The History of Comedy
Explore what makes us laugh, why, and how that's influenced our social and political landscape throughout history.
Cast spotlight
Jump into full cast pages for bio, socials, and recent work.
Ep 1F***ing Funny
The evolution of inappropriate humor throughout history is traced, showcasing the work from groundbreaking comedians who risked their careers, prison sentences and even their lives as they fought against censorship.
Ep 2The Funnier Sex
A look at the greatest female comedians and how they were able to succeed in every genre where humor is found despite rampant sexism and prejudice.
Ep 3The Comedy of Real Life
A look at how comedians find humor in the simple, daily experiences most people share.
Ep 4One Nation, Under Comedy
The evolution of racial humor and how comedy about shared experiences can cross cultural barriers to unite people in laughter are explored.
Ep 5Ripped from the Headlines
The origins of topical humor are traced, from the invention of the monologue to the "fake news" shows of today.
Ep 6The Spark of Madness
The mind of the comedian is explored, as well as the difficult road that many seem destined to take where mental illness and substance abuse are remarkably common.
CNN
US
