The Catskills, 365 nights on the road and maybe an appearance on Johnny Carson were once the comic’s life. The 80s comedy explosion changed all that. The renaissance actually started in the mid 70s in two Manhattan clubs: Rick Newman’s Catch A Rising Star, and Budd Friedman’s Improv. Passionate young comedians, from places like Long Island, Brooklyn, Boston, all came in pursuit of the same dream. Unknowns with names like Crystal, Belzer, Boosler, Kaufman, David, Williams. Mostly, they lived off free burgers and cab fare. But the real payoff came in the laughs they would generate, night after night. Under the tutelage of established acts like Robert Klein and David Brenner, the class honed their skills, unaware what the next decade would bring.
The death of Disco created a void, Reagan provided the material, and HBO the venue. Comedy would never be the same. The rise of comic-only nightclubs in major cities coincided with the spread of cable TV, which needed comedians and inexpensive programming to fill its airwaves. HBO’s landmark Comic Relief shows were particularly memorable. Suddenly, a whole stand up culture emerged with sold out shows and massive followings. Comedians then began leaving the stage for the sitcoms based on their club personas. When Stand Up Comics Ruled the World will recreate the hubbub and humor of that golden era through first person interviews with the stars who made their name (or legend) through the stand up circuit. The inside stories, told by those who lived the dream. Interviews include:- Billy Crystal
- Bill Maher
- David Brenner
- Richard Belzer
- Robert Klein
- Richard Lewis
- George Shapiro
- Andrew Dice Clay
- Carl Labove
- Elayne Boosler
- Rita Rudner
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