Appearing in over 60 movies (Casino, the Usual Suspects, and A Few Good Men to name a few) Kevin Pollak has had a very impressive acting career. However, Pollak is not only known for his work in drama, he’s also funny—really funny. Pollak started his career as a stand-up comic and was included in Comedy Central’s list of the “top 100 comedians of all time.”

His newest hour, The Littlest Suspect, includes lots of anecdotes from his extensive acting career, impersonations, and stories of practical jokes between him and actors Alan Arkin and Christopher Walken. The special premieres July 29 on Showtime at 11 pm EST and will be available On Demand July 30 – Aug. 26. You can check out more airing info here.

In March, we let you know that veteran comedian Paul Provenza’s new show Green Room with Paul Provenza, would debut on Showtime June 10. Now, thankfully, the folks at the network have posted some video so that us anxious comedy fans can get a taste of what to expect.

The show will have a panel of comedians discussing what goes on behind the scenes at comedy clubs and in the comedy industry in general. It will air Thursdays at 10:30 p.m., right behind the new season of Penn & Teller: Bullshit!

Or you can just watch the trailer here:

In October we told you about veteran comedian and Aristocrats director Paul Provenza’s new cable series. Now, we can let you know that The Green Room With Paul Provenza has officially been set to premiere June 10 on Showtime.

Provenza’s show will have a panel of comedians discussing what goes on behind the scenes, letting viewers in on the inside of the biz. It will air Thursdays at 10:30 p.m., right behind the new season of Penn & Teller: Bullshit!

“The green room is a safe space for comedy and a dangerous place for convention,” Provenza told Variety in October of last year. “If you’re not easily offended and can roll with whatever happens when there are no rules, then being behind that door can be the time of your life.”

Shannon Elizabeth, everyone’s favorite sexy foreign exchange student from American Pie, hosts six raunchy and hilarious half hour episodes of Live Nude Comedy, the Showtime series which combines stand-up comedy and burlesque (sorry: no real nudity).

Elizabeth begins each show with a sketch, followed by alternating performances by two of today’s up and coming comedians and then you get your fill of two sexy dancers. Some notables on the show include Andy Dick and Whitney Cummings, who also serves as producer of the series.

The series originally aired in July, and some critics (men) complained that the title Live “Nude” Comedy was false advertising, due to the lack of well… nudity. The DVD version of the series will be available June 1.

Maz Jobrani

Showtime has four new stand-up specials airing this month, three of them on New Year’s Eve. This go-around, the premium-cable network appears focused on developing specials centering on specific ethnic demographics. More info is below.

SHAQUILLE O’NEAL PRESENTS: ALL STAR COMEDY JAM – LIVE FROM SOUTH BEACH, hosted by D.L. Hughley, will feature Earthquake (”Everybody Hates Chris”), Arnez J (”BET’s Comic View”), Melanie Comarcho (”Def Comedy Jam”) and Lavell Crawford (”Chelsea Lately”). The special will air on Dec. 5 at 11 pm EST.

EDWIN SAN JUAN’S PACIFIC RIM COMEDY, hosted by Edwin San Juan, features a lineup of Asian comics from around the world. The lineup consists of Joey Guila, Bernadette Balagtas, Ron Josol, Dan Gabriel, and Paul Ogata. It airs Dec. 31 at 8 pm EST.

MAZ JOBRANI: BROWN & FRIENDLY is the Iranian-American comedian’s first solo stand-up special. Jobrani has a long list of television and film credits, but his stand-up received perhaps its biggest boost from the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour (and eponymous special, which appeared on Comedy Central in 2007). It will air on Dec. 31 at 9 pm EST.

GOIN’ NATIVE: THE INDIAN COMEDY SLAM is a special dedicated solely to Native American comedians. Hosted by Charlie Hill, it features Larry Omaha, Howie Miller, Mark Yaffee, Jim Rule, Vaughn Eagle Bear, and JR Redwater. The special will air on Dec. 31 at 10:05 pm EST.

Ever wish there was a place to see comedians talk about their craft besides awkward episodes of Inside The Actors Studio (sorry, Poehler)? In 2010, Showtime is unveiling Behind The Green Room Door, a new chat series hosted by Paul Provenza that will feature different comics each week discussing the ups, downs, ins and outs of life onstage.

Each week, three different comics will join Provenza to talk comedy. Think Jon Favreau’s Dinner For Five minus the chow, as things will be said that probably wouldn’t fly at the dinner table.

“The green room is a safe space for comedy and a dangerous place for convention,” Provenza told Variety. “If you’re not easily offended and can roll with whatever happens when there are no rules, then being behind that door can be the time of your life.”

Tentative guests include Jonathan Winters, Eddie Izzard, Robert Klein and Penn Jillette. Look out for it next year.

Whitney Cummings

As we reported on June 2, Shannon Elizabeth will be hosting a Showtime special called Live Nude Comedy, a combination stand-up and burlesque show.

Comedians featured are: Ian Edwards, Steve Byrne, Sam Tripoli, K.T. Tatara, Harris Wittles, Mike Young, Tig Notaro, Chris D’Elia, Mike Faverman, Michael Kosta, Andy Dick and Whitney Cummings, who is also the producer of the show.

“I know so many amazing comics who can’t showcase their real voice because TV shows play it safe,” Cummings told Punchline Magazine. “There’s so much censorship and Standards & Practices is a nightmare. But nothing was off limits on this show and it gave comics a chance to show off their edgier material and really let loose on taboo topics.”

Here’s the second tease for the show. Enjoy.

Go here to watch the first, even longer, tease for Live Nude Comedy.

Actress Shannon Elizabeth has thrown her hat into the stand-up comedy ring by way of hosting a novel comedy special: Live Nude Comedy will air on Showtime July 16. Unlike any comedy special built for mass consumption, Live Nude Comedy features some of the country’s biggest up and coming stand-ups as well as lots of sexy burlesque dancers.

Executive producer, actress and stand-up comedian Whitney Cummings thought it was an excellent opportunity to see comedians air out and do their edgier material in a well-produced special.

“I know so many amazing comics who can’t showcase their real voice because TV shows play it safe,” Cummings tells Punchline Magazine. “There’s so much censorship and Standards & Practices is a nightmare. But nothing was off limits on this show and it gave comics a chance to show off their edgier material and really let loose on taboo topics.”

Comedians featured on the special are: Ian Edwards, Steve Byrne, Sam Tripoli, K.T. Tatara, Harris Wittles, Mike Young, Tig Notaro, Chris D’Elia, Mike Faverman, Michael Kosta, Andy Dick and Cummings.

Buy why the burlesque dancers?

“We wanted a gritty, vaudeville feel; the burlesque dancers complement the stand-up by giving the audience time to breathe between comics. A lot of the burlesque is funny, instead of just sexy; it has a fun vibe instead of a dirty vibe.”

Comedy sketches featuring the likes of Josh Fadem and Michael Busch will open the show. “It just really feels like a celebration of comedy more than anything else,” says Cummings. Check out the show teaser below. As you could imagine it’s not entirely safe for work. Enjoy!