Home - CBSNews.com
· collected 2026-09-07 · by Jon Wertheim, Michael H Gavshon
Comedians Seth Meyers and Peter Grosz opened an English-language improv club, Boom Chicago, in Amsterdam in the early 1990s, despite skepticism about its potential success. The club has since launched the careers of several notable American comedians, including Meyers himself, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, and Jason Sudeikis. According to Meyers, the Dutch audience's deadpan reaction to comedy provides a unique challenge for performers. Boom Chicago is mentioned as an example of how international comedy scenes can cross-pollinate and produce future stars.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Seth Meyers, the host of NBC's "Late Night with Seth Meyers," got his start in comedy at an improv theater in Amsterdam called Boom Chicago. In the early 1990s, two American comedians opened Boom Chicago, which was initially seen as a peculiar idea given the Netherlands' reputation for not being funny. However, the club went on to launch the careers of several notable American comedians, including Meyers, Jordan Peele, and Jason Sudeikis. Meyers credits his time at Boom Chicago with providing him with a "road map" to getting hired by "Saturday Night Live." The theater's unique approach to comedy, which involves improvising scenes based on audience suggestions, helped its performers develop skills that could be applied to other forms of comedy.
Written for “US Comedy Trained in Amsterdam” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 2 other(s) covering the same event.
This is an updated version of a story first published on Feb. 1, 2026.
asserted
This → update → Feb.
The original video can be viewed here.
asserted
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.
asserted
president → go → jobs
But as we reported earlier this year, funny persists.
asserted
funny → report → ?
And funny travels internationally.
asserted
funny → travel → ?
In the early '90s, two opportunistic comics decided to open an English language improv joint in… Amsterdam?
asserted
comics → decide → Amsterdam
It sounded less like a winning business idea than a punchline given the Netherlands' reputation as a comic, well, Netherland.
asserted
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.
asserted
club → import → Meyers
Could it be that America's ultimate laugh factory is an improv theater positioned near an Amsterdam canal?
uncertain
factory → position → canal
Yes, and…
Simon Lukacs: The Bush days seem quite good now in retrospect, don't they?
asserted
they → seem → retrospect
Oh, I know.
asserted
I → know → ?
Comedy, they say, is hard.
asserted
they → say → ?
Jon Wertheim: I was gonna ask you about that.
asserted
I → go → that
Dutch people laugh like this.
asserted
people → laugh → this
And they immediately get quiet.
asserted
they → get → ?
Seth Meyers needs no introduction.
asserted
Meyers → need → introduction
He and Peter Grosz — actor and Emmy-winning comedy writer — were college pals who then developed their comic chops in… Amsterdam?
asserted
who → win → Amsterdam
They so lovingly tell you they didn't like things.
asserted
they → tell → things
I've never been in a place where there's less malice behind deeply cruel--
asserted
I → be → place
"I'm doing you a favor.
asserted
I → do → favor
I did laugh a little bit at that part, so do more of that."
asserted
I → laugh → that
No but we came out and the guy was like, "Hey.
asserted
guy → come → ?
Can I buy you a drink?"
asserted
I → buy → drink
Did you see the show?"
asserted
you → see → show
He goes, "Yes, I did."
asserted
I → go → ?
And I said-- "Did you like it?"
asserted
you → said-- → it
He goes, "No, I did not care for it."
asserted
I → go → it
And I was just-- and I go, "Why are you buying me a drink then?"
asserted
you → go → drink
He goes, "Well, maybe I will like you."
asserted
I → go → you
You're not performing a pre-written routine; you're working in real-time.
asserted
you → perform → time
What's something you have at home that you care about?
asserted
you → have → that
Deshawn Mason (on stage): I heard – I heard a watch right here.
asserted
I → hear → watch
You're relying on the audience for material and direction.
asserted
You → rely → material
Boom cast member 1 (on stage, singing): I got a watch on my wrist, it looks so fine.
asserted
it → sing → wrist
Kate Nixon (on stage): It helps me when I don't know what's the time.
asserted
what → help → me
Chicago has Second City.
asserted
Chicago → have → City
LA has the Groundlings and New York has Upright Citizens' Brigade.
asserted
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
uncertain
nation → gather → sorts
and Andrew Moskos, recent Northwestern grads, are struggling to make it in the Chicago comedy scene.
asserted
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:
asserted
you → ask → college
…and 92 more, not listed.
