King Is Dead, Long Live The King: The Transition at the LA Comedy Store
The King is Dead, Long Live the King: Talent Coordinator Tommy Morris Leaving LA Comedy Store
The Comedy Store is a black hole in the LA comedy scene; in every sense. It is literally a giant, dark black building in the middle of sunny Sunset Boulevard. Depending on who you ask, it’s a place that sucks all joy and light out of those who cross its event horizon, and/or it’s got a massive gravitational force within the LA scene, and/or it’s imminently about to collapse in on itself.
For three decades, The Comedy Store was Mitzi Shore. She ruled the place with absolute power, a great love of comedy and comedians, sometimes malicious capriciousness and an uncanny eye for talent. For most of the last ten years, even though running the place has moved into the hands of a group of managers, the face of The Comedy Store has been Talent Coordinator Tommy Morris. Not only did he hold your stage time fate in his hand, but he managed the showroom five nights a week while working the ticket booth.
Under Mitzi, Talent Coordinators came and went, but as she became less and less hands on due to illness, Tommy became The Anointed One. His position was unassailable (though many tried and failed), everyone assumed he would hold it until Mitzi’s death, at which point the valuable property would be sold off to developers [Note: this is the worst case scenario imagined by a bunch of anxious and depressed comedians, not a prediction based on any specific knowledge or facts] so Tommy was the de facto Talent Coordinator Forever. That’s why the transition from Tommy Morris to Adam Eget this week was a shock to everyone.
He would often remark, “The Building likes you” or “I listen to the Store, it’ll push people ahead who are ready.”
He would alternately dole out bullshit, praise, eccentric and perplexing advice or harsh smackdowns to comedians seeking spots and guidance.
One of his greatest contributions was maintaining the culture of The Comedy Store as most other clubs turned Corporate.
To spend any time at The Store meant going through an alternating cycle of love, fear, hate, anger and peace with Tommy. It also meant trying your hand at a Tommy Morris impression. His distinct voice, mannerisms and penchant to repeat certain things almost like catchphrases made him an easy target for even folks with no skill at mimicry.
The new Talent Coordinator is Adam Eget, one of The Store hivemind’s top picks for the position. Adam came to the Store from the Tempe Improv about four years ago and has been a manager there ever since. He knows who’s in, who’s out and more importantly, who’s out but should be in. He’s genial and reasonable and knows how to handle fragile comedians’ egos and foibles. You may have also seen him as the hateable sidekick on Norm MacDonald Live. And while many an excluded comedian is currently rejoicing at “all the spots I’m going to get now,” The Comedy Store is a giant ocean liner that can’t make quick left turns. There will be an increase in diversity and sanity, but you’ll still see Chris D’Elia, Bobby Lee, Whitney Cummings and Steve Rannazzisi most nights at 10 pm.
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