How many seasons does The History of Comedy have?

The History of Comedy has 2 seasons with 14 episodes.

What network is The History of Comedy on?

The History of Comedy airs on CNN.

When did The History of Comedy premiere?

The History of Comedy premiered on October 4, 2004.

The History of Comedy

7.9/10

CNN Ended Comedy • History

2 Seasons · 14 Episodes · Premiered October 4, 2004 · Ended August 19, 2018

The History of Comedy explores what makes people laugh – from the Ancient Greeks to Shakespeare, Vaudeville to the biggest contemporary comedians, movies, and TV shows. It digs deep into topics like political humor and slapstick, featuring the voices that have made us laugh over the generations. The series showcases how the art form has evolved over the years using archival footage, original comedic material, interviews with comedy legends, and luminaries.Season 2 is a six-part CNN Original Series executive produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner (Hazy Mills) and Emmy Award winners Mark Herzog and Christopher G. Cowen (Herzog & Company). Using archival footage punctuated by contemporary interviews with comedy legends, scholars, and current stars, The History of Comedy explores the spinning gears that make the comedic mind tick. From teams & duos, animation to improv & sketch, the series examines not only what makes us laugh but how comedy has affected the social and political landscape throughout history.

Where to Watch: CNN

Official Site

Next Air Time: No upcoming air date

Seasons & Episodes

Season 1

8 episodes

E01

F***ing Funny

Fri, Feb 10 2017 3:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

The evolution of inappropriate humor throughout history is traced, showcasing the work of groundbreaking comics, including George Carlin, Dick Gregory, and Lenny Bruce, who embraced the risqué side of comedy and risked careers, prison, and even their lives to fight censorship.

E02

The Funnier Sex

Fri, Feb 17 2017 3:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Exploring and celebrating the greatest female comedians of all time and how they were able to succeed in every genre where humor is found despite rampant sexism and prejudice.

E03

Comedy in Real Life

Fri, Feb 24 2017 3:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Examining how comedians find humor in the simple daily experiences we all share to make us laugh.

E04

One Nation, Under Comedy

Mon, Jul 17 2017 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

An exploration of the evolution of racial humor and how comedy about shared experiences can cross cultural barriers to unite people in laughter.

E05

Ripped from the Headlines

Mon, Jul 24 2017 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Tracing the origins of topical humor from the invention of the monologue to the "fake news" shows of today.

E06

The Spark of Madness

Mon, Jul 31 2017 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Exploring the fascinating mind of the comedian and the difficult road that many seem destined to take -- where mental illness and substance abuse are remarkably common.

E07

Making Fun

Mon, Aug 7 2017 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Demonstrating how effective and funny it can be when you look at something serious and just twist it ever so slightly.

E08

Politics Aside

Mon, Aug 14 2017 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Examining the many different ways that comedy has lampooned and influenced politics over the years.

Season 2

6 episodes

E01

Carnal Knowledge

Mon, Jul 16 2018 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

One of the oldest forms of comedy, sexual humor, has been a part of funny storytelling throughout history. From Aristophanes to Shakespeare to Sarah Silverman, the ubiquitous nature of relationships and sexual pursuits throughout life has made sexual humor an attractive topic for comedy—frequently pushing the limits of both comfort and political correctness. Whether it be Mae West or Animal House, Eddie Murphy or American Pie, sexual humor has always found a way to get past the puritanical and continue to land on the front lines of comedy.

E02

Sketch and Improv

Mon, Jul 23 2018 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Ever since Commedia dell'Arte brought traveling troupes through Renaissance Europe presenting short shows with improvised dialogue, sketch and improv comedy has been an important part of new comedic talent. On television, sketch comedy has always been present with Your Show of Shows, Monty Python's Flying Circus, SCTV, The Kids in the Hall, Mr. Show and In Living Color, providing decades of short-form comedy to audiences. In comparison, Saturday Night Live has spent over 40 years recruiting talented performers from influential improv groups to create the longest-running sketch show in American television history.

E03

Drawn to Be Funny

Mon, Jul 30 2018 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Some of the very first "stars" of comedy came from the minds and pencils of talented animators. From Felix the Cat to Mickey Mouse and Popeye to Bugs Bunny, animated comedy dates back to the earliest part of the last century and continues to attract audiences today. Television programs like The Simpsons, Ren & Stimpy, and Beavis and Butt-Head paved the way for even more subversive and hilarious shows like South Park, Rick and Morty, and Bob's Burgers. Theatrical releases like Aladdin, Shrek, and Toy Story proved that audiences didn't have to physically see comic legends like Robin Williams, Mike Myers and Tim Allen to fully appreciate them.

E04

Gone Too Soon

Mon, Aug 6 2018 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

An exploration of the ways the deaths of comedic legends affect their audiences and comedy in general and how that connection makes the loss more significant. Comedic performers connect with their audiences in a unique and personal way, so when one of them is gone too soon, the loss can feel more profound. Whether it be comedic legends like John Candy, Phil Hartman, Bill Hicks, John Belushi, Chris Farley, and Gilda Radner, or lesser-known comics like Patrice O'Neal, Greg Giraldo, Harris Wittels, and Mitch Hedberg, their voice is gone prematurely. Even when a comedian has been with us for a long time like George Carlin, Garry Shandling, and Joan Rivers, it still feels as if they had a lot more to say.

E05

In It Together

Mon, Aug 13 2018 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

Comedy teams have always been an important part of classic comedy – think Laurel & Hardy, Abbot and Costello, the Marx Brothers, the Three Stooges, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Martin and Lewis, and Nichols and May. The tradition of comedic teams has continued over the decades with the examples of Cheech and Chong, Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor, the Blues Brothers, and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. It continues to reinvent itself today in the form of sketch teams like Key and Peele, musical acts like Garfunkel and Oates, and twin brother stand-up team, the Lucas Brothers.

E06

No Offense (Going Clean/Flipping Funny)

Mon, Aug 20 2018 2:00 AM GMT+0000 60 min

There has always been a need for family-friendly comedy, and many artists have taken the task despite the inherent challenges. Comedians like Jerry Seinfeld, Jim Gaffigan, Ellen DeGeneres and Sinbad found success on stage "working clean." For comedians like Bob Saget, Tim Allen, and Whitney Cummings, they found themselves altering their comedic voices when they landed lead roles on network sitcoms. Writers for television shows across every era – from I Love Lucy and In Living Color, to Will & Grace and Modern Family have always found creative ways to use euphemisms and innuendo, while still abiding by the rules set by the what were often strict network censors.