"This extended session of Laughter Therapy explores the history of all things funny, presenting a cornucopia of comedy from the pioneers of vaudeville and the silent film era, to the wildly creative innovators that transformed television in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, to the modern practitioners that continue to bend the boundaries of comedy today. Chronically serious? Prepare to be cured by this collection of revealing profiles and interviews with some of the funniest personalities ever. Featuring Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Groucho Marx, Sid Caesar, Ernie Kovacs, Bob and Ray, Imogene Coca, Mel Brooks, Carl Reiner, Bob Newhart, Jonathan Winters, Bill Cosby, Phyllis Diller, Joan Rivers, Jerry Seinfeld, Conan O'Brien, Amy Poehler, Margaret Cho, Jim Gaffigan, Sarah Silverman" -- from publisher's web page.