Episode UCB3 — Bonus: Ask The UCB 3

[JulyDiaz 2797]

Matt Besser answers some of your questions in another edition of Ask the UCB! Matt elaborates on his comparison of independent improv shows to stand-up open mics, talks about how the UCB Comedy Improv Manual is helpful in writing comedy, shares what he really thinks about “Whose Line Is It Anyway,” discusses an improv school that brags about not focusing on the “rules of improvisation,” and gives a couple of book recommendations. You can now get the UCB Comedy Improv Manual at http://ucbstore.com/...visation-manual, Matt Besser’s new comedy album at mattbesser.com, and Dragoon’s new album at dragoongalaxy.bandcamp.com!

[Hot - Slunch 772]

Thanks for clarifying that comment about open mics and independent improv shows.

 

Oh, and I'm definitely buying the Improv Manual. That should tide me over until I can actually attend classes at a UCB.

[RobotsPJs 123]

I could listen to Matt talk about whatever all day.

[reggaechristmas 64]

Edit: Not gonna say what the podcast is Matt was a guest on, but man it's so obvious and he's so correct.

[simpgeek 7]

Edit: Not gonna say what the podcast is Matt was a guest on, but man it's so obvious and he's so correct.

 

I don't think it's obvious because you seem to think it's Pete Holmes, whereas I'm convinced he's referring to Jay Mohr on CBB. What podcast was Matt on with Pete recently?

[reggaechristmas 64]

I am a terrible iTunes detective. I think you're probably right.

[onReload 43]

I really respect Besser for speaking honestly about short form. No bullshit diplomacy, just his gut feelings.

[robinsbruce 4985]

Matt I fucking love your book recommendations.

 

I'm also super pumped you gave Isbell a shout out. I'm from north alabama and have been lucky enough to catch a few drive by/isbell solo shows over the past 10 years. If you are into that stuff, I would like to recommend to you Lee Baines III and the glory fires. Also The Dexateens.

 

Looking forward to episode 100!!! Congrats Matt, long live long-form.

[Jackson1326657838 105]

I'm curious as to how Matt Besser thinks Adam Carolla would do on I4H. Given his comments about short form versus long form, the way he approaches improv, and his perspective on being selfish versus working with the group; I suspect he might not want him on the show. I think though that the perception about Carolla would be that he would be selfish in an improv situation, but in listening to his podcast, I think he is very giving and would make for a good guest. Carolla trained with The Groundlings as did Steve Agee, who has been on the show. I imagine there have been other Groundlings people too. Besser mentioned certain schools he likes and dislikes, but I don't know if The Groundlings came up. Thoughts?

[justinmh05 1968]

I don't think Steve Agee has been on i4h - but he might make a great guest! I'm not a Carolla fan at all so I wouldn't personally want him on an i4h episode, but I do concede that it might make for an interesting episode.

[AndyPacheco-Fores 437]

Now I want to go back and listen to the Mohr-Besser CBB again

[Jackson1326657838 105]

I don't think Steve Agee has been on i4h - but he might make a great guest! I'm not a Carolla fan at all so I wouldn't personally want him on an i4h episode, but I do concede that it might make for an interesting episode.

 

You know what you're right. Sorry, I mistook the episode of CBB with Besser and Agee for an I4H.

[justinmh05 1968]

 

You know what you're right. Sorry, I mistook the episode of CBB with Besser and Agee for an I4H.

 

No worries - I do the same thing all the time.

[justinmh05 1968]

Now I want to go back and listen to the Mohr-Besser CBB again

 

It came off to me that Mohr was trying to go more over the top than the "character guest". Like once Matt got going, Jay seemed like he decided that he wanted to be a wacky character too.

[limb 4]

I think UCB will do just fine despite the marketing angle of that new independent improv workshop. There are a lot of people who don't get on Harold teams or who decide to socialize in other improv communities and these smaller workshops give them further opportunities to keep doing what they love. Also it would be hard to start a new school or workshop that used the exact syllabus as UCB or other established theaters. If someone was that into the philosophy of a specific theatre they would likely stay at that theatre and not open a new school.

[Podus 108]

I thought the Mohr CBB was great but you could tell he isn't as comfortable doing an improv scene.

[Jackson1326657838 105]

I thought Mohr was great, but I understand the complaints. He seems to enjoy being the center of attention a little too much. But that was CBB, not I4H. If Besser was upset because Scott's show wasn't exactly the same format as his show, that's just not fair. I could sense Matt's frustration over Jay not following his lead more, but I think for a CBB episode, Mohr did pretty much exactly what most guests do.

 

It was fun, funny, and memorable. What more can you ask from CBB?

[MichaelStanford 69]

If Besser was upset because Scott's show wasn't exactly the same format as his show, that's just not fair.

 

Yeah, discourtesy is a part of the CBB format.

[Joe Lerini 7329]

I could sense Matt's frustration over Jay not following his lead more, but I think for a CBB episode, Mohr did pretty much exactly what most guests do.

 

There was also Mohr repeatedly referring to Besser's character as "Single Dad" while Besser kept saying, like, "I'm not single, I have a wife. I'm just New Dad" and Mohr just going on with calling him "Single Dad". I could see that being kind of irritating, though I personally enjoyed that CBB episode. *shrug*

[Pir 1]

I think UCB will do just fine despite the marketing angle of that new independent improv workshop. There are a lot of people who don't get on Harold teams or who decide to socialize in other improv communities and these smaller workshops give them further opportunities to keep doing what they love. Also it would be hard to start a new school or workshop that used the exact syllabus as UCB or other established theaters. If someone was that into the philosophy of a specific theatre they would likely stay at that theatre and not open a new school.

 

 

The workshop Matt is referring to is actually the Annoyance theater, normally stationed in Chicago. Here's a link to what he's talking about exactly. http://www.annoyanceproductions.com/nyc/

 

Also I laughed a little at Matt getting angry about the semantics of their class ad (I can't think of a better thing to call it?).

 

On no one teaching "rules of improvisation" however is sadly incorrect however. If you live someplace that isn't New York, LA, or Chicago, most "teachers" are just going to spout off the bullet points at the end of each chapter of Truth In Comedy at you for guidance. I've never taken a professional improv class at any of the big theatres, so I can't say anything about them.

 

Annoyance has said they don't teach "the rules" for a long time, I don't think it was a dig at UCB, it's just how they've always positioned themselves.

 

However, "Annoyance Style" as Mick Napier describes in his own book does actually advocate taking care of yourself and defining your character first, and then worrying about the scene at large. Which is the kind of selfish play Matt talked about disliking earlier.

[ErikSternberger 0]

Loved this episode. If it was Jay, he was talking about I could see it. Jay has never been my cup of tea as a comedian, so I admit I did have a little bias even at the start of that CBB and I had to skip around for the first time ever.

[Shakesbeard 61]

Now you should have Ryan Stiles as a guest on an i5h.

 

[reptar 25]

Matt is spot on with his assessment of how people at large see improv. I mean, I listened to CBB for fucking years and I still wasn't convinced I4H was going to be any good (until I checked out an episode out of curiosity and saw the light).

[LawksO'Lordy 0]

Ah! I can totally see Mohr hogging things in live improv. He came across well on CBB though.

 

According to Jeffrey Sweet's oral history of the Compass Players/Second City, Shelley Berman was an acknowledged big rigger and other members didn't care for it. So this has been a problem since the dawn of the form!

 

I think it was Berman, anyway - they're definitely mentioned many times by name in the book (I don't have it to hand)

[newpope 0]

I enjoyed this episode very much. It's interesting to note that one of the classes offered by the Annoyance in Brooklyn is being taught by a very talented improviser named Conner O'Malley who is started out with Annoyance in Chicago but came to NYC last year and performed on Harold night for a while and currently performs on a weekend team at UCB-NY. His approach to long-form very well might be a mixture of both schools.

 

Oh and here's an interesting blog poste from former Academic Supervisor of UCB-NY Will Hines about “Del Close’s Kitchen Rules.” http://improvnonsense.tumblr.com/post/12245193099/kitchen-rules