Warning: Spoilers for History of the World, Part II!
Mel Brooks’ comedy is the peak of parody, and History Of The World, Part II has plenty of references and Easter eggs to deliver both laughs and winks to the audience. As a sequel to Brooks’ movie History Of The World, Part I, which originally premiered in 1981, Hulu’s History Of The World, Part II takes on a new set of historical events to lampoon through sketch comedy. This time in the form of a sketch TV show, History Of The World, Part II tells the stories of some of history’s most iconic events using recognizable references throughout.
Although History Of The World, Part II’s comedy often relies on the audience’s knowledge of history to understand its humor. However, by employing references and Easter eggs, the Hulu series ensures that the comedy is always accessible and hysterical, making History Of The World, Part II a solid entry in the Mel Brooks canon. Here are eight Easter eggs and references in Hulu’s History Of The World, Part II, including where they are found.
8 History Of The World’s The Civil War Includes A Blazing Saddles Easter Egg
Even though Mel Brooks insists that History Of The World, Part II includes no repeats, the Hulu show’s ongoing Civil War sketch includes an Easter egg for another Mel Brooks classic, Blazing Saddles. The main plot of History Of The World’s Civil War sketch follows Ulysses S. Grant and Robert Todd Lincoln on a “secret mission” into Confederate territory (which is really Grant trying to find alcohol) after President Lincoln forbids anyone in the North to supply Grant with booze. Since Blazing Saddles takes place in a similar time period, it makes sense for History Of The World to sneak in an Easter egg into the Civil War sketch.
Given Brooks’ Blazing Saddles also lampoons racism in the Wild West, it’s fitting that the town Grant and Lincoln end up in is named Rock Ridge. The town of Rock Ridge is the setting of Blazing Saddles, and its Easter egg is a joke within itself, as the town sign reads “Rock Ridge (Not that one!)”. Unfortunately for Grant and Lincoln, however, this version of Rock Ridge seems to have a similar intolerance to those different from its occupants, making the Hulu show’s Easter egg even more fitting.
7 History Of The World’s Russian Revolution References Fiddler On The Roof
Though History Of The World, Part II’s Russian Revolution sketch features many interwoven plotlines, it’s only fitting that the Mel Brooks sequel’s introduction to the Mudman family references the musical Fiddler On The Roof. As poor Jewish peasants, the family has reduced options, and the son Joshy dreams of finding true love, but he’s ridiculed by his father, Schmuck Mudman (played by Nick Kroll). Joshy’s plot of rebelling against arranged marriage is itself a reference to Fiddler On The Roof, which follows similar beats. The Mel Brooks project further drives home the musical reference by having Schmuck perform the song “Submission,” which parodies Fiddler On The Roof’s opening number, “Tradition.”
6 History Of The World, Part 2 Pays Homage To Jackass
One of the more overt references in the History Of The World follow-up is to the Jackass franchise. History Of The World, Part II’s Jackass parody, entitled Jackrasp, makes light of the many murder attempts survived by Russian mystic Rasputin. Surprisingly accurate to real life, the violence against Rasputin in the Jackass homage gets increasingly ridiculous. History Of The World, Part II employs many details from the original Jackass in Jackrasp, from its format to iconic music. Perhaps the best detail of the Mel Brooks project’s homage is that it employs original Jackass cast member Johnny Knoxville to portray Rasputin, making the homage even more fitting.
5 History Of The World Part 2 Has A Nick Kroll Easter Egg
One of the most recurring cast members of History Of The World, Part II is comedian Nick Kroll. Kroll has had a memorable comedic career preceding his involvement in the Mel Brooks sequel, from his creation of Netflix’s Big Mouth to his friendship and partnership with fellow comedian John Mulaney. Along with Mulaney, Kroll starred in The Oh, Hello Show, where the two played a pair of old men. While Kroll’s involvement in the Hulu series is focused on portraying various historical characters, History Of The World, Part II manages to sneak in an Oh, Hello Easter egg.
During the Hulu series’ Russian Revolution sketch, Kroll’s Schmuck Mudman and his family have to flee after his wife Fanny shoots Vladimir Lenin. To do so, they employ a classic farcical move and all sit on each other’s shoulders, with Schmuck being the head. As they make their way through a crowded train platform, Schmuck says, “Oh, hello,” which is the catchphrase of Nick Kroll and John Mulaney’s standup act, The Oh, Hello Show. Though a small reference, the Oh, Hello Easter egg in History Of The World, Part II is a fun nod to one of Kroll’s most iconic characters.
4 History Of The World’s Jesus & Mary Magdalene Spoof Romance Movies
Even though it’s not true that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were romantically involved, History Of The World, Part II’s depiction of their story references multiple famous romance movies. To begin, the telling of their story is framed by a grandmother telling her granddaughter the story of how she came to own a notebook, which is reminiscent of The Princess Bride. Predictably, the actual story of Jesus and Mary Magdalene mirrors Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook. Throughout the sketch, Jesus’ appearance mimics that of Ryan Gosling’s character, eventually culminating in the romance movie’s famous kiss in the rain.
3 History Of The World’s Kublai Khan Sketch References Punk’d
Along with Jesus Christ, Kublai Khan is one of the historical figures whose story is explored through multiple humorous sketches. Khan’s first appearance makes light of his first meeting with Marco Polo, with Khan making Polo sweat over giving the Mongol ruler a proper gift. After Khan threatens Polo, Khan reveals that he is joking, saying that Polo has been “Khan’d.” This refers to Ashton Kutcher’s hidden camera show, Punk’d, complete with “hidden scribes” in place of the 2000s show’s hidden cameras, which is lucky for Marco Polo in this sketch.
2 History Of The World’s Jesus & The Apostles Parody The Beatles’ Get Back
History Of The World, Part II tells the story of Jesus Christ’s life through multiple different spoofs. Fittingly, the Mel Brooks project tells the end of Christ’s story through a long reference to Disney+’s docuseries, Get Back. Called The Last Supper Sessions in History Of The World, the Hulu show reimagines Jesus and the Apostles as the Beatles. The Last Supper Sessions has many Beatles references, from Get Back’s infamous bickering to Mary Magdalene standing in as Yoko Ono, culminating in the group performing a rooftop concert. As they perform, Roman soldiers close in, bringing an end to Jesus’ story as it did The Beatles.
1 History Of The World Part 2 Has Important Part 1 References
Hulu’s History Of The World, Part II is famously a sequel 40 years in the making, having been originally teased at the end of its predecessor. History Of The World, Part I ends with a fake Part II trailer, promising ridiculous bits such as “Hitler On Ice,” “Jews In Space,” and “a Viking funeral.” Though it took years, History Of The World finally delivered on this initial trailer by including references to it in the Hulu TV show.
The Hulu series’ first episode contains a full sketch version of “Hitler On Ice,” with its initial staging mirroring the way the preview appeared in its Part I announcement. Although the “Jews In Space” sketch doesn’t appear in any of History Of The World, Part II’s episodes, a longer “preview” is included in yet another trailer gag at the end of the season. Given how long fans of Mel Brooks’ cinematic canon had to wait for a sequel to History Of The World, History Of The World, Part II’s nods to the original movie are easily its most satisfying references.