Photo of Drew Franklin as the Upright Citizens Brigade Logo. (@ucbtla/Twitter)

Hello and welcome to True Talk Comedy. I, Casey Dunn, would like to welcome you to this Neon Tommy exclusive. Comedy is one of the fastest growing pieces of the Los Angeles entertainment scene. New clubs are popping up all over the place, making it hard to differentiate exactly what makes each individual club unique. How is Groundlings any different from Upright Citizens Brigade or Laugh Factory? Which ones are great for a date versus a family outing? Or even, how does someone get up on those stages and perform?

True Talk Comedy aims to provide a brief, but intensive, breakdown of how each theatre stacks up in regards to the quality of its performers and material, as well as what sets it apart from the rest. And unlike “Whose Line is it Anyway,” the points do matter.

An Introduction.

Unfortunately there was nothing concrete to confirm that Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is currently in line with any anarchist regimes, however the club was founded by Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts and Matt Walsh, and has existed in L.A. for the past nine years. Originating in Chicago as an improv troupe entitled “UCB 4,” the four members later opened the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City in 1999. After the UCB theatre proved to be a large success, a new location in L.A. was founded in 2005. Now Upright Citizens Brigade hosts one of the United States’ top improv troupes, ASSSSCAT, which performs weekly, and past performers of ASSSSCAT include Andy Richter, Stephen Colbert and Tina Fey. UCB also offers sketch comedy and improv classes for any students or actors who want to learn the tricks of the trade. In addition, twice a month UCB hosts an improv jam session where UCB students and anyone from the public may perform longform improv. As if all this was not enough, Upright Citizens Brigade also hosts special guest shows, standup routines, more improv, sketch, and recurring monthly or bimonthly shows. 

The Breakdown.

Tina Fey, a past performer of ASSSSCAT. (ucbtla/Instagram)

Upright Citizens Brigade has one of the largest and most successful alumni pools in the comedy scene, and they don’t waste that opportunity. Having special guest stars at nearly every show, including appearances by Drew Carrey, Paul Scheer (The League), and even the occasional porn star (Dana DeArmond) — and that was just during October. This level of consistent star power along with up-and-coming talent sets UCB apart from many other theaters, making each show feel professional while also having one of a kind acts. Additionally, actors who perform in any of the sketch or improv shows must complete UCB training courses. After paying for and attending each class, the actor must then audition for UCB’s different teams and that is when they might see themselves on stage. Each class, whether it is a beginning improv course or a fourth level sketch writing course, fills up within a week of being posted on UCB’s website. The large number of people who are educated by UCB allows Upright Citizens Brigade to be extremely particular about who eventually makes it onto a team, increasing the level of performance that is given at every show.

Comedic Ideas and General Themes: 4

Upright Citizens Brigade will consistently bring both improvised and written material that shocks an audience while splitting their sides due to laughter. The content of shows is primarily directed toward older audiences (four dildos were seen over the course of two shows), which keeps the content raunchy, but also very relevant. The greatness of UCB’s comedy stems from the willingness to challenges the audience’s moral compass. Ebola, wealth disparity and Gay Superman were all discussed within a single ASSSSCAT performance.  So whether it is T.J. Miller (Silicon Valley, HBO) questioning audience members about the morality of civilization during his stand-up routine or a rapist Dracula in “The Tournament of Nerds,” no one can unsee what UCB presents. With great comedians and a lot of exciting work, the only issue that arises during these great shows is the number of strong, outrageous circumstances. The extreme scenes can cause discomfort that some may find distasteful or possibly offensive. While most people leave pleased, the graphic nature of the comedy does limit the scope of audiences who will attend UCB’s shows. 

Originality and Creativity: 5

Amy Poehler, one of the Upright Citizens Brigade founding members. (ucbtla/Instagram)

In a word, The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre is “eclectic.” Each show has its own flare and incredible defining factors. With the number of shows performed at UCB over the course of a month, there is surely to be at least one show that will appeal to everyone. Maybe someone will be drawn to “Tournament of Nerds,” in which nerds dress up as different comic book or film characters and debate, or perhaps the Midnight sketch show that occurs once per month (Drew Carrey hosted for October). And if sketch, improv or nerds just aren’t the right fix then maybe stand up will do the trick. Besides guest standup shows, there is also “Fresh Out! LA: Stand-up Comedy” in which newcomers and veteran comedians try out new material, along with some of their classics. With this amount of consistent variety, UCB excels in the originality of its productions and creativity of its work.

Final Thoughts.

Upright Citizens Brigade has an exceptional collection of actors and guest stars who cycle through, creating great and unique performances. Even shows that occur continuously throughout a season are always exciting and different, making UCB one of the must see comedy clubs in L.A. The availability of shows at great prices make this theatre even better is; shows will typically cost between $5-$15 and are rarely disappointing. UCB makes for a fun group outing or a great idea for a date.

Total Score: 14

Upright Citizens Brigade is a big dog in the comedy world and consistently proves why. Out of a total possible score of 15 points, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre leaves with a combined score of 14 points, earning the ranking of “Jaw Droppingly Fun.”

Comedy is a dialogue and if you would like to join the conversation please email Casey James Dunn about shows you've seen or comedy clubs you think True Talk Comedy should review next.

Upright Citizens Theatre (5919 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028) Tickets are $5-$15. For more information visit LosAngeles.UCBTheatre.com

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