The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word STAND-UPS
I've seen this crossword clue in Independent
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "comedians" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case comedians = stand-ups.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does STAND-UPS mean?
STAND-UPS noun- A performance of stand-up comedy; jokes delivered standing on a stage
- A comedian who performs on stage.
- A short meeting performed while standing up.
- A free-standing photographic print or promotional item; a standee.