My Sept 11th Post

We're all supposed to do one right? But what hasn't already been said a 1000 times already? It's good to talk about and say it again and again. However I've already done my sharing today.

But do you remember those days and weeks after when it seemed like we would never laugh again? When the height of the tragedy seemed to coat everything and the world suddenly seemed so so much scarier than it had been?

There are two things that I remember so clearly at giving me hope.

Jon Stewart's speech the night The Daily Show returned to the air and the first post 9/11 edition of The Onion, specifically Not Knowing What Else To Do, Woman Bakes American-Flag Cake.

Take care.

"Oh, fire... That... that's not for white people."

Kasper Hauser has a wonderfully dead on This American Life parody.

Mega64

Mega64 is just wonderful videogame/guerrilla theater goodness. Most of their sketches will make no sense without a relatively deep videogame knowledge (for example if you are unfamiliar with Ico, this video will make no sense). The Tetris one will make sense to most people at this point (and is somehow oddly touching).

I've finally gotten around to playing Dead Rising so the following video is very funny to me.


But the reason I bring them up today is their special GDC (Game Developers Conference) Super Mario Bros. video.

While the chance that Mario is familiar to you is pretty high, your recognition of the Japanese fellow* is slight... and in there lies all of the humor. That and Link.

*He is Shigeru Miyamoto.

More of Awkward Boy

Link.

Gotham City Improv! Tonight! UCB! Tomorrow!

Just a little ol' reminder...
Thank You, Robot will be at Gotham City Improv (48 West 21 St Street, 8th floor, between 5th & 6th Ave, Buzzer 13) with Bombardo and Creek Weasel. 10pm. $5.

My final 401 class performance is tomorrow at 1pm at UCB. Also 5 smackers.

Oh, and earlier tomorrow you can find me Matt Little Presents: Nerdcore Comedy! at New York Comic Con. (I should have posted this way earlier.)

Jacob Javits Center
Fri, Feb. 23 - 5 PM
Sat, Feb. 24 - 11 AM
Sun, Feb. 25 - 11 AM
@ NY Jedi Stage
FREE! (It's in the main entrance lobby, where a badge isn't required)

Oh, and it looks like in 4 hours I will have a cat again.

Little Bits of Nerves

I slept badly. Not horribly. Just badly.

The reason why is obvious. Thank You, Robot's first show is tonight. This is the first time I have performed in a non-class show of any sort since something like 1994. And certainly my first non-class improv show.

It isn't a big deal. Really. I mean, it is a tiny space. We will only be on stage for 15 to 18 minutes and I am sharing that time with 7 other people, all of whom are talented and funny. It's improv and audiences that come to see improv are (usually) very very generous. They want you do be funny and know that you are making it up as you go along and are ready to appreciate anything you throw at them. It will be over in a flash.

But class shows have that extra level of excuse that it is just a class show. Tonight is something we chose. We chose each other and have the vanity to think that we are funny enough to go on stage and ask for money. In a class show, you can still say, "Well, I took the class and the show is part of it... but it isn't about the show." Here is is. We no longer saying, "Come look at my hobby." We are saying, "Come. We will make you laugh."

But we are funny. We can be insanely funny. We can also have bad shows in practice... but we also all bring it when we have an audience. It really does change everything. Man, I hope people show up.

So, yet again... Under St. Marks. 10:30pm. Thank You, Robot, Tantrum & fwäwnd.

I *heart* COBRA

Really that is all I have to say.

COBRA is really pretty amazing. For example, last night I sat on the floor of a basement being interviewed for French television (by a woman named, curiously, France). Their were four of us being interviewed at once. Very few questions were asked. We just talked and talked. Man, do we like to hear ourselves talk!

Later, more of us talked about the Idiotarod, the police, Bulahla, and god knows what else.

I want to write more but I must rush off to Thank You, Robot practice. But I will just leave you with this one thought, specifically for those out there who feel that they don't have anything to belong to:

No matter how weird you think you are, there are like minded weird folks out there. You just need to open the door and seek them out. And a willingness to look a little stupid helps.

Stuff I've Seen

First, I know the second and third and fourth parts of my Idiotarod observations are way way late. They are still coming. I have just been plowing hard into my new novel. I caught the wind and once I do it is hard for me to focus on much else.

I have been working on a large Idiotarod project that the vast majority will never see. I'm proud of it and I hope it is appreciated. It has been a great way to think about the entire thing. Sorry I can't go into it right now. (Doesn't really matter since you'll never see it.)

As I mentioned before, I saw a mass load of improv this week.

On Saturday I had my class show but I already mentioned that. I tried to see Asssscat 3000 on Sunday, but after waiting in line for over an hour in the icy winter air, they cancelled the 9:30 show. But I also talked about that.

On Monday I saw the sketch shows Making Lemonade and KROMPF: The Ol' Factory. A very very small audience which can kill many a show. But both were good. Making Lemonade is a fairly standard one man show. Five characters, one messed up family. Nothing too ground breaking but well done. KROMPF is of course on of my big improv crushes, so I was very interested in seeing their sketch. Even with the small audience, I still laughed hysterically. Part of that is that they are just my type of comedy. Very much the Kids In A Hall melancholy/absurdity. I think my only regret is that I would love to see them explore characters more, but that would basically require they be given an hour show. Anthony King, give KROMPF a full hour. Anyway, go see it. You probably won't like it as much as I do, because it is hard for me imagining that anyone could.

Tuesday I went to Harold Night, as I often do. UCB has joined the usual two Harold Night shows, allowing them to include a fifth team each Tuesday. I hope it stays (although it ended at 10:57 this week so it might just be to tight). It was a good night. Creep impressed me. I just love their playfulness. Watching them is a bit like the joy of watching children play. That my sound like an insult, but far from it. Fwand, of course, awed me. Of all the Harold teams right now, they are doing the most exciting stuff. Watch their transitions. Their seamless version of the Harold is just gorgeous. I am very very happy that Thank You, Robot is opening for them and Tantrum on Feb. 16th. You remember that right? Under St. Marks. 10:30pm. See my first non-class improv show EVER. There is only one first.

Tonight I am off to see Gravid Water. Everyone is sick and tired of me talking about that show so I won't. But it is definitely the most overlooked show at UCB right now. I may stay for Cage Match.

I thought long and hard about seeing The Stepfathers on Friday as it has been a long time and Silvija Ozols is playing with them all month. I can't go next week (Under St. Marks, 10:30pm, $6)... but I am oh, so close to improv overdose. I think I desperately need a night NOT going out. It has been too damn cold for all of these trips to Manhattan.

Next week will a non-improv week. Except Sunday. I have a class show to go watch (6 of the Thank You, Robot folks). Maybe Harold Night on Tuesday.

Morphine makes the Hootie known. Uncle. Lima.

Whenever I feel blue there is one, thing that cheers me up:
The forgeign language Ducktales theme song sing-a-long YTMND.
Your school's stupid, indeed.

thenametag.com ads

Yes, yes. I will finish all of my Idiotarod stuff soon. But while you're waiting, watch these leaked SuperBowl ads for TheNameTag.com.




(If you don't know, there is no thenametag.com.)

(via Adam Pally)

401, Thank You Robot, Gravid Water & Cage Match

My 401 improv class this week felt like a mini breakthrough moment. Certain things that had seemed contradictory in my brain just started to fit together. Things that seemed like constraints are now opening up, giving me freedom. I might be deluding myself but I think I'm making progress.


The lovely performers that I have been working with on Sunday practices have formed into a true improv team. We even picked a name: Thank You, Robot. Okay, admit it. That is an awesome name. Go make us your MySpace friend. We have lovely pictures of robots.

Last night I went to see Gravid Water at UCB. As always, it blew my socks off. Again, I never know how that show is viewed by non-actors and non-improvisers. There is so much of it that tickles me on technical/intellectual level. Last night they did the same scene twice, switching which character was player by the improviser. Fascinating to watch the subtle changes in tone and content. Gravid Water just reminds me how slippery words are and how poor humans are at communicating. That sounds like a back-handed compliment. It is meant as a true compliment. I think some of the truest character work I've seen in improv.

Anywhozits, it was fun to watch Dan Bakkedahl be an actor this time.

The Cage Match finals were last night too. Reuben Williams went up second and they were great. But they had a hard fight because of the stellar set Hot Sauce put up. Normally only a three man team, they were short on because Adam Pally was off exploring the Amazon (or something). So it was only 2/3rds of Hot Sauce but they put out an amazing amount of work. They are known for very quick scenes and they upped it with just Ben and Gil. It was like watching, well, a tornado of ideas and characters. Amazing callbacks and connections. So it didn't surprise me when they won. Props to you, boys. When Adam gets back and if he hasn't succumbed to malaria, I am sure he will be darn proud.

I also bruised my hip and ankle while performing acrobatics on the poles and overhead bars in an empty 1 subway train last night. My fellow acrobat apparently missed me falling four feet onto my back. But she had circus training so it wasn't a fair match up. Not that is was a competition. Either way, I feel like I got hit by a train... which is basically what happened.

Cha Cha Guides and trolling for a living

Apparently I totally missed the existance of the search engine Cha Cha. It is your standard search engine but it also let's you get assistance from a Guide, a real human being. That's right. I real human being.

Now, this being the internet, you that Guides must get harassed and trolled often. So it was also fun to find a blog of one Guide's experience and how he trolls right back.

To keep on hand for Monday morning

How Hangovers Work.

Hope you all have a glorious New Year's Eve and a not to painful New Year's Day and a mindblowing, fantastic, rewarding, warm, sexy, loving, pleasing, laugh filled, magic packed, crazy in a good way 2007.

Good B-Days, Great Practices & Secret Meetings

Last night I went to NaNWriMo friend Jeremy's birthday party. I was tired and a touch cranky when I got there but quickly started having a great time. This sounds the tiniest bit pathetic, but I am getting a lot better at meeting new people. If improv has done nothing for me, it was made me more confident chatting in bars. I think I may have even flirted! Yes! The shock of it all! (Of course, I may be wrong. I'm so out of practice that I'm not sure I recognize "flirting" anymore.)

I say Jeremy is NaNoWriMo friend but he is now an improv friend. I met him doing NaNo last year (although we only really talked at the afterparty and a post-NaNo gathering). But I re-met him while attemding a make-up improv class (for the class I missed going to Mexico). It's good too because he makes me laugh.

Last week's Sunday practice was a bit of a bummer. We were all off. Actually, I can make no claims for anyone else. I was off. (Most of the consenus was that we were all off... although I thought Larry was on.) Todays practice was better. Much better. I felt a out of my head and just had fun. I also felt like I reconnected with some ideas I had forgotten... Keep it simple. Be specific. No need to go to crazytown. All of these things I've known, but I haved been doing them. Don't try as hard. Stop focusing so hard on game. Play it real. That is the big on. Play it real.

Tonight I went to a meeting. I can't talk about it. Exciting stuff though. I wish I could tell you, but I can't. Sorry.

CageMatch upsets and the cool kids table

So after Mr. Little's standup last night (Yay, Matt Little! "Kool-Aid Vagina" killed me), we went to the CageMatch quarter finals a UCB. Two great teams, Mailer Daemon vs. Project Improviser. It was close. Project had a great show, Mailer had a good show. But a good show for Mailer is still great. Came down to two votes. Project won. I don't want to start any controversy, but I know of a couple of folks who had lost their voting slips.* I can't guarantee how they would have voted... but I think it would have been even closer.

I voted for Mailer, but it was the first CageMatch that I really had to think about it.

*I wrote "voting slips" without even thinking about the fact that there is a word for that... "ballots."

Afterwards, we ended over to the UCB home bar. While I adore my Sugar Cookie folks, they were all a touch drunker than I was. Actually I was stone sober. Who know those times when you are with folks and they all seem to be on another plane as you, and try as you might you just can't get on the same page as them? Sigh. I get that feeling a lot with my team. Well, not a lot and not when performing. Maybe it is the age thing. No, it is just me.

You see, I am shy. Very very shy. I look for approval, even from friends. I have spent most of my life feeling like I was on the edge of circles, never in the core. I realize this is me, but it has always affected me. Never in on the inside joke as it were. I am working hard to correct that.

So last night I decided to be brave. Okay, brave for me. I just walked up to the table with one of our coaches (our main coach, actually) and asked if I could join them. I expected to be cautiously allowed to sit and then I would sit there silently, finish my gin and tonic, and then just melt into the night.

But no! I actually felt accepted. There I was, at this table of incredibly funny and talented people. Me, just a lowly, not quite level 400 student. Me, shy as all get out. There were "bits" that I got involved in. There was talking shop. Yes, I spent some of it just listening quietly, trying to absorb. But I also felt like this was a world were I just fit. It probably happens to everyone.

The night made me feel 100% about the direct I am heading.

So, just a thanks to Ben for being just welcoming and a congratz for his career with the Mets. And to Nate S., I will try to make the blog less boring (just not this morning). And, Silvija, I didn't get a chance to praise you. I didn't mean to throw you off with the Nazi comment. I just watch you closely because you always make me laugh. (Not in a stalker way. Seriously, I don't know where you live.) And, Will H., thank you for answering my question about the metaphor initiation. That has been bugging me for a month and you knew EXACTLY what I was thinking about before I even said it. And just thanks to UCB for being UCB. Yes, you are a cult. But you Kool-Aid tastes so darn good.

And thanks to Sugar Cookie for getting me to come out. I really do adore you guys.

Oh, I also touched Horatio Sanz's butt.

Matt Little LIVE!

Matt Little is one of the amazingly talented improvisers I've had the honor of playing with. But is first love is standup. I've never seen him do it, but he promises me that he is hilarious. And since I would trust him with my first born, I trust his word. (The first born is just a practice child anyway. The second one is the one that counts.)

Anywhozits, Mr. Little and two of his friends are doing good sized sets at Julep (9 Ave. A) on Thursday, November 30th. 8pm. Free and $2 drinks available. Go. Laugh loudly. I can almost guarantee that he will not flip out and shout out racial slurs. Almost.

"Jersey... Where are you?"

All day was spent with the family. Tom's Diner (Brooklyn). Subways. B&H. More subways. Central Park. Metropolitan Museum of Art. More subways. Rest at Starbucks and strange tasting pretzels. Empire State Building. Subways back to Brooklyn. Pasta for the kids, Indian food for the adults. It was great and fantastic and fun and exhausting. But walking the streets of NYC and riding the subway with them is just mentally draining. The older two are pretty easy to handle, listen pretty well, but I still became very aware of all of the dangers EVERYWHERE.

And then we got the two and a half year old. He's a bolter. Most of the time he was in is stroller, but as soon as you cut him loose, he is off! Just gone. I watched him run in large circles for half an hour straight. I adore him so much but he is a massive showboat and a bit crazy.

My conversation with him up top of the Empire State Building.

Me: "And over there is New Jersey."
Him: "Where?"
Me: "Right over the river."
Him: "I want to swim in the river and swim with the boats."
Me: "No, you really don't want to swim in that water. Besides, it would be so cold."
Him: "I'd wear a jacket!"
Me: "In the water?"
Him: (laughs... and then sing-songs to himself) "Jersey... where are you? Jersey... where are you? Jersey Jersey Jersey. I want to swim to Jersey. Jersey.... where are you?"

Love him 'till I burst.

Low Gravid Water Shut-Off Valve

So the electrician discovered it was the low water shut-off valve that triggered the boiler no-more-worky thing. Easy fix. He was done in 35 minute and now there is heat. (There remains the question of why it was triggered. The plumber is supposed to call tomorrow so we can discuss it. The electrician didn't have any clue. It might be nothing. Maybe it is something more. Who knows.) Still cost as much as it always costs to have an electrician show up at 8pm, but a lot less than having to rip out all the wiring. I also got to discover which outlets I have plus a space heater into and not have it trip the circuit breakers. (One answer is the one in the kitchen... until you attempt to microwave some Hot Pockets... but that is kind of a no brainer).

But because he was so quick and because sister and her horde decided to pass on the ice house and stay in Jersey until tomorrow morning, I was able to book out of the house and run to UCB to see Gravid Water.

Oh my.

Gravid water is, has the program says:

"a theatrical experiment the uses both actors and improvisers. The actors in tonight's show have memorized and rehearsed their scenes much as they would for a regular play--they will not depart from the script. The improvisers, who have never before scene their script, will be improvising."

Oh my god.

I've seen it once before and I worried if that one night had been a fluke. I had loved, adored, melted at it. Tonight was... crying until I couldn't see, almost pee, can't breath type fantastic.

Dan Bakkendahl (The Daily Show) was very good as the improviser in two scenes, but Christina Gausas in her two scene was just amazing! First she was Emily in the "when Emily and George realize they will get married" scene from Our Town. But her scene from Middle of the Night by Paddy Chayefsky... the emotion she allowed her self to show was up their with some of the best performance I have ever seen on stage, scripted or not.

And then Michael Delaney as the improviser with Joel Karrie as the actor in August Wilson's Fences. A particular hard scene since the "actor" had a lot of "response line," lines that are clearly in response to another line. Like "Stop bring your mother into this!" There really was no choice for Delaney but to call it out and make Joel a bit crazy. Which Joel played up so amazingly well. And it was all about heightening. Joel just gets angrier and angrier and Delaney had to just keep playing it real. (In fact there was a bit of subtext in Delaney's words that could be taken as a lesson on why the scene was bad improv... but it was not. It was so the exception that proves the rule.) And watching white Delaney being chased with a baseball bat (real, not "improvised") while being called the N-word by a angry angry black man... okay, that is funny.

I feel bad because I haven't talked about all of the actors, who were all great. But I need to get some sleep now that I can go tourist-ing with family tomorrow.

Oh, I am so happy that I have registered to take level 401 with Delaney. (Must not swoon.)

The next Gravid Water is December 14th.

REMINDER! Sugar Cookie Grad Show! Tomorrow!

Come on. Only $5.
UCB Theater. 5:30 pm. Sunday, Nov. 12. Improv Graduation show. Just might be brilliant. When we are in the groove, we rock.

I sincerely love these folks and, yes, trust them. I say that last bit because i can be an egotistical ass. (Yes, I know that surprises no one.) I my desire to help, I can make assumptions that make others feel small. You know what they say about assumptions. They make an 'ass' out of 'u' and 'mption'... wait a minute. Anyway, I hope that I can continue to work with them. Because they have taught me plenty. Tons. Massive damage of historical giant crabs worth of stuff. (Sorry. PS3 just came out in Japan and I have it on my brain.)

Let's gloat a little

It's the day after. And while we yet again are left in limbo about who will control the Senate with Virginia and Montana surely going to recount, the Democrats did handily retake the House. And I certainly could be saddened by the amount of bans on gay marriage that passed across the country, but thank god South Dakota rejected their almost-total ban on abortions. So, all in all, it's pretty sweet.

But I certainly remember how I felt after 2004 (and also similarly in 1994). That total shock to realize that I was so not in sync with so many of the countries voters. And may friends all felt the same. There was rumblings of "I'm moving to Canada" and "The terrorists have created a nation of fear mongers" and "This will destroy working families" and "It seems like the country just believes everything that FOX News says."

So it is with empathy (yet joy) that I followed the Wonkette's link to the Free Republic's conservative message boards to check out how they are reacting.

-"This is a truly disgusting night. Outside of 9-11, I cannot think of a worse day.
I really want to hurt somebody."

-"This is going to hurt senoirs, more taxes on s.s. and higher costs for medicare. This is going to hurt all young families with kids, taking away the kids exemption on the income tax, plus tax increases & all the money to pay for s.s. & health care & college for the illegals.
I bet half the people who voted Dem have no idea, they believe what they read in the paper & see in the MSM. Wait til they find out!!

Those DUmmies who want us out of Iraq, will find out Bush was right. The terrorists will come here to kill us. They are in Iraq cause we are, once we're gone, they will be here, all they want is all of us DEAD!"

-"The Jihadi's have won. They have proven they have a stronger will than America. They are now emboldened."

-"They can go to Canada...the only place we have left would be Australia! I love Australia as much as the next guy, but I'm an American, dammit! lol :)"

-"Hard to make a silver lining when I don't see the MSM changing. The people in this country are believing every word they say. It will be the same in 2008!"

Now, I will point out that there were plenty of well though out and balanced posts over there. Just as there are liberals who realize that the Democrats won by default and are still lacking a cohesive agenda and plan. But it is nice to see that, deep inside, we aren't all the different.

So *hugs* to all the sad conservative fellow Americans out there. I know what you are going through. It sucks and it hurts. I feel for you. I really do. Now excuse me while I got drink another glass of champagne and do another dance of jubilation.