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August 2, 2007
Inside Joke w/ Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, & Matt Walsh @ The UCBT - 7.26.7
It's neat to think about how the actions of a couple people can have a direct impact on the lives of many, as the landscape would be radically different without a handful of folks discovering an affinity for improv in Chicago nearly 20 years ago. On this edition of Inside Joke, Carl Arnheiter welcomes to the stage the reason everyone is here, the founders of The UCBT, Ian Roberts, Matt Besser, & Matt Walsh.
NOTES
--Seeing the seminal late 80's Chicago improv group Blue Velveeta perform was cited by both Roberts and Besser as a defining moment in their attraction to improv. There's not a lot of info about the troupe online, but Brian Stack talks about Blue Velveeta a bit in this expansive interview here.
--The guys were brought together at ImprovOlympic in Chicago in 1989/1990. The UCB moved to NYC in 1997 with three shows in their pocket: two sketch comedy revues and ASSSSCAT. They began performing and gaining popularity at places like the Luna Lounge, which led to the opening of the theater shortly thereafter.
--Carl asked, "Do you think anyone can learn to improvise?" Walsh replied, "You can learn to be as good as you're capable. It's teachable. Some people have the magic." But can you teach people to be funny? Roberts answered, "You can, in a way."
--The guys claim to have had the FIRST internet comedy show, something they created in 1996 called The Emergency Broadcast Network.
--Upright Citizens Brigade was the most expensive show on Comedy Central at the time. One note the network gave to them: get rid of the whole UCB thing.
--Roberts' parents were nestled in the crowd. They had British accents, the kind popularized by the Harry Potter movies.
--INSIDE INSIDE JOKE: The signature Rice Krispies treats eaten by guests on stage are made with butter that is supposedly hand churned by Carl himself!
Posted by The Apiary at August 2, 2007 1:48 PM