THE CAST

Jim Becker

Jim Becker followed the tradition of many cheeses and cheese byproducts by originating in Philadelphia. Similar to cheese, Jim has aspirations of improving with age. Thus far, he smells like old cheese on occasions. Baby steps.

Jim has a college degree. It seemed like something to do. He attended an art college without ever developing the ability to draw, graduated with a B.A. in video, and to this day, can't program his VCR. His favorite wired appliance at home is an old-fashioned detonator. True story.

Jim's performance anxiety stems from a deep-rooted insecurity and fear of overgrown radishes. Especially if the radishes are sentient and possess teeth or knives. Jim believes that if you're not afraid of a giant radish brandishing a scimitar, perhaps you should be the one seeing a shrink.

Jim has performed in community theater productions of Harvey and Promises, Promises (the musical version of Neil Simon's The Apartment). He joined improv groups outside Philly and inside Nashville, performing with the Electric Pickle Players, then with the Pudding since it's inception. He has written, directed, and toured drama sketches throughout the southeast. He has worked with H.U.D. and if you watch waaaay too much cable, you might see him wearing 80's tie-dye and singing in Under Our Skin, a production he did in high school. He has also written ten full length movie scripts and eventually hopes to get one produced.

Jim loves a good cheesesteak. Sadly, he can't find any down south, so he also loves a barbecued steak, medium-rare. Prep it with a side of blue cheese mashed potatoes and broccoli smothered with cheese. Chocolate cheesecake for dessert, and Jim's one fat happy camper.

Musically, Jim has eclectic tastes. He's seen live shows by a-ha, Trout Fishing in America (thrice), DeGarmo & Key (twice), Pink Floyd, They Might Be Giants (3), Public Image Limited, D.C. Talk, Barenaked Ladies (5) and Carman (having walked out after one song). He has CDs by Wang Chung, Men at Work and Information Society and he actually listens to them. If you're looking for bad 80's pop info, Jim's an inexhaustible source. If you're looking for consistently good music, look somewhere else.

Jim's first car was a 1977 AMC Matador. For those of you unfamiliar with the Matador, take a Cadillac and add four feet to both ends. The back seat was at least six feet wide. He killed it in three months by not changing the oil. Stupid dummy light. His next car was a Buick, which proved to have fantastic acoustics when he beat on it with a softball bat. He has extensive experience with lemons and even more experience mooching rides from friends.

Jim's ideal woman is Leslie. Coincidentally, she married him.

ONE LINERS:

1. If you're not willing to take a flying leap, you don't deserve any whoopee! (taken from an actual Pudding gig)
2. Rotation is what makes the world go around.
3. Feathers aren't nearly as much fun now as when I was a kid. Except green ones. They still rock.
4. "Wooder"
5. Pep club. Glee club. Thanks, pass. I can't recall ever desiring to be peppy or gleeful.
6. If you could somehow kiss a frog in your throat, would you sing like Prince?
7. True: The only thing I registered for in my wedding registry was tapioca pudding.
8. Why can something be highly underrated but not lowly overrated?
9. I used a paper clip to hold cardboard together. I'm a rebel that way.
10. We need more holidays where you can knock on strangers' doors and get free candy.