That was truly painful.

Sent by Lars Gotrich | 11:47 AM ET | 09-09-2008

I loved it when you were flipping through pictures of your dog. I swear I only keep pictures on my phone for those times when I need to not participate in whatever is going on.

Sent by Jamie Hellgate | 12:41 PM ET | 09-09-2008

uummm
I actually LOVED the one man show?
He did a great job...

oh and so did you... you were uummm
great? you really nailed that hand clapping at the end? and your uummmm three lines? and uummmmmmm...

I had a friend who wrote a short story, and she had me read it before she turned it in for her class... Im like half way through it and she says "youre not laughing" which cought me totally off guard... and i say "its supposed to be funny???" OOPS!!!!! I felt so bad... I dont even know if the best physical comedic actors could have saved that one.

Oddly enough... me and that same friend, often have conversations using nothing but song lyrics... which is why I love the Ultimate Song Thunderant so much...

maybe thats a future blog? everyone can contribute one line... and you can edit it all together for a song :P

Sent by Kramer | 12:45 PM ET | 09-09-2008

freaking awesome. this reminds me so much of college!!

Sent by j | 1:32 PM ET | 09-09-2008

"that was really interesting" is a line i like to use in these situations.

in this video i found myself looking at the utube clock...hoping that his performance wasn't going to last 7 minutes. my favorite parts were when the ticket was $17 and when you said, "why am i here?" funny!

Sent by ld | 1:36 PM ET | 09-09-2008

I recommend the following sentence for just such occassions: "Man! That was really SOMETHIN'!"

In the case of this video, though, I don't have to really on that. It's one of my favorite TA productions so far.

Sent by M-argo | 1:52 PM ET | 09-09-2008

I'm so *proud* of you! Which isn't a lie, but doesn't really say anything about the performance or artwork exactly...

Sent by sara | 2:11 PM ET | 09-09-2008

The sad thing is...I think I've put my own friends through the "one man show" myself. I had lots of "Hey, come see my band play!" without thinking about whether they'd actually like the music or not. My roomate used to sort of teethgrittingly say, "It was great...I loved it..." The other sad thing is that "the one man show" would probably be a big hit here in Northern California.

Sent by Leilani | 2:13 PM ET | 09-09-2008

I was expecting a white lie! Awesome. I just love absurdist humor.

Sent by Chad - Hungary for Turkey | 2:56 PM ET | 09-09-2008

I'm a big fan of "That was interesting" or "That really made me think." Of course then there's the danger that the person will ask you what it made you think of.

This video also served to remind me why I don't go to one-man shows. Unless maybe it was Hal Holbrook as Mark Twain.

Sent by Laura E. | 4:09 PM ET | 09-09-2008

It would be huge in NorCal! As a matter of fact, I think I saw that show in Berkeley at some point.

Sent by Rachel | 4:10 PM ET | 09-09-2008

you get great tone out of those handclaps...really fills the room. sounded great from my kitchen.

Sent by Jason M. | 4:52 PM ET | 09-09-2008

that was great. in those situations i usually dig my nails into my thighs to keep from laughing. "interesting" is what i usually say, but i prefer m-argo's suggestion of "that was something."

carrie, i just saw the bicycle rights video on your site. i wish thunderant would expand upon that theme. you know there's a war here in portland!

Sent by tiny dancer | 5:14 PM ET | 09-09-2008

When I was a bit younger I was in a truly awful indie rock band and somehow we managed to convince a few place in our nearest city, Glasgow, to let us play. The second, and last, gig we playted in the city is an excellent example of friend's bending the truth. We were on stage last, missing a guitarist and our bassist had quit the day before so we had a guy (I honestly can't even remember his name) who we had met about 5 hours prior to the show. We cleared the place of everyone aside from our friends before our first song had finished.

A lot of my friends seemed to think we were interesting albeit not particularly "on form" that evening.

Sent by Oli | 5:14 PM ET | 09-09-2008

This was great: truly cringe-worthy. At least the theater had Hot Tamales!

Sent by Michael | 5:26 PM ET | 09-09-2008

lol. This one was way better than the Katchenza skit. BTW I want hot tamales now. BTW cute bag :)

Sent by Marissa | 6:42 PM ET | 09-09-2008

"It was an hour and a half." Love it.

"Columbine - the flower, not the massacre." It's still a line I quote to everyone and no one.

Sent by Nick L. | 7:23 PM ET | 09-09-2008

I use to tell the white lies, but I'm tired of bad music, so I flat out tell my friends that the show was terrible. They seem to appreciate the honesty...or they are just lying to me.

Sent by kristofer | 8:23 PM ET | 09-09-2008

"What'd you think?"
"It was an hour and a half!"

Haha, that was perfect. That One Man Show was terrible.

Sent by Jennifer | 8:38 PM ET | 09-09-2008

'Member that part when you were buying um, stuff to like, eat, and right after the lady gave you your, um, change she took a drink of coffee, or something like that? 'Member that? That was awesome.

Sent by Jay | 8:52 PM ET | 09-09-2008

Uh... wow... That was hard to watch. That reminded me of a presentation I saw at a library conference this summer. Except the room wasn't empty when it started.

In the town in New York where I grew up, the usual response to the question was to reply that the band was "tight," which basically meant that you knew they had rehearsed but said nothing about the quality of the music.

My own usual response is to find something positive I can latch on to and compliment whatever it was. An exception to that was the night I saw the worst band I have ever seen in my life. That night, I was with in a group of three. Two of us made the third guy talk to the singer while we looked away and tried to not let them see us laughing.

Sent by John B | 9:23 PM ET | 09-09-2008

I like dinner at Trader Joe's after a matinee at the Hollywood. Just not this matinee.

Sent by Jackson | 11:02 PM ET | 09-09-2008

This was definitely uncomfortable and reminded me of times when I've been at a loss for words.

How did Fred come up with that stuff? Did you tell him about your idea first? He's amazing.

Sent by Gretchen | 11:19 PM ET | 09-09-2008

i've never had that experience. all of my friends are wonderfully talented and i've therefore been spared such awkwardness.

Sent by xina | 11:41 PM ET | 09-09-2008

Thunder Ant is pretty awesome, but I think his performance went on a little too long. The same comedic punch would have been packed if the performance was only 30 seconds-1 minute long. I still found it funny though, good job.

Sent by Adam | 1:19 AM ET | 09-10-2008

I couldn't watch it. On one hand I feel as though I may have done a great diservice to myself but then on the other hand I am glad that I am able to smell crap before I step in it.

Sent by Ratface | 1:26 AM ET | 09-10-2008

that was so good! too bad its yall's last show...

Sent by I hope you don't read this blog! | 9:22 AM ET | 09-10-2008

i laughed the most when he came out for a "curtain call" type thing, and mainly his closing remarks,...it is second to -feminist bookstore, in my book.

Sent by steph | 10:41 AM ET | 09-10-2008

My friends are in this indie-pop band, and they're painfully bad. Every so often, I feel obligated to attend one of their shows. Afterward, I usually fall back on what someone above mentioned: "You were so tight!" (which conveniently speaks to musicianship without getting into trickier matters of melodic or lyrical quality). Another standby is "You guys have so much energy!". Really, it's not fun trying to come up with these half-truths.

By the way, I thought this was the best ThunderAnt yet. I was doubled over laughing when you started flipping through photos on your phone (definitely done that myself!)! On the whole, you guys get an A+ from me for generously and perceptively satirizing the more reductive aspects of the Left and identity politics. And I say that as a committed far-left liberal myself.

Sent by jasco | 12:16 PM ET | 09-10-2008

"And, if you can't stand this video, feel free to practice your lines on me."

It was seven minutes long. :)

Sent by Jake | 5:14 PM ET | 09-10-2008

"You guys look like you were having so much fun!"

Sent by J | 7:21 PM ET | 09-10-2008

I used to try to be polite to my friends when I didn't like their music, but after years of being forced to listen to just god-awful metalcore and hardcore bands i've gotten to the point where i just say what i think. which is usually, "no offence, and i'm sure you're great musicians, but that was terrible."

Sent by sa | 9:08 PM ET | 09-10-2008

That video combines two great things: Fred Armisen and the Hollywood Theater, with CB thrown in for sex appeal. Thanks, Carrie.

Sent by Liam | 9:32 PM ET | 09-10-2008

Great! That was soooooo modern.

Sent by jonesy | 9:47 PM ET | 09-10-2008

Be warned: I have a couple friends who use "precious" as code for "one UGLY baby". As in "isn't she precious?", which translates to "OMG, have you ever seen anything so hideous?"

Sent by D | 12:09 AM ET | 09-11-2008

^ That reminds me of a story I heard about someone who'd go "That is the UGLIEST dog I've ever seen" in response to annoying people trying to show off pictures of the precious newborn.

Is it bad that I think that's hilarious?

Sent by Wolfblade | 3:15 AM ET | 09-11-2008

I've seen performance art pieces that were even worse than Fred's. What compels people to do performance art? Maybe five people in the history of humanity have pulled it off and still I can only think of Karen Finley. (Who sometimes sucked, too.)

Regarding the matter of what to say when your friend's band (or performance art piece) blows: I say the same ambiguous things every one else does (ie, "That looked fun!" or "I didn't know you had it in you - which might be true but not in a good way)

This all reminds me of a friend of mine who is bitterly competitive. If I pull off any sort of achievement, she always congratulates me with these very oddly phrased remarks that keep her totally our of the picture. So instead of saying how SHE feels, she says things like "Wow, you must be so proud" or "I bet you're really happy."

It's really funny. And, of course, pathetically sad.

Sent by Gina V. | 10:31 AM ET | 09-11-2008

Oh man I love TA. Feminist Bookstore is definitely my favorite, I quote it way too much.

Sent by Dominique | 4:38 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Deliciously awkward! The length made it so much more awkward. Thanks for not subjecting us to the hour and a half version. Did you get your $17.50 back? Almost as good as the phone-messages-song-skit.

Sent by Melvillain | 6:27 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Dada art class, two guys did a piece where they defined Deconstruction as 'when you take something apart'--no mention of identifying underlying, arbitrary assumptions in a narrative, just that you 'un-construct it'.

Then they stood over a tarp and held wine bottles where their junk would be and jerked these fluid-filled bottles at each other; my own pain wasn't so bad as watching the professor's face as he tried to figure out what he was going to say in this kid-gloves constructive criticism setting. Not Evergreen, even. Just everlasting, interminable. Like Fred's bit.

Sent by fusnaf | 8:47 PM ET | 09-11-2008

Wow! You can get Hot Tamales in a bag?

Sent by Diana | 10:48 PM ET | 09-11-2008

This video made wonder if Fred still plays drums? Gawd, he is a Renaissance man. The two of you could be the next Flat Duo Jets.

Sent by Jack | 12:21 AM ET | 09-12-2008

This type of incident usually pops up when you're in a smaller band on tour and meet some really nice folks who setup the show that you are playing at. Their band is also playing the show. They're "really nice people" and you appreciate them setting up the show.

Sent by Richard | 10:19 AM ET | 09-12-2008

You have the perfect expression for indifference. I will practice it in the mirror. Loved it, although he did get a bit irritating, which I guess was the point. My favorite TA is the songwriting one.

Sent by Michael | 6:38 PM ET | 09-12-2008

Such nuances! It made Citizen Kane look totally black and white by comparison.

Sent by Tom Hendricks | 12:35 AM ET | 09-13-2008

My stock phrases for bands I play shows with that I wasn't into are "Wow, you all had so much energy up there!" or "It seemed like you were having so much fun!" I just can't do the "You were great!" lie anymore.

But from now on I may just say "It was an hour and a half!"

Sent by chriso | 3:53 AM ET | 09-13-2008

The worst are those friends who still want you to read their horrible poetry and give them an honest opinion. What do you say to someone like that? I can only give them a "huh. wow. that's...wow."

Sent by salena | 9:07 AM ET | 09-13-2008

when friends proffer material like this, you don't have to lie http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2008/09/shake-veep.html

Sent by o.mog.wai | 4:44 PM ET | 09-13-2008

That's different!

Sent by Anjanette | 7:17 PM ET | 09-13-2008

"The acoustics in here are just terrible."

Sent by Tim | 1:21 PM ET | 09-14-2008

I disagree with Adam. The best part about some of the ThunderAnt sketches is your willingness to really draw out the painful, awkward parts. While it's tempting (and usually more palatable) to just provide enough for the audience to 'get' that a scene is awkward, you really just make it awkward.

And kudos to 'Theatre Employee.' The role was portrayed with poise and nuance. The way she says, "You're not on the list," just steals the scene every time. Bravo!

Sent by ljc | 9:44 AM ET | 09-15-2008

In college, a guy I didn't know very well talks me into seeing his one man show at the Vortex in Austin. Grudgingly, I go and it's a play. WTF? Did this guy tell me the wrong night? Sure enough, there is nothing about him or his show in the program. Ugh! Anyway, so the play ends and people start to file out of the theater.

Get to the lobby and there's my friend--naked. Well, almost naked: He's wearing a loin cloth and fishnet stockings. Tall, hairy guy, too. No one is leaving because he's shouting gibberish and running back and forth, blocking the exits. Then he launches into his perfomance, which amounts to flailing around like a crazy person and spewing more gibberish that I think he thought was "poetry." Nothing about this performance seems scripted or rehearsed until he jumps to his feet from a crouched position, lifts the loin cloth, and--surprise! No penis! (He had it tucked between his legs.)

And that was it. THAT was his 90-second one man show. Ridiculous!

Sent by thailand kegs | 5:33 PM ET | 09-18-2008

Wow. In that NY Times article they only refer to you as a musician and there's no mention of Sleater-Kinney. I feel like that's a first.

Sent by Jaime | 3:15 PM ET | 09-21-2008

I'm a big fan of the line "I think there's an audience for this." It sounds sort of thought-out and it isn't a total lie.

I thought the Thunder Ant video was spot on. Reminded me of my days as a Theatre Major . . . talk about painful

Sent by T.J. Clark | 4:25 PM ET | 09-23-2008

As Oprah would say back in 2002, "you go girl!" I can't even express what an improvement I think "One Man show" and "Perfect Song" are over the earlier episodes. That probably sounds more like a backhanded compliment than a fake one, But really-both episodes are hilarious overall! Love it, Love it, Love it. Freds gotten funnier on SNL too.

Sent by Heather | 7:51 PM ET | 10-02-2008