Did you hear the one about a comedy series airing on public television? It's no joke -- but it is funny. KET airs a six-hour epic examination of the most hilarious men, women and moments in American entertainment and why they made us laugh in Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America, beginning Wednesday, Jan. 14 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET1 and 10/9 p. m. CT on KET HD and Sunday, Jan. 18 at 9/8 p.m. CT on KET2.
Hosted by Billy Crystal and narrated by Amy Sedaris, the documentary explores the currents of American comedy throughout a century of social and political change, illuminating how comedy has tackled and poked fun at our political system, race relations, gender issues and the prevailing American standards and taboos in everyday life.
Melding performance, biography and history, Make 'Em Laugh features interviews with more than 90 comedians, writers, producers and historians, from Dick Van Dyke and Larry David to the Smothers Brothers and George Carlin and Chris Rock. Each one-hour episode focuses on a distinct genre of American comedy, from the physical shtick to fast-talking wiseguys to satire and parody. Crystal introduces each episode; two back-to-back episodes air each night of the series.
The first night, "Would Ya Hit a Guy with Glasses? Nerds, Jerks, & Oddballs" postulates that America, despite being a country of immigrants which promotes inclusiveness, has always viewed the outsider as a source of constant amusement. Then, domestic comedy is explored in " Honey, I ' m Home! Breadwinners and Homemakers," featuring early television sitcoms like I Love Lucy through All in the Family, Seinfeld and The Simpsons.
Other episodes look at physical comedy, groundbreaking comedians who pushed the limits of freedom of speech, Americans' love affair with the wiseguy, and parody and satire from Will Rogers to Saturday Night Live.
Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America is produced by WNET/New York.
