Comedy History 101

Former Daily Show head writer Elliott Kalan (MST3K, The Flop House), Joke Farming) joins CH101 to discuss his new book, Joke Farming, and the nuts-and-bolts behind professional joke writing.

In this reprise episode: We go inside the Daily Show writers’ room with Jon Stewart, why MST3K once had too many jokes, how comedians write jokes on deadline, why inspiration is overrated, and how audiences complete every joke.

A behind-the-scenes look at joke writing, comedy craft, and how humor helps us make sense of the world.

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Why did Harpo Marx stop talking? How did Hollywood manage to derail Buster Keaton's career? And why was one of radio's biggest stars a ventriloquist?

Comedy historian Garry Berman joins Comedy History 101 to discuss his new book, 100 Years of Laughter: American Comedy in the Twentieth Century. We get into Charlie Chaplin's fear of talking pictures, the Marx Brothers' chaotic vaudeville years, the connection between Abbott and Costello's legendary “Who's on First?” routine and Nathan Fielder's latest documentary, plus how Ellen DeGeneres' Tonight Show debut drew on a routine that stretched back decades.

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What do Happy Tree Friends, Sonic the Hedgehog, Gumby, and Mr. Bumpy of Bumps in the Night have in common? Ken Pontac has been a creative force behind all these wonderfully bizarre projects

Ken joins CH101 to talk about how dropping acid before an Eraserhead screening led to working on Gumby, why tragedy equals comedy on Happy Tree Friends and the overall ethos behind his creative process.

Check out Ken’s documentary series: https://www.youtube.com/@colorsofthespectrum

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Ophira Eisenberg is known for hosting NPR’s Ask Me Another, The Moth mainstage, and her new stand-up special, I Used to Be Nicer. She also has the distinction of filming her previous special when she was 8 ½ months pregnant.

Ophira joins Comedy History 101 to dive into the history of comedians who filmed their stand-up specials while pregnant.

From Joan Rivers pushing pregnancy taboos on The Ed Sullivan Show to Ali Wong’s Baby Cobra, Jena Friedman’s Ladykiller, Kira Soltanovich’s You Did This to Me, and Ophira’s own pregnancy special, Inside Joke.

At one time, a comedian couldn’t say the word ‘pregnant’ on TV. Now being pregnant on stage can make for the centerpiece of a stand-up special.

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O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil is the new HBO Max doc series that revisits Juiced, O.J. Simpson’s trainwreck hidden-camera prank show. It was meant as a comeback project for the double “alleged” murderer.

And, I, Harmon Leon was hired off Craigslist to be O.J. Simpson’s “funny little sidekick.”

In this CH101 reprise episode, I go behind the scenes of Juiced and what it was really like pulling pranks with O.J. Simpson on the worst idea ever conceived for a reality TV show - now featured in O.J. Unseen: Exploitation of Evil.

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You Can’t Do That on Television defined Nickelodeon—and gave the world GREEN SLIME!

Comedy History 101 talks to Abby Hagyard, who portrayed “Mom” on YCDTOT, to reveal the wonderfully weird history behind the Ottawa-based cult comedy classic.

From working with a young Alanis Morissette to kids telling jokes inside lockers, to the show’s Laugh-In, SCTV, and Monty Python influences. Plus, find out exactly what it felt like to be ‘slimed.”

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Stairway to Stardom was a legendary NYC public access TV show that gave singers, dancers, comedians, and dreamers a chance to become stars. It's a cult classic that fans include Bjork, Alec Baldwin, & Paul Scheer .

Long before social media, there was a Manhattan cable show that let people perform with the same passion they had dancing in front of their bedroom mirror - without fear of being torn down by the trolls.

In this Comedy History 101 audio documentary we explore the rise, fall, and unlikely rediscovery of Stairway to Stardom. Featuring interviews with archivist Mitch Friedman, Joe Pickett of the Found Footage Festival, Artist, HP Mendoza, and past STS performers Rich Halke, Lola Perazzo. All The Kings Men

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We dig into the CH101 archives for firsthand tales from The Comedy Store with Borat director Larry Charles, Emmy-winning Arrested Development writer Jim Vallely, comedian/voice actor Joey Camen, Marc Maron documentary writer/producer Julie Seabaugh, and Comedy Store vet Freddy Lockhart.

Larry Charles hustles $10 jokes to Jay Leno!

Richard Pryor wanting to kick Joey Camen's ass!

Mitzi Shore tells Gilbert Gottfried to 'open his eyes'!

Sam Kinison peeing on Marc Maron's bed!

Michael Richards arrives hours after his infamous meltdown!

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The Daily Show became a comedy institution when Jon Stewart took over from Craig Kilborn.

Former The Daily Show field producer Evan Cutler reveals how Jon Stewart reinvented the show, why Stephen Colbert stood out from day one, how Steve Carell got his break, and why The Daily Show stopped making fun of people—and started making fun of the news.

Plus Evan shares stories of John McEnroe’s ill-fated late

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Go inside the origin stories of three of the most influential sketch comedy shows ever: The Kids in the Hall, SCTV, and The State.

Kids in the Hall co-founder Kevin McDonald, SCTV writer Chris Cluess, and The State with filmmaker Matthew Perniciaro (director of Long Live The State!) share how these legendary comedy groups got their start — from Second City and SCTV’s Emmy-winning run, to Kevin McDonald meeting Dave Foley and catching the attention of Lorne Michaels, to David Wain helping take The State from NYU to MTV.

Comedy History 101 digs into the archives for the stories behind three shows that helped shape modern sketch comedy.

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