Topic Guide
What Is Second city?
Second city is a subject covered in depth across 1 podcast episode in our database. Below you'll find key concepts, expert insights, and the top episodes to listen to — all distilled from hours of conversation by leading experts.
Key Concepts in Second city
Second city improv training
Richard Kind describes Second City as his 'Harvard of acting,' originating in 1959 from University of Chicago intellectuals before evolving to include diverse comedic talents. He recounts how his unscripted, nightly performances over four and a half years honed his acting skills, illustrating that while acting doesn't require improvisation, good improvisation demands good acting ([14:12], [17:16]).
The 'satellite character' vs. 'maple' in sitcoms
Kind articulates his role as a character actor (the 'satellite character') by contrasting it with a lead actor (the 'maple') around whom the plot revolves. He explains that his job in three-camera sitcoms is to ensure 'a laugh every three lines' to keep the audience engaged, a pressure he now finds challenging as he aims for more truthful acting ([22:18], [24:22]).
What Experts Say About Second city
- 1.Richard Kind believes he became a much better actor after 20 years in the business, moving from a performative, 'huge and fun' style to one where he genuinely aims to 'tell the truth' in his lines ([10:10]).
- 2.Kind distinguishes between improvisation and acting, asserting that 'in order to be a good improviser, you must be a good actor,' reflecting on his four-and-a-half years at Second City ([17:16]).
- 3.He views his role as a character actor as a 'satellite character' whose job in three-camera sitcoms is to 'get a laugh every three lines so that nobody turn uses the remote control' ([23:21], [24:22]).
- 4.Kind reveals that the late Charles Grodin was a dedicated humanitarian, secretly fighting for people on death row who were wrongly accused, often going to visit governors to secure their release ([03:02]).
- 5.He recounts three major instances where his confident predictions about popular culture and innovation were completely wrong: the popularity of Farah Fawcett's poster, the success of *Who Wants to Be a Millionaire*, and the market for Callaway's 'Big Bertha' golf club ([43:46], [45:49]).
- 6.Kind expresses profound concern for the current state of America, suggesting the slogan 'make America America again' and admitting to a somber thought that deceased individuals are 'lucky' not to deal with today's challenges ([37:40], [38:40]).
Top Episodes to Learn About Second city
Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend