REVIEW
What: On the Couch
Where: McPherson Playhouse
When: Friday night
Rating: 2 1/2 stars (out of five)
What is this thing called On the Couch?
It is two comedians. On a couch. Talking.
They are Greg Proops and Ryan Stiles, best known for their appearances on the television show Whose Line is It Anyway? Prior to the show, Proops promised two things. The show would be completely improvised. And they might — just might — be drinking some vodka. So … the bar was set (so to speak). Maybe not so high. But it was set.
The show is, literally, two comedians chatting. No set pieces. This is sort of fun, although often, one wished Stiles and Proops had worked out a few things beforehand. They sang a birthday song, which went, in its entirety: “This is your birthday song, it isn’t very long. ” They made fun of Drew Carey and Colin Mochrie. And they laughed about the tiny orchestra pit at the McPherson (Stiles: “It’s just one guy with a f---ing snare drum.”)
A young woman named Jen — the person who was celebrating her birthday and had won tickets to the show as a gift — was called on stage. She was instructed to write down the topics discussed, ostensibly so Proops and Stiles wouldn’t repeat themselves. Topics included:
• The fact that no women do Christopher Walken impressions. Proops offered his own Walken impression. “That’s still Woody Allen, by the way,” Stiles said.
• Their uncomfortable underwear: “I need tightness now,” Stiles said.
• Canada/U.S. shopping: “Canadians spend $80 in gas and go and buy U.S. gas,” Stiles said.
• The Craig Ferguson masturbation story. Apparently, Ferguson once told a story how about how (as a young man) he’d once closed his eyes, lit up a joint, put on his headphones and started to masturbate. When he opened his eyes, he noticed his mother had set his lunch on a tray beside his bed while he’d listened to an Eric Clapton tune.
• Drug talk. Apparently, Stiles used to do cocaine. Once, when he was golfing, squirrels hijacked his stash. Proops, meanwhile, said he likes to smoke dope.
• Penises. “My penis now is like my high-school yearbook. I know I have one, I just don’t look at it anymore,” Stiles said. Also, there was a joke about a budgie on someone’s penis.
• Then a surprise guest came in. It was Al Ferraby, the host of a local radio show. He and Stiles both talked about how they attended Richmond High. Then they talked about the most famous person Ferraby ever interviewed. Which was Elizabeth Taylor. That didn’t really go anywhere, though.
• Dildos. Once, Stiles got someone to hammer nails in a dildo, and put it in Carey’s carry-on luggage. Apparently Carey was annoyed, but he later used it as a premise for an episode on his TV show.
It wasn’t scintillating stuff, more pleasant than hysterical. Probably some nights are better than, well, this particular night. The crowd seemed to enjoy it, though.
