Chapter 5: Love Me, Love Me Not
Audition night at the Comedy store was on Monday night. And you would audition at the Improv on Sundays. Both processes involved waiting outside in a line with the other hopeful auditioners.
I went to the Improv first, I stood in line, and at some point I went on stage and performed. Afterwards either Dottie Archibald or Joanne Astrow came up to me and said to make sure I came back next week because Budd would definitely want to see me. So that felt good.
The next night I went to THE COMEDY STORE. And I stood in line and got a spot and went up and had a great set. Robert Aguya and Danny Mora ran the Monday night auditions at THE STORE. They also ran a workshop on Sunday afternoons. Nice guys with the tough job of being gatekeepers to Mitzi Shore . So one of them came up and said they wanted me to come back the following week and audition for Mitzi.
By now I had had some conversations with different comics about the LA Comedy Scene, and it was becoming apparent that for the most part you worked either one room or the other, very few people worked both.
And it was a tough choice because THE IMPROV was the ultimate hangout, it had a bar and mingling area, and lots of show biz types were there. What it didn’t have was the best weeknight audience’s. They had an audience but the experience was not like THE STORE. The Comedy Store had probably the best audiences in the world, tightly packed and sold out (sounds like_____ fill in the blank with your own punch line, my best so far is Anna Nicole Smith, but if you give me a better one I will use it in the final draft). The Improv was more NY cool, and the Comedy store was LA LA LAND. The only comic who really worked both regularly was Leno. But you couldn’t count him. He had known Budd (Friedman) from NYC and moved to LA. He quickly became a top act at THE STORE, and when Budd moved out, he of course started working for Budd too. And he was too good and too big to have any club rivalries affect him. But in the course of 24 hours I had performed at and done very well at both rooms. Both clubs had told me that I should come back for the owners to see me. I was one month away from my 24th birthday. And I had the ego-tripping situation occur in my life that allowed me to think I could somehow work both.
Well now I had 6 days to kill before I had to go back to the Improv and audition for Budd. I figured I had better get out and see what kind of competition I was up against. So for the first and only time in my life I paid to see a show at a comedy club. I went to see a show at THE COMEDY STORE.
The weekday shows ran from 8pm to 2am. I got there early and bought my ticket and 2 drinks, and sat in the front row. (Actually I bought a small bottle of Mateus Rose, it counted as 2 drinks and was cheaper than 2 separate mixed drinks) Now remember I was a latter day hippie at the time. I was 6 feet tall, with a giant Afro, I weighed 155 lbs, and I wore bib overalls. I stayed and watched the entire show for 6 hours. I needed to see what I was up against, what and whom I had to compete with. The show started off with an MC and then 2 to 4 comics who I was not familiar with. The only one I can remember was Mike Binder , and he had a bit called “A DAY AT DISNEY LAND” Where he would take 2 steps and wait for 10 seconds looking at his watch, then he would do a left turn and take 2 more steps and wait 10 seconds, then 2 more steps, well you get the idea. Everyone was good and the room was filling up. Then around 9, I noticed that all of the comics were comics I had seen before on the tonight show. Bobby Kelton , Skip Stephenson , Johnny Dark , George Miller , Tom Dreeson . And all of these guys were killing. The Original Room of the Comedy Store was a remarkable place. In regards to the laughter that could be generated there, it was truly magical. They were doing 15-minute sets and they were hammering one after another, and they were all doing clean Material, no one said Fuck, no one was doing sex or toilet material, and they were all hammering the audience. Then they introduced David Letterman .
It is hard to explain what this was like, I have told this story to young comics for years and it is hard to do it justice. But it was like going from Black and White to Color in the Wizard of OZ. David got the same level of laughter on his set-ups, that the other comics got on their punch lines. Just the ironic image he established was enough to kill, and then when he followed through with his punch line they went to a different level, a different kind of Laugh. I suppose the best compliment is that I can still remember many of his jokes, and can repeat them word for word.
I went to a diner and ordered a hamburger and fries, and when the waiter brought it he said, “the cook burned the French fries, so to make it up to you I gave you some extra fries” (big laugh) ONE THING I LIKE BETTER THAN BAD FOOD AND THAT’S PLENTY OF IT! (Huge sustained laughter with applause).
At some point there was a heckle and I noticed Dave said “Fuck”, the first time of the night, by anyone. It was now about 10:30 or 11:00. The comic energy now shifted and they were freer with their language and subject matter. The next comic was Bob Shaw , I had seen him on an HBO special a couple of years earlier and I thought he was great. He crushed. Then it was Tim Thomerson , full of characters and a classic bit about the movie STAGECOACH. Crushed. “And now ladies and gentlemen please welcome the star of MORK AND MINDY, ROBIN WILLIAMS” The room went nuts and Robin was brilliant for 30 minutes, and I was in the front row.
He got off stage to a standing ovation and ¾’s of the audience left, and there was still another 90 minutes of show left. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. I made my way to the back hallway of the comedy store where all of these comics were milling about. I went up to David Letterman who was sitting on the steps that would eventually lead up to the THE BELLY ROOM. But it was now just a rather narrow set of disused steps and with me standing in front of him I suppose I had him somewhat blocked in. I introduced myself, and told him I had seen him on The Tonight show, and I wanted to ask him a question. And he gave me a look that included a glance over my shoulder that I now realize was probably him looking for help from somewhere (the security glance, the look that says “My god, there is a tall skinny kid with an afro wearing bib overalls blocking me in the stairwell, HELP!!!). I asked him if he felt there was any harm in trying to work both rooms in town, was I going to make it more difficult for myself if I tried to work both. He mumbled something about there not being any problem that he was aware of and I walked away. I walked back down the dark hallway, trying to stay out of the way of the waitresses, and in the hallway was Tom Dreeson. I went up to Tom and he said “Hey it’s a young Muledeer” (a reference to a comic whose trade mark was his large head of curly hair) I told him I was a comic who had just moved into town from Chicago, and all of the Chicago comics had said to make sure to look up Dreeson, maybe he could help get me started. He indicated there was nothing he could do and said to someone else “all of these guys come from Chicago and think I can do something for them.”
I left the club and my thoughts were simple, how am I going to ever get into a show like that. It was like looking at the Yankees line up, where do I fit in. But inside I felt I was somehow destined to be there so, I just needed to do what had to be done.
The following Sunday I was back at the Improv, and this time I went up in front of Budd, AND I KILLED. Budd came up to me afterwards and literally put his arm around my shoulder and told me to “stick around because you are going to be a star”. (I have had a lot of ups and downs over the years since then, and stardom has eluded me, but I will say this. Budd Friedman’s approval and support that night has stayed with me ever since then. I am forever grateful for that moment, it told me I had something valuable to contribute.) Budd walked me over to the Red Book, a large appointment book that was on the reception podium, this book is where he put his line-ups for the shows, and he gave me spots for the upcoming week right then. I knew this was special. Bruce Smirnoff has since told me that he and others who witnessed it that night were filled with envy. I was having happen what every comic who moved to LA would want to have happen. I had been discovered.
The next night I went to the Comedy store, and I figured that this would be a breeze. Pass both clubs in 24 hours. It was a similar situation. The audience was packed in, and since it was an audition for Mitzi Shore, I was in the heart of the show. I had what was frankly one of the best sets of my short career, I crushed and the audience loved me. I cannot say for sure if it was a standing ovation, (although I am certain I have said it was at different times over the years, forgive me for my exaggeration). I can say it was a thunderous and sustained ovation. I was in the hallway where I had spoken to David Letterman and Tom Dreeson a few nights before and the audience was still applauding. I think it was Danny Mora who came up and said “Well, you aren’t going to get a better time talk to Mitzi”. So I made my way through the crowd over to her booth. The Audience was still applauding and I was getting back slaps and handshakes and a lot of “atta boys”. And I walked up to Mitzi and she said “Don’t let that fool you, you aren’t funny.”
I went to the Improv first, I stood in line, and at some point I went on stage and performed. Afterwards either Dottie Archibald or Joanne Astrow came up to me and said to make sure I came back next week because Budd would definitely want to see me. So that felt good.
The next night I went to THE COMEDY STORE. And I stood in line and got a spot and went up and had a great set. Robert Aguya and Danny Mora ran the Monday night auditions at THE STORE. They also ran a workshop on Sunday afternoons. Nice guys with the tough job of being gatekeepers to Mitzi Shore . So one of them came up and said they wanted me to come back the following week and audition for Mitzi.
By now I had had some conversations with different comics about the LA Comedy Scene, and it was becoming apparent that for the most part you worked either one room or the other, very few people worked both.
And it was a tough choice because THE IMPROV was the ultimate hangout, it had a bar and mingling area, and lots of show biz types were there. What it didn’t have was the best weeknight audience’s. They had an audience but the experience was not like THE STORE. The Comedy Store had probably the best audiences in the world, tightly packed and sold out (sounds like_____ fill in the blank with your own punch line, my best so far is Anna Nicole Smith, but if you give me a better one I will use it in the final draft). The Improv was more NY cool, and the Comedy store was LA LA LAND. The only comic who really worked both regularly was Leno. But you couldn’t count him. He had known Budd (Friedman) from NYC and moved to LA. He quickly became a top act at THE STORE, and when Budd moved out, he of course started working for Budd too. And he was too good and too big to have any club rivalries affect him. But in the course of 24 hours I had performed at and done very well at both rooms. Both clubs had told me that I should come back for the owners to see me. I was one month away from my 24th birthday. And I had the ego-tripping situation occur in my life that allowed me to think I could somehow work both.
Well now I had 6 days to kill before I had to go back to the Improv and audition for Budd. I figured I had better get out and see what kind of competition I was up against. So for the first and only time in my life I paid to see a show at a comedy club. I went to see a show at THE COMEDY STORE.
The weekday shows ran from 8pm to 2am. I got there early and bought my ticket and 2 drinks, and sat in the front row. (Actually I bought a small bottle of Mateus Rose, it counted as 2 drinks and was cheaper than 2 separate mixed drinks) Now remember I was a latter day hippie at the time. I was 6 feet tall, with a giant Afro, I weighed 155 lbs, and I wore bib overalls. I stayed and watched the entire show for 6 hours. I needed to see what I was up against, what and whom I had to compete with. The show started off with an MC and then 2 to 4 comics who I was not familiar with. The only one I can remember was Mike Binder , and he had a bit called “A DAY AT DISNEY LAND” Where he would take 2 steps and wait for 10 seconds looking at his watch, then he would do a left turn and take 2 more steps and wait 10 seconds, then 2 more steps, well you get the idea. Everyone was good and the room was filling up. Then around 9, I noticed that all of the comics were comics I had seen before on the tonight show. Bobby Kelton , Skip Stephenson , Johnny Dark , George Miller , Tom Dreeson . And all of these guys were killing. The Original Room of the Comedy Store was a remarkable place. In regards to the laughter that could be generated there, it was truly magical. They were doing 15-minute sets and they were hammering one after another, and they were all doing clean Material, no one said Fuck, no one was doing sex or toilet material, and they were all hammering the audience. Then they introduced David Letterman .
It is hard to explain what this was like, I have told this story to young comics for years and it is hard to do it justice. But it was like going from Black and White to Color in the Wizard of OZ. David got the same level of laughter on his set-ups, that the other comics got on their punch lines. Just the ironic image he established was enough to kill, and then when he followed through with his punch line they went to a different level, a different kind of Laugh. I suppose the best compliment is that I can still remember many of his jokes, and can repeat them word for word.
I went to a diner and ordered a hamburger and fries, and when the waiter brought it he said, “the cook burned the French fries, so to make it up to you I gave you some extra fries” (big laugh) ONE THING I LIKE BETTER THAN BAD FOOD AND THAT’S PLENTY OF IT! (Huge sustained laughter with applause).
At some point there was a heckle and I noticed Dave said “Fuck”, the first time of the night, by anyone. It was now about 10:30 or 11:00. The comic energy now shifted and they were freer with their language and subject matter. The next comic was Bob Shaw , I had seen him on an HBO special a couple of years earlier and I thought he was great. He crushed. Then it was Tim Thomerson , full of characters and a classic bit about the movie STAGECOACH. Crushed. “And now ladies and gentlemen please welcome the star of MORK AND MINDY, ROBIN WILLIAMS” The room went nuts and Robin was brilliant for 30 minutes, and I was in the front row.
He got off stage to a standing ovation and ¾’s of the audience left, and there was still another 90 minutes of show left. I had never seen anything like it before in my life. I made my way to the back hallway of the comedy store where all of these comics were milling about. I went up to David Letterman who was sitting on the steps that would eventually lead up to the THE BELLY ROOM. But it was now just a rather narrow set of disused steps and with me standing in front of him I suppose I had him somewhat blocked in. I introduced myself, and told him I had seen him on The Tonight show, and I wanted to ask him a question. And he gave me a look that included a glance over my shoulder that I now realize was probably him looking for help from somewhere (the security glance, the look that says “My god, there is a tall skinny kid with an afro wearing bib overalls blocking me in the stairwell, HELP!!!). I asked him if he felt there was any harm in trying to work both rooms in town, was I going to make it more difficult for myself if I tried to work both. He mumbled something about there not being any problem that he was aware of and I walked away. I walked back down the dark hallway, trying to stay out of the way of the waitresses, and in the hallway was Tom Dreeson. I went up to Tom and he said “Hey it’s a young Muledeer” (a reference to a comic whose trade mark was his large head of curly hair) I told him I was a comic who had just moved into town from Chicago, and all of the Chicago comics had said to make sure to look up Dreeson, maybe he could help get me started. He indicated there was nothing he could do and said to someone else “all of these guys come from Chicago and think I can do something for them.”
I left the club and my thoughts were simple, how am I going to ever get into a show like that. It was like looking at the Yankees line up, where do I fit in. But inside I felt I was somehow destined to be there so, I just needed to do what had to be done.
The following Sunday I was back at the Improv, and this time I went up in front of Budd, AND I KILLED. Budd came up to me afterwards and literally put his arm around my shoulder and told me to “stick around because you are going to be a star”. (I have had a lot of ups and downs over the years since then, and stardom has eluded me, but I will say this. Budd Friedman’s approval and support that night has stayed with me ever since then. I am forever grateful for that moment, it told me I had something valuable to contribute.) Budd walked me over to the Red Book, a large appointment book that was on the reception podium, this book is where he put his line-ups for the shows, and he gave me spots for the upcoming week right then. I knew this was special. Bruce Smirnoff has since told me that he and others who witnessed it that night were filled with envy. I was having happen what every comic who moved to LA would want to have happen. I had been discovered.
The next night I went to the Comedy store, and I figured that this would be a breeze. Pass both clubs in 24 hours. It was a similar situation. The audience was packed in, and since it was an audition for Mitzi Shore, I was in the heart of the show. I had what was frankly one of the best sets of my short career, I crushed and the audience loved me. I cannot say for sure if it was a standing ovation, (although I am certain I have said it was at different times over the years, forgive me for my exaggeration). I can say it was a thunderous and sustained ovation. I was in the hallway where I had spoken to David Letterman and Tom Dreeson a few nights before and the audience was still applauding. I think it was Danny Mora who came up and said “Well, you aren’t going to get a better time talk to Mitzi”. So I made my way through the crowd over to her booth. The Audience was still applauding and I was getting back slaps and handshakes and a lot of “atta boys”. And I walked up to Mitzi and she said “Don’t let that fool you, you aren’t funny.”