I used to be a comedian…
April 10th, 2008
Or, rather, I used to be an improviser. But because I’m not up on stage that much anymore, what I do now doesn’t really feel like comedy. It feels like filmmaking. It feels slow. I miss improv.
In late 1998, I came to New York and got a job working as an admissions counselor at the School of Visual Arts. Half of the year, I’d drive around to High Schools in New Jersey and give slide presentations to aspiring young artists on the wonders of an SVA education; the other half of the year, I’d sit in an office and do paperwork and give the occasional portfolio review to a prospective student. I’d sit in my office typing out information about Northeast High Schools into fields in FileMaker Pro and I’d think, “so this is what my life will be like…” So I decided to have a mental breakdown.
And then I enrolled in improv classes at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. And after a while, I was able to force myself onto one of their house improv teams. I liked improv. longform improv, passed down from Del Close to me.
And then I was kicked off of the team and I thought, “I guess I’ll start doing sketch shows or something.” At the UCBT, you’re not kicked off a team by your fellow teammates, you’re kicked off by the artistic director of the theater.
Here are some reasons why I think I didn’t make it as an improviser:
1. frightened on stage.
2. a dislike of fellow teammates
3. characters always assumed “gay”
Does anyone want to improvise with me again?
April 10th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
It’s one thing to be voted out by your peers, but when the ‘Principal’ kicks you out of school, you know you are pretty bad-ass.
You and Dyna Moe should start an outcasts of UCB group. Between all the awesome work the two of you have done online, I know there is an audience out there.
You should put a stage show together for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
April 10th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
You have always been a comedian. It’s the downside of having an 800 lB gorilla like the UCBT looming in your backyard… it’s like, if you’re not doing that then you’re not “doing comedy.” And if you’re removed from a harold team then clearly you’ve failed. Bullshit, Mitch. There’s a million ways to do comedy. You’ve done half of them and been good at them.
I’ll do an improv show with you, but I’d imagine it might be a ridiculous disaster, since I hate doing improv (and myself) with the heat of a thousand suns.
April 12th, 2008 at 10:17 pm
Holy shit! I can’t believe you have this picture! Do you have any others?
And regarding your post: everyone loves you. If you want to be an improviser again, you could.
Your movies are amazing! Far funnier than any Harolds that motley crew up did.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:58 am
There are some Mötley Crüe videos, however, that are nearly as gleefully burlesque as Mr. Glasses.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I’m not familiar with the comedy industry, but if it’s like every other industry, don’t the best people usually get discarded? No one knows how to handle them, because they don’t fit neatly into the current conventions.
Keep it up, Mitch. Mr. Glasses, Welcome to My Study, Doonesbury Copy Machine: those are real genius. I think you’re great, and your stuff isn’t just trivial nonsense that gets a cheap laugh. It’s real commentary.
Actually, a confession. I like the trivial nonsense too.
April 15th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
You are and always were a funny ass motherfucker. You know it. I know it. And you know it too.
I would improvise with your frightened gay characters that hated me any day. And I am completely ashamed of that photograph. Please burn it sometime.
April 16th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Also, why are Gemberling and Berrebbi so white in that picture?
This looks like some religious scene with the glowing cult figures in the middle with the dirty rabble of peasants ringing them.