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Marty Callner, director of dozens of classic MTV-era music videos as well as numerous comedy specials and creator of HBO’s Hard Knocks, has peacefully passed away at his home in Malibu. He died on March 17 of natural causes and surrounded by loved ones, according to his son, Jazz. He was 78.

Callner is a 12-time Emmy nominee and two-time CableACE Award winner. He has also been nominated for three DGA Awards and one MTV Music Video Award.

His career as a director of music videos started with Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Going to Take it,” followed by Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” both of which saw near-constant play on MTV in their heyday.

What followed were hundreds more, including Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time,” a slew of Aerosmith hits including “Cryin’,” “Crazy”, “Amazing,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude Looks Like A Lady” and “Love in an Elevator.

Marty Callner, the 12-time Emmy nominee who created HBO’s Hard Knocks and directed and/or produced music videos and TV specials featuring the likes of Cher, Garth Brooks, Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock, has died. He was 78.

Callner died Monday at his home in Malibu, his rep Gail Parenteau announced. His son Jazz said it was from natural causes.

The first music videos he directed were ones in 1984 for Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” and Pat Benatar’s “We Belong,” and he also handled Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time”; Aerosmith’s “Cryin’,” “Crazy,” “Amazing,” “Livin’ on the Edge,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Dude Looks Like a Lady” and “Love in an Elevator”; Whitesnake’s “Here I Go Again,” Poison’s “Every Rose Has a Thorn,” Stevie Nicks’ “Stand Back” and Bon Jovi’s “Lie to Me,” more than 200 in all, most for MTV.

Video game adaptations have been currently on the rise with projects like Castlevania and Arcane, and now another popular urban fantasy action-adventure gaming franchise is entering the market. This game is none other than Devil May Cry, which is getting an anime adaptation, and the release date of the series is finally here.

Devil May Cry Anime | Credit: Netflix

Along with the release date, Netflix has shared the opening theme of the upcoming Devil May Cry anime series, which adds more hype to the release of the adaptation. However, it looks like Netflix might be going overboard with the anime adaptation, and fans are not liking this at all. In fact, there has been a ruckus on the social media platform X.

Fans are not happy with multiple aspects of the upcoming Netflix project, and it might affect the overall popularity and anticipation for the series. Thus, they need to...

A big-screen return to the galaxy far, far away has been a long time coming, and if rumors are to be believed fans will find a very recognizable face in the space opera saga on their next visit. According to recent reports, actor Ryan Gosling is rumored to have entered negotiations to star in an upcoming feature film project set in the Star Wars universe.

Barbie star Ryan Gosling is rumored to join Star Wars (Credit: Warner Bros).

While the rumors of Gosling’s proposed involvement in the upcoming project created plenty of buzz on social media not all fans are looking forward to the film. Fans on social media agreed that while Gosling would make a fine addition to the space opera saga, there was another factor regarding his rumored film that is a major concern. Here is why Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars project might not be a homerun.

Casting decisions for superhero movies can often met with a mixed response and the same has been the case for Jason Momoa joining James Gunn’s new DC Universe as the antihero, Lobo. The major concern regarding his casting has been his previous role in Zack Snyder’s DC Extended Universe, where he played the Atlantean superhero Aquaman.

Jason Momoa as Aquaman | Credit: Warner Bros.

However, Momoa is not the first actor to take on multiple roles in a franchise. And one of the biggest examples of such casting shifts has been the Marvel star Chris Evans, who seamlessly transitioned from playing Johnny Storm in Fantastic Four to becoming the iconic Captain America in the MCU.

Jason Momoa’s casting as Lobo in James Gunn’s Dcu sparks concern among fans

Jason Momoa’s casting as the antihero Lobo in the DC film Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow has stirred up several fan discussions.

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Keri Russell is a brilliant actress who has wowed everyone by using her acting chops for more than 30 years. Russell made her acting debut with a Disney series The All-New Mickey Mouse Club. Since then she has been a part of many brilliant movies and shows including both indies and blockbusters. So, if you also love Russell’s performances here are the best movies and shows starring Keri Russell you should check out.

10. Antlers (Paramount+ & Rent on Prime Video) Credit – Searchlight Pictures

Antlers is a supernatural horror film directed by Scott Cooper who also co-wrote the screenplay with C. Henry Chaisson and Nick Antosca. Based on the short story The Quiet Boy by Antosca, the 2021 film follows the story of a teacher and her brother, a sheriff discovers that one of her students is harboring a dangerous secret...

Who says 1994 was a classic year for cinema? Netflix begins today to make that argument, curating a release of 17 films that turned 30 this year. The streamer has its list below. I have mine, and with the exception of the seminal Farrelly Brothers-directed Dumb & Dumber with Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, and Luc Besson’s Leon: The Professional, the film that stars Jean Reno and a sinister Gary Oldman and introduced the world to the outsized talent Natalie Portman, and maybe Ron Howard’s The Paper, there’s a lot missing. How about Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, The Lion King, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Clear and Present Danger, Sicario, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Interview With the Vampire, Speed, Ed Wood, and the other two films in a starmaking year for Jim Carrey, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask. Speed, Once Were Warriors, and Ang Lee...

Kevin Costner has been defying the odds for more than 40 years.

After filming numerous flashback scenes for 1983’s The Big Chill, the movie that was poised to be his big break, he learned he had been cut out of the film entirely… but then that film’s director, Lawrence Kasdan, decided to give him another shot, casting him in a plum part in 1985’s Silverado, which made him a star.

Not long after, as a burgeoning A-lister, he was warned to avoid baseball movies because they rarely did business at the box office… but then he decided to make two of them within a year of each other, 1988’s Bull Durham and 1989’s Field of Dreams, and both turned out to be blockbusters.

More recently, after decades in the spotlight, his big screen career was flagging, and he signed up to star on a television series that would air on...

Horizon: An American Saga—Chapter 1Image: Warner Bros.

In this column, I write about actors and directors who have worked together on at least three films, preferably without sequels in the mix. It’s a framework I chose in part because so many filmmakers on either side of the...

Robert Kennedy Jr.’s independent presidential campaign is being boosted by deep-pocketed supporters of Donald Trump, venture capitalists, conservative Hollywood types, and other celebrities.

Democrats worry the Kennedy campaign could help tank President Joe Biden’s reelection bid and make Trump president again. He is also a danger to public health: Kennedy has spread false conspiracy theories about Covid-19 vaccines and claimed vaccines cause autism.

American Values 2024, a super Pac backing Kennedy, is the most important funding vehicle for his longshot bid for president. The group spent $7 million on a...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued campaign fundraising in Los Angeles Wednesday night with a stand-up comedy event hosted by the independent presidential candidate’s wife and actress Cheryl Hines.

The A Night of Laughter With Rfk Jr. & Friends evening at the Million Dollar Theater included performances by Jeremy Piven, Bobby Lee, Rob Schneider, Tre Stewart, Mike Binder, Erica Rhodes, Dustin Ybarra and radio host and podcaster Adam Carolla.

The benefit event, with an after party for $1000 Silver and $1500 Gold contributors, was part of a string of comedy shows planned for across the U.S. as the Rfk Jr. campaign looks to continue raising campaign funds. The first-time presidential candidate is polling in the mid- to high single digits in key U.S. states, according to RealClearPolitics.

That’s enough to potentially pull votes away from U.S. president Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump, both of whom are currently expected to be the U.

Vice TV has set the premiere date and released the trailer for “Dark Side of Comedy” Season 2, its “Dark Side” spinoff series that explores the behind-the-scenes stories of iconic comedians.

Season 2 subjects include Robin Williams, Sam Kinison, Joan Rivers, Carlos Mencia, Phil Hartman, Tracy Morgan, the sitcom “Family Matters,” Ellen DeGeneres, Norm MacDonald and Gilda Radner.

“Dark Side of Comedy” Season 2 is narrated by Dave Foley with commentators including Pauly Shore, Marc Maron, Tiffany Haddish, Pamela Aldon, Sally Jesse Raphael, Mike Binder and Rolanda Watts.

In the Season 2 trailer, Binder says Williams was “running with a lot of really scary figures — and Robin himself was kind of a scary figure for a while.” Haddish says Rivers “was a hustler,” and describes her as “mean as hell.” And Watts describes an experience where DeGeneres “sat there as if we weren’t even there.”

Per Vice TV’s description for the new installment: “‘Dark Side of Comedy,...

Gravitas Ventures has picked up “Halfway to Amarillo,” a neo-western kind of comedy which is set for distribution this November. Written and directed by Burt Binder, “Amarillo” follows an author who, in a bout of writer’s block, finds that his fictional characters have leapt straight off the pages of his novel and are running amok through Los Angeles.

The film stars Peter Giles (“Portlandia”), Luke Jones (“FBI: Most Wanted”), Lindsey G. Smith (“Happy Death Day”) and Binder. According to the film’s official synopsis, “The story centers around writer Michael Coleman who comes down with writer’s block when at his lowest point, the main character from his novel, an outlaw named Eli West played by Jones, leaps out of the novel into the real world throwing a wrench into Michael’s life. The villain in the novel, a crooked sheriff named Morgan Ambrose played by Giles, follows in...

“Full House Rewind,” PodCo’s upcoming rewatch podcast hosted by Dave Coulier, has set an initial lineup of guests and debuted a trailer. The first episode will premiere on July 21 at 9 a.m. Et.

The podcast will feature Coulier, who starred as Joey Gladstone in “Full House” and the reboot “Fuller House,” as he recounts each episode of the beloved ABC sitcom.

Among the guests confirmed to appear on “Full House Rewind” are John Stamos, who played Jesse Katsopolis in both “Full House” and “Fuller House”; Jeff Franklin, who created both series; Josh Peck, who played Ben in two episodes of “Fuller House”; Marla Sokoloff, who recurred as Gia Mahan in both series; actor, comedian and radio personality Adam Carolla; PodCo partner star of “Even Stevens” and “Kim Possible” Christy Carlson Romano; Mike Binder, who played Steve in an episode of “Full House” and directed “Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute...

Full House star Dave Coulier shares a funny memory of Bob Saget. After the ending of the reboot series Fuller House, the cast does occasionally reunite at conventions and other events. These serve as an opportunity for the actors to swap stories and reminisce about their time on set in front of a crowd. And, with the sudden passing of Saget in January 2022, it's also a chance for the group to pay tribute to their beloved co-star.

During an appearance at the recent '90's Con, for a panel that featured Coulier, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, and Candace Cameron Bure, the actors talked about Full House catchphrases and any instances where they might've used it in real life. This prompted Coulier, who played Joey, to share a hilarious recollection of how Saget perfectly spotted the chance to say 'Cut It Out.' Coulier's quote, via CinemaBlend, is below:

I’ll...

Rick Newman, the founder of New York City’s hugely influential Catch a Rising Star comedy club that provided a training ground for the stand-up comics who would change the landscape of entertainment in the 1970s, died Feb. 20 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 81.

His wife Krysi Newman told The Washington Post that he died of pancreatic cancer.

Among the comics who began or developed their careers on the Rising Star’s Upper East Side stage are Jerry Seineld, Billy Crystal, Robin Williams, Richard Lewis, Andy Kaufman, Freddie Prinze, Robert Klein, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler. Larry David, Elayne Boosler, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, Joy Behar and Ray Romano.

One of the performers most associated with Catch a Rising Star was Richard Belzer, the longtime host of the club who died Feb. 19, just a day before Newman.

Newman, tweeted Billy Crystal, “gave me and so many our starts as stand ups.

Last week, Co-chairs John Mayer, Kelly Rizzo, Jeff Ross, and Srf Board Member, Susan Feniger presented and curated Cool Comedy • Hot Cuisine, raising more than 1.2M for the Scleroderma Research Foundation (Srf) in a moving tribute to Bob Saget at the Beverly Wilshire.

Stars attend Cool Comedy Hot Cuisine: A Tribute to Bob Saget and benefit for the Scleroderma Research Foundation

Credit/Copyright: Ben Shmikler/ABImages

Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, John Mayer, and Jeff Ross, the signature fundraising event featured the biggest names in comedy and music to celebrate Saget’s work as a relentless champion for those affected by scleroderma.

Some of the world’s most talented performers generously donated their time to take to the stage to raise funds for the Scleroderma Research Foundation and to find a cure. Co-host Jimmy Kimmel kicked off the event, as John Mayer and Jeff Ross continued the evening’s festivities. The...

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Adam Sandler, the beloved veteran actor who is best known for his work in big screen comedies, is set to be celebrated for a dramatic film next month.

The Newport Beach Film Festival will present Sandler with its inaugural Performance of the Year Award in recognition of his work in Jeremiah Zagar’s Hustle, the fest’s organizers announced Thursday. The 56-year-old will be feted at a noontime luncheon at the Resort at Pelican Hill on Saturday, Oct. 15, following an hourlong recording of The Hollywood Reporter’s Awards Chatter podcast, which features career-retrospective conversations with Hollywood’s biggest names.

Sandler’s career took off with a five-year stint on Saturday Night Live, from 1990 to 1995, followed by a long string of comedic blockbuster films including Tamra Davis’s Billy Madison (1995), Dennis Dugan’s Happy Gilmore (1996), Frank Coraci’s The Waterboy (1998) and The Wedding Singer...

Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute is just as much a roast of Bob Saget’s best friends as it is a memorial to the late star. A collection of Saget’s comedian and musician pals take the stage at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood, one of the late star’s favorite places, to reminisce in the Netflix special, which debuted Friday, June 10. Saget died of an accidental blunt head trauma on January 9 in Florida. Filmed shortly after the Full House alum’s memorial, Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute is kicked off by Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, John Stamos, John Mayer, Jeff Ross, and Darren Criss. They bring Saget’s wife, Kelly Rizzo-Saget, to the stage for some opening remarks. The rest of the night features appearances from Mike Binder, Jackson Browne, Seth Green, Mike Young, Michael Keaton, Candace Cameron Bure, Dave Coulier, Dave Chappelle, Tim Allen, Paul Rodriguez,...

Bob Saget‘s closest friends gather to celebrate the late star’s life in Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute. Premiering June 10 on Netflix, the special features Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, John Stamos, John Mayer, and more of Saget’s famous pals. Dirty Daddy: A Tribute to Bob Saget “is a celebration of Bob’s life in comedy with his friends and family,” Netflix teases. Additional appearances in the special are Jeff Ross, Darren Criss, Kelly Rizzo-Saget, Mike Binder, Jackson Browne, Seth Green, Mike Young, Michael Keaton, Candace Cameron Bure, Dave Coulier, Dave Chappelle, Tim Allen, Paul Rodriguez, Jon Lovitz, and Saget’s daughters, Lara and Aubrey Saget. In the trailer, Saget gets lovingly trolled by his loved ones. They share stories about their friendships, as well as his acting and comedy careers, and his wife, Rizzo, makes a special tribute. Check out the Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute trailer below.

Bob Saget’s oldest friends are honoring him the best way they know how: with a lot of laughs.

Shortly after Saget’s death, a slew of his famous friends and co-stars came together at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood to pay tribute to the actor and comic. The night saw performances from people like Jim Carrey, John Stamos, Chris Rock, John Mayer, Jeff Ross and more.

The night has been commemorated in a Netflix special titled “Dirty Daddy: The Bob Saget Tribute.” Ahead of the special’s debut on Friday, the streamer released a trailer, which you can watch above. The video features sneak peeks at some hilarious jokes and heartfelt moments.

Also Read:

Netflix Sets Premiere Dates for ‘Netflix Is a Joke’ Highlights, Bob Saget Tribute and More

Saget’s wife, Kelly Rizzo-Saget, also said a few words. In the trailer, she’s welcomed on stage by Carrey,...

Jim Carrey says he’s “fairly serious” about retiring from acting, explaining in a new Access Hollywood interview that he’s “done enough.”

Carrey was on the show to promote Sonic the Hedgehog 2 when he was asked to respond to recent comments made by Dolly Parton in which the country superstar said she’d like Carrey to play her former music partner Porter Wagoner in a Parton biopic.

The news caught Carrey by surprise. “Well, that’s a lovely thing,” he said, “but I’m retiring.” Asked if he was serious, Carrey said, “I’m being fairly serious, yeah.” He said that he might change his mind about retiring “if the angels bring some sort of script that’s written in gold ink that says to me that it’s going to be really important for people to see, I might continue down the road but I’m taking a break.

A star-studded memorial show in honor of Bob Saget is set for Netflix this June, The Wrap is reporting. The tribute event features appearances from many of the late comedian and actor’s pals, including his Full House costar John Stamos, plus Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, John Mayer, and more. They were among a host of big names who appeared at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood following Saget’s death on January 9, his longtime friend Mike Binder told the Dystopia Tonight with John Poveromo podcast. “It was a magical night,” Binder said. “And we filmed it. And I showed it to Netflix. I said ‘Look at this! Just look at 16 minutes of this.’ And Robbie Craw, the head of comedy at Netflix, he just said ‘This is remarkable.’ And they bought it as a special.” Binder went on to say the Saget Netflix tribute will debut the first week...

A memorial special for Bob Saget is coming to Netflix this Summer, according to one of his oldest friends.

Shortly after Saget’s death, a slew of his famous friends and co-stars came together at the The Comedy Store in West Hollywood to pay tribute to the actor and comic. The night saw performances from people like Jim Carrey, John Stamos, Chris Rock, John Mayer and more. During an appearance on “Dystopia Tonight with John Poveromo,” Saget’s longtime friend Mike Binder revealed that he actually filmed the show, and it’s now set to release on Netflix in June.

“It was a magical night,” Binder told the podcast. “And we filmed it. And I showed it to Netflix. I said ‘Look at this! Just look at 16 minutes of this.’ And Robbie Craw, the head of comedy at Netflix, he just said ‘This is remarkable.’ And they bought it as a special.

Beloved omedian and actor Bob Saget, who notably starred as the patriarch on ABC’s Full House, died Jan. 9 at age 65. Since that day, friends and family have found various ways to honor his legacy. One such way is through music and comedy as Saget’s wife Kelly, daughters and friends put together a farewell concert for Saget at the Comedy Store–the very place Saget built his career.

Produced by Mike Binder and hosted by comedian Jeff Ross, actor John Stamos and musician John Mayer, the show included performances by Jim Carrey, Chris Rock, Darren Criss, Jon Lovitz, Michael Keaton, Seth Green, Jodi Sweeten Byron Allen, and more, brought their collective talents to honor America’s favorite Dad. Stamos and Mayer, both pallbearers at Bob’s funeral, formed an impromptu house band that played alongside Ross and the other comics gentle riffing of the life and legacy of their lost friend.

Fans are still reeling from the news that CBS comedy series Mom is coming to an end.

Over the last few days, the cast of the beloved show has been speaking out about the end date announcement.

The latest to speak out is Jaime Pressly, who has played Jill Kendall since Mom Season 2.

"I had the great fortune of being asked to join a show called @mom_cbs in its second season 7 years ago," the actress wrote on Instagram, adding that she didn't know of the series beforehand.

"But I knew with Chuck Lorre at the helm and @allisonbjanney and @annafaris ⁣as the leads it must be something special. So I jumped in head first not knowing what I was in for. Boy did I hit the jackpot. Being able to tell the stories of these beautifully flawed women supporting each other through recovery from addiction, loss, love, failures, wins,...

The Mandalorian star Bill Burr has yet to finish watching season 1. The comedian admittingly isn't the biggest Star Wars fan and hasn't found time start season 2, despite appearing in both seasons. Fans had wondered if Burr was going to reprise his Migs Mayfeld role after betraying Din Djarin in season 1. Season 2 saw Mayfield return with a redemption story arc that makes it possible for his return in season 3.

Bill Burr admits that he's never really watched The Mandalorian, and neither has his podcast cohost, Bert Kreischer. The two were discussing the series on their podcast when Kreischer asks, "It's about Boba Fett and Baby Yoda, right?" Burr responded by saying, "Uh, I haven't really watched it." He went on to state, "I was hoping you weren't gonna ask me that. It's my list of sh*t to watch. I was gonna try, I was gonna try! I know, I'm embarrassed now.

There’s a moment in the fourth episode of Showtime’s “The Comedy Store” where Neal Brennan is interviewing Jay Leno about what the former “Tonight Show” host thinks about the current use of podcasts as vehicles for stand-up comedians to both hone their craft and build name recognition. And while Leno’s extended “podcasts are masturbation to stand-up’s carnal knowledge” metaphor is a simultaneous eye-roller/groaner, there’s an energy in this interaction missing from almost every other talking head interview in the series — and that’s likely because it’s the only time director Mike Binder is not conducting the interview.

Binder, whose bonafides include writing and directing “The Upside of Anger” and “Reign Over Me,” got his start at The Comedy Store during its heyday in the 1970s, where he became part of owner Mitzi Shore’s inaugural crop of regulars alongside giants of stand-up Robin Williams,...

Showtime is out with its list of everything new coming to the premium cable platform in October, and the list includes the limited series “The Good Lord Bird” starring Ethan Hawke as the abolitionist John Brown.

Other highlights include new episodes of “The Circus,” “Desus & Mero,” and “Our Cartoon President,” along with classic movies like “Legally Blonde,” “Moonstruck,” “Rosemary’s Baby,” “Schindler’s List” and “Field of Dreams.”

Here’s the full list:

Original Series

The Good Lord Bird

Limited Series Premiere Sunday, Oct. 4, at 9 p.m. Et/Pt

The Good Lord Bird stars Ethan Hawke as controversial abolitionist John Brown. The limited series unfolds from the point of view of Onion (Joshua Caleb Johnson), a fictional enslaved boy who becomes a member of Brown’s motley family of abolitionist soldiers during Bleeding Kansas – a time when the state was a battleground between pro- and anti-slavery forces – and eventually finds himself...

“Ask any working comedian anywhere which club means the most in terms of bragging rights to say you’re a regular at. Hands down, it’s The Comedy Store.” So says actor, writer, director and former stand-up comedian Mike Binder, who cut his teeth doing stand-up comedy at the world famous Los Angeles comedy club alongside veterans […]

The post ‘The Comedy Store’ Review: A Riveting, Intimate and Definitive History of the Venue That Defined Stand-Up Comedy appeared first on /Film.

At some point in the near-future, we’re due to hit a pandemic-induced entertainment drought, when production shutdowns will slow new releases to a trickle. We’re clearly not there yet, however. Though blockbuster movies keep getting pushed back further and further, streaming services are still moving full steam ahead — this October, you can catch a once-in-a-lifetime concert film, an offbeat horror movie about killer hair, an all-star biopic of a highly political court case, a doc on death (sort of) and a stunning Italian adaptation of a Jack London book.

In today’s TV news roundup, Showtime released a trailer for its docuseries, “The Comedy Store,” and “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” has been renewed for the show’s 15th season on Cmt.

Renewals

The Cmt series “Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team” has been renewed for a 15th season and is scheduled to premiere sometime this fall. The season will follow potential members of the cheer team as they engage in rigorous activities at the training camp. This year’s hopefuls auditioned virtually, with the selected cast brought into a “bubble” to live and train in together during filming. The series is executive produced by Stephen Kroopnick, Stu Schreiberg, Charlotte Jones Anderson, Eugene Pack, Kelli McGonagill Finglass and Peter Zasuly.

First Looks

Showtime released the trailer for its docuseries “The Comedy Store,” which documents the titular Los Angeles club’s evolution and premieres on Oct. 4 at 10 p.m.

Showtime has released the trailer for its upcoming docuseries The Comedy Store, which chronicles the evolution of comedy from within the walls of the legendary L.A. club. Directed and executive produced by Mike Binder (Reign Over Me), who started at the Store as a doorman before rising to main stage performer, the five-part series brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at the iconic club on the Sunset Strip. The Comedy Store features never-seen-before footage of trailblazers like Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison and Freddie Prinze, as well as interviews with David Letterman, Jay Leno, …...

If laughter is the best medicine, comedy spots should be considered essential businesses, comedian and director Mike Binder said.

“I am so surprised that the governor and the mayor of the state and the city have not declared the comedy stores essential businesses. I think people need to laugh so hard and so bad,” he said during a showtime Panel on Thursday.

Binder, joined by comedy stars Bill Burr, Sebastian Maniscalco and Annie Lederman, spoke about the upcoming Showtime docuseries The Comedy Store.

Directed and executive produced by Binder, the five-part series looks at the long lasting legacy of Hollywood’s The Comedy Store. Featuring interviews with a number of the industry’s biggest jokers and deep looks into the tragedies and victories shared by the spot’s community of notable alumni, The Comedy Store examines how the Mitzi Shore’s Sunset club served as a launch pad for the...

Comedy clubs like Los Angeles’ storied Comedy Store should be allowed to reopen despite the pandemic, says director Mike Binder.

“I have to say, I am so surprised that the governor and the mayor of the state and the city have not declared comedy clubs an essential business. Because I really think it is. I think people need to laugh so hard and so bad,” said Binder, speaking to reporters on Thursday to promote his upcoming Showtime docuseries “The Comedy Store.”

According to Los Angeles County’s reopening plan, night clubs are considered one of the highest risk business and won’t be allowed to reopen until stage 4, along with large entertainment venues and sporting events.

“I know [The Comedy Store owner] Peter Shore has put together some incredible plans to keep people safe, distanced … I know it could be done,” Binder said. “They’ve refused everything, but I do think it’s really important,...

Showtime has officially moved the premiere date for its miniseries about former FBI Director James Comey and his tumultuous relationship with President Donald Trump to prior to the presidential election.

The move comes after backlash from the cast and crew, expressed in a letter written by series writer and director Billy Ray. In the letter, Ray said he was told that the decision to air the two episodes after the election was “made at the very highest levels of Viacom.”

“We all were hoping to get this story in front of the American people months before the coming election. And that was a reasonable expectation considering that we’d been given a mandate by the network to do whatever was necessary to deliver by May 15,” Ray wrote.

His and the cast’s wishes have now been granted, as the series will air over two consecutive nights on Sept. 27 and 28. News...

Update: Dave Chappelle was the “special guest” on The Comedy Store’s live broadcast, which is raising money to support The Comedy Store Family Fund. The special, currently airing now on YouTube, Twitch and www.comedystore.com, will be followed by an “on demand” broadcast through The Comedy Store Channel on Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Xbox.

Exclusive: La’s Comedy Store will stream a live, three-hour video showcase for comedians on April 21 as a fundraiser for The Comedy Store Family Fund, a charitable effort that has taken on new urgency during Covid-19.

More from DeadlineSammy Shore Dies: Comedy Store Co-Founder and Comedian Was 92Comedy Store Documentary Series Set At Showtime, Ladies & Germs; Mike Binder DirectsThe Comedy Store Sets Comedians Assistance Fund With Mptf

The benefit event, billed as a podcast, will kick off at 5Pm Pt / 8Pm Et. Its first hour will be hosted by Whitney Cummings and feature comedians Chris D’Elia,...

UTA has brought aboard Jackie Knobbe as an agent in its Comedy Touring unit. She brings along such big-name stand-ups as Tiffany Haddish — who signed with UTA last month — Lewis Black, Jeanne Robertson and Leslie Jones.

Knobbe, who will work remotely from Florida, joins the agency after nearly two decades at Apa, where she was a partner and Co-Head of Comedy Touring.

“Jackie and I began our careers together as agents, and I’m looking forward to working with her again at Ut,” said Nick Nuciforo, Partner and Head of Comedy Touring at the agency. “She is one of the most experienced agents in the business, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our growing team.”

Said Knobbe: “I was drawn to working at UTA because their comedy touring business is second to none. There are valuable opportunities that exist for my clients across the agency, and I look...

In today’s TV news roundup, Amazon Prime Video releases a trailer for Season 3 of “Sneaky Pete,” and “Red Table Talk” with Jada Pinkett Smith sets a return date on Facebook Watch.

First Looks

The official trailer for the third season of “Sneaky Pete” on Amazon Prime Video has been released, showing off the new lies and danger that con man Marius Josipovic (Giovanni Ribisi) finds himself in. Marin Ireland, Shane McRae, Libe Barer, Peter Gerety and Margo Martindale also perform in the new season, which premieres on May 10.

Dates

Jada Pinkett Smith will return with more than 20 episodes of “Red Table Talk” on Facebook Watch, starting on May 6. Smith is joined by her daughter, Willow Smith, and mother, Adrienne Banfield Norris, for the multi-generational talk show, which was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. In the first season of the show, the women were joined by Will Smith, Gabrielle Union,...

Coming to the stage next: a Showtime documentary series about the legendary Comedy Store. Mike Binder will direct the four-part project that’s eyed for 2020.

The untitled series from Showtime Documentary Films brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at the Comedy Store. As a Comedy Store alum, former stand-up comic Binder spotlights one of pop culture’s great laboratories with never-before-seen footage and incisive, emotional interviews with some of the biggest names in comedy.

Founded by Sammy Shore, Mitzi Shore and Rudy DeLuca in 1972, the iconic West Hollywood club has launched the careers of countless comics. A mere sampling Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Sarah Silverman, Chris Rock, Jim Carrey, Sam Kinison, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Marc Maron, Whitney Cummings, Iliza Shlesinger, Paul Rodriguez, David Spade, Bob Saget, Howie Mandel, Joe Rogan, Chris D’Elia, Tom Dreesen and Jimmie Walker.

“The Comedy Store is...

A new four-part docuseries about the history of the storied Los Angeles comedy club, the Comedy Store, will premiere on Showtime in 2020. The docuseries will look at how the Comedy Store served as an incubator and launching pad for top comedians like David Letterman, Robin Williams, Chris Rock, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chapelle and more. The project will boast never-before-seen footage, as well as interviews with people like Judd Apatow, David Spade, Martin Lawrence and Bob Saget.

The as-yet-untitled project will be directed by Mike Binder. Binder has directed films like Black or White,...

Showtime Documentary Films has announced an upcoming docu-series on the history of The Comedy Store, the Los Angeles landmark where some of the world’s biggest comics got their start.

The four-part series will featuring never-before-seen footage and interviews with veteran comedians including Judd Apatow, David Spade, Martin Lawrence and Bob Saget.

Expected to debut on Showtime in 2020, Comedy Store alum Mike Binder (“Black or White”) will direct. Binder will also executive produce along with Mike Tollin (“The Franchise”), Jon Weinbach, Peter Shore and Paul Young. The Comedy Store’s creative director Adam Eget will produce, and Jonathan Vogler will also produce for Mandalay Sports Media.

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Per Showtime, the series “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.

Showtime will delve into the history of iconic Los Angeles comedy club The Comedy Store with a four-part docuseries.

The show, slated for a 2020 premiere, comes from Mike Binder (The Mind of the Married Man, Ray Donovan), who will direct and executive produce alongside Mike Tollin (One Tree Hill, Showtime's The Franchise). It will feature interviews with some of the many comics who have honed their material at the club along with vintage performance footage, some of it never before seen.

"The Comedy Store is a magical place — it's Juilliard for stand-up comics, the Bolshoi Ballet of ...

Updated: Jim Carrey, who cut his teeth with his genius physical impressions of Clint Eastwood, Bruce Dern, Henry Fonda and E.T. at the Comedy Store on his way to blockbuster stardom, has tweeted out his condolences and a painting of himself with Mitzi Shore.

Carrey writes, “The great Mitzi Shore, owner of the famous Comedy Store, has passed away. No words can express the gratitude I have for her. We met in 1979. She opened the door to my dreams! If she loved you, you did well. If she didn’t, you did something else. I will love her forever. ;^)”

The great Mitzi Shore, owner of the famous Comedy Store, has passed away. No words can express the gratitude I have for her. We met in 1979. She opened the door to my dreams! If she loved you, you did well. If she didn’t, you did something else. I will love her forever.

Virtually every big name in comedy, from Richard Pryor to Jay Leno to Roseanne Barr, had to first pass Mitzi Shore’s sniff test.

A giant in the world of standup, tributes from comedians started streaming in on Wednesday after news of Shore’s death at the age of 87 broke.

Shore’s son, Pauly Shore, was among the first to pay tribute. The actor-comedian, known for roles in ’90s-era comedies including “Encino Man,” said, “My heart lays heavy,” when he shared the news of Shore’s passing on Twitter.

Later in the day, Jim Carrey — who came up through Shore’s Comedy Store in Hollywood early in his career — offered his sentiments, which included a piece of his original art, on Twitter:

The great Mitzi Shore, owner of the famous Comedy Store, has passed away. No words can express the gratitude I have for her. We met in 1979. She opened the door to my dreams! If she loved you, you did well. If she didn’t, you did something else. I will love her forever. ;^) pic.twitter.com/lBNXnW0mEr

— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) April 11, 2018

Other comedy stars, including Whitney Cummings, Patton Oswalt, Marc Maron and more shared their condolences on Twitter. Andrew Dice Clay shared a lengthy tribute on Instagram, saying, in part: “She did so much for so many.”

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Here is a collection of the many tributes Shore on social media:

Mom/Mitzi passed Early in the morning at 4.42 am she was 87 years old my heart lays heavy

— Pauly Shore (@PaulyShore) April 11, 2018

Mitzi Shore …Owner of The World Famous Comedy Store Has Passed. I just found out at the Airport in La waiting to go do What she Trained me to Do. Make People Laugh. I took many Flights back and Fourth to Las Vegas with Mitzi when She turned the Dunes Showroom into the Comedy Store. She was Always Loud and had a Biteing Sense of Humor. So that’s what I’m doing …Annoying People in her Honor. I’m Sure every comedian …no matter where they are … is Shedding tears for that little lady. Don’t Get me wrong … She could be hard as they come … I’ve seen people audition and be Shooed away with a simple … Come back in a year. She was Truthful ! No Tolerance for No Talent. She called it as She Saw it !!! There are so many Lost souls in Hollywood because Nobody would tell them…You are Talentless. Mitzi understood the Difference between Potential and No Talent …And had no problem saying it the way it is. She did so much for so many … Spawned most of the Comedians you love today. I feel the Void of Her being Gone already . Every time I stand on a,Stage I will think of Her . Every time I walk through the doors of The Comedy Store I know she will be there . Still Watching , judging and Guiding . You will truly be Missed .@thecomedystore @Comedians around the world.@paulyshore @shorefamily

A post shared by Andrew Dice Clay (@andrewdiceclay) on Apr 11, 2018 at 12:08pm Pdt

#RIPMitziShore Sending all my love and thoughts and prayers with the Shore family. @PaulyShore ❤️

— Ken Jeong (@kenjeong) April 11, 2018

Mitzi Shore was a pioneer who gave more comics their start than I can count…I did my first legit comedy gig at the Store. She was a woman in a male dominated business who pulled no punches, something I always admired. My heart goes out to @paulyshore and the entire Shore family pic.twitter.com/kabGgWMVuR

— Kathy Griffin (@kathygriffin) April 11, 2018

This amazing lady helped shape the American comedy landscape for decades. Mitzi Shore was, and will remain, an absolute legend. My condolences to @PaulyShore on the loss of his Mom and to the @TheComedyStore for the loss of a friend. https://t.co/slVgKMPgck

— KevinSmith (@ThatKevinSmith) April 11, 2018

Mitzi, you gave me my first home, my first family, my first safe space to be weird and creative and female and complicated. You gave me permission to be fierce and authentic and to take risks. Thank you for believing in us broken toys, and for helping us heal ourselves.

— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) April 8, 2018

???? https://t.co/hPCwwPJjf9

— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) April 11, 2018

Mitzi Shore made an indelible mark on comedy and my brain. ‘You’re a poet. You should wear a scarf on stage.’ Rip

— marc maron (@marcmaron) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi Shore. I should’ve taken the doorman job when you offered it to me.

— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi @TheComedyStore Thanks for being the first person to ever believe in me. I love you. My thoughts and prayers are with the Shore family. Scott, Sandy, Peter, and Pauly. Love you all. Mike. #thecomedystore #mitzishore pic.twitter.com/T2KHNX4sx0

— Mike Binder (@MikeBinderjokes) April 11, 2018

A legend in my industry has passed but will never be forgotten. I’m sure all my comrades over at @TheComedyStore will honor Mitzi Shore on the highest level. #Rip to a legendary woman. pic.twitter.com/HymFNthpaJ

— Chad Zumock (@chadzumock) April 11, 2018

Sad to hear of the passing of Mitzi Shore. The Comedy Store on Sunset was the "Cape Canaveral" of comedy launching upcoming comics into orbit. My condolences to @PaulyShore and his family. https://t.co/qFbIRxqwwK

— Brian O'Halloran (@BrianCOHalloran) April 11, 2018

So sorry to hear about the passing of Mitzi Shore. I performed stand up for the first time ever at the Comedy Store. Getting passed by Mitzi and getting my name on the wall is one of the things I’m most proud of in my career. Sending lots of love to @PaulyShore & @TheComedyStore.

— Fortune Feimster (@fortunefunny) April 11, 2018

#MitziShore created something very special for comics and a very special space for women. She was ahead of her time, a true outlier. Her legacy has had a direct impact on the comic I have become and, for that, I am forever grateful. ❤️???? I’m sorry @PaulyShore @TheComedyStore

— Iliza Shlesinger (@iliza) April 11, 2018

Rip to the mother of all comedy Mitzi Shore. The laughs won't be the same, but the legacy will live on forever.

— stu stone (@stustone) April 11, 2018

We lost a pioneer, visionary, mom, and all-around bad ass person today.

Thank you for everything you did for comedy, your legacy will continue on forever.

Rest In Peace Mitzi Shore.

I’m sorry for your loss @PaulyShore

— bert kreischer (@bertkreischer) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi Shore. Thank you for changing all of our lives for the better.

— Josh Wolf (@joshwolfcomedy) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi Shore. Thanks for all you’ve done for so many comedians.

— Adam Hunter (@AdamComedian) April 11, 2018

Rest In Peace, Mitzi Shore.

— Johnny Taylor, Jr. (@hipsterocracy) April 11, 2018

Mitzi Shore died today. She was a titan in the world of comedy. Though my comedy path has kept me in NYC, what Mitzi did at the Comedy Store in La changed modern standup. The room she built and the talent she fostered helped make standup what it is today. Thank you Mitzi.

— Dan Lamorte (@DanLaMorte) April 11, 2018

In the early 80’s I dated actor/comedian Gabe Kaplan, and he introduced me to a very talented comedian by the name of Roseanne Barr @therealroseanne ???? while she was performing at the ‘Comedy Store.’

???? #ComedyStore Owner #MitziShore R.I.P. ????https://t.co/6sOqDVYury

— Robbin Young (@Robbin_Young) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi Shore, the only person I ever met who could make you feel like being declared an "unpaid regular" was an accomplishment.

— J. Elvis Weinstein (@JElvisWeinstein) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi Shore – She was and will forever be the most innovative and influential person in stand up comedy. The Comedy Store is not just a club, but a community where I've met friends that I will have for the rest of my life. Mitzi – Love you, you're impossible to follow.

— Al Madrigal (@almadrigal) April 11, 2018

Rip Mitzi Shore. @thecomedystore is such a special place. There's no other place like it. I have such respect and admiration for what she built.

— Luis J. Gomez (@luisjgomez) April 11, 2018

Read original story Mitzi Shore Mourned by Top Comics, Son Pauly: ‘My Heart Lays Heavy’ At TheWrap...

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