Podcasts about Del Close

Comedian David Koechner talks about growing up in a big family in a small Missouri town, and developing the need to be heard and seen by taking the attention, the importance of SNL and Monty Python. Deciding to be a performer. Making the move to Chicago, the influence of being Catholic, the fall of old show business, trying to carve out a career in the aftermath. Becoming a stand-up, how we don't own our kids, improv vs drama, feuds, apologies, Adam McCay, Del Close, and the maturity to not spill a milkshake over yourself even if you will get a laugh. Bio:David Michael Koechner on August 24, 1962, in Tipton, Missouri, his parents ran a business manufacturing turkey coops. He has two brothers and three sisters. He studied political science before moving to Chicago to pursue improvisational comedy at ImprovOlympic and Second City.  Koechner was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1995–1996, performing in sketches like "Bill Brasky" and "The British Fops". His breakout film role was as Champ Kind in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), a character he returned to in the 2013 sequel. He also played Todd Packer in 15 episodes of The Office (2005–2013), a role for which Steve Carell recommended him. Koechner has appeared in numerous other films, including Talladega Nights, Thank You for Smoking, Extract, and Waiting..., and received praise for his dramatic role in Cheap Thrills (2014). His television work includes voice roles in American Dad! and recurring parts in shows like Another Period and The Goldbergs. He continues to perform stand-up comedy and tours with "The Office Trivia with 'Todd Packer'".  David performs stand-up around the country and is available for dinner if the food's good. Editing Notes: David does a LOT of shitting on priests and churches and show biz.  I think it gets boring.

Paul Myers joined me to discuss seeing The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show; death of JFK; seeing John Candy for the first time on Coming up Rosie; Second City Television; writing this book at same time doc is coming out; Candy's humanity; his idols Laughton & Gleason; death of dad at 5 changed him profoundly; KITH and their dads; Del Close finding him and shaping him; going to enlist in Vietnam to lose weight, similar to Stripes; mud wrestling scene in Stripes; three orange whips; John Candy was picked as a topic because everyone knows him; couldn't get Bill Murray or Rick Moranis; hosting Jim Belushi's first SNL as a cast member and having him on set of Only the Lonely; his twenty plus year friendship with Dan Aykroyd; Splash; Summer Rental; Tracy J. Morgan; Valri Bromfield; Planes, Trains & Automobiles; Uncle Buck; coaching Macaulay Culkin; Chris Columbus; Maureen O'Hara; no scandals; anxiety and weight two biggest problems; Paul liking Canadian Bacon and me liking Delirious; Paul's mom on SNL Mothers Day; Don Pardo flirting with his mom; his brother Mike Myers' character Lothar

Joe Bill is one of the most experienced teachers and performers in improv. He is the Co-founder of Chicago's Annoyance Theater and half of the duo BASSPROV, he has toured the world for decades, inspiring audiences and improvisers everywhere.Joe talks about the jazz brain and the engineer brain, Kieth Johstone and Del Close and to play absurdity with truth. He also talks about the importance of feeling secure and safe, to have changeable opinions and recreational, hobbyist and professional way of playingImpropodden is an improv podcast run by ⁠Hjalmar Hardestam⁠.#impropodden #improvisationsteater #ImprovComedy #improvcomedyclubse

Paul Vaillancourt is a writer, actor, director, producer but most of all an improvisor who has been teaching and performing improv across the country for more than 30 years. He is a graduate of the Comedy Sportz Training Program in Virginia, the Second City Training Center in Chicago as well as the legendary Improv Olympic in Chicago where he had the rare opportunity to study under the legendary Del Close. After his group, Bitter Noah, was selected to perform their signature piece, the Improvised Movie, at the US Comedy Arts festival in Aspen, Paul moved to Los Angeles and co-founded the iO West where he has been teaching, directing and performing (both written and improvised shows) ever since. During his time in Hollywood, Paul has become a sought after improv coach, producer and consultant working with many TV networks including CMT, Fox, MTV, VH1, Oxygen and Bravo to name a few. He now lives in Los Angeles with his wife Lindsey and their two children Isabelle and Paul junior (or Bro as his friends call him).You can find Paul's teachings on Instagram at @whatsupwithpv, on TikTok at Paul Vaillancourt. You can also buy his book, The Triangle of the Scene at https://www.amazon.com/Triangle-Scene-practical-approaching-improvisation/dp/1539733718/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2SEMV48BEEJN1&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.pA6gDbth8dKGjlppk9t73A.qcyrQBHeTwr9rlM1ijnLEGk5sscDB_RexfjXovWO8y4&dib_tag=se&keywords=paul+vaillancourt+book+triangle&qid=1746289681&sprefix=paul+vaillancourt+book+triangle%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-1 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andy Richter is best known for his work on Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show, and CONAN on TBS. Andy also starred and created the acclaimed TV shows Andy Richter Controls the Universe, and Andy Barker P.I. He has also appeared in movies like Cabin Boy, Talladega Nights, and Madagascar. Andy came up in the Chicago improv scene, performing at The Annoyance Theater, as well as Improv Olympic, where he studied with Del Close. Andy and Will talk about working together at CONAN, and on Andy's podcast The Three Questions with Andy Richter. They discuss the Chicago Improv Scene, and how it influenced both Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Andy also tells Will about his approach to the CONAN rehearsal process, and the "zen art of not giving a shit."Recorded at Jett Road Studios------------------LIFE IN COMEDYInstagramJETT ROAD STUDIOSWebsiteInstagramYouTube

Rose Abdoo joined me to discuss us being birthday buddies; The Flintstones; staying up to watch The Tonight Show; going to Michigan State; moving to Chicago to join Second City; ETC with Stephen Colbert & Amy Sedaris; seeing seeing Mike Meyers & Geena Davis; Chris Farley "Whale Boy" sketch; Tim Meadows; Happy Happy Good Show with Conan O'Brien, Bob Odenkirk & Robert Smigel; winning a Joseph Jefferson Award; creating one person shows; performing in Utah; her TV debut Johnny Bago; my dog; heat wave; playing a version of her mother in My Best Friend's Wedding; Detroit Tigers; dressing for baseball games; Gilmore Girls; the greater great writing; always opposite weather than what was supposed to be in Stars Hallows; Gypsy never in a scene with Ms. Kim; working with Liz Torres & Sally Struthers; the show Reboot and and playing a version of Selma Diamond; Curb Your Enthusiasm; Good Night & Good Luck; George Clooney's generosity; Hacks; Jean Smart; Hannah Einbinder; wanting to not play a character with an accent; Selma Diamond; Happy Days; Lotsa Luck; water cooler moments; Hack fans; CBS Saturday 70's and NBC Thursday 80's lineups; Newhart finale; St. Elsewhere; 25th Anniversary of Gilmore Girls; fan theories; Del Close

Everyone who works in television and movie comedy knows Charna Halpern. She's trained thousands of actors, writers, and producers at her Chicago theater, founded in 1981, called the iO theater. In this episode, Charna tells personal and funny stories about actors from Chris Farley and Neil Flynn to Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Along with actor and director Del Close, Charna invented modern improvisational theater in the 1980s. The art form known as long form improvisation—a 20 or 30-minute fully improvised one-act play—was developed at the iO theater, and is still found on their stage at seven nights a week at 1501 N. Kingsbury Street in Chicago. Charna is one of the best-known and best-loved people in comedy because she developed a system for training actors how to improvise together. Her training takes a full year and it's so effective that TV producers, like Lorne Michaels, regularly visit iO theater to audition the actors who've graduated from the program. Sometimes on Saturday Night Live, every actor was once at the iO theater. Charna created a family, a community, that she lovingly calls “my people.” Here are just a few of the famous actors and writers who we talk about in this episode (in order of mention): Lorne Michaels; Cecily Strong; Tina Fey; Amy Poehler; Mike Myers; Vanessa Bayer; Adam McKay; Brian Stack; Stephen Colbert; David Koechner; Rachel Dratch; Chris Farley; Sarah Silverman; Stephanie Ware; Neil Flynn; Larry David; Seth Myers; John Lutz; Matt Walsh; Tim Meadows. She even tells a story about how she let Adam McKay sleep on her couch before he was famous because he couldn't afford to stay in Chicago. When I was doing my research on improvisation in the early 1990s, the theater was called “Improv Olympic” and only later renamed “iO.” Don't tell anyone I said that.  For more information: iO theater. https://ioimprov.com/ Truth in Comedy. Charna Halpern, Del Close, Kim Howard Johnson. Art by Committee. Charna Halpern. Music by license from SoundStripe: "Uptown Lovers Instrumental" by AFTERNOONZ "Miss Missy" by AFTERNOONZ "What's the Big Deal" by Ryan Saranich   Copyright (c) 2025 Keith Sawyer

Joe Bill is widely regarded as one of the best teachers of Improvisation in America today. He is one of the founding members of Annoyance Theater Chicago, was the Director of Corporate Training at iO Chicago for 15 years, and a Teacher & Guest Artist in Residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center for another 15 years. Joe first practiced improvisation in 1977 and studied and worked with Del Close from 1985 through the mid 90's.Joe is also a Senior Facilitator for The Ariel Group, specializing in Leadership & Personal Presence and Storytelling for Business People. He was the Master Facilitator of the Western U.S. for Ferrazzi Greenlight in their Trusted Advisor Initiative with General Motors from 2015-2016. His clients range from C Level to new hires, in a number of vastly different industries. He is just as comfortable coaching Creative Teams, Corporate Leaders, and Television Stars as he is coaching Engineers, Analysts, and Actuaries.Joe has also been touring internationally as an improvisational performer, teacher, and director for more than 20 years. You can reach him at integratedimprovisation.com. He also has a book coming out soon, called, "Maybe It's Your Fault." Our conversation ranged from basketball theory to CageMatch victories! Don't miss this one! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

(00:00:00) "Cranium Couture" (00:06:38) Introduction to Episode (00:09:00) Wardley Hall Haunting & The Beheading of Roger Downes (00:29:30) The Martyrdom & Haunted Skull of Ambrose Barlow (00:40:40) The Browsholme Hall Skull & The “Pilgrimage of Grace” (00:44:20) The Violent Skull at Longleat (00:47:20) The Red Barn Murderer & The Book of Flesh (00:57:20) The Skull of Del Close (00:58:15) Skulls & Ancient Celtic HeadHunting (01:05:20) Headless Spirits (01:18:30) Closing Discussion (01:22:35) Patreon Shout-Outs / Closing Credits In this delirious second volume of our Screaming Skulls saga, we descend into the feverish guts of Britain's haunted history—where severed heads speak and scream in the dark. Our journey begins with a lunatic on London Bridge—Roger Downes, an aristocratic gremlin with booze in his belly and blood in his eyes—whose homicidal boasting ends with his own decapitation, and a legacy that haunts Wardley Hall with a toothy grin. But the ghost of Downes isn't alone in his cursed company.We claw through centuries of death-laced ecclesiastical drama, uncovering the tale of St. Ambrose Barlow, a Benedictine martyr whose severed skull radiates holy menace from its niche atop the stairwell. In a storm-rattled manor, his head refuses to be dismissed—resurrected in legend and defiant in spirit.From there, the madness spirals further: a skull unearthed at Browsholme Hall may belong to a noble slain in Henry VIII's wrathful purge of the Pilgrimage of Grace. At Longleat, a boyish marquess gets too cheeky with a forgotten head and winds up in a ditch. And finally, the tale of the Red Barn Murderer's skull—a relic passed like a cursed baton from hand to trembling hand, leaving broken bones, smashed glass, and icy breath in its wake.Threaded through it all is the ancient Celtic notion that the skull is the seat of the soul—a cosmic belief of madness and magnificence whispered through ages. The Hosts talk ghost dogs, disembodied heads, skeletal vengeance, and enough headless horsemen to make Sleepy Hollow feel quaint.So strap in, you thrill-hungry maniacs. Volume 2 peels back the lid and dares you to look inside. But be warned—these skulls remember. And they do not forgive. Citizens of the Milky Way, prepare yourselves for Screaming Skulls: Vol. 2!Music and Editing by Gage HurleyCheck out VaporVerse: https://www.youtube.com/@vaporversemusic++++Check out our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/creepstreetpodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/creepstreetpodcastYouTube: https://youtube.com/@creepstreetpodcast5062?feature=shared TikTik: https://www.tiktok.com/@creepstreetpodcast#ParanormalPodcast #CryptidEncounters #ScaryStoryTime #TrueScaryStories #StayParanoid #MidnightShiftHorror #CreepStreetPodcast #ParanormalEncounters #ParanormalActivity #UnexplainedMysteries #CreepyStories #AlienEncounters #UrbanLegends #WeirdButTrue#SupernaturalMysteries #ScaryPodcast #HorrorCommunity #HorrorPodcast #CreepyTales #SpookySeason #ExploreTheUnknown #MythAndMystery #ComedySketch #Comedy #ComedyShorts #HorrorComedy #WitchTok #ParanormalTikTok #WeirdHistory #CursedObjects #SpookySeason #GhostsAndGhouls #ThingsThatGoBumpInTheNight #IntoTheUnknown #OccultMysteries #ScreamingSkulls #HauntedSkulls #HauntedArtifacts #OccultFolklore #DarkFolklore #AncientCurses #CelticMythology  #SupernaturalLore #StayFreaky #SkullsThatScream #Vol1OfDoom #HeadcasesAndHauntings

0:00 Segment 1 Actor & comedian Joel Murray talks about the Whose Live Anyway Tour at the Factory. Joel also talks about his football career, working with Del Close, working on Mad Men, whether he feels like he has made it in Hollywood, working on Dharma and Greg, voicing Chester Cheetah, collecting toys from his career, pre show rituals, selling out St. Louis, working on the show “Heels” with his wife, the Mount Rushmore of female comedians, and working on a film called “The Big Game” in Floridahttps://www.instagram.com/joelmurray9of9 https://www.whoselive.com/ 23:06 Segment 2 Actor Howie Hirshfield talks about his Edgar Allen Poe event at The Lemp Mansion, performing Poe at St. Charles' Legends and Lanterns for the past, and being historically accurate.https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ea-poelive/edgar-allan-poe-live-and-incarnate-at-the-lemp https://www.lempmansion.com/poedinner.htm 34:14 Segment 3 Actor Howie Hirshfield talks about the Edgar Allen Poe show “Fall of the House of Usher” on Netflix51:38 James Enstall gives a quick review of the new Steven Soderbergh movie “Black Bag” and Producer Joey V. gives a quick review of “Novacaine” starring Jack QuaidCheck out the ‘Justice League Revisited Podcast' with Susan Eisenberg and James Enstall at https://anchor.fm/justiceleague Thanks to our sponsors Historic St. Charles, Missouri (https://www.discoverstcharles.com/), Bug's Comics and Games (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070575531223)Buy tickets to 2 Rivers Comic Con coming to St. Charles in May 2025 https://2riverscomiccon.com/ Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/3Y0D2iaZl Patreon -   https://www.patreon.com/GeekToMeRadio Website -   http://geektomeradio.com/   Podcast -   https://anchor.fm/jamesenstall Facebook -   https://www.facebook.com/GeekToMeRadio/  Twitter -   https://twitter.com/geektomeradio  Instagram -   https://www.instagram.com/geektomeradio/ Producer - Joseph Vosevich https://twitter.com/Joey_Vee 

This week the legendary Stephen Colbert returns to the podcast. Mike and Stephen discuss the behind-the-scenes of Stephen's Late Night job as well as his Chicago improv days. Stephen talks wisdom passed down to him by David Letterman, Del Close, and Mike Nichols, and shares what makes him cry most easily. Plus, Stephen's thoughts on meeting George Lucas and the Pope.Please consider donating to: World Central Kitchen or Radio Lollipop

We had the pleasure of talking to actor, director, writer, and improviser, the great Joel Murray! Joel joins Jason to share some awesome stories throughout his career, from growing up seeing his brothers Bill Murray and Brian Doyle-Murray and other legends at Second City before becoming a performer there to meeting previous guest Dave Pasquesi in college. Joel reflects on his early days with Del Close, memorable roles in iconic films like 'One Crazy Summer,' and his experiences on TV shows such as 'Mad Men.' He also provides valuable insights into the craft of improv, emphasizing the importance of eye contact and genuine reactions on stage. This engaging conversation offers a deep dive into the world of improvisation and Joel's illustrious career. www.whoselive.com Instagram: @JoelMurray9of9, @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics  Threads: @ThereItIsPod, @JasonFarrPics Facebook: @ThereItIsPod  Subscribe to our comedy newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/e22defd4dee2/thereitis

Today's guest is Jay Sukow. Jay Sukow has been performing with and without a script for over 27 years. He has trained with some of the greatest in improv, including David Razowsky, Stephen Colbert, Mick Napier, and the legendary Del Close. He was the Artistic Director/Head of Training at the Improv Comedy Copenhagen Theatre, and previously taught for Second City, ComedySportz, and iO Chicago (where he was also head of the artistic committee).  Jay has taught at improv festivals all over the world, and he also won The Golden Pineapple award for best visiting teacher at Improv Comedy Copenhagen.  Jay's directing credits include the feature film “Trubadeaux: A Restaurant Movie”, "Guilty: The Web Series", and commercials for Allstate.  He has extensive teambuilding experience, and has thrived in the corporate arena, designing interactive learning sessions for companies like McDonald's, PepsiCo, Netflix, Eli Lilly, Yahoo!, and Allstate Financial Services. In addition to all of that, Jay approaches everything he does with a big sense of excitement, which definitely comes through in this interview. Learn more about Jay Sukow by visiting his website, jaysukow.com. Help out the podcast by giving a rating and a review, and feel free to leave a comment!

Join our poetry Salon and Open Mic: https://parallax-media-network.mn.co/share/5hSLvQW7bNszFGEo?utm_source=manual About David Herz: Hello. My names are David Salzmann Herz. I was born in Boston 70 years ago when McCarthy was getting his comeuppance. I lived with my family somewhere in Massachusetts before moving to Belo Horizonte, Brazil , as part of the Department of the Interior's Punto Quatro program where my father was instrumental in mapping the geology and training a generation of Brazilian geologists. I began writing aged ten at the American school of Sao Paolo which had scorpions in the sandbox. I won a turtle for my prose. Then we lived in Chevy Chase, Maryland before moving to Athens, Ga. Where I met the poet Colman Barks and other luminaries. I moved to Chicago and studied briefly under Del Close at Second City and David Mamet who was then directing the Goodman Theater. As well as Richard McKeon at the University of Chicago who taught Susan Sontag among others. Then I returned home and drove a car from Selma, Alabama to Warminster Pennsylvania, possibly damaging the transmission while accelerating against the snow and ice. The next three years in a bankrupt New York City were richness incarnate. I worked at the Oh Ho So restaurant in SoHo and as a busboy served Harry Belafonte, one of the reasons God created humans, a glass of water. I had Alice Notley, poetess supreme, for a teacher and read my prose work at the Saint Marks in the Bowery Poetry Project. Those were wild times, buildings burning, trash uncollected, rapes a'plenty, and great generosity from compassionate lawyers, doctors and dentists for the impoverished lot we were. You could easily meet people such as John Cage, Merce Cunningham, John Giorno, Ted Berrigan, David Byrne, Patti Smith, Fred Sherry, Nam June Paik, Allen Ginsberg, Gregory Corso, Charles Bernstein, Tony Towle, Bill Berkson, Eileen Myles, Ted Greenwald, John Cale, Lydia Lunch, Alan Vega, and avoid others such as Valerie Solanas. And then just as I was about to join a rock and roll band I moved to Paris. It's been 45 years. Odd jobs subtitling movies and Sipa Photopress Agency photographs. Doing journalism for English language papers, interviewing the B- 52's, Peter Brook, Zouc, Herbert Achternbusch, Paul Lederman, Boris Bergman and then working for Bull and Alcatel two fine French corporations employing hundreds of thousands who equally vanished into the capitalist sunset. Thanks to a flutist friend in Ircam I got to meet Karlheinz Stockhausen and Pierre Boulez but I don't think they remember me. I did a translation for Sophie Calle before she became Sophie Calle. Also some work for the Royal family of Afghanistan. Back when there was one. At Paris VIII University still in the Bois de Vincennes with the whores whom we did not try to lead to culture I got to attend classes by Lyotard & Deleuze and the Miller Brothers, Lacan's son in laws? Noam Chosmky spoke. I thought to become a consultant in a moment of delusion and ended up teaching for the last 24 years: Polytechnique, SciencesPo, ENST, INT, Supelec, Ecole Centrale, ENPC, ENSTA, Paris V, ICP, ESIEE, ECE, Ecole du Louvre. Before that I was a technical translator, a field I am happy to report that has been almost entirely taken over by machines, bless their soulless bodies. I also got married and my wife and I had two children. But we hadn't really grown up much to the needless suffering of the children and so that marriage went painfully bust...Then I married again and we had a daughter. She's on the phone right now, de rigueur for all 16 year olds. I am a loving observer of the human experiment of which I am inextricably a part, how so ever much I would like to be apart. As we advance, not necessarily progress, into the numbing, memory erasing age of AI, already sinking its canines deep into our pranic jugulars, lose ourselves in our beloved electronic devices, we must look to our hands, our analog writing devices such as pencils and pens and give them a try. Along with all the rest.

David Pasquesi is a legendary improvisor, and accomplished actor. A Chicago native, he studied with Del Close, and performed at Improv Olympic and Second City, as well as the Annoyance Theater. He has acted in films like Groundhog Day, and TV shows like Strangers with Candy and Veep. He and fellow Second City alum T.J. Jagodowski currently perform together as TJ and Dave, which is widely considered one of the premiere long-form improv shows on the planet.David and Will talk about the creation of the Harold with mentor Del Close, the TJ and Dave book Improvisation at the Speed of Life, and the Alex Karpovski documentary Trust Us, This Is All Made Up. They also discuss the rules of improvisation, and the staying power of the Harold.Recorded at Jett Road Studios------------------LIFE IN COMEDYInstagramJETT ROAD STUDIOSWebsiteInstagramYouTube

Courogen's book is a must-read for cinephiles, comedy nerds, and anyone working in Hollywood. May explored and mastered every angle of improvisational comedy, before transferring her tenacity for experimentation to the film industry. She was difficult. And she was punished for it.Get your act together and buy this book today - if not for yourself, then for that difficult to please person in your life.BUY THE BOOK: MISS MAY DOES NOT EXIST By Carrie Courogen SUPPORT THE SHOW: PATREONFOLLOW THE SHOW: INSTAGRAM // TWITTER // TIKTOK // YOUTUBE EMAIL THE SHOW: abreathoffreshmovie@gmail.com  SHOP THE SHOW: TEE PUBLIC 

Michael Delaney is one of the most accomplished improvisers to come out of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York. He was a member of The Swarm, the legendary Harold Team formed by Amy Poehler, as well as The Stepfathers. He also directed the Naked Babies, and performed in seminal shows like Delaney & Dave, Pile Driver, and Nailed Down.Michael and Will talk about the early days of UCB, meeting Del Close, and his deep knowledge of SCTV. They also discuss some of the rules of improv, including the concept of group mind.Recorded at Jett Road Studios------------------LIFE IN COMEDYInstagramJETT ROAD STUDIOSWebsiteInstagramYouTubeThe SCTV Podcast with Michael DelaneyApple Podcasts

Brent, Nate, and Kate play hooky with the 1986 American Teen Comedy Ferris Bueller's Day Off starring:Matthew Broderick, Alan Ruck, Mia Sara, Jennifer Grey, Cindy Pickett, Edie McClurg, Lyman Ward, Charlie Sheen, Ben Stein, Del Close, Virginia Capers, Richard Edson, Larry "Flash" Jenkins, Kristy Swanson, Max Perlich, Scott Coffey, Anne Ryan, Jonathan Schmock, Louie Anderson, Stephanie Blake, and Dee Dee Rescher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chicago improv performer and teacher Liz Allen taught a workshop for Mike's college improv group almost 25 years ago. Since then, Mike and Liz have found numerous ways to reunite and collaborate, most notably on Mike's film Don't Think Twice. Now Mike sits down for an in-depth chat with one of his favorite improvisers about the unique roots of Chicago improv, Liz's (in)famous teacher Del Close, and the one-in-a-million coincidence that connected Liz and Gillian Jacobs.Please consider donating to Stepping Stones NetworkCheck out https://www.lizallenimprov.com for more info about improv coaching by Liz

Cary Odes has been a standup comic for 45 years, coming up through the ranks at the legendary Comedy Store in Los Angeles, sharing the stage with David Letterman, Richard Pryor and Robin Williams, under the tutelage of Mitzi Shore, where he was the very first paid regular. More importantly to Ojai, he's been teaching standup comedy here in Ojai for more than 20 years, turning a bunch of boring schlubs into comic dynamos, presenting their "tight fives" to adoring crowds. On Sunday, April 14th, his latest batch of comics will perform to a sold-out audience at Kim Maxwell Studios, with another show planned for Friday, April 18th. We talked about how Cary got into comedy as an extension of him and a friend entertaining themselves, then realizing in college that he had a special talent for making people laugh. After studying in Chicago with the improvisational great Del Close, Cary nearly got his big break on the show "Bosom Buddies," and had his role snatched by a then-unknown Tom Hanks, and has steadily worked every since, touring the country, and now teaching his eight-week master classes in which students learn the components and craft of a joke (the premise, the setup, the act out, the turn) and perform the alchemy in which they take their pain and vulnerabilities and turn into the healing balm of laughter. We talked about how his style has evolved over the years, the joys of teaching, anecdotes from the trenches of the standup circuit, how to bomb on stage gracefully, and how comedy might be the Next Big Thing in the healing arts. We did not talk about kitchen knife-sharpening techniques, wolverine-trimmed parkas or the voyages of the HMS Beagle. Check out more about Cary at his website, thestandupworkshop.com where you can sign up for a class, or private lessons, or enter a joke contest. And here for some of his vintage work and fashion stylings ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41jjW4KPUWc

On this episode Aries and Andy talk about Carl Weathers, the dentist, Del Close, Deep Water, and We Are The World. Social Media Instagram: @SpearsBergPod Twitter: @SpearsBergPod Facebook: SpearsBergPod Patreon: SpearsBergPod Youtube: SpearsBergPod  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's our second movie to feature a Blob after Blobby in Hotel Transylvania 3! At least, I think it's only the second. Let me check the backlog. ... Unless you count melting Gremlins as Blobs, then it's our third. JASON KLEEBERG (The Force Five Podcast) runs, doesn't walk, to join the boys at the movies to discuss everyone's favorite gelatinous movie monster in the 1988 remake of THE BLOB. Come for the story of a small town being terrorized by the gooiest killer ever made, stay for crazy gorey effects and an improv comedy legend's surprise appearance. Join them as they answer such questions as: Who's our favorite Blob? What's the best Rambo movie? How can we fix the MCU? What's our dream Blob sequel title? Could we make a new blob today? and Seriously, what the hell is Del Close doing here? among many others... Thank you for coming on, Jason! Be sure to check out ⁠THE FORCE FIVE PODCAST ⁠wherever you get podcasts, and on INSTAGRAM and TWITTER! NEXT WEEK: SOMETHING, PROBABLY Thank you for listening! Please review us on your podcast provider and share us with your friends, we really appreciate it! Follow our socials: Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/TikTok: @NoHighwayPod YouTube: No Highway Option Theme Music composed by Ian C. Weber. Find more of Ian's projects here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.iancweber.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/no-highway-option/support

The Blob is a 1988 American science fiction horror film co-written and directed by Chuck Russell. A remake of the 1958 film of the same name, it stars Shawnee Smith, Kevin Dillon, Donovan Leitch, Jeffrey DeMunn, Paul McCrane, Art LaFleur, Robert Axelrod, Joe Seneca, Del Close and Candy Clark. The plot follows an acidic, amoeba-like organism that crashes down to Earth in a military satellite, which devours and dissolves anything in its path as it grows. It is the third film in The Blob film series. FRUMESS is POWERED by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.riotstickers.com/frumess⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ GET 1000 STICKERS FOR $79  RIGHT HERE - NO PROMO CODE NEED! JOIN THE PATREON FOR LESS THAN A $2 CUP OF COFFEE!! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/Frumess ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

#patabajoelpodcast Unete a Nuestro Telegram: https://t.me/patabajo PATABAJO MERCH DISPONIBLE: https://www.patabajo.com/ Descarga la app SeatGeek y Usa nuestro codigo - PATABAJO - para $20 de descuento!! Muchas gracias por sintonizar, no olvides de suscribirse a nuestro canal para mas contenido! Unete a Patabajo Mafia! https://linktr.ee/patabajoelpodcast Buscanos en Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/21saOhhqedeUfdWy3T0YY0 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/patabajo-el-podcast/id1570334931 0:00 - Intro 9:07 - Genero Urbano 51:49 - NBA/Boxeo 1:17:44 - Noticias Mundales 1:43:54 - Series y Peliculas 1:55:36 - Teoria 1:59:35 - Ultimo Correo Nuestra Redes Sociales https://linktr.ee/patabajoelpodcast -Patabajo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patabajoelpodcast --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/patabajo-el-podcast/support

BEWARE OF THE BLOB! How great is Kevin Dillon's hair and pirate shirt? Look at this murderer's row of character actors! How great are these practical effects? How deaf would they be post explosion? What's Del Close doing here?! All this and more! Looking for episode #257? It's Halloween, and it's on Patreon. Visit Patreon.com/DissectingThe80s for hours of bonus content! “NewsSting, Ouroboros” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

What a delight to meet the fantastic Rob Norman in Toronto, Canada. Rob is a beloved improviser/instructor/writer/ podcaster. Rob is author of IMPROVISING NOW: A Practical Guide to Modern Improv which is currently being translated into Spanish, Chinese, and Latvian. He is a Second City alumni and has directed both the National Touring Company and Second at Sea. HIs improv journey is fascinating! He started teaching improv before he took any classes! While in high school he asked his mother to go to the library and get a book on improv and she came back with “Truth in Comedy” by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim Johnson. And he started with long form! In addition to hosting and producing the weekly improv podcast, THE BACKLINE, Rob is a Canadian Comedy Award for Best Improv Troupe, and Canadian Screen Award for his performance on CityTV' Sunnyside. Rob also produced the critically acclaimed, improvised horror series LIMITED CAPACITY for CBC Radio,Visit my website where I speak to today's leading innovators of improv. My guests are improvisers and therapists from all over the world who share their stories and offer insight into the unique ways they use improv. margotescott.com/podcast/

I'm in Los Angeles at the beginning of my Improv exploration. During an advanced class I'm taking, I go out on stage to do my scene. So I'm sitting there, painting my nails in this scene, when my scene partner comes in and starts suddenly lighting fireworks and firecrackers all around me. I go on painting my nails, not reacting to the situation. The instructor stops the scene right there and says, “Kymberlee, react.”  I'm thinking, “What do you mean? I'm focused. I'm painting my nails.” She responds, “I need you to react with the fireworks going on around you. What's your point of view on that? Do you care? Do you not care? Even if you don't, we need you to react in some way.” Lightbulb moment.  So often, we as storytellers and speakers are so focused on getting to the end of the story or the speech. We're trying to make sure we deliver every line and paragraph correctly that we forget to react and respond to what just happened. And oftentimes, that reaction might just be internal.  My guest today, Niccole Thurman, lives a life reacting as an actress, writer, and Improv performer. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you'll hear about how she does it and answers questions like: What's the difference in choosing how you react within a role or character in life (or through Improv) versus a scripted version? What different facets can flow into creating a variety of characters? And what can you do when you're having trouble adapting to a role or character? What you will learn in this episode: How to best get into the head of a character you're creating (or co-creating) How to deal with rejection as a storyteller (or in life generally) What story element truly makes comedy work and go viral Who is Niccole? Niccole Thurman is a Los Angeles-based actress and WGA award-winning writer. She is the voice of Jabberjaw, Squiddly Diddly and Dee Dee Sykes in the HBOMax series Jellystone. Her past work includes voiceovers and appearances on: Grace and Frankie and Desperados (Netflix); Kenan , Indebted, and Superstore (NBC); A Black Lady Sketch Show (HBO); and Shrill (Hulu). She was also a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Opposition w/ Jordan Klepper. As a writer Niccole has worked on the ESPYs, the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards (hosted By Jimmy Kimmel), Sherman's Showcase (AMC), Baking It (Peacock), Haute Dog (HBO Max), Phoebe Robinson's show Everything is Trash (Freeform), and Robert Smigel's Let's Be Real (Fox). Links and Resources Niccole Thurman @niccolethurman on Instagram @niccolethurman on Twitter Truth in Comedy: The Manual for Improvisation by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim “Howard” Johnson Storytelling School Website @storytellingschool on Instagram @storytellingSchool on Facebook

Second City historian, playwright, author Jeffrey Sweet tells us about Second City Chicago, a notable SCTV cast rehearsal with Del Close, The Premise, Beyond the Fringe and the re-issue of his legendary oral history of Second City; Something Wonderful Right Away. 

PV Tips are a fantastic free resource for improviser. Paul Vaillancourt is a brilliant mind in improv with lots of experience.  He not only provides tips from his own experience but the absolute ARMY of guest improvisers is so engaging.  Super valuable. Here is a link to the playlist: https://youtu.be/WDtmp110cj4 You can find him on YouTube at PVImprov.

In this episode (recorded in 2018,) Sim has a deep and engaging conversation with David Pasquesi, known for his work at The Second City, Tj&Dave, and appearances in movies like Groundhog Day and TV shows like VEEP (HBO). They discuss focus, improvisation, exploring life story moment by moment, comedy, and observing reality. David shares his journey into improvisation, his experiences working with Del Close, and the evolution of improvisation over the years. Guest bio David Pasquesi is a renowned actor and improviser. He's known for his work at The Second City, Tj&Dave, and his roles in movies like Groundhog Day and TV shows like VEEP (HBO). He recently played Mr. Immortal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. More about Dave can be found on davidpasquesi.com. Key points David's journey into improvisation was unplanned and began when he took an improv class in college. He shares his experiences working with Del Close and being part of the group that developed The Harold, a long-form improvisation structure. David discusses the evolution of improvisation over the years and how it has gained recognition as a form of art and entertainment. He emphasizes the importance of being in the moment and paying attention to the other person in improvisation. David also discusses his improv show with TJ Jagodowski, Tj&Dave, and how their ability to communicate clearly from the beginning has contributed to the show's success.

Hitler, Del Close, and other dictators, Andy's early career cold calls, CNN clown hall, Josh puts in some scan time, The WGA strike, big little dog news. Listener questions, and much more Spiraling.

Today, we sit with legendary actor and comedian Bob Odenkirk! At the top, we discuss his new AMC series Lucky Hank (6:10), the parallels between his character Hank Devereaux and Saul Goodman of Better Call Saul (8:15), and how Monty Python shaped his early ideas of comedy (9:40). Then, Odenkirk reflects on his coming of age in Naperville, Illinois (10:43), the influence of cult comedy legend Del Close (19:21), his years writing at SNL (22:56), and performing at The Second City (27:50). On the back-half, we talk about his singular collaboration with David Cross that created Mr. Show (32:20), a memorable sketch from season 3 (41:30), his entry to Breaking Bad (49:02), becoming a dramatic actor late in life (51:31), and how he hopes to live in years to come (59:23).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Guests Joe Bill and Mark Meer join Jerome at the table to nerd out over acting, improv, and D & D. SHOW NOTES INFORMATION COMMUNITY INFO Send us pics of you rocking D2C Merch and we will publish them on the Community page of our website. Click HERE to check it out! GUEST BIOS Joe Bill is widely regarded as one of the best teachers of  Improvisation in America today. He is one of the founding members of Annoyance Theater Chicago, was the Director of Corporate Training at iO Chicago for 15 years, and a Teacher & Guest Artist in Residence at The Second City Conservatory & Training Center for another 15 years. Joe first practiced improvisation in 1977 and studied and worked with Del Close from 1985 through the mid 90's. Joe has trained corporate clients in more than 80 Fortune 500 companies. Clients include NBC Universal, Disney, PepsiCo, Abbott Labs, Abbvie, GE, Leo Burnett, American Express, the CIA, and the Children's Miracle Network.  He has taught in the Business Schools of the University of Chicago, Harvard, Yale, Northwestern, Duke, and The University of Virginia. Joe has also been touring internationally as an improvisational performer, teacher, and director for more than 20 years.   Mark Meer is known worldwide as the voice of Commander Shepard in Bioware's Mass Effect Trilogy, and also voices several other characters in the series, including Blasto, the entire Vorcha species, and Niftu Cal. He plays multiple roles throughout Bioware's Dragon Age series, and appears dozens of characters in the original Baldur's Gate games, Beamdog's Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition, Baldur's Gate 2: Enhanced Edition, and Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Mark stars as pilot William MacKenzie in the post-acopalyptic survival game The Long Dark by Hinterland Studio. Other voice work includes Bioware's Jade Empire, Blue Wizard Digital's Slayaway Camp, rom-com visual novel Arcade Spirits, ChaosForge's Jupiter Hell, and Chapterhouse Studio's Captain Canuck: The Prometheus Protocol. Mark is a co-creator, writer, and star of the award-winning TV series Tiny Plastic Men, available on Amazon Prime in Canada, the U.S.A., and the U.K. Links From our Discussion Joe Bill - https://www.integratedimprovisation.com/  Mark Meer - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1035752/  Dad's Garage Theatre Company (Atlanta) https://www.dadsgarage.com/  Viola Spolin https://www.violaspolin.org/  D&D in a Castle: https://dndinacastle.com/home  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bassprov  https://www.freeplay.com/  Black Dice Society: https://dnd.wizards.com/black-dice-society  MUSIC / SOUND EFFECTS LICENSE INFORMATION: Rock Scissor Rock by Louise Goldberg The following music was used for this media project: Music: Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/5010-ultralounge  License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license    Music: Leopard Print Elevator by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3974-leopard-print-elevator  License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Music: Backbay Lounge by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3408-backbay-lounge License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Music: Loopster by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/4991-loopster License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license   Music: Bossa Antigua by Kevin MacLeod Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/3454-bossa-antigua License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Mitch infiltrates the ultimate 8H post-show bash, still searching for his missing mullet, and witnesses almost unimaginable displays of debauchery and tribal violence whilst being pursued by an enraged Nora Dunn.Endnotes:Molly Shannon, Hello Molly!; A Memoir (New York, HarperCollins, 2022) p.207 Capsule Review: Heartbreaking, touching, occasionally funny, moving and inspirational recounting of a life well lived by a purely delightful human. Super down-to-earth frank writing style. Extra heart wrenching in audiobook form. Slack Score: -12 ; Snark Score: 5.2; Overall FCA ranking: 6 Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim "Howard" Johnson, Truth in Comedy : the Manual for Improvisation (Meriwether Publishing, Colorado Springs 1994) p.53 Capsule Review: As the title implies, this is a handbook not a memoir, so not subject to FCB ranking, etc. A mish-mash of testimonials from students and acolytes of Del Close, many of them SNL stars, ranting wide-eyed about the magic of improv or whatever.Kevin Nealon, I Exaggerate My Brushes with Fame; Portraits & Stories (New York, Abrams, 2022) p.61 Capsule Review: Not like the others, arguably not an autobiography, although enough of Nealon's life is woven throughout that I'm willing to accept it (not to mention he's one of the best stand ups of all time IMO). He presents a series of pretty remarkable, sort of beautiful, painted caricatures of various celebrities, mostly SNL adjacent but not necessarily, with cute, tidy accounts of his titular brushes with celebs, or, in certain cases, how a showbiz legend inspired or delighted him. Slack Score: 14.2; Snark Score: 10; Overall FCA ranking: 98

A "Jack of All Trades" (and master of some), Jay Sukow has been performing with and without a script for the better part of the past 27 years. He has trained with, among others, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and Del Close. He is a graduate of training centers of The Second City, The Second City NW, iO Chicago, and ComedySportz Chicago. He is the founder of Today Improv, who teaches improv to actors, businesses and everybody else. He has extensive experience helping businesses drive behavior change through improvisational philosophies and exercises. Jay teaches currently at MI's Westside Comedy Theater, and is a large fan of the Beastie Boys! He wants to share improv--and the Beasties--with people to show how they can benefit from knowing both. Give it a listen! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/christopher-hall7/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/christopher-hall7/support

CHARNA HALPERNCharna Halpern (born June 1, 1952) is founded the ImprovOlympic, now known as iO. Upon iO's founding, in 1983, with partner Del Close, she began teaching Harold to many students in the Chicago theater community. Many prominent comedians performed at iO, from Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, She and Close co-authored the book Truth in Comedy: The Manual of Improvisation with editor Kim "Howard" Johnson in 1994.She published Group Improvisation in 2003 and Art by Committee in 2006.The remaining theater in Chicago, originally located in the Wrigleyville neighborhood was forced to relocate due to neighborhood development. In 2017, the theater reopened in the Clyborn North Area. In 2020 during a forced shutdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic Charna decided to close theater and sell it. iO was then purchased and as of 2022 has reopened with new management. DEL CLOSEDel Close, an actor, improviser, and coach who taught John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray and elevated improvisation to an art form.Close pioneered the concept of “long form” improvisation. “Long form is one suggestion and then you improvise for 25 minutes, and in short form you are constantly coming to the audience for suggestions throughout the evening and treating each improv game as its own little three- or four-minute piece,”While many comedy groups use improvisation as a tool to develop characters and sketches, Close believed that improvisation was the show. He often said there was really only one role for a director: “Light fuse and run!”His ideas, although hotly debated in the comedy world, have influenced nearly every improvisation group in America, from Chicago's legendary Second City to San Francisco's the Committee. “He was the singular most powerful force in improvisation in the world,” said Kelly Leonard, the producer of Second City, where Close acted and directed before opening his own theater. iO with Charna HalpernThe resident guru at “Saturday Night Live” during the show's early years, Close trained several generations of comics, from Belushi and Murray to Mike Myers and the late Chris Farley. Close came up with the idea for the popular early 1980s television show “SCTV,” which stood for Second City Television and was widely credited as the intellectual and spiritual force behind a recent renaissance in Chicago's hotbed of improvisation.Although groups such as Second City use improvisation as a rehearsal tool to develop characters and sketches, Close believed in improvisation as an end in itself. In collaboration with Halpern, he was constantly tinkering with the form, turning the Harold into a more elaborate tapestry of scenes with a cinematic flavor. The ImprovOlympic became the cutting-edge training ground, sending many of its graduates, such as Farley, to better-known venues like Second City and television and movie careers.STORYTELLERCharna HalpernBAND(Piano) Dave Asher(Guitar) Ross Plunkett(Drums) Mike Amandes (Saxophone) Eli V Wilson(Trumpet, Vocals) Ivan Pyzow (Bass) GordonVOCALISTS Matt GriffoDrake ShraderAmber LindeLisa Burton Joe BillSupport the showSupport the show via Matt Griffo's Patreon page at Patreon.com/mattgriffo

This week we welcome Paul Vaillancourt. Paul is the co-founder (with Charna Halpern) of the iO West and has been teaching and performing improv for over 20 years.In that time he has appeared all over the country including such notable venues as HBO's Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Chicago's iO (where he studied with the immortal Del Close), New York's UCB Theater, and the iO West here in Los Angeles.As an actor Paul has appeared on such shows as “The Drew Carey Show”, the UPN sitcom “Half & Half”, and the Oxygen Network's stand out “Girls Behaving Badly”. Paul has also had success as a writer and producer, co-creating and serving as supervising writer for the MTV hit “The Blame Game” as well as lending his writing and producing talents to a score of other shows for MTV, VH1, USA, Oxygen, Bravo and AMC.Check them out at whatsupwithPV on all social media channels.We now have an INSTAGRAM! Check it out at thecleancomedypodcast on Instagram.We also have a PATREON! Check out patreon.com/CleanComedyPodcast for more details.Turn your funny into money! Check out the official website here: http://comedypreneur.comPick up a copy of “How To Produce Comedy Shows For Fun & Profit” here: https://amzn.to/31H4wxmDo you have a topic that you would like to hear discussed?Are you a clean comedian looking for an awesome podcast to be in?Do you have life-burning questions?Reach out to us at https://www.thecleancomedypodcast.com/contact/

Patrick McCartney came of age in the Chicago improv scene in the early nineties where he worked with the likes of Del Close and toured with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey in the Second City Touring Company. But it wasn't long before his early exploration of drugs and alcohol blossomed into a full blown heroin problem and rules like “I'll never use before going on stage” became “I'll never go on stage if I'm not using.” Heroin use eventually gave way to crack addiction, and he found himself alone and suicidal in a heatless cabin in Wyoming. But he got clean and found his way into recovery and is now finding a kind of spiritual practice teaching and performing improv

David Pasquesi is a comedian, actor, writer and producer known for She-Hulk, The Book of Boba Fett, Veep, At Home with Amy Sedaris and one of our big favorites the criminally canceled too soon Lodge 49. He's from Chicago where he worked with Del Close and the prestigious Second City. We are so glad David could take some time to talk to Jeff and Steph. Thanks again for joining us this week, remember to Like, Subscribe on YouTube, Rate and Review us on Spotify and as always… Keep it Canon! #DavidPasquesi #SheHulk #BookOfBobaFett #StrangersWithCandy #SecondCity #Lodge49 #GenX #Marvel #Veep #StarWars #Comedy #Atlanta #RadioLabyrinth Checkout the Video Version this episode: https://youtu.be/vIOGyeQg0ak _________________________________________________________ Guest: David Pasquesi Interviewers: Jeff Leiboff and Steph Swain Podcast edited and produced by Dustin Lollar _________________________________________________________ Follow our Audio Podcast: Radio Labyrinth Podcast on Spotify, iTunes, Audible or any podcatcher! Follow our YouTube page! https://www.youtube.com/radiolabyrinthpodcast Become a Radio Labyrinth Patron! https://www.patreon.com/Timandrews Social Media: Twitter - https://twitter.com/radio_labyrinth Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/radiolabyrinth/ Instagram - @RadioLabyrinthPresents and @RadioLabyrinth TikTok - @RLPodcast

Dimitri, Khalid, and Neuroscientist Jay (@The_Hague_ICC) continue exploring the complex history of cybernetics, including: “from electroshock to the psychedelic sixties”, Grey Walter's EEG research, the discovery of alpha/beta/delta brainwaves, the expectancy wave and readiness potential, Walter's robotic tortoises, the popularity of biofeedback today, the sus “world brain”, computer-brain interfaces for video gaming, SRI's “Changing Images of Man”, Ross Ashby, “forcing an environment to reveal itself” and the mass shooter phenomenon, feedback flicker and the Stroboscope, silk topper sicko William Seward Burroughs, Jr. and Allen Ginsberg's MK-Ultra LSD flicker experiments in Palo Alto, the California Ideology, the Dream Machine, the embrace of stroboscopic lights by Ken Kesey, Del Close, and The Grateful Dead, Stafford Beer and Chile's Project CYBERSYN, Beer's 2002 lecture about cybernetically understanding 9/11, the Satanic Panic artificial dialectic, cybernetics-as-dialectics, and counter-erming Western leftists who reject the synthesis of “parapolitical” and Historical Materialist analyses. For access to full-length premium episodes and the SJ Grotto of Truth Discord, subscribe to the Al-Wara' Frequency at patreon.com/subliminaljihad.

Tim O'malley Joins us to talk about his years studying with Del Close and the earliest days of the Chicago longform improv scene. He also describes the thrilling days of writing shows and sharing a stage with Chris Farley, Tim Meadows and Bob OdenkirkWatching your friends become TV stars can have unexpected consequences though, and Tim shares his struggles with drugs and alcohol, hitting bottom and using those experiences to fuel his acclaimed one man show "Godshow"As a true believer in the power of improv Tim has strong opinions that have occasionally put him at odds with the second city (Our host can RELATE!)However, we're happy to report that the "Second City website" issue we mention near the end of the episode has been resolved with Tim retaking his rightful spot on the Alumni page! Thank you again to Tim for the great conversation. If you haven't already seen Tim's show Godshow  we encourage you to do so!

Joel Murray is an actor who's been in more than 250 TV sitcom episodes. Best known for his work on Mad Men, Shameless, Dharma and Greg, and the improv group Whose Live Anyway. We talk about growing up the youngest of nine in the Murray household, studying improv at Second City and with the legendary improv teacher Del Close, how he booked Mad Men, his audition for the film ‘The Artist', and more!Visit www.droppingcharacter.com for more episodes!Follow @therobbyramos Follow @DroppingCharacter This episode is brought to you in part by TSMA Consulting, the entertainment industry's leading social media firm. If you sign up for any of their management packages at TSMAconsulting.com make sure to tell them Robby sent you for an exclusive 15% off the first month.

Today I talk with actor, director and community theatre aficionado Doug Ironside, whose career has included theatre school, a corporate job, being a nurse and working as an actor. Doug is deeply passionate about acting, the theatre and the change they can bring in people's lives. Doug tells me about the many different phases of his career and why he initially decided not to pursue acting as a career. Today he's involved in community theatre and he dives into the theory of community theatre, highlighting the dangers of letting the same people run community theatre groups year after year. We then talk about our experience of improv groups and what my thoughts about improv were when I was just getting started. Listen out as Doug explains some of the rules of improvisation theatre and which of those rules you can and can't break. Doug also shares “the most notorious story in all of theatre”, a very memorable incident from a high school production! If you're enjoying listening to the Second Act Actors podcast, you can help the show out by subscribing and leaving a rating and review to give the podcast a boost.  Timestamps [1:30] The different incarnations of Doug's career in theatre and nursing[3:07] Where Doug's interest in theatre came from and his experience at theatre school[6:02] A transformative experience of a marriage break-up and nursing school[7:38] Getting back into community theatre and starting an improv group and theatre troupe[10:00] Why Doug didn't get into acting professionally[12:55] The other interests that Doug has balanced around his passion for theatre[13:43] Working as a nurse instead of in sales[16:17] Community theatre is a bootcamp for working as an actor so if you want to be an actor, do community theatre![20:15] Doug espouses his love for theatre and reveals the more nuanced side of community theatre[22:03] “It was kind of like going to war”: Community theatre can be a fight against inertia[25:25] Brecht's thoughts on how community theatre can grow stale and stop evolving[26:58] Applying the hard lessons learnt about community theatre[30:27] Doug lifts the lid on my time at the improv group, The Old Dance Hall Players[33:13] What you can really learn from improv[36:30] “Pure terror”: My experience of improv[37:57] The minimal rules of improv as delineated by Del Close and which ones you can break[41:37] How I found a sense of freedom in improv[43:27] A really delicious game of Elimination[44:44] The most notorious story in all of theatre![52:20] Doug's advice to people who want to get into acting or improv[54:20] Theatre deserves creativity, so don't be afraid to play[55:43] An exercise from theatre school  Links Second Act Actors websiteSecond Act Actors on InstagramSecond Act Actors on FacebookSecond Act Actors on YouTube Janet McMordie websiteJanet McMordie on InstagramJanet McMordie on LinkedInJanet McMordie on Twitter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's the 4-Year Anniversary of Don't Push Pause!   THE BREAKFAST CLUB is one of the most well-known American films from the 1980s. It roped audiences in with sarcastic, yet endearing humor, then captivated us with its sincere depiction of cutting teenage truths. It became an iconic pinnacle of achievement for all those involved in its creation, but continuing to have mass appeal makes THE BREAKFAST CLUB a legendary film.   //***Discussions include*** Pre-Breakfast Club career history of John Hughes; inspiration behind, writing evolution & revisions of the script; tonal shifts, use of dialogue & conflict; casting & chemistry, rehearsal stories & actors influencing the script; set construction, the film's soundtrack & use of music, problematic elements, release/reception & why this movie is still effective. Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall & Judd Nelson are THE BREAKFAST CLUB (1985). Directed by John Hughes.   //***Picks of the Week*** Lindsay's Pick: HIGH ART (1998). Ally Sheedy, Radha Mitchell & Patricia Clarkson /// Directed by Lisa Cholodenko. Justin's Pick: JUDGMENT NIGHT(1993). Emilio Estevez, Cuba Gooding Jr., Denis Leary, Jeremy Piven & Stephen Dorff /// Directed by Stephen Hopkins.   //***MurrayMoment*** Bill visits a Kansas high school for the Wall of Fame induction ceremony of influential comedy madman, Del Close. //***Final Thoughts on THE BREAKFAST CLUB.*** Next Episode: ALIENS (1986)     **Visit Our Archive for Four Years of Diving Deep Into the Best Movies Around!** //Please rate, review & subscribe. //Follow on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter & YouTube.  www.dontpushpausepodcast.com  dontpushpausepodcast@gmail.com  //Hosts: Justin Johnson & Lindsay Reber // Music: Matt Pace // Announcer: Mary Timmel // Logo: Beau Shoulders.  Be Kind and Rewatch // May 3rd, 2022

Hollywood and Psychedelic history collide when comedian Hugh Romney, moves to LA where Lenny Bruce becomes his manager, improv icon Del Close becomes his roommate and writer-LSD-enthusiast Ken Kesey, becomes his fan! Wavy tells stories of Lenny's tragic demise plus theatrical psychedelic shows and shenanigans with Del introducing history's early laser light displays. Find out why The Byrds were involved in Hugh's courtship of his lifelong love, Bonnie Jean aka Jahanarah and how the infamous Acid Tests (accompanied by house band, The Grateful Dead) evolved when 40 Merry Pranksters appeared unannounced on Hugh and Bonnie Jean's doorstep, ushering in the memorable question, “Can You Pass the Acid Test?”. Guests include Sunshine Kesey, original Merry Pranksters Denise Kaufman and Laura Foster Corbin, historian, Dennis McNally and more.

Hollywood and Psychedelic history collide when comedian Hugh Romney, moves to LA where Lenny Bruce becomes his manager, improv icon Del Close becomes his roommate and writer-LSD-enthusiast Ken Kesey, becomes his fan! Wavy tells stories of Lenny's tragic demise plus theatrical psychedelic shows and shenanigans with Del introducing history's early laser light displays. Find out why The Byrds were involved in Hugh's courtship of his lifelong love, Bonnie Jean aka Jahanarah and how the infamous Acid Tests (accompanied by house band, The Grateful Dead) evolved when 40 Merry Pranksters appeared unannounced on Hugh and Bonnie Jean's doorstep, ushering in the memorable question, “Can You Pass the Acid Test?”. Guests include Sunshine Kesey, original Merry Pranksters Denise Kaufman and Laura Foster Corbin, historian, Dennis McNally and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Prankster is a deep dive with the iconic Wavy Gravy, unfolding his fascinating,historic and hilarious lifestory as an original Beatnik, comedy pioneer, hippie icon and pioneering activist who uses humor as a weapon.   Sharing stories that even he'd forgotten with producer/host, Rainbow Valentine, of Disorganized Crime: Smuggler's Daughter, Wavy gets down to the very nit of the grit and reminds us what it means to be human. From Ben and Jerry's ice cream to Woodstock to the Acid Tests and running a pig for president, Wavy Gravy is an essential part of American counter culture history and more.  You will hear stories of his childhood, teen, army, college and beatnik years with Bob Dylan, Tiny Tim, Martha Graham plus tales of his comedy life with Lenny Bruce, Del Close, Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and his friendships with music icons like Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Mama Cass, Joan C. Baez and more!  Wavy shares absurdist yarns from his lifelong activism using humor as a weapon, along with pals, Abbie Hoffman, Jackson Browne, the Yippies and traveling roadshows of hippies. Plus how psychedelic globetrotting led to the SEVA Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow.  Wavy's 8+ decades of embodying American Pranksterism, inspiring millions down the tie-dye colored path of life and spreading his ethos of Basic Human Needs, is a fundamental part of American, comedy, activist, music, food and global history. Plus he's hilarious and a born storyteller. "When you get to the very bottom of the human soul, when the nit is slamming into the grit and you are sinking but you reach down to help someone else, that is when everyone gets high and you don't even need LSD to do that...and that's when I passed the acid test." – Wavy Gravy, American Prankster "He's like our Rabbi..." - Trixie Garcia American Prankster is a proud part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Prankster is a deep dive with the iconic Wavy Gravy, unfolding his fascinating,historic and hilarious lifestory as an original Beatnik, comedy pioneer, hippie icon and pioneering activist who uses humor as a weapon.  Sharing stories that even he'd forgotten with producer/host, Rainbow Valentine, of Disorganized Crime: Smuggler's Daughter, Wavy gets down to the very nit of the grit and reminds us what it means to be human.From Ben and Jerry's ice cream to Woodstock to the Acid Tests and running a pig for president, Wavy Gravy is an essential part of American counter culture history and more. You will hear stories of his childhood, teen, army, college and beatnik years with Bob Dylan, Tiny Tim, Martha Graham plus tales of his comedy life with Lenny Bruce, Del Close, Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and his friendships with music icons like Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Mama Cass, Joan C. Baez and more! Wavy shares absurdist yarns from his lifelong activism using humor as a weapon, along with pals, Abbie Hoffman, Jackson Browne, the Yippies and traveling roadshows of hippies. Plus how psychedelic globetrotting led to the SEVA Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow.  Wavy's 8+ decades of embodying American Pranksterism, inspiring millions down the tie-dye colored path of life and spreading his ethos of Basic Human Needs, is a fundamental part of American, comedy, activist, music, food and global history. Plus he's hilarious and a born storyteller."When you get to the very bottom of the human soul, when the nit is slamming into the grit and you are sinking but you reach down to help someone else, that is when everyone gets high and you don't even need LSD to do that...and that's when I passed the acid test." – Wavy Gravy, American Prankster"He's like our Rabbi..." - Trixie GarciaAmerican Prankster is a proud part of Pantheon Podcasts

American Prankster is a deep dive with the iconic Wavy Gravy, unfolding his fascinating,historic and hilarious lifestory as an original Beatnik, comedy pioneer, hippie icon and pioneering activist who uses humor as a weapon.   Sharing stories that even he'd forgotten with producer/host, Rainbow Valentine, of Disorganized Crime: Smuggler's Daughter, Wavy gets down to the very nit of the grit and reminds us what it means to be human. From Ben and Jerry's ice cream to Woodstock to the Acid Tests and running a pig for president, Wavy Gravy is an essential part of American counter culture history and more.  You will hear stories of his childhood, teen, army, college and beatnik years with Bob Dylan, Tiny Tim, Martha Graham plus tales of his comedy life with Lenny Bruce, Del Close, Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters and his friendships with music icons like Janis Joplin, Jerry Garcia, Mama Cass, Joan C. Baez and more!  Wavy shares absurdist yarns from his lifelong activism using humor as a weapon, along with pals, Abbie Hoffman, Jackson Browne, the Yippies and traveling roadshows of hippies. Plus how psychedelic globetrotting led to the SEVA Foundation and Camp Winnarainbow.  Wavy's 8+ decades of embodying American Pranksterism, inspiring millions down the tie-dye colored path of life and spreading his ethos of Basic Human Needs, is a fundamental part of American, comedy, activist, music, food and global history. Plus he's hilarious and a born storyteller. "When you get to the very bottom of the human soul, when the nit is slamming into the grit and you are sinking but you reach down to help someone else, that is when everyone gets high and you don't even need LSD to do that...and that's when I passed the acid test." – Wavy Gravy, American Prankster "He's like our Rabbi..." - Trixie Garcia American Prankster is a proud part of Pantheon Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dimitri and Khalid say “yes, and!” to a deep dive on the Chief Suslord of North American Comedy, Del Close, including: Del's puckish pranks in high school, invoking demons for improv class, creating psychedelic light shows for the Grateful Dead and Frank Zappa, becoming a witch, doing LSD astronaut experiments for the US Air Force, getting devoured by the Spider King on LSD at a mysterious mental hospital, hanging out with L. Ron Hubbard pre-Scientology, becoming “chief metaphysician” at SNL in the early 80s, switching into “Devil Mode” and reveling in evil, encouraging John Belushi to do more speedballs, getting the “Clockwork Orange treatment” at the Schick Clinic, writing “Wasteland” for DC Comics, the disturbing “Retroactive Abortion” story, Del's confusing definition of “sick humor”, becoming the Sewer Rat, dissecting your son's biology teacher, Trump getting possessed by a Catman, the pandemic-era collapse of UCB and ImprovOlympic, and why Big Improv is probably going to be on the wrong end of the vibe shift. For access to full-length premium episodes and the SJ Grotto of Truth Discord, subscribe to the Al-Wara' Frequency at patreon.com/subliminaljihad.