Kevin Hines

carolinedesk: John Frusciante serenades Caroline Cotter. I...

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:28:09 -0400

John Frusciante serenades Caroline Cotter.

I love this one so much.

Here is an alternate image:

Advice for Two Person Improv Teams

Tue, 14 May 2013 14:52:53 -0400

Don’t be fooled by that title. I have no advice for Two Person improv teams. Instead I am asking for other people to give advice.

I’m often asked for advice by people starting their own 2 person groups. I understand this! Will and I perform as the Brothers Hines and are both teachers. We should have great advice! But I don’t! Not really. Maybe Will does?

Sometimes people also ask me to coach them, which I usually don’t have time for. Even if I did, I am not sure how I’d run a rehearsal for 2 and if I would run it that different than a rehearsal for 8.

The dirty little secret is, Will and I never rehearsed together. We each rehearsed with other groups on a regular basis and we’d both been learning, practicing, and talking about improv for 5 years before we ever performed together. In fact the first time we performed together was because someone asked us to. We didn’t even really decide on our own to do it. We enjoyed it. So we kept doing it.

Sometime later we got good at it.

So my initial reaction when people ask me for advice is “just start doing shows!” But that might not be good advice for people who have been only performing for a short time.

When people ask me to coach them, I think - just be in the same practice group! You’d do a lot of scenes together and it’ll cost less. But I understand that a 2 person group is very different then a 6-8 person group.

The closest I came to rehearsing two man improv was when Chris Gethard, Dave Lombard and I used to rehearse for a show called Hindsight. But when we did that a lot of our focus was on the form we wanted to perform and it was a long time ago when I wasn’t as good at improv and there were 3 of us, which feels different then 2. So I don’t know how much of that experience would influence how I’d coach a 2 person group.

So improvisers on the internet, what are you thoughts? How do you coach 2 person groups? What advice would you give? What’s your experience?

Will Hines: mom story

Sun, 12 May 2013 01:43:40 -0400

Will Hines: mom story:

williebhines:

My mother died of cancer in 1987 when she was 40. I was 16 and memories can be hazy and unreliable. But I have a memory that reminds me of what an understanding person she was:

First day of my kindergarten, a parent accompanied each student. So my mom came to class with me. At the end of the day,…

My mom got sick when I was 10, and died when I was 12 so while I have some memories of her, I don’t have enough.

I like hearing stories about her, so I liked this.

Apocalypse in Connecticut! Have you seen my sketch show about...

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:07:35 -0400

Apocalypse in Connecticut!

Have you seen my sketch show about the end of the world? Watch hapless citizens of Cromwell Connecticut deal with the Four Horseman of the Apocalypse, errant volcanoes and swirling clouds of knives while still going about their daily lives.

It stars me, Kassia Miller and Eric Gersen. It was directed by Brandon Gulya. It has videos by Ed Mundy. It opens with a song by Summer & Eve. It has a poster by David Ebert.

It’s paired with Arthur Meyer’s show Arthur Meyer: Rock and Roll. I saw this show a few weeks ago and it’s very funny!

Normally I tweet and FB plugs for days leading up to the show, but this week I didn’t. Until just now.

See you tonight at 9:30.

mullaney: Mind Rideby Mitch Magee I only watched this for the...

Thu, 09 May 2013 00:41:26 -0400

mullaney:

Mind Ride
by Mitch Magee

I only watched this for the first time a few days ago, but I really love it. Mitch has a way of crafting really great weird moments in his short videos. I love the song and dancing. I want to know what a mind pit is.

Mitch has a kickstarter going on right now where he is raising money for a film project. He has a week left and he is really close to making it happen. If you know Mitch and his work and haven’t contributed a few bucks, please consider going over there right now and pledging.

The person who made this video wants to make a short film. So, that should happen right?

He’s close to getting his kickstarter funded… but there is less than a week left. So fund it if you haven’t already!

brandonscottjones: ucbcomedy: Jordan Klepper and Laura Grey...

Wed, 08 May 2013 01:26:26 -0400

brandonscottjones:

ucbcomedy:

Jordan Klepper and Laura Grey make up the sketch duo, Klepper and Grey. Klepper and Grey met at the Second City in Chicago and are both currently performers at the UCB Theater in NY. Watch them here as they present a few things you should know before seeing an improv show.

To see more videos from Klepper and Grey, check out their Tumblr.

this made me smile and laugh and thank the universe that i know jordan and laura. this is fantastic.

Wonderful!

This is a video I took a month ago during a Code Red rehearsal....

Tue, 07 May 2013 15:56:39 -0400

This is a video I took a month ago during a Code Red rehearsal.

I’m not going to explain what’s going on in this scene because it doesn’t matter.

Just watch James and Zack dance and wait for Joel’s scene stealing performance.

I honestly watch this video once a week.

williebhines: connorratliff: “CLARK KENT” a short film In...

Tue, 07 May 2013 11:51:17 -0400

williebhines:

connorratliff:

“CLARK KENT” a short film

In anticipation of the upcoming Man Of Steel, here is a short film I made using only the “Clark Kent” scenes from Richard Donner’s Superman: The Movie (1978).

I removed any overt references to Clark being Superman, and I changed the musical score.

You COULD still view it as if he’s really Superman, or you could find your own meaning. I personally believe that something much more sinister is going on.

I hope you enjoy it.

THIS IS THE BEST. If you take Superman out of the movie Superman, what you are left with is a man who was unfairly abused by his peers in high school and then tortured and mocked by everyone around him as an adult as he himself makes less and less sense!

Stay for the end of this. INTERPRETATIONS WELCOME.

Clumsy, awkward Clark Kent is fun… but Superman must be miserable acting that way, right? The shot where he is missing elevators and no one is saying yes to him would lead anyone to just deciding to always be Superman forever and ever, right?

But what if that guy isn’t Superman. Then this video Connor edited is very sad and it makes me worry about Connor. Why does he want a world where Clark Kent is not Superman? Watch this video and worry about Connor with me.

UCB Conspiracy: The "Brothers" Hines

Wed, 01 May 2013 23:37:08 -0400

UCB Conspiracy: The "Brothers" Hines:

Guys, Will and I might not be related (according to this very convincing expose)…

ucbconspiracy:

We’re related

A likely story.

To a regular person it may seem that Kevin and Will Hines seem similar enough that would be, as they purport, brothers. They are both performers at the Upright Citizens Brigade theater in New York and perform together at the East Village location as “The…

Timmy Loves Julie: UNDERRATED COMEDY: THE MOTION PICTURES: THE LIST

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:00:28 -0400

Timmy Loves Julie: UNDERRATED COMEDY: THE MOTION PICTURES: THE LIST:

timmylovesjulie:

Last night Dave Bluvband and I brought up comedies that we thought were underrated (or wrongfully critically maligned or just forgotten). We then decided we need to make a master list. Feel free to add on to this list but show your work.

1. THE LONELY GUY: The Jerk is a great movie but I would…

I love The Lonely Guy! So good!

As for not on this list I also really enjoy Ace Venture 2: When Nature Calls. I didn’t really enjoy the other Ace Venture movie, but something about that sequel really works for me. It feels like a modern Marx Brothers movie where all the Marx Brothers are played by Jim Carrey. Every other character is a straight man who all ignore how weird Ace is.

Speaking of Marx Brothers, My brothers and I are the only people who went to see Brain Donors opening night. It’s a remake of Night at the Opera (sort of) with John Turturro in Groucho role. We went to because of the Zucker pedigree, and it started Will and my love affair with the Marx Brothers.

Wonderful, Thanks.: Season Two, Episode Twelve - Flip with Kevin Hines

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:18:53 -0400

Wonderful, Thanks.: Season Two, Episode Twelve - Flip with Kevin Hines:

I got to be on the @WonderfulThanks podcast with Ramsey and Adam. Super fun… I particularly enjoyed discussing Garfield being a conservative. But it’s all fun… so listen to it!…

wonderfulthanks:

Word: Flip
Guest: Kevin Hines
Bio: If you like improv, then you already like Kevin Hines. Kevin performs at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater in NY every Saturday night with The Curfew, in their weekly show “Not From Around Here,” and Wednesdays with his brother (and friend of…

patbaer: michaelhartney: garlock: toddbieber: I’m a...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:04:36 -0400

patbaer:

michaelhartney:

garlock:

toddbieber:

I’m a filmmaker and an Eagle Scout. This is my message to the Boy Scouts in regards the ban on homosexual members.

Todd Bieber has something to say and you should listen. The Filmmaking merit badge kind of looks like the UCB logo no?

Todd Bieber has made something really special and I’m so honored to be a part of it. Watch.

I never made it to Eagle, but I loved my time in scouts. It was an awesome experience for a weird kid like me. Todd, this video is awesome.

chelc: new orleans

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 01:14:46 -0400

chelc:

new orleans

This is the third trailer for the new Superman movie. It...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 21:19:00 -0400

This is the third trailer for the new Superman movie.

It doesn’t do much to convince me it will be good.

First, I didn’t like Watchmen, and while I enjoyed 300 - it wasn’t a great movie either. So Zack Snyder doesn’t fill me with confidence.

Second, these trailers focus so much on a somber mood and not nearly enough on fun action. Superheroes are action based characters. They should sell me on the fun action. Build that around fun character moments. The mood is the last thing I need to be shown. And if I had to pick a mood for Superman it’d be uplifting and exciting.

Third, I don’t think Zod is a great pick for a first Superman villain. Recently DC Comics has rebooted Superman’s origin. In fact they did it twice. Once in a book called Superman: Earth One and another time in the regular comics (Action Comics and Superman). But in both they have set Superman up as a hero that people are nervous about, unsure about, maybe a little scared of. I assume to make him grittier or cooler.

But for me Superman in the hero everyone loves. The guy who shows up and makes up feels safe. When things get bad, Superman is there. He doesn’t wear a mask. He is friendly. He was raised in middle America by two very nice, smart people. He has good values and he wears that on his sleeve.

Maybe he’ll be portrayed like that in the movie. I’m doubtful because of Zod.

Zod is another Kryptonian who hates Superman’s father (Jor-El) and therefore hates Superman. He wants revenge on Superman.

So if Superman shows up and the first major problem that he deals with is Zod… a problem that largely only exists to kill Superman… Superman creates more problems then he helps. That’s not someone who would make the people of Metropolis feel safe.

Even if Zod is intent on conquering Earth and not on getting revenge against Superman, it still comes off as Superman fighting his own species. They feel like they arrived together to the public.

If Zod shows up after Superman has been around (say in a sequel) then people would have learned to love Superman already. He’d have saved them from multiple threats, crime, disasters and more. And he’d have done that for a while. IN that scenario Zod would shake people’s belief and that adds a challenge for Superman to overcome, but in the end Superman can prove, as everyone used to believe, that he is the real deal.

Even though I talked a lot about that third point, the second point is more important. If the film is fun and exciting I’ll like it. I can get past a different Superman if it’s otherwise good. But I’d be more hopeful if the movie looked like it understood Superman.

But then I am not even sure the comics understand him anymore so why should the movie studios.

mattandbrettlovecomics: New episode of MATT & BRETT LOVE...

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:00:21 -0400

mattandbrettlovecomics:

New episode of MATT & BRETT LOVE COMICS!

Rebooting Characters with KEVIN HINES and TIMMY WOOD!

Comedian Kevin Hines and iFanboy writer Timmy Wood join the podcast to talk about a very hot topic: If you could bring back a dead, missing, or misused character, who would it be? How heated does this talk get?! Listen and find out!

Listen to the episode on the website!

Subscribe in iTunes!

Leave a review in iTunes!

Like us on Facebook!

I was looking forward to Brett explaining to me what made Chamber “cool” - because I never got it. Instead Brett explained to me what made Maggott “cool”. I still didn’t get it.

That being said, I love being on this podcast. I love talking comics, and I love talking comics with Brett and Matt (and even that Timmy Wood guy). Even if Brett grew up reading the very comics I avoided. Somehow we both ended up loving the same books.

Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (DC Comics & Marvel...

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 10:14:19 -0400

Superman vs. The Amazing Spider-Man (DC Comics & Marvel Comics - January 1976)

Writer: Gerry Conway
Illustrators: Ross Andru (Pencils) & Dick Giordano (Inks)

Spider-Man gets knocked back by the wind that Superman punched near Spider-Man’s face. Superhero comics!

patbaer: They Might Be Giants- Doctor Worm. This is the...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:01:57 -0400

patbaer:

They Might Be Giants- Doctor Worm.

This is the entrance song for The Brothers Hines. A few months ago, Will started dancing to the song as they took the stage. He motioned for me to keep it going. And he kept dancing. He danced for the whole song. Doctor Worm is a bit longer than you’d think it is. It’s one of my favorite moments in teching The Brothers Hines.

I will always recommend you spend your Wednesday from 9pm to 9:45 seeing Will and Kevin Hines.

Will never dances at the top of our show, so it took me by surprise. I figured he would dance for a minute and then stop, so I watched. When I realized he was going to keep dancing I figured I should have joined him, but it was too late now. Then when I realized how long the song was I became glad I didn’t join him.

I think Will JUST regained his breath from dancing to this.

johneveretttrowbridge: Can you guys tell me what movies I should be looking forward to? I think...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:10:38 -0400

johneveretttrowbridge:

Can you guys tell me what movies I should be looking forward to? I think Dark Knight Rises/Avengers/Prometheus were the last MUST SEE movies. And now that I’ve seen Room 237 I don’t really know what is on the horizon. Anybody got any recommendations?

Currently I am mostly excited about Elysium. The new film by the director of District 9.
I am also excited for the remaining 2 Hobbit movies.
And the new Star Trek.
And all the Marvel movies to varying degrees.
And I am hesitantly curious about the new Superman movie, and the Wolverine movie. (slightly more optimistic for the latter)

Pretty excited about the new X-men movie (not sure when that is coming out though)

That’s all I can think of right now. And it’s mostly super-hero stuff, so your mileage may vary.

richardsala: Judy Drood, “Girl Detective” on why she’s not...

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 01:00:28 -0400

richardsala:

Judy Drood, “Girl Detective” on why she’s not going to tell the cops about the dead body she found ~ in a panel from the book MAD NIGHT (available for purchase from finer book stores everywhere)

Oh Judy! You are so angry!

talkingcomics: kurtbusiek: tytempleton: brianmichaelbendis: ...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 01:23:11 -0400

talkingcomics:

kurtbusiek:

tytempleton:

brianmichaelbendis:

Party of creator owned characters - Michel Fiffe & Mike Allred

If you look around, you’ll see that Michel put Stig in there…

Spot the ASTRO CITY character…

fun!

I have very few followers on my comic book only blog and this is too cool an image to only post there.

It’s fun to see how many creator owned characters I can name (a lot). I wish Richard Sala’s Peculia was there.

Don’t worry Will, Luba’s breasts are present.