On today's episode we talk to Ethan Berlin. Ethan is a writer and performer based in New York City. Starting on the show Crank Yankers in the early 2000s, he's since written for Sasha Baron Cohen on Da Ali G Show, Lopez Tonight and Billy on the Street among many other shows. Currently he is the co-creator and executive producer of the absurd game show Bunk on the Independent Film Channel. A few weeks ago, Ethan came over to the Manhattan Wrestling Team apartment and talked to us about what it's like writing for other people and his love of early David Letterman and real-world comedy bits. Plus we debut two - Count 'em! TWO! - new segments!

Plus! Come to Beginnings: Live on 8/14 at 8pm with James Adomian, musical guest Swearin' and more!

Wowzers! On Tuesday, July 10th we hosted another patented™ Beginnings: Live at UCB East, and what a doozy it was! We had Dapwell, hypeman for the hip hop group Das Racist as well as Das Racist labelmate Lakutis. Nick Vatterott, a stand-up who's been on Conan and Jimmy Fallon (as well as his own Comedy Central Half Hour) joined us as well, but that's not all! Ali Wong - from Chelsea Lately, The Tonight Show, Are You There, Chelsea? and the new Oliver Stone film Savages - told some fantastic stories about childhood painting and figure skating. The show was weird, odd and delightful! Join us!

Live at the Del Close Marathon, which took place over the last weekend here in New York City, we had the pleasure of talking to one of our comedic idols: Matt Walsh! One of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade, Matt has been in a ton of films from Old School to The Hangover, he's helmed a number of series on Comedy Central and FX, and he's currently one of the leads in Armando Iannucci's HBO series, Veep. During a late night slot at UCB East, we talked with Matt about his childhood on the southside of Chicago and about his slew of terrible post-college jobs. It was a delight!And if you live in New York, come on out to the next Beginnings: Live at UCB East on Tuesday July 10th at 8pm. Our guests are Dapwell and Heems from Das Racist and stand-up Nick Vatterott (and a musical guest)!

On today’s episode we talk to Jon Daly. Jon is an improviser and actor based in Los Angeles, who got his start on the influential improv team Mother at UCBNY in the early 2000s. Since then he’s acted on TV in Human Giant and Happy Endings and on film in Mystery Team and the forthcoming The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. He performs regularly at UCBLA and also appears on Comedy Bang! Bang! as many different characters including Bill Cosby-Bukowski and Sappity Tappity, the drunk English rollerblading pine tree. A few weeks ago, Jon came over to the Manhattan Wrestling Team apartment, and on a rare Mark-less episode, Jon tries to convince Andy to relax and maybe try pot. We also learn about Jon’s first conscious memories as a human being and get in deep about the mid-90s Pittsburgh music scene! #letsdoit!

If you're at the Del Close Marathon, come see us interview Matt Wash of UCB and Veep at UCB East on Saturday morning at 1:15 am! And the next Beginnings: Live is at UCB East on July 10th at 8pm and we've got Dapwell and Heems from Das Racist and Nick Vatterott!

On today’s episode we talk to Fran Kranz. Fran is an actor based in New York and LA, and his credits include films like Jake Kasdan’s The TV Set and television shows like Welcome to the Captain with Jeffrey Tambor. In the last few years, he’s been involved in a number of Joss Whedon projects, playing Topher Brink on Dollhouse and starring in the critically-acclaimed smash The Cabin in the Woods as stoner Marty Mikalski. Recently, he played the role of Bernard in the Broadway revival of Death of a Salesman alongside Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield. On Memorial Day, we sat down with Fran just as Salesman was finishing up its run and discussed eating food like an adult, what it’s like to be a character actor and working with Joss Whedon.

Live stuff! 6/21 Rockefeller Centaur: The Musical at UCB Chelsea, 6:30; 6/30 Beginnings at the Del Close Marathon w/Matt Walsh at UCB East, 1:15 am; 7/10 Beginnings Live w/Nick Vatterott and more! at UCB East, 8 pm.

Hey, Beginzers! (Like a yinzer, but you listen to Beginnings!) We sat down with some of our favorite people on Tuesday the 12th at UCB East for a frank and somber discussion of the merits of the Spanish bank bailout. J/K! We totes just joked around and talked about our earliest creative memories. We were joined by Kurt Braunohler, the host of IFC’s fantastic new show Bunk and Dan McCoy, a writer on The Daily Show, as well as the band Moon Hooch, who played some music for us and told some amazing stories about their childhoods. It was a genuinely fun time for all, and now you can hear it with your earflaps!And please come to our musical Rockefeller Centaur at UCB Chelsea on 6/21 at 6:30! We’ll have centaurs and a butt made of dollars!

On today's episode of Field Guide, we talk about creativity and relationships with husband and wife performers Christian Finnegan and Kambri Crewes. Christian is a stand-up and actor who's been on Best Week Ever and has his own Comedy Central Presents. He also wrote for Colin Quinn's Tough Crowd and can be currently seen on the TBS sitcom Are We There Yet? Kambri is a writer, storyteller and producer who ran the incredible comedy room Ochi's Lounge underneath Comix and currently produces shows at Luca Lounge. Recently, Villard published her first book Burn Down the Ground, a memoir of her childhood and growing up with deaf parents.Plus, don’t miss us live! 6/12: Beginnings: Live at UCB East, 9:30pm w/ Kurt Braunohler (IFC’s Bunk), Dan McCoy (The Daily Show) and saxophone/drum trio Moon Hooch! Also 6/21: our musical Rockefeller Centaur at UCB Chelsea, 6:30pm!

On today’s show, we talk to Seth Reiss. Seth is a writer and performer based in Chicago, and is currently head writer at The Onion. He also contributes to McSweeney’s and previously wrote for the Sklar Brothers show Cheap Seats. Last week on Beginnings proper, we talked to Seth about his background in theater, and this week on Beginnings: Field Guide, we talk to him about his most favorite Onion article.

Plus, don't miss us live! 6/12: Beginnings: Live at UCB East, 9:30pm w/ Kurt Braunohler (IFC’s Bunk), Dan McCoy (The Daily Show) and saxophone/drum trio Moon Hooch! Also 6/21: our musical Rockefeller Centaur at UCB Chelsea, 6:30pm!

On today's show, we talk to Seth Reiss. Seth is a writer and performer based in Chicago, and is currently head writer at The Onion. He also contributes to McSweeney's and previously wrote for the Sklar Brothers show Cheap Seats. As well, Seth is 1/4 of the sketch group Pangaea 3000, which can be found performing all over the country. In April, Seth came over the the Brooklyn Wrestling Team apartment and talked with us about sweet Southwest PA, moms and baby dolls, and about being an asshole to clear the tension.

Some live shows! 6/12: Beginnings Live at UCB East, 9:30pm w/ Kurt Braunohler (IFC's Bunk), Dan McCoy (The Daily Show) and saxophone/drum trio Moon Hooch! Also 6/21: our musical Rockefeller Centaur at UCB Chelsea, 6:30!

Matt Ruby is a stand-up based in New York whose blog Sandpaper Suit is one of the best resources for discussing the ins and outs of actually writing and performing comedy. Matt also co-hosts Hot Soup, a monthly stand-up show at UCB East and tours around the U.S. performing at clubs and festivals like SXSW and Bridgetown.Two weeks ago, we discussed his early creative experiences on Beginnings proper, and on today's Field Guide, he leads us through the origins of one of his jokes!