In 1975, a young producer named Lauren Michaels created a bold new comedy show that began each week with the words live from New York. Since that time, Saturday Night Live has done far more than just survive. a feat in itself.It has been the breeding ground for generations of our funniest comics. So, we decided with awards and accolades pouring his way to spend some time with Lauren Michaels and his troop to see how they pull it off after all these years. It just so happens that the week we picked to be wit ...

We want you to know that Americans aren't about hate, we're about love. >> Brendan Hunt arrived to Boom in the late 90s. Like many other comedians, moving to Amsterdam sounded like a risky career move.Or maybe not. >> When I was doing improv in Chicago in the late '9s, there was this thing called Boom Chicago that you would hear about, and it was sort of in hushed, mythical tones, like apparently they do improv in Amsterdam. Amsterdam.You ever been there. You've been there. You ever been there. None of us e ...

Are you ready. >> Improv is not standup. You're not performing a pre-written routine.You're working in real time. >> What's something you have at home that you care about. >> A watch.>> My shoes. I hear I hear a watch right here. >> You're relying on the audience for material and direction.>> I got a watch on my wrist. It looks so fine. >> Chicago has Second City.LA has the Groundlings and New York has Upright Citizens Brigade. In Amsterdam, there is Boom Chicago. Last summer, hundreds gathered outside a ch ...

These can be unnerving times for American comedy. The TV sitcom is going by way of the cam laugh track while the president tries to heckle late night comedians out of jobs. But funny persists and funny travels internationally.In the early 90s, two opportunistic comics decided to open an English language improv joint in Amsterdam. It sounded less like a winning business idea than a punchline given the Netherlands reputation as a comic. Well, Netherland.But 30 plus years later, their club Boom Chicago has imp ...

60 Minutes overtime. >> Your job is to make them look good. >> There are improvisers out there who are going to try to score at the expense of the people on stage with.But this was a community where everybody wanted to walk off stage saying we did it as opposed to I did it. You'd never think some of America's biggest comedy stars found their start in the Netherlands, a country not known for its sense of humor. And yet, here's Boom Chicago, an improv theater in the heart of Amsterdam that helped launch the c ...

Core Argument - The core argument is that incorporating play, specifically improv, into life can foster creativity, resilience, and adaptability by providing a safe space to experiment and fail without real-world consequences [3][24][39] - The speech emphasizes the importance of embracing uncertainty and the unknown, as it is in these spaces that new opportunities and personal growth can be found [36] - The speech advocates for a shift from a mindset of resistance ("yes, but" or "no, but") to one of acceptance and building ("yes, and"), which can lead to better collaboration and innovation [17][19] Improv Principles and Applications - Improv's core principle of "yes, and" encourages building upon ideas without judgment, fostering a collaborative and creative environment [4][5] - The speaker uses improv exercises to demonstrate how the mind-body connection can be leveraged to create vivid experiences and enhance performance, similar to mental imagery techniques used by athletes [26][29][30] - Improv can be a valuable tool for developing skills such as lateral thinking, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving, which are applicable in various professional and personal contexts [31][32][40] Real-World Implications - The speech suggests that a supportive environment, similar to the "yes, and" principle, can encourage risk-taking and innovation, as evidenced by Canada's high early-stage entrepreneurship rate of 182% [20] - The speaker shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how improv has helped overcome shyness and embrace new opportunities, leading to a fulfilling career in the arts and performance [34][37] - The speech highlights that embracing play and uncertainty can lead to unexpected connections and opportunities, ultimately shaping one's life in unforeseen and positive ways [36][38][40]

Core Message - The speech advocates for overcoming overthinking and self-rejection by embracing a "say yes" mentality and taking action [5][17] - It introduces a framework of asking two questions: "Is it irreversible?" and "What's the worst realistic outcome?" to evaluate opportunities [20][28] - The speaker shares personal anecdotes to illustrate how this philosophy has led to diverse and fulfilling career experiences [18][26] Supporting Arguments - An improv class experience highlights the power of spontaneous responses and overcoming self-doubt [2][5] - The "monkeys throwing darts" experiment suggests that sometimes mindless action can outperform complex analysis due to the absence of emotional interference [14][16] - The speech emphasizes that inaction and self-rejection can be more damaging than failure, hindering decisiveness and fueling imposter syndrome [31][32] Call to Action - The audience is encouraged to apply the "don't self-reject" philosophy not only to personal and career decisions but also to larger global issues [34] - The speech promotes taking imperfect action with urgency instead of waiting for perfect solutions [34][35]