Most influential improv shows of the last decade?

[mullaney]

Thinking back on the last 10 years of improvisational comedy or so, what do you think have been the most influential shows?

P.S. They dont have to be improvised shows. Just influential to improvisers/improv.

My list:

1. Jazz Freddy
2. Three Mad Rituals
3. Pinata Full of Bees
4. Coed Prison Sluts
5. Armando Diaz Experience, Theatrical Movement and Hootenanny
6. Naked
7. Trio
8. Asssssscat
9. Shanghai Suicide Squad
10. Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind

 

[mullaney]

I thought of two more that I would add to the list: Lois Kaz and Close Quarters. That was a big oversite

 

[Shaun]

possible replacements inclusions

On My List would probably be:

Zumph
JTS Brown
And of course, Screw Puppies.

I think those that have seen Andy Eninger do Sybil would start to include it. Ill probably include it in a year, once more people have seen it and it influences more.

Shaun

 

[Monahan]

Can I foray into TV?

Id have to add "The Kids in the Hall."

Learning about them is when I first learned what improv was.

Does anyone know if you can get their shows on DVD? If I could purchase their first 3 seasons I would.

 

[chadhot]

Is Too Much Light... improvised now? Back a long time ago when I saw it it was all sketch. They had all the sketches up on a closeline and numbered and people called out the numbers and they grabbed the name of the sketch and then performed it. Do they still do it that way or has it been WAY too long since Ive seen them?

 

[mullaney]

Originally posted by mullaney
P.S. They dont have to be improvised shows. Just influential to improvisers/improv

I should have titled it, most influential shows on improv.

 

[Gwyn]

The 2 biggest

INFLUENCES: (as opposed to "really great shows")

Jazz Freddy
3 Mad Rituals

I think those 2 changed things. Changes you could immediately see. I was amazed at the results.

 

[goldfish boy]

3 Mad Rituals

I dont have any to add to the list, but I suspect that when the smoke clears, "3 Mad Rituals" will turn out to have been by far the most influential show in terms of influencing long-form improvisers.

 

[Jigglin Bones]

influential

The shows I found personally influential were:

Armando when it was at its height (Messing, Dorf, Flynn, McNamara, Napier, Stack, Miles n Noah, and a few more Im sure Im forgetting)

Paradigm Lost - I think mainly because it was the first SC show I saw, and I left the theater in absolute awe.

Trio.

Shadenfreude at last years CIF.

The Jedi musical. I remember laughing my assoff.

And of course, the Cagematch when Horatio Sanz kicked a tray of steaming hot chicken wings directly into the audience. No one said a word. Absolute proof of the power of stardom. It was as if they were baptized in hot sauce.

 

[Gwyn]

With those last couple....

again, I ask, INFLUENTIAL or CRAZY GREAT AND FUNNY?

Cuz I got a lot to add to the list if its just GREAT shows, or Hysterical moments....

 

[George Zip]

I would have to add Pinata Full of Bees.

Also, what about Blue Velveeta? I never actually saw them, but they seem fairly legendary.

 

[Monahan]

Parameters

Shows can be influential in different ways. A particular show could be personally influential to an individual, yet have no impact on the community at large.

Seems the goal is to track influential shows that have had lasting effects on the improv community and the development of improv as an art form. I guess we could count CRAZY GREAT and FUNNY shows, but theyd have to be impactful on a large scale.

Since I havent seen many of the pre-97 groups/shows in Chicago (and have seen much less outside of here), Id have a hard time dilineating which groups have changed the way things are done. It seems like that would best be summed up by an audit of this thread after a whole lot more people added to it.

That being said, it would be hard to deny that "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" has had a large effect on the consciousness of the general public. How many times have you had to explain what "improv" was to someone who could only picture stand-up? In recent years its so much easier to deal with the same person using "Whose Line" as an example, and then modifying that to whatever type of improv youre talking about. Also, who knows what kind of influence its had on television producers who never saw TV as a medium where improv of any kind would be successful.

Those Brits are forward thinkers.

 

[Gwyn]

Yup

Monahan, good point. I do use it now, to help describe what we do.

GZ-Im embarrassed to admit that I DIDNT SEE "Pinata..."
but it sure did have a big impact! Especially on Second City! I certainly felt the ripples.
Still do.

 

[George Zip]

Wow

I was lucky enough to start working at Second City (not on stage) near the beginning of Pinata and got to see the entire year-long run of it. I worked a lot. Incredible show.

Also, Blue Velveeta? Anyone? Any good? Influential? Or was no one around back then to see them?

 

[mullaney]

Blue Velveeta was the house team at IO a couple of years before 3 Mad Rituals and Jazz Freddy. I never saw them as a team, but they had an great line up and I heard that they shook things up while they were there. Mick Napier coached them.

There was also the 3 man Blue Velveeta which performed at the Improv in Chicago: Jay Leggett, Brian Blondell & Brian McCann. They were damn funny although, I dont think their show at the improv was extremely influential.

Anyone remember who exactly was on the IO version of BV? I cant remember.

 

[Billy Merritt]

Robot T.V.
Imortal Combat
And The Spank

 

[Gwyn]

Kev...wasnt

John Teese (spelling???)in there too?

I remember running into a bunch of them at Burton place one night, back in those days, they knew the people I was with, but I didnt know them. I remember being introduced to all of them(whoever was there), but it wasnt until later that I was able to go "oh that was those guys...." and put it in perspective. I WAS around, I just wasnt into I.O. at that time.
It musta been right after they left I.O. when they were on their own, and I think it was after a show. They were dressed up.
I never saw them together, with that lineup.

I, too, saw the 3 man group at the Improv and I think youre right, it wasnt the same deal, though I understand the music thing they did was something theyd been doing from the beginning.

Reportedly they rocked, though, and there was a huge falling out with Charna. Bad blood for awhile, though all fences are mended now. Was Dorff in it too???

Thats what I know. Craigs gotta know the story. Craig?

 

[Jethro]

Whats behind the names?

While its wonderful for people to acknowledge influential shows, anyone who never saw those shows probably wont get much more than a cursory history lesson in improv.

Could someone take each of the aforementioned shows (Three Mad Rituals, Jazz Freddy, et al) and give a bit of background on it (Who performed? Where was it performed? What was the form? WHY was it influential? etc.) I think that would be a profoundly useful resource.

Eager to learn,

Jethro

 

[kleonard]

Improv/Sketch Influences

My two cents on most influential improv/sketch shows of the last decade (in no particular order):

America Lite - Second City e.t.c., directed by Nate Herman. The first SC show to incorporate what would later be referred to as "long form" techniques.

Ed - at Remains theatre, brilliant improv show directed by Jim Dennon. One of the first improv shows to move out from the bar and into the theatre.

Jazz Freddy - The best improvisors in Chicago all working together (because Second City was stupid and hadnt hired them...yet).

Lois Kaz - The best improvisors in Chicago all working together (because Second City got smart and hired them all)

Pinata Full of Bees - An amazing blend of Del-trained and Spolin-trained actors challenging the tried and true Second City format.

Paradigm Lost - Mick Napier takes Pinata a step further.

Co-Ed Prison Sluts - Mick Napier shows how vulgarity and obscenity can be innocent.

Three Mad Rituals - The Family - a new voice in improv.

Dawn Toddy - From the folks who did Ed. Not a complete success, but a real lyrical form that would later be seen in shows like Trio and Naked.

Dratch & Fey - Del was wrong - Women are funny.


I know its a little weird because I produced a bunch of these shows. But I didnt create them and those people deserve the credit. Peace.

 

[Gwyn]

Jethro

I think Kevin is the best person to explain the forms.

But I do have one thing to say; you know tag outs? "We" didnt do them before Jazz Freddy. Thats the easiest, most tangible thing to point to and say, "that move came from that show".

Kelly-I think its interesting to note that so many of the performers in those shows you mention, were the same. Its a certain crowd of people whore always inventing.