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By Francis Babin TV Media

Standup comedy is hard, and it’s definitely not for everyone. It takes a special someone to bare it all and try to make a crowd full of strangers laugh. Accurate depictions of standup comedy and comedians on the big and small screen are arguably even harder to pull off, but “I’m Dying Up Here” seems to have finally succeeded where many have failed before. The highs and lows of those trying to make it big in Hollywood continue in the second-season premiere of the comedy-drama, airing Sunday, May 6, on Showtime.

“I’m Dying Up Here” is hardly the first series to examine comedians working on their craft, but such shows generally tend to be over-thetop portrayals of behind-the-scenes antics. Fan favorites such as “30 Rock” and “The Larry Sanders Show” depict how comedy shows come together, but not the grueling lives of the comedians who work on them.

Based on the 2010 bestselling book by William Knoedelseder, the series produced by Jim Carrey (“Man on the Moon,” 1999) explores the famed Los Angeles standup scene of the 1970s and follows a group of young comedians attempting to make it big by performing on Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show.” Before they can go mainstream, however, these up-and-coming comics must succeed at Goldie’s comedy club.

When we were first introduced to Goldie (Melissa Leo, “The Fighter,” 2010) and the club that bears her name last season, they were on top of the comedy world. Her club was the place to be, and through her inyour-face toughness, encouragement and mentoring, she helped rising stars gain confidence and succeed, as we saw with fresh-faced Boston buds Eddie (Michael Angarano, “Sky High,” 2005) and Ron (Clark Duke, “Hot Tub Time Machine,” 2010). She also helped the comics get sitcom roles, radio gigs and other solid work, but by the end of the season, Goldie and her club were in a downward spiral.

The first season finished in a literal blaze of glory when rival club, King Theodore’s, was burned to the ground, and the new season picks up in the aftermath of the fire. Leading up to it, we saw many comics, including superstar in the making, Adam (RJ Cyler, “Power Rangers,” 2017), desert Goldie’s for Teddy’s due to the former’s policy of not paying comics.

The new season addresses the deserters and also explores Nick’s (Jake

Lacy, “Girls”) sobriety and its influence on his new act. Will audiences accept his new, raw act, and, more importantly, will he manage to stay on the wagon? Cassie’s (Ari Graynor, “Bad Teacher”) television pilot, “Girls Are Funny, Too,” is once again a focal point of the new season. Additionally, we will see if Ralph (Erik Griffin, “Workaholics”) finally starts to incorporate his time in Vietnam into his act and transition into a more topical comic in the politically charged postWatergate climate.

The second season promises a bevy of guest stars but also several new characters who play an important role in the lives of Goldie’s comics. The ever-talented Brad Garrett (“Everybody Loves Raymond”) is set for a season-long arc as Roy Martin, a veteran and comedy legend. Throughout the season, he will impart his wisdom on the young comics and, much like Goldie, he doesn’t shy away from dropping hurtful truth bombs and breaking a few spirits. Trying to recover from her downward spiral, Goldie tries to form a business partnership with the old pro in order to expand her comedy presence.

Making a particularly inopportunely timed arrival this season is Goldie’s 17-year-old estranged and troubled daughter, Amanda (Stefania

LaVie Owen, “Chance”), who reappears in her mother’s life after running away from home. Sure to cause trouble elsewhere is Gloria Whitfield (Nicole Ari Parker, “Time After Time”), a recently divorced, successful producer of the hit series “Soul Train” who becomes romantically involved with one of the comics.

Trying to make waves is Dawn Lima (Xosha Roquemore, “The Mindy Project”), a fearless preacher’s daughter who has something to prove to herself and the world. She’s recently arrived to L.A. after performing in Chicago and Detroit and finds herself struggling with her sexual identity.

Dana Gould (“Stan Against Evil”) is set to recur as Bruce, Adam’s alphamale agent who doesn’t understand comedy or artistic integrity and is solely motivated by money. After the events of last season, Adam is in a very precarious position, and his agent can make or break him. Saul Hudson (Beau Mirchoff, “Awkward”) joins Bruce as an ancillary power player. A friend of Ralph’s, he’s a wannabe playboy and the son of a comic who is now a television producer.

In 1972, the mythical Johnny Carson moved the storied “Tonight Show” from New York City to Burbank, Calif., and the coast-to-coast move forever changed the landscape of the entertainment industry.

Conan

An NFL player was arrested for making a bomb joke at an airport. So, ladies and gentlemen, it’s official: NFL players have now been arrested for every single type of crime. Bomb in an airport is the last one!

Today, at Bill Cosby’s new trial, a woman protested topless in order to make Bill Cosby feel “uncomfortable.” Legal experts are describing the effort as “a failure.”

Facebook has announced a way for users to “unsend” messages. Yes! All you do is go to the message center and click the button marked “I Was Drunk.”

The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

I heard about a new trend called “garden eyebrows,” where people paint their eyebrows green, then glue on flowers. Apparently it was invented by someone who doesn’t know what a Snapchat filter is.

Today, Mark Zuckerberg testified in Congress about Facebook’s data leak. His opening statement was six pages long. Or, as your aunt calls that: one Facebook post.

The Late Late Show With James Corden

The speaker of the house, Paul Ryan, announced this morning that he will retire at the end of the year to spend more time with his family. Which is shocking to hear. Not that he is stepping down — that someone is leaving Washington and Trump didn’t fire them.

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Throngs of hungry comedians hoping to get discovered by Carson flocked to Los Angeles, instantly making it the comedy capital of the world. At the same time, The Improv (and later, The Comedy Store and the Laugh Factory) dominated the scene and provided future legends time and space to flourish. This is the world of “I’m Dying Up Here.” The dramedy continues to explore this fascinating era over the course of its sophomore season, premiering Sunday, May 6, on Showtime.

By leaving a full-time job with benefits, Paul Ryan will finally achieve one of his dreams: depriving an American family of their health insurance.

Jimmy Kimmel Live

The president tweeted today that “our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been.” Which, I don’t know, to me, that seems ungrateful after all his Sugar Vlady did for him. But that’s just the way it goes.

Late Night With Seth Meyers

Officials are looking for a person accused of stealing a rock signed by Yoko Ono worth over $17,000. Though to be fair, it originally was part of a rock group, which Yoko Ono broke up.

Whole Foods has announced a two-month-long promotion on rosé wine. That’s right: it’s officially mating season for white people.

A new report did not name New York City as one of the 25 best places to live in the country. “I’m shocked!” said an adult New Yorker with six roommates.