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Dark Side of Comedy
2022 - 2023 8.1 (12 votes) 2 Seasons
Official Website
Genres
Documentary
Networks
Vice TV

Dark Side of Comedy

Everyone Loves a Good Joke, Until the Joke's on Them.

Overview

Throughout the history of comedy, many comedians have lost themselves to the art’s darker side, through addiction, suicide, depression and self-destruction. Dark Side of Comedy explores these stories, shining a new light on comedy’s darkest corners.

Top Cast

Dave Foley
Dave Foley

Self - Narrator (voice)

Seasons

Season 1 poster
Season 1 (2022)

No overview available.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Chris Farley
2022-08-16

Struggling with addiction and a dangerously low self-image, Chris Farley’s old friends at Saturday Night Live conspired to help save the falling star.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 2: Andrew Dice Clay
2022-08-23

In the late 80s Andrew Dice Clay was one of the biggest comedians on the planet. His controversial brand of comedy found a huge base with white men in America... but at what cost?

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 3: Roseanne Barr
2022-08-30

Brash, bold, and hilariously funny, Roseanne Barr made a name speaking her mind. And that very same impulse may have cost her her career.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 4: Artie Lange
2022-09-06

Artie Lange enjoyed mainstream success as a comedian on TV and radio, but his addiction to heroin, coupled with childhood traumas, threatened to thwart his ambition... and his life.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 5: Richard Pryor
2022-09-13

Richard Pryor confronted America with brutal honesty like no other comic. But while he fought for a voice on stage, he was losing his own battle to drugs and family trauma.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 6: Dustin Diamond
2022-09-20

Dustin Diamond found fame as a lovable geek on Saved By The Bell. But when it ended, Dustin was lost, descending into one tragic chapter after another.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 7: Greg Giraldo
2022-09-27

How comedian Greg Giraldo's career, and life, is sabotaged by a toxic mix of addiction and self-loathing.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 8: Brett Butler
2022-10-05

How Brett Butler gained everything, only to lose it all.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 9: Freddie Prinze
2022-10-11

A working class Peurto Rican kid, Freddie Prinze exploded onto the comedy scene but his overnight fame came to an abrupt end.

Runtime: N/A min
Episode 10: Maria Bamford
2022-10-18

How Maria Bamford channels her mental illness into comedy, and encourages others to do the same.

Runtime: N/A min
Season 2 poster
Season 2 (2023)

No overview available.

10 episodes

Episodes
Episode 1: Robin Williams
2023-10-17

Robin Williams’ suicide shocked the world. While he was one of the most successful comedians ever, he was struggling privately with crushing health and psychological issues.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 2: Sam Kinison
2023-10-24

Sam Kinison revolutionized comedy with a vulgar, sexist act, but his appetite for cocaine and chaos would lead to a dramatic downfall at the height of his massive success.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 3: Joan Rivers
2023-10-31

Joan Rivers' insults made her a comedy icon, but the pressures of a male-dominated industry led to eating disorders, self-loathing, and a deadly addiction to plastic surgery.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 4: Carlos Mencia
2023-11-07

Carlos Mencia was one of the biggest comics in America until accusations of joke theft led to one of the most dramatic downfalls in comedy history.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 5: Phil Hartman
2023-11-14

Phil Hartman was a beloved SNL and Simpsons cast member, but his squeaky clean image was at odds with a toxic marriage that descended into a tragic murder-suicide.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 6: Tracy Morgan
2023-11-21

Tracy Morgan survived drug-dealing, hyper-competitive SNL, and substance abuse. But a brutal car accident and two-week coma made him finally confront his childhood demons.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 7: Family Matters
2023-11-28

Family Matters was one of the most wholesome sitcoms of the 90s, but the success of the show led to issues for many cast members who are still dealing with trauma and addiction.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 8: Ellen DeGeneres
2023-12-05

Ellen DeGeneres revolutionized TV with a unique brand of positive humor, but behind the scenes a massive controversy was brewing--one that would tarnish her image forever.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 9: Norm MacDonald
2023-12-12

On SNL and beyond, Norm MacDonald was legendary for his fearless comedy. But his controversial persona concealed a serious gambling problem and a secret that he took to his grave.

Runtime: 44 min
Episode 10: Gilda Radner
2023-12-19

Gilda Radner was SNL's first female star. But her pioneering success was plagued by trauma, eating disorders, heartbreak and cancer, all of which she turned into comedy material.

Runtime: 44 min

Videos

DARK SIDE OF COMEDY (Season 2 Trailer)

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