"Super Best" Had The "Worst Week Ever"

"Super Best" of Washington Improv Theater won the "How the Fuck Do You Follow That?" Award at the Del Close Marathon at UCB Theater in New York City this past weekend. The DC trio (Mike Bass, Colin Murchie, Brian Coleman) followed Nick Kroll's character sketch, "Fabrice Fabrice, Craft Serives Coordinator for 'That's So Raven' and a collective of other comics including John Mulaney and TJ Miller. There was a slight oversight in the slotting of shows. 'Super Best' would have been better suited during the afternoon or evening hours of the festival where their show would have been given the chance to develop. Kroll's performance fit the mood of the hour--a party. It was bigger in presence, status, and characters, which made it a bit of a chore for the Washington based group to follow at 3:30 morning. If you click on the video (hit on the read more), you will see what the three DC players followed immediately as Kroll's show came to a close. How do you follow "Ahh Poppie Poop Poo, Ahh Poopie Pooh?" from a man in a dog suit? Bass, Coleman and Murchie deserve Comedy's Purple Heart. Folks sticking around that late at night on an early Sunday morning in a cramped, damp and HOT theater were more into the development of the party than any, narrative, relationship or character development that could be depicted on stage. To play at that slot, your show has to be over-the-top, in-your-face and not take itself too seriously. I know it was the lesson I learned: next time, rather than trying to do "good work", my time would be better spent just trying to have a good time....without a beer...jesus...no, I'm happy in my sobriety...just can, we talk about something else, please.

Notes from the show: *John Mulaney's George Takei (Sulu from Star Trek) was pretty F'n good. However, *TJ Miller (Carpoolers, Cloverfield, Quaker Oats Commercial, and GW Alum) did not seem to be having fun during this 15 minute segment. "Super Best" did have a good show despite the cold reception. Colin Murchie relayed later that as he left the stage in disgust he gave the evil-eye to what he thought allegedly was guy clapping and cheering out of sarcasm--he found out later that the poor guy was actually being serious. Follow Link to see video of show's closing...



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Best Interview Ever: John Mulaney

Yesterday I got to catch zee hilarious Ted Alexandro at the DC Improv. But not just Ted Alexandro. Let's talk about what happened before Ted Alexandro. Three very IMPORTANT very FUNNY people. MC Dawan Owens. YAYYYYYYY. Guest set local Hampton. YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY. And the feature who this post is about...John Mulaney! YAYYYYYYYYY.

John Mulaney actually is an 04 Georgetown alum so he's local, which makes him more relatable somehow. And secondly, he's a rising star! Here's an interview. He's very good. The end.

[Hit the jump for the best interview John has ever done!]

This picture is courtesy of Mr. Mulaney's MySpace profile, which you should check out.

If you have a chance to check him out tonight at the Improv, do it. Or watch VH1's "Best Week Ever" because he's on there too. He is also the kid on your milk carton.

INTERVIEW (questions courtesy of Larry Poon)

1. What is your margin of trial and error before you toss a new joke that doesn't appear to be working?

I really don't have any set number of times I will try something before I discard it. It all depends on what the joke is. If I really like a joke I will try it at least 5 or 6 times even if it is greeted with utter indifference from the audience. The thing is, I perform just about every night so I put stuff on-stage that is not fully formed and work stuff out in the middle of a set so it isn't always that I have this new completely constructed joke and I go "test" it. I will however toss a reference or a tag after only a couple of times: once it is clear that nobody remembers the episode of Living Single I am comparing something to, I am happy to toss it.

2. When you're not on the road you are constantly on stage in and around NY. How were you able to immerse yourself in the comedy scene there? And what's the best way for a comic from DC (for example) to break into the alt comedy rooms in NY?

I would advise people to just go to the shows they are interested in and hang around and literally get to know the people who book them. I used to book a show at a place called Rififi and people would email me having never come to see the show, basically like "You got a comedy show, I'm the bomb you gotta have me." It is a lot easier to ignore someone until they are in your face and you get to know them. At the same time keep trying to get on-stage anywhere in NY at any time to work on jokes. That is obviously what is most important. If you have a good tape and the people running a show know your face and have spoken with you it is a lot easier to get them to watch your stuff and from that, a lot easier to be put on the line-up.

3. How do you handle heckling?

Well, heckling can mean a lot of things. I think a lot of people picture heckling as a joke not going well, and some loud man yelling "you suck!" That is not all that common from what I have seen. Mainly what you get is people talking to their friends during the show or people trying to have a dialogue with you from their seat. Like, some people will talk to you while you are performing and really think that they are adding to the show in some way. I don't know, sometimes I ignore it, and sometimes I indulge it, it depends. If I think I can move past a comment in the crowd without acknowledging it I often will because I don't have the experience to know that "yes, by talking to the crowd I will still keep the show entertaining for the audience."

4. What was your worse experience with a heckler?

I don't have a great heckling story. Mainly the worst shows I can remember are the ones where I go up all slap happy and am greeted with a blizzard of indifference. Then I am on-stage slowly wondering why people don't like the sound of my voice. And then I finish and walk off.

5. How do you balance trying out new jokes/material with the desire to give people a good show?

It is a delicate balance that I am still trying to figure out. I always think though, that if I have one new thing that I am excited about and at least 10-12 minutes to do other stuff that I know works, it is a very good idea to put the new thing in because it will keep me sharper. Like knowing a new joke is coming up keeps me more in the moment for stuff I have already worked out. I really try and find a way to make every set a little different, eve if it is just to keep me on my toes.

6. How has your material changed over time?

I am not sure, it was always kind of like how it is now, I think I have gotten more confident in the mind-set, "I really think this is funny so I am going to tell you."

7. Have you googled yourself and what was the weirdest thing that popped up that was associated with your name?

The woman who had an open letter to me telling me to get off Best Week Ever and threatening to kick me in the testicles.

8. Do you realize that the wikipedia entry for John Mulaney has you listed currently as a co-defendant in the trial of OJ Simpson for the alleged armed robbery of memorabilia dealers in Las Vegas, Nevada?

Good, good. I have never touched that page. People just keep adding things. It is fun to watch.
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