Comedy Television History

When Comedy Became Centralized

By Eli Sanza
The stand-up comedy boom of the 1980s was popularized by television and especially by HBO. It got to the point where comedy was so profitable that television producers saw potential in a TV network dedicated to comedy. Producer Tom Kay wanted to do for comedy what MTV did for music, but this was such a radical business venture in the eighties that no one wanted to invest in it. Entertainment Junkie Blog 2021

Comedy is my passion; my name is Tom Kay, I am the founder of Comedy TV. Recently a Hollywood reporter contacted me about Comedy Television. That interview resurrected my passion for Comedy TV 2024. I REALIZED how timely and appropriate it would be right now. There is SO MUCH great comedy material constantly being produced today.

Comedy TV 2024

Outrageously funny Comedy TV. Playing a Smorgasbord of Comedy, one short funny bit after another. Funny snippets taken from years of existing Comedy. Comedy from all Eras. ALL types of amazing Comedy. Experience our Comedy TV heart beating out laughter! All stored in the timeless Comedy TV Comedy library. Where SIDE-SPLITTING comedians will live forever. The programming is divided into many different types of Comedy and genres taken from Films - TV Shows - Clubs etc. All intermixed in hilarious rotation. A portion of the programming will be new exclusively produced segments just for Comedy TV. From our inhouse Comedy Troupe - Comedy TV Repertory Company.

Amateur Comedy Clips: Produced by future Comedy Legends. These clips can be anything funny! All 30 seconds to two minutes in length. Comedy TV opens the World up, for all budding, Comedy Genius. Home grown funny stories. Short funny videos clips of every type. Comedy TV will always tell the viewers where the video clip came from.

Healing the World with Laughter.

The center of the comedy universe. Get Your Laughs on Comedy TV's 24-Hour Comedy Festival

A new experience in Laughter. 100% funny, Comedy TV a 24-hour barrel of non-stop belly laughing. Real People laughing intercut throughout. Rapturous Comedy TV is just what the world needs right now. Comedy TV induced hysterics. There is no telling which Classic funny bit or comic is next. Whatever kind of humor tickles you, Comedy TV offers something for everyones taste!

One very short uproarious snippet after another. Showing the funniest moments. Every type of Comedy new and old. An unlimited Comedy Video/Film Collection getting bigger by the day. All on the Comedy TV YouTube Channel.

For your chuckling pleasure. A place that's filled with laughter. Comedy TV will be in contact with every English-speaking Comedy Club on Earth and plans to cut up the best snippets from each Comedy Club's performances into short bits being only a few minutes for each segment. Humorous heroes featuring the best of the best. Promoting the Comedy Clubs. Fast paced and funny intercut with every other type of comedy. A non-stop barrage of laughs.

We will be searching the Earth for snippets of snapping, sharp, funny programing. Comedy TV plans to stretch the limits of laughter. We predict many people will keep Comedy TV on all day and night. We make people feel good and happy.

Comedy is a positive social lubricant that reduces stress and promotes relaxation. Waves of laughter make us happy, releasing lots of happy hormones like natural endorphins.

The Comedy TV motto is: We Make You Laugh! May our cup overflow with laughter!

Comedy TV will be Sweetened with Laugh Tracks.

HISTORY

Back in the day two of Tom Kay's friends were smart enough to apply for a free government lottery to win coveted satellite parking licenses for cable TV satellites. Since it was open to the public anyone who could fill out the detailed paperwork could win the valuable US Governments satellite parking slots lottery to resell them to big companies. Tom Kay's friends won a few slots. That is how Tom Kay got started in the cable industry, so Tom Kay participated in the cable industry at the very beginning. Tom Kay thought the world needs a 24-hour Comedy Television Network - Comedy TV. There was nothing like it at the time. They even interviewed him on CNN about it.


Copyright 2015

Tom Kay on Show Biz Today on CNN:

The Logo for Comedy TV is a heart, because when Tom Kay was talking to
Dolly Parton
about Comedy TV, she told me she loves to laugh!

One funny bit after another. But back in the day Tom Kay was looking for support, so Tom spoke with Comedian Alan King (RIP) who worked with HBO, a tough guy from his hometown and Tom was friends with his son.

Tom Kay spoke to very warm and super smart Tom Freston, who was the president of MTV at the time. Everyone thought it was a good idea whose time has come. So now at last the time has come for Comedy TV to be born in an improved way.

In Hollywood Tom Kay found the wonderful Fred Rheinstein (RIP) who believed the world needed more comedy, Fred supported him, and he was the owner of The Post Group in Hollywood, a big production facility. Things where industry exciting and there was a big buzz and everyone thought it was a good idea. Tom did an interview on CNN about Comedy Television and then Tom gets a call from Dick Clark himself who was very interested in running Comedy TV.

Tom Kay was interviewed about his starting Comedy TV on Show Biz Today on CNN: Tom in Hollywood and the interviewer in Atlanta.

When it finally gets down to the Viacom - Paramount Media Networks called Funny. The person Tom Kay talked with Tom Freston, ended up running Paramount Media Networks.

HBO starts The Comedy Channel and Viacom Ha! they both started two competing 24-hour comedy networks, but they ended up merging together and named the new network Comedy Central. That was the best name left.

On November 15, 1989, Time-Life, the owners of HBO, launched The Comedy Channel as the first cable channel devoted exclusively to comedy-based programming. On April 1, 1990, Viacom (who owned MTV, VH1, and Nickelodeon) launched a rival channel called Ha! - Wikipedia

At the time Tom Kay owned the name Comedy Television so, they decided to name the new 24-hour Comedy Cable Network Comedy Central.

Comedy Central: Brand overview - Founded: April 1, 1991 - Founder: Paramount Media Networks

Comedy Central is an American adult-oriented basic cable channel owned by Paramount Global through its network division's MTV Entertainment Group - Wikipedia

Comedy TV will be much different then Comedy Central. Comedy TV programming is fast-paced and hilariously funny one short bit after another, pulled from everything funny ever put on film. All types of comedy!

Tom Kay used to do Stand-up Comedy at the Comedy Store on Sunset. It was and still is a Comedy family. Because of Comedy TV and him being comedian. Tom Kay was friends with Mitzi Shore (RIP). Mitzi is the mother of Pauly Shore. Tom Kay would sit with Mitzi in her VIP booth in the Main Room watching the GREAT Richard Pryor perform. Just the two of them laughing. Mitzi loved the concept of Comedy TV.


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