Comedy news and views from Jeff Kreisler, with an IFC twist.
Drop him a line at sketchy (at) ifc dot com.
On Stage
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 »
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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 »
Laughs, Chills, & Advice at the Monty Python Reunion
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/16/2009
Filed under: On Stage, Review-ish
Last night: Monty Python's 40th Anniversary at the Ziegfeld Theater. Here's how I lived it... First of all, the weather. WTF? I wasn't expecting a Winter Inquisition. No one expects the Winter Inquisition! Our chief weapon is cold. Cold & rain. Rain & cold. Wait... our two main weapons are cold, and rain, and wind... No wait, Three! i.e. The weather sucked, but that just highlighted how great the rest of the evening went. If it was worth hypothermia, it had to have been good. After grabbing my ticket and passing by the most enthusiastic usher in history (with apologies... MORE »
Watch the Monty Python reunion in your jammies
By Jeff Kreisler on 10/13/2009
Filed under: On Stage, Video
A lot of folks have tried to get tickets to Thursday's Monty Python reunion at the Ziegfeld Theater. And... a lot of folks have failed, and a lot of folks have taken no solace in the fact that I'll report every detail I possibly can from the event. So, IFC has decide to bring the reunion to you. Live. As it happens. In your home. IFC.com, PythOnline.com, and UStream are coming together to broadcast this awesome event. From the press release: By visiting IFC.com or PythOnline.com Thursday, October 15 at approximately 9:00 PM EST, audiences across the U.S. can watch... MORE »
Review-ish: Witty Cartoons For Snobs
By Jeff Kreisler on 09/22/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage, Review-ish
On the last night of the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival, about 80 "fans of bourgeois humor" crammed in to the Union Hall basement to bear witness to some great cartoonists. With credits ranging from The New Yorker to an Academy Award nomination and even touring with Comics Against Evil (gasp), the panel had some of my favorite doodlers (some use that phrase themselves, I'm not being a jerk), including Dan Piraro (Bizarro), Emily Flake (Lulu Eightball), Drew Dernavich, Bill Plympton (The Village Voice, Rolling Stone), Paul Noth (Pale Force), and David Sipress. Matt Diffee (The Steam Powered Hour) was an... MORE »
Edinburgh Fringe Review: Penny Dreadfuls
By Jeff Kreisler on 08/19/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage, Review-ish
Finally, a sketch show that isn't four 20-something white guys. It's three 20-something white guys... oh, for the love of Pete... Demographic monotony aside (female sketch troupes are on tap!), Penny Dreadfuls: The Never Man, was an absolute delight. Although broken into short scenes, this was more of a comedic play than a sketch show, with the three very talented performers playing a variety of distinct and endearing characters. A genre piece, this Bond-meets-Christie mystery-thriller-comedy told the story of Beef Island - with its nuclear reactor, shadowy overlord, innocent contest winners, amnesiac playboy and, of course, beef themed amusement park.... MORE »
Edinburgh Fringe Review: Dead Cat Bounce
By Jeff Kreisler on 08/17/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage, Review-ish
Apparently, my tour of sketch comedy has started with the best. That adjective - "best" - easily fits Dead Cat Bounce - Wired. Last year, I caught DCB here, and was very impressed by their strong, distinct characters, writing, and story telling. Expecting more of the same, I was totally and completely caught off guard. In a very good way. It was a rock comedy show. Many comedians harbor secret desires to be rock stars. These guys lived our dream. And they were hella funny, too. Not just one-liners with an acoustic or commercial parodies, this was a full-on rock... MORE »
Edinburgh Fringe Review: Idiots of Ants
By Jeff Kreisler on 08/13/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage, Review-ish
In a musty old fire-hazard-y church (i.e. a typical Fringe venue), I witnessed the spectacle that is Idiots of Ants' latest show, "This Is War." TheComicsComic caught them at Montreal, and covered them here, so consider this a supplement to that as we continue our tour of Edinburgh sketch comedy. It was a good, tight, polished show. Clever, inventive, and quick. For the most part, if a gag was only good enough to sustain 60 seconds on stage, they didn't try to push it to 90 or 120. Sweaty performers seem the order of the month. Four middle class white... MORE »
Sketchy Guest: The Comics Comic on Montreal
By Jeff Kreisler on 08/03/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, Guest Blogger, On Stage, Review-ish
Sadly, I can't be everywhere covering every important sketch comedy development. Luckily, there are a small handful of very talented comedy reporters who can. I even consider some of them friends (awww). One such talented friend, Sean McCarthy, aka, The Comics Comic, runs a fantastic comedy blog. He was up in Montreal for the legendary Just For Laughs Comedy Festival and agreed to provide us an exclusive recap of the Fest's Sketch Comedy Showcase. Isn't that nice? Read the below, and visit The Comics Comic whenever you can (after you're done here, of course). Almost live: A report from "The... MORE »
Monty Python & Hangovers Have Issues
By Jeff Kreisler on 07/13/2009
Filed under: Industry News, On Stage, On The Tube, The Big Screen
Most of the original Monty Python members will be doing a live musical adaptation of Life Of Brian Okaaaay, this is fairly awesome. Combined with my Patriots playing the annual NFL in Europe game two days later, I might just rob a bank and go to London that weekend. Tickets? Anyone got tickets? p.s. Know where that documentary they're talking about is going to air? Right here, on IFC. Boom! "Hangover 2" is in the works. Looks like some folks are becoming stars. (Please let it not be like Highlander 2, please let it not be like Highlander 2...) Preview... MORE »
SketchFestNYC - The Final Reckoning
By Jeff Kreisler on 06/22/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, Industry News, On Stage, Review-ish
Alright, the final installment of SketchFestNYC review-ish-es. This & this are what I did before. Check 'em and enjoy. Saturday. Missed a bunch of the daytime stuff. Waddayagonnado? The Striking Viking Story Pirates Present Found Magazine (NYC) I dug this group a lot. What I like most is that their sketches were quick and short. If a sketch is just a great concept or a great joke - but not a series of them - then do what these guys do: Hit it and quit it. Get the laugh, move on. SNL, take a note. More themes: Was Junior High... MORE »
More fresh meat, please.
By Jeff Kreisler on 06/15/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage, Review-ish
Went to SketchFestNYC this past weekend. Didn't catch all of it (I had a nasty flu, so cut a Kreisler some slack), but a lot. Apologies to those groups I missed. It was a good festival. Tons of memorable lines, many great performances, some really bright lights. Ran very smoothly, considering what must have been impossible logistics. My only complaint is that there weren't enough out-of-town acts. Of 28 non-video groups, only 5 were from out of town, and one of those was the Apple Sisters, who only just left the Big, um, Apple, recently. While it was convenient to... MORE »
Festival Weekend
By Jeff Kreisler on 06/11/2009
Filed under: Festivals, On StageBig comedy action going on this weekend. SketchFestNYC (which I previewed earlier this week and will be attending) Aspen Rooftop Comedy Festival (which is mostly stand up, features some of my personal favorite comedians [Will Durst, W. Kamau Bell, Kevin Avery, Laurie Kilmartin, Robert Hawkins, etc.], and can be watched streaming live). The Comedy Sweet at the Bonnaroo Festival (which is, again, mostly stand up, but also offeres a lot of loud music and just the right amount of ha ha). Get out there & laugh, people. MORE »
More Sketchy News
By Jeff Kreisler on 06/10/2009
Filed under: Industry News, On Stage
Comedy Central resurrects 'Futurama' Why anyone ever cancels good comedy shows is beyond me. Will be nice to have it back. Speaking of which... VH1 cancels-ish "Best Week Ever" While I've never been a fan of obsessing over pointless pop culture, the show has been funny, creative, and well written; has provided exposure and opportunity for many comedians (Christian Finnegan and PFT himself come to mind first); and spawned an industry wide series of copycat talking head / panel shows. Hope it's not gone for good, maybe they're just re-imagining their recent re-invention. Kids In The Hall group member wins... MORE »
It Looms: SketchFestNYC
By Jeff Kreisler on 06/08/2009
Filed under: Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage
Back from my journeys around the country and what awaits me in New York City? Why just SketchFestNYC! Yay! Running Thursday June 11 -- Saturday June 13 at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, SketchFestNYC has all of the known world abuzz with anticipation. (Okay, not all of the world, but a lot of it). I'll be there as much as I can this weekend, reviewing some shows, taking some pics, and meeting some sketchy peoples. For today, here the thoughts of Alex Zalben, the Executive Producer of SketchFestNYC. Read, learn, ponder, enjoy. (For a comparison, visit my piece on the... MORE »
Web Video - When Is It Too Soon?
By Jeff Kreisler on 06/02/2009
Filed under: On Stage, Up For Debate, Video
(Apologies for posting lapse. Been traveling with the book [in LA tonight, M Bar at 7pm]. Will be back "normal" next week). There's a video making the rounds of "early" Sarah Silverman doing stand up comedy. First of all, it's not that early. She's on TV, for cripes sake, on A&E's "Evening at The Improv." Secondly, you want to see early stand up comedy? Take a trip around YouTube and click on names you don't know. I challenge you to make it through 3 whole performances. Having just gotten this vid, it reminded me of an ongoing discussion I've had... MORE »
San Francisco Sketch Comedy, Part 2 of 2
By Jeff Kreisler on 05/28/2009
Filed under: Around The World, On Stage, Up For Debate
I'm still in San Francisco, at the Punchline and doing a reading for my new book "Get Rich Cheating" Saturday afternoon. I started my comedy career here, and I maintain that this is the place for original, smart, engaging comedy. I can't imagine learning anywhere else. In part two of my peak inside the S.F. sketch comedy scene (see part one here), I talked to Paco Romane & Jan Wolankse of Killing My Lobster (Lobster) and James Reichmuth of Kasper Hauser (KH), two of my favorite sketch groups of all time. I asked questions, they gave answers, I edited, and... MORE »
San Francisco Sketch Comedy, Part 1 of 2
By Jeff Kreisler on 05/27/2009
Filed under: Around The World, Festivals for the Restivals, On Stage, Up For Debate
I'm in San Francisco this week, performing at the Punchline and doing a reading for my new book "Get Rich Cheating" Saturday afternoon. I started my comedy career here (minus a forgettable night at a Mexican restaurant in Virginia), and I maintain that this is the place for original, smart, engaging comedy. I love it, and I can't imagine learning anywhere else. I didn't do much sketch when I was here -- buncha improv -- but the sketch comedy scene has always had a strong presence, and I wanted to find out how it's going now. I turned to three... MORE »
Improv v. Stand up (v. Sketch)
By Jeff Kreisler on 05/18/2009
Filed under: On Stage, Up For DebateMy old friend David Spark recently reposted an article he wrote years ago comparing improv comedy to stand up. Read it here. It's relevant to this blog because a. Sketch is, in many ways, the middle ground. At the most basic level, stand up is a single person doing mostly prepared material. Improv is several people doing mostly unprepared material. Sketch is a group of people doing prepared material. b. Most sketch and stand up comes out of improv moments, whether structured or accidental. Improv is the building block of comedy. c. Improv has regained prominence in the last 6... MORE »
Review-ish: Harvard Sailing Team
By Jeff Kreisler on 05/06/2009
Filed under: On Stage, Review-ish
This is where I start getting in trouble. As a performer, I love/hate reviews. It's good to get some critical feedback, but some reviewers seem to have their own agenda, just trying to be sensationalist, stick out in crowd, or work through their own issues. There was a show at the Edinburgh Fringe last year which - I kid you not - was called "worse than the Holocaust." Yeah. And... reviews of "art" are frustratingly subjective. Our show "The Americans" got a meh review in one pub (the jokes "a sledgehammer to the face") while another said we had a... MORE »
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