Cinemax Comedy Experiment was an anthology series broadcast on Cinemax throughout the mid-to-late 1980s. Every episode was written and directed by a different standup comedian; the gimmick of the series was that Cinemax placed no limits on what could be presented in the show, allowing the comedians total creative freedom. The series came out of a time in the history of cable television when comedy programs were considered premium content due to the high grosses of comedy films at the box office. The program was also an attempt on Cinemax's part to compete with the rising popularity of video rental shops, which were affecting the channel's subscription rates. Individuals who created "Experiments" include Harry Shearer, Chris Elliott, and Gilbert Gottfried; occasionally, non-standups were invited to contribute to the show, such as Garry Trudeau and Elizabeth Swados, who rewrote their off-Broadway show "Rap Master Ronnie" as an episode of the series.