Just Won’t Leave My Brain

Unlock my body and move myself to dance…

Sean Conroy’s Level 2 Graduation Show @ The UCB (2nd set)

June 1, 2003
A few weekends ago, I caught The Project at the PIT. My old L1 classmate Kirk (above in black pants), who I hadn’t seen in donkey’s ears, was throwing down some outstanding improv with his team, The Ghosty Teens (Cartoon Mystery). After the show, I said hello and immediately praised his skill-set, referring to him as “a pro.” He replied modestly, “Nah, I’m just having fun,” which is truly the best response. Even more interesting, I recognize two other players in this class show photo who now perform with Trophy Dad.

Zach Galifianakis

Too much joy. In a recent AST interview, Zach says: ”In [Comedians of Comedy], there’s this broken chair thing … I remember eating in a diner and I remember saying to someone, ‘Will you buy me a chair? I have an idea.’ So they went to a thrift store and got me a chair, and then we went and spent the night on some lake, and that’s how it happened. And there was none of this sit-around-and-think-about-it … because sitting down and writing is very tedious … it’s fun just to kind of come up with stuff, and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t. But, yeah, that was a lot of fun.”

Sean Conroy’s Level 2 Graduation Show @ The UCB

June 1, 2003
Ah, Level Two … finding the game, trying out the Harold … those early days feel a bit like pledging a frat or sorority and trying to bond as best you can with semi-strangers. A few of my Level One (with Ari Voukydis) classmates were in this show — fellow Apocalypse Fish members, Sarah Engelke and Seth Teter; and, yes, that’s a fresh-faced Aziz Ansari rocking the backline. Improv is good for you.

We Used to Go Out @ The UCB

March 9, 2006
As a longtime Mother fan, I relished this show when Jessica St. Clair and Jason Mantzoukas took it out for another spin last spring. Jason Zinoman of the New York Times wrote a great review capsule, describing the duo as having “the chemistry of an old married couple who fight better than they get along.” And watching Mantzoukas openly weep while gnawing on a Fig Newton will be something I’ll remember always.

Alex Marino’s Level 3 Graduation Show @ The Magnet Theater

Aug. 6, 2006

Happy Birthday, Lil Keke

My friend Donny in Houston writes: “Last night, Julie put on a wedding for rapping artist Lil KeKe. It was attended by Paul Wall and other luminaries from ‘Swisha House Records.’ I am quite sure that the members of the country club were delighted at the presence of such honored guests.” I don’t know ’bout that, but what I do know is that those rims is ill.

And now for something completely different — Obadiah Parker’s acoustic “Hey Ya” is as good as The Gourds’ “Gin & Juice” cover.

I Heart San Francisco…

The spectacular that is Wooster Collective recently made a good point about advertising. I’d say these two (uno, dos mas) from Sony fit the bill. Here are some photos from the San Francisco commercial and a few more from the U.K. commercial.

Invite Them Up @ Rififi (feat. Reggie Watts & Heather Lawless)

Nov. 16, 2005.

Farahnakian & Flynn Present 2005 A.D. @ The PIT

Dec. 7, 2005
The premise is simple, really: Two men in crumpled suits perform “skitches and skatches” in the lobby of a Comfort Inn. In exchange for the space, they’ve been given some light housekeeping duties: “We do have to maintain the pool while we’re here.” (Digging deep on this one — full text at the Apiary).