I will admit up front that I am not a big Pauly Shore fan, though I did enjoy Son In Law, which I caught a few times years ago on cable.
This is my second almost viewing of Pauly Shore Stands Alone, which is a documentary he made about a concert tour he did in late 2013, working small venues in towns and small cities in Wisconsin and Minneapolis.
What I found most appealing about this is his direct connection with some of his fan base, down to earth working class people, who were either once big fans from the early 90s when he had a successful movie career or loyal fans throughout his entire journey. Gone of course is the young, hip whiny kid...now he's an older, wiser, prostate challenged middle aged stand up comedian.
He's on the downside of his career. Notice the contrast of him and the few other, much younger up and coming comedians. The big pay days of mega million dollar A movies, large concert halls and insanely hot women looking to bed him are all behind him. What he has now and before him is caring for an elderly, ill mother, trying to keep The Comedy Store nightclub, his parents legacy open and I assume debts from his once freewheeling lifestyle.
But now he's a much better human being. He talks to everyone. Local hairdressers, people who work in diners, hotel and motel staff, the people who run and work behind the scenes at the small clubs he does his stand up in. And he knows the business...the counting seats at the small clubs he performs in before each show is just one small lesson learned from his parents. And the way he connects with his fans after shows, posing for pictures and autographs, these are things most fans of anyone would never anticipate and once given will never forget.
He walks a tough and at times lonely road. It's not filled with the best of food or accommodations or balmy locales. But the people he stops to connect with are warm, more than happy to see him and leave smiling.
