Comedy news and views from Jeff Kreisler, with an IFC twist.
Drop him a line at sketchy (at) ifc dot com.
Milwaukee Ha Ha?
By Jeff Kreisler on 11/04/2009
No, really. I am in Milwaukee for a couple days. Performing at Marquette and UW Oshkosh. I got to thinking... Besides Laverne & Shirley, most seasons of the Brewers (especially the Red Necks and Jeffrey Leonard years), and the accents, what's so funny about Milwaukee? This site gives me some comedy around. There are a couple clubs, some improv, some sketch groups... but is there anything amazing here? Who's "come out of" Milwaukee? This type of town has got to produce some under-the-radar gems, so who are they? And, furthermore, let's maybe start a little breakdown of comedy cities in... MORE »
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The Times, It Is A-Laughing
By Jeff Kreisler on 11/03/2009
Filed under: Up For Debate
I tend to keep an eye on the MSM coverage of comedy. Having been exposed the UK comedy scene - where the big papers and the BBC routinely include comedy and comedians as major cultural forces - I'm curious to see what happens here. The intrusion of the Stewart-Colbert-Maher line into tradition media's role as information provider, the rise of comedy coverage and content online, the steady flow of laid off "real job" holders into the comedy ranks... all must be adding pressure to newsrooms to at least take a look into the ha-ha arts. The New York Times, for... MORE »
Video Friday - Get A Job & Feel Good
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/30/2009
Filed under: Video
The Interview - Film Cow University of Westfield Online - SNL Grocery Store Musical - Improv Everywhere photo: familytreemagazine.com MORE »
Making a Mess... On Stage
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/29/2009
Filed under: On Stage, Up For Debate
I was at a show last night with Elephant Larry. Very funny group. They made a mess on stage. Crumbled, mashed in cookies, cream, cupcakes, mush, goo, crumbs everywhere. I've seen The Apple Sisters routinely spray corn, melon, and water everywhere. I caught New Excitement dumping coffee, spit, blood, and food all over their play space, too. Those are just a few of the sketch groups that routinely make a mess on stage. My questions for you are: - What other groups do that regularly? (Answers including "Gallagher" or "Gallagher 2" will result in disqualification... from life). - Do you... MORE »
Introducing... Elephant Larry
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/27/2009
Filed under: Introducing...
(NYC: Catch Elephant Larry along with the winning video from IFC's Sketch Comedy Challenge and some fantastic stand-ups Wednesday night, October 28, 9:30 pm at Caroline's on Broadway. Details here). Elephant Larry isn't really new to us at IFC - I gave their SketchfestNYC show "Con Air" a brief review - but they're a group everyone should know, and will know soon. Introducing... Group Name: Elephant Larry Group Members: Alex Zalben, Jeff Solomon, Geoff Haggerty, Stefan Lawrence, and Chris Principe Website: ElephantLarry.com Links to videos you're proud of: What Do You Want On Your Tombstone? Minesweeper - The Movie The... MORE »
News! Antennae On The Move!
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/26/2009
Filed under: Industry News
Arrested Development is back on the air. Where it belongs... while we wait for the movie. On the other hand, The Jeff Dunham Show broke Comedy Central's record for a series debut. I realize everyone has different tastes, and not everyone knew how great Chappelle was before his show hit, and Jeff Dunham is undeniably talented and funny and hard-working... but... really? The stereotype enhancing show is that popular? Guess it's Mencia with a puppet. The New York Comedy Festival hits town next week. While mostly stand-up - and great stand-up at that - there are some solid events for... MORE »
Video Friday - Monty Python
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/23/2009
Filed under: Video
You thought I could go a week without mentioning Monty Python? Nope. They're all over IFC and, hey, it's my birthday, so I can do what I want. Enjoy a couple classics and an unappreciated gem. Ministry of Silly Walks Argument Clinic Bicycle Repairman photo: familytreemagazine.com... MORE »
World's Largest Sketch Event: Halloweeen
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/22/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, Up For Debate
It's coming. Halloween. Great Pumpkins, fun-sized candy, and pretending to be someone else. Everyone plays, lowers his or her inhibitions, and gets candy... in one form or another... rrrow. (Seriously, there's a lot of Halloween action). The Halloween costumes are what make it special to me, though, frankly I like to think of them as characters, not costumes. I don't ask, "What are you going as?" but rather, "Who are you going as?" (Okay, wow. I just realized that's totally pretentious of me, isn't it? I'll stop. But at least I use bad grammar - should be "As whom are... MORE »
Introducing... Marvin Berry
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/20/2009
Filed under: Introducing..., On Stage
Welcome to the second in our "Introducing..." series. See this post for a little background on "Introducing..." and, as always, email me or comment about your thoughts on the group, the series, of if you want to get your funny team involved. Group Name: Marvin Berry Group Members: Andie Bolt, Harrison Brown, Justin Donaldson, Jordan Morris, Hal Rudnick, and Tim Saccardo. (NB: Justin provided the answers below for the group) Website: ucbcomedy.com/groups/view/112 Where Can You Be Seen: We do a new sketch show the second Thursday of every month at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in LA Links to some... MORE »
Yes! Arrested Development (& TV news)
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/20/2009
Filed under: Industry News, On The Tube
IFC keeps reaching into my brain to find good ideas. IFC picked up all three seasons of Arrested Development, and will begin showing them this Sunday, October 25, at 10 pm. Part of the Automat. Monty Python and Arrested Development - it's like the best parts of my youth and of my recent past are coming together in one powerful form. What's next? R2D2 and Elle Macpherson delivering the 2004 Red Sox championship? Fox is putting together a comedy series based upon the Dog Whisperer with Wilmer Valderrama. Lassie with a laugh track? That 70s Dog? Do dogs have comic... MORE »
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