Comedy History 101

Yuk Yuk’s is the cornerstone of Canadian standup comedy. The Toronto club was founded in 1976 and has helped launch the careers of such iconic Canadian comedians as Jim Carrey, Howie Mandel, Russell Peters, and Norm Macdonald.

And we talk to comedian Evan Carter - who was there at the very beginning on the history of this legendary

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Dangerfield’s was a NYC comedy club – named after part-owner Rodney Dangerfield. It opened in 1969 (and closed in 2020) and was plain CREEPY. Dangerfield’s can be seen in the movie, The Joker and the legendary Young Comedian’s special that launched Sam Kinison, Andrew Dice Clay, and Louie Anderson.

And we talk to comedian Dave Juskow about the history of this creepy comedy club.

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CH101 Select; Michael Small was a staff member of The Harvard Lampoon. He is our guest today - on his history at one of the oldest and most prestigious humor magazines in the world. The alumni of The Harvard Lampoon include such icons in comedy as Conan O'Brien, Greg Daniels, Jim Downey, Colin Jost, BJ Novak - and numerous writers for SNL, The Simpsons, Letterman, Curb Your Enthusiasm - as well as almost every known comedy entity in TV and movies.

Be sure to check out Michael's podcast: I Couldn't Throw It Out.

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CH101 Select: In 2006, a producer thought it would be a good idea for double-acquitted murderer OJ Simpson's comeback 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 pulled hidden camera pranks alongside OJ Simpson. What followed was the worst trainwreck in reality television history.

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Chris Farley was one of the most dynamic and beloved comedians to ever grace the stage at both Second City and Saturday Night Live.

And I talk to Brent Hodge, director of the documentary, I Am Chris Farley. We do a deep dive into the life and times of this legendary comedian.

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Jewish comedians, such as Lenny Bruce, Joan Rivers, Gilbert Gottfried, have always broke norms and challenged taboos of American culture. 

We talk to Eddy Portney of YIVO Institute for Jewish Research - historian and curator of the course: Is Anything Okay? The History of Jews and Comedy in America.

We dive into the roots of Jewish humor from the Borscht Belt to modern times.

More at Yivo

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Just for Laughs is (was) 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...

And it was announced last week that this year's festival has been canceled - due to bankruptcy.

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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The legendary Comedy Cellar - is the Yankee Stadium of NYC comedy clubs. Founded in 1982, the club has helped launch the careers of Jon Stewart, Dave Chappelle, Colin Quinn, Dave Attell, Amy Schumer, Ray Romano...(you get the idea).

And we talk to comedian Dave Juskow, who is a Comedy Cellar regular - and host of the Comedy Cellar Tuesday podcast, on the history of this beloved club.

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CH101 Select: Mr. Bill is one of the most iconic characters in the history of Saturday Night Live.

Mr. Bill got his start in the first season of SNL - as a viewer-submitted Super 8 film. In his heyday, this bundle of Play-Do was the third most beloved character on SNL - right behind John Belushi and Gilda Radner.

And we talk to Walter Williams - the creator of Mr. Bill - who also became a staff writer at SNL.

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We wrap up the year with a sampling of the best of 2023 Comedy History 101 interviews.

Featuring episode excerpts on Kids in the Hall, Mr. Bill, Comedy Culture Wars, Shemp Howard, Found Footage Festival, the Dublin Comedy Scenes, Michael Richards Infamous Meldown, Last Comic Standing, The Harvard Lampoon, Revenge of the Nerds, and more..

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