Belated Review: UCB at SummerStage

I had a really great time at this free outdoor show, despite the fact that it was disgustingly wet. Which was fine at first because I had a "waterproof" blanket to sit on. Less fine when I discovered the blanket was not actually waterproof and when Slovin & Allen described in great detail just how gross sitting on wet astroturf was. We were sitting in the front row, though, which was amazing-- so close to the action.

The show was hosted by The Daily Show's Rob Riggle and SNL's Horatio Sanz, who got progressively sillier (read: drunker) as the show progressed. Their repartee and MC-ing was really the best part of the show. I think this is partly because theirs was some of the only real improv done during the show. As one of my friends pointed out to me, the show seemed to suffer a bit from trying too hard to incorporate music into each segment and not doing what the UCB does best: long-form improv. Also, they should have saved way more time for the "headliner": Demetri Martin, who seemed extremely rushed by the time he got onstage.

Some of the highlights of the show were Sanz and Riggle singing a Simon & Garfunkel-inspired ditty and Reggie Watts' incredibly original vocal work. I've seen Watts on video, but never live before, and seeing him live is SO COOL. He is talented in an extremely hard-to-describe way, and I could watch him for hours. Rebecca Drysdale's how-to-improv rap was pretty cool too, but maybe a bit too in-joke-y. Aside from her line, "I get more pussy than Flight of the Conchords," she didn't seem to get that many laughs. Not sure of the demographics of the crowd, but perhaps there weren't a whole lot of UCBT regulars, or else not a lot of improv students. Unclear...

For more pictures, check out The Apiary. In the sixth photo down, you can see a couple of my friends in the background and in the ninth, if you look very carefully, you can see me!

emmy noms and the frat pack

Austin 360 has one of the better breakdowns of the Frat Pack that I've seen, managing to fit movies and actors into three distinct categories: "The Boys Will be Boys Goof-Offs," "The Realists with Heart," and "The Arty Parodists" with Paul Rudd as the golden boy who manages to work well with any of the three. I enjoy this far better than a previous article I read in which they tried to play Judd Apatow's crew off as "the new Frat pack." What's odd about all this categorizing is that Will Ferrell has stated very clearly that he hates the term "Frat Pack" and doesn't want anyone thinking that there's a clique or team of key players who aren't giving new talent their chance to shine. Easy enough for him to say.

Meanwhile, Emmy nods are out today. Some commentary:
Outstanding Comedy Series
I do not understand the appeal of Ugly Betty, but thank God for 30 Rock getting nominated. The Office and Entourage are both top contenders, but neither has had a particularly outstanding season.

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
I'm pulling for Ricky Gervais, who paved the way for Steve Carell to make you feel so awkward you don't know how to laugh.

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Tina Fey, as Liz Lemon, gives smart and sassy working women a role model and savior.

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Rainn Wilson, all the way. Dwight Schrute is a god among nerds.

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
I'm very excited that Jenna Fischer got a nomination for her sidelong glances and wistful demeanor, but I know a lot of people are pulling for Vanessa Williams.

Finally, has this "Outstanding original music and lyrics" category always existed? Here are the nominees:
Family Guy • Peter's Two Dads • Fox
MADtv • 1209 • Fox • Girl Group Co.
Saturday Night Live • Host: Justin Timberlake - Song title: ÒDick In A BoxÓ Scrubs • My Musical: Song Title: ÒEveryting Comes Down to PooÓ
Scrubs • My Musical - Song Title: ÒGuy LoveÓ
Ridonkulous. I really hope that each of these is performed at the Emmys by their original performers. It would rock my world.

Sweet 'n' sketchy

I tried to write something witty and insightful about this article, but the Onion AV Club does a pretty good job of explaining themselves. At the very least, they're snarky, which if I've learned anything from reading blogs 24-7 for the last six years, is extremely important. So if you want a way to waste an hour, check out their list of the 9 "TV Sketch comedy bits that should have inspired recurring characters." The list is phenomenal and inspired a great deal of nostalgia within my loins... (loins?), but the premise seems a bit wanting. Because there's nothing like having a character show up in just a slight variation of their previous situation to turn a well thought-out skit into way overdone. Even a sketch that runs on a little too long can leave a bad taste in my mouth. So yeah, these sketches are phenom, but maybe once was enough.

What's New in the World of Mainstream People Writing About Alterna-Comedy

The Comedy Central Insider has an oh-so-snarky and to-the-point breakdown of Esquire's infuriating list of up-and-coming comedians, those they say are just destined to ride in on the coattails of Dane Cook. Anyways, I don't have much more to add to CC Insider, since they did a pretty good job of explaining exactly why the article makes comedy fans want to vom, so just go there and check it out.

And in other news of people who shouldn't be writing about comedy, number ten on The New York Post's Hot List is their (medium) excitement over the movie "The Ten."

While "Evan Almighty" looks about as laugh-out-loud funny as a Biblically themed movie can possibly get, "The Ten" might give it a run for its funny money, judging by the flick's newly posted trailer. It sure helps that Adam Brody, Paul Rudd, Winona Ryder, Rob Corddry and Jessica Alba star in it.


Really? Evan Almighty looks laugh-out-loud funny? You could have fooled me. And The Ten might give it a run for its money??? Please. The Ten does not need your help, NY Post. Go back to photoshopping pictures of Paris Hilton onto stills from World War II.

Okay, so maybe not as bad as the latter, but still... The Ten will conquer all!