Ep 3. Dream Job

Middleditch & Schwartz is a comedy improv series consisting of three hour-long episodes featuring comedian pals Thomas Middleditch and Ben Schwartz. The show is set up as an unscripted theater performance with the two comedians creating various sketches on the spot based on audience suggestions and running gags, all while wearing suits and standing on a bare stage with just two chairs.

Episode 3 of Middleditch & Schwartz is called "Dream Job". The episode starts with Thomas and Ben talking about their first jobs, which were far from dreams. They then ask for a volunteer from the audience to share their dream job, which happens to be an oncologist. The two take this job and imagine various sketches based on this idea.

Throughout the episode, the two comedians improvise various sketches that present potential scenarios of a bad day for an oncologist working at a hospital. They create imaginary patients that present different complications, and the duo enacts a range of characters including the patients, nurses, doctors, and even family members that come visit the hospital.

The show takes on a more serious tone, as the comedians attempt to illustrate the harsh reality of a job that deals with life and death. They add a few elements of humor, but the importance of this dream job is the main focus throughout the episode.

At one point in the show, Thomas and Ben play two colleagues, who are discussing the high-stress level of their jobs. They argue about which job is tougher, with one of them complaining about how hard it is to deal with people coming in and out of their office all the time, asking for medical advice, and expecting miraculous solutions.

The two actors also imagine a world where oncologists’ abilities allow them to fight cancerlike superheroes. Thomas creates an ongoing character called the “Oncologist”, who has a fictional origin story and comes to life during the sketches. The idea behind this character is that they have the ability to cure cancer with a superhero-like intervention. The comedians take the opportunity to poke fun at some of the well-known superhero tropes.

As the episode comes to a close, the comedians return to their bad day at the hospital theme, and take suggestions from the audience, asking them to share their worst day at work experiences. They then bring these stories to life through their innovative and hilarious improvisation.

Throughout the episode, Middleditch & Schwartz highlight the importance of showing empathy to people who work in high-stress jobs, such as oncologists. The comedians successfully blend comedy and serious subject matter in a way that resonates with the audience.

In summary, "Dream Job" is a heartfelt episode of Middleditch & Schwartz that offers some insight into the reality of working in medicine, while still managing to keep the audience entertained with excellent improvisation. The comedians demonstrate their ability to incorporate relatable topics with humor to create an engaging and memorable episode.