All That Really Mattered Was Tuesday

I need to brag about Tuesday evening now.

I can’t remember if I’ve explained this on here before or not, so, quickly, one of my teachers is on one of the best teams (The Reckoning) at iO, and I’ve been going to their shows every Tuesday and Thursday night basically all semester.

Accordingly, I almost wet myself when I found out Tuesday afternoon that they were going to be joined that night by Ike Barinholtz of MadTV (I know, I know, but this guy actually turned out to be really funny, and I’m not being sarcastic), Tim Meadows, and John Lutz from Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock. We got our hands on some tickets before it was too late and I don’t know if I’ve ever been so impressed by an improv show.

They did a phenomenal 45-minute set, took a break, and then did another 45-minute set, this time joined by two other original members of The Reckoning, Brad Morris (who does Uncle’s Brother) and Pat O’Brien, who have both been unable to perform with their old team for quite some time due to their busy schedules as Second City Mainstage cast members.

In both sets, even with such a high number of people on stage simultaneously and even with so much star power in the group, everyone participated equally and everyone was hilarious. Whether you know much about improvisation or not, I hope you understand that what happened that night was special, to me at least.

I think the best way to convey to you all how much fun I had at this show is to share the somewhat darker truth. No bullshit: this show was so good that I actually felt a strong but weird combination of sad and pissed off when it was over. I think what really happened is I realized just how much I am going to miss being in Chicago, having these kinds of opportunities and living this lifestyle. Less than three weeks left for me here, people. It's sickening.

On a happier note, while waiting for my peoples to make their way downstairs so we could leave, Tim Meadows walked by me on his way out. He wasn’t with anyone and we made eye contact so I felt compelled to do it.

“Great show, man,” I said.

“Thanks,” he said in his Tim Meadows voice as he exited the building.

Moments later I watched as he walked down the street alone. It was late, and I had the sudden urge to give chase and try robbing him for something only Tim Meadows could possess, i.e. a flash drive with the first draft of The Ladies Man on it, or a personal memory of something that happened involving only him and his good friend Chris Farley.

You’re all pretty much caught up now.

Tomorrow marks the start of our final week of classes, and I use that term loosely at this point because the majority of our time from now on will be spent rehearsing.

Next Monday and Tuesday we have our preview and showcase. Wednesday afternoon we have a pizza party and the dream semester officially comes to an end.

Talk to you sometime between now and then, maybe.