Born over a century ago in the United States, stand-up comedy has conquered the world, spreading via the internet to screens everywhere. By channeling its satirical rage into new territories, it has captured the pulse of society, reflecting contemporary debates. Stand-up, as told by the professionals of the punchline: Blanche Gardin, Haroun, Hannah Gadsby, and many others.
Born over a century ago in the United States, stand-up comedy has conquered the world, spreading via the internet to screens everywhere. By channeling its satirical rage into new territories, it has captured the pulse of society, reflecting contemporary debates. Stand-up, as told by the professionals of the punchline: Blanche Gardin, Haroun, Hannah Gadsby, and many others.
Season 1 episodes
Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.
Episode 1
Without borders
22m
A major cultural phenomenon, how has this distinctly American art of comedy managed to transcend language barriers and cultural differences to spread across the globe? From New York to Kyiv, this episode takes us to the farthest reaches of stand-up territories, even into war zones where comedians strive to resist armed with nothing but their microphone.
Episode credits
Guest stars Yacine Belhousse, Victor Patrascan, Haroun, Christian Schulte-Loh, Eman Khallouf, Oleg Denisov, Sam See, Ori Halevy
Women were long kept away from the microphone. It wasn’t until the 1960s that the quiet revolution of women in stand-up began. Today, all predictions have been defied, and no one can deny the comedic power of performers like Blanche Gardin or Ali Wong, who bring the full spectrum of the female experience to the stage.
Episode credits
Guest stars Tania Dutel, Kat Nip, Freddi Gralle, Carmen Lynch, George Carlin, Ricky Gervais, Amy Schumer, Jerry Lewis
Stand-up comedy has gradually become a tool for the empowerment of all identities. By moving beyond comedy clubs to conquer streaming platforms and social networks, it has been exposed to the world, at the risk of shocking audiences and, perhaps at times, losing its way. In becoming a vehicle for political discourse, has stand-up forgotten its primary mission: to make people laugh?
Episode credits
Guest stars Merwane Benlazar, Yacine Belhousse, Eddie Murphy, Hannah Gadsby, Freddie Prinze, Joe Eurell, Fary Lopes, Jamel Debbouze
