Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane

Jay Sukow, a fixture in the Chicago improv scene, has been improvising since 1992. He’s a wonderful teacher, director and faculty member at Second City, a co-founder of the production company Group Mind Films and has been a guest performer at Boom Chicago, the Second City, and “Messing with a Friend.” He spoke with Jimmy about their early days together in Chicago improv, how he got through the depression of his late 20s, his favorite parts of teaching, and why short-form shouldn't get the short end of the stick.

Mark Beltzman is a legendary improv teacher, actor and improviser. He was a founding member of iO in Chicago and of the legendary Harold team, Barons Barracudas. He performed and directed at The Second City in Chicago. Jimmy sat down with him to talk to him about the first time he meet Del Close, how the Harold has evolved and how his spirituality influences his improvisation.

Todd Stashwick is an improviser and actor who started out at Second City and now frequently appears in TV and films. (Please, imdb him.) Jimmy sat down Todd with at the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival to talk to him about how he works so much in TV, his physical approach to improv and how getting mugged in Chicago changed his life.

Tom Booker is the owner and artistic director at The Institution Theater in Austin. Jimmy sits down with his old pal and talks to him about the vibrant Austin improv scene, his desire to be famous, and why he likes to name drop. In this very candid and very funny episode you will hear a side of Tom Booker you never heard before. Enjoy.

During the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, Paul Brittain, a former cast member of Saturday Night Live, sat down with Jimmy and talked about how he got started in comedy; his uncle, Bob Newhart; and how he develops characters like "Sex Ed Vincent." You'll love this episode, especially the improv!

During the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival in Austin, TX, the delightful Lauren Lapkus of Orange Is The New Black and Comedy Bang Bang fame sat down with Jimmy to talk about her already impressive career as a young improvisor. Lauren talked about starting improv at a very young age, the differences between training at iO and at UCB,and more

Jimmy celebrates his 100th episode! For the big occasion, Jimmy interviews Brian McCann, the Emmy-winning writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He is now creating his own show, The Brian McCann Leasure Hour. The former roommates talk about Brian's path from cartooning to improv to stand-up to sketch, his relationship with Conan O'Brien and getting back into improv. It's an episode filled with lots of laughs, great stories, and thoughtful advice for improvisers.

During a trip to our nation's capitol, Jimmy sat down with Travis Ploeger, former longtime member of New York's renowned Chicago City Limits and current founder of iMusical in Washington, D.C. Travis talked about his approach to musical improv and Jimmy faced his fear of and small bias against musical improv. It's an episode you don't want to miss!

Here's one from the vault! Live from Chicago's Sketch Fest at Stage 773, Jimmy interviews the members of Sad On Vacation. The guys talk about their writing process, the importance of a group's natural chemistry, and the influence of distance and fame on their creativity. Enjoy!

In this episode, Jimmy interviews Punam Patel, a current member of Second City's e.t.c. cast. A native of Florida and an Indian-American, Punam talks about the rising influence of South Asian comedians, her experience understudying for Aidy Bryant, and how she deals with her own imperfections. Take a listen!