UPDATED: Dallas Comedy House premiering improvised ‘80s-style sitcom “Buddies!”

by Mike Orren

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Everything down to canned laughter, applause signs and guest cameos -- with an Improv twist.

DEEP ELLUM — UPDATE: Season Two premieres Friday, October 8, with the improvised hilarity moving from an Uptown apartment to a funky house in Oak Cliff. Here's a preview:

From the time I started taking improv classes at Dallas Comedy House, I picked up that a number of the experienced improvisers were big fans of late '80s / early '90s sitcoms -- the constant mix of theme songs between classes was a good clue.

Now, it seems, they're turning their fandom into an improvised homage as Buddies! runs weekly on Friday nights in May. You can get an idea of the vibe from the opening credits video:

It's an improvised sitcom performed weekly before a live studio audience. Every Friday, Kyle Austin, Cody Dearing, Landon Kirksey, and Tim Yager will improvise an entirely new episode based on an audience suggestion of "the one where...". Complete with applause sign, canned laughter, and even some special guest cameos, Buddies! seeks to honor the spirit of your favorite sitcoms from the '80s and '90s.

When asked about the show's conception, Dearing said: "This type of long form improv show is much more common in Chicago, New York, even Austin ... but here in Dallas there is nothing like it. I am excited to be part of the Dallas Comedy House's efforts to bring this new style of improv to DFW. A lot of people in the metroplex probably aren't even aware that anything like this exists. However, I think that once people find out about it, they are going to demand more of it ... you want it? You got it, dude."

I've seen these guys perform, and I'm sure this is going to be a riot.