMH: In general, the process starts with a personal story that we think was funny. And then we do an outline, and look at it together, and say, how does this work? And at that point, we have someone in mind who will be “the guest” and know what their strength is, so we know it’s going to be funny -- we just need to find the direction of who the guest will be.<br /><br />IG: It’s like creating the most ideal improv situation, where we’re like, this guy is going to be hilarious in this situation -- like <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/643/johnny-mcnulty">Johnny McNulty</a> is so funny in the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCfX3V6TrY0">"Laundry"</a> episode as a smooth douche.<br /><br />AJ: <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/152/shannon-oneill">Shannon O'Neill'</a>s episode was one that wasn’t based on reality but we wrote that part for Shannon.<br /><br />IG: We wanted to write for Shannon's strengths -- this really weird character, ambiguous in so many ways.<br /><br />AJ: She’s one we keep talking about to use in other things. She’s so unique.<br /><br />IG: We’re like, “How can we get Shannon in next?”<br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ypNHJ54NDzw&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ypNHJ54NDzw&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />AJ: But there’s so many people that we want to use. We have the whole UCB community to play with!<br /><br />RMH: There’s a million more people we want to use.<br /><br />IG: And in some episodes, we’re not even using their funniest part. Like, in "Mom Brunch," <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/705/paul-w-downs">Paul Downs</a> is<span style="font-style: italic;"> the waiter</span>. Paul Downs is playing the straight man waiter and he is an AMAZING character actor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Let's talk about "Mom Brunch." Do your Moms have any acting training?</span><br /><br />IG: I have to say Abbi’s mom was incredibly impressive as an actress. My mom nailed it as a <span>mom actress</span>.<br /><br />RH: But they had no training.<br /><br />A & I: (in unison) No training.<br /><br />AJ: My mom memorized the whole script. She wanted to be comfortable enough to improvise.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Pc8viIxmpg&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0Pc8viIxmpg&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Had your moms met before?</span><br /><br />AJ: No, just earlier in the day.<br /><br />RMH: They were pretty amazing. I wasn’t working on that episode -- I was just there -- and at first they were being side-coached, but then it got to the point they were just going off on their own. And some of the funniest lines they improvised. Ilana’s mom goes, “Abbi’s a fucking drip, and when I took at her, I want to take a nap.”<br /><br />IG: We were like HOLY SHIT!<br /><br />AJ: And then my mom goes, “Ilana is such a slut, she should put her phone number on her chest.” And at one point, it didn’t make it in, but Ilana’s mom was just like, “You two should just go fuck each other.”<br /><br />IG: With like, fuck hand movements. We were like, what??? And Abbi’s mom improvised the last line!<br /><br />AJ: She improvised the button.<br /><br />RMH: She did a call back!<br /><br />IG: "Mom Brunch" is a good example of the following: we wrote a whole script out but we treated the script as though it was bulleted. I never would’ve thought of the word “drip.”<br /><br />RMH: It’s old timey.<br /><br />AJ: In every episode, someone has said a line that we could never have written.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is your schedule for releasing episodes?</span><br /><br />IG: At first, we released videos weekly, like, “we’ll keep this up for five years!” But now we’re releasing them every two weeks, just because we have them in the bag. We’re hoping to lock down more of a rhythm in season 2 and be able to release.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When will Season 2 start?</span><br /><br />IG: We released our first video in Feb. 15th and within a year, we’ll have 18 episodes and a short film that we’re working on now. I imagine Season 2 will start in Feb. or March.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can you tell me a little about the short film?</span><br /><br />RMH: We’re in the planning stages.<br /><br />AJ: Some of the episodes tell you more about the characters, while some of them are just snips of their life. This will be a longer journey with the characters -- to sit with them a little bit.<br /><br />IG: It’ll be an extended version of an episode.<br /><br />AJ: My hope is that it maintains the same fun --<br /><br />IG: and the casual tone --<br /><br />AJ: But the film will be a little more in-depth --<br /><br />IG: And invested.<br /><br />RMH: So far, we’ve never really followed a story arc. For this one, that’s our goal: do what we’ve always done, plus a storyline that is a true arc.<br /><br />IG: We’re considering more emotional storylines for the characters. We want this to be funny. We don’t want it to be sappy --we don’t want to be boxed in as touchy-feely women -- we want to keep it light and funny. Actual shitty, heartbreaking stuff can happen, but as long as we’re like, “bada-dump!," we can keep a casual tone where we don’t take stuff too seriously.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What else is new with <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span>?</span><br /><br />AJ: <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1540/mackenzie-condon">Mackenzie Condon</a> is part of the team now. That’s been fun, working with her.<br /><br />IG: Mackenzie's vibe, and energy and mind -- she just fit in immediately. And is so helpful as a reference, even helping us with stupid little decisions, like emails and shit, she’s just so fucking good. She’s a bad ass bitch.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzXRylPk1duXdaoQsXUKWsTAz-rDi0mWzzjoNtoKVKjx00X7O-2lFNOsHEEKlrgUX_3ygy6CV6C8uXKcx3o-hMjVykrEuIkV9b8hoHhbWp6y8VciGPfekNrkSXZOg_NLsI0vuZps6Q/s1600/tumblr_lahuplWStg1qb83vb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 382px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaQzXRylPk1duXdaoQsXUKWsTAz-rDi0mWzzjoNtoKVKjx00X7O-2lFNOsHEEKlrgUX_3ygy6CV6C8uXKcx3o-hMjVykrEuIkV9b8hoHhbWp6y8VciGPfekNrkSXZOg_NLsI0vuZps6Q/s320/tumblr_lahuplWStg1qb83vb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534781607133380674" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Abbi, an illustrator, created the poster for the live show (and <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span>'s titles.)</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">92Y is hosting your big SOLD-OUT live show on Friday. How did you get involved with them?</span><br /><br />AJ: Over the summer, we were part of this short film festival there called <a href="http://www.92y.org/shop/92Tri_event_detail.asp?productid=T-MM5FT04">The Iron Mule</a>.<br /><br />IG: It was fucking awesome --<br /><br />AJ: And they didn’t tell us, but they featured us in the NYTimes. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/02/movies/02ironmule.html?_r=2"> So there was a huge picture of us in the Times.<br /></a><br />IG: We opened the Times and it was like WHAT THE FUCK! Abbi texted me about it and I died.<br /><br />AJ: It legitimized everything, everything about New York City, just to be in the Times, and it wasn’t even about us. We were just the intro --<br /><br />IG: The intro was something like “make them laugh, but don’t take all day,” which I took to mean, “Right, <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span>?”<br /><br />AJ: We won the Judge’s Choice, which was awesome, and forged this relationship with 92Y.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What can audience members expect from the live show?</span><br /><br />IG: Stand-up from our past guests, like the awesome <a href="http://www.saraschaefer.com/">Sara Schaefer</a> from our <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNNnn0RRvFc">"Yoga" episode</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/friedmanjon">Jon Friedman</a> and <a href="http://hannibalhannibal.tumblr.com/">Hannibal Buress</a> from our "Date Night."<br /><br />We’re trying to invite bad ass bitches, New York women that we know and love, like some comedians and shit or like writers. If you’re a bad ass bitch, we’re like, “Please come.”<br /><br />Our moms are going to be there.<br /><br /><object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_D9BoEP_kWE&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_D9BoEP_kWE&rel=0&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br />AJ: The live show is going to premiere the finale and it’s very exciting. It’s a guest director, we shot it a while ago, and it’s very special.<br /><br />RMH: It’s a break from the format.<br /><br />AJ: We’re treating the live show like an event. It’s a 70-seat theater and we want the audience to be full of people who have supported us. It’s been a great year and there have been so many people who have gone out of their way to support the show.<br /><br />RMH: In general, this whole thing has surprised me in a big way because I’ve never felt crazy support for anything like this. People are supportive in this community, but it’s kind of hard sometimes to feel like you have a place --<br /><br />IG: It’s simultaneously competitive.<br /><br />RMH: It is. You see other people do great things and you think, “Why haven’t I done anything great?” But it’s just so amazing how supportive people have been for this show, all the comments we’ve gotten from like friends or strangers, people who say really nice things.<br /><br />IG: It’s like hol-eeeeee shit. I’m such a cynical bitch, when a guy likes it, I’m like, “Oh, you’re a special dude” -- how fucking patronizing, but I really can’t believe it. It’s like, thank you so much! It’s so cheesy, but it’s such a fucking amazing way to figure yourself out, and create a relationship with people. I’ve made friends with people who have said, “I like <span style="font-style: italic;">Broad City</span>." I’m like, "Let’s TALK!” It’s so inspiring. I always say my chest is going to burst because my heart is growing. I say that all the time.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-9054315742906903372010-11-01T07:14:00.000-07:002010-11-01T10:17:43.384-07:00Interview: Chris Kelly and Craig Rowin on "This Show Will Get You High"If you haven't checked out <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span>, created by UCB <a href="http://ucbcomedy.blogspot.com/2010/10/interview-matt-besser-on-this-show-will.html">co-founder Matt Besser</a>, the final airing is tonight at 4am on Comedy Central. Set those DVRs!<br /><br />UCB Comedy sat down with <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show </span>writers <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/611/chris-kelly">Chris Kelly</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/74/craig-rowin">Craig Rowin</a> to talk about writing the pilot. Chris, serving as "senior writer," spent ten weeks in Los Angeles working on the show, and Craig joined the writers room for a month.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLNyJElSeujxS0YCx9hyIdiXdngt-KAbFKEt4di_6THl2muDXJZqkyVKBjw3XT59haICd7Zx4Dw7BlSH2bIsxr0E9o5aunYP3KXONgLpD-EIWQ3xVT_NNRKNkA2gFE3scg9ouHnNaTg/s1600/Craig_Rowin_Headshot2.JPG"><br /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkMqmpMKgGlpVZc3_3rFLv7lmIXFYbxGfPFTg_8vnDq_4jLdpTVhbRhfPNVR53hrVoogSUtTAbgwnqL4z-Yda7L-2OgEcMfnj8b2bGVeeArgxZjK7NJQcaPS7n9o4TaKU6eI19sbB3Q/s1600/Chris_Kelly_100.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrkMqmpMKgGlpVZc3_3rFLv7lmIXFYbxGfPFTg_8vnDq_4jLdpTVhbRhfPNVR53hrVoogSUtTAbgwnqL4z-Yda7L-2OgEcMfnj8b2bGVeeArgxZjK7NJQcaPS7n9o4TaKU6eI19sbB3Q/s320/Chris_Kelly_100.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534589967485755330" border="0" /></a><br />Chris Kelly is a staff writer and director for The Onion News Network, which won the 2009 Peabody Award. Chris wrote, directed, and acts in his new one-act play <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2453"><span style="font-style: italic;">Oh My God, I Heard You're Dying</span></a>, which is currently running at UCBNY (the next shows are Wed., Nov. 10 and Thurs., Nov. 18). He is also the director of Michael Hartney's one-man show, <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2424"><span style="font-style: italic;">So I Like Superman</span></a>, and is a writer/actor on the Maude Team <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/1425">Stone Cold Fox</a>. Chris has a variety of credits at both UCBNY and UCBLA, including ASSSSCAT (monologist), Maude Night (writer/actor), <span style="font-style: italic;">2Pac: The Musical</span> (director) and <span style="font-style: italic;">Sketch Cram </span>(writer).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLNyJElSeujxS0YCx9hyIdiXdngt-KAbFKEt4di_6THl2muDXJZqkyVKBjw3XT59haICd7Zx4Dw7BlSH2bIsxr0E9o5aunYP3KXONgLpD-EIWQ3xVT_NNRKNkA2gFE3scg9ouHnNaTg/s1600/Craig_Rowin_Headshot2.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLNyJElSeujxS0YCx9hyIdiXdngt-KAbFKEt4di_6THl2muDXJZqkyVKBjw3XT59haICd7Zx4Dw7BlSH2bIsxr0E9o5aunYP3KXONgLpD-EIWQ3xVT_NNRKNkA2gFE3scg9ouHnNaTg/s320/Craig_Rowin_Headshot2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534590182132573986" border="0" /></a><br />In addition to <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span>, Craig Rowin has written for Comedy Central's <span style="font-style: italic;">Night of Too Many Stars</span> and contributed to Comedy Central's <span style="font-style: italic;">Onion Sports Network</span>. He is the head writer and director for the ESPN.com sketch show,<span style="font-style: italic;"> <a href="http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/yankees/post/_/id/10353/pretty-good-sports-show-yes-we-can">The Pretty Good Sports Show</a></span> and contributes to The Onion. He has acted in and written video content for College Humor and wrote and hosted VH1’s webcast, <span style="font-style: italic;">Best Night Ever</span>. <span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="border-collapse: collapse;"><span style="border-collapse: separate;font-family:Times;font-size:medium;" ></span></span></span>Craig has performed in numerous shows at the UCB Theatre including <span style="font-style: italic;">Rory and Craig: Our Internet Knowledge</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Maude Night</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Killgore: The Resurrection</span>, and many more. Craig performs improv with The Upright Citizens Brigade Touring Company and the <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2359">UCB house team The Law Firm</a>.<br /><br />UCB Comedy spoke with Chris and Craig about <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span>, how Maude Night prepared them for a professional writers' room, and risking your life in the name of comedy.<br /><span style=";font-family:'trebuchet ms','helvetica neue',arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px;" ><p style="padding: 0pt; margin: 0.75em 0.25em;"></p></span><span style="font-weight: bold;">What was the writing process like for <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span>?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig:</span> We’d come into the office to write every day. <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/5/matt-besser">Matt Besser</a> wanted us to have sketches when we arrived in L.A., and I had my sketches from Maude Night and other stuff. Every day, we’d bring in new sketches and then do notes and rewrites and then read them again. And after work, it was crazy, I probably wrote three sketches every night.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris:</span> In the writers’ room, Matt really let everyone’s voice be heard. If you had a sketch and if it wasn’t his sense of humor, he would let you explain it and defend your joke. He made a point of having a bunch of different voices and different people in the room, and I feel like it was very apparent that he had collected people with different sensibilities and I thought that was awesome.<br /><br />I just cannot say enough great things about working with Matt. If we had sketches that we didn’t think were going to work, he’d be like, “Let me call UCB and get you a slot tonight so you can test it out,” and we would memorize it real quick and perform it ourselves, or he would organize actors to come in and perform it. We would write all day, perform a couple sketches at night, film it, show it to Matt, and he’d say, “Yeah this killed, let’s put it in the show,” or, “This didn’t work, let’s cut it.” And it was such a perfect way to know instantly what was working and what wasn’t. And even though we were only filming for a week or two at the end with the fancy cameras on the official Comedy Central dime, we filmed the entire time we were there, because a lot of the show was the connectors -- the things in-between the sketches.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig:</span> The writers room was very comfortable. It felt very familiar, being in this room with all these writers -- it was like doing Maude Night or being in a good sketch class. Building on other people’s ideas, giving notes, giving your point of view on a sketch, making each other laugh -- it was totally similar to Maude and it helped to have that experience of being in a writers’ room. I think Maude Night tries to mimic that -- and by “mimic that,” I mean do exactly the same thing. Rather than doing a stage show, you’re just trying to write 22 minutes or 44 minutes or content for a video.<br /><br />Obviously there was pressure of “I hope I get something on the show,” but working on this show felt just like how I want writing comedy to feel like: you’re in a room with a ton of funny people, making each other laugh. And that was nice to have that experience, to be lucky enough to get that job and then to be like, “Oh, not only is this a job and I have to work hard, but it’s really fun.” It confirmed that what I want to do, I like to do. It was a great experience.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What was one of your favorite sketches that you worked on?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris:</span> <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/114/john-gemberling">John Gemberling</a> has this character “Winnie the Whiny Baby” and it’s just him with a rattle and a bib and a diaper. For those six weeks, I saw him more in a diaper than I saw him fully dressed.<br /><br />When we went to the Grand Prix, it was sort of a long day and the people were sort of terrible and annoying and we just got frustrated about how un-fun some of the people were. Then, at the end of the day, we were leaving and we saw one of these random Christian guys with a megaphone and big signs about how everyone’s going to hell. Matt or someone said, “John, go out there as a baby and ask him to put suntan lotion on you,” and it was so simple and unplanned and so ridiculous. And John talked to this guy for probably half an hour and was crying and laying at his feet and we got hundreds of people surrounding him, asking him to put sunscreen on the baby. It was surreal.<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="640"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/7001/winnie-and-the-protestant" target="_blank">Winnie and the Jesus Freak</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object height="388" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/970c339d080773839c9a3dbf8b8f7a40"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/970c339d080773839c9a3dbf8b8f7a40" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="388" width="640"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig:</span> I wrote a sketch about a guy who is so enamored with his pet chimp, Mr. Bananas, he won’t admit that there’s a problem -- even when it is literally ripping his face apart and beating him. That was pitched in the room and then Besser had <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/77/brett-gelman">Brett Gelman</a> and I write it up. It was written for Gelman.<br /><br />I was back in New York when it started filming, but Chris would text me these pictures of Gelman’s face in super-realistic makeup, with his face like hanging off, or the prop cage that had all the bars ripped apart. It was great.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig, has a pet ever turned against you in real life?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig:</span> Yeah. My pet <span style="font-style: italic;">died</span>. My freshman year of college, I found out -- on the same day -- that the dog I had since kindergarten died and that my parents sold the house I grew up in. I grew up in one day. It was a pretty sad day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span> has a lot of warning labels: "Please don't watch this show if pregnant, recovering addict, or while driving." Have you ever endangered yourself watching comedy or doing comedy?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris: </span>I think you mean, “Oh, I laughed until I died,” but I have no sense of danger. I’m never afraid of anything. And I mean that not in a brave way, but in an "I’m stupid" way. I’ve been robbed at gunpoint, I walk in front of traffic all the time, I don’t pay attention. I live without fear. My thought is always, “I’m not really going to die. I’m going to have an interesting experience and talk about it later.”<br /><br />Is this going to be an insufferable interview? “Chris Kelly says nothing scares him and he’s never going to die.”<br /><br />It didn’t kill me, but the worst experience I ever had shooting was at The Onion, three years ago, and it was like zero degrees and we were filming this press conference in like a wind tunnel down by the river. The shoot was taking forever because there was honking going on. We were all so cold, we were literally screaming and crying. We were bundled and in between takes, we’d be like, “Ahhhh! Ahhhh!” Everyone at The Onion will talk about that day and be like, “I’ve never been colder in my life.” It was freezing and miserable. Even watching it now, I have problems viewing it as a comedy video -- I just get cold and angry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig:</span> The only time I’ve felt nervous doing a shoot for a video was doing the Pretty Good Sports Show, which is the show I do with ESPN.com, and we went to shoot a segment at a Jets game in the new Meadowlands stadium and the atmosphere there can only be described as post-apocalyptic. Like, crazy -- I came late because I was working on something else and I couldn’t believe the amount of beer cans and bottles just strewn around the stadium. I’m used to going to baseball games, and obviously there’s drinking there, but not really a tailgate culture. The whole thing was interacting with fans and people were like screaming into the camera and being super-aggressive. We got to sneak into the stadium with some passes to shoot some stuff, and during the third quarter, it was obvious the Jets were going to lose this opener. The energy was so negative and angry and we had to wake up at 5:30am the next morning to shoot, so I was like, “Let’s. Get. Out. Of. Here.” Because not only do we need to catch the train, but also, I didn’t want to be murdered. That was the most scared I’ve ever been doing comedy. And it turned out hilarious.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dgBP5ThHk8E?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dgBP5ThHk8E?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="640"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any advice for UCB students who want to make the transition to being a professional writer?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris:</span> Jesus. I always feel weird giving advice, because I think I need advice, but the thing I tell my students -- which I know is the most frustrating answer -- is just keep writing more. Oftentimes when I’m frustrated or feel like I’m not doing enough or think, “When are things gonna happen for me?” that’s when it’s been a long time since I’ve written and I should just sit down and write a bunch. And because there was such a long time between Maude submissions, people were saying, “What else can I do with a big packet of sketches?” And I say to have a packet ready, because you never know. And obviously Maude Night helped me get discovered for this show because Anthony recommended me to Matt -- and if you are writing and you have an arsenal of different sketches, you never know what could happen.<br /><br />I tell my students to find ways to trick yourself into writing. It’s hard to write if you don’t have a deadline. If you’re in a class and there’s somebody that you like their writing style or even think they’re better than you, try to write with them. And you can say, like, every two weeks you’ll bring in sketches because that will guilt you into writing. It’s pretty generic, but I feel like you should be really exhausted at the end of each day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Craig: </span>I think the same principles stand from being a student or a professional: obviously, work hard and, you know, be funny.<br /><br />I think a couple of things are important: always write what you think is funny. Some good advice that I’ve gotten is, “Don’t tailor to what you think other people think is funny.” Obviously try to get the voice of what you’re submitting for, but really stay true to your sense of humor. Don’t just shoehorn in other things because that’s what you assume other people want. People want to be able to hear your voice. I think that’s really important.<br /><br />Also, don’t wait for a break. No one is going to come up to you and be like, “Hey. Write for this show!” You get that opportunity after you’ve put out a ton of your own stuff. People respond to that, knowing that people are making comedy just for the sake of making comedy -- not just to be seen, or to get a job. I think most people that I like working with, or people that other people are drawn to, just love comedy. The other stuff will follow. I hope. I hope! Because I need jobs.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Can't get enough of Chris Kelly? </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://chriskelly.tumblr.com/">Visit his website</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> or check out <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2453">Oh My God, I Heard You're Dying</a> Wed., Nov. 10 or Thurs., Nov 18. Looking to add more Craig Rowin to your day? Oh, yes, </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.craigrowin.com/">Craig has a website</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, too, or catch him every week with <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2359">The Law Firm</a>.<br /><br />"This Show Will Get You High" is on Comedy Central TONIGHT at 4am.</span><br /><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;color:transparent;" ></span>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-85262943000424000312010-10-29T01:53:00.000-07:002010-10-29T09:44:50.011-07:00Interview: Charlie Sanders on "Death Valley"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH-9lEgLR7DFoZUm-KJhZDKSbI1VEeD2f2KzNB5PwI6X5DSCreS07i-KbY7fsAy82Xe2r39GwwNLyn_3mBoXZ3AUEte1Dclm109SNiqXBwUrCqkKwswn6PeZ1nazJlybOcvy1NOYOhw/s1600/There's+No+God+in+This+Place.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 212px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsH-9lEgLR7DFoZUm-KJhZDKSbI1VEeD2f2KzNB5PwI6X5DSCreS07i-KbY7fsAy82Xe2r39GwwNLyn_3mBoXZ3AUEte1Dclm109SNiqXBwUrCqkKwswn6PeZ1nazJlybOcvy1NOYOhw/s320/There's+No+God+in+This+Place.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532736725500265586" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/165/charlie-sanders">Charlie Sanders</a> has been a UCB performer and writer at UCB since 2002. His sketch group Police Chief Rumble won Best Sketch Group at the Emerging Comics of New York awards in 2004. His other sketch group, Buffoons, went to perform at the Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in 2007. Charlie's hit one-man show <span style="font-style: italic;">Minnesota Muslim</span> garnered high praise from Time Out NY and New York Magazine. During his time in New York, he appeared in several national commercials and was a regular sketch actor on <span style="font-style: italic;">Late Night with Conan O’Brien</span>.<br /><br />In 2009, Charlie moved to L.A. and bought the first car of his life – "a Ford Focus, not to brag." He performs regularly at UCBLA in <a href="http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2150"><span style="font-style: italic;">Shitty Jobs</span></a> and <a href="http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/shows/741"><span style="font-style: italic;">ASSSSCAT</span></a>. He has landed roles in the feature films <span style="font-style: italic;">A NY Things</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">When in Rome</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Freak Dance</span>, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Cedar Rapids</span> and has appeared on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Office</span>.<br /><br />Just in time for Halloween, UCB Comedy talked to Charlie Sanders about fighting monsters in his upcoming MTV show, <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Valley</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Can you tell me more about <span style="font-style: italic;">Death Valley</span> and your character on the show?</span><br /><br />CS: I can give you a real general description because they don’t want me to say more until the show airs. But in the Valley, in L.A., all of a sudden people start turning into werewolves, zombies and vampires. The city of L.A. has to make the undead task force -- the cops that go fight the undead in the valley. And I’m one of the cops that fights the monsters.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you a good cop or bad cop?</span><br /><br />CS: I consider myself a good cop.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Do you have any crazy action scenes?</span><br /><br />CS: Yeah. It’s awesome. The show is a really cool combination of action and monster stuff. All the monster stuff looks really freaky, really real and really cool, and the comedy is well-written, in terms of the dialogue. I don’t think I’ve ever seen another show like it before -- which is what I’m so excited about this show. The way it balances truly scary stuff and really funny stuff is cool.<br /><br />We had a fight choreographer come in and he’d teach us how to get hit and punch people and all that shit.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Have you been in any fights in your personal life that helped that process?</span><br /><br />CS: I was in one... no, two fights in high school, but those were with humans.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When you were a kid did you prefer zombies, werewolves or vampires? Did you have a favorite?</span><br /><br />CS: Zombies I got into later, like with the whole zombie craze we’ve been seeing in the past decade in Hollywood. But as a kid, my brother and I were completely obsessed with monsters, like Frankenstein, The Wolfman, Dracula -- all those classic black-and-white horror movies. We owned every single one and watched them countless times over.<br /><br />My brother and I wrote this comic book -- it was like a 300-page comic book, written in our notebooks, about a guy that would fight Frankenstein and Dracula. So this is really a childhood fantasy come real for me.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you and your brother watch MTV together?</span><br /><br />CS: No, we didn’t have cable but my friends did, so I liked MTV. I think <span style="font-style: italic;">Beavis and Butthead </span>was on when I first got into MTV. I remember I would go to a friend’s house and watch eight straight hours of <span style="font-style: italic;">Beavis and Butthead.</span><span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;" id="internal-source-marker_0.5146936762274512" ><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />What the process for getting the role on Death Valley?</span><br /><br />CS: I auditioned for the pilot back in late February or early March. I found out about it because my friend <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/51/eric-appel">Eric Appel</a> was directing the pilot. He and I had just collaborated on making that Funny Or Die video “<a href="http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/bce0ad0653/funny-or-die-presents-the-big-dog">Big Dog</a>." We've known each other for years but “Big Dog” was one of our first times working together.<br /><br />I think I did two callbacks, if I remember correctly, and then they had two or three of us come in and work on the cop roles. It was really fun because they let us do improv.<br /><br />And then we shot it. We shot 12 minutes for a pilot presentation/proof of concept sort of thing over two days in March. A lot of time passed, like three months. And I figured it was over, you know, “These things come and go.” Then they called us up and said, “MTV likes it and wants us to shoot it, but they’re not giving the green light for a whole series." They wanted to shoot the remaining 10 minutes to make a full pilot. So we had shot these two different sequences and they had to figure out how to write around them to make a full pilot.<br /><br />And then this guy Eric Weinberg, who was an executive producer for both <span style="font-style: italic;">Scrubs</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Californication</span> -- a very hilarious, cool dude -- came in and became the showrunner guy. He worked on that whole process of expanding the script for the pilot and we shot the rest of it in July. It turned out great! I was definitely wondering how they’d write around [the segments] to make a linear pilot, but they did a great job. Finally, I think around Sept. 15, my manager called me and said that MTV had ordered 12 episodes. That was really exciting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When do you start shooting?</span><br /><br />CS: I think late December/early January we’ll start shooting.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Any advice for up-and-coming writer/performers?</span><br /><br /><div> </div> <div>CS: The best thing to do is write and perform as much as possible. Create a show with your friends and put it up. I think an important thing to note is that performing a lot should not just mean being in a million improv groups. Improv is important and fun, and definitely do it, love it, and embrace it. But, from my experience, real career progress comes from writing and putting up scripted shows -- polished material you can showcase.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Check out a picture from "Death Valley" on director <a href="http://erockappel.com/post/1374463485/if-you-arent-already-excited-about-death-valley">Eric Appel's Tumblr</a>.</span><br /><br /></div>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-70299543879845808702010-10-28T10:35:00.000-07:002010-10-28T11:12:37.135-07:00Amy Rhodes at Universal Studios Haunted Maze<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/sflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" id="embed" width="480" align="middle" height="316"><br /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><br /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://wbads.vo.llnwd.net/o25/u/telepixtv/ellen/us/video/player/embed.swf"><br /><param name="flashVars" value="mediaKey=e6c4d773-3465-4dc2-89e8-d171ea0b417b&image=http://wbads.vo.llnwd.net/o25/u/telepixtv/ellen/us/video/2010-10/28/102810_amy_still.jpg&origin=embed"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"><br /><embed src="http://wbads.vo.llnwd.net/o25/u/telepixtv/ellen/us/video/player/embed.swf" flashvars="mediaKey=e6c4d773-3465-4dc2-89e8-d171ea0b417b&image=http://wbads.vo.llnwd.net/o25/u/telepixtv/ellen/us/video/2010-10/28/102810_amy_still.jpg&origin=embed" name="embed" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="480" align="middle" height="316"></embed><br /></object><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The Ellen Degeneres Show</span> sent <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1435/amy-rhodes">Amy Rhodes</a>, their <a href="http://ucbcomedy.blogspot.com/2010/07/amy-rhodes-wins-daytime-emmy.html">Emmy-winning staff writer</a> (and UCBLA teacher/performer) to check out the haunted maze at Universal Studios. <p class="MsoNormal"> Amy clearly LOVES haunted houses.<span style=""> </span>So funny.</p>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-32408714249086094952010-10-27T08:30:00.000-07:002010-10-27T20:40:16.856-07:00"Neighborhood Watch" Created By and Starring UCB Comedians<object height="225" width="400"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11817777&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=11817777&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=&fullscreen=1&autoplay=0&loop=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" height="225" width="400"></embed></object><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/11817777">Neighborhood Watch -- Official Promo Video</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/noamskib">Noam Bleiweiss</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</p><p><br />UCB comedians <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/821/mike-mitchell">Mike Mitchell</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/46/ron-babcock">Ron Babcock </a>and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1170/jake-regal">Jake Regal</a> star in <span style="font-style: italic;">Neighborhood Watch</span>, a new web series written and directed by <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1257/noam-bleiweiss">Noam Bleiweiss</a>, who also directs the <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/pantsuit">Beta team Pantsuit</a>. The series features Dennis Haskins -- yes, Mr. Belding from <span style="font-style: italic;">Saved by the Bell</span> -- in what Noam calls Haskins' "first-ever return to onscreen 'principal-ing.'"<br /><br />"When I think of comedy in L.A. I think of UCB," says Noam. "It's where the funniest actors are. So when the time came to cast for <span style="font-style: italic;">Neighborhood Watch</span>, I knew that's where I wanted to look. We kind of got to treat the performer page on the UCB site as our casting site for the show. We went through all the performers and picked the ones who we'd seen on stage and knew were funny. Then we could take it a step further and go watch their videos on <a href="http://ucbcomedy.com/">UCB Comedy</a>. It's so much more enjoyable than auditions. And the great thing about UCB is that if someone you wanted to cast is already booked during your shoot dates, there's so many other super-talented performers to pick from."<br /></p><p>Noam notes that <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/23/lindsay-hendrickson">Lindsay Hendrickson</a>, UCBLA's General Manager, was extremely helpful -- "she always seemed to email me people's contact information within minutes, which is so convenient when you're facing the time crunch before a shoot."<br /><span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Neighborhood Watch</span>, which debuts Mon., Nov. 1,</span> is about fool-hardy middle age men living in Sunnyvale, the safest town in America, who start a Neighborhood Watch as an excuse to spend time away from their wives. But, when actual crimes begin to pop up, the men attempt to solve the mystery... very poorly.</p><p>Visit the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://neighborhoodwatchseries.com/">Neighborhood Watch</a><a href="http://neighborhoodwatchseries.com/"> website</a> and check back Monday for the first episode.<br /></p>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-29266419691290127772010-10-24T12:51:00.000-07:002010-10-26T07:42:01.448-07:00Interview: Matt Besser on "This Show Will Get You High"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKkxLjhSmQhNz-D9Taznin5SnDYInXLN2ns69IaPjxCWOeEnZTzYyMnCw4PYPGmhh8WQmrAppR6zlhdUjiFIPMtg5QuH5BQZSKAormEFIEpfDjMkkcnJDcbzE_R6dMAt-9MVI1w__Yw/s1600/MattBesser.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 277px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKkxLjhSmQhNz-D9Taznin5SnDYInXLN2ns69IaPjxCWOeEnZTzYyMnCw4PYPGmhh8WQmrAppR6zlhdUjiFIPMtg5QuH5BQZSKAormEFIEpfDjMkkcnJDcbzE_R6dMAt-9MVI1w__Yw/s400/MattBesser.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532038655133106098" border="0" /></a><br />Matt Besser is co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. The <span style="font-style: italic;">Upright Citizens Brigade </span>television series ran for three seasons on Comedy Central, and in the fall of 2005, the UCB premiered their improv show <span style="font-style: italic;">ASSSSCAT: Improv</span> on Bravo. Besser teamed up with Method Man and Redman to create and perform in the hidden camera show <span style="font-style: italic;">Stung</span> on MTV. He was also a co-creator and star of <span style="font-style: italic;">Crossballs</span> which ran 23 episodes on Comedy Central; and created and starred in <span style="font-style: italic;">The Very Funny Show for</span> TBS.com.<br /><br />Besser has guest-starred on <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sarah Silverman Show</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Reno 911</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Mighty B</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Word Girl</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Pilot Season</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Bernie Mac Show</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Frasier</span>,<span style="font-style: italic;"> Late Friday</span>; and featured in the movies <span style="font-style: italic;">Freak Dance</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Year One</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Drill Bit Taylor</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">The TV Set</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Junebug</span>, and the zombie western <span style="font-style: italic;">Wanted: Undead or Alive</span>.<br /><br />His new sketch pilot/special, "<a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/groups/view/177/this-show-will-get-you-high?page=1"><span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span></a>," hits Comedy Central Wed., Oct. 27 at 3am; Thurs., Oct. 28 at 4:30am; and Mon., Nov. 1 at 4am.<br /><br />UCB Comedy talked to Besser about <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span>, what's exciting him about the UCB scene, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Save the Last Dance</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is the premise of <span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High</span>?</span><br /><br />MB: The show is a sketch show but we do a performance live on the road -- we did one at a theater in Santa Cruz -- but we also go to a big event and hang out at it. So we went to 4/20 at Santa Cruz, the Long Beach Grand Prix and the Anaheim Comicon.<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" width="640" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6997/costume-contest-2-james-gandalfini" target="_blank">Costume Contest 2 - James Gandalfini</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/2cc7509ba191c52029f2f154c0065f9a"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/2cc7509ba191c52029f2f154c0065f9a" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So each episode has the live show element and a big event?</span><br /><br />MB: That was the idea but we ended up shooting too much material. A lot of that material will end up on <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/groups/view/177/this-show-will-get-you-high">UCB Comedy</a>.<br /><br />One of the goals of the show was to get the best sketch writers and performers from UCB Theatre. So, the first step was to ask both artistic directors, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/25/anthony-king">Anthony King</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/14/neil-campbell">Neil Campbell</a>, who are the best writers out there? Who is putting out the best stuff? We got a bunch of good submissions. I must have looked at 40-60 submissions and then we ended up whittling it down to around 20 people we really liked and a couple people we brought on to be there just about the whole time, including <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/611/chris-kelly">Chris Kelly</a>, who was kind of our senior writer, and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/74/craig-rowin">Craig Rowin</a>, who also came out from New York. And there were 15 other writers from the theater, mostly from L.A.<br /><br />The original idea for my show was to use the entire UCB Theatre and not have a set cast. I thought it was an unique idea -- calling it a 300-person ensemble -- just whoever is best-suited for the scene is cast. But the network wanted to go with a cast where you’d become familiar with their faces, so we went in that direction.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What were you looking for when selecting writers and performers for the show?</span><br /><br />MB: For writers, I look for someone who knows the game, which is what we focus on at the UCB. I look for people who know how to find game, know how to find the focus of the scene really quickly and then are really good at heightening that without being too verbose, too, because these days, sketches need to be on the short side. You know, you’d like to have a five- or six-minute scene, but we have to aim for three or less, which is a kind of a whole skill in itself.<br /><br />I think there’s less attention span now, that people would like you to get to the joke a little quicker. I do think that’s a trend. And that’s okay. It has a lot to do with YouTube and being able to see so much sketch all the time -- so viewers demand a lot more from their sketch, too.<br /><br />From a performer perspective, I just looked for who is working the hardest on their sketch. There are so many funny people at the UCB, but as anyone who has auditioned for a sketch show, specifically SNL, you know you can’t just show up for the audition. You really got to have characters that you’ve worked on for while and that you know are good. You need characters that you work on all the time, put them up onstage all the time. I’d say there are very few people that are doing that each year. You got to focus like you are focusing for the Olympics, you have to really decide, “This is going to be the year I do characters all the time, I’m getting on stage and I’m working them out.” And I’d say it really showed in the audition. It came down to like 20 people who I think really have it going on in the sketch character category. It wasn’t just up to me, it was also up to Comedy Central, but there were about 20 people I would have been happy with. And then we used five or six.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did any characters from the auditions get written into the show?</span><br /><br />MB: Without question. <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/114/john-gemberling">John Gemberling</a> in particular has this character called “Winnie the Whiney Baby” and it did really well in the audition and ended up getting a full scene in the show and we took Whiney Baby to just about every event. People were loving him.<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" width="640" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/7001/winnie-and-the-protestant" target="_blank">Winnie and the Jesus Freak</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/970c339d080773839c9a3dbf8b8f7a40"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/970c339d080773839c9a3dbf8b8f7a40" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A lot of the sketches featured on UCB Comedy involves the cast interacting with real people. </span><br /><br />MB: I’ve done a lot of prank shows and I didn’t want to do another prank show but I’ve always liked putting characters out in the real world. We’re not really tricking them or fooling them that John Gemberling is a baby, but it’s funny to see a character interact with a real person. And people react in all kinds of ways. We had rednecks threatening to kick our ass at the Grand Beach Grand Prix, and we had hippies completely tripping out on us.<br /><br />We went to this 4/20 smokeout in Santa Cruz and Gelman’s character was a Republican and we turned him into a bong and asked stoners if they wanted to smoke out of a Republican. And while they would smoke out of “the Republican,” he would insult their liberal ways. And some people thought it was hilarious, because they’re cool people, and some people got very aggressively mad at us. Like, “Get this guy outta here!” And then some people, he had one guy flip his lid like he was having an acid flashback, screaming.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wait. The cameras were fully visible, right?</span><br /><br />MB: Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">But no one got punched or anything?</span><br /><br />MB: No. A guy threatened to elbow me in the face. I was playing a character called Nick the Nicknamer. “I’m the guy who gave everyone on the Jersey Shore their nickname, including The Situation, Snooki, Jwwow.” And I nicknamed this guy -- his name was Ludlow -- and he looked really stoned, so I was like, “More like Lud-high!” And he was very insulted by this nickname and threatened to elbow me in the face.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">A guy was offended for being called high at a 4/20 event?</span><br /><br />MB: No. That was at the Grand Prix.<br /><br />We also went to the LA marathon and pretended we were one of those “Jesus Hates Gays” groups. We were “Jesus Hates Runners” and we were telling them to stop running. Yelling, “Listen to Kanye’s ‘Jesus Walks’!” There were cameras, but people were buying that we were for real. It was really funny, because they were screaming at us. They thought we were backwards, narrow-minded people.<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" width="640" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/7008/la-marathon" target="_blank">LA Marathon</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/b95bfb4744e179967c8f188e0acdb51e"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/b95bfb4744e179967c8f188e0acdb51e" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Our original pitch for the sketch show was that it would be in the Middle of America and an old medicine show, in the old days, when you’d just show up and put on a show for people. The original idea was that we’d have a mobile stage but it proved a little more expensive than we counted on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You’ve worked in many different comedy formats: improv, sitcoms, film, “cable news” parody shows. What keeps bringing you back to sketch?</span><br /><br />MB: When I think of comedy, I don’t think of stories. 99% of writers, when they talk about what they write, they always talk about story. Stories don’t really occur to me. That’s not how comedy comes into my brain. If I were to work on a sitcom, I could probably come up with a lot of good ideas -- elements of stories -- but I don’t think my strength is writing stories. So I like sketch. A sketch is not a short story. That’s not a smart way to think about it. A sketch is a sketch -- it is its own entity. It’s about finding a focused game and heightening and exploring it. That’s why I like doing improv, and that’s what I like doing in sketch. I like characters but I also like conceptual ideas. I like parodies. I like the wide variety of opportunities that sketch provides.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This Show Will Get You High </span>has a lot of warning labels: "Please don't watch this show if pregnant, recovering addict, or while driving." Have you ever endangered yourself watching comedy or doing comedy?<br /><br /></span>MB: I always make sure to wear something over my ears, some sound-dampening device, if I know I’m going to watch something or listen to something that is funny. I’ll put on dark-colored glasses that are hard to see through and try not to hear it, so I’m not affected by the comedy. I’m careful about my comedy, even though I do it all the time. I’m careful so it doesn’t become a problem.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What about the UCB scene excites you right now?</span><br /><br />MB: I’m excited that we’re opening a second theater in New York. I think we’ve reached a point where talent is literally brimming over and we need another place to put it. We have such demand from our performers for stage time -- and they deserve it. I think the theater is almost finished and I look forward to coming back and performing there. It’s going to have a more stand-up/solo performance, non-improv focus to it, which is good, because it creates balance. Our theater is kind of known as an improv theater in New York. In L.A., it is known for more of a balance, which I’m proud of. It’s really worked out well for us in L.A.<br /><br />We’re doing a lot of shows now that we record for podcasts. That’s kind of a new thing. We started doing that for <a href="http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/shows/741">ASSSSCAT</a>, and we’re going to start to do that for other shows in LA., so people in the middle of the country can enjoy our shows.<br /><br />I like our <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/categories/view/137/beta-teams">Beta teams</a> a lot. That’s really great. Hiring someone like <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/657/todd-bieber">Todd Bieber</a> to really get that into gear -- people have been really focused. New York, in particular, has put up some really impressive videos on almost a daily basis. And the quality is so much better than it used to be, it’s really impressive.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">How involved is the UCB4 in day-to-day operations at the theaters?</span><br /><br />MB: We’re always weighing in via email on something or other. Like the new bar at the new theater is called the “Hot Chicks Room,” and about every day we get a new draft of what the logo is going to look like. It could be something as fun as that, or something as boring as dealing with our accreditation, which is a strenuous process of getting our curriculum in order -- which has taken us years to do it. We get together to work on our improv book almost every morning. Sometimes it’s fun, and sometimes it’s stressful, because you’re putting together a textbook.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">When is the book coming out?</span><br /><br />MB: I can’t say. It’s been at least a three-year process. We can see the end in sight.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What projects are you working on right now?</span><br /><br />MB: There used to be a musical onstage at UCBLA called <span style="font-style: italic;">Freakdance</span>, a parody of dance movies. And we shot it last fall and it has taken us a year to edit. It’s pretty much done. Right now we’re waiting to see if it gets into Sundance. I’m pretty excited about that.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Is it in the vein of <span style="font-style: italic;">Save the Last Dance</span>?</span><br /><br />MB: You can’t name a dance movie I haven’t seen.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">You’re a big fan of dance movies?</span><br /><br />MB: Yes. I hate dancing but I love dance movies. I think they’re funny. There’s movies like <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat Street, Electric Boogaloo</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">You’ve Got Served</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Step Up</span>, where dancing is almost treated like gang warfare. I think that’s funny, all the way back to <span style="font-style: italic;">West Side Story</span>. And then there’s <span style="font-style: italic;">Dirty Dancing</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Flashdance</span> and <span style="font-style: italic;">Center Stage,</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Save the Last Dance</span> -- the more romantic ones. Even within dance movies, there’s all different kinds of dance movies. We tried to pile in all the archetypes into one movie.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Are you dancing in it?</span><br /><br />MB: I’m involved in choreography but I’m not breakdancing in it. But we do have real B-boys. We got many of the groups from <span style="font-style: italic;">America’s Next Dance Crew</span> appearing in it, even some of the winners, so we have really good dancers for the movie. One of our regulars was Joshua Allen, who won <span style="font-style: italic;">So You Think You Can Dance</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So, you’re a big fan of dance TV shows, too?</span><br /><br />MB: I’ve seen every episode of <span style="font-style: italic;">America’s Next Dance Crew</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Any advice for up and coming writer/performers?</span><br /><br />MB: Follow me on <a href="http://twitter.com/mattbesser">my Twitter account</a> and you can see how great comedy is written.<br /><br />I actually do think Twitter makes people better writers. In the same way, making a sketch writer get their scene down to three minutes, is what Twitter does to get your joke down to 140 characters. I think there’s a discipline there that helps.<span style="font-style: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 224);font-family:Arial;font-size:11px;" ><br /></span><br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" width="640" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/7015/dr-weed" target="_blank">Dr. Weed</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/165e023a10681f55e9adb5ec0423b81f"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/165e023a10681f55e9adb5ec0423b81f" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Don't miss </span><span style="font-style: italic;">"This Show Will Get You High"</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> on Comedy Central Wed., Oct. 27 at 3am; Thurs., Oct. 28 at 4:30am; and Mon., Nov. 1 at 4am; watch other videos from the show </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/groups/view/177/this-show-will-get-you-high?page=1">online</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-27602225870218746442010-10-24T10:59:00.000-07:002010-10-24T13:45:46.620-07:00UCBNY Volunteers For "New York Cares Day"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t7RmEcDXqZipL426Pf85W5vmeNyVjp_bS-nG3yA7iDA6FYFa67zZBi9aFPhOiVhB_Te5staabftQvNSqO4y7G0R1NdguC7Jfi-nQYKo-EMi1QiXYQLt9TMIAdLa2FcGC13ewCRIzVg/s1600/-15.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 325px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8t7RmEcDXqZipL426Pf85W5vmeNyVjp_bS-nG3yA7iDA6FYFa67zZBi9aFPhOiVhB_Te5staabftQvNSqO4y7G0R1NdguC7Jfi-nQYKo-EMi1QiXYQLt9TMIAdLa2FcGC13ewCRIzVg/s400/-15.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531674001951508210" border="0" /></a>This Saturday, a group of UCBNY writers and performers volunteered at a public Brooklyn middle school for <a href="http://www.newyorkcares.org/volunteer/service_days/nycd/">New York Cares Day</a>. In addition to painting doors, murals, and doing some cleaning/organizing, UCB raised over $1000 for the organization.<br /><br />"UCB has such a wonderful community of people, it's only natural that we'd come together to help out for something like New York Cares Day," said <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/2/justin-purnell">Justin Purnell</a>, organizer of the event.<br /><br />More community service projects are in the works -- stay tuned!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6LTvDwaOYYpDU-N3QC7aii2noLCjfmVOaL8pEM73Zb_jZ5VuOQ00tTGZkBPFP9aCud3XroPVgrhqIPrdTwWPArUTYaJIiGZ6XJ5QQOfp_RIQa1KSB74B9qDVMfZWq7Frpu6PUpSPIA/s1600/-16.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6LTvDwaOYYpDU-N3QC7aii2noLCjfmVOaL8pEM73Zb_jZ5VuOQ00tTGZkBPFP9aCud3XroPVgrhqIPrdTwWPArUTYaJIiGZ6XJ5QQOfp_RIQa1KSB74B9qDVMfZWq7Frpu6PUpSPIA/s400/-16.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5531674874903363698" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.ariscott.com/photo/">Photos by Ari Scott</a>. See more photos of New York Cares Day in <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40102342@N05/sets/72157625229682342/">this Flickr set</a>.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-91690898463378844662010-10-21T17:31:00.000-07:002010-10-22T14:08:03.316-07:00Elect the Willfully Ignorant!<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.babelgum.com/embed/6003213" height="220" width="370"><param name="movie" value="http://www.babelgum.com/embed/6003213"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="never"><embed src="http://www.babelgum.com/embed/6003213" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" height="220" width="370"></embed> </object><br /><br />UCB Comedy's video for Babelgum, "Elect the Willfully Ignorant," has been making the rounds online -- including a "thumbs up" from Roger Ebert, who posted it on his <a href="http://twitter.com/EBERTCHICAGO">Twitter</a>.<br /><br />Starring <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1422/robert-cuthill">Rob Cuthill</a>; directed by <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/657/todd-bieber">Todd Bieber</a>; written by <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1453/dan-mirk">Dan Mirk</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/24/will-hines">Will Hines</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/183/erik-tanouye">Erik Tanouye</a>, and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/657/todd-bieber">Todd Bieber</a> ; graphics by <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1167/ed-mundy">Ed Mundy</a>.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-88869898473460634052010-10-19T19:04:00.000-07:002010-10-20T09:42:27.211-07:00Dyna Moe on UCB Theatre Podcast<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUJ0GoEEsoTVNQHfsiSry086IzF3FiBRzd3NsTy3c-c6J5cScP8uhQQu2nW8RxLmImwCyGbl30Hn-c2Yr5L3xpzDRCfKW9U6QFEkJkkcHOZhqv7Q6KVKhkdJaaPDA9GaPgnS-DhPFlQ/s1600/40.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFUJ0GoEEsoTVNQHfsiSry086IzF3FiBRzd3NsTy3c-c6J5cScP8uhQQu2nW8RxLmImwCyGbl30Hn-c2Yr5L3xpzDRCfKW9U6QFEkJkkcHOZhqv7Q6KVKhkdJaaPDA9GaPgnS-DhPFlQ/s400/40.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5529945173654971762" border="0" /></a><br />Have you been listening to the <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/podcasts/ucbtny">UCB Theatre podcast</a>? The latest features an interview with <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/40/dyna-moe">Dyna Moe</a>, longtime UCBNY performer and illustrator who recently published "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mad-Men-Illustrated-Dyna-Moe/dp/0399536574/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287540579&sr=8-1">Mad Men: The Illustrated World</a>." Check it out!Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-76726970747037422492010-09-21T14:35:00.000-07:002010-09-22T09:50:57.429-07:00"The Canadian" Goes Viral<span>UCBNY student</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span><a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1902/david-rynn">David Rynn's</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> The Canadian</span>, a parody of the trailer for the George Clooney film <span style="font-style: italic;">The American</span>, </span>has gone viral up north! After Canadian news outlets <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/arts/media/blogs/popculture/2010/09/imagine-george-clooney-as-the-canadian.html">picked up the video</a>, David was interviewed for <a href="http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/article/862598--how-many-canadian-cliches-can-you-fit-in-two-minutes">the Toronto Star</a> -- <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/TV_Shows/Connect_with_Mark_Kelley/ID=1594023793">and the video even appeared on Canadian television</a>.<br /><br />In an interview with UCB Comedy, David said, "I thought it would be funny if it was <span style="font-style: italic;">The Canadian</span> instead of <span style="font-style: italic;">The American</span> because we generally think of Canadians as nicer versions of ourselves, which is a good contrast to the dark feel of the film. Also, the first line in the original trailer is 'It's Jack... I want<span style="font-style: italic;"> out</span>' -- so it seemed like a natural choice. I pitched it to some friends of mine, workshopped it and my friend Paul Barker co-wrote the script with me. We filmed over three days and then I spent three days huddled up, editing it and composing the music. Production was a bit of a nightmare as we had no budget, bad equipment and most everyone besides me happened to be taking off for vacation a couple days into shooting. Not to mention my editing program kept deleting all the audio off of my edits then saving itself. Good times."<br /><br />Here's the video that is being paired with a lot of Tim Hortons coffee:<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="640"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6929/the-canadian" target="_blank">The American spoof: The Canadian</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/88f1d0d884e5b0e213bb55b82593e159"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/88f1d0d884e5b0e213bb55b82593e159" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Check out <a href="http://www.davidrynn.com/#images/Rynn_David_066_ret1sml.jpg">David's website.</a>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-10566385536839872522010-09-01T10:06:00.001-07:002010-09-01T10:06:17.273-07:00Rachel Bloom's Mother on "Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury"<div style="text-align: left;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOGhGVAnc_pIA6PKlqHXVRSD7rNT5y2CypRTfRzzwr5eK4d1_PX36wVk0latVjr1H7wmcUTUr0YKAUtKpin5biF0ewNDAZ4SVro9Fc8rcCnCN8q4DuIJ0Y9u_LLnxx2t-PY3LNYwfow/s1600/2010-09-01_1008.png"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOGhGVAnc_pIA6PKlqHXVRSD7rNT5y2CypRTfRzzwr5eK4d1_PX36wVk0latVjr1H7wmcUTUr0YKAUtKpin5biF0ewNDAZ4SVro9Fc8rcCnCN8q4DuIJ0Y9u_LLnxx2t-PY3LNYwfow/s400/2010-09-01_1008.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5511960006463868610" border="0" /></a><br /></div>If you're a fan of <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/UCBcomedycom/10522597325?ref=ts">UCB Comedy on Facebook</a>, you may have seen a very special commenter on the post about "<a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6825/fuck-me-ray-bradbury">Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury</a>:" writer <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1584/rachel-bloom">Rachel Bloom</a>'s mother.<br /><br />UCB Comedy asked Rachel's mom what she thought of her daughter's online status as closest rival to<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_yocHpmFzo&feature=player_embedded"> Cee-Lo</a> for best use of the f-word in a pop song (about a 90-year-old man, no less).<br /><br />Her response? "Okay, UCB, I'll tell ye. At first, it was a little disconcerting, but now I still can't get the tune out of my head. I'm very proud of her because she is doing what she wants to do. Also, I'm proud because she actually inherited something good from me -- her musical ability. Okay, now you know. Thank you."<br /><br />If you're not "Liking" <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/UCBcomedycom/10522597325?ref=ts">UCB Comedy on Facebook</a>, do it now -- you never know who will pop up in that news feed!Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-43533723095245927802010-08-27T12:28:00.000-07:002010-08-27T12:51:16.207-07:00Mande's "Overton Window" in New YorkerDon't miss <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/books/2010/08/live-from-new-york-its-the-overton-window.html">this <span style="font-style: italic;">New Yorker</span> article</a> about <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1294/joe-mande">Joe Mande</a>'s adaptation of Glenn Beck's "The Overton Window" at UCBNY.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-18178135399946239732010-08-27T10:47:00.000-07:002010-08-27T11:53:42.579-07:00Interview: Rachel Bloom of "Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury"When a woman in her early twenties asks a ninety-year-old man to fuck her, there's usually an oil fortune involved -- unless, of course, the ninety-year-old man is author Ray Bradbury. <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1584/rachel-bloom">Rachel Bloom's</a> poppy ode to the sci-fi master, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6825/fuck-me-ray-bradbury">"Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury,"</a> has garnered a million hits on the Internet in less than a week and has been Tweeted by writers like <a href="http://twitter.com/neilhimself">Neil Gaiman</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj294Ca5N4_Ga4QGzdkSkMCRZMGZU3BSQhj0dNY73UxL-RXkh0pt6SxSOzwu-6Ihg_qTnNOwZOG4tI96CdJ8zc_acqOOCqEpXraqBOcKnwOkhkEaGzL86DNM82X6Kl14IzbfAweFTmWAg/s1600/Bloomheadshot2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj294Ca5N4_Ga4QGzdkSkMCRZMGZU3BSQhj0dNY73UxL-RXkh0pt6SxSOzwu-6Ihg_qTnNOwZOG4tI96CdJ8zc_acqOOCqEpXraqBOcKnwOkhkEaGzL86DNM82X6Kl14IzbfAweFTmWAg/s400/Bloomheadshot2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5510160931867637170" border="0" /></a><br />Rachel, who has her BFA in Drama from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, is a UCBNY student. She is a contributing writer for the Onion News Network and performs improv with her indie group, Mastodon Mattingly. She also hosts a monthly standup/music show called <span style="font-style: italic;">Annette Funicello's Beach Party</span>.<br /><br />"Fuck Me Bradbury" isn't Rachel's first attempt at song -- a children's musical Rachel co-wrote with writer/composer Michael Maricondi called <span style="font-style: italic;">When Push Comes to Shove</span> is due to tour New England schools later this year. None of the songs in it are about fucking.<br /><br />UCB Comedy talked to Rachel about putting together your own film shoot, who would be invited to her literary orgy, and<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>dancing alone to Britney Spears in your room.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Q: Tell us a little bit about the process of making "Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury." </span><br /><br />RB: I was sitting at home about two years ago during the summer between my junior and senior years of college, and I was re-reading <span style="font-style: italic;">The Martian Chronicles</span> by Ray Bradbury. I was going through a weird sadness/lull on the boy front, and I kept thinking, "Man, Ray Bradbury is so smart...he'd be the ideal boyfriend." I thought it would be funny to do a passionate love song about Ray Bradbury. Then, I thought it would be even funnier to do like, a sexy pop song about Ray Bradbury. So, I sat down at my parents' piano and came up with the essential structure in about an hour. 2 years later, I revisited the song and refined it.<br /><br />We shot the video at St. Cecilia's, an old Catholic school in Brooklyn. It seems to be the only school in New York City that will let you shoot, because I know of so many other film shoots that have taken place there. The song was recorded in a studio in LA. My friend Jack Dolgen (of the band "<a href="http://www.myspace.com/maricopamusic">Maricopa</a>") arranged the song and helped me record it, along with fellow musician/producer Jon Siebels.<br /><br />I produced the video myself -- I did all the casting, found the crew, and asked my friends to direct/DP. It was a lot of work, a lot of e-mails going back and forth for a few weeks. I will say that you don't have to be a genius to put together a good film shoot- it's just a lot of work.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: What was your reaction when <a href="http://www.aintitcool.com/node/46222">the picture of Ray Bradbury watching your video</a> popped up on the Internet?</span><br /><br />RB: It had occurred to me that Ray could find the video just by Googling himself. If I were a famous author, I'd Google myself a lot. Soon after the video came out, though, I started to get a ton of messages/e-mails from close friends of Ray Bradbury, all of whom were praising the video and promising that Ray would see it. So, before I saw the picture, I had some warning, although NOTHING could replace the joy I felt seeing Mr. Bradbury guffawing at my dirty little music video.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: The video was obviously influenced by one of the greatest TRL videos ever --</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> "Hit Me Baby, One More Time." When you were a kid, did you ever dream about</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;"> being in one of those '90s pop videos? </span><br /><br />RB: The weird thing about me as a kid is that I outwardly wanted to be against the establishment, but secretly wanted to be a part of it. I was made fun of a lot right around the time "Baby One More Time" came out, so although I publicly railed against these pretty popular people and their awesome clothes, I privately danced to the song like a fiend alone in my room. I resented the fact I wasn't cool or pretty enough to be a Britney Spears fan, but couldn't deny that I was a Britney Spears fan. I always openly loved 'N Sync, though. Ah, to be 12 and full of contradictions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: If you were doing a whole literary fuckfest, what other authors would be</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> on your list?</span><br /><br />RB: I would fuck Kurt Vonnegut, Philip Roth and J.K. Rowling. Those are the top of my orgy list. My current favorite reads are comic books by Bryan K. Vaughan. Just finished "Y: The Last Man" and updated myself on "Ex Machina."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Have you received any marriage proposals from other Ray Bradbury fans? </span><br /><br />(Rachel laughs.)<br /><br />Not marriage proposals, but there is this one dude on Facebook who has earnestly written "I love you. I think I am in love with you." I want to respond with my thoughts on how love is a very complicated concept, but I also think this guy can't speak English very well.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">On September 2nd, Rachel has a </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/178">SPANK</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> at UCBNY titled "Sing Out, Louise!" -- a musical sketch comedy show. </span><br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" width="640"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/6825/fuck-me-ray-bradbury" target="_blank">Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="640" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/25f4b48aafe9974e6ef69c159c43ee1a"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/25f4b48aafe9974e6ef69c159c43ee1a" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-55940863488316761162010-08-11T06:03:00.000-07:002010-08-11T07:12:27.017-07:00Interview: Chris Gethard of "Big Lake"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhIhJV7hPcof3WqkeDIYGMhaajsTgYIZhtZl_r7bU_EYn4aJm6X3ZPcc2-RodstUfwSC3d6fIbmbG-FJfsrorI9JseDDAVdLdb2KW1Nf8JFAiDcuvIvlV_W3UXeN7RJnkM5j9PfEuUw/s1600/gethard_chris2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhIhJV7hPcof3WqkeDIYGMhaajsTgYIZhtZl_r7bU_EYn4aJm6X3ZPcc2-RodstUfwSC3d6fIbmbG-FJfsrorI9JseDDAVdLdb2KW1Nf8JFAiDcuvIvlV_W3UXeN7RJnkM5j9PfEuUw/s400/gethard_chris2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504140234369020658" border="0" /></a><br />In less than a week, UCB powerhouse and all-around great guy <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/21/chris-gethard">Chris Gethard</a> will join <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/224/horatio-sanz">Horatio Sanz</a> and Chris Parnell in Comedy Central's "<a href="http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/big-lake/index.jhtml">Big Lake</a>," a new half-hour, multi-camera family sitcom about a big city banker (Gethard) who loses his job and moves home to his parents' couch in the small town of Big Lake, PA. The highly anticipated show is produced by Gary Sanchez Productions (<span style="font-style: italic;">The Other Guys</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Talladega Nights</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">Anchorman</span>) and distributed by Debmar-Mercury.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>"Big Lake" premieres on Comedy Central <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tuesday, August 17 at 10pm </span>with two back-to-back episodes.<br /><br />Gethard spoke with UCB Comedy about riding the 7 train to work, treating others with kindness, and how the Internet is like college radio for comedians.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: How does it feel to do a television show that's filmed out of New York? Especially a show that's shot in Queens, where you live.</span><br /><br />CG: I mean, being able to take this step up in my career without having to leave New York City is the dream. I grew up in New Jersey and have never really left the East Coast. My whole family is here. I always felt a lot of anxiety, like "Can I make it happen here or do I need to do the LA thing?" Luckily, after grinding it out for a long time, things came together here. It's one in a million, but it's doable.<br /><br />On set, one of the guys in the crew asked me what neighborhood in Manhattan I lived in. I was like "Oh, nah man, I live in a shittier part of Queens then we are in right now." Being able to take the 7 train to work each day was pretty cool. So yeah. A lot of people are like "Gethard, you're gonna wind up in LA soon." And I'm kind of like "Yeah, maybe someday, but not if I can keep doing it here. At all." I like being able to visit my mom.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: What can you tell us about "Big Lake"? How has shooting been? </span><br /><br />CG: "Big Lake" has been fun and intense and overwhelming and an honor to participate in. I hope people enjoy the show. It's a twisted, subversive take on a traditional sitcom -- it looks and sounds and feels like a regular family sitcom, but the jokes are dark and weird and cool and I think if people give it a chance it could really catch on.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Q: Can we expect any other familiar faces on the show other than the leads?</span><br /><br />CG: Fans of the UCBT will be pleased to know that <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/155/lennon-parham">Lennon Parham</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/162/ben-rodgers">Ben Rodgers</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/96/billy-merritt">Billy Merritt</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/160/june-diane-raphael">June Raphael</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/150/seth-morris">Seth Morris</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/251/michael-delaney">Michael Delaney</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/20/jonathan-gabrus">Jon Gabrus</a> and more appear throughout the run of the show. That's all I can remember off the top of my head. It's pretty late. But for real, UCB represents all over this show.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: On the show, your character is crashing on his parents' couch after losing his fancy banking job. Have you ever spent time after high school living with your parents? </span><br /><br />CG: Yeah, I lived in LA for the first half of 2004 when I was working out there and when I came back I lived with my parents for three or four months. I was 24. It was fine. My parents are cool, funny, supportive people. I dunno. It was weird having food made for me. I haven't cooked a meal in over four years, I'm a lazy bachelor.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: How much does the show deal with the financial crisis? </span><br /><br />CG: The show deals with very human repercussions of the financial crisis in that my character was at the core of a bank's meltdown. But episode to episode, the show deals more with the idiotic schemes three guys in a small town perpetrate to recover from their personal fallout in the financial crisis. It's that nice balance, I think. Because the financial crisis is only important in that it affects real people -- no one particularly feels sympathy for the big bankers themselves -- and our show is very much about Main Street America and their dealings with these hard times. I hope it strikes a chord in this way -- I think for an odd, dark little comedy show, it really has a good head on its shoulders.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: What is it like working with that amazing cast and crew? </span><br /><br />CG: All the things you would imagine - intimidating, challenging, and fun. Being on set with Horatio and Chris - I mean, who comes from where we come from and doesn't admire those guys? They just bring the heat every time. Super hilarious and complete professionals. Working with them every single day made me really step up and bring my A game. Horatio and I have been buddies through Asssscat in NYC for years, and getting my big break in a project he was a part of was truly an honor. And Parnell is like - the king. Every time he shows up in a show or a bit, you know it's going to be good. His timing is insane. I feel insanely blessed that I was able to learn from those guys and the rest of the cast every day. Jim Rebhorn and Deborah Rush? Pros on a level I can only dream of. Dylan Blue? He's 14 years old and pulled off a really hard job, that of playing two characters simultaneously, with seemingly no effort at all. I just tried to keep my head above water and keep up with all of those guys.<br /><br />As for Will Ferrell and Adam McKay, I mean, they are heroes to me. Especially knowing Adam came out of Improv Olympic and Second City and was one of the founders of the UCB, I really felt like - Man, I gotta step up to the plate and deliver and make these guys feel like they made the right choice putting their faith in me. You don't want to let down dudes who do some of the most brilliant comedy in America and have been doing so for many, many years.<br /><br />But both of those guys, for being the total bad asses that they are - such positive energy surrounding them. Just a real warmth and a real belief in the project and just such an open mind and willingness to fail big and go for broke with the jokes. It was really inspiring to be around them and see how their brains work. Both of them are the types of people that when they're around, you simultaneously feel happier that they are there contributing in such a positive way and in awe of their abilities.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Have you been watching TV when "Big Lake" promos have popped up? What was that like?</span><br /><br />CG: Uh, it's weird, dude. I'm a dummy from New Jersey. I'm overwhelmed by all of this and psyched about it in a very genuine way. I try to own it and accept that for the time being this is part of my life now. But I don't know, anyone who knows me through the UCB Theater knows that I'm an easily overwhelmed guy. I just want to try to enjoy this ride as best as possible without letting anxiety get in the way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Do you feel that making videos with UCB Comedy or having an on-line presence has been a part of your success?</span><br /><br />CG: The Internet is invaluable these days. If you really think your comedy is up to par and represents you well, the internet is an amazing tool to get your work out there to people in a very democratic way. There's a lot of really bad stuff out there, so try not to be a part of that. But the Internet for good underground comedy is kind of what college radio was for good underground music a few generations back - there's an actual do it yourself outlet for us that gets our work into the world! I can't believe it when talented people don't take advantage of it.<br /><br />The fact that there are sites like <a href="http://ucbcomedy.com/">UCB Comedy</a> around, as well as Funny or Die and College Humor, these places that serve as a nexus for good, reliable comedy, and that they are all embracing the next wave of comedians and giving people an honest shot at getting their work seen? It's sort of insane. One day we will all look back at this and realize what an opportunity it is. Sadly, too many people will see it as a missed opportunity.<br /><br />One of the biggest turns I took was when <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/38/zach-woods">Zach Woods</a>, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/196/nick-paley">Nick Paley</a> and I made a very dumb little series called <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/tags/view/awkwardboy">"The Most Awkward Boy in the World"</a> and put it on YouTube. I wrote them, Nick directed them, and Zach played the main character amongst a bunch of our friends from UCB. People watched those way more than they ever thought we would. We all got a lot of great attention from them. I know Zach got a lot of calls from them, and some of our other friends were offered movie parts based off of it. These dumb 30-60 second long videos. It's crazy. Between my work with those guys (Cutman Films) and Nuclear Palm, as well as other random things I've put up online over the years, I really feel like I had a chance to get my voice out there into the world in a way that I wouldn't have been able to ten years ago - and I assume will not be able to in another ten years, because anything this good and democratic will be corporatized eventually.<br /><br />And you would be amazed at how many people STILL talk to me about the Darryl Strawberry Show videos I put up on UCB Comedy in its earliest days. Those were videos <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/2/justin-purnell">Justin Purnell</a> and I shot with friends and students of mine. Each took about 15 minutes to shoot. Now, years later, I still have people ask me about them often. My manager saw those videos before we ever spoke to each other and it was part of why he wanted to work with me. If you can use the Internet, use it. If you can associate yourself and your ideas with a brand like UCB Comedy, recognize that for the asset and opportunity it is and don't waste the chance!<br /><br />I know I just gave the longest answer of all time, but I hate seeing talented performers and students doubt themselves and talk themselves out of putting themselves out there. You have to make it happen for yourself - no one else is going to! - so use the opportunities you've been given. No more excuses. It's 2010. The world ends in two years! Make it happen now!<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial;" width="480" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/1064/the-darryl-strawberry-show-ep-1-texas-and-ohio" target="_blank">The Darryl Strawberry Show: Ep. 1: Texas and Ohio</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2"><object width="480" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/09c32330f929dedfcc4e4a2170e85d71"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/09c32330f929dedfcc4e4a2170e85d71" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: The UCB community has been going crazy about you being on the show: the support has been buzzing from every social media network, the green room, etc. How does that feel?</span><br /><br />CG: Man, the UCB Theater is my home and I can't tell you how emotional it has made me to see people be so genuinely supportive and excited for me. I have put in ten years - that's one third of my entire life - at this theater. The fact that so many people have been so excited for me - it makes every day that I doubted myself and doubted my life and career choices null and void. It would be impossible for me to explain how much this community means to me. Just impossible. And seeing it return that love... there are no words that can describe the impact this has had on me.<br /><br />A lot of people have said that if I made it, it makes them feel like they can make it. That means the world to me. I don't get to teach classes as much as I like to anymore with my schedule being nuts, but every time I do - I see that this theater still attracts such amazingly talented people. I know that with what's happening with me right now, really all I did was refuse to give up. Seeing people "buzz" over it - it makes me really happy to see them excited and I hope if they are excited and take away anything from what's happened to me this year that it means that they aren't going to give up either.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R1hvIk7BDc_yBfKKg0C2ucTmrDximziStBG7Yhxl0MFk6Kmfi-fp-tf5_JMOWXe_ojHpNfRfUNu0dBuQjmXynZmeiJ__Sxpkti3XdThwnErY5x2gTl8jDP5NuKv95nC4BYg00_t1dw/s1600/big-lake-group5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6R1hvIk7BDc_yBfKKg0C2ucTmrDximziStBG7Yhxl0MFk6Kmfi-fp-tf5_JMOWXe_ojHpNfRfUNu0dBuQjmXynZmeiJ__Sxpkti3XdThwnErY5x2gTl8jDP5NuKv95nC4BYg00_t1dw/s400/big-lake-group5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504143606100168226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >Horatio Sanz, Chris Parnell and Chris Gethard</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Any advice for up-and-coming comedians who would love to do what you're doing?</span><br /><br />CG: Don't. Give. Up.<br /><br />Also, don't make excuses. Work as hard as you can. If you aren't working as hard as you can, someone else is out there working as hard as they can. Those people who are working harder than you deserve opportunities more than you do, so stop making excuses for why you aren't working hard and just work hard. When you feel like you're working as hard as you can possibly work, work a little harder and you are probably getting close to how hard you actually have to work. Do more shows. Take more classes. Watch more shows. Meet more people. Challenge yourself. Don't expect anyone to hand anything to you. If you aren't exhausted all the time, you probably aren't working hard enough.<br /><br />Sometimes people get by on talent alone. And it's amazing to see. But more often than not in the many years I've been around here, the people who break through are the ones who are talented and perhaps more importantly, are the ones who know how to put their head down and do the work.<br /><br />Every time I've gotten depressed about career stuff, it goes one of two ways. Sometimes I get all woe is me and dwell on stuff. This always makes it worse. It doesn't even not help. It actively makes it worse.<br /><br />Other times, I take those feelings of hitting a brick wall and force myself to get motivated and active and do more stuff. And it always turns into something unexpected and productive and pride inducing.<br /><br />For years, I worked my ass off at improv. And I felt like I got good. And then that felt like I hit a plateau, and I got scared and frustrated. So I started writing as much as possible. And then in 2007 I eventually got to guest write at SNL. Two of the most amazing weeks of my life. But then I didn't get a staff position there, and that was demoralizing and terrifying -- felt like I missed my shot. So I got back on the horse and got really into storytelling. That led to a one man show that I felt great about, which I took to the Montreal Comedy Festival... and ultimately, I met a lot of people but still, nothing really stuck. So then I started doing <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/groups/view/154/the-chris-gethard-show">The Chris Gethard Show</a>, and that really felt like a good creative thing. And in the midst of all that activity was when Big Lake presented itself. It was ten years of trying any type of comedy I could.<br /><br />So I guess my point is, don't convince yourself that there's no point to trying. Try as much as you have to. If this is really what you want to do, and you actually have talent, you can do it. But you have to try every single avenue available to you. If I hadn't done all that stuff, I wouldn't have any skills to offer. If any of those things that felt like failures actually caused me to give up, as opposed to finding the next type of comedy to attempt, I would have left comedy about eight and a half years ago.<br /><br />Even today, with all this stuff happening, I am doing as much stand up as I can. It's terrifying and I'm not very good at it, but I'm just trying to be out there on any stage that will have me. This is because I've realized that when I am doing good, creative work, trying, failing, and getting better along the way, I feel good about myself and the fact that I've chosen to attempt this.<br /><br />Getting "Big Lake" has been an amazing and mind blowing experience. But doing things I've been proud of along the way has been its own reward. If getting famous is your goal, I have no advice for you. If doing the best, most creative, inventive stuff you can do is your goal, you will feel satisfied by going through that process and if you are lucky, the world will notice. But even if they don't -- and for me for a long time, they weren't -- you will wind up feeling good about what you've been doing.<br /><br />I too often see young performers emulating things and people they've seen come before. By all means, people should be learning from those who are of previous generations - Lord knows I spent a lot of time stealing tricks from <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/137/rob-huebel">Rob Huebel</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/220/rob-corddry">Rob Corddry</a> and <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/11/john-bowie">John Ross Bowie</a> when I started out - but I think everyone needs to turn that corner where they say "What is the thing that only I bring to the table? What do I do better than anyone else? What do I represent when I'm out on stage and how can I embrace that to the fullest?" The sooner you get honest about asking yourself that question, the sooner you will become content with what you are pursuing, I think. That may be super pretentious. I don't know. I just believe it wholeheartedly.<br /><br />Also, don't burn bridges. Be good to people. John Ross Bowie took me under his wing, coached my early groups for free, let me know he believed in me. To this day, I would do literally anything for that guy. And I've done the same for some of the people I've really identified with as they've been my students, done my best to bring them up, help them find venues for their talents, tried to offer them any advice I possibly can. There is no negative effect caused by being good to people.<br /><br />I see people get cliquey and exclusive - I am amazed by it. It's such a bad policy, personally and professionally. The level 201 improv student you are being a shithead to at a bar could be the producer of the show you want to work at in five years. That person might be the most talented diamond in the rough you are being rude to because you are in a 600 show and they are only in 201. I don't get it. Be nice to everyone. All the time. If someone seems positive and talented, find a way to work with them. And if that doesn't work out, find a way to support them. And spread the word.Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3626128410149368726.post-35206401856037088822010-08-10T06:34:00.000-07:002010-08-10T09:02:42.547-07:00UCB's Elaine Carroll on Mad MenSunday night's <span style="font-style: italic;">Mad Men</span> episode (SPOILER ALERT) featured the "man date" of the century -- Don Draper and Lane Pryce hitting the town! The advertising executives' romp through Manhattan included a menu of Texas-sized steak, a late-night showing of <span style="font-style: italic;">Godzilla</span>, and UCB's very own <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/talent/view/1248/elaine-carroll">Elaine Carroll</a> as a "Barnard girl" with a $25 fee.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 275px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhCkWCiKqH3-x9I8xCJyfGViUY58qjG3qBgh5j31nMO-_R2G4hI_HSoccmEeH7uVjDi4ReY6AX_U6tIUqc66E2EQh2sYSpxT4eNqt5NbW4kJQ_SSS_1tQmRGJHe48MWyHnCfLYF_a1sA/s400/elaineheadshot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503782066286491570" border="0" /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Elaine Carroll</span></span>
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<br />Elaine recently moved to Los Angeles from New York. She received her BFA in Acting from Marymount Manhattan College, where she got the comedy bug as co-founder of the sketch group <a href="http://dutchwest.tv/">Dutch West</a>. Elaine can be seen in numerous videos on College Humor and was formerly on the <a href="http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/1425">UCBNY Maude Team</a> Gramps. She is currently a member of the <a href="http://losangeles.ucbtheatre.com/shows/1684">UCBLA Maude Team </a>The Space Program.
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<br />Elaine also created the very popular (and hilarious) web series, <a href="http://verymarykate.com/">Very Mary Kate</a>, the unofficial life and times of Mary Kate Olsen. More information about Elaine can be found on her <a href="http://elainecarroll.net/">website</a>.
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<br />UCB Comedy asked Elaine about working on one of the most buzzed-about shows on television.
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<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn6M4k_vEYIMGXvuSFKBroxgvHNJXJ9IrzEmkYMYTtbNkL2q-T3j6DI7tO7dd27_5rlMnFdP1OCkZ6-ThqN2gHCCGlgb34-cvrxw9_vOZYQ1i73uCdFm8N4dYAHKD3G0DAqR5QX-d1w/s400/ElaineMadMen.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5503781328788051490" border="0" /> <span style="font-size:85%;">Elaine in her<span style="font-style: italic;"> Mad Men </span>gear</span>
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<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link style="font-weight: bold;" rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5Cabennett%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C07%5Cclip_fmargin:.5in;%20%09mso-footer-margin:.5in;%20%09mso-paper-source:0;%7D%20div.Section1%20%09%7Bpage:Section1;%7D%20--%3E%3C/style%3E%3Cspan%20style="><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: How did you get a role on Mad Men? What was the audition process like?</span>
<br />The audition process was surprisingly normal. There was only one round of auditions, and the episode was shot the following week. The sides for the audition were different from the actual script. They change it up so that they don't give anything away.<span style="font-weight: bold;">
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<br />Q: What was it like working with Jared Harris and Jon Hamm? </span>
<br />It was amazing. Everyone was extremely friendly. Jared Harris and Jon Hamm are both really kind and professional. It was weird, though. Jon Hamm kept trying to make out with me. (This is less of a fact and more of a faint, wistful daydream.)
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Did you get to meet any of the other actors on set or Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner?</span>
<br />I met all the other actors at the table read. Matthew Weiner was there, as well as the entire staff of writers and producers. It happened to be Christina Hendricks' birthday and Matthew Weiner had the whole room singing Happy Birthday. (The cake was great too.)
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Any fun anecdotes from shooting?</span>
<br />I had my own trailer, the hair and make-up crew was great, Jon Hamm kept trying to make out with me. (Still not a fact.)
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: What does Jon Hamm smell like?</span>
<br />A cigarette burning in God's ashtray.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: Inquiring minds want to know about the clothes. </span>
<br />The clothes on that show are breathtaking. They're authentic down to the last detail, and yes, I would have loved to keep the earrings, but I had to give them back.
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<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Q: What’s up next for Elaine Carroll?</span>
<br />There's gonna be a second season of "<a href="http://www.blogger.com/verymarykate.tumblr.com">Very Mary-Kate</a>" on <a href="http://collegehumor.com/">College Humor</a>!
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<br />Elaine in the UCB Comedy video, <a href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/5336/the-undermining">The Undermining</a>:
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<br /><table style="font-family: arial;" width="480" bgcolor="#000000" border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(166, 23, 45); color: white; font-size: 18px;" bgcolor="#a6172d"><td align="left"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/play/5336/the-undermining" target="_blank">The Undermining</a></td><td align="right"><a style="color: white; text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a></td></tr><tr align="center"><td colspan="2"><object width="480" height="388"><param name="movie" value="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/4c7a35268c8d82769779e14bf1e3be27"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/videos/embed/4c7a35268c8d82769779e14bf1e3be27" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="388"></embed></object></td></tr><tr style="color: white; font-size: 12px;"><td colspan="2" align="center">Watch more <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">comedy videos</a> from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at <a style="color: rgb(204, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.ucbcomedy.com/">UCBcomedy.com</a>
<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>Alisonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07800516366672737329noreply@blogger.com2