This is an updated version of a story first published on Feb. 1, 2026.
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This → update → Feb.
The original video can be viewed here.
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video → view → ?
The TV sitcom is going by way of the canned laugh track, while the president tries to heckle late-night comedians out of jobs.
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president → go → jobs
But as we reported earlier this year, funny persists.
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funny → report → ?
And funny travels internationally.
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funny → travel → ?
In the early '90s, two opportunistic comics decided to open an English language improv joint in… Amsterdam?
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comics → decide → Amsterdam
It sounded less like a winning business idea than a punchline given the Netherlands' reputation as a comic, well, Netherland.
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It → sound → Netherland
But 30-plus-years later, their club, Boom Chicago, has imported American funny folk and then exported them back as future stars – including Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, and Jason Sudeikis.
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club → import → Meyers
Could it be that America's ultimate laugh factory is an improv theater positioned near an Amsterdam canal?
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factory → position → canal
Yes, and…
Simon Lukacs: The Bush days seem quite good now in retrospect, don't they?
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they → seem → retrospect
Oh, I know.
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I → know → ?
Comedy, they say, is hard.
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they → say → ?
Jon Wertheim: I was gonna ask you about that.
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I → go → that
Dutch people laugh like this.
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people → laugh → this
And they immediately get quiet.
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they → get → ?
Seth Meyers needs no introduction.
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Meyers → need → introduction
He and Peter Grosz — actor and Emmy-winning comedy writer — were college pals who then developed their comic chops in… Amsterdam?
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who → win → Amsterdam
They so lovingly tell you they didn't like things.
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they → tell → things
I've never been in a place where there's less malice behind deeply cruel--
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I → be → place
"I'm doing you a favor.
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I → do → favor
I did laugh a little bit at that part, so do more of that."
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I → laugh → that
No but we came out and the guy was like, "Hey.
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guy → come → ?
Can I buy you a drink?"
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I → buy → drink
Did you see the show?"
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you → see → show
He goes, "Yes, I did."
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I → go → ?
And I said-- "Did you like it?"
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you → said-- → it
He goes, "No, I did not care for it."
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I → go → it
And I was just-- and I go, "Why are you buying me a drink then?"
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you → go → drink
He goes, "Well, maybe I will like you."
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I → go → you
You're not performing a pre-written routine; you're working in real-time.
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you → perform → time
What's something you have at home that you care about?
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you → have → that
Deshawn Mason (on stage): I heard – I heard a watch right here.
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I → hear → watch
You're relying on the audience for material and direction.
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You → rely → material
Boom cast member 1 (on stage, singing): I got a watch on my wrist, it looks so fine.
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it → sing → wrist
Kate Nixon (on stage): It helps me when I don't know what's the time.
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what → help → me
Chicago has Second City.
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Chicago → have → City
LA has the Groundlings and New York has Upright Citizens' Brigade.
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York → have → Brigade
Last summer, hundreds gathered outside a charming Dutch theater, which stands as a national treasure of sorts, though it's unclear if the true benefitting nation is the Netherlands or the U.S.
Jon Wertheim
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nation → gather → sorts
and Andrew Moskos, recent Northwestern grads, are struggling to make it in the Chicago comedy scene.
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Moskos → struggle → scene
Do I even ask what drew you to Amsterdam when you were-- in your early 20s and--
Andrew Moskos: Oh gosh--
Jon Wertheim: --fresh outta college?
Andrew Moskos:
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you → ask → college
…and 92 more, not listed.
The Aporia
