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Upright Citizen's Brigade

post #1 of 20
7/31/08 at 2:50pm
Thread Starter 
This may be a bit premature, since I've only seen the first season, but this is quickly overtaking Mr. Show become my all time favorite sketch comedy show of all time. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that the episodes are structured after The Harold. Being an improv nerd, and a fan of comedic structure*, this appeals to me a lot. But goddamn if the performers aren't all brilliant. It's disappointing to think that Amy Poehler can be so fucking good at sketch comedy but still not make too huge an impression on SNL.

Matt Walsh is a completely underrated comedic talent, probably one of the best straightmen I've ever seen.

*BTW, this is probably a big reason I think Hot Fuzz is the funniest movie of the decade. It's structure is utterly PERFECT, building and paying off nearly everything to a brilliant degree. I haven't seen comedy so perfectly structured since I saw Noises Off on stage.
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post #2 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:04pm
SCTV time for you.
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post #3 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:13pm
Thread Starter 
I REALLY appreciate what SCTV did in terms of balancing the concept of a tv station with the sketch comedy, but some of those sketches drag on fooooorevvvver. I have the first volume of SCTV, when they switched to the 90 minute format, and I definitely appreciate it, especially the performers. I fucking love Eugene Levy's Bobby Bitman. But in the end, a large percentage of SCTV has aged MUCH worse than SNL. At least, a large percentage of what I've seen.
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post #4 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:16pm
But you hate SNL? (EDIT: I see you've changed your mind)

Also: Woody Allen in Taxi Driver? Count Floyd showing Persona?

I like UCB, but it's hit and miss for me. Structure saves it. But I prefer Mr. Show, and SCTV, all things.
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post #5 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:26pm
Any fans of the shorter-lived Exit 57? Around the same time, and I always preferred its more experimental surrealist bent.

Honestly, the framing device behind UCB always annoyed the piss out of me. Seemed so unnecessary for a sketch show, especially with the talent on display. Though I always felt UCB had far better performances than writing.
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post #6 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:33pm
Thread Starter 
Reading "Live From New York" helped me respect of lot of what SNL was accomplishing, putting important historical context to it.

SCTV is more hit or miss for me than Upright Citizen's Brigade, and the sketches go on way too long. I think some kind of live studio audience (which I don't believe SCTV had) would have helped a lot of the pacing problems. But SCTV has some undoubted classics, especially the Persona parody you mentioned. And when Dave Thomas played the angry youth in that British film festival. And that Leave it to Beaver sketch where Beaver gets a gun. Harry with a snake on his face. The Sammy Maudlin show (simple things like Joe Flaherty slapping his thighs crack me up). Perry Como Still Alive. Eugene Levy's jewish private eye is classic. So yeah, it's got goods to spare.

Plus it's references were always so much more interesting than most sketch comedy shows. Who else would think to parody Melvin and Howard?

Goddammit, Dre, now I'm gonna end up watching SCTV all day.
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post #7 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:42pm
In Five Neat Guys Joe Flaherty plays his as a drunk. That's what makes SCTV king. There's tons of shit like that. Like Gandhi not getting on the Sammy Maudlin show.
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post #8 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:46pm
Thread Starter 
Or Mother Teresa being forced to constantly move couches, being subjected to conversation about lesbianism.
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post #9 of 20
7/31/08 at 3:50pm
Andrea Martin is the weakest link, but she's better than Radner or Newman combined. And, and - as much as I love Jane Curtain and Amy Pohler, et al. - there is no better sketch actress than Catherine O'Hara.
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post #10 of 20
8/1/08 at 1:23am
Curious, where do you guys stand on Kids in the Hall? I know it's not exactly obscure, but depending on what day you ask me, I'll take the Kids over SCTV, which is my gold standard for TV sketch comedy.
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post #11 of 20
8/1/08 at 1:25am
I'd have to say, in order of personal preference:

And Mr.Show and The State could be tied, but its been so long since I've seen The State... And I don't really like MADtv, but I had to put it there....

KITH > UCB > Mr. SHOW > The State > SCTV> SNL > MAdtv
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post #12 of 20
8/1/08 at 1:39am
UCB, the show that introduced me to irrational astronaut hatred.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zK-30442RII
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post #13 of 20
8/1/08 at 3:25am
Thread Starter 
If I had to do an order, at this moment:

UCB > Mr. Show > Monty Python's Flying Circus > Kids in the Hall > The State > SCTV > Chappelle Show > SNL > All That > Sesame Street > Two and a Half Men > Total Gym Infomercials > Television turned off > Mad TV
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post #14 of 20
8/1/08 at 3:33am
Isn't it enough that you just enjoyed the shows, whats the point of ranking them? It's like fucking Cracked.com in here.
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post #15 of 20
8/1/08 at 3:34am
Thread Starter 
Says the guy who says astronaut hatred is irrational. How can you NOT hate those goddamned astronauts.
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post #16 of 20
8/1/08 at 3:37am
Says the guy holding my ass pennies.
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post #17 of 20
8/1/08 at 3:45am
Thanks for the unintentional reminder to pick up a copy of Live from New York, guys.
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post #18 of 20
8/1/08 at 10:53pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
If I had to do an order, at this moment:

UCB > Mr. Show > Monty Python's Flying Circus > Kids in the Hall > The State > SCTV > Chappelle Show > SNL > All That > Sesame Street > Two and a Half Men > Total Gym Infomercials > Television turned off > Mad TV
Never cared for In Living Color or The Carol Burnett Show?
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post #19 of 20
8/1/08 at 10:57pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Ripoll View Post
Says the guy who says astronaut hatred is irrational. How can you NOT hate those goddamned astronauts.
Such filthy individuals, thank God none live in my neighborhood.
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post #20 of 20
8/1/08 at 11:15pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by JPL View Post
Never cared for In Living Color or The Carol Burnett Show?
Haven't seen enough to rank 'em.
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