The Second City, the comedy institution that launched the careers of Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Tina Fey, is being put up for sale. It marks only the second time in the brand’s 60-year history that it has been on the block. Investment bank Houlihan Lokey will advise on the sale.
The announcement comes as Covid-19 has upended the live events business that helped define and popularize The Second City. Despite the pandemic, some of the company’s theaters are open. The Second City’s live shows are still taking place in Toronto, where infection rates are lower, and the company says it is closely monitoring the “evolving situations” in Chicago and Los Angeles, where it also has venues. The Second City’s brand of improvisational stage comedy made it a feeder for Hollywood and, most prominently “Saturday Night Live,” which populated its casts heavily with veterans of the stage shows.
The announcement comes as Covid-19 has upended the live events business that helped define and popularize The Second City. Despite the pandemic, some of the company’s theaters are open. The Second City’s live shows are still taking place in Toronto, where infection rates are lower, and the company says it is closely monitoring the “evolving situations” in Chicago and Los Angeles, where it also has venues. The Second City’s brand of improvisational stage comedy made it a feeder for Hollywood and, most prominently “Saturday Night Live,” which populated its casts heavily with veterans of the stage shows.
- 10/6/2020
- by Brent Lang
- Variety Film + TV
Similar News
Sax Player, Late Night Fixture David Sanborn Dies
- 5/13/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
Maya Rudolph Celebrates Mother’s Day on SNL with a Rap and a New Beyoncé Hot Ones Sketch
- 5/13/2024
- by Steve Delikson
- TVovermind.com
Seth Meyers Renews ‘Late Night’ Hosting Deal Through 2028
- 5/13/2024
- by Selome Hailu
- Variety Film + TV
Late Night With Seth Meyers Renewed Through 2028
- 5/13/2024
- by Jennifer M. Wood
- LateNighter
Seth Meyers Extends Contract to Host Late Night Through 2028
- 5/13/2024
- by Nick Caruso
- TVLine.com
Seth Meyers Renews NBCUniversal Pact Through 2028
- 5/13/2024
- by Lesley Goldberg
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Louis Cato, Jimmy Kimmel Mark Stephen Colbert’s 60th Birthday
- 5/13/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
“They got Paw Patrol but not Sonic”: John Krasinski, Ryan Reynolds’ New If Trailer is the Paramount Cinematic Universe You Didn’t Know You Wanted
- 5/13/2024
- by Swagata Das
- FandomWire
7 Best Shows Like ‘The Girls On the Bus’ To Watch If You Love The Series
- 5/12/2024
- by Kulwant Singh
- Cinema Blind
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.
More to explore
Edgar Wright in Talks to Direct ‘Barbarella’ Starring Sydney Sweeney
- 5/13/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
Third ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Set With Paul Giamatti
- 5/13/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $131 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
Tom Brady Touts NFL Broadcasting Debut at Fox Upfront: “Let’s F-ing Go”
- 5/13/2024
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Aida Rodriguez: Unpacking My Childhood Traumas Through Comedy Is Cathartic
- 5/6/2024
- by Aida Rodriguez
- Popsugar.com
How Erik Rivera Uses Comedy to Heal and Help Others
- 5/6/2024
- by Miguel Machado
- Popsugar.com
Ian Lara: Comedy Gave Me the Strength to Overcome My Mother's Death
- 5/6/2024
- by Ian Lara
- Popsugar.com
Sasha Merci: How Comedy Has Helped Me Navigate Depression
- 5/6/2024
- by Sasha Merci
- Popsugar.com
Gina Brillon: The Loss of My Grandmother Pushed Me to Pursue Comedy
- 5/6/2024
- by Gina Brillon
- Popsugar.com
Cannes 2024
- 5/13/2024
- MUBI
Rebel Wilson Made ‘No Money’ from ‘Bridesmaids’ Salary Due to SAG-AFTRA Union Fees
- 5/13/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
‘Back to Black’ Backlash: Eddie Marsan Says Marisa Abela Was ‘Attacked’ Over Casting for the Sake of ‘Clickbait’
- 5/13/2024
- by Samantha Bergeson
- Indiewire
‘Barbarella’: Edgar Wright To Direct Sydney Sweeney, Jane Goldman To Co-Write Script
- 5/13/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Apple TV+ Is Pitching a New Compensation Model for Creators — Report
- 5/13/2024
- by Brian Welk
- Indiewire
Edgar Wright in Talks to Direct ‘Barbarella’ Starring Sydney Sweeney
- 5/13/2024
- by Katcy Stephan
- Variety - Film News
‘Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes’ Swings to $72 Million at Overseas Box Office, Mighty $131 Million Globally
- 5/12/2024
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety - Film News
Roger Corman, Pioneering Independent Producer and King of B Movies, Dies at 98
- 5/12/2024
- by Richard Natale and Tim Gray
- Variety - TV News
‘Barbarella’: Edgar Wright To Direct Sydney Sweeney, Jane Goldman To Co-Write Script
- 5/13/2024
- by Edward Davis
- The Playlist
Shocking Horror Movie ‘The Coffee Table’ Is Earning Raves From Stephen King. Its Director Wants Audiences to ‘Suffer’ and ‘Hate Me’
- 5/13/2024
- by William Earl
- Variety - Film News
Carrie-Anne Moss Joins Arnold Schwarzenegger in Season 2 of FUBAR
- 5/13/2024
- by IMDb News
- IMDb News
Third ‘Downton Abbey’ Movie Set With Paul Giamatti
- 5/13/2024
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sax Player, Late Night Fixture David Sanborn Dies
- 5/13/2024
- by Nick Riccardo
- LateNighter
CSI: Vegas’ Paula Newsome Breaks Silence on ‘Surprising’ Cancellation: ‘It’s a Good Run; It Should Be More’
- 5/13/2024
- by Matt Webb Mitovich
- TVLine.com
9-1-1 Crew Member Dies in Car Crash After Working 14-Hour Shift
- 5/13/2024
- by Keisha Hatchett
- TVLine.com