Comedy History 101

By Harmon LeonComedy TV & Film Society & Culture History

Comedy History 101 episodes

May 30, 2018 History of the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump
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.
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58 min
May 18, 2018 History of Trump Hitting on Giuliani in Drag
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.
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27 min
May 11, 2018 History of the Comedy Store Condo
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.
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1 hr 3 min
May 05, 2018 History of White House Correspondents' Dinner Comedy
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."
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1 hr 14 min
April 27, 2018 History of Dead Baby Jokes
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?
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25 min
April 03, 2018 History of the Andrew "Dice" Clay Controversy
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.
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42 min
March 02, 2018 HIstory of Caddyshack 2: The Worst Sequel Ever
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!
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44 min
February 23, 2018 History of National Lampoon's A Futile and Stupid Gesture
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
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48 min
January 28, 2018 History of South Park's Spirit of Christmas
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...
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44 min
January 16, 2018 History of Moms Mabley
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.
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43 min

About Comedy History 101

From the publisher's feed

Comedian and journalist Harmon Leon dives deep into the wild, weird, and hilarious history of comedy. Each episode explores the backstories of legendary comedians, iconic sketches, cult classics, stand-up milestones, and forgotten gems from the comedy world. From SNL to viral videos, we unpack the moments that shaped what makes us laugh. Whether you're a hardcore comedy nerd or just comedy-curious, this is your crash course in the funny business. Subscribe now and discover how comedy got to where it is today—one punchline at a time.