I blame you! (...for my love of comedy!)

I've always been a comedy nerd. My whole life. There was always a love of all-things-funny through my household growing up, and I was was weened on some of the greatest comedic actors, stand-ups, improvisers, sketch troupes, and hilarious film classics. I'm blessed to be able to make my living through comedy--as an actor, improviser, and writer...and as Co-Founder/Co-Creative Director of SF Sketchfest, the San Francisco Comedy Festival (check it out here: www.sfsketchfest.com). It was started as a labour of love by my old sketch group Totally False People (seen above, in our earliest incarnation in 2001!). We were a bunch of goofy college kids, with a weird sense of the absurd and a passionate love of comedy. The fest is entering it's ninth year now, and what started a little lark has turned into one of the biggest independently run comedy festivals in the U.S. I'm so proud of what we've created...and I thought it would be fun to look back at some of the biggest influences on me as a comedian and lover of a good laugh. So, in no particular order...

FOZZIE BEAR and THE MUPPET SHOW

As a wee one, I thought Fozzie was HILARIOUS. Whenever the Muppet Show came on, I shouted to my folks that it was time for "The Fozzie Show!" I tend to say "Wocka Wocka Wocka" and weird and inappropriate times. Henson's endless creativity and vaudevillian sensibilities really struck a chord with me as a kid.

MATT GROENING'S LIFE IS HELL BOOKS and THE SIMPSONS

I always tuned into The Tracey Ullman Show just to see the short, crudely animated adventures of the Simpson clan (I particularly remember one where Bart when out for a long football pass and was told to oncoming obstacles, like a hedge and ultimately a cliff). It's amazing to think that the spin-off show has been on the air for 20 years! I also really dug Groening's Life is Hell comic strip and collected books--I may have been a little young for them, but they always cracked me up.

THE KIDS IN THE HALL

They were probably the most influential on my love of sketch comedy--I taped countless episodes off of Comedy Central and HBO and quoted favorite recurring characters like hellish film spoilers Simon & Hecubus, back-packed bike racer Gavin, the bitter Headcrusher, and the life-loving Chickenlady. My old roomie and fellow TFP/Sketchfester Dave and I performed the Citizen Kane sketch for our "Acting for the Camera" class at San Francisco State. In fact, during the 2000 KITH tour, our sketch group was just forming, and we took our name from a line in Mark McKinney's bio from the tour program ("Rumours that he was gay--totally false, people!--led to...). It was a real surreal thrill to have all five of them reunite for our fest a few years back.

MTV'S THE STATE

Hand in hand with KITH were the short-lived but ridiculously good The State, MTV's late 90's sketch collective that featured now-stars like Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Thomas Lennon, Ken Marino and David Wain. Coming out of college in NYC, the eleven member group wrote and performed some of the most memorable and influential sketches that I can recall--including Barry & Levon's pudding; the oh-so-outta here Doug; a mailman who delivers tacos; and a porcupine racetrack. Last year, we were honored to reunite all of them for a tribute and an intimate sketch performance, a lofty idea that magically came to fruition. The reunited group is seen above, along with myself and partners David Owen and Janet Varney.

MYSTERY SCIENCE THEATER 3000

Oh how I love the Satellite of Love! I used to have sleep-overs in high school with a couple of my buddies, and we would watch the Friday night broadcast on Comedy Central. The wisecrackin' bots and hosts Joel and Mike really appealed to my comic sensibilities--I've always been a film aficionado, good and bad, and their wry and goofy commentary was always a blast to listen to. The sketches in between the film segments were inspired as well. I've been fortunate enough to do a handful of RiffTrax Presents tracks with Janet Varney for Mike Nelson's RiffTrax.com, and am honored to call Mike, Kevin and Bill friends.

ALBERT BROOKS

A comedy genius, pure and simple. His writing is so clever and funny--as evident in films like Lost in America, Real Life, and my favorite Defending Your Life. He was robbed (ROBBED, I TELL YA!) of an Oscar for his brilliant portrayal of Aaron Altman in James L. Brooks' incredible Broadcast News. I continue to be amazed by his engaging sense of humor, and his bits as a guest on The Tonight Show still have me in stitches no matter how many times I've heard them. If you haven't, hunt down his two comedy records, Comedy Minus One and A Star is Bought. They are amazing!

MONTY PYTHON

How can one do a list of comedic influences and NOT include Monty Python? Sublimely ridiculous, combing weird absurd sketches with Terry Gilliam's funny animation, they are the masters of the anti-ending and interesting sketch transitions. It doesn't get any better than Cleese's Ministry of Silly Walks or the Spam sketch.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE

Say what you will about the hit-and-miss tendencies of this late night TV staple, it was incredibly influential on me growing up. From the original Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players to the latest incarnation, every generation has had its gifted performers and memorable sketches. My all-time faves: Chris Farley's motivational speaker Matt Foley ("Living in a van down by the river"); Richard Pryor & Chevy Chases word association ("DEAD honkey!"); Dana Carvey as Tom Brokaw pre-recording Gerald Ford's death announcement ("Gerald Ford dead today from an overdose of crack cocaine!"; the great Phil Hartman as Charlton Heston doing an audio-book recording of Madonna's Sex ("I like my vagina..."); and pretty much any Wayne's World (and the movies to boot).

WHOSE LINE IS IT ANYWAY?

I took my first improv class when I was 12--it was "Improvisation for Teens" and was offered through the Sacramento Area Regional Theater Alliance (SARTA). It was taught by Buck Busfield, brother of Timothy and owner of the B-Street Theater. One class, and I WAS HOOKED. I've been doing improv continuously in some incarnation or other for 20 years, from my high school group Improv Core at Davis High to my college troupe Small Chicken at San Francisco State, to several venues in SF and LA, I'm always doing it. I started in short form, and THE program I watched repeatedly was Whose Line, the original British version featuring performers like Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops, Colin Mochrie, Tony Slattery, and John Sessions. Proops and Stiles were especially influential.

WAITING FOR GUFFMAN and all of the GUEST MOCKUMENTARIES

I saw Guffman three times in the theater, and I can watch it over and over without tiring of it. I did a lot of community theater growing up, so the universe created by Guest and his crew of amazing character actors rang so incredibly true to me. Willard, Levy, O'Hara and Posey are all hilarious, and Guest's Corky is one of my favorite film characters of all time. Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration are all incredibly enjoyable as well.

UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE

A couple of seasons on Comedy Central, the hilarious sketch world of UCB mirrored a lot of the same energies and innerworkings of my group. Matt Besser, Matt Walsh, Ian Roberts and Amy Poehler are an incredibly ensemble, and their theaters in NYC and LA turn out some of the best improvisers in the country. The UCB were integral in the success of SF Sketchfest, having signed on (along with Fred Willard) to the second ever festival and helping to put us on the map. Many thanks and much respect, UCB!

YOU CAN'T DO THAT ON TELEVISION

This Canadian Nickelodeon staple of my childhood was a rather silly collection of sketches and slim. Why I liked it so much, I don't know (WATER POURS ON HEAD). There was a certain tongue in cheek, self-aware quality to it that I really appreciated. Plus, it had Alanis Morrisette. What more do you want?

SPINAL TAP

The mockumentary that set the bar for all to follow, Rob Reiner's depiction of the UK metalers is one of those rare films that works as both a lampooning and a tribute to those kind of bands. So many great moments--Nigel's amp that goes to 11, getting lost on the way to the stage, Derek's non-working cocoon, and tiny little Stonehenge. As funny now as it was when it was first released, it really taught me a lot about character commitment.

MR. SHOW with BOB & DAVID

HBO's hilarious sketch show was anchored by Bob Odenkirk and David Cross, but featured a tremendous ensemble, including Jill Talley, Tom Kenny, Paul F. Tompkins, John Ennis, Brian Posehn, BJ Porter, Jay Johnston and Dino Stamatopoulos. We only got 4 seasons, but what great seasons they weird! Fave sketches: the audition ("Can I use this chair?"), Titannica, Pit-Pat, Megaphone Inventors, and the pre-taped call-in show. One of my favorite Sketchfest shows was the Tribute we did to the show back in 2006.

THE MARX BROTHERS

As most of my friends could tell you, I can't resist a good pun. Or a bad pun. And man, the Marx Brothers were the masters of punnage, and of brilliant physical comedy and wordplay. My favorite film of theirs would have to be Horse Feathers, which has some amazing sequences in it (the password bit at the saloon door might be the best). I also find Animal Crackers, A Night at the Opera and Duck Soup infinitely watchable. When I have kids one day, I savor the opportunity to introduce them to the Marx Brothers.

IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD

Boy, do I love this all-star treasure chase comedy. Clocking in at 3 hours, it features most of the best comedic minds of the 60s, including Sid Caesar, Milton Berle, Terry-Thomas, Jonathan Winters, Buddy Hackett, Dick Shawn, Jim Backus, The Three Stooges, Phil Silvers, Spencer Tracy and sooooo many more! This is one of those perfect Sunday afternoon movies, always entertaining. I chose the pic above, 'cuz Thomas and Berle punching fists is one of my favorite movie laughs of all time.

BETTER OFF DEAD and SAVAGE STEVE HOLLAND

Savage Steve's first film feels like a bunch of sketches kinda weaved together--so many memorable characters! Cusack's Lane Meyer is great, but for my money it doesn't get any better than Curtis Armstrong's Charles De Mar. Also great are Diane Franklin's Monique and Dan Schneider's Ricky. Oh...and we can't forget the psychotic paper boy ("I want my 2 dollars!") or the Howard Cosell-speaking Japanese racers. I admire the commitment to the sillyness that is the backbone of the film. Savage's other films, One Crazy Summer and How I Got Into College both hold a special place in my heart. It was truly an honor to meet and interview Savage and Diane at last year's fest.

STEVE MARTIN

When I was really little, my parents took me to a live performance by Steve Martin at Michigan State. I was pretty small, but I remember the arrow through the head and the banjo. His early, goofy films like The Jerk and The Man With Two Brains are staples, but Martin has evolved in interesting and great ways as an actor, screenwriter, playwrite and novelist. I'll dig up my copy of Cruel Shoes every once in a while for a smile.

DON KNOTTS

Atta boy, Luther! The Ghost and Mr. Chicken is one of my favorite sweet-natured comedies, and Knotts' rubber-faced double takes are classic. Nobody did nervous or trepidatious like he did--I was fortune enough to see him shortly before his passing at a benefit at SF State. He did an old bit about a nervous public speaker, and it was hilarious. Love him.

RICHARD PRYOR and GENE WILDER

These guys were such an amazing team--such different energies, but they meshed so well together. Silver Streak was just the start of their great partnership, and the scene where Pryor attempts to disguise Wilder as a black man is timeless. Wilder made an appearance at the Fest in 08, speaking after a screening of Young Frankenstein (one of the greatest comedies ever made, period). Having dinner with him is one of the highlights of my life.

ALAN ARKIN and THE IN-LAWS

I'm a big fan of both Arkin and Falk, and their pairing in the original In-Laws is one of my favorites ever ("FLAMES! THERE'S FLAMES ON MY CAR!"). Dave and I went on a giant Arkin kick back in our days of working at now gone video store Movie Magic. There's something magical about his deadpan delivery and takes--witness his incredible extended spit take in John Cassavetes' Big Trouble. Plus, I love him in The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming ("Emergency! Everybody to get from street!"). I was so excited to see him win the Oscar for Little Miss Sunshine.

THE HOT SHOTS MOVIES

Ok, I realize these aren't great movies, but they are packed with stupid, funny gags, and as a teen I was in love with them. From dumb running gags (the little dog that is constantly being sat on), to meta refrences (as seen above, "I loved you in Wall Street!"), they never fail to make me laugh.

JACK LEMMON and WALTER MATTHAU

My favorite of all movie pairings, Lemmon and Matthau had such a wonderful chemistry that you just can't fake. So many of their movies are counted as my favorites, including The Fortune Cookie, The Odd Couple, and Grumpy Old Men. It's hard to believe it's been almost 10 years since they passed.

MADELINE KAHN

One of the greatest comediennes of all time (strike that--comedians), Kahn's delivery, by nature, was just funny. She played these high-strung, high-maintenance characters perfectly--from her Mrs. White in Clue ("Flames!"), to her kiss-dodging bride in Young Frankenstein, she was often the best thing in any project she did (see Mixed Nuts). So sad we lost her in 1999.

MEL BROOKS and CARL REINER

Individually, they both sport impressive comedy resumes as writers and directors, as well as actors. Together, they crafted the 2000 Year Old Man, one of my favorite comedy records as a kid. Brooks' parody films have always been faves of mine (Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, Spaceballs, and Blazing Saddles, in particular) and Reiner's writing on The Dick Van Dyke Show and work as director of Summer School are faves as well.

BILLY WILDER

THE greatest comedy director ever, his scripts were razor sharp and he got brilliant performances out of every actor he ever cast. He understood pacing and joke structure more than anyone (witness the famous maraca scene in Some Like It Hot, where he utilized the instrument to act as a hold for jokes). Check out Cameron Crowe's book interviewing Wilder if you have a chance, it's an amazing read.

AIRPLANE! and THE ZUCKER BROTHERS

A pre-cursor to those Hot Shots movies, no one packed in more gags per minute than the ZAZ team. So many classic comedy moments--Striker's drinking problem, Kareem's co-pilot, Ethel Merman's "War is Hell," "Billy, you ever seen a grown man naked?," and countless others! The same touch is on display in the great Police Squad! show and the Naked Gun movies.

THE CAROL BURNETT SHOW

Burnett's sketch show is incredibly funny and well-performed--he great cast featured Tim Conway, Harvey Korman and Vicki Lawrence. I think often about the Gone With the Wind sketch with the drapes dress (as scene above), and about all the times Conway and Korman cracked each other up. They need to put the complete seasons on DVD, pronto.

BRIAN REGAN

One of my favorite all-time stand-ups, Regan can do hours of brilliant observational humor, all without uttering a single curse word (I'm no stickler for keeping comedy clean, but it's pretty impressive to be able to work that clean and not draw attention to it). See him live sometime if you can, and I guarantee you that you'll laugh a ton.

DUDLEY MOORE and BEYOND THE FRINGE

Dudley was such a gifted physical comedian, and his portrayal of lovable rich drunk Arthur is amazing. His early work with sketch group Beyond the Fringe (with the great Peter Cook) is phenomenal. I even dig the remake of Preston Sturges' Unfaithfully Yours with Moore in it.

RICK OVERTON

A wonderful stand-up and improviser, Rick Overton literally had a giant influence on my comedy career. As a college freshman, I jumped up onstage with Rick at the old Cobb's Comedy Club in the Cannery in San Francisco after one of his shows to do some improv. I did well, and was approached by Nancy Hayes, a casting director in town, who then hooked me up with some background work as well as my first agent, Mitchell Talent. Rick was always very encouraging of me, and I've sat in with him several times in the past--so I thank him immensely.

GREG PROOPS

An incredibly smart stand-up, Proops is also a fantastic improviser. He is largely responsible for my fledgling comedy career as well--after a New Year's improv show with him at Cobb's seven or so years ago, he urged me to move to Los Angeles and pursue my comedy and acting dreams. It was his validation that really tipped the scales and started my migration south. Thanks Greg!

I'm sure there are others that I have neglected to include...and please, leave me comments and let me know some of yours!