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

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  Taylor Swift Reportedly Upset With Nikki Glaser, Dave Chappelle’s Arena Tour, and Howard Stern’s HBO Move 16.09.2026 11min

  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 Comedy Festival. He discusses reports that Howard Stern was upset about backlash to ending Howard 101 and reducing his show to one day a week, plus an alleged HBO Max deal framed as a “middle finger” to critics. Other items include Chris Rock joking about a Taylor Sheridan/Yellowstone role, Jo Koy’s new Netflix special and Vogue Philippines profile, Conan O’Brien fronting a PAC campaign for state/local election races, Margaret Cho’s anti-fascism comments, Jim Carrey roasting Jeff Ross, a positive review of SNL UK, backlash to Julian Woods’ 9/11 jokes, and BBC’s upcoming “Cunk on Cinema” with contributors like Michael Bay and Benedict Cumberbatch. 00:15 Swift Wedding Drama02:18 Chappelle Arena Tour03:12 Stern Cuts Back05:03 Chris Rock Yellowstone Bit05:24 Jo Koy Netflix Special06:59 Conan Gets Political07:39 Margaret Cho Speaks Out07:51 Jim Carrey Roasts Jeff08:41 Emmys And Schedule Note09:01 SNL UK Review09:50 9/11 Joke Backlash10:42 Philomena Cunk Returns11:25 Wrap Up GoodbyeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Colbert on Kimmel Tonight, Shane Gillis to host SNL and Monty Python is DEAD 15.09.2026 8min

  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 needed because the ending worked. Saturday Night Live Season 52 premieres Sept. 26 with host Jalen Brunson, followed by Dakota Johnson Oct. 3 and Shane Gillis Oct. 10. Other updates include Shane Gillis being spotted in Green Bay, Jo Koy’s new special Blue in the Face, how Theo Von landed a Morgan Wallen preshow video, three new Drunk History episodes on Comedy Central’s YouTube, releases from Cameron Esposito and Vanessa Gonzalez, and a plug for Chris Fleming at The Largo. 00:12 Colbert on Kimmel and Brooklyn Shows00:48 Monty Python Reunion Off01:59 Money Feud and Personal Fallout03:04 Host Remembers Working With Pythons03:33 No Office Reunion and SNL Hosts04:42 Shane Gillis Sighted in Green Bay05:11 Jo Koy New Special and Swift Joke05:50 Theo Von in Morgan Wallen Preshow06:32 Drunk History Returns on YouTube07:25 New Releases Esposito and Gonzalez08:05 Chris Fleming Live in LA08:42 Wrap Up and Sign OffBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Sam Morril’s New Netflix Special and Jimmy Kimmel's FCC Concerns 14.09.2026 9min

  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 surviving Hollywood while keeping ownership, voice, and peace. Jimmy Kimmel says his interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico (running for Senate) won’t air on broadcast due to concerns about FCC threats to ABC station licenses and will be posted on YouTube, echoing a similar Colbert situation. NBC schedules four Sunday editions of “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” after Sunday Night Football. Chris Rock discusses keeping expenses low to maintain freedom. John Mulaney’s bookstore visit and Instagram recommendations boosted a selected book’s sales. Seth Meyers was spotted shopping in Manchester, NH. Russell Peters discusses comedy as necessity and humor finding common ground. 00:13 Sam Morril Netflix Special01:04 Katt Williams Memoir Tour01:32 Kimmel FCC Censorship Clash03:45 Fallon Sunday Night Shows04:15 Chris Rock On Money05:26 Mulaney Bookstore Buzz06:26 Seth Meyers New Hampshire07:51 Russell Peters On Comedy09:16 Wrap Up And Sign OffBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Rolling Stone’s 2017 ‘50 Best Stand-Up Comics’: Who Holds Up in 2026 13.09.2026 15min

  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 forgotten, and highlights entries like Gary Shandling, Dick Gregory, Redd Foxx, Rodney Dangerfield, Eddie Murphy, and Dave Chappelle. He discusses the complications of figures like Woody Allen, Bill Cosby, and Louis C.K., and explains that Louis C.K.’s cancellation came after the list. He concludes that a current list would differ, citing names like John Mulaney and Nate Bargatze and noting omissions such as Jim Gaffigan. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Rodney Dangerfield: The Joke as a Perfect Object 12.09.2026 13min

  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, the Caddyshack role that was written for Don Rickles, and the honest question of whether the film fame softened the thing that made the early club material great. Rodney Dangerfield built jokes the way a watchmaker builds watches. It's worth understanding how."Why was Rodney Dangerfield so funny?" – "What did Jerry Seinfeld say about Rodney Dangerfield?" – "What is Rodney Dangerfield's best joke?" – "What was Dangerfield's comedy club in New York?" – "Who did Rodney Dangerfield help early in their career?" – "What was Rodney Dangerfield's real name?" – "Did Don Rickles almost play Al Czervik in Caddyshack?" – "Why isn't Rodney Dangerfield talked about more?" – "What made Rodney Dangerfield's comedy style unique?" – "Who performed at Dangerfield's comedy club?"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Pete Davidson Reflects on 9/11, Plus Chris Rock’s Variety Profile and John Mulaney’s Get Smart Rumor 11.09.2026 15min

  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 Variety cover story on Chris Rock highlights his careful approach to comedy, views on controversy and club workshopping, shifting identity as a “director guy,” his film Misty Green premiering at TIFF, and why he wouldn’t host the Oscars again unless nominated. Other items include Johnny’s take on Stavros Halkias’ special and GQ comments about workload and vices, Dane Cook’s 50-pound weight loss and fitness/diet routine ahead of his documentary Funny Money, Kathy Griffin recalling a supportive letter from Dolly Parton, comedy “stock market” buys (Nimesh Patel), SNL UK updates (Jeff Goldblum, CMAT, Freddie Meredith), and notes on Edinburgh winner Marty Gleeson and Osaka’s nonverbal comedy festival. 00:33 Pete Davidson on 9/1102:06 Mulaney Get Smart Reboot03:31 Chris Rock Variety Profile05:59 Stavros Special Review06:41 Stavros on Fame and Vices08:06 Dane Cook Weight Loss09:32 Kathy Griffin and Dolly10:07 Weekend Shows and Stock11:15 SNL UK and CMAT12:29 Marty Gleeson Interview13:31 Osaka Comedy Festival14:29 Wrap Up and TeaseBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Jimmy Kimmel Live to end??? South Park Renames Itself! 10.09.2026 11min

  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 Everything” trailer concept with Trump superimposed to riff on Natalie Harp. John Oliver will host Comic Relief Live Oct. 19 at Carnegie Hall with performers including Roy Wood Jr., Josh Johnson, Zarna Garg, and Mary Beth Barone. Trey Parker and Matt Stone announced South Park season 29 will be renamed “South America.” Comedians are boycotting a Portugal festival headlined by Jerry Seinfeld over his Israel comments. Stewart and Pete Davidson host a 9/11 benefit at MSG, the Great Outdoors Comedy Festival in Canada was postponed, Aries Spears criticized Bernie Mac, and SNL’s Martin Herlihy exited; Netflix is making The Inbetweeners 3. 00:27 Kimmel Returns and Roasts Trump01:30 Kimmel Show Ending Rumors01:50 Bill Carter on Murdoch Playbook02:53 What Happens Next for Kimmel03:25 Jon Stewart Trolls Trump04:05 Comic Relief Live Returns04:54 South Park Becomes South America05:34 Seinfeld Festival Boycott06:43 9/11 Benefit at MSG07:31 Mulaney Festival Postponed09:58 SNL Cast Change Update10:33 Inbetweeners Movie Revival11:38 Wrap Up and Go NinersBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Nikki Glaser Jokes About a Secret Taylor Swift Wedding, Stavros Halkias’ Health, and a Wild Nathan Fielder Doc 09.09.2026 11min

  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 promoting his new Netflix special. There’s major buzz around Nathan Fielder’s nearly three-hour A24 hybrid documentary “You Can See Everything” about Elizabeth Holmes, screened at Telluride with phones locked away. Other updates include Theo Vaughn joining LSU’s Tiger Walk, Rob Reiner winning a Creative Arts Emmy for The Bear, Johnny’s Jerry Lewis telethon viewing, Matt Matthews appearing on WWE Raw, Nimish Patel’s Sept. 22 Netflix special, and Nate Bargatze headlining a Tennessee Chamber event. 00:16 Nikki Glaser Swift Wedding01:37 J Lo Wallflower Moment01:54 Cake Topper Tom Cruise02:41 Stavros Netflix Special03:19 Edibles Relapse Confession04:13 Nathan Fielder Holmes Doc06:09 Weekend Catch Up Notes06:45 Jerry Lewis Telethon Dive08:05 Joey Diaz In Town08:39 Comedian On WWE Raw09:33 Nimish Patel Trailer10:33 Nate Bargatze Dinner Gig11:08 Wrap Up And GoodbyeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Stavros Halkias Drops New Netflix Special; Conan O’Brien on Adam Sandler Officiating Taylor Swift’s Wedding 08.09.2026 9min

  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 interactions, says people copy her haircut, reveals she’s good at physical therapy for seniors, and lists a fantasy dinner party lineup. Kelsey Cook discusses joking about her mother’s dementia, her early dark material, and career help from Jim Norton, who also praises her character. Jeff Curie explains his evolving approach to crowd work. Omid Djalili previews his BBC Radio 4 series Namaste about stereotypes and comedy as truth. Leanne Morgan talks staying grounded, aging, and her distinct Netflix lane. 00:48 Stavros Netflix Special01:07 Comedy Condo Horror02:05 Greece Dream Life02:44 Lacrosse Coach Lesson03:32 Conan At Swift Wedding04:25 Atsuko Fan Stories05:17 Kelsey Cook Heartfelt Jokes06:45 Crowd Work Craft07:34 Omid Djalili Radio Special08:25 Leanne Morgan Real Life Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Pete Davidson Donates $20K, Netflix Renews His Podcast, and Ricky Gervais’ New Tour Gets Mixed Reviews 07.09.2026 9min

  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 war concerns with Iran. The Telegraph reviews Ricky Gervais’ new tour Legend, saying it recycles material, mixes an identity crisis with familiar routines, and includes bits about his father and online culture. Stavros Halikis promotes a Netflix special and answers Maria Bamford’s questionnaire. Kelsey Cook discusses foosball and her mother’s dementia. Josh Johnson discusses topical videos versus timeless specials, Jamie Foxx announces a Hulu special (Oct. 7), and Daniel Sloss talks travel preferences. 00:15 Netflix Podcast Push00:36 Pete Davidson Kindness01:23 Rogan on Lake America01:44 Gervais Tour Review03:24 Stavros Questionnaire Bits05:13 Kelsey Cook Foosball Life06:37 Josh Johnson on Timeless Sets07:02 Jamie Foxx Hulu Special07:32 Daniel Sloss Travel Habits Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Comedy After 9/11: What Happened When the Laughing Stopped 06.09.2026 16min

  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. Gilbert Gottfried made a 9/11 joke at the Friar's Club three weeks later, got booed, and pivoted into the Aristocrats and won the room back. Johnny Mac — a New Yorker who was there — traces how comedy came back after the attacks, what it cost the people who pushed too early, and what the whole episode tells you about what comedy is actually for.What did David Letterman say when he came back after 9/11?"– "What did Jon Stewart say on The Daily Show after 9/11?"– "What was the SNL cold open after 9/11?"– "Why was Bill Maher fired after 9/11?"– "What did Gilbert Gottfried do at the Friar's Club after 9/11?"– "When did late night shows come back after 9/11?"– "What did Rudy Giuliani say on SNL after 9/11?"– "How did comedy change after 9/11?"– "What was the first 9/11 joke told by a comedian?"– "Did the Comedy Cellar stay open after 9/11?"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon: A Comedy History 05.09.2026 14min

  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 overnight casino crowd before Last Comic Standing. Johnny Mac looks at what the telethon actually was as a comedy document — what happened in the overnight hours, why the Rickles-Lewis dynamic worked, what the 1976 Dean Martin reunion tells you about what live television could do that nothing else could, and why forty-four years of staying up all night for charity produced one of the longest continuous comedy archives in American television history.What comedians appeared on the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon?" – "Did Don Rickles appear on the Jerry Lewis telethon?" – "Did Jimmy Fallon perform standup on the MDA telethon?" – "Did Ralphie May appear on the Jerry Lewis telethon?" – "Did Jerry Seinfeld appear on the MDA telethon?" – "What was the 1976 Dean Martin Jerry Lewis reunion?" – "Why was Jerry Lewis fired from the MDA telethon?" – "What did Jim Carrey say about Jerry Lewis?" – "How long was the Jerry Lewis telethon?" – "What happened in the overnight hours of the Jerry Lewis telethon?"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Ricky Gervais Shrugs Off Knighthood 04.09.2026 19min

  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 bits made them money. Clips include Jay Leno telling Adam Carolla he took a 50% Tonight Show pay cut to keep staff, and John Mulaney telling Larry King he knew Ivanka Trump at Georgetown. Leanne Morgan discusses late-career arena success and preferring cleaner portrayals of Southern characters. Emily Catalano describes jokes from her special The Introvert. Bill Burr ribs Kevin Nealon on Hiking with Kevin and reflects on measuring comedic skill. Johnny previews weekend deep dives (Jerry Lewis telethon; 9/11) and offers Comedy Stock Market buys: Stavros Halkias, Jo Koy, Shane Gillis, and Party Down coming to Netflix Sept. 22, plus LA show picks, I Love Lucy’s 2026 Legacy Award, Joan Rivers notes, and Joe Lycett’s new Channel 4 series The Lycett Arms. 00:20 Ricky Gervais Knighthood01:48 Caliendo Madden Lawsuit03:45 Jay Leno Pay Cut Story05:18 Mulaney Ivanka Memory06:23 Leanne Morgan Staying Grounded07:47 Emily Catalano New Special09:01 Burr Roasts Nealon09:54 Weekend Deep Dives Preview10:40 Comedy Stock Market Picks13:01 LA Comedy Show Guide15:38 Lucy Legacy Emmy16:01 Joan Rivers Remembered17:43 Joe Lycett Pub Show Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Pete Davidson & Colin Jost’s Free Staten Island Ferry Comedy Show 03.09.2026 14min

  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 Shane Gillis’ “Tires” for season four, noting 45 million views across three seasons and a recent top-10 peak at #5. The New York Times profiles Hannah Berner after a Dysport injection for TMJ left her unable to smile (“SmileGate”). Jeff Arcuri shares five performance tips. A Lion King lyricist must pay nearly $40,000 in fees after losing a $27 million suit against comedian Jonas Y. Abu Dhabi Comedy Season adds Whitney Cummings, and Stewart Lee criticizes Dave Chappelle. 00:15 Pete and Jost Ferry Show02:29 Tires Renewed Season Four03:19 Hannah Berner SmileGate04:46 Jeff Arcuri Improv Tips06:32 W Kamau Bell Tech Picks07:09 Support the Podcast08:28 Lion King Lawsuit Update10:35 Abu Dhabi Comedy Season10:57 Stewart Lee on Chappelle11:29 SNL Crossword and LA Comedy12:29 LA Comedy Nights Rundown Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Jon Stewart Questions Political Comedy’s Impact + Brian Baumgartner (The Office) Golf Talk 02.09.2026 10min

  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 for Last One Laughing UK season three is announced, including Lee Mack, Katherine Ryan, Harry Hill, Katherine Parkinson, Michelle de Swart, Jen Richardson, Morgana Robinson, Josh Jones, Roisin Conaty, and returning Richard Ayoade. Bill Burr talks Massachusetts bar pizza as Anthony Michael Hall praises lobster rolls and Cape fish. Leanne Morgan discusses Season 2 storylines, dating, menopause, elderly parents, and plastic surgery. Trevor Noah adds BaFunny shows in Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, the LA Times recommends several LA comedy nights, and Veronica Slivka’s indie-pop project “Me As a Girl” is revealed with new music and a NYC debut show. 00:12 Jon Stewart on Power00:47 Office Star Golf Talk02:13 Voltaren Caddy Pitch03:15 Last One Laughing Cast04:17 Bill Burr Pizza Hunt05:14 Leanne Morgan Season Two07:14 Trevor Noah Adds Shows07:51 LA Comedy Night Picks09:49 SNL Star Secret Music Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Bill Maher Dolly Parton Backlash, Tom Segura’s New Material, and Ali G Controversy 01.09.2026 11min

  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 banned bathroom breaks due to Netflix filming and included material on the R-word and fatherhood. Variety reports growing backlash and a campaign urging cinemas to refuse to screen Ali G: Who Iz I? over claims the character is an outdated racist caricature. Other items: Pete Davidson’s new look for crime thriller Tommy Karate, Kenan Thompson substituting for Simon Cowell on AGT, late-night ratings led by Rosie O’Donnell week on Kimmel, Blake Griffin’s new show The Stepback, a Judy Gold podcast, George Lopez’s Big Boys Comedy Fiesta, and LA Times comedians to watch.00:19 Bill Maher Dolly Backlash01:17 Tom Segura Starts Fresh02:22 Michael Che Netflix Taping03:15 SNL Cast Check In03:43 Ali G Film Controversy05:15 Pete Davidson Movie Look05:57 AGT Simon Out Kenan In06:30 Late Night Ratings Roundup07:26 Blake Griffin Late Night Show09:03 Comedy Podcasts And Festivals09:38 LA Times Comics To Watch Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Stavros Halkias self-reviews, Gaffigan as Santa, Mulaney visits Air Force Base 31.08.2026 13min

  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 weeks off. Other items include Stavros Halkias’ self-focused Letterboxd review of the Anthony Bourdain movie, Hannah Berner hosting Paramount+ dating series “Making Love” in early 2027, Jim Gaffigan voicing Santa in a Warner Bros. animated film with Melissa McCarthy as Margie Claus, and Jimmy Carr in talks to host a new “Top Gear.” A Jon Stewart-era Daily Show purple couch is for sale, John Mulaney visits Tinker Air Force Base, and controversies involve Druski’s CTE skit, Patrick W. Cutler’s Angel Reese parodies, and James Acaster show complaints. LA Times comics-to-watch include Taylor Bos, Angie Stroud, Kat Bird, Davantre Coleman, and Maddy Mays. 00:16 Byron Allen Ratings Shock01:46 NBC Late Night Warning02:34 Stavros Letterboxd Bit02:56 Hannah Berner Reality Gig03:57 Gaffigan Voices Santa05:16 Jimmy Carr Top Gear Talk06:14 Jon Stewart Couch Sale07:30 Mulaney Visits Air Base08:03 Comedy Controversies Roundup11:01 LA Times Comics To Watch1 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Alec Baldwin says Trump isn't funny anymore 30.08.2026 14min

  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. Mac also cites Atsuko Akatsuka’s Guardian interview (a dog-walking Yelp complaint, advice about jealousy from a friend, and hotel habits), David Spade on jealousy and improv trust, and a Ronnie Chieng–Josh Johnson Interview Magazine chat about career ruts and releasing long-form stand-up. Other items: BBC renews Diane Morgan’s sci-fi comedy Android, Cam Patterson joins film Love, Love, Billboard’s top July comedy concerts, LA Times booker picks, Matt Matthews’ pronouns controversy, and Dan Tiernan’s Fringe review. 00:17 Trump Satire Fatigue01:39 Sarah Cooper Era02:30 SNL Impressions Then Now02:54 Vaughn Meader Example03:53 Atsuko Interview Bits04:26 Chelsea Handler Ad Rant05:30 Spade On Jealousy05:58 Chieng Johnson Career Rut08:40 Android Renewed09:11 Kam Patterson Casting09:45 Top Comedy Concerts10:56 LA Bookers Picks12:37 Matthews Pronouns Blowup13:31 Fringe Review Tiernan Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  Richard Jeni: The Best Comedian You Never Knew 29.08.2026 16min

  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 commercials, Oscar writing credits for Chris Rock's hosting gig, and a fifty-seventh spot on Comedy Central's greatest standup list — a list he helped build as a panelist. He died in 2007 at forty-nine. His family was specific about what happened: he had a diagnosis, he was ill, and that illness was not the explanation for the comedy. Johnny Mac makes the full case for why the gap between what the comedy world knew about Richard Jeni and what everyone else knew is one of the more instructive gaps in the recent history of the form.– "How did Richard Jeni die?"– "What did Jerry Seinfeld say about Richard Jeni?"– "What was Richard Jeni's best comedy special?"– "Why isn't Richard Jeni more famous?"– "Was Richard Jeni on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson?"– "What movie was Richard Jeni in with Jim Carrey?"– "What was Richard Jeni's connection to Chris Rock?"– "Did Richard Jeni have mental illness?"– "How many times did Richard Jeni appear on The Tonight Show?"– "What is Richard Jeni's legacy in standup comedy?"– "Was Richard Jeni in The Aristocrats documentary?"Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free. 
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  DCN Live x 4 Mile Run - Nate Bargatze vs. Shane Gillis? Pick one! 28.08.2026 4min

  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 on a Monday where Fallon and Allen were reruns and Kimmel had Jelly Roll hosting; and a preview of tomorrow’s deep dive on Richard Jeni, urging listeners to notice Seinfeld-like pacing in Jeni and wondering about influence in the other direction. He also shares Hal Higdon marathon-training basics and why run/walk breaks help, noting he’s run two NYC Marathons that way.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.comDaily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month John's Substack about media is free.