Hey! It’s been a while! But when our show’s most loyal fan, Herb Koss, celebrated his 80th birthday a few days before our March 9th show I knew we had to do something to address it. Brian Vestal does an absolutely amazing characterization of Herb here – even if you don’t know him, you’ll really enjoy it!!
With Michele Bachmann retiring from Congress, it seemed appropriate to write another sketch about the Bachmann marriage and see Marcus hanging out with the “boys.” I’m always worried with sketches like this that the jokes about Marcus Bachmann being gay walk a thin line between proper mocking of hypocrisy and just being offensive, but after watching this I’m satisfied this sketch falls on the right side of the line.
With Justin Bieber back in the news due to his rough week in London, and Tillery Johnson in our cast, it was time for another Bieber sketch. And this one Tillery helped me write!
My effort to write for myself – something I always encourage the actors to do – had its election week inspiration in the fact that we had the right cast to play the celebrity supporters of Mitt Romney. In the show, it followed a very successful porn-themed sketch, so the response wasn’t quite what I wanted – but I hope you enjoy it!!
TOSSED ELECTIONS AND SCRAMBLED THOUGHTS by Michael Hughes
Watching Obama’s performance in last Wednesday’s debate wasn’t easy for me. But I still had to get comedy out of it. And thinking about how the same Republicans who were abandoning Romney the day before suddenly rallied around him, I thought about what might happened if those closest to Romney let slip how they had felt about his chances.
When every country in Europe except the UK printed those topless photos of Kate Middleton, it was time to dust out the broad stereotypes and have some fun! This didn’t land as well as I had hoped but it was still fun.
My first sketch in Top Story! Weekly in several weeks (it’s getting competitive!). When I heard about Ryan Lochte’s mom saying her son only has one-night stands, it was too good a comic target to pass up. And I don’t believe for a minute that a woman who was in her teens or 20’s in the 1970’s, and who married a swim coach, doesn’t know what a one-night stand is. Or that Ryan Lochte has never had one. And doesn’t Blake Walker look fetching in drag?
It felt a little weird to do a sketch about a six-year-old girl. But the contestant in the National Spelling Bee was in the news – and the chance to have some fun with that character as played by Artemis Pebdani was just too tempting! I think it came out pretty fun – especially as part of our big Los Angeles Improv Comedy Festival show with Bill Burr!!
Tickets are just $10, so make sure you get them now!! Not only will you see an awesome show, but you’ll help a great cause – part of the proceeds will go to the Chris Farley House, a residential sober living facility.
The festival runs from Sunday, June 3 till Saturday, June 9, with amazing shows and workshops every night. The cast of Top Story! Weekly will be hosting all week. And we’ll also be performing in other shows, and teaching workshops that you shouldn’t miss. Check them out after the jump:
Mike Hughes' blog 
Watch “TS!W 720: Herb Koss’ 80th Birthday from Top Story! Weekly Episode 240: “Crimea River”!
March 13, 2014Hey! It’s been a while! But when our show’s most loyal fan, Herb Koss, celebrated his 80th birthday a few days before our March 9th show I knew we had to do something to address it. Brian Vestal does an absolutely amazing characterization of Herb here – even if you don’t know him, you’ll really enjoy it!!
TS!W 720: HERB KOSS’ 80TH BIRTHDAY by Michael Hughes
Starring Brian Vestal (Herb Koss) and Phillip Wilburn (Phillip)
Directed by Michael Hughes
Share this:
Like this:
Tags:60 Minutes, 80th Birthday, Amy Paffrath, Armando, Artemis Pebdani, Beer Shark Mice, Bennie Arthur, Blake Walker, Brent Pope, Brian Vestal, Christopher Biewer, Derek Reid, Grasie Mercedes, Herb Koss, I'm a Believer, iO West, Jared Nigro, Jen Cain, Jimmy Guidish, John Abbott, John Druska, Josh Rachford, Julia Wackenheim, Kipleigh Brown, Lauren Miller, Leo Margul, Markeia McCarty, Matt Moore, Matthew Harris, Michael Hughes, Micky Dolenz, Mike Besaw, Mike Hughes, Mitchel Baldwin, Monkees, Neil Garguilo, Opening Night: The Musical, Phillip Wilburn, Sean Cowhig, Stacy Rumaker, Tammie Smalls, The Amazing Race, Tommy Bechtold, Top Story! Weekly, TS!W 720, USS Rock n Roll
Posted in Comedy, Humor, News, News and Commentary, Top Story! Weekly Sketches, Video | Leave a Comment »