X

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

The History of Comedy

Utilizing archival footage punctuated by contemporary interviews with comedy legends and scholars, this is the history of not only what makes us laugh, but how comedy has affected the social and political landscape throughout history.

Loading. Please wait...

Content not available in your region? ExpressVPN can help you stay connected wherever you are. Get 4 extra months FREE with TV Guide's exclusive offer.

Cast & Crew See All

Kliph Nesteroff
Self
Robert B. Weide
Self
Elayne Boosler
Self

Season 2 Episode Guide See All

Episode 1

Carnal Knowledge

Sun, Jul 15, 201842 mins

How sexual humor, one of the oldest forms of comedy, pushes the limits of both comfort and political correctness.

Where to Watch

Awards

  • 2018 - Critics' Choice Documentary Award - Best Ongoing Documentary Series - nominated

You May Also Like See All

The Office
D-Day: The Unheard Tapes
Blue Planet II
America to Me

Popular Shows See all shows

Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy

2 Seasons
Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy is a six-part CNN Original Series that follows Academy Award nominee Stanley Tucci as he travels across Italy to discover the secrets and delights of the country’s regional cuisines. Follow along as Tucci explores how Italian cooking offers a glimpse into the country’s rich history and culture.
71   Metascore
2021 Documentary, Action & Adventure

The Movies

1 Season
A look at the history of movies and their impact on our culture.
2019 Documentary

Quest's World of Wonder

8 Seasons
Globe trotter Richard Quest travels to different cities to discover and learn things about it in a way tourists can't.
2018 Documentary, Action & Adventure

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown

12 Seasons
Anthony Bourdain had no reservations about a move to CNN. Shortly after concluding an eight-season stint at the helm of his popular Travel Channel series, the equally popular Emmy-winning host came to the news network searching for "Parts Unknown." In the hourlong weekend series -- similar in premise to Travel's "Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005)" -- Bourdain explores the world to, he says, "eat and drink with people without fear and prejudice ... they open up to you in ways that somebody visiting who is driven by a story may not get." Enticed by the opportunity to experience cultures rarely visited by American TV, such as in the Congo, Libya and Myanmar, the chef and best-selling author also takes viewers to Colombia, Peru, Morocco and, closer to home, Koreatown in Los Angeles.
2013 Documentary, Action & Adventure

American Prince: JFK Jr.

1 Season
A three-part series about John F. Kennedy Jr.'s life, legacy, and his creation of George magazine.
2025 Documentary

LBJ: Triumph and Tragedy

1 Season
Traces the life of Lyndon Johnson.
2022 Documentary, Drama