The History of Comedy

About the show

The History of Comedy explores what makes people laugh – from the Ancient Greeks to Shakespeare, Vaudeville to the biggest contemporary comedians, movies, and TV shows. It digs deep into topics like political humor and slapstick, featuring the voices that have made us laugh over the generations. The series showcases how the art form has evolved over the years using archival footage, original comedic material, interviews with comedy legends, and luminaries.

Season 2 is a six-part CNN Original Series executive produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner (Hazy Mills) and Emmy Award winners Mark Herzog and Christopher G. Cowen (Herzog & Company). Using archival footage punctuated by contemporary interviews with comedy legends, scholars, and current stars, The History of Comedy explores the spinning gears that make the comedic mind tick. From teams & duos, animation to improv & sketch, the series examines not only what makes us laugh but how comedy has affected the social and political landscape throughout history.