On the heels of the music-centric series \u201cVinyl,\u201d \u201cRoadies\u201d and \u201cSex&Drugs& Rock&Roll,\u201d Showtime has the \u201970s stand-up of the Sunset Strip in \u201cI\u2019m Dying Up Here\u201d due this summer. And HBO offered an early look at its glimpse of New York\u2019s modern-day comedy scene, \u201cCrashing,\u201d which debuts Feb. 19.
The series was created by stand-up comic Pete Holmes and executive producer is Judd Apatow , who in addition to his long line of influential comedies is also an experienced comic.
Drawing from Holmes\u2019 time at open mics and \u201cbringer rooms\u201d from early in his career, as well as his experience as someone raised as a Christian navigating that world, \u201cCrashing\u201d will also feature real-life successful stand-up comics Sarah Silverman, T. J. Miller and Artie Lange portraying versions of themselves.
Holmes, who hosted a late-night talk show on TBS from 2013 to 2014, said a half-hour comedy that drew from his own background was a natural step toward reaching a broad audience.
\u201cWhen I really considered after the talk show what I wanted to do, I asked myself what are the shows that really latch on to me?\u201d he said, noting the importance of characters he could care about. \u201cI kind of had a quiet reset after the talk show … but I was like, everything aside, what are we here to do? What is the story [I] uniquely can tell?\u201d
\u201cSo if you\u2019re really trying to burrow into Americans\u2019 viewing patterns, I think you need to connect on some sort of emotional level,\u201d he said.
The panel took a broader view at its close as Apatow and Holmes were asked about the role of stand-up comedians in facing the coming Trump administration.
\u201cI don\u2019t think we really know,\u201d Apatow began, and went on to express uncertainty about the impact of \u201cbrilliant\u201d satirists such as John Oliver, Seth Meyers and Samantha Bee. \u201cI think everyone has to keep it up and pay attention \u2026 but I don\u2019t know if it\u2019s the linchpin thing that will alter anything. It may just be about us getting a laugh at the end of a very stressful day of new information.\u201d
\u201cIt\u2019s hard to do comedy when what\u2019s happening is so weird,\u201d Apatow said. \u201cWe\u2019ve really passed the point where daily offense would be logical if I was writing a movie. Everything now is weirder than the movie \u2018Network.\u2019
\u201cIt\u2019s a whole new ballgame,\u201d he said.
Casey Affleck talks about the way Kenneth Lonergan uses everyday language to convey deep emotion in \u00ab\u00a0Manchester by the Sea. \u00a0\u00bb
For her role as Jackie Kennedy, Natalie Portman says, \u00ab\u00a0It’s not a fashion story,\u00a0\u00bb but the clothes do tell a story.
Joel Edgerton talks about staying truthful to the real-life story of \u00ab\u00a0Loving. \u00a0\u00bb
Director Nicolas Winding Refn and composer Cliff Martinez discuss their \u00ab\u00a0Neon Demon\u00a0\u00bb collaboration.
\u00ab\u00a0Manchester By the Sea\u00a0\u00bb director Kenneth Lonergan discusses writing a quiet character and working with actor Casey Affleck to bring him to life.
\u00ab\u00a0Manchester By the Sea\u00a0\u00bb director Kenneth Lonergan discusses writing a quiet character and working with actor Casey Affleck to bring him to life.<\/p>\n