The article below was a spoof article as part of our April Fools issue.

Jeff is Dead

Obituary  Jeff Catanese

April 1, 2001 - New York - Jeff Catanese, the controversial editor of ImprovReview.com was pronounced dead today at St. Clare's Hospital in New York.  Doctors at the hospital reported that the cause of death was an illuminated pen thrust into the jugular vein.  Police say they are investigating a number of suspects, but because of Mr. Catanese’s vast number of potential enemies, they expected interviews to last through early next week.

Commonly known as “The Most Hated Man in Improv”, Mr. Catanese had quickly developed a reputation of being a tough reviewer who showed little mercy to shows he found wanting.  “Jeff was not the ogre many have made him out to be.” said his partner and co-editor William T McEvoy, “Why just the other day he was telling me how he didn’t completely detest Sad Clown Rep” (for Mr. Catanese’s posthumous review, click here). 

But Mr. Catanese mostly had enemies.  “I couldn’t stand the fucker.” reported Rachel Stein, a former associate.  Ms. Stein quickly added that she was out of town the night of the murder doing her one woman show, and had witnesses to that effect.  “Catanese is dead?” asked a member of the now closed cast of Life Game who asked not to be identified “some people just get what’s coming to them, and some get off easy.  He got off easy.”   Another anonymous improvisor said “He may not have been Hitler, but he was the guy that drove the bus to the camps.  Oh no wait, that’s McEvoy.  Jeff was Hitler.”

The Catanese family have decided to keep funeral arrangements and the location of the grave confidential, for fear of reprisals or desecration.  The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Mr. Catanese’s favorite charity, Pariah’s Hope.

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