Author Jason Klamm & Second City Alum Pj Jacokes On '90s Sketch Comedy
The Author Series will host award-winning writer/actor Jason Klamm and actor/improvisor Pj Jacokes for a hilarious deep dive into '90s sketch comedy. They will discuss Klamm's new book, We’re Not Worthy, a history of '90s TV sketch comedy, featuring the dozen or so heavy-hitters of the decade like Kids in the Hall, The State, and Upright Citizens Brigade. The book also covers the other several dozen that didn’t last as long but still gave us some of our biggest film and TV stars.
27th Letter Books will have copies of We're Not Worthy for sale. Visit their website here: https://www.27thletterbooks.com/
About Jason Klamm: Jason Klamm (pronounced “klahm”) was born in Swindon, Wiltshire, England, but has spent most of his life in Upstate New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and now Detroit. He’s an author, actor, voice actor, podcast host and the director of three feature films, including the documentary Lords of Soaptown and two improvised comedies based on his fake presidential campaign project that has been going since 2004.
He graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a degree in Film, but not before he directed one of the world’s first viral videos, which holds the dubious distinction of being the internet’s first lip dub and the creator of a two-decade-old meme. Three years later, another popular short film of his, about dinosaurs, became one of the first internet shorts to play on a major airline when it won Frontier’s Cloud Nine Short Film Festival.
Jason has written five books, including the nonfiction book We’re Not Worthy. His works of satire include Looking Forward: A Hopemoir and Post-Modem: The Interwebs Explained. He is currently conducting research for two other nonfiction books that stem from his obsession with comedy and archiving, something he also explores at ComedyArchive.org.
He hosts several podcasts, including Dan and Jay’s Comedy Hour, Dispatches from Fort Awesome (about the sitcom NewsRadio), The Professional Blur (about background acting work) and used to host the history-making Comedy on Vinyl (which premiered a lost Bob Newhart track that hadn’t been heard in fifty years). Jason’s audio productions have also been used in college classrooms to illustrate DIY audio editing and producing.
His short films have been distributed by NBC/Universal and he has written TV and movie scripts for well-known comedians. He is a founding member of LA’s cult hit show A Drinking Game, in which he performed for over a decade, playing characters as varied as Vizzini in The Princess Bride and Marty McFly in Back to the Future. Jason is a proud graduate of an alternative high school, Upward Bound Alternative High School in Hartwick, New York.
Jason is currently based in the Metro Detroit area. You can contact him here.
About Pj Jacokes: As the co-founder of The Detroit Improv Festival and Go Comedy! Improv Theater in Ferndale, Michigan, Pj Jacokes has played a pivotal role in cultivating a thriving improv community in Metro Detroit. His infectious energy and passion for the art form have not only entertained audiences but have also inspired countless individuals to explore the world of improv. His commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment made him a beloved figure in the comedy scene, and his contributions continue to leave a lasting impact.
Pj got his start as a student at The Second City Detroit, there he honed his comedic craft and gained valuable experience in the runnings of a theater. During his time there, he worked up from student to Stage Manager, Acting in theTouring Company and Head Instructor of their Conservatory. From there he spent time with both The Planet Ant in Hamtramck and The Improv Inferno in Ann Arbor before opening Go Comedy. His talents extended to the television screen in the Hungry Howies "Ad Guys" campaign and on Comedy Central's Detroiters. Most recently, he can be seen in the Michigan-made film Quicksand.
Questions? Email msummers@detroitpubliclibrary.org for help!
| Date | Sunday, January 28, 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | 2:00pm - 3:00pm |
| Location | Main |
| Age Group | Adults |
| Category | Book Clubs, Author Events |