make-em-laugh-pbsAs you are probably well aware by now, my interest in comedy goes beyond simply how to develop stand-up and perform stand-up comedy material like a pro.

I am also keenly interested in the history and how comedians from the past have influenced and shaped the art today.

I watch the second installment of the PBS series called Make ‘Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America. And I have to say that any comedian who is interested in knowing more about the origins of the art of stand-up should review this amazing series.

This particular installment covered the early part of the 20th century when burlesque and vaudeville shows were the comedy shows of the time, all the way to the 80’s.

Commentary about The Marx Brothers and W.C. Fields launches this installment of the series, followed by the likes of Jack Benny, Phil Silvers, and Don Rickles (yes, Don Rickles probably did shake hands with Moses).

As 20th century moved into the 60’s, comedians like Red Foxx, Joan Rivers, and Paul Lynde are covered in fascinating detail, leading to the conclusion of this particular chapter in American comedy with more modern day comedians like Larry David, Chris Rock and Eddie Murphy.

I really can’t do this program justice with mere words in a single blog post. There is commentary on comedy and comedians by a “Who’s Who” list of A-List comedians as well, which further add to the amazing stories being revealed.

Here’s why I think comedians need to absorb this kind of programming:

You will quickly find that the comedy “stars” of today struggled and struggled hard to become stars. It was anything but easy and these comedians beat the “odds”.

So if you are in the stand-up comedy trenches and are ready to throw in the towel, I can only strongly encourage you to check out this fascinating series.

You are not alone, nor have you ever been when it comes to gaining traction in your stand-up comedy career.

For more information about this series along with videos and more, check out PBS.org.

Cheers,
Steve Roye
The Professor of Funny for Money

About the Author/Founder of The Stand-up Comedy Professional

Steve Roye is the author of the Killer Stand-up Comedy System and author of the content made available in the Comedy Pro Membership Program available on this site.

Over the past decade, Steve has established himself as a leading, globally recognized expert in the field of stand-up comedy material development, delivery and entertainment business strategies for comedy entertainers as well as speaking professionals.

For more information about Steve, please check out the About The Author section on this site.