The Goofball Coalition

We had another live show this past weekend, so you know what that means: More improv scenes to watch and reflect on. Check out the live show every month down on 2nd & Gold in Albuquerque!

Sarah found the new student guide that UCB used to give out in 2014 and Alex, Leslie and she discuss what's changed and if ABQ's Comedy Corner could glean anything from the document

We all have to bring fun people to our fun shows, and in this week's episodes, we discuss several ways we do that and could do that.

"One might well say that mankind is divisible into two great classes: hosts and guests." - Max Beerbohm How do improvisers play with guests? How do guest comedians get booked on a show? Could a live sketch show that's not SNL have a guest? Alex, Leslie, and Sarah discuss all of this and more!

We're back after a big weekend for Alex, who popped back on the stand-up comedy stage for the first time in a long time. We discuss his experience with that and, because we are a comedy podcast, we were forced to reckon with the Tony Hinchcliffe MSG appearance too. So much to discuss!

Leslie noticed a very interesting trend in some corners of the comedy world, which led to today's conversation. When does a sponsor not feel like a good match? When is it too much? Do corporations belong in all of this at all?

Alex brings the group and interesting topic this week: What is fueling the funnybone of bullies? Why is this how they joke? Is it a joke?And like perfect empaths, we dive in deep and try to reach some understanding. Also, did you notice that episode 31 was missing? Well, we fished it out of the vault and released it for you today too! Two ep week! Two ep week!

Oh we talk about improv a lot on this podcast but on today's episode? Well on today's episode you actually get to hear/watch some. We caught a couple clips from our live Goofball Showalition at the 2024 Albuquerque Funny Fiesta and Sarah and Leslie walk you through them this week!

On today's episode, Sarah and Leslie discuss the growing use of sketch comedy by brands on social media. Also, was Ernest the original influencer? Find out what we think!

Today's episode is a real treat. As a small part of our larger Goofball Show-alition, we had a live Q&A with the audience. Sarah and Leslie set you up with all the context and stuff that you need to listen to it with the right ears!

What happens when you mix 80+ performers with 20+ comedy shows across 10+ venues?! We're finding out right now during the Albuquerque Funny Fiesta. Consider this episode your guide to the weekend. Alex, Leslie, and Sarah dive into the schedule and highlight which shows you should check out.

Sarah dipped her toes into improv recently so the group talks about that and other opportunities for folks to dip their toes into all kinds of little artsy pools.

Not in a gay way. Although, yeah, that way too. We meant, like, she's leaving comedy after this mini tour she's on. Alex, Leslie, and Sarah discuss Ellen and other famous people who let us down.

This week Leslie shares an article with Alex and Sarah about, you guessed it: SNL. Then the three deep dive into times when they've been disappointed by fellow performer IRL.

The Trío de Comedia dig into a recent Washington Post article about Parks & Rec's Ben Schwartz and his approach to long-form improv. Do we disagree? Do we agree? What does this have to do with sketch and stand up? You'll have to listen to find out.

We've talked about LA. We've talked about NYC. So, this week Leslie said it was Chicago's turn. Alex, Sarah, and Leslie talk about one of the best comedy cities in the USA this week and Leslie shares more about her experience out there.

It's time for more coalitional comedy! This week Leslie, Sarah, and Alex take a look at another comic's bit and talk about what makes it so successful. Go and follow today's comic: Jake Otero on all the things. You can see him regularly at Dry Heat Comedy Club in Albuquerque.

Alex went a'searchin' on the internet and came back with a bunch of tips from strangers about how to get funnier. We go through the list and see if they pass the sniff test. Support our Patreon for only $1 a month and show your allegiance to Team Sketch, Team Improv, or Team Stand-up!

Now that Leslie is in the mix, we must now discuss who is the ultimate example of our powers combined? Who is the comedy triple threat, able to tackle sketch, improv, and stand-up, able to them all look easy? We dive in with our thoughts in this week's ep!

Alex and Sarah welcome Leslie to permanently join the team and represent sketch comedy on this podcast for the rest of her life. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the team of three discuss the GOAT of sketch comedy: Saturday Night Live. Going into its 50th season, there was plenty to discuss!

What kind of benefits could a performer get when they travel for comedy? In this episode, Alex and Sarah discuss their experiences with traveling to perform and the best ways to take jump into another city's scene when you do venture out.

And we're back! Alex and Sarah continue their conversation with Leslie Nesbit about sketch comedy and it's importance in comedy ecosphere. Spoiler alert: This won't be the last of Leslie. :-) Support our Patreon. Just $1 a month!

The Box's house team, The Show, is having auditions on Saturday, 6/22/24, so Alex and Sarah interrupt the Leslie Nesbit two-parter to bring you a special episode full of tips and tricks for nailing your improv audition. Plus a bonus: Sarah breaks down the going thoughts on how to get booked for stand-up shows, especially at Dry Heat. Support our Patreon! Good luck to everyone auditioning!

Have we been missing the 3rd heat all along?! From the world of sketch comedy, Alex and Sarah welcome Leslie Nesbit, a long time performer and current member of both The Doodles sketch group and The Box's house improv team, The Show. The three discuss the overlap and differences between their individual corners of the comedy world. We had so much fun with Leslie that we had to break up this episode into two parts, so the rest comes next week!

We heard what the stand-up folks online think of improv, so shouldn't hear from the other side? In this week's episode, we find out what the Reddit improv community think about stand-ups. Support our Patreon and show your allegiance to team improv or team stand-up!

Most people do either stand-up OR improv but today we have a guest who does both: Tito Dameron. Join Alex and Sarah as they pick Tito's brain about how he juggles both arts and how he feels they differ from each other. Also featuring an improvised speech about banning blue ball point pens and a riff on becoming a cat lady. Also, also, support our Patreon and declare your allegiance to either Team Stand Up or Team Improv.

How do stand-up comedians go from blank page to the stage? Where do joke ideas come from? What makes a joke punchy? In this week's episode, Alex and Sarah go through the process of creating a joke from scratch. Featuring an improvised speech about witch houses and a riff on what to do with big strong men. Big shout out to comedian, Chuck Parker, for letting us dig into a joke of his. Support our patreon and pick your side in the oncoming improv/stand-up war. And check out what The Box and Dry Heat have going on each weekend in Albuquerque, NM

Why are stand-ups SO mean to improvisers? In this episode Alex and Sarah dig deep into a reddit thread that'll really open your eyes

What's worse: Bad improv or bad stand up? Should your improv team name feature a pun? Who can wear shorts on stage? In this episode Alex and Sarah explore these questions and more. Also featuring an improvised speech about the animals that should've been kicked off the ark and riff about the best bumper stickers. Also also: Support our patreon for only $1 a month!

What do you do when you're not doing comedy? How do you stay sharp in the in-between times? In this episode, Alex and Sarah explore these questions and more Also featuring an improvised speech about animated food and a riff on living in a TV show Also also! Did you notice wonky audio in past episodes? Well, we fixed that. Also also also! Join our Patreon and stake your claim!

Improv and stand-up are communities and they're also professions. That blend can make it difficult when it's time to deal with bad actors. In this episode, Alex and Sarah wrestle with how and why abuses of power show up in their respective realms. It's wild when crafts that are so goofy have to deal with issues so serious. Also featuring an improvised speech about coffee complaints and a riff on the best place to haunt. Support our patreon and put $1 behind your fave: Team Improv or Team Stand-up.

In this episode, Alex and Sarah explore the process for improvisers and stand-up comedians to move forward in their careers. Do they need classes? Auditions? A genie? Find out! Also features an improvised speech about Clippy and a riff on the deepest place Sarah has ever been. Support our Patreon and show your support for Team Improv or Team Stand-Up!

Alex and Sarah are pleased to welcome the very first guests onto the pod: Owners of The Box Perfomance Space and Improv Theatre, Kristin Berg and Doug Montoya. They share some fantastic stories about Gorilla Tango, The Groundlings, The Box, and more. Plus we celebrate the new partnership that Dry Heat has with The Box, turning 2nd and Gold into a full Comedy Corner in Albuquerque. Featuring an improvised speech about toddler negotiation and a riff on evil numbers.

This week Alex and Sarah dive into the respective histories of both improv and stand-up. They also talk about how the present will be remembered by historians of the future. Featuring an improvised speech that's pro-surge pricing and a riff on the best place to wake up.

Alex and Sarah take a looksee at the happenings for improv and stand-up in the news and consider how AI might impact comedy and how TI already is. Featuring an improvised speech about babies at the Oscars and a riff on the worst smell

Alex and Sarah spend episode 4 exploring the concept of the audience and thanking their audience profusely. It's a reeeeeal tribute to you. Featuring an improvised speech about finding money and a riff on living in a people zoo. Support the Patreon: Support the Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheGoofballCoalitionPodcast

Alex and Sarah navigate blue humor; a term used in both improv and stand up since way way way back in the day. They also check in on their Patreon board and talk about what's happening this week at The Box. Featuring an improvised speech about Ronald McDonald and a riff on Dracula. Support the patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheGoofballCoalitionPodcast

Alex and Sarah dive deep into an aspect of both worlds that folks fear the most: Bombing. Find out coping mechanisms both sides use to get through rough performances and learn about some times when things didn't quite go the way that was expected. Dive in with Alex and Sarah as they introduce themselves and their respective arts (improv and sketch) to you! Featuring an improvised speech about alien hot takes and a riff on squirrels.

Dive in with Alex and Sarah as they introduce themselves and their respective arts (improv and sketch) to you! Featuring an improvised speech about adult recess and a riff on the pain of stepping on a Lego brick.

Meet hosts, Alex Knight (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Narcos) and Sarah Kennedy (SiriusXM, Reductress), as they fill you in on what to expect in The Goofball Coalition: a podcast where the worlds of improv and stand-up comedy collide. Come along as they explore the feud between the two art forms and also the commonalities the two may share.