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Artwork for Comedy History 101

Comedy History 101

Harmon Leon
New York City
Stairway To Stardom
SCTV
The State
Arrested Development
Andy Kaufman
Conan O'brien
John Candy
Comedy Cellar
Santacon
The Daily Show
Mel Brooks
Palestine Comedy Club
Brooklyn
Johnny Carson
Team Coco
United States Of Comedy
Marc Maron
Palestine
Public Access Television

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes223Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ComedySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Comedy History 101

Latest Episodes

The Daily Show became a comedy institution when Jon Stewart took over from Craig Kilborn.

Former The Daily Show field producer Evan Cutler reveals how Jon Stewart reinvented the show, why Stephen Colbert stood out from day one, how Steve Carell got ... more

YouTube

Go inside the origin stories of three of the most influential sketch comedy shows ever: The Kids in the Hall, SCTV, and The State.

Kids in the Hall co-founder Kevin McDonald, SCTV writer Chris Cluess, and The State with filmmaker Matthew Perniciaro ... more

YouTube

Mitch Hedberg is one of the most beloved and influential stand-up comedians in the history of comedy. He also made a movie, Los Enchiladas!

Comedian/Los Enchiladas co-star Brian Malow takes us inside the wild, DIY making of Mitch’s rarely seen cult ... more

YouTube

Emmy winning comedy writer, Bob Illes, has been in the writers' rooms with some of the biggest names in comedy. From Richard Pryor, Lily Tomlin, Steve Martin, Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Martin Mull, Fred Willard, Bob Einstein, David Letterman, Lorne ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Lola Perazzo
Performer on Stairway to Stardom, known for the Thriller dance
Stairway to Stardom contestant
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
Rich Halke
Teenage contestant who performed on Stairway to Stardom and later became a TV writer
Stairway to Stardom participant
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
HP Mendoza
Filmmaker who discusses Stairway to Stardom and its online reception
Filmmaker
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
Frank Massey
Host and creator of Stairway to Stardom
Stairway to Stardom
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
Joe Pickett
Co-founder of Found Footage Festival
Found Footage Festival
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
Ben Stiefel
Keyboard player from All the King's Men, composer of Stairway to Stardom theme
All the King's Men
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
Steve Luisi
Singer of the Stairway to Stardom theme song
All the King's Men
Episode: Stairway to Stardom: An Audio Documentary
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

Host

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

Reviews

3.7 out of 5 stars from 37 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.

Arrested Development w/ Writer/Producer Jim Vallely
Q: How did early experiences in New York shape your approach to writing for television?
Early exposure to a close-knit stand-up and improv scene, plus watching and studying established writers, helped Vallely understand character-driven humor and the importance of voice, which later informed his TV writing and room dynamics.
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.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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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. Fun for All Ages with Frank Santopadre
2. The Dana Gould Hour
3. Obsessed: The Podcast
4. Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend
5. Mike Birbiglia's Working It Out

How many episodes of Comedy History 101 are there?

Comedy History 101 launched 9 years ago and published 223 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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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Comedy History 101?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Comedy History 101. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Comedy History 101?

Recent guests on Comedy History 101 include:

1. Lola Perazzo
2. Rich Halke
3. HP Mendoza
4. Frank Massey
5. Joe Pickett
6. Ben Stiefel
7. Steve Luisi
8. Charlotte Knowles

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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