The Old Stand Up Comedy TV Shows (series, sitcom, 90's)

[RollsRoyce1]

Back in the late 80's and early 90's when comedy clubs were doing huge business in the US there were several stand up comedy tv shows on the air.
Of course, once Comedy Central came along they started airing a lot as well.
But you don't often see them nowadays. I think Comedy Central has one now (This week at the Cellar) and AXS used to have Live At Gotham (not sure if they still have that or not because I don't have AXS sub anymore)

But back then we watched A&E's Evening at the Improv every weeknight at 8pm.
And then on Sunday's there was Comic Strip Live.
Those are the only 2 that I can think of right now, but I believe there were more. Does anyone remember any others?


A lot of these shows were cool because it was the first time I got to see people like Adam Sandler, Larry Miller, Jeff Foxworthy, Norm Macdonald, etc.
Anyone else miss these shows?

[OzzyRules]

I had forgotten about them. I enjoyed them sometimes.

[goodheathen]

I know Rosie O'Donnell hosted a VH1 series called Stand-Up Spotlight.

Miss any of that? No.

[jcp123]

I have a hard relationship with stand-up. I mostly just don’t find it all that funny.

[Charlie&Rose]

I don`t enjoy stand-up comedy at all.....yet I love Seinfield, in the TV show.

[DK736]

I have always loved stand up comedy. Growing up, I would watch as many stand ups on Comedy Central as I could. I also remember Def Comedy Jam, and BET's Comic View with Bruce Bruce, and Reynaldo Rey. A lot of comedians have gravitated towards Netflix to host their stand up specials for the past 5 years now. Netflix gives them more creative control and more bang for their buck, versus cable and HBO.


Russell Peters has a great relationship with Netflix, and I love his specials. I've been watching him since 2006. Gabriel Iglesias has also partnered with Netflix for most of his stand up specials, and even has his own sitcom on there as well. Streaming services are probably going to be the future for a lot of comedians, especially well established ones who have enough cash to partner up with Netflix.

[RollsRoyce1]

Originally Posted by DK736

I have always loved stand up comedy. Growing up, I would watch as many stand ups on Comedy Central as I could. I also remember Def Comedy Jam, and BET's Comic View with Bruce Bruce, and Reynaldo Rey. A lot of comedians have gravitated towards Netflix to host their stand up specials for the past 5 years now. Netflix gives them more creative control and more bang for their buck, versus cable and HBO.


Russell Peters has a great relationship with Netflix, and I love his specials. I've been watching him since 2006. Gabriel Iglesias has also partnered with Netflix for most of his stand up specials, and even has his own sitcom on there as well. Streaming services are probably going to be the future for a lot of comedians, especially well established ones who have enough cash to partner up with Netflix.

Yes! Netflix is great for stand up. They even have series of shows like "Comedians Around The World" and "The Line-up" that aren't the same style of the shows that I'm talking about, but they do give short (20-30 minute) one-person specials to comics who aren't necessarily big names. Kinda reminiscent of how HBO used to do their 1/2 hour specials.

Another really good stand up on Netflix is Jo Koy. That dude is a hustler. He actually funded his own Netflix special.
Amazon Prime is producing their first ever stand up special with Jim Gaffigan on August 16. With Amazon getting into the game it kinda reminds me of the 90's where both HBO (Netflix) and Showtime (Amazon Prime) would each try to produce the better stand up specials.

[OzzyRules]

Dana Gould was pretty funny.

[RetFireFEMTech]

Stand up Stand up and Evening at the Improv were my faves. Bring the funny was erratic and the best did NOT win.

[mike1003]

Laugh in