Talk:Friday Nite Improvs

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Articles for deletion This article was nominated for deletion on "August 5 2006". The result of the discussion was "Keep".

Contents

[edit] Subjects I want to cover on this entry

  • The role of Patti Miles as co-host.
  • The changeover from Devincent to Potocki
  • How did the format of the show change, and by whom?
  • The continuing succession of hosts, with the highlights of each's reign.
  • Stunts and Hijinx
  • The creation of Showcase, and its succession of hosts.
  • Spin-offs from the show -- I am not clear on this, but didn't FNI produce other shows, or at least intend to?
  • The Susquehanna Hat Company
  • The creation, running, and end of the Improv-A-Thons
  • The history of the Web site and the Hot Rim
  • The ties to the Evaline.
  • Tip of the Week.
  • Recurring themes/characters/formats.
  • The introduction of the New Game Each Week idea.
  • Games generated by the show.
  • Winky.
  • Almuni, and where they are now.
  • The intermittant workshops.

I have only been around 8.5 years now. A lot of this stuff is before my time. I welcome any input whatsoever anyone can give me on this.

Thanks, Chris Griswold

[edit] "I Remember Improvs"

I attended Pitt from '87 to '90, and attended Friday Nite Improvs every Friday, and even during the summer sometimes. I never missed a Friday, and completely enjoyed participating with Derek, Rachel, David Fielding, Jeff and hanging out with them for the late, late parties afterwards. It was definitely the highlight of my years at Pitt. Let me know if I can help with more information for this wikipedia entry...

Adam Gottlieb duelfish13@msn.com

[edit] Why this article is notable

Before even creating this page, I checked the notability requirements of the closest thing I could find, which was music.

The "Musicians and ensembles" section says:

  • "Contains at least one member who was once a part of or later joined a band that is otherwise notable." - Performers from Friday Nite Improvs have gone on to perform in Harold teams at the prestigious Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre; write for the Andy Milonakis Show; produce television shows such as "Film Fakers" and "Fountain of Youth" and appear in films including Space Cowboys, Joe Dirt, and Evolution and television series including Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, The Chris Wylde Show, Just Shoot Me!, and Taboo.
  • "Has become the most prominent representative of a notable style or the local scene of a city" - Friday Nite Improvs is the place where all of the city's improvisational actors and many stand-up comedians converge to do improv together, and it influences each group's performance. It's the oldest show, and many of the groups formed out of actors' performances at the show.

I'm not sure what more I can do to provide notability. I worked on this article some, a couple other editors worked on it. I need to get back to it and cite some things; I have some articles handy. Tell me what more I need to do to prove notability. --Chris Griswold 14:09, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

I concur - these are in my opinion claims of notability, and even better, claims of notability per band notability guidelines, so I don't think this can be nailed as CSD A7. I've delisted the article and I'll ask the nominator to AfD this article if they feel strongly about this issue. --wwwwolf (barks/growls) 14:22, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

Also, I have had more practice writing encyclopedia articles since I began this article, so I know what it should read like and how it should be cited. I am working on this today.--Chris Griswold 14:49, 5 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Suspicion of Incorrect Data

  • Chris Wylde went to American University in Washington DC. [1] Unless there's some kind of citation that proves he drove all the way up from DC every Friday while in school to perform at the improvs, I don't see how that can be used in the article or as justification of being notable. -- Boot 'N Rally | talk 03:38, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
I unfortunately do not have a citation for that; I just know personally that he performed at the show with the American University troupe Mission Improvable a number of times after becoming friends with the organizers of the show. I will see what I can do about a citation. --Chris Griswold (☏) 11:33, 31 August 2006 (UTC)
I guess my main point is that I don't think a guest performer can be used as an "Alumni" of the group. I also don't see any citations that prove any of those people listed were actually alumni of the university or the troupe. Considering the entire argument for notability of this article was based on those claims, I think that either the section needs to be clarified, or the notability must be proven in a seperate fashion. I'm just trying to keep Pitt related articles as factual as I can, since some others have been deleted for less. I wouldn't want to see this one go down the same way. -- Boot 'N Rally | talk 02:52, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
Upon even further review, I looked at the guidelines involving notability, and you've cited "Contains at least one member who was once a part of or later joined a band that is otherwise notable." Unfortunately, as I've just informed you, the people you mention as notable were not actually members. Secondly, your claim about the third best comedy improv place in Pittsburgh leaves out the very important fact that including the Improv, there are only 3 in the entire city, not counting CMU's similar student group. Finishing third of three does not make it notable. Personally, I think the article should stay, I just don't think that it is justified correctly. -- Boot 'N Rally | talk 03:05, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
I'll address the third-best: There are at least nine improv groups in the city, and a number of additional comedy shows. --Chris Griswold (☎☓) 14:54, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
I was only able to find a few other groups, but a "group" isn't a place to see improv. Some groups go to different clubs at different times, and only the 4 I mentioned have a permanent base, as far as I could find out. That was what the award was for. -- Boot 'N Rally | talk 17:16, 1 September 2006 (UTC)
Also, Chris Potocki, according to imdb, did not create and produce Film Fakers, he was simply a writer. -- Boot 'N Rally | talk 17:16, 1 September 2006 (UTC)