There is one thing that fascinates me about improv and that is how it is portrayed in Television and Film. This is becoming more and more apparent in recent years because the comedy art form is sort of in fashion. There are some interesting topics that we can gain from these ways they are displayed so every so often we are going to look at different scenes from different shows and films and today even a podcast!

We have spoken about the Dave show Hypothetical on this article before as i personally find it a great show for those who do improv. However, this week the show returns to the limelight because they have now released a brand new podcast which is to promote the new series.

In the podcast the tables are turned and this time round the guests put presenters Josh Widdicombe and James Acaster in the limelight and get them to answer hypothetical answers. It is really fun to see how they deal with the questions they are given and the answers that they tend to give as well. 

Now, yes in a way, it technically is the same as the television show, however I believe this is a great little podcast that you can bring into your rehearsals and let me tell you my reasons behind it. The situations that they get given you could take note of and then incorporate into scenes to practice improv scenes. 

For example, in the first episode Ed Gamble is the guest and the hypothetical situation he brings with him about what a monster would be called and what it would do in your home town. I feel that this would be a great suggestion for a number of improv scenes – you could do it for a round of  various short form games:

+ the world’s worst monster in your home village

+ Three headed Expert – meet the monster

+ Headlines

+ Lines from a hat

Those are just a few examples, or you could even use it as a suggestion for a long form scene  – you could get the ‘audience’ to create the monster and then make a scene from that or you could even use it as the title of the scene – the Monster in The Town. 

That is why I love Hypothetical as a concept, not to rip it off but to inspire rehearsals and to help out and maybe broaden your mind with suggestions. If you get a chance, give it a listen.