Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight

Mary Becquet | Comedy, Creativity, and Community

What do Sony Pictures, Singaporean accents, single-engine airplanes, and the Alamo have in common?

Mary Becquet has a story about every single one.

Gail sits down with Mary Becquet, comedian, actor, producer, entrepreneur, and international stand-up performer, whose comedy career began with a corporate cover story that got wildly out of hand.

After jotting down some "observations" about Sony Pictures executives, Mary left her notebook where someone found it and shared its contents. She claimed she was writing stand-up material. There was only one problem: she wasn't a stand-up comedian. Yet.

From comedy clubs in Singapore to creating opportunities for women in Los Angeles, Mary shares what she's learned about taking risks, finding creative outlets, and supporting other performers. She also has big ideas for San Antonio's comedy scene, including a festival dedicated to one-person shows.

Naturally, Gail discovers that Mary is also a licensed pilot, which raises some important questions about the relative dangers of flying airplanes and telling jokes.

And just when Gail thinks she's made a new best friend, Mary takes the conversation in a completely unexpected direction.

👀 What You'll Definitely Not See Coming:

• A Sony Pictures executive retreat that accidentally launches a comedy career.

• A Singaporean accent that fails to impress Uncle Roger.

• An all-women's comedy showcase called Hot Medusa.

• Why flying a single-engine airplane requires a different kind of courage.

• The worst comedy advice Mary ever received about the Alamo.

• A "Shut Up Gail" that nobody, least of all Gail, sees coming.

About Mary Becquet

Mary Becquet is a comedian, actor, producer, and entrepreneur who has performed stand-up throughout the United States and internationally. A passionate advocate for creative collaboration, she co-founded the Los Angeles women's comedy showcase Hot Medusa and continues to champion performers and new artistic opportunities in San Antonio. Whether she's performing, teaching, producing, or helping other artists succeed, Mary believes that creativity and community are better when everyone has a chance to shine.

If you want to yell at Gail, please email us at [email protected]

"Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight" is part of The BIT (Improv) Comedy Network. Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to listen to our other podcasts or apply to join the ensemble.

CAST Gail: Hill Kane Mary Becquet: Herself

MUSIC: "Shut Up Gail Theme" lyrics by Hill Kane, musical composition generated by Suno AI. "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © | RIP buddy CREWHost, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Executive Producer, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato

Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com

"The BIT," "The BIT (Improv) Comedy Network," "Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025-2026 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: [email protected]

Dear Eunice: Reviewing in Reno A dry lasagna. A nearly empty soap dispenser. And a two-star review that turns one private home into a public attraction. A local guide's detailed Google Maps listing brings tourists to Mark's house, where the homeowner's unwanted fame soon becomes an opportunity to boost the listing. Meanwhile, a Google employee discovers that the same reviewing standards can be applied to the company's own bathrooms. The bathroom feud grows into Nevada's cleanest and filthiest bathroom awards, with a Costco-shopping dispute and Mark celebrating his latest dubious honor. Elsewhere, Don tries to tell whether he is speaking with a person or a bot, from an Amazon Echo customer-service line to a Google bathroom assistant and a Yelp reviewer. Eunice advises Mark to embrace his new reputation—and the YouTube channel built around it. The episode follows the channel's viewers as they binge-watch bathroom-cleaning and other messy content, before a whale-watching broadcast takes an unexpected turn.

Welcome to Dear Eunice.

Creator, Producer, Director: Konrad Andrew Exec. Producer: Billy Merritt Editor/Post-Production: Hill Kane

CAST: Konrad Andrew, Amber Bellsdale, Don Slovin, Jim Tripp, Luke Bovard, and Hill Kane.

Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to check out our other podcasts or apply to the ensemble.

"Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight" and "Dear Eunice" are part of The BIT Improv Comedy Network.

Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

© 2026 Billy Merritt. All rights reserved.

Expanded Reality TV is a podcast where improv comedians create absurd audio performances based on behind-the-scenes stories of real reality television stars, building new weird worlds from the things that people don't see when watching their favorite "unscripted" TV shows.

Episode #4 features an interview with Erik Reichenbach, an iconic two-time contestant on the reality television show SURVIVOR (and a fantastic artist who created Real Fake Things, a graphic novel memoir about his experiences on Survivor)! Inspired by Erik's interview, our ensemble will take you on a deep dive into Bathroom Alliances, the town of Heaven (in Missouri), the new Yogi Bear x "Is It Cake?" crossover show, popcorn acid trips, Real Housewives of San Antonio, chicken bone drama, Donna Haraway, bear betrayals, and a whole lot of dunking on academics (by two of our ensemble members who are actually full-time professors*).

Host: Angela Washko Special Guest: Erik Reichenbach

Improv Comedy Ensemble: Amber Bellsdale, Hillary Kane, Lisa Steckman, Katya Vasilaky, Angela Washko

Theme Song Composer: Jesse Stiles

Bit Comedy Network Director & Founder: Billy Merritt Bit Comedy Network Producer: Hill Kane

*Angela Washko is the Catherine B. Heller Full Professor of Art at University of Michigan; Katya Vasilaky is an Associate Professor of Economics at California Polytechnic State University

Kate Legere | The AND Camp

What do improv, boozy cupcakes, summer camp, and badly designed bathroom doors have in common?

Kate Legere has thoughts about all of them.

Gail sits down with Kate Legere, improviser, actor, educator, entrepreneur, and founder of The AND Camp, to talk about making things happen and bringing people together.

What began as improv weekends at the Jersey Shore grew into an adult camp complete with cabins, kayaking, shows, s'mores, and a dream lineup of teachers. But first, Kate had to send an email and survive the terrifying moment when Will Hines actually said yes.

Naturally, Gail also needs to discuss Kate's cookbook, Intoxicated Cupcakes. There's baking advice, a bottom-bunk upgrade, and an attempt to select just one favorite improv teacher.

Kate finds a loophole.

👀 What You'll Definitely Not See Coming:

• An improv teacher pileup at the campfire.
• Why two mattresses are better than one.
• A cross-country car delivery arranged through Facebook and a remarkable amount of trust.
• Bailey's Irish Cream earning its place in the baking aisle.
• Airport bathroom doors receiving a long-overdue performance review.
• A "Shut Up Gail" so affectionate that Gail may need a moment.

About Kate Legere

Kate Legere is an actor, improviser, educator, and author of Intoxicated Cupcakes. She founded The AND Camp to bring comedy, creativity, and community together through an adult improv camp experience. Across her teaching, art, and camp-building, Kate keeps returning to the same idea: bring people together and see what happens.

If you want to yell at Gail, please email us at [email protected]

"Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight" is part of The BIT (Improv) Comedy Network. Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to listen to our other podcasts or apply to join the ensemble.

CAST Gail: Hill Kane Kate Legere: Herself

MUSIC: "Shut Up Gail Theme" lyrics by Hill Kane, musical composition generated by Suno AI. "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © | RIP buddy CREWHost, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato

Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com

"The BIT," "The BIT (Improv) Comedy Network," "Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025-2026 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: [email protected]

Episode 2: Blazing in Brooklyn The coffee is artisanal. The creamer is contraband. And HR definitely knows a guy.

This month on Dear Eunice, an office coffee feud spirals into beverage tampering, miraculous cholesterol, recreational sand-eating, Goat Get 'Em Coffee, and an HR department with disturbingly strong CIA connections.

Third-wave coffee. Questionable medicine. Weaponized Human Resources.

Welcome to Dear Eunice.

Creator, Producer, Director: Konrad Andrew Exec. Producer: Billy Merritt Editor/Post-Production: Hill Kane

CAST: Konrad Andrew, Hill Kane, Don Slovin, Lisa Steckman, and Jim Tripp

Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to check out our other podcasts or apply to the ensemble.

"Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight" and "Dear Eunice" are part of The BIT Improv Comedy Network.

Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

© 2026 Billy Merritt. All rights reserved.

Expanded Reality TV is a podcast where improv comedians create absurd audio performances based on behind-the-scenes stories of real reality television stars, building new weird worlds from the things that people don't see when watching their favorite "unscripted" TV shows.

Episode #3 features an interview with Ann Hirsch, a performance artist and former contestant on the reality television show Frank The Entertainer…In A Basement Affair (Vh1)! Inspired by Ann Hirsch's interview, our ensemble will take you on a deep dive into Frank Sinatra's unique songwriting process, obsessed fans of Jennie Wants A Billionaire, the new reality show Losers Seeking Losers, home renovation projects, shrubbery, an accounting firm with too many Jims, a sneaky Bartholomew, and the shocking horrors of…linoleum flooring!

Host: Angela Washko Special Guest: Ann Hirsch

Improv Comedy Ensemble: Luke Bovard, Hillary Kane, Jim Tripp, Katya Vasilaky, Angela Washko

Theme Song Composer: Jesse Stiles BIT Comedy Network Director & Founder: Billy Merritt BIT Comedy Network Producer: Hill Kane

(Grandpa) Once Said is a podcast where real stories about the people who shape our lives become inspiration for improvised comedy. We listen to stories about grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, and friends of friends—the memorable people whose personalities, quirks, wisdom, and experiences stay with us—and we use those stories as jumping-off points to create improvised characters, scenes, and worlds.

This episode features stories from Laura Powell. Laura shares stories about her hilarious Aunt Connie, who was known for saying "It's better to burp and taste it, than fart and waste it!" 💔❤️💞🩷 RIP Aunt Connie, you are missed.

CAST Host: Katya Vasilaky Special Guest: Laura Powell Improv Comedy Ensemble: Dean Aisles, Konrad Andrew, Luke Bovard, Hill Kane, Thea Thorkildsen

Bit Comedy Network Director & Founder: Billy Merritt Bit Comedy Network Producer: Hill Kane Intro Music: "Unlock Me | Amapiano Music" by kontraa (Pixabay)

© 2026 Billy Merritt | All Rights Reserved

One hundred episodes. One comedy network. And somehow, they let Gail host the celebration.

The BIT Improv Comedy Network has officially hit Episode 100, so Gail sits down with the man who started this whole ridiculous experiment, Billy Merritt, to look back, look ahead, and ask the thoughtful, penetrating questions befitting such an important milestone.

Just kidding. It's Gail.

Billy talks BIT, improv, the people who made the first hundred episodes possible, and what he'd like to see happen in the next hundred. Gail does her best to derail the proceedings.

There are memories. There are rapid-fire questions. There is yelling.

There may be a pastrami sandwich.

To every performer, director, host, guest, collaborator and listener who helped us get here:

Thank you for 100 episodes.

Now shut up, Gail. We've got another hundred to make.

If you want to yell at Gail, please email us at [email protected]

"Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight" is part of The BIT (Improv) Comedy Network. Visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to listen to our other podcasts or apply to join the ensemble.

CAST Gail: Hill Kane Billy Merritt: Himself

MUSIC: "Shut Up Gail Theme" lyrics by Hill Kane, musical composition generated by Suno AI. "Zombie Clambake" performed by Little Kahunas | Produced by Peter Miller © | RIP buddy CREWHost, Producer, Director, Editor, Art, Co-Creator: Hill Kane Show Runner, Co-Creator: Billy Merritt Co-Creator: Paul Vato

Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

Hosting Platform: Libsyn.com

"The BIT," "The BIT (Improv) Comedy Network," "Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight," and "Shut Up Gail" are Trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. ©2025-2026 Billy Merritt - All Rights Reserved Send inquiries + notices + requests: [email protected]

Episode 1: Blazing in Boston

The letters are absurd. The advice is questionable. And somehow, everything ends with a burning tire and a rat.

In the debut episode of Dear Eunice, Eunice tackles a very medieval school bake sale, "historically accurate" Renaissance customs, a rat roast, a deranged beer hall, and the dangers of letting a 10-year-old become your business consultant.

New show. Terrible advice. No rats were harmed.

Welcome to Dear Eunice. CREW: Creator, Producer, Director: Konrad Andrew Exec. Producer: Billy MerrittEditor/Post-Production: Hill Kane

CAST: Konrad Andrew, Luke Bovard, Hill Kane, Brent Kohler, and Lisa Steckman

Be sure to visit www.BITComedyNetwork.com to check out our other podcasts or to apply to the ensemble.

"Billy Merritt's Improv Spotlight" and "Dear Eunice" are part of The BIT Improv Comedy Network.

Production Assistance, Audio Production, & Graphic Art by Hill Kane of Raising Kane Media + Marketing.

© 2026 Billy Merritt. All rights reserved.

Expanded Reality TV is a podcast where improv comedians create absurd audio performances based on behind-the-scenes stories of real reality television stars, building new weird worlds from the things that people don't see when watching their favorite reality TV shows.

Episode two features an interview with Alex Lake, an artist working in film post-production and a former contestant on the reality television show The Circle (US)! Inspired by Alex Lake's interview, our ensemble will take you on a deep dive into vacation kidnapping, new NASA recruiting initiatives, the inner lives of Nokia phones, cartoonish bank teller personas, online hamster raters, a disconcerting dating game show, sentient houses, and the shocking horrors of…stand-up comedy.

Host: Angela Washko Special Guest: Alex Lake

Improv Comedy Ensemble: Hillary Kane, Jim Tripp, Katya Vasilaky, Lisa Steckman, Angela Washko

Theme Song Composer: Jesse Stiles

BIT Improv Comedy Network Director & Founder: Billy Merritt BIT Producer: Hill Kane