Podtalk: Producer Scott Perlman of Documentary ‘Out of the Loop'

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CHICAGO – Chicago is acknowledged as one of the great comedy cities in the world mostly for The Second City influence. However like other cities, there is an ebb and flow regarding stand-up comedy, and during the late 1980s/early 1990s there was a stand-up boom in the Windy City, chronicled in the film “Out of the Loop.” Producer Scott Perlman provides the context behind the documentary, now available for free on PLEX and TUBI, and for download on various platforms.

“Out of the Loop” is familiar documentary form, but there are several twists in the story that occur, exposing the uniqueness of Chicago … one of the main ones being the great divide between Black and White comics, also divided geographically between South and North sides. The truth, in this case, set several comics free and emphasized the lost legend of the late Bernie Mac. Featuring well know and lesser known comic talents including goddess Judy Tenuda (who recently passed away), Jeff Garlin, T,J Miller, Megan Gailey, Hannibal Buress, Deon Cole, Dwayne Kennedy, Marsha Warfield, Lil Rei Howery and SNL-er Chris Redd, among others.

Out of the Loop
Photo credit: Gravitas Ventures

Scott Perlman began in Chicago stand-up, as he relates in the Podtalk below, and went onto the film business as an editor and production crew member, as well as a producer on various projects, including narrative (“Andover”), TV (“Art Confidential”) and “Out of the Loop” (also editor). The doc was directed by Michael Alexander.

In a Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Producer Scott Perlman talks about the background of “Out of the Loop” …

In a video clip, Scott provides more context…

Audio Film Review of “Out of the Loop” by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com …

Trailer, “Out of the Loop” …

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Critic/Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com