Catch Somebody's in the Doghouse at UCB, Fresh off Their Appearance at the Friars Club Improv and Sketch Competition! by Liz McKeon Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - 0

WICF is proud of its 2011 participants, Somebody's in the Doghouse and Doppelganger, who competed at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in this past weekend's Friars Club Improv + Sketch Competition [FrISC]! Doppelganger, who hail from NY, and Somebody's in the Doghouse, from Boston and NY (appearing in their second FrISC!), were two of the 10 finalists in the competition, the winners of which received funds for, and the chance to, create a short film, which will debut at this October's Friars Club Comedy Film Festival.


Doppelganger performing at WICF 2011.

Both groups were featured in this month's "BUST Magazine," along with FrISC Executive Director and Friend of the Fest Sue Constantine, in the article "Here's to Funny Females Rising in the Ranks."


Somebody's in the Doghouse performing at WICF 2011.

Somebody's in the Doghouse's Leah Gotcsik and Marty Johnson return to UCB on Wednesday, July 6, in a show Marty tells us "takes the magnificent truths of our society — double standards, awkward small talk, pregnancy, and Charlie Sheen — and puts them in the doghouse where they belong. [This] high-energy sketch show is filled with singing, dancing, and at least two moustaches."

Two moustaches, people!



Somebody's in the Doghouse and Radio Rogue at UCB Theatre,
307 W. 26th Street, New York
http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/shows/2734 for tickets
July 6, 2011
$5
9:30 p.m.

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I take it back, Melissa McCarthy by rachelv Monday, June 06, 2011 - 0

When the trailer for the now-hit movie Bridesmaids hit the internet, it was followed by an overwhelming wave of excitement. "Finally, people will realize that women can be funny on their own!", we said. "Sisters are taking over Hollywood! Breaking through the glass ceiling!", we exclaimed, over our yogurt that helps us poop. And I was among the yaysayers, but I had one problem.

Melissa McCarthy.

I was afraid and angry after seeing the trailer, and the way her character was portrayed. I'd seen it happen too many times where a woman's entire character was measured by the size of her pants, and I was heartbroken to see the same thing happen in this, a movie that was going to change everything for us.

Now that I've actually seen the movie, I know that my fear and anger were needless. McCarthy's character, Megan, is intelligent, successful, assertive, emotionally giving, an animal lover (if a bit overly ambitious), and absolutely the first of the film's characters I'd choose to be friends with. (Except maybe for Brynn, one of the protagonist's British roommates. That bitch is HILARIOUS.)

Most importantly, though, her character traits are just who she is, and not comments on her appearance. The jokes made at her expense could have been made no matter who was playing her. Sure, she gets excited about Brazilian food and runs for the door. Yes, fine, she makes an unwanted pass at a fellow passenger on the plane to Vegas. But would those things have changed if she had been played by, say, Molly Shannon instead? I don't think so. Those things were just evidence of who Megan is, and not a reflection of what the actress who plays her looks like.

So, I applaud you, Melissa McCarthy. And I apologize for jumping to conclusions and buying the hype. I realize this movie was the exception to the rule, so I'll still be skeptical when "Bridesmaids 2: Still Maiden" comes out in 2013, but I'll try to give you the benefit of the doubt.

I've never been so happy to be proven wrong.

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