The Improv is a comedy club at 8162 Melrose Avenue in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles, California.
It was founded in 1974 and may well be the biggest comedy venue in L.A. Just about every big name in show business has played The Improv, including Milton Berle, Drew Carey, George Carlin, Chevy Chase, Bill Cosby, Billy Crystal, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, David Letterman, Steve Martin, Freddie Prinze, Richard Pryor, Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Lily Tomlin and Robin Williams.
Even Liza Minnelli appeared at The Improv, and Jim Carrey bombed on his first appearance at the club.
The Improv also has a bar and a restaurant named "Hell's Kitchen" that features Italian entrees named for comedy stars, such as Billy Crystal's Gnocchi Alla Bolognese and Tim Allen's Eggplant Parmigiana. The actresses Karen Black and Debra Winger worked there as waitresses before getting their big breaks as movie stars.
