What you need to know about Pauly Shore

**Curt James** · 08-09-2011, 05:24 PM

What you need to know about Pauly Shore

By Abbey Goodman, Special to CNN
UPDATED: 03:57 PM EDT 08.09.11

Here's what you need to know about Pauly Shore: You can't make any joke about him that he hasn't made about himself, because he loves to play the victim.

"It's like a roast. Or Rodney Dangerfield with 'No Repsect,' " he says. "I giggle when I put myself down. It's just funny to me."

After his glory days of chilling major as the Weasel on MTV and his foray into mainstream movies with stoner comedies like "Encino Man" and "Bio-Dome," Shore's career stalled.

It was when the offers dried up that Shore took matters into his own hands and created a new character: self-deprecating former star. He threw himself into stand-up and began creating starring roles for himself once again with independent films that he wrote, directed and produced.

"You've got two choices," he says. "You can either make a s--tload of money -- not me personally, but someone in the business who's very box office-friendly -- being cast in other people's stuff or do what I'm doing and not make any money but be 100% in control of it and make it exactly how I want it to be."

His latest project is a comedy special, "Vegas is My Oyster," airing on Showtime now. "Oyster" is a throwback to old-time variety shows, and in it, Shore plays the emcee and straight man trying to corral wildcards like Andy Dick and Tom Green during the AVN Awards weekend in Las Vegas.

Former Charlie Sheen goddess Bree Olson, Ron Jeremy, Dave Navarro, Bobby Lee and Amber Lancaster also make appearances.

"It's quite a feat to try and pull off a show with all these people, getting them there, having them show up that night sober and looking good," Shore said.

But after contemplating every painstaking detail, down to which scalloped curtain to hang on stage, he's proud of his work.

"It's shot well; it's sexy; it's no-holds-barred and edgy. My main goal is to do something entertaining, and we're pushing the envelope on this particular show. I loved having the porno awards be the backdrop."

Shore is no stranger to a fast lifestyle. His comedian father, Sammy, was Elvis Presley's opening act and founded The Comedy Store in Los Angeles. His mother, Mitzi, has been running the club since 1973.

From an early age, Shore was around lady-loving, hard-partying legends like Sam Kinison and Richard Pryor. Back in his MTV days, he romped with "Lisa Lisa," and he's been a frequent guest at the Playboy mansion.

"I think I'm living a lot of guys' dreams. For sure," he says.

"But I am a guilt-free person," he continues. "Unlike Tiger Woods or Arnold Schwarzenegger or any of these guys that live the unfaithful, cheating lie, or even women who live that lie, I'm not that person. I was when I was younger, but I chose the wrong girls to date. Now I still choose those girls, but I also know that it's not going anywhere. I don't promise them anything; they don't promise me anything. It's very light. I have enough drama in my own life. Plus, I like having different girlfriends in different places that I travel."

If Shore, 43, were to settle down, he says a Sharon Osbourne type is his ideal.

"At the end of the day, I think, don't quote me on this -- and you can even say don't quote me -- that's probably the type of girl that I would wind up with. She loves him and protects him but also manages him and cares for him. I think if Ozzy didn't have Sharon, he would be dead by now."

Until that love comes along for him, Shore will be on the road.

"Remember that (Life cereal) commercial, 'I know, let's get Mikey to do it!' I'm like the Mikey of comedians," he says.

"I go to markets that no one would ever go to. Those are my fans. People always ask me, who are your fans? My fans are people that live in Jackson, Michigan, and also (the) TSA. They love me."

From CNN.com

**RAWS n More** · 08-09-2011, 05:28 PM

i Met him @ ******** beach in 1992. He was on top of the bar doing the pee-wee in 6 inch heels. Talked to him for a few, very personable guy.

SIDE NOTE-

Shore grew up in it, his parents owned the Laugh Factory. From Steve Martin to Sam Kennison played there. Murphy,Seinfeld,Williams,All the greats did many many shows there. He did do his own thing, you cannot dent that, like him or not.

**Curt James** · 08-09-2011, 05:49 PM

The Comedy Store

The Comedy Store General information Address: 8433 West Sunset Boulevard
Town or city: Los Angeles, California
Country: United States
Website: The Comedy Store :: Comedy Tickets

The Comedy Store is a comedy club located in West Hollywood, California, at 8433 Sunset Boulevard on the Sunset Strip. It has a sister comedy club in La Jolla, San Diego, California.[1]
History

The Comedy Store was opened in April 1972 by comedians Sammy Shore and Rudy DeLuca. The building was formerly the home of Ciro's, a hugely popular Hollywood nightclub owned by William Wilkerson, and later a rock and roll venue,[2] where The Byrds were discovered in 1964. When the venue reopened as The Comedy Store in 1972, it included a 99-seat theatre, where Johnny Carson was one of the first comics to perform.[3]

As a result of a divorce settlement, Sammy Shore's ex-wife Mitzi Shore began operating the club in 1973, and she was able to buy the building in 1976. She immediately renovated and expanded the club to include a 450-seat main room.[3]

In 2005, Sammy Shore's son Pauly Shore starred in the TBS reality show Minding the Store. The series followed Shore as he pretended to take control of The Comedy Store and attempted to "revitalize" it. In truth, the failed series resulted in the ousting of Shore from the board of directors and the installation of his brother, Peter, as CEO of The Comedy Store.

Since then, the Comedy Store has seen a gradual increase in attendance and is currently experiencing a period of stability and success.

Job Action

Beginning in 1979, The Comedy Store served for many years as the host location for the annual HBO Young Comedians specials. Also that year, stand-up comedians formed a short-lived labor union and demanded to be paid for their appearances at the Comedy Store.

For five weeks, several famous comedians staged a protest in front of the club, while others crossed the picket line. The comedians involved formed a union called Comedians for Compensation and fought for pay where they had received none before.

They eventually picketed in front of the club when their demands were not met. Jay Leno and David Letterman were amongst those on the picket line. The job action was not legally a strike as the comedians were classified as "independent contractors" and were not under contract with the club.

Mitzi Shore argued that the club was and had always been a showcase and training ground for young comedians and wasn't about profits.

She alleged that comedians came to the club and could work on their material in front of casting agents and other talent scouts who would possibly hire them as professionals if they were good enough.

The comedians at the club became unhappy when the club was expanded several times and it was perceived that Shore's profits were quite substantial.

Shore also paid the rest of her staff, including waitresses and bartenders.

Several of the young comedians who had moved to Los Angeles to make it big were so poor they could not afford 3 meals a day or even housing. [4]

Jay Leno briefly lived in his car upon first arriving in LA and performing at the club. After the strike some comedians were no longer allowed to perform at the club, including Steve Lubetkin, who committed suicide in front of the building by jumping off the roof of the Continental Hyatt House next door. His suicide note included the line: "My name is Steve Lubetkin. I used to work at the Comedy Store."[5]

Lubetkin hoped that his suicide would resolve the labor dispute. He also cited Shore as the reason he no longer had a job. The union ceased to exist as of 1980, although from the time of the job action onward, comedians in Los Angeles were paid for their shows.

This included the Comedy Store and the Improv.

Alumni
• Tim Allen
• Louie Anderson
• Bill Bailey
• Roseanne Barr
• John Belushi
• Sandra Bernhard
• Elaine Boosler[3]
• Ross Bennett
• Billy Braver
• David Brenner
• Bill Burr
• George Carlin
• Jim Carrey
• Johnny Carson
• Dave Chappelle
• Chevy Chase
• Gil Christner
• Matthew Clark ("Knowledge Factory")
• Andrew Dice Clay
• Billy Crystal
• Jeff Dandurand
• Rodney Dangerfield
• Gaylord Dingler
• Tom Dreesen
• Redd Foxx
• Gallagher
• Whoopi Goldberg[3]
• Arsenio Hall
• Joel Hodgson
• Bill Hicks
• Dom Irrera
• Jimmy & Joey
• Andy Kaufman
• Martin Lawrence
• Freddy Lockhart
• Michael Keaton[3]
• Sam Kinison
• Bobby Lee
• Richard Lewis
• Jay Leno[3]
• David Letterman[3]
• Jay London
• Howie Mandel
• Marc Maron
• Steve Martin
• Ralphie May
• Edie McClurg
• Carlos Mencia
• Dennis Miller
• Noël Elgrably
• "MONROK"
• Paul Mooney
• Eddie Murphy[3]
• Bob Oschack
• Russell Peters
• Dat Phan
• Joseph Porter ("Knowledge Factory")
• Richard Pryor[3]
• Paul Rodriguez[3]
• Joe Rogan
• Chris Rush
• Bob Saget
• Ari Shaffir
• Iliza Shlesinger
• Jerry Seinfeld
• Gary Shandling[3]
• Yakov Smirnoff
• Phil Snyder
• Freddy Soto
• The Unknown Comic
• Jimmie Walker
• Damon Wayans
• Robin Williams
• Thomas F. Wilson

The history of the young comedians coming to Los Angeles in the 1970s and performing at the club is told in the book, "I'm Dying Up Here," by William Knoedelseder.

Unsolved Mysteries

The Comedy Store was featured in an episode of the supernatural documentary, Unsolved Mysteries, which told reports of the Comedy Store being haunted.

Comedians Blake Clark and Joey Gaynor told their stories of their encounters with the paranormal.

From Wikipedia

**LAM** · 08-09-2011, 05:50 PM

I put him in the same class with Dane Cook

**Curt James** · 08-09-2011, 06:59 PM

Raws, cool story. How much was talent and how much was nepotism? Is that the word? I knew his parents were in the business from either hearing it on TV or from a People-type magazine.

LAM, I've only seen Dane Cook in one or two things. Guess I'd agree.

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