Episodes

Ricky Gervais told people setting off fireworks in London, “I hope you die.” On Daily Comedy News, Johnny Mac explains what prompted the post and how it fits into the debate over private fireworks in London. Shane Gillis joins John Mulaney on the red carpet for Madden, and Theo Von is named King of Bacchus for New Orleans Mardi Gras 2027. Johnny Mac also takes on the argument that podcast fame is hurting stand-up comedy, looking at Theo Von, Joe Rogan, Tim Dillon, Tony Hinchcliffe and Marc Maro...

Dave Chappelle is facing backlash after clips surfaced that appear to show him joking about Charlie Kirk’s death at Madison Square Garden. On Daily Comedy News, Johnny Mac breaks down what’s heard in the clips, why one line may be a callback to Tony Hinchcliffe’s George Floyd joke at The Roast of Kevin Hart, and how Rob Schneider and Elon Musk reacted. He also covers Erika Kirk’s broader response to jokes about political assassination. Johnny Mac reviews Druski’s Saturday Night Live episode, lo...

Ricky Gervais told people setting off fireworks in London, “I hope you die.” On Daily Comedy News, Johnny Mac explains what prompted the post and how it fits into the debate over private fireworks in London. Shane Gillis joins John Mulaney on the red carpet for Madden, and Theo Von is named King of Bacchus for New Orleans Mardi Gras 2027. Johnny Mac also takes on the argument that podcast fame is hurting stand-up comedy, looking at Theo Von, Joe Rogan, Tim Dillon, Tony Hinchcliffe and Marc Maro...

Nikki Glaser’s reported $250,000 Gator Growl contract came with a very specific request: Whole Foods sushi. Johnny Mac goes through the University of Florida gig’s backstage rider, from cucumber rolls and peanut M&M’s to gold and silver Sharpies. Then he gets his own M&M’s and spills them on the floor. John Mulaney explains why he wants to play an overconfident spy in a Get Smart reboot, and Johnny Mac wonders how much anyone remembers about the Steve Carell version. Tony Hinchcliffe takes a se...

Johnny Mac covers The Daily Beast’s framing of Nate Bargatze as a “MAGA comedian” ahead of his fourth Netflix hour, Good For Nathan, out November 24, referencing photos of him with Trump allies at a White House lawn UFC event. Stavros Halkias says UFC’s pro-Trump posture has dampened his enjoyment of MMA, though he still sometimes watches. Gianmarco Soresi announces his first solo Netflix special, God Forbid, filmed at Chicago’s Thalia Hall and focused on marriage, fatherhood, religion substitut...

Marc Maron talks with the LA Times about adjusting to life after podcasting, how losing WTF’s monologues changes his joke-writing, and his plan to film a new special in December possibly titled “Free Time.” He also covers NBC discussions about celebrating The Tonight Show’s 75th anniversary in 2029, noting past milestone anniversaries that went unacknowledged, and speculating about possible returning hosts. Mac promotes his “Is Late Night Dead?” podcast (episodes on Steve Allen and Jack Paar) an...

A special political edition: five songs about the election, written by people who also couldn’t sleep. Every song is a new entry, and the number one is the first song ever to debut at the top of this chart. It is also the first song ever played on this program, along with the other four. 5. The Cul-de-Sacs, “Yard Sign War” 4. Brenda & the Robocalls, “I Already Voted, Please Stop Calling” 3. The Provisional Ballots, “Precinct 12: Line Out the Door” 2. Municipal Hum, “Measure J: Dog Park Now” ...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news while losing his voice, starting with Michael Che telling Trevor Noah that SNL is uniquely vulnerable for celebrity hosts and outlining the frantic weeklong process from pitches and table reads to rewrites, pre-tapes, rehearsals, and the live show. Jimmy Carr, on Joe Rogan, argues comedy has a natural ~92-beats-per-minute rhythm and says Mitch Hedberg’s inconsistent pacing meant he alternated between killing and dying despite being, pound for pound, the best joke wr...

Chris Rock, in GQ, discusses his divorce, stopping porn years ago, coping with personal questions in a gossipy culture, and wanting to move on from the Will Smith Oscars slap while focusing on writing, directing, and possibly returning to stand-up. Conan O’Brien addresses comedy’s role in a depressing political moment, says he avoids nightly political jokes, criticizes aspects of Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, and calls the current climate nihilistic; Mark Maron jokes that people should protest con...

Marc Maron will receive the inaugural Richard Lewis Award at Comedy Gives Back’s Richard Lewis Humor and Humanity Gala (“A Night of Comedy and Neurosis”) on Nov. 15 at the Hollywood Improv, hosted by Jeff Garlin with Nick Kroll presenting; the event is sponsored by HBO and the Johnny Carson Foundation, and Lewis (who died Feb. 2024) supported the organization and served on its board. WNBA player Sophie Cunningham says Theo Von repeatedly steered their podcast discussion toward WNBA dating and le...

Bill Burr Praises ‘Digger,’ Nikki Glaser on Kids, and New Comedy Specials & Deals Johnny Mac delivers comedy news led by Bill Burr urging listeners to see the film “Digger,” calling critics clueless and praising Tom Cruise and John Goodman, with...

Johnny Mac delivers Election Day comedy news, urging listeners to vote while covering The New York Times report that Trump dictated a Bill Maher rant aboard Air Force One; Maher responds on Real Time with jokes, denies calling or inviting himself to the White House, and riffs on being labeled a “major pothead,” sparking Taylor Swift fan backlash. He recaps Joe Rogan mocking polls as skewed toward people who answer them, criticizing unidentified militarized ICE tactics, and expressing disappointm...

Delays at Dave Chappelle’s Austin show due to locking phones in pouches, with one attendee leaving after waiting 45–60 minutes, while others reported shorter waits and confusion about phone-as-ticket policies. He notes Shark Beauty’s partnership with Kevin Hart on a limited-edition Cryo-Glow LED mask and reads promotional quotes. He mentions John Mulaney canceling his Bangor date for a second time, shares Dane Cook’s comments on comics gaining success via social media without gatekeepers, and qu...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news: Jim Gaffigan tells Seattle’s King 5 he still gets “Hot Pocket” and other shout-outs and jokes that his obituary would read “Hot Pocket Comedian Dies.” Nate Bargatze recalls early jobs like pizza delivery, including buying customers beer. A BBC story covers Birmingham yoga teacher Gosia Federowicz giving Gianmarco Soresi a private lesson before his Town Hall show, which he shared on Instagram. Taylor Tomlinson explains why she wrote a book, how it differs fr...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, highlighting Bill Burr’s day at NOLA Motorsports Park getting riding instruction from champion Freddie Spencer, Burr’s approach to learning by listening, and his gripe about motorcycle model names. Bert Kreischer discusses trying to shape stories into standup, including a Hawaii Disney luau where he expected a surprise appearance by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson but got Mickey Mouse, plus other family anecdotes, as he prepares for his Fully Loaded at Sea cruise...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news with an adult-content warning, reporting that Shane Gillis opened for Dave Chappelle in Austin and spent part of his set discussing the SNL backlash, appearing shaken and saying he understood why people were upset. He covers Russell Brand testifying in his London criminal trial, denying all allegations, describing the impact on his life, and being cross-examined about past claims and jokes. The BBC is still scheduling Vittorio Angeloni’s sitcom “Rewarding” f...

Johnny Mac covers a bizarre Saturday Night Live collaboration with Sesame Street, then notes Bill Hader voices the Cat in the Hat in a new animated film (in theaters Nov. 6) and says the high-energy voice work is exhausting and unlike his 2014 SNL version, with no inspiration from Mike Myers’ take. Former SNL cast member Chloe Troast discusses on the But Also podcast why she felt relief after being fired following one season, citing behind-the-scenes comments that created dread and anxiety, whil...

Shane Gillis stars with Danny McBride in a four-minute commercial for a prediction market site, with a shorter cut airing during the World Series, and McBride says it reunited him with Deep Roy. The President posts a 1,318-word Truth Social attack on Bill Maher, calling him a “complete and total loser,” accusing him of low ratings, drunkenness, lying, and using a “laughter machine,” after Maher joked about Trump’s comments and approval. Larry the Cable Guy says DirecTV missed an endorsement oppo...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Matt Friend joining Amazon Prime’s Thursday Night Football and shares audio of Friend’s jokes and impressions. He reports John Mulaney will host Saturday Night Live on November 14 for a seventh time with Phoebe Bridgers as musical guest, and notes Mulaney and Shane Gillis appear in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video film Madden (out November 18) starring Nicolas Cage, with roles for Christian Bale and Kathryn Hahn. The Dane Cook story is moving to Netflix. Ma...

Katt Williams on Steve Harvey, New Specials, and BBC Weighs Complaint Over Rape Joke Johnny Mac highlights a Hollywood Reporter profile of Katt Williams, focusing on his reluctance to attack Steve Harvey despite the massive attention from his 2024...

Heather McMahan’s Ryder Cup Backlash, New Comedy Specials & Comedians to Watch Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, highlighting Heather McMahan’s Ryder Cup emcee incident that led to backlash, an apology to Rory McIlroy, and material for her...

Johnny Mac covers Andrew Schulz discussing on Fox News being cast as Dan Hibiki in Street Fighter, joking the character is “all confidence, no ability.” He highlights Katt Williams’ memoir Nine Lives, No Wives, and Sixty-nine Concubines, where Williams says stories of perseverance and his prayer life shaped his path and he aimed for transparency while changing details. Jason Sudeikis talks on the Talk Easy podcast about whether Saturday Night Live could work post–Lorne Michaels, noting the weak ...

Kenan Thompson tells Axios Live he doesn’t know Shane Gillis as mean but would want a conversation if he returned, stressing balance between creative freedom and avoiding harmful words while noting Gillis controversy overshadowed newer cast member Grace and musical guest Rosalía. He notes Jon Stewart will remain on The Daily Show through the next presidential election (hosting Mondays) and highlights Michael Kosta’s segment about Trump repeatedly objectifying male candidates’ looks. New releases...

Johnny Mac covers Jimmy Carr and Dana Carvey defending Shane Gillis’ joke controversy by emphasizing comedic intent, with David Spade noting SNL reactions depend on whether a bit kills or bombs. He reports Jon Stewart has signed a two-year deal to continue hosting The Daily Show once a week while remaining an executive producer. Podnews highlights Marc Maron’s resurfaced 2011 Norm Macdonald WTF episode in a “visualized” YouTube format. A harsh review of Theo Von’s new special “I’m Doing Fine” ca...