The BEST episodes of Great Minds with Dan Harmon season 1

Every episode of Great Minds with Dan Harmon season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Great Minds with Dan Harmon season 1!

Great Minds hosted by Dan Harmon, who “invests in a time machine and is subsequently visited by history’s greatest minds. He then discusses their lives and brings them out into the modern world.” A ton of funny people are slated to show up as different historical figures throughout the series: Jack Black, Nick Kroll, Sarah Silverman, Paul F. Tompkins, Robert Smigel, Kristen Schaal, Jason Sudeikis, Dana Carvey, Aubrey Plaza, Scott Adsit, Andy Dick, Ron Funches and Thomas Middleditch.

Last Updated: 12/5/2024Network: HistoryStatus: Ended
Ada Lovelace
star
8.00
9 votes

#1 - Ada Lovelace

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 6/25/2016

His guest from the past is Ada Lovelace (Gillian Jacobs). Ada, the world's first computer programmer, takes a liking to Spencer and the two of them embark on a journey.

Watch Now:Amazon
John Wilkes Booth
star
7.75
8 votes

#2 - John Wilkes Booth

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 6/17/2016

His guest from the past is John Wilkes Booth (Andy Dick). To test Booth's acting abilities, Dan casts him as Abraham Lincoln in a play.

Watch Now:Amazon
Amelia Earhart
star
7.67
9 votes

#3 - Amelia Earhart

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/21/2016

His guest from the past is Amelia Earhart (Kristen Schaal). Amelia sets off on a quest to find her earlier lost self.

Watch Now:Amazon
Harry S. Truman
star
7.56
9 votes

#4 - Harry S. Truman

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 7/15/2016

His guest from the past is Harry S. Truman (Matt Walsh). Dan takes Truman to a gay bar to teach him a lesson on gay rights.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.41
54 votes

#5 - Ernest Hemingway

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 3/3/2016

His guest from the past is Ernest Hemingway (Scott Adsit). Dan and Hemingway get to know one another and spend the day drinking, fishing, and fighting.

Watch Now:Amazon
William Shakespeare
star
7.34
41 votes

#6 - William Shakespeare

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/24/2016

Dan is visited by William Shakespeare (Thomas Middleditch) and gives him lesson on modern entertainment.

Watch Now:Amazon
Buddha
star
7.30
37 votes

#7 - Buddha

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 6/10/2016

His guest from the past is Buddha (Danny Pudi). Dan uses Buddha to integrate products into the show with unexpected results.

Watch Now:Amazon
Sigmund Freud
star
7.22
36 votes

#8 - Sigmund Freud

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 4/28/2016

His guest from the past is Sigmund Freud (Nick Kroll). Freud gives Dan and Spencer an impromptu therapy session to work on their issues.

Watch Now:Amazon
Mary Wollstonecraft
star
7.19
43 votes

#9 - Mary Wollstonecraft

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/17/2016

His guest from the past is Mary Wollstonecraft (Aubrey Plaza). Dan introduces Mary to his girlfriend and gets a lesson on feminism.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.18
78 votes

#10 - Ludwig van Beethoven

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/25/2016

Dan is visited by Ludwig Van Beethoven (Jack Black), who shares the lyrics to his most famous compositions.

Watch Now:Amazon
Betsy Ross
star
7.14
35 votes

#11 - Betsy Ross

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 4/14/2016

His "guest” from the past is Betsy Ross (Sarah Silverman). Betsy takes an interest in the 2016 presidential election and lends her flag-making talents to one of the candidate’s cause.

Watch Now:Amazon
Edgar Allan Poe
star
7.09
34 votes

#12 - Edgar Allan Poe

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 5/5/2016

His guest from the past is Edgar Allan Poe (Paul F. Thompkins). A visiting network executive (Mary Lynn Rajskub) takes a liking to Poe, and Dan uses him to win her over.

Watch Now:Amazon
Idi Amin
star
7.05
37 votes

#13 - Idi Amin

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/31/2016

His guest from the past is Idi Amin (Ron Funches). Idi gets power hungry and Dan and Spencer end up victims of a coup d'etat.

Watch Now:Amazon
star
7.02
52 votes

#14 - Thomas Edison

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/10/2016

His "guest" from the past is Thomas Edison (Jason Sudeikis). Edison becomes obsessed with his legacy and Dan helps him update his history

Watch Now:Amazon
John F. Kennedy
star
6.89
9 votes

#15 - John F. Kennedy

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 7/1/2016

His guest from the past is John F. Kennedy (Dana Carvey). Dan, Kennedy, Spencer, and the whole Great Minds team are threatened by an unwanted visitor.

Watch Now:Amazon