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Posts tagged as Groundlings

Important Data

Second City vs. Groundlings vs. UCB: Where Do the Most 'SNL' Cast Members Come From?

by | March 14th, 2013

Throughout Saturday Night Live's history, the show's cast has been mostly culled from four places: the stand-up world, L.A.'s Groundlings Theatre, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatres in L.A. and New York, and the Chicago improv sketch/scene (the Second City, iO, and Annoyance theaters). Sure, there are wildcard hires who avoided these standard comedy training grounds, like Fred Armisen – a drummer for a punk rock bank who caught the eye of Bob Odenkirk after making some videos of himself bothering strangers at a music festival – or Anthony Michael Hall – an actor from John Hughes's Brat Pack who had a one-season run on the show in the [...]

Characters

Pray For Marbles: Melissa McCarthy Brings Her Characters To SNL

by | September 29th, 2011

Okay, so we can't say for sure which of her many losers and weirdos will make an appearance during Melissa McCarthy's SNL hosting gig, but suffice it to say that the Bridesmaids actress showed up to rehearsal with a boatload of characters finely honed onstage at the Groundlings. Exhibit A: Marbles, the mock turtle neck-wearing hermit genius you see before you. “If I get Marbles on SNL, you can hit me with a bus right after that and I’ll be OK,” McCarthy told The Hollywood Reporter. Can't we hit Marbles with a bus instead? Or, alternatively, take her to some sort of respiratory specialist?

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Just Try It: The Comedy Schools and Programs to Get You Started at Being Funny on Stage

by | July 16th, 2012

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Performing comedy for the first time – whether it’s improv, sketch or standup – can be an intimidating experience, which keeps a lot of would-be first-timers from taking a stab at it. Luckily for panicky novices, though, there are several well-regarded programs that hold your hand through the getting-your-feet-wet process. While conventional wisdom seems to dictate that with standup, it’s best to get started by performing at an open mic instead of taking standup classes, sketch and improv lend themselves more to curriculum and classes, and several well-regarded [...]

Interviews

Chris Parnell and Ana Gasteyer on Their Comedic Marriage of the Minds

by | December 5th, 2011

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