There are moments in Jerrod Carmichael’s debut stand-up special, “Love At the Store,” where the camera lingers on him in the spotlight, surrounded by neon signs that bear the names of some of the greatest comedians ever. It’s a striking image — a 26-year-old comic making his television debut bathed in the reflections of legends like Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, and Sam Kinison, who had all played LA’s Comedy Store before him. At the end of the special, another sign flickers on, one bearing Carmichael’s name ensconced in the same neon stars as the others.
Carmichael, who is from North Carolina, has created considerable buzz, boosted by a small role in the Seth Rogen/Zac Efron vehicle “Neighbors,” but fostered mostly by his provocative stand-up style. In one bit, he compares Adolf Hitler and Martin Luther King, making a realist’s argument that Hitler was the superior leader because he had better numbers. His special, which debuts Oct. 4 on HBO, is produced by Funny Or Die and directed by Spike Lee. Carmichael is also working on a pilot for NBC after a bidding war involving several networks. If the trend continues, he’ll soon outgrow clubs the size of Johnny D’s, which he plays Sunday. The Globe spoke with him this week by phone about the special, his stand-up style, and his upward career path.
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