I attended the performance about which the review was written and disagree with MANY of the criticisms here. I noticed people of all ages there…20′s on up to 60′s…so not really the “drunken crowd of grown-up REM fans,” that was whined about.

MFV (gotta love a writer who uses their name), you mentioned Sesame Street once, and The Muppets or a variation thereof no less than six times. Yes, it’s the Henson puppeteers, but other than that, you needed to open your mind a bit more and get out of your “I’m sitting in front of my TV when I’m five” head. The show never mentions the Muppets, but you couldn’t seem to lay off of them.

The Orthodontist Office – True, not the strongest sketch, but anytime you see an improv show, whether it’s in some basement theatre or at The Groundlings, there will ALWAYS be sketches that go wrong or go nowhere. Welcome to Improv, it’s the risk people take in performing it, AND it’s the risk the audience takes in watching it. Don’t plan on seeing perfection when you attend an improvised show. One or two so-so sketches out of MANY… pretty good odds if you ask me.

You wrote, “If you abruptly jump from kooky alien talk to English, at least suffer from turrets and make liberal use of the F word.” Again, a good point that could have been made by saying that you felt like the audience was taken out of the scene when that happened. However, I can’t think of a BIGGER improv cop-out than “liberal use of the F word”…or to make an excuse that a character has “turrets.” Try taking some improv classes some time and see how well you do.

As for your hateful little rant about Host Patrick Bristow, you wrote it as though you were an angry tween complaining to your diary. Is that what this blog is for you? I’m sorry, I thought it was for the public.

Again, I was AT this performance, and Bristow HAPPILY took your suggestion for DR. SPIKE…I remember, he even said what a great name that was for a villain. This sketch in the show (an improvised song…which is SO difficult) was met with HUGE laughs and applause!

In regards to Bristow skipping the “cheese” and “President Bush” suggestions, he was never rude or made fun of people, he simply said, “We’ve had those suggestions a lot lately. How about something else.” He was trying to give the audience (AND the improvisers) something FRESH.

“Fuck Bristow”??? Really?! This is your review? Huh. Talk with people in the entertainment industry and I have a feeling that they would paint a VERY different picture of Bristow than you carelessly banged out on your keyboard. He’s had a tremendous career in a town that is NOT kind, and to have that kind of longevity and popularity, says LOADS about a performer’s talent, as well as their graciousness…of which it seems, MFV, you have NONE.

Last thing…you said, “They may work without nets, or at least without strings, but that doesn’t mean they work without audience.” You’re right. They DO work without nets and strings, and they INCLUDE the audience from the moment this brilliant show begins. And what’s more…it’s a different brilliant show every time. How many shows can say that?

Now, I quote from the flyer, “Open your mind, release your inhibitions, and feel free to shout out the first ridiculous thing that pops into your head”. Unless you are writing a well thought out reveiw, speaking about the good and bad points of a show. As for angry pissing and moaning…keep it to your personal blog, and grow up, please.