Folks, I just realized the director of The Real World gave me the California time of the show and not the Chicago time. The show starts at 9:00 P.M. and not 10:00. And the previous weeks rerun the hour before, so lets make the party 8:30-Ill buy pizza and snacks and we will have fun watching it at 9:00. This is going to be the first time I see it, too-so I need my support group there.

Folks
I rarely push the iO shows on a blog, but I saw the above show, Fri night at 10:30 in the DCT and laughed so hard -all the way through the show. This is the sketch show I’ve been waiting for. Unique-smart- funny and beautifully acted. I highly recommend you see it.

Bill Arnett and fans touched on this a bit so I thought Id write about it. I just returned from Toronto where I did a workshop for The Impatient Theater Company. I was amazed to see that its like a time warp-I felt like I was looking at Chicago in the 80″s when I was getting started. They have Second City and two little competing theater companies-The Aforementioned one and Bad Dog Theater. Everyone is quite a bit behind in improv because they don’t have the types of performances that we have in Chicago to look up to. That is why Kevin of IT is bringing in top Chicago folks to teach and perform. But what interested me the most was the knowledge they have about Chicago. Kevin, in particular, was a walking encyclopedia about our performers, our teachers, our forms and our history. Others were like this too. Chicago is well respected in other Cities and Countries and I think we should be proud. I feel like we are the sitcom that others stand around the cooler to talk about in other cities. And the best thing is, these Toronto folks want to learn. They love the art form and you can see the excitement in their eyes when they talk about it.

I left feeling proud. I knew I started a movement but I keep forgetting just how far it goes. Im currently in talks with a theater company from RIO for shows and classes who know all about me and I.O. And Im even going to Switzerland to work with Nuclear Scientists at CERN.

On my way home from Toronto, I pondered all this and remembered the days we would stand outside of our theater on Wells street and try to beg people to come in to see what we do.

And I want to tip my hat to Kevin of The Impatient Theater. He has the right way of thinking and from the way he speaks about improv-Im guessing he is a good teacher. If folks listen to him, there is a good chance the improv seen in Toronto will grow fast. He wants to make alliances with Bad Dog Theater. He knows that everyone has to support each other if the improv theater scene is going to boom. He has the essence of a purist and I hope he will be supported. HEY YOU GUYS IN CANADA-ARE YOU LISTENING?

Its official-the cable is in and Im inviting you all to come to the theater Weds April 30th at 10:00 to watch the show where I am brought in. (The show begins airing April 16, but the kids aren’t aware of what they are in for until the third week.) This will be a great chance to celebrate together the beginning of weeks and weeks of national exposure for both theaters. And there will be a lot of laughs when you see what i had to go through. I know Im in the show a great deal as Im their job and mentor, but the show is a soap opera about them so its hard to say which weeks Ill be major and which Ill be just a small part. but keep watching on your own because there are times when I was teaching and I felt like I was in improv hell. Ill also answer any questions on future blogs that you may have on the show and how things are done. Just email me and Ill answer on the blog. (If anyone really cares).

So join me. Im excited-especially now that its over.

Finally-Im legally free to talk about my participation on THE REAL WORLD. I know some of you already heard but I spent the last three months of 2007 being the mentor and “the job” for the cast of the 20th season of The Real World. What an amazing experience. Its one thing to teach beginning improvisers who come here. They love the work, they’ve seen it and they want in. But these kids came from a different perspective. They approached it with raised eyebrows and were pretty scared. And partying was foremost on their minds.

I am going to invite you all soon to watch and share the triumphs and tribulations with me. You will all laugh a lot and be amazed. The show airs Weds, starting April 16th at 10:00 P.M. on MTV. The first two weeks is just the kids in the house getting to know each other and Im brought in on the third week-the 30th. We are working with the cable company to get it on tv here so maybe we can have a big Real World party. Ill be in touch. Meanwhile-set your TIVOS.

THE DEL AWARDS

WHAT AN AMAZING NIGHT WE HAD LAST NIGHT. We owe a big thank you to Ceasar Jaime, Dina Facklis, Danny Mora, Jeff Griggs and Bill Arnett. I love the Del Awards as it such a great opportunity for us to celebrate each other at iO. Everyone is involved from interns to house team performers and I love to see that. In fact, one of my favorite moments was when two interns came out and began breaking down boxes on stage while wondering what a Harold is. A great joke if youve ever been an intern. The only thing I missed were two categories,…best line….best improvised stage furniture. Maybe we need to watch each others shows more and write these things down. Its a great honor to have someone remember something creative you did on stage. Those were always my favorite moments-its a good excuse to start watching so that we can incorporate it next year again. Lets hope Dina and Ceasar will do it again next year. Its a lot of work and soon they will want to pass it down to one of you- so GET READY.

ANTIQUATED LAW

I recently read something that angers me to no end. There is something very wrong about the client privilege information law. I understand due process and that people have a right to confide in their lawyer but something is wrong with this process when an innocent person is not protected. Im referring to a case where a man named Alto Logan has been in prison for a murder he did not commit. Two lawyers had a client who they knew for a fact did commit that very murder. They knew Logan was innocent. But because of client privilege, they were not allowed to tell anyone that it was their client that committed the murder and NOT Logan. Certainly, these laws are being misunderstood or misused if some poor man is forced to waste 25 years of the short time he has on this earth because of client privilege information. What makes this even worse is the guilty man was already in jail anyway for another crime. But the guilty man insisted the truth about the murder not be released until he died-which just happened and now Logan’s case is being reviewed. I hope legislators look at this law closely and see that rights that protect one person are not harmful to someone else. What a world?

Last night was a very special night for a couple of reasons. If you weren’t here, I want to tell you about it. First, there was an amazing potluck dinner at 10:30 before 3033, sponsored by Danny Mora and the 3033 guys. It was such a special thing for the community and everyone loved it. The food was incredible. These are the same guys who came up with the idea for THE LOTTERY. They are always coming up with cool ways to bring the community together and they always do it at I.O.

Immediately after the last show (GhettoBlasters), a last minute group called The Fartsmiths took the stage. This group was Tim Baltz, Hans Holsen and Brendan Jennings. They announced to the packed theater that Del had taught them “if there is an audience, we do a show”. In that spirit, they announced that they will continue their show until the last audience member leaves. They performed a show that was, of course, hilarious-just look at the cast list. At 55 minutes, the lights went out. When the lights came back on, the frozen cast simply continued their scene from the moment before the lights went out. The show continued on-despite numerous lighting cues trying to end the show. Eventually thirty minutes later, the lighting person, Kevin Sciretta, walked on saying he had to leave but the show continued. Barry Hite volunteered to do lights from the bar. As this continued on, some of the audience started to leave but many stayed for more hilarity. Later, Brendan Jennings left the stage to get his coat but returned to the stage to tell the actors he had to leave. A half hour later, he called the actors on their cell phones during their scenes. Craziness ensued while more audience members left. At about 1:30, Tim Baltz put on his coat and gloves and did some scenes with Hans as he was ready to leave. Then He left. At about 1:45, there were about 3 people left in the audience and Hans Holsen, alone on stage, did a 5 minute monologue. What a trooper!! Then it was closing time. The improvisers that were left watching emailed me to say it was hilarious. Im sure it was. Im very proud of this crazy show. It could only happen at iO.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THOMAS MIDDLEDITCH, FERNANDO SOSA AND MATT MALINSKY. The guys shot a fun video months ago-it was Thomas rapping about McDonalds with Fernando doing the beatbox sound effects supporting him. It was shot by Matt. We put it on our website. Just recently, the boys were contacted by the advertising agency that represents McDonalds. They purchased the spot as is and now Thomas and Fernando have a national spot. They each made some dough and now may start that end of their career in high gear. I am also working with Brillstein /Gray to get us an IO corner on a site that pays. In addition, Im putting videos on my website and Adam McKay says he will take IO stuff for Funny or Die. com. So start making those videos kids. Its a new world and people with money are paying attention to us for content. Lord knows there is a ton of talent here and we get a hell of a lot of hits on our site.

Nothing makes me happier and prouder when I see one of my people get a TV Show. Now it’s Pete Hulnes’ turn and it’s long over due. Pete is one of the most hilarious people to grace the stage of I.O. My students have heard me talk about him as the KING of environment. He is featured on the dvd in my new book ART BY COMMITTEE and even contributed a chapter about working in the environment. He is on BEER SHARK MICE at IOWEST which is indisputably the funniest show in Los Angeles.

Now, Pete is the lead in a new show starting in July on Comedy Central. Its called AMERICAN BODY SHOP and from what I heard, it’s going to be hilarious. (See info below)

Please watch this show and help it to get sky high ratings. I cant wait for Pete to get on Leno or Letterman because I know he will plug I.O. He is an I.O. boy through and through. Lets be there for him. And I’m sure you will be entertained in exchange for doing a good deed. What if AMERICAN BODY SHOP and 30 ROCK were the two biggest things on TV? How cool would that be for I.O.?

AFTER WRITING THE BLOG BELOW, I SENT A COPY TO THE PRESS. I RECEIVED WONDERFUL EMAILS FROM BILL WILLIAMS AND RYAN HUBBARD, BOTH OF THE READER.
THEY BOTH LOVE THE IDEA AND WILL BE READING. START WRITING, KIDS.