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

Most people tell the Shane Gillis story backwards — starting with the SNL firing and working forward. Johnny Mac flips it. The real story starts with a podcast from Pennsylvania that almost nobody was listening to, and ends with one of the most interesting career architectures in comedy right now. This one's about why comedians pay attention to Shane Gillis, what his success says about gatekeepers, and why the Tuesday he recorded a slightly above-average podcast episode might matter more than the day he got fired.

"What happened to Shane Gillis after SNL fired him?" – "Why is Shane Gillis popu...

Johnny Mac opens Daily Comedy News reacting to the amazing New York Knicks game and notes comedians and celebrities in attendance including Adam Sandler, Jerry Seinfeld, Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, Rainn Wilson, and Taylor Swift. He mentions a viral clip of Seinfeld telling a pro-Palestinian streamer “It doesn’t exist.” He recounts Tracy Morgan’s controversial comments about teachers during a CNN/Variety Actors on Actors chat with Marcelo Hernandez. Variety interviews Marc Maron about ending his podcast, resisting new deals, and shaping his special Panicked. Mac discusses his own cat-separation routine at home, reads a one-star...

Johnny Mac covers Knicks driven comedy news, highlighting Jamie Foxx’s impressions of Inside the NBA personalities and noting Knicks fan Tracy Morgan will receive the inaugural Flip Wilson Award at the 8th annual AAFCA TV Honors on August 8 at City Club LA. He previews “FIFA World Cup on Fox After Hours with James Corden,” airing nightly at midnight with Rio Ferdinand and Ian Karmel, while doubting the show will address issues like New Jersey Transit problems, overpriced tickets, and half-empty stadiums; Will Ferrell is also named a Los Angeles World Cup 2026 community ambassador. The episode discusses Morgan Wallen’s canceled...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news and jokes about the Knicks’ loss, noting Michael Che’s Instagram post blaming Trump. Conan O’Brien partners with Adaptive Security to star in a 15-part AI-age cybersecurity training series; the firm has reportedly raised over $140 million. Dave Chappelle announces 2026 “Summer Camp” shows in Yellow Springs, Ohio with multiple July and August dates, strict phone restrictions, and tickets on sale. Marc Maron promotes “In Memorium,” about a comedian with six months to live, and discusses politics in comedy. Howie Mandel and Brian Posehn appear in a “Let the Good Times Roll” music video collaboration. The Tribeca documentar...

Johnny Mac previews Bill Maher receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center on Sunday, June 28, filmed for Netflix, with participants including Louis C.K., Jay Leno, Stephen A. Smith, Whitney Cummings, Woody Harrelson, Arianna Huffington, and John Mellencamp, and notes past winners. He highlights Zarna Garg’s comments on the Breakdown podcast about performing at the Riyadh Comedy Festival to inspire women who watch her in secret, saying money wasn’t her motivation, and mentions The Hollywood Reporter’s note that Jessica Kirson donated her Riyadh fee to the Human Rights Campaign. The episode jokes about...

Johnny Mac recaps comedy and entertainment news, led by Kevin Hart on Jimmy Kimmel Live discussing the Roast of Kevin Hart, saying he stayed comfortable, nothing hurt, and highlighting Dwayne Johnson surprising him with an unflattering mugshot photo of Hart’s father; Hart suggests LeBron James as a future roast subject and rejects Oprah as “spray painting the Sistine Chapel.” The episode notes Hart developing a movie about rival spies in a Lamaze class co-starring Henry Cavill. Late-night ratings show Kimmel leading total viewers (2.43M vs. Fallon 1.41M) while Fallon edges adults 18–49; Mac questions Kimmel taking the summer off. CBS denies r...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news, starting with spoilers from PokerGO’s High Stakes Poker Season 16 featuring Kevin Hart, who had nearly $1 million, rebought for $500,000, and saw losses eclipse $1.4 million after two major pots. Jim Gaffigan tells Goldenglobes.com that streaming and social media transformed stand-up into a healthier part of entertainment and says comedy is about listening to evolving social norms. For Forbes, Jerry Seinfeld and Nate Bargatze discuss aging jokes, accepting getting older, wearing the same thing daily, and Bargatze’s experience writing and starring in a movie and his belief in theaters. Bert Kreischer previews Free Bert Season 2 and...

Johnny Mac reports a first post-Colbert late-night ratings snapshot from Nielsen live-plus-same-day data for Monday June 1, 2026: Jimmy Kimmel leads with 2.185M viewers and 295K adults 18–49 (up 53% total viewers and 178% in 18–49 vs June 2, 2025), followed by Jimmy Fallon at 1.3M; Comics Unleashed draws 628K, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart 612K at 11:00, Late Night with Seth Meyers 790K at 12:37, Byron Allen’s new 12:30 show 419K, and Nightline wins that slot with 819K. From The Hollywood Reporter roundtable, Nikki Glaser discusses wanting to be liked while saying “awful things,” and Marc Maron defines his audience and being both progressive and “dirty,” while Leanne Morgan avoids...

Johnny Mac recaps The Hollywood Reporter’s comedians roundtable recorded in May at the Georgian Hotel with Marc Maron, Nikki Glaser, Wanda Sykes, Leanne Morgan, and Julio Torres, focusing on fears like complacency and cancellation and quoting Maron on talking to himself and Glaser comparing standup to sex and discussing pressure to work clean from bookers, agents, and TV; Maron jokes he stays a little dirty to keep success away and notes he can do clean sets. He notes Hannah Berner’s new Hulu special, None of My Business, and her comments about making specials, confidence, and wanting the special to b...

Johnny Mac reviews early YouTube performance for “Good Night with Ben Gleib,” noting 21,000 views for the premiere (guest Kevin Smith) and 308 views for a clip, and compares it to Netflix’s teaser for Tony Hinchcliffe’s “Man of the People,” discussed via a Daily Beast critique and cited at 20,000 views. He reports Marcello Hernandez will host the ESPYs July 15 as the show returns to New York at Lincoln Center. Brooks Wheelan discusses opening for Seth Meyers and John Oliver at the Beacon Theatre, the Chicago comedy scene, and his two marathons, including an ASICS endorsement and a failed Mountain Dew stunt. Other...

Johnny Mac skips a Daily Mail Kevin Hart “crisis” piece, then covers a Vulture interview with Jimmy Kimmel about burnout, late night’s decline, skepticism over reported Colbert losses, ABC’s one-year renewal and contract through May 2027, and his upcoming summer break starting after the June 19 NBA Finals. Kimmel’s Peabody speech argues satire is a constitutional right and warns about censorship after an FCC action. Joe Rogan discusses roast culture and criticizes comedians who condemn roast jokes as racist. George Lopez recounts backlash and a visit after an Instagram joke about an alleged Iran bounty. Ronnie Chieng attacks AI at Harvard...

Johnny Mac covers Daily Comedy News, leading with a long Conan O’Brien clip joking that he’s “suing Harvard” over various student grievances while riffing on the administration’s claims about foreign students. He explains CBS’ late-night deal with Byron Allen: Allen pays $15 million a year to lease the 11:30 slot and sell ads himself, meaning CBS profits even if ratings are low; the first night drew 878,000 viewers, and CBS cites a shift from losing about $40 million annually to $15 million profit. Patton Oswalt tells Vice his new special Tea and Scotch argues AI can’t replicate lived perspective and chose a small Madiso...

Johnny Mac recaps ongoing talk around the Roast of Kevin Hart, including Theo Von and Nate Bargatze discussing roast boundaries, Chelsea Handler’s apparent issue with jokes from Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe, and praise for Big Jay Oakerson and Kevin Hart’s handling of the event. He covers harsh reviews for Nate Bargatze’s film The Breadwinner from The Hollywood Reporter and The AV Club. Stephen A. Smith responds to Hart joking that Smith is on his “Mount Rushmore of racism,” saying he won’t attack Hart, was surprised it came from someone he respects, and maintains he has no issue wit...

Johnny Mac delivers Daily Comedy News, praising Tom Segura’s Bad Thoughts Season 2 and noting Segura’s Joe Rogan Experience discussion about the perceived decline of Los Angeles and people being either realistic or delusional about it. Nikki Glaser jokes she won’t be invited to Taylor Swift’s wedding, while The Star claims she’s networking for a potential Jennifer Aniston movie connection and cites Variety saying Glaser will write and star in an edgy romantic comedy. Patton Oswalt comments on Bill Maher trying to placate Trump and argues defying Trump is the only approach. A Rick and Morty movie is i...

Johnny Mac covers Kevin Hart saying on The Breakfast Club that he and Katt Williams privately reconciled about eight months ago, want to move past old issues, and discussed collaboration; Hart invited Williams to participate in a roast and emphasized keeping their conversations private. Josh Johnson tells Extra his HBO Max special “Josh Johnson: Symphony” aimed to sidestep standard special formats with strong support and minimal rehearsal, and he draws jokes from mundane, shared experiences. Marlon Wayans explains to Variety how he stays friends with Dave Chappelle while supporting his trans son Kai, rejecting hate and defending comedic intent. Patton Oswa...

Johnny Mac covers backlash to Kevin Hart’s Breakfast Club comments defending roast boundary-pushing after Tony Hinchcliffe’s George Floyd joke, plus Hinchcliffe’s Kill Tony remarks about being labeled a Nazi and his response to Chelsea Handler; Nikki Glaser says roasts raise the stakes, supports ironically racist jokes only if they work, and keeps specifics private, while Matt Rife says critics should not watch roasts. The episode also discusses Nate Bargatze’s new film The Breadwinner, citing Variety’s negative review of its “incompetent dad” beats and muddled message, alongside quotes from Mandy Moore and Bargatze about making a family comedy...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including the YouTube launch of “Good Night with Ben Gleib,” a weekly Thursday 10 p.m. ET show with a live and virtual audience, a band, and a post-show after-party episode featuring broader guests beyond celebrities. He recounts Pete Davidson and John Mulaney joking at Netflix Is a Joke about some SNL hosts bombing and writers having to reassure them. Josh Johnson discusses his first HBO special “Symphony,” avoiding topical references, connecting with audiences, his start in stand-up, his weekly YouTube sets, and his approach to hosting The Daily Show. Tom Segura talks fitness habits around the Two...

Johnny Mac recaps comedy news, led by Stephen Colbert returning to TV the night after The Late Show ended by guest-hosting the Monroe, Michigan public-access show Only in Monroe, featuring guests/cameos including Jack White, Byron Allen, Eminem, Steve Buscemi, and Jeff Daniels, plus local food bits; Colbert previously hosted in 2015. Paramount/CBS issued copyright takedown notices after uploads appeared online, then told Variety it was standard practice against unauthorized posts and waived further enforcement. The Late Show finale drew 6.74M viewers vs Letterman’s 13.76M final and Colbert’s 2015 premiere 6.55M; Mac says the finale and Colbert’s run had li...

Johnny Mac previews Nate Bargatze’s film The Breadwinner, describing its plot about dad Nate Wilcox juggling family life while mom Katie (Mandy Moore) goes on a Shark Tank-driven business trip, and reports efforts to make tickets cheaper via the “Nate Rate,” with AMC and possible Cinemark discounts similar to 80 for Brady (which grossed $39.4M domestic). He checks Fandango for a May 29 showing and sees few or no tickets sold, then cites Bargatze promoting the movie for all ages and a Nashville screening celebrating the city. The episode also covers Derek Stroup praising Bargatze’s influence and advocating clean comedy, with Joh...

Johnny Mac shares Memorial Day greetings and comedy news, starting with Dave Chappelle’s new local merch store, The Chappelle Shop, at 221 Xenia Avenue in Yellow Springs, selling branded apparel and items and staying open late on show nights at The Firehouse. He recaps Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David on the Rushmore podcast discussing Seinfeld’s tiny initial four-episode order, harsh pilot memo, Elaine’s creation based on Monica Yates, origins of bits like the Close Talker and Soup Nazi, and their favorite episodes including “The Contest.” Radar Online reports Jimmy Kimmel is eyeing a post-talk-show future developing game shows. Eugene Mir...

Johnny Mac previews Netflix’s premiere of Season 2 of Tom Segura’s “Bad Thoughts” and discusses Jerry Seinfeld’s claim that “Friends” wouldn’t exist without “Seinfeld,” noting the importance of TV lead-ins like “Cheers.” He recaps an LA Times roundup of standout Netflix Is A Joke Festival events, including Shane Gillis at the Hollywood Bowl, Mike Ward’s English crossover set, Seinfeld with Leanne Morgan, Nate Jackson’s Roast Zone, Wanda Sykes, Kill Tony at the Intuit Dome (including Adam Ray as Tony Hinchcliffe), and a Hasan Minhaj vs. Ronny Chieng debate show, plus mentions Atsuko Okatsuka’s new hour and 2027 Netflix special...

Johnny Mac discusses a Current Affairs piece by John Greenaway titled “The Banal Horror of Jimmy Fallon,” quoting its critique of Fallon’s performative laughter, repetitive “viral games,” avoidance of politics, and “assembly line” approach to guest interactions; Mac notes he’s worked with Fallon briefly and found him easy to work with, but understands why he waited until “Colbert’s week” passed to cover it. He then shares other comedy items: a Guardian mention of Robbie Hoffman quoting John Mulaney; a Newsweek profile of SNL’s Sarah Sherman (“Sarah Squirm”) on personas, props, and her need for audience validation; an SFGate interview with Ash...

Johnny Mac records a catch-up episode of Daily Comedy News from a street corner on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile after visiting Edinburgh Castle and attending the Podcast Show London. He recaps Stephen Colbert hosting the final episode of The Late Show from the Ed Sullivan Theater, sharing Colbert’s remarks about doing over 1,800 shows, calling it “The Joy Machine,” reflecting on “feeling the news,” and joking about show history and a “first drafts” bit; the final guest was Sir Paul McCartney. Johnny also covers a brewing comedy controversy: Chelsea Handler criticized Shane Gillis and Tony Hinchcliffe’s roast material on Deon Cole’s podcas...

With CBS airing Comics Unleashed with Byron Allen at 11:35, he shares Colbert’s comments about Allen and notes Colbert’s next gig writing a Lord of the Rings-universe film with Philippa Boyens; Colbert’s Ben & Jerry’s Americone Dream packaging is also being updated. USA Today discusses possible late-night replacements (including podcast-style shows) and quotes David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel on late night’s future. He plugs HBO’s Josh Johnson: Symphony, spotlights Atsuko Okatsuka’s HomeState “Atsuko Bowl” charity tie-in, does a “Comedy Stock Market” (buy Weird Al and Henry Yen; sell Colbert), and runs festival items on Eloise Efthos, Suzy Cato, Ste...

Johnny Mac covers the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” revisiting Colbert’s July announcement that the season would be the last and questioning CBS’s claim that the cancellation was purely financial amid Paramount’s merger with Skydance and its $16 million settlement with Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview. It cites reports the show loses $40 million annually and argues CBS could have tried budget changes instead of cancellation. Using excerpts from an April Hollywood Reporter interview, Colbert recounts how he learned the news, discusses the $40 million figure, the collapsing broadcast model, and the possibility of mixed motives, and says he fo...

Johnny Mac covers Jason Zinoman’s New York Times piece asking what is lost as CBS cancels The Late Show, arguing it ends not just Stephen Colbert’s run but an institution with a tradition of emotional late-night farewells, noting The Late Show will outlast the Carson era of The Tonight Show and recalling the Letterman–Leno rivalry and Colbert’s current-events counterprogramming versus Jimmy Fallon’s lighter approach. Other items include Nikki Glaser announced as headliner for the University of Florida’s Gator Growl on Friday, October 9, and Chelsea Handler on Howie Mandel’s podcast criticizing modern dating while saying she pre...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Netflix developing Grown Ups 3 with a script by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy and expected returns from David Spade, Rob Schneider, Kevin James and Chris Rock, with a Europe trip plot involving spreading a deceased friend’s ashes. He mentions the visual-heavy trailer for Will Ferrell’s golf comedy series The Hawk, Nick Kroll’s new series A Hundred Percent with Sam Richardson, Jason Mantzoukas and Vanessa Bayer, and Wanda Sykes’ Netflix special Legacy. Netflix also signed Mike Epps for two more specials after Delusional’s strong performance. Trevor Noah announced a YouTube travel series, Tr...

Will Ferrell Hosts SNL, Paul McCartney Performs, and Late-Night Shakeups
Johnny Mac recaps a Saturday Night Live episode hosted by Will Ferrell with Paul McCartney as musical guest, including a Trump-and-“Jeffrey Epstein” cold open, a Chad Smith-as-Ferrell bit, the annual Jost/Che joke swap, and McCartney performing “Band on the Run” and “Coming Up,” with speculation around extended credits for executive producer Lorne Michaels. He covers Theo Von dismissing Joe Rogan’s mental-health concerns, Jim Gaffigan releasing an audio version of his bourbon-themed set, and reports that Pete Davidson and Elise Hewitt split while focusing on their daughter Scotty Rose, a...

Johnny Mac reports Nikki Glaser said she has imposter syndrome while appearing on the Night of Too Many Stars lineup with major comics and actors, calling it a dream moment where she’d rather observe than insert herself. NBC canceled Jimmy Fallon’s marketing-competition show On Brand after weak ratings and erratic scheduling, but ordered a Wordle-based game show executive produced by Fallon and hosted by Savannah Guthrie. Jimmy Kimmel will host a fifth season of Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on July 22. At Netflix Is a Joke, Jelly Roll asked audiences to put phones away during his...

Johnny Mac previews Saturday Night Live with host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney amid speculation about whether Lorne Michaels is leaving, and discusses Chris Rock on the Fly on the Wall podcast saying he had “beef” with Tupac because they dated the same women, raising renewed interest due to Tupac’s connection to Jada and her past claim that Rock once asked her out. He explores the possibility of Ringo Starr joining McCartney on SNL, citing their new duet “Home to Us,” and recounts Lorne’s 1976 on-air offer to pay The Beatles $3,000 to reunite. Other updates include Jeff Ross saying...

Johnny Mac reacts emotionally to David Letterman’s return to the Ed Sullivan Theater on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, calling it a welcome “homecoming” and playing edited clips. In the segment, Letterman and Colbert trade jokes about CBS, the theater renovation, the “Jimmies,” and trying to book the pope, while moving guys remove their chairs and the pair sit in the audience as Letterman shares memories of the show and stories about his mother, including a Norway trip and a blunt phone call about her will. They then go to the roof to reprise Letterman’s old stunt by throwing...

Johnny Mac reports Conan O’Brien will host the 99th Oscars on March 14, 2027, noting muted social media reaction and quoting Disney TV Group president Craig Erwich praising Conan’s “singular comedic voice.” He discusses a new Strike Force Five podcast where Stephen Colbert reflects on having only a few Late Show episodes left, uncertainty about future plans, and staff needing to vacate offices immediately after the finale; he also recounts guests he’d ban, guests he found attractive, and recent on-air kisses with Jimmy Fallon, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and Pedro Pascal. CNN will air a flash doc, “The Last Laugh: Stephen Colbert.” On...

Johnny Mac recaps Variety’s interview with Jeff Ross about the Kevin Hart roast, including Ross’s view that well-crafted jokes don’t hurt, a surreal moment when he missed Hart’s jab while stuck in a locked-bathroom scramble, and the only real tension arising when Katt Williams surprised Hart before Hart quickly turned it celebratory. Ross says nothing was off-limits, credits producer Casey Patterson for secrecy that preserves surprise, and notes live edits and the teleprompter operators’ difficulty. Vulture argues Sheryl Underwood “won” by resetting the room’s energy. Mac dismisses a Radar Online claim that ABC is reconsidering Jimmy Kimmel, th...

Johnny Mac covers cut jokes from the Roast of Kevin Hart shared by Variety via writer Madison Sinclair, including material about Draymond Green, Lizzo, Shane Gillis, Tony Hinchcliffe, Chelsea Handler, and Hart himself, then notes online backlash, including Blake Neff’s comments on Pete Davidson’s Charlie Kirk-related joke and TMZ reporting George Floyd’s family and friends’ anger at Hinchcliffe’s Floyd joke. Sheryl Underwood defends roast-context language as having different rules. Mac then recaps Strike Force Five (Meyers, Kimmel, Fallon, Oliver, Colbert) appearing on Colbert to defend late night’s relevance, trading jokes and discussing audiences across TV and YouTube...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, leading with John Mulaney’s Night of Too Many Stars set featuring sobriety jokes and an extended impression of RFK Jr., while a report calls out Matt Rife for homophobic material. The benefit also included a celebrity band, The Very White Stripes (Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Jimmy Kimmel, and Abby Romeo), plus appearances by Bill Burr, Steve Carell, Nikki Glaser, Tiffany Haddish, Sarah Silverman, Ali Wong, and others. Mac notes little coverage of Dave Chappelle’s Netflix Is a Joke shows, and mentions Pete Davidson taping his Netflix show with Mulaney. He previews Josh J...

Well, it looks like we now know why Netflix never promoted who was on the lineup for the Roast of Kevin Hary

Johnny Mac stops watching The Roast of Kevin Hart around 9 PM during Lizzo, saying the first hour felt low-energy and poorly structured despite moments from host Shane Gillis, Tom Brady, Jeff Ross, Naim Wynn, and a long set from Chelsea Handler, and he notes the lack of bigger surprise guests.

A curiously times Bloomberg piece ahead of the roast about chaos at Kevin Hart’s media company HartBeat, including layoffs, acquisitions, departures, and employee co...

Johnny Mac previews the Netflix Is a Joke roast of Kevin Hart (hosted by Shane Gillis) airing live Friday, noting Netflix hasn’t announced roasters and speculating about possible names while quoting Netflix executives on choosing Hart and discussing Funny AF as a discovery vehicle. He recaps the Funny AF winner Ron Taylor’s Vulture interview, covering his surprise at winning, follower growth, material and time-management issues, strategy shifts for live public voting, and plans to build an hour after winning. He highlights Angela Johnson’s new special “Ugly Baby,” including her approach to family-related jokes, and reports Sinbad’s return to pe...

Johnny Mac reports on David Letterman appearing on Bill Simmons’ podcast and Page Six’s account of Dave Chappelle’s Hollywood Palladium Netflix taping, noting even collaborator Stan Lathan didn’t know the material as Chappelle tested sets in New York and Chicago. He discusses a star-studded comedy brunch at Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos’ home shared by impressionist Matt Friend, plus James Adomian’s Threads jab at Friend. The Hollywood Reporter and Vanity Fair weigh in on Louis C.K.’s return to Netflix, including quotes and observations about the audience. He recaps the Hilarity for Charity benefit hosted by Seth Rogen wit...

Johnny Mac recaps a busy comedy week: Jimmy Kimmel interviews John Mulaney, joking about Stephen Colbert leaving TV and Mulaney having lived in Kimmel’s guesthouse. Mulaney also appears on David Letterman’s This Better Be Funny, featuring Paul Shaffer (standing ovation), news of Letterman executive producing a Shaffer documentary, and Letterman’s career retrospective including a Richard Pryor compliment; Mulaney discusses family, projects, and praises Robbie Hoffman as a fearless original, while giving a noncommittal update on his Netflix talk show and calling the new Michael Jackson movie “stupid and bad.” Kevin Hart’s Netflix competition Funny AF crowns Detroit comi...

Johnny Mac’s Daily Comedy News covers David Letterman’s New York Times interview about the Late Show ending, where he mocks the Ellisons, questions what happened to Stephen Colbert, and calls CBS/Skydance “lying weasels” despite CBS saying it was “unequivocally a financial decision,” while also discussing Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed as a sign of network TV’s shift. The episode reports Louis C.K.’s Netflix festival set at the Hollywood Bowl, his material, standing ovation, lack of addressing misconduct he previously admitted to, and a Decider critique of Netflix and the media’s framing. It notes Dave Chappelle bring...