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Where do creative people come from? On Beginnings, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators and others just starting out, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?”




On today’s show, we talk to Seth Reiss. Seth is a writer and performer based in Chicago, and is currently head writer at The Onion. He also contributes to McSweeney’s and previously wrote for the Sklar Brothers show Cheap Seats. As well, Seth is 1/4 of the sketch group Pangea 3000, which can be found performing all over the country. In April, Seth came over to the Brooklyn Wrestling Team apartment and talked with us about sweet Southwest PA, moms and baby dolls, and about being an asshole to clear the tension.

Some live shows! 6/12: Beginnings: Live at UCB East, 9:30pm w/ Kurt Braunohler (IFC’s Bunk), Dan McCoy (The Daily Show) and saxophone/drum trio Moon Hooch! Also 6/21: our musical Rockefeller Centaur at UCB Chelsea, 6:30pm!

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Every other week on Beginnings: Field Guide, creators deconstruct their favorite projects - from conception to finished product - in order to explore the many different paths the creative process can take.




Matt Ruby is a stand-up based in New York whose blog Sandpaper Suit is one of the best resources for discussing the ins and outs of actually writing and performing comedy. Matt also co-hosts Hot Soup, a monthly stand-up show at UCB East and tours around the U.S. performing at clubs and festivals like SXSW and Bridgetown.Two weeks ago, we discussed his early creative experiences on Beginnings proper, and on today’s Field Guide, he leads us through the origins of one of his jokes!

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On the second Tuesday of every month at UCB East, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?” This is Beginnings: Live!




Holy Habitat for Humanities! This past Tuesday at UCB East we taped our 50th full episode of Beginnings, and hachi machi - our guests were so nice and funny that waves of good humor spread over the audience like a cool breeze coming from a desert oasis constructed entirely out of Ocean City, Maryland Fudge Factory brand fudge. Jon Glaser (writer on Conan, creator and star of Adult Swim’s Delocated), Rachel Dratch (star of SNL, author of the new book Girl Walks into a Bar), Leo Allen (writer on SNL, co-creator of Jon Benjamin Has a Van, co-producer of Comedy Bang! Bang!) and James McNew (Dump, Yo La Tengo) all joined us for a night of songs, prawns and Shauns! Put your laughing gloves on, folks, because you’re gonna need ‘em!

And if you enjoyed this, please subscribe on iTunes, and also join us every month at UCB East on the second Tuesday at 8pm. Next month (6/12) features Kurt Braunohler (IFC’s new show Bunk and 1/2 of Kurt and Kristen) and Dan McCoy (writer on The Daily Show and 1/3 of The Flop House Podcast). It will be a comedy blast!

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Where do creative people come from? On Beginnings, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators and others just starting out, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?”




Matt Ruby is a stand-up based in New York whose blog “Sandpaper Suit” is one of the best resources for discussing the ins and outs of actually writing and performing comedy. Matt also co-hosts a monthly show at the Upright Citizens Brigade’s East Village Theatre and tours around the U.S. performing at clubs and festivals like SXSW and Bridgetown. A few weeks ago, Matt stopped by the Brooklyn Wrestling Team Apartment to discuss his creativity as well as cleverness and New Yorker comedy; hippies, shrooms and tree energy; and the entitlement of rich people. Plus we debut a new segment that will be renamed in the future because of its awful current name!

Plus, don’t forget to come to the next Beginnings: Live - our 50th Episode Spectacular - with Rachel Dratch, Jon Glaser, Leo Allen and James McNew!!!! Tuesday May 8th at 8pm at UCB East!

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Every other week on Beginnings: Field Guide, creators deconstruct their favorite projects - from conception to finished product - in order to explore the many different paths the creative process can take.




On today’s episode, we talk to Dan Klein and Arthur Meyer, the creators of the delightful and odd webseries The Jerry Seinfeld Program and part of the sketch group Pangaea 3000. As well, Dan is a writer for The Onion and previously wrote for Sportsdome, and Arthur is a contributor to The Onion, half of the sketch group Two Fun Men and a writer on Jimmy Fallon. Back in February, Dan and Arthur came over to the Brooklyn Wrestling Team Apartment to discuss the origins of their webseries, as well as about forgetting names and shitty philosophy.

PLUS! Don’t miss our live 50th episode spectacular at UCB East on Tuesday, May 8th at 8pm with RACHEL DRATCH (SNL) and JON GLASER (Delocated)!!! Go to ucbtheatre.com to make reservations!

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Where do creative people come from? On Beginnings, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators and others just starting out, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?”




Hello, Beginnings-ers! On today’s episode we talk to Andy Zaltzman, a writer and stand-up based in the UK. Along with the Daily Show’s John Oliver, he co-writes and co-hosts the podcast The Bugle, a satirical news program. Since 1999, he’s performed a new hour of stand-up almost every year at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and he’s written and performed in a number of BBC Radio programs including currently 7 Day Sunday. A few weeks ago while Andy was in town to do some shows, we met up with him at a studio in midtown where we discussed cricket, animal carcass pits and playing Noah’s wife. What do these cryptic teasers mean? Only one way to find out: become like unto a god!

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On the second Tuesday of every month at UCB East, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?” This is Beginnings: Live!




Holy crumbs, friends! On April 10th, we sat down with some amazing people for our third live episode at UCB East! I hope you’re ready to have fun because we have Kevin Allison from The State and the Risk! podcast explaining how his creativity changed after coming out. We also have Daily Show writer Hallie Haglund discussing her steamy re-write of Little Women. Plus the lovely and wonderful Savoir Adore play a few songs and tell us tales of being hams as children.

You can also catch Savoir Adore in full rock band mode tomorrow (aka Friday, April 13, but not in a scary way) at Mercury Lounge. You should see them. They’re great! Here’s more info!

Our next live show is Tuesday, May 8th at 8pm at UCB East. Don’t miss it! (Or you might develop extra fingers)

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Where do creative people come from? On Beginnings, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators and others just starting out, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?”




On this episode, we talk to stand-up comedian and writer Dan St. Germain. With the force of personality of a literary heavyweight, Dan has made a name for himself appearing on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon and MTV, and writing for Fuse and The Onion, among many others. He’s been a “New Face” at the 2011 Montreal Just For Laughs Festival, has been nominated for multiple ECNY awards, and this year he’ll be featured on John Oliver’s New York Standup Show. A few weeks ago, Dan came over to the Wrestling Team apartment, and we talked about writing plays and having a literary father, and then Dan called into question the entire nature of the show!

And don’t forget to come to Beginnings: Live at UCB East this Tuesday, the 10th at 8pm! We’ve got Kevin Allison (Risk!, The State), Hallie Haglund (The Daily Show) and the band Savoir Adore as guests!

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Every other week on Beginnings: Field Guide, creators deconstruct their favorite projects - from conception to finished product - in order to explore the many different paths the creative process can take.




On this episode of Beginnings: Field Guide (Beginnings’ sister show, where we have creators walk us through a particular thing they’ve created), we talk again to Devin Clark, the creator, director and executive producer of Ugly Americans, and if you’re not watching that show, you’re a stupid ass-beast. Get it? Anyway, on this episode, Devin talks to us about a painting of his called Fire-Breathing Meat Knife that will be featured in an upcoming art show. Plus, this is our first enhanced podcast, so you can actually see the painting while you listen!



And don’t forget to come to Beginnings: Live on Tuesday, April 10th at 8pm with our guests Kevin Allison (Risk, The State), Nick Vatterott (Conan Fallon) and special musical guest Savoir Adore!

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Where do creative people come from? On Beginnings, two fledgling comedians talk origins with professional creators and others just starting out, and hopefully answer their parents’ question, “What are you doing?”




Devin Clark is the creator, executive producer and director of the fantastic Comedy Central show Ugly Americans, which began its life as an animated webseries called 5ON, which Clark created for CC’s Motherload. Clark is responsible for the look and tone of the show, and he began his art career at Syracuse University, where he was a video art major and also created a thrice-weekly comic strip for the school newspaper. Eventually he realized he could combine his two loves – video and cartooning – through animation, which set him on his current path. A few weeks ago, Devin sat down with us at the Wrestling Team apartment to discuss his hippie upbringing and films about jerking off into brownie mix. Totes fun, bro!

And don’t forget to come to Beginnings: Live on Tuesday, April 10th at 8pm with our guests Kevin Allison (Risk, The State), Nick Vatterott (Conan, Fallon) and special musical guest Savoir Adore!

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