Plot Synopsis

Directed and executive produced by Mike Binder, THE COMEDY STORE is a five-part documentary series that chronicles the evolution of comedy from within the walls of the legendary L.A. club. Binder started at the Store as a doorman before rising to main stage performer. THE COMEDY STORE brings to life the legends, heartbreak and history created at the iconic club on the Sunset Strip, weaving never-seen-before footage of trailblazers like Richard Pryor, Sam Kinison and Freddie Prinze together with interviews with David Letterman, Jay Leno, Chris Rock, Andrew Dice Clay, Joe Rogen, Whitney Cummings, Jimmy Walker, Michael Keaton, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, Marc Maron, Damon Wayans, Bill Burr, Byron Allen and many more as they reflect on the ups and downs of The Store's textured history. As a Comedy Store alum, former stand-up comic Binder spotlights one of pop culture's great laboratories that forever changed comedy and, for many, provided a launching pad to stardom in film and television. Legions of legendary performers cut their teeth doing stand-up at The Store on Sunset while being mentored by the tough but nurturing gatekeeper Mitzi Shore. Loved by most, hated by some, but always garnering their respect, Shore, says Binder "...changed the way comedy was presented. The Store is her legacy. It's the epicenter of stand-up comedy in the world." Episodes include:

"Saw You Last Night on The Tonight Show" (Sunday, October 4, 2020): The Comedy Store's founding generation in the 1970s launched the careers of some of the most legendary comics of all time: Freddie Prinze, Richard Pryor, David Letterman, Jay Leno and more.

"The Comedy Strike" (Sunday, October 11, 2020): The 1979 comedy strike saw Mitzi and The Store's comics enter one of the darkest moments in comedy history. But the club soon recovered, featuring incredible talents like the one and only Richard Pryor, who used The Store as a gym to work out all-new material.

"The Wild Bunch" (Sunday, October 18, 2020): Enter the wild bunch: Sam Kinison, Andrew Dice Clay, Pauly Shore, Sandra Bernhard, Jim Carrey, Damon Wayans, and many more. These were the party years, but when Mitzi Shore fell sick in the late '90s, the Store floundered without her leadership as hot comics retreated to other clubs.

"Joe Rogan Returns" (Sunday, October 25, 2020): Podcasts and social media's influence on the world of comedy. Joe Rogan returns to the Store after a seven-year ban. Joe and former doorman Marc Maron, Bill Burr, Whitney Cummings, Annie Lederman and other podcasters help The Store once again become the hottest club in the industry.

"The Birth of a Bit" (Sunday, November 1, 2020): The fifth and final episode spotlights Mitzi Shore's death, its impact on the iconic club and who's now running The Store. We also explore the current state of stand-up and the new style of shows that have been harvested, birthed and workshopped at the Store like Tony Hinchcliffe's 'Kill Tony,' Don Barriss' 'The Ding Dong Show,' and 'Comedy Store Tonight' starring long-time Store veteran Argus Hamilton.