>>> SKETCH COMEDY, WHAT IS IT? >> THE GREAT THING ABOUT SKETCH
COMEDY IS THAT IT'S INSTANT GRATIFICATION.
>> YOU KICK THE DOOR IN, GUNS BLAZING, WHATEVER HAPPENS,
HAPPENS. >> HE'S GOT MY HAND.
>> STRETCHES ARE A FUN WAY TO TALK ABOUT THE CULTURE WITH A IF
I CAN TURNAROUND. >> IN A SKETCH YOUR SATIRIZING
LIFE. >> MY BRAIN HURTS.
>> WHEN YOU KNOW PEOPLE ARE IMPROVISING, YOU'RE ON THE EDGE
OF YOUR SEATS. GOD, DON'T DIE.
>> EVERYTHING YOU SEE TONIGHT IS BEING MADE UP ON THE SPOT.
WE CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH. >> IN SKETCH YOU GO FOR IT.
>> WE -- WE'RE GOING TO DO A SKETCH SHOW.
>> FILM COMEDY IS LIKE A CONCERTO WITH ALL OF ITS
COMPLICATIONS. SKETCH COMEDY IS LIKE A SEX
PISTOL SONG WHERE PEOPLE GET IN AND GET OUT AND SOMEBODY GETS
HURT. >> I'M SO FULL OF -- MY GENITALS
ARE SUCKED UP INTO MY BODY CAVITY.
>> SKETCH IS A GREAT WAY TO DELIVER COMEDY DOES YOU CAN SAY
SO MUCH. THE BEST COME IN WITH A POINT OF
VIEW ABOUT SOMETHING THEY WANT TO SAY.
>> IF IT MAKES YOU GUYS FEEL ANY BETTER, BLACK PEOPLE MAKE ME
REALLY UNCOMFORTABLE. >> THANK YOU.
>> I'VE ALWAYS LIKED BEING SOMEONE ELSE.
I LIKE BEING MYSELF, BUT IT'S NOT AN INTERESTING CHARACTER.
>> WHAT STREET DO YOU LIVE ON, DEAR?
>> WEST GLEN. >> DO YOU KNOW A DINKY WITHERS
AT 83? >> NO.
>> STRETCH A PRECISE WRITE RELIEF FORM.
ARE YOU GUYS IMPROVISING ALL THE TIME?
NO, NO, WE WERE WORKING VERY HARD ON SCRIPTS.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?
>> WHAT'S UP? >> FELL ASLEEP ON THE JOB.
>> NO, I DIDN'T. >> WHEN YOU WRITE A SKETCH, OR
GET TO PERFORM IN A SKETCH AND IT WORKS, IT'S ABOUT AS MUCH FUN
AS YOU CAN HAVE IN COMEDY. >> SKETCH COMEDY STARTED ON
BROADWAY, WHAT THEY CALLED A REVIEW, R
REVIEW, R-E-V-U-E. A LOT OF THE COMEDIANS THAT
STARTED IN RADIO IN THE '30s AND '40s STARTED ON THE BROADWAY
STAGE IN REVUES. >> MY PARENTS LOVED COMEDY.
IT WAS ALWAYS ON THE RADIO. >> YOU DEDICATED YOUR ENTIRE
LIFE TO THE ACCUMULATION OF MONEY.
>> IT'S MY FOND HOPE WHEN I DIE I'LL GO TO FORT KNOX.
>> ALL SKETCH COMEDY ON RADIO IN THE '40s WAS PART OF A VARIETY
PROGRAM GENRE. YOU WOULD HAVE AN OPENING
MONOLOGUE. JACK BENNY MIGHT TALK AND THEN
SOMEBODY WOULD SING A SONG, NOT COMEDY, JUST A STRAIGHT SINGER.
THAT CONTINUED IN TELEVISION. >> THE BEST SKETCHES I EVER SAW
WERE ON THE SHOW OF SHOWS WITH SEE
CAESAR. ALL THEY DID WAS LOOK AT SOCIETY
AND SKEW IT A LITTLE BIT. YOU LAUGHED AT YOURSELF BEING
RIDICULOUS. >> IT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF OUR
HIT RECORD. THIS SIDE IS SELLING MORE THAN
THE OTHER SIDE. >> THE SHOW OF SHOWS HAD COMEDY
GENIUSES GATHERED TOGETHER ALMOST LIKE A MANHATTAN PROJECT
FOR COMEDY. YOU HAD CARL REINER MOVING BACK
AND FORTH BETWEEN ACTING AND WRITING AT THIS TIME, AND SIDE
CAESAR WHO WOULD DO ALL THE ROLES AND ALL THE ACCENTS.
THE AUDIENCE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE PEOPLE DOING THAT SHOW.
>> NAME THE DATES -- BATTLE OF HASTINGS.
BATTLE OF WATER LOOB. 1277.
BATTLE OF RUSH. >> IT WAS DONE LIVE AND THEY
WOULD DO LIKE 33 OR 36 EPISODES A YEAR.
THAT IS A SCHEDULE. THAT'S A REAL SCHEDULE.
>> I THINK THE HARDEST JOB IN THE WORLD IS TO BE A COMEDY
WRITER FOR A VARIETY SHOW. BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO COME UP
WITH FOUR OR FIVE SKETCHES, DIFFERENT CHARACTERS, EVERY WEEK
OUR WRITERS HAVE TO SIT DOWN TO A BLANK SHEET OF PAPER AND BE
FUNNY AND IT'S A WHOLE NEW SKETCH.
>> I WONDER IF YOU COULD COME IN.
>> HELLO. >> MRS. SOFTWIGANS, I WONDER
IF -- >> HELLO.
>> MRS. WIG -- >> HELLO, HELLO.
>> I CAN'T TELL A JOKE TO SAVE MY SOUL.
I WAS A CLOWN, AND ALSO A COMEDIC ACTRESS WHO LIKED TO SAY
THINGS FUNNY. >> A DIME.
>> A WHOLE DIME. >> CAROL BURNETT WAS THE
ULTIMATE SKETCH PERFORMER. AND SHE HAD SETS AND COSTUMES
AND PROPS. AND I WOULD SIT AND WATCH IT.
I LOVED IT. I LOVED IT.
>> I WANTED TO FIND CERTAIN SKETCHES THAT WE COULD REPEAT.
LIKE SIDE CAESAR USED TO DO THE GERMAN PROFESSOR.
SO I WAS HOPING WE COULD FIND SOME FAMILIAR SKETCHES THAT AN
AUDIENCE WOULD LOOK FORWARD TO. >> SEE, THIS ELEPHANT HAD THIS
LITTLE DWARF TRAINER, AND HE USED TO PUT A LITTLE BALLERINA
SKIRT ON THAT ELEPHANT. >> THEY WEREN'T SO RESPECTFUL OF
THE FORM THAT WEREN'T AFRAID OF MAKING MISTAKES, BREAKING,
MAKING EACH OTHER LAUGH, HAVING FUN.
>> THE FACT THAT THEY WERE LAUGHING IN THE SKETCH MADE YOU
AT HOME LAUGH EVEN MORE BECAUSE YOU FELT LIKE YOU GOT A SECRET
MOMENT. YOU FELT LIKE YOU WERE PART OF
IT. >> THERE'S A RUMOR GOING AROUND
THE CIRCUS THAT THAT DWARF AND THE ELEPHANT WERE LOVERS.
>> IT WAS A GOLDEN AGE BACK THEN.
WE WERE ALL SO NEW TO IT. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
THEN AS I BECAME LESS AND LESS COMFORTABLE WITH THE EXISTING
FORM OF TELEVISION, STARTED DOING DIFFERENT THINGS.
>> AND NOW FROM BEAUTIFUL DOWNTOWN BURBANK'S BIRD
SANCTUARY AND RIFLE RANGE, NBC PRESENTS ROWAN AND MARTIN'S DO.
>> SOME OF THE SKETCHES WE DID WERE TEN SECONDS, SOME FIVE
MINUTES. PERSONALLY, I LIKE BREVITY.
>> DO YOU BELIEVE IN THE HEREAFTER?
>> OF COURSE I DO. >> THEN YOU KNOW WHAT I'M HERE
AFTER. >> A LOT OF THE PACING AND
EVERYTHING WAS BECAUSE WE CUT IT UP INTO LITTLE BITS.
>> AND THAT'S THE TRUTH. >> AND EVEN ERNESTINE.
THEY WOULD CUT HER UP. >> IS THIS THE PARTY TO WHO I AM
SPEAKING? >> THEY DID ANYTHING ADDITIONAL
TO MAKE THE PACE FRANTIC AND FABULOUS.
>> HELP. >> SOME OF THE NATION'S
FRESHEST, FUNNIEST VARIETY, JOIN SONNY AND CHER.
>> EVERYONE IN AMERICA HAD A VARIETY SHOW.
>> THE SOLO SINGERS OF THE '50s WERE EXTREMELY POPULAR.
THEY COULD HOST THEIR OWN SHOW, BRING ON A COMEDIAN, AND THEN BE
THE STRAIGHT MAN TO THE COMEDIAN.
IN AMERICA THERE WERE VERY FEW PROGRAMS IN THAT ERA, IF ANY,
THAT WERE JUST PURE NON-STOP SKETCH COMEDY.
BUT THE UK HAS ALWAYS BEEN ITS OWN ANIMAL.
>> AND THAT WAS SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
>>> OVER THESE STREETS HANGS A POLE OF FEAR, FEAR OF A NEW KIND
OF VIOLENCE, WHICH IS TERRORIZING THE CITY.
YES, GANGS OF OLD LADIES ATTACKING FIT YOUNG MEN.
>> I REMEMBER LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO WATCH ON TV, AND
NEVER THINKING I'M GOING TO STOP ON CHANNEL 13, WHICH WAS THE PBS
STATION. AND STUMBLING INTO PYTHON ON A
LITTLE BLACK AND WHITE TV. I WAS MESMERIZED.
>> I HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
IT WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY SILLY AND SMART.
>> SHUT YOUR FESTERING -- YOUR TYPE MAKES ME PUKE.
YOU TOFFEE-NOSED -- I'M SORRY, THIS IS ABUSE.
>> THE MOST DIFFICULT THING IS ANY SKETCH PERSON WILL TELL YOU
IS THE PUNCH LINE AT THE END HOW DOES IT END?
THAT ALL KIND OF CHANGED WITH MONTY PYTHON'S FLYING CIRCUS.
>> THEY WOULD DO A SKETCH AS LONG AS IT WAS INTERESTING.
THE MINUTE THEY WERE DONE IT WOULD TAKE A SHARP RIGHT OR
SHARP LEFT. >> TOP OF THE MILL.
THAT'S ALL. I DIDN'T EXPECT A KIND OF
SPANISH INQUISITION. NOBODY EXPECTS THE SPANISH
INQUISITION. >> WE WERE JUST STUNNED BY THAT.
IT'S AS IF THEY HAD COME FROM THE FUTURE.
>> WE JUST DIS COVERED IT WAS QUITE ADEQUATE TO CUT AWAY FROM
SOMEONE SAYING THAT'S ENOUGH OF THAT, AND THEN ANOTHER SKETCH
WOULD START. >> YOU TWO, STOP THAT SKETCH,
IT'S SILLY. >> IT'S ON FILM.
>> THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE VIEWER AT
HOME, DOES IT? >> THE THING WITH MONTY PYTHON,
THEY'RE THE BEATLES OF SKETCH COMEDY, THE COMEDIC PERIODIC
TABLE OF ELEMENTS, ALMOST EVERYTHING I'VE DONE CONTAINS
PYTHONIAN IN SOME FORM. >> IT HAD A HUGE INFLUENCE ON
THE NEW GENERATION OF COMEDY COMING UP IN AMERICA WHO SAW
THAT AND WE'RE LIKE HOLY ****, WE'RE BEHIND.
>> LIVE FROM NEW YORK, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT.
>> THERE IS A GAME OF DOMINOS YOU CAN PLAY FROM YOUR SHOW OF
SHOWS TO 1975, AND SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.
ON ANOTHER LEVEL, THOUGH, "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" WAS A
WHOLE NEW ERA. >> BOOM-BAA-BOOM.
>> THE TONE OF THE SHOW WAS VERY MUCH INFLUENCED BY YOUNGER
PEOPLE. SO NOW WE HAD OUR MUSIC ON,
STUFF WE LIKED. >> LET'S GO, JETS, LET'S SWING.
>> LORNE HAD MADE THE SHOW HIP, HE MADE AMERICA LESS SQUARE WITH
"SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE," IT WAS JUST THE TIME.
IT WAS TIME FOR IT. WE HADN'T HAD ANYTHING LIKE IT.
>> IT WAS JUST TALK SHOWS YOU WATCHED AS YOU FELL ASLEEP.
THIS WAS THE IDEA THAT LATE NIGHT WAS A PLACE WHERE YOU
COULD DO THINGS THAT MIGHT GET YOU IN TROUBLE WITH STANDARDS
EARLIER IN THE DAY. >> CAPTAIN, THE ENEMY STAR SHIP
IS WITHIN ELECTRO SCANNING DISTANCE.
>> WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE? >> THEIR SHIP IS NOT AS BIG AS
WE HAD HOPED. >> THE ONE RULE WE HAD WAS LET'S
MAKE EACH OTHER LAUGH. WE'LL PUT IT ON TELEVISION AND
SOMEBODY WILL FIND US AND MAYBE TELL THEIR FRIENDS.
>> THIS IS THE GUMBY STORY, I AM GUMBY, BY GUM, ALL RIGHT?
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" THAT
IT WAS A PLACE TO WORK ON SOFTWARE, HOW PEOPLE TALK, HOW
PEOPLE THINK. >> THAT WILL BE $38.25.
>> I HAVE A GIFT CARD. >> YAY, GIFT CARD.
I HAVE AN ADULT DOLL HOUSE, AND SOMETIMES I USE THESE AS BATH
MATS. >> PEOPLE GO ON SNL WITH
FANTASTIC CHARACTERS THEY'VE DEVELOPED ESSENTIALLY AT HOME
AND YOU PUT IT IN A SKETCH, OTHER PEOPLE TO PLAY OFF, GIVE
THEM A STORY, MIDDLE AND END, AND SAY GOOD NIGHT.
>> YEAH, I'VE HEARD ABOUT THAT. >> WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT?
I'VE NEVER EVEN MET YOUR WIFE. >> THAT'S NOT TRUE.
YOU WERE THE BEST MAN AT OUR WEDDING, NATHAN.
>> NO, I WASN'T. >> YES, YOU WERE.
>> I KNOW THAT. >> SKETCH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SHOW EVERYDAY PEOPLE AS HEIGHTENED CHARACTERS.
SOMEBODY LIKE MOLLY SHANNON'S UN-50.
>> I KNOW HOW TO KICK, STRETCH AND KICK.
I'M 50. >> WE KNOW THAT PERSON.
WE KNOW A VERSION OF THAT PERSON.
SNL IS REALLY THE ONLY SHOW THAT I CAN THINK OF THAT IS BASED ON
A REVOLVING CAST WHERE THE PERFORMERS AND THE POINT OF VIEW
DON'T MATTER. THAT'S A BIZARRE THING WHEN YOU
THINK ABOUT A SHOW. THE FACT THAT IT'S LIVE, THAT'S
THE POINT OF VIEW OF THAT SHOW IS LIKE IT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING
NOW. >> IF YOU WATCH "SATURDAY NIGHT
LIVE" YOU MAY NOT LAUGH THE ENTIRE SHOW.
BUT WHEN YOU DO, YOU WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT THE NEXT DAY.
AND THAT'S WHAT THEY WERE REALLY GOOD ABOUT IS CREATING A WATER
COOLER MOMENT IN EVERY SHOW. >> WALL STREET JOURNAL, ARE YOU
OKAY? >> IN "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE"
YOU'D HAVE AN IDEA AND SOMETIMES IT WOULDN'T EVEN BE AN IDEA THAT
YOU HAD A LOT OF FAITH IN. AND THEN CARPENTERS COME IN AND
THEY START BUILDING AND COSTUMES ARE MADE.
AND IT'S SCARY. BUT IF IT WORKS, THE PAYOFF IS
SO EXHILARATING. >> GUESS WHAT?
I GOTTA FEVER. AND THE ONLY PRESCRIPTION IS
MORE COW BELL. >> TV'S BEEN ON FOR 70 YEARS,
AND SNL'S BEEN ON FOR 45 OF THEM.
THAT'S INCREDIBLE. >> LON MICHAELS IS A MANTASTIC
COMEDY CURATOR. HE HAS A GREAT EYE FOR TALENT.
THAT'S SELF-SERVING BECAUSE I WAS ON THE SHOW.
WHEN YOU LEAVE THE SHOW AND YOU SEE HOW MANY NEW FANTASTIC
COMEDY PERFORMERS YOU GO THERE HAS TO BE SOME COMMON ELEMENT.
THAT'S LORNE. >> LORNE GOT FIRST LOOK AT
EVERYBODY COMING UP. THESE PEOPLE CAME FROM ALL OVER
THE PLACE. SECOND CITY AND GROUNDINGS,
GREAT REPOSITORIES OF PEOPLE LEARNING HOW TO DO MOSTLY SKETCH
COMEDY. >> A LOT OF MY CHARACTERS FROM
THE GROUND LINGS, THE WHOLE SPEECH I HAVE IN THERE IS FROM
THE GROUNDLINGS. >> VEEYOU'RE BLOCKING.
>> THAT KIND OF STUFF WAS CELEBRATED.
>> MY NAME IS PHILIP HARTMAN, I'D LIKE TO
>>> GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME TO THE SECOND
CITY. TONIGHT, WE'RE VERY PLEASED TO
BRING YOU SCENES FROM THE SECOND CITY, DIRECTLY HERE IN CHICAGO
IN THE CABARET NIGHTCLUB, ENTER YOUR THEATER IN THE HOME.
>> THE BIG SCHOOLS OF IMPROV RIGHT NOW ARE THE GROUNDLINGS,
UCB, SECOND CITY. AND WHAT THEY ALL HAVE IN COMMON
IS THEIR ROOTS IN 1955 FROM THE COMPASS PLAYERS IN CHICAGO.
>> THE COMPASS THEATER WAS THE PRECURSOR TO WHAT BECAME THE
SECOND CITY. AND THEY WERE BASING THEIR
STRUCTURE ON A WOMAN NAMED VIOLA SPUN.
AND HER MOTIF WAS NOT COMEDY NECESSARILY SUCH AS IMPROV GAMES
FOR ACTORS TO GENERATE SCENES. >> FROM THERE, THIS REVOLUTION
HAPPENED. >> THE BIRD DOES HAVE A TOE IN
THE BACK OF THE FOOT THERE. AND AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, MAN
HAS NO TOE -- >> YES, YES, I DO KNOW THAT.
>> SECOND CITY IS A REVUE STYLE SHOW THAT HAS SONGS, TWO ACTS,
TWO PERSON, THREE PERSON, FOUR PERSON CAST SCENES.
THE FIRST PART OF SHOW IS TWO ACTS, SCRIPTED MATERIAL, A THIRD
ACT OF IMPROVISED MATERIAL. >> WE NEED SUGGESTIONS FROM THE
AUDIENCE. WE'D LIKE FOR YOU TO SUGGEST A
CHARACTER, NOT A PROPER NAME, A REAL PERSON, BUT A KIND OF
PERSON, AN OCCUPATION, A WALK OF LIFE.
>> PEANUT VENDOR. >> A PEANUT VENDOR, THANK YOU.
>> THEY WILL TAKE SUGGESTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE, THE CAST GOES
BACKSTAGE FOR 15, 20 MINUTES WHOOT
WHILE THE AUDIENCE ORDERS MORE DRINKS.
YOU COME OUT AND IMPROVISE BASED ON THE SUGGESTIONS.
>> I'M. >> THOSE ARE PEANUT SHELLS.
>> THE END OF A FEW MONTHS, WHEN IT'S READY TO WRITE A NEW SHOW,
WE TAKE THE IMPROVISED SCENES THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL AND WE HONE
THEM AND WRITE THEM. THEY BECOME THE NEW SET SHOW.
>> WE WON'T BE DEFEATED. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF NORMANS.
>> THE WORLD OF IMPROVE IS A SAFE PLAYING FIELD.
EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME GROUND. YOU DON'T COME PREPARED.
THERE'S NO SETS OR PROPS. THERE LITERALLY IS A BACKDROP
AND A COUPLE OF CHAIRS. IN SOME WAYS IT FEELS LIKE AN
ADULT SAND BOX. >> WHERE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN GONE FOR SIX MONTHS. >> AFTER SCHOOL THERE WAS A
PARTY. AND THEN EVERYBODY WENT TO
DENVER. >> THERE'S THE BASIC IMPROV 101
RULE OF THE END, WHATEVER COMES YOUR WAY, WHATEVER YOUR IMPROV
PARTNER SAYS, YOU AGREE TO IT AND BUILD ON IT.
>> SOMEONE COMES IN AND SAYS YOUR HORSE HAS ESCAPED, YOU
DON'T SAY I DON'T HAVE A HORSE, MY HORSE IS GONE.
YOU KNOW WHERE THAT'S GOING TO TAKE YOU.
THAT'S A GOOD RULE. >> NO IDEA THAT YOU WERE STONED
ON POT. FLYING HIGH UNDER THE EFFECTS OF
A REEFER. >> COME ON, SON, YOU ALWAYS WERE
A BIT OF A WIMP. >> I USED TO BE TERRIFIED OF
IMPROV, UNTIL YOU REALIZED YOU JUST HAD TO KEEP TALKING, AND
BE -- >> AND LISTEN.
YEAH.
>> THAT'S WHY I SAID THE REACTION IS AS IMPORTANT AS THE
ACTION. >> BECAUSE YOU'RE WRITING IT ON
THE SPOT YOU'RE NOT SURE WHERE IT'S GOING TO GO.
YOU'RE TRUSTING YOUR INSTINCTS AND YOUR ABILITY AS AN ACTOR TO
TAKE IT AND TO FORMULATE IT AND GET THE LAUGH, EVENTUALLY.
>> YOU GO OUT WITH SOMETHING TO OFFER.
AT THE SAME TIME, YOU'RE WILLING TO LET EVERY BIT OF IT GO.
>> ULTIMATELY YOU WANT TO GET TO A POINT WHERE THIS FN CALLED
GROUP MIND OCCURS, A SINGLE ORGANISM PERFORMING AT ONCE.
WHEN YOU SEE IT, IT IS SO ASTONISHING, YOU CANNOT IMAGINE
THAT THEY DIDN'T SCRIPT IT. YOU CAN'T IMAGINE IT.
>> I'M 35 YEARS OLD. I AM DIVORCED, AND I LIVE IN A
VAN DOWN BY THE RIVER. >> THAT'S GREAT WHEN YOU'RE JUST
STARTING OUT IS THE AMOUNT OF FLIGHT HOURS ON STAGE YOU GET.
AND YOU GET TO TRY STUFF OUT. ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN YOU GET
TO SNL IS THAT YOU HAVE TO DIG IN TRUNK, WORKING AT SECOND
CITY, YOU GET TO MAKE A TRUNK. >> I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT
SOMEONE WHO DOES. >> I HAD DONE WAYNE CAMPBELL ON
STAGE AT SECOND CITY. I BROUGHT THAT CHARACTER WITH ME
TO SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE. >> WELCOME TO WAYNE'S WORLD,
HERE'S YOUR HOST, WAYNE CAMPBELL.
>> FIRE IT UP. >> THE IMPROV WORLD WAS VERY
IMPORTANT TO THE PERFORMERS ON SNL.
IT WAS THE SAME STRUCTURE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GROUNDLYNX, I
DO A CHARACTER, RUN OFF STAGE, CHANGE YOUR OUTFIT, COME BACK ON
STAGE IN THE DARK, HIT YOUR MARK, LET'S GO.
>> YOUR OXYGEN MASKS WILL BE RELEASED FROM THEIR COMPARTMENTS
ABOVE YOU. PLEASE DO NOT PANIC, OKAY?
THE PILOT IS SCARED. >> THE BIG LESSON I LEARNED AT
THE GROUNDLINGS WAS MY FIRST TEACHER TELLING ME DON'T THINK
SO MUCH. SOMETIMES TAKE AN ACTION WITHOUT
KNOWING WHERE IT'S GOING TO LEAD.
>> YEAH, I LOVE IT TOO. I REALLY --
>> WHEN PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR TALENT, THEY GO TO THE
GROUNDLINGS, PEEWEE HERMAN, LARAINE NEWMAN.
I DON'T MENTION LOVITZ, HE WILL SEE THIS, AND IT WILL BOTHER
HIM. HE'LL BE LIKE, YOU MENTIONED
THEM ALL, BUT ME. YOU WATCHING THIS AT HOME,
WORSHIP ME, I COMMAND YOU. >> I JOINED THE SKETCH COMEDY
GROUP THAT TAUGHT SKETCH AS TAUGHT BY THE CITIZENS BRIGADE
THEATER. FIND WHAT MAKES THE SCENE FUNNY
AND HEIGHTEN THE GAME AND ALSO MANAGE TO SURPRISE THE AUDIENCE.
>> I THINK THAT I HAVE A LOT OF THE SYMPTOMS THAT REQUIRE
MEDICINAL MARIJUANA. >> LET'S GO OVER SOME OF YOUR
SYMPTOMS. >> I'M BORED ALL THE TIME.
>> LAST YEAR, OVER 10,000 PEOPLE TOOK CLASSES AT UCB.
THAT'S NOT EVEN SECOND CITY. AND ALL OF THOSE OTHER PLACES.
SO THERE'S A BIG COMEDY BOOM GOING ON.
IT BLOSSOMED BECAUSE THERE BECAME THE PERCEPTION THAT YOU
COULD ACTUALLY MAKE A LIVING. IF YOU GOT INTO THESE SCHOOLS
AND CAME THROUGH THESE COMPANIES, YOU WOULD GET INTO A
COMMUNITY WHERE YOU CAN BUILD A CAREER.
>> SO LET'S START. >>> SDTV, RATINGS ASIDE, WE'RE
NUMBER ONE. >> SCTV WAS A SHOW THAT WOULD
COME ON AT 11:00 IN THE MORNING. THERE WAS NO ADS FOR IT.
YOU DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
IT ALMOST FELT LIKE IT WAS A MISTAKES.
>> WELCOME TO THE GREAT WHITE NORTH, COOL.
>> THE PREMISE IS GREAT. IT'S SO SIMPLE, THEY'RE A CHEAP
CABLE NETWORK, AND HERE ARE THE SHOWS THEY DO, AND HERE'S THE
PEOPLE THAT -- IT WAS GREAT. >> YOU HAVE A TELEVISION SHOW
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW.
>> BETWEEN YOU AND ME, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WATCHES IT.
>> IT WAS JUST GOOD FORTUNE THAT THE PEOPLE WHO HAPPENED TO BE IN
THE SECOND CITY CAST AT THAT TIME GOT TO BE THE CAST FOR
SCTV. >> YOU THINK WHAT I'M DOING
COULD BE IMPORTANT? >> WE ARE ALL, EACH OF US,
ESPECIALLY -- >> MOMMY TERESA, YOU'RE SO
SPECIAL, IT'S SCARY. >> THERE WAS BIT OF JOVIAL
POKING FUN AT THE SLICKNESS OF AMERICAN SHOW BUSINESS.
BECAUSE CANADIAN SHOW BUSINESS IS -- YOU'VE WON A TOASTER.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? >> THE FILTHIEST FEATURE FILM
HE'S EVER MADE, AND BIGGEST GUN OF ALL THIS TIME.
>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A MOVIE AND A PLAY.
SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE IS A NEW BROADWAY PLAY, SCTV IS A NEW
MOVIE EVERY WEEK. >> EMERGENCY, EMERGENCY, CODE
THREE, WE HAVE A PARTY THAT'S OUT OF FOOD.
>> LET'S GO, BOYS. >> YOU KNOW, THEY ALWAYS USED
THE TERM THE INMATES WERE RUNNING THE ASYLUM.
THERE WAS A FEELING THAT THE CREATIVE ELEMENT OF THE SHOW
WERE THE BOSSES. >> IN THE EARLY SHOWS, A LOT OF
SKETCHES WE DID AT SECOND CITY. EUGENE AND JOE DOING THE NEWS,
THAT STARTED ON STAGE. >> A LARGE RABIES RIDDEN HERD OF
CARIBOU WAS REPORTEDLY SEEN JUST OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THE
SUBURBS HAVE BEEN EVACUATED. >> THE CHARACTER OF EDITH
PRICKLEY WAS A SUGGESTION FROM THE AUDIENCE.
>> JOIN ME IN MY DRAMATIC DEBUT AS QUEEN ELIZABETH I, THE WOMAN,
THE QUEEN AND A VIRGIN. TWO OUT OF THREE AIN'T BAD.
>> I WAS A HUGE FAN OF SCTV, NOT MARTY, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT
CORE OF PERFORMERS, ALL AT THE SAME TIME IN THE SAME CITY, WHEN
YOU NAME THEM, EUGENE DID, KATHERINE, ANDREA, JOHN.
>> THAT'S GREAT HEARING YOUR THOUGHTS.
ANYTHING ELSE? >> GRAB YOUR LADY BY THE ARM,
TAKE HER OUT BEHIND THE BARN. >> YOU CAPTURE SOMETHING IN
IMPROV YOU CAN'T CAPTURE SCRIPTED.
CHRISTOPHER GUEST CREATED HIS OWN GENRE OF IMPROV MOVIES.
THESE ARE IMPROVISERS WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE BEHIND
THEM. SO YOU CAN JUST GIVE THEM A
PREMISE, THEY'LL CREATE A CHARACTER, AND THEY'RE GOING TO
DELIVER. >> AND THAT'S THE WAY IT IS?
THEN I JUST HATE YOU. AND I HATE YOUR ASS FACE.
>> WAITING FOR GUFFIN, A 12, 15-PAGE OUTLINE, EXACTLY WHAT
THE WHOLE STORY WAS. >> YOU JUST SHOW UP ON SET AND
YOU JUST ROLL. NO REHEARSAL, NO DISCUSSION, YOU
JUST ROLL AND TRY NOT TO LIFE. >> EVEN WHEN I WAS A KID DOING
IMPRESSIONS, HERE'S LOOKING AT YOU, BABE, AND YOU DON'T HEAR
ABOUT ANYONE BUT YOURSELF. WHO IS IT?
HENRY FONDA. I HAVE TO TELL HER WHO I'M
DOING. SHE LAUGHS, AND SAYS WHO IS
THAT? >> A LOT OF PEOPLE CONFUSE
IMPROV WITH ADD LIBBING. >> LOOK AT HIS FACE, COULD HE BE
SWEETER? OR MORE LOVING.
THE GROUP IS ALL ABOUT ATTITUDE. LOOK AT THIS.
WHAT, COULD YOU FIND A MORE LIKABLE ATTITUDE?
>> BECAUSE THERE'S NO SCRIPT, IT SOUNDS, WHY DOESN'T
EVERYBODY MAKE THESE KIND OF MOVIES?
THE FACT IS, YOU HAVE TO BEGIN WITH A CERTAIN TALENT FOR
IMPROVISATION. THEN I HAVE TO WRITE A REAL
STORY. IT'S NOT JUST A RANDOM MEETING
OF PEOPLE WALKING AROUND AND YAPPING.
>> WE FORMED A GROUP CALLED THE TWOBADOORS.
>> THE ESSENCE OF CHRIS'S WORK TO ME IS TRUST.
HE TRUSTS HIS CAST, AND WE TRUST EACH OTHER AS ACTORS.
THAT WEB OF TRUST IS SO ESSENTIAL TO THE PROCESS.
>> AND ACT. >> I WILL NOT BE INTIMIDATED BY
A BUNCH OF GIRL SCOUTS. NOW, GOOD DAY.
>> I ONCE TOOK AN IMPROV CLASS. AND I REMEMBER A WOMAN IN THE
CLASS COMING UP TO ME. HEY, YOU'RE REALLY GOOD AT THAT.
YOU KNOW, AND I WENT HOME, WOW, HEY, I'M GOOD AT IMPROV.
I ALSO HATE MEMORIZING LINES. AND SO THAT COMBINATION OF NOT
WANTING TO REM MIEZMEMORIZE LINE INTERESTED ME AND THAT WAS THE
BEGINNING OF CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM.
>> ENIGMA. >> JESUS CHRIST.
>> GOD. >> CRAZY?
OUT OF NOWHERE, RIGHT IN MY FACE, SPRITZING ME.
WHAT IS THAT? WHAT A VIOLATION.
>> THEY'LL USUALLY GO AWAY, THOUGH, IF YOU WAVE THEM AWAY.
DID YOU WAVE HER AWAY? >> SORT OF.
>> I OFTEN FIND MYSELF GETTING A LITTLE BIT ANNOYED WHEN PEOPLE
REFER TO CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM AS BEING PARTIALLY IMPROVISED.
IT'S ALMOST ALL IMPROVISED. >> THERE IS NO SCRIPT.
BASICALLY, LARRY WOULD SAY WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IN THIS SCENE
WHICH WAS I'M GOING TO SHOW YOU THIS WIRE THAT HAS TO BE DROPPED
DOWN, YOU'RE GOING TO SAY SOMEHOW I CAN DO THAT IF YOU CAN
GET ME TO MEET JULIA LOUIS-DREYFUS.
>> I'M MORE THAN HAPPY TO CALL HER UP.
I CAN'T GUARANTEE. >> IT'S HARD TO GET ANYTHING
ABSOLUTELY GUARANTEED. YOU DON'T KNOW IF IT'S
GUARANTEED EITHER. >> HARD AS IT SOUNDS, SOMETIMES
THEY DO WRITE THEMSELVES. IF YOU HAVE GOOD, JUICY IDEAS,
YOU DON'T REALLY NEED A SCRIPT. YOU CAN JUST WING IT.
>> WE HAVE MOVED PAST THE TIGHTLY SCRIPTED COMEDY.
THE IMPROV ON CURB GIVES IT A RAWNESS AND SPONTANEITY THAT AN
AUDIENCE IS REALLY SEEKING, I THINK, IN THE COMEDY THEY WATCH
THESE DAYS. >> YOU MET JULIA LOUIE DREYFUS.
>> IT WAS AN
>>> AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, CLEANED UP AND READY
FOR MASS CONSUMPTION, THE CAST OF MAD TV.
>> SNL WAS REALLY HOT IN THE EARLY '90s, A GOOD SHOW, HUGE
MOVIES, PRIMETIME SPECIALS DURING THE ELECTION YEAR.
EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING WITH DOLLAR SIGNS IN THEIR EYES.
TV NETWORK WANTED THEIR OWN VERSION OF SNL.
>> BACK IN THE EARLY '90s, CABLE TELEVISION EMBRACED SKETCH IN A
WAY THEY HADN'T BEFORE. >> SKETCH COMEDY HAD PROVEN IN
THE '80s THAT IF YOU WERE REALLY GOOD IN ASKETCHCOMEDYSHOW YOU
COULD BE A MOVIE STAR. >> DIE HUNGRY.
>> HOW COULD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO THE SAME GUY SO MANY
TIMES? >> HE LIKED TO DO PARODY,
CELEBRITY SPECIFIC, TOM CRUISE, BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, BONO.
>> HE NOTICES DANIEL DAY-LEWIS RUNS EVERYWHERE.
AM I THE ONLY ONE, HE'S RUNNING EVERYWHERE.
AND THEN YOU GET TO GO, OKAY, I MIGHT NOT BE THE ONLY ONE.
WE'RE GOING TO DO A SKETCH WHERE IT'S THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS
TREADMILL, AND IT HAS DIFFERENT SETTINGS, LIKE RUNNING FROM
BEARS. >> WOW, WORKOUT LIKE THAT WILL
SWEAT OFF YOUR TRIBAL TATTOOS. >> HE WAS THE FIRST PERSON THAT
SAID WE COULD TAKE THIS TO ANOTHER LEVEL.
THESE SKETCHES CAN REALLY BE VISUALLY AMAZING IN ADDITION TO
BEING SUPER FUNNY. >> DEITY OR DEITIES, FORGIVE
THIS ABUSE OF YOUR AMBASSADOR, BUT MY CALLING IS VERY SPECIFIC.
I'M CUTTING YOUR HEAD, I'M CUTTING YOUR HEAD.
>> IF I HADN'T BEEN SO LUCKY TO BE ON SNL, I WOULD HAVE DREAMED
I WAS IN THE KIDS OF THE HALL. >> I'M THE BIG KID.
>> WHY DIDN'T YOU DO SOMETHING? >> I THOUGHT YOU KNEW HIM.
>> ON YOUR SHOW OF SHOWS, THERE WERE WRITERS THAT WOULD HANG OUT
IN THE CORRIDORS OF NBC AND THEY WOULD SHOUT OUT JOKES.
AT SIDE SEE -- WE HEARD THAT STORY AND WE WERE LOOKING FOR A
NAME OF THAT GROUP, WE SHOULD CALL OURSELVES IN THE KIDS IN
THE HALL. ON THE OUTSIDE BREAKING IN.
>> THE KIDS ALREADY HAVE SOME GREAT CREDENTIALS.
TWO HAVE WRITTEN FOR SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE IN NEW YORK.
THE OTHERS HAVE WORKED FOR SECOND CITY.
THEY'RE TRYING TO CREATE THEIR OWN BRAND OF COMEDY.
>> ONE OF MY FAVORITE SKETCHES, THEY'RE AT KIND OF A PUNCH BOWL
AT A PARTY. >> LOOK, I DON'T THINK THERE'S
ANY NEED TO BE SARCASTIC. >> I'M NOT BEING SARCASTIC.
NO. THIS IS JUST A LITTLE SPEECH
IMPEDIMENT. I CAN'T HELP IT.
>> THIS IS REALLY -- WHAT A GREAT IDEA.
>> NO OTHER SKETCH TROUPE THAT I KNOW OF CAN GET THAT PERFECT
COMEDY TONE OF BELIEVING IN THE REALITY THAT THEY'RE DOING A
COMMENTING ON THE REALITY AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.
>> THE THING WE TOOK IS THAT WE JUST FOLLOWED WHATEVER IDEA WE
THOUGHT WAS FUNNY. AND WE NEVER WORRIED ABOUT
WHETHER OR NOT PEOPLE WOULD GET IT.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IVORY. >> AS A COMEDIAN, THERE ARE ONLY
TWO GEELOALS, THE TONIGHT SHOW W JOHNNY CARSON AND "SATURDAY
NIGHT LIVE." WHEN I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO
ANYTHING I WANTED TO DO, I WAS LIKE I'VE GOT TO DO A SKETCH
SHOW. >> I'M WITH THE ICE MAN.
>> SECRET TO SUCCESS IS RIGHT HERE, AND OUR NEW BOOKLET, HOW
TO MAKE MORE MONEY WITHOUT USING YOUR MONEY.
>> IN THE HISTORY OF COMEDY, IT'S BEEN A REALLY WHITE TOWN,
ESPECIALLY SKETCH COMEDY. SO THERE WAS A REAL FEELING OF
IT'S ABOUT **** TIME. >> HIP HOP ONTO TELEVISION, THE
DANCING, THE FRAG GIRLS, THE CULTURE THE SKETCHES WERE ABOUT.
TURNING BLACK CULTURE UPSIDE DO YOU KNOW.
>> THIS IS CALVIN. HE'S A HOME BOY, OR THE BOY AS
THEY'RE KNOWN IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
>> WHAT IS HE DOING NOW? >> THIS IS WHAT THEY CALL
CHILLIN, ALLEN. >> THERE'S NOTHING, I THINK,
MORE GRATIFYING TO AN AUDIENCE THAN TAKING SOMETHING THAT'S
DISTURBING, AND MAKING IT FUNNY. AS A COMEDIAN YOU HAVE TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THAT. >> I DON'T EVEN UNDERSTAND, MAN,
THE POLICE ARRESTED ME FOR NO REASON.
>> COME ON. >> THE POLICE DON'T DO THAT.
THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS, THEY'RE HERE TO PROTECT AND SERVE.
>> MY FRIENDS DRAG DRAGGED ME OUT OF MY CRIB BUTT NAKED.
>> WHAT WERE DOING BUCK NAKED IN THE BABY'S CRIB?
>> THE FACT WE WERE ABLE TO STAY ON THE AIR AND DO SOMETHING
DIFFERENT, "IN LIVING COLOR" WAS MORE SUCCESSFUL, SO WE SAID
THERE'S MARKETS FOR OTHER KINDS OF SKETCH COMEDY.
THE NEXT BIG INTERESTING SHOW WAS MISTER SHOW.
>> TONIGHT OUR TOP STORY, FIRE IN THE SOUTHLAND WITH THE SCOOP,
OUR REPORTER HAYDEN LEWIS IS THERE, HAYDEN?
HAYDEN LEWIS, I'M STANDING HERE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF -- WHERE A
FIRE HAS JOUST BROKEN OUT. >> WHEN WE WERE ON, BOB AND
DAVID WANTED TO APPROACH SKETCH ALMOST AS A REACTION TO OTHER
SKETCH SHOWS THEY HAD DONE BEFORE.
THEY WANTED SKETCHES THAT MADE A POINT, AND THEY WANTED SKETCHES
THAT SAID SOMETHING ABOUT THE WORLD.
.EVERY SKETCH DIDN'T HAVE TO HAVE
A POINT, BUT THERE NEEDED TO BE A REASON FOR IT TO EXIST IN THIS
WORLD. >> HIT HER.
>> HE SAID GIVE HER A KUNGFU. >> BE A MAN.
>> HIT HER, HIT HER, HIT HER. >> SHUT UP, SHUT UP.
>> YOU TALK ABOUT SKETCH COMEDY BEING SURPRISING.
AND MISTER SHOW IS LIKE THE DECONSTRUCTION OF A SKETCH
COMEDY SHOW. >> HELLO.
I'M DR. SAMMY, BEVERLY HILLS PSYCHOACTUALIST AND AUTHOR OF
THE BOOK OLD LADY, BIKER, GAY GUY, JAPANESE MAN, THE FOUR
VOICES WITHIN. >> THE STRUCTURE OF MR. SHOW WAS
VERY INFLUENCED BY MONTY PYTHON OF WANTING TO HAVE A SHOW WHERE
SKETCHES WOULD LEAD IN AND OUT OF EACH OTHER.
>> IT WAS ONE OF THE MOST FUN PARTS ABOUT IT.
YOU'D HAVE ALL THIS STUFF AND THEN WE'D START PUTTING SHOWS
TOGETHER. WHAT OPENING, THIS GOES HERE,
AND THERE WERE LITTLE PUZZLES WE PUT TOGETHER.
>> WELL, I GUESS IT'S ALL OUT IN THE OPEN NOW.
>> WE STILL LOVE. WE SUPPORT YOU.
WE'RE PROUD OF YOU. >> YOU'RE GAY, SON.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS I LOVED ABOUT MR. SHOW, WHEN IT WAS ALL
PUT TOGETHER, EACH SHOW WOULD HAVE ITS OWN DISTINCTIVE
PERSONALITY. WHEN WE WERE SUCCESSFUL, A SHOW
WOULD START AND WHEN IT WAS OVER, YOU COULDN'T BELIEVE IT --
>>> WHO IS NICK CANNON? >> NICK CANNON IS HILARIOUS.
>> BECAUSE HE JUST WALKED OFF WITH YOUR SCHOOL CLOTHES MONEY.
I'M BROKE. >> WHAT "CHEPEL SHOW" DID WAS A
SKETCH SHOW ABOUT ONE GUY. >> HE'S HILARIOUS.
>> YOU ACTING LIKE A LITTLE BITCH.
>> HE HAS A BRILLIANT MIND AND SKETCH SHOWS ARE PIECES OF YOUR
MIND. HE CHOSE SOME VERY
UNCONVENTIONAL THINGS LIKE THE CHARLIE MURPHY STORIES.
I WOULDN'T HAVE THOUGHT TO DO THAT AS A SKETCH.
>> AFTER IT WAS ALL OVER, HE TOOK US IN THE HOUSE AND SERVED
US PANCAKES.
>> PANCAKES. >> ASK YOUR DOCTOR IF YOUR
HEALTHY ENOUGH FOR SEXUAL ACTIVITY.
IF YOU HAVE AN ELECTION LASTING LONGER THAN FOUR HOURS, CALL ME,
I'M AMY SCHUMER AND YOU CAN BUY LAB COATS ON EBAY.
>> YOU GET A SENSE OF WHAT SHE BELIEVES.
"CHAPEL SHOW" IS THE HORROR OF BEING A BLACK GUY IN AMERICA AND
AMY IS A WHITE GIRL IN AMERICA. >> PEOPLE TALK MORE ABOUT WHAT'S
COME IN THE OPEN. A
AMY SCHUMER AND RAPE IN THE MILITARY.
>> I WISH TO REPORT IT. >> ARE YOU SURE?
>> I'M SURE. >> DID YOU KNOW HE HAS A FAMILY?
>> NO. >> DOES THAT CHANGE YOUR MIND
ABOUT REPORTING? >> NO.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE A SINGLE FEMALE COMEDIAN AS THE FOCUS OF
A SHOW SINCE CAROL BURNETT. >> OKAY.
>> $2 ON LOT A. >> $2 GOING ONCE, TWICE, SOLD.
>> THAT SURPRISES ME. >> HE'S DOING SOCIAL SATIRE IN A
WAY THAT IS SO FUNNY AND TRUE. >> FINALLY A TECHNOLOGY
SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP YOU DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT YOU
CAN DROP THE N BOMB. >> I CAN SAY IT.
WE CAN ALL SAY IT. >> NOT IN THIS LIFETIME.
>> WHAT THEY DID IS TAKE SIMPLE THINGS LIKE CALLING YOUR WIFE A
BITCH BEHIND HER BACK. BITCH.
YOU TOLD ME 6:45. >> YOU SAID THAT?
>> YEAH, I SAID. >> THEY FOUND, YOU KNOW, TEN
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS AND I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT THAT'S A
ONE-JOKE PREMISE BUT THE TIME I GUY LETS HIMSELF INTO SPACE TO
SAY IT IS HYSTERICAL. >> I SAID --
>> THE CHICKEN YOU'LL BE ENJOYING TONIGHT.
>> THIS IS FANTASTIC. >> ABSOLUTELY.
HIS NAME WAS COLIN. HERE ARE HIS PAPERS, OKAY?
>> THAT'S GREAT. >> HE LOOKS LIKE A HAPPY LITTLE
GUY. >> I GIVE SHOWS A LOT OF CREDIT
FOR BEING SO HONEST IN THEIR PRO PORTRAYAL.
>> ALL THE GREAT SKETCH SHOWS ARE ABOUT POINT OF VIEW.
WHEN YOU WATCH IT, YOU GO I UNDERSTAND WHO IS TELLING ME
THIS. I UNDERSTAND WHO IS WRITING IT
AND I'M ENJOYING IT BECAUSE OF THAT.
>> THE WORLD OF SKETCH IS REINVENTED.
THERE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE TURNING THE CAMERA ON THEMSELVES USING
THE SIMPLEST EQUIPMENT DOING VERY COOL THINGS AND PUTTING IT
ON YOUTUBE AND REACHING MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
>> TODAY EVERYTHING HAS GOT TO HAPPEN MUCH QUICKER.
KIDS WATCH TELEVISION ON A CELL PHONE AND THEY WATCH IT IN 10,
20, 30-SECOND BURSTS SO THE DAYS OF THE LONG SKETCH I THINK WE
HAVE HAD THEM. >> I AM A WIZARD.
YOU WILL ALL DIE. >> HE THINKS HE'S RUNNING.
>> WHERE WE HAD MINUTES, THEY DO IT IN SECONDS.
SO YOU DON'T GET A LOT OF CHARACTER COMEDY.
YOU GET A LOT OF PREMISE. >> I SEE HOW ANIMALS GO.
>> THEY TAKE A PREMISE AND MIND THAT PREMISE FOR AS MANY JOKES
AS THEY CAN GET OUT OR ONE JOKE. >> IN MY OWN EXPERIENCE, THE
INTERNET WAS HUGELY BENEFICIAL WHEN I ALWAYS FELT LIKE I WOULD
BE GOOD IN SKETCHES BUT NOBODY BELIEVES YOU IN SHOW BIZ UNTIL
YOU'RE ALREADY DOING IT. SO THE INTERNET BECAME THIS
WONDERFUL PLAYGROUND TO PROVE IT.
>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WELCOME BACK TO SPONTANEOUS NATION.
IT'S TIME TO DO THE IMPROVE. >> POD CASTS ARE THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT TECHNOLOGY INVENTION SINCE THE INVENTION OF THE
ALBUM. IT'S SO EXPENSIVE TO MAKE A TV
SHOW BUT TO MAKE A POD CAST, YOU CAN RECORD IT IN THE ROOM AND
PUT IT ON THE INTERNET AND PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD CAN
SEE IT. >> GIVE ME AN ARM.
GIVE ME A VEIN. I'LL GIVE YOU A LITTLE HEROIN TO
BRING YOU DOWN. >> NO, I THINK THAT WILL
**** ME UP. >> A LITTLE BIT OF HEROIN.
>> OKAY, JUST A LITTLE. >> YOU SEE THESE ACTORS DOING
SKETCH AND I'MMPROVISEING AND IT BECOMES A GOAL, IT BECOMES
SOMETHING TO ASPIRE TO. NOW IT'S BECOME A VOCATION, YOU
KNOW, PEOPLE BECOME DENTIST AND THEY BECOME IMPROVE ARTIST.
>> IT'S THE IMMEDIATE OF IT AND DARING OF IT.
GOING BACK TO SID CESAR ON THE BEACH AND GETTING BUCKETS OF
WATER THROWN IN HIS FACE AND YOU THINK "SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE" AND
JULIA CHILDS BLEEDING TO DEATH OR THE DEAD PARROT SKETCH.
IT'S OVER QUICKLY. BUT IF IT WAS GREAT AND REALLY
WORKED, YOU GET THIS NICE LITTLE MEMORY, MAYBE A LITTLE PIECE OF
VIDEOTAPE. IT'S THE MOST EXHILARATING
FEELING BECAUSE MY GOD, THIS SKETCH WORKED.
>> WHEN IMP VISE'M PRO IMPT'S LI BEATING, A SLOW-MOTION BEATING.
>> IT'S MUCH BETTER TO BE ON STAGE DOING BAD IMPROVE THAN BE
FORCED TO SIT IN THE AUDIENCE WATCHING IT.
SITTING IN THE AUDIENCE IS JUST -- SOMETIMES YOU GET TO THE
LINE THAT'S THE TRIGGER THAT'S SUPPOSED TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT
THE SKETCH IS ABOUT AND GET THE FIRST LAUGH AND HIT THAT AND
NOTHING HAPPENS AND YOU GO HOME THAT NIGHT AND TELL YOUR WIFE