There's so much to write and so little time. Firstly, I've finally got an apartment. 7 months into my Amsterdam journey, and I'm no longer sleeping on anyone's couch or in their closet. Already I feel happier every day.
I made pancakes in my tiny kitchen. It's a little like camping in my living room.
Also, Scott Speiser arrived in Holland on Thursday night. Friday, he played in Heineken Late night. He made fantastic choices in his improv and really impressed Pep and the rest of the gang. It would be *amazing* if all the people who were cast in the show were friends of mine. All of them. And I believe I know the best improvisers in the country. I've been working for a long time, and I know that there are improvisers with more experience and greater accuracy, but I don't think that the unique combination of youth, hunger, instinct, intelligence and cheer can be found in anyone else but my fantastic friends. I urge you, not just for my sake, but for your own, audition for this show. More on that:
This week, Nicole Parker -- Boom until 2002, October -- got cast on MadTV. That makes for 4 on Mad and 1 on SNL. Boom is not an entryway into television, but I can't think of a better training ground for character (both personal character and presence, as well as comedic characters) than this theater on the Leidseplein. There's a reason that BC turns out such talent. Part of it is the audition process; unlike Groundlings, there's not a class-based, political scene to impress - this is just a show, and you have to work to get in. The other part of the system is the intensity and regularity of the shows. 300 people, every night. 6 shows a week. Where else can you find that kind of atmosphere to hone choices?
In other news, Sophie visited and helped me work on my apartment. Thanks to Jordan and Paige, the sinks were clogged and the dresser had garbage from Josh Meyers under it. (Ahem). But also thanks to them, I have the most amazing place to live in the world. Thank you thank you thank you!
I'm off to hang out with Speis and Ellie. I can't fucking wait to introduce more of you to Amdam. Unfortunately, they saw one of the worst shows since I've been here -- 85 degrees in the theater, and no audience response at all. If they'd only seen the late show, they could have seen what this show can really be. It's really fantastic, I swear, when it works.