The Comedy Fix: Recent Episodes
Chris, Sam, Jaymie
The Comedy Fix is Chris Alvarado, Sam Miller, and Jaymie Parkkinen. In each episode, the three peer behind the curtain of comedy and performance to figure out what’s what.
In this episode, Chris talks with his former college professor and mentor Kevin Hoggard about improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss duos with Elena Afanasiev and Sarah Thompson of Dock of the Bay.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss curating improv shows with Zach Huddleston.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the pursuit of inspiration within improv scenes and the broader art form itself.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Liam Clancy to discuss Short Form Improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Garrett Richardson to discuss class shows.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the pros and cons of the backline in improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the complexities of forming an improv team.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss how scene length can affect performance.
In this episode, Zach Huddleston returns to invite Chris, Sam, and Jaymie to pitch their ideas for new improv theaters in LA.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Chris Gorbos, co-owner of the Westside Comedy Theater, to discuss the Westside’s new performance model.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie dissect a page from Mick Napier’s book, Improvise.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by James Mastraeini to discuss the launch of The Comedy Co-op LA.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the concept of character types in comedy.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie pull a page from Truth in Comedy by Charna Halpern and dissect each and every word.
Here is the excerpt:
Every director has heard the dreaded, familiar "My character wouldn't do that." There is nothing a character won't do. When an actor discovers a new character in his personality, he must find what will make him go further — to do the unexpected. Developing characters proved to be one of the most useful elements of the Harold for Chris Farley when he moved on to Saturday Night Live.
"I was able to come up with many different characters. In one Harold, I could do five characters, and maybe hone those just a little bit and try 'em again," says Farley. "There are so many different characters you can do in one given Harold — five characters can easily emerge."
KEY POINTS FOR CHAPTER NINE
*Commit to the physical.
*Let your environment affect you.
*Be specific with your objects.
*Reveal yourself through your character.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie try to figure out what “Don’t Think, React” really means, if anything.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Jim Keating to each discuss each’s own rules for teaching and performance.
In this episode, Chris works through what it means to not feel like you’re funny in the world of comedy.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by David Bridel to discuss clown, medical clown, Commedia dell’arte, spontaneity, and the futility of trying to figure out what’s next.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss what it means to be deliberate in improvised performance.
In this episode, Jaymie shares a few stray thoughts on laughter and politics and symbols of comedy.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Dean Evans to evaluate and critique clowning in LA.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the role of context in an improvised scene.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the concept of justification in performance.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the role of the straight man, also known as the voice of reason, in comedy.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the complexities of giving notes in improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Eva Lewis and Greg Tindale to discuss how best to approach difficult topics in improv and performance.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie debate the merits of various styles of object work and prop play.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie question guest David Rogier, an improv fan who has never trained in or performed improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss group mind in performance. Is it a thing?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Craig Cackowski to discuss giving notes and other things.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie enlist the help of Brian James O’Connell to fix improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie scrutinize the improv maxim of playing to the top of your intelligence.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Peter Fluet to discuss the concept of theme in improv.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss and workshop various types of initiations.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Jason DeGraff to discuss the complexities of safety and accountability in improv and performance. This one gets heavy!
Jason also wanted to give a shoutout to Leela Improv (leela-sf.com) as a theater that does safety and performance well.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Marc Warzecha of The Sketch School to discuss the advantages and limitations of performing and learning comedy in the digital world.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Chris’s faux rival, Jay Sukow, to discuss how they actually agree somewhat.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the concept of training the audience so that they can understand your show. The three also discuss the even greater problem of how to get an audience in the first place.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie invite Brandon Barrick to discuss presentation in improv. Is it a problem that improv shows are becoming increasingly casual?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Atul Singh to learn how to make it in the world of Internet Comedy.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by listener of the show, Jenni Stukin, to discuss her reactions and weigh in on previous episodes.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Paul Vaillancourt who was supposed to talk about forms in improv. Instead, the conversation became a series of Paul’s hot takes on the show’s previous episodes with forms sprinkled in.
Link to Paul's book:
https://www.amazon.com/Triangle-Scene-practical-approaching-improvisation-ebook/dp/B00ZHV7BH2
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Brennan Lee Mulligan to do a deep, nerdy dive into Game.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Jackie Durruthy to discuss the ins and outs of character.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie debate the role of Point of View in improv and character work.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie host an improv workshop focusing on Yes And. Is Yes And really the cornerstone of improv? What are the alternatives?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Jonathan Gregg to discuss selling out in comedy.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie are joined by Zach Huddleston to discuss the business side of improv and comedy theaters.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Mr. Jaymie are joined by Ms. Jaime Moyer to discuss the “It” factor in performance.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the concept of believability in performance and whether you need it or not.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie wade through various types of breaking in performance and discuss if, when, and how to do it.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the good, bad, and terrible of comedy training centers.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie debate whether confidence is necessary or helpful in performance. Or is it an unnecessary and potentially inhibiting delusion?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss when it is that you are good enough? Or does it matter?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie debate the venerated concept of vulnerability in performance? Is it the key to success or is it only a piece of the puzzle?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the concept of weird for weirdsake. Is there value in just being weird and contravening norms just to do it, or ought there to be greater meaning and purpose behind it?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie invite guest Frank Caeti to discuss his performance and directing philosophies.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie invite guest Ithamar Enriquez to discuss his performance theories and creative process.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie invite guest Chad Damiani to discuss his performance and teaching philosophies.
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss who(m) to perform for? Your audience? Yourself? Your fellow performers?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss the concept of permission and performance. Whose permission do you need? When? Why? And what happens if you don’t have it?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss whether you need to know the rules to break the rules. Do you need to rise through the ranks and learn the ropes before you can break the rules or is that just the long way around to the same place?
In this episode, Chris, Sam, and Jaymie discuss whether the performance and comedy Rule of Threes is dead, whether it ever existed, and what, if anything, it should mean to us today.