
The History of Sketch Comedy
A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
3 months free
Buy for $19.95
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
Keegan-Michael Key
About this listen
Authors Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key build on the popularity of their 2022 Webby Award-winning podcast and delve deeper into the world of sketch, helped along with new essays created expressly for the book by comedy greats.
The History of Sketch Comedy will appeal to all kinds of comedy fans as well as fans of Keegan-Michael Key, whether they know him from his Emmy and Peabody-winning work on Key & Peele; his roles in Fargo, The Prom, Schmigadoon!, The Bubble, and Wonka; voiceover work in The Lion King; or as President Barack Obama's anger translator, Luther.
With epic personal tangents and hilarious asides, the Keys take you on an illuminating journey through all facets of comedy from the stock characters of commedia del arte in the 16th century, to the rise of vaudeville and burlesque, the golden age of television comedy, the influence of the most well-known comedy schools, and the ascension of comedy films and TV specials—all the way through to a look at the future of sketch on social media platforms. Along the way, we hear tales of Keegan's childhood, his comedy influences, and the vicissitudes of his career path. As the New York Times said in its review of their podcast, "this comedy nerd history is filtered through memoir, with Key relating stories of his budding fandom, training and rise from improv comic to television sketch artist."
Part memoir, part masterclass, and hilariously embellished with priceless commentary, The History of Sketch Comedy highlights the essential building blocks of sketch comedy while interweaving Keegan's personal career journey and the influence of his comedy heroes. The text includes exclusive essays compiled from conversations with influential performers, sketch writers, and uber comedy fans including Mel Brooks, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, John Oliver, Tracy Morgan, Carol Burnett, Jim Carrey, Jordan Peele, and many more. This book is as entertaining as it is enlightening—a must-hear for fans of comedy and all who aspire to comic greatness.
Expanding the hit podcast: With content from the number one trending, NAACP-award-nominated and Webby-Award-winning Audible podcast, and featuring new-for-the-book material as well as never-before-heard stories and essays, this book will be a hit for newcomers and avid listeners of the podcast alike.
Master of the medium: Keegan-Michael Key is a bona fide maestro of comedy, with the chops, experience, and love for the history of the medium that make him the perfect expert on all things sketch. As co-writer Elle Key likes to say, "If Keegan-Michael Key was a guest lecturer at NYU teaching a course called 'The History of Sketch Comedy,' it would be a very popular class."
Exclusive essays: Keegan and Elle interviewed more than a dozen comedy legends exclusively for this book and got their takes on topics ranging from the influence of Saturday Night Live, to women in comedy, to the mathematics of sketch. Hear, in their own words, from Mel Brooks, Mike Myers, Jordan Peele, Julia-Louis Dreyfus, John Oliver, Tracy Morgan, Stephen Colbert, Carol Burnett, Chris Rock, Bob Odenkirk, Mike Birbiglia, Matt Lucas, Ken Jeong, Christopher Guest, Gary Oldman, Kevin Nealon, Laraine Newman, and Jim Carrey.
Giftable volume of comedy gold: The perfect gift for comedy fans of all ages as well as anyone aspiring to write, perform, or produce comedic art.
Perfect for:
- Comedy lovers of all kinds
- Fans of Key & Peele
- Fans of improv, sketch, stand-up, and shows like SNL, MadTV, Monty Python, and Mr. Show
- Gift giving or self-purchase for established and aspiring comedians
- Fans of such best sellers as Bossypants, Yes Please, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?, Born Standing Up, and Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama
Listeners also enjoyed...
-
The Elements of Humor
- By: Scott Dikkers
- Narrated by: Scott Dikkers
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you ready to elevate your writing, speeches, and conversations with unparalleled wit and comedy? Look no further than The Elements of Humor by bestselling author and comedy writing legend, Scott Dikkers. This isn't just another book on humor—it's a transformative guide that stands head and shoulders above the rest, designed to make you the funniest version of yourself. The Elements of Humor is your key to making the people around you laugh. Perfect for enhancing presentations, content creation, or everyday conversations, this book will secure a prominent place on your library shelf.
-
-
He puts it all together
- By Amber Morales on 04-22-25
By: Scott Dikkers
-
The Fairy Tale Fan Club
- Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily
- By: Richard Ayoade, David Roberts - illustrator
- Narrated by: Richard Ayoade, Lydia Fox, Wes Anderson
- Length: 1 hr and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious—and opinionated—fans. So if you’ve ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away.
By: Richard Ayoade, and others
-
Say Hello to the Bad Guys
- How Professional Wrestling's New World Order Changed America
- By: Marc Raimondi
- Narrated by: Marc Raimondi
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1996, professional wrestling was one of the most watched sports on cable television, with more than 5 million people tuning in every week. And in the late 1990s, pro-wrestling was the hottest thing in American pop culture, with companies making millions in action figures, video games, and simple black t-shirts emblazoned with three little letters: NWO. The NWO, or New World Order, became a business like no other, and was responsible for the explosive ratings and rabid fanbase.
-
-
Does this story need to be told again?
- By Anonymous User on 07-10-25
By: Marc Raimondi
-
The Big Bang Theory
- The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series
- By: Jessica Radloff
- Narrated by: Jessica Radloff, Fleet Cooper, Abhay Ahluwalia, and others
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety. The Big Bang Theory:The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation.
-
-
Good story but...
- By Angie C Chen on 10-19-22
By: Jessica Radloff
-
Baddest Man
- The Making of Mike Tyson
- By: Mark Kriegel
- Narrated by: Mark Kriegel
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On an evening that defined the "greed is good" 1980s, Donald Trump hosted a raft of celebrities and high rollers in a carnival town on the Jersey Shore to bask in the glow created by a twenty-one-year-old heavyweight champion. Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks that night and in ninety-one frenzied seconds earned more than the annual payrolls of the Los Angeles Lakers' and Boston Celtics' players combined.
-
-
She was who I thought she was
- By Michael D. Taylor on 06-19-25
By: Mark Kriegel
-
The Coen Brothers
- By: Adam Nayman
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From such cult hits as Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski to major critical darlings Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and Inside Llewyn Davis, Ethan and Joel Coen have cultivated a bleakly comical, instantly recognizable voice in modern American cinema. Film critic Adam Nayman carefully sifts through their complex cinematic universe in an effort to plot, as he puts it, "some Grand Unified Theory of Coen-ness." The book combines critical text with a visual aesthetic that honors the Coens' singular mix of darkness and levity.
-
-
Brilliant companion!
- By Buretto on 12-05-18
By: Adam Nayman
-
The Elements of Humor
- By: Scott Dikkers
- Narrated by: Scott Dikkers
- Length: 3 hrs and 42 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Are you ready to elevate your writing, speeches, and conversations with unparalleled wit and comedy? Look no further than The Elements of Humor by bestselling author and comedy writing legend, Scott Dikkers. This isn't just another book on humor—it's a transformative guide that stands head and shoulders above the rest, designed to make you the funniest version of yourself. The Elements of Humor is your key to making the people around you laugh. Perfect for enhancing presentations, content creation, or everyday conversations, this book will secure a prominent place on your library shelf.
-
-
He puts it all together
- By Amber Morales on 04-22-25
By: Scott Dikkers
-
The Fairy Tale Fan Club
- Legendary Letters Collected by C.C. Cecily
- By: Richard Ayoade, David Roberts - illustrator
- Narrated by: Richard Ayoade, Lydia Fox, Wes Anderson
- Length: 1 hr and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this series of letters organized by C. C. Cecily, Senior Secretary of the Fairy Tale Fan Club, the fairest of them all (and a few bitter foes) correspond with curious—and opinionated—fans. So if you’ve ever wondered how a less-than-genius (and less-than-clothed) emperor fell for a certain con, how the Big Bad Wolf is handling meatless Mondays, or whether Rapunzel recommends going for the big chop, no need to look far, far away.
By: Richard Ayoade, and others
-
Say Hello to the Bad Guys
- How Professional Wrestling's New World Order Changed America
- By: Marc Raimondi
- Narrated by: Marc Raimondi
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1996, professional wrestling was one of the most watched sports on cable television, with more than 5 million people tuning in every week. And in the late 1990s, pro-wrestling was the hottest thing in American pop culture, with companies making millions in action figures, video games, and simple black t-shirts emblazoned with three little letters: NWO. The NWO, or New World Order, became a business like no other, and was responsible for the explosive ratings and rabid fanbase.
-
-
Does this story need to be told again?
- By Anonymous User on 07-10-25
By: Marc Raimondi
-
The Big Bang Theory
- The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series
- By: Jessica Radloff
- Narrated by: Jessica Radloff, Fleet Cooper, Abhay Ahluwalia, and others
- Length: 17 hrs and 53 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Big Bang Theory is a television phenomenon. To the casual viewer, it’s a seemingly effortless comedy, with relatable characters tackling real-life issues, offering a kind of visual comfort food to its millions of dedicated fans. But the behind-the-scenes journey of the show from a failed pilot to a global sensation is a fascinating story that even the most die-hard fans don’t know in its entirety. The Big Bang Theory:The Definitive, Inside Story of the Epic Hit Series is a riveting, entertaining look at the sitcom sensation.
-
-
Good story but...
- By Angie C Chen on 10-19-22
By: Jessica Radloff
-
Baddest Man
- The Making of Mike Tyson
- By: Mark Kriegel
- Narrated by: Mark Kriegel
- Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
On an evening that defined the "greed is good" 1980s, Donald Trump hosted a raft of celebrities and high rollers in a carnival town on the Jersey Shore to bask in the glow created by a twenty-one-year-old heavyweight champion. Mike Tyson knocked out Michael Spinks that night and in ninety-one frenzied seconds earned more than the annual payrolls of the Los Angeles Lakers' and Boston Celtics' players combined.
-
-
She was who I thought she was
- By Michael D. Taylor on 06-19-25
By: Mark Kriegel
-
The Coen Brothers
- By: Adam Nayman
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 9 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From such cult hits as Raising Arizona and The Big Lebowski to major critical darlings Fargo, No Country for Old Men, and Inside Llewyn Davis, Ethan and Joel Coen have cultivated a bleakly comical, instantly recognizable voice in modern American cinema. Film critic Adam Nayman carefully sifts through their complex cinematic universe in an effort to plot, as he puts it, "some Grand Unified Theory of Coen-ness." The book combines critical text with a visual aesthetic that honors the Coens' singular mix of darkness and levity.
-
-
Brilliant companion!
- By Buretto on 12-05-18
By: Adam Nayman
-
I Shouldn't Even Be Doing This!
- and Other Things That Strike Me as Funny
- By: Bob Newhart
- Narrated by: Bob Newhart
- Length: 3 hrs and 15 mins
- Abridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
That stammer. Those basset-hound eyes. That bone-dry wit. There has never been another comedian like Bob Newhart. In this, his first audiobook ever, Newhart gives his brilliant and bemused twist on a multitude of topics, including flying, the trials of a family holiday in a Winnebago, and more serious subjects, such as golf. And, of course, there are side-splittingly funny stories from his life and career. Who else has a drinking game named after him? ("Hi, Bob!")
-
-
I love Bob!
- By Kerry on 01-03-07
By: Bob Newhart
-
Box Office Poison
- Hollywood's Story in a Century of Flops
- By: Tim Robey
- Narrated by: Tim Robey
- Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From grand follies to misunderstood masterpieces, disastrous sequels to catastrophic literary adaptations, Box Office Poison tells a hugely entertaining alternative history of Hollywood, through a century of its most notable flops. What can these films tell us about the Hollywood system, the public’s appetite–or lack of it–and the circumstances that saw such flops actually made? Away from the canon, this is the definitive take on these ill-fated, but essential celluloid failures.
-
-
So biting and snarky !
- By Katie K on 07-04-25
By: Tim Robey
-
Long Road
- Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation
- By: Steven Hyden
- Narrated by: Ron Hippe
- Length: 8 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Ever since Pearl Jam first blasted onto the Seattle grunge scene three decades ago with their debut album, Ten, they have sold 85M+ albums, performed for hundreds of thousands of fans around the world, and have even been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In Long Road: Pearl Jam and the Soundtrack of a Generation, music critic and journalist Steven Hyden celebrates the life, career, and music of this legendary group, widely considered to be one of the greatest American rock bands of all time.
-
-
Just ok
- By IndyMATT on 11-06-23
By: Steven Hyden
-
May You Live in Interesting Times
- A Memoir
- By: Laraine Newman
- Narrated by: Laraine Newman
- Length: 9 hrs and 5 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
From growing up in Los Angeles with movie star neighbors, bearing witness to the music scene in the 1960s and seeing the rise of comedy in the early 70s, to studying mime in Paris under the tutelage of Marcel Marceau to becoming a founding member of the seminal comedy troupe The Groundlings, it's no wonder that Lorne Michaels offered Laraine Newman a spot in the original cast of Saturday Night Live. There, Laraine was part of the show that changed TV - and comedy - forever.
-
-
LOT'S OF WORDS
- By Inez on 04-21-21
By: Laraine Newman
-
A Load of Hooey
- A Collection of New Short Humor Fiction, Odenkirk Memorial Library, Book 1
- By: Bob Odenkirk
- Narrated by: Bob Odenkirk, David Cross, Jay Johnston, and others
- Length: 2 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Bob Odenkirk is a legend in the comedy-writing world, winning Emmys and acclaim for his work on Saturday Night Live, Mr. Show with Bob and David, and many other seminal television shows. This book, his first, is a spleen-bruisingly funny omnibus that ranges from absurdist monologues ("Martin Luther King Jr.'s Worst Speech Ever") to intentionally bad theater ("Hitler Dinner Party: A Play"), from avant-garde fiction ("Obit for the Creator of Mad Libs").
-
-
Funny, Often Enough
- By Joe Kraus on 08-04-15
By: Bob Odenkirk
-
A Collection of Agatha Christie Novels & Short Stories
- The Mysterious Affair at Styles, The Murder on the Links, Poirot Investigates, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, The Big Four, The Mystery of the Blue Train, The Secret Adversary, The Man in the Brown Suit, The Secret of Chimneys, The Seven Dials Mystery, & Partners in Crime
- By: Agatha Christie
- Narrated by: David Rintoul, Thomas Judd, Kristin Atherton, and others
- Length: 79 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Agatha Christie Collection is a collection of 11 classic detective novels from the queen of crime fiction. We accompany Hecule Poirot on his first 6 adventures, as well as embark on a journey into the beginning of the Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries and Colonel Race series.
-
-
Wonderful book!
- By Anonymous User on 02-07-25
By: Agatha Christie
-
The Daily Show (the AudioBook)
- An Oral History as Told by Jon Stewart, the Correspondents, Staff and Guests
- By: Jon Stewart - foreword, Chris Smith
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Jay Snyder, Kevin T. Collins, and others
- Length: 16 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
This oral history takes the listener behind the curtain for all the show's highlights, from its origins as Comedy Central's underdog late-night program hosted by Craig Kilborn to Jon Stewart's long reign to Trevor Noah's succession, rising from a scrappy jester in the 24-hour political news cycle to become part of the beating heart of politics - a trusted source for not only comedy but also commentary, with a reputation for calling bullshit and an ability to effect real change in the world.
-
-
Not narrated by the interviewees
- By Diana on 01-16-17
By: Jon Stewart - foreword, and others
-
Cheech Is Not My Real Name
- ...But Don't Call Me Chong
- By: Cheech Marin
- Narrated by: Cheech Marin
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Get a look into the mind of Cheech Marin - one half of the renowned Cheech and Chong comedic duo - and follow through the highs and lows of his personal and professional lives. An unborn baby with a fatal heart defect...a skier submerged for an hour in a frozen Norwegian lake...a comatose brain surgery patient whom doctors have declared a "vegetable". The long-awaited memoir from a counterculture legend. Cheech Marin came of age at an interesting time in America and became a self-made counterculture legend with his other half, Tommy Chong.
-
-
Captivating? Duh... its Cheech!
- By Ellice McDaniel on 05-19-17
By: Cheech Marin
-
The World According to Cunk
- An Illustrated History of All World Events Ever
- By: Philomena Cunk
- Narrated by: Philomena Cunk
- Length: 5 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Romans! Madrigals! The Dark Ages! Revolutions! Trumpets! The Oranges of The First World War! All of this (except trumpets) and more, is covered in this definitive, easy-clean history of all world history so far, written by the 21st Century's leading historian, philosopher and thinkerer Philomena Cunk.
-
-
wise cracks
- By Matthew Stein on 12-11-24
By: Philomena Cunk
-
Impro
- Improvisation and the Theatre
- By: Keith Johnstone
- Narrated by: William Reay
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Divided into four sections - Status, Spontaneity, Narrative Skills, and Masks and Trance - and arranged more or less in the order a group might approach them, the audiobook sets out the specific techniques and exercises which Johnstone has himself found most useful and most stimulating. The result is both an audiobook of ideas and a fascinating exploration of the nature of spontaneous creativity.
-
-
Excellent Resource for improvisational theater
- By Robert Mann on 03-11-21
By: Keith Johnstone
-
Cunk on Everything
- The Encyclopedia Philomena
- By: Philomena Cunk
- Narrated by: Philomena Cunk
- Length: 5 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Once in a blue moon, a book comes along that changes the world. The Origin of Species. War and Peace. 1984. And now, Cunk on Everything: The Encyclopedia Philomena, by Philomena Cunk. Philomena Cunk is one of the greatest thinkers of the 21st century, and in Cunk on Everything she turns her attention to our biggest issue: why are there so many books? Wouldn't it be better if there was just one? This is that book—an encyclopedia of all human knowledge, delving into not only life's greatest mysteries but our most important political figures and cultural touchstones.
-
-
Very funny!
- By Scott E on 09-28-23
By: Philomena Cunk
-
What If? 10th Anniversary Edition
- Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions
- By: Randall Munroe
- Narrated by: Wil Wheaton
- Length: 7 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Fans of xkcd ask Munroe a lot of strange questions: What if you tried to hit a baseball pitched at ninety percent the speed of light? How fast can you hit a speed bump while driving and live? If there was a robot apocalypse, how long would humanity last? What if everyone only had one soulmate? What would happen if the moon went away? In pursuit of answers, Munroe runs computer simulations, pores over stacks of declassified military research memos, solves differential equations, and consults with nuclear reactor operators.
-
-
A talented and intelligent author, artist, mathlete (want sum?)
- By Crag B. on 04-24-25
By: Randall Munroe
The History of Sketch Comedy Trailer
People who viewed this also viewed...
-
Dear Girls
- Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life
- By: Ali Wong
- Narrated by: Ali Wong, Justin Hakuta
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In her hit Netflix comedy special Baby Cobra, an eight-month pregnant Ali Wong resonated so strongly that she even became a popular Halloween costume. Wong told the world her remarkably unfiltered thoughts on marriage, sex, Asian culture, working women, and why you never see new mom comics on stage but you sure see plenty of new dads.
-
-
This book is the shit!
- By Erica P. on 10-17-19
By: Ali Wong
-
Leslie F*cking Jones
- By: Leslie Jones, Chris Rock - foreword
- Narrated by: Leslie Jones, Chris Rock
- Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hey you guys, it’s Leslie. I’m excited to share my story with you. Now, I’m gonna be honest: Some of the details might be vague because a b*tch is fifty-five and she’s smoked a ton of weed. But while bits might be a touch hazy, I can promise you the underlying truth is REAL.
-
-
she's the f*cking BEST
- By Audible Anon on 09-20-23
By: Leslie Jones, and others
-
The Kids in the Hall
- One Dumb Guy
- By: Paul Myers, Seth Meyers - foreword
- Narrated by: Paul Myers
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy spans the entirety of the Kids' storied career, from their early club shows in Toronto to their recent live reunion tours across North America-and everything in between. Along for the ride are a plethora of fans, peers, and luminaries to celebrate the career and legacy of Canada's most subversively hilarious comedy troupe. You'll hear tributes from Seth Meyers, Judd Apatow, Garry Shandling, Paul Feig, Mike Myers, David Cross, Michael Ian Black, Brent Butt, Jonah Ray, Dana Gould, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Richter, and Baroness Von Sketch.
-
-
This is a wonderful compendium of The Kids in the Hall.
- By M. Duwe on 10-30-19
By: Paul Myers, and others
-
Improv Nation
- How We Made a Great American Art
- By: Sam Wasson
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of the McCarthy era, an experimental theater troupe set up shop in a bar near the University of Chicago. Via word-of-mouth, astonished crowds packed the ad-hoc venue to see its unscripted, interactive, consciousness-raising style. From this unlikely seed grew the Second City, the massively influential comedy theater troupe, and its offshoots - the Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, SNL, and a slew of others. Sam Wasson charts the meteoric rise of improv in this richly reported, scene-driven narrative.
-
-
Compulsively listenable historical overview
- By Keith on 03-26-18
By: Sam Wasson
-
Saturday Night
- A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live
- By: Doug Hill, Jeff Weingrad
- Narrated by: Bill Hemberger
- Length: 20 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Saturday Night is the intimate, original history of Saturday Night Live, from its beginnings as an outlaw program produced by an unruly band of renegades from the comedy underground to a TV institution that made stars of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy. This is the book that revealed to the world what really happened behind the scenes during the first ten years of this groundbreaking program, from the battles SNL fought with NBC to the battles fought within the show itself.
-
-
A.I. reader???
- By Justin on 06-16-25
By: Doug Hill, and others
-
Themes and Variations
- An Essay
- By: David Sedaris
- Narrated by: David Sedaris
- Length: 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dismissed by a bored author at a book signing, a betrayed young man named David Sedaris made a vow. Someday, when it was his turn at the table, he’d connect with his readers. The experience has been even more revealing than he’d hoped.In this hilarious and perceptive essay, the celebrated humorist reflects on the unusual patterns of forced socialization between author and audience, and the obligations and sometimes surprising returns of not-so-chance encounters with strangers: jokes, secrets, insights, and even charity.
-
-
It’s true!
- By N. Charest on 04-28-20
By: David Sedaris
-
Dear Girls
- Intimate Tales, Untold Secrets & Advice for Living Your Best Life
- By: Ali Wong
- Narrated by: Ali Wong, Justin Hakuta
- Length: 6 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In her hit Netflix comedy special Baby Cobra, an eight-month pregnant Ali Wong resonated so strongly that she even became a popular Halloween costume. Wong told the world her remarkably unfiltered thoughts on marriage, sex, Asian culture, working women, and why you never see new mom comics on stage but you sure see plenty of new dads.
-
-
This book is the shit!
- By Erica P. on 10-17-19
By: Ali Wong
-
Leslie F*cking Jones
- By: Leslie Jones, Chris Rock - foreword
- Narrated by: Leslie Jones, Chris Rock
- Length: 16 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Hey you guys, it’s Leslie. I’m excited to share my story with you. Now, I’m gonna be honest: Some of the details might be vague because a b*tch is fifty-five and she’s smoked a ton of weed. But while bits might be a touch hazy, I can promise you the underlying truth is REAL.
-
-
she's the f*cking BEST
- By Audible Anon on 09-20-23
By: Leslie Jones, and others
-
The Kids in the Hall
- One Dumb Guy
- By: Paul Myers, Seth Meyers - foreword
- Narrated by: Paul Myers
- Length: 7 hrs and 59 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Kids in the Hall: One Dumb Guy spans the entirety of the Kids' storied career, from their early club shows in Toronto to their recent live reunion tours across North America-and everything in between. Along for the ride are a plethora of fans, peers, and luminaries to celebrate the career and legacy of Canada's most subversively hilarious comedy troupe. You'll hear tributes from Seth Meyers, Judd Apatow, Garry Shandling, Paul Feig, Mike Myers, David Cross, Michael Ian Black, Brent Butt, Jonah Ray, Dana Gould, Bob Odenkirk, Andy Richter, and Baroness Von Sketch.
-
-
This is a wonderful compendium of The Kids in the Hall.
- By M. Duwe on 10-30-19
By: Paul Myers, and others
-
Improv Nation
- How We Made a Great American Art
- By: Sam Wasson
- Narrated by: David de Vries
- Length: 15 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At the height of the McCarthy era, an experimental theater troupe set up shop in a bar near the University of Chicago. Via word-of-mouth, astonished crowds packed the ad-hoc venue to see its unscripted, interactive, consciousness-raising style. From this unlikely seed grew the Second City, the massively influential comedy theater troupe, and its offshoots - the Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, SNL, and a slew of others. Sam Wasson charts the meteoric rise of improv in this richly reported, scene-driven narrative.
-
-
Compulsively listenable historical overview
- By Keith on 03-26-18
By: Sam Wasson
-
Saturday Night
- A Backstage History of Saturday Night Live
- By: Doug Hill, Jeff Weingrad
- Narrated by: Bill Hemberger
- Length: 20 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Saturday Night is the intimate, original history of Saturday Night Live, from its beginnings as an outlaw program produced by an unruly band of renegades from the comedy underground to a TV institution that made stars of John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase, Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman, Garrett Morris, Joe Piscopo and Eddie Murphy. This is the book that revealed to the world what really happened behind the scenes during the first ten years of this groundbreaking program, from the battles SNL fought with NBC to the battles fought within the show itself.
-
-
A.I. reader???
- By Justin on 06-16-25
By: Doug Hill, and others
-
Themes and Variations
- An Essay
- By: David Sedaris
- Narrated by: David Sedaris
- Length: 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Dismissed by a bored author at a book signing, a betrayed young man named David Sedaris made a vow. Someday, when it was his turn at the table, he’d connect with his readers. The experience has been even more revealing than he’d hoped.In this hilarious and perceptive essay, the celebrated humorist reflects on the unusual patterns of forced socialization between author and audience, and the obligations and sometimes surprising returns of not-so-chance encounters with strangers: jokes, secrets, insights, and even charity.
-
-
It’s true!
- By N. Charest on 04-28-20
By: David Sedaris
-
Bossypants
- By: Tina Fey
- Narrated by: Tina Fey
- Length: 5 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Before Liz Lemon, before Weekend Update, before Sarah Palin, Tina Fey was just a young girl with a dream: A recurring stress dream that she was being chased through a local airport by her middle-school gym teacher. She also had a dream that one day she would be a comedian on TV. She has seen both these dreams come true. At last, Tina Fey's story can be told. From her youthful days as a vicious nerd to her tour of duty on Saturday Night Live. Tina Fey reveals all, and proves what we've always suspected: You're no one until someone calls you bossy.
-
-
Tina Fey broke my new SUV
- By Warren on 04-07-11
By: Tina Fey
-
Disney Classic Stories: Coco
- By: Adrian Molina
- Narrated by: Disney Publishing Worldwide
- Length: 5 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector.
-
-
Lil’ too short
- By Jake G on 04-21-25
By: Adrian Molina
-
Modern Romance
- An Investigation
- By: Aziz Ansari, Eric Klinenberg
- Narrated by: Aziz Ansari, Eric Klinenberg
- Length: 6 hrs and 14 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
At some point, every one of us embarks on a journey to find love. We meet people, date, get into and out of relationships, all with the hope of finding someone with whom we share a deep connection. This seems standard now, but it’s wildly different from what people did even just decades ago. Single people today have more romantic options than at any point in human history. With technology, our abilities to connect with and sort through these options are staggering. So why are so many people frustrated?
-
-
Entertaining and informative
- By ty on 08-23-15
By: Aziz Ansari, and others
-
The Comedians
- Drunks, Thieves, Scoundrels and the History of American Comedy
- By: Kliph Nesteroff
- Narrated by: Kliph Nesteroff
- Length: 15 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In The Comedians, comedy historian Kliph Nesteroff brings to life a century of American comedy with real-life characters, forgotten stars, mainstream heroes and counterculture iconoclasts. Based on over 200 original interviews and extensive archival research, Nesteroff's groundbreaking work is a narrative exploration of the way comedians have reflected, shaped, and changed American culture over the past 100 years.
-
-
Performance issues
- By E. A. Smith on 09-02-19
By: Kliph Nesteroff
-
Captured
- The Secret Behind Silicon Valley’s AI Takeover
- By: Christopher Wylie, Isobel Cockerell, Becky Lipscombe
- Narrated by: Christopher Wylie, Isobel Cockerell
- Length: 3 hrs and 26 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
AI has become the new religion. Are we going to follow it? Do we even have a choice? Or have the tech evangelists captured our future? Join Christopher Wylie and Coda Story’s Isobel Cockerell as they journey from exclusive crypto parties in Dubai, to the slums of Kenya where thousands of hidden workers are training AI models, to the hacker palaces of San Francisco where tech’s true believers talk about merging computers with our brains.
-
-
objective journalism!
- By H. on 04-08-25
By: Christopher Wylie, and others
-
The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie
- Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Sixteen Candles, Revenge of the Nerds, The Karate Kid, The Breakfast Club, Dead Poets Society, and Everything in Between
- By: James King
- Narrated by: Mike Cooper
- Length: 15 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Ultimate History of the '80s Teen Movie goes behind the scenes of a genre where cult hits mingled with studio blockbusters, where giants like Spielberg and Coppola rubbed shoulders with baby-faced first-timers, and where future superstars Sean, Demi, and Tom all got their big break. Music, comedy, and politics all play a part in the surprisingly complex history of the '80s teen movie. And while the films might have been aimed primarily at adolescents, the best tackle universal issues and remain relevant to all ages.
-
-
inaccurate as all get out
- By Richard E. Meier on 05-22-22
By: James King
-
The Improv
- An Oral History of the Comedy Club That Revolutionized Stand-Up
- By: Budd Friedman, Tripp Whetsell, Jay Leno - foreword
- Narrated by: Johnny Heller
- Length: 10 hrs and 55 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In 1963, 30-year-old Friedman - who had recently quit his job as a Boston advertising executive and returned to his hometown of New York to become a theatrical producer - opened a coffee house for Broadway performers called the Improvisation. His goal? Simply to make a living, and if all went according to plan, to also make enough professional contacts to be able to mount his first Broadway show within a year's time. Later shortened to the Improv, its first West 44th Street location was in a seedy section of Manhattan's Hell's Kitchen.
-
-
Shockingly tone deaf
- By JenniferW on 06-28-23
By: Budd Friedman, and others
-
Wow, You Look Terrible!
- How to Parent Less and Live More
- By: Danny Ricker, Jimmy Kimmel - foreword
- Narrated by: Danny Ricker, Jimmy Kimmel
- Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
You used to be a person. A real one—with hobbies, expendable income, and sex that was at least semi-annual. But then you had kids, and the more you became a parent, the less you became yourself. You love your children deeply, but most days you feel like nothing more than their service animal. That ends today ( ... just the second part. You can still love your kids.) Wow, You Look Terrible! is a beacon of hope to beleaguered parents across the globe.
-
-
So funny and leaves you feeling better about the hard job of parenting
- By Becky on 05-17-25
By: Danny Ricker, and others
-
My Friend Norm
- By: Fred Stoller
- Narrated by: Fred Stoller
- Length: 1 hr and 8 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
My Seinfeld Year, and Five Minutes to Kill author Fred Stoller returns describing his complicated friendship with the comedy legend, Norm Macdonald. When comic actor, Fred Stoller appeared on Norm Macdonald’s video podcast, Norm MacDonald Live, many commented that Norm seemed to care about Fred, and had quite a fondness for him. And some noted Norm seemed like he was being a bully. Both those assessments may have been correct at different times. That’s what made their friendship so complicated.
-
-
Love Norm Macdonald? Buy this audiobook!
- By edthesoundman on 05-02-25
By: Fred Stoller
-
Sugarland
- By: Tom Fontana
- Narrated by: Dean Winters, Mark Ryder, Fern Cozine, and others
- Length: 4 hrs and 6 mins
- Original Recording
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Sometimes the darkest mysteries are homegrown. When Zephyr Nelson returns home to look after her ailing mother, she discovers that her younger brother, Cotter, has become obsessed with a malevolent influencer on a mysterious voice app. Just as a series of puzzling deaths begin plaguing their small town of Sugarland. With the help of her college best friend and occasional lover, Teddy, Zephyr unravels truths about Sugarland that are impossible for her to accept ...
-
-
Decent thriller, but too much weird sexual stuff
- By Aimee Safford on 04-03-25
By: Tom Fontana
-
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
- By: Issa Rae
- Narrated by: Issa Rae
- Length: 5 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
"My name is 'J' and I'm awkward--and Black. Someone once told me those were the two worst things anyone could be. That someone was right. Where do I start?" Being an introvert in a world that glorifies cool isn't easy. But when Issa Rae, the creator of the Shorty Award-winning hit series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, is that introvert--whether she's navigating love, work, friendships, or rapping--it sure is entertaining.
-
-
Loved
- By Jamila on 02-25-15
By: Issa Rae
-
Comedy Book
- How Comedy Conquered Culture–and the Magic That Makes It Work
- By: Jesse David Fox
- Narrated by: Jesse David Fox
- Length: 9 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Comedy is king. From multimillion-dollar TV specials to sold-out stand-up shows and TikTok stardom, comedy has never been more popular, democratized, or influential. Comedians have become organizing forces across culture—as trusted as politicians and as fawned-over as celebrities—yet comedy as an art form has gone under-considered throughout its history, even as it has ascended as a cultural force.
-
-
Not funny
- By steve finkelstein on 06-02-24
By: Jesse David Fox
Great book
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A comedy nerds must have!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What genius looks like when it is worn lightly like it's easy or something
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Do NOT listen to this, unless...
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Sketch Comedy by two of the best creators of Sketch Comedy
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Keegan Does A Decent Keegan Impression
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Interesting but not my cup of tea
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.