Punchline (1988)

Lilah Krytsick is a New Jersey homemaker and mother married to insurance salesman John Krytsick, who expects her to place these household roles as her top priority in life. Steven Gold has just been kicked out of medical school; he had only been admitted by having his doctor dad pull some strings. Although he never wanted to be a doctor, Steven doesn't want his father to know he is no longer in school. Lilah and Steven casually know each other with both being stand-up comics--secret lives to both John and Steven's father--performing for $15 a set at a New York City comedy club called The Gas Station. Lilah has always felt joy in making people laugh, although she strains in putting together a set that is meaningful to her and thus funny to the audience. Steven, arguably considered the best comic at the club, wants to make it big in the business. However, he sucks up most of the proverbial oxygen when at the club, which doesn't sit well with some of the other comics, especially the less secure ones who also want to make this business their life. While Lilah deals with trying to balance this secret life and her household duties while also trying to improve her stand-up skills and Steven strives to make a career of stand-up happen sooner than later in needing to eke out a life for himself, Lilah and Steven connect on an emotional level through comedy. The question then becomes what will happen to their friendship as they focus on their own priorities in their lives holistically, which is only complicated as network executives hold a contest at the club; the winner will be featured on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962).