Nichols and May

Start with: An Evening with Mike Nichols and Elaine May (1960 album) The duo that moved comedy from jokes to scenes. Mike Nichols and Elaine May met at the University of Chicago and began at the Compass Players, the forerunner of Second City, building improvised two-handers about telephone operators, disc jockeys, adultery, and mothers and sons. Neither was the straight man: each could lead, follow or turn the scene, which is why their sketches feel like eavesdropping rather than a routine. The album recorded from their Broadway debut won the Grammy for best comedy performance. The act lasted only until 1961, and both went on to celebrated careers as directors and writers, but these recordings still sound startlingly modern.