The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club that Revolutionized Stand-Up

by Budd Friedman, Tripp Whetsell, Jay Leno (Foreword)

Featured in the New York Times 2017 "Holiday Gift Guide for Hardcover Fans"

Get an insider's oral history of the World's most iconic comedy club, featuring exclusive interviews with today's most hilarious stars recalling their time on stage (and off) at the Improv. 

In 1963, 30-year-old Budd Friedman—who had recently quit his job as a Boston advertising executive and returned to New York to become a theatrical producer—opened a coffee house for Broadway performers called the Improvisation. Later shortened to the Improv, its first seedy West 44th Street location initially attracted the likes of Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli, Albert Finney, and Jason Robards, as well as a couple of then-unknowns named Dustin Hoffman and Bette Midler. 

While it drew near-capacity crowds almost from day one, it wasn't until comedians began dropping by to try out new material that the Improv truly hit its stride. The club became the first venue to present live stand-up in a continuous format, and in the process reinvented the art form and created the template for all other comedy clubs that followed. 

From the microphone to the iconic brick wall, the Improv has been the launching pad for practically every major name in American comedy over the last five-plus decades. Now, in The Improv , Friedman, along with a Who's Who of his most famous alumni—including Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Larry David, Billy Crystal, Lily Tomlin, Judd Apatow, Al Franken, Paul Reiser, Howie Mandel, Bob Saget, Drew Carey, and many more—tell it like it was in the first-ever oral history of how this game-changing comedy club came to be.  

The Improv gives readers an exclusive look at what really happened onstage and off-mic at one of America's most venerable institutions.

Genres: Nonfiction, Comedy, History, Humor, Memoir, Audiobook, Oral History

400 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2017

Reviews

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5++

I love comedy and really enjoyed this book about the comedy club, The Improv, and its start in NYC and later in LA. Many of our comedy legends started out doing stand-up on its stage, such as, Jay Leno, Richard Pryor, Jerry Seinfeld, Robin Williams, and on and on. Comedy clubs were really big in the 1970s through the 1980s, including, Catch a Rising Star, and the Comedy Store. There's a lot a great history from The Improv in this book so I highly recommend it.

[Jeff Wait · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of comedy history happened in front of that brick wall. I loved how many people were able to tell their stories. Excellent reading for comics and comedy fans alike. The author reminds me of Jerry Buss.

[Keith Chawgo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Budd Friedman and Tripp Whetsell have put together the history of The Improv which gave birth to many of our comedy genius in the past and present. Told from Budd’s point of view, the history of The Improv is detailed from its grass roots beginning into the recognisable name that it is today.

Interspersed with interviews and soundbytes from comedians and there are some chapters dedicated to people like Jay Leno and Andy Kaufman. This is an interesting and thought provoking history of an iconic comedy institution though there are times this seems a little uneven. This is basically a warts and all tale of the rise and tragedy of comedy.

Budd Friedman should really be recognised for the talent that he has discovered over the years such as Jerry Seinfeld and Richard Klein to name just a couple. He has put a lot of blood, sweat and tears over the years and has suffered some serious setbacks as well. This is a brave and thought provoking history that should please anyone who is interested in the working of a successful comedy club especially a club that has stood the test of time in the ever changing environment that it finds itself in.

Overall, this is highly recommended and a few lessons are learned whilst reading through this insightful autobiography. All the emotions are there and there really always tears behind the laughs when it comes to comedy and this book surely delves into all the nooks and crannies. There are a few let downs which are probably more down to lawsuits and litigation but there is enough information to figure out who he is generally talking about.

This is a winner of a novel and enjoyable read that is highly recommended.

[Mac · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just not very interesting. Reads as much like a hagiography as an oral history. Not as fun or capitvating a read as books like "The Comedians" or "Wild and Crazy Guys."

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Budd Friedman changed comedy. In 1963, a would-be Broadway producer opened a little after-hours place where theater performers could come and find a welcoming stage. Singers like Liza Minelli and Bette Midler would come and sing with the house piano player, Barry Manilow. Actors like Jason Robards and Albert Finney would hang out at the little coffee shop in Hell's Kitchen. 

But it wasn't until the The Improvisation, later renamed The Improv, turned into an outlet for young comedians that the club and Friedman himself become the iconic star-maker that it still is today. Comedians such as Robert Klein, Robert Lewis, and Jay Leno learned their comic chops on the stage of the Improv, and they in turn made it famous. Now it's hard to name a comedian who hasn't known time before that famous brick wall: Billy Crystal, Larry David, Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Lily Tomlin, Andy Kaufman, Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, Bob Saget, Howie Mandel, Jerry Seinfeld, and so many more. Dustin Hoffman would show up to play the piano every once in awhile, and none other than Danny Aiello was the bouncer. It was the place to be in New York City. 

All of the stories are here in The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club that Revolutionized Stand-Up, from the beginning of Budd Friedman's dream through his success and his mentorship of some of the greatest comedians of the last fifty years. A wealth of comedy shows, movies, books, and television shows can all trace their origins to the comedians who learned on Friedman's stage, and the next generations of comedians will no doubt still have much to thank him for. The man turned comedy into art, and we are all the better for his contribution to popular culture. 

Anyone who is interested in comedy should devour this book. With contributions from names throughout the world of entertainment, The Improv is a masterclass in making people laugh, in learning timing, and in the history of all our modern stand-up comedy legends. Required reading for all would-be comedians, most certainly, and fun reading for those of us who love to laugh. Very highly recommended. 



Galleys for The Improv were provided by BenBella Books through NetGalley.com, with many thanks. 

[Ravenclaw251 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading the behind-the-scenes about just about anything, and this book did not disappoint. It was a fascinating look back to The Improv, a comedy club, and how so many greats frequented there. If you like comedy, I would strongly recommend this wonderful book.

Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Michael Emond · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are much better books I have read lately about the history of comedy (I'm Dying up Here and The Comedians) but this was still a very enjoyable read of THE most influential comedy club ever. As I have seen in some other reviews - the format of the book is a little shot gun in the sense there isn't a clear narrative and the timeline speeds up as we get into the 80's and 90's. We get some quotes from comedians and people who worked at the club and we get Budd (the founder of the Improv) interjecting his thoughts. Even though that can be jarring, I think it worked well because a) the quotes from the people who are there were the most interesting and b) Budd is the perfect example of the unreliable narrator. I got the feeling from what he wrote (and a few choice quotes about him) that he tried to paint himself in a nicer light than he was in reality. That isn't to take away from what he did to help so many comedians and how he changed the idea of stand up by offering comedians a venue to practice their art in - but I get the feeling he wasn't as magnanimous as he tried to come across. He glosses over a lot - e.g. His divorce and what led to it and how he treated many of the comics.

I have also seen a few reviews who are upset with how he portrays Mitzi Shore- a competing comedy club owner in LA (because she is dead and can't defend herself). But I actually thought that was done fairly. It is from his perspective and by any accounts I have read of her she doesn't come across as a likeable person.

Overall it felt like a long read because of its format but it was always an enjoyable read. If you are interested in the history of stand up I would consider this a must read. 3.5 stars (Come on Goodreads! - let me give out half stars :)

[Ellen Klock · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are fascinated by all things Broadway, yearn to read memoirs full of namedropping, and love the world of comedy, then The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club Which Revolutionized Stand Up written by Budd Friedman with the help of Tripp Whetsell and an introduction by Jay Leno is the book for you.

Full of comments and tributes from the recognizable major players who found the Improv a haven, Budd tells his saga of the hows and whys of the Improv’s existence and the details which led to not only its success but its role in launching many a comedian into the national spotlight on both coasts. Surprisingly readable, this is the opportunity to be the fly on the wall and discover the behind the scenes scuttlebutt of what happened when both the newbies and established members of the “Biz” let their hair down. A good book to add to your voyeur collection.

Four stars and a thank you to Netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review also appears on my blog Gotta Read:

https://ellenk59.wordpress.com/2019/0...

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is really odd to me in its writing format. Good, but odd. I must admit the format drove me insane because it felt more like I was sitting in a room with a bunch of comedians sitting around having random conversations versus a set timeline format. It made for interesting reading, but one couldn't skim this book because it was very easy to get lost in doing so.

Given my love for Amazon's new show, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, I jumped on this book. That is the feeling this book had. Reading that bouncing around was totally different from watching it though.

Reviewed for publisher through Netgalley.

[Bonnie Kernene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very interesting about the beginnings of the famous Improv club that so many comedians got their start at. I remember quite a few of them that were in the book that I had not thought of in a while. So many used the Improv as a stepping stone to success. I enjoyed watching show from there because they seemed to get some of the best comedians around: Robin Williams, Rodney Dangerfield, and so many others. The cast for the shows varied, but they all did a great job and it was so much fun. This is a book for you if you remember the shows and the comedians. It was a lot of fun to read about.

[Downward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've read a ton of books about this era of comedy, because I enjoy oral history stuff and I love stuff about closed communities but I'd like to see someone valorize any other era. It's all the same stories about the same twenty people. Steve Lubetkin didn't know he'd be in a hundred different books when he jumped from the roof of that hotel. Still. It's an interesting era and the people in it are well knows for a reason. They cultivated a thing that has evolved past what they ever could have imagined before it devolved into something they never could have imagined and I'd imagine that it'll ride that wave time and time again. But there are other eras worth discussing.

[Christian · Rating 4 out of 5]

THREE AND A HALF. I will literally read anything as long as it is in an oral history format. I could read about every bone in my body being broken, and, as long as it is presented as an oral history, I will read it. The chapters that are page after page of praise for Leno or Budd himself are tedious, but the chapters on Andy Kaufman and Freddie Prinze make up for them.

[Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy via Netgalley in exchange for a honest review.

First the negative part about this.
It mentioned a lot of American comedians that I had not heard of.
But other than the above I found this to be a fascinating insight into the growth of stand up comic's.
Highly recommended.

[Christa · Rating 3 out of 5]

For as much as I like stand up comedy I wanted to like this book more. The beginning was good, but once they moved to L.A. I felt it dragged. And I don't like certain comedians that got an entire chapter. I did enjoy hearing from the comedians themselves, but listening, it was often hard to know when it slipped back to Budd's voice.

[Nick Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love learning about these time periods and about the history. It’s a lot of fun to look up some of the performers who were massive but with whose work I was unfamiliar. For instance, Robert Klein (who now has a new fan) and David Brenner (to me, too locked into his 70s/80s comedy book time). This work is very much bent toward Budd Friedman’s own perspective of various conflicts.

[Phillip Frey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Friend of mine and I had known Budd Friedman back in the 1960's and '70's, and we had spent a lot of time at the Improve. I thought it would be a boring book. It wasn't. A great trip through the world of stand-up, past and present.

[Patti · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. I had expected detail on more comics rather than the select few he profiled.

[JZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Budd Friedman had no idea what would happen. So interesting, I listened twice to some sections. Amazing!

[P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read, littered with facts and factoids, but ultimately disjointed (at least when enjoyed as an audiobook) and barely more than superficial.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating!

[George · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories, unfortunately not very captivating.

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great history book. Always good to know the roots of something

[Hyde · Rating 4 out of 5]

3 1/2

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this history of The Improv, the institution that was instrumental in bringing stand-up comedy to the front of pop culture. Budd Friedman, the owner and founder of The Improv, is the narrator, but he splices in sound bytes from dozens of comedians who became household names.

If you enjoy the inner workings of the stand-up circuit, you'll love this collection of stories. Some chapters are focused on the rise of the club and Budd's struggles/recollections, and others are focused on specific comics, like Jay Leno and Andy Kaufman.

The book rides this great high until the very end, which left me a little disappointed. Budd mentioned bringing a lawsuit against an unnamed comedian, and it didn't seem to fit with the celebration of the rest of the book. The rest of the book is so candid - so much so that Budd has included some less-than-flattering comments about him from comics - and bringing up this bad blood and then not naming the other party seemed unresolved. The rest of the book paints the struggles of The Improv while also celebrating the successes.

[Great Writers Steal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mr. Friedman's story and his prose are equally entertaining. He had the kind of old-time show business experience that you see in the movies. When writing about the tragedies of his life, Mr. Friedman evokes the proper emotion without delving too deeply into pathos or evoking inappropriate laughter. (In one particularly powerful passage, Mr. Friedman describes how his father died at the age of thirty-six from an infection that would be a total non-issue in the age of modern medicine.) No, the author doesn't have to make you laugh on every page; he wisely modulates between different emotions in order to amplify the comic heights. Just like a good hour of comedy, The Improv teaches you a little, makes you chuckle and leaves you wanting more.

The book comes highly recommended and should be on the shelf (physical or digital) of any student of comedy. Those who don't consider themselves students of comedy should read the book to build up their understanding of the twentieth-century blossoming of comedy. Sure, it's all about making people laugh, but comedians are such an important part of our society, and their understanding (and alternate take) on our world make them an invaluable part of our cultural conversation.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great behind-the-scenes look of how many of our favorite comedians got started. Very readable.