Favreau admitted on “Smartless” that he’s always enjoyed improvisation and acting, saying it was a low-stress gig:
“I like that there’s no pressure on me, so it’s like school plays, and it’s just a fun time for me. The improvement is great, because when people stand up in line. , it’s the most fun, like when you can stand on the stage and get out of there, but I never thought of that as an option.”
After his collision and disillusionment with Bear Stearns, Favreau talks about moving to Chicago, describing the crowds that drew him there and how he made a living. He also vividly recalls one magical night when he went to see some improvisations at a famous comedy institute in Chicago, and the game they played with him. Favreau was the one to give the prompt, and the comedy troupe would carry it out. In his words:
“That’s when I see people improvising in Chicago. I have a friend who’s taking classes at iO and at Second City, and I said, this is the best. I’m in my 20s, I think I was 22 years old at the time. I already knew how to make it […] I volunteered to stand on stage, and the first thing I remember is they interviewed me about my day. It’s an iO Improvement game called ‘Dream’ where they interview you about what happened that day, then they improvise in front of you to see what your nightmare would be like on that night, based on your answer.”
Anyone who has ever watched a live improv show is likely familiar with a similar game, but a popular member of “SNL” was on stage with him that night.
