Top Story Weekly

Last year Top Story! Weekly was fortunate enough to be selected as the Best Scripted Show in iO West’s Del Close Awards for the second year in a row. The 2011 nominations were announced last week, and Top Story! Weekly was thrilled to once again receive a nomination as Best Scripted Show!

We also picked up a second nomination when our cast member Matt Moore got a nod for Best Portrayal of an Object for his amazing work in two scenes in our February 20 show as Watson, the Jeopardy Playing Computer!

Here he is in “What Is Robotic Domination?” by Phil Ranta, also starring Christopher Biewer (Ken Jennings), Sean Cowhig (Brad Rutter), Jimmy Guidish (Gary) and Kipleigh Brown (Ellen):

And here Matt reprises his role in in “Oscar Computer” by Andrew Payne, also starring Phillip Wilburn and Artemis Pebdani:

If you’d like to vote, and you’re a student or alumnus/a of iO West, just head over to the Del Close Awards website and cast your ballot!

We’re very excited that so many of our cast members, writers, guest stars and colleagues received votes in other categories! Here’s our cast member Damien Fahey announcing the awards with Grasie Mercedes:

Congratulations to everyone affiliated with our show who got recognized:

The Jon Crowley Excellence in Bartending Award: Our cast members Brian O’Connell and Tommy Bechtold, and our Sunday night bartender Molly Prather

Best Waitstaff: Our Sunday night server Vanessa Ramos (who did an awesome set in our show last year, posted right below) and also Rebecca Stevens, who’s guested with us.:

Hardest Working Intern: Our amazing house manager Filup Molina

The Herb Koss Most Supportive Audience Member Award: Our writer Faryl Saliman Reingold

Best Del Close Theater Show: Triggerfinger, with our cast member Damien Fahey and our writer Stacy Rumaker, and Danger Snack, also with Stacy

The Dasariski Best Improvised Non-Harold Show: Dr. God, with our cast members Sean Cowhig, Neil Garguilo and Brian O’Connell

The Nick Armstrong Sexiest Player Award: Sean Cowhig and last year’s winner Tommy Bechtold! If you’d like to check out the sexiness, watch this sexy, sexy video, “Sean Cowhig: Man’s Man”:

Coach of the Year: Cast member Brian O’Connell

Best Harold Team: Trophy Wife, featuring cast members Rachael Drummond and John Abbott

And check out some photos of us at 2009’s ceremony here and here!

INTERVENTION by Andy Harris

Starring Andy Harris (Chris Matthews), Rachael Drummond (Katie Couric), Suzanne Sena (Meredith Vieira), Gregg Lopez (Matt Lauer), Damien Fahey (Damien Fahey) and Phillip Wilburn (Larry King/Glenn Beck)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

REGIS AND KELLY AND BETTY AND LINDSAY by Erich Eilenberger and Phillip Wilburn

Starring Suzanne Sena (Kelly Ripa), Phillip Wilburn (Regis Philbin), Kipleigh Brown (Betty White), Rachael Drummond (Lindsay Lohan) and Andy Harris (Michael Gelman)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

LONG ISLAND KILLUH by Andrew Payne

Starring Rachael Drummond (Rhonda), Kipleigh Brown (Sally) and Tillery Johnson (Killer)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

TEQUILA SUNRISE by Bennie Arthur

Starring Rachael Drummond (Mother), Phillip Wilburn (Father), Tommy Bechtold (Baby’s Voice) and Tillery Johnson (Baby Wrangler)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

ALL MY CANCELLED LIVES TO LIVE by Jim Harmon

Starring Andy Harris (Brian Frons), Tillery Johnson (Assistant), Suzanne Sena (Susan Lucci), Phillip Wilburn (Walt Willey), Rachael Drummond (Erika Slezak) and Jimmy Guidish (Robert S. Woods)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

REENACTMENT by John McNamee

Starring Damien Fahey (Union Officer), Jimmy Guidish (Confederate Solider), Tommy Bechtold (Narrator), Rachael Drummond (Darcy), Gregg Lopez (Reggie) and Andy Harris (Abraham Lincoln)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

THE TOP STORY! WEEKLY REPORT for Sunday, April 17, 2011

Starring Damien Fahey (Anchor), Kipleigh Brown (Anchor), Tommy Bechtold (Ricky Gervais), Gregg Lopez (Dick Cheney), Andy Harris (Conspiracy Theorist), Tillery Johnson (Haley Joel Osment), Rachael Drummond (SeenOn.com Spokesperson) and Jimmy Guidish (Joe Biden)

Directed by Kristina Adelmeyer

Last year Top Story! Weekly was fortunate enough to be selected as the Best Scripted Show in the 2009 Del Close Awards. Nominations for iO West’s Del Close Awards came out over the weekend, and Top Story! Weekly was thrilled to once again receive a nomination as Best Scripted Show! Here’s our cast member Sean Cowhig announcing the awards with Maggy Keegan:

In addition, we’re very excited that so many of our cast members, writers, guest stars and colleagues received votes in other categories!

The Jon Crowley Excellence in Bartending Award: Our cast member Brian O’Connell, our Sunday night bartender Molly Prather, and our guest star Nick Bush

Best Waitstaff: Our Sunday night server Vanessa Ramos (who just did an awesome set in our show!):

Also, Rebecca Stevens, who’s guested with us, and Eliana Horeczko, who’s written for us.

Hardest Working Intern: Our former house manger Lauren Miller

Best Andy Dick Black Box Theater Show: Upstate, with our cast member Tommy Bechtold

Best Loft Show: Cuban B’s Improv Fiesta with our writer and guest cast member Andy Harris

The Nick Armstrong Sexiest Player Award: You want a sexy show? Three of the five nominees for Sexiest Player are in our cast: Matt Moore, Sean Cowhig and Tommy Bechtold!

If you’d like to check out the sexiness, watch the hot Moore-on-Cowhig action in this scene from our Matthew Gray Gubler show (Sean and Matt enter around 3:00, and the sexy action starts around 4:00):

And there’s more Sean and Matt sexiness, including a striptease and some Moore-on-Garguilo action, at the beginning of this show:

Best Line: “I’m ladling water on his tail because he’s a merman,” cast member/director Mike Hughes, Those Who Oppose Us Will Stand Knee Deep in the Blood of Their Children

Coach of the Year: Cast member Brian O’Connell

Student of the Year: Our house manager Tiffani Mills

Teacher of the Year: Guest Star Aaron Krebs

Best Harold Team: Trophy Wife, featuring cast members Rachael Drummond and John Abbott and guest star Mike Coen

If you’d like to vote, and you’re a student or alumnus/a of iO West, just head over to the Del Close Awards website and cast your ballot!

And check out some photos of us at last year’s ceremony here and here!

Ryan Seacrest’s stalker Chidi Uzomah Jr. faces the judges who will sentence him…judges named Randy, Ellen, Kara and Simon!

To see all the sketches from Top Story! Weekly as soon as they’re posted, subscribe to our YouTube channel!

AMERICAN STALKER by Julia Bellows and Colin Contreary - from Top Story! Weekly Episode 58: “(61) Days of Oil”

Starring Matt Moore (Ryan Seacrest), Derek Reid (Chidi Uzomah Jr.), Artemis Pebdani (Kara DioGuardi), Brent Pope (Randy Jackson), Rachael Drummond (Ellen DeGeneres) and Phillip Wilburn (Simon Cowell)

Directed by Michael Hughes