Leah Gotcsik and Marty Johnson throw FrISC a funny bone.
Leah Gotcsik and Marty Johnson didn’t allow the fact that they no longer lived in the same city to get in the way of creating their trademark sketch comedy.
Taking full advantage of the technology available, the duo known as Somebody’s in the Doghouse has collaborated over iChat, Skype and bounced drafts back and forth over email for longer scripts, resulting in several sketch shows and sitcom pilots, including one they worked on with execs at Fox TV Studios.
Before all that, the partnership began when the two met in a damp basement at Boston’s Improv Asylum. Since then, Gotcsik and Johnson have toured the country on land (Chicago Sketchfest, San Francisco Sketchfest, LA Comedy Festival, Boston Comedy Festival, DC Comedy Fest), as well as on the high seas (The Second City).
In addition to producing numerous comedic shorts, their pilot Today's Special was a selection at the New York Television Festival, Chicago Comedy Pilot Competition, and Women in Comedy Festival.
FrISC: What is the significance of or story behind your team’s name? Does your brand of comedy appeal to cat people, as well?
Marty: We did a year of market research and this rose to the top of 300+ possible team names. As for the second question, the answer is no.
Leah: We had just started performing, without a team name in place. We were in the car with our friend Sara after a show. She called her husband and was horrified to find out he had eaten the last individual frozen pizza - she had no midnight snack. Obviously, we started singing about the situation and Somebody’s in the Doghouse –our name and our theme song – was born. Also, I have a very sweet, loving cat. Marty refuses to let it touch her.
FrISC: At one point, you both performed together with Second City – at sea? Do tell!
SitD: We lived on a cruise ship for four months doing sketch and improv shows. We also wrote a new show all about that experience, several pilots, got killer tans, and learned how to effectively accessorize with rhinestones.
FrISC: What’s the craziest thing that’s happened during a taping or live performance of one of your shows?
Leah: I lost my voice mid-sketch. It was fine one minute and then whisper the next. I tried to ask the ushers for some water. They thought it was part of the sketch and no one did anything. An entire audience and staff sat and laughed at me as I gasped for air.
Marty: I bet you had a hairball from hanging around that cat of yours.
FrISC: Do you have any pre-show rituals?
Leah: As with most all-female groups, we like to knit. And punch each other.
Marty: I hide the water in case Leah starts to choke onstage.
FrISC: What is your advice for beginning sketch performers?
Marty: Be a tough critic of your own work. Spend the time to make things even funnier; don’t be satisfied with first drafts.
Leah: Keep writing. I never thought of myself as a writer. I never kept a journal or anything. But I soon realized that to write well, you need to write a lot, because most of what you write is going to be real crappy and that’s ok. Also, invest in a large rolling prop suitcase. All of the best acts have one.
FrISC: In your wildest dreams, if money were no object, where would you want to take Somebody’s in the Doghouse?
SitD: On a highway to success with no off ramps.
