photo credit: AboutEdgarMomplaisir.com

Key Takeaways

• Edgar Momplaisir is a Los Angeles-based writer, performer, and producer known for his work on major TV networks and his contributions to improv comedy.
• Improv comedy relies on spontaneous creativity, collaboration, and audience interaction rather than scripted material.
• The foundation of improv lies in the “Yes, and…” principle, which encourages performers to accept and build on their partners’ ideas.
• Skills such as active listening, authenticity, and full commitment are essential for creating successful and believable improv scenes.
• Momplaisir’s dual experience in scripted television and live improv performance highlights how structure and spontaneity can coexist in creative storytelling.

Edgar Momplaisir is a Los Angeles-based writer, performer, and producer recognized for his work in television and comedy. Over the past decade, Edgar Momplaisir has written for a range of shows across Fox, Paramount Plus, Netflix, ABC, and Comedy Central. As both a television writer and an active improviser at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB), he brings a unique perspective to the world of improv comedy.

His career spans writing for acclaimed productions such as Blackish, Star Trek: Lower Decks, and Everybody Still Hates Chris, while also performing regularly with UCB teams. Momplaisir’s experience in both scripted and improvisational formats highlights his understanding of collaboration, timing, and creative spontaneity that defines the essence of improv comedy.

A Look at Improv Comedy

Improv, or improvisational comedy, is live performance art where performers generate dialogue, scenes, and characters without scripts. Performers create content on the spot, often using audience suggestions or basic prompts as a starting point. They then use specific techniques to develop narratives as performances progress. Improv operates under distinct principles compared to other comedy formats and demands particular skills for successful execution.

Stand-up comedy often features solo performer who delivers prepared jokes or stories. Comedians may interact with audiences but rely on prewritten content as their foundation. In sketch comedy, writers craft scripts in advance, performers rehearse scenes, and productions aim for polish through repetition. By contrast, improv is unscripted and depends on collaboration. Performers draw from audience input to build scenarios and humor in the moment.

Improvised performance traces to ancient Rome, where performers staged sketches called Atellan farces without scripts. During the Italian Renaissance (16th-18th centuries), performers made improvisation central to their theatrical work. Modern improv emerged in the mid-20th century. Educator Viola Spolin created theater games in Chicago, forming the foundation of improvisational training.

Spolin’s collaborators established the Compass Players in 1955 at the University of Chicago; historians recognize this as the first authentic improv theater. Notable improv theaters subsequently developed in Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles. Publications like Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre appeared around 1979, introducing structured methods that positioned improv as training discipline and a performance art.

Modern improv exists in either short or long form. Performers build short-form improv around quick, self-contained scenes. They take prompts from the audience and follow simple rules to spark rapid, playful exchanges. Long-form improv creates extended, interconnected scenes that may span an entire show. A single audience suggestion can generate recurring characters, callbacks, and storylines that develop throughout the performance. The Harold, developed in Chicago, is one of the most recognized improv structures. In this format, separate scenes connect in unexpected ways as the performance progresses.

Success in improv depends on following various principles. The “Yes, and…” rule is fundamental. It requires performers to accept whatever scene, character, or idea another improviser introduces after the audience provides a suggestion. The performer treats a partner’s contribution as real within the scene’s world before moving to the “and” portion, which adds a new element (details, action, or a shift) that pushes the scene forward or enriches the story.

Since performers build on each other’s contributions, active listening matters a lot. When performer fails to listen, they miss key details and risk disrupting the scene’s flow. Listening well ensures that performers respond to what their partners actually say and do rather than push preconceived ideas. Performances feel sharp and cohesive when improvisers recall and incorporate earlier details. Active listening also allows performers to take risks with confidence while building upon their partners’ contributions.

Authenticity is very important in improvisational comedy. Audiences detect when performers force humor. A natural, honest reaction (e.g., confusion, delight, or surprise) generates laughter because it rings true. This honesty pulls audiences in and often produces the strongest responses, as people see themselves reflected in these moments. Connection also depends on relatability. When performers ground comedy in authentic emotion or familiar human behavior, it strikes a deeper chord with audiences.

Full commitment separates strong improv from weak performances. Hesitation or visible uncertainty will transfer to the audience and create discomfort. On the other hand, when performers commit fully to a character, a decision, or an outlandish situation, they project confidence and bring the audience along. A joke that lacks inherent strength can still succeed when a performer delivers it with total conviction and intensity.

About Edgar Momplaisir

Edgar Momplaisir is a television writer, comedian, and performer based in Los Angeles. He has written for major networks including Fox, Netflix, ABC, Paramount Plus, and Comedy Central. A regular performer at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, he has appeared in shows such as Asssscat and with the LeRoy team. Momplaisir has held roles ranging from staff writer on Dear White People and What Just Happened?!?! to producer on Star Trek: Lower Decks and Everybody Still Hates Chris. Outside of television, he remains active in the improv community and is an avid sports fan.

FAQs

Who is Edgar Momplaisir?

Edgar Momplaisir is a television writer, comedian, and performer based in Los Angeles. He has written for shows on networks such as Netflix, Fox, ABC, and Comedy Central and performs regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

What is improv comedy?

Improv comedy is a live performance style where actors create dialogue, scenes, and characters spontaneously without a script, often inspired by audience suggestions.

What makes improv different from stand-up or sketch comedy?

Unlike stand-up or sketch comedy, which rely on prewritten material, improv is unscripted and thrives on collaboration and quick, creative reactions between performers.

What are the key principles of improv?

The main principles of improv include “Yes, and…,” active listening, authenticity, and full commitment – all of which build trust and keep scenes engaging and cohesive.

What TV shows has Edgar Momplaisir worked on?

Momplaisir has written and produced for acclaimed series such as Blackish, Star Trek: Lower Decks, Dear White People, and Everybody Still Hates Chris.