Episodes

Aug. 1, 2026

Kevin Hart Confronted Over Private Jet Use in resurfaced clip

Johnny Mac shares a clip he believes is from Ziwe’s 2025 interview show in which Kevin Hart is confronted for flying private and says he hasn’t flown commercial in 17 years, arguing his schedule and need to sleep on planes. He then recaps a Baltimore Sun report from the taping of Stavros Halkias’ special, including Baltimore-themed jokes about the Ravens name and Edgar Allan Poe, plus Halkias’ weight-loss material and the logistics of recording four shows in the same outfit. Johnny notes Atsuko ...
July 31, 2026

Jon Stewart and Pete Davidson 9/11 Charity Benefit Lineup Sparks Questions

Johnny Mac discusses the Sept. 10 “New York City, Still Rising” 9/11 charity comedy benefit at Madison Square Garden, noting Jon Stewart and Pete Davidson’s involvement and that several announced performers (Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Ronny Chieng, and Davidson) also played the Riyadh Comedy Festival, while wondering if NYC Mayor Mamdani would attend and how he’d be received. He covers comedian Mary Beth Barone’s support of Mamdani and her criticism of Democratic Party leadership. F...
July 30, 2026

Jon Stewart & Pete Davidson Set NYC 9/11 Charity Comedy Show

Johnny Mac reports on the Daily Comedy News, leading with Jon Stewart and Pete Davidson’s “NYC Still Rising After 25 Years: A 9/11 Charity’s Comedy Benefit” at Madison Square Garden on Sept. 10 with headliners including Stewart, Davidson, Dave Chappelle, Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Ronny Chieng, Nikki Glaser, and Josh Johnson, noting Davidson’s father FDNY firefighter Scott Davidson died on 9/11 and recalling the 20-year show lineup. John Mulaney announces “Mulaney Takes Manhattan,” nine iconic NYC ...
July 29, 2026

Larry the Cable Guy Was Hospitalized

Johnny Mac opens with a clip of comedian Tommy Kang doing a Rodney Dangerfield-style set about being Chinese, family insults, and a Taiwan joke, then reports Larry the Cable Guy was hospitalized in Lincoln, Nebraska with appendicitis, had it removed after two days, and is recovering at home after posting a humorous update. He critiques comedy at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, citing Variety’s take on Trump’s nervous delivery and weak material. From Just for Laughs in Montreal, he shares...
July 28, 2026

Weird Al Turned Down 7 Figures from Riyadh Comedy Festival PLUS Marcello Hernandez's pizza choice

Johnny Mac delivers poolside comedy news, starting with a Variety conversation between Tracy Morgan and Marcello Hernandez about bonding on SNL, Hernandez’s plain-slice pizza order, Eddie Murphy advice, a “Domingo” character note, and Morgan’s controversial remark about teachers. Mac also recaps a NorthJersey.com poll of favorite New Jersey comedians led by Jon Stewart, and discusses Jessica Kirson’s story about being scolded on The View for not saying “Star Jones Reynolds,” followed by Kirson u...
July 27, 2026

Matt Rife Announces ‘Suite Life on Deck’ Comedy Cruise; Ali G Returns to Theaters; Ted Lasso Season 4 Date

Johnny Mac reports that Matt Rife announced a four-night comedy cruise, “Suite Life on Deck,” sailing from Miami with a Grand Turk stop Feb. 10–14, featuring comics including Craig Robinson, Nate Jackson, Eric Griffin, Finesse Mitchell, Ian Edwards, April Macy, and David Lucas, plus music/DJs, onboard activities, and meet-and-greets for the first 500 cabins. He also notes the theatrical release of “Ali G: Who Is I?” on Oct. 23 as Sacha Baron Cohen’s feature directorial debut, and that “Ted Lasso...
July 26, 2026

Conan O’Brien Explains His Slicked-Back Hair After a Scalp Sunburn

Conan O’Brien explains on his podcast that slicked-back “greasy” hair came from rubbing oil into a sunburned scalp after attending the outdoor Obama Museum opening, where others like Stephen Colbert and David Letterman got badly burned. The show also covers Seth Meyers mocking President Trump’s World Cup-related comments and joking about a “hex” at MetLife Stadium, and Jimmy Kimmel telling Variety his ratings improved after news of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert ending, while inviting Colber...
July 25, 2026

The Joe Rogan Experience - How He Built a Podcast Empire

The Joe Rogan Experience is the most listened-to podcast in the world. This episode traces how Joe Rogan — a standup comedian and UFC commentator — built JRE from a loose 2009 experiment with his comedy friends into a media property worth hundreds of millions of dollars to Spotify. Topics covered include the early years and first guests, the comedy world's role in building the show's audience, how a Rogan appearance became the most valuable career move in standup comedy, the first Spotify deal, ...
July 24, 2026

Conan O’Brien’s ‘Greaser’ Hair, David Letterman in Montreal, and Kevin Hart’s ‘72 Hours’

Poolside host Johnny Mac covers fan reactions to Conan O’Brien’s slicked-back “Greaser Conan” hair on his podcast with Molly Shannon, including jokes likening him to a drug lord. He reports on David Letterman’s Montreal Comedy Festival appearance featuring Paul Shaffer, a big Canadian flag, “O Canada,” jokes apologizing for American leaders, remarks that Canada is not for sale, guest Will Arnett (SmartLess, Arrested Development, BoJack Horseman), a Will Arnett-themed top 10 list, and a closing s...
July 23, 2026

Marcello Hernandez Breaks Down His Kevin Hart Impression

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Marcello Hernandez promoting Netflix’s “72 Hours” with Kevin Hart, sharing Today Show banter where Marcelo jokes about Hart’s nonstop hustling, wardrobe, and sockless style, plus a less-funny Late Night with Seth Meyers segment mocking Hart’s “#da kid” persona. A “kerfuffle/kerfluffle” arises after Whitney Cummings says a Trump joke from the Mark Twain Prize broadcast was requested to be cut over lawsuit fears; Netflix denies cutting it and says the Kenned...
July 22, 2026

Ricky Gervais on Offending You, PLUS Netflix Comedy Rankings - which specials are being watched

Johnny Mac recaps Ricky Gervais’ BBC2 interview in which he reiterates his free-speech stance, says he doesn’t try to offend, and is now ignoring cancel-culture talk, noting complaints spike once specials hit Netflix. Mac says The Office UK is better than the U.S. version and calls David Brent far cringier than Michael Scott. He reviews Netflix’s most-watched comedy specials for the first half of 2026, praising Katt Williams at #1 and criticizing Marcelo Hernandez’s #2 spot, then notes other vie...
July 21, 2026

Shane Gillis Breaks Comedy Attendance Record joined by Chappelle; Bill Maher’s Mark Twain Prize; Chloe Fineman Exits SNL

Johnny Mac reports poolside on comedy news, led by Shane Gillis selling 76,212 tickets at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field, breaking the Guinness record previously held by Germany’s Mario Barth (67,733 in 2008); Naomi Watanabe holds the female solo record with 44,356 at the Tokyo Dome in 2026. Jason Kelce led an Eagles chant, Meek Mill appeared, and Big Jay Oakerson and Dave Chappelle performed; the show went on despite Northeast wildfire smoke, and Gillis addressed crowd-diversity critici...
July 20, 2026

Will Ferrell’s “The Hawk” Panned, ESPYs Marcello Hernandez monologue breakdown

Johnny Mac delivers a “hater edition” of Daily Comedy News, highlighting harsh reviews of Will Ferrell’s Netflix golfing comedy series “The Hawk,” with multiple outlets calling it unfunny and overextended. He plays and mocks an ESPYs segment featuring Ferrell translating for Marcello Hernandez, criticizing Hernandez’s jokes while noting one punchline he liked about Caleb Williams and Tiger Woods. The show also covers Carlos Mencia’s tax case, including court attire, asset freezes, and permission...
July 19, 2026

Gianmarco Soresi is WRONG about reclining PLUS Marcello Hernandez’s Soccer-to-SNL Path,

Johnny Mac delivers a summer Sunday comedy-news roundup while planning to watch the World Cup final outdoors. USA Today profiles SNL’s Marcelo Hernandez, a former Division III soccer player at John Carroll University who quit during college to pursue comedy, recalling the emotional decision and comparing soccer’s physical demands to SNL’s mental grind; he also recounts meeting Matt Damon (and introducing him to family) at Colombia vs. Portugal. Gianmarco Soresi shares Wirecutter airplane-seatmat...
July 18, 2026

Why Nate Bargatze Became America's Favorite Comedian

The real Nate Bargatze story doesn't start in Nashville, it starts in a rat-infested Chicago basement and nine grinding years in New York clubs alongside Chappelle, Burr, and Louis C.K. Johnny Mac goes special by special through two decades of craft, the Marc Maron discovery nobody talks about, both SNL hosting gigs and the Vulture question of whether Nate cracked the code, the rough Emmys night, the UFC controversy, and how Nateland Entertainment is quietly becoming his own version of the Rogan...
July 17, 2026

Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky Split PLUS Will Ferrell backlash after Derby bomb

Johnny Mac covers reports that Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitsky have split after 18 years while planning to continue hosting Your Mom’s House, citing TMZ and noting speculation about Segura not wearing a ring and fewer joint episodes. He says he finds the breakup sad and cautions against overreading the ring detail. He reacts to widespread social media annoyance with Will Ferrell’s Home Run Derby Netflix appearance and previews Ferrell’s new Netflix series The Hawk, with comments from Fortune ...
July 16, 2026

Mick Jagger Responds to John Mulaney saying Jagger isn't nice

Mick Jagger’s New York Times response to John Mulaney’s story that Jagger wasn’t “nice,” with Jagger saying fame can disassociate you from “real life” and that he’s not his stage persona. The episode recounts Dave Chappelle’s appearance at Usher’s Washington, DC show, where Chappelle grabbed “Usher bucks” and made it rain, plus a brief anecdote about being around Adam Sandler during Jamie Foxx’s radio show. TMZ coverage of Amy Schumer’s bikini post is noted, and Kathy Griffin’s viral photo with ...
July 15, 2026

Andrew Schulz in shorts? ESPYs with Marcello Hernandez. Blue Collar Comics on ‘Woke’ Culture. Tim Heidecker’s Fake Infowars

The ESPYs air tonight on ABC hosted by comedian Marcello Hernandez with performances by Slick Rick, Ghostface Killah, and De La Soul, and contrasts audience reactions to last year’s Shane Gillis. Larry the Cable Guy tells Us Weekly he ignores “woke” backlash, argues audiences can simply skip acts they dislike, and cites Gillis getting more popular after being fired from SNL; the host adds “Atire” season three hits Netflix August 13, 2026. Jeff Foxworthy tells Fox Digital Hollywood misunderstands...
July 14, 2026

John Mulaney's amazing night at Wrigley Field with David Letterman

Johnny Mac recaps John Mulaney’s Wrigley Field show, hosted by Richard Kind with sets/appearances from Buddy Guy, Fred Armisen, and David Letterman, and quotes reactions praising Mulaney’s two-hour performance. He riffs on a Daily Beast item about Nate Bargatze’s Dan Patrick Show interview, then runs through New York Comedy Festival headliners and notes it will include Variety’s 10 Comics to Watch on Nov. 12. He summarizes Just for Laughs Montreal announcements, including awards for Chris Flemin...
July 13, 2026

Sandler on Officiating Taylor Swift Travis Kelce to New Heights!, more Louis CK Backlash, and some Colbert Rumors

Johnny Mac records Daily Comedy News from a dark basement during a multi-day power outage as out-of-state crews reconnect lines. He reports a People Magazine item claiming Adam Sandler quickly agreed to officiate Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s wedding and kept it low-key, and notes he couldn’t pull a planned Michael Loftus comment due to no internet. USA Today quotes comedians criticizing Louis CK’s Netflix return, including remarks from Margaret Cho, W. Kamau Bell, and Steve Hofstetter; Mac ad...
July 12, 2026

Pete Holmes on Screen Time, Jeff Arcuri’s Viral Fame, and Seth Meyers "Hilarious" Group Text

Johnny Mac shares daily comedy news, starting with Pete Holmes telling Wired he leaves 55,000 emails unread, uses an iPhone Air from 2025, and keeps screen time low (about 1 hour 15 minutes average), aided by a screen-time widget, no social media, grayscale display, and limiting color/sound. The LA Times profiles comedian Jeff Arcuri, who describes being widely recognized through Instagram Reels while still unknown by name, and says crowd work clips immensely boosted his career; he also discusse...
July 11, 2026

How The Office Became a Global Franchise: 25 Years, 15 Adaptations, and What Worked

Johnny Mac marks the 25th anniversary of the original UK The Office, which premiered July 9, 2001 on BBC2, ran 14 episodes across two seasons plus a Christmas special, and initially drew modest ratings before becoming a global phenomenon with 15 adaptations and an ongoing franchise producing new content through 2026. He argues the show’s specific British cringe and tonal blend of comedy and sadness make it hard to translate, and says the successful remakes reinvented rather than copied the forma...
July 10, 2026

John Mulaney Makes History at Wrigley Field

Johnny Mac previews John Mulaney hosting the first-ever comedy show at Wrigley Field, sharing Mulaney’s comments about the full-circle Chicago moment, a humorous exchange about the Chicago Fire and St. Ignatius, and his picks of comics to watch including Robbie Hoffman, Andrea Jin, Mandal, and Langston Kerman. The 312 Comedy Festival returns Nov. 5–15 with Nikki Glaser, Michelle Wolf, Ali Siddiq, and Bert Kreischer, plus a screening tied to a 2020 John Pinette documentary; Mac reflects on Pinett...
July 9, 2026

Kill Tony Hinchcliffe Roast Backlash, Nate Bargatze ‘MAGA’ Debate, Office Updates, and Emmy Nominations

Johnny Mac covers a packed comedy news day: Tony Hinchcliffe discusses roast backlash on Joe Rogan, defending his “everybody gets them” approach and referencing reactions to his George Floyd and Charlie Kirk jokes. A separate controversy involves SNL posting Nate Bargatze’s “Washington’s Dream” sketch on July 4, with The Daily Beast quoting W. Kamau Bell on the political/business risks of being labeled a “MAGA comedian,” also mentioning Hinchcliffe’s ties to Trump and a photo of Shane Gillis bac...