Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane

Tom Purcell is the executive producer of The Colbert Report and hebegan his career as a Chicago improviser. Tom sits down with Jimmy and discusses how he developed his love for comedy at a young age, his collaboration with Stephen Colbert, and his tips for aspiring writers who are submitting to shows. Jimmy also shares his experience working with Stephen. If you aspire to write for TV, listen in!

The Second City's Chris Witaske joins Jimmy for a frank discussion about auditioning for SNL, having drinks with Lorne Michaels, and working for the The Second City. In this episode, Jimmy also wishes farewell to a friend and improv legend, the great Jay Leggett. Thanks for listening!

John Hartman was just cast as a member of the ensemble for The Second City Chicago's upcoming 102nd Revue (Jimmy predicted this would happen at the end of this episode!). John has also performed in Chicago in shows including Baby Wants Candy and The Improvised Shakespeare Company. John opens up to Jimmy about overcoming loneliness and keeping a positive perspective as a performer. Listen in for a preview before John hits the main stage at Second City in January.

Kevin Dorff was a writer for Conan O'Brien for many seasons, has appeared on shows including 30 Rock and Parks and Recreation, and is a veteran of the main stage at The Second City in Chicago. Kevin joins Jimmy for a discussion of his career, his thoughts about improvisation and of course some improv. Thanks for listening.

Horatio Sanz is an SNL alum, an alum of The Second City, and one of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Horatio joins Jimmy at Columbia College in Chicago and discusses what drives his comedy, his time on SNL and his time making a name for himself as a young comedian in Chicago.

Rich Talarico is a writer for Comedy Central's Key & Peele and has also written for Saturday Night Live, Mad Tv, and The Tonight Show. He is also a gifted improviser and improv teacher. Rich sat down with Jimmy and talked about his career as a performer and writer, his time studying at Second City and at iO with Del Close, and the first improv teacher he ever had - Stephen Colbert. Don't miss this episode!

Bill Arnett is pillar of Chicago improv; he's a beloved teacher and performer with legendary groups People of Earth, 3033 and the Armando. Bill sat down with Jimmy and discussed his approach to scenework, sketch writing, and his very popular improv blog. Listen in!

Adal Rifai is a cast member of Revolver and Whirled news tonight at iO Chicago where he's also a beloved improv teacher. Adal sits down with Jimmy and discusses being a part of the Harold Committee, dealing with bad shows, and his thoughts about good scene work. Thanks for listening.

Katy Colloton from the popular web series Teachers is an LA based actress and improviser (and recent Chicago ex-pat). Katy sat down with Jimmy before her move and they talked about Teachers and her comedy group The Katydids. Don't miss this episode.

The Second City's Improv Allstars is a short form improv show a running in the UP Theater at The Second City Chicago. Rachael Mason and Ryan Archibald - two of Chicago's finest improvisers - are both part of the cast. They sat down with Jimmy and helped him overcome his fear and judgment about short form improv. You can hear his transformation take place on stage. Thanks for listening!

Susan Messing is an icon of improv comedy and was the guest on the very first episode of Improv Nerd. In this classic episode, we hear the tale of Susan's audition for SNL and about her unconventional path to the main-stage at The Second City. This episode was lost when we made the move to feralaudio.com but is resurrected here for the second anniversary of the show. Enjoy!

Neil Flynn, Pat Finn, Paul Vaillancourt, Pete Hulne, and Mike Coleman are members of legendary improv group BeerSharkMice (member David Koechner was away shooting Anchorman 2). They sat down with Jimmy at iO West to discuss the BeerkSharkMice form, improvising in Chicago and LA, and working with Chris Farley. Then Jimmy sits in with BeerSharkMice for a really fun improv set.

Timmy Mayse is an actor and renowned Chicago improviser. He sat down with Jimmy and discussed his own path to becoming a recognized improviser, benefitting from failure, and doing commercial work. Don't miss this great episode.

Greg Hess joins Jimmy in this episode of Improv Nerd and talks about his recent audition for Saturday Night Live, a pilot he just shot for Comedy Central called Schlub Life, and of course his legendary improv group Cook County Social Club.

Team StarKid has taken the internet by storm with its staged parodies of Harry Potter and our guest Brian Holden is a founding member of the group. In this episode, Brian sits down with Jimmy to discuss Team StarKid's process, how he got involved in improv, and what it's like to instantly have a massive fan base.

Frank Caeti is an alum of Mad TV and The Second City ETC and is known for his acclaimed sketch work with Matt Craig as FrankenMatt. Frank chats with Jimmy about his near brush with SNL, working on Mad TV and why he continues to love to improvise. Of course, there's some great improv too. Thanks for listening!

Rolling Stone magazine named him one of 10 performers who might end up on SNL this coming season. He performed with Sir Patrick Stewart with both The Second City and The Improvised Shakespeare Company. In this episode of Improv Nerd, he sits down with Jimmy and describes his experiences auditioning for SNL, improvising with Patrick Stewart, and joining the main stage at Second City Chicago. Ladies and gentlemen, Ross Bryant.

Craig Cackowski is an actor, Second City veteran and teacher of improvisation in LA. Craig and Jimmy have an in depth conversation about the both the artform and business of improv. Craig is a master of improvisation who has worked with just about every other master of improvisation. And of course, they discuss it all. What a fun way to celebrate Improv Nerd's 50th episode. Ladies and gentlemen, Craig Cackowski.

Michael McCarthy is a veteran comedy writer, having written for SNL, The Drew Carey Show, According to Jim, Sesame Street, and more and teaches writing at iO Chicago. Michael joins Jimmy for some improv and discussion and shines some light on writing for television. If writing for television is your goal, you won't want to miss this episode.

David Razowsky is a film and television actor, host of the wonderful ADD Comedy podcast, and veteran of The Second City's mainstage in Chicago. David sits down with Jimmy to discuss his time as a Chicago improviser, his take on improv as an improv instructor, and of course his work with fellow Second City cast members Steve Carell and Stephen Colbert.