Hobart & Michael
Hobart & Michael is a sketch comedy team comprising J Hobart B and Michael Newman.
History
Hobart & Michael began collaborating in 2003, when the two were roommates at NYU. They both wrote and performed in Professor Top's Old-Timey Radio Hour, a weekly sketch/variety show at the Wings Theatre on Christopher Street. In 2004, they and four other members of the Professor Top team created a sketch comedy group called Trumpet. Trumpet launched two full-length sketch shows before disbanding in 2005.
The first official H&M show was not sketch at all, but a showcase of two 20-minute, mostly solo works. One was written and primarily performed by Hobart, and one by Michael, with each playing smaller roles in one another's pieces. Also appearing in the show (as well as Professor Top and Trumpet) was future Queen of Sharks and Mrs. Estherhouse member, Amanda Peck.
The duo has since performed sketches in a number of variety shows and two of their own workshops. They plan to launch their own hour-long sketch show, I Am the Cute One, in early 2009.
Other Group Overlap
- J Hobart B is a member of the improv groups SidViscous! and Phil & I, and was a member of the now-defunct Conflikt of Interest.
- Michael Newman is a member of the improv group Queen of Sharks and also performed in Naked Boys Improvising and Border Patrol.
- They are both members of the current PIT house ensemble Mrs. Estherhouse.
