IF COMEDY had an award for the best return to the spotlight, Pauly Shore would certainly be making a run for the title. With a slew of new projects keeping him on his toes—including this summer’s mockumentary Adopted—and a busy schedule on the stand-up scene, the former MTV personality (who doesn’t remember Totally Pauly?) proves that despite the title of his 2003 movie, Pauly Shore Is Dead, he is very much alive.
LOS ANGELES CONFIDENTIAL: You were practically born into show business; your parents opened The Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip. Was there anyone you met growing up whose career you tried to emulate?
PAULY SHORE: Richard Pryor and Robin Williams. They always had a cool realness to them. To see how they transitioned from stand-up to acting was inspiring.
LAC: You’re often on the road. What do you like to do when you’re back in LA and have some downtime?
PS: I like to relax and do things that are good for me. I’m a total gym rat. I also love to take my dog, Butter, for runs in Runyon Canyon Park.
LAC: Do you have any favorite spots in LA?
PS: The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is great. I call it Unemployment Bean. The Roger Room is a really cool spot, and I love the food at Boa Steakhouse, Katana, Nobu and Urth Caffé.
LAC: What’s next for you?
PS: My Showtime stand-up special Pauly Shore and Friends 2 will film in Vegas this fall. And Born to Be a Star, a comedy I’m in that was produced by Adam Sandler, will be coming out in late fall. I’m also working on a pilot for MTV. It’s like Curb Your Enthusiasm meets The Osbournes.
LAC: If you had to choose between stand-up and making movies…
PS: I like to even it out. I think it’s great to be able to do stand-up and acting. Touring [doing stand-up] is fun; it’s nice to be around people who just want to laugh and have a good time.
