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Amy Poehler finished her Saturday Night Live tenure as one of the show's all-time greats. During that final year in Studio 8H, Poehler delivered her favorite SNL sketch of all time.

Poehler joined SNL in 2001 after making a name for herself through Upright Citizens Brigade and appearances on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. She quickly established herself as a versatile performer, capable of impressions, absurd characters, and physical comedy.

That appreciation for physical comedy was behind "I'm No Angel," the sketch Poehler told The Ringer is her all-time favorite sketch. It came during the 2008-2009 season, Poehler's last.

Poehler conceived of the sketch with longtime collaborator and SNL writer Emily Spivey. Both Poehler and Spivey were pregnant at the time and were already looking for an excuse to work the song "I'm No Angel" into a sketch.

"There’s something about that sketch that I love so much because it was our senior year,...

Apple TV+ will imminently be premiering Goldie, an all-new animated series for kids and families. Ahead of the show's launch on streaming, Cbr can unveil an exclusive sneak peek featuring the voice of the world's most beloved parodist.

Goldie is set to premiere on Apple TV+ on Valentine's Day, which is Feb. 14. Inspired by Emily Brundige's award-winning short film released in 2019, the series is described by the streamer as a "larger-than-life celebration of uniqueness and embracing your true self." Embracing classic 2D animation, Goldie tells the story of a giant young girl named Goldie, following her on her adventures in the town of Boysenberg. In Cbr's sneak peek of the show, guest star "Weird Al" Yankovic voices a robot chef with the ability to generate desired foods on command — even if it's not exactly what was asked for. The clip can be watched below.

RelatedWeird: The Al Yankovic Story...

Dropout is home to much more than Dimension 20 and other DnD actual play, and now the critically acclaimed series Very Important People returns for season 2, giving host Vic Michaelis (known for playing Mildred in Upload) a whole new roster of idiosyncratic creations to interview. Structured as a long-form interview show, Very Important People sees Vic (playing an exaggerated version of themself) discuss the life, origins, and goals of bizarre characters created through a mixture of improv comedians and stunning make-up work. Season 1 was a strange and surprisingly sweet collection of characters (who were never too far away from revealing a horrible secret).

Season 2 ups the ante, with some returning faces from across Dropout appearing as new characters. A number of new guests like John Early, Danielle Pinnock, Bobby Moynihan (Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy), Nicole Byer, Chris Redd, and more are also poised to join the festivities. Ahead...

Nicole Byer has a lot to say, and isn’t afraid to say any of it. The Emmy-nominated performer is completely uninhibited in every medium of her work, which has not only enabled her to connect with audiences as a stand-up comedian, but also as an actress, author, reality competition show host, and podcaster. Byer, who got her start in the comedy world as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade, used comedy at first to cope with and escape from the loss of her parents. She then started stand-up comedy, in addition to performing in sketches and improvising, and hasn’t looked back — or slowed down.

Miller Lite is changing their approach to Super Bowl advertising with a new promotion featuring Rob Riggle. The promotion involves fans participating by wearing Miller Lite jerseys with Qr codes that can be scanned for free beer money. Riggle was approached about the idea a few weeks ago and loved the fun and innovative concept. He is excited to be part of it as a Miller Lite fan himself.

Miller Lite is changing the way they approach Super Bowl advertisements with a new promotion in collaboration with Rob Riggle. The NFL championship game is well-known for being the launchpad for various companies to promote their products, particularly that of studios as they reveal major trailers for their upcoming movies and TV shows.

Riggle is an acclaimed stand-up comedian and actor, having once been a part of the Upright Citizens Brigade and often performing there with fellow hit comedian and actor Rob Huebel.

Exclusive: Deadline has learned that two-time Emmy acting nominee Matt Walsh is hitting pause on his participation in this season of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars. His decision comes as the dance competition has come under scrutiny amid the writers strike, with the WGA picketing rehearsals yesterday in at least two locations around Los Angeles.

Additionally this morning, ABC is putting plans in place to delay the Sept. 26 premiere of Dancing with the Stars. A final decision on pushing the premiere will be made in the coming days.

In a statement to Deadline from Walsh, the actor says, “I am taking a pause from Dancing with the Stars until an agreement is made with the WGA.”

“I was excited to join the show and did so under the impression that it was not a WGA show and fell under a different agreement,” the actor continued.

“This morning when I was informed by my union,...

When God (Bowen Yang) sees two virile young men plowing women, selling gears, and telling everyone they know that they do both of those things better than anyone else He ever created, He also sees their profound sadness. Because despite living their best lives, Craig (Josh Sharp) and Trevor (Aaron Jackson) don’t know love. Not familial love. One never had a father. The other never had a mother. And, as everyone knows, a one-parent home isn’t really a home at all. No, it’s borderline child abuse.

That’s the premise behind Sharp and Jackson’s toxically heteronormative satire Dicks: The Musical, directed by Larry Charles and based on the pair’s Upright Citizens Brigade stage musical Fucking Identical Twins. They may not look it (and the film makes forcing us to believe it anyway into a thing), but Craig and Trevor are brothers. Twin brothers. That’s...

After doing a lot of work in the comedy genre – Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The State, Viva Variety, Upright Citizens Brigade, Wet Hot American Summer, Reno 911!, Superbad, Pineapple Express, Paul, Role Models, Wanderlust, I Love You, Man… the list is long – Joe Lo Truglio has decided to make his feature directorial debut with a horror film called Outpost. Gravitas Ventures gave the film a theatrical and VOD release in the US back in May (you can find it on Amazon at This Link), and now Lightbulb Film Distribution has announced that they’ll be bringing Outpost to the UK and Ireland on September 11th with a digital and VOD release. The movie will then be given the same sort of release in Australia and New Zealand on September 13th.

Also scripted by Lo Truglio, Outpost has the following synopsis: After a violent assault, a woman asks her best friend for help escaping an abusive ex.

Joe Lo Truglio is best known for his comedy work. He has been in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The State, Viva Variety, Upright Citizens Brigade, Wet Hot American Summer, Reno 911!, Superbad, Pineapple Express, Paul, Role Models, Wanderlust, I Love You, Man… the list is long. But he’s also a horror fan, and for his feature directorial debut he decided to make a horror movie. His horror movie is called Outpost, and it has received a theatrical and VOD release today, May 19th, courtesy of Gravitas Ventures. A trailer for the film can be seen in the embed above. The movie can be rented or purchased on Amazon at This Link.

Also scripted by Lo Truglio, Outpost has the following synopsis: After a violent assault, a woman asks her best friend for help escaping an abusive ex. She’s given a job as a fire lookout in the mountains of northern Idaho,...

Will Ferrell was, at one point, about as big of a star as one can hope to find in the world of comedy. Following his legendary stint on "Saturday Night Live," the actor had great success in movies such as "Anchorman" and "Step Brothers" in the first decade of the 2000s. But in 2008, Ferrell led an all-star cast that also included the likes of Woody Harrelson, Andre 3000, Will Arnett, and many other famous comedy faces that audiences know and love in a basketball comedy called "Semi-Pro." It was a movie with all the talent in the world which, unfortunately, didn't quite live up to expectations at the time of its release.

While the film topped the box office on its opening weekend back in March of 2008, it topped out at $44 million worldwide against a reported budget of $55 million. Critics also were not terribly kind to the sports comedy at the time.

Exclusive: The SAG Ensemble Veep winner and EP of Adult Swim’s Ntsf: Sd: SUV and Hulu’s Hotwives franchise is writing Joyful Recollections of Trauma.

The Paul Scheer tome is billed as “a humorous and heartfelt reflection on the comedian and podcaster’s childhood, from accidental acts of arson to crises of faith to the merits of minivans, and on growing up, learning to accept the people in one’s life for who they are, becoming a parent, and finding happiness in strange and difficult circumstances, to Katy Hamilton at HarperOne, at auction, by David Kuhn and Nate Muscato at Aevitas Creative Management (World). A 2023 release date is being eyed.”

Scheer has starred on Showtime’s Black Monday, Paramount+’s Star Trek: Lower Decks, as well as Fresh Off the Boat, the Netflix movie A Futile and Stupid Gesture, The Disaster Artist, 84 episodes of The League, as well as...

Exclusive: The Ucb Theatre is coming back as Mosaic founder Jimmy Miller and former CEO/Owner of The Onion Mike McAvoy have acquired the legendary comedy brand with the financial support from Elysian Park Ventures.

As part of the acquisition, their plan is to reopen theaters in the coming months as well as completely rebuilding the Upright Citizens Brigade’s business, including providing additional support and opportunities for comedic talent and continuing the brand’s efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive environment. The venue reopening, I’m told, includes Ucb’s black box theater at 5919 Franklin Ave. in Hollywood.

Miller will serve as chairman and McAvoy will serve as CEO of the new Ucb entity, which is not part of Mosaic. A rep to several big names in comedy, Miller brings a long history of success in entertainment to the future of Ucb.

The esteemed comedy theater, which...

In the fall of 2019, when Chris Gethard was recording his latest comedy special, Half My Life, he was a few months shy of his 40th birthday, and the world was a few months shy of being plunged into the Groundhog Day nightmare of the Covid-19 pandemic — not that anybody knew that second part. Full of self deprecations about the size of his forehead, gripes about life on the road, and earnest declarations of love for his wife and baby waiting for him at home in northern New Jersey, the special...

The Christopher Guest-style mockumentary Marathon premieres on digital and On Demand this July. This trailer will have you in stitches!:

From writer-directors Keith Strausbaugh and Anthony Guidubaldi, Marathon is “a cheeky, giggle-filled mockmentary” (The Film Yap) that tracks an assemblage of improbable partakers of a long-distance race “Christopher Guest-style” (Projected Figures).

The mock-doc begins three months before Devil’s Canyon Marathon, an underfunded local race organized by shoe store owner, Ed Clap. We meet and follow the below runners, delving into their training, but more importantly, their personal relationships (or lack thereof) with friends, family, and romantic partners. Ryan O’Brien missed qualifying for last year’s Boston Marathon by nine seconds. He’s obsessed with everything Boston. This is his year. Or is it? A foot injury and a testy relationship with the cameraman may be his undoing. Jenna Kowalski is attempting to break the record for...

Exclusive: Actors Lili Mirojnik and Aedin Mincks have signed with Stewart Talent, Deadline hears.

A native of New York City, Mirojnik most recently starred opposite actor Christopher Meloni in the UCP for Syfy series, Happy! Also starring in the J.J. Abrams-produced Cloverfield and appearing opposite Justin Timberlake in Sony/Screen Gems comedy Friends with Benefits, the American Academy of Dramatic Arts alum’s television credits include Person of Interest, Blue Bloods, Grimm and Grey’s Anatomy.

Known for his roles in everything from Disney’s A.N.T. Farm to The Mick, Colony, New Girl and Fresh Off the Boat, Mincks can currently be seen in Season 3 of Cobra Kai. In the Netflix series, set 34 years after the events of The Karate Kid, the actor plays ‘Mitch,’ a young martial artist who makes his entrance at the Cobra Kai Dojo, following Cobra Kai’s victory at the All Valley Karate Tournament.

On the 26th anniversary of the day we lost John Candy, the legendary actor's two children paid tribute to their late father with touching tribute messages on Twitter. Candy's daughter, Jennifer Candy, has followed in her father's footsteps by working in movies and television as an actress and entertainer. This began with providing voiceover work as a child actress for her father's cartoon series, Camp Candy, followed by appearances on other shows in the following years like Mad TV and According to Jim. Jennifer also appeared in the 2019 movie In Vino and co-produced the TV shows Cockpit and Prom Queen.

Remembering her father, Jennifer Candy tweeted a moving tribute to John on social media that's guaranteed to pull at your heart strings. The post includes three pictures of a young Jennifer with John from happier times when the famous actor was still with us. "I miss you ... I love you!

Full Frontal with Samantha Bee has promoted Mike Drucker and Kristen Bartlett to co-head writers for the late-night talker’s fifth season, which kicked off last week. They replace former head writer Melina Taub.

The show’s writing team is coming off winning the 2020 Comedy/Variety Special WGA Award for last year’s Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

“Wait, we promoted who?”, said Bee. “I’m kidding, of course we promoted Mike and Kristen. They have been an instrumental part of our writing team. I’m an incredible recognizer of the incredibly talented.“

Writer-comedian Drucker joined the Full Frontal team in 2018. Before that, he was a staff writer on such shows as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Adam Ruins Everything, Bill Nye Saves the World, and The President Show. Bartkett is an alumna of Saturday Night Live and the Upright Citizens Brigade

“After three drafts of this statement,...

CBS has put in development Pretty, a single-camera comedy from Lindsey Kraft (Getting On), Santina Muha, former 2 Broke Girls executive producer Michelle Nader, Kaley Cuoco’s Yes, Norman Productions and Warner Bros. TV, where Cuoco is under an overall deal.

Kraft and Muha star in the project, written by Kraft from a story by her and Muha, Pretty is about a ballsy, passionate woman (Muha) who moves from Jersey to L.A. to pursue her dreams of finding love and becoming the next Oprah.

Cuoco, Michelle Nader and Danielle Stokdyk (iZombie) executive produce. Kraft and Yes, Norman Productions’ Suzanne McCormack co-executive produce. Muha is a producer. Yes, Norman Productions produces in association with Warner Bros. TV.

Cuoco and Kraft met at a party through the agent they share and immediately hit it off. Kraft told The Big Bang Theory star...

There's a saying: just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they aren't after you. Enter Murray Bauman, a former journalist who has been following the events of Stranger Things very closely, coming to Chief Hopper with all sorts of ideas about Eleven and Barb and a vast government conspiracy over the years. And he's not wrong, though Hopper can't tell him that (at least at first).

Now that we've reached season three and Murray is practically an integral part of the group, it's time to ask: who plays this bearded believer? It's Brett Gelman, one of those quintessential "Hey, it's that guy!" actors.

Gelman got his start doing improv and stand-up comedy in New York City. He quickly developed improv group Monkey D*ck, which went on to be developed into a limited-release TV show for the Upright Citizens Brigade. He also developed a character called Rapzilla for a couple of...

Two-time Emmy-nominated Veep actor Matt Walsh and Isla Fisher are set to star in Unplugging, a new comedy Walsh co-wrote with Brad Morris (Cougar Town). The pic will mark the directorial debut of editor Debra Neil-Fisher.

Both Walsh and Morris will produce alongside Deborah Liebling, Stephanie Laing, and Kevin Matusow and Carissa Buffel for The Traveling Picture Show Company.

Radiant Films International will handle foreign sales and introduce to buyers at Cannes. Gersh and UTA Independent will co-represent domestic sales.

Think a rustic getaway with no cell service, Internet or social media is a romantic way to repair your marriage and sex life? Think again. Meet Dan and Jeanine Dewerson. The only spark in their bedroom is from the wall socket. Their daughter’s best friend is her iPad.

Fresh off a well-deserved, scare-the-money-out-your-pockets box office weekend for his horror film Us and a PaleyFest panel for his forthcoming revival of the iconic Twilight Zone, Jordan Peele scaled down the spectacle and participated in the Upright Citizens Brigade’s Q&A series in Los Angeles. In a conversation moderated by Ucb co-founder Ian Roberts in front of Ucb training center students, Peele talked about his career and his role as a black auteur in a renaissance for underrepresented voices in Hollywood.

Considering the audience was filled with Ucb improvisers and aspiring TV writers, producers and filmmakers, the majority of the conversation focused on Peele’s journey from aspiration to Sarah Lawrence College to Mad TV to Key & Peele to Get Out to Us. He even went into detail about the time he auditioned for Saturday Night Live during the 2008 writers strike with an impression of Barack Obama and then...

Thanks to roles on two high-profile comedies, actress and comedian D’Arcy Carden has become the common link to the two sitcom stars most likely to be dubbed “national treasures”: Ted Danson and Henry Winkler.

Through a luck of scheduling, and some patient producers and network executives, Carden juggles gigs on NBC’s “The Good Place” and HBO’s “Barry.” It’s quite a moment for the actress, who spent years dreaming of being a part of a beloved TV ensemble and now is on two.

“TV scheduling is a weird thing,” Carden said. “I shot the pilot for ‘Barry’ the same month I shot the pilot for ‘The Good Place” [in winter 2016].” “The Good Place” was immediately ordered to series, while it took a year for HBO to greenlight “Barry” — which means last year, Carden was shooting the second season of “The Good Place” and the first season of “Barry” at the same time.

HBO has ordered a second series of 2 Dope Queen specials featuring Jessica Williams and Phoebe Robinson based on their hit comedy Wnyc podcast. The four new hour-long specials are slated to premiere in 2019.

The duo’s first series of specials debuted to critical acclaim last February. Tig Notaro directed the four shows, which featured special guests Uzo Aduba, Tituss Burgess, Sarah Jessica Parker and Jon Stewart.

Launched in 2016, 2 Dope Queens is a weekly standup and storytelling podcast that features Williams and Robinson, along with their friends and favorite comedians, talking about sex, romance, race, hair journeys and living in New York.

Williams will next be seen as Professor Eulalie “Lally” Hicks in J.K. Rowling’s upcoming Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. She recently wrapped production on Olivia Wilde’s Booksmart opposite Jason Sudeikis and Lisa Kudrow and Patrick Brice’s Corporate Animals opposite Demi Moore and Ed Helms.

In today’s casting roundup, the upcoming “Troupe Zero,” starring Viola Davis, Allison Janney, and Jim Gaffigan, is casting actors for a pair of featured background roles. Plus, a digital pilot is casting a Middle Eastern actor for its lead role, Upright Citizens Brigade is seeking a featured background actor for a comedy sketch show, and a teen clothing line needs models for an upcoming campaign. “Troupe Zero,” Snoring Man & Trashy LADYThe upcoming Amazon Studios feature film “Troupe Zero,” starring Viola Davis, Allison Janney, and Jim Gaffigan is casting actors for a pair of featured background roles. A male actor, aged 60–79, is wanted to portray a snoring man, and a female actor, aged 20–49, is wanted to portray a trashy lady. Filming will start on June 22 in Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. Some pay will be provided. Apply here! Digital Pilot, Rising Chefa Middle Eastern male actor, aged 30–45, is currently wanted to portray...

Viacom’s message to Madison Avenue at its first Digital Content NewFronts song and dance: It is, finally, strategically positioned to deliver concentrated internet audiences at scale.

To be sure, the core of Viacom’s business remains locked in traditional TV and film. But with the coming-out party for the recently created Viacom Digital Studios, the conglomerate’s story is that it has a boatload of digital-first programming, partnerships and talent deals — designed to extend existing brands MTV, Comedy Central, Nick and Bet more broadly online across YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Snapchat as well as create new programming franchises.

“The launch of Viacom Digital Studios is an amazing opportunity to reimagine our iconic brands for a new generation of young, mobile-first audiences,” said Kelly Day (pictured above), the former AwesomenessTV exec who was tapped as president of Viacom Digital Studios last fall.

In addition to Viacom Digital Studios’ plans for...

Comedy Central is hoping it’s whipped up the recipe for a daily dose of digital comedy, patterned on the success of its long-running TV mainstay, “The Daily Show.”

The Viacom-owned cable programmer is unveiling a new project called “The Creators Program”: a team of five stand-up comedians, writers and improv performers who will produce a short weekday take on pop culture and entertainment, as well as a weekly scripted workplace comedy — about working at Comedy Central.

The Creators Program crew was picked through an open casting call, and Comedy Central is aiming to launch the first fruits of their labor the last week of May on its YouTube channel (6.3 million subscribers) and Facebook page (6.3 million followers).

“This is Comedy Central’s biggest investment ever in digital and social content,” said Jennifer Danielson, Comedy Central’s senior VP of digital, although she declined to put a dollar figure on the initiative.

If it were up to “His Airness,” the heir to his throne atop the Space Jam sequel wouldn’t be King James. While at his basketball camp, Michael Jordan was asked who he would like to see star in Space Jam 2, the follow up to the 1996 movie. While three-time NBA champ LeBron James is attached to star, Jordan said he would prefer another all star. “I would probably pick Blake Griffin,” Jordan said. While Griffin won’t get the key role in the Justin Lin-directed flick, he already has some experience with the movie. In 2014, the L.A. Clipper did a reading of the original Space Jam at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre where he played Jordan. He did so alongside Nick Kroll, Danielle Fishel and Seth Green. Griffin's fondness for the space basketball film doesn't end there. In a 2015 interview with Basketball Insiders, he said of the project,...

Universal Cable Productions is making a push into comedy, signing a first-look deal with improv and sketch comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade. Under the deal, the group, led by co-founders Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, will develop scripted programming for NBCUniversal's portfolio of cable networks as well as external networks and streaming services. Under the pact, the two companies already are working on five series projects, We Can Fix You…...

Most people may not recognize the name Del Close, but if you’ve ever enjoyed Bill Murray, Amy Poehler, or Stephen Colbert, you have him to thank for mentoring many of today’s top comedians until he died in 1999. The documentary “Thank You Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon” aims to pay homage to the legendary performer by following many of his acolytes as they reunite for the Del Close Marathon, an annual improv festival hosted by the Upright Citizens Brigade. Also Read: 'Rainbow Time' Cast, Filmmaker Discuss Emotional Lives of Special Needs Families (Video) Matt Walsh, one of the stars of.

Chicago – In founding and being an artistic director of a theater company for over 30 years, Richard Cotovsky of Mary-Arrchie Co. has a few stories to tell. In Part Two of an interview with the “Godfather of Chicago Storefront Theater” Cotovsky talks about the annual Abbie Hoffman Died for our Sins Festival, and the various acts of producing memorable stage productions.

Rich Cotovsky is a lifelong Chicagoan, growing up and currently living in the Rogers Park neighborhood. He was a founding member of Mary-Arrchie Co. – an amalgamation of parent’s names from one of his early acting students – and has served as its Artistic Director since it began in 1986. His award-winning theatre company has served up gritty and memorable productions for 30 years, but their current show, “American Buffalo” – which features Cotovsky in a lead role – will be their final show. The building that houses the space the company has had since the late 1980s,...

In this first episode of "The Seeso Secret Society," a web series leading up tot he launch of new comedy streaming platform Seeso, comedians Dave Ahdoot and Ethan Fixell are on a quest to join a secret society of comedians by fulfilling a series of mysterious tasks. Read More: Fake Werner Herzog Unveils a Fake Secret Society in Teaser For Real Streaming Service 'SeeSo' Following an anonymous note, the duo finds that their first job happens to be cleaning the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in Los Angeles. Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, the founders of Ucb, make an appearance as the mysterious taskmasters, eventually sending the young comedians off to their next job once they've adequately tidied up the theater. Ahdoot and Fixell will star in their own original series on Seeso, "Dave & Ethan: Lovemakers." Poehler, Roberts, Besser and Walsh are also involved with Seeso through another original series,...

Paul Scheer and Rob Huebel have plenty in common: endless improv chops, an appreciation for terrible cinema (Scheer hosts the podcast "How Did This Get Made?" about lame movies; Huebel hosts the La Upright Citizens Brigade revue "The Shit Show" where guests discuss their worst performances and gigs), and now, the experience of performing together on a giant glass bus. Their new special "Crash Test" sees the comics entertaining an audience on a large party bus as it travels through Los Angeles. On their journey, they meet fellow comics Aziz Ansari, Andy Daly, Rob Corddry, Aubrey Plaza, Natasha Leggero, Jack McBrayer, Thomas Lennon, Ian Karmel, and more. It's a wild ensemble held together by Scheer and Huebel's vaudevillian stamina. We caught up with Scheer and Huebel to discuss friendship in the comedy community, the greatness of bad movies, and what to think of the plagiarism scandal surrounding Twitter star Josh Ostrovsky,...

Two episodes were provided prior to broadcast.

Cable has treated writers, directors, and actors kindly for a good long time now, but in terms of volume, no group may have benefited more from the shift toward small-scale television than comedians. From Lucy, to Cosby, to Seinfeld, having your own show used to mean committing half of your year to a network’s schedule. Now, bite-sized season orders and fracturing markets mean that the spoils of cable can be shared by more comedic voices than ever. Comedy Central’s Review was one of last year’s best, laugh-out-loud funniest surprises, and Thursday’s premiere gives little reason to expect anything less than an equally hysterical Season 2.

The secret to Review’s success (which also helps distinguish the show from the Australian series on which it is based) is that it’s the purest delivery system for the mad genius of comedian Andy Daly.

One of the films of SXSW 2015 that’s getting praised by nearly everyone who’s seen it is Charles Hood’s Night Owls. Telling the story of a drunken one night stand that takes a turn for the darker when one character takes a bottle of pills, Night Owls finds a way to be one of the most hilarious films of the festival. Much of that humor is thanks to the excellent chemistry between the two leads as they beat each other up and banter back and forth.

Those two leads are Adam Pally and Rosa Salazar. We had the pleasure of sitting down with them the morning after the premiere to discuss the film. We talked about stepping outside of comfort zones, being so comfortable on screen together, how to properly handle physical comedy and more.

Check out the full interview below.

Wgtc: What was it that originally drew you to the movie?...

Who better to interview Rob Corddry about Hot Tub Time Machine 2 opening this weekend than a friend from his past? Corddry and Nick Kroll have been friends for a long time, starting all the way back in the early days of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and you can tell by their rapport. The two talk about HTTM2, Chapstick addiction, and potential porn parodies. There are a lot of bits.Rob Corddry: Kroll, you only got, like, an hour and a half, two hours? Nick Kroll: I actually have, like, three hours, but it’s my power play to say I’m only available for the next hour and a half.Oh, yeah, cool. I get that. Rob, any power plays that you can remember that you’re specifically proud of in your show-business career?Yeah. You know how a lot of people say, “Oh, you can...

Fans of comedy and those with comedic aspirations who wish to hone their stage skills have a new place to check out in Los Angeles. Founders Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, Matt Walsh and the rest of Ucb Theatre La hosted the grand opening celebration of Ucb Sunset last night, with tons of Ucb alums and stars in attendance.On Saturday, November 1. Ucb Sunset hosted two Asssscat performances amidst a building-wide party that continued into the wee hours.The Upright Citizens Brigade was founded and is currently owned by Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh. With two […]...

[For a delightful photographed account of the weekend click on the image above or on the tab at the bottom of the diary.] Every year, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre puts on the Del Close Marathon (Dcm) in honor of its legendary Chicago improv teacher. Now in its 16th year, the festival has grown from 24 hours of shows on a single stage to hundreds of shows on eight stages for nearly 56 hours straight. Every year, performers from the past return to do shows and hang out at this part-festival, part-convention, part-reunion. Last year, we had The Office's Ellie Kemper keep a diary of her Dcm. This year, Vulture asked Silicon Valley star Thomas Middleditch, who performed at Ucb New York after time spent in Chicago and before his move to L.A. Read about his five shows, partying anxieties, paella dinners, and general fun-having.Day 1: Friday, June 27 9:50 a.m. I...

Comedian Ari Voukydis was stumped by the final “Jeopardy” question on Thursday's show but would not go down without a witty repartee. Host Alex Trebek asked the contestant, “In 1891, this European said, ‘Perhaps my factories will put an end to war sooner than your congresses.'” Also read: Watch the Worst Wheel of Fortune Contestant Ever Lose a Million Dollars (Video) Instead of leaving his slate blank, Voukydis — who has performed with the comic troupe Upright Citizens Brigade — decided to scrawl a facetious caption pointing to himself. Also read: Watch the Most Heartbreaking ‘Family Feud’ Ending Ever (Video) “‘His response was,...

The famed improv school is offering performers a chance to sample its classes for free during a June 28 open house event. Second City, which is headquartered in Chicago, launched the careers of performers ranging from John Candy and Steve Carell to Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. But in Los Angeles, it faces stiff competition for improv students from the Groundlings and Upright Citizens Brigade. Next month’s open house, said Scla artistic director Marc Warzecha, “is very much a community building event.” Warzecha said performers don’t have to be focused on comedy to get some use out of Sc’s improv classes. “Here in Hollywood there is a significant amount of our student base that are current working actors,” he said. “Some are working in drama and want the improv training to help them in auditions, help them be in the moment, help them think on their feet. They’re not necessarily pursuing comedy.

What happens when you take two women who have extensive comedy experience—they were trained by the likes of Amy Poehler in the Upright Citizens Brigade—and are real life best friends and give them a TV show? USA Network's wonderful new comedy Playing House, our new TV obsession. Created by and starring Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, the new comedy follows the very pregnant Maggie (Parham) and what happens when her life essentially falls apart. Enter her childhood best friend Emma (St. Clair). "We basically decided this time we'd make it really easy on ourselves," St. Clair told E! News. "Our writers room was full of Ucb [Upright Citizens Brigade] people and we put up on the board:...

It takes a strong sense of comedic license to reference the labia minora, turn it into a Jewish joke, and come out unscathed. But raunch and riffing off audience members comes with the improv territory at Upright Citizens Brigade and beyond. One of the perks of taking that special kind of artistic liberty is saying whatever you want onstage, to whomever you want, for laughs. Comedy can be a way to speak your mind, but it can also be a way to explore yourself as a performer and receive some open, honest feedback. One of Ucb’s many improv shows, “Asssscat 3000”—associated with Amy Poehler, who’s on the rotating bill—takes that explorative, honest license and runs with it, no sweat. But don’t be fooled by the ease with which these improvisers perform; “Asssscat 3000” comes from a lot of work at the Ucb Training Center. “We went through...

Though director Jason Reitman has been hosting special events at Lacma with live-readings of various scripts like Groundhog Day and Boogie Nights, but with different actors in the roles, awhile back, we became privy to a different live read that happened at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in Los Angeles. NBA all-star Blake Griffin sat down with Paul Scheer, Seth Green, Ralph Garman, Danielle Fishel and Nick Kroll and more for a live script-reading of the 1996 live-action, animated hybrid Space Jam. The result is something truly hilarious and unique, and we hope more of these will happen later. Watch it! Here's just part of the live-reading of Space Jam from the Ucb Theater in La (via Funny or Die): While Reitman is busy taking classic or revered films and creating live-reads, the people at Ucb and Funny or Die could easily do this with cult classics and terrible films.

It wasn’t the most compelling movie of its day, but “Space Jam” seems to have staying power all the same.

On Monday (March 24), Seth Green, Nick Kroll, Ben Schwartz and Danielle Fishel performed a table read of the movie’s script as part of the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre-hosted event.

Representing the National Basketball Association, La Clippers studs Blake Griffen and DeAndre Jordan provided the athletic prowess originally supplied by living legend Michael Jordan.

Furthermore, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater reading of “Space Jam” was documented by Funny or Die, so hopefully we’ll get to see the whole thing (there are currently several short clips) in the future!

"I'm a reviewer, but I don't review food, books or movies," says Forest MacNeil. "I review life itself!" MacNeil is the creation of comedian Andy Daly and the main character of Comedy Central's latest show Review (which premiered last night at 10 p.m. Est), an everyman who gives star ratings to first-person experiences involving eating pancakes, racism and anything else his TV audience throws at him. Stealing, for example, only gets two stars; cocaine gets "a million stars!"

The 50 funniest people right now

In this clip, MacNeil decides to review addiction,...

Traditional long-form improv, like that which happens at improvOlympic and Upright Citizens Brigade, has consistently struggled to find a home on TV. So, House of Lies Live might be the only time you'll see it for a while. Executive produced by Ben Schwartz, the half-hour program joins improv newbies Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell with make-'em-up veterans Schwartz, Josh Lawson, Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul, and Eugene Cordero (all seven appear in House 0f Lies season three). It's scheduled to air on Showtime tomorrow night at 10 p.m. Don't worry if you have New Year's Eve plans, as you can watch it in full below. Also, don't worry if you don't have New Year's plans, guys, something super cool will come up. We promise. This is no house of lies.

"House of Lies" cast members Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson are veterans of the Los Angeles improv scene -- co-stars Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell, not so much. But in the unusual special below, the four ditched their characters to join comedians Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul and Eugene Cordero, who also appear in the upcoming third season of the management consultant series, for some long-form improv at L.A.'s Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. "House of Lies Live!" airs on Showtime tomorrow, December 31st at 10pm, but you can watch it in full online below. Season three of "House of Lies" kicks off January 12th.

Showtime has brought online the "House of Lies Live" special and you can watch it below! With help from improv veterans and series stars, Emmy winner Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson, Golden Globe winner Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell leave their characters behind to try their hand at long-form improv, along with season three guest stars, comedians Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul and Eugene Cordero. Taped at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles, "House of Lies Live!" is the first ever Showtime original production to premiere online. The third season of "House of Lies" will premiere on Sunday, January 12th at 10 p.m. Et/Pt.

Before the highly-anticipated third season premiere of House Of Lies, on Sunday, January 12th at 10 p.m. Et/Pt, the show's fans will have a chance to see the cast like they've never seen them before - unscripted and in front of a live audience.  With help from series stars Don Cheadle, Ben Schwartz, Josh Lawson, and Kristen Bell leave their characters behind to try their hand at long-form improv, along with season three guest stars, comedians Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul and Eugene Cordero.  Taped at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles, House Of Lies Live! will premiere online on December 30th, the first ever Showtime original production to premiere...

The A team at Galweather & Stearn returns for Season 3 on January 12, but Showtime is offering up an appetizer of sorts. The bawdy comedy’s core four cast members — Don Cheadle, Kristen Bell, Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson – recently taped a longform improv with comics Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul and Eugene Cordero and this season’s House Of Lies guest stars. The special will premiere online December 30, marking Showtime’s first original production to bow on that platform, and air on Showtime at 10 Pm New Year’s Eve. Here’s a sneak peek at House Of Lies Live! — taped before a live audience at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles:...

The stars of Showtime’s “House of Lies” will perform improv in front of a live audience in a special that, in a Showtime first, will debut online. “House of Lies Live” will find Don Cheadle and Kristen Bell joining their co-stars — and improv veterans — Ben Schwartz and Josh Lawson at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in Los Angeles. Comedians Lauren Lapkus, Ryan Gaul and Eugene Cordero, who are season 3 guest stars, will also take part. Also read: TCA: Robin Williams Talks Anthony Weiner, Improv Comedy at ‘The Crazy Ones’ Panel The show will premiere online on Monday, Dec. 30,...