Comedy History 101

Comedy History 101

Journalist/comedian Harmon Leon dives into the history of comedy; bringing podcast listeners some of his favorite comedy influences, cult classics, and all things comedy history. More at: harmonleon.com More at: comedyhistory101.com

Episodes

Rodney Dangerfield w/ Author Michael Seth Starr

April 24, 2025 • 35 mins
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...
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Andy Kaufman & Thank You Very Much with Director Alex Braverman

April 11, 2025 • 33 mins
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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
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Kevin McDonald & Kids in the Hall

March 31, 2025 • 46 mins
Kevin McDonald is best known as a founding member of the legendary Canadian sketch comedy troupe – The Kids in the Hall –which appeared on CBS, HBO, and Comedy Central, and had a revival season aired on Amazon Prime Video in 2022. Kevin joins CH!01 with tales of KITH, comedy in general, and his upcoming appearance at The Second City on April 11th & 12th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Comedy History 101: Best of 2024

December 23, 2024 • 45 mins
Comedy History 101 wraps up the year with our best interviews from 2024. Featuring episode excerpts from Arrested Development’s Emmy-winning writer Jim Vallely, Paul Bellini from Kids in the Hall, Joel Thurm – casting director Airplane and Grease, plus histories of The Comedy Cellar, Yuk-Yuks, Moms Mabley with Rhonda Hansome, Sean Cullens, Susan Silver, Stan Zimmerman, directors Brent Hodge, Josh Forbes, Alan Bernstein, and more… ...
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CH101 Select: Chris Farley w/ Director Brent Hodge

December 11, 2024 • 41 mins
CH101 Select: 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 amazing comedian. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Gallagher w/ Director Josh Forbes

November 25, 2024 • 53 mins
We talk to Josh Forbes, director of the new documentary on Gallagher, the comedian known for his signature bit, the Sledge-O-Matic, and his watermelon-smashing antics. Gallagher was one of the biggest comedians of the 80s and 90s and then drifted off to obscurity. You might remember Gallaher from his infamous WTF episode with Marc Maron - or feuds with his brother: Gallagher Too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastch...
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CH101 Select: Kliph Nesteroff: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars

November 15, 2024 • 61 mins
CH101 Select: Kliph Nesteroff is one of the leading comedy historians and the author of the new book: Outrageous: A History of Showbiz and the Culture Wars. And we talk about his book, censorship in comedy, how every generation declares that "comedy is over" - and how the old guard often refuses to accept culture shifts in the comedy biz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Grateful Dead Counterfeiter

October 31, 2024 • 50 mins
A teenage hustler makes his living selling counterfeit tickets at Grateful Dead shows, hawking his fakes on every Shakedown Street around the country. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between Steven Marcus - the head of Grateful Dead ticketing and this teenage counterfeiter, which comes to a head at a Madison Square Garden Dead show. But as the heat turns up - an unexpected tragedy puts an end to the game for both of them. CH101's ...
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Trailer: The Grateful Dead Counterfeiter

October 29, 2024 • 1 min
Trailer For Our Upcoming Audio Documentary: The Grateful Dead Counterfeiter A teenage hustler makes his living selling counterfeit tickets at Grateful Dead shows. A cat-and-mouse game ensues between the head of Grateful Dead ticketing and this teenage counterfeiter. But as the heat turns up - an unexpected tragedy puts an end to the game for both of them. Dropping this week on iTunes & comedyhistory101.com Learn more about you...
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The Mary Tyler Moore Show's Trailblazing Sitcom Writer Susan Silver

October 23, 2024 • 42 mins
Susan Silver is a trailblazer in the world of sitcom writing. She began her career on The Mary Tyler Moore Show—during an era when comedy writing was overwhelmingly dominated by men. Starting as a casting director on the iconic show Laugh-In, she went on to write for The Bob Newhart Show, Maude, The Partridge Family, and Square Pegs. Like a showbiz Zelig, Susan’s path has crossed with icons such as Elvis, Jim Morrison, Lenny Bruc...
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The Comedy Store w/ Joey Camen

October 15, 2024 • 71 mins
Joey Camen is a Comedy Store OG. He first started performing at the iconic club in Los Angeles in 1974, alongside such up-and-coming comedians as David Letterman, Sam Kinison, Jay Leno, Jim Carrey – and the legendary Richard Pryor. Joey has appeared on WTF and is also a renowned voice actor who got his start as one of The Smurfs. We dive into his voice work, Comedy Store history, and his Nov 9th solo show at United Solo in NYC. Le...
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Paul Bellini & Kids in the Hall

October 2, 2024 • 57 mins
Paul Bellini is noted as being the unofficial 6th Kids in the Hall, alongside Dave Foley, Bruce McCulloch, Kevin McDonald, Mark McKinney, and Scott Thompson. Paul was one of the key writers for the Kids in the Hall's TV series and is also known onscreen as 'the guy in the towel.' Paul was there from the very start, at the legendary sketch group's early Toronto shows, and he gives us a deep dive into his history of Kids in the Hal...
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The Golden Girls & Roseanne w/ Writer Stan Zimmerman

September 25, 2024 • 46 mins
Stan Zimmerman was a writer for The Golden Girls, Roseanne, Gilmore Girls, and the feature film, A Very Brady Sequel. He is also the author of the new book: The Girls: From Golden to Gilmore. We do a deep-dive on TV comedy writing, pitching, and what it was like working on the Russian version of Roseanne. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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Arrested Development & Golden Girls w/Jim Vallely

September 16, 2024 • 57 mins
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. Learn more about your...
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Grease, Airplane, Rocky Horror Picture Show w/ Casting Director Joel Thurm

September 4, 2024 • 44 mins
Joel Thurm was the casting director for such iconic movies as Airplane, Grease, Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well being the head of NBC casting for a solid decade. He is also the author of the new book, Sex, Drugs, and Pilot Season.   We do a deep dive into casting in Hollywood, turning down Tom Cruise and Madonna, and insider stories on Taxi, David Hasselhoff, and what role Bob Hope played in getting Seinfeld on the air. Learn mo...
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Moms Mabley with Rhonda Hansome

August 29, 2024 • 29 mins
Moms Mabley bridged the gap between vaudeville and modern standup comedy. She was the first successful female standup comedian who had a career that spanned over 50 years. Our guest Rhonda Hansome, who has appeared on SNL, The Arsenio Hall Show, and has performed with Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross, recently portrayed Moms on stage, and we do a deep dive into the history of this iconic comedian Learn more about your ad choices. Vi...
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Ch101 Select: The Kids in the Hall with Paul Myers

August 21, 2024 • 39 mins
CH101 Select: The Kids in the Hall are one of the most iconic sketch comedy groups in history. We do a deep dive into their origin story with Paul Myers - who knew KITH in their early days. Paul is the author of The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy, the executive producer of the documentary The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks, as well as the brother to Mike Myers - and he gives insights into what it was like to see the group emerge o...
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When We Went MAD: A Documentary of Ecch-ic Proportions!

August 14, 2024 • 33 mins
MAD Magazine poked fun at everything - and changed the comedy world. And we talk to Alan Bernstein, director of the documentary When We Went MAD. Modern satire, from The Simpsons to The Daily Show was influenced by MAD. Alan's documentary celebrates the nutty geniuses behind MAD, and features interviews from such fans as Bryan Cranston, Gilbert Gottfried, Judd Apatow, and Quentin Tarantino. Learn more about your ad choices. ...
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CH101 Select: 2 Comedians Complain About The Edinburgh Festival

August 7, 2024 • 15 mins
CH101 Select: The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the biggest performance festival in the world. It takes place during August and has launched the comedy careers of Monty Python, Eddie Izzard, Fleabag - and just about every major comedy figure in the UK. It's where comedians go to get their Beatles' 10,000 hours of Hamburg performing skills. The Edinburgh Festival is both amazing and soul-crushing at times. And on this CH101 Short, I...
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Comedian Sean Cullen

July 31, 2024 • 61 mins
Sean Cullen is a Canadian comedian, actor, and author - who you might know from his numerous TV appearances on The Tonight Show, MadTV, The Ellen Show, and with his legendary musical comedy group, Corky and the Juice Pigs. We do a deep dive into comedy Sean's history, the Canadian comedy scene, and how he had to turn down Lorne Micheals when offered a spot on SNL. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...
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