EPISODE 189.5 — Ask the UCB: Openings & Music Guests

[JulyDiaz 2797]

In this bonus Ask the UCB episode, Matt Besser talks about improv openings and answers questions about the musical guests on the show. Make sure to get the Upright Citizens Brigade television show season 3 now available on DVD, the UCB Comedy Improv Manual, and Dragoon’s new album at dragoongalaxy.bandcamp.com!

[AlbinLundholm 4020]

Hallelujah The Hills are now one of my favourite bands thanks to the podcast

[AlbinLundholm 4020]

Love Allison Weiss too

[robotam 4493]

Look what arrived for me today

 

 

[souprman 10477]

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[jughead 189]

^{how about having Scattered Suns on sometime?}

[tyroneslothrop 124]

Besser, the new Sun Kil Moon dropped today, it is fucking amazing and dare I say better than Benji. I know that's saying a lot. Here's the review I wrote. http://soundblab.com...niversal-themes

I know he'd be a huge get but it would be amazing to hear the improv Mark Kozelek would inspire.

 

I love his music, but I don't think I could handle listening to him on a podcast. He is a huge asshole.

[blazeheart 48]

As always, Matt Besser extends his generosity to his fans, and gives a free improv lesson. No, life lesson. Isn't truth like music to your ears? Thanks for breaking it down, Matty B!

[souprman 10477]

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[MultipleReferee 176]

Excellent, thanks for this. I never made the connection to improv-ing off of what you might call "sad" material being more of a challenge, but I totally see that now, just for the sole fact it's different than any other premise-based opening purely on tone. I think the variety of openings referred to is one of the reasons the show is such a pleasure to listen to.

[JacobCrites 4977]

Matt I know you're a busy guy, but if for some reason you're restraining yourself from releasing more of these, please don't. I love these things; I always feel like they give essential insight into the show.

[Poika 615]

Hallelujah The Hills are now one of my favourite bands thanks to the podcast

Their guitarist/singer called into the Player's Club episode of NNF this Monday! Jimmy was tweeting for callers during the show and he called in out of the blue. I can't exactly remember, but I'm guessing Jimmy eventually hung up on him (NNF listeners will understand).

 

It took me a couple minutes to remember where I had heard the name because they like NNF and had sent Jimmy an album, but then I remembered it was on I4H that I gained a healthy respect for their actual music.

[devwil 7]

Matt I know you're a busy guy, but if for some reason you're restraining yourself from releasing more of these, please don't. I love these things; I always feel like they give essential insight into the show.

 

Ditto. I really dig these episodes.

 

I can think of at least two entirely understandable reasons as to why Besser wouldn't want to do this, but—for future Ask the UCB(-style) bonus episodes—I'd really appreciate occasional breakdowns/analyses of scenes. I'm reminded of when... I believe it was Gemberling and Rust who were brought in to discuss how one had denied the other in a scene. It was all in the spirit of fun, but I think it would be amazing for Besser (and maybe 1-2 other folks if he doesn't want to just lecture) to go back and analyze some scenes along similar lines to illustrate how The Game, etc are operating within it. Obviously, Besser wouldn't want to do this too often, but doing it just a few times a year could possibly increase folks' appreciation of the form beyond the immediate (and rich in itself) level of "oh, these folks are playing and creating something very funny and cool and coherent".

 

(Again, I completely understand if he wouldn't want to do this at all.)

 

(Also, I feel like I should say that I have bought the UCB Improv Manual. Otherwise this request feels especially greedy.)

[myhandleonearwolf 62]

don't respond to a post i put up with a review i wrote praising this dude to tell me he's an asshole. do you think you know something about him i don't? your seriously dim view is boring and banal and if you'd bother to read the review you'd see i address short sighted uninformed opinions like yours and call them out in conjunction with sighting Kozelek's own lyrics which are slamming idiotic posts like yours. get a clue.

 

 

Oh please, nice try trying to slide your shitty pay-per-click amateur music review in the forums, but nobody bought it. http://soundblab.com/static/about-soundblab the site exists entirely as filler content to spam on social media

[souprman 10477]

 

Ditto. I really dig these episodes.

 

I can think of at least two entirely understandable reasons as to why Besser wouldn't want to do this, but—for future Ask the UCB(-style) bonus episodes—I'd really appreciate occasional breakdowns/analyses of scenes. I'm reminded of when... I believe it was Gemberling and Rust who were brought in to discuss how one had denied the other in a scene. It was all in the spirit of fun, but I think it would be amazing for Besser (and maybe 1-2 other folks if he doesn't want to just lecture) to go back and analyze some scenes along similar lines to illustrate how The Game, etc are operating within it. Obviously, Besser wouldn't want to do this too often, but doing it just a few times a year could possibly increase folks' appreciation of the form beyond the immediate (and rich in itself) level of "oh, these folks are playing and creating something very funny and cool and coherent".

 

(Again, I completely understand if he wouldn't want to do this at all.)

 

(Also, I feel like I should say that I have bought the UCB Improv Manual. Otherwise this request feels especially greedy.)

SORRY REPLIED TO WRONG POST!!!

[souprman 10477]

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[oatmealish 1]

I find myself enjoying the "Ask the UCB" episodes no matter the specific content. Getting a better idea of Matt's philosophy regarding improv is always illuminating.

 

And I'm certain that this has been brought up before but, man oh man, Jason Isbell would be the perfect guest. I have little doubt that Matt has reached out. Isbell's full of sad songs! Improv fodder!

[AllThisPaperwork 80]

You guys rule, Besser rules, the show rules, Brett rules. Thanks for listening to our music! That is all.

[tyroneslothrop 124]

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[souprman 10477]

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[tyroneslothrop 124]

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[DanielJohnson 94]

Thanks Matt! And thanks Brett! The musical eps sound great.

[mattbesser 605]

Tyrone and Soup would you guys like to debate this on Case Closed?

[tyroneslothrop 124]

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[Hobocop 59]

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