Academy Award winner Melissa Leo (The Fighter, Frozen River, “Louie”), Sebastian Stan (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, The Martian) and Clark Duke (Hot Tub Time Machine, “The Office”) have joined the ensemble cast of the new one-hour Showtime dark comedy pilot I’m Dying Up Here. They join previously-announced cast members Ari Graynor, Andrew Santino, RJ Cyler, Erik Griffin and Stephen Guarino. If the pilot is picked-up to series, Leo and Duke would appear as series regulars, Stan would guest star.
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.
Produced by Showtime, I’m Dying Up Here is written and executive produced by Dave Flebotte (“Masters of Sex,” “Will & Grace,” “Desperate Housewives”), and executive produced by Golden Globe winner Jim Carrey and Michael Aguilar (The Departed, Semi-Pro), and Christina Wayne (Copper) for Endemol Shine Studios and Assembly Entertainment. The pilot will be directed by Jonathan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies).
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. I’m Dying Up Here will shoot in LA this fall. The pilot is based on the non-fiction book of the same name by William Knoedelseder.
