I'm a Mel Brooks fan so I was stoked to watch "History of the World: Part 2" this week. I have now watched six of the first eight episodes, I will finish it off tonight, and I have some thoughts.

I went back and rewatched "History of the World: Part 1" about a week ago. There is some problematic language and stuff in that movie, as with most stuff from that era of tv and movies, but damn it did it make me laugh. Brooks may be the funniest film maker of all time. There is no other comedy director who has made me laugh as consistently as him. Even his not so good stuff, "Robin Hood: Men in Tights", has its moments. But, I was a little hesitant going into this sequel, so many years later. I also read some stuff recently that said it felt "neutered" and called it a "let down". I have gotten none of that from the first six episodes. I have been laughing very hard at what I have seen so far. It has kept my attention. I have not found myself going to my phone at all while I watch the series. I also like that they have made it a series and not a movie sequel. That was the right move.

Also, when you have Nick Kroll, Ike Barinholtz and Wanda Sykes as the leads, that is top notch comedy for me. I am a fan of all three of these people and really enjoy their other work. The writing staff is full of comedy people that I hear on many podcasts every week. I feel like this new series was made for a comedy fan like myself. The jokes are rapid fire and funny. There are very few sketches that don't make me laugh. And the ones that don't hit as hard with me still work in the flow of the show.

The other actors that they got for this are big time people, Jack Black, Pamela Adlon, Tim Baltz, Dove Cameron, Jay Ellis, Zahn McClarnon, JB Smoove, Tyler James Williams, Johnny Knoxville, his "Jackass" co stars, Mitra Jouhari, James Adomian, Zazie Beetz, Ronny Chieng, Rob Corddry, Colton Dunn, Richard Kind, and so many, many more that I could name.That is a pretty hefty cast list. It has the big names I mentioned, and also some names of people who are about to hit big. Brooks, Barinholtz, Sykes and Kroll really wanted to get some of their friends in this, and their friends are giving wonderful performances.

I am also a fan of the whole sketch thing. I think this keeps my attention even more. Some of the sketches are long running. They evolve from each episode. But I appreciate the fact that they give each sketch about five to six minutes and move on. And the sketches that they shorten are explosions of comedy. There is this commercial bit about statues that is tremendous. It has made me laugh harder than most of the stuff on the show. But it all works for me.

As I said before, this feels like it is a comedic show made for my comedic sensibilities. I feel like they decided to make this show for my generation. I don't know many other 40 year olds that have seen the original "History of the World", but I know a bunch of 40 year olds who like this show. It has the same sensibility as the original, but it is all new sketches. Mel Brooks came on the first episode and said he wouldn't do this if it was just a remake. That was a smart, smart move.

I say ignore the critics and watch this show. Each episode is about 27 minutes long and they are packed with jokes. It is very good and I hope they make more. I am a fan. 

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing and the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast.

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