Interviewed & Written by Al Bahmani Edited by: Magee Miller
What do Dave Chappelle, Wanda Sykes, Dane Cook, Jim Breuer, Nick Swardson, Tracy Morgan, Bill Bellamy, Bill Burr, Jeffrey Ross, Bert Kreischer, Darrell Hammond, Whitney Cummings, Bobcat Goldthwait, Jay Mohr, and Louis CK have in common? Other than being funny, they were all managed by Barry Katz.
Most folks remember seeing Barry giving Orny Adams sound advice in Jerry Seinfeld’s “Comedian” or more recently bumping into Jerry Seinfeld and Michael Richards in a recent episode of “Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.” Like a later day Swifty Lazar, Barry Katz has signed over 100 television deals with his clients and produced over 50 different TV stand-up specials, (INCLUDING ONES With DANE COOK, JAY MOHR, NICK CANNON, SINBAD & EDDIE GRIFFIN), documentaries, and multiple television series including “Whitney,” “Mr. Box Office,” “Action,” “Mohr Sports,” “Frank TV,” and seven (7) seasons of “Last Comic Standing.” Barry was also instrumental in helping Dave Chappelle, Jim Breuer and Neal Brennan sell “Half Baked” to Universal.
His “Industry Standard” podcast debuted at Number 3 on the iTunes charts. The podcast is recommended listening for anyone wanting to get involved in the entertainment industry. Not only are the episodes inspirational, but you find yourself cheering for and learning from people you’ve probably cursed at or vilified at one point in time or another. Without any further delay, here’s a most candid interview with manager/producer/podcaster Barry Katz.
Comedy Scene In Houston 