DOORbesser

the MATT BESSER interview

by Don Murphy

I can remember watching comedy central one day and this show came on,

the Upright Citizens Brigade.

My jaw fell to the floor, it was seriously the funniest sketch show ever.

The way it was put together, the such far out ideas.

I was hooked from the beginning!

This is Matt Besser, from UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE, and here is the SMALLDOOR interview.

Hope everyone enjoys!

Ok, I read from the site that the UCB started in Chicago. How did all four of you meet?

Walsh and I met at the Ritz at a comedy open mic where several performers started including Andy Dick and Bob Odenkirk. I met Ian and Amy at the ImprovOlympic.

After the UCB was formed what kind of shows did you do, how did you start out?

A lot of shows that were in the streets and in the seats. We would rent different theaters for short runs. Do festivals. We tried doing skits in the zoo. Anywhere where we didn't have to rent the stage.

What made the UCB move to New York?

We wanted to have a show on Comedy Central.

What was it like having your own theater?

What is it like, you mean. Come on by anytime you are in NYC. We're in Chelsea and listed in most mags and papers. Having a theater is great because you can do whatever you want without some artistic director saying "no" to your ideas. The UCB used to get in a lot of trouble for getting our fake blood all over everyone's stage. The fake guns and break away bottles caused a lot of after show discussions too. At the UCBT we have robot mice clean up these type messes.

How did you guys get the show on Comedy Central?

Hooking up with Kent Altarman our producer and kicking your mama's ass.

Your show in my opinion was one of the funniest shows ever, the way the show was put together and the skits, were top notch. What were the writting sessions like?

Lots of improv and logic arguments and tacks.

Was it one sided? Did one more person write and the others add on? Or was it more a group writting session?

Group.

Why did the show get canceled?

Because we got too many ratings. Our ratings were so high that it was actually rolling over the Neilson boxes the same way you can roll over a pinball machine. Not the way you rollover minutes in a cell phone plan.

Now with everyone doing there own thing. After the show is done. Do you four ever get together and still do UCB stuff?

Fuck yeah. Our marathon is coming up at the end of July at our theater where we do 3 straight days of improv with all our friends from all over the country. Our movie Wild Girls Gone is finally done.