Improv
Regular price
€19.99
Budd Friedman the man who could well be called the father of the modern comedy club was born in Norwich Connecticut moved to New York fought in Korea and returned to Manhattan where he obtained a degree in Advertising and Marketing from New York University. Less than enthralled with advertising he hit upon the idea that was to become the Improvisation. The rest as they say is history. Ever the entrepreneur Budd produced a political/satirical theatrical revue in New York entitled What's a Nice Country Like You Doing in a State Like This? He became Jay Leno and Bette Midler's first manager and in 1975 he opened a West Coast branch of the Improv on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. Budd auditioned for and won the coveted role of Budd Friedman in Man on the Moon the biopic about Andy Kaufman starring Jim Carrey and Danny DeVito. In 2002 he hosted and executive produced a one-hour primetime special for NBC celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Improv. He also co-created and executive produced National Lampoon's Funny Money for the Game Show Network. More recently he reprised his role of Budd Friedman in Judd Aptow's Funny People. He continues to bring stand-up into the hearts and minds of everyone in the United States. As of 2015 there were 22 Improv comedy clubs in 12 states. Tripp Whetsell is a New York-based author entertainment journalist and critic specializing in comedy television film music and pop culture history. His work has appeared both in print and online for such publications as VanityFair.com TV Guide The Wall Street Journal New York Post The New York Times New York Magazine New York Daily News Closer Weekly The Los Angeles Times and The Hollywood Reporter. This is his third book.