When it comes to The Groundlings, my expectations are astronomically high. As a frequent patron of their Thursday night improv show Cooking with Gas, I've seen some of my all-time favorite comedians perform there. Cheryl Hines, Chris Kattan, Cheri Oteri, Mike McDonald, Mindy Sterling, Rachel Harris, Wendi McClendon-Covey, Karen Maruyama...the list goes on and on. (And if you don't know recognize the names of each and every person that I've just listed, shame on you. Google them immediately.) The Groundlings is where I go when I want to laugh. And I'm not just talking about the few hearty chuckles that would be elicited during an episode of Friends either. I'm talking about tears-streaming, ab-clenching, can't breathe, can't-even-hold-you-head-up, pee-your-pants kind of laughter. That, to me, defines The Groundlings.

So when my friend David asked me to accompany him to his high school buddy Zack's "farewell show" on a monday night (the Groundlings theater's usual dark day) I was intrigued, and perhaps slightly dubious. Who is this guy? I'd never heard of him. Although I did have to give him points for style naming his show after Liza's. Whoever he is, he's got some big ones.

Now, let me state for the record that there are 3 things that I find absolutely hysterical, any of which is guaranteed recipe to win me over every time.

1) Self-indulgence. I love it when performers play on their own vanity. So when Zack's opened with a musical number, complete with a trio of backup singers, and lyrics about his "self-indulgent farewell show", I'll admit that I was hooked. Incidentally, the "farewell" is in reference to Zack's moving to NYC to pursue a stage career.

2) Awkwardness. Too much information, uncomfortable silences, public humiliation...I can't get enough of it. And apparently, neither can Zack Oldham. A surprise party that reveals a couple's rampant heroin addiction, a man who's continually shot down by the woman he loves even as he's devoured by a snow leopard, and oversharing during an office game (See video below) are some of the fabulous conceits Zack came up with for his sketches. The writing was sharp, versatile, and sadistically funny.

3) Drag Queens. Ah yes, drag queens, my achilles heel, the comedic ace-in-the-hole. Anybody who knows me can tell you the lengths that I'll go to for a good drag queen. (Now I'm oversharing.) But needless to say, when Zack came out in a long blonde wig with pink barettes, 3 inch wedges, pink capris and a pink short-sleeved zip-up, I was dying. The concept was a classic: the study-buddy seduction. And with growled pick-up lines like "I don't wanna learn about history...I wanna make history", Zack Oldham will forever have my undying love and respect.

Overall it was just a truly enjoyable night of sketch comedy, one truly worthy of the Groundlings stage. I'm sad to see Zack go when I've only just discovered him. But no doubt we'll be seeing him again very soon. Best of luck back east, Zack, and thank you so much for a very entertaining evening! Tell the SNL kids I said "hi"!

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