Beginnings

Beginnings episode 51: Seth Reiss

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 24 May 2012 06:24:57 +0000

On today's show, we talk to Seth Reiss. Seth is a writer and performer based in Chicago, and is currently head writer at The Onion. He also contributes to McSweeney's and previously wrote for the Sklar Brothers show Cheap Seats. As well, Seth is 1/4 of the sketch group Pangaea 3000, which can be found performing all over the country. In April, Seth came over the the Brooklyn Wrestling Team apartment and talked with us about sweet Southwest PA, moms and baby dolls, and about being an asshole to clear the tension.

Some live shows! 6/12: Beginnings Live at UCB East, 9:30pm w/ Kurt Braunohler (IFC's Bunk), Dan McCoy (The Daily Show) and saxophone/drum trio Moon Hooch! Also 6/21: our musical Rockefeller Centaur at UCB Chelsea, 6:30!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 19: Matt Ruby

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 17 May 2012 04:15:29 +0000

Beginnings episode 50: Live with Jon Glaser, Rachel Dratch, Leo Allen and James McNew

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:49:00 +0000

Holy Habitat for Humanities! This past Tuesday at UCB East we taped our 50th full episode of Beginnings, and hachi machi - our guests were so nice and funny that waves of good humor spread over the audience like a cool breeze coming from a desert oasis constructed entirely out of Ocean City, Maryland Fudge Factory brand fudge. Jon Glaser (writer on Conan, creator and star of Adult Swim's Delocated), Rachel Dratch (star of SNL, author of the new book Girl Walks into a Bar), Leo Allen (writer on SNL, co-creator of Jon Benjamin Has a Van, co-producer of Comedy Bang! Bang!) and James McNew (Dump, Yo La Tengo) all joined us for a night of songs, prawns and Shauns! Put your laughing gloves on, folks, because you're gonna need 'em!

And if you enjoyed this, please subscribe on iTunes, and also join us every month at UCB East on the second Tuesday at 8pm. Next month(6/12) features Kurt Braunohler (IFC's new show Bunk and 1/2 of Kurt and Kristen) and Dan McCoy (writer on The Daily Show and 1/3 of The Flop House Podcast). It will be a comedy blast!

Beginnings episode 49: Matt Ruby

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 10 May 2012 04:43:00 +0000

Matt Ruby is a stand-up based in New York whose blog Sandpaper Suit is one of the best resources for discussing the ins and outs of actually writing and performing comedy. Matt also co-hosts a monthly show at the Upright Citizens Brigade's East Village Theatre and tours around the U.S. performing at clubs and festivals like SXSW and Bridgetown. A few weeks ago, Matt stopped by the Brooklyn Wrestling Team Apartment to discuss his creativity as well as cleverness and New Yorker comedy; hippies, shrooms and tree energy; and the entitlement of rich people. Plus we debut a new segment that will be renamed in the future because of its awful current name!

Plus, don't forget to come to the next Beginnings Live - our 50th Episode Spectacular - with Rachel Dratch, Jon Glaser, Leo Allen and James McNew!!!! Tuesday May 8th at 8pm at UCB East!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 18: The Jerry Seinfeld Program

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:07:14 +0000

On today's episode, we talk to Dan Klein and Arthur Meyer, the creators of the delightful and odd webseries The Jerry Seinfeld Program and part of the sketch group Pangaea 3000. As well, Dan is a writer for The Onion and previously wrote for Sportsdome, and Arthur is a contributor to The Onion, half of the sketch group Two Fun Men and a writer on Jimmy Fallon. Back in February, Dan and Arthur came over to the Brooklyn Wrestling Team Apartment to discuss the origins of their webseries, as well as about forgetting names and shitty philosophy.

PLUS! Don't miss our live 50th episode spectacular at UCB East on Tuesday, May 8th at 8pm with RACHEL DRATCH (SNL) and JON GLASER (Delocated)!!! Go to ucbtheatre.com to make reservations!

Beginnings episode 48: Andy Zaltzman

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 03:45:50 +0000

Hello, Beginningsers! On today's episode we talk to Andy Zaltzman, a writer and stand-up based in the UK. Along with the Daily Show's John Oliver, he co-writes and co-hosts the podcast The Bugle, a satirical news program. Since 1999, he's performed a new hour of stand-up almost every year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and he's written and performed in a number of BBC Radio programs including currently 7 Day Sunday. A few weeks ago while Andy was in town to do some shows, we met up with him at a studio in midtown where we discussed cricket, animal carcass pits and playing Noah's wife. What do these cryptic teasers mean? Only one way to find out: become like unto a god!

Beginnings episode 47: Live with Kevin Allison, Hallie Haglund and Savoir Adore

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 03:04:53 +0000

Holy crumbs, friends! On April 10th, we sat down with some amazng people for our third live episode at UCB East! I hope you're ready to have fun because we have Kevin Allison from The State and the Risk! podcast explaining how his creativity changed after coming out. We also have Daily Show writer Hallie Haglund discussing her steamy re-write of Little Woman. Plus the lovely and wonderful Savoir Adore plays a few songs and tells us tales of being hams as children.

Our next live show's Tuesday, May 8th at 8pm at UCB East. Don't miss it! (Or you might develop extra fingers)

Beginnings episode 46: Dan St. Germain

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:35:51 +0000

On this episode, we talk to stand-up comedian and writer Dan St. Germain. With the force of personality of a literary heavyweight, Dan has made a name for himself appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and MTV, and writing for Fuse and The Onion, among many others. He's been a "New Face" at the 2011 Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, has been nominated for multiple ECNY awards, and this year he'll be featured on John Oliver’s NY Standup Show. A few weeks ago, Dan came over to the Wrestling Team apartment, and we talked about writing plays and having a literary father, and then Dan called into question the entire nature of the show!

And don't forget to come to Beginnings: Live at UCB East this Tuesday, the 10th at 8pm! We've got Kevin Allison (Risk!, The State), Hallie Haglund (The Daily Show) and the band Savoir Adore as guests!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 17: Devin Clark

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:38:57 +0000

On this episode of Beginnings Field Guide (Beginnings' sister show, where we have creators walk us through a particular thing they've created), we talk again to Devin Clark, the creator, director and executive producer of Ugly Americans, and if you're not watching that show, you're a stupid ass-beast. Get it? Anyway, on this episode, Devin talks to us about a painting of his called Fire-Breathing Meat Knife that will be featured in an upcoming art show. Plus, this is our first enhanced podcast, so you can actually see the painting while you listen!

And don't forget to come to Beginnings Live on Tuesday, April 10th at 8pm with our guests Kevin Allison (Risk, The State), Nick Vatterott (Conan Fallon) and special musical guest Savoir Adore!

Beginnings episode 45: Devin Clark

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 04:01:08 +0000

Devin Clark is the creator, executive producer and director of the fantastic Comedy Central show Ugly Americans, which began its life as an animated webseries called 5ON, which Clark created for CC's Motherload. Clark is responsible for the look and tone of the show, and he began his art career at Syracuse University, where he was a video art major and also created a thrice-weekly comic strip for the school newspaper. Eventually he realized he could combine his two loves – video and cartooning – through animation, which set him on his current path. A few weeks ago, Devin sat down with us at the Wrestling Team apartment to discuss his hippie upbringing and films about jerking off into brownie mix. Totes fun, bro!

And don't forget to come to Beginnings Live on Tuesday, April 10th at 8pm with our guests Kevin Allison (Risk, The State), Nick Vatterott (Conan Fallon) and special musical guest Savoir Adore!

Beginnings episode 44: Live with Julie Klausner and Elliott Kalan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:15:00 +0000

Beginnings Live at UCB East’s second show! On this episode we are joined by the wonderful and funny writers/performers Julie Klausner and Elliott Kalan. Klausner has written for Best Week Ever, is the author of I Don’t Care About Your Band, is host of the podcast How Was Your Week and is the writer and executive producer of a forthcoming NBC series based on the novel Apocolipstick. Kalan is an Emmy Award-winning writer on The Daily Show, has written a number of stories for Marvel Comics and is co-host of the bad movie podcast The Flop House. With all this star power on stage, it’s surprising that Mark and Andy aren’t charred skeletons!

And don’t forget Beginnings Live's new time! Starting in April, we’ll be on the second Tuesday of the month at 8pm! Next one is April 10th and we'll have the hilarious Nick Vatterott (Conan, Fallon) and more!

Beginnings episode 43: Jodi Lennon

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:14:27 +0000

Jodi Lennon is a writer, performer and director based in New York City. Lennon got her start in Chicago performing at Second City, IO, and the Annoyance Theater, and studying under people like Del Close and Dave Pasquesi. In 1995, she co-created and co-starred in the Comedy Central sketch show Exit 57 with Amy Sedaris, Mitch Rouse, Stephen Colbert, and Paul Dinello. Recently, Lennon has produced a documentary about Marc Maron called The Voice of Something: A Day In the Life of A New York Comic, which follows Maron around New York in the aftermath of 9/11. Last week, with the death of Davy Jones hanging over their heads, Jodi came over to the Wrestling Team apartment and told us about her parents and their perpetual bits, coming up in Chicago and how to create great characters. Plus, Andy learns a genuine lesson about writing!

Hey! Beginnings Live this Sunday at UCB East at 6pm with The Daily Show’s Elliott Kalan and author of I Don’t Care About Your Band Julie Klausner! It will be great!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 16: Teen Wheels

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:10:09 +0000

On today’s episode we talk to two of the three creators of the insane webseries Teen Wheels. Dan Klein is currently a writer for the Onion and their Get Out of My Face videos and used to write on Sportsdome. He’s also ¼ of Pangaea 3000, one of the best sketch groups in the city. Kelly Hudson is a editor at College Humor and previously worked at Broadway Video, ONN and Vice. She’s also a UCB performer and can be found acting for the house sketch team Beige and writing for their video group Scraps.

Teen Wheels is one of our favorite webseries, and Dan and Kelly walk us through how it was made, and along the way we talk about the meaninglessness of our lives!

Plus! Come see Beginnings live at UCB East on 3/11 at 6pm. We'll be talking to How Was Your Week's Julie Klausner and The Daily Show's Elliott Kalan! Certified Laffs™!

Beginnings episode 42: Live with Michael Kupperman and Sean Patton

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:40:21 +0000

On February 12th, we sat down with Michael Kupperman and Sean Patton at the UCB's East Village theater and had a ton o' fun! Michael is one of our favorite writer/artists/funny people. He made cartoons for TV Funhouse, created the comics Snake 'n' Bacon and Tales Designed to Thrizzle, and wrote and illustrated the book Mark Twain's Autobiography 1910-2010. All are amazing! Sean is also one of our favorite stand-ups. He tours all around the US, has been on Jimmy Fallon and Conan, and hosts a show every week at the bar Kabin in the East Village. He is super-funny and charismatic. Ride the wave!

And don't forget to come out to the next live Beginnings at UCB East on Sunday March 11th at 6pm. One of our guests will be the incredibly hilarious Daily Show writer Elliott Kalan as well as ANOTHER GUEST TOO!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 15: Myq Kaplan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:14:47 +0000

Myq Kaplan’s a brilliant stand-up whose been on Letterman, Conan, The Tonight Show, Craig Ferguson and many other programs. Last week on Beginnings we discussed his creative past and whether comedians have any more neuroses than the average person, and this week on Field Guide we talk about a song he wrote with his music partner Micah Sherman.

Why not drop us a line at jokes@wrestlingteam.org and tell us your favorite mammal?

Beginnings episode 41: Myq Kaplan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Myq Kaplan is a super-funny stand-up based in New York City. He holds an advanced degree in linguistics and his love of language is apparent in his act, which he’s performed on The Tonight Show, the past season of Last Comic Standing as well as on his own Comedy Central Presents special. His first album Vegan Mind Meld came out in 2010, and it’s great! A week ago, he stopped by the Wrestling Team apartment to talk about lingusitics, creativity and stigmata sex, and we had tons of fun joshing around and grams of fun grahaming around...with words!

PLUS! Come see Beginnings live at UCB East on 2/12 at 6PM with Michael Kupperman and Sean Patton!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 14: Fat Guy Stuck in Internet

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:13:11 +0000

John Gemberling has been a house performer at UCB for over eight years, many of them spent on the team Death by Roo Roo, who are widely recognized as one of the best improv groups in the country. John's also been featured on Adult Swim's The Heart, She Holler, the Comedy Central special This Show Will Get You High and as the voice of Blastus on the Cartoon Network show Robotomy. Today, we talk to John about the show he co-created and co-starred in for Adult Swim: Fat Guy Stuck in Internet!

Come see Beginnings live at UCB East (Ave. A and 3rd) on Sunday February 12th at 6pm!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 13: Jamie Lee

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 03:27:07 +0000

Jamie Lee is a writer and stand-up based in New York City. She was on the final season of Last Comic Standing, performs all over the country and has created a number of webseries including College Humor's "Kid Farm” and "Edna", which we discuss on this episode of Field Guide. And don't forget to check out last week's Beginnings interview with Jamie!

Plus, Beginnings Live at UCB East on February 12th at 6pm! Come on down!

Beginnings episode 40: Jamie Lee

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 04:50:00 +0000

Jamie Lee is a writer and stand-up based in New York City. Maybe you’ve seen her on the last season of Last Comic Standing? Or maybe on “Kid Farm” the College Humor webseries she co-created? Or when she co-hosted VH1’s Critics Choice Awards? Or the MTV show Ridiculousness that she wrote for? No matter where you’ve seen her or her writing, she’s hilarious and great! Jamie stopped by the Wrestling Team apartment last week and we talked about her ZZ Top photographic parents, overcoming your hatred of other performers and how dating other comedians affects ones creativity. Plus we debut a new segment "Making a Breakthrough"!

Don't forget to come see Beginnings live at UCB East on 2/12 at 6pm!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 12: Broad City

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:55:37 +0000

On today’s show, we talk to Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, the creators and stars of the great webseries Broad City. The two have been performing comedy in New York for many years before starting their show, and after two seasons and growing buzz, it’s now in development at FX with Amy Poehler as one of the executive producers. While hearing Ilana and Abbi’s inspiring story of their hard work paying off, we also found time to discuss the sadness of strip clubs, sneak attack feminism vs. stealth feminism and Uncle Scrooge’s Dick Bin! Also, find out if I've ever seen Mark's penis!

Beginnings episode 39: Halley Feiffer

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:31:11 +0000

Halley Feiffer is a actor and playwright from New York City. She’s been in many films including The Squid and the Whale, Margot at the Wedding, and You Can Count on Me and guested on a number of television shows including Flight of the Conchords and Bored to Death. This last year, she made her Broadway debut in The House of Blue Leaves with Ben Stiller and Edie Falco and in 2012, she’ll release her film He’s Way More Famous Than You, which she co-wrote and stars in. Earlier this week, Halley stopped by the Wrestling Team apartment, and this is what happened! We learned what you can say if you have a black sister! Mark debuted his new stand-up persona, Mr. Hate! Halley takes us on a tour through the (in?)famous Stagedoor Manor! All this and moooooooore!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 11: Jesse Moynihan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 05:31:41 +0000

Jesse Moynihan is a storyboard artist/writer on the amazing Cartoon Network show Adventure Time. He's also an amazing comic artist and has been making his own comics for years. On last week's Beginnings episode, we talked about how his past has opened him up to new ways of seeing the world, and on this week's Field Guide, we talk to Jesse about his latest collection of comics Forming vol.1, now out on Nobrow Press!

Beginnings episode 38: Jesse Moynihan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:07:00 +0000

Jesse Moynihan is a bit of a Renaissance man. He’s a storyboard artist/writer on the amazing Cartoon Network show Adventure Time. He’s also a comic artist who’s been making hilarious, weird and thoughtful comics for years, and his latest collection Forming vol. 1 was just published on Nobrow Press. Jesse’s also a musician and plays in the experimental pop group Make a Rising, who have two fantastic albums with a third on the way. Jesse sat down with us in the Wrestling Team apartment a few weeks ago while he was in town for an indie comics convention and: Jesse talked about chilling with The Dead Milkmen! He also told us about how his father's Christian visions and his mother's involvement in Aum Shinrikyo made him more receptive to the world. We even discussed David Lynch's contradictions! All this and mooooooooooore!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 10: Jared Logan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:41:00 +0000

Jared Logan is one of the most jovial, friendly stand-ups you might meet. He’s been on Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham, tours colleges all over the country, and co-hosts a fantastic weekly stand-up show called Righteous Kill. On last week’s Beginnings, we talked to Jared about growing up in West Virginia and about his theatrical roots. On this week’s Field Guide, we discuss one of his favorite recent jokes.

Beginnings episode 37: Jared Logan

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:22:02 +0000

Jared Logan is a hilarious stand-up who got his start in Chicago. After being featured on Comedy Central's Live at Gotham in 2008, he moved to New York and has been tearing up the Big Apple ever since, especially with his weekly show Righteous Kill, which he co-hosts with fellow stand-up Joe DeRosa. A few weeks ago, Jared sat down with us in the Wrestling Team apartment. What transpired? Jared taught us that gay stereotypes are true if you only know one gay person! Andy explained his narcissistic crooked cop fantasy! Jared, like Sartre and Nike, tells us to "Just do it!" (it = your act)! Mark and Andy are delirious from exhaustion in the midshow and post-show segments!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 9: Wrestling Team

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:29:44 +0000

That's right, friends, we're doing something special on this week's Field Guide: we interview ourselves! Or, as many might call it "simply having a conversation". Coming up in the next month, we're going to do some special Field Guide episodes where we talk about specific shows and videos that we both enjoy with their creators. To kick that off, we thought we'd discuss a sketch that we perform called "The Newlyweb Game". Our discussion though quickly turns into a referendum on the state of Wrestling Team! Are Mark and Andy actually friends? Why do we write complex things? What kind of Troll books did we order as children? Whose fault was Wrestling Team's avant-garde period? How do you deal with death anxiety and eating disorders? All this and more on Beginnings Field Guide!

Beginnings episode 36: Eddie Pepitone

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:05:38 +0000

Eddie Pepitone is a stand-up and actor who started with Chicago City Limits in New York in the late ‘90s and quickly became part of the city’s comedy scene. He’s performed on Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel and regularly on Marc Maron’s live WTFs in LA. You might recognize Eddie from season six of Last Comic Standing, as the cook on The Sarah Silverman Program or from his role in the film Old School. He also co-hosts a popular podcast called The Long Shot and has a daily comic strip video series called Puddin’. A few weeks ago we sat down with Eddie in his hotel room in midtown. "What happened?" you ask? I'll tell you: Our recording equipment betrays us! We investigate the awkward pause! Andy uses his limited experience to try and connect with Eddie! Mark examines the sweet spot of Eddie's rage and pain!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 8: Tom Scharpling

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:44:12 +0000

Tom Scharpling is the host of the weekly-call in program The Best Show on WFMU. Tom is also one of the best straight men in comedy, and uses his skills in the duo Scharpling and Wurster. Recently Tom has begun to direct music videos for groups like Ted Leo and the Pharmacists and The New Pornographers, and on this episode of Field Guide we talk about the trailer he made for John Hodgman’s new book. If you want to check out Tom’s full interview, why not listen to the last episode? And we interviewed his comedy partner Jon Wurster in episode 13!

Drop us a line at jokes@wrestlingteam.org Follow on Twitter @wrestlingteam

Beginnings episode 35: Tom Scharpling

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 03:45:00 +0000

Tom Scharpling is the host of the critically-acclaimed weekly-call in program The Best Show on WFMU. Grounded by Tom’s sardonic glee, the show features phone calls, comedians and a weekly call between Tom and his comedy partner Jon Wurster, where Wurster plays numerous characters, usually from the made-up town of Newbridge, NJ. Tom was also a writer and executive producer on USA’s Monk, and most recently, he has been directing a number of well-received videos for everyone from The New Pornographers to John Hodgeman. A few weeks ago, we sat down with Tom in Studio C of WFMU hours before The Best Show. On this episode: we spend ten minutes accidentally depressing Tom! Tom becomes Andy's impromptu therapist! Andy downgrades his crippling fears! We maybe learn the origins of soda! And Tom challenges us to a game of Make Me Laugh!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 7: John Lee

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 03:44:00 +0000

John Lee, along with his co-producer Vernon Chatman and their production/art collective PFFR, are the creators of some of the weirdest and funniest television of the last decade. They’ve been responsible for Wonder Showzen and Xavier: Renegade Angel. They executive produce and direct Jon Glaser’s show Delocated, and their new six-night miniseries The Heart, She Holler debuts this Sunday on Adult Swim. Last week, we talked to John about how Jim Jarmusch inspired him to create, and this week, we’ll talk about The Heart, She Holler.

Subscribe to Beginnings on iTunes and write a review! If you do, let us know at jokes@wrestlingteam.org and we'll send you something!

Beginnings episode 34: John Lee

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 03:38:11 +0000

John Lee, along with his co-producer Vernon Chatman and their production/art collective PFFR, have created some of the weirdest and funniest television of the past decade. Wonder Showzen, a show that shoved absurdity, politics and social commentary into a nonsensical children’s show ran on MTV2 for two seasons and Xavier: Renegade Angel, a psychosexual spirit quest wrapped up in fast-paced absurdity and N64 graphics was an Adult Swim hit. Among other projects, John currently executive produces and directs Jon Glaser’s show Delocated. A few weeks ago we sat down with John at his house in Brooklyn to discuss paper videogames, Occupy Wall Street, Jim Jarmusch, Ewok dogs, being open to randomness, and Gordon Lish. Mark maybe gets a job! Both of us mutate into giggling fanboys! It's fun!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 6: Henry Zebrowski

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Henry Zebrowski is a member of the terrifying sketch group Murderfist, who were named by the Village Voice as the “Best Sketch Comedy Group in New York.” He was an actor on the Comedy Central show Michael and Michael Have Issues, and has been in numerous College Humor videos. In the forthcoming film Gods Behaving Badly, he plays Hermes alongside Christopher Walken and Sharon Stone! On last week’s Beginnings episode, we talked about turning fear into laughter, and on this week’s Field Guide, we discuss Murderfist’s video Frank Penis!

Beginnings episode 33: Henry Zebrowski

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:29:19 +0000

Henry Zebrowski is an actor and sketch writer living in New York City. He is part of the anarchic sketch group Murderfist, who won the ECNY awards in 2010 for Best Sketch Comedy Group and was named by the Village Voice as the “Best Sketch Comedy Group in New York.” Henry was also an actor on the Comedy Central show Michael and Michael Have Issues, and he plays Hermes in the forthcoming film Gods Behaving Badly with John Turturro, Oliver Platt and Edie Falco among many others. A few weeks ago Henry sat down with us at the Wrestling Team apartment and talked about sexual congress, childhood santaliens, school catchphrases, puking moms, fear of psychopaths, unstoppable forces vs. immoveable objects, frozen shit, the dissolution of societal bonds, and funky butter at FOX.

Beginnings Field Guide episode 5: Mike Sacks

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 03:52:00 +0000

Mike Sacks is a humor writer who has contributed to numerous publications including McSweeney’s, GQ and The New Yorker. Many of those pieces were collected in his book Your Wildest Dreams, Within Reason. He’s a member of the Pleasure Syndicate, a writing group composed of writers from places like The Daily Show and The Onion and his first book, And Here’s the Kicker is an anthology of his interviews with famous humorists from Paul Feig to Bob Odenkirk. Last week on Beginnings we discussed Mike’s past, and this week on Beginnings Field Guide we have an in depth conversation about a piece he wrote called “Whoops!”.

Beginnings episode 32: Mike Sacks

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 04:40:00 +0000

Mike Sacks is a humor writer and part of the editorial staff of Vanity Fair. He got his start writing for Cracked and Mad Magazine, and since then has written for everyone from GQ to Esquire to The New Yorker, many of those pieces being collected in his book Your Wildest Dreams, Within Reason. He co-wrote the book Sex: Our Bodies, Our Junk, and his first book, And Here’s the Kicker is an anthology of his interviews with famous humorists from Paul Feig to Bob Odenkirk. A few weeks ago, Mike sat down with as at an acting studio in Midtown to school us in writing and discuss headshots, Chris Elliott, working in a record store, funny dentists, getting blowjobs in heaven, Blue Jam, the eternal anxiety of the humor writer, XOXOs and jumpin’ electrons.

Beginnings Field Guide episode 4: Jena Friedman

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 04:39:09 +0000

Last week on Beginnings we talked to stand-up and Letterman writer Jena Friedman about the creative spark found within the scary children's game Bloody Mary. This week on Beginnings: Field Guide, we have an in-depth discussion on serial killers, as we talk with Jena about her webseries Ted and Gracie, which you can see on our website and at www.jenafriedman.com. And hey, why not drop us a line at jokes@wrestlingteam.org? Tell us your favorite smell!

Beginnings episode 31: Jena Friedman

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 05:10:00 +0000

Jena Friedman is a comedian and actor based in New York City. As a stand-up, she has performed all around the world, including at The Glasgow International Comedy Festival and SXSW. She was the female lead in the independent film American Florence, and her play The Refugee Girls Revue: A Musical Parody had a successful run off-Broadway. Also, in July, she became one of the newest writers on the Late Show with David Letterman. A few weeks ago, Jena came over to the Wrestling team apartment and chatted with us about stabbing fantasies, saving earthworms, Catholic ninjas, Willy Wonka’s freakout, delivering innovative solutions that endure, pizza cancer, Final Draft firing and Italian vanity projects.

Beginnings Field Guide episode 3: Matt Besser

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:08:00 +0000

Last week on Beginnings we talked to UCB founder Matt Besser about how punk rock and Andy Kaufman helped influence his love of pranks and playing with reality. This week on Beginnings Field Guide, we have an in-depth discussion about teaching, as we discuss his recent web series Inside the Master Class, which you can see in its entirety on mattbesser.com!

Beginnings episode 30: Matt Besser

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:27:00 +0000

Matt Besser is one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, whose sketch show, along with other programs like Mr. Show, helped define comedy in the 1990s. Since then, the UCB have founded two schools in NY and LA, which are renowned as the training grounds for the next generation of comedians. Since the end of the UCB show, Matt has worked on a number of projects including creating the Comedy Central show Crossballs and writing and directing the forthcoming film Freak Dance, based on a stage show at UCBLA. Matt also hosts a podcast competition show on The Earwolf Network. In mid-August, Matt sat down with us at the UCB Training Center in New York while he was in town for the Del Close Marathon and discussed playing with sticks instead of Legos, "Nazi Punks Fuck Off", accidentally Bobcat, misunderstanding Blue Laws, art pranks, Andy Kaufman, shit dollars, Joey Skaggs, and Andy showing actual emotions. Plus we debut our new segment "The Fun in Failure"!

Beginnings Field Guide episode 2: Christine Nangle

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 11:47:00 +0000

Last week on Beginnings we talked to Saturday Night Live staff writer Christine Nangle about how growing up in Philadelphia and how attending Catholic School helped make her a creative person. This week on Beginnings Field Guide, we have an in-depth discussion of her web video "Surrogate Mother for Hire", which will be debuting as a web series this September!

Beginnings episode 29: Christine Nangle

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 05:17:00 +0000

Hailing from Pennsylvania, Christine Nangle began her comedy career in Pittsburgh, performing with improv group Hustlebot. In 2007, Christine moved to New York where she began taking classes at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theater, eventually working her way up to writing and performing on a number of different house sketch and improv teams. In 2009, Christine was hired as a staff writer on Saturday Night Live and has been responsible for sketches like Snooki, Wikileaks and more. Last week, we sat down with Christine at the Blacktress House and discussed neighborhood mayors, growing up in Philadelphia, being the good kid, what hippie you are, stand-up in Pittsburgh, angry and silly, giving away the secrets of sketch, “All the Steeler Ladies” and being screamed at for not knowing cursive.

Beginnings Field Guide episode 1: Will Hines

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 02:13:40 +0000

Will Hines is the Associate Academic Supervisor and a teacher at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and a performer on the house team The Stepfathers, the winners of the Friars Club 2010 Improv Competition. He’s written and directed a number of stage shows and videos, and his acting work includes parts in the Adult Swim series Fat Guy Stuck in Internet and the Derrick movie Mystery Team. Most recently, he co-starred with Michael Cera in the webseries Bad Dads. Will sat down with us last week in a park around the corner from the UCB Theater to talk about his video "A Man Wants Someone to Feel His Pecs".

Beginnings episode 28: Joe Mande

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 04:42:00 +0000

Joe Mande is a nationally touring stand-up who’s been on Best Week Ever and Live at Gotham. He’s also the man behind the blog and book Look at This Fucking Hipster. Along with his co-host Noah Garfinkel, he hosts a monthly comedy show at UCB called Totally J/K, and he’s written and performed in a number of stage shows including most recently, his adaptation of Glenn Beck’s The Overton Window. Joe’s also one of the newest writers on the Adult Swim show Delocated. A few weeks ago, we sat down with Joe in Madison Square Park before his set at Righteous Kill and discussed Isa and Oscar, yearbook contests, Mall of America stand-up, optometry apprenticeships, war stories, Right Guard, 9/11 Truthers, Judaism, surrealist interview techniques and Kobe Bryant as the Devil. Plus the debut of our new segment “The Unworkables”!

Beginnings episode 27: David Cope

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:49:39 +0000

David Cope is a super-funny and absurdist comic based in New York City. Rather than some put-on stage persona, however, his weirdness is an honest extension of his personality. He curates the weekly stand-up show Hot Soup at O’Hanlon’s Bar alongside Andy Haynes, Mark Normand and Matt Ruby, and he’s been featured at the Bumbershoot festival, on the last season of NBC’s Last Comic Standing and in numerous TV commercials. A few weeks ago, he came over to the (always hot) Wrestling Team apartment, and we talked about Shakespeare and James Joyce’s fart fetishes, divorce, call centers, the shittiness of being a lawyer, fuzz or a bedbug?, gaming vs. relationships, new-age harp and two-thirds of every Philip K. Dick novel.

Beginnings episode 26: Hari Kondabolu

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 00:04:31 +0000

Hari Kondabolu is a highly-accomplished stand-up who discusses race and class in a manner that is both funny and enlightening. He’s performed on numerous shows including Jimmy Kimmel, Live at Gotham and John Oliver’s New York Standup Show. He has his own Comedy Central Presents special and hosts a live monthly talk show with his younger brother Ashok, a member of the hip hop group Das Racist. He also has academic roots and earned his Masters in Human Rights from the London School of Economics. A few weeks ago, Hari sat down with us in the hot, cat-filled Wrestling Team apartment to discuss NHL ‘96, hack jokes, mean people as the root of comedy, high school stand-up, Comedy Cellar soda, a tentative comedy career, writing politically with a punchline, silence and Manoj appearing years before Randy. Plus we debut our new segment “What’s your pathology?”

Beginnings episode 25: Nick Vatterott

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:54:01 +0000

As a stand-up, improviser and sketch writer, comedian Nick Vatterott is a triple threat. And a triple treat! His stand-up has been featured on Jimmy Fallon and in the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. He’s understudied for Second City, and his sketch group HEAVYWEIGHT (including Cloverfield’s TJ Miller) has performed all around the country. Nick’s also performed his one man show No Outlet at the iO Theater, the Chicago Sketchfest and the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. A few weeks ago, Nick came over to the Wrestling Team apartment to discuss acting out in class, Jesuits, “Crimson and Clover”, missing milk jugs, pillows as mnemonic devices, boat tours, Sliding Doors, getting out of Chicago, and all-you-can-eat sushi. Plus, we debut our new segment “Creative Rituals”!

Beginnings episode 24: Pete Holmes

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:20:47 +0000

Welcome everyone to the first episode of a new era for Beginnings! This episode’s guest is Pete Holmes. Pete’s a stand-up who has been featured on Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, John Oliver's New York Stand Up Show and his own Comedy Central Presents special. With stand-up Matt McCarthy (episode 12) and Daily Show field producer Oren Brimer, he started Front Page Films, which makes very funny web videos. Pete also is a voice actor on many things including the great cartoon Ugly Americans. He also wrote for NBC’s Outsourced last television season! At the end of June, Pete was in New York for a few days, and we caught up with him at Big Terrific, one of the best stand-up shows in Brooklyn, and recorded an episode with him outside the venue on a bench. We talked about programming with BASIC, summer camp, writing parodies, Mancow, breast milk, offensive comedians, asking for what you need, religious upbringings and the line between being a creepy douche and a guy you’d like to help.

Beginnings episode 23: Dan McCoy

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:06:59 +0000

Dan McCoy has been writing and performing stand-up, sketch and improv in New York for over a decade. His webseries 9am Meeting, co-written with Matt Koff, placed 1st seven times at Channel 101 NY. The series joined the Writer's Guild of America, East as one of the very first new media signatories and was also awarded a development deal with MTV at the New York Television and Video Festival. Dan also co-hosts a fantastically funny bad movie podcast called The Flophouse. The bad movie conceit is used by the hosts to riff, make jokes and pitch fake films. He also is one of the newest writers on The Daily Show. Not too shabby a resume. A few weeks ago, Dan joined us in the Wrestling Team apartment to discuss working a terrible job in a closet, the existential state of homeless people, giving Lisa Loeb a cheese plate, how not to use the phrase "devil's advocate", being hired on The Daily Show, performing for Felicia Day, President Taft and not being the funny guy at work. Also, we debut our new segment, "Paying Your Dues"!

Beginnings episode 22: Matt Fisher

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:34:52 +0000

Continuing our pattern of interviewing funny and nice comedians, this episode we talk to Matt Fisher, a hilarious and gracious improviser, actor and writer. His improv team The Law Firm is a house team that performs every week at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York. Matt has also written for ESPN's The Pretty Good Sports Show, and with his former sketch group Sidecar, has produced stage shows and videos, garnering the People’s Choice Award at 2010's New York Television Festival for their pilot Illuminati Brothers. Matt is also an actor and can be seen regularly on 30 Rock as one of the voiceless writers. A few weeks ago, Matt sat down with us in the Wrestling Team apartment to discuss Penn and Teller, almost succeeding, terrible temp jobs, Chopped, having a family, penny candy, Goodnight Moon, Mountain Dew, and the moral failings of being wrong. Plus, the debut of our new segment: "What's your favorite thing that's you've created?"!

Beginnings episode 21: Ben Katchor

Wresting Team (Wrestling Team) — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 21:18:55 +0000

For our first foray outside the world of comedy, we talked to Ben Katchor, the super-thoughtful, world-weary cartoonist, author of such comics as Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer. Running in publications like The New Yorker and The Village Voice, among many others, his comics have also been collected in books including The Jew of New York and his latest, The Cardboard Valise, and in 2000, he won the MacArthur Genius Award for his work. Ben's work is both surreal and grounded - odd worlds, odd people and often tragicomic narratives exist in a fully-realized universe, one that resembles our own but is just slightly off. Ben also teaches at Parsons, and in May, we sat down in his office to discuss Google's shoddy lecture series, subsidized art, art and business, art as a craft, the weekly deadline, editors and audiences and in-jokes as the ultimate comedy.