BUDD FRIEDMAN is universally known as the Father of the Comedy Clubs.  Since he founded the Original Improvisation in New York City in 1963,  for half a century, his brand has remained the premiere stage for live comedy in the United States. Over the decades, the talent who performed on its stages, represent the Who’s Who of American Comedy, including Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, Lily Tomlin, Freddie Prinz, Andy Kaufman, Eddie Murphy, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Foxx, Adam Sandler, and Dave Chappelle.