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Artwork for Comedy History 101

Comedy History 101

Harmon Leon
New York City
SCTV
Andy Kaufman
Conan O'brien
John Candy
Comedy Cellar
Santacon
The Daily Show
Mel Brooks
Palestine Comedy Club
Johnny Carson
Team Coco
United States Of Comedy
Stairway To Stardom
Marc Maron
Palestine
Second City
Madtv
Clueless Gamer
UCB (upright Citizens Brigade)

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... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes218Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Comedy History 101

Latest Episodes

We talk with co-directors Charlotte Knowles and Regash about their film, Palestine Comedy Club.

The acclaimed documentary follows a group of Palestinian comedians as they attempt to build a stand-up comedy scene under occupation—navigating checkpoin... more

YouTube

Emmy Award-winning writer and producer Chris Cluess has had a legendary career writing for SCTV Network, Cheers, Night Court, MADtv, and The Simpsons.

Chris shares stories about John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, National Lampoon, and what made the SCTV Net... more

YouTube

The Marc Maron documentary “Are We Good?” follows the comedian/WTF podcast host as he processes grief while creating some of the most personal stand-up material of his career.

The film features insights from John Mulaney, David Cross, Nate Bargatze,... more

YouTube

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 ... more

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Recent Guests

Charlotte Knowles
Producer and co-director of Palestine Comedy Club
Palestine Comedy Club
Episode: Palestine Comedy Club with Directors Regash & Charlotte Knowles
Chris Cluess
Emmy Award-winning writer known for work on SCTV, The Simpsons, Night Court, MADtv
Writer
Episode: SCTV, MADtv & SNL Stories with Emmy Winning Writer Chris Cluess
Julie Seabaugh
Producer and writer of the documentary Are We Good?
Producer and writer
Episode: Marc Maron Documentary: Are We Good? w/ Producer Julie Seabaugh
Michael Bonfiglio
Director of Mel Brooks, The 99 Year Old Man (HBO documentary)
Director
Episode: Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man! w/ Director Michael Bonfiglio
Mitch Friedman
Leading authority on Stairway to Stardom and preservationist
Stairway to Stardom preservation project
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: The Greatest Public Access TV Show Ever w/ Mitch Friedman
Elliott Kalan
Head writer of The Daily Show, Mystery Science Theater 3000; author of Joke Farming
The Daily Show; Mystery Science Theater 3000; University of Chicago Press ( Joke Farming)
Episode: The Daily Show, MST3K, & Joke Farming w/ Elliott Kalan
Larry Charles
Director and writer known for Seinfeld, Borat, and related works
Episode: Comedy History 101: Best of 2025
Jean-François Brisson
Canadian comedy historian and producer
CH101
Episode: Comedy History 101: Best of 2025
Alex Braverman
Director of documentary projects including Kaufman/Alien subjects
Director
Episode: Comedy History 101: Best of 2025

Host

Harmon Leon
Host focusing on comedy history; leads interviews and guides discussions.

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 36 ratings
  • Seriously Funny

    If a tale has funny bones Harmon Leon will find them. His hilariously thoughtful and thorough interviews and analysis will slip you past the censors, beyond the headlines and behind the curtain on some your favourite Comedy history personalities and breakthrough moments.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    John Brisson
    Canada3 years ago
  • These 2 are horrible

    What a waste of time 2 woke idiots

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Al Manzo
    United States4 years ago
  • Overall pretty meh

    Not very good audio quality. Using other people’s falls for their advantage without doing research.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Beers and Badinage podcast
    United States5 years ago
  • Sasha Baron Cohen

    Can’t list to a podcast with poor quality sound. It sounds like they’re speaking through a tunnel.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Annie Auckland
    New Zealand7 years ago
  • Quotes

    If you are looking for a legitimate history of comedy, look elsewhere. These guys see all comedy as applying to the present day, no questions asked.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    crooked woody
    United States7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful interviews with deep knowledge of comedy history.
A few reviews mention pacing and occasional tangents.
Guests are often well-connected with behind-the-scenes stories.
Sound quality and production quality are a point of contention for some listeners.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Daily Show, MST3K, & Joke Farming w/ Elliott Kalan
Q: What was it like when you got your first joke on the air?
The guest recalls the moment as part of a longer process of writing for the show, with early days spent in drafting and refining jokes until they fit Jon Stewart's voice and the show's needs; the satisfaction came from a single successful line that endured through the day.
Grease Airplane Rocky Horror Picture Show w/Casting Director Joel Thurm
Q: Can you share a memorable Taxi moment that defined the show's casting success?
Danny DeVito's surprise audition stood out as a turning point; he walked in with a unique presence that made everyone laugh and realize he could be the right fit despite being unconventional for TV, which set the tone for the rest of the cast.
Grease Airplane Rocky Horror Picture Show w/Casting Director Joel Thurm
Q: What was your approach to casting Airplane, and how did you navigate studio expectations?
I insisted on letting straight actors carry the dialogue and humor rather than over-the-top comedians, which helped the material land genuinely. We also looked for people who could deliver the humor with a straight face, and I supported the creative vision against studio imposes, especially with regard to what Zucker brothers wanted versus what would serve the jokes.
Comedy Cellar w/ Dave Juskow
Q: And what do you remember as the best or worst sets at the Cellar?
The best sets came from moments when the intimate room and the crowd clicked perfectly, while the worst sets were memorable for speeches or shows that didn't land, yet even those moments contributed to the legend and learning at the club.
Comedy Cellar w/ Dave Juskow
Q: What's your history with the club? When did you start going to the Cellar?
I started going in the late 80s to early 90s, and over time it became a family-like place where you could see greats like Attell and Chappelle, and it's a scene that helped shape a generation of comics.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Comedy History 101

What is Comedy History 101 about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Comedy History 101 offers deep dives into the history and behind-the-scenes stories of comedy, spanning legendary shows, iconic sketches, and influential figures. Episodes typically center on the origins of well-known moments, the people who shaped them, and the cultural context that made them resonate. The show often blends archival anecdotes with practical storytelling, making it appealing to comedy nerds, industry folks, and curious listeners alike. A notable throughline is a willingness to explore both landmark achievements and lesser-known milestones across North American and global comedy scenes, with a nose for how humor evolved in media, live performance, and writing rooms.

Where can I find podcast stats for Comedy History 101?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Comedy History 101. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Comedy History 101 and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Comedy History 101 get?

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What are the audience demographics for Comedy History 101?

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How many subscribers and views does Comedy History 101 have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Comedy History 101 has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Comedy History 101?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Comedy History 101:

1. The Dana Gould Hour
2. Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
3. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
4. SmartLess

How many episodes of Comedy History 101 are there?

Comedy History 101 launched 9 years ago and published 218 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Comedy History 101?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Comedy History 101?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Comedy History 101 from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Comedy History 101?

Recent guests on Comedy History 101 include:

1. Charlotte Knowles
2. Chris Cluess
3. Julie Seabaugh
4. Michael Bonfiglio
5. Mitch Friedman
6. Elliott Kalan
7. Larry Charles
8. Jean-François Brisson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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