The History of Comedy
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| country = United States
| language = English
| num_seasons = 2
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| network = CNN
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| first_aired = {{Start date|2017|02|09}}
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The History of Comedy is a CNN documentary series, as part of CNN Original Series.
The documentary explores the underlying questions of what makes American people laugh, why, and how the laughter influenced their social and political landscape throughout American history.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/shows/history-of-comedy|title=The History of Comedy|website=CNN|accessdate=2017-08-13}}
The show utilizes archival footage, punctuated by contemporary interviews with comedians and scholars.{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5737466/|title=The History of Comedy (TV Series 2017– )|website=IMDb|date=9 February 2017|accessdate=2017-08-13}}
Series overview
{{Series overview
| color1 = #419DDF
| link1 = #Season 1 (2017)
| episodes1 = 8
| start1 = {{Start date|2017|2|9}}
| end1 = {{End date|2017|08|13}}
| color2 = #5A42B4
| link2 = #Season 2 (2018)
| episodes2 = 6
| start2 = {{Start date|2018|7|16}}
| end2 = {{End date|2018|08|19}}
}}
Episodes
= Season 1 (2017) =
{{Episode table |background=#419DDF |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 1
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = F***ing Funny
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|2|09}}
|ShortSummary = Diving into the history of "blue comedy" and its role in breaking taboos and changing the culture of comedy.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 2
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = The Funnier Sex
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|2|16}}
|ShortSummary = 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.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 3
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = The Comedy of Real Life
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|2|23}}
|ShortSummary = Examining how comedians find humor in the simple daily experiences we all share to make us laugh.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 4
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = One Nation, Under Comedy (a.k.a. Cultural Divide)
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|7|16}}
|ShortSummary = Exploring the evolution of racial humor; how comedy can cross cultural barriers to unite people.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 5
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = Ripped From the Headlines
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|7|23}}
|ShortSummary = The origins of topical humor are traced, from the invention of the monologue, to the "fake news" shows of today.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 6
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = Spark of Madness
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|7|30}}
|ShortSummary = 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.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 7
|EpisodeNumber2 = 7
|Title = Making Fun (a.k.a. Parody & Satire)
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|8|6}}
|ShortSummary = Demonstrating how effective and funny it can be when you look at something serious, and just twist it ever so slightly.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 8
|EpisodeNumber2 = 8
|Title = Politics Aside
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2017|8|13}}
|ShortSummary = Examining the many different ways that comedy has lampooned and influenced politics over the years.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
}}
= Season 2 (2018) =
{{Episode table |background=#5A42B4 |overall= |season= |title= |airdate= |episodes=
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 10
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Carnal Knowledge
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|15}}
|ShortSummary = How sexual humor, one of the oldest forms of comedy, pushes the limits of both comfort and political correctness.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 11
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Sketch & Improv
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|22}}
|ShortSummary = Exploring the history of sketch and improv comedy and how it evolved into a significant part of comedic talent today.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 12
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Drawn to Be Funny
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|7|29}}
|ShortSummary = The history between animation and comedy.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 13
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Gone Too Soon
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|8|5}}
|ShortSummary = Exploring the passing of comedic legends and how the connection with their audiences make the loss more significant.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 14
|EpisodeNumber2 = 5
|Title = In It Together
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|8|12}}
|ShortSummary = The history of comedic duos and the evolution of comedy teams.
|LineColor = 5A42B4
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber = 15
|EpisodeNumber2 = 6
|Title = No Offense
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2018|8|19}}
|ShortSummary = Exploring family-friendly comedy and the struggles of abiding by strict network censors.
|LineColor = 419DDF
}}
}}
Profiles
The following comedians and satirists were featured at one point or another during the series.
=Comedians=
{{Div col|colwidth=13em}}
- Tim Allen
- Woody Allen
- Louie Anderson
- Aziz Ansari
- Lucille Ball
- Maria Bamford
- Charlie Barnett
- Roseanne Barr
- Samantha Bee
- W. Kamau Bell
- John Belushi
- Lewis Black
- Herbert Block
- Elayne Boosler
- Mel Brooks
- Lenny Bruce
- Carol Burnett
- Sid Caesar
- John Candy
- George Carlin
- Jean Carroll
- Dave Chappelle
- Margaret Cho
- Andrew Dice Clay
- Stephen Colbert
- Bill Cosby
- Whitney Cummings
- Chris Farley
- Craig Ferguson
- Tina Fey
- Totie Fields
- Redd Foxx
- Jim Gaffigan
- Greg Giraldo
- Whoopi Goldberg
- Bobcat Goldthwait
- Dick Gregory
- Mitch Hedberg
- Bill Hicks
- Pete Holmes
- Andy Kaufman
- Sam Kinison
- Richard Lewis
- George Lopez
- Moms Mabley
- Bernie Mac
- Bill Maher
- Marc Maron
- Steve Martin
- Elaine May
- Vaughn Meader
- Mo'Nique
- Eddie Murphy
- Tig Notaro
- Patrice O'Neal
- Patton Oswalt
- Russell Peters
- Chonda Pierce
- Freddie Prinze
- Richard Pryor
- Gilda Radner
- Carl Reiner
- Don Rickles
- Joan Rivers
- Chris Rock
- Mort Sahl
- Amy Schumer
- Jerry Seinfeld
- Garry Shandling
- Sarah Silverman
- Sinbad
- Sommore
- Jon Stewart
- Lily Tomlin
- Betty White
- Robin Williams
- Jonathan Winters
- Harris Wittels
- Ali Wong
{{Div col end}}
''History of the Sitcom''
In 2021, CNN followed their comedy history docuseries with History of the Sitcom, an eight-part series which traced the development of the American situation comedy show from the 1950s to the 21st Century. The show features 184 interviews with creatives, actors and directors including Norman Lear, Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/features/history-of-the-sitcom-cnn-docuseries-cosby-show-carl-reiner-roseanne-1235015489/|title='History of the Sitcom' Producers on Carl Reiner's Last Interview, Tackling 'The Cosby Show' and What Makes a Comedy|date=9 July 2021}} (in his last recorded interview).{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/jul/08/cnn-history-of-the-sitcom-why-it-endured|title='It's an inherent comfort zone': Why the American sitcom has endured|website=TheGuardian.com|date=8 July 2021}}{{Cite web|url=https://cnncreativemarketing.com/project/history-of-the-sitcom/|title=History of the Sitcom | CNN Creative Marketing}}
References
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{{CNN}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:History of Comedy, The}}
Category:2017 American television series debuts
Category:CNN original programming
Category:American English-language television shows
Category:2010s American documentary television series
{{US-nonfiction-tv-prog-stub}}