Episode 67 — Fish Hook

[admin 330]

We made improv4humans history as Lennon Parham, John Gemberling, and Joe Wengert joined us for the first livestreamed episode of improv4humans with Matt Besser! What could make this any better? Well, we had one of our regular listeners call in to give us their best story to inspire a scene and had Eric the Paid Intern return to tell us about a failed date & to share some of his Superbowl Man On The Street Interviews! Check out the full video at youtube.com/Earwolf and be sure to pick up an improv4humans shirt from the Earwolf Store and follow @MattBesser on Twitter to send in your improv suggestions. Music by Bobby Matthews and Dragoon. You can also now get Matt Besser’s new comedy album “The Six Most Important Sets in the History of Standup” at mattbesser.com!

[saddlebags 581]

Wow an all star cast, can't wait to listen.

[therealMATTLOXLEY 135]

Loved watching it live! I was laughing till tears came out Im glad you put eps out in good ol audio style still so i can catch the missed laughs i thoroughly enjoy being able to enjoy two versions haha

[adventureface 137]

This made me feel like this.

http://adventureface.com/spp/Benj4.gif

[robinsbruce 4985]

Can't get enough Wengert. This group was awesome on the VPN. I think I like the audio-only version just a little bit better though.

[saddlebags 581]

Great episode. I love any episode with Gemberling, Parham, or Wengert. All 3 was just fantastic.

[Isaac Kozell 91]

Nice story Shakesbeard!

 

I've said it before but Parham's male voices are the goddamn best.

[gregm5s7 3]

These live ones seem to have lesser audio quality

 

*edit, kept listening, the audio is definitely worse.

[saddlebags 581]

These live ones seem to have lesser audio quality

 

*edit, kept listening, the audio is definitely worse.

 

Looks like they're using headsets so the cameras can see their faces without the mic booms obscuring things. The headsets definitely do not sound as good.

[JacobCrites 4977]

Wow, just an incredible episode. Maybe the best ever. It had all the stuff that makes i4h great: non-confrontational listener call-ins, Eric the Unpaid Intern, Crap on YouTube and, of course, tweets. I nearly spat out my morning coffee when I heard:

"Could you twat it down a bit?"

 

And the Big Brother Program sketch may be my new all-time favorite.

[BrettMorris 1862]

 

Looks like they're using headsets so the cameras can see their faces without the mic booms obscuring things. The headsets definitely do not sound as good.

This. Also the video setup requires us to record things louder and with a different signal chain, which throws off our normal system a bit. Fully adapting it beforehand to sound consistent with the rest of the podcasts is very difficult.

 

But yes the headsets sounded a lot worse and had a big noise problem when they got bumped at all, but they looked better on screen probably. Not sure what we're doing going forward.

[saddlebags 581]

This. Also the video setup requires us to record things louder and with a different signal chain, which throws off our normal system a bit. Fully adapting it beforehand to sound consistent with the rest of the podcasts is very difficult.

 

But yes the headsets sounded a lot worse and had a big noise problem when they got bumped at all, but they looked better on screen probably. Not sure what we're doing going forward.

 

It has pros and cons, I mean, the freedom of movement is probably good for an improv show. Also, you don't have to worry about guests getting off mic. Some people just never learn how to stay on mic.

 

I think Heil makes tabletop mic stands. Some even have integrated cough buttons. But that's $$$.

[Podus 108]

There was definitely a lot of extra noise coming through. Great ep. but the noise almost made it unbearable

[Merick 28]

I find the scenes easier to follow with the video. I hope for more I4H videos!

[pokey_valentine 115]

Hilarious episode! Well done.

[Gym Sockerman 1326]

I don't understand how someone could film these things without laughing their asses off.

Why not use pretty Improv 4 Humans T-shirt model as Sexy Robot Lady? Just give her a radar dish on her head.

[GarbageCan 143]

This. Also the video setup requires us to record things louder and with a different signal chain, which throws off our normal system a bit. Fully adapting it beforehand to sound consistent with the rest of the podcasts is very difficult.

 

But yes the headsets sounded a lot worse and had a big noise problem when they got bumped at all, but they looked better on screen probably. Not sure what we're doing going forward.

Ahh, I'd thought the VPN videos' sound were quite low. In my opinion, the improved visual component of the headset mic's don't make up for their sensitivity to small motions.

[Corky Kneivel 113]

Whole. Lee. Fuck.

 

 

I was crying I was laughing so hard. Start to finish this episode was amazing. I am just floored by the brilliance and the unflappableness, of these performers. I say that with no hyperbole.

 

 

Lennon sets up a scene based off the story about forgetting you have a date on a specific day by calling and asking where Joe is. He played it perfectly, nervous and fumbling and assuring he’s right there at the amusement park. So when Matt comes and just announces that they were buttfucking and is so graphic about it, I lost it. I fucking lost it. I’m thinking “Holy shit what’s she going to do? She was the date? It could have gone any which way and I think a lesser performer would have given over to that but she makes a great heighten by making herself a mistreated, fatherless, kid waiting on a Big Brother sponsor. Genius.

 

 

That sort of ability is showcased by each performer throughout the episode in every scene they do with the game and pattern expansion. As funny as it was my favorite was the kicker. Just Matt piling on the defeated sounding Gemberling: “Do you wanna apologize?” Just twisting the knife in even more. I love being able to see it too because I loved the reactions to the shit that comes out of their mouth.

[Podus 108]

Who Charted kept the old mics and it looks and sounds better. Headset mics look dorky

[GregJ.Hansen 316]

Look at that fucking robot!

[Syme 548]

I enjoyed watching the episode, although I did think there was something a bit distracting about being able to see the improvisers when they're not in the scene yet. And not being able to make edits afterwards does mean scenes tend to end a bit awkwardly.

 

I don't know if it would work, but I'd be interested to see what an episode would be like if you moved the tables and chairs out of the studio and had everyone standing,and had a bit of physical acting in the scenes. Making it more like a stage show might work better for a video broadcast.

[JacobCrites 4977]

Yeah, in general I don't like the video feed for the improv-based podcasts. I think they work great for more traditional conversation-based casts (genuinely excited to see HDTGM on VPN), but something about seeing the performers sort of destroys the "theater of the mind" aspect of i4h and CBB. I like watching them after I've listened; it feels more like a cool, behind the scenes look at what it's like to be in the studio. But something like the most recent episode of CBB just doesn't work as well in video form.

 

Although I will say, seeing Matt say "We'll give you the fish hook RIGHT OUT OF VEGAS!" while doing the fish hook gesture was a joy.

[Kickpuncher 5012]

It's weird, because I totally see why someone would feel that way, but I feel exactly the opposite. The physicality that the performers bring to the (figurative and literal) table is really cool, even if it's as simple as facial expressions. Since improv is typically done live and this show is kind of a twist on that, I think they're naturally inclined to do physical stuff, and I hope they feel liberated to do things that might occur to them but wouldn't come across well in a pure audio format.

[choochoo_the_wonder_slut 740]

something about seeing the performers sort of destroys the "theater of the mind" aspect of i4h and CBB

 

I concur. I'm only going to watch the HDTGM and Nerd Poker vidcasts if they happen. In Russia character improv video watches you!

[pokey_valentine 115]

I don't think the video is at all detrimental on i4h, but it really changes the experience. I had different favorite scenes and highlights after listening than I did after watching. Video served the football scene really well, because the facial expressions and body language added another layer. Audio served the porno mag scene, because it relied more on audience imagination/suspension of disbelief.