Best tv shows like Showtime at the Apollo
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater. The show features live performances from both professional and up-and-coming artists, and also features the Amateur Night competition made popular at the famous Apollo Theater in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan in New York City, where the show is recorded. While there is also a live version of the show every Wednesday, the taped version of the show for television usually airs on weekends.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 185
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: non fiction
Best tv shows and movies like Showtime at the Apollo (1987):
Similar in 84%
The Lyricist Lounge Show (2000)
Plot Summary:
The Lyricist Lounge Show was an American sketch comedy series that aired on MTV from 2000 to 2001 that combined hip-hop music with raps interspersed throughout the sketches. As Wordsworth, BabeePower, and Master Fuol rap on the theme song: "Welcome to the lyricist lounge show, it's rappin' and actin', laughin', clappin', lights, cameras, action, we're the first ones to ever place a sketch to a beat, it's the avenue the street where hip hop and comedy meet..." The show is also noted as the first program to feature Tracee Ellis Ross prior to Girlfriends.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 124
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: sketch comedy
Similar in 85%
Is It Bill Bailey? (1998)
Plot Summary:
Is It Bill Bailey? was a stand up / sketch comedy series written by and starring Bill Bailey. One series of six episodes was produced and aired on BBC Two in 1998, and it has never been recommissioned or released on DVD. It was to have been repeated for the first time since original transmission on Dave from 23 September 2008, but was dropped from the schedules a few days before broadcast. Each episode featured Bailey performing stand-up comedy on stage, interspersed with sketches starring himself and other actors. As well as performing parodies of pop songs or performers, Bailey would deconstruct music from television shows such as Doctor Who or Starsky and Hutch. The programme was produced by BBC Scotland and many of the sketches feature Scottish actors such as Forbes Masson and Ford Kiernan. Geraldine McNulty, Norman Lovett and Simon Pegg also feature. Additional material was also contributed by frequent collaborators Sean Lock and Martin Trenaman. The shows were directed by Edgar Wright, who went on to direct the sitcom Spaced and the films Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz, all of which starred Simon Pegg. Bailey had a cameo in Hot Fuzz, as well as a small role in Spaced. Bailey was also approached to appear in Shaun of the Dead as a zombie, but was busy with other engagements at the time. Many songs and routines featured in the show were first performed in his Cosmic Jam tour and TV show Asylum and several were later used during his Bewilderness tour.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 294
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: UK
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy
Similar in 88%
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell (1975)
Plot Summary:
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell is an American television comedy-variety program that ran on ABC from September 1975 to January 1976, hosted by Howard Cosell and executive-produced by Roone Arledge. The series ran for 18 episodes before being cancelled. The show was later remembered by its director Don Mischer as "one of the greatest disasters in the history of television," largely due to Cosell and Arledge, both veterans of sports broadcasting, being entirely unfamiliar with comedy and variety programming. Despite having highly notable celebrities both as cast members and guests, Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell has never been made available on home video. Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell should not be confused with the sketch comedy program Saturday Night Live, which debuted on rival network NBC in October 1975 when NBC began airing a late night comedy show produced by Lorne Michaels titled NBC's Saturday Night. After Cosell's show was cancelled, the NBC show renamed itself Saturday Night Live. The shows did not directly compete, as Cosell's Saturday Night Live aired at 8 p.m. EST/PST, whereas NBC's Saturday Night aired at 11:30 p.m.
IMDB Rating: 5.4
IMDB Votes: 72
Genere: Comedy, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 48 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, sketch comedy
Similar in 78%
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show (1966)
Plot Summary:
The Sammy Davis Jr. Show is short-lived musical variety series hosted by Sammy Davis Jr. that aired on NBC in 1966.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 43
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, sketch comedy
Similar in 89%
The Uptown Comedy Club (1992)
Plot Summary:
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IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 50
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy
Similar in 90%
Doggy Fizzle Televizzle (2002)
Plot Summary:
Doggy Fizzle Televizzle is a sketch comedy show that was produced by, and starred, the rap musician Snoop Dogg. It was aired on MTV in 2002 until 2003. Snoop Dogg stated that according to the contract, the show was to air six times, but it turned out to be a series of eight parts. The second season was canceled due to payment negotiation issues, since Snoop Dogg asked for $1 million for his role, which MTV refused to pay him. In the beginning of every show Snoop is seen sitting bored in a leather armchair in an empty room while switching channels from Jerry Springer to a cart race then to black and white burlesque figure skating after that to a strip show and finally to a Richard Marx music video when he decides to change the situation and the idea of Doggy Fizzle Televizzle comes to his mind. This ends the intro and the main theme follows with Snoop rapping.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 339
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: sketch comedy, parody, spoof, black comedy
Similar in 77%
Premium Blend (1997)
Plot Summary:
Season 6 is hosted by Wanda Sykes and infused with all the excitement of a night at the clubs, this isn't ordinary stand-up; it's Premium Blend.
IMDB Rating: 6.0
IMDB Votes: 134
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: non fiction, live comedy
Similar in 75%
Def Comedy Jam (1992)
Plot Summary:
Def Comedy Jam is a HBO television series produced by Russell Simmons. The series had its original run from July 1, 1992 to January 1, 1997. The show returned on HBO's fall lineup in 2006. Def Comedy Jam helped to launch the careers of several African-American stand-up comedians.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 608
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: non fiction, live comedy
Similar in 89%
Country Corn (1969)
Plot Summary:
Hee Haw is an American television variety show featuring country music and humor with fictional rural Kornfield Kounty as a backdrop. It aired on CBS-TV from 1969–1971 before a 20-year run in local syndication. The show was inspired by Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In,[1] the major difference being that Hee Haw was far less topical, and was centered on country music. Initially co-hosted by musicians Buck Owens and Roy Clark, the show was equally well-known for its voluptuous, scantily-clad women in stereotypical farmer's daughter outfits, male stars Jim and Jon Hager and its cornpone humor.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, game show, sexy, humorous, realistic, not serious
Similar in 81%
House of Buggin' (1995)
Plot Summary:
House of Buggin' is a short-lived Latino-themed sketch comedy television show, which aired on Sunday night at 8:30 pm est in 1995, starring John Leguizamo and Luis Guzmán. It was aired on the FOX Network, but removed from broadcasting schedules before the completion of the first season.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 170
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, sketch comedy, hispanic
Similar in 85%
The Flip Wilson Show (1970)
Plot Summary:
The Flip Wilson Show is an hour long variety show that aired in the U.S. on NBC from September 17, 1970 to June 27, 1974. The show starred American comedian Flip Wilson; the program was one of the first American television programs starring a black person in the title role to become highly successful with a white audience. Specifically, it was the first successful network variety series starring an African American. During its first two seasons, its Nielsen ratings made it the nation's second most watched show. The show consisted of many skits over an hour. It also broke new ground in American television by using a 'Theatre-in-the-Round' stage format, with the audience seated on all sides of a circular performance area. Wilson was most famous for creating the role of Geraldine Jones, a sassy, modern woman who had a boyfriend named Killer. Flip also created the role of Reverend Leroy, who was the minister of the Church of What's Happening Now!. New parishioners were wary of coming to the church as it was hinted that Reverend Leroy was a con artist. Wilson popularized such catchphrases as "What you see is what you get", and "The devil made me do it!".
IMDB Rating: 7.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, sitcom, parody, offbeat, humorous, realistic, witty, not serious, spoof
Similar in 75%
The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour (1977)
Plot Summary:
The Redd Foxx Comedy Hour was a ABC produced variety show hosted by Redd Foxx (John Elroy Sanford) following his hit sitcom Sanford and Son. It debuted on September 15, 1977 and last aired on January 26, 1978. Despite being rated by critics as entertaining and funny, the show was canceled due to low ratings at the end of it's first season.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 22
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: parody, spoof, sketch comedy
Similar in 85%
The Chelsea Handler Show (2006)
Plot Summary:
The Chelsea Handler Show is an American sketch comedy series that aired on the E! television network. The series starred Chelsea Handler and featured skits that mocked the entertainment industry, spoofed celebrities, television, the elderly, and herself. The show aired Friday nights at 10:30 EST.
IMDB Rating: 5.8
IMDB Votes: 391
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, not serious, biting, sketch comedy, suspense
Similar in 82%
Chappelle's Show (2003)
Plot Summary:
Chappelle's Show is an American sketch comedy television series created by comedians Dave Chappelle and Neal Brennan, with Chappelle hosting the show as well as starring in various sketches. Chappelle, Brennan and Michele Armour were the show's executive producers. The series premiered on January 22, 2003, on the American cable television network Comedy Central. The show ran for two complete seasons and a third, truncated season. After numerous delays, production of the third season of the show was abruptly ended when Chappelle left the show. Three episodes were compiled from the completed work and these episodes aired from July 9 to July 23, 2006. Re-runs frequently air on Comedy Central and around the world on MTV in Germany, Comedy Central in Brazil, The Comedy Network in Canada, The Comedy Channel and 7mate in Australia and FX in the United Kingdom. Chappelle's Show was also shown on WGN America and was syndicated to various television stations across the U.S. including MyNetworkTV. TV Guide ranked it #31 on their list of "TV's Top 100 Shows".
IMDB Rating: 8.8
IMDB Votes: 70000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 22 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, witty, not serious, funny, sitcom, dark comedy, epic, skit, realistic
Similar in 75%
Live at Gotham (2006)
Plot Summary:
Live at Gotham is a standup comedy television show airing on Comedy Central in the United States. The show features up and coming stand up comedians performing live at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. It premiered on July 21, 2006.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 90
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, talky, not serious, alternative comedy, live comedy
Similar in 88%
In Living Color (1990)
Plot Summary:
In Living Color is an American sketch comedy television series that originally ran on the Fox Network from April 15, 1990, to May 19, 1994. Brothers Keenen and Damon Wayans created, wrote and starred in the program. The show was produced by Ivory Way Productions in association with 20th Century Fox Television and was taped before a live studio audience at stage 7 at the Fox Television Center on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, California. The title of the series was inspired by the NBC announcement of broadcasts being presented "in living color" during the 1950s and 1960s, prior to mainstream color television. It also refers to the fact that most of the show's cast were black, unlike other sketch comedy shows such as Saturday Night Live whose casts are usually mostly white. Other members of the Wayans family—Kim, Shawn and Marlon—had regular roles, while brother Dwayne frequently appeared as an extra. The show also starred the previously unknown actor/comedians Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and David Alan Grier. Additionally, actress Rosie Perez, Dancing with the Stars judge and choreographer Carrie Ann Inaba and dancer Jennifer Lopez were members of the show's dance troupe The Fly Girls. The series won the Emmy for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 1990.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, parody, not serious, witty, sitcom, game show, offbeat, realistic, absurd
Similar in 84%
New York Stand-Up Show (2010)
Plot Summary:
Chicks dig a British accent so either learn from the real deal or prepare to swoon when the Daily Show's John Oliver headlines his own series featuring wildly original stand-up sets from the likes of Eugene Mirman and Brian Posehn. Cheerio, Guv'nuh!.
IMDB Rating: 7.0
IMDB Votes: 248
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, witty, talky, not serious, offbeat, alternative comedy, comic
Similar in 75%
Latham Entertainment Presents (2003)
Plot Summary:
The stand-up comedy concert film Latham Entertainment Presents features a handful of African-American comedians including D.L. Hughley, Bruce Bruce, Earthquake, and Rickey Smiley.
IMDB Rating: 6.8
IMDB Votes: 56
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, talky, not serious, live comedy
Similar in 87%
The Porter Wagoner Show (1961)
Plot Summary:
Porter Wagoner's long-running musical variety show that launched the career of Dolly Parton.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 80
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: feel good, humorous, realistic, semi serious
Similar in 90%
Method & Red (2004)
Plot Summary:
Real life hip hop recording artists Method Man and Redman play themselves as they move into a comfortable luxury estate from the success of their recording albums and acting gigs and then try to fit in with the uptight, predominately Caucasian community whom try to evict them for their wild party gatherings while gaining admiration from a handful of neighbor eccentrics including the young son of their real estate agent whom live just next door.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 694
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sitcom, humorous, realistic, not serious, captivating, suspenseful
Similar in 82%
Loins of Punjab Presents (2007)
Plot Summary:
A ruthless philantrophist. A bhangra rapper. An over-protected prodigy. A reckless actress. A lovelorn businessman. An entrepreneurial yogi. And a Loin King. Enter a roller-coaster world of seven strangers whose lives collide during a singing contest in a small New Jersey town.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 800
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: India, USA
Duration: 88 min
Plot tags: humorous, realistic, semi serious, captivating, offbeat, mockumentary
Similar in 88%
All That (1994)
Plot Summary:
A combination sketch comedy/musical performance show in the tradition of "Saturday Night Live," this program starred a teenage cast and was targeted at younger viewers.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 8000
Genere: Comedy, Family, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, sitcom, humorous, realistic, not serious, parody, spoof
Similar in 77%
Cut'n It Up: Dallas (2009)
Plot Summary:
Seven comedians bring down the house in the second line up of comic stylings from Producer Cecil Chambers series "Cut'N It Up". In this set the city of Dallas is on display as Rodney Perry, Juan Villereal, Joey Wells, Rayzor, Mark Fernandez and Q put on a blistering set with a special appearance by Sonja D. This series isn't for sissies though as it features the funniest comedians doing some of the rawest comedy you've ever heard.
IMDB Rating:
IMDB Votes:
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 83 min
Plot tags: humorous, witty, cynical, realistic, talky, not serious, biting, suspense, live comedy
Similar in 86%
Bo Burnham: What. (2013)
Plot Summary:
Left brain and right brain duke it out and then belt out a tune in comedian Bo Burnham's quick and clever one-man show. As intelligent as he is lanky, Burnham cynically pokes at pop entertainment while offering unadulterated showmanship of his own.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: funny, humorous, witty, not serious, feel good, captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious, thought provoking
Similar in 76%
Tenacious D (1997)
Plot Summary:
Tenacious D: The Greatest Band on Earth is a TV series that ran on HBO in 1997, 1999 and 2000. It featured the fictional accounts of the real band Tenacious D, which is composed of members Jack Black and Kyle Gass. All of the episodes of the show are available on Tenacious D's The Complete Masterworks DVD. The show included many songs that would later be recorded for their studio albums Tenacious D and The Pick of Destiny.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: cult classic, offbeat, humorous, realistic, not serious, alternative comedy
Similar in 75%
Garfunkel and Oates (2014)
Plot Summary:
Garfunkel and Oates stars Riki Lindhome and Kate Micucci as both themselves and their musical comedy alter-egos, "Garfunkel and Oates," following the pair as they try to expand the reaches of their meager celebrity. Well-known on the improv-comedy scene, Micucci and Lindhome met at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in LA, naming their band for "two famous rock-and-roll second bananas," Art Garfunkel and John Oates. In five bite-sized episodes, Riki and Kate skewer taboos and perform tongue-in-cheek songs about their woeful lives as single, late-20-something Los Angelinos.
IMDB Rating: 7.5
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 23 min
Plot tags: humorous, not serious, light, captivating, feel good, dark comedy, offbeat, realistic, independent film
Similar in 85%
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Plot Summary:
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 52000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: sketch comedy, humorous, parody, not serious, witty, talky, sitcom, skit, hilarious, epic
Similar in 81%
Nick Cannon Presents: Wild 'N Out (2005)
Plot Summary:
Nick Cannon and an A-list celebrity lead a team of improv comedians as they compete against each other.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Comedy
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious, sketch comedy, non fiction
Similar in 85%
Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll (2015)
Plot Summary:
Johnny Rock is the aging lead singer of NYC's legendary early-'90s band The Heathens, who is trying to get both his band and his life back together. The aging and broke bad-boy rocker gets another shot at fame as a songwriter for a brash and talented young singer who's a big fan of his early work.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 4000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 21 min
Plot tags: humorous, semi serious, realistic, sitcom, light, sentimental, feel good, entertaining
Similar in 86%
Rap Sh!t (2022)
Plot Summary:
Two estranged high school friends from Miami reunite to form a rap group.
IMDB Rating: 6.5
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Comedy, Music
Country: USA
Duration: 30 min
Plot tags: captivating, entertaining, satirical, semi serious