History of Here Comes the Judge: Comedy's First Meme

Here Comes the Judge is a 1968 song by legendary comedian Pigmeat Markham. It become one of comedy’s first memes when Sammy Davis Jr. made it a catchphrase on the TV show: Rowan & Martin’s Laugh In.

The song, and Laugh In comedy sketch, became so huge - that 4 other versions of Here Come the Judge were released in the same year - all them making the charts. (The most famous by Shorty Long.)

Here Comes the Judge - also inspired the Baskin-Robbins flavor: Here Comes the Fudge.

Find out more about one of comedy’s first memes - long before there was the Internet.

History of Here Comes the Judge: Comedy's First Meme

Comedy History 101

History of Alex Jones on Austin Public Access TV

Alex Jones began his career in Austin, Texas, back in the ’90s, as a local cable access cult figure - and built a rabid national audience by spewing out conspiracy theories.

To set the stage, ACTV (Austin Community Access TV) in the ’90s was pure Austin at it’s weirdest. Find out how Jones jumped on the scene as an amped up 22-year old - and originally wanted to be a standup comedian. Learn what happened when he got in a fight in the parking lot of ACTV - and claimed he was attacked by a man with “strange goat eyes.”

History of Alex Jones on Austin Public Access TV

Comedy History 101

Read Harmon’s entire story about the incident in the NY Observer.

History of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Comedy Influences

Did you see the Golden Globe Awards? The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was nominated for several. Rachel Brosnahan won for Best Actress for her portrayal of the Mrs. Maisel. The show is about a stand up comedian in New York City during the 1950s. But who were the real-life standup comedy influences on the fictional character?

We do a deep dive into the comedians that helped shape the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

History of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel's Comedy Influences

Comedy History 101

History of Kentucky Fried Movie

Kentucky Fried Movie is a flick that not only launched the career of the Zucker Brothers but also film director John Landis. The movie was made in 1977 right before their comedies, Animal House and Airplane, became international sensations.

We dive into the origins of Kentucky Fried Movie, what it took to get made, and it’s place in comedy history.

Also, a shout out to our new sponsor: Drunk Bible Study.

History of Kentucky Fried Movie

Comedy History 101

History of The Groove Tube: Comedy That Led to SNL

The Groove Tube is a 1974 comedy film that gave both Chevy Chase and Richard Belzer their first screen roles. It’s also a film that laid the groundwork for the humor of early Saturday Night Live.

The low-budget movie, which satirizes TV and counterculture of the early 70s, began as an innovative theater show in NYC’s Lower East Side - with the Channel One Theater Company.

Directed by Ken Shapiro, The Groove Tube was the brainchild of the humor of the first generation of comedians coming to age in the TV generation.

History of The Groove Tube

Comedy History 101