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PEOPLE & ARTS Wednesday 8 February
CNN’s ‘History of Comedy’ is a laughing, learning matter

FRAZIER MOORE have it any other way.
AP Television Writer But equally valuable is
NEW YORK (AP) — One fuzzy studio footage from
of the great things about a long-ago broadcast of
comedy is, it demands so “The National Lampoon
little effort to enjoy. Grins Radio Hour” with such ba-
and guffaws can seem to by-faced stars-to-be as Gil-
issue directly from a tickled da Radner, Bill Murray and
funny bone. John Belushi. “The History
On the other hand, pro- of Comedy” has clearly
longed analysis of humor raided some rich comedy
can kill the joke. archives.
But not always, as CNN According to Hayes, the
demonstrates with “The His- mission for the series is to
tory of Comedy,” a docu- explore “where comedy
series that keeps the funny comes from and why,
in the fundamentals of the This March 19, 2004 file photo shows actor and comedian George Carlin,left, in New York; and In and raise questions about
this June 15, 2007 file photo, actor and comedian Robin Williams poses for photos to promote his
comedy it probes. film, “License To Wed” in Santa Monica, Calif. comedy you may not re-
Including among its execu- Associated Press alize you have. But it was
tive producers Sean Hayes also very important to be
(who boasts such comedy Brooks, one of whose ca- funny.” Comedy — easily
credits as the hit sitcom oppressed, oft-jailed shock and culture, and comedy reer-long targets has been dismissed as a monolithic
“Will & Grace”), the series’ comic — “as Billy Graham gleaned from everyday Adolf Hitler. “You have to force — is actually vast in
eight weekly hours burst is.” life. bring them down with ridi- its scope: “It was an over-
with information as well as Much of Bruce’s act a half- Yet another episode shines cule.” whelming net to cast,”
laughter. It’s like a college century ago was thought a light on the dark side of The series hears from le- said Hayes, who, daring to
course, if college weren’t to break the rules. But on comedy, citing examples gions of such reliable look ahead, added hope-
just smart but also really the contrary, his mission of the personal cost of sources also including Judd fully, “We could see doing
funny. was to change them. being funny that include Apatow, Sarah Silverman, many more seasons.”
The series starts with a “’Off limits’ is not a perma- Robin Williams and Andy Sen. Al Franken (a former Hayes will get back to be-
bang Thursday at 10 p.m. nent address,” notes com- Kaufman. “Saturday Night Live” reg- ing funny on NBC next sea-
EST with “F---ing Funny” (it’s ic Patton Oswalt. “It’s just The episode on women in ular), the legendary Carl son in 10 reunion episodes
CNN blanking out those a marker. It keeps getting comedy celebrates the Reiner, Samantha Bee, of “Will & Grace,” which
three letters), an episode moved.” distaff drollery of Phyllis Jimmy Kimmel, George Lo- originally aired on that net-
that gets a little naughty. Living up to its billing as his- Diller, Moms Mabley and pez, Keegan-Michael Key, work from 1998 to 2006.
Yes, George Carlin and tory, this hour reaches all Joan Rivers. But it also re- Conan O’Brien and Dick He had no details to share
Lenny Bruce get much- the way back to the early members their largely for- Cavett. about this eagerly awaited
deserved credit as the epi- 1900s to recall the paral- gotten sister pioneer Jean These voices propel each revival. But, indulging in
sode traces the evolution lel emergence of vaude- Carroll, who enjoyed fame themed episode, helping some comic history of his
of risque humor and recalls ville and burlesque— and as a standup in the 1950s. give each an instructive own, he recounted his high
the risks and retribution explain the difference. Yet another episode fo- heft. Meanwhile, the fun school days in Chicago
that plagued the ground- (Among its store of fun cuses on parody and sat- and the funny are served when he hit upon a very
breaking humorists who facts is the origin of the ire, and explores the often up in a feast of clips, some useful skill.
flouted social standards in term “blue” as a synonym overlooked difference. delightfully familiar, others “I used to open my back-
the name of free speech. for vulgar or racy. Watch “Satire is making fun of the wonderfully obscure. pack and then trip on pur-
They were going for more and learn.) powerful,” explains Harry Moments from “I Love pose, and my books would
than giggles. Future episodes look at Shearer. Lucy” and “Airplane!” are go flying down the hall.
“I’m searching for an an- political humor, topical “There’s only one way included; you wouldn’t That would make half the
swer,” says Bruce, the oft- comedy, comedy in race to get even,” adds Mel kids laugh. q
Octavia Spencer announces plans

to become Hollywood producer

SANDY COHEN The actress shared her as- the film academy’s annual
AP Entertainment Writer pirations during a conver- Oscar Nominees Luncheon.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES, sation with Gloria Steinem Spencer told the Makers
Calif. (AP) — Octavia Spen- that kicked off the two- crowd Monday night that
cer is up for her second day conference at Terra- she wants to continue to
Academy Award this year, nea Resort in Rancho Palos tell stories “that haven’t re-
but the star of “Hidden Fig- Verdes, California. ally been told.”
ures” said Monday that she Spencer received a sup- “I want the movies that I
has even bigger plans. porting actress Oscar produce to show a broad-
“The role I’m destined to nod for playing Dorothy er spectrum of people in
play is to be one of the Vaughn, a black math- the world,” she said.
biggest producers in Holly- ematician who worked at Spencer said she is working
wood,” Spencer said at the NASA, in the crowd-pleas- on a project about the Jon-
3rd annual Makers Confer- ing best picture nominee estown Massacre for HBO Octavia Spencer arrives at the 89th Academy Awards Nomi-
ence, a women’s empow- “Hidden Figures.” The ac- and developing a story nees Luncheon at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Monday, Feb. 6,
erment event sponsored by tress celebrated her nomi- about pioneering entrepre- 2017, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Verizon. nation earlier Monday at neur Madam C.J. Walker.q Associated Press