Upright Citizens.

Went with Kim last night to see a couple of shows at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. After an early dinner at Tender Greens in lovely downtown Culver City (which Beth had put on my list of things to do).

The Scientology Celebrity Center is across the street, looking like a fabulous old European embassy or something. Only in Los Angeles. “Come out of the closet, Tom Cruise!” Wondered what might be going on over there...

UCB is improv comedy that came from Chicago and has planted itself in LA and NY. Three of the longer running members (minus Amy Poehler) ran the first show, a long-form improv, with five other performers. Must say, the fact that the first show was FREE really influenced my take on it. When you pay 20 bucks to see somebody, they damn well better be good. Free is good.

The second show cost something. A dollar. It featured Jeff Garlin from Curb Your Enthusiasm and Bob Odenkirk from the fabulous Mr. Show. There was supposed to be a third, but he was sick with food poisoning and another regular UCB guy gamely stood in for him. I’m not too familiar with CYE, but Garlin is a funny, sweet, middle-aged guy with A.D.D. (or so he says, and I believe him). They were just taking turns riffing off each other starting with a loose thread. Only knew Mr. Show in little samples courtesy of Bill Demain, but it was a treat seeing Odenkirk.

A very good night of fun for a dollar (that’s only Sunday night, but all of their performances are cheap to free) plus a small valet cost.