Colin Mochrie, comedian and improv legend, joins Cheddar News to talk success of 'Whose Line Is It Anyway' and his latest show 'Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis.'

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Improv Legend Colin Mochrie Talks Hit Show 'Hyprov: Improv Under Hypnosis'

what happens when you mix improv and hypnosis while you got a comedy show that's sure to have you leaving the theater in tears. Hip prov improv under hypnosis is making its way right here to new york city? The premieres this month. The show is created in stars. Everyone's favorite improv, er Collen mockery and master of hypnosis assad mickey during the show. Random audience members are put under hypnosis and they play hilarious games showcasing true unfiltered improv. So joining us now to discuss is calm comedy legend, Colin mockery, Colin good to have you here. I'm so I'm so excited to have you here. By the way. By the way, I wanted to make a point. I said hypnosis, hypnotist is what I meant to say earlier when I was talking about assad. This is a hilarious concept, creating something that's improv and hypnosis where you always on board with this when you guys created this. Um I had nothing to do with it really. Assad was the one who approached my agent and talked about his idea and I got involved and thought yeah this is you know, one of the dangers of improvising for a long time as I have as you get comfortable and I thought this will take me outside of my comfort zone. Working with people I've never met before who were in a hypnotic state and it's just being fancy, what was your first reaction when they came to you and pitched this idea to you, where you're like can you even do that? Yeah, I mean I think we all have a lot of misconceptions about and there's a lot of misconceptions about improv, so it seems like a perfect fit. People can come to one place and be skeptical of both art forms at the same time, and it's our job to prove. Yeah, this is actually happen every night. I watch assad put 20 people under and it's just fascinating every night to me, I'm fascinated that they like still can think about something an improv while they're under hypnosis, which is sort of interesting because you would think almost in a way you'd be sleeping almost while you're under hypnosis thing, You're not you're totally aware of the entire time to the audience, It looks like they're, you know, they're slumped over, it looks like they're sleeping, but they're actually aware of everything that's going on. That part of the brain that deals with self reflection and the part that says you can't do that that's gone. So they become actually pure improvisers that they're reacting to everything assad and I say It's it's been great. So you guys started this back in 2016 in Toronto, you know, how was this sort of grown since then? I mean, my God, you guys now here in New York City already for this thing. Yeah, well unfortunately we didn't know what the show was until we did it we couldn't rehearse it really. So the first time we went out was the first time we thought, okay, I guess we're gonna see if this works or not. So we found over the time we've been doing this, we can get a little more complex with what we're giving our improvisers. I thought it's all gonna be me, sort of traffic control. But I learned, no, it's like I'm working with real improvisers. They're giving me material and giving them materials. It's been great improv. You you're you're obviously sort of going from the hip and your ad living here. But with this, you don't really know what to expect with these volunteers because they're in a completely different mental state. How do you kind of prepare for something like that then the best part is not preparing? So it's like going back to my roots of just walking on stage, you know, when I'm working with the whose line guys, you know, I've worked with Ryan for over 40 years. So even if I don't know exactly what he's gonna say, I have a general idea of where it's going with these people. I just have to immediately let all my preconceptions go and just go with the flow and do what you're supposed to do an improv. You accept the idea and you build on it. So Colin who typically is the best person to get hypnotized that does this. Is there a particular person that's really a good person on this. We have, I'm not sure we find the smarter people are really good. We've had people who have been working the male clinic, We've had some high end C E. O. S and they seem to go under quite quickly and they give the best suggestions. So, but I don't, you know, we try to figure our men better or better than women and there's been across the genders, there's been no, nothing by the way. I mean, you do this so much. You have another improv show coming up as well called Scared Scripless. You're incredibly busy. You also have, whose line is it anyway, Which is also on the Cw, Do you almost get exhausted from all the improv in the ad libbing? Because I feel like in live television, I'm exhausted from it. I can only imagine how you feel from it. It's really hard to say, Yeah, I go on stage and make up crap for two hours. I'm exhausted. Right. It really is the best job because, you know, I'm working usually with friends and it's just having a fun night and just especially after the last couple of years getting back on stage and making people laugh has been a great tonic, I think for all of us, not only in the audience, but for us on stage to be able to do that again. Right? And by the way, this show, whose line is it anyway, you know, on the cw being renewed again, you've got Aisha Tyler, you've got Ryan on there? You've also got wayne brady on there. I mean, what does it feel like to be a part of a program that's been on for so long, but it's also so beloved by audiences. Yeah, it's nice to know it is. I mean it is great. It's one of those shows that we never really get publicized by any of the networks that were on for some reason, but we always do well and people are constantly stopping us and going, you know, I love the show. I grew up with the show, I was going through a bad divorce and the show got me through it or a loved one was ill. So it's nice that it's become a part of people's life and I'm really proud that it sort of brought improv into the public totally. Absolutely. And if anything, it's it's inspired more people to maybe want to do improv drama, all of those other sorts of things. You know, when maybe they hadn't because you're so beloved by fans. And I love basically what you guys doing this show, you and I are going to play our own little version of whose line is it? Anyway, in honor of all of the cities that this show is doing and the tours that you're doing for your hip prov show. You and I are gonna play a little game, it's called, whose city is it? Anyway, basically what you're gonna do, Colin you you have to act out a scene where two people are running late to your hip rock show. But the twist is here all shout out five different cities and you have to continue that scene based on whatever city I shout out, Can you do that? Do you think we can do this, nope, nope. Okay, let's take these chairs out. Chris get rid of these chairs. All right, here we go, Colin let's play our game. Come over here, Come over here, stand right over here, Colin. Okay, here we go. First. The city is Chicago. What's happening in Chicago? Going to the hip rob show. Come on, let's hurry. It's getting harder to get there because the wind. Yes, yes. Oh yes. And the hot dog. Yes, exactly. Actually got to build up. If you want to see this show, you gotta build. Exactly. Okay, very good. Okay, next one we got paris pottery. Well, excuse me, can you tell me what? Excuse me? Can you just tell me no, no. Yes, exactly. Always go back to the food. Okay, next one London, Let's go to London. Hello, excuse me Yes, we're looking for the hip hop show. I didn't recognize you without the thing. That was the queen. Yes, Queen, that was over there you were talking to? Okay, next one Augusta. We're going down south to Augusta. It is hot. Yes. Oh and Oh, that, that hat you have on is so beautiful. Thank you. Getting ready for. Um Yes, a tea party. Well, it's what I do here I kick off all my clothes except for the hat, the hat, everything else. You're completely in the nude. Finally, last one, we're in new york City. We're right here in New york City. What are we doing man? If I can make it here anywhere, I can make it anywhere. Yes, except Augusta. Yes, exactly. Because you're nude exactly with the hat our committee and Colin mockery.