After Can We Take a Joke? and Dying Laughing, there is some desire to say I understand comedy. Add in documentaries on Richard Pryor and you learn to respect those who step up on stage. But while those documentaries give you some perspective, I’m Dying Up Here presents a dramatization all that. It gives you a long…


Read our Editorial Guidelines regarding how posts are written and rated and our use of affiliate links.


One of the main locations in I'm Dying Up Here

After Can We Take a Joke? and Dying Laughing, there is some desire to say I understand comedy. Add in documentaries on Richard Pryor and you learn to respect those who step up on stage. But while those documentaries give you some perspective, I’m Dying Up Here presents a dramatization all that. It gives you a long form idea of the trials and small victories which come with being a comedian. The Warts, depression, drug abuse, laughter, relationships, suicide, success, and all.

The Introduction

In 1973 LA, everyone wants to hit the main-stage at Goldie’s (Melissa Leo) comic club. She is like a mother to them. Someone who nurses them, trains them, and then kicks them out the nest. Sends them off to Johnny Carson (Dylan Baker) when they are ready. That’s what she did with Clay (Sebastian Stan). That is what she may do with the rest of the cast too, assuming they brush up.

Goldie (Melissa Leo) in I'm Dying Up Here

However, as has become a consistent topic when it comes to comedians, there is a darkness. For each and everyone, there is a darkness they have to pull from in order to get that laugh. Something which can be hard. Especially when you have to keep tapping at that well and submerging yourself in your $***. But alongside that comes the question of what to do when you make it? You got on Carson, you got invited to sit down, you have everything you asked for. Where to go from there?

Clay didn’t know and he seemingly killed himself over it. So when it comes to the comedians he left behind, where will their journeys go? Stick around to find out.

Collected Quote(s)

Fear of death is not my issue. Fear of irrelevancy. Now, that scares the shit out of me.

Highlights

The Majority of Characters Feel Like They Can Grow On You

Goldie (Melissa Leo) in I'm Dying Up Here

Outside of Goldie and Cass (Ari Graynor), there isn’t a character you can just latch onto. Everyone is very awkward, in a sort of NBC way, and don’t properly compensate for their eccentricities. Yet, in their flaws and weirdness, they seem human. There is this idea that a real person lives behind the jokes. Like, the writing is done so that you can learn so much about a character just in one set. You can learn about their relationship history, their fears, the problems they have with society in one set.

Which, with time, may lead to some of these characters becoming your favorites.

Goldie & Cass

A talent agent in I'm Dying Up Here

But the two who stand out the most and will hook you immediately is Goldie and Cass. For Goldie, she is brash and fits the type of women Showtime often have as their leads. She is an every-woman. Goldie can be that bitch that everyone hates. Perhaps the mother figure that many wish they had, but is never someone stripped of her femininity. She can hang with the boys, even beat them at their own game, but the character remains a woman.

What I mean by that is, she doesn’t hide her feelings or touts them as weakness. When Clay dies, she is just as affected as everyone else. Not just because it hurts her business, but because she is the one who pushed him. Perhaps too soon. Thus giving us, the viewer, a multifaceted character who surely will be talked about during Emmy and Golden Globe times. Hopefully more so for their nomination than a snub.

Cassie (Ari Graynor) in I'm Dying Up Here

As for Cass? Being that she is the only female comic thus featured, she stands out. Add on that she is Clay’s ex and it really pushes her toward the forefront. But rather than Clay be her claim to fame, she becomes more than that. Arguably, she even may surpass representing the plight of the female comic’s burden. With time, we may see her become the top comic on the show. That, alongside helping us to understand Goldie’s methods. Especially in terms of how she pushes comics until they reach the pinnacle of what she can offer.

Low Points

The Majority of Men Seem Interchangeable

fhZEkknw eFbPaLaBsHRwjKX3AEj7f Ioz5I4QSxunyCG5D1wNQqb0WSk3 TI19vqi 46dXHDbZiNpPxEgo4JYyZWBc vtuNkKpX6qKbf tNBhFU62dB9mLObKFLQzdFpytZcodadIBgDHDoklBpFN 4YCbdoRNz1hwnl8tuIHD5GIhSJ6pK2xPw0JXMr pX5W5wzzZPy3oTKiG0RSV8ThESfwd5Jap9MknuZAJmJ5e21WIFMvItYU0MCgOiWIrCGrttc9G5VCJ9P4vrWCrFT0r Hb2XMrYRLUJJPLHJ0UWNMgBRlfSJTQ1uWYnsHzyBBqGxXCO1CF33pZ6xXxadl542h19D41W0WDbtTPaGrWdoFuwIvXP 9TSBKQ7IDS6eFyKbxAdVOSdyGSJ2swexsRDRe48WOVudaoOI0ZbHUWl8xtCIikT6dnxV3WX7ClzDnu7FmzCxbkybQiyOPtPP QL2QIzczBu CoN4pVX7C5bTbMGF7pCG1mLQKMckPdx8IWJBIDMXKWU3xJ4daBiCu0v8ddvJaWTMPq9DQhPViRANKDU02QdnbGMFM7mbI89HPtk1B813M 3CaHDjrkM iRfNXXqe UI0EXtsFGvl4V1PNYzvPZs2Mr69qaVnC0v4LH jUwUI3UB pHWBmTwjJJMlIaKtGbY58UUqAuJmjU=w640 h360 no

The main difference between the men is their hairstyles and how they style their beard. Even when it comes to Clay, he doesn’t stand out really. You never really get what Goldie saw in him. He isn’t that funny, nor are most of the men. So for her roster to be mostly them you can only contribute to the times. Surely not by merit or being unique.

On The Fence

For A Show About Comedians, I Expected To Laugh More

uNJxml7QueOpFCUcSbGXYJoLYfuhl6ulecUoH63 S4KFdXHljCzwUCQEeQIMaveYVTH RKXW5ZpkTAAuge3NRFTmRj4tGN1N4P26ZP17 qelGeDgDLeR5TzaWUeV6JtNqwEBmbaoMfAyV6Kjn7FYBEmq8SOTmiZ5d5p7glQQNcQ80U56Ff08FSPe 7u8Zd84wQMCP8Y2wfkKMoqxeZKb4 JLRsshGW3C21jV8SJYhCGNI6WAojc0N S1r4kNf pKRO4u6EfwVR 8Xe9NbAsn4EhUtB1e24tN8QGHLIgjk95gIPsmVhiFHQ4ILmY6eSjdSUNY 0IkLGc2OH 8qqlOnZ58c8oTqjymGSQz8Fvby32esN SIH7WCpQ YUu0t1UPvMb9vDOLHDehtTdpaiX3VWKxxmfGogEEV9uuTODI Q9Tp7Jcv5fMTPNEsAxIWVxZ4y3qHSaJ0dl7JgWo 6TmX4JDQlSwVncdSKbfgSfTfxliy0 eKbjYYGaBByyPEc2vGMud ww ZJZ0xz1XLNKG w4RHRVydm8XyGku07yWUnOUG3WYngcZHK0GvIF NST4mISXm44Q5i1UFK91cWQZSEfkJF6zWfc46UNQ0u6umNSLAbJ7GyacMSWdD4EKV 6 ZY1wM6nmyfEj paHxGYHkgtO9NvliqAT28pmVkRI=w640 h360 no

Of the cast, there seems to be only two which can be considered brand new to the game. The rest can be considered veterans who just never made it to TV. With that in mind, I’m thinking I’m going to be cracking up for an hour.

Nope.

Outside of Cassie and one male comedians, I was just waiting to laugh. Waiting for a dramatic moment to get me teary eyed. Which Cass towards the end. However, outside of that I was as numb as if I just got dental surgery. For the pilot really does seem like everyone chasing after Goldie or talking about Clay. Which is ok, since this is the pilot. But Clay’s death, to me, could have been held a few episodes. Been built up to mean something. That is, rather than pretend like a suicide or death, in episode 1, is a good starting place anymore. Because, let me tell you, it’s not. It’s just lazy. Especially since clay doesn’t even stay dead. He pops up with smart alack remarks throughout the rest of the episode.

Overall: Mixed (Stick Around)

The thing about Showtime is, I don’t think any of its shows really sell themselves off the bat. Sort of like what NBC offers, you have to make a commitment. You have to invest in a season to see if the show is really good. For outside of perhaps Shameless, the way their shows work is there is one central figure, usually a woman, you can latch onto. That woman is perhaps the sole hook of the show. From there, as she makes others relevant, you learn to like the others. Some more than others, but like a luxurious Trojan horse, you get there.

58UKLvtYYASXwbnvneZsLX pgyJXL VP4u H3oGrw3I7B6cSh6DMeMbtPDQpa8d Fc1xNNuYX vdBJk3aRjHK7XQ 9WRa27ZztcrYIrmqsjWiNYkmIOS5QjsZn1sfOHeMXRbVhVcbZh3Xj2r jWd5tuna1kd2WKd7x1P0vZl1h15bUo88KHMSQdiNaCuzW6H8rGHFfrRpkLem8arwz3Mq 4ckYiqvx4eeuhhC3zXRyGjjti6qNijNcRthejR4sjc8lxNX Ogth62HBcdbaAgIqhjvFKnM0 awWeTJmUXr80qDA5exPRiNxSS8qcDIcadd2 yOV6iWQX W5rG9RQ21G2Y9jySoEUHOcmPdL2bcILICpx7ko9I9iikzObTScmfsBCPYoE O6FHffaxZe3fSP5NgkPlq47wamcyZvsntyDnLz0kXwSHUPUW1u4ReJ6gzklc4sF5SYkAnIlpI3zn3bl5Bga2nEvcUNPswDYNtUq 48Jn3Vzhhs6tdkt1R0m6tJA77 YUg3rRlkVvsEySOKnrCgqYjVE7Qi5BECokZDofTLPY3cdVxVCh18ucpLUrAGueePbuP7fjO6bvpmamxY hpuqePyqvlf8L4XPBrNoCdiAjOva64FBTy9F6OE9QS6tDreiXFFv6O6LzHzvJco0zayMRjX4tzbCDwmh nQ=w640 h360 no

Which is why I’m labeling this as mixed. The premise itself is interesting: the life and jokes of up and coming comics in the 1970s. An age before social media made anyone able to earn the title of comedian. A time where it wasn’t about going viral but working your craft. Where likely, people like Goldie forced you to find your voice and shtick. Which likely is what will save the show. You getting as invested in these comedians as Goldie is. You getting to see what they turn into laughter. Getting another viewpoint of what appears to be a glamorous career that really can be dark at times. Especially when you aren’t sure if the crowd is laughing at you or with you anymore.


Listed Under Categories: ,


Follow, Like and Subscribe


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.