Jack Black plays Beethoven on Great Minds with Dan Harmon

Dan Harmon has explored the concept of parallel timelines in Community, and the idea of freezing time in Rick & Morty, but now he is truly messing with the space-time continuum. Great Minds With Dan Harmon chronicles the exploits of the writer/producer/mad scientist as he invests in a time machine, which fetches him the greatest minds in history. Back here in modern times, he chats up his visitors and exposes them to our allegedly advanced society.

Great Minds is one of a trio of short-form series packed into History’s Night Class late-night comedy block, which also includes Crossroads of History (an examination of the little-known facts of iconic moments in history) and How to Lose the Presidency (an exploration of the critical moments in which candidates for the highest office in the land botched their campaign).

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Night Class begins its 20-week session on Thursday night, and the inaugural installment of Great Minds features an appearance by Ludwig van Beethoven, played by Jack Black. (Future famous guest stars include Jason Sudeikis, Aubrey Plaza, and Kristen Schaal.) Check out the video above to see Beethoven, who went deaf in his twenties, hear “Moonlight Sonata” for the first time, and watch what happens when Harmon confesses his love of Phil Collins. And to see what else is coming in the air tonight, tune into Night Class at 11:30 p.m. on History.