jonboles Review of I'm Dying Up Here

I'm Dying Up Here (2017–2018)

Terrific Show, a must watch insight to the torturous path to comedy stardom

[6/10 · 6 June 2018]

A wonderfully cast and expertly drawn piece on the trials and heartbreak of up and coming comedians in the 1970s. There are plenty of direct characterizations along the way: Johnny Carson, Richard Pryor etc. The novelette follows a group of comedians, bound by love and friendship, through the brutal and unfunny path to stardom. There is heartbreak and villainy galore, My only criticism is in Melissa Leo's portrayal of Goldie, the hard-to-like owner of LA's premier comedy club, and launching pad for countless comedians, based on Mitzi Shore. Ms. Leo is a scene-grabbing, irritating presence throughout. Her whiskey-chugging, cigarette over smoking (while chomping on the filter) is a turn off that ruins the scenes of far better actors. She is incapable of engendering sympathy in a character that is seemingly supposed to do just that. Please watch this excellent series, don't fast-forward Ms. Leo's scenes, as they are necessary, and enjoy the rest.