From: St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch*

Date: June 24, 1988

Headline: Showtime to Tape Area Comics

Author: Protzman, Bob

Page(s): B8

Note: Hodgson and others to be taped for Showtime's Comedy Club Network show.

Showtime cable TV crews will be at the Comedy Gallery in Minneapolis on July 11 to video tape some of Minnesota's top stand-up comedians in action.

Scott Hansen, owner-operator of the Comedy Gallery and other Twin Cities comedy clubs, confirmed that a Showtime crew will videotape eight or nine local comedians.

Hansen selected the comedians: Jeff Cesario, Joel Hodgson, Alex Cole, Wild Bill Bauer, Jeff Gerbino, Lizz Winstead, Tom Arnold and Joel Madison. "If the network decides to video nine, than I'll go on," said Hansen. "I'll benefit from the promotion that the club will get, so I'd rather give other comics the chance to be seen. I just want the show here to be the best they've (Showtime) ever seen."

A Showtime representative said it will be determined later when the local comedians will be seen on the network's regular Friday night program, Showtime Comedy Club Network, which is carried in St. Paul on Continental Cablevision at 8:45 p.m. Fridays. The local comedians will not appear on the same show, since each 15-minute program features three comedians from three different cities, a Showtime spokesman explained.

Showtime's video crew will videotape at Comedy Gallery's new location. The club will move Thursday from Riverplace to the adjacent Brown Ryan Livery.