Beth Melewski is a beloved Chicago improviser. She sat down with Jimmy to discuss her time on The Second City's E.T.C. stage, starring on Cash Cab, and how she's learned to trust her instincts. It's a great interview followed by some great improv.
The Onion's Andy Miara sits down with Jimmy to discuss his time interning at SNL, touring for Second City with future SNL featured player Tim Robinson, and creating sketches for The Onion News Network. Then Jimmy picks a sketch written by audience members to be workshopped by Andy. Don't miss this great episode.
Andy St. Clair, a longtime favorite of the Chicago improv community, sits down with Jimmy and talks about coming up at iO Chicago, his time on The Second City's main stage and his television and commercial work.
Edgar Blackmon, star of The Second City Chicago's main stage, joins Jimmy for a lively discussion of race and comedy, overcoming personal tragedies, and why an actor can shit on someone's face as long as it's funny. Then Edgar joins Jimmy for some very therapeutic improv.
Lucas Neff, one of the stars of FOX's Raising Hope, sits down with Jimmy to discuss his rambunctious youth, becoming an actor by mistake, and discovering his passion for improvisation. Enjoy!
Holly Laurent, veteran of the main stage at The Second City Chicago, sits down with Jimmy and discusses her religious upbringing, coming into her own as an improviser and her time at The Second City. Don't miss this great episode.
John Lutz, former actor on 30 Rock and SNL writer, joins Jimmy for a personal conversation about his upbringing, getting started in improv, and why Donald Trump was the worst SNL host.
John Lutz, former actor on 30 Rock and SNL writer, joins Jimmy for a personal conversation about his upbringing, getting started in improv, and why Donald Trump was the worst SNL host.
Dan Harmon, creator of NBC's Community and host of the podcast Harmontown, sits down with Jimmy in this radically honest interview to discuss his start at ComedySportz in Milwaukee, the frustrations of the creative process of producing a network sitcom, and how he personally deals with self sabotage.
Andy Richter, longtime sidekick to Conan O'Brien, joins Jimmy at iO West for a completely candid interview and a wonderful improv set. Don't miss Andy explain how he came to be hired by Late Night, his evolution as an actor, and the true identity of Paul Swanson. Enjoy
Matt Besser, a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, hosts Jimmy at the UCB Theater LA. Matt bears all for Jimmy, discussing his time in Chicago, the founding of UCB, the recent controversy over paying performers, and even a relationship that was previously unknown to the audience. Matt could not have been a better guest. Improv lovers should NOT miss this episode.
Before moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Amanda Blake Davis was a favorite of the Chicago improv scene. She starred in revues at The Second City Chicago, earning a JEFF Award for that work, and could regularly be seen at iO and The Annoyance Theater. Amanda joined Jimmy for a candid interview and a wonderful improvised scene.
Steve Waltien from The Second City mainstage joins Jimmy for a frank conversation about overcoming anxiety, how the death of his father informed his work, and the shelf life of a good shirt. Then, Steve and Jimmy find themselves in a bunker with ominous consequences.
Tim Baltz sits down with Jimmy and describes the evolution of his sense of humor, growing up in a multicultural home, and learning to be comfortable with self confidence. Then Tim and Jimmy perform a wonderful set of scenes that demonstrate why Tim is one of Chicago's most beloved improvisers. Listen in!
Tim Baltz sits down with Jimmy and describes the evolution of his sense of humor, growing up in a multicultural home, and learning to be comfortable with self confidence. Then Tim and Jimmy perform a wonderful set of scenes that demonstrate why Tim is one of Chicago's most beloved improvisers. Listen in!
Peter Gwinn wrote for The Colbert Report for over 6 years, earning an on-air farewell when he left. Peter is also one of the co-writers of The Secondy City's Twist Your Dickens holiday revue in Los Angeles. Listen in as Peter and Jimmy talk about Peter's life in comedy and then perform a great improv set.
Jeff Garlin sits down with Jimmy 90 minutes before doing a solo show at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. Jeff talks about his method to approaching improvised standup comedy and the process that creates Curb Your Enthusiasm. Listen in!
Katie Rich, one of the stars of The Second City Chicago's 99th and 100th Revues, joins Jimmy for a candid interview and a fantastic improv set. We've had a string of great shows during our Fall 2012 run at Stage 773, this one was especially fun.
John Hildreth, the influential performer and instructor at The Second City in Chicago, joins Jimmy for a great discussion on improv and then John and Jimmy give a clinic on the art of slow comedy. John is one of our favorite improvisers in Chicago, listen and see why.
Charna Halpern drops by for one of our favorite episodes of Improv Nerd yet. Charna talks about her partnership with Del Close, the many talented performers that have performed at her theater over the years, and her long, storied career in improv. Then, Brendan Jennings and Brad Morris stop by to improvise with Jimmy while Charna takes notes. Don't miss this great episode!
Keegan-Michael Key, co-star of Comedy Central's Key & Peele, sat down with Jimmy at the 2012 Detroit Improv Festival in August and discussed his days growing up in Detroit, his transformation from classical theater to improv, and how his fellow theater majors gave him grief for being in a college fraternity. Do not miss this candid interview and fantastic improv set with Keegan-Michael Key.
Norm Holly, legendary Second City director and teacher, sits down with Jimmy to discuss his tendency to cause trouble, his success as a director, and what Andy Dick was like before he got famous. There's even a special guest. Listen in.
Earlier this year, Jimmy had the chance to sit down and talk with Megan Gray, Rick Andrews and Louis Kornfeld - three improvisers from the Magnet Theater Co. in New York who were in town for the Chicago Improv Festival. They discussed the similarities and differences between Chicago and New York improv and then put those methods to the test in a great set of scenes.
Joe Bill and Mark Sutton, original Annoyance Theater members and the guys behind Bassprov, stop by to discuss the early days of the annoyance theater, how to stay relevant in improv, and how Mark became to known as Howard.
Scott Adsit was in town for Just For Laughs and sat down with Jimmy to talk about his college days studying acting in Chicago, his time at The Second City, and his many television projects, including 30 Rock, Mr. Show and Frankenhole.
Brendan Jennings is beloved in Chicago for his work on the Second City ETC stage and with Cook County Social Club. In 2012 he was invited to perform on the new faces in comedy at the Montreal Just For Laughs festival. In this episode, Brendan sits down with Jimmy to discuss why he still gets nervous around teenagers and how being a father has changed the way he approaches his career.
Brian Stack has written for Conan O'Brien for 15 years, creating such memorable characters for the show as Artie Kendall, The Interruptor, and Andy Richter's little sister Stacy. Brian joins Jimmy for this live episode of Improv Nerd where they discuss his life in late night television, Brian's days as a Second City performer, and why it's so easy to be a nice guy in show business.
Kevin McDonald of the legendary sketch group Kids In The Hall joins Jimmy for a candid conversation about his friendships with Mike Meyers and Dave Foley and the evolution of Kids In The Hall.
David Koechner of Anchorman and NBC's The Office sits down to talk with Jimmy about his time studying with Del Close, his tenure at SNL, the making of Anchorman and more.
SNL featured player Tim Robinson and veteran Chicago improviser Dina Facklis sit down with Jimmy to talk about how Dina gave up traditional theater for improv and why Tim grew up being known as a sass mouth.
