Matt Little is a comedian in New York City. He has written for The Late Show with David Letterman, SNL, performs stand-up comedy by himself, improv with his group Thank You, Robot, and sketches with Left Handed Radio.
matt DOT little AT gmail DOT com

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Know Everything!

improvnonsense:

I get in trouble for saying that because I deliberately say it in a jerk manner. KNOW EVERYTHING. When someone says “I didn’t know the movie my partner was mentioning” I’ll sometimes say “Well, you don’t HAVE to know it but it would be easier if you knew it.”

And then people are like “Why do I have to like Star Wars?”

And I say “Who said anything about Star Wars?”

“All these improv nerd boys love Star Wars and can’t stop mentioning it. I hate that HAVE to know it.”

I know. It’s annoying.

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Alternately, answer confidently in the conversation onstage, even if what you’re saying may not be correct. BELIEVE whatever you say. BELIEVE. If your character believes it, it’s real to them. Let your scene partner call you out if they choose. If they call you out, hold your ground and tell them that your favorite moment in Star Wars WAS when Dark Vanner slid into the room in his socks and underwear and sang a Bob Segar song. It will probably lead somewhere great. Who gives a fuck if you don’t know anything about some pop culture reference? Because you know a shit ton of stuff that I don’t, and I bet it’s all awesome. I bet you have had bone-crushing sex, or swam with sharks, or nursed a baby back to health while I was trying to decide if X-Men crossover issues should be filed according to chronology or by the book in which they took place. I would much rather see someone with no knowledge of a pop culture reference process this on stage than watch ANOTHER rehashing of people on a couch watching or talking about Star Wars.

WHATEVER YOU SAY ON STAGE, YOU ARE ALWAYS RIGHT. Because what you’re saying is what your character, deep down in their heart of hearts, honestly believes more than anything. You have to be right, because if you aren’t, then you don’t have a clear reality for me, as a viewer, to latch on to.

And if your teammates try to give you shit for not seeing a movie, or missing out on some book, just remember the awesome things you’ve done that they haven’t. Then tell them, in the most loving way possible, to go fuck themselves. Then have a group hug.

POSTED 1 month ago
♥ 114 notes
♥ 114 notes
  1. lewesde reblogged this from improvnonsense
  2. yesiamanamishdancer reblogged this from improvnonsense
  3. mopula reblogged this from mynerdyimprovblog
  4. mopula reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    post: It just occurred...might actually have read Charna Halpern’s comments on
  5. mopula reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    Charna Halpern discusses this...can’t, so this is from memory… Mr Hines mentions that...
  6. silvija reblogged this from connorratliff and added:
    New Year’s Eve! Here...another improv anecdote about not knowing things: My indie team,...
  7. mynerdyimprovblog reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    understand: are there actually...playing intelligently
  8. mattfisher reblogged this from caitlintime and added:
    connorratliff:improvnonsense:...Now that Caitlin has settled it, allow me to suggest that...
  9. caitlintime reblogged this from connorratliff and added:
    am re-blogging Connor...as Christa McAuliffe....quickly...
  10. ucbdifference reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    Will Hines’ post generated...interesting debate on Tumblr yesterday - check
  11. improv-is-easy reblogged this from khealywu and added:
    Lotta great discussion on this, but Katey’s response is my fave.
  12. toyns reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    our pirate ship. After...song from Les Miserables,
  13. katiesimon reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    A lot has already been said, but...this:It is no fun as an audience member
  14. khealywu reblogged this from connorratliff and added:
    I’ll cop to the Challenger thing, I am sure I was a dick about the scene partner who didn’t know that it exploded....
  15. connorratliff reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    improvised with are younger than me, sometimes by 10 or 15 years. That’s what made me sensitive REAL quick
  16. samanthawarnick reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    understand how there could...Will’s thesis here. Why wouldn’t