Here’s a recently unearthed gem: it’s an interview with Del Close from Chicago public access TV in 1986 done by current Conan writer Brian Stack. If you’re unfamiliar with Del Close, he basically created longform improv and taught an incredible number of famous comedic actors, from John Belushi and Bill Murray to Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert. He’s such a mythic figure in the comedy world, having died in 1999 at age 64, that it’s surreal to watch him talk about the artform that he invented in such clear, direct language. Here’s Stack on the story behind this video:
I’m proud to say I shot this “interview” the summer I first started taking improv classes at IO back in ‘86. I was an intern at a local public access cable company that summer. Due to my technical incompetence, I had the camera set on “monitor” so it came out in B&W. I also cringe when I hear my dorky voice-over. I’m glad people enjoy seeing it anyway, and I’ll always be grateful to Del for doing it.
