Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane

Matt Besser, a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade, hosts Jimmy at the UCB Theater LA. Matt bears all for Jimmy, discussing his time in Chicago, the founding of UCB, the recent controversy over paying performers, and even a relationship that was previously unknown to the audience. Matt could not have been a better guest. Improv lovers should NOT miss this episode.

Before moving to Los Angeles in 2012, Amanda Blake Davis was a favorite of the Chicago improv scene. She starred in revues at The Second City Chicago, earning a JEFF Award for that work, and could regularly be seen at iO and The Annoyance Theater. Amanda joined Jimmy for a candid interview and a wonderful improvised scene.

Steve Waltien from The Second City mainstage joins Jimmy for a frank conversation about overcoming anxiety, how the death of his father informed his work, and the shelf life of a good shirt. Then, Steve and Jimmy find themselves in a bunker with ominous consequences.

Tim Baltz sits down with Jimmy and describes the evolution of his sense of humor, growing up in a multicultural home, and learning to be comfortable with self confidence. Then Tim and Jimmy perform a wonderful set of scenes that demonstrate why Tim is one of Chicago's most beloved improvisers. Listen in!

Tim Baltz sits down with Jimmy and describes the evolution of his sense of humor, growing up in a multicultural home, and learning to be comfortable with self confidence. Then Tim and Jimmy perform a wonderful set of scenes that demonstrate why Tim is one of Chicago's most beloved improvisers. Listen in!

Peter Gwinn wrote for The Colbert Report for over 6 years, earning an on-air farewell when he left. Peter is also one of the co-writers of The Secondy City's Twist Your Dickens holiday revue in Los Angeles. Listen in as Peter and Jimmy talk about Peter's life in comedy and then perform a great improv set.

Jeff Garlin sits down with Jimmy 90 minutes before doing a solo show at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater. Jeff talks about his method to approaching improvised standup comedy and the process that creates Curb Your Enthusiasm. Listen in!

Katie Rich, one of the stars of The Second City Chicago's 99th and 100th Revues, joins Jimmy for a candid interview and a fantastic improv set. We've had a string of great shows during our Fall 2012 run at Stage 773, this one was especially fun.

John Hildreth, the influential performer and instructor at The Second City in Chicago, joins Jimmy for a great discussion on improv and then John and Jimmy give a clinic on the art of slow comedy. John is one of our favorite improvisers in Chicago, listen and see why.

Charna Halpern drops by for one of our favorite episodes of Improv Nerd yet. Charna talks about her partnership with Del Close, the many talented performers that have performed at her theater over the years, and her long, storied career in improv. Then, Brendan Jennings and Brad Morris stop by to improvise with Jimmy while Charna takes notes. Don't miss this great episode!

Keegan-Michael Key, co-star of Comedy Central's Key & Peele, sat down with Jimmy at the 2012 Detroit Improv Festival in August and discussed his days growing up in Detroit, his transformation from classical theater to improv, and how his fellow theater majors gave him grief for being in a college fraternity. Do not miss this candid interview and fantastic improv set with Keegan-Michael Key.

Norm Holly, legendary Second City director and teacher, sits down with Jimmy to discuss his tendency to cause trouble, his success as a director, and what Andy Dick was like before he got famous. There's even a special guest. Listen in.

Earlier this year, Jimmy had the chance to sit down and talk with Megan Gray, Rick Andrews and Louis Kornfeld - three improvisers from the Magnet Theater Co. in New York who were in town for the Chicago Improv Festival. They discussed the similarities and differences between Chicago and New York improv and then put those methods to the test in a great set of scenes.

Joe Bill and Mark Sutton, original Annoyance Theater members and the guys behind Bassprov, stop by to discuss the early days of the annoyance theater, how to stay relevant in improv, and how Mark became to known as Howard.

Scott Adsit was in town for Just For Laughs and sat down with Jimmy to talk about his college days studying acting in Chicago, his time at The Second City, and his many television projects, including 30 Rock, Mr. Show and Frankenhole.

Brendan Jennings is beloved in Chicago for his work on the Second City ETC stage and with Cook County Social Club. In 2012 he was invited to perform on the new faces in comedy at the Montreal Just For Laughs festival. In this episode, Brendan sits down with Jimmy to discuss why he still gets nervous around teenagers and how being a father has changed the way he approaches his career.

Brian Stack has written for Conan O'Brien for 15 years, creating such memorable characters for the show as Artie Kendall, The Interruptor, and Andy Richter's little sister Stacy. Brian joins Jimmy for this live episode of Improv Nerd where they discuss his life in late night television, Brian's days as a Second City performer, and why it's so easy to be a nice guy in show business.

Kevin McDonald of the legendary sketch group Kids In The Hall joins Jimmy for a candid conversation about his friendships with Mike Meyers and Dave Foley and the evolution of Kids In The Hall.

David Koechner of Anchorman and NBC's The Office sits down to talk with Jimmy about his time studying with Del Close, his tenure at SNL, the making of Anchorman and more.

SNL featured player Tim Robinson and veteran Chicago improviser Dina Facklis sit down with Jimmy to talk about how Dina gave up traditional theater for improv and why Tim grew up being known as a sass mouth.

Ike Barinholtz and his brother Jon Barinholtz sit down with Jimmy to discuss Ike's run on both Mad TV and HBO's Eastbond And Down, the importance of staying positive about your career, and the benefits of having a funny, supportive family.

Rachel Dratch drops by to talk with Jimmy about her new book, her days on SNL, and the joy she's found in her life as a mother.

Greg Proops sits down with Jimmy to discuss his life as an improviser and comedian, the impact of Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and the intersection of improv and show business.

Matt Walsh, co-founder of the Upright Citizens Brigade, stops by the Improv Nerd studio to discuss his new film High Road and his role in HBO's new series Veep with Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, stars of the new Comedy Central hit Key & Peele, stop by for a special episode of Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane. In this candid interview, Key and Peele address some of their critics, discuss their philosophy for developing sketches, and talk about the benefits and hazards of being biracial comedians in post-Obama America. Listen in as Jimmy explores these issues and more with America's hottest comedy duo.

Jimmy sits talks and improvises with Joey Bland and Ross Bryant from the Improvised Shakespeare Company. Joey shares his secret to being a two time Jeopardy champion while Ross shows off his funky fresh flow.

In this episode of Improv Nerd, Jimmy talks and improvises with Middle Age Comeback, two gentlemen otherwise known as Jimmy Carlson and Craig Uhlir. Listen in as we discover how Jim and Craig first met as improv students, why Craig is done sketch work, and why an aspiring performer should stay forever young.

This episode of Improv Nerd features Dummy, the two person improv team composed of off-stage couple Jason Shotts and Colleen Doyle. In this episode, we hear about how the two met, why fight about improv more than anything else, and what really happened to Del's ashes.

Listen in as Improv Nerd is overtaken by The Playboys - the dynamic improv group consisting of Susan Messing, Rachael Mason and Kate Duffy. During this episode, we learn about how they came together as a group, their thoughts on going blue and the kinds of things that have always made Kate Duffy laugh since junior high. The stage literally gets drenched in this high energy installment of Improv Nerd.

Jimmy sits down for a candid conversation with legendary improviser and director Mick Napier. Mick discusses his formation of the Annoyance Theater, his work with Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert, and how he came to deconstruct the rules of improvisation.

There are very few improvisers on the planet that are as respected and admired as TJ Jagodowski. In this episode of Improv Nerd, Jimmy talks with TJ about some the personal tragedy and heartache he has endured, the chemistry that makes TJ & Dave so successful, and how he is able to assess the unique logic that forms the basis of every improv scene.

In this episode of Improv Nerd, Jimmy sits down with David Pasquesi - one of Chicago's most celebrated improvisers. David discusses his days with Del Close, his partnership with TJ Jagodowski, and what keeps him motivated as an improviser.

Michael Patrick Thornton, one of the stars of ABC's Private Practice, improvises with Jimmy and tells us about his evolution as an actor and opening an independent theater on Chicago's north side.

In this episode, Jimmy interviews and then improvises with one of Chicago's great improvisers, Jet Eveleth. Jet Eveleth is a member of the The Reckoning and she can also be seen in The Armando Diaz Experience at the iO Theater. Jet has been an instructor at Columbia’s Comedy Studies Program, a faculty member of The Second City Conservatory, and the iO Theater and was a co-artistic director of the Chicago Improv Festival.

In this episode, Jimmy interviews and improvises with Bill Cochran, Greg Hess, Mark Raterman, and Tim Robinson of Chicago's own Cook County Social Club. We get the scoop about their work for Comedy Central and how Tim channels all that nervous energy.

In this episode, Jimmy interviews and improvises with former SNL star Tim Meadows. We learn about how Tim got back into improv following his run on SNL and why Tim hates seeing adults play children on stage.

In the latest installment of Improv Nerd with Jimmy Carrane, we learn about Tara DeFrancisco's auditions for SNL, personal forces that shape her approach toward improv, and why it makes her nervous to see her students at a show. Then Tara and Jimmy treat us to an hilarious array of improvised scenes.

In this Episode, Jimmy interviews The Second City's legendary improv teacher, director, and performer Michael Gellman. We learn about Michael's experience teaching a famous Hollywood actress and his advice to Chris Farley. And as the cold winds begin their advance on Chicago, Jimmy and Michael improvise a scene in the great north woods.