The Midnight Show

The Midnight Show is a Los Angeles-based sketch comedy group which performs monthly at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Founded in 2008, the show owes its notoriety not only to production of several viral and mature-themed internet videos on Funny or Die and YouTube (including "Twilight ... with Cheeseburgers," "Drive Recklessly," "Car Ad with Andy Richter," "Immortal Dog" and "Slider," starring Dax Shepard), but also to the fact that the show has functioned as a feeder of talent to the cast and writing staff of Saturday Night Live.[1] The show contains both live and pre-filmed sketch material, guided by a celebrity host. Past hosts have included Drew Carey, Andy Richter, Dax Shepard, Fred Willard, Jerry O'Connell, Trevor Moore, Jerry Minor, Jordan Peele, Michaela Watkins, Matt Walsh, Paul F. Tompkins, Steve Agee, James Van Der Beek and John Ennis.

For the album by Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis and Johnny Griffin, see The Midnight Show (album).

In 2010, The Midnight Show was selected as a finalist in the New York Friars' Club Improv and Sketch Comedy Competition.[2]

In 2012, the group was nominated for in Comedy Central's The Comedy Awards for Best Viral Original for their video, "Drive Recklessly."[3] They began touring the Western United States soon after with Drew Carey in "Drew Carey Presents: The Best of the Midnight Show."

The Midnight Show is performed and written by former SNL writer Heather Anne Campbell, Eric Moneypenny, Hal Rudnick, Jeff Sloniker, Nic Wegener, Joe Chandler, Curtis Rainsberry, Jeff Kauffman and Stephen Hale. It's produced by Rosie Kaller, co-produced by Janel SantaCruz and Frank Howley, with stage direction by Joe Wagner and video direction by Peter Atencio, Payman Benz, Tyler Gillett and others.

Notable alumni include: SNL cast member Abby Elliott, SNL writer Ryan Perez, Comedy Death-Ray Radio performer James Adomian, standup Josh Fadem, James Pumphrey, Stephanie Allynne and Community writer Zach Paez.

Frequent collaborators include filmmakers Payman Benz, Peter Atencio, and Tyler Gillett.

References
  1. "NBC's SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE Hires New Writers and Performers from THE UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE THEATRE". Elites TV. 2009-09-04. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  2. "Improv + Sketch Competition : The Friars Club Comedy Film Festival". Friarsclub.com. 2011-06-01. Retrieved 2012-02-22.
  3. "The Comedy Awards Nominees". Comedy Central. 2012-03-24.
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