The Definitive Guide to Comedy
Budd Friedman didn’t intend to set the standard for stand-up comedy clubs across America (and the world). You might say it only happened thanks to a little Improvisation. Tip your waitstaff! OK, I’ll see myself out, but not before seeing out this show-business icon who changed the game for live …
Budd Friedman, with help from Tripp Whitesell and interviews from dozens of the famous comedians, musicians and actors who worked for Budd over the past 50 years, has just published an oral history of his club, The Improvisation, which became simply The Improv and then much more than that. Among …
Mark Lonow is an actor, producer and talent manager, but he’s perhaps best known for something else he did offstage — going into business with Budd Friedman to save the Hollywood Improv and help oversee its expansion as the first major comedy club chain. But there’s a lot more to …
When Budd Friedman’s Improv comedy club turned 40, he celebrated with a primetime anniversary special on NBC (that aired against the final sing-off of the first season of American Idol). Now at 50, The Improv reminisces once more, this time with a one-hour documentary on cable/online via EPIX, The Improv: …
In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Improvisation comedy club’s opening in New York City (since closed in NYC, though The Improv chain has expanded to Los Angeles and currently in 22 other cities), the club has a new documentary out via EpixHD, The Improv: 50 Years Behind The …
You don’t often see a comedy club owner on as a guest for a late-night TV talk show. But Budd Friedman has owned one or more clubs known as The Improv for 50 years now — and has the anniversary documentary airing next month on EPIX to show for it …
