About The History of Comedy

"The History of Comedy" is a television series released in 2017 by CNN. It is a detailed and incisive exploration into the evolution of comedy. The eight-part series utilizes archival footage punctuated by contemporary interviews with comedy legends, scholars, and current stars. The story goes deep into the comedy genre to illustrate how the art form has defined generations and how it continues to evolve.

Making / Production

The series was produced by Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner's production company, Hazy Mills with Herzog & Company. Some of the comedy world's top names were interviewed to offer their insights about the comedians, stand-up acts, songs, and comedy movies that have tickled our funny bones for years.

Actors

• Sean Hayes - The actor who is best known for his role in "Will & Grace," served both as a producer and narrator, guiding us along the journey through humor's history.
• Steve Martin - Comedy legend Steve Martin contributes with his reflections on the comedy industry and its evolution.
• Sarah Silverman - The Emmy-winning stand-up comic shares her insights on the art and power of comedy.
• Larry David - Creator and star of "Curb Your Enthusiasm," Larry David, discusses comedy's inherent ability to expose societal truths.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series debuted at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival, a rare feat for a television series.
• Over 100 comedians were interviewed throughout the course of the series.
• Episodes of the series each focus on a different theme integral to comedy, such as "The Comedy of Real Life" and "The Comedy Explosion."

Awards

At the time of writing, "The History of Comedy" has not received any significant award recognition.

Quotes

• "Comedy is the most powerful form of free speech because it is funny." - George Carlin
• "I think there's a thin line between being funny and being seriously crazy." - Richard Pryor
• "To me, comedy is a great occupation because I don't really worry that much about what other people think of me." - Larry David

Music, Soundtrack

• Its soundtrack primarily features flute, triple tongue trumpet plays with mute.
• The thematic score of the show is attributed to BMI, a renowned American performing right organization.
• The series credits the work of several composers for its memorable soundtrack pieces, although a comprehensive tracklist is not publicly available.