Improv Nerd With Jimmy Carrane

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.