The greatest movie ever!

Strictly average movie

Fantastic!

Excellent, smart action film.

I keep with this show because it could be so great but is just not there yet!.... it's just too depressing.. each character's story lines don't seem to develop, Goldie could be great but isn't the best actress, there is nothing likable about the character Bill he's such a jerk... the boys that live in the closet started out hysterical ... Brad Garrett's character is dreadful to watch, and unfortunately the stand up isn't very funny.I am sure you are thinking if you hate, just don't watch rather than write this, but I'll keep watching because I believe it's going to be good, there's something there!

This Showtime dramedy takes a familiar premise of looking at the lives of comics, pushes it into the past to the 70s so it's a period piece and develops some interesting characters. I'm not sure if the show will get another season as I don't see it being very popular but I found it strangely appealing when I watched it and the humor mixed well with the tough lives of these individuals who pursue their hilarious dreams. Two big actors, Alfred Molina and Sebastian Stan, only stick around for the pilot episode as other characters take up the greater part of the ensemble cast led by the brilliant Melissa Leo. Leo plays Goldie, the owner of the comedy club, who decides the fate of the up-and-coming comedians. She deals with the sexism prevalent during the time period and the industry with a class that the veteran actress pulls off with style. She persistent when she has an idea and protective of her comics though she'll never let them know that and deals effectively with the big egos. Bill Hobbs (Andrew Santino) hopes to make it to the big time but his ego is the biggest of the comedians and when he talks poorly to a patron of the club during his set, he loses his big shot at Johnny Carson. Adam Proteau (RJ Cyler) is a young black comedian who hopes that Goldie will help him open doors after his agent sends him her way and he helps him do chores around the house. Cassie Feder (Ari Graynor) is the female comic who tries to be one of the boys, though they always single her out. Cassie and Bill dated for a while but their professional aspirations get in the way. Eddie Zeidel (Michael Angarano) and Ron Shack (Clark Duke) head out to Los Angeles from Boston but when the comedian who promises them a place to live ends up dead, they have to struggle to survive, living in a closet and only eating rice they won at a game show. Chekc out more of this review and others at swilliky.com

When I started watching the show, it didn't seem great, I was a bit disappointed, but a few episodes in I felt it had started to move in the right direction so I kept watching. 7 episodes in I'm starting to love it, the characters seem more real, their stories more interesting and it's a lot funnier. I just hope there will be more seasons.

Stand-up is experiencing a renaissance and "I'm Dying Up Here" is the blueprint for building a masterful comedic series. This is the real deal. the show represents the period with authenticity, the plot and jokes are intelligent, thought provoking, engaging, and most of all -- funny, the characters have real depth and the comedians take it to another level by delivering brilliant performances as actors. Showtime has a hit on their hands.