Amy Poehler, Matt Walsh, Matt Besser, and Ian Roberts a.k.a.
the Upright Citizens Brigade would achieve that dream with their eponymous 1998 Comedy Central sketch series.
The point of view was to disrupt the status quo, recallsVeepstar Walsh.
Francine Daveta/UCB
The disturbing undercurrent that lurks in America, we were targeting that.
We counted ourselves lucky to be around so many talented people.
Not much has changed.
Andrew Bisdale/UCB
The goal was always to provide a place of total creative freedom.
Here, some notable names share superlative onstage memories from their time at this landmark laugh factory.
The theme [of one edition] was Power Hour.
Francine Daveta/UCB
It was an hour show, and we took a shot of beer every minute.
We were nervous about the logistics of puking on stage.
We brought Dallas BBQ chicken fingers, and we were eating them while we were drinking.
Andrew Bisdale/UCB
It was gross, honestly.
Nobody wanted to see us puke.
Someone smashed a bottle on the stage.
Courtesy of Sasheer Zamata
This person was the most even-keeled, sweet man, like a true mensch.
And people had to be like, Uhhh, put away the knife.
And he was like, No, no, its fine, its fine.
Andrew Bisdale/UCB
Now UCB has an HR department, they have a counselor.
I sent around a basket, and I asked anybody to donate any cash they could.
The audience put in close to $200.
Francine Daveta/UCB
As soon as I got that money, I walked off stage.
I went to the bar.
People were booing and screaming and demanding their money back.
Justin M. Lubin/HBO
One dude put $50 in there.
Huebel and Paul had to go deal with it.
One of the things that I see in myself from UCB is that anarchic, almost troublemaking eye.
Manny Carabel/FilmMagic
Those guys were doing theater in the park and doing all this weird s downtown.
And I did do thatat least twice in one show.
This is when I was working out all the time.
Gary Gershoff/WireImage
Thats the beauty of that stage: you’re able to just try and fail.
Just laughing so hard that I wet my pants.
Why dont you just have a go at get high?
Eric Ogden
Its the sweaty green room and the basement of that Chelsea space beneath the Gristedes [supermarket].
It felt like Vietnam.
It felt really gritty and dangerous.
Upright Citizens Brigade
That stuff sticks with me that sort of mischievous but also unbridled rebellion.
Its the comedy that brings people together.
So at the half, he starts just ripping bong hits, one after another.
The second half, he was everywhere.
He kept on creeping into scenes and stopping stuff: I have a question.
It was like a president realizing hes about to be assassinated.
Like, What the?
Get off the stage!
The opportunity to fail?
A strong sense of ensemble?
If you break down nearly all comedy, it has patterns.
Why is that guy on the sitcom consistently funny?
Because he adheres to a pattern of behavior.
So these guys who have studied with us for years know that like the back of their hand.
Were both benefiting from tonight.'
