Instagram/@rejectedjokes
Ben Schwartz with his improv troupe has posted a new film that showcases their characteristic unscripted hilarity. The climax of the story leads to bizarre incidents. ‘Rejected Jokes’ is the name of the channel where the film is uploaded. Schwartz takes the position of a giver who is accompanied by the other comedians Lauren Lapkus, Mary Holland, and Drew Tarver in the segment titled ‘Get These Losers Laid,’ which soon transforms into a display of comedic improvisation. The film is the enactment revealing to the spectators the dates of the team’s tours, and thus, the viewers are reminded of the extraordinary experience of the live performance that they present.
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The video opens with Ben Schwartz being the moderator and telling a scenario that is pretty much close to a dating game with three men and one woman. The scenario immediately twists as the actors overact their parts and become the most amusingly silly and explicitly lustful. One of the suitors is trying to persuade the host that he would take the suggested date to Chicago just to see a very puzzling sports reference which becomes a running gag, that is, ‘The Metz’ playing ‘the Cups,’ which is totally not understandable. In addition to that, the discomfort in the situation is increased when Schwartz suddenly joins in with-a catchy song of his and sings one line of the ‘Rescue Rangers’ theme just to, as he seriously puts it, ‘remind you that I have other skill sets’.
It is the artists’ zeal which mainly gives them the ability to create such good improvisation even when it is absurd. When the question was put forth ‘What is the first thing you will do to her?’ the responses were from a very bold approach to something that hardly made sense. One of the answers given by one splendid contestant was if the mami is off-stage already, and the host replies ‘We don’t need you here at all,’ and the mami says ‘I have no idea why I am here’. This whole segment is nothing but testimony of the fantastic chemistry the comics have and that they can make laughable situations without a rehearsal.
For sure, the audience found the clip super amusing and their reactions were the most positive ones. Due to the unpredictable character of the performance, some viewers were the ones who impressed the most. One of them, the one who was at the show, stated: ‘This got off the rails SO quickly,’ where another one joked, ‘it even didn’t come with rails. Love it.’This very remark captures the essence of the troupe’s attraction—a blissful embracing of comedic chaos where the punchline is often the way rather than a fixed arrival point.
The clip built up the recognition and inside jokes that were among the fans. One of the viewers could not contain his joy at the sight of a familiar face and said, ‘Yooo that’s me!! Thank you so much for picking me! The show was AMAZING!!!’ This exchange is indicative of the very warm atmosphere of their live performances that where audience participation is sometimes crucial. Another spectator was a bit more precise and mentioned musical choice, wrote, ‘A like for the Rescue Rangers theme!’ indicating that the most random callbacks do find an appreciative audience.
The video has not only laughter but also a craving for a more permanent record of the troupe’s work. One super excited fan went even further and said, ‘Benny boy, I’m afraid we need a Ben Schwartz & Friends special. I BEG.’ This comment very rightly expresses the growing audience’s wish to see the live show’s improvisation magic captured in a longer format, thus giving those who cannot make it to the show a taste of the unique humor. It’s crystal clear that the anticipation is already high for their final concert stops in 2025 in places like Kansas City, Chicago, and Columbus.
Ben Schwartz, who is widely recognized for his role as the enthusiastically chaotic Jean-Ralphio Saperstein in ‘Parks and Recreation,’ has always been the one with the quick tongue and to some extent improvisational. This new video is quite a remarkable demonstration of his comedy talent outside of scripted TV and that he is always the center of attention in live performances as this is where his resourcefulness really captivates. The collaboration with Lapkus, Holland, and Tarver is never short of producing a very vibrant atmosphere that can be simultaneously unpredictable and evergreen in terms of humor.
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The release of this footage is a twofold operation; it not only supplies material but also acts as a marketing scheme at the same time, allowing the potential ticket purchasers a direct sample of the creative and riotous humor that would be at the live shows. It really shows that, despite the times of heavily produced comedies, the audience still has a massive hunger for the raw, uncalibrated, and exceedingly messy improvisation act. Schwartz and his guests are still among the ones who say that at times the most unheard of jokes are the ones that step outside any traditional framework and live on in the magnificent unpredictability of the instant. The show’s unpredictable nature was further highlighted when Schwartz discussed his musical categories in another context, and his unscripted moment with Stephen Colbert remains a fan favorite.
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