The Not Inappropriate Show: Sketch Comedy for the Whole Family

3/24/12 - By erika

If you love great sketch comedy, there comes a point at which it feels  almost like a compulsion to pass it along to your children. I remember sitting in the basement of my childhood home as my parents introduced me to Monty Python's Flying Circus, the content of which I only vaguely understood, but which nevertheless infected me with a lifelong love of smart, absurdist humor. The dead parrot sketch, the ministry of funny walks ... Monty Python feels like a part of my very context for life.

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With instant access to most everything on YouTube, HULU, and assorted other comedy sites like Funny or Die, parents can easily do a language and content check and make the very personal decision as to which comedy is appropriate to share with their children. But nothing is quite like live comedy. And now, in The Not Inappropriate Show, we have a great family sketch show in Los Angeles.

Several New Year's Eves ago, Naomi Odenkirk, a manager and producer, and her husband, comedian Bob Odenkirk, launched The Not Inappropriate Show at UCB Theater (that's the Upright Citizen's Brigade). Odenkirk explains that, as parents of comedy-savvy kids, they created the show in response to their "frustration that there was nothing out there to take our kids to that was not a 'kiddie show'... our kids can't stand that stuff, and it is torturous for any parent of kids not in diapers."

In addition to the UCB New Year's Eve performances, which are fundraisers for the writing non-profit 826LA (also worth checking out for creative experiences to share with your children), The Not Inappropriate Show was re-launched this past weekend as part of the Groundlings' all-day fundraiser. It was the only show of the day that was specifically geared toward families. The hour-long performance had forty-year-old parents and their eight-year-old children equally doubled over in laughter at sketches about everything from the inept keepers of the secret ingredients of Coca-Cola to the distressing results of time-lapse software. Co-producer and performer Bob Odenkirk is renowned for the ground-breaking Mr. Show, and his absurdist streak runs strong throughout The Not Inappropriate Show, from his opening monologue to the choice of interspersed videos and music selections.

Michael Naughton, a Groundling and comic actor best known for his very inappropriate (though hilarious) David Blaine sketches on Youtube, has performed in several Not Inappropriate Shows. He says, "The first time we performed this show, we thought we would have to modify the sketches, simplify the writing so it plays for kids. But it was fun to realize the kids are more savvy than we gave them credit for. I think they appreciate that they're seeing something that is smart, funny, and not purposely written 'down' to their level. It's like they're getting a sneak peek into a different world that they don't usually get to see."

The show is not scheduled for another performance until New Year's Eve; however in the hopes that we won't have to wait that long for another dose of that "special excitement," there is an email list that parents can get onto now. With all us middle-aged comedy fans rapidly procreating, these quality family shows are going to have to grow with us. It's simply comedy supply and demand.

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