Comedy History 101
Comedian and journalist Harmon Leon dives deep into the wild, weird, and hilarious history of comedy. Each episode explores the backstories of legendary comedians, iconic sketches, cult classics, stand-up milestones, and forgotten gems from the comedy world. From SNL to viral videos, we unpack the moments that shaped what makes us laugh. Whether you're a hardcore comedy nerd or just comedy-curious, this is your crash course in the funny business. Subscribe now and discover how comedy got to where it is today—one punchline at a time. More: harmonleon.com comedyhistory101.com
Episodes
February 2, 2026 • 47 mins
I talk with Michael Bonfiglio, who, along with Judd Apatow, directed the new HBO documentary Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!.
Michael shares behind-the-scenes stories from Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles, The Producers, and Spaceballs, and we explore how Mel Brooks reshaped American comedy.
We also talk about Bonfiglio’s collaborations with Apatow, including co-directing George Carlin’s American Dream, and how Mel Brooks’ i...
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January 23, 2026 • 62 mins
Stairway to Stardom was a NYC public access TV show, described
in The Onion as "without exaggeration, it was one of the greatest shows
ever to be on television."
Airing in the 70s through the early 90s, Stairway to Stardom
was YouTube, before YouTube, and has fans ranging from Bjork to the Found Footage Festival.
Performers of very questionable talent, ranging from off-key lounge singers to interpretive dancers, attempted to sta...
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January 12, 2026 • 68 mins
Former Daily Show head writer Elliott Kalan (MST3K, The Flop House), Joke Farming) joins CH101 to discuss his new book, Joke Farming, and the nuts-and-bolts behind professional joke writing.
We go inside the Daily Show writers’ room with Jon Stewart, why MST3K once had too many jokes, how comedians write jokes on deadline, why inspiration is overrated, and how audiences complete every joke.
A behind-the-scenes look at joke writi...
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December 22, 2025 • 65 mins
We pulled together the sharpest moments from our 2025
interviews with comedy impresario guests - who shaped modern comedy:
• Larry Charles: Writer and director of Seinfeld,
Curb Your Enthusiasm, & Borat
• Kevin McDonald: Founding member of Kids in the Hall
• Ryan Cunningham: Producer of Broad City and Inside Amy Schumer
• Alex Braverman: Director of Thank You Very Much on Andy Kaufman
• Will Becton: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, T...
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December 12, 2025 • 38 mins
Reprise Episode: 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 empowerme...
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November 21, 2025 • 66 mins
CH101 Reprise: 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 subvers...
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November 5, 2025 • 39 mins
Before SantaCon became the most hated event in NYC history, it began as a San Francisco subversive experiment of fun by the same anarchic collective that spawned Burning Man and inspired Fight Club’s Project Mayhem.
We talk to filmmaker Seth Porges, who has a new documentary about SanCon on how a subversive performance-art happening turned
into a worldwide holiday of drunken chaos that’s now belittled by the likes of John Oliver, ...
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October 24, 2025 • 48 mins
CH101 Reprise: Kevin McDonald is best known as a founding member of the legendary Canadian sketch comedy troupe – 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, Winnipeg, & comedy in general.
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October 13, 2025 • 40 mins
We go inside the PBS documentary series United States of Comedy with director Habib Yazdi. The five-part series spotlights diverse voices shaping stand-up comedy across America—capturing the next comedic generation redefining American comedy culture.
Habib shares stories from filming United States of Comedy, as we dive into creative resilience and what unites comedians across America.
WATCH: https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/do...
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September 19, 2025 • 56 mins
As you heard, they yanked Jimmy Kimmel Live off the air - because the Trump administration has declared a War on Comedy. Holy Overton window!
In this reprise episode, we celebrate Jimmy Kimmel Live, and talk to Adam Spiegelman, who was a comedy producer for this iconic late-night talk show.
Adam was at Jimmy Kimmel Live right from the start, and we do a deep dive into producing comedy and comedians for Kimmel, where he brough...
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September 16, 2025 • 42 mins
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).
In this reprise episode, 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 and iconic club.
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September 8, 2025 • 71 mins
Before Hollywood, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Uncle Buck, and Splash, John Candy was the heart of SCTV and Toronto’s Second City.
Paul Myers, author of John Candy: His Life in Comedy, shares Candy’s comedic rise alongside Eugene Levy, Catherine O’Hara, Dan Aykroyd, and Joe Flaherty—and his iconic collaborations with John Hughes and Steve Martin.
Paul also reveals how his brother, Mike Myers, met Candy as a teen—and how Candy ...
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September 2, 2025 • 43 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.
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August 19, 2025 • 105 mins
We go inside Team Coco, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, and
Clueless Gamer with Will Becton.
Will shares his comedic journey from UCB and working on the documentary aka Tommy Chong, to becoming an original member of Team Coco, where he worked the entire run of CONAN on TBS and was the engineer of the podcast Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.
Will tells us what its like to be the Zelig of comedy — working alongside such legends as Cona...
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August 8, 2025 • 34 mins
CH101 Reprise: 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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July 25, 2025 • 38 mins
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 ga...
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July 11, 2025 • 70 mins
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 wi...
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July 2, 2025 • 61 mins
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.
Learn...
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June 12, 2025 • 36 mins
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 Perniciar...
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June 9, 2025 • 45 mins
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...
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