Cinemax Comedy Experiment
Cinemax Comedy Experiment was an anthology series broadcast on Cinemax throughout the mid-to-late 1980s. Every episode was written and directed by a different standup comedian; the gimmick of the series was that Cinemax placed no limits on what could be presented in the show, allowing the comedians total creative freedom. 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 rental shops, which were affecting the channel's subscription rates.[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.