The Green Room with Paul Provenza

Last updated
The Green Room with Paul Provenza
GreenRoomWithPaulProvenza.jpg
GenreTalk show
Created byPaul Provenza
Directed byMichael Franks, Barbara Romen
StarringProvenza and panel
Opening theme"Somebody Start a Fight or Something" by TISM
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes14
Production
Executive producers Barbara Romen
Paul Provenza
Production locationsThe Vanguard, Hollywood, CA
Running time30 min
Original release
NetworkShowtime
ReleaseJune 10, 2010 (2010-06-10) 
September 1, 2011 (2011-09-01)

The Green Room with Paul Provenza is a talk show on Showtime, hosted by Paul Provenza. [1] Each episode featured a panel of guests discussing comedy.

Contents

Synopsis

At the start of each episode, the camera would approach a stage door in an alley, where one of that series' guests appeared, only to warn the viewer off, saying that the event is for "comics only." In another nearby doorway, Provenza then motioned the viewer in, with the advice to "be cool," warning, "if you've ever been offended by anything, don't come in." The camera then followed Provenza into the building, via hallways and stairs to a final door, which would open onto the soundstage, where the evening's guests were already in conversation. [2] [3] After the show's halfway mark, if a guest uses music in their comedy act, such as Bo Burnham or Franklyn Ajaye, they may perform a comedic musical number. The song played during the opening and closing credits is a modified version of the song "Somebody Start a Fight or Something" by TISM (from their final album The White Albun ).

Production

The series was based on the live stage panel The Green Room, which Provenza hosts at the annual Montreal Just For Laughs Comedy Festival, where guests converse before a live audience, often predominantly of other comedians and other celebrities. [4] [5] The TV show was produced in Hollywood and videotaped at the Vanguard Club in Hollywood. [6] The final two episodes of the second season were Provenza's regular panels, recorded at the Mainline Theatre on July 30, 2011, in Montreal, at the Just For Laughs Festival. [7]

The show premiered on Showtime June 10, 2010, airing weekly for six episodes. Showtime subsequently announced its renewal for a second season, initially six episodes, on September 9, 2010. [8] [9] The second season premiered on July 14, 2011, [10] airing weekly for eight episodes. Showtime had not ordered a third season. [11]

Reception

The show received a range of positive and mixed reviews. The Los Angeles Times review noted "for every story that peters out, there are moments of insight, thought-provoking debates and hilarious anecdotes", and summarized, "for all its digressions into obscenities, over- or under-worked material and more than occasional chest pounding, The Green Room With Paul Provenza manages to pack a considerable intellectual punch into a half hour." [12] The A.V. Club reviewer Steve Heisler stated that the Showtime show, as compared to the Just for Laughs live show, "has too many factors keeping audiences at a distance." He gave the series premiere episode a "C+", citing the abrupt introduction of the viewer to the guests in mid-conversation, and the sometimes choppy editing which takes him "out of the moment." Heisler continued, "when the magic happens...", those "...moments are worth sticking around for, if only it weren't so hard to find them." [4] In 2010, the show made the Time magazine "The Short List of Things to Do," describing the show as a "loose, racy roundtable." [13] April MacIntyre, in Monsters and Critics, called the show "genius" and stated "the anecdotes are priceless for those who truly love comedy, comics and stand up as an art form." [6]

Episodes

Season 1 (2010)

No.GuestsOriginal air date
1 Drew Carey, Reginald D. Hunter, Eddie Izzard, Larry Miller June 10, 2010 (2010-06-10)
2 Sandra Bernhard, Patrice O'Neal, Roseanne Barr, Bob Saget June 17, 2010 (2010-06-17)
3 Brendon Burns, Andy Dick, Dana Gould, Andy Kindler June 24, 2010 (2010-06-24)
4 Jim Jefferies, Paul Mooney, Rain Pryor, Bobby Slayton July 1, 2010 (2010-07-01)
5 Robert Klein, Rick Overton, Jonathan Winters July 8, 2010 (2010-07-08)
6 Penn Jillette, Martin Mull, Tom Smothers July 15, 2010 (2010-07-15)

Season 2 (2011)

No.GuestsOriginal air date
7 Judd Apatow, Bo Burnham, Marc Maron, Ray Romano, Garry Shandling July 14, 2011 (2011-07-14)
8 Franklyn Ajaye, Dana Gould, Kathy Griffin, Greg Proops July 21, 2011 (2011-07-21)
9 Richard Belzer, Janeane Garofalo, Dave Attell, Doug Stanhope, Glenn Wool July 28, 2011 (2011-07-28)
10 Lewis Black, Ron White, Kathleen Madigan, Jamie Kilstein August 4, 2011 (2011-08-04)
11 Margaret Cho, Richard Lewis, Jeff Ross, Kumail Nanjiani August 11, 2011 (2011-08-11)
12 Tommy Chong, Joe Rogan, Rick Shapiro, Eddie Ifft August 18, 2011 (2011-08-18)
13 Bill Burr, Russell Peters, Colin Quinn, Caroline Rhea, Lizz Winstead August 25, 2011 (2011-08-25)
14 Jimmy Carr, Judah Friedlander, Chris Hardwick, Eddie Izzard, Tim Minchin September 1, 2011 (2011-09-01)

Related Research Articles

<i>M*A*S*H</i> (TV series) American war comedy-drama TV series (1972–1983)

M*A*S*H is an American war comedy drama television series that aired on CBS from September 17, 1972, to February 28, 1983. It was developed by Larry Gelbart as the first original spin-off series adapted from the 1970 feature film M*A*S*H, which, in turn, was based on Richard Hooker's 1968 novel MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors. The series, produced by 20th Century Fox Television for CBS, follows a team of doctors and support staff stationed at the "4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital" in Uijeongbu, South Korea, during the Korean War (1950–53).

<i>Weeds</i> (TV series) American dark comedy-drama television series

Weeds is an American dark comedy-drama television series created by Jenji Kohan, which aired on Showtime from August 8, 2005, to September 16, 2012. The series tells of Nancy Botwin, a widowed mother of two boys who begins selling marijuana to support her family. Other main characters include Nancy's lax brother-in-law ; foolish accountant Doug Wilson ; narcissistic neighbor Celia Hodes living with her husband and their daughter ; as well as Nancy's wholesalers Heylia James and Conrad Shepard. Over the course of the series, the Botwin family becomes increasingly entangled in illegal activity.

<i>Real Time with Bill Maher</i> American television talk show

Real Time with Bill Maher is an American television talk show that airs weekly on HBO, hosted by comedian and political satirist Bill Maher. Much like his previous series Politically Incorrect on Comedy Central and later on ABC, Real Time features a panel of guests who discuss current events in politics and the media. Unlike the previous show, guests are usually better versed in the subject matter; more experts such as journalists, professors, and politicians participate in the panel, and fewer actors and celebrities are included.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seán Cullen</span> Canadian actor and stand-up comedian

Seán Cullen is a Canadian actor and stand-up comedian. He is known for combining improvisation with mimicry and music. He is known for providing voices of characters in shows like Best Ed, Seven Little Monsters, and Almost Naked Animals.

Steven Craig Banks is an American actor, musician, comedian, and writer of television, plays, books and cartoons, including CatDog, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, and SpongeBob SquarePants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Provenza</span> American actor, comedian, filmmaker and skeptic

Paul Provenza is an American television presenter, actor, radio panelist, stand-up comedian, filmmaker, and skeptic based in Los Angeles. He has appeared on several podcasts and in recent years has interviewed other stand-up comedians. In 2005 he became a director, in 2010 an author and in 2011 he started producing for comedy festivals and television.

Simon Evans is an English comedian and writer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael McIntyre</span> English comedian

Michael Hazen James McIntyre is an English comedian, writer, and television presenter. In 2012, he was the highest-grossing stand-up comedian in the world. As of 2023, he presents his own Saturday night series, Michael McIntyre's Big Show, and the game show, The Wheel, on BBC One. He also hosted the American version of The Wheel on NBC.

<i>Big Brother: After Dark</i> 2007 American TV series or program

Big Brother: After Dark is a spinoff of the American reality series Big Brother. The program debuted on Showtime 2 in the United States and Slice in Canada on July 5, 2007, as a companion show launched in conjunction with the eighth season of Big Brother; it moved to TVGN on June 26, 2013, coinciding with the debut of the fifteenth season of the parent series. A Canadian version of Big Brother: After Dark was also developed as a companion series to Big Brother Canada, also airing on Slice. The series did not return with the 22nd season of Big Brother in 2020 nor the four seasons after that. It is unknown why but some say it could be due to the Viacom and CBS merger that took place in 2019.

<i>Tracey Ullmans State of the Union</i> Television series

Tracey Ullman's State of the Union is an American sketch comedy television series starring Tracey Ullman. The series was written by Ullman along with Hollywood satirist Bruce Wagner. Gail Parent and Craig DiGregorio acted as contributing writers to the series' first season. The show ran for three seasons on Showtime. On May 17, 2010, it was announced that the show would not be returning for a fourth season.

<i>30 Rock</i> season 2 Season of television series

The second season of 30 Rock, an American television comedy series, originally aired between October 4, 2007, and May 8, 2008, on NBC in the United States.

"Family Gay" is the eighth episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on March 8, 2009. In the episode, Peter becomes temporarily gay after participating in a medical drug test.

"Stew-Roids" is the 13th episode in the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on April 26, 2009. The episode features Stewie after he is attacked at an outdoor party by Joe's infant daughter, Susie. While training Stewie, Peter injects him with performance-enhancing drugs, and Stewie becomes incredibly muscular. Meanwhile, Chris becomes the fake boyfriend of popular student Connie D'Amico. He begins to like her, and the two begin a serious relationship, leading him to become popular. His newfound popularity goes to his head, however, causing him to become mean and self-centered towards everyone around him.

<i>American Dad!</i> season 5 Season of television series

The fifth season of the American TV series American Dad! originally aired on Fox from September 28, 2008, to May 17, 2009, and consisted of twenty episodes. It was released as two DVD box sets and in syndication. American Dad! follows the dysfunctional Smith family—father Stan, mother Francine, daughter Hayley, son Steve, the pet fish Klaus, and extraterrestrial alien Roger, all of whom reside in their hometown of Langley Falls, Virginia. Season 5, which premiered with the episode "1600 Candles" and ended with "Stan's Night Out", was executive produced by David Zuckerman, Kenny Schwartz, Rick Wiener, Richard Appel, Matt Weitzman, Mike Barker, and series creator Seth MacFarlane. Weitzman and Barker served as the season's showrunners.

"Ron and Tammy" is the eighth episode of the second season of Parks and Recreation, and the fourteenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on November 5, 2009. In the episode, the library department tries to take control of a vacant lot where Leslie plans to build a park. Ron's ex-wife, one of Leslie's directors, sexually manipulates Ron to get what she wants. The episode was written by Mike Scully and directed by Troy Miller.

"Tom's Divorce" is the 11th episode of the second season of American comedy television series Parks and Recreation, and the seventeenth overall episode of the series. It originally aired on NBC in the United States on December 3, 2009. In the episode, Tom gets a divorce and Leslie tries to cheer him up, unaware it was a green card marriage. Meanwhile, Andy challenges Mark to a game of pool with the hopes of winning back Ann's affections.

Episodes is a television sitcom created by David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik and produced by Hat Trick Productions. It premiered on Showtime in the United States on January 9, 2011 and on BBC Two in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2011. The show is about a British husband-and-wife comedy writing team who travel to Hollywood to remake their successful British TV series, with unexpected results. It stars Matt LeBlanc portraying a satirical version of himself. LeBlanc made his regular return to television for the first time since he was on NBC's Joey.

Shameless is an American black comedy drama television series developed by John Wells that aired on Showtime from January 9, 2011, to April 11, 2021. It is an adaptation of Paul Abbott's British series of the same name and features an ensemble cast led by William H. Macy and Emmy Rossum. The series is set in the South Side of Chicago, Illinois.

<i>Web Therapy</i> (TV series) 2011 American TV series or program

Web Therapy is an American comedy television series that premiered on Showtime on July 19, 2011. It is based on the web series of the same name and stars Lisa Kudrow as Fiona Wallice, a therapist who works with patients over the Internet.

<i>The Chris Gethard Show</i> 2011 American TV series or program

The Chris Gethard Show is a phone-in comedy and variety talk show created and hosted by Chris Gethard. Initially a live show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York, the show debuted on public-access channel Manhattan Neighborhood Network on June 22, 2011. In 2015, it moved to the cable channel Fusion, where it ran for two seasons before moving to truTV in 2017.

References

  1. Simon, Scott (July 9, 2011). "Paul Provenza and the Art Of Stand-Up". NPR. Retrieved 2011-08-25.
  2. Grant, Drew (July 12, 2011). "America's misguided war on offensive humor". Salon.com.
  3. Kernis, Jay (July 13, 2011). "Paul Provenza: It's a good sign that people trust comedians more than journalists". In The Arena blog. CNN. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012.
  4. 1 2 Heisler, Steve (June 10, 2010). "The Green Room With Paul Provenza - 'Episode 101'". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 14, 2010.
  5. "Into the bowels of comedy". Montreal Mirror , July 12–18, 2007 Vol. 23 No. 4.
  6. 1 2 MacIntyre, April (June 10, 2010). "Review: 'Showtime's The Green Room With Paul Provenza' is genius". Monsters and Critics.
  7. "The Green Room With Paul Provenza". Official Facebook page.
  8. Abrams, Natalie (September 9, 2010). "Showtime Renews Green Room for Season 2". TVGuide.com.
  9. "Showtime Renews 'The Green Room with Paul Provenza'". TVBytheNumbers.com, Zap2It. December 15, 2010. Press Release.
  10. Showtime Press Release. TVByTheNumbers.com, May 18, 2011.
  11. "Showatch: Green Room with Paul Provenza". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 13 March 2013.
  12. McNamara, Mary (June 10, 2010). "Television review: 'The Green Room With Paul Provenza'". Los Angeles Times .
  13. "The Short List of Things to Do - June 4 - The Green Room With Paul Provenza". Time Magazine , June 4, 2010.