diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 9c796888..53faa994 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - Remove forced `-f` flag from `nccmp` comparison in `test_remap_restarts.py`
 - Removed duplicates from portrait.script that were created as a result of merging previous pull requests
 - Updated moveplot to not crash with filenames included double colons
+- Updated plotting scripts to ignore comments in HISTORY.rc
 
 ### Removed
 
diff --git a/plots/chckhist.new b/plots/chckhist.new
index 7074787b..cbfe23d0 100755
--- a/plots/chckhist.new
+++ b/plots/chckhist.new
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ set EXPORT = `echo $TEMP_EXPORT | cut -d: -f1 | sed 's/DBLCOLON/::/g'`
 # Create true comma-separated HISTORY variable
 # --------------------------------------------
 if(! -e HISTORY.T ) then
-   cat $HISTORYRC | sed -e 's/,/ , /g' | sed -e 's/*/@/g' | sed -e 's/?/ /g' > HISTORY.T
+   cat $HISTORYRC | sed -e 's/#.*//g' | sed -e 's/,/ , /g' | sed -e 's/*/@/g' | sed -e 's/?/ /g' > HISTORY.T
 endif
 
 ./strip HISTORY.T
diff --git a/plots/grads_util/gencmp.gs b/plots/grads_util/gencmp.gs
index ca4084c6..19612931 100644
--- a/plots/grads_util/gencmp.gs
+++ b/plots/grads_util/gencmp.gs
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get CMPEXP Variables
 * --------------------
diff --git a/plots/grads_util/gencmpz.gs b/plots/grads_util/gencmpz.gs
index cdf42673..c1e58052 100644
--- a/plots/grads_util/gencmpz.gs
+++ b/plots/grads_util/gencmpz.gs
@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ endwhile
 * ------------------------------------------------------------
         m  = 0
         k  = 1
+
 while ( k <= n )
 
         dummy = EXPORT.k
@@ -148,6 +149,7 @@ if( n = m )
 else
     say 'Number of EXPORTS does not equal number of GCs!'
     say 'Number of EXPORTS: 'n
+
     say '              GCS: 'm
     return
 endif
@@ -237,6 +239,7 @@ endwhile
 'run getenv "VERIFICATION"'
          verification = result
 
+
 'run getenv "ANALYSIS"'
          analysis = result
 
@@ -261,6 +264,7 @@ if(  numlevs = 1 )
     'set z 1'
 else
     'setz'
+
 endif
 
 * Get Dimension of Model Environment
@@ -386,7 +390,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get CMPEXP Variables
 * --------------------
@@ -696,4 +700,3 @@ function checkbit (word)
       dum = bit'TEST'
       if( dum = "ETEST" ) ; bit = A ; endif
 return bit
-
diff --git a/plots/grads_util/genplot.gs b/plots/grads_util/genplot.gs
index b6f22397..f47fd22b 100644
--- a/plots/grads_util/genplot.gs
+++ b/plots/grads_util/genplot.gs
@@ -506,7 +506,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get EXP Comparison Variables
 * ----------------------------
diff --git a/plots/grads_util/genplot_2G.gs b/plots/grads_util/genplot_2G.gs
index 3285e34d..76a1b7c1 100644
--- a/plots/grads_util/genplot_2G.gs
+++ b/plots/grads_util/genplot_2G.gs
@@ -660,7 +660,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get EXP Comparison Variables
 * ----------------------------
diff --git a/plots/hcmp/hcmp2 b/plots/hcmp/hcmp2
index 25144f51..092dcb22 100644
--- a/plots/hcmp/hcmp2
+++ b/plots/hcmp/hcmp2
@@ -391,7 +391,7 @@ if( EXPORT = "CHI" | EXPORT = "PSI" ) ; 'run setenv "DIFFTYPE" 'D ; endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 if ( EXPORT = "HE" )
     'run getvar  ZLE DYN 'exp
diff --git a/plots/olr/olr b/plots/olr/olr
index ab4ec7f1..26578626 100644
--- a/plots/olr/olr
+++ b/plots/olr/olr
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get Radiation Variables
 * -----------------------
diff --git a/plots/olr/olrcc5 b/plots/olr/olrcc5
index 98846005..032984bc 100644
--- a/plots/olr/olrcc5
+++ b/plots/olr/olrcc5
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get Radiation Variables
 * -----------------------
diff --git a/plots/quad/hquad b/plots/quad/hquad
index e3d3768c..236efc1a 100644
--- a/plots/quad/hquad
+++ b/plots/quad/hquad
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
         '!/bin/cp 'exp'/HISTORY.rc .'
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get CMPEXP Primary Fields
 * -------------------------
diff --git a/plots/quad/zquad b/plots/quad/zquad
index a547c3f8..8d8bb847 100644
--- a/plots/quad/zquad
+++ b/plots/quad/zquad
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
         '!/bin/cp 'exp'/HISTORY.rc .'
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get CMPEXP Primary Fields
 * -------------------------
diff --git a/plots/res/zonal.gs b/plots/res/zonal.gs
index 73222119..8833a6ab 100644
--- a/plots/res/zonal.gs
+++ b/plots/res/zonal.gs
@@ -464,7 +464,7 @@ say '----------------------------------------------------------- '
 say ' '
 *pause
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 'run getvar V DYN 'exp
 say 'GETVAR output: 'result
diff --git a/plots/tseries/aerosols b/plots/tseries/aerosols
index 420610ff..47e90d72 100644
--- a/plots/tseries/aerosols
+++ b/plots/tseries/aerosols
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get Comparison Experiment Variables
 * -----------------------------------
diff --git a/plots/tseries/pme b/plots/tseries/pme
index e1222813..c9b779a5 100644
--- a/plots/tseries/pme
+++ b/plots/tseries/pme
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 * Get Precipitation Variables
 * ---------------------------
diff --git a/plots/tseries/rad b/plots/tseries/rad
index d82083d1..dc9e0772 100644
--- a/plots/tseries/rad
+++ b/plots/tseries/rad
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 'run getvar OLR IRRAD 'exp
           oname.1 = subwrd(result,1)
diff --git a/plots/tseries/tpw b/plots/tseries/tpw
index 0e3a2272..02582850 100644
--- a/plots/tseries/tpw
+++ b/plots/tseries/tpw
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ say 'Comparing with: 'exp
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
    'run getvar TQV AGCM 'exp
            oname = subwrd(result,1)
diff --git a/plots/zcmp/progz b/plots/zcmp/progz
index fb4359b7..8bde7d24 100644
--- a/plots/zcmp/progz
+++ b/plots/zcmp/progz
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 if ( EXPORT = "HE" )
     'run getvar  ZLE      DYN 'exp
diff --git a/plots/zcmp1/progz1 b/plots/zcmp1/progz1
index 0635813b..bc8bc2df 100644
--- a/plots/zcmp1/progz1
+++ b/plots/zcmp1/progz1
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 if ( EXPORT = "HE" )
     'run getvar  ZLE      DYN 'exp
diff --git a/plots/zcmp1/qbo b/plots/zcmp1/qbo
index 1a6998cd..5d2f8830 100755
--- a/plots/zcmp1/qbo
+++ b/plots/zcmp1/qbo
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ faco = 1
          endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
 'run getvar 'EXPORT' 'GC' 'exp
          oname  = subwrd(result,1)
diff --git a/plots/zcmp1/vortex b/plots/zcmp1/vortex
index 5cf1696c..21941546 100755
--- a/plots/zcmp1/vortex
+++ b/plots/zcmp1/vortex
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ endif
      endif
 '!remove CHECKFILE.txt'
 
-'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
+'!cat HISTORY.rc | sed -e "s/#.*//g" | sed -e "s/,/ , /g" | sed -e "s/*/@/g" > HISTORY.T'
 
     'run getvar 'EXPORT' 'GC' 'exp
                oname = subwrd(result,1)