The Comedy Store (TV series)

Last updated
The Comedy Store
The Comedy Store (TV series).jpg
Directed by Mike Binder
Starring David Letterman
Jim Carrey
Mike Binder
Bill Burr
Andrew Dice Clay
Whoopi Goldberg
Sandra Bernhard
Bobby Lee
Pauly Shore
Neal Brennan
Jay Leno
Nikki Glaser
Sebastian Maniscalco
Marc Maron
Chris Rock
Iliza Shlesinger
Louis C.K.
Joe Rogan
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducerMike Binder
Original release
Network Showtime
ReleaseOctober 4 (2020-10-04) 
November 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)

The Comedy Store is a 2020 documentary miniseries directed, produced and starring Mike Binder about the American comedy club The Comedy Store. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Critical reception

NPR said "This documentary contains plenty of laughs to make it very entertaining. But it also says a lot about fame, about the drive to succeed, and about both competition and friendship. Such topics as sexism and racism are addressed frankly also. In putting this all together, Binder has access to a seemingly endless stack of candid photos taken at the club, and uses them very well. He also folds in some very specific music choices on the soundtrack, ending each episode on one emotional peak or another." [4]

IndieWire wrote "Had “The Comedy Store” been more focused on story and less on free-wheeling chats, it might have accurately captured The Store as Binder and so many other comedians see it. But, as such, what the viewer is continually told was wild and reckless, more often than not, comes off as mild and feckless. [5]

The Hollywood Reporter said "It’s a five-hour commercial for The Comedy Store, but darned if it isn’t funny and entertaining." [6]

Episodes

Each episode is an hour long and breaks down a different time period throughout the existence of the Comedy Store. The director, Mike Binder, goes on a podcast with a different comedian to set the tone and help provide the narrative of each episode.

No.TitleDirected byOriginal release date [7] U.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Saw You Last Night on the Tonight Show"Mike BinderOctober 4, 2020 (2020-10-04)N/A
2"The Comedy Strike"Mike BinderOctober 11, 2020 (2020-10-11)N/A
3"The Wild Bunch"Mike BinderOctober 18, 2020 (2020-10-18)N/A
4"Joe Rogan Returns"Mike BinderOctober 25, 2020 (2020-10-25)N/A
5"The Birth of a Bit"Mike BinderNovember 1, 2020 (2020-11-01)N/A

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References

  1. Peisner, David (October 9, 2020). "The Challenge of Making a Comedy Store Documentary From the Inside". Vulture .
  2. Lee, Ashley (April 22, 2019). "Comedy Store documentary series to debut on Showtime". Los Angeles Times .
  3. Telling, Gillian (October 29, 2020). "Pauly Shore Reflects on The Comedy Store Documentary: 'It's a Reminder of My Mom'". People .
  4. Bianculli, David (October 2, 2020). "Hysterical And Historical 'Comedy Store' Takes You Inside The LA Stand-Up Scene". NPR.
  5. Garcia, Leonardo Adrian (October 2, 2020). "'The Comedy Store' Review: Showtime's Doc Squanders a Great Premise on Too Few Punchlines". IndieWire .
  6. Fienberg, Daniel (October 4, 2020). "'The Comedy Store': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter .
  7. "The Comedy Store – Listings". The Futon Critic . Retrieved October 5, 2020.