Shut Up Gail - Margot Escott | Ep 10
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
🎧 SHUT UP GAIL – Episode 11 Play Is Not Optional (with Margo Escott) Play is not a reward. It’s not a break. It’s not something you “get back to” when life calms down. According to Margo Escott, play is essential — and she’s been proving it since the 1970s. In this Season 2 premiere of Shut Up Gail, Gail sits down with Margo Escott: psychotherapist, New Games referee, improv teacher, and lifelong champion of joy. What unfolds is a grounded, hilarious, deeply human conversation about laughter, resilience, Parkinson’s, anxiety, failure, and why yelling “TA‑DA!” at your...
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SHUT UP GAIL w Jay Sukow - Bonus Double Episode/Season Finale
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
🎙️ Shut Up, Gail – Season Finale: “Yes, And Your Way to World Domination” Guest: Jay Sukow Host: Gail Shepherd (Not Like Cher, but kinda like Cher) Improv legend Jay Sukow drops into Gail’s virtual lair to talk shop, shout affirmations, mispronounce “spatula,” and accidentally invent the word “fyrk.” If you've ever wondered whether failure is your superpower, or if you should microwave fish at work (spoiler: don’t), this episode is your new religion. Get ready for: 🎭 The Renaissance of Improv: Jay reflects on the early days of doing scenes with 12 nerds in a rec...
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Back Stage at The Regency - Season One Finale
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
In this tenth and season finale episode, Andrew, the technical director of the Regency Theatre is joined by the Regency's resident scenery performer Steckman, fresh off her return from the Great White Way. They are joined again by British actor Kristian Night Lewis to discuss bidets and racing cars, and local lucky actor Jenny Blessed to talk about winning lotteries and stopping wars. Backstage at the Regency will be dark for a few months before returning for Season 2 with all new episodes. Thanks for listening! CAST: Andrew - Luke Bovard Steckman - Lisa Steckman Kristian...
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SHUT UP GAIL – Paul from OSLO | Ep 8
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
🎙️ SHUT UP GAIL – Ep. 8: “From Cult to Carnival” with Paul Omarr This is the eighth installment of Bit Behind the Scenes (a.k.a. Shut Up Gail). Listen, follow, rate, and share... PLEASE and THANK YOU! This month, Gail heads to Oslo for a deeply human (and surprisingly funny) conversation with Paul — a Norwegian comedian, scholar, and improv performer whose journey from cult survivor to carnival-level creative proves that humor and healing can share the same stage. From growing up in a strict congregation to discovering freedom in the unpredictable world of improv,...
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Backstage at the Regency - Ep 9
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
In this ninth episode, Andrew, the technical director of the Regency Theatre, is distracted and accidentally leaves the podcast recording equipment on, and the ghosts of the theatre decide to host an episode. CAST Andrew/Bartholomew - Luke Bovard Lindsey - Thea Marie Thorkildsen Tommy - Hillary Kane Constance - Terry Armstrong Have a question for the fine theatre folks at the Regency Theatre? E-mail us at Follow us on Instagram at @backstageregency Follow BIT Comedy Network on Instagram at @bitcomedynetwork and Facebook @BITComedyNetwork. "The BIT Spotlight"...
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Shut Up Gail - Thea Marie | Ep 7
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
🎙️ SHUT UP GAIL – Ep. 7: “Cats, Clapbacks, and Contrasts” with Thea Marie Thorkildsen This is the fourth installment of the Women of BIT. Listen, follow, rate, and share... PLEASE and THANK YOU! This month on Bit Behind the Scenes (a.k.a. SHUT UP GAIL), Gail gets philosophical, improv-sical, and mildly feline-ical with Norwegian multi-hyphenate Thea Marie Thorkildsen—a political scientist turned stand-up comic, improv rebel, and self-declared curator of “Cat of the Day” (even though it’s weekly). 🧠 In This Episode: 🏛️ How nine years of political science,...
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Shut Up Gail - Amber | Ep 6
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
Gail is going to interview as many BIT lady improvisers as she can this summer! Gail forgot to mention she was globe-trotting in August, so... WHOOPSIE!!! No August episode. This month, it's the third installment of the Women of Bit! Gail interviewed the incredible, DC-dwelling, hilarious, and kind ... AMBER BELLSDALE. Caps locked,baby! Listen, follow, rate, and share... PLEASE and THANK YOU! Be sure to come back on the 8th of each month for a new "snack-sized" episode of SHUT UP GAIL. Coming up in October, Gail has the Norway Improv Phenom, Thea Marie Thorkildsen! It makes sense to...
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Backstage at the Regency - Ep 8
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
In the eighth episode, Andrew, the technical director of the Regency Theatre, ditches his usual format and invites benefactor extraordinaire, Auntie Midge. The theatre is dark during this part of the summer and no one was around. But of course, Aunti Midge insists on dropping off her check in person. CAST: Andrew - Luke Bovard Auntie Midge - Hill Kane Have a question for the fine theatre folks at the Regency Theatre? E-mail us at Follow us on Instagram at @backstageregency Follow BIT Comedy Network on Instagram at @bitcomedynetwork and Facebook @BITComedyNetwork. "The BIT...
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Backstage at the Regency - Ep 7
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
In this seventh episode, Andrew, the technical director of the Regency Theatre, is joined by co-host and legendary lighting designer, Olivier Olivero, where they interview volunteer Janay Littleton about toothbrushes and barista Jake Americano about being a real authentic American. CAST: Andrew - Luke Bovard Olivier Olivero - Laura Janay Littleton - Amber Jake Americano - Thea Have a question for the fine theatre folks at the Regency Theatre? E-mail us at Follow us on Instagram at @backstageregency Follow BIT Comedy Network on Instagram at @bitcomedynetwork and...
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Shut Up Gail - Peg & Terry | Ep 5
Billy Merritt's (Improv) Spotlight
Gail is going to interview as many BIT lady improvisers as she can this summer! To kick things off, Gail puts Peg Davis and Terry Armstrong in the hot seat(s). Both girls are experienced performers who have lived many lives. BOTH women seemed to enjoy yelling at Gail - Terry maybe too much!? BION, Gail, and today's guests are all over 50. For extra credit, read Billy Merritt's Substack article on "Aging Out of Comedy!" Gail admits the ego boost she gets from being confused for a 49-year-old. We hope you enjoy getting to know these funny ladies. Listen, follow, rate, and...
info_outlineJoin Billy Merritt and his global gang of improvisers as he continues his delightfully chaotic journey through the many flavors of longform improv.
Today's focus: PRETTY FLOWER — also known as Spokane, or "that thing that's kind of like Lost meets Marty meets at a haunted pie shop."
Billy starts by tracing the roots of this character-driven form, developed with the group Sentimental Lady and inspired by layered storytelling (think Lost, but with fewer smoke monsters and more apple jam).
The Pretty Flower starts with a single scenic mono scene—then "blooms" into supporting cutaways that explore character backstory, heighten stakes, or, sometimes, just celebrate a 74-pie menu.
🎭 In class, the students explore:
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🧺 A struggling family-run apple orchard turned fall tourist trap
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🥁 A post-championship hangover in a high school band room (with questionable closet storage decisions)
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🥧 A pristine retro diner trying to re-create a 1950s vibe for a mysterious couple who might actually be… ghosts?
Cut tos, cut backs, musical montages, and a possible mob-connected cleaner all show up in this episode full of bold initiations and gentle chaos.
As always, Billy keeps it structured just enough to find the funny—and the heart.
Today's students:
- Hill Kane – San Antonio, Texas
- Konrad Andrew - Saigon, Vietnam (today)
- Amber Bellsdale – Washington, D.C.
- Jason Luna - San Diego, CA (today)
- Adam S. - Philadelphia, PA (King of Prussia)
- Murphy McKew – Washington, D.C.
- Luke Bovard – Berlin, Germany