Introducing... Elephant Larry

By Jeff Kreisler on 10/27/2009

(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 Second Phone Call

Shiny credits or awards:
Best Comedy Ensemble 2009 - Village Voice;
Their sketches have been seen online millions of times and have been featured on YouTube, CollegeHumor, MySpace, Heavy, Jib Jab, iFilm, Funny or Die, iTunes, Daily Motion, Crackle, and many more.

Where Can You Be Seen:
Jeff. Your gig. You know that. Come on.

How did your sketch group start, when, where, under what inspiration, and
how as it evolved?
We met at Cornell University in the sketch group there, Skits-O-Phrenics, and all really hit it off. When moving to NYC, we thought it would be peachy keen to start a group together, and so we did! Over time, we've... I don't know, not changed a whole lot? I think we've gotten better as writers, actors, and directors, but we still like exploring the same smart, concept based sketch ideas we did in college. I guess the big difference is, we've all had sex now, so that really informs our writing OH MY GOD NOT WITH EACH OTHER THOUGH THAT WOULD BE FINE IF IT HAPPENED, OKAY?

Does the group have any comedic inspirations, like Monty Python or SNL, and, if so, how have they impacted you?
Heck, of course we do. Growing up interested in sketch, for the most part your only outlet is TV shows. Now there's tons of sketch on the 'net, so I think younger budding sketch writers will draw more from there. But I know we were all Monty Python nerds to a certain extent. Geoff LOVES Kids in the Hall, and I would sneak over to a friend's house to obsess over The State every week. If anything, I would say The State had the biggest influence on style, as they also used strong, simple, silly concepts in their sketches. But we like to say the biggest influence on our style is mishearing each other. 90% of our sketches are based on accidentally thinking another guy in the group said something they didn't, and then writing a sketch about it. Someday, we're going to do a show where we deliberately hear each other: "Wait, did you say Swiss Bees?" "No, I said Swiss Cheese." "My mistake." Lights.

How have you maintained the group dynamic? Is there one person who decides if a sketch makes it into a show, or a line into a sketch - or do you come to a consensus?
For better or worse, we're a totally democracy. We don't have a head writer, or anything like that. Everybody gets input into every sketch. The closest we come is, at the end of the day, the writer has to decide what they want to do their sketch, how to write, cast, and direct it. And if it sucks, their sketch isn't getting in the show.
More than that, though, we've learned to trust each other. If you feel really strongly one way, and the other four feel strongly the other way, you trust that the other four guys know what they're talking about. Also, most things aren't a really big deal. Because it's sketch comedy.

What do you think of contemporary sketch comedy? Do you have favorite
groups or shows? Who makes you laugh?
I really love Elephant Larry a lot, they really make me laugh. But beyond that terrible, self congratulatory answer, I think sketch hit a wobbly period a few years ago as it adjusted to the internet, figuring out how to work in the new format. Also, stage sketch almost died up and disappeared for about a year, so that was a little scary. But I think we're past that now. As the internet money has dried up to a certain extent, sketch groups are realizing they can't just throw a video up and become instantly famous millionaires... Even internet video fame is work now. So they do stage, the do videos, the whole shebang. Which I think is great, and there's some really great work going on.
As for favorite groups or shows, I always hesitate to mention, as I'm going to leave people out. But we really like BritANick a lot, they're good guys that are hilarious. And I'm a big fan of what The New Exc!tement is doing right now, they have a cool aesthetic that's totally different than any other sketch group in the city.

What's the sketch comedy scene like in your city? Many groups? Unique, original? How does sketch fit into the rest of the comedy scene there? Are there venues dedicated to putting up just sketch comedy, or at least receptive to it?
I think NYC sketch is the beacon from which all other cities follow. Which is totally unrelated to my job as Exec. Producer of SketchFestNYC, the annual celebration of sketch comedy in New York. Yup, totally unrelated. Seriously, as mentioned above, I was a little concerned a year or two ago, but there's a new renaissance of sketch in the city, and interest in it from audiences, as they begin to understand that it's actually good. The sketch scene in particular is so great because for the most part, it's completely supportive. People WANT sketch to succeed. A good sketch show on TV, from a good group, is good for everyone.
As for how it fits into the rest of the comedy scene, there's a lot more overlap than there used to be; it feels like more of an integral part of the scene, people moving between sketch, improv, stand-up, and a fourth thing.
And venues, heck yeah. The PIT, UCB, Magnet, and all of the assorted venues around the city. It's a great time to be in sketch.

How does your group use video - either in live shows or posting online?
We do both, but only when its necessary. We've settled into using video in a live show if its a sketch that fits into the format of the show, and is a sketch that could only be on video. Meaning, if it can be a stage sketch, we do it on stage. If it has to be on video, or is a video format like a commercial, we'll usually film it. We just did a pretty heavy video show, which was a sketch show based on Con Air (the 1997 Nicolas Cage action movie). Since it was based on a movie, there was almost non-stop video throughout the show, to create the feeling that we were in the movie. The two or three shows before that had, probably, one or two videos each, max, and were only there to cover long set changes.
Otherwise, video is for online, and we try to generate on a regular basis, because its important to be out in the online arena as much as the live. Its the whole package!

Do you have specific goals for your group, or the individuals in it?
As a group, we just really, really like working with each other. Obviously, any sketch group who is saying they don't want a TV show is lying, and we would love to do that. But more than working in the TV format would be the ability to just go to work with each other every day, which would rock. If the TV thing doesn't happen, we'll probably just keep doing sketch, because we love sketch. Individually, I would really like to be the break-out star from the group, and star in Daddy Day Care 3: Daddy Death Camp. Anyone wants my spec script, let me know, I really have to get out of this hell-hole of a group.

How has sketch comedy impacted your career and life?
Every single job I have gotten, no joke, has been because of sketch comedy. Every single one. Whether its someone I know from the comedy world, or sending samples of writing from our sketches or blog, or someone having seen one of our videos, it has affected every single thing I do. And I don't want to speak for the other guys, but I will if I have to, and say that its the same. Having the ability to write sketch, and more importantly, the flexibility of working in a group makes you a better worker, and a better person. Friendship!
Also, I'm much fatter than I would be otherwise. From all the drinking and eating. I blame that on sketch.

photo: Elephant Larry