Splitsider: What You’re Missing By Watching SNL on Hulu

I wrote an article for Splitsider mentioning some of the great moments missed by those who watch SNL exclusively on Hulu — a growing number of young people these days.

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Splitsider: SNL Recap: Jonah Hill Is A Funny Man

For this week’s Saturday Night Live recap on Splitsider, I confess my reluctance to join the Jonah Hill fan club, and why after this episode, I might be starting to come around.

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iO West Harold Team Changes: The Cartel

There has been another seasonal shake-up of Harold teams at iO West. My old team, Natural 20, was sadly broken up after an 8-month run. However, after auditions last Sunday, I have been lucky enough to be added to a different mainstage team, The Cartel. The Cartel has been a popular team at iO West for the past few years, and it’s a huge honor to be asked to join them. Also joining the team is the wonderful Lauri Roggenkamp, of Hot Toddy fame (and a fellow Student of the Year).

Since I got the good news on Monday, things have been moving fast. I had my first rehearsal with the team last night (which was also the team’s first rehearsal with its new coach, Annie Kouris), and we have our first show tonight at 9:30 on the iO West Mainstage (with Bandit). After meeting the group and rehearsing with them, I was impressed by their dedication to the craft and their passion for the team. Also, they’re hilarious. It’s gonna be great working with these guys.

For a full list of all the changes (cuts, additions, new teams, etc.) read below the jump.

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Splitsider: SNL Recap: Lindsay Lohan is Comedy Poison

For this week’s SNL recap for Splitsider, I share my disappointment that after two stellar episodes hosted by strong female performers, the show took a step backwards with an uninspired episode hosted by an unprepared Lindsay Lohan.

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Sitting in with USS Rock N Roll

ImageI have been invited to sit in with USS Rock N Roll, one of the top Harold teams at iO West. USS is well known for their dynamic group work and ability to consistently produce inspired, thematically connected shows. They won the 2009 iO West Harold Tournament and were named “Best Harold Team” at the 2009 and 2010 Del Close Awards. USS is a popular team in the community — they’re great about going to watch other teams, and they do cool things like invite a novice performer from a recently cut Harold team to play with them for two weeks. While I’m a little nervous to guest perform with a team with such a strong sense of group mind, I love how well they support each other and I’m anxious to experience first-hand how they attack the Harold.

I am also excited to work with Jason Pardo, the team’s coach, a well regarded guru in the iO West community (and a fellow TSF alum). He’s been working with USS to take a different approach to scene work and character work, and if you’ve watched them lately, you’ve probably seen how funny they can be in scenes (very).

My two shows with USS will be Tuesday, Feb. 21 and 28, at 10:30 pm on the iO West Mainstage. The first one is tonight. If you’d like to come, let me know, and I’ll see about getting you comped. If I can’t, it’s only $5, or free for iO students and alumni.

Watch USS do an opening:

Splitsider: SNL Recap: Maya Rudolph and the Magic of Breaking

For this week’s SNL recap for Splitsider, I discuss how an unusual amount of cracking up during sketches only helped the already magnificent performance of Maya Rudolph, as well as that by returning guests Amy Poehler and Justin Timberlake.

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Splitsider: SNL Recap: Zooey Deschanel Gets Quirky

For this week’s SNL recap on Splitsider, I discuss how the episode became a sort of portrait of Zooey Deschanel and her signature quirky charm.

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Splitsider: SNL Recap: Channing Tatum Endures a Night of Catcalls

For this week’s SNL recap for Splitsider, I discuss the difficulties SNL faces by using a live studio audience, and how the strip club atmosphere of last weekend’s episode contributed to a frequently uncooperative crowd.

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USS: Harold Openings ala David Fincher

I wrote a guest blog for USS Rock N Roll’s website about Harold openings, why we fear them, and an analogy that I found helpful.

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February Show Schedule

I have a bunch of improv shows scheduled for February 2012, and I’ve listed them below. If you’d like to come to any of them, just let me know and there’s a very good chance I can get you in free. The shows marked in **asterisks** are ones I really need an audience for, so if you can, I’d really appreciate it if you could come.

 

**Natural 20**
Harold Show
Wednesday, Feb 1, 8:30 pm on the iO West Mainstage

Ranger Kamp
Bobby Does the Loft
Friday, Feb. 3, 8 pm in the iO West Loft

UCB 201 Grad Show
Student Final Show
Saturday, Feb. 4, 2:30 pm at the UCB Theater

Local Wizard
Dandy Night
Saturday, Feb. 4, 10:30 pm in the iO West DCT

Local Wizard
Danger Snack’s 2-Year Anniversary Show
Monday, Feb. 6, 10:30 pm in the iO West Loft

Local Wizard
Triggerfinger’s “Save the DCT” 24-Hour Improv Marathon
Sunday, Feb. 12, noon in the DCT

**Natural 20**
Harold Show
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 8:30 pm on the iO West Mainstage

Local Wizard
Bobby Does the Loft
Friday, Feb. 17, 8 pm in the iO West Loft

USS Rock N Roll (Sitting in)
Harold Show
Tuesday, Feb. 21, 10:30 pm on the iO West Mainstage

USS Rock N Roll (Sitting in)
Harold Show
Tuesday, Feb. 28, 10:30 pm on the iO West Mainstage

**Natural 20**
Harold Show
Wednesday, Feb. 29, 8:30 pm on the iO West Mainstage

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