Photo: Wikipedia/Mike Dillon
If you were to name a handful of iconic comedy clubs in the U.S. the first two that come to mind are the Comedy Cellar in NYC and The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. Both clubs represent the epicenter of both comedy scenes on the two coasts.
The Comedy Store was owned by the late, great Mitzi Shore, who passed away at 87 about a year ago, and has proven and invaluable asset for the Los Angeles comedy scene. Any comedian name that one could think of has performed at the Store, as its served as the proving ground for the likes of David Letterman, Freddy Prinze, Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, Richard Pryor, Jim Carrey, and Jay Leno to name a few.
Now, Showtime is working on a four-part docuseries about the club, tracing its lineage from Shore's ex husband opened its doors on the Sunset Strip in the 1972 with her ultimately taking it over in 1973 to today's resurgence of the Store's legazy. The series was directed by former stand-up Mike Binder, and “brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at The Comedy Store, which over the past 47 years has launched the careers of a breathtaking array of stars." The docuseries will include vintage footage and interviews from the likes of Judd Apatow, Martin Lawrence, David Spade, Bob Saget, and more.
The series is set to premiere in 2020 on Showtime.