SFist: SFist Reviews Upright Citizens Brigade: A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T. at SF Sketchfest

Melissa

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 18:17:10 -0800

I saw the UCB show, and although I was impressed, I thought some of the jokes were easy and juvenile (dildos, masturbation, etc). The group I was with actually liked Pretty, Pretty Pony better. The short scenes were entertaining, and the use of quick edits saved the scenes from dragging on past the point of no return (something I wished they would do on SNL more). It was a different style than the UCB but just as effective.

don

Tue, 31 Jan 2006 09:18:38 -0800

When I used to go see the UCB in New York at their old theater in the late 90s (they've since moved, but their old theater was a former porn palace, I think), Besser was always the best of the bunch at improv, expecially at swinging the performances into unexpected directions. And if you watch UCB's first season on dvd, I think it's pretty evident that Besser was one of the main creative forces in the group (tho Amy was always the best performer of the four). Also, I remember buying his cd at one of those NY shows. It was bacially what Crank Yankers is now, a bunch of phone call recordings in which Besser drives people nuts (the callers think he's a computer helpline guy). Funny stuff...

Jon

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 16:04:59 -0800

Hmmm...I didn't meant to make it look like I didn't give Matt enough credit, but he was brilliant too. I even wondered throughout the performance why is it that everyone in the cast was having the fame and success and not him when he is clearly as talented as the others.

Rachel

Mon, 30 Jan 2006 15:38:40 -0800

I saw this show too and thought it was f****** hilarious. Matt Besser was way better than you're giving him credit for though! And yeah, while Horatio Saenz was on the outskirts, his contributions to the sketches were dead on. I was really impressed with it, way better than SNL.