Comedian is a 2002 documentary focusing on Jerry Seinfeld that explores the other side of stand-up comedy; that is, the preparation, politics, nerves, creativity, and so on. The film also features an up-and-coming comic named Orny Adams as he struggles to make it in show business. Many other recognizable humorists also make at least a cameo: Colin Quinn, Jim Norton, Ray Romano, Godfrey, Chris Rock, Jay Leno, and Bill Cosby are just a few.

The film was theatrically released in the United States on October 11, 2002 and grossed about $2.8 million domestically.http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=comedian.htm The documentary is rated R for language.

The Comedian is a 1957 live television drama written by Rod Serling from a novella by Ernest Lehman, directed by John Frankenheimer and starring Mickey Rooney. Rooney portrayed a ragingly egomaniacal television comedian venting his hysterical wrath on his brother (Mel Tormé) with Edmond O'Brien as a writer driven to the brink of insanity by the mayhem. The 90-minute drama was broadcast live as part of the anthology series Playhouse 90 on Valentine's Day in 1957. The show was captured on kinescope and is available for viewing at the Museum of Television & Radio in New York and Los Angeles.

Fresh from the success of his sitcom, comedian Jerry Seinfeld decided to do the unimaginable: he completely retired his stand-up act, electing to start over again by developing entirely new material. "Comedian" follows Seinfeld through this process, as he rehearses in front of small comedy club audiences, meets with fellow comics and finally appears before a national audience. Written by Shannon Patrick Sullivan

A look at what it's like to be a stand up comedian, as seen through the eyes of two very different representatives. One is the enormously popular Jerry Seinfeld, who decided to retire all of his old material and start over again after leaving his self-titled sitcom. Seinfeld finds that it's not exactly like riding a bicycle, and struggles to extend his new act to the threshold of two and a half hours so that he can be a headlined act again. Meanwhile, we also follow the far more obscure comic Orny Adams as he tries to break into the business and faces many of the same problems. Seinfeld and Adams have differing philosophies about what makes a joke and a routine work, and the audience is left to decide which one they agree with more. Written by rmlohner

Sammy Hogarth, a vaudeville comedian who now has his own TV show, is a ruthless egomaniac who demands instant obedience from his staff and heaps abuse on those in lesser positions than he is. His most vituperative behavior, however, is reserved for his weak-willed brother, Lester, who Sammy has hired as his assistant but who really uses him as his whipping boy. Written by frankfob2@yahoo.com