Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac

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.
 

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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.com

Daily 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 

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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?"

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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.com

Daily 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.

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 9/11
02:06 Mulaney Get Smart Reboot
03:31 Chris Rock Variety Profile
05:59 Stavros Special Review
06:41 Stavros on Fame and Vices
08:06 Dane Cook Weight Loss
09:32 Kathy Griffin and Dolly
10:07 Weekend Shows and Stock
11:15 SNL UK and CMAT
12:29 Marty Gleeson Interview
13:31 Osaka Comedy Festival
14:29 Wrap Up and Tease

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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.com

Daily 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.

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 Trump
01:30 Kimmel Show Ending Rumors
01:50 Bill Carter on Murdoch Playbook
02:53 What Happens Next for Kimmel
03:25 Jon Stewart Trolls Trump
04:05 Comic Relief Live Returns
04:54 South Park Becomes South America
05:34 Seinfeld Festival Boycott
06:43 9/11 Benefit at MSG
07:31 Mulaney Festival Postponed
09:58 SNL Cast Change Update
10:33 Inbetweeners Movie Revival
11:38 Wrap Up and Go Niners

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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.com

Daily 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.

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 Wedding
01:37 J Lo Wallflower Moment
01:54 Cake Topper Tom Cruise
02:41 Stavros Netflix Special
03:19 Edibles Relapse Confession
04:13 Nathan Fielder Holmes Doc
06:09 Weekend Catch Up Notes
06:45 Jerry Lewis Telethon Dive
08:05 Joey Diaz In Town
08:39 Comedian On WWE Raw
09:33 Nimish Patel Trailer
10:33 Nate Bargatze Dinner Gig
11:08 Wrap Up And Goodbye

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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.com

Daily 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.

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 Special
01:07 Comedy Condo Horror
02:05 Greece Dream Life
02:44 Lacrosse Coach Lesson
03:32 Conan At Swift Wedding
04:25 Atsuko Fan Stories
05:17 Kelsey Cook Heartfelt Jokes
06:45 Crowd Work Craft
07:34 Omid Djalili Radio Special
08:25 Leanne Morgan Real Life
 

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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.com

Daily 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.

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 Push
00:36 Pete Davidson Kindness
01:23 Rogan on Lake America
01:44 Gervais Tour Review
03:24 Stavros Questionnaire Bits
05:13 Kelsey Cook Foosball Life
06:37 Josh Johnson on Timeless Sets
07:02 Jamie Foxx Hulu Special
07:32 Daniel Sloss Travel Habits
 

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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.com

Daily 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.

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?"



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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.com

Daily 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.

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?"

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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.com

Daily 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.

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 Knighthood
01:48 Caliendo Madden Lawsuit
03:45 Jay Leno Pay Cut Story
05:18 Mulaney Ivanka Memory
06:23 Leanne Morgan Staying Grounded
07:47 Emily Catalano New Special
09:01 Burr Roasts Nealon
09:54 Weekend Deep Dives Preview
10:40 Comedy Stock Market Picks
13:01 LA Comedy Show Guide
15:38 Lucy Legacy Emmy
16:01 Joan Rivers Remembered
17:43 Joe Lycett Pub Show
 

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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.com

Daily 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.