Showtime’s signed Oscar winner Melissa Leo and Clark Duke to star in I’m Dying Up Here, a new dark comedy pilot from writer/executive producer Dave Flebotte (Masters of Sex). If the pilot’s picked up, Sebastian Stan would guest star (he’ll star in the pilot episode). The cast also includes Ari Graynor, Andrew Santino, RJ Cyler, Erik Griffin, and Stephen Guarino. Jim Carrey, Michael Aguilar, and Christina Wayne are on board as executive producers and Jonathan Levine (Warm Bodies) is directing the pilot.
Filming is expected to take place this fall. I’m Dying Up Here is based on William Knoedelseder’s non-fiction book.
The Plot:
Set in L.A.’s celebrated, infamous stand-up comedy scene of the 1970s, during which the careers of most of our comedy superstars began, the pilot will delve into the inspired and damaged psyches that inhabit the hilarious, but complex business of making an audience laugh.
Leo will play the role of “Goldie,” a brassy comedy club owner who rules over her business with an iron fist and nurtures her comedians with tough love. Stan will play “Clay,” a funny, charming comedian on the rise, who declares irrelevancy as his biggest fear. He is idolized by his ex and fellow comedian Cassie (Graynor). Duke will play “Larry,” a ballsy young comedian from Boston who moves to L.A. with the hopes of making it big.