Upright Citizens Brigade

The Upright Citizens Brigade is a late-90s, quirky sketch comedy series that initially aired on Comedy Central between 1998 and 2000, created by and starring Matt Besser, Amy Poehler, Ian Roberts, and Matt Walsh. The show is remembered as a groundbreaking piece of comedic entertainment during the time, successfully morphing the rules of comedy writing and performance into a unique and innovative variety of satire.

The show's central premise and narrative thread is an audacious, tongue-in-cheek allegory of dystopia, featuring tales of head-scratching incidents instigated by the Upright Citizens Brigade. This Brigade, composed of the four members, are an underground organization aiming to bring chaos to ordinary situations and everyday life as part of their observation of Earth's inhabitants. Besser, Poehler, Roberts, and Walsh play both the principal characters of the Brigade and an array of secondary characters in every episode, demonstrating their improvisational brilliance and comedic versatility.

Amy Poehler, who would later go on to achieve mainstream success with NBC's Parks and Recreation, shines in Upright Citizens Brigade in her various roles. Matt Besser, a brilliantly talented comedian known for his absurd and experimental humor, exhibits unparalleled ability to wrestle laughs from seemingly simple situations. Ian Roberts, a titan in the field of improvisational comedy, delivers consistent, rib-tickling performances. Matt Walsh, later known for his character Mike McLintock on HBO's Veep, is a delight as he effortlessly slips between characters.

What makes the Upright Citizens Brigade unique is its ability to weave an array of sketches occurring in the same universe. Each episode carves a niche of its own yet manages to contribute a dollop of seasoning to the overall story arc. It's a wild ride where improv comedy meets narrative storytelling - from the middle of nowhere, a sketch would irrupt, taking the humor to unexplored heights, then abruptly disappears as the characters switch between roles and stories.

The sketches themselves are an intense form of absurd, zany humor, escalating from standard scenarios into utter insanity. The sketches often feel like the offsprings of a nightmare, yet are surprisingly hilarious and relatable. They are intentionally weird, amplifying the mundane, the banal, and everyday absurdities to surreal extents. The humor is raw and edgy, often walking the tightrope between chaotic and comic, which was relatively fresh during its time, and arguably, is still fresh today.

The Upright Citizens Brigade is not just an ensemble of comedians trying to make the audience giggle; it is an ensemble of comic artists weaving a web of comedic narratives, each one as ridiculous as it is hilarious. The sketches, while being absurdly amusing, frequently contain underlying social commentaries, executed in an off-beat, lampooning style. The show thereby not only echoes the classic sketch comedy format but also boosts it with a healthy dose of subversion and wit, presenting an unusual yet exciting fusion of vignettes seeping with creativity and comedic genius.

Technically, the show is not dependent on high production value. Instead, it thrives on its off-kilter scripts, magnificent performances, and spontaneous comedians who were willing to flounder into the realms of absurdity for a laugh. The editing is often sharp, helping to heighten the punchlines and the comedic timing of each sketch.

While Upright Citizens Brigade might initially bewilder the viewer with its audacious, unconventional humor, it continuously rewards those who stick with it. The show's charm is in its ability to celebrate the ludicrous and the absurd. Its satire is as funny as it is smart, and its creativity is as inspiring as it is entertaining.

In retrospect, the Upright Citizens Brigade is a timeless treasure for comedy enthusiasts. It offers the sheer joy of watching these four founding members, oozing with comedy genius, make magic out of ordinary, everyday tales. This show is representative of when comedians dare to defy the norms and choose to pave a new path, the result is nothing short of extraordinary. Defines itself as an essential piece of television history and a testament to the brilliance of its creators and leading comedians, the Upright Citizens Brigade is an experience worth indulging in.