Splitsider - Inside Jokes

On The Princess Bride Letters

I love that the sound a lawyer makes when he's backed a loser ("ooch") is the same sound that Buttercup makes when she slides down the hill in the "As you wish," part. Goldman is a genius.

Posted on January 17, 2012 at 12:10 pm

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On Saturday Night's Children: Michaela Watkins (2008-2009)

I really liked Mikaela, and all I could think while watching her was "she'll never last, she's way too subtle for SNL." She had a comedic lightness that was unsuited to the show, sadly. But I loved watching her. Hopefully she finds her place in comedy.

Posted on December 27, 2011 at 1:10 pm

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On This Week's Web Series You Need To Watch: "Bestie by Bestie"

Thank you for your response.

Posted on November 6, 2011 at 6:30 pm

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On This Week's Web Series You Need To Watch: "Bestie by Bestie"

As an improviser (not a so-called "aficianado," just a long time improviser), I take issue with improv being characterized the way it is in this article. The reason there are so many improv kids who stand around screaming is there is this school of thought that improv is "Being stream of consciousness funny without any prep or thought about what would be the most genius thing to say in a given moment." It's not about that, if it's done right. It's about LOTS of prep--lots of training, rehearsal, warm up, etc. It's also not about stream of consciousness. It's about reacting to your partner and the needs of the scene. In this case, stream of conscious riffing is the rule of the scene, so that's what they're doing. But that's not what improv is about. It's also not about "the most genius thing to say." Being a laugh-a-minute machine, or thinking you have to be one, is what derails most good improv in my mind. These two are very good at reacting improvisationally to one another. It's super funny. But is it what improv, on the whole, is about? No. Do lots of people think it is? Yes. Is that what makes improv seem like a fuck around, a thing you show up to and if you're talented and funny you'll be the best? Yes. It's a disservice to the trained improvisers out there, both famous (Poehler, Fey, etc.) and regular, who spend/have spent a lot of time working on this art form to categorize it so narrowly. I care a lot about this (obviously) but so do many others.

Posted on November 6, 2011 at 1:07 pm

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On Other Horrible Bosses, In Order

Exsqueeze me? What about Dabney Coleman as Franklin M. Hart Jr. in 9-5??? Gross exclusion.

Posted on July 7, 2011 at 4:10 pm

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On Looking Back at Mr. Show

Exsqueeze me? Best sketch show of the 90s? Kids in the Hall hello?

Posted on March 11, 2011 at 11:26 pm

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On Enough Is Enough With "SNL Isn't Funny Anymore"

Thanks for this! Also, does anyone else hate this: "the show used [Jane Lynch's] skills as both a performer and, occasionally, an improviser (adding a sharp reaction or edge to a line in responding to another cast member)" Does Ken Tucker not understand what improv is? I don't understand how he could comprehend that these "adds" on Lynch's part were improvised. Am I missing something?

Posted on November 24, 2010 at 2:18 am

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On Woody Allen's Slow Journey Away From Comedy

I agree with Jess Lane, and I also think it's weird to expect a 75 year old man to still be into the same kind of comedy he was when he was 17. Hell, I'm not even into the same kind of comedy I was when I was 17, and that's only ten years ago. The biographical notes on Woody here are interesting, as is the examination of his shift to film, but it took me awhile to get into this piece as a result of assumptions about the film which has (actually, for real) been called "a return to form" by many. I read the beginning of this piece with a "What??" because of that (and the assumption that the Splitsider audience wouldn't see a Woody Allen film. Why wouldn't we?).

Posted on October 7, 2010 at 12:46 pm

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