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Review of "I'm Dying Up Here" 6/28/17 by Suzanne
Airs Sundays 10/9c on Showtime

This show is about some comedians in the early 70's at a Los Angeles comedy club. It's loosely based on the real-life Comedy Store (and places like it) and is also from a novel by William Knoedelseder, and produced by Jim Carrey.

This is a drama, not a comedy, so most of the laughs come from the stand-up bits or the comedians joking around with each other.  Oscar winner Melissa Leo plays Goldie, the owner of the club, who's kind of a like a tough mom to all the young comics.  When she lets them perform on the big stage, then they know they're ready to go on "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.

In the first episode, something very shocking happens to their big star.  This is the kind of show where things don't turn out the way you think they will.

It has many cast members (some are shown above). The actors do a great job. My only complaint is that the show doesn't really do the men's hair well for that time period. Either the hair looks too nice (like too much product has been used on it - guys didn't put product in their hair back then) or it looks like a wig.  Otherwise, it has a nice 70's feel to it.

I don't get Showtime, so I could only watch the first show. I liked it and would probably watch it if I did get that channel. I don't love it, like I did "Roadies," but it's not as depressing as "Vinyl," either.

MORE INFORMATION:

I’M DYING UP HERE explores the struggles of “making it big” in the 1970’s L.A. comedy scene. Every night, a group of up-and-coming comedians wait to perform at Goldie’s, the hottest stand-up club in town. But first they’ll have to win over Goldie, who rules the Sunset Strip with an iron fist. Stand-up is a drug for these comedians, and they’re willing to sacrifice everything to get their fix. They brave the pain of sharing their innermost thoughts and darkest secrets, hoping that someone, anyone, will laugh. Executive produced by Jim Carrey.