Tag: The Improv

EPIX CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THE IMPROV IN THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY “THE IMPROV: 50 YEARS BEHIND THE BRICK WALL” WORLD PREMIERE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2013 AT 8PM ET

EPIX CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF THE IMPROV IN THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTARY

 

“THE IMPROV: 50 YEARS BEHIND THE BRICK WALL”

World Premiere Friday, December 6, 2013 at 8PM ET

History of America’s First Comedy Club, Features Interviews with

Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman, Kathy Griffin, Russell Brand

 and more

 

New York, NY, November 4, 2013 – Premium entertainment network EPIX, announced today that it has set Friday, December 6, at 8 PM ET, as the premiere date for the Original Documentary The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall.  In this one-hour special, narrated by Adam Sandler, the biggest names in stand-up comedy reveal the role the storied comedy club, the Improv, played in their road to stardom.  At times poignant, insightful and always funny, the special uses comics’ personal stories, home movies, photographs, and archival footage to weave a story fifty years in the making.

“I can’t think of a better way to showcase EPIX’s commitment to comedy than providing a stage for today’s greatest comedians to talk about their experiences performing at the renowned Improv,” said Mark Greenberg, EPIX President and CEO.  “Part celebration, part master class, this documentary offers an unprecedented look into this art form and the artists who make us laugh.”

Comedians featured in the documentary include: Judd Apatow, Lewis Black, Russell Brand, Larry David, Jimmy Fallon, Kathy Griffin, Jay Leno, Richard Lewis, Bill Maher, Ray Romano, Jerry Seinfeld, Sarah Silverman, Damon Wayans, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans.  Improv founder Budd Friedman and general partner Mark Lonow are also interviewed.

Considered the first comedy club in America, the original Improv in New York City was the place Richard Pryor, George Carlin and Andy Kaufman developed their legendary acts. Other budding comedians flocked to the small club, hoping to follow in their idols’ footsteps.  The Improv Comedy Clubs are now in 26 cities across the country, including the famous Hollywood Improv.

The EPIX Original Documentary, The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall is a Spotted Dog Entertainment production in association with Improv West Associates.  The special is co-produced with Comedy Central.   Executive producers are Judy Pastore, Monica Bautista, Budd Friedman, Mark Lonow and Zoe Friedman; and the co-executive producer is Michael Rowe.  Ross Bernard is executive-in-charge of production for EPIX.

For more information about the special, go to http://press.epixhd.com/programming/the-improv-50-years-behind-the-brick-wall/

About EPIX

EPIX® is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox 360®consoles, first on Android™ tablets and phones, first on Roku® players and first to launch in the U.S. on PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. EPIX is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®, iPhones®, Kindle Fire tablets, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network.

EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EPIX.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EPIX.

 

# # #

Media Contacts:                                                                                                          

EPIX                                                                                FRANK PR

Marlea Willis                                                 Clare Anne Darragh,ClareAnne@FrankPublicity.com

Mwillis@epixhd.com                                    Lina Plath, Lina@FrankPublicity.com

212.846.6748                                                (646) 861-0843

5/2/13 ALL NEW EPIX COMEDY LINEUP BEGINS IN JUNE

 Summer Season of EPIX Comedy Unbound Premieres New Stand-up Specials Featuring

Jim Breuer, Sherri Shepherd, Tom Papa & Jim Norton

Special 50th Anniversary Celebration of the IMPROV Comedy Club will Include

Jim Carrey, Billy Crystal, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Larry David, Judd Apatow, Kathy Griffin and Whitney Cummings

New York, NY, May 2, 2013 – Premium TV network EPIX unveiled a new lineup of comedy specials including a new summer season of the Comedy Unbound showcase, Fridays at 10 pm and The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wall, an anniversary celebration of the renowned comedy club to premiere fall 2013 exclusively on EPIX, EPIX On Demand, EpixHD.com and EPIX apps across hundreds of devices including Xbox, PS3, Roku, iPads, iPhones and more.

The Improv: 50 Years Behind the Brick Wallis a one hour special event from the 50th Anniversary Celebration Tour of the IMPROV Comedy Clubs which have presented the biggest, most legendary comedians as well as the newest names in comedy in 26 cities across the country. The IMPROV documentary special will feature Jim Carrey, Billy Crystal, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Larry David, Judd Apatow, Kathy Griffin, Whitney Cummings and more.  Executive producers are Budd Friedman, Mark Lonow and Spotted Dog Entertainment. The event is co-produced with Comedy Central, which will take a second window.

“We are proud to present the best in stand-up acts today and to work with great comedy institutions like the Improv,” said Mark Greenberg, EPIX President and CEO.

The new summer season of Comedy Unbound, airing Fridays at 10 pm, will kick off June 7 with the premiere of former “Saturday Night Live” funnyman Jim Breuer’s one-hour special and will include new specials from Sherri Shepherd, Tom Papa and Jim Norton:

 

Jim Breuer: And Laughter For All – June 7 @10PM ET:

Breuer, best known as “Goat Boy” and his spot on impersonation of “made man” Joe Pesci during his stint on “Saturday Night Live.” In “Jim Breuer: And Laughter For All,” he grapples with the absurdities and annoyances of finding himself a middle aged father of three in suburban New Jersey.  This is Breuer’s first ever stand-up comedy special for EPIX.

 

 

Sherri Shepherd: It’s My Time To Talk – June 21 @10PM ET:

The Emmy award-winning talk show co-host from ABC’s “The View” returns to her roots in stand-up comedy and ruminates on life in her new comedy special, “Sherri Shepherd: It’s My Time To Talk.”  She recounts the experience she had on “Dancing with the Stars” as well as the occasional awkward moments while doing Hot Topics on “The View,” among other off-beat revelations.

 

Tom Papa: Freaked Out – July 26 @10PM ET:

Known for his irreverent appearances on Leno, Letterman and Conan, and for hosting NBC’s “The Marriage Ref,” Papa stands out among his fellow comedians for his optimistic take on the mostly insane world he lives in.  For his first EPIX comedy special, and his second hour-long special directed by Rocker/Director Rob Zombie, Papa tackles the hazards of churches, loose change, old age, make-up, raising women, Chinese grocery stores and magical gnomes.

 

Jim Norton: American Degenerate – August 23 @10PM ET:

Triumphantly returning after his first EPIX comedy special, “Please Be Offended,” now airing on Comedy Central, Jim Norton continues his self-deprecating humor with his third hour standup special “Jim Norton: American Degenerate.” In his latest offering, Norton, a New York Times bestselling author, “Tonight Show” regular, and the third micon Sirius/XM’s popular “The Opie and Anthony Show,” performs his unfiltered material “Jim Norton: American Degenerate” shot in Boston in front of his most hard core fans. Norton leaves nothing embarrassing off the table, skeweringa wide range of topics including politics, the media, and, of course, sex, with the knowledge that some of his remarks will no doubt inspire a wave of self-righteous online complaints by those who are easily offended.

 

Stills and key art from the specials can be found at press.epixhd.com.

About EPIX

EPIX® is the newest premium entertainment network delivering the latest movie releases, classic library titles, plus original films, comedy, music and sports events on TV, on demand, online and on devices. Launched October 2009 as the first multiplatform premium network with online accessibility for subscribers through EpixHD.com, EPIX pioneered the development and proliferation of TV Everywhere for American consumers. EPIX was the first premium network to launch on Xbox 360®consoles, first on Android™ tablets and phones, first on Roku® players and first to launch in the U.S. on PlayStation®3 (PS3™) system. EPIX is available to authenticated subscribers on hundreds of devices including Apple® iPads®, iPhones®, Kindle Fire tablets, Samsung® Smart TVs and Blu-ray™ players and more. Today EPIX remains the only premium service providing its entire monthly line-up from new Hollywood hits to original programs on all platforms and provides more movies than any other premium network.

EPIX is a joint venture between Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA and VIA.B), its Paramount Pictures unit, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM) and Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), available to over 30 million homes nationwide through distribution partners including Charter Communications, Cox Communications, DISH Network, Mediacom Communications, NCTC, Suddenlink Communications and Verizon FiOS.

For more information about EPIX, go to www.EpixHD.com. Follow EPIX on Twitter @EpixHD and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/EpixHD.

About the Improv

The Improv was founded in 1963 by Budd Friedman in a former New York City Vietnamese restaurant. Actor/Manager Mark Lonow joined Friedman as a full partner in 1979, since then and together they have franchised 26 Improv clubs across the U.S. Throughout 2013 the Improv clubs will be celebrating its 50th anniversary. Many well-known comics started their careers at the Improv while others continue, over the years, to pop into the club to try out new material. The list is a Who’s Who of Comedy: Jay Leno, Bette Midler, Robin Williams, Lily Tomlin, Billy Crystal, Rosie O’Donnell, Tim Allen, Jerry Seinfeld, Liza Minnelli, Drew Carey, Ellen DeGeneres, Adam Sandler, Jim Carrey, Steve Martin, George Carlin. Older comics from earlier days who performed at the club included Sid Caeser, Milton Berle, Red Buttons and many others.  Improv clubs are presently located in Addison, Arlington and Houston, Texas; Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Tampa, Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Los Angeles, Ontario, San Jose, Irvine and Brea, California; Las Vegas and Lake Tahoe, Nevada; as well as in Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Kansas City, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., Tempe, Arizona and soon in Boca Raton, Florida.

Contact:                                                                                              

EPIX                                                                       FRANK PR

Jamie Colunga                                                   Clare Anne Darragh; ClareAnne@FrankPublicity.com

jcolunga@epixhd.com                                   Lina Plath; Lina@FrankPublicity.com

(212) 846-1843                                                  (646) 861-0843