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Posts tagged as matt besser

From the Archives

Looking Back at the Upright Citizen's Brigade TV Show with the UCB4

by | February 22nd, 2013

The Paley Center for Media, which has locations in both New York and LA, dedicates itself to the preservation of television and radio history. Inside their vast archives of more than 120,000 television shows, commercials, and radio programs, there are thousands of important and funny programs waiting to be rediscovered by comedy nerds like you and me. Each week, this column will highlight a new gem waiting for you at the Paley Library to quietly laugh at. (Seriously, it’s a library, so keep it down.)

The Upright Citizen's Brigade Theater has been talked about quite a bit this month, with escalating Facebook messages, responses from people working in every [...]

Badvertising

Oh Hey, Matt Besser and Seth Morris, You're in the New Apple Ads

by | July 30th, 2012

The videos star Josh Rabinowtiz, a stand-up who just performed as part of the Just For Laughs New Faces showcase last week.

Despite the comedic talent, the ads have not been particularly well received. Ken Segall, a former ad man who had worked with Steve Jobs, wrote on his personal blog:

I know it’s hard to say after viewing the new batch of Mac ads that debuted on the Olympics. I’m still in a bit of shock myself.

Sure, Apple has had a low point or two in its advertising past — but its low points are usually higher than most advertisers’ high points.

This is different. [...]

Interviews

Talking with Matt Besser About 'Freak Dance,' improv4humans, and the Upcoming UCB Book

by | June 5th, 2012

Freak Dance, the musical/dance movie parody written and directed by UCB's Matt Besser and co-directed by Neil Mahoney, follows a rich ballerina named Cocolonia who meets a ragtag group of street dancers named Funky Bunch, Sassy, Barrio, and Egghead who are forced to save their run-down studio after it gets shut down by the fascist building inspector for not having an egress (the original UCB theater was shut down for the same reason in 2002). While there are plenty of slickly shot dance scenes featuring winners from America's Best Dance Crew and So You Think You Can Dance busting their moves, the comedy is provided via UCB [...]

UCB

Grand Opening Of UCB's Second NY Location Is (You Got It) Improvised

by | October 31st, 2011

This weekend saw the grand opening of the UCB's second location in New York, after two long years of securing licenses, tearing down walls, and proving that it's not a sex club. Those New Yorkers, always so worried about a little sex club here or there! UCB co-founders Matt Besser and Ian Roberts couldn't get to the big opening because of that darned snowstorm, but ultimately there was a show (featuring Fugazi's Ian MacKaye) that Amy Poehler called "the perfect combination of funny and weird and sloppy." Ah, improvisers, always rolling with the punches. Welcome, UCBeast!

Podcasts

The Earwolf Challenge Declares its Winner

by | September 14th, 2011

It's a big week for the Earwolf podcasting network for two reasons: 1) Earwolf's partnership with Funny or Die just kicked off on Monday, and 2) After two months of intense competition, it's time to crown the winner of the first-ever Earwolf Challenge. In the contest that aims to be the American Idol of comedy podcasting, 10 amateur programs entered for a chance to become Earwolf's newest show. The winning podcast will appear amongst the other shows on Earwolf's official website (and on Funny or Die) for one year, providing a major boost in listeners from what's become the leading network in comedy podcasting.

Podcasts

Listen to Matt Besser and Ian Roberts Explain the History, Philosophy, and Economics of UCB

by | January 30th, 2013

UCB Theatre founders Matt Besser and Ian Roberts did a special episode of Besser's Earwolf podcast improv4humans today, in which they walk listeners through the theater's philosophy and economics. In response to the recent internet hubbub over the theater's practice of not paying stand-ups, Besser and Roberts use the episode as a forum to explain that they use all the money generated by the theater's popular weekend shows to keep the place running during its less-popular free or cheap weekday shows. Check it out here.

Improv

Listen to Matt Besser Explain How People Constantly Misunderstand "Yes, and"

by | July 13th, 2012

"'Yes, and' is about agreement. Agreement doesn't necessarily mean you literally say the word yes all the time… In fact you more often probably do say no. Agreement means I'm agreeing with the improviser, not that I'm agreeing with the character… Agreement is I'm agreeing to your premise." - Matt Besser on the latest episode of improv4humans explaining the common misconception over what "yes, and" means. It's part of a well-articulated rant on the subject that shows why he is an improv legend. You can download the episode on iTunes or listen to it here. Start at the 75:45 mark, so you don't have to hear Chris Gore talk [...]

Anchorman 2

Betrayal Planned for 'Anchorman 2'

by | May 31st, 2012

And not just by milk! Adam McKay was on the improv4humans podcast today to do some improv, which is pretty cool in of itself. However, doubly cool is that host Matt Besser was able to squeeze some sweet, sweet Anchorman 2 gossip out of him. Other than revealing that they finished the outline and are just starting to write the thing, he was able to offer up this: "Betrayal from Christina Applegate. Betrayal from Alicia Corningstone." I assume he meant Veronica Corningstone, unless Christina Applegate will also be playing Veronica's twin sister, Alicia. I wonder what the betrayal will be? Maybe she'll get a better job or she'll [...]

Review

Freak Dance Review: No Butts Allowed That Ain't Working

by | October 12th, 2011

It's pretty remarkable how many dance movies Hollywood has churned out over the years. What's even more remarkable, though, is how godawful terrible most of them are. (Did you enjoy Center Stage too? We were so young!). I guess what I'm saying is, anyone who grew up watching Save The Last Dance will spent the first 30 minutes of Matt Besser's Freak Dance cringing in recognition. Cringing and laughing. Craughing. But you'll have to do it quietly because the Freak Dance score is part Jesus Christ Superstar, part Rent, and every note is worth hearing.

Podcasts

Earwolf Challenge Update: Week Eight

by | September 7th, 2011

In this week’s Earwolf Challenge, podcast network Earwolf’s weekly competition to select its newest show, host Matt Besser and the producers threw a little bit of a curveball at the three remaining contestants. While past week’s challenges have revolved around assignments like utilizing the guest and developing a strong theme song and intro, this week’s task, entitled “Time Crunch,” saw Besser and company deceiving the podcasters to see how they can handle a crisis. Dreamed up by Earwolf founder Scott Aukerman, this challenge called for Besser to tell the competitors they’ll have an hour to interview Zach Galifianakis, only to pull the rug out from under them by saying [...]

Improv

Improv's Babel: Defining the Game of the Scene

by | November 19th, 2012

Interviews by Matt Visconage.

Improv was doomed with a semantics crisis from the start.

When long-form improvisation began to flourish as its own art form under comedy guru Del Close in Chicago in the 1980s, “improv” referred to The Improv, a popular chain of stand-up comedy clubs in dozens of cities around the country. The Palm Beach Improv, for example.

When I used to intern at an improv theater in Hollywood, it wasn’t uncommon to find a couple who wandered in from the street, expecting to see a guy with a microphone, telling jokes. Television shows like Whose Line Is It, Anyway? helped audiences distinguish improv from stand-up, [...]

Podcasts

It's That Episode 21: Matt Besser/'Teen Mom' – Letting Go

by | June 18th, 2012

On "It's That Episode," Craig Rowin (UCB Theatre) invites guests over to his apartment to watch any episode of any TV show they want. They discuss the episode and a bunch of other crap. Episodes are released every Monday.

Matt Besser (Upright Citizens Brigade, Freak Dance, Improv4Humans) stops by to watch the downfall of society, AKA "Teen Mom." Matt and Craig talk about having babies without even knowing it, discuss a new adoption policy for the Christian right and get angry about how terrible the teen moms in "Teen Mom" are. Get ready to wallow in the infinite dark depths of "Teen Mom."

Podcasts

Matt Besser Launches Longform Improv Podcast on Earwolf

by | November 10th, 2011

Do you like improv and podcasts? Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to. Do you loooooove improv and podcasts? Then this is fantastic news! UCB founder Matt Besser launched a new podcast on Earwolf today called improv4humans, and it consists of longform improv based on a one-word suggestion from Besser's Twitter followers. This must be what improv was like back in the golden days of radio, when people just listened to the scenes without the visual experience of watching guys in plaid and glasses cut imaginary vegetables. Back when the whole family would gather around the radio to hear FDR give his famous Fireside Monologues to generate [...]

Looking Back

A Love Letter To UCB's 15 Years In New York

by | September 26th, 2011

To honor the UCB's 15 years in NYC and the opening of UCBeast, New York Mag checked in with about 50 alumni of the many-headed comedy hydra, who discuss everything from the troupe's guerilla improv days in Chicago (Horatio Sanz: "My idea was, 'How awesome would it be to be arrested in front of this audience, and have them thinking, Did they plan this? How did they get that cop car? What’s going on?'”) to the process of bringing long-form to NYC (Rob Corddry: "In 90 minutes, they changed how I felt and thought about comedy. It was punk rock — super dirty and loose.") Says Amy Poehler, [...]

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