iO Theater

01/24/22 • 74 min

KP joins to talk about origins and dramatic sudden closure of iO theater. How can you make a sustainable business off of adults playing pretend? Turns out it’s pretty hard. This episode has everything: improv comedy, wage theft allegations, desecration of human remains. Twists and turns everywhere! Follow KP's incredible project @they.call.us everywhere!!!

Footnotes:

Behind the Laughs: Community and Inequality in Comedy, Michael P. Jeffries
The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legend of Del Close, Kim “Howard” Johnson
Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History, Margaret Hicks
Skullduggery, Tad Friend, The New Yorker
Comedy Guru Charna Halpern Carries On, Achy Obejas, Chicago Tribune
The First Comedy Strike, Richard Zoglin, Time Magazine
This Unsung Comic Guru Turned Her Passion For Improv Into a Profitable Business INC Magazine, 2016
iO Co-Founder's Controversial Sexual Harassment Comments Spark Debate, Mae Rice, Chicagoist
iO Chicago’s move is more than a new address, Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
iO makes a big move into founder Charna Halpern’s ‘dream theater’, Brianna Wellen, Chicago Reader
What We Can Learn From Improv Theaters' PPP Loans, Seth Simons, Paste Magazine
The Death of an Improv Theater: Mismanagement and Neglect at iO West, Seth Simons, Paste Magazine
Chicago Comedy Institution iO Theater Is Closing, Melena Ryzik, The New York Times
iO Past, Present, and Non-Future, Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader
The Case for Unionizing Comedy, Seth Simons, The Outline
Laughs Can Be Cheap at a Comedy Theater, Jason Zinoman, NYT
She’s the Hidden Architect of Modern Comedy, Jason Zinoman, NYT

PS. Sorry Seth Simons, I think I said your name wrong like 8 times in this episode. I misread it so many times. Forgive me, bestie.

Footnotes:

Behind the Laughs: Community and Inequality in Comedy, Michael P. Jeffries
The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legend of Del Close, Kim “Howard” Johnson
Chicago Comedy: A Fairly Serious History, Margaret Hicks
Skullduggery, Tad Friend, The New Yorker
Comedy Guru Charna Halpern Carries On, Achy Obejas, Chicago Tribune
The First Comedy Strike, Richard Zoglin, Time Magazine
This Unsung Comic Guru Turned Her Passion For Improv Into a Profitable Business INC Magazine, 2016
iO Co-Founder's Controversial Sexual Harassment Comments Spark Debate, Mae Rice, Chicagoist
iO Chicago’s move is more than a new address, Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
iO makes a big move into founder Charna Halpern’s ‘dream theater’, Brianna Wellen, Chicago Reader
What We Can Learn From Improv Theaters' PPP Loans, Seth Simons, Paste Magazine
The Death of an Improv Theater: Mismanagement and Neglect at iO West, Seth Simons, Paste Magazine
Chicago Comedy Institution iO Theater Is Closing, Melena Ryzik, The New York Times
iO Past, Present, and Non-Future, Jack Helbig, Chicago Reader
The Case for Unionizing Comedy, Seth Simons, The Outline
Laughs Can Be Cheap at a Comedy Theater, Jason Zinoman, NYT
She’s the Hidden Architect of Modern Comedy, Jason Zinoman, NYT

PS. Sorry Seth Simons, I think I said your name wrong like 8 times in this episode. I misread it so many times. Forgive me, bestie.

Previous Episode

Johnson & Johnson's Transvaginal Mesh Thingy

My friend Bibi joins to talk about Johnson & Johnson’s transvaginal mesh implant that has been the center of class action lawsuits around the globe. Comedy podcast!! In this episode, we’ll dive into gruesome detail about how your organs sag with age, how some products have tried and failed to alleviate that problem, and how your work emails should never be the subject of court litigation. Follow @BustedBizBureau on all social media! It really helps me out, thanks!

Footnotes:

The history and evolution of pessaries for pelvic organ prolapse, Shah et al. 2005
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA, Gill v Ethicon Sàrl (No 5) [2019] FCA 1905
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA The People of the state of California vs JOHNSON & JOHNSON, ETHICON, INC.and DOES 1 Case No. 37-2016-00017229-CU-MC-CTL, January 2020
Ethicon complaint reviewer says in J&J trial that patients felt vaginal mesh instructions fell short of explaining risks, Northern California Record 2019
Revealed: Johnson & Johnson's 'irresponsible' actions over vaginal mesh implant, The Guardian
Huskey v Ethicon Day 4- Huskey Takes the Stand, Jane Akre, 2014
'Scandal' of vaginal mesh removal rates revealed by NHS records, The Guardian
Patient Recruiter and Physician Plead Guilty in Bribery and Kickback Scheme in Connection with Transvaginal Mesh Litigation, DOJ 2021
Orlando doctor facing federal charges banned from performing liposuction after patient death, Orlando Sentinel, 2021

Next Episode

The Ballad of Schwan's Frozen Pizza

My girlfriend Sarah joins to talk about frozen food, a surprising amount of corporate espionage, and the private company that has a ~70% likelihood of supplying your public school's pizza: Schwan's! The school lunch contract biz is more intense than you'd think. Please follow @BustedBizBureau everywhere!