Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac

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 references The Verge’s interview with W. Kamau Bell about underappreciated apps, including complaints about map apps labeling the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America,” and pitches an “A-hole detector” wa...

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 Podcast with Bill Burr, Kill Tony, Bad Friends, and more. He then cites a New York Times piece on comedians shifting from video clips to Instagram carousel “comic strip” panels for faster, silent consumption. He spotlights Jonathan Kite’s Anthony Bourda...

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 family-friendly, and reports Nateland is developing an animated project called Nateville compared to King of the Hill. Finally, he highlights the Fastball Comedy Festival at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, on October 17–18, headlined by Dave Chappelle and Tom Segura...

Nate Bargatze Launches No Pictures as Zarna Garg Gets Stuck at Hermès
Johnny 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 explaining “Hermès.” The episode also reports Nate Bargatze launching the edgier production banner No Pictures with producer Lawrence Gray while Nateland develops projects including the film Fantasy Camp and Netflix a...

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 replace Seth Meyers with Chris Fleming, noting Meyers is taking seven weeks off and has launched a YouTube video podcast of “A Closer Look.” A Jay Leno anecdote follows: at a 2026 Burbank International Film Festival dinner for his Vangua...

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 casting is summarized, including showcase cities, standout names, and notes about representation, plus that Chloe Fineman won’t return. Mac discusses Seth Meyers’ seven-week hiatus and new video podcast with Sal Gentile, speculating about budget cuts. Updates include Jay Leno rearr...

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, including its LA production, the Philadelphia setting decision, and Emmy-related jokes and nominations. He recaps Ricky Gervais saying he’ll marry longtime partner Jane Fallon to reduce inheritance tax and discusses his views on cancel cult...

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, later marrying his daughter’s best friend during chemotherapy, and dying at 60 from a 2010 Scottsdale car accident while awaiting a liver transplant. Mac traces Schimmel’s career: Bronx upbringing, Rodney Dangerfield’s 1986 HBO Young Comedian’s Special boost, Showtime specials, writing for In Livin...

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 Sloss, and Ziwe. Guillermo from “Kimmel” is launching a salsa, with a company president saying he made it and Guillermo approved putting his name on it. The host plugs tomorrow’s audio deep dive on comedian Robert Schimmel and reflects on how some...

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 Late Night, citing Mark Maron’s praise and Fleming’s influences and philosophy. The episode revisits Byron Allen’s stance against political humor and his claim that CBS gives him no content notes. Other items include Mariska Hargitay w...

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 notes Jo Koy’s sixth Netflix special, "Blue in the Face," premieres September 15th and revisits Koy’s Golden Globes Taylor Swift joke bit. He highlights a New York Times piece about comics pivoting from video clips to scroll...

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 Gillis and the Netflix success of Tires, including its Quibi origins, self-funded proof of concept, and plans through season three, plus co-star Steve Gerben’s background as a paralegal. He discusses media...

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 from W. Kamau Bell and mixed fan reactions. The episode also corrects a viral claim that Shane Gillis drank Dos Equis at the event, saying TMZ reports he was drinking Bud Light and the Dos Equis belonged to someone nearby. Finally, it notes Rick...

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 questions U.S. troop involvement regarding Iran on This Past Weekend, with guest Zequin Zheng describing Trump’s inconsistent rhetoric as “TACO” (“Trump Always Chickens Out”). Chelsea Handler, on Kara Swisher’s podcast, warns AG Todd Blanche could overturn Roe v. Wade, though it w...

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 comedian” label for Nate Bargatze, recommends Shane Gillis’ “Tires” and notes a new “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia” episode, and mentions a viral clip of Gillis swapping a Dos Equis for a Bud Light on camera. He highlight...

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’s criticism of Trump-related crypto corruption and business dealings. On Popcast, Stavros Halkias says comedians have had “dumb” political opinions, resents being pushed into politics, and argues podcasters either naively or cynically platformed politicians; he also criticizes A-list com...

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-breakup fitness, foodie culture, dating, family, and his Disney Channel role as Falafel Phil. The host comments on Christina P. hosting a Comedy Mothership Comedy Dating Show where comedians “shoot their shot” with her, and mentions Amy Sch...

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 climber Alex Honnold. Jay Leno backs “Leno’s Law 2.0” to expand smog exemptions for older collector cars and says he’d likely avoid Trump jokes if hosting The Tonight Show. Joe Rogan comments on a report about the pr...

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 notes rumored upcoming stand-up releases listed on Wikipedia: Kelsey Cook’s Happy Hour (Aug. 18) and Stamped Town (Aug. 25), plus specials in development from Bert Kreischer, Gabe, Leanne Morgan, Nate Bargatze, and Nimesh Patel. He summarizes The Hollywood Reporter interview with Rory Scovel about his new special, e...

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 the comedy conversation still hasn't fully reckoned with what it lost when he died.

"What happened to Ralphie May?"
"Why did Ralphie May finish second on Last Comic Standing?"<...

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 photographed. Mac plans to play related clips on Tuesday’s audio podcast, including Stavros’s comments that some comedians have “the dumbest opinions on Earth” and that getting rich can make comics lose touch. He also...

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 claiming a Sandler–Ryan Reynolds rivalry tied to Taylor Swift, plus Sunny Sandler’s Tonight Show appearance describing Adam Sandler’s pool “socks” habit. Other items: Joe Rogan responds to Chelsea Handler’s $82M comment, Conan O’Brien play...

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 returning for season seven with guests Matt Damon, Julia Roberts, Jimmy Kimmel, and rock climber Alex Honnold. Jon Lovitz tells Fallon Adam Sandler casts him as a pervert because “I think it’s funny,” and praises Sa...

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 Stavros Halios for a new “Football’s On” NFL campaign. Ricky Gervais says making it at 40 helped keep him grounded. Sebastian Maniscalco worries about golfing in 125-degree Las Vegas heat and discus...

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, Derek Streep’s “Nostalgic,” Ramy Youssef’s “In Love,” and Jackie Kashian’s “After Kashian,” with others in a lower tier to discuss on the full audio podcast. He reads Tom Segura’s comments on recording separate “Your Mom’s Hou...

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 from the Rialto Police Department after an HBO segment about privately owned security cameras and alleged permit pressure. The Hollywood Reporter profiles Jimmy Kimmel, who discusses reactions to his unscheduled vacation, hosting Millionaire, and awards rivals. Other items include Patton Oswalt...

In a casual poolside check-in, John discusses reports that Nikki Glaser abruptly fired UTA, surprising even members of her team, and notes she’s now signed with WME across multiple areas after her rise following the Tom Brady roast and Golden Globes attention. The episode also touches on Radar Online’s claim of a rivalry between Adam Sandler and Ryan Reynolds, alongside pushback suggesting they barely know each other, plus background on Sandler’s career and his tendency to cast longtime friends. The host mentions Sandler’s family attending a Netflix screening and describes Sandler’s red-carpet outfit. Joe Rogan responds t...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Matt Rife facing backlash after replying to a paranormal investigator over an Instagram post promoting the Haunted Warren Museum (home of the Annabelle doll), with TMZ reporting missing context due to deleted comments and noting the pair charge up to $166 for admission, angering parts of the paranormal community. Bill Maher drew criticism for jokes about Ariana Grande’s weight on HBO. John Oliver appears on Days of Our Lives for multiple episodes, while Adam Sandler has been spotted in Madison, New Jersey filming Grown Ups 3 with an extensive cast and local road closures. The LA...

A quickie video for the Youtube Channel.  An experiment.

Johnshares quick thoughts on a few topics: they disliked the Ted Lasso season premiere, arguing the show needs more reality and that it’s unbelievable Ted—after finishing second in the Premier League—would be working part-time at a supermarket instead of coaching, doing TV, or taking another high-level job, and they also can’t buy the idea he’d return to the UK to coach a second-division women’s team. They then say “Alley Cats” was very bad despite liking Ricky Gervais, feeling it was mostly cursing and quitting a couple...

Johnny Mac reports on Christina P. (Christina Pazsitzky) and Tom Segura divorcing after nearly 20 years, with Christina confirming on Your Mom’s House that it’s sad but amicable, asking fans not to take sides, and saying they will continue co-hosting. The Times of London gives Dave Chappelle’s London appearance two stars, criticizing a late start, high ticket prices, and an unfocused set that still touched on transgender-related material. Andrew Schulz comments on Caitlin Clark being criticized for avoiding politics. Stavros Halkias discusses playing a sous chef in an Anthony Bourdain movie. An LA Times feature covers Anthony Jeselnik’s insomn...

Johnny Mac recaps an LA Times piece featuring comedians reflecting on selling out Madison Square Garden, including Nate Bargatze (three shows Sept. 26–27, 2025), Dane Cook (three shows in 2006 and 2009), Jim Gaffigan (Dec. 12, 2015), Matt Rife (two shows July 18–19, noted as the youngest to do so), and Andrew Schulz (two shows May 3–4, 2024). He then discusses Josh Johnson’s “Comedy Band Camp,” describing its troupe personality quiz and takes it himself, landing in the Fuchsia Flames, and shares Johnson’s comments on differences between stand-up and The Daily Show’s collaborative process. The episode also covers Austin’s “Anybody But Tony” show reacting to Kill Tony and the Roga...

Jay Leno says he never spent a dollar of his NBC salary, he lived off standup income the whole time, even while hosting the most watched late night show in America. Johnny Mac looks at everything about Jay Leno that isn't the Tonight Show: the Comedy Store years, the David Letterman friendship and the edgier version of Jay a generation of comedy fans first met on that show, the Big Dog Garage in Burbank that grew from seventeen thousand to a hundred and twenty-two thousand square feet, the 1907 White Steam Car that caught fire and put him in a burn...

Johnny Mac hosts Daily Comedy News, noting a false online rumor that Patton Oswalt died, which Oswalt mocked and which Twitter corrected. Christina P discussed her divorce from Tom Segura on Your Mom’s House, saying they tried for years for the kids, there’s no animosity, and “we’re cool.” Williams Grove Speedway partnered with Netflix’s Tires starring Shane Gillis for fan appreciation night. Netflix releases Ricky Gervais’ six-part, 15-minutes-each animated comedy Alley Cats featuring Diane Morgan, with the cast recording together. Bob Marley’s new bit references “furries,” alongside a past Maine middle-school incident. Seth Meyers performs at SNHU Arena suppor...

Late Nighter found dozens of AI-generated YouTube videos mimicking Jimmy Kimmel’s monologues using synthetic voice/face, matching thumbnails, odd gestures, and little humor; one drew 800,000 views before disappearing. Chelsea Handler criticized Forbes’ claim Joe Rogan earned $82 million in 2026, and Mac explains podcast ad revenue and CPMs. Sebastian Maniscalco discusses possibly shaving his head and timing a second hair transplant with a Beverly Hills surgeon. Mo Gilligan’s Netflix “Chicken Thing” explores fried chicken, ingredients, body-image concerns, and challenging Black British stereotypes. Bowen Yang will play Mary Todd Lincoln in “Oh, Mary” on Broadway starting Sept. 15. Amy Poehler’s Town Hall podcast tap...

Johnny Mac recaps comedy news, led by a brutal Guardian review of Ricky Gervais’ new Netflix animated series Alley Cats, calling it lazy, shock-driven, and unfunny. John Oliver discusses Emmy nominations, HBO’s value of awards, and late-night camaraderie, plus mentions Conan O’Brien Must Go season three arriving Aug. 21. He shares SNL Season 52 ticket lottery details and notes Jay Leno will receive BIFF’s Vanguard Award and a “Jay Leno Day” proclamation in Burbank. Ted Lasso season four premieres at 9 p.m. Eastern with Ted coaching a women’s team and several returning and absent cast members, with comments from Jason Sud...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Jim Gaffigan’s Father Time Bourbon winning Best New Bourbon at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for The Caboose Empty Nester Strength (double gold, 97 points), with details on mash bill, proofs, and the $200 retail price. CBS will air a two-hour 20th anniversary primetime special of Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed on Tuesday, September 29, and Funny You Should Ask returns to production August 11 with new CBS late-night episodes starting September 21; the show nears its 500th episode. Seth Meyers’ Day Drinking becomes a Peacock series compilation. Ratings notes compare summer late-night numbers for Kimmel, Fallon, Meyers...

Johnny Mac covers Gianmarco Soresi posting his Montreal Comedy Festival “State of the Industry” speech with Jay Jurden, highlighting a section packed with jokes about Tony Hinchcliffe and Kill Tony. Mac then fixates on the Sept. 10 Madison Square Garden “New York City Still Rising” 9/11 benefit guest list—Aziz Ansari, Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Ronny Chieng, and Pete Davidson—noting all five also played the Riyadh Comedy Festival last year and calling the coincidence statistically odd, while sharing his personal 9/11 perspective and comparing past lineups. He reports Patricia Heaton backing a petition urging Mayor Zohran Mamdani not attend the 25th anniversary at Ground Ze...

Johnny Mac delivers poolside comedy news, led by Trevor Noah starring in South Africa’s second international tourism marketing push, “Tourism in South Africa with Trevor Noah,” titled “Didn’t Say We Didn’t Tell You,” aimed at attracting foreign visitors amid xenophobic tensions and anti-illegal immigration protests. Chelsea Handler shares strict family vacation etiquette from her 2025 book “I’ll Have What She’s Having,” including acknowledging household staff, being considerate with food and alcohol, staying engaged in activities, and contributing “pleasantness.” Rob Beckett discusses Disney trips, how kids change vacations, Spain travel tips, and a planned Europe road trip ending at Europa Park. In...

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 Okatsuka is developing a half-hour sitcom about modern marriage, highlights a Hollywood Reporter profile of Maria Bamford discussi...

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. From Just for Laughs Montreal’s State of the Industry, he highlights jokes and commentary from Jay Jurden and Gianmarco Soresi about various comedians an...