Evening at the Improv, An – Nostalgia Central

1 9 8 1(USA)
1 9 8 8 – 1 9 9 5 (USA)
389 x 60 minute episodes

Initially syndicated in 1981 with Budd Friedman (the founder of the original Improv club in New York) as host, An Evening At The Improv became a long-running late-night showcase of stand-up comedy.

The show was broadcast from the famous improvisational comedy club in Los Angeles – first from the club on Melrose Avenue in Hollywood and later from the club at Santa Monica – on the A&E cable network.

From 1988, the show was hosted by guests – initially showbiz veterans such as Phyllis Diller, Phil Silvers and Milton Berle, but later the emphasis changed to attract a younger, hipper crowd (such as MTV‘s Martha Quinn).

Some of the guest hosts included Smokey Robinson, Tony Curtis, Paul Anka, Shirley Jones, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, Adam West, William Shatner, Bea Arthur, Wolfman Jack, Mickey Rooney, Barbara Eden, Kelsey Grammer, Twiggy, Shelley Winters, Mr T, and Mark Hamill.

Among the many comedians who featured over the years were Robin Williams, Adam Sandler, Phil Silvers, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, Arsenio Hall, Flip Wilson, Billy Crystal, Rosie O’Donnell, Rich Little, Ruth Buzzi, Rich Hall, Paul Reubens, Sandra Bernhard, Andrew Dice Clay, Jason Alexander, Janeane Garofalo, Paul Reiser, Weird Al Yankovic, Drew Carey, Rob Schneider, Denis Leary, Steven Wright, Tim Allen, Jeff Dunham, Michael Winslow, Ray Romano, Emo Philips, Jeff Foxworthy, Dave Chappelle, Rita Rudner, Dana Gould, Greg Proops, Tom Arnold, Paula Poundstone, Bill Maher, and many many others.

Budd Friedman died of heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in November 2022. He was 90.

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