I'm Dying Up Here
I'm Dying Up Here is an American comedy-drama television series created by David Flebotte. The pilot was written by Flebotte and directed by Jonathan Levine. It premiered on Showtime on June 4, 2017. The series is executive produced by Flebotte, Jim Carrey, Michael Aguilar, and Christina Wayne. It was announced on January 12, 2016, that Showtime had ordered the pilot to series based on the bestselling book by William Knoedelseder. On September 8, 2017, Showtime renewed the series for a 10-episode second season. The second season premiered on May 6, 2018. On September 28, 2018, Showtime announced that it had canceled the series.
Premise
I'm Dying Up Here explores the Los Angeles stand-up scene of the mid-1970s as a group of young comedians attempt to become successful at Goldie's comedy club and potentially gain a shot on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Club owner Goldie mentors the young comics with a combination of toughness and encouragement to further their chances at success. The show focuses on the daily struggles and successes of both Goldie and the comics.Cast and characters
Main
- Melissa Leo as Goldie Herschlag: a brassy comedy club owner
- Ari Graynor as Cassie Feder: an ambitious comedian from Wink, Texas, and Clay's ex
- Clark Duke as Ron Shack: a Boston comic who travels with Eddie to LA
- Michael Angarano as Eddie Zeidel: a Boston comic and Clay's friend who travels with Ron to LA
- Andrew Santino as Bill Hobbs: a comedy club favorite
- Stephen Guarino as Sully Patterson: a zany stand-up comedian
- Erik Griffin as Ralph Carnegie: a Vietnam vet, comic, and writer for Sonny & Cher
- RJ Cyler as Adam Proteau: a struggling stand-up comedian
- Al Madrigal as Edgar Martinez: a loose-cannon comedian
- Jake Lacy as Nick Beverly: a stand-up comedian who returns to Los Angeles after being on the road
Recurring
- Ginger Gonzaga as Maggie: Arnie's/Ron's girlfriend, a waitress at the club
- Jon Daly as Arnie: a struggling comic
- Obba Babatundé as Barton Royce
- W. Earl Brown as Teddy
- Jeffrey Nordling as Eli Goldman
- Rick Overton as Mitch Bombadier: an executive for The Tonight Show
- Dylan Baker as Johnny Carson: the host of The Tonight Show.
- Brianne Howey as Kay: a waitress at the club
- Ryan Alosio as Miles Farber: an ambitious talent agent
- Tommy Snider as Wolfman Jack: a famous disc jockey in Los Angeles
- Brad Garrett as Roy Martin : a legendary comedian who comes to the club and offers the up-and-coming comedians advice. Goldie attempts to join into a partnership with him as she expands her business pursuits.
- Nicole Ari Parker as Gloria Whitfield : a producer for Soul Train who enters into a relationship with one of the comics
- Stefania LaVie Owen as Amanda Robbins : Goldie's estranged daughter who reenters her life after running away at 17.
- Xosha Roquemore as Dawn Lima : a female comic who is new to Los Angeles and struggling with her sexual identity as she enters into a sexual relationship with Nick
- Dana Gould as Bruce : Adam's agent
- Beau Mirchoff as Saul Hudson : a TV producer for whom Ralph works
Guest
- Joey "Coco" Diaz as Taffy
- Sebastian Stan as Clay Appuzzo: Cassie's ex, who hits stardom with his first Tonight Show appearance
- Alfred Molina as Carl: a mediocre talent manager
- Robert Forster as Guy: Clay's father
- Cathy Moriarty as Angie: Clay's mother
- Scott Cohen as Roy Brenner
- David Paymer as Ernie Falk
- Richard Kind as Marty Dansak
- Dom Irrera as Fitzy
- Sarah Hay as Tawny
- Sarah Stiles as Toni 'the Tiger' Luddy: a comedy club groupie
- Jere Burns as Sid Robbins
- Jocko Sims as Melvin
- John Caponera as Howard Leetch
- Armen Weitzman as Rob Cheevers
- Dennis Haskins as Father Jacobs
- Ken Lerner as Sam Doak
- Brandon Ford Green as Richard Pryor
- Chris Regan as Monty Hall
Episodes