Famed improv comedy empire The Second City has partnered with Insight Productions to develop original comedic programming for international audiences.
The collaboration was announced Tuesday and will be effective immediately. The partnership will bring new content to audiences via traditional broadcast, Ott, and digital platforms. They will develop all manner of comedic content, including sketch comedy formats, stand-up specials, and original scripted and unscripted series. All of which will be created by comedy’s brightest up-and-coming talent as well as some popular names in the industry.
“The magic of Second City’s creative process has always been twofold. Not only do our writers and performers create collaboratively, but we constantly test and tweak new material in front of a living, breathing audience. The work goes straight from the Writers’ Room to the stage, so we have a veritable comedy lab at our fingertips. By partnering with the innovative team at Insight,...
The collaboration was announced Tuesday and will be effective immediately. The partnership will bring new content to audiences via traditional broadcast, Ott, and digital platforms. They will develop all manner of comedic content, including sketch comedy formats, stand-up specials, and original scripted and unscripted series. All of which will be created by comedy’s brightest up-and-coming talent as well as some popular names in the industry.
“The magic of Second City’s creative process has always been twofold. Not only do our writers and performers create collaboratively, but we constantly test and tweak new material in front of a living, breathing audience. The work goes straight from the Writers’ Room to the stage, so we have a veritable comedy lab at our fingertips. By partnering with the innovative team at Insight,...
- 10/3/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Previous | Image 1 of 12 | NextHonoree George Wendt gets ‘roasted.’ Norm!
Chicago – On September 9th, 2017, it seemed like the whole of The Second City theater on Wells Street in Chicago let out a collective cry of “Norm!” The favorite barfly of TV’s “Cheers,” George Wendt, came back to his old comedy stomping ground at The Second City to participate in “I Can’t Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt.”
The roasters included the hottest current TV and movie stars, including Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Key & Peele”) and Jason Sudeikis (“Saturday Night Live”), along with The Second City alumni and celebs Julia Sweeney, Betty Thomas and Joel Murray. The roast was a benefit for Gilda’s Club Chicago, the cancer support community named for the late comic legend, Gilda Radner.
In Part One of the Red Carpet interviews, honoree George Wendt does some reminiscing with Jason Sudeikis,...
Chicago – On September 9th, 2017, it seemed like the whole of The Second City theater on Wells Street in Chicago let out a collective cry of “Norm!” The favorite barfly of TV’s “Cheers,” George Wendt, came back to his old comedy stomping ground at The Second City to participate in “I Can’t Believe They Wendt There: The Roast of George Wendt.”
The roasters included the hottest current TV and movie stars, including Bob Odenkirk (“Better Call Saul”), Keegan-Michael Key (“Key & Peele”) and Jason Sudeikis (“Saturday Night Live”), along with The Second City alumni and celebs Julia Sweeney, Betty Thomas and Joel Murray. The roast was a benefit for Gilda’s Club Chicago, the cancer support community named for the late comic legend, Gilda Radner.
In Part One of the Red Carpet interviews, honoree George Wendt does some reminiscing with Jason Sudeikis,...
- 10/8/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The comic will star as his own mentor and legendary teacher Del Close in the comedy Del.
Covert Media CEO Paul Hanson announced the casting at the Efm on Thursday. The company is fully financing and has launched sales in Berlin.
Hanson and Covert will produce alongside the project’s director Betty Thomas, The Second City’s Diane Alexander, Robert Teitel of State Street Pictures, and Thruline Entertainment’s Ron West.
Andrew Alexander of The Harold Ramis Film School / The Second City, Covert’s Elissa Friedman, Media Content Capital’s Sasha Shapiro and Anton Lessine, and Thruline’s Chris Henze are on board as executive producers.
Del centres on an aspiring comedian who comes under the wing of Close, the teacher at Chicago’s improv powerhouse Second City who earned notoriety for pushing his students to their limit. Nick Torokvei wrote the script.
Besides Myers, Close’s students include John Belushi, Chris Farley, [link...
Covert Media CEO Paul Hanson announced the casting at the Efm on Thursday. The company is fully financing and has launched sales in Berlin.
Hanson and Covert will produce alongside the project’s director Betty Thomas, The Second City’s Diane Alexander, Robert Teitel of State Street Pictures, and Thruline Entertainment’s Ron West.
Andrew Alexander of The Harold Ramis Film School / The Second City, Covert’s Elissa Friedman, Media Content Capital’s Sasha Shapiro and Anton Lessine, and Thruline’s Chris Henze are on board as executive producers.
Del centres on an aspiring comedian who comes under the wing of Close, the teacher at Chicago’s improv powerhouse Second City who earned notoriety for pushing his students to their limit. Nick Torokvei wrote the script.
Besides Myers, Close’s students include John Belushi, Chris Farley, [link...
- 2/9/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Comedy institution The Second City has established the Harold Ramis Film School, the world’s first film school focusing on comedic content, it was announced Tuesday. Building on Ramis’ legacy as a writer, director, producer and performer, the Chicago-based school will foster students interested in the media arts, utilizing The Second City’s approach to improvisation and content creation. “Harold Ramis was the quintessential Second City writer/performer — intelligent, funny and devoted to the spirit of ensemble,” Andrew Alexander, CEO and executive producer of The Second City, said. “His early mentoring of the Second City TV cast set the template for how that.
- 2/10/2016
- by Jeff Sneider
- The Wrap
The Second City is raising the comedy bar by opening the first film school dedicated to making people laugh. The Harold Ramis Film School is set to open its doors in September 2016 and welcome students interested exploring where media, improvisation, and comedic timing intersect. The school is now taking applications. Created in honor of the mind behind “Ghostbusters,” “Groundhog Day,” and “Animal Farm,” students will be “immersed in comedy training, film history, storytelling, and film production classes to give them the context in which to create,” according to a statement from the Chicago-based training grounds. “Harold Ramis was the quintessential Second City writer/performer—intelligent, funny and devoted to the spirit of ensemble,” said Andrew Alexander, CEO and executive producer of Second City. “His early mentoring of the Second City TV cast set the template for how that show would operate for eight seasons. His unselfish and generous spirit dominated...
- 2/9/2016
- backstage.com
The Second City has partnered with management and production company Thruline Entertainment/Tagline Pictures to develop original content in collaboration with production arm Tagline. “In addition to creating new projects with Tagline, this partnership allows us to offer developing talent our experience, as well as Thruline’s management expertise and resources,” said Andrew Alexander, The Second City’s CEO/Executive Producer. Second City previously had first-look pacts with NBC Universal TV Studios and CBS Paramount Network TV. The Second City has stages in Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles as well as multiple touring companies, and its alumni include Tina Fey, Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Adam McKay, John Belushi, Bill Murray and Keegan-Michael Key. In TV, Second City was behind Emmy-winning comedy series Sctv.
- 5/20/2014
- by NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
Chicago — Comedy fans know the names – John Belushi, Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Joan Rivers – but before those famous faces graced Hollywood movies or the "Saturday Night Live" stage they were discovered by Bernie Sahlins, co-founder of The Second City.
Alumni of the Chicago comedy club spent Monday remembering Sahlins, who died Sunday at age 90, as an innovator who along with business partners Howard Alk and Paul Sills opened the theater in December 1959. It quickly gained national attention and helped establish Chicago as a vibrant comedy town.
"Bernie was absolutely crucial in the formative years of Second City, as important a figure as it's ever had," said comedian and actor Robert Klein, who went on from Second City in 1965 to star on television series and in movies.
Second City caught on within months of opening, despite some early money problems and other issues. It became instrumental in the growth and development of improvisational and sketch comedy.
Alumni of the Chicago comedy club spent Monday remembering Sahlins, who died Sunday at age 90, as an innovator who along with business partners Howard Alk and Paul Sills opened the theater in December 1959. It quickly gained national attention and helped establish Chicago as a vibrant comedy town.
"Bernie was absolutely crucial in the formative years of Second City, as important a figure as it's ever had," said comedian and actor Robert Klein, who went on from Second City in 1965 to star on television series and in movies.
Second City caught on within months of opening, despite some early money problems and other issues. It became instrumental in the growth and development of improvisational and sketch comedy.
- 6/18/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Chicago — Bernard "Bernie" Sahlins, who co-founded Chicago's Second City theater and who nurtured the early careers of many of the earliest stars of "Saturday Night Live," died Sunday. He was 90.
Andrew Alexander, one of Second City's current owners and its CEO, told The Associated Press that Sahlins died peacefully at his Chicago home with his family nearby. He is survived by his wife, Jane Nicholl Sahlins.
Sahlins and business partners Howard Alk and Paul Sills opened The Second City in December 1959, and it quickly gained national attention and helped establish Chicago as a vibrant comedy town, the Chicago Sun-Times reported ( ). http://bit.ly/1bLDRZo
The Second City wasn't Sahlins' first attempt at running a theater. He was a producer-investor in a theater troupe in the early 1950s that was comprised of many fellow University of Chicago graduates, and he and several business partners produced plays at the Studebaker Theater...
Andrew Alexander, one of Second City's current owners and its CEO, told The Associated Press that Sahlins died peacefully at his Chicago home with his family nearby. He is survived by his wife, Jane Nicholl Sahlins.
Sahlins and business partners Howard Alk and Paul Sills opened The Second City in December 1959, and it quickly gained national attention and helped establish Chicago as a vibrant comedy town, the Chicago Sun-Times reported ( ). http://bit.ly/1bLDRZo
The Second City wasn't Sahlins' first attempt at running a theater. He was a producer-investor in a theater troupe in the early 1950s that was comprised of many fellow University of Chicago graduates, and he and several business partners produced plays at the Studebaker Theater...
- 6/17/2013
- by AP
- Huffington Post
Frequent music video director and "The Hills Have Eyes II" helmer Martin Weisz is set to direct the psychological thriller "Dreamt" for Safady Entertainment.
The story follows two people who have a supernatural connection and therefore are actually dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it.
Andrew Alexander penned the script. Shooting is currently slated to kick off in April.
The story follows two people who have a supernatural connection and therefore are actually dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it.
Andrew Alexander penned the script. Shooting is currently slated to kick off in April.
- 11/9/2011
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
We don't know about you guys, but we still have a bad taste in our mouths from The Hills Have Eyes II. A movie that bad tends to linger sometimes like the rancid stench of a fart that just won't go away. Still, everyone deserves a second chance, and that's exactly what the director of the crap-fest will be getting.
According to Variety Safady Entertainment is launching development of supernatural thriller Dreamt with Martin Weisz attached to direct.
With a script by Andrew Alexander, "Dreamt' is set in modern day and centers on two people dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it."
Shooting is set to begin in April.
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According to Variety Safady Entertainment is launching development of supernatural thriller Dreamt with Martin Weisz attached to direct.
With a script by Andrew Alexander, "Dreamt' is set in modern day and centers on two people dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it."
Shooting is set to begin in April.
Visit The Evilshop @ Amazon!
Got news? Click here to submit it!
Start dreaming of good movies in the comments section below!
- 11/9/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Safady Entertainment (Machine Gun Preacher) is launching development of supernatural thriller Dreamt with Martin Weisz attached to direct, says Variety. Weisz is the German director behind the underrated Grimm and The Hills Have Eyes II, which he allegedly made a complete mess of (there were rumors of a second unit shooting simultaneously to fix his mistakes). With a script by Andrew Alexander, " 'Dreamt' i set in modern day and centers on two people dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it." Partners Gary Safady and Craig Chapmans are producing along with Todd Moyer of the Flagship Management Group, who is currently producing the Brendan Fraser film "William Tell 3D." Shooting is set to begin in April.
- 11/9/2011
- bloody-disgusting.com
Safady Entertainment has acquired film rights to psychological thriller Dreamt penned by Andrew Alexander known most widely for his co-ownership of The Second City comedy enterprise. They will develop the project for Martin Weisz to direct this action thriller. Set in modern day, Dreamt tells the tale of two people who have a paranormal connection [...]
Continue reading Martin Weisz to Helm Supernatural Thriller Dreamt on FilmoFilia.
Related posts:Summit in Talks with McG to Helm Police Thriller Puzzle Palace Zoe Saldana to Produce & Star in Supernatural Thriller Dominion Undercovers’ Gugu Mbatha-Raw for Supporting Role in Supernatural Thriller Odd Tomas...
Continue reading Martin Weisz to Helm Supernatural Thriller Dreamt on FilmoFilia.
Related posts:Summit in Talks with McG to Helm Police Thriller Puzzle Palace Zoe Saldana to Produce & Star in Supernatural Thriller Dominion Undercovers’ Gugu Mbatha-Raw for Supporting Role in Supernatural Thriller Odd Tomas...
- 11/9/2011
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Safady Entertainment has announced that they have acquired Dreamt , a psychological thriller written by Andrew Alexander that they will develop for Martin Weisz to direct. Set in modern day, Dreamt tells the tale of two people who have a supernatural connection and therefore are actually dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it. "We're excited to tell a thrilling, exciting story with an amazing twist to it," says producer Gary Safady, adding: "The script has all the elements for intrigue and fascination to capture the audience from the opening frame of the film. Andrew has crafted an amazing story in the vain of...
- 11/9/2011
- Comingsoon.net
Safady Entertainment has announced that they have acquired Dreamt , a psychological thriller written by Andrew Alexander that they will develop for Martin Weisz to direct. Set in modern day, Dreamt tells the tale of two people who have a supernatural connection and therefore are actually dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it. "We're excited to tell a thrilling, exciting story with an amazing twist to it," says producer Gary Safady, adding: "The script has all the elements for intrigue and fascination to capture the audience from the opening frame of the film. Andrew has crafted an amazing story in the vain of...
- 11/9/2011
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Director Martin Weisz has predominately stuck to music videos, but has branched out into a couple of feature films, his most notable being 'The Hills Have Eyes II.' It is not a well-liked or well-reviewed film, but it's been a few years, perhaps time for his redemption. Coming Soon reports that the production company who had a hand in 'Machine Gun Preacher,' Safady Entertainment is lining him up to direct a supernatural film entitled 'Dreamt.' Here's the odd synopsis: "Set in modern day, Dreamt tells the tale of two people who have a supernatural connection and therefore are actually dreaming in each other's lives. Conflict ensues after the men discover each other's existence, leading one man to try to take over the other's life and stopping at nothing to get it." That's a new one: dream wars. The production company is still young, so there's no...
- 11/9/2011
- LRMonline.com
Andrew Alexander-scripted Dreamt to be helmed by Martin Weisz The supernatural thriller from Machine Gun Preacher production company Safady Entertainment has landed Martin Weisz (The Hill Have Eyes II, Grimm Love) as director, helming from the script by Andrew Alexander. Pic, which is set in modern day, tells of two men dreaming in each other's lives. After they learn of each other's existence, one man tries to take over the other's life at any cost. Gary Safady and Craig Chapmans produce alongside Flagship Management Group's Todd Moyer. Flagship are producing William Tell 3D starring Brendan Fraser,...
- 11/9/2011
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Before it begins in Montreal, the Just for Laughs Festival has decided to spice up its menu for us. In fact, expect to see more in the line-up of the Insider Series and
First of all, the festival's organizers announced that The Second City will celebrate its 50th anniversary and will be given the Just for Laughs Lifetime Achievement Award. Those who will be on stage to accept the award are Colin Mochrie, Fred Willard, Andrew Alexander and other names to be announced. Moreover, members of The Second City will take part in a live discussion at the Cinquième salle of the Place des arts on July 15 at 9:30 Pm.
A second award will also be presented. In fact, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy, the producers of the TV series Glee, will give to Ian Brennan
Two new awards
Aziz Ansari, who is currently starring in NBC's Parks and Recreation...
First of all, the festival's organizers announced that The Second City will celebrate its 50th anniversary and will be given the Just for Laughs Lifetime Achievement Award. Those who will be on stage to accept the award are Colin Mochrie, Fred Willard, Andrew Alexander and other names to be announced. Moreover, members of The Second City will take part in a live discussion at the Cinquième salle of the Place des arts on July 15 at 9:30 Pm.
A second award will also be presented. In fact, Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy, the producers of the TV series Glee, will give to Ian Brennan
Two new awards
Aziz Ansari, who is currently starring in NBC's Parks and Recreation...
- 6/23/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Toronto in the 1970s was a talent pool awaiting a trawler. Picture it: Gilda Radner transitioned from a starring role at the Royal Alex one month to working coat check at the local comedy revue the next. Her boyfriend at the time, Martin Short, and his McMaster University buddies Eugene Levy and Dave Thomas were holding 'Friday Night Services' at 1063 Avenue Road, informal and competitive parties where the main activity was topping each other with new routines, characters, and bits developed between small time gigs and day jobs. Eugene was briefly dating Andrea Martin, who knocked them all out with her sexy, sailor-shaming jokes when she dropped by. Dan Aykroyd was doing radio ads, youth theatre, and closing down comedy clubs after last call. Catherine O'Hara was waiting tables at the same clubs straight out of high school, and the youngest of the group, John Candy, was selling Kleenex. He had a route.
- 2/17/2010
- by Dustin Rowles
The Washington Post ombudsman Andrew Alexander had readers howling in his in-box recently after the paper stopped running listings of movie showtimes. It wasn’t the Post’s choice, though: Most readers believe that it was the newspaper’s decision, like The Post's recent move to cut costs by making TV week an opt-in insert. In fact, movie listings in the print product are paid advertising, and it was AMC’s decision to stop paying. (Multiplexes have been paying for those listings? I had no idea! I’ve never seen them marked as advertising...) Now the Associated Press is on the story:...
- 8/24/2009
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
New York -- The Second City will celebrate its 50th anniversary this fall with a series of events that will bring together alumni and bring back popular sketches and characters.
The producer of improv comedy said Wednesday that the celebrations will culminate the weekend of Dec. 11-13, when its theater in Chicago will host alumni reunion performances, such as an Sctv Reunion," panels and screenings. The "Sctv Reunion" will feature Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Martin Short and Dave Thomas plus special guests.
"Beginning this fall, we will honor the Second City -- both those who make it a legend as well as those who will keep us legendary," said Andrew Alexander, proprietor and executive producer of The Second City.
Beginning as a small cabaret theater in 1959, The Second City has expanded into a comedy empire, including a school of improv-based arts and a corporate...
The producer of improv comedy said Wednesday that the celebrations will culminate the weekend of Dec. 11-13, when its theater in Chicago will host alumni reunion performances, such as an Sctv Reunion," panels and screenings. The "Sctv Reunion" will feature Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, Martin Short and Dave Thomas plus special guests.
"Beginning this fall, we will honor the Second City -- both those who make it a legend as well as those who will keep us legendary," said Andrew Alexander, proprietor and executive producer of The Second City.
Beginning as a small cabaret theater in 1959, The Second City has expanded into a comedy empire, including a school of improv-based arts and a corporate...
- 8/5/2009
- by By Georg Szalai
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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