Watch Comedy Store, The

The Comedy Store is a show that takes a retrospective look at the beginnings of stand-up comedy as an art form and examines the cultural impact that it has had on American society. The show is a six-part documentary series that was produced by Showtime and is now available to stream on Amazon Addon from.

The series takes place in the 1970s and 80s and documents the rise of the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, which was one of the first clubs to promote and showcase stand-up comedy. Through archival footage and interviews with some of the biggest names in the industry, the show explores the early days of comedy and how it was seen as a way for new voices to be heard and for audiences to laugh and connect with each other.

The show is directed by Mike Binder, who is a comedian and filmmaker that got his start at the Comedy Store in the 1970s. Binder uses his own experiences and insights to give viewers a firsthand look at what it was like to be a comedian during this time, and he also brings in other comedians to share their memories and stories about the Comedy Store.

The series is broken up into six episodes, each of which focuses on a different aspect of the Comedy Store's history. The first episode sets up the scene and introduces some of the main players, including owner Mitzi Shore and comic Richard Pryor, who both had a huge impact on the club and the industry as a whole. The following episodes delve deeper into other key figures, such as comedians Robin Williams and Jim Carrey, and explore the challenges and triumphs that they faced as they worked to establish themselves as top performers.

One of the things that makes The Comedy Store standout is the breadth of archival footage that is used throughout the series. Clips of famous sets from comedians like Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Steve Martin are interspersed with interviews with these same comedians and others who were part of the Comedy Store's early days. This gives viewers a chance to see these performers at the height of their careers and also gain insight into what they were thinking and feeling as they were crafting their jokes and performing on stage.

The series also touches on some of the more difficult aspects of the comedy world, such as the prevalence of drug use and the sexism and racism that many female and minority comedians faced. The show doesn't shy away from these topics but instead explores them in a thoughtful and nuanced way. By acknowledging these darker aspects of the industry, the show helps to paint a fuller picture of what it was like to be a comedian during this time period.

Despite its focus on the past, The Comedy Store is also very relevant to today's comedy landscape. Many of the comedians featured on the show, such as Bill Burr and Marc Maron, are still performing today and have become influential figures in the industry. By looking back at their early days and the beginnings of stand-up comedy, the show helps to contextualize the current state of the art form and trace its evolution over time.

Overall, The Comedy Store is a must-watch for anyone interested in comedy, entertainment, or just the history of American culture. It's a witty, poignant, and insightful look at one of the most important institutions in the comedy world and features a wealth of talent and humor that will leave viewers both laughing and thoughtful by the end of the series.

Comedy Store, The is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (5 episodes). The series first aired on October 5, 2020.