Sketch comedy television programs

In the late 1960s, Tommy and Dick Smothers challenged those who tried to tame their wildly popular show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. TV critic David Bianculli joins host Terry Gross to talk about the legendary comedy duo who tackled political issues and censorship.

This interview was originally broadcast on Nov. 30, 2009. Dangerously Funny: The Uncensored Story of the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is now out in paperback.

Comedian Demetri Martin tells Terry Gross that his love of puzzles inspires his comedy routines. Martin is a former writer for Late Night with Conan O'Brien and a correspondent for The Daily Show.

Sarah Silverman's Comedy Central show — quirky, snarky, often wildly inappropriate — strikes some audiences as clueless and tasteless. To fans, including Fresh Air host Terry Gross, it's really funny satire.

MTV's new Thursday-night sketch-comedy series Human Giant got its start as a collection of Web shorts, and the rise of MySpace and the viral-video explosion helped it develop a big following online. Terry talks with Aziz Ansari, Rob Heubel and Paul Scheer, three of the comics who power the show's alterna-comedy antics.

He first hit it big on Second City TV with a sketch called The Great White North. These days he is doing acting and voiceover work, as well as producing and directing. There is a new SCTV DVD out; It's the second volume of shows. This interview originally aired on June 12, 1990.

He was one of the founding members of Second City. He played Earl Camembert and Stan Schmenge, among others, on SCTV. He went on to a film career that includes Father of the Bride, the American Pie series and Best in Show. His upcoming film is The Man. This interview originally aired on April 14, 1988.

Another SCTV alum, Short went on to Saturday Night Live, bringing his character Ed Grimley along with him. He's had his own TV shows, The Martin Short Show, and Prime Time Glick. His film career includes Father of the Bride, Captain Ron, and voiceovers for films such as The Prince of Egypt. This interview originally aired on Jan. 30, 1989.

Stand-up comic David Cross co-created the 1995 HBO cult hit Mr. Show (an amalgam of live sketch video pieces and occasional animation). He also wrote for the short-lived Ben Stiller Show. One reviewer writes of his act, "foul mouthed and razor sharp, doesn't shy away from vicious social criticism and outright political dissent."

Actor and comedian David Alan Grier. Grier got his start on the TV sketch comedy show In Living Color. He's films include Boomerang, Blankman, and Return to Me(REBROADCAST from 4/01/91).