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I once walked on to say that an octopus had committed suicide and left 8 notes. Probably the dumbest thing I ever said and I am also very proud of it. - Will

This is Will answering this. I was born in 1970 so I like all the big stand-ups of the 1970s: Carlin, Steve Martin, Cosby, Pryor. Woody Allen writes the best jokes. Late 80s SNL writers write the best sketches (the Army Man guys and Robert Smigel).

The best UCB show in NY (besides my improv team The Stepfathers) is Sketches From An Italian Restaurant: A Billy Joel Sketch Show which is super fun. Also whatever weird monstrosity Terry Withers is doing.

First, it's the hardest. It's got an opening and required second beats and required callbacks. Those are the hardest things to do and by forcing you to do them you will become unbeatable. Second beats and callbacks are especially useful in almost any form -- but improvisers won't do them (At first) unless "forced" so it's good to do a form that forces you.

Second, it's part of the culture! Amy Poehler did Harolds and so are you.

Harolds force you to be GOOD. If your scene is weak you don't want to revisit it, but Harold says you have to. If you are good at finding ideas/games in a non-scenic opening you really understand that idea/game. If you have good scenes the Harold encourages your show to build and come together. Some Non Harold forms do some or all of these. But The Harold isn't forgiving. Once you've learned the Harold it seeps into all other forms and for good reason.

To me delight and embarrassment, they made the trip pretty easily. -Will