Is the WB ready for Schimmel's life story?
This is the premise of the pilot that Robert Schimmel is working on for the WB: The lead character, played by Schimmel, finds out his cancer is in remission and falls in love with his 25-year-old daughter's best friend, whom he eventually marries. He winds up juggling chemotherapy, his ex-wife, his current spouse, and his daughters, trying to keep his life together. Sound far-fetched? Not to Schimmel, who actually lived out this scenario over the past four years. Still, Schimmel, who plays the Comedy Connection tonight and tomorrow, says he is surprised at how much he has been able to get away with so far in the script stage.
"If they go for it the way it is now, I'm going to be shocked," he says, laughing. "Because it's pretty close to reality. It's very close."
The fact that radio personality Howard Stern is executive producing might make the project more of a hot potato, given Stern's ongoing troubles with the FCC. Schimmel says no one has brought it up yet at the WB, and he's not worried. If anything, the publicity Stern is giving the project on his morning radio show only helps.
"They're hoping to broaden their demographic, and they're hoping that Stern will bring his fans to the WB," he says. "There's no way that's going to happen if they go middle of the road.
Even Schimmel's own proclivity for using profanity in his stage act won't affect the show, he says, because it doesn't need profanity to be edgy.
"The whole premise is inappropriate," he says. "But it's true. That's what lets you get away with it, is everybody knows it's a real story."
Schimmel's real story has always been a part of his act, whether it's his daughter's boyfriends, his sex life, or his heart attacks. But since his struggles with cancer began, he has been more focused as a comic; there is a mission behind his personal revelations.
In Schimmel's estimation, it has all made him a better comedian and helped him reach his audience more effectively. "I think I am more comfortable onstage because I know that what I'm talking about -- most of it is from the heart, anyway, or from real life," he says. "It might be a cartoon version of what's really happening in my life, but I know that now I'm talking about something that other people can truly connect with in a bigger way."
Tour de farce
Chicago comes to Boston by way of New York Wednesday when the improv troupe Chicago City Limits hosts the "Reach for Greatness" comedy tour Wednesday at the Comedy Connection. The group was started in 1977 by former members of Chicago's legendary Second City improv company, and it relocated to New York City two years later.
The group organized the tour, which features comedy groups and stand-ups competing in different cities for a share of a $1,000 purse. Four groups will compete Wednesday, including Boston Creem (an all-woman troupe from ImprovBoston), Improv Asylum, and the Mumbling Prophets. Five stand-up comics will also compete individually.
Around town
The Louie Anderson/Brett Butler bill scheduled for tonight at the North Shore Music Theatre has been canceled. . . . Danvers native Nick DiPaolo, who supplies the voice of "Nick" on Comedy Central's "Shorties Watchin' Shorties," will be at the Broad Street Grille in Merrimac tonight and tomorrow. . . . Sam Walters, Alana Devich, Chris Tabb, Tim Fenn, Cyndi Stiles, and others play the Comedy Studio Sunday.
Robert Schimmel performs at the Comedy Connection tonight and tomorrow. Tickets are $22.50. Call 617-248-9700.
