Comedy comes in many different forms, and in recent years standup comedy has come into its own. The growth in comedy clubs across the nation and the creation of new outlets on cable television give comedians more exposure than ever before. Styles of comedy change over time, and one of the reasons comedy changes as rapidly as it does today is television. Television uses up material and requires a constant influx of new comedians and new material to satisfy the audience. Comedy has been a vital element in network programming since the beginning of the medium. The massive ratings success of I Love Lucy in the 1950s produced a continuing search for the next long-running hit. A number of comedians have made their mark in recent years with innovative programs or programs that featured their strong points. Several have used their popularity on television as a springboard to feature films, where they become even more widely known than before, leading to a renewed interest in their television shows, which then gain a wider distribution in syndication. An examination of several television comedians shows how their styles differ and how their experiences may differ as well.
There has been considerable note taken in the media recently about the number of standup comedians who are becoming television stars, or who are at least being given the opportunity in shows of their own. This trend spoken of as if it were something new, when in fact it is not. In the 1950s, television comedians came primarily from vaudeville, the "standup" of an earlier time. In the 1960s, standup comedians such as Don Adams, Flip Wilson, the Smothers Brothers, and Bill Dana. In the 1970s the trend continued with Gabe Kaplan and Freddie Prinze. The success of Jerry Seinfeld and Roseanne Barr-Arnold (and now just Roseanne) is the reason for the current attention given to standup comedians with television series; several can be seen on the air this year.
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