Season 1
13 episodes May 11, 2018
Overview
Fresh voices bring some of the most famous names in history to life. A live-action sketch comedy show based on the series of best-selling books.
Seasons
1 listed- Status
- Canceled
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 13 episodes
- First aired
- May 11, 2018
- Last aired
- May 11, 2018
- Episode length
- 25m
- Network
- Netflix
Latest episode: S1 E13 Julius Caesar & Bruce Lee (May 11, 2018)
Cast
Reviews
4 min readHistory as a Punchline: The Uneasy Laughs of The Who Was? Show
I’ll admit it: I wasn’t expecting to laugh at Sacagawea. Or at William Shakespeare, for that matter, though I suppose he’s been the butt of jokes for centuries. But there’s something disarming about watching a sketch comedy show for kids that treats historical figures like overcaffeinated improv performers, stumbling through their own legacies with the grace of a middle-school drama club. *The Who Was?
Show*, Netflix’s 2018 adaptation of the popular book series, is a strange little experiment—part educational primer, part absurdist playground—and it’s far more interesting for its failures than its successes.
The premise is simple: take the most recognizable names from history (and a few wild cards, like Pablo Picasso and Blackbeard), plop them into a live-action sketch show, and let the chaos unfold. The tone is a mix of Saturday Night Live’s rapid-fire energy and Horrible Histories’ irreverent wit, but with a distinctly American, kid-friendly sheen. The problem isn’t that it’s bad—it’s that it’s almost good, the kind of show that leaves you squinting at the screen, wondering why it can’t quite commit to its own madness.
The show’s greatest strength is its cast, a group of unknowns (to me, at least) who throw themselves into the material with alarming enthusiasm. H. Jon Benjamin, the voice of Archer and Bob’s Burgers, is the closest thing to a recognizable name here, and he plays a version of himself as the show’s harried, deadpan host.
His presence is a lifeline in a sea of sketches that often feel like they were written by committee. Benjamin’s timing is impeccable, the kind of dry delivery that makes even the weakest punchline land with a thud. In one sketch, he’s forced to explain why Marie Antoinette’s famous “Let them eat cake” line was probably never uttered by her.
Audience Opinions
Limited evidence
Audience 6.5/10
"A lighthearted, kid-friendly comedy that entertains with its humor and historical sketches but struggles to stand out in the crowded educational entertainment space."
The show’s blend of comedy and historical reenactments appeals to younger audiences, with its fast-paced humor and engaging performances keeping viewers entertained. latestnetflix.com's read is that however, some find the format repetitive and the jokes too simplistic, leaving it feeling more like a fleeting diversion than a must-watch series.
What viewers praise
- Engaging humor The comedic timing and lighthearted jokes resonate well with kids and families, making it an enjoyable watch.
- Educational value Historical sketches are presented in a fun, accessible way, helping younger viewers learn without feeling like a lesson.
- Cast chemistry The ensemble cast, including H. Jon Benjamin, delivers energetic performances that add to the show’s charm.
Common complaints
- Repetitive format The sketch-based structure can feel predictable and lacks variety over time.
- Simplistic jokes Some humor is too basic for older kids or adults, limiting its appeal to a broader audience.
Recommended for
Kids and families Educational comedy fans Lighthearted sketch show lovers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsJulius Caesar stole John Oliver's desk.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUZXlQis2k4
Showrunner Richard Korson told Variety that Caesar took over Last Week Tonight "because he's a great conquerer, so he decided to conquer modern television." That was the energy of The Who Was? Show, a 13-episode Netflix kids sketch series dumped in one go on 11 May 2018. Deadline had reported the order a year earlier. Thirteen half-hours from Penguin Workshop and FremantleMedia Kids & Family. The Who Was? paperbacks were already past 20 million copies and 185 titles. Netflix still staffed the room like a late-night farm team. Head writer Elliott Kalan from The Daily Show. Brian McCann from Conan. Tami Sagher from Inside Amy Schumer. Korson and McCann joked to Variety that the comedy bench could boast 900 Emmys between them. latestnetflix.com's view is that Bento Box, the Bob's Burgers shop, did the cartoons.The books were homework. The writers were not. 
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Andy Daly played Ron, the fictional CEO who kept getting in the way. H. Jon Benjamin narrated in that nasal Archer growl. Haley Tju, Lilla Crawford, Bentley Green, Adam Hochstetter, Zach Timson, and Kirrilee Berger rotated through Gandhi, Marie Antoinette, Einstein, Queen Elizabeth, and a pile of other dead celebrities. Dallas Liu kept appearing as Bruce Lee while Ron nicknamed him Brucie and begged to put him on the air. Guests included Ellie Kemper swapping in as narrator, Jane Krakowski, Mark Cuban in a Shark Tank spoof, and Oliver, who really did lose his desk to a Roman. Each episode jammed two unlike figures into sketches, raps, and fake talk shows. Gandhi with Franklin. Einstein with Joan of Arc. Genghis Khan with George Washington Carver. Ron tried to burn Joan at the stake until Einstein stopped him. Broadway World sold the house style as spit takes, rat puppets, bad dancing, and occasional flatulence, secretly aimed at ages 8 to 12. , 
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The Emmy they actually won
In May 2019 the Television Academy handed the series a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Live Action Program. It had also been nominated for Outstanding Children's or Family Viewing Series, plus writing, main titles, and single-camera editing. Then the lights went out. Wikipedia, citing a TikTok from Zach Timson, records the cancelation after one season. TMDB lists the status as canceled. The finale freeze-framed Bruce Lee versus Caesar and promised the winner in season 2. Season 2 never arrived. A Daily Show alumni room built a history variety hour, parked John Oliver in it, won an award for the noise, and left Caesar holding the channel. , ,
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.