A.d.d. Comedy With Dave Razowsky

Our guest today on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky” is Simon Helberg. Yep, Howard Wolowitz on “The Big Bang Theory,” of the Coen Brothers’ “A Serious Man,” “Dr. Horrible’s Sing A-long Blog,” “Studio 60 on Sunset Strip,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” and…it doesn’t stop, but let’s stop at this credit: “Florence Foster Jenkins,” where he co-stars with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant. This podcast interview is profound, deep, fun, illuminating, and oh, so special. And it wouldn’t be an “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky” without our un-trademarked “Not My Finest Hour” segment starring none other than Mr. Helberg. I’m so happy with this episode I could explode. 

Rachael Mason is our guest today on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky.” I only wish I can be as cool as Rachael. As if being the head of Advanced Improv at Second City in Chicago, having run the Training Center for iO West, improvising with The Second City Improv All Stars, “The Boys,” a former member of “Baby Wants Candy,” and having performed on Second City Tour Boats isn’t accomplishment enough, she also travels around the world performing with Susan Messing. She’s an accomplished teacher, mentor, and constant source of inspiration. I’m not screwing around here when I tell you how awesome she and this podcast episode are. Stick around for Rachael’s addition to our newly named podcast segment, “Not My Finest Hour.” This episode was recorded at Chicago’s wonderful Kopi Cafe. Enjoy!

Today’s guest on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky” is the wonderful actor and writer Joe Liss. Joe was one of my Second City favorites, and when I moved out to LA I was able to work with him on a number of projects. Joe’s been on “According to Jim,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Strangers with Candy,” and the great satirical film, “God Bless America.” Joe is one of the writers and performers in the hit stage show “The Bicycle Men,” and has written on “Drawn Together,” “Third Rock from the Sun,” “SpongeBob Squarepants,” among others. Our discussion is lively, funny and honest. We discuss Chris Farley, a wonderful and troubled soul we both worked with and cared for and miss. There’s another bonus at the end of the episode, so stay tuned for that. Enjoy.

Improvisor Dave Hill is our guest today on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky,” and you’ll be hard-pressed to meet a more positive and upbeat improv teacher and performer. Dave was awarded the iO West “Teacher of the Year” honor in 2014, and it’s not surprising at all. He’s seen in numerous commercials, and shows on the tube including “Quick Draw” on Hulu and “Reno: 911” on Comedy Central. He’s a voice-actor, having worked on “American Dad,” “Squidbillies, and “The Most Popular Girls in School,” a great show both of us have recurring roles on, and one of the most “not safe for work” series on YouTube. There’s a very special story following the announcements, so be sure to stick around for it. By the way, the scratching sound you may hear are painters working on the apartment building. Enjoy Dave Hill!

Theresa Mulligan Rosenthal is our guest today on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky,” and I am so happy about that! I’ve known Theresa since my days at Second City Chicago. Theresa and I were castmates in one of my favorite improv casts, “Stacy’s Not Here.” Theresa’s been nominated for an Emmy, has written on “How I Met Your Mother,” “South Park,” “Greetings from Tuscon,” and, coming soon to Netflix, Maria Bamford’s “Lady Dynamite.” Theresa’s been on 12 episodes of “Mr. Show with Bob and David,” “3rd Rock from the Sun,” and “Seinfeld.” Teresa has  a nice little story at the end of podcast following our announcements. Stay tuned for that jewel. In the meantime…enjoy my podchat with Theresa Mulligan Rosenthal.

Graham Elwood is our guest today on ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky. What a fun interview! Graham is a stand-up, having performed all over the world, but dedicating a great deal of time and energy to playing for the USO. Graham’s done tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, inspiring him to direct the documentary, “Laffghanistan: Comedy Down Range.” He’s the co-creator and host of the ComedyFilmNerds.com website and podcast, and the coming documentary “Ear Buds: The Podcast Documentary.” It’s a celebration of the medium of podcasting, and by the looks of it (“listens of it”?), it’s going to be great. Here’s our podcast. Put it in your ear, buds.

Bruce Rheins is our guest today on ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky. Bruce is a bit of a departure from our standard guests in that his background isn’t in comedy, it’s in news. Bruce recently retired as the CBS News Deputy Bureau Chief here on the west coast. Bruce has covered first-hand the Royal Wedding in London, Hurricane Katrina, the Iraq War, the OJ Simpson trial, the Michael Jackson trial, and countless earthquakes, floods and wildfires. It’s an awesome conversation with someone who’s got quite an opinion about the state of the “Fourth Estate.” It’s a good one. 

Carrie Aizley is our guest today on ADD Comedy. I love this person! Carrie is a former Groundling, and was one of the creators of “Campus Ladies” on the Oxygen Network. She’s been in TWO Christopher Guest films, not to mention a bunch of commercials directed by Mr. Guest. We chatted about working with her “comedy camp friends,” naming babies, the challenges of auditioning, and the joy of filming commercials. It CAN be joyous. Oh, and there’s a great story at the very end of our chat. Stay tuned for that. Meantime…enjoy.

Today’s guest on ADD Comedy is Miles Stroth. Miles is a cornerstone in the world of improvisation, having worked and studied under Del Close and Charna Halpern at Improv Olympic (now known as iO). He was a cast member of the legendary improv troupe known as “The Family,” whose members include Adam McKay, Matt Besser and Neil Flynn. He’s appeared in Comedy Central’s “Crossballs” and “Reno 911.” Miles is the driving force behind LA’s Pack Theater. This was a great chat. And there’s a bonus little piece of a poem at the end! Stay tuned.

Jeff Bryan Davis is our guest on ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky. I’ve known Jeff since my days as a producer for “KwikWitz,” but Jeff is known for his excellent work on “Whose Line is it Anyway?” He’s been on Broadway, on “The Sarah Silverman Show,” “The Norm Show,” and he tours with “Drew Carey and The Improv All Stars.” Jeff’s the comptroller of Dan Harmon’s awesome podcast “Harmontown.” We talk about Jeff’s journey to “Whose Line…,” his time in jail, and the joy that comes from being freed! There’re some sound issues with this podcast, but the quality of the chat is so good I didn’t want to re-record. I thank you, listeners, for your understanding. Enjoy.

Jackie Hoffman is our guest on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky.” Yes, she’s been in “Kissing Jessica Stein,” “Birdman,” “Inside Amy Schumer,” “The New Normal,” “Girls,” “30 Rock,” and dozens more appearances on TV and in movies. Yes, on Broadway she’s opened “Hairspray,” “Xanadu,” “The Addams Family,” and was a standout in “On the Town” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” Yes, she’s won an Obie Award for her roles in David and Amy Sedaris’ “The Book of Liz.” Yes, she’s done many solo performances, and, yes, I’ve toured with her at Second City and put up several shows with her on the Second City etc stage, and the Second City Mainstage. But Jackie is a wonderful force and a dear friend, and this conversation is honest, funny, grounded, real, and very Jackie Hoffman. Strap yourself in.

Today’s guest on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky” is Ali Reza Farahnakian. Ali founded New York City’s Peoples Improv Theater (aka “The PIT”) where we recorded this podchat. Ali was a founding member of Upright Citizens Brigade, he was a writer on Saturday Night Live, and at Second City he performed with the likes of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. Ali’s been on “Law and Order,” “30 Rock,” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” But what Ali really is is a powerhouse. He’s driven, focused, honest, funny, engaging, and inspiring. In other words, a perfect ADD Comedy guest. Enjoy!

Rachel Dratch is today’s guest on “ADD Comedy with Dave Razowsky.” Finally! Rachel is a Second City alum, an alum of Saturday Night Live, one of the funniest folks to show up on “30 Rock,” is the author of “A Girl Walks into a Bar…,” a two-time Joseph Jefferson Award winner, was Wanda Jo on “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” and was in “The Awesomes.” Awesome is right. We chatted at a street-side wine bar in Manhattan. Enjoy the ambiance. 

Today’s guest on ADD Comedy is Keiko Agena. Keiko’s been on “Scandal,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” “House M.D.,” and, once and once again, “Gilmore Girls.” I know Keiko from the couple of years when I was her improv director working out of a small theater in a converted two-car garage! Keiko’s a bright light, she’s funny, she’s inspiring, and she’s sensitive. We hit all of it in this honest, true, grounded and, at time serious podchat. Keiko’s awesome, and I was really glad she came over to the apartment. Give it a listen. 

Actor and writer Brad Morris is our guest today. Man, this was fun. Brad’s a Second City alum, who’s presently on USA Networks comedy “Playing House.” He’s been on “Veep,” “Cougar Town,” “Key and Peele,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” and “The Office.” Brad’s also a member of the legendary improv crew known as “The Reckoning.” He’s smart, funny, energized, and as glad to talk to me as I was to talk to him. Another episode where time ran us out. Give it a listen.

Today’s guest is Nate Herman director, writer, musician, artist, and fine human. Nate was my director at Second City where he midwifed the show with the longest name of any Second City show ever…I think. ``The Heliotrope Players` Production of Thornton Wilder`s American Classic, `Our Town,` as Directed by d`Eric Blakemore, or “Cash Stations of the Cross.” Nate has written for Saturday Night Live where he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy. He’s an alum of the The Second City, wrote for The National Lampoon Radio Hour. Nate performed and wrote on National Lampoon’s classic comedy “Lemmings.” Nate’s band, Wilderness Road, recorded for both Columbia Records and Warner/Reprise. Not too shabby. Nate has a great set of pipes, and you can hear him reading on the audiobook version of "The Ballad of A Small Talker" by Chris Churchill. We chatted at Chicago’s Heartland Cafe. Pull up a chair and give a listen.  

Melanie Hutsell is our guest today, and boy was this podcast a blast to do. Melanie’s been on “Saturday Night Live,” “Transparent,” “United States of Tara,” and “Bridesmaids.” I know Melanie from her great work at The Annoyance Theatre in Chicago, where she performed in numerous shows with great titles like “The Miss Vagina Pageant,” and the cult classic “The Real Live Brady Bunch.” I was in that too, by the way. Yep, Davy Jones. YouTube it, folks. Enjoy Melanie and me. I did!

Writer and actor Julie Larson is our guest. I’ve known Julie from the days of the Second City Alumni Jam on the pier in Santa Monica. Julie’s written on “Mom,” “Are you there, Chelsea,” “The Drew Carey Show,” “Dharma and Greg,” and “Last Man Standing.” Julie’s smart, sharp, honest, and not afraid to speak her mind. In other words, a great guest to chat with. Give it a listen.

Justin Kaufmann is our guest today, and boy was I looking forward to chatting with him. Justin is the host of Chicago’s WGN-720 radio show “The Download,” and well, that’s where we recorded this interview, which, by the way, was recorded after Justin interviewed me for his show. Justing worked for Chicago Public Radio’s WBEZ, but I know Justin from his great work with his comedy ensemble Schadenfreude. Their group was so awesome that they had their own show on ‘BEZ. Justin’s smart, funny, candid, and energized. Recorded at WGN-Radio on Chicago’s Michigan Avenue. (My thanks to Co-Producer Peter Zimmerman!)

My guests are master improv teachers Susan Messing and Joe Bill. Susan, Joe and I worked together at iO, The Annoyance Theatre, The Second City, and improv festivals across the world. They're former ADD guests, but this time we gathered for a powerful reason: The past few months have seen women improvisers express their frustration and anger at the prevailing culture of sexual harassment in improv schools and theaters across the US. We met to discuss the culture of women's sexual harassment in our improv community. Our intention was to have an honest and heartfelt discussion, to voice our culpability, and to look at our past actions and present opportunities to facilitate the creation of a healthy, truthful inspiring environment in the classroom, on the stage and in the world in which we so joyfully create. We engaged in this discussion with all the humanness that can be expected during this extraordinary evolutionary time.