At a Tribeca Film Festival event, Drunk History co-creators Derek Waters and Jeremy Konner talked about the process of creating the show after showing a series scenes from upcoming episodes (including a brilliant one about the creation of modern-day Halloween).
In a talk moderated by frequent Drunk History guest Josh Charles, the Drunk History creators said that they feel a responsibility to tell stories about historical figures who aren’t all straight white cis men.
“We want stories to be more inclusive, and as we’ve been finding more stories that are more inclusive of every different marginalized person in the world, we’re finding that they’re better stories,” Konner said.
The hosts also said they hope that the show reaches those who need to see more inclusive stories, saying that they hoped that the frat boys who turned into their “Sex” episode, which aired earlier this year, ended up learning about Margaret Sanger, Gloria Steinem, and the Kinseys. “I always picture some 14-year-old boy who grew up with racist parents and doesn’t know any better, and now he’s learning about Marsha P. Johnson on a comedy network,” Waters said.
Konner also pointed out that the show also prioritizes inclusive casting, as in their episode focusing on the Section 504 Sit-In and the creation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. “We cast all people with disabilities, and it was really not that hard, and all people should do that,” he said. We’ll second that.
top photo: Drunk History
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