Comedy History 101

Roseanne Barr was on top of the world again - until she wrote a racist tweet. ABC responded by yanking her show off the air. Meanwhile, over in the UK, the country has a long history of racist comedians - who say things on stage that are even worse than what Roseanne wrote. Such comedians as Roy Chubby Brown, Bernard Manning, and Jim Davidson are fixtures into British comedy history; despite doing very racist material. In this episode we dive deep into the history of racist British comedy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2006, a producer thought it would be a good idea for double-acquitted murderer OJ Simpson's comeback project project to be a zany hidden camera prank show called Juice'd. As in, a prank is pulled, OJ Simpson pops out, and goes, "You've been Juiced," at which point the person pranked goes, "HEY, AREN'T YOU THAT GUY WHO MURDERED THOSE PEOPLE?! And I, Harmon Leon, was hired off an ad on Craigslist to be OJ's funny little sidekick.. I actually got to pull hidden camera pranks alongside OJ Simpson. What followed was the biggest train wreck in reality television history. In this episode of CH101, we dive into the full history behind the scenes. You been Juiced! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back in 2011, Donald Trump was a reality TV star. Comedy Central decided to send up the star of The Apprentice with one of their televised roasts. Hosted by Seth MacFarlane, Trump sat with a smug smile as he was roasted by such stars as Jersey Shore's "The Situation." Trump only agreed to doing the Trump if jokes about his hair, bankruptcies, assumed wealth were made off limits. He also made it mandatory that the roasters referred to him as "Mr. Trump." Still, in 2011, it was a major joke among the roasters that Trump would consider running for president. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Donald Trump has once again reunited with Rudy Giuliani. But they’ve known each other for years. You’ve seen the video. Giuliani is dressed drag. Trump tries to play the lady’s man - and makes a inappropriate sexual advance by “motorboating” Giuliani’s faux breasts. With present-day context, the video is like something out of illuminati treasure trove But where the hell did this video come from? What was the context? Was this the first time Giuliani dressed up in public in drag? Why is Trump our president? Harmon and Scott dive deep into the history behind the Trump hitting on Giuliani in drag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Comedy Store in Los Angeles is home to a zillion famous (and not so famous) comedians. But at one time, directly behind The Store, the condo at 8420 Cresthill Road - was literally home to numerous comedians who went on to change the face of comedy. Sam Kinison, Andrew Dice Clay, Robin Williams, Yakov Smirnoff, Richard Pryor, and Marc Maron - either lived or hung out at this comedy habode. This comedy frat house was both a humor incubator and a dark den of drugs and destruction. Harmon and Scott dive deep into the history of the Comedy Store condo. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Comedian Michelle Wolf caused controversy at the recent White House Correspondents' Dinner. The annual Washington event, that celebrates the media and free speech, has a long history of comedy. From the early days with Bob Hope to notable comedians as Richard Pryor, Stephan Colbert, and Jon Stewart - comedy has been an integral part of the gala. Harmon and Scott take a deep dive into the history of comedy and controversies - at what Washington insiders call "nerd prom." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

Harmon and Scott dissect the history of the movie Caddyshack 2 - which is not only a sequel to the much beloved movie, Caddyshack, but it's also the worst sequel OF ALL TIME! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott discuss the biopic: A Futile and Stupid Gesture which chronicles comedy writer Doug Kenney, during the rise and fall of National Lampoon. They compare it to the 2015 documentary: Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon, which chronicles comedy writer Doug Kenney, during the rise and fall of National Lampoon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

So, how did the TV show South Park come about? Well, it goes back to the animated short: The Spirit of Christmas. In, 1992, film students Trey Parker and Matt Stone.created the animated short; Jesus vs. Frosty - which pitted the beloved holiday character again Jesus. That set their career rolling - but there were a few hurdles along the way... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott dive into the history of Moms Mabley, who was the first successful female standup comedian and had a career that spanned over 50 years. Moms bridged the gap between vaudeville and modern stand up comedy. She was also the first woman comic to play the Apollo theater and Carnegie Hall in 1962. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott discuss the making of the Mike Judge animated short, Frog Baseball, which launched the MTV series: Beavis and Butt-head Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott revel over the history of crazy Japanese game shows. Learn about Takeshi's Castle - the granddaddy of all weird Japanese game shows. And find out about Candy No Candy - where contestants have to eat objects, like shoes, and determine if it's candy or not candy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott discuss the new documentary, Jim and Andy, which is about Jim Carrey transforming into Andy Kaufman during the filming of the 1999 movie, Man on the Moon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott dive into the history of Party Records; particularly Laff Records, a small independent comedy label known for XXX humor and helped launch the careers of Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, LaWanda Page, and Skillet & Leroy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott dive into the history and value of the straight man in comedy teams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We explore the history of comedy that crosses the line. Scott and Harmon discuss comedy that's revolutionary and comedy that goes too far. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We explore the comedy history behind comedians stealing jokes - from Abbot and Costello to Carlos Mencia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We explore the comedy history behind DEVO - one of the funniest bands in history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon Leon and Scott Calonico discuss the history behind the legendary TV show: SCTV Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We dive into the work 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.Find out about Louie's early days as an intern at the San Jose Metro - and his work 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.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

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. Rutland Weekend Television (RWT) was a television sketch show on BBC2 that was written by Eric Idle with music by Neil Innes. The show lasted for two series; with six episodes filmed for the first series in 1975, and seven episodes for the second series in 1976. A Christmas special was also produced and broadcasted on Boxing Day 1975. Monty Python's Flying Circus had just ended the year before. And Eric Idle was the first of the Pythons to have his own comedy series. (Faulty Towers ran later in 1975.) The production studio for the show was tiny. The cast and crew had to carry the entire set up flights of stairs before each filming. The premise of RWT was that the show was "Britain's smallest television network," and broadcasted from England's smallest county, Rutland. The pairing of Innes and Idle meant a lot of funny musical parodies - such as The Gay Whistle Test: Did you know that former Beatles member, George Harrison, played a role in Rutland Weekend Television; as a pirate? Also, the bands Toad the Wet Sprocket and Death Cab for Cutie - got their names from references connected to the show. A segment on Rutland Weekend Television later spun off into the full-length mockumentary, The Rutles. In 2002, there was a sequel to The Rutles called Can't Buy Me Lunch. It wasn't very good. But Rutland Weekend Television's legacy is that it created the musical mockumentary and begot other comedy's set in TV studios, such as SCTV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Harmon and Scott talk about 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