The advent of streaming TV has opened additional doors for show-biz vets — including comedian Freddie Roman.
The Borscht Belt comic and star of “Catskills on Broadway” is not only celebrating his 51st year in the business, but has just filmed a co-starring role in “Red Oaks,” an Amazon Studios sitcom that boasts Paul Reiser, Jennifer Grey and Richard Kind among its cast members and Steven Soderbergh as an executive producer.
“It’s a funny comedy about a Jewish country club and is set at a club in New Jersey,” says Roman. “I play a curmudgeonly older member who goes around breaking everyone’s b–s.” Roman says one of the pilot’s writer/producers “is an old fan” of his from Roman’s stand-up years, and thought Freddie would be perfect for the role. “I auditioned like a stranger and they loved it and here I am,” he says.
In the pilot, Reiser plays the country club’s president; Grey is his wife. Kind “is also a member of the club and is somewhat curmudgeonly, too,” says Roman, who adds that Amazon is considering additional episodes.
“I’m still working — not like I used to, but just knowing that anyone cares makes me happy,” he says.
Speaking of Soderbergh, he will also executive-produce “The Girlfriend Experience,” a 13-part series airing on Starz and based on Soderbergh’s 2009 indie movie about “the relationships of the most exclusive courtesans who provide their clients with far more than just sex.” Joining Soderbergh as executive producers are Philip Fleishman, Lodge Kerrigan and Amy Seimitz (no premiere date yet).
More TV pilots … Showtime has given the green light to “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” a 30-minute comedy that “includes musical elements” (not sure what that means). Co-created/ written/executive-produced by Aline Brosh McKenna and Rachel Bloom, it’s about a “successful, driven and possibly crazy young woman” (played by Bloom) who chucks everything and moves to West Covina, Calif. looking for love and happiness. Marc Webb directs the pilot.
Last, but not least …
Gordon Ramsay said Monday that he won’t host Fox’s “Kitchen Nightmares” anymore, though he still hosts “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef” (two iterations) and “Hotel Hell.” “It’s been a blast but it’s time to call it a day,” he wrote on his Web site … Martin Sheen, who’s been cast in the upcoming Netflix series “Grace and Frankie” (Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin), appeared with ex-Rep. Patrick Murphy on MSNBC’s “Taking the Hill” Sunday to promote PTSD Awareness Month. Sheen’s brother is a Vietnam vet … Bill Clinton will appear on Logo’s “Trailblazers” Thursday (9 p.m.) with Lance Bass, Joe Manganiello, Ed Sheeran and others to honor pioneers in the LGBT community … The Frank Sinatra School of the Arts (35th Avenue, Queens) will be featured on “The REAL Change Project — Artists for Education,” airing Aug. 20 on CBS. The school was founded by Tony Bennett.