Comedy History 101

In the 80's, Andrew Dice Clay was one of the biggest comedians in America. He came into prominence with a brash, offensive persona known as "The Diceman." His material was heavily homophobic and misogynistic. He was banned from MTV and there were protests of his appearance on SNL. Then his entire career came crashing down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the CH101 archives: We discuss the making of the Mike Judge animated short, Frog Baseball, which launched the MTV series: Beavis and Butt-head. We also dive into some of Judge's early animation work, such as Inbred Jed and Office Space. But how did Beavis and Butt-head get it's start. What's the origin story? Listen on to learn more…. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A classic comedy trope is the comedian getting the hook - and being pulled off stage. But how did this come about in your comedic lexicon? It’s usually depicted as a shepherd’s crook. that pulls off a horrible act. We dive into the history of comedians getting the hook - from the early days at the Bowery Theater to the legendary Howard "Sandman" Sims at The Apollo in Harlem. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue with the literal trials of Lenny Bruce - and the nature of free speech in comedy clubs. Does free speech mean that we occasionally have to listen to what we don’t want to hear? We dive into the gamut of free speech from the controversy of Milo Yiannopoulos appearing at a NYC comedy club - to comedian Ahmed Ahmed having a comedy club patron call 911 on him for making ‘Middle Eastern’ jokes. Are there limits to Lenny Bruce’s plight? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Lenny Bruce was a comedian who wasn’t afraid to speak his mind. And because of that, he became a martyr for free speech. Between 1961 to 1964, he was arrested on obscenity charges 8 times - for performing stand up comedy. You might have seen a fictional portrayal of Bruce on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. In this CH101 episode we dive into the history of Lenny Bruce, censorship, and free speech in stand up comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The late George Martin will always be best remembered for his legendary work as the producer of The Beatles. Did you know that the man who made the Fab Four sound amazing got his start as a producer of comedy albums? Yes, the man behind creating the soundscape for A Day in the Life - also produced comedy albums for Peter Sellers, The Goon Show, and Beyond the Fringe (featuring Dudley Moore). Producing comedy is where Martin learned his chops to produce such Beatles classics as Strawberry Fields Forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roseanne was supposed to be the big comedy breakout star of Trump’s America… and look how that turned out. So, why are there so few right-wing Republican comedians who can extend the comedic olive branch across both sides of the political aisle? And how come every time there’s a Republican version of The Daily Show - it fails? We dive into the fine art of right-wing comedy and its proclivity to punch down rather than punch up…. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tim Conway was one of the greatest second bananas in comedy history. Sadly, he passed away on May 14th at the age of 85. Conway’s comedy career started on a local TV station in Ohio, and he made his mark in sketches alongside Harvey Korman on the Carol Burnett Show. He also starred in the much overlooked TV movie: Roll Freddy, Roll. We love the comedy work of Tim Conway - and today’s CH101 episode is a tribute! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Alex Jones began his career in Austin, Texas, back in the ’90s, as a local cable access cult figure - and He built a rabid national audience by spewing out conspiracy theories. To set the stage, ACTV (Austin Community Access TV) in the ’90s was pure Austin at it’s weirdest. Find out how Jones jumped on the scene as an amped up 22-year old - and originally wanted to be a standup comedian. Learn what happened when he got in a fight in the parking lot of ACTV - and claimed he was attacked by a man with “strange goat eyes.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Since the beginning of the 20th century, slipping on a banana peel has been a fixture in physical comedy. A comedy trope, if you will. We’ve seen such legendary silent comedians as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Laurel and Hardy - all do a variation of the slipping on a banana peel gag. But how did the “slipping on a banana peel” gag come into our lexicon? And why don’t we see people slipping on banana peels in 2019? Find out all this and more as we do a CH101 deep dive into the history of slipping on banana peels! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Knock knock? Who’s there? It’s time for the history of knock-knock jokes… Knock-knock jokes are the classic question and answer kid joke. But did you know that its origin goes all the way back to Shakespeare’s Macbeth? Well it does. In the episode we dive into the joke’s origin - and how Rowen and Martin’s Laugh In - helped it’s comeback into pop culture. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know the classic childhood joke: Why did the chicken cross the road? Seems harmless, right? Well, this seemingly carefree joke has ugly disturbing origins - rooted in American racism. Eeewww! We dive into the origins of this anti-joke - and show how things aren’t what they seem to be… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedy History 101 Podcast: Live is coming to NYC: Tues, 3/19, 7pm, The PIT Loft Harmon Leon (Vice) and Scott Calonico (Sundance Film Festival) are joined by Chris O'Neil (StoryFest) will be bringing you: The History of XXX Party Records Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Yes, we dive further into the history of the legendary San Francisco comedy club, The Purple Onion - up until it closed in 2012. In the early days, the club launched the careers of Woody Allen, Richard Pryor, and Phyllis Diller. In this episode we cover the decline of the Purple Onion in the 70s and 80s - and how it resurrected as a garage rock club, and eventually returned to its comedy roots in the 90s. In fact, Zach Galifianakis filmed his comedy special, Live at the Purple Onion, ironically, live at the Purple Onion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Purple Onion was a legendary comedy club in San Francisco. It was a small, basement club that had its heyday in the 1950s and 60s -and helped launch the careers of Phyllis Diller, The Smothers Brothers, Lenny Bruce, Woody Allen, and Richard Pryor. Opened in 1952, the Purple Onion ran for roughly 60 years before closing its doors in 2012. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour ran from 1967-1970. It was considered the edgiest comedy show of the time. It also launched the careers of Steve Martin - who was a writer for the show, along with Rob Reiner and Bob Einstein aka Super Dave Osborne. The Smothers Brothers constantly butt heads with the censors. But on November 12, 1987 President Ronald Reagan welcomed the duo into the White House. What went down? Find out more in this episode of Comedy History 101… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue with Part 2 of our history of the National Lampoon Radio Hour; the show that evolved into Saturday Night Live and featured such iconic comedy figures as John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, Christopher Guest, Richard Belzer, and Chevy Chase. We cover our favorite episodes of the NL Radio Hour and how Lorne Michaels scooped up all the talent for SNL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The National Lampoon Radio Hour hit the airwaves in 1973 and was a direct offshoot of National Lampoon magazine. But it gets better - the evolved into the first season of Saturday Night Live and launched the careers of John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Harold Ramis, Bill Murray, and Chevy Chase. When the National Lampoon Radio Hour ran its course, nearly everyone involved - both writers and performers - were scooped up by Lorne Michaels to create SNL history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Part Two of our episode on comedy that crosses the line. You know, the edggggy comedy that goes too far for the times. We dive into Bill Hicks getting censored on the David Letterman show to the revolutionary comedy of Dick Gregory in the early ‘60s - to the cartoons of Charlie Hebdo. Like us on iTunes - and please subscribe and comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this episode of CH101, we explore the history of comedy that crosses the line. You know, the edggggy comedy. Sometimes it’s comedy that’s revolutionary and creates change, such as the comedy of George Carlin and Lenny Bruce. And sometimes, its comedy that goes too far - and is there just for shock value. (Michael Richards - we are talking to you.) Please subscribe and “like” on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rachel Brosnahan won for Best Actress at the Golden Globes for her portrayal of the Mrs. Maisel. On this episode, we dive into Part Two of the real-life comedy influences on the fictional Mrs. Maisel - and cover such legendary comics as Joan Rivers, Phyllis Diller, Anne Meara, Moms Mabley, Elaine May, Totie Fields, and Jean Carroll. Please subscribe and ‘like” use on iTunes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did you see the Golden Globe Awards? The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was nominated for several. Rachel Brosnahan won for Best Actress for her portrayal of the Mrs. Maisel. The show is about a stand up comedian in New York City during the 1950s. But who were the real-life standup comedy influences on the fictional character? We do a deep dive into the comedians that helped shape the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue with Part Two of our history of SCTV, the iconic TV comedy sketch show that launched the careers of John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Rick Moranis, and Dave Thomas. This episode we dive into the later years of SCTV with such movie spinoffs as Strange Brew, starring Bob and Doug Mackenzie. Be sure to subscribe and like us on iTunes. We love you comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We dive into the history behind the legendary sketch comedy show: SCTV. Learn how SCTV was an offshoot of the original Toronto company of Second City - and find out more about the original SCTV cast that consisted of John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara, Harold Ramis, and Dave Thomas. Hear what about our favorite episodes - and learn the meaning behind, "Crane shot!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue with Part Two of our history of the pilot for the American version of Peep Show. How did they take one of the funniest shows ever and turn it into one of the most unfunniest TV pilots of all time? David Mitchell and Robert Webb must be rolling in their graves. (Despite the fact that they are still very much alive.) We love your comments - and please subscribe on iTunes! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Peep Show is one the greatest British comedy shows of all time. So what did they do? They tried to bring the beloved show to the U.S. and make an American version. Do you know what? They failed miserably. We dive into the history of the Peep Show American pilot and other British comedy shows that came stateside and completely missed the mark; including The IT Crowd, Spaced, and Fawlty Towers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

National Lampoon: Lemming was a 1973 live stage show that spun out of National Lampoon magazine - and helped launch the careers of John Belushi, Christopher Guest, and Chevy Chase. Lemmings was a take-off of Woodstock - and was toted as three days of peace, love and death - and Belushi acted as the festival emcee who encouraged everyone to kill themselves. Lorne Michaels saw the show and scooped the talent for a show he was going to launch, called Saturday Night Live. Plus, for us New Yorkers, the show was performed at a venue on Bleeker Street and Thomas in the Village. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Kentucky Fried Movie is a flick that not only launched the career of the Zucker Brothers but also film director John Landis. The movie was made in 1977 right before their comedies, Animal House and Airplane, became international sensations. We dive into the origins of Kentucky Fried Movie, what it took to get made, and it’s place in comedy history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tunnel Vision is a 1976 movie that tried to predict what television would be like in 1985. It also laid the groundwork for the humor of early Saturday Night Live. Basically, it’s a sketch comedy movie that features cameos from such future comedy stars before they were famous: John Candy, Chevy Chase, Joe Flaherty, Laraine Newman, and Al Franken. Much like SCTV, the movie follows a typical day's programming on the network - while the president of Tunnel Vision has to defend his network in front of a Senate sub-committee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Groove Tube is a 1974 comedy film that gave both Chevy Chase and Richard Belzer their first screen roles. It’s also a film that laid the groundwork for the humor of early Saturday Night Live. The low-budget movie, which satirizes TV and counterculture of the early 70s, began as an innovative theater show in NYC’s Lower East Side - with the Channel One Theater Company. Directed by Ken Shapiro, The Groove Tube was the brainchild of the humor of the first generation of comedians coming to age in the TV generation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Turn-On is considered the biggest flop in TV comedy history. The sketch comedy show was created in 1969 by George Schlatter - who was trying to capitalize on his other show, Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. Only one episode ever aired. In fact, some stations pulled the show after the very first commercial break. A young Albert Brooks was one of the staff writers and the first episode of Turn-On was hosted by Tim Conway. Perhaps the show was too ahead of its time, or perhaps it was truly awful? We’ll just never know… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the CH!01 archives: We explore the history of dead baby jokes - a popular joke genre that began the 60’s and ran through the 80s. Like gallows humor tried to make light the worst of human atrocities. But social climate brought about this type of dark comedy. Did you know the advent of the pill, the women's liberation movement, and the Vietnam War - were all factors in the rise of Dead Baby Jokes? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From mocking a disabled reporter to make fun of a sexual assault victim - Donald J. Trump has proven there is a vastly different sense of presidential humor now coming from the White House. I recently interviewed David Litt - head joke writer for President Obama - for an upcoming story in the NY Observer, to get his take on Trump as a purveyor of jokes and humor. We discuss his insights and the history of humor coming from Trump - The President. Trump loves laughing at the misfortunes of others. Trump doesn’t love laugh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1984, Richard Pryor had a children’s TV show called: Pryor’s Place. This was two years after his classic concert film, Live on the Sunset Strip, - and four years after lighting himself on fire while freebasing cocaine. The Pryor’s Place only lasted one season and was produced by Sid & Marty Krofft. The show takes place in an inner-city neighborhood. There’s puppets, celebrity guest stars, and Pryor giving moral lessons to kids. The best part is the theme song to Pryor’s Place performed by Ray Parker Jr. who did the Ghostbuster’s theme. It’s so catchy - that it will haunt you forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week comedian/sexual predator Bill Cosby went to prison. Even before Hannibal Buress helped call him out in 2014—Cosby peppered his work with a multitude of references to sexual misconduct. Take his Spanish Fly routine from the 1969 comedy album, “It’s True! It’s True!.” Or his reference to his secret BBQ sauce recipe - that renders women helpless, from an episode of The Cosby Show Not to mention his monologue where he cites knocking women out - in his 1971 PBS performance, Bill Cosby on Prejudice. We do a deep dive into the creepy Cosby clues that were always there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part Two of our history of comedians who f-up and attempt comebacks. We dive into the greatest comeback of all time - with Richard Pryor who lit himself on fire while freebasing and then came back and filmed the stand up masterpiece, Live on the Sunset Strip. Along with this, we cover the worst comedy comeback of all time with Michael Richards - after he had a meltdown on stage at the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We dive into the history of comedians who f-ed up - and then attempted comebacks. We cover the fall, and attempted rise, of Louie CK, Roseanne Barr, Kathy Griffin, Samantha Bee, Kramer from Seinfeld, and Richard Pryor. How did these comedians succeed with their comebacks? What was their apology? Can we separate the person from the art? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue with Part 2 of the History of Meatballs 4. Crazy fact: the movie costarred Jack Nance - who not only played Eraserhead, but was also in almost every single David Lynch movie after the cult classic. In a very low point in his career - Nance played the director of a failing waterski camp and shared wisecracks with Corey Feldman. And there's even more creepier trivia about Nance's time filming Meatballs 4. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meatballs 4 is one of the worst movie sequels of all time. It stars Corey Feldman in the Bill Murray role. It's a classic hackneyed story of the slobs vs. snobs. But the twist here; they have to save a failing water ski camp. But did you know that Meatballs 4 wasn't the original title of the film? Find out some deep cuts into on the worst movie sequels ever to be filmed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We dive into Part 2 of the history of one of our favorite documentary filmmakers: Louie Theroux. We discuss his long range of BBC specials - and his most recent project: My Scientology Movie. Also, find out about both Louie and Harmon's connection with the infamous Westboro Baptist Church. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our CH101 Select this week: We dive into the work of one of our favorite documentary filmmakers: Louie Theroux. Find out about Louie's early days alongside Michael Moore on TV Nation. Get acquainted with Louie's first TV series: Louie Theroux's Weird Weekend; where he immersed himself into such subcultures as swingers, pro-wrestling, and porn stars. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Part 2 on the history of Sasha Baron Cohen and his new show: Who Is America? We dive into the early career of Cohen with such notable characters as Borat, Ali G - and lesser known work as DJ Greg and hosting the show Pump TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sasha Baron Cohen has a new show: Who Is America? Is it funny? Is it not funny!? We explore the history behind the making of Who Is America? - and compare it to Cohen's other classic shows/characters: Borat and Ali G. Come do a deep dive with us as we find out the "who" behind Who Is America? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue on with Part 2 of the history of Rutland Weekend television - and dive into the origins of The Beatles parody band: The Rutles. A segment on Rutland Weekend Television later spun off into the full-length mockumentary, The Rutles; which was a direct influence on Spinal Tap and the other films of Christopher Guest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's summer, so we are bringing you a CH101 Select What did Eric Idle right after Monty Python? Rutland Weekend Television. Harmon and Scott dive into the history behind the 1975 cult TV show that was responsible for launching the legendary Beatles parody: The Rutles. Idle teamed with musician Neal Innes - from the Bonzo Dog (Doo-Dah) Band - who was considered the seventh member of Monty Python and crooned songs in Monty Python in the Holy Grail. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Our last part on the history of William Topaz McGonagall (1825 –1902) - the worst poet in Scottish history. We dive into who are the modern day McGonagalls - artists who are so bad, that they unwittingly cross into genius. We cover such artistic horrors as The Room, The Shaggs, the poetry of Susan Somers, and Nicholas Cage in the movie: The Wicker Man. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue on with the history of William Topaz McGonagall (1825 –1902) - the worst poet in Scottish history, whose performances usually ended with being pelted with rotten eggs, peas, and herring. Not only did McG once walk 60 miles through a thunderstorm - to read his poetry for the Queen (though not invited), but he also went on to influence the likes of Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, The Muppets, and Harry Potter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

William Topaz McGonagall (1825 –1902) has the notoriety of being the worst poet in Scottish history. What they said about McGonagall back in the day was: “He was so giftedly bad he unwittingly backed in genius.” When McGonagall would perform his poetry, it usually resulted in being pelted with rotten eggs, peas, and herring. The comedy legacy of McGonagall is he went on to influence the likes of Monty Python, Peter Sellers, Spike Milligan, The Muppets, and of course, Harry Potter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We dive into the history of the legendary Improv comedy club. Learn about Bud Friedman and his club that launched the careers of Andy Kaufman, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Sarah Silverman, and just about everyone else who is famous in the world of comedy. Find out about the humble beginnings in Hell's Kitchen. When did the iconic brick wall come about? How did the Improv became a megalopolis comedy brand? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We continue our deep dive into the history of racist British comedians. In this episode we talk about such racist British sitcoms as Til Death Do Us Part, Curry and Chips, and Peter Sellers role in The Party. Plus we recap some of the highlights of the racist comedy careers of comedian Jim Davidson, Roy Chubby Brown, and Bernard Manning. And what finally changed the face of British comedy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices