Debuting on 31 March 1990 and hosted by Arthur Smith, Paramount City showcased British and American stand-up comedy acts (both established performers and newcomers) and featured musical acts performing live on stage.
The show – filmed at the Paramount City theatre in the heart of London’s West End – was co-produced with Ha! (a new American comedy channel owned by the MTV cable network) and aired in the US (edited down to 30 minutes) as London Underground.
Smith was replaced as the host in the second series by black comedy duo Curtis (Walker) and Ishmael (Thomas), who had been regular guests in the first series.
Guest comedy artists on the show included Tommy Cockles (Simon Day), Helen Lederer, Jim Tavaré, Paul Merton, Steve Coogan, Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Julian Clary, Emo Phillips, Frank Skinner, Denis Leary, Sean Hughes, Chris Rock, Jon Stewart, Hattie Hayridge, Lee Evans, Paul Whitehouse, Janeane Garofalo, Caroline Aherne (as Sister Mary Immaculate), Stephen Frost, and Sweeney and Steen.
The show – filmed at the Paramount City theatre in the heart of London’s West End – was co-produced with Ha! (a new American comedy channel owned by the MTV cable network) and aired in the US (edited down to 30 minutes) as London Underground. 
Musical guests included The Christians, Kid Creole and The Coconuts, Hothouse Flowers, The B-52’s, Lenny Kravitz, Soul II Soul, Boy George, Dusty Springfield, INXS, The Notting Hillbillies, Sinéad O’Connor, Sheena Easton, Cathy Dennis, Cher, Harry Connick Jnr, EMF, Bros, Seal, Jesus Jones, Massive Attack and Tin Machine.
