Jay Sukow, a fixture in the Chicago improv scene, has been improvising since 1992. He’s a wonderful teacher, director and faculty member at Second City, a co-founder of the production company Group Mind Films and has been a guest performer at Boom Chicago, the Second City, and “Messing with a Friend.” He spoke with Jimmy about their early days together in Chicago improv, how he got through the depression of his late 20s, his favorite parts of teaching, and why short-form shouldn't get the short ...
Oct 10, 2014•1 hr 2 min
Mark Beltzman is a legendary improv teacher, actor and improviser. He was a founding member of iO in Chicago and of the legendary Harold team, Barons Barracudas. He performed and directed at The Second City in Chicago. Jimmy sat down with him to talk to him about the first time he meet Del Close, how the Harold has evolved and how his spirituality influences his improvisation.
Oct 05, 2014•1 hr 6 min
Todd Stashwick is an improviser and actor who started out at Second City and now frequently appears in TV and films. (Please, imdb him.) Jimmy sat down Todd with at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival to talk to him about how he works so much in TV, his physical approach to improv and how getting mugged in Chicago changed his life.
Sep 27, 2014•1 hr 8 min
Tom Booker is the owner and artistic director at The Institution Theater in Austin. Jimmy sits down with his old pal and talks to him about the vibrant Austin improv scene, his desire to be famous, and why he likes to name drop. In this very candid and very funny episode you will hear a side of Tom Booker you never heard before. Enjoy.
Sep 20, 2014•1 hr 14 min
During the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, Paul Brittain, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, sat down with Jimmy and talked about how he got started in comedy; his uncle, Bob Newhart; and how he develops characters like "Sex Ed Vincent." You'll love this episode, especially the improv!
Sep 19, 2014•1 hr 17 min
During the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, the delightful Lauren Lapkus of Orange Is The New Black and Comedy Bang Bang fame sat down with Jimmy to talk about her already impressive career as a young improvisor. Lauren talked about starting improv at a very young age, the differences between training at iO and at UCB,and more
Sep 11, 2014•1 hr
Jimmy celebrates his 100th episode! For the big occasion, Jimmy interviews Brian McCann, the Emmy-winning writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He is now creating his own show, The Brian McCann Leasure Hour. The former roommates talk about Brian's path from cartooning to improv to stand-up to sketch, his relationship with Conan O'Brien and getting back into improv. It's an episode filled with lots of laughs, great stories, and thoughtful advice for improvisers.
Sep 01, 2014•1 hr 19 min
During a trip to our nation's capitol, Jimmy sat down with Travis Ploeger, former longtime member of New York's renowned Chicago City Limits and current founder of iMusical in Washington, D.C. Travis talked about his approach to musical improv and Jimmy faced his fear of and small bias against musical improv. It's an episode you don't want to miss!
Aug 26, 2014•1 hr 14 min
Here's one from the vault! Live from Chicago's Sketch Fest at Stage 773, Jimmy interviews the members of Sad On Vacation. The guys talk about their writing process, the importance of a group's natural chemistry, and the influence of distance and fame on their creativity. Enjoy!
Aug 20, 2014•52 min
In this episode, Jimmy interviews Punam Patel, a current member of Second City's e.t.c. cast. A native of Florida and an Indian-American, Punam talks about the rising influence of South Asian comedians, her experience understudying for Aidy Bryant, and how she deals with her own imperfections. Take a listen!
Aug 07, 2014•1 hr 2 min
Paul Grondy has been improvising for over 20 years and has been a beloved teacher and a member of the iO Road Show, Frank Booth, and Carl and the Passions. On the eve of iO’s relocation from of its historic Clark Street location, Jimmy and Paul reminisced about iO in the '90s, confronted each other on perceptions of their relationship, revealed some regrets and wisdom about their careers. This is an episode you won't want to miss!
Aug 02, 2014•1 hr 13 min
George Wendt is best known as Norm Peterson from the hit sitcom "Cheers" and for his stint as a Super Fan on SNL. In this episode, Jimmy talks to George about being fired from The Second City's Mainstage and then earning it back, his relationships with improv legends like Del Close and his apprehension about improvising. This is an episode you won't want to miss!
Jul 28, 2014•1 hr 8 min
Mike Kosinski has written and performed in three revues at Second City and is currently in the cast of "Depraved New World" on The Main Stage. He and Jimmy sat down and talked about his unique path to Main Stage, auditioning for SNL twice, and what makes comedy the perfect platform to explore what makes us uncomfortable.
Jul 21, 2014•1 hr 5 min
Alex Honnet and Caitlin Stephan are two of the founders of The Upstairs Gallery, on of Chicago's hottest indie improv venues. In this episode, Jimmy talks to them about what it takes to start your own improv theater, how to make it popular, and how not making a team at io turned into a good thing. Enjoy!
Jul 09, 2014•1 hr 23 min
Beth Stelling is a stand-up who has appeared on Conan, @midnight and Chelsey Lately. In this episode, recorded at the Chicago Women's Funny Festival, she talks with Jimmy about how she started doing open mikes, how taking improv classes at The Annoyance Theater helped her stand-up, and her thoughts on women in comedy. Enjoy!
Jun 23, 2014•1 hr 7 min
Jeff Hoover is the executive producer of the WGN TV Morning News in Chicago, a show known for its hilarious bits and constant joking around. In this episode, Jimmy talks to Jeff about his improv training at Second City, his love of impressions, and his years working in morning radio. Jeff also takes the plunge into improvising again after not having done it in 20 years. Take a listen!
Jun 19, 2014•1 hr 22 min
Jimmy sits down with Nnamdi Ngwe live from Stage 773. Nnamdi has performed all over Chicago at the Annoyance, and the iO Theatre.
Jun 07, 2014•1 hr 12 min
Candy Lawrence is a rising star in the Chicago comedy scene, having opened for such comedians as Maria Bamford, Todd Barry, Judah Friedlander, and Kurt Braunohler and twice performing at the TBS Just For Laughs festival. In this episode, Candy discusses how she turns pain into comedy, her sketch group with Lauren Lapkus and where she finds her quirky stage energy. Please enjoy!
May 26, 2014•59 min
Kevin Mullaney is a well loved improviser and improv teacher in Chicago who previously served as the Artistic Director of the UCB in New York and ran its training center. Kevin discusses playing the game of the scene, the excitement of being with the UCB at the very beginning and taking the first class that Matt Besser ever taught. This episode is like an improv class unto itself. Don't miss it!
May 19, 2014•1 hr 18 min
This is the episode of Improv Nerd you've been demanding! Improv legend Susan Messing turns the tables and interviews Jimmy Carrane. Susan pulls no punches and asks Jimmy about his aggressive interview style, the roadblocks to his own happiness, and what the deal is with his Facebook page. Listen in as Susan gets inside the complicated mind of Jimmy Carrane like only she can. Thanks for listening!
May 12, 2014•1 hr 8 min
The Reckoning are one iO Chicago's most legendary Harold teams. In this episode, Charlie McCrackin, Beau Golwitzer, Jake Schneider and Eddie Pina join Jimmy and discuss the secrets of their success and evolution as artists. Then Jimmy joins them for a bit of Reckoning style improv. Don't miss it!
May 05, 2014•1 hr 15 min
David Koechner returns for a special episode of Improv Nerd recorded live at Columbia College in Chicago. Dave opens up about his approaches to scene work, including his methods for never going into a scene empty handed. He also talks about working on Anchor Man 2 and developing his stand-up act. Please enjoy!
Apr 29, 2014•1 hr 9 min
Maribeth Monroe plays Alice on ComedyCentral's Workaholics, is a veteran of The Second City, and will appear in the upcoming HBO series Brink. Maribeth discusses her time at Second City, getting hired on Workaholics, and how she has worked to become a confident, grounded performer. We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we do!
Apr 21, 2014•1 hr 10 min
Barry Hite is one of the creators of the popular "I'm A Fan" webseries of NFL fan videos on The Second City Network, performed with the legendary Bullet Lounge at iO Chicago, and is a revered improv teacher. In this episode, he sits down with Jimmy to discuss how he has learned to keep his career fun, learning from Tiina Fey, and why Jimmy should stop using Facebook. Please enjoy!
Apr 15, 2014•1 hr 6 min
Actor and comedian Jeff Garlin returns to Improv Nerd for a really fun interview and improv set. Jeff tells Jimmy about how he turns setbacks into comedy, his relationship with Julia Roberts, and how he manages to stay grounded despite his success. We hope you enjoy this show!
Apr 09, 2014•1 hr 13 min
Denver Colorado has a thriving improv scene with multiple theaters providing training and performance opportunities for aspiring improvisers. Jimmy sat down with some of the leaders of that community, Justin Franzen of Comedy Voodoo Playhouse, Kerstin Caldwell of YES! Lab, and Eric Farone of Bovine Metropolis Theater. Listen in as they discuss how the Denver scene came to be and the different perspectives a performer can gain from their respective theaters. Then they join forces to improvise tog...
Mar 31, 2014•1 hr 21 min
Whirled News Tonight is a smart and topical improv show that is a mainstay of iO Chicago, gracing the main stage on Saturday nights for the past 11 years. In this episode, cast members Brook Breit, Padraic Connelly, and Megan O'Neill join Jimmy for a look at how they've been able to keep it hip and fresh for so long. We hope you enjoy this show!
Mar 26, 2014•55 min
Rebecca Sohn is among the great improvisers and improv teachers in Chicago, having performed legendary shows at both iO and The Annoyance Theater. Ted Tremper is best known for his two award winning web series Shrink and Break-ups. Rebecca and Ted were part of a dramatic improv show called Almost Atlanta that enjoyed successful runs across Chicago, including at The Annoyance Theater and The Steppenwolf Garage. Rebecca and Ted sat down with Jimmy at The Second City to talk about their process in ...
Mar 17, 2014•1 hr 5 min
Brian Posen is a beloved figure in the world of Chicago comedy. He is a wildly popular improv teacher for The Secondy City, is the founder and artistic director of the musical sketch troupe The Cupid Players, and is the artistic director of Stage 773 - one of Chicago's hottest new comedy venues. Brian is also the founder of the wildly successful Chicago Sketch Fest, where he sat down with Jimmy to talk about his fears, his triumphs and how improvisation changes lives. We hope you'll love this ep...
Mar 10, 2014•1 hr 3 min
Dan Bakkedahl is one of the stars of FX's Legit and HBO's Veep, spent two years as correspondent for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and is a veteran of The Second City Chicago. Dan joins Jimmy for a frank discussion of his own securities and how they have effected his career, overcoming those securities, and what it takes to be a great improviser. Improv nerds, this is an episode you won't want to miss!
Mar 03, 2014•1 hr 25 min
