STOP FREAKING OUT! Yes, I missed a day. Does not happen often. You all know how I likes to write, so it was beyond my control. The TypePad gods were doing maintenance on the site practically all day yesterday and I couldn't post before I headed into work. Some Deus Ex Machina. Curse them!
So what has happened the past 2 days? Not much. Piss off. End of post.
Okay, calm down. I'll fill ya in. As you know, we had a showcase at Stand-Up, NY on Thursday. I really was unsure of what it entailed and who was gonna be there. We heard rumors. Still, with all uncertainty, we arrive at the comedy club. The contact was overjoyed too see us when he found out we were HomeGroan Sketch Comedy. I'm not just blowing my own horn here! We all know that if I could, I would never leave home. My neck hurts so much from trying! Oh..uh..never mind. Back to the story. Apparently, our group was the only one out of the 6 invited that had reservations. And quite a few at that! Of course, mostly there for me. Because I'm hot. We were then informed of exactly what the showcase was about. Some strip club was looking for a comedy act to go on between the pole dancers. Finally, my dream job! I'll be able to be funny and meet my future wife. My luck is changing and things are looking up! Okay, no, it wasn't a strip club job. I could never work there because I know too many of them and it would be...awkward. The real deal is that HBO, yes HBO, has a new comedy series starting some time next year. Called something like "The Burt & Dicky Show." They need sketch scenes between the main segments. Ergo, the showcase was a competition and audition of sorts. It was being recorded and the tape was being sent to the HBO execs. Since we had the largest fan following, we were allowed to pick when we went on. We opted to go 4th and allow the audience to get warmed up. I gots to say, I NEVER get nervous, but I was feeling it a bit for the first time in awhile. Almost as weird as the first time I woke up next to a dead hooker, 3 poodles and a pile of Cheetos. (Note that I said first time.)
The other groups had some funny stuff. And, not hating on them or loving on us, but it just wasn't something so new and clever. Most of the groups opted for one long sketch. The curse of the sketch comedy group. See Saturday Night Live and Mad TV. Nothing wrong with long sketches, if they work. Too often they go on waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay longer than they should. It was funny 20 minutes ago now it's just stupid! SO, SHUT IT! Well, we have always had many a short sketch and our longest ones tend to be the musical spoofs we do. So, we squeezed in 4 bits in a little over 10 minutes. First up was the Nathan Lane/Matthew Broderick sketch. A quick bit. It got big laughs! Sweet. Off to a good start. Then, next up. Me. My solo.
I played the North Korean dictator, Kim Jong-Il and sang DON'T TRY TO FIGHT NORTH KOREA to the tune of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina." I've done this number before. First in our show in March, then again in the show at Caroline's in May. It was written by my fellow sketch comedy trouper, Lara. We felt it was still relevant and funny. Back in March, the CD that I sang along to had a long intro that was about 16 bars. For the show in May, we decided to cut it and just go straight into the song after 4 bars. We all assumed that was how I'd be doing it again. However, was I surprised when I started the song and about 4 bars in, I realize that it was the old CD with the long intro. HOLY SHIT! I've already started, so how the hell do I cover this and get out of it! I could feel the words and music not matching up, so I did what I thought best. I froze. I balled up into the fetal position on stage and cried for about 5 minutes. The audience ate it up! I guess they thought it was some sort of Andy Kaufman-esque bit. They had to drag me off the stage just so we could do the next sketch.
I bet I had you, didn't I? Yes, the music was wrong. We had brought the old CD. As I felt the music going awry I did decide to stop singing after the first verse. I improvised a quick tai chi dance thing. I really can't tell you what I did. I was just in the moment. The crowd actually laughed at it, so I guess I covered it! While it was only about 8 bars of music, it seemed like forever. But, the laughter certainly helped redeem me. I started back singing into the song at the right point without missing a beat. No one seemed to notice. Except me, of course. The number went over quite well, so while a bit pissed off over the technical glitch, I got through it and people seemed to dig it. PHEW!
Next up was another short sketch called REALITY OF REALITY TV. Another clever and original idea. Lara and I improvised it at a rehearsal once and Tom ended up writing it. They performed it together. Short and brilliant! Last up was the musical spoof that I wrote called TOO OLD FOR RENT sung to the tune of "Seasons of Love" from the musical RENT. It was the big group number. The music started and the crowd immediately started laughing. Good sign! We sounded great and the crowd was really into it. We ended with a bang! (I still owe some money to that escort for that.)
After the show, the comedy club contact said the tape would be sent off soon. He also asked us for a reel. That's showbiz talk, bitches! Back in the old days, you had film stock of a scene or something that was sent off to producers, directors, etc. Then, videotape came around and now DVD. They still call it a reel though, see? What are ya...from squaresville? Don't get crazy boyo! It's aces. Get me? We had several other audience members come up to us after asking for our website, next show, where we lived, what size dress I wear...weird, but hey...we went with it!
Overall, a great show! My friends that came said we were the best group there! Yes, I know, they had to say that. But, I actually felt like it was true! We kicked ass! Sure, the HBO peeps may hate us and never call us. And, it's a pipe dream for now but it could happen. Or, as I said before, we'll get signed, start rehearsing, shoot our first sketch, start fighting, the police will come and escort us out and we'll crash and burn faster than Lindsay Lohan in driving school.
Thanks to my peoples that came. I appreciate you all very much! Big ups to Jessica who brought 3 friends (Neeka, Deena and Heather) visiting from San Diego. Sure, they will never speak to her again after seeing the show. But, hey, I love the support! I've been hanging with them for the past couple of days. Yes, I'll post about it soon. If you can handle stories of drunken nights of car jacking, dancing naked in an ice cream shop, fighting with midgets and PDA's (Public Displays of Asses)...then tune in. It's hot.
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