Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac - a daily briefing on comedians, and the comedy industry

Shane Gillis backlash PLUS Seinfeld protest interruption Oct 14, 2026 960 Johnny Mac covers reactions to Shane Gillis, noting Michael Che’s joking Instagram stories about press questions, criticism from Phoebe Robinson, and gym “whore” posts from Ego Nwodim and Maren Morris; Flavor Flav and Travis Kelce also engage with a Dan Levy clip. He mocks The Daily Beast’s “MAGA-friendly” framing and discusses unaired footage of Gillis walking offstage before SNL goodnights, like

Dan Levy Slams Shane Gillis’ SNL Joke PLUS This Past Weekend's Theo Von new Special Oct 13, 2026 752 Johnny Mac covers Dan Levy’s Instagram response to Shane Gillis’ SNL monologue joke about women dressing “like whores” at the gym, with Levy calling such language misogynistic and urging men to defend women; he also cites Levy’s earlier post condemning “vile” talk. He recaps CinemaBlend’s look at past SNL monologue controversies and the mismatch between SNL audiences and stand-up crowds. Robert Sm

Shane Gillis drops an F Bomb on Saturday Night Live Oct 12, 2026 888 Johnny Mac recaps Shane Gillis’ SNL appearance, including an on-air F-bomb, Mikey Day’s joke about it, and Gillis’ goodnights apology, while noting social media criticism of Gillis’ monologue about the gym, “gym gays,” women’s workout clothes, and a “gay or Hitler” hairline bit. He pivots to news that the Pentagon plans to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood mass shooter, then plays a profan

Late Night’s Future, Pete Davidson’s Sobriety, and Nate Bargatze’s Boxscore Lead Oct 11, 2026 580 Johnny Mac covers comedy news while plugging episode two of his podcast “Is Late Night Dead?” and discussing Bill Carter’s view that Jimmy Kimmel Live’s Brooklyn week (with 150,000 ticket requests) shows late night remains a hot, hard-to-match format despite podcast evolution. Nate Bargatze tells Fox News he avoids politics, aiming for simpler, less polarizing comedy, and later tops Billboard’s Au

Comedy Deep Dive - Norm Macdonald: Anti-Comedy, SNL OJ Jokes, and the Quiet Final Years Oct 10, 2026 1432 Johnny Mac profiles Norm Macdonald, highlighting his belief that jokes should surprise and never pander, and noting that his death similarly shocked fans because he privately battled multiple myeloma diagnosed in 2013 that became acute leukemia, telling only family and producing partner Lori while continuing podcasts, Netflix work, talk shows, and scheduled 2021 dates. The script traces his path f

The Joe Rogan Experience $250M Spotify Renewal Oct 9, 2026 775 Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, previewing Shane Gillis hosting Saturday Night Live and reporting that Joe Rogan renewed his Spotify deal, with The Wall Street Journal pegging it at $250 million and noting the show has 18 million Spotify followers and has been the most listened-to U.S. podcast since 2019. He recaps TMZ items including Kevin Hart’s sex tape partner possibly being pulled into

Sebastian Maniscalco Responds to Comedian Controversy Oct 8, 2026 766 Sebastian Maniscalco issues a statement supporting comedians, denying responsibility for removing Raw Comedy, and saying he will work with the company to highlight a variety of stand-up voices but needs time to build out the channel. 00:00 Sebastian Responds01:19 Steinbrenner Lesson03:05 ABC Rotation Explained08:11 LA Times Essay Reaction09:36 Working Comics Matter11:13 SNL and Cracked TakeBecome

Chris Rock on how "Bring the Pain" would have to be like Shane Gillis Oct 8, 2026 643 Johnny Mac covers comedy news led by Chris Rock’s New York Times interview: he discusses post-COVID therapy, insecurity, his film Misty Green, why he won’t give a “Hollywood is bad” speech, and says Bring the Pain would be bigger today because it would be less mainstream-lauded; he also says he’s moved on from Will Smith’s slap and critiques the Times’ lack of nuance, citing Bill Burr not being re

What TV project is John Mulaney about to announce? Oct 7, 2026 639 Johnny Mac reports that John Mulaney’s Nov. 12 Victoria stop on the “Mr. Whatever” tour was postponed to March 5 due to a “soon to be announced TV commitment,” sparking speculation about a new project. Jamie Foxx’s new special, “Take Care of Yourself,” releases on Hulu and Disney+, covering his recovery, jokes about Kim Kardashian and the U.S. president, and his views on podcasts, Katt Williams, a

Sebastian Maniscalco ‘Raw Dog’ Controversy, Radio Rotations, and Comics’ Royaltie Oct 7, 2026 1513 Johnny Mac records a bonus Daily Comedy News episode early to discuss “Raw Dog Gate,” arguing SiriusXM’s Raw Dog/Raw Comedy rebrand under Sebastian Maniscalco has sharply reduced the number of comedians played and thus royalty income for working comics. Citing standupforstandup.org, he says total monthly spins stayed roughly 7,800–9,400, but the active roster fell about 66% (812 acts in April to 2

Comedians Urge Sebastian Maniscalco to Restore Airplay for Working Comics Oct 6, 2026 1371 A Deadline report tells us SiriusXM replaced the long-running Raw Comedy/Raw Dog channel with “Sebastian Maniscalco’s Comedy Radio,” prompting Stand Up for Stand-Up and multiple comedians to argue the change harmed working-class comics by concentrating airplay and royalties among fewer, mostly famous (including deceased) performers. John plays clips from comedians including Liz Miele, Patton Oswal

Bert Kreischer’s Tom Cruise Secrets Oct 6, 2026 656 Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Bert Kreischer claiming Tom Cruise has his life meticulously scheduled, with edited sports in the gym and food and a steaming shower ready after workouts, while Kreischer says Cruise’s beliefs don’t bother him. Seth Meyers says he wants to keep hosting NBC’s Late Night beyond his current contract ending after the 2027–2028 season, though the host argues for

Jim Norton Defends Dave Chappelle; Bill Burr Slams Modern Media & AI; Amy Poehler’s ‘Dig’ Oct 5, 2026 864 Johnny Mac recaps comedy news: Jim Norton tells Fox News that Dave Chappelle is doing what comics should—being funny and sharing real thoughts—and critics can skip him or do better. Bill Burr argues mainstream journalism has been hollowed out into divisive 24-hour talking heads and says AI is being built to replace workers, not executives. Amy Poehler promotes Peacock’s 10-episode comedy-adventure

The Insanely Crazytown New York Times’ 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century Oct 4, 2026 958 Johnny Mac cold-reacts to The New York Times’ list of the 100 best TV shows of the 21st century, focusing mainly on comedies and frequently arguing many rankings are “criminally low” or overrated. He’s shocked by Community at #97 and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia at #78, questions shows ranked above Community, and notes unfamiliarity with titles like Better Things, Somebody Somewhere, Insecure

Comedy Deep Dive - Bill Burr: The Philly Rant, Patrice O’Neal’s Influence, and a Career Built on Real Anger Oct 3, 2026 922 Johnny Mac argues a 12-minute 2006 Philadelphia clip captures Bill Burr’s career: facing a hostile, drunk crowd after Tracy Morgan and Dom Irrera struggled, Burr delivered a profane takedown of the city and won a standing ovation by being “real,” not performing anger. He traces Burr’s path from Canton, Massachusetts (Emerson College, warehouse job) to Boston standup in 1992, New York in 1995, and

Stavros Halkias: Comedy Snob PLUS Bill Burr on Bombing, Parenting, and Theater; Taylor Tomlinson on Leaving After Midnight Oct 2, 2026 795 Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news centered on Rolling Stone comments from Bill Burr about moving past anger, recently bombing with a hard Vegas opener, parenting his daughter and son, crying during a story about connecting with his daughter, and how Broadway’s Glengarry Glen Ross made him love theater while rejecting a Cats revival; he also plugs a Bill Burr deep-dive episode and an upcoming N

Dane Cook Porch Pirate Video PLUS New Specials from Che, Bamford, Hardwick Oct 1, 2026 1058 Johnny Mac covers Dane Cook posting surveillance video to identify a woman he says stole dog treats from his doorstep at 6 a.m., noting the coincidence with Cook promoting a new VOD film and discussing Cook’s comments to Deadline about a documentary framing his career like “Empire Strikes Back.” He highlights a Michael Che Netflix special trailer (Oct. 13), the Maria Bamford documentary “Paralyzed

Controversial MAGA Comedian Nate Bargatze tapped by Ford Sep 30, 2026 931 Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Ford launching an ad campaign starring Nate Bargatze promoting dealership centers and mobile service with pickup/delivery, plus Bargatze discussing his self-focused, relatable comedy on Fox News. Tom Segura announces a 30-city “Preposterous” tour starting January 8 in Baton Rouge with presale at 10:00 AM and general sale Friday, October 2, and he’s listed f

Springsteen Drops Kimmel, Sam Morril’s Netflix Special, and Dane Cook’s Family Fallou Sep 29, 2026 658 Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Bruce Springsteen canceling a scheduled Jimmy Kimmel Brooklyn appearance with Tom Morello (Morello still appears), with Amy Schumer as the replacement guest alongside Howard Stern. He notes Sam Morril’s new Netflix special, Incorrect, and shares a Good Day LA intro and clip about modern attention spans. He highlights the release of Funny Money: The Dane Cook

Nikki Glaser Apologizes, Taylor Tomlinson Explains After Midnight Exit Sep 28, 2026 876 Johnny Mac covers influencer Brielle Adams-Wheatley’s Instagram call-out of a standup bit attributed to Nikki Glaser about Adams-Wheatley (a trans creator born with no limbs); Glaser apologizes in messages, says the joke was inaccurately described but still “dumb,” and says she’ll remove it. He highlights Yakov Smirnoff on Joe Rogan describing his family listening to Voice of America, fear in the

Norm Macdonald Netflix Doc, Jimmy Kimmel Rumors, and John Cleese vs BBC Cuts Sep 27, 2026 845 Johnny Mac previews Netflix’s Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald (premiering Friday, Oct. 16, directed by Judd Apatow), described as an archival-footage documentary tracing Norm’s rise on Weekend Update and legacy as a “comedian’s comedian.” He notes Chris Fleming’s Emmy frustration bit and jokes about handing NBC’s 12:30 slot to Fleming. He covers Anthony Jeselnik launching a book club podcast on B

Comedy Deep Dive: Marc Maron, WTF and the Podcast That Changed Comedy Sep 26, 2026 1178 Marc Maron recorded 1,686 episodes of WTF with Marc Maron. For the final one, he went back to Barack Obama, the guest whose 2015 visit to Maron’s garage became a defining moment in podcast history.In this Comedy Deep Dive, Johnny Mac tells the story of Marc Maron and WTF, from Maron’s turbulent years in stand-up and radio to launching a podcast out of his garage and becoming one of comedy’s most i

Stavros Halkias explains why Fast Food Sucks Now, Chris Rock on Adam Sandler, Leno Backlash, and BBC Cuts Mitchell & Webb Sep 25, 2026 932 Johnny Mac delivers comedy news including Stavros Halkias blaming private equity for fast-food quality declines, citing Wendy’s lettuce and Jersey Mike’s changes. Chris Rock, speaking at TIFF, says he asked Adam Sandler for advice on moving into drama, praises Uncut Gems and Punch-Drunk Love, notes he lacks “Madagascar money” post-divorce, and mentions his film Misty Green arriving October 9. Jay

Bill Burr on Finding His Voice PLUS Conan’s Tonight Show Return Sep 24, 2026 846 Bill Burr on Finding His Voice, Conan’s Tonight Show Return, and Seth Meyers’ Longer BreaksJohnny Mac shares daily comedy news featuring Rolling Stone’s cover story on Bill Burr and clips where Burr discusses finding his voice, moving away from being “the angry guy,” East Coast vs. West Coast attitudes, and comments related to The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s Facebook film starring Burr as inv

Are Tom Segura and Andrew Santino jumping the shark by making a Golf Comedy? Sep 23, 2026 715 Johnny Mac covers several comedy stories: Live Nation Studios, Kevin Hart’s Heartbeat, and All Things Comedy are producing Golf Trip, an ensemble film starring Tom Segura, Andrew Santino, and Timothy Simons about three friends whose annual trip is disrupted when they’re paired with an intrusive solo golfer; Mac is skeptical the project will be good. Ron White on Joe Rogan’s podcast calls Kill Tony

Pete Davidson & Colin Jost Finally Use That Ferry | SNL Cast News & Chelsea Handler Dispute Sep 22, 2026 730 Johnny Mac closes out the poolside season with Pete Davidson and Colin Jost’s Staten Island Ferry comedy night, major Saturday Night Live cast news, and the competing accounts in the Chelsea Handler–Salma Hindy dispute.Pete Davidson and Colin Jost finally put their famously unusual ferry purchase to work, transforming the decommissioned Staten Island Ferry into a floating comedy venue. Johnny brea

Kevin Hart & Taco Bell’s Live Más Open, Chris Rock on Tom Cruise, and Jo Koy’s Road Diet Sep 21, 2026 910 Johnny Mac shares comedy news including Taco Bell partnering with Kevin Hart to promote the Live Más Open on Nov. 2, where fans can qualify via Topgolf’s Shot Shuffle or an online sweepstakes to compete in a team golf event for a chance to bring back a chosen Taco Bell menu item; qualifiers run through Sept. 27, with a quote from Topgolf CEO David emphasizing accessibility. Chris Rock, at TIFF, sa

Chris Rock on Fame, Stavros Halikis on Leaving Cum Town, and Eric Idle’s Monty Python Dispute Sep 20, 2026 612 Johnny Mac delivers comedy news featuring Chris Rock discussing how fame has shifted from perks like free stuff to realizing fan interactions can make someone’s day, and accepting celebrity as part of who he is. A GQ profile of Stavros Halikis covers fan encounters, the origins and appeal of the “Cum Town” podcast, its unexpected success, and his decision to leave despite major income to focus on

Comedy Deep Dive - Dane Cook: The Full Story Sep 19, 2026 1132 Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story drops September 29, the documentary about the half-brother who stole twelve million dollars and hid it in pasta sauce. Before you watch it, Johnny Mac traces the full Dane Cook story: the website he built with his retirement savings before anyone thought that was smart, the MySpace page that got to a million and a half followers before social media was a strategy,

Carlos Mencia on Tax Evasion Charges, Chris Rock on LA, and Robby Hoffman on Comedy Limits Sep 18, 2026 666 Johnny Mac covers an interview with Carlos Mencia, who faces 12 LA County felony tax-evasion counts, has pled not guilty, and says he never “evaded,” expects past tax years to be filed soon, and titled his tour “Keep Me Out of Jail,” while reflecting on joke-stealing fallout, Joe Rogan’s role in amplifying it, and a decade of therapy about being a jerk. Chris Rock tells Variety he winters in LA, c

Mulaney’s Naughty Emmys Monologue, Colbert’s Kimmel Visit Sep 17, 2026 1113 Johnny Mac recaps daily comedy news after falling behind due to jury duty, focusing on the Emmys and Stephen Colbert’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live. He highlights a widely shared John Mulaney Emmys bit about male TV actors and reads a passage from Frank Vincent’s A Guy’s Guide to Being a Man’s Man. Colbert wins an Emmy for The Late Show’s final year and uses his speech to credit writers and enc

Taylor Swift Reportedly Upset With Nikki Glaser, Dave Chappelle’s Arena Tour, and Howard Stern’s HBO Move Sep 16, 2026 691 Johnny Mac covers a gossip report claiming Taylor Swift is furious at Nikki Glaser for saying on stage she attended Swift’s wedding despite barely knowing the couple, with sources alleging many celebrity guests scarcely knew Swift and comparisons being made to Meghan Markle’s wedding guest list. He highlights Dave Chappelle’s short arena tour culminating at Madison Square Garden for the New York C

Colbert on Kimmel Tonight, Shane Gillis to host SNL and Monty Python is DEAD Sep 15, 2026 513 Johnny Mac previews Stephen Colbert’s guest appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live and notes Kimmel will again tape a week of shows at the Brooklyn Academy of Music Sept. 28–Oct. 2. Eric Idle says “Python is dead,” rejects any Monty Python reunion (even without John Cleese), and hints at deeper issues amid past disputes over money and management, while Greg Daniels tells Variety an Office reunion isn’t n

Sam Morril’s New Netflix Special and Jimmy Kimmel's FCC Concerns Sep 14, 2026 560 Sam Morril’s New Netflix Special, Kimmel FCC Concerns, and Comedy News RoundupJohnny Mac shares comedy news, led by Sam Morril’s Netflix special “Incorrect” premiering September 29, his second for Netflix, covering topics like a disastrous one-night stand, assassinations, and a war against rats. Katt Williams is on a book tour for his memoir “Nine Lives, No Wives, and 69 Concubines,” about survivi

Rolling Stone’s 2017 ‘50 Best Stand-Up Comics’: Who Holds Up in 2026 Sep 13, 2026 932 Johnny Mac cold-reads and reacts to Rolling Stone’s “50 Best Stand-Up Comics of All Time” list from Feb. 14, 2017, noting the magazine’s modern-stand-up criteria and reassessing choices nearly a decade later. He questions or comments on many rankings (including Wanda Sykes, Aziz Ansari, Reggie Watts, Tig Notaro, Patton Oswalt, Jonathan Winters, Mitch Hedberg, and others), flags some comics as forg

Comedy Deep Dive - Rodney Dangerfield: The Joke as a Perfect Object Sep 12, 2026 799 Jerry Seinfeld was asked which joke he'd send to aliens to represent all of comedy. He picked Rodney Dangerfield. Johnny Mac looks at why — the no-respect premise as a structural achievement, the rapid-fire construction that makes the jokes work even when you already know them, the 31-year comedy club on the Upper East Side that launched Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, Sam Kinison and Robert Schimmel, th

Pete Davidson Reflects on 9/11, Plus Chris Rock’s Variety Profile and John Mulaney’s Get Smart Rumor Sep 11, 2026 900 Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news on 9/11, leading with Pete Davidson reflecting on the anniversary as a 33-year-old father, discussing his firefighter father Scott Matthew Davidson’s death at the World Trade Center, his daughter Scotty’s name, and how he learned of the death from TV. He then covers a report that John Mulaney may star in a Get Smart reboot, recapping the franchise’s history. A

Jimmy Kimmel Live to end??? South Park Renames Itself! Sep 10, 2026 714 Jimmy Kimmel returned from summer break for his 4,000th episode, joked he and Donald Trump “accomplished nothing” all summer, mocked the Reflecting Pool cleanup and the Strait of Hormuz, and Page Six reported his show could end when his contract expires, which ABC denied; Bill Carter compared the report to a fabricated Johnny Carson-era story. Jon Stewart also returned and used the “You Can See Ev

Nikki Glaser Jokes About a Secret Taylor Swift Wedding, Stavros Halkias’ Health, and a Wild Nathan Fielder Doc Sep 9, 2026 665 Johnny Mac’s Daily Comedy News covers Nikki Glaser’s Caesars Palace set where she jokes about attending an alleged top-secret Taylor Swift wedding at Madison Square Garden, with phones surrendered, A-list guests, a night spent with J.Lo, and a punchline involving Tom Cruise and a cake topper. Stavros Halkias discusses his crumbling health, injuries, stress, and relapse into edible addiction while

Stavros Halkias Drops New Netflix Special; Conan O’Brien on Adam Sandler Officiating Taylor Swift’s Wedding Sep 8, 2026 593 Johnny Mac highlights Stavros Halkias’s new Netflix special and his Vulture Maria Bamford Questionnaire answers, including refusing to return to Side Splitters’ Tampa comedy condo, wanting to live part-time in Greece, and a lacrosse-coach lesson about not quitting. Conan O’Brien recounts attending Taylor Swift’s wedding and praises Adam Sandler’s officiating. Atsuko Okatsuka shares fan interaction

Pete Davidson Donates $20K, Netflix Renews His Podcast, and Ricky Gervais’ New Tour Gets Mixed Reviews Sep 7, 2026 561 Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news on the last day of summer, led by Netflix renewing The Pete Davidson Thing and ordering a new project from Katt Williams. Davidson also meets aspiring comic Liam, who has 5p syndrome, while filming Tommy Karate in Brooklyn and reportedly donates $20,000. Joe Rogan criticizes a claim that Lake Ontario was renamed “Lake America,” calling it a distraction from wa

Comedy Deep Dive - Comedy After 9/11: What Happened When the Laughing Stopped Sep 6, 2026 1019 On September 17, 2001, David Letterman came back and didn't do a monologue. Jon Stewart came back the same night and cried on camera before becoming recognizably himself again. SNL came back September 29 with Lorne Michaels asking Rudy Giuliani if it was okay to be funny, and Giuliani delivering the best line of the night. Bill Maher said something true at the wrong moment and lost his show. Gilbe

The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon: A Comedy History Sep 5, 2026 852 Eighty-five million people watched the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon at its peak in 1976. Almost every significant American comedian performed on it at some point. Don Rickles insulted Lewis to his face at Caesars Palace in 1982 — you can watch it on YouTube. Jerry Seinfeld appeared in 1995 at the height of Seinfeld. Jimmy Fallon did standup on it in 1997, a year before SNL. Ralphie May worked the over

Ricky Gervais Shrugs Off Knighthood Sep 4, 2026 1158 Johnny Mac closes out the summer with comedy news, led by Ricky Gervais calling a knighthood meaningless, saying he’d do it if his mother were alive, might do it to annoy people, and joking about being offered one. Frank Caliendo recounts on Sage Steele’s podcast that John Madden wanted to sue him over Madden-like impressions in commercials and a video game parody, with Charles Barkley arguing the

Pete Davidson & Colin Jost’s Free Staten Island Ferry Comedy Show Sep 3, 2026 876 Johnny Mac reports that Pete Davidson and Colin Jost are hosting a free comedy show on their decommissioned Staten Island Ferry (bought for $280,000 in 2022) in NYC on September 17, with Snapple sponsoring it as the “Snapple Island Ferry”; tickets drop daily at 3 p.m. ET through the 8th at register.snappleislandferry.com, one pair per person, and the event is produced by The Stand. Netflix renewed

Jon Stewart Questions Political Comedy’s Impact + Brian Baumgartner (The Office) Golf Talk Sep 2, 2026 625 Johnny Mac covers Jon Stewart’s comments on Michelle Obama’s podcast about not confusing cultural power with real power, the fragility of leaders toward satire, and whether political comedy helps or corrodes discourse. Brian Baumgartner discusses being The Office’s best golfer, joint pain from long tournament weeks, and promotes Voltaren while naming Oscar as his preferred golf partner. The lineup

Bill Maher Dolly Parton Backlash, Tom Segura’s New Material, and Ali G Controversy Sep 1, 2026 679 Johnny Mac covers comedy news for Sept. 1, including backlash to Bill Maher after a Real Time monologue scolding Americans for mourning Dolly Parton too much and joking about tributes. The Minnesota Star Tribune reviews Tom Segura at Acme, noting he’s building a new set from scratch and not addressing his split with Christina P. Michael Che’s four Minneapolis shows at First Avenue reportedly banne

Stavros Halkias self-reviews, Gaffigan as Santa, Mulaney visits Air Force Base Aug 31, 2026 800 Byron Allen’s ‘Comics Unleashed’ Beats Kimmel and Fallon in Key DemoJohnny Mac covers late-night ratings where CBS’s Byron Allen rerun of “Comics Unleashed” wins adults 18–49 (161K) over Jimmy Kimmel (158K with Jelly Roll hosting) and a Fallon repeat (154K), though it finishes third in total viewers; he also notes “Funny You Should Ask” beating Seth Meyers in total viewers amid Meyers taking seven

Alec Baldwin says Trump isn't funny anymore Aug 30, 2026 866 Johnny Mac recaps comedy news, highlighting a Atlantic piece on Trump satire fatigue: Alec Baldwin says Trump is no longer funny, while Anthony Atamanuik describes The President Show as issue-focused despite Trump being an “albatross,” and the article notes the left-leaning satire boom faded, with Sarah Cooper’s pandemic-era rise and later Trump portrayals by James Austin Johnson and Shane Gillis.

Comedy Deep Dive - Richard Jeni: The Best Comedian You Never Knew Aug 29, 2026 998 Jerry Seinfeld said he didn't know one comedian who didn't think Richard Jeni was amazing. Chris Rock called him a friend and a mentor. Jay Leno said he made other comics laugh in a room. Richard Jeni had the highest-rated Showtime special in the channel's history, more Tonight Show appearances than any standup of his era, a Carson panel seat he earned rather than received, a Clio Award for commer

DCN Live x 4 Mile Run - Nate Bargatze vs. Shane Gillis? Pick one! Aug 28, 2026 246 Johnny Mac records an “Afternoon Check-In” during a run and uses a walk break to cover three topics: a social media debate about whose career he’d rather have going forward—Nate Bargatze or Shane Gillis—leaning toward Nate for long-term touring potential while questioning how Shane’s persona ages; a late-night ratings report that Byron Allen’s 11:30 show beat Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon in 18–49

Norm Macdonald Netflix Doc Leads October Comedy Documentary Lineup Aug 28, 2026 1270 Johnny Mac reports poolside on Netflix’s four Friday comedy documentaries in October: “Who Is Martin Mull?” (Oct 7, produced by Bob Saget and Neil Berkeley), “Norm: The Tale of Norm Macdonald” (Oct 16, built from archival material and backed by Judd Apatow), “Paralyzed by Hope: The Maria Bamford Story” (Oct 23, also from Apatow), and “SCTV: The Greatest Show You’ve Never Heard Of” (Oct 30, with Ji

DCN Live - Mulaney’s Late-Night Misfire, Rosie O’Donnell Rumors & Arthur Treacher’s Returns Aug 27, 2026 273 Johnny Mac records poolside while his basement studio is cleaned, noting he finally got the pool reasonably clean. He’s surprised his college students don’t know Bill Burr, briefly comments on Theo Von’s podcast with Nate Bargatze, and revisits why a Rosie O’Donnell late-night show “is just not gonna happen,” citing her age, budget pressures, and that Netflix couldn’t draw viewers to John Mulaney’

Dolly Parton Clips; Christina P’s Post-Separation Set, and Katt Williams Covers PGA Tour today Aug 27, 2026 1659 Poolside, Johnny Mac reports on comedy and entertainment news, noting Dolly Parton’s death at 80 and sharing resurfaced clips from David Letterman’s 1995 “Top 10 Dolly Parton Pet Peeves” and an edited Johnny Carson segment. He also says Tim Curry has died at 80. Other items include Stephen Colbert posting a video, and a New York Post/Page Six report that Christina P performed days after her separa

DCN Live x Beach Volleyball - Jimmy Carr to host Top Gear? Aug 26, 2026 262 Johnny Mac shares a quick Afternoon Daily Comedy News Update featuring B-roll from his weekly beach volleyball game and a statue of Challenger the Eagle. He discusses reports that Jimmy Carr is being considered to host a reboot of Top Gear, noting producers want to pair him with a woman and “online celebrities,” and speculates the show may be trying to compete with a new-cast Grand Tour. He also r

Tim Dillon, Jon Stewart and Bill Burr Lead a New Comedy Podcast Ad Ranker Aug 26, 2026 952 Johnny Mac reviews Oxford Road’s Orbit study ranking the top 15 “efficient for advertisers” comedy podcasts, noting the list’s volatility, the absence of many A-list hosts, and that several high-efficiency shows cost under $2,500 per episode; entries include Crash Dummies Podcast (No. 1), The Foil Hat, Adam Carolla, The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, The Tim Dillon Show, The Toast, Monday Morning P

DCN Live - Rosie O’Donnell Late-Night Talk Show Idea Is Insane Aug 25, 2026 206 Johnny Mac discusses a Variety article suggesting Rosie O’Donnell could get a late-night show after guest-hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live!, arguing there’s little market for it and noting a White House spokesperson issued a statement criticizing O’Donnell, who has moved to Ireland. He also covers comedian Nate Bargatze launching a new company, No Pictures, for “edgier content” while keeping Nateland as

Nate Bargatze gets edgier! Zarna Garg stuck in bathroom! Aug 25, 2026 794 Nate Bargatze Launches No Pictures as Zarna Garg Gets Stuck at HermèsJohnny Mac covers Zarna Garg’s claim that she was trapped for about 1 hour 20 minutes in an Hermès store bathroom in Berlin while trying to buy an elusive handbag, with her team recording as she joked, made paper-towel origami, and staff eventually used a crowbar and firefighters to free her. He notes a pronunciation clip explain

DCN Live in the Rain - Dane Cook’s Brother, Seth Meyers’ Break, Jay Leno’s Hustle & Weird Al Tiny Desk Aug 24, 2026 242 Recording poolside as the rain pours, the host shares a comedic interaction with AI while trying to understand why Dane Cook’s brother is named Darryl McCauley; after giving incorrect explanations, the AI admits the mistake and clarifies they are half-brothers with different fathers and a shared mother, Donna Jean Ford. The host reiterates a desire to “make 12:30 great again,” arguing NBC should r

Dane Cook’s ‘Funny Money’ Trailer, SNL Season 52 Casting Buzz & Kathy Griffin-Rosie O’Donnell Drama Aug 24, 2026 875 Johnny Mac covers the trailer and details for “Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story,” about Dane Cook’s half-brother/business manager Darryl McCauley stealing $12 million, hiding cash in pasta sauce, and later pleading guilty and serving prison time; the episode also digresses into verifying Cook’s real name and how McCauley is identified. Deadline’s reporting on possible Saturday Night Live season 52

Rosie O’Donnell Tops Kimmel Guest Hosts, Weird Al Returns to Tiny Desk & Ricky Gervais Marriage Plan Aug 23, 2026 707 Johnny Mac covers comedy and entertainment news, led by Rosie O’Donnell’s strong first-night ratings as a Jimmy Kimmel Live guest host (1.87M viewers), beating The Tonight Show and winning adults 18–49, plus a popular YouTube monologue. He notes Weird Al’s new NPR Tiny Desk Concert featuring parodies and other songs, and shares The New Yorker’s look back at It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, inclu

Comedy Deep Dive - Robert Schimmel: Confessional Stand-Up, Cancer, Howard Stern and a Comic’s Comic Legacy Aug 22, 2026 1411 Johnny Mac spotlights comedian Robert Schimmel as part of Saturday deep dives on comics who peaked before YouTube and podcasts. He describes Schimmel’s brutally confessional style—turning tragedies like his 11-year-old son’s leukemia death and his own stage-three non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma into jokes—and recounts Schimmel’s improbable life, including marrying and divorcing the same woman three times,

DCN Live x Pool Robot: Conan O’Brien Must Go Returns as New York Comedy Festival Adds 100 Shows Aug 21, 2026 262 Poolside, Johnny Mac skims the comedy updates while watching a solar-powered pool vacuum crush leaves. The New York Comedy Festival announces another 100 shows, but the host isn’t impressed with the lineup and questions who the true headliner is, noting additions and previously announced names including Marc Maron, Ilana Glazer, Jordan Jensen, Jordan Klepper, Sarah Sherman, Patti Harrison, Daniel

Conan O’Brien Must Go Season 3, Chris Fleming Late-Night Pitch, and Eric Andre Airport Settlement Aug 21, 2026 874 Johnny Mac reports on Conan O’Brien Must Go season three debuting on HBO Max with four episodes set in India, the Netherlands, Morocco, and the Philippines, highlighting Conan’s approach to choosing locations, improvisation, and embracing travel chaos. He discusses a Harper’s Bazaar profile of Chris Fleming’s Largo variety show and argues for making the 12:30 slot “weird” again by giving Fleming L

DCN Live vs. Landscapers: Dane Cook's $12M Betrayal Aug 20, 2026 321 Poolside, Johnny Mac shares an afternoon comedy news update, reacting to the trailer for "Funny Money: The Dane Cook Story," a video-on-demand release arriving September 29th about Cook’s brother Darryl stealing $12 million while serving as his business manager, later pleading guilty and being sentenced to prison. He says the documentary could reignite interest in how big Dane Cook once was, then

Shane Gillis ‘Beer Brand Betrayal’ Kerfuffle, Nate Bargatze ‘Controversy,’ and Jo Koy’s New Netflix Aug 20, 2026 868 Johnny Mac delivers Daily Comedy News, explaining his short afternoon YouTube updates while the main audio show stays the same. He covers a Shane Gillis “kerfuffle” after cameras at an Austin FC match showed a Dos Equis near Gillis, a Bud Light spokesperson, with TMZ citing a source saying the beer belonged to a blonde seated next to him; he also notes a favorable Wall Street Journal piece on Gill

DCN Live: Nate Bargatze “MAGA Comedian” Controversy Expands; Shane Gillis Beer Mystery Solved Aug 19, 2026 233 At the lake, Johnny Mac jokes about the “non-controversy controversy” around clean comedian Nate Bargatze after The Daily Beast repeatedly called him “MAGA comedian Nate Bargatze,” a label now echoed by mainstream Parade Magazine, which cites his reported $77.5M 2025 earnings and backlash over photos of him attending President Donald Trump’s White House UFC Freedom 250 fight, including criticism f

Chelsea Handler’s Roe v. Wade Blunder; Theo Von talks Iran This Past Weekend, Nate Bargatze Breaks Guinness Record Aug 19, 2026 830 Johnny Mac covers multiple comedy-news stories, starting with a Comedy Mothership “Comedy Dating Show” where comedians will “shoot their shot” with Christina P shortly after her May divorce filing from Tom. He highlights Stavros Halikis on the Popcast discussing why performing at Saudi events like the Riyadh Comedy Festival amounts to culture-washing and criticizing U.S. foreign policy. Theo Von q

DCN Live from High Point: Robby Hoffman Vinyl, Nate Bargatze “Controversy,” Shane Gillis, Kelsey Cook & Stavros Aug 18, 2026 156 Filmed from High Point State Park in New Jersey after a 2.18-mile uphill hike,Johhny Mac runs through comedy news and recommendations: Robby Hoffman is releasing her album “Wake Up” on vinyl tomorrow via Secretly Canadian (also available digitally, with a limited run of signed vinyl), joking it’s the only way her record-collecting mother will hear it. He riffs on a Daily Beast “controversial come

Joe Rogan and Shane Gillis and Nate Bargatze PLUS Stavros Halkias shades bro podcasters over politics Aug 18, 2026 846 Johnny Mac recaps Daily Comedy News, starting with The Daily Beast’s reaction to a Joe Rogan episode featuring Shane Gillis, Ari Shaffir, and Mark Normand discussing attending a Trump White House/UFC-related event, VIP-room photos involving Nate Bargatze, and a past Trump photo. The episode also includes the group’s talk about communism versus policies like free healthcare and education, and Rogan

DCN Live: Christina P Joins a Dating Show?! Nate Bargatze Breaks the Record Aug 17, 2026 214 John reacts negatively to James Austin Johnson’s trailer for his special “Hell Yeah,” out August 31, noting the trailer’s premise and that it shows him performing at venues including the Den Theatre in Chicago, Cobb’s in San Francisco, and Zanies in Nashville. Comedy Dynamics also announces Dan Ahdoot’s special “Yes I Am Falafel Phil,” available on Prime and Apple TV, covering topics like post-bre

Tom Segura Speaks on Christina P Divorce + Letterman to interview Kimmel Aug 17, 2026 799 Johnny Mac covers Tom Segura discussing his divorce from Christina P on his podcast, saying they’ve recorded separately for months, are non-combative, talk daily, and are focused on their children, while calling the public nature of it awful. He previews season seven of David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with guests including Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Jimmy Kimmel, and rock cli

Rory Scovel Talks Politics in New Special; Netflix’s 2026-2027 Comedy Slate, Mike Epps Fest, and More Aug 16, 2026 580 Johnny Mac reviews What’s on Netflix’s guide to Netflix comedy series returning in 2026–2027 and beyond, highlighting projects including A Hundred Percent (single-camera ensemble about the “thought leader industrial complex”), adult animated series Dad’s House, Ding, Dealies, Living the Dream, Scooby-Doo Origins (live-action), and an untitled Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo relationship comedy. He

Comedy Deep Dive - Ralphie May: The Comedian Who Should Have Been Bigger Aug 15, 2026 801 Two days before he died, Ralphie May won Casino Comedian of the Year. He was forty-five, he had pneumonia, and he went to the ceremony anyway and posted about it with the hashtag NoApologies. Johnny Mac makes the case for a comedian who built a platinum album, six specials, and two decades of sold-out rooms through crowd work and audience relationship rather than industry validation, and asks why

DCN Live: Good listens Shane Gillis on Joe Rogan Experience, Stavros Halkias on Podcast Aug 14, 2026 206 Johnny Mac gives a poolside update on cleaning a vandalized, still-green pool now filled with added leaves, then recommends listening to Joe Rogan’s episode with Mark Normand, Shane Gillis, and Ari Shaffir, plus Stavros Halkias on the Popcast. He notes the Daily Beast criticizing Nate Bargatze by labeling him “MAGA comedian” and mentions Gillis telling Rogan he refused to go into a VIP room or be

Nikki Glaser Leaves UTA for WME as Shane Gillis, Theo Von and Adam Sandler Make Headlines Aug 14, 2026 873 Johnny Mac covers comedy news including reports that Golden Globes host Nikki Glaser abruptly fired UTA after being signed since 2018 and moved to WME across multiple areas. He highlights new Bud Light commercials featuring Shane Gillis and Peyton Manning, and Theo Von returning to Vanderbilt to deliver a more serious football speech and spend time at fall camp. He discusses a Radar Online item cl

DCN Live: Why Nikki Glaser chased Kim Kardashian, Letterman's Next Guest Jimmy Kimmel Aug 13, 2026 273 From lakeside update, Johnny Mac highlights Page Six reporting that Nikki Glaser fired UTA and signed with WME, allegedly influenced by her connection to Kim Kardashian, who is producing and co-starring with Glaser in the upcoming Netflix film The Fifth Wheel; Glaser praises Kardashian’s advice and says the cast stays in touch. The host notes David Letterman’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction r

Amy Schumer Announces First Kids Book ‘A Joke of Her Own’ Aug 13, 2026 592 Johnny Mac reports comedy news including Amy Schumer’s first children’s book, A Joke of Her Own, about a girl writing her own book and learning that laughter can be positive; Schumer links it to her childhood and her son Gene, and the book is out March 9 with preorders available. Shane Gillis tells Jimmy Fallon his mom skipped his stadium show because she was vacationing in Croatia. ESPN hires Sta

DCN LIve: Tom Segura Addresses His Divorce, Rory Scovel is #2 comedy special of the year Aug 12, 2026 180 Johnny Mac praises Rory Scovel’s new Netflix special as fantastic and slots it at #2 for the year, behind Chris Fleming’s HBO “Live at the Palace” at #1, also recommending viewers avoid Vulture’s spoiler review. He runs through his top nine specials so far: Ryan Hamilton’s Netflix “Then It Hit Me,” Trevor Noah’s Netflix “Joy,” Katt Williams’ Netflix special, Pete Holmes’ 800 Pound Gorilla special,

Shane Gillis discusses 76000 person Phily stadium show Aug 12, 2026 614 Johnny Mac delivers poolside comedy news, critiquing Jimmy Fallon’s interviewing while replaying Fallon’s chat with Shane Gillis about Gillis selling over 76,000 tickets for a Philadelphia show featuring guests including Meek Mill, Bam Margera, Dave Chappelle and Three 6 Mafia. He highlights a trailer and release date for Conan O’Brien Must Go season three (August 21). John Oliver draws backlash f

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