The Rise and Fall of Comedy Central

Comedy Central once defined what mainstream comedy looked like.In this episode of Why Are You Laughing?, we break down the rise and fall of Comedy Central — how the network became the center of stand-up comedy, political satire, and boundary-pushing television, and why that dominance slowly unraveled. From Chappelle’s Show and South Park to The Daily Show, we examine the shows that made Comedy Central essential viewing and the cultural moment that allowed them to thrive.We also look at Comedy Central’s stand-up and roast catalogs, how the network shaped comedy careers, and why its influence over stand-up, political comedy, and pop culture began to fade as media habits changed. This episode isn’t just about a network declining — it’s about how comedy itself moved on.TIMESTAMPS3:39 Origin of Comedy Central5:51 Bill Maher & Politically Incorrect12:06 South Park from Trey Parker and Matt Stone19:29 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart31:46 Comedy Central Presents & their stand-up comedy cataloged40:27 Dave Chappelle & Chappelle's Show49:09 Comedy Central Roasts56:23 Tosh.0 + The Downfall1:00:55 Tough Crowd w/ Colin Quinn1:05:29 Norm MacDonaldFOR ALL THINGS BLIND MIKEhttp://blindmike.netFOR ALL THINGS CRAIGGERShttp://www.verygoodshow.orgFOR ALL THINGS HACKRIDEhttp://hackridethedemon.comFOR ALL THINGS DJ ELECTRA FRYhttp://djelectrafry.com