The Lonely Road of Larry Johnson, Wise Ass
Sitting alone in a dank basement, Larry Johnson stumbled upon an idea that would combine his favorite TV show with his own Yankee wit: make fun of movies in front of a crowd. He had seen Joel Hodgson do exactly this thing on TV’s Mystery Science Theater 3000 (MST3K), and he knew he could get a laugh or two as he had done while performing improv with a local group. The resultant comedy effort was Cineprov, Atlanta’s answer to MST3K. The first few years saw performances of Cineprov entertain handfuls of spectators while the band perfected the art of “riffing:” the merciless mocking of bad movies.
12 years later, Cineprov is bigger than better than ever. To get to their current status, Cineprov, like some nomadic band of mockers, moved from home to home, not quite finding the appropriate venue. Some years it was on Friday nights, some years on Sunday’s. Members came and went, each bringing something special to the team, each leaving behind soiled coffee cups. A few years back, Cineprov found its true home, the home it had been looking for: The Plaza Theater. After a brief hiatus, Cineprov returned and eventually the current lineup of comedians fell into place. Johnson’s dedication, patience, and hard work paid off and Cineprov routinely brings in records crowds for each show, and the buzz on this show is contagious.
If you were to ask Johnson what his greatest Cineprov moment has been so far, best odds say he will tell you that one time Joel Hodgson, creator of MST3K, sat down with Cineprov and riffed a Star Trek movie with him. But, yet, he might say it was something different: he might tell you it was the time that Joel Hodgson had invited him to join him as a writer on Netflix’s new MST3K series. Regardless of which specific event he offered up, this much is true: Johnson had come full circle, from a fan of a much-beloved comedian to a peer–making an audience laugh alongside his idol.
The wise-ass from Philly had hit the big time.
The Current Line Up of Cineprov
Johnson could not do it alone. Currently joining him in Cineprov are longtime collaborators Holly and Mark. Holly had been a founding member of Cineprov who recently returned to the troupe, while Mark has been sitting alongside Larry for years. Local Favorite Candace Weslosky of Lips Down on Dixie and Project Cosplay, joined the team this year, along with new Cineprov family members Evan, Nicolas, and Christine.
Riffing is usually done by three riffers at a time, giving a chance for the comedians to rotate through and a chance to enjoy the show. The jokes come fast and frequently. If you miss one, don’t worry…the next one is already starting.
Devil Dog
On October 5, Cineprov takes aim at yet another bad, bad film. This time it’s Devil Dog: The Hound of Hell is a 1978 American made-for-television horror thriller film. The film features former-homeless Kim Richards, Paris Hilton’s aunt and co-star of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Joining her are veteran actor Richard Crenna and Yvette Mimieux, whose name often seems like a typo. The premise? A satanic dog invades a suburban neighborhood and hilarity ensues. With a Rotten Tomatoes Score of 21%, this post-Exorcist drivel seems ripe for riffing.
Cineprov leads into each live movie (the comedy being live, the movie being made in 1978 in this case), with a series of prepared shorts. Johnson recommends coming early enough to enjoy the short features.
When: Thursday, October 5, 2017 (Doors open at 7:00PM/Show starts at 7:45PM)
Where: Plaza Theater 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30306
Tickets are 10.00, available at the door.
Cineprov at the Plaza Theater: http://plazaatlanta.com/new_website2/cineprov-first-thursday-of-every-month/
Cineprov’s Website: https://www.cineprov.com/
Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CINEPROVATLANTA/