Journalist/Comedian Harmon Leon dives into comedy cult classics, comedic influences, and all things comedy history.
From the CH!01 archives: We explore the history of dead baby jokes - a popular joke genre that began the 60’s and ran through the 80s. Like gallows humor tried to make light the worst of human atrocities.
But social climate brought about this type of dark comedy.
Did you know the advent of the pill, the women's liberation movement, and the Vietnam War - were all factors in the rise of Dead Baby Jokes?
From mocking a disabled reporter to make fun of a sexual assault victim - Donald J. Trump has proven there is a vastly different sense of presidential humor now coming from the White House.
I recently interviewed David Litt - head joke writer for President Obama - for a new story in the NY Observer, to get his take on Trump as a purveyor of jokes and humor. We discuss his insights and the history of humor coming from Trump - The President.
Trump loves laughing at the misfortunes of others. Trump doesn’t love laughing at himself. Trump is no comedian. But I’m sure he’d would claim he’s the funniest president in history – EVER!
In 1984, Richard Pryor had a children’s TV show called: Pryor’s Place. This was two years after his classic concert film, Live on the Sunset Strip, - and four years after lighting himself on fire while freebasing cocaine.
The Pryor’s Place only lasted one season and was produced by Sid & Marty Krofft. The show takes place in an inner-city neighborhood. There’s puppets, celebrity guest stars, and Pryor giving moral lessons to kids.
The best part is the theme song to Pryor’s Place performed by Ray Parker Jr. who did the Ghostbuster’s theme. It’s so catchy - that it will haunt you forever.
