Showtime Offers First Episode of New Series About Comedy in the 70’s, For Free: Watch It Here

Ever since it was announced that Jim Carrey was EP’ing a series about the Los Angeles comedy scene in the 70’s, we’ve been dying to see it. I’m Dying Up Here is very loosely based on real life events, and pretty closely based on what it was like to be a comic in that place, at that time. The book, I’m Dying Up Here provided some inspiration for the series, as well.

Melissa Leo stars as Goldie, a tough, take-no-shit club owner who feels she is a mother figure to her flock of comedians. It’s no secret that her character is based on Mitzi Shore, and the series brings up other people of the era, some by name, others just by inference. All of the comedians are fictional and seem to be amalgams of various rising stars of that time. Ari Graynor co-stars as Cassie, a woman trying to make it in a male-dominated field. Also on board are Michael Angarano, Clark Duke, Andrew Santino, Erik Griffin, RJ Cyler, Al Madrigal and Jake Lacy.

We’ve seen six episodes (review coming soon), and while there are problems and rough spots with the series, we can say this- you will want to watch the next episode and the next episode until you’ve seen them all. It’s a novel you can’t put down.

The series isn’t set to debut until Sunday, June 4, but Showtime is offering this free preview of the first episode for everyone to watch now.

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