Praised at the Edinburgh Fringe for their sharp, intelligent sketches about NASA engineers and audience thoughts, the laid-back comedy group Simple Town is back on stage. However, their journey remains distant from mainstream television success.
When a “New York cult favourite sketch group” visits the UK, there’s often an immediate expectation of discovering the “next big thing.” Yet, a transatlantic video call with three-quarters of the quartet quickly disabused any such naive notions regarding Simple Town.
Sam Lanier, a member, candidly explains that while UK production companies sometimes view them as a potential “great bridge to the American market,” the reality is quite different. “What they don’t know,” Lanier states, “is that no one messes with us in America. All the people who work in development in American comedy already know about us, and they’ve all said ‘no’.”
He adds that none of them make a living solely from Simple Town. Despite the prominence of shows like Saturday Night Live or Netflix’s hit “I Think You Should Leave,” sketch comedy, even in the US, doesn’t guarantee instant widespread success or a “golden ticket.”
Simple Town, who charmingly debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe last summer, shares the struggles of their UK counterparts. They balance day jobs, produce both films and live sketches, and work tirelessly to keep their collaborative comedy act afloat.
Felipe Di Poi emphasizes their unwavering commitment: “We truly believe in it,” he states, adding, “The work we’ve accomplished together is the best any of us has done; it’s far greater than anything we could have created individually.” Television opportunities may elude them, and professional advancement might be hindered, but the spirit of this collaborative sketch troupe remains undaunted.