Young Comedians Special

Last updated

Young Comedians Special
StarringVarious
Country of originUnited States
No. of episodes16
Production
Running time60 minutes
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseMay 14, 1976 (1976-05-14) –
December 9, 1992 (1992-12-09)
ReleaseMarch 25 (1995-03-25) –
March 25, 1995 (1995-03-25)

Young Comedians Special (also known as Young Comedians Show) is the name of a series of annual standup comedy specials that aired on HBO from 1976 to 1992, with one final installment debuting in 1995. [1] [2] The specials began as installments of HBO's standup special series On Location for the first few airings, with comedian Freddie Prinze hosting the first installment. Each special is a showcase format spotlighting several new young comedians, hosted by an established star. [3] HBO's Young Comedians Specials introduced audiences to many now-famous comedians, including Robin Williams, Jerry Seinfeld, Ray Romano, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, Sam Kinison, David Spade, Judd Apatow, Drew Carey, Andy Kaufman, and Paul Reubens's character Pee-Wee Herman. The series was discontinued after the 1995 edition. [4]

Contents

List of specials

YearTitleHostFeatured ComediansDirectorFilming LocationNotes
May 14, 1976 On Location: Freddie Prinze and Friends Freddie Prinze Elayne Boosler, Jay Leno, Gary Mule Deer, Bob Shaw, Tim Thomerson Arthur Forrest The Comedy Store - Los Angeles, CA
September 24, 1977On Location: The 2nd Annual HBO Young Comedians Show David Steinberg Ed Bluestone, MacIntyre Dixon, Gallagher, Andy Kaufman, Richard Libertini, Robin Williams Marty Callner The Improv - Los Angeles, CA
August 18, 1978On Location: Chevy Chase & Friends Chevy Chase Richard Belzer, Irv Burton, Bill Kirchenbauer, Denny JohnstonThe Comedy Store - Los Angeles, CA
December 17, 1979On Location: Young Comedians Show Victor Borge Mike Binder, Mike Davis, Darrow Igus, Rick & Ruby, Robert Wuhl
December 26, 1980The Fifth Annual Young Comedians Show Carl Reiner Charles Fleischer, Dale Gonyea, Joe Nipote, Paul Reubens (as Pee-Wee Herman), Tim Thomerson
December 11, 1981The 6th Annual Young Comedians The Smothers Brothers Harry Anderson, Monty Jordan, Richard Lewis, Howie Mandel, Maureen Murphy, Rick Overton, Jerry Seinfeld The Roxy - Los Angeles, CA
December 18, 1982The Seventh Annual Young Comedians Show Alan King Larry Amoros, The Funny Boys (Jonathan Schmock and Jim Vallely), The High Heeled Women (Tracey Berg, Cassandra Danz, Mary Fulham, Arleen Sorkin), Monty Jordan, Mike MacDonald, J.J. Wall, Steven Wright Allan A. Goldstein Catch a Rising Star - New York, NY
December 16, 1983The Eighth Annual Young Comedians Show John Candy The Amazing Johnathan, Joel Hodgson, Carol Leifer, Bill Maher, Paula Poundstone, Slap Happy (Allan Jacobs, Jan Kirshner, Brian O'Connor), Steve Sweeney Paul Miller Unitel Video, Inc. - New York, NY
August 3, 1985The 9th Annual Young Comedians Special Rodney Dangerfield Louie Anderson, Harry Basil, Richie Gold, Sam Kinison, Maurice LaMarche, Bob Nelson, Rita Rudner, Bob Saget, Yakov Smirnoff Walter C. Miller Dangerfield's - New York, NY
November 15, 1986The Young Comedians All-Star Reunion Harry Anderson, Richard Belzer, Howie Mandel, Steven Wright, Robin Williams Howard Busgang, Barry Crimmins, Ellen DeGeneres, Jake Johannsen, John Mendoza The Punchline - San Francisco, CA
Stitches Comedy Club - Boston, MA
Yuk Yuk's - Toronto, Canada
The Comic Strip - New York, NY
The Improv - Los Angeles, CA		This year featured a change of format, with five Young Comedians from the past returning to host. Each was in a different city, introducing a different young comedian.
October 10, 1987The 11th Annual Young Comedians Special John Larroquette Geoff Bolt, Rick Ducommun, Allan Havey, Bobby Slayton, Margaret Smith Rocco Urbisci The Improv - Irvine, CA
September 17, 1988The 12th Annual Young Comedians Special Paul Rodriguez Heywood Banks, Paul Dillery, Richard Jeni, Cathy Ladman, Rick Reynolds Bruce Gowers Storyville Jazz Club - New Orleans, LA
December 2, 1989The 13th Annual Young Comedians Special Dennis Miller Jann Karam, Drake Sather, Rob Schneider, David Spade, Fred Stoller, Warren Thomas Ellen Brown The Second City - Chicago, IL
December 14, 1991The 14th Annual Young Comedians Special Richard Lewis Drew Carey, Anthony Griffith, Warren Hutcherson, Jon Stewart, Jeff Stilson Bruce Gowers Great American Music Hall - San Francisco, CA
December 19, 1992The 15th Annual Young Comedians Special Dana Carvey Judd Apatow, Bill Bellamy, Nick Di Paolo, Janeane Garofalo, Andy Kindler, Ray Romano Paul Miller The Improv - Tempe, AZ
March 25, 19951995 Young Comedians Special Garry Shandling Dave Attell, Louis C.K., Dave Chappelle, Anthony Clark, Eric Tunney Louis J. Horvitz U.S. Comedy Arts Festival - Wheeler Theater - Aspen, CO

See also

References

  1. ↑ Callaway, Jimmy. "The Big Chill of Comedy with Fred Stoller". Vulture . Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  2. ↑ "COMEDY REVIEW : HBO'S 5 'YOUNG COMICS' MAKE AGES IRRELEVANT". Los Angeles Times . September 2, 1987. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  3. ↑ "Nine Comedians Appear On Dangerfield Special (Published 1985)". The New York Times . August 2, 1985. Archived from the original on November 26, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  4. ↑ Callaway, Jimmy. "The Big Chill of Comedy with Fred Stoller". Vulture . Archived from the original on February 26, 2025. Retrieved January 2, 2026.


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