Comedy History 101

Before there was Fallon, Kimmel, or Colbert — there was Johnny Carson, the undisputed King of Late Night.

We talk with Howard Smith, author of the book, My Friend Johnny, who was Carson's longtime Malibu neighbor, friend, and tennis partner.

Howard pulls back the curtain on Carson’s private world — from secret card games with Steve Martin, Don Rickles, Carl Reiner, and Martin Short, to the personal joke-writing advice Johnny gave Jay Leno.

We also get tales of Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Jerry Weintraub, and even a Carson monologue name-drop that sent Howard’s high school friends into a frenzy.

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Larry Charles won an Emmy writing for Seinfeld, directed Borat, Brüno, and Curb Your Enthusiasm, and has collaborated with Larry David, Sacha Baron Cohen, and Bob Dylan .

Larry joins CH101 for some serious comedy inside baseball:

How he helped shape the voice of Seinfeld with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld

The chaos behind Borat's infamous poop-bag dinner scene

What it was really like making subversive comedy with Sacha Baron Cohen

Get the inside scoop on one of comedy's most fearless minds and check out Larry's new book: Comedy Samurai.

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CH101 Select: Jim Vallely was a writer/producer on the iconic comedy show: Arrested Development – which earned him an Emmy.

Jim also worked on The Golden Girls, Two and a Half Men, The John Larroquette Show, and got his start on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson - with his comedy duo: The Funny Boys.

We do a masterclass deep-dive with Jim on comedy writing, producing, and what it was like having Larry David as a neighbor.

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The State was the MTV sketch show that launched the careers of Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, David Wain, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Thomas Lennon, Kevin Allison—and several more (the troupe had 11 members).

From dorm-room sketches at NYU to comedy milestones like Reno 911, Stella, Viva Variety, and the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer, The State helped redefine alternative comedy for a generation.

Director Matthew Perniciaro joins CH101 to talk about his new documentary Long Live The State and how this pioneering sketch group shaped the future of alt-comedy.

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Mr. Bill is one of the most iconic characters in the history of Saturday Night Live.

This lovable, unlucky bundle of Play-Doh first appeared in the very first season of SNL as a viewer-submitted Super 8 film—and quickly rose to cult status. At the peak of his fame, Mr. Bill was ranked the third most beloved character on SNL, right behind John Belushi and Gilda Radner.

We talk to Walter Williams, the creator of Mr. Bill, who later became an SNL staff writer. Walter shares behind-the-scenes stories from the early days of SNL, what it was like working with Lorne Michaels, the time Andy Kaufman got his Christmas special bumped, and how Mr. Bill evolved from a $10 homemade short into a fan-favorite SNL sketch series.

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The Nubian Show — created by comedian Kenny Robinson — changed Canadian comedy forever.

Kenny and his monthly showcase at Yuk Yuk’s are also the subject of the new documentary People of Comedy (now streaming on Crave).

The Nubian Show helped launch comedians Russell Peters and Kevin Hart, and has welcomed the likes of Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Jamie Foxx through its doors.

For over 30 years, The Nubian Show has given voice to comics of color, becoming a launchpad for global stars, a stage for fearless material, and a blueprint for what inclusive comedy can look like.

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Broad City and Inside Amy Schumer producer Ryan Cunningham and Gold Comedy founder Lynn Harris take us deep into the world of inclusive comedy and comedy as social change.

From behind-the-scenes Broad City stories (yes, that pegging episode) to how diverse voices are reshaping the comedy landscape, we explore why women being “gross” on screen was a cultural breakthrough—and how laughter can be a tool for empowerment, visibility, and social impact.

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CH101 Select: Just for Laughs is the largest comedy festival in the world. Based in Montreal, the festival has helped launch the careers of such comedians as Jerry Seinfeld, Mitch Hedberg, Jimmy Fallon, Ali Wong, Amy Schumer, etc...

Last year, the festival was canceled due to bankruptcy, but its back for 2025.

We talk to Darren Frost - a Canadian comedian who started performing at the festival in the mid-90s - on the history of Just for Laughs.

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We dive deep into the life and career of the comedian who gets “no respect,” Rodney Dangerfield.

Author Michael Seth Starr joins Comedy History101 to talk about his new biography Nothin’ Comes Easy, revealing how Dangerfield clawed his way back into comedy at age 45, the origins of his famous catchphrase, how he rewrote his persona, and finally got the respect he deserved. From aluminum siding to The Ed Sullivan Show to Caddyshack, we trace the underdog rise of one of comedy’s most iconic voices.

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We dive headfirst into the wonderfully weird world of comedian Andy Kaufman with director Alex Braverman, helmer of the new documentary Thank You Very Much.

The doc explores Kaufman’s legendary career of comedy as performance art, wrestling women, and the high art of confusing audiences. We talk Foreign Man, performance-as-prank, and what it’s like digging through Kaufman’s surreal legacy.

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