pack theater

Ian joins Jennifer and David on a Bridge to discuss LA Improv and Standup, how he got started, and how his imdb page displays his degree status.

Ian Zandi is an LA-based comedian jack-of-all-trades. With origins based in improv/sketch training, Ian uses those skills in his current pursuits as a standup comic.  Ian’s work has been featured at various comedy theaters such as Second City and Pack Theater, satire sites including The Onion, and numerous festivals.

instagram.com/ianzandi

Emmy award winning comedy writer Mike Upchurch literally wrote the book on sketch comedy. His University of Nevada master's thesis, "The Poetics of Sketch Comedy" acts both as a history lesson, and a how to guide on all things sketch. Besides his Emmy winning stint in The Chris Rock Show writer's room, he's also written for classic sketch comedy series Mr. Show With Bob And David, MadTV and Blue Collar TV among other places. He currently teaches sketch comedy writing at The Pack Theater in Los Angeles. I can't think of a better person to talk to about sketch comedy history, what it was like to be a part of some of the best sketch writer's rooms in television, or what his thoughts are on the future of sketch comedy. Instead of talking about that, we just sat in silence in my car for 25 minutes. It was raining out, so that's something at least.

Live theater originated in ancient Greece nearly three thousand years ago. Since then, an uncountable number of entertainers have done everything from comedy to drama and everything in between to delight and mystify an audience. Instead of doing any of that, I sat in silence with an audience for 25 minutes at Pack Theater in Los Angeles on December 23rd, 2016 during the show "Go Sketch Yourself." I used that time to build a small metal Star Wars figurine while most of the audience looked at their phones. This episode features a live performance of the 25 Minutes of Silence theme song by Joseph Porter. He used his 25 minutes to quietly practice his fiddle in the back of the theater.

Matt Lieberman is a social media renaissance man. He is a correspondent for Sourcfed, a writer / performer for the sketch comedy youtube channel Nuclear Family and io West's DJ Faucet, and a life advice guru for all of his Lieberfriends. Matt understands the internet and content creation in a way that few people do and we could all benefit from his advice. Instead of seeking any of that, we sat in silence for 25 minutes. About halfway through this episode my microphone started picking up a weird clicking noise. I don't know what that's about.