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L.A. Johnson can be reached at ljohnson@post-gazette.com or 412-263- 3903.
Whether shvitzing with Dad or begging Mom to let him start serving food at The Comedy Store, Pauly Shore is amusing as he tries to revitalize the family business in "Minding the Store."
The unscripted, half-hour comedy series premieres tonight at 10 on TBS.
"At some point, I had to hop on the reality bandwagon," says Shore, 37, who is best known from MTV's "Totally Pauly" and the films "Encino Man," "Son in Law," "In the Army Now," "Jury Duty" and "Bio-Dome."
"It's all about doing something a little different. I'm not bumping into walls. This is who I am now."
Shore's mother, Mitzi Shore, gained ownership of The Comedy Store in her divorce from his father and turned the legendary Los Angeles comedy club into a world-renowned proving ground for famous comedians from Richard Pryor and Robin Williams to David Letterman and Jay Leno.
"The show focuses on three things: the family business, my acting career and me and if I'm ever going to have a marriageable woman," he says.
"Minding the Store" follows Shore's efforts to increase attendance and profits at the club with the help and occasional interference of friends, family, staff, a friendly sidekick and his Mom's spy, the club's talent booker, Tommy.
In one episode,...