JRC
07-18-2007, 05:16 PM
Ten Questions With... Cheetarah!
Not only is the improv group Cheetarah McNutt one of the longest running independent teams in Chicago, the group was a lively presence at the first VH1 World Series of Pop Culture and for the 2007 edition, the three contestants were correspondents for the show and interviewed the competing teams. Erin Davidson, Amber Tillett, and Kat Gotsick are three of my favorite people in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Chicago</st1></st1:city>and it was my pleasure to pepper them with questions.
<o></o><o></o>
How did the group Cheetarah come to be?
<o></o>
KAT: Erin D. put us together for a cage match team back in August of 2000, I think. It was all the girls from Placebo Effect and Jihahad (although Julia Wolfe never actually played) and Colleen Murray and Allison Bills. We went on to defend our title for eight weeks in a row and we still play frequently at the Playground.
<o></o>
Who came up with the name?
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Julie, Colleen and my roommate at the time, had a student whose brother named her Cheetarah when she was born. We thought she must be pretty tough to deal with such a stigma. Back in the day I would open all of our Cagematch show will some droll speech and then end with all of us saying 'Everyone has a Stigma. Everyone has something that makes them different. What's your Stigma'. That is how we got our suggestion. It's funny now watching the young lady improvisers who are filled with the same ballsy attitude that we had... still have?
<o></o>
You guys were so full of energy during the 2006 World Series of Pop Culture. Is that a natural state or were you guys coached for the show?
<o></o>
AMBER: We are naturally off the hook, but they loved that about us and nurtured it.
<o></o>
KAT: Just ask anyone who has ever played softball or board games with us. We are flaming beacons of shrillness wherever we go. There was no coaching, except that they told us not to inhibit ourselves on camera. Which we didn't. There is actually soooooo much fun banter between Amber and PK that never made it to air. The world is a lesser place for missing out on it.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Come on Dr. Chin, you've known us for at least 8 years. When the three of us are together, let alone together on stage, forget it. It's interesting to watch this season because a lot more teams are like we were last year, meaning they are having more fun.
<o>
</o><o></o>
What was the hardest question you faced?
<o></o>
AMBER: My Cousin Vinny, since I'd never seen the movie I had no clue. Besides that question, the hardest were the ones I heard from the sidelines that I knew and watched others struggle with.
<o></o>
KAT: I went out for good when I couldn't identify a rapper (Ice Cube) from an "it was a good day" lyric. That was where the "Is it Coolio?" clip that ran in promos came from. That was my third question out of three - the other two rappers I had to identify were LL Cool J (from a mama said knock you out lyric) and Young MC (from a Bust a Move lyric) - and I was actually incredibly lucky to have gotten that far. I know NOTHING about hip hop unless it's totally cheesy and mainstream. I was burning a hole in PK's forehead trying to telepathically will him to give me some Fresh Prince.
The tiebreaker I went out on in our first match (Nicolas Cage Movies since Leaving Las Vegas) haunts me to this day. The tie breakers are meant to freeze your brain, and this one totally froze mine to the point where I couldn't come up with Gone in 60 Secondsor National Treasure. I still hate thinking about that one.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Mine was the one I got wrong, which was about Bosom Buddies. I studied everything else about that freaking show and forgot to glance even one time at their girl names. Boo Davidson. [Tom Hank’s character Kip was called “Buffy” when in drag, and Peter Scolari’s Henry was called “Hildegarde.”- jrc]
<o>
</o><o></o>
The host, Pat Keirnan seems cool. Is he?
<o></o>
AMBER: Too cool for words. He spent a lot of time hanging with us in our dressing room getting sexually harassed. He was asking for it.
<o></o>
KAT: Yes! He's very low key and gives off a kind of Tom Brokaw vibe. Our dressing room was right next to his and he often came over and hung out, although I think he was kind of lost among all of the uninhibited type A estrogen flowing so freely in the room.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: He's such a nice, genuine guy. I think of him as the Chuck Woolery of our time, and I love me some Chuck Woolery.
<o>
</o><o></o>
How did you guys get picked to be the “correspondents” for the 2007 series?
<o></o>
AMBER: It was a dream of ours, but the producers called us and asked us to do it. They liked our outgoing craziness and thought we'd be good thinking on our feet.
<o></o>
KAT: I think that love us or hate us, we were just plain memorable in 2006. I hope the same can be said about 2007 to the point where they need us back again next year!
<st1>Erin</st1>: I called someone a Tiger, Amber insulted Tim Burton and my mother is upset that I made Wocka Wocka team member Rachel Cahill (who is (Deep Schwa member)Tim Mason's cousin by the way) say "balls" on TV, so hopefully there's already some controversy.
<o></o>
How did you get the gig as correspondents?
<st1>ERIN</st1>: We got an e-mail from one of the producers in January telling us they're interested in having us back, something we had been dreaming about since we lost last year. We auditioned by interviewing teams that didn't make it past the written exam at Chicago Regionals in February, which was really fun. Then we got the call that we were in.
<o>
</o><o></o>
Besides your own, what team had the best name?
<o></o>
AMBER: Last year it was Peanut Butter and Ginelli. This year it was Westerburg High.
<o></o>
KAT: Had to be Lazer Wolves last year. Because what's cooler than a wolf with lazers coming out of his eyes? I also love Jammin On The 1 from this year. Such a cool, smart, obscure reference. I hope it comes back into the collective vernacular as a result of their participation in the show.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: For this year? I like <st1><st1>Carlton</st1> <st1>Banks</st1> <st1>Dance</st1> <st1>Academy</st1></st1> and Three Men and a Little Lazy. And not just because they're from Chicago and we're all friends now.
<o>
</o><o></o>
How long were you in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1>New York</st1> w</st1:state>ith the World Series of Pop Culture 2007?
<o></o>
AMBER: One glorious week.
<o></o>
KAT: Five days - I blogged about it on myspace – feel free to pass on the link. http://www.myspace.com/katgotsick
<o>
</o><o></o>
For 2008, would you rather compete or do the interviews? What about hosting?
<o></o>
AMBER: Never wanna compete again. Interviewing was such a better time. Plus, we got paid!
<o></o>
KAT: We can't compete. Since we were paid for the season 2 gig, we're technically employees of Embassy Row Productions. We also can't compete on “Who WantsTo Be a Millionaire”, another Michael Davies / Embassy Row show. I'm not sure I would deign to fill PK's big shoes on the WSOPC, although I'm totally whore enough to do it they asked us. The truth is I'd want to host a show of our own!! Our makeup girl in NYC told us we should have our own talk show. I would love that, except I wouldn't want any guests.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: I would rather not compete again. I got shingles from competing last year. Interviewing was so great and I'd love to do it again. I don't think any of us can usurp Pat's crown, but it'd be fun!
<o>
</o><o></o>
Please name all the other Thundercats.
<o></o>
AMBER: Besides Cheetara, there was Lion-O, Panthro, Snarf, from the Valley of Snarfs, who was Lion-O's nursemaid, Wiley Kit and Wiley Kat, Tigra, and Mumra (he was not a TC, I know). I did not look one bit of that up. How did I do?
<o></o>
KAT: Lion-O, Panthra, Bobcat Goldthwait, John Cougar Mellencamp and Schmoopie. Wow. Thank goodness we didn't get any Thundercat questions. I honestly don't know a thing about them.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Didn't you see my answer to #9? Are you trying to kill me?
See the wonderful ladies of Cheetarah on VH1's World Series of Pop Culture currently airing. Check your local listings.
<o>
</o>
Not only is the improv group Cheetarah McNutt one of the longest running independent teams in Chicago, the group was a lively presence at the first VH1 World Series of Pop Culture and for the 2007 edition, the three contestants were correspondents for the show and interviewed the competing teams. Erin Davidson, Amber Tillett, and Kat Gotsick are three of my favorite people in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1>Chicago</st1></st1:city>and it was my pleasure to pepper them with questions.
<o></o><o></o>
How did the group Cheetarah come to be?
<o></o>
KAT: Erin D. put us together for a cage match team back in August of 2000, I think. It was all the girls from Placebo Effect and Jihahad (although Julia Wolfe never actually played) and Colleen Murray and Allison Bills. We went on to defend our title for eight weeks in a row and we still play frequently at the Playground.
<o></o>
Who came up with the name?
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Julie, Colleen and my roommate at the time, had a student whose brother named her Cheetarah when she was born. We thought she must be pretty tough to deal with such a stigma. Back in the day I would open all of our Cagematch show will some droll speech and then end with all of us saying 'Everyone has a Stigma. Everyone has something that makes them different. What's your Stigma'. That is how we got our suggestion. It's funny now watching the young lady improvisers who are filled with the same ballsy attitude that we had... still have?
<o></o>
You guys were so full of energy during the 2006 World Series of Pop Culture. Is that a natural state or were you guys coached for the show?
<o></o>
AMBER: We are naturally off the hook, but they loved that about us and nurtured it.
<o></o>
KAT: Just ask anyone who has ever played softball or board games with us. We are flaming beacons of shrillness wherever we go. There was no coaching, except that they told us not to inhibit ourselves on camera. Which we didn't. There is actually soooooo much fun banter between Amber and PK that never made it to air. The world is a lesser place for missing out on it.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Come on Dr. Chin, you've known us for at least 8 years. When the three of us are together, let alone together on stage, forget it. It's interesting to watch this season because a lot more teams are like we were last year, meaning they are having more fun.
<o>
</o><o></o>
What was the hardest question you faced?
<o></o>
AMBER: My Cousin Vinny, since I'd never seen the movie I had no clue. Besides that question, the hardest were the ones I heard from the sidelines that I knew and watched others struggle with.
<o></o>
KAT: I went out for good when I couldn't identify a rapper (Ice Cube) from an "it was a good day" lyric. That was where the "Is it Coolio?" clip that ran in promos came from. That was my third question out of three - the other two rappers I had to identify were LL Cool J (from a mama said knock you out lyric) and Young MC (from a Bust a Move lyric) - and I was actually incredibly lucky to have gotten that far. I know NOTHING about hip hop unless it's totally cheesy and mainstream. I was burning a hole in PK's forehead trying to telepathically will him to give me some Fresh Prince.
The tiebreaker I went out on in our first match (Nicolas Cage Movies since Leaving Las Vegas) haunts me to this day. The tie breakers are meant to freeze your brain, and this one totally froze mine to the point where I couldn't come up with Gone in 60 Secondsor National Treasure. I still hate thinking about that one.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Mine was the one I got wrong, which was about Bosom Buddies. I studied everything else about that freaking show and forgot to glance even one time at their girl names. Boo Davidson. [Tom Hank’s character Kip was called “Buffy” when in drag, and Peter Scolari’s Henry was called “Hildegarde.”- jrc]
<o>
</o><o></o>
The host, Pat Keirnan seems cool. Is he?
<o></o>
AMBER: Too cool for words. He spent a lot of time hanging with us in our dressing room getting sexually harassed. He was asking for it.
<o></o>
KAT: Yes! He's very low key and gives off a kind of Tom Brokaw vibe. Our dressing room was right next to his and he often came over and hung out, although I think he was kind of lost among all of the uninhibited type A estrogen flowing so freely in the room.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: He's such a nice, genuine guy. I think of him as the Chuck Woolery of our time, and I love me some Chuck Woolery.
<o>
</o><o></o>
How did you guys get picked to be the “correspondents” for the 2007 series?
<o></o>
AMBER: It was a dream of ours, but the producers called us and asked us to do it. They liked our outgoing craziness and thought we'd be good thinking on our feet.
<o></o>
KAT: I think that love us or hate us, we were just plain memorable in 2006. I hope the same can be said about 2007 to the point where they need us back again next year!
<st1>Erin</st1>: I called someone a Tiger, Amber insulted Tim Burton and my mother is upset that I made Wocka Wocka team member Rachel Cahill (who is (Deep Schwa member)Tim Mason's cousin by the way) say "balls" on TV, so hopefully there's already some controversy.
<o></o>
How did you get the gig as correspondents?
<st1>ERIN</st1>: We got an e-mail from one of the producers in January telling us they're interested in having us back, something we had been dreaming about since we lost last year. We auditioned by interviewing teams that didn't make it past the written exam at Chicago Regionals in February, which was really fun. Then we got the call that we were in.
<o>
</o><o></o>
Besides your own, what team had the best name?
<o></o>
AMBER: Last year it was Peanut Butter and Ginelli. This year it was Westerburg High.
<o></o>
KAT: Had to be Lazer Wolves last year. Because what's cooler than a wolf with lazers coming out of his eyes? I also love Jammin On The 1 from this year. Such a cool, smart, obscure reference. I hope it comes back into the collective vernacular as a result of their participation in the show.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: For this year? I like <st1><st1>Carlton</st1> <st1>Banks</st1> <st1>Dance</st1> <st1>Academy</st1></st1> and Three Men and a Little Lazy. And not just because they're from Chicago and we're all friends now.
<o>
</o><o></o>
How long were you in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1>New York</st1> w</st1:state>ith the World Series of Pop Culture 2007?
<o></o>
AMBER: One glorious week.
<o></o>
KAT: Five days - I blogged about it on myspace – feel free to pass on the link. http://www.myspace.com/katgotsick
<o>
</o><o></o>
For 2008, would you rather compete or do the interviews? What about hosting?
<o></o>
AMBER: Never wanna compete again. Interviewing was such a better time. Plus, we got paid!
<o></o>
KAT: We can't compete. Since we were paid for the season 2 gig, we're technically employees of Embassy Row Productions. We also can't compete on “Who WantsTo Be a Millionaire”, another Michael Davies / Embassy Row show. I'm not sure I would deign to fill PK's big shoes on the WSOPC, although I'm totally whore enough to do it they asked us. The truth is I'd want to host a show of our own!! Our makeup girl in NYC told us we should have our own talk show. I would love that, except I wouldn't want any guests.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: I would rather not compete again. I got shingles from competing last year. Interviewing was so great and I'd love to do it again. I don't think any of us can usurp Pat's crown, but it'd be fun!
<o>
</o><o></o>
Please name all the other Thundercats.
<o></o>
AMBER: Besides Cheetara, there was Lion-O, Panthro, Snarf, from the Valley of Snarfs, who was Lion-O's nursemaid, Wiley Kit and Wiley Kat, Tigra, and Mumra (he was not a TC, I know). I did not look one bit of that up. How did I do?
<o></o>
KAT: Lion-O, Panthra, Bobcat Goldthwait, John Cougar Mellencamp and Schmoopie. Wow. Thank goodness we didn't get any Thundercat questions. I honestly don't know a thing about them.
<o></o>
<st1>ERIN</st1>: Didn't you see my answer to #9? Are you trying to kill me?
See the wonderful ladies of Cheetarah on VH1's World Series of Pop Culture currently airing. Check your local listings.
<o>
</o>