Paul Provenza

'Precision timing and the best friendly fire in the business' Bay Examiner.

PAUL PROVENZA has been on the cutting edge of comedy for the past decade. Funny, confident, and always challenging, Paul’s stand-up comedy has been critically acclaimed as bright, edgy, and honest by journalists from coast to coast. An accomplished comedian and classically trained actor, he has scored successes on television, the stage, and virtually every major comedy venue in North America.

Paul recently joined the cast of the CBS hit show "NORTHERN EXPOSURE as the new doctor in town replacing Rob Morrow. Television viewers last saw Paul as Dinah Manoff’s boyfriend in the NBC comedy "EMPTY NEST".

Paul was the writer, producer and star of Comedy Central’s innovative comedy/talk show. COMICS ONLY. On COMICS ONLY, Paul used his keen sense of comic timing to interview and improvise with today’s hottest comedians, as well as performing some outrageous and bold TV comedy of his own.

In a memorable dramatic performance, Paul starred opposite Keanu Reeves and Andy Griffith in the highly acclaimed CBS movie-of-the-week UNDER THE INFLUENCE, for which he received rave notices as the struggling son of an alcoholic father.

For TBS, Paul helped develop and starred in yet another critically acclaimed special, ELVIS USA. In this unique comedy/documentary hybrid, he traveled the US in a 58 Cadillac convertible probing the lives of people obsessed with the King.

Paul’s comedy style tells where he’s been: It’s street smart and pulls no punches, yet highly intelligent. Born and raised in New York City, he attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science. At 16, he began writing and performing stand-up.

Following in the footsteps of his comedic idols (Robert Klein, George Carlin, Woody Allen) Paul headed for open mike night at the IMPROV. Still waiting to go on at about 3:00 AM, he asked the MC if he could get on soon, since he had to be at school in a couple of hours. A struggling young unknown himself, the MC laughed and said, "Sure kid!" as he brought Paul onstage. Years later, Paul was on the panel of THE TONIGHT SHOW (where he is a favorite regular guest) reminding that very same MC, Jay Leno - of that night he gave Paul his first shot at stand-up comedy.

He continued performing comedy as a student at the Ivy League’s University of
Pennsylvania, graduating with the first Theater Arts degree in the history of the University. He took time out to study in London with the renowned ROYAL ACADEMY of DRAMATIC ARTS. While at R.A.D.A., he joined a classical repertory theater, and became one of few Americans to play the role of Romeo on the London stage.

He recently returned to the L.A. stage in the innovative CHICAGO CONSPIRACY TRIAL, earning rave reviews as Abbie Hoffman.

Equally at home on stages of all sizes, he recently performed for an audience of over 80,000 at the University of Florida’s Homecoming "Gator Growl" He has toured with such superstars as Diana Ross and The Beach Boys, appeared in the Montreal’s JUST FOR LAUGHS FESTIVAL and the ASPEN COMEDY FESTIVAL, and continues writing and performing in clubs, theaters and colleges all over the US.

Funny, confident, and on his way up, Paul Provenza has been on the cutting edge of comedy for the past decade. An accomplished comedian and actor, Provenza has scored successes on television, the stage, and virtually every comedy venue in America. Provenza stand-up comedy has been critically acclaimed as bright, edgy, and honest by journalists from coast to coast.

 

Paul Provenza graduated from Penn with the first B.A. degree in Theater Arts ever awarded by the University, while at the same time writing and performing original comedy revues and commuting to New York to perform his stand-up comedy at the Improv, Catch A Rising Star, and the Comic Strip.

While still at Penn, Provenza was "discovered" by a talent scout for CBS TV. Soon, his writing and performance became part of a CBS late-night comedy special. Later that same year, he was again spotted at the Improv and asked to star in a series pilot for ABC TV. Soon, NBC was next in line, offering him a development contract which finally brought Paul to Hollywood.

Once in Los Angeles, comic success came quickly for Provenza who has since appeared on virtually every major talk show, including regular appearances on "Late Night with David Letterman" and "The Tonight Show" , where he has become a favorite. On concert tours, Provenza has opened for such diverse headliners as Diana Ross, Air Supply, Sheena Easton, Paul Anka, and others. Equally at home on stages of all sizes, he recently performed for an audience of over 80,000 at the University of Florida's Homecoming "Gator Growl."

At the same time , Provenza acting career has flourished as well , he made his dramatic acting debut opposite Andy Griffiths and Keanu Reeves in the highly acclaimed CBS movie-of-the-week "Under The Influence" for which he received rave notices as the struggling son of an alcoholic father. Guest starring roles on countless television comedy series followed, as well as "Miami Vice" and "Dynasty."

In between his busy television schedule and stand-up appearances, Provenza also co-starred in the HBO feature "Odd Jobs" with Paul Reiser , Robert Townsend and Richard Dean Anderson ; starred in the action-adventure feature "Survival Quest" with Dermot Mulroney and Lance Henriksen ; hosted the award winning children 's show "Kids' Court" for Nickelodeon; and frequently served as a guest VJ on MTV.

Provenza then starred in his own sitcom for ABC, "The Pursuit of Happiness," co-starring Brian Keith. During the same season, he was simultaneously appearing in a recurring role on "The Facts of Life" playing Blair's boyfriend.

Going back to the legitimate theater the following year, Provenza was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for "Best Actor" and won the the Theater World Award for "Best Actor in a Play" for his performance in the hit Off-Broadway play, AOnly Kidding!" Subsequently, he was honored with a caricature by the legendary Al Hirschfeld.

Provenza then wrote and starred in his own special for Showtime, "The Incredible Man-Boy," which received outstanding revues all around the country.

Currently, as writer, producer, and host of Comedy Central's innovative talk show "Comics Only," Provenza uses his keen sense of comic timing to interview today's hottest comedians and to perform some outrageous and bold TV comedy of his own.

 

 

Review - Gilded Balloon, Edinburgh

Brian Logan Wednesday August 20, 2003 The Guardian

New York comic Paul Provenza promises to demythologise America, his smart, indignant perspectives are welcome. He has some choice material on po-faced, post-9/11 airport security, the highlight of which is his futile effort to keep quiet when asked: "Did you pack your bag yourself?" He berates Catholicism ("sex is filthy and horrid and disgusting and you should save it for someone you love") and celebrates New York.
Provenza is making a bid for Bill Hicks-style, straight-talking moral outrage...T
here's admirable seriousness of purpose and some big laughs. His account of a public toilet where cubicle doors were removed to keep gay coupling at bay is an excellent example of socially conscious stand-up.


He's an impressive figure onstage: a very handsome man, he's tall, muscular and sexy, his long-fingered hands and body constantly in motion to underscore a point. He's extremely smart in jeans, cropped hair, a khaki sports shirt which, like everyone else's shirt tonight, starts dry and quickly runs with sweat, and trainers. And that in a way is his point - if a man who looks like a well-educated American college graduate is worried about his country, America may be approaching its first encounter with self-examination.

So, can there be such a thing as a good American? Paul Provenza's caustic, analytical (and extremely funny) look at what's wrong in the home of Coca Cola will undoubtedly be disliked in America ('Most of this show, in America, qualifies me for sedition').

Paul Provenza's subtlety of delivery, fierce intellect and engaging, self-deprecating, funny and powerful set, suggests that he's just the man his country now needs.

John Park (c) Fringe Report 2003