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Kevin Allison: 'The State' alum-turned-storyteller | Kevin Allison: 'The State' alum-turned-storyteller |
(14 days later) | |
Comedian Kevin Allison got a taste of fame in the 1990s as a founding member of the sketch comedy group The State, which ran as a TV series on MTV from 1993 to 1995. You remember it, because it was one of the funniest things on TV back then: | Comedian Kevin Allison got a taste of fame in the 1990s as a founding member of the sketch comedy group The State, which ran as a TV series on MTV from 1993 to 1995. You remember it, because it was one of the funniest things on TV back then: |
After the show ended, The State's 11 members – still mostly young people in their 20s – went their separate ways, but still sometimes intersected with one another: many appeared with Michael Ian Black in Wet Hot American Summer and Stella; others like Ken Marino joined Robert Ben Garant on Comedy Central's Reno 911. | After the show ended, The State's 11 members – still mostly young people in their 20s – went their separate ways, but still sometimes intersected with one another: many appeared with Michael Ian Black in Wet Hot American Summer and Stella; others like Ken Marino joined Robert Ben Garant on Comedy Central's Reno 911. |
Allison's path led him through standup clubs around the country for a decade until he hit upon the idea for Risk, the popular storytelling podcast and live show. | Allison's path led him through standup clubs around the country for a decade until he hit upon the idea for Risk, the popular storytelling podcast and live show. |
Allison had spent the years since The State somewhat adrift, in the version he tells on his site and regularly to fans around the country: | Allison had spent the years since The State somewhat adrift, in the version he tells on his site and regularly to fans around the country: |
But in 2009, everything changed. “I was doing a solo show out West, playing characters as usual,” he says. “Afterward, Michael Ian Black [also of The State] said, ‘I kept hoping you’d drop the act and tell some of your own stories.’ I said, ‘Yikes, that just seems so risky … ’ But even as I said it, I could feel in my gut that that kind of risk could lead to the best stuff.” | But in 2009, everything changed. “I was doing a solo show out West, playing characters as usual,” he says. “Afterward, Michael Ian Black [also of The State] said, ‘I kept hoping you’d drop the act and tell some of your own stories.’ I said, ‘Yikes, that just seems so risky … ’ But even as I said it, I could feel in my gut that that kind of risk could lead to the best stuff.” |
"The more I worried I was taking a risk with a story – because it was too emotional, too provocative, or just too nuts – the more the audience lit up.” | "The more I worried I was taking a risk with a story – because it was too emotional, too provocative, or just too nuts – the more the audience lit up.” |
The stories on Risk are often deeply personal – and deeply hilarious. The three or so stories on each episode are told around a theme, for which the tellers have mined the most embarrassing depths of their personal lives – think of it as a risque cousin to shows like The Moth and This American Life. Allison's own tales document his eye-opening experiences at Kink Camp, described at the time as "the most explicit story yet told on Risk". Ira Glass in bondage, basically. | The stories on Risk are often deeply personal – and deeply hilarious. The three or so stories on each episode are told around a theme, for which the tellers have mined the most embarrassing depths of their personal lives – think of it as a risque cousin to shows like The Moth and This American Life. Allison's own tales document his eye-opening experiences at Kink Camp, described at the time as "the most explicit story yet told on Risk". Ira Glass in bondage, basically. |
Between audio podcasts and regular live shows in Los Angeles and New York, Risk features famous names telling the kinds of stories you won't get on even late-night Comedy Central. Others are first-time performers who perfected a live story through Allison's Story Studio workshops. The podcast can be found for free on iTunes, or at Risk-show.com. | Between audio podcasts and regular live shows in Los Angeles and New York, Risk features famous names telling the kinds of stories you won't get on even late-night Comedy Central. Others are first-time performers who perfected a live story through Allison's Story Studio workshops. The podcast can be found for free on iTunes, or at Risk-show.com. |
Allison took time out from his storytelling to answer a Status Update for us: | Allison took time out from his storytelling to answer a Status Update for us: |
What was your first screen name? | What was your first screen name? |
Siouxpurrkev. This was before my brain transplant. | Siouxpurrkev. This was before my brain transplant. |
What was your worst day ever? | What was your worst day ever? |
Today if I get caught spilling all these important US secrets to The Guardian. | Today if I get caught spilling all these important US secrets to The Guardian. |
Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party? | Who would you invite to your ideal dinner party? |
The cast of Seven Samurai. Nudity required. | The cast of Seven Samurai. Nudity required. |
What cocktail are you most like and why? | What cocktail are you most like and why? |
The Unusually Fantastic Podcast Host. It's not so much a cocktail as it is the answer I gave to that question. | The Unusually Fantastic Podcast Host. It's not so much a cocktail as it is the answer I gave to that question. |
What are three items you will always find in your refrigerator? | What are three items you will always find in your refrigerator? |
Smallpox, Elvis and the Ark of the Covenant. Oh dear, have I said too much? | Smallpox, Elvis and the Ark of the Covenant. Oh dear, have I said too much? |
What were you doing at midnight last night? | What were you doing at midnight last night? |
You haven't seen it on Xtube? | You haven't seen it on Xtube? |
What did your last text message you received say? | What did your last text message you received say? |
Your Verizon bill is dangerously overdue! | Your Verizon bill is dangerously overdue! |
What is a word you say a lot? | What is a word you say a lot? |
Barbecue?! | Barbecue?! |
Who was your first crush? | Who was your first crush? |
A Hummel figurine with his pants falling off. | A Hummel figurine with his pants falling off. |
What was your worst injury ever? | What was your worst injury ever? |
Herpes. But then one day my doctor told me about One-a-Day Valtrex. | Herpes. But then one day my doctor told me about One-a-Day Valtrex. |
What is the last song you listened to? | What is the last song you listened to? |
My phone says the last track was an episode of RISK! Who's laughing now, Beyonce? | My phone says the last track was an episode of RISK! Who's laughing now, Beyonce? |
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