Happy 2007 - Get Caught Up In the Tuesday Riot
Welcome to a whole new year of Chicago comedy. Still lingering in bed nursing a hangover? Be healed by the magical light of the laptop as we fill you in on the first of many new developments on the comedy scene this year.
There was lots of heated discussion in the comedy community when it was announced that TJ Miller and Thomas Middleditch's Tuesday Riot show at iO was going to include standup. Stand-up at iO? How could this be? Purists were worried. Others were not. Thomas and TJ's very first Tuesday Riot show is tonight at 8:00.
Thomas' thoughts on the brouhaha behind putting standup onstage at the legendary improv theater: "...it's causing a ruckus because it's standup at iO. iO is an improv theater and many improvisers feel that standup violates a secret code somehow established by Del Close. It's too bad, because by saying that they've created a double-standard, as many shows that are up now and have been up in the past have been everything from sketch, to live music, to musicals, to one-man shows, to just about anything. However standup, in their minds, is a vile artform -- no no! Not even an artform. A sleazy medium for dreaded "jokes"! Too bad Del Close did standup otherwise they'd have to hate him...wait a tic..."
"We're doing it to try out a new show involving things that we, TJ and myself, like doing. I would say I'm more of an improviser than a standup and TJ would say he's more of a standup than an improviser, yet we do and enjoy doing both."
"We have our two-man improvised show, and we thought it would be a cool idea to spice things up by having standups, or sketch groups, or whatever, open the show. The whole idea of it isn't really revolutionary. It's only a big deal because it's going on at iO, an establishment that's officially never allowed standups to perform there. We feel that our brand of improvisation can compliment the standups and vise versa. When TJ and I play it's usually fast, lot's of games and bits, jokes (that WORD! That dreaded word!!!)."
"Why it's exciting, especially for the standups, is that rarely do they get to play in a space like the Del Close theater (upstairs at iO). Except for Gallagher or Yakov or other hambones, 'underground' comics usually have to put up with horrible venues. Sometimes, literally, a box to stand on, a mic, and five people in the audience, most of them other comics. They sign up for open mic nights, mainly because they don't talk about the differences between men and women, what married life is like, or do prop comedy. TJ and I were talking about it earlier saying how cool it is to get standups in an environment where there's an attentive audience, a nice atmosphere, and a welcoming community. By and large, the improv community (especially around iO) is very open and into trying new things, there are only a few close-minded puritans that are voicing against this show."
Comments
That's great! I love stand up and I love improv! I don't think the "puritans" have anything to worry about, everything will work out just fine. There is no need to worry, Del wouldn't mind when he was manic, but maybe a bit when he was depressive. This show will enhance the general feeling of creativity.
Posted by: Jeb | January 2, 2007 6:08 PM
Last night's show was a gas. Yes a "gas". The guy's did a great job addressing the bruhaha, then introduced a video about new years, some stand up acts from Blerds (a good mix of comics and styles) then TJ and Thomas did a great improv set. As TJ said, "That's right. We're multimedia, motherfuckers."
It was refreshing to see such a variety of forms in comedy at one show, and it felt warm and connected since it was hosted by the duo. It wasn't a disparate variety show in the back of a lounge.
Unless you're like those old guard music store motherfuckers, "I don't plays CDs, only vinyl," then stick to your Beatles LPs, otherwise, plug in your iPod and get over yourself.
Posted by: Paul | January 3, 2007 10:18 AM
I can use HTML tags... FOR STYLE!!
I jsut want to say that a good comedian if funny in any form, and doesn't dismiss any form. Standup involves improv, just as improv occasionly REQUIRES deft verbal skills and the ability to switch expectations for a hearty laugh. I'm glad thomas is carrying on the "screw assholes" tradition in the 2nd city... the 1st city (offset by 1)
I am also excited to meet this TJ fellow in real life, as we are now best internet friends and we kiss each other and we're married.
Posted by: David Dineen-Porter, Thomas' Friend | January 3, 2007 11:25 AM
I was for this show until it went head to head with one that I was in across town. Standup shouldn't be done at an Improv Theater. Period.
Posted by: David Angelo | January 3, 2007 1:01 PM
That's just moronic. That's like saying "vanilla ice cream should NEVER be allowed in a chocolate ice cream bowl." A theater is just a venue. You can put anyhting you want in any venue. Period.
RUles are for uncreative, or as i call them "dumb" prople. "norms". Norms need rules because they can't think or make judgements. Why do you need rules David Angelo? Why do you need rules?
Posted by: David Dineen-Porter | January 3, 2007 10:20 PM
DDP,
Not sure if you know David Angelo, but he was just being funny by going against everything he said at the improv boards. It made me laugh.
Posted by: Jeff | January 4, 2007 11:56 AM