Showtime gives first looks at new series 'Guerilla' and 'I'm Dying Up Here'

Image from Variety

By Darian Scalamoni

            Showtime has had an interesting last few years in terms of their programming. With Homeland not being the success that it was years ago and Ray Donovan and The Affair taking over as their top flight dramas, they needed to get a new show off the ground to get viewers interested. In terms of their comedies, Shameless is still a top show for the network while Episodes is on its way out. It’s good that the network has just released two new trailers for some upcoming series that look great, Guerilla and I’m Dying Up Here.

            Guerilla is set to be a six-part limited series that will start on April 16^th for the network and it follows a couple during the most politically explosive time in Britain’s history. Freida Pinto and Babou Ceesay play a couple that break out a political prisoner from an underground cell and then target a counterintelligence unit in the British government that aims to crush all forms of black activism. It’s a juicy show for sure and in addition to the couple, it also stars Idris Elba who serves as an executive producer on the show as well.

            I’m Dying Up Here begins on June 4^th and brings the audience into the Los Angeles stand-up comedy scene in the 70s where many incredible careers began including Richard Pryor and Jay Leno. It looks to be in the vein of Vinyl but with stand-up comedy instead of rock-n-roll but here’s hoping for a much better finished product than the failed HBO drama that only lasted one season. This was my favorite trailer I’ve seen for a television show in months and got tons of laughs out of me. Melissa Leo, Ari Graynor, Michael Angarano, Clark Duke, RJ Cyler, Andrew Santino, Erik Griffin and Jake Lacy star in the large ensemble cast.

            Check out both trailers for Guerilla and I’m Dying Up Here below! Be sure to comment and let us know if you’re excited for either of these shows from Showtime.