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Poehler, Walsh, Matt Besser, and Ian Roberts founded the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in 1996. The UCB is dedicated to fostering both an appreciation and education of improv through performances and classes. UCB opened its second location in New York, the UCBeast Theatre, last year.
In addition to his interview with Poehler and Walsh, Geist also spoke with Chris Gethard, an improv comedian who has been in the business for over a decade. He performs twice a week at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and UCBeast Theatre in New York City, but admitted that even though he loves New York, he's considered relocating to Los Angeles to look for more employment opportunities.
"I've just been rejected by so many jobs here," Gethard said, "That at some point I gotta go where there's more jobs to get rejected from. So then I won't be rejected from the same jobs over and over again. At least new people will be rejecting me and breaking my heart. That will be a refreshing change of pace." Gethard is the author of "A Bad Thing I'm About To Do: True Tales of Seriously Poor Judgment and Stunningly Awkward Adventure," which is now available in paperback.
Watch video clips from Geist's interview with Poehler and Walsh, as well as Chris Gethard.
In an online exclusive video, NBC sat in during a UCB advanced-level improv comedy class. "Watching improv was good," Walsh said, "But to actually get in a classroom and do it and succeed at it, it personally changed my life. And I like that we have helped create something that is the exact same thing. People who are interested in this can be transformed by that."
"So we want to be known as comedy drug pushers," Poehler added.
Go inside an improv class at the Upright Citizens Brigade with "Rock Center" below.
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