Matt Walsh – All Bite and No Bark

Q) What are the current projects you are working on?

A) I am working on a show called “Dog Bites Man” on Comedy Central, which is on Wednesday nights. I am also going to be in a movie calledSchool For Scoundrels which comes out on December 29th, 2006. Also, we have the 10th anniversary for the Upright Citizens Brigade.

Q) Please tell us about the premise our show “Dog Bites Man” and your character Kevin.

A) The premise is a documentary about a news team in Spokane, Washington. I play the reporter, Kevin Beekin. His idols are people like Maury Povich and Geraldo Rivera. He’s trying to break in to the big market, the bigger news market. He’s always trying to do stories that will get him attention and get him notoriety. He is very ego driven and he’s probably not cut out for network television. The guy who did Ali G co created it. It is a new steam that interacts with the people we meet and are sort of obnoxious. There is a director (Zach Galifianakis), a producer (Andrea Savage) and a production assistant (A.D. Miles). All of the characters are terrible at their jobs. They are constantly getting into arguments.

Q) How did the cast come together?

A) We auditioned about a year and a half ago as an NBC pilot.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the project?

A) I always thought that Ali G was funny. It’s improv and that’s where most of my training is.

Q) What has been your most memorable moment from filming?

A) I got to go to Spring Break and do a segment called “Keeping it Real.” I had to give a sex education seminar on the beach. I would force people to hear my fan mail. I’d read my fan mail to them. I threw a hackysack at people and told them that it represented AIDS. I’d throw it and say, “Guess what? You didn’t just catch a hackysack. You caught AIDS.”

Q) Why should viewers take the time to turn in to the show?

A) It’s funny! And if you watch during the commercials of our show, you might want to purchase a “Girls Gone Wild DVD!” I am just kidding.

Q) How did you get your start in comedy?

A) I got started in comedy and theater by doing our senior talent show in high school. We wrote skits and performed them and it was a blast and I got the performing bug. Then, in my senior year of college, I started taking improv classes at a place called Players Workshop of Second City. I would go to the Second City a lot during the summer time with my brother and watch really talented people like Kevin Crowley and Dave Pasquesi.

Q) What advice do you have for up and coming comics?

A) I would say do it comedy every night and as often as you can. Work with people who you think are funny.

Q) You are a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade. Are you surprised there is still a following?

A) Yeah! I just heard our second season might be coming out on DVD so it’s sort of blows me away that people are still discovering us. It ended like three years ago, in television years. In real years it was seven.

Q) What is your latest obsession? A book? A sport? A movie? An activity?

A) I have fruit  trees in my backyard and some plants so I like to garden. I am also just discovering You Tube. We spend a lot of time in the writers room finding the best video clips. I’m also really into “Deadwood,” the acting is incredible. I occupy some of my time with a backyard bean bag tossing game my brother got me called Baggo, it’s big in Chicago and perfect for backyard drinking. Also, I have just discovered a cool band called Giant Drag.

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

A) I’m glad you have a warped perspective on the world too. I am glad you like what i do and it flatters me that you like it. And that we are not alone. And if you are ever in LA or NYC come by the UCB theater, there are lots of other funny people there.