TalalKarkouti

Yeah!

Matt, the peace and love is implied man, you don't have to say it. I feel you and get your sentiment but how can you know that for sure? I listened to I4H for a year before i started doing short-form. My improv classmate who visited your LA theatre - lucky bastard! - lent me your book in the second week of training (I didn't manage to get through it all before he needed it back but i'm saving up to get a copy of my own. I would love to see it in stores here in the UK by the way...). By the time we began performing to audiences our influences were far beyond just Whose Line, and our tutors had done courses at second city, I.O. and Hoopla (which teach long form techniques). I'm not trying to say what everyone else's approach is, but for sure me and my teammates treat every scene with as much thought, exploration and insight as possible, no matter what 'bells and whistles' have been attached. We look for the truth in every topic, character and situation. We try our hardest not to go for cheap laughs as more often than not, the restrictions and rules set upon the scene provide those automatically. I really think audiences are evolving, at least British audiences, and are expecting more from each scene. Of course, you will argue that in the end, we know that in 3 minutes the whistle will blow, meaning we have to have a rounded scene within a much shorter time frame. Still, however, the best 3 minute scene can be as good and indepth as the best 10 minute story, as long as its given the right approach. Doesn't it all rely on the performer in the end? An intellegent performer will provide the smarter references, or try to make a serious point in their work. Just thought of something; of course games like 3 line scene, questions only or other games that really restrict scene work will have an effect on the purity of the improv. Please dont think for a second that i believe that a game of Top That comes anywhere close to the intellegence levels of the scenes you did in the gun control episode for example (a truly inspirational episode). I hope that goes wiout saying. I'm speaking more about scene games like Replay or Pillars. Finally, i have to humble myself down a bit. I realise that i'm relatively new to the game, and I'm talking to a master of the craft. Although i believe in what I'm saying, I also take on board your points and its a privalige to have this debate with you pal. It is of course my ambition, like most short formers, to get into higher forms of comedy and improv performance, but my time as a short former has been invaluable and i would gladly return to it on occasion and blow away any eagre audience with my whacky stylings! Cheers, Talal

By the way, I'd love to come on to Case Closed and argue my side...

If I were to appear on Case Closed (thanks for the invite) i would argue that they were the same discipline. Yes, longform is the more evolved form but you're using the same techniques and parts of your brain for both. And i've seen enough terrible short form performances to know that a certain level of skill/talent is required. You can get away with not being a team player or playing by your own rules but only in rare circumstances, and at the risk of looking like a selfish arse hole. Regarding the bells and whistles; no matter how many boundries and rules you put on a scene before it starts, in the end it comes down to the performers and what they make of it. You could set a hundred rules before a scene starts but in the end, a good improviser will embrace the challenge and make someing of it, put a unique spin on it or find the funniest ways of breaking the rules. Whatever, the important part lies in the strength of the performance. I've had some pretty intense, transendent moments doing short form scenes with amazing comediens. I've also struggled to find the funny in games that had a funnier set-up than actual execution as I'm sure occasionally happens with long-form. Also, i would say long-form HAS snuck into the mainstream via the back door of semi-improvised sitcoms like Curb or The League. This is a step towards something like Asssscat! having its own show. I'm only just getting into the world of performing long-form (i've dreamed of studying at the UCB for some time now but your book will have to suffice) via experimenting with my short form group and a new group I'm currently rehearsing with (doing horror stories) but so far my best moments on stage have been with my short form team (comedysportzUK) so i have to defend it's glory. Let me finish with a couple cliches. An old Chinese saying: Let a thousand flowers bloom. An old Eastern saying: five fingers are not the same. Let us celebrate the success of improv and comedy in whatever form it takes... Apart from Dane Cook. Love, Talal

Matt Besser is passionate about what he does and that naturally leads to bitterness about more commercial comedy succeeding over the in depth stuff. But without his passion we would not get the quality comedy he provides us for free every week (more if i lived in the US but sadly here in the UK the only stuff i can get is through the podcasts, youtube etc.). I will defend short form as a legitimate form of entertainment, but i will never dispute the passion and anger that drives Besser and other long-formers. Correct me if i'm wrong Adair. T

I agree with Matt about short form being a good way of getting into comedy and i'm glad to hear him giving it some slack. I'll fucking say it; I fucking love Whose Line and always will. It's always had a place in my heart because it's something i've enjoyed as an 8 year old and as an adult. It got me into improv before i even knew what it was. Even after eventually doing it myself and now moving on to long form, I still find short form really fun. By the way, on Greg Proops podcast he sometimes mentions something along the lines of not really respecting short form and doing it coz its easy money and he gets to hang out with the boys and bro out or whatever. That breaks my heart as much as hearing Matt and the crew ltake the piss on I4H this week. But yeah i have to say, that game did not need that long of an introduction at all. Anyway, great episode, great guests. A real trip out at the end, fuckin genius. nice one. T

Hey guys, I'm such a huge fan of this show and Besser and the UCB crew. I've been listening since the very start! As a UK improviser, it's a dream of mine to study at the UCB. But aaaannnyyywwaaaay, with regards to this latest episode: I found it a funny coincidence that you featured a bit about an ignorant guy's joke of the day YouTube videos. I'm on day 35 of my Joke a Day project on YouTube! I'm afraid that I'm gonna end up like this guy coz a lot of my jokes are seriously lame, but it's been a really good way to get disciplined and explore the world of jokes. Have a look.... Feel free to use any of them in your show too, you might enjoy taking the piss out of me. XXXXX