Posted: Saturday, July 16, 2005 7:00 pm
Not once did Pauly Shore utter "Hey buuuddy" or "Chillin' with The Weasel" in the first two episodes of his unscripted comedy "Minding the Store" on TBS.
I'm not sure if I'm relieved or disappointed.
On one hand I'm glad Shore has moved on, but on the other hand you sort of miss the schtick that helped make him a household name in the early 1990s.
Well, at least I do.
The former MTV darling is attempting a comeback with "Minding the Store," which begins its five-episode run at 9 tonight.
The show's premise is similar to HBO's "Curb Your Enthusiasm," with Shore playing himself in a semi-realistic setting.
The half-hour series features the trials and tribulations he has in running The Comedy Store the real-life nightclub his mother, Mitzi, owns in Los Angeles.
The comedy is derived from Shore playing the straight man to assorted players from his sex therapist to his mom's personal snitch to his hefty comic friend, Marc.
Shore is convinced you'll laugh at his show. So much so, he's offered a money-back guarantee. To receive a $1 check, unhappy viewers must mail a self-addressed stamped envelope, their name, hometown and reason for not laughing, which can be used by TBS in promotion of the show. No more than 250,000 viewers will receive checks.
I won't be asking for any money. I found myself snickering at the show more than once.
In the premiere, Shore organizes a new theme night since the preceding ones were failing or, as he put it, making about as much as he does on the residuals from "Jury Duty."
Shore puts together "Hot Girls of the Comedy Store."
"If there's two things I know, it's hot girls and comedy," he said. "At least I know hot girls."
I chuckled.
The second episode features Shore performing in Austin, Texas, with his father, Sonny, opening for him. His pop was a scene- and show-stealer and produced several laughs.
I actually enjoyed "Minding the Store." Shore realizes he's no longer an A-list celeb and uses it well as fodder for this vehicle.
It's not as good as Larry David's "Curb Your Enthusiasm." At least not yet. But this one has tons of potential to mature into something special.
Sort of the way Shore is doing with his life.
Around the dial
* I'm pretty sure ABC will find room for a second edition of "Dancing with the Stars" on its fall schedule.
The reality show's July 6 season finale drew a whopping 22.6 million viewers the best performance by a summer show since Kelly Clarkson won the first "American Idol" on Sept. 4, 2002.
"General Hospital's" Kelly Monaco pulled off the upset of fan favorite John O'Hurley, in part, I'm guessing, because the soap's fan base flooded phone lines with votes for her.
As is typical with successful shows, competing networks are beginning to rush knockoffs onto the air.
Fox premieres "So You Think You Can Dance" at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The show features an "American Idol" format, with dancers competing for a chance to make it big.
* Lara Flynn Boyle and Angie Harmon will be back on the small screen this fall.
Boyle, who earned an Emmy nomination for her work on "The Practice," will join NBC's "Las Vegas" as a hotel and casino owner.
Harmon, best known for her work on "Law & Order" (1998-2001), will play a reproductive specialist on NBC's new drama "Inconceivable."
* "Friends" alum Matthew Perry hosts the 13th ESPY Awards at 8 tonight on ESPN (channel 34).
The awards recognize major achievements in sports, so don't expect to see any Nebraska football moments this time around.
* Quick hits NBC is re-airing the six-part drama series "Revelations," beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday Nicktoons (digital channel 253) is bringing back the animated cult hit "The Ren & Stimpy Show" next month. It will air at 10:30 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. weekends.
Reach Jeff Korbelik at 473-7213 or jkorbelik@journalstar.com.
"Minding the Store"
9 p.m. Sunday
TBS (channel 16)
2½ stars