The Second City - First Family of Comedy

Product Description Second City has spawned generations of great comedians. With its emphasis on improvisation, narrative, and character instead of simple jokes, it also changed the way we think about culture?while making us laugh out loud. Join hosts (and Second City alums) Dave Thomas, Scott Thompson, and Joe Flaherty for an uproarious, behind-the-scenes history of the troupe that incubated more than four decades? worth of funny people. Meet the producers who introduced the world to John Belushi, John Candy, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, and more. See rare archival clips of early performances. Hear Dan Aykroyd, Rachel Dratch, Tina Fey, Patrick McKenna, Mike Myers, Colin Mochrie, Catherine O?Hara, Harold Ramis, Paul Shaffer, Martin Short, Ryan Stiles, and others reminisce about their salad days. You?ll learn why so many performers call Second City the "university" that gave them a higher education in hilarity. DVD SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE extended interview segments with Dan Aykroyd, Martin Short, Dave Thomas, and Tina Fey. Amazon.com With its revolutionary improvisation acting techniques and staggering roster of talent who got their starts on its stages, Second City's influence on popular culture cannot be overstated. Although hardly definitive, this three-part retrospective is a welcome and entertaining primer to this comedy institution. The first episode, hosted by Dave Thomas, sets the stage, chronicling the Second City's embryonic incarnations at the University of Chicago, its humble beginnings as a Chicago cabaret, the establishment of a Toronto company, and the launch of SCTV. Scott Thompson, better known as a member of Kids in the Hall, hosts episode 2, which pays tribute to SCTV. Joe Flahrety hosts episode 3, which spotlights notable alumni who brought their improvisational talents to a national prominence, including Mike Myers, Tina Fey, and Ryan Stiles. A Who's Who of comedy reflect on their Second City stints, including Oscar-nominee Alan Arkin, Dan Aykroyd, Jim Belushi, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, and Martin Short. As history, First Family of Comedy is sketchy (there is scant mention of improvisation guru and mentor Del Close). Those who are inspired to learn more about Second City should read Jeffrey Sweet's Something Wonderful Right Away, Sheldon Patinkin's The Second City: Backstage at the World's Greatest Comedy Theatre, or Janet Coleman's The Compass: The Improvisational Theatre That Revolutionized American Comedy. --Donald Liebenson Interview With SCTV's Dave Thomas Anyone who knows Saturday Night Live or SCTV knows many of the most famous cast members all came out of Second City, an improv and sketch comedy theater troupe based out of Chicago (with more troupes in Toronto, Las Vegas and other cities). Notable alums include SNL's Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Chris Farley, Bill Murray, Mike Myers, Tina Fey, Martin Short; Christopher Guest improv players Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara; and famed comedic actors Bonnie Hunt, Steve Carell, Shelley Long, Jim Belushi. (There's tons more.)Acorn has released The Second City: First Family of Comedy, a behind-the-scenes documentary on the troupe's history that features interviews with much of the famed graduates. SCTV's Dave Thomas, a Second City alum who's best known for "The Adventures of Bob & Doug McKenzie: Strange Brew," his skit with Rick Moranis, and recent appearences on Arrested Development and Weeds. We got Mr. Thomas to wax nostalgic on the old days of Second City and share some memorable tales as well as his own recommendations. -- Ellen A. Kim Hello Dave - Thanks for talking to Amazon.com today. Always a pleasure to talk to the merchants of tomes. You host part of Second City: The First Family of Comedy and contribute many memories from being an alum. Can you share with us one memorable tale from the early years of Second City? One night John Candy and I decided to do an improv scene in gibberish--you know, like a f