This was my first show with Gag.  it proved to be a lot of fun.  
Of course I had no idea what I was getting into, and I'm not 
entirely sure they ever DECIDED to have me join the group.  I 
just kept showing up for "auditions" until they said they'd give 
me a go.  There were four of us, Greg, Maryanne, Tim & me.  

The night we voted on sketches for the show was a nightmare for me.  
I was so nervous. I'd never even been in a comedy before, let 
alone tried to write it!  Of course the ice was broken by the 
infamous Tim Nessle (Necco Boy) and his stinky old baseball sketch.  
It was the first one up to vote - and out of courtesy, or sympathy, 
or because I was just blinded by the fear of having my sketches voted 
on  I voted for it. I know I did.  I take partial responsibility for 
that pile of crap, but I know I wasn't the 
only one who voted for it because it made the show.

I remember the night we rehearsed at Tim's house... It was a scary 
thing.  Have you seen Silence of the Lambs?  Remember that guy's 
house?  I had visions of Tim answering the door in his lady skin 
suit.  And of course I was the first one there.  I got stuck going 
out for drinks with him one night too.  He asked if anyone wanted 
to get a drink after rehearsal & I figured it would be a good 
chance for me to get to know everyone & said yes.  I should've 
waited to see if anyone else was going.  Being new and not 
knowing any better, I made quite the ass of myself several times 
during this show - and I thank everyone for letting me.  Well, not 
really - I was writing in my sarcastic voice.

I wish I had a set list to go over... but "WOOOOOUDY" sticks out 
in my mind from the debut of Pure Evil.  I also have fond memories 
of Chow Mein and When Hell Freezes Over.  I seem to recall we had 
a raffle for a free haircut - very cool.  My ex-boy fried saw 
the show one night and my future husband came the next.  This was 
a big transitional time for me - thanks Gag!  

We never called Tim to tell him when the next rehearsal was - and 
as it turns out that was fine.  He drove his car into a gas station 
and broke his legs shortly after the show and had leave the group.  
What a shame.  But he did bring Eric & Millie together (in a round 
about way), and he inspired songs and sketches and many a good belly 
laugh from there after.

Greg, Maryanne & I remained in the group and had a blast!

-  Mo Gannon (Gag 1996- 2000)

***********************

I remember this show as being a big transitional show for both me
personally and for Gag. The material in this show was really strong 
as were the performances. We were just coming off of a 6 month hiatus
during which my life completely changed. 

We were now sans Josh and Janet. That was a mixed blessing. Literally
half and half. With 4 new people performing with us I was suddenly 
no longer the new boy and settled into a new role within the new 
dynamic. During this show I lost my cousin Rich and met my future
wife. Strange times. Great show. 

First I want to talk about Tim also. I liked Tim initially. I remember
he turned up 10 minutes before the end of auditions and so he came
around the corner to the bar with us and we interviewed him. I remember
I was asking him questions like " if you could program a night of
television, how would it look." Just stupid shit that mattered to me. 
That night was the last time any of us saw Janet. I think in a flash
of intuition Janet saw the "Tim" to came and bolted. Anyway, I liked
him. I thought his energy level was right and I was excercising my 
new found voice in the group. Mo, Ledford and Maryanne were locks.
There was no question. Tim got in by the skin of his Necco-slimey
teeth.  

Okay. Anybody who has spent time on this site has heard reference to
Tim and Necco wafers. Here's the deal. Tim used Necco wafers to get
through toll booths. He did it a lot. Until they caught him. He 
actually got arrested. That's all. I don't want to dwell too much on
Tim because he tried his best...and no, Dale, I'm not getting soft…
it just flat out was a bad move. 

As far as the show? Killer. A really strong show. There was sort of 
a weird underlying story in the show about aliens who brought 
about the Macarena to control our minds, crashed at Roswell and
kidnapped Elvis. This all became clear through several unrelated
sketches until the climax of the show when Elvis eventually saves
the planet but kills himself on reentry. This show also included
the first appearance of Pure Evil, the Hell Freezes Over Sketch 
(The Dao Of Gag), Mary The Maid and Mariachis Del Agua (in its 
original form as part of the Plate Techtonics sketch). This show
also contained what I think is one of the 10 best Gag sketches ever,
Chow Mean. 

On a personal note, this was my coming out show. The audience 
demanded several encores and I debuted Soft Porn and Never Love 
Again. I really had them eating out of my hand. It was great 
and felt wonderful After a year of my lowest lows and wierdest
wierds...this show cemented me in Gag and more importantly 
Gag in me.

- Eric