Pick of the Day: ASSSSCAT for Charity 5/1-5/2

Even Reno911 Is Going on Zoom Meetings (and Will Have New Episodes May 4th on Quibi)

The UCB 4 to Reunite for Performance at Carnegie Hall, Becoming One of the Few Improv Teams/Troupes to Ever Play The World Renowned Venue

19th Annual DCM Line-Up, Schedule, Tickets, and Passes Now Available

UCB Signs First Look Deal with Universal Cable Productions

See What The UCB 4 Have Up Their Sleeve for “The UCB Show” Coming Soon to Seeso

Upright Citizen Brigade’s Best To Be Featured in The UCB 4 Produced “The UCB Show” Taping Live This Week at UCB Sunset

Sony Pictures Animation Full Length Feature Adaptation of ‘Manimal’ Could Be The Next 21 Jump Street

Ian Roberts & Jay Martel To Be Showrunners on TV Land Comedy Pilot ‘Teachers’

Moynihan/Mantzoukas/More Join Lennon Parham & Jessica St. Clair’s Playing House

The UCB Comedy Improv Manual by Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts Out Now

Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk And Ian Roberts Join Horror/Coming of Age/Comedy ‘Kitchen Sink’

April 30, 2020

amy poehler, andy daly, asssscat, bobby moynihan, d'arcy carden, ian roberts, jon gabrus, lauren lapkus, lennon parham, matt besser, matt walsh, rob corddry, ucb

ASSSSCAT, the marquee show for the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatres across the country, is returning to do their signature long form improv show via a YouTube live-stream over four different shows this weekend for four separate worthy charities.

No matter where or when ASSSSCAT was happening, it was always sold out back when it happened in person. For this special charity, live-stream edition, you will have to get your chance to see UCB’s best without having worry about buying tickets weeks in advance or standing hours in a line. Also, it’s heartening to see ASSSSCAT is back after the closures of UCB Hell’s Kitchen and the NYC training center.

The teams, as you can see below, makes for a star studded affair. All of the founding UCB 4 (Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts) are slated to perform throughout the four shows in addition to Bobby Moynihan, Ego Nwodim, D’Arcy Carden, Lauren Lapkus, Carl Tart, Seth Morris, Andy Daly, Lennon Parham, Jessica St. Clair, Sean Conroy, Eugene Cordero, Anthony Atamanuik, Jon Gabrus, John Gemberling, and so much more.

The four shows happening on Fri. May 1st & Sat. May 2nd will be dedicated to raising funds for Frontline Responders Fund, Project C.U.R.E., NYC Mayor’s Fund: Food For Heroes, and LA COVID-19 Crisis Fund.

By the way, they’re all scheduled out so you’ll be able to watch them all. Tune in May 1st & May 2nd at both 5PM PT/8PM ET & 8PM PT/11PM ET on UCB’s YouTube channel here.

April 10, 2020

News

ben garant, carlos alazraqui, cedric yarborough, ian roberts, joe lo truglio, kerri kenney, mary birdsong, niecy nash, quibi, reno 911, thomas lennon, wendi mclendon covey

Of the offerings that Quibi has since its launch this week, one of the more high profile things coming to mobile only streaming platform is brand spankin’ new episodes of the beloved cop mockumentary Reno911.

It was announced today that Thurs. May 4th will be officially when new Reno911 episodes will come to Quibi and, if you can’t wait that long until that date, you can enjoy some mini-sodes that have been made while in self-isolation over Zoom (as even Reno’s “finest” is observing social distancing).

December 20, 2018

Uncategorized

amy poehler, ian roberts, long form improvisation, matt besser, matt walsh, upright citizens brigade

Welp, the UCB4 (ostensibly THE Upright Citizens Brigade) are playing the UCB Inner Sanctum (which probably can hold more people than both theaters at UCB Franklin and UCB Sunset combined) next year. So, you might want to mark your calendar for Jan. 12th or watch for more tickets being released as the day of comes closer.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

December 20, 2018

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amy poehler, ian roberts, long form improvisation, matt besser, matt walsh, upright citizens brigade

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, screenings, open mics, maps, and more can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

June 28, 2017

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2018, amy poehler, carnegie hall, del close marathon, ian roberts, matt besser, matt walsh, nyc, ucb, upright citizens brigade

The UCB 4 to Reunite for Performance at Carnegie Hall, Becoming One of the Few Improv Teams/Troupes to Ever Play The World Renowned Venue

For a very long time, playing NYC’s Carnegie Hall as a comedian was an unquestioned achievement in comedy of the highest order. As is, playing Carnegie Hall is an incredibly rare feat no matter what your artistic discipline might be.

Still, mostly comedians that play Carnegie Hall are stand-up comedians. We looked through the list of past performers, we found that the only other instance of improv was Drew Carey doing night with some Whose Line Is It Anyway? folks like Jeff B. Davis and Greg Proops for the New York Comedy Festival. The Firesign Theatre, which only had an improvised feel, also performed there several decades ago.

So, Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, and Matt Besser, often referred to as The UCB 4, will be kicking off 2018′s Del Close Marathon performing together once again and simultaneously being one of the only groups to do their version of long form improv on such a hallowed stage.

With that in mind, you better keep a close eye on tickets going on sale if you want to go.

One of the most renowned, if not the most renowned, improv events in the world is just around the corner.

The 19th Annual Del Close Marathon is coming next month and it, per usual, has an extremely stacked line-up as you can see above.

If you’re planning on going (and we hope that you would be) get your tickets and passes ASAP.

February 5, 2017

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adam mckay, hollywood, ian roberts, improv, in conversation, io west, live comedy

This night will go way back to the days that Adam McKay used to perform live and do improv. Ian Roberts being one of the UCB 4 is also another reason you shouldn’t miss this.

Get your tickets here.

The rest of our listings for comedy shows, events, open mics, and maps can be found at www.thecomedybureau.com.

June 21, 2016

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amy poehler, first look deal, ian roberts, matt besser, matt walsh, nbc universal, ucb, universal cable productions, upright citizens brigade

(via Deadline)

This is one of UCB’s biggest deals yet.

Throughout movies and television, you can see the influence that the Upright Citizens Brigade has had on comedy over the last several years. Not only are founders Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts doing well for themselves, but the alumni of the UCB brand are probably in all of your favorite things to watch or maybe running them from behind the scenes.

Now, with signing a first look deal with NBC Universal’s Universal Cable Productions, you’re going to see even more of UCB folk on TV. Shows for the vast array of cable networks under NBC Universal’s banner (including USA, Oxygen, Esquire, E!, Bravo, Telemundo, and many more) will be developed by UCB.

Already they’ve got five shows in the works ranging from a haunted house mockumentary to an overwrought satire of a sorority house to a TV adaptation of We Can Fix You featuring the likes of Besser, Roberts, Jeff Hiller, Pam Murphy, Betsy Sodaro, Horatio Sanz, Laura Grey, Megan Stein, and more.

December 5, 2015

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amy poehler, ian roberts, matt besser, matt walsh, seeso, ucb 4, ucb show

(via EW)

If you’ve been fortunate enough to live in either NYC or LA and frequent shows at the multiple Upright Citizens Brigade Theaters, you’ll be happy to know some of the most talented, but yet-to-be-discovered talent are about to be put on a more worldwide stage with the upcoming UCB Show.

If you don’t, you’re probably in for one hell of a surprise.

The original UCB 4, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, Amy Poehler, and Matt Besser have corralled the best and brightest alums and current performers of UCB and put them all on stage at UCB Sunset.

See what’s in store and what you should be getting hyped for in this trailer for The UCB Show.

August 24, 2015

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amy poehler, ian roberts, live taping, matt besser, matt walsh, ucb show, upright citizens brigade

You’re going to see long lines near Sunset and Western all week long.

Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts, and Matt Besser are putting together an in-house variety series that they’re calling The UCB Show.

Though the line-ups haven’t been announced, you can probably bet on most of the folks who have their photo hung in the lobbies of any of the four UCB theatres might be on the show like James Adomian.

The tapings are 7:30PM/9:30PM tonight through Thurs. at UCB Sunset. They’re free, but all the reservations are currently full. However, as with most UCB shows, there will be a stand by line.

Fortunately, because this is a taping, you’ll very likely get to see what the lucky hundred or so people will get to see this week.

July 22, 2014

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adam mckay, gary sanchez, ian roberts, jay martel, key & peele, manimal, sony pictures animation, will ferrell

(via Deadline)

A short lived 80’s TV series known as Manimal following a man who could morph into different animals and fight crime has been in development to be adapted into a movie by Sony Pictures Animation for some time now. Will Ferrell and Adam McKay’s Gary Sanchez, and Jimmy Miller’s Mosaic have now hopped onto the project and it will hopefully have more traction in the next year or so.

In fact, Jay Martel and Ian Roberts, whose work you’re probably well acquainted with on Key & Peele, are set to write the script and this has so many elements to be every bit the fun meta comedy romp that 21 and 22 Jump Street has been.

May 8, 2014

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alison brie, ian roberts, jay martel, key & peele, tv land, ucb

Ian Roberts & Jay Martel To Be Showrunners on TV Land Comedy Pilot ‘Teachers’

Ian Roberts, who you should know as one of the UCB 4, along with Jay Martel are producers on Key & Peele that will be headed over to TV Land to work on a comedy pilot entitled ‘Teachers’ produced by Alison Brie.

Hopefully, as the project is set in a school, we wonder if Key & Peele would mispronounce white kids’ names while taking roll in some sort of a cameo.

February 1, 2014

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bobby moynihan, ian roberts, jason mantzoukas, jessica st clair, lennon parham, usa network

Moynihan/Mantzoukas/More Join Lennon Parham & Jessica St. Clair’s Playing House

Bobby Moynihan, Ian Roberts, Jason Mantzoukas, Andy Daly, and John Lutz are set to guest star on the upcoming USA Network comedy series Playing House from Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair.

Perhaps, Playing House will fare a little better NBC’s Best Friends Forever.

August 22, 2013

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ian roberts, improv comedy, matt besser, matt walsh, ucb

The UCB Comedy Improv Manual by Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts Out Now

When considering who are the modern masters of improvisational comedy/who should write an instructional book on improv, a good place to start with that list is the founders of The Upright Citizens Brigade.

Luckily, that just happened as Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, and Ian Roberts, ¾ of the original UCB 4 (the other one if Amy Poehler and we’re guessing she’s got a little busy with everything she’s doing to join in here) have written and released an instructional book on long form improvisational comedy.

If you have any interest in improv to any degree, The UCB Comedy Improv Manual just might be a good thing to buy.

« April 2021 »

August 20, 2013

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bob odenkirk, horror comedy, ian roberts, josh fadem, key and peele, kitchen sink, patton oswalt

Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk And Ian Roberts Join Horror/Coming of Age/Comedy ‘Kitchen Sink’

Apparently, this monster filled comedy set in a high school, “Kitchen Sink”, already has an amazing cast in Josh Fadem, Keegan Michael Key, and Joan Cusack and now has just added the likes of Patton Oswalt, Bob Odenkirk, and Ian Roberts.

With that mashing of genres and this cast, the set photos of this film alone should be both hilarious and great.