What Is Justification in Improv? – An act of clarification in scene work when a choice needs to be further contextualized or explained for the benefit of the show.
Below is a short piece on UCB's (Upright Citizens Brigade) approach to the art of justification in short-form improv:

Recently, I came across this video series and loved the rich, thoughtful content. The video below is all about how to play and build an effective strategy around the short-form improv game "Blind Lines," aka "Whose Line," - which we revisited in this past week's class. It's a true crowd-pleaser and will undoubtedly be included in our live show. Watch it from your daily improv push-up!:
And speaking of that hilarious "Whose Line" game - Want more inspiration on how to excel at it? Here's a playlist of that game's greatest hits on the show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" – Put your analytic googles on while watching this series of clips and consider the following:
• What's the average running time of these games?
• How do the improvisers motivate use of these lines? Do the improvisers help each other motivate their use?
• Is object work and physicality incorporated into this game? How?
• How do the improvisers use the given scenario (s) to create a cohesive scene?
• How do the improvisers pace the scene so as not to step on the audience's laughter?
• Are characters/characterization a part of these scenes? Does that change the dynamic of the gameplay?
• What other observations stand out to you?
One of my greatest comedy heroes is Chuck Jones, the legendary animator/director of many classic Looney Tunes cartoons. Check out yet another amazing video from Every Frame A Painting, which is all about the evolution of this incredible artist. Yes, this isn't directly about improv, but the comedy lessons found here are invaluable to anyone aspiring to make an audience laugh so hard they puke! From gag setup to execution to the creation of memorable characters - this video addresses so many vital tools of comedy:
And one more video for good measure. Alongside Chuck Jones, Gene Wilder sits on that golden comedy throne in my book. Wilder was my biggest comedic influence when I was a kid, and I carry his influence with me all these many years later. One of his many strengths was his complete mastery of the "pause" - the liminal space between the joke setup and the punchline. Some people naturally have a sense of this inately built within them, and others do not. Can it be learned? Yes, through theft. Watch how Wilder uses the pause and try to build a timing within yourself that mimics his. Bust that out in an improv show, and the audience will be guffawing puddy in your hands, I promise. So, check out this excellent, short video called "Gene Wilder: Master Of The Comedic Pause" and ask yourself, why does it work so damn well? I believe it's because that silent moment raises the tension as the audience desires, even needs, to experience the button of the joke being presented. That's just my two cents, what's yours?