Cinemax Comedy Experiment

1985 American TV series or program

Cinemax Comedy Experiment

Genre| Comedy anthology series
Starring| Various
Country of origin| United States
Original language| English
No. of episodes| 45
Production
Running time| 30 minutes
Production company| Various
Original release
Network| Cinemax
Release| February 16, 1985 (1985-02-16) –
August 12, 1989 (1989-08-12)

Cinemax Comedy Experiment is an anthology series broadcast on Cinemax throughout the mid-to-late 1980s. Every episode was written and directed by a different standup comedian.

The series was known for giving full creative freedom to those comedians for their episodes, with Cinemax executives giving few to any notes against anything presented outside of remaining within the time slot. The series came out of a time in the history of cable television when comedy programs were considered premium content due to the high grosses of comedy films at the box office.[1] The program was also an attempt on Cinemax's part to compete with the rising popularity of video stores which affected the network's subscription base and retention.[2]

Individuals who created "Experiments" include Harry Shearer, Chris Elliott, and Gilbert Gottfried; occasionally, non-standups were invited to contribute to the show, such as Garry Trudeau and Elizabeth Swados, who rewrote their off-Broadway show Rap Master Ronnie as an episode of the series.[3] The Firesign Theatre adapted their album Eat Or Be Eaten as one episode.

## Episodes

[edit]

No.| Title| Original air date

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1| "Howie Mandel"| February 16, 1985 (1985-02-16)

Comedian Howie Mandel presents his unique brand of comedy as he explores the comic possibilities of the average American shopping mall.

2| "Spitting Image"| March 16, 1985 (1985-03-16)

Life-size puppets of President Reagan, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Sir John Gielgud are used to satirize current events.

3| "Sandra Bernhard"| April 25, 1985 (1985-04-25)

Comedienne Sandra Bernhard pokes fun at show business.

4| "David Steinberg - Mothers"| May 12, 1985 (1985-05-12)

The Smothers Brothers, Richard Simmons and other celebrities interview their own mothers in this anything goes show analyzing the chemistry between mothers and their offspring. Hosted by David Steinberg.

5| "Martin Mull Presents the History of White People in America, Part I"| June 4, 1985 (1985-06-04)

Martin Mull presents a tongue-in-cheek look at the stereotypical suburban white family. Guest starring Mary Kay Place and Fred Willard.

6| "Martin Mull Presents the History of White People in America, Part II"| July 4, 1985 (1985-07-04)

The humorist revisits Hawkins Falls, U.S.A.

7| "It's Just TV! Starring Harry Shearer"| August 1, 1985 (1985-08-01)

Harry Shearer is the host for this parody that exposes what goes on at a San Francisco TV sales convention.

8| "American Carrott"| September 4, 1985 (1985-09-04)

English comedian Jasper Carrott demonstrates his encounters with American eccentrics.

9| "Firesign Theatre: Eat or Be Eaten"| October 3, 1985 (1985-10-03)

The troupe reports on behavior at the Kudzu Harvest Festival.

10| "Emo Philips"| November 17, 1985 (1985-11-17)

He owes all his wit and fame to Zorkon the Space God; he is Emo Philips in his uproariously weird nightclub act from the New York nightclub Caroline's.

11| "Spitting Image II"| December 14, 1985 (1985-12-14)

Life-size puppets parody celebrities.

12| "The Canadian Conspiracy, Part I"| January 15, 1986 (1986-01-15)

Canada is secretly plotting to take over the United States by infiltrating the entertainment industry. Among the "suspects" are Martin Short, Howie Mandel, Anne Murray, Margot Kidder, William Shatner and Lorne Green.

13| "The Canadian Conspiracy, Part II"| February 8, 1986 (1986-02-08)

The suspects tell more about Canada's secret plot to take over the United States.

14| "Michael Davis, Life of the Party"| March 5, 1986 (1986-03-05)

Comedian and juggler Michael Davis is throwing a party and it's going to be a blast, mostly due to the fact that his vaudevillian friends are truly off the wall.

15| "From Here to Maternity"| April 20, 1986 (1986-04-20)

The adventures of three together '80s women (Carrie Fisher, Lauren Hutton, Arleen Sorkin) who unite in their common desire to have a baby. Richard Simmons plays a birthing instructor.

16| "Bob Goldthwait: Don't Watch This Show"| May 24, 1986 (1986-05-24)

Bobcat takes on a variety of subjects in a half-hour romp with guests Robin Williams, Whoopi Goldberg, Carol Kane, Dee Snider, Jack Gallagher and Tim Kazurinsky.

17| "Eric Bogosian: Drinking in America"| June 22, 1986 (1986-06-22)

Eric Bogosian's one-man show is a parade of self-indulgent souls, from high-rollers to down-and-outers.

18| "Charlie Barnett: Terms of Enrollment"| July 11, 1986 (1986-07-11)

Charlie Barnett promotes a video cassette that tells how to get into an ivy-league college. Cameo guests include Zsa Zsa Gabor, Marques Johnson and Cheech and Chong.

19| "Jim Belushi in Birthday Boy"| August 2, 1986 (1986-08-02)

A traveling basketball salesman celebrating his 30th birthday, encounters misadventures on his way to making a big sale at his former high school. Written and produced by Jim Belushi.

20| "Shadoevision"| September 2, 1986 (1986-09-02)

Shadoe Stevens satirizes movie serials and modern culture.

21| "But Seriously Folks"| October 16, 1986 (1986-10-16)

Shecky Greene, Corbett Monica and Jan Murray share their favorite jokes, anecdotes and stories from New York's Borscht Belt to Broadway, Hollywood and Las Vegas.

22| "The Big Bang"| November 23, 1986 (1986-11-23)

Robert Wuhl, Dennis Quaid and Paul Rodriquez star in a man-on-the-run spoof with nonstop wisecracks and gags set in a carnival sideshow.

23| "Comedy From Here"| December 8, 1986 (1986-12-08)

Alex Cole endures a penny pinching club owner, a bored emcee and a warm up act that steals his material in this comedian's eye view of life on stage. Written and directed by comedian Elayne Boosler.

24| "Action Family"| February 7, 1987 (1987-02-07)

Comedian Chris Elliott stars as a private eye with a seemingly normal family, until he pursues a killer only to discover he may be after one of his own kids.

25| "I'll Do It Guy's Way"| March 21, 1987 (1987-03-21)

Meet Guy DiSimone, the world's foremost Frank Sinatra impersonator. Timothy Stack wrote the script and stars in this charming spoof of Ol' Blue Eyes.

26| "Gilbert Gottfried, Naturally"| April 3, 1987 (1987-04-03)

Brilliant at improvisation and a skilled impersonator as well, the lunatic Gilbert Gottfried is at his unpredictable best in this showcase special.

27| "Paul Shaffer: Viva Shaf Vegas"| May 15, 1987 (1987-05-15)

In his solo comedy debut, Paul Shaffer portrays a man in search of the meaning of life, along with sex and stardom, in Las Vegas.

28| "Ann Magnuson's Vandemonium"| June 20, 1987 (1987-06-20)

Ann Magnuson, one of Americas most innovative young talents takes you on an adventure through her pop culture world of comic characters.

29| "This Week Indoors"| July 19, 1987 (1987-07-19)

Harry Shearer and Merrill Markoe star in a satire of the TV magazine-format featuring "hell cats of the White House" and man-in-the-street interviews.

30| "Stuart Pankin"| August 15, 1987 (1987-08-15)

Stuart Pankin takes on Shakespeare, playing a director trying to interest backers in a splashy musical about Richard III.

31| "High School Video Yearbook with Franken & Davis"| September 7, 1987 (1987-09-07)

Share the joys, dreams, apprehensions and coming of age of a real graduating class in this whimsical look at the world of high school.

32| "Sarducci's Vatican Inquirer"| October 18, 1987 (1987-10-18)

Assigned by the Vatican Inquirer to get the real story of the papal tour, Father Guido's nose for news leads him from Florida to California.

33| "The New Home Owner's Guide to Happiness"| November 27, 1987 (1987-11-27)

When barking dogs shatter their new suburban bliss, an upscale couple (Judge Reinhold and Demi Moore) finds wacky ways to hush the puppies.

34| "FDR: A One Man Show"| December 26, 1987 (1987-12-26)

Chris Elliott mocks the one-man show routine with his version of FDR beset by comic calamities.

35| "Ron Reagan, The President's Son"| January 15, 1988 (1988-01-15)

Ron Reagan proves he's much more than the President's son as he turns a case of mistaken identity to his advantage.

36| "Rap Master Ronnie"| February 14, 1988 (1988-02-14)

President Ronald Reagan creates an unusual Congressional record with a little help from his friends.

37| "Carol Doesn't Leifer Anymore"| March 12, 1988 (1988-03-12)

Up and coming comedienne Carol Leifer heads for the big city after splitting with her husband. What she finds isn't what she remembers though.

38| "Autobiographies: The Enigma of Bobby Bittman"| April 16, 1988 (1988-04-16)

Eugene Levy, portraying his SCTV character, the most successful (and least talented) star in show business, lands a role in the sitcom "Over My Dead Bobby". Bobby marries a Mafia princess, a movie fiasco ends his career and he makes a comeback.

39| "Merrill Markoe's Guide to Glamorous Living"| May 18, 1988 (1988-05-18)

Leading the high life is not all it's cracked up to be, with gorgeous men to fight off, maids to fire, and dogs to pamper. Is it worth it?

40| "Teri Garr in Flapjack Floozie"| June 17, 1988 (1988-06-17)

Flapjack Floozie was born to be a star but her addiction to pancakes nearly ruins her career.

41| "K.O. Kippers"| August 13, 1988 (1988-08-13)

Martin Von Haselberg and Brian Routh are Harry and Harry Kipper, bumbling boxers who head to Mexico City to capture the world title.

42| "Norman's Corner"| November 12, 1988 (1988-11-12)

Gilbert Gottfried, as Norman, encounters Arnold Stang, Henny Youngman and Joe Franklin at his corner newsstand.

43| "Late for Dinner"| December 4, 1988 (1988-12-04)

Tom Leopold stars as the host of a faltering late-night talk show in this comic behind-the-scenes look at the world of late-night television.

44| "Elayne Boosler: The Call"| February 17, 1989 (1989-02-17)

Elayne Boosler plays a single New York career woman who spends a weekend waiting for the phone call from the man.

45| "Mike's Talent Show"| August 12, 1989 (1989-08-12)

Maverick [Michael Smith] challenges the legendary emcees of the golden age of television with a new-wave vaudeville talent show for the '90s. Kevin Meaney, Steven Wright, Bunny Briggs and Lyle Lovett help out.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Farber, Stephen. Cinemax Experimenting in Comedy. The New York Times. 1985
2. ^ Hadley, Josh. Pilot Error. forcesofgeek.com 30 September 2016
3. ^ Television Reviews: Atkinson, Terry. Cinemax Grades Slump With 'Rap Master Ronnie'. The L.A. Times. 12 February 1988

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