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

Johnny Mac reports Deadline’s take on Netflix Is a Joke saying a comedy insider feels public buzz is low and ticket sales show “haves and have-nots,” with white-hot acts and others downsizing venues selling best amid heavy competition and a tough economy; sold-out or added shows include Gianmarco Soresi, Jeff Curry, Robbie Hoffman, Matt Rife, Jacqueline Novak, and Joel Kim Booster, with podcasts a...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including debate over Louis CK’s mainstream comeback as Netflix books him for the Netflix Is a Joke festival and a new special, alongside commentary on whether Hollywood is abandoning Me Too and questions about accountability and industry profit motives. Patton Oswalt announces a new special, “Ruining Star Trek,” premiering June 9 on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube, and m...

Scrubs season 10, episode 7, “My Best Friend’s Barbecue” (airing April 1, 2026), apologizing the recap is late due to Easter weekend and his Comedy Survivor schedule. JD is shaken when he’s not invited to Turk and Carla’s annual barbecue because Carla wants to invite Elliot and her new boyfriend, Captain West, while Carla’s menopause “heat” becomes a running gag. Turk mentors interns on delivering...

Johnny Mac delivers comedy news from a new recording space, leading with commentary on Louis CK headlining Netflix Is a Joke and releasing a Netflix special, “Ridiculous,” including criticism of “cancel culture” narratives. He highlights Shang Wang’s new Netflix special “Purple,” directed by Ali Wong and filmed at Washington, DC’s Warner Theatre, and previews Rami Youssef’s third HBO special “Rami...

Go ahead an dput on a stupoid face if you don't like this week's result, but it was pretty clear. And we are on to the final three... Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry--4522158/support . Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy,...

Nikki Glaser will sit out the Kevin Hart roast during Netflix Is a Joke because she can’t commit the time, after recently roasting Hart at the Golden Globes and Tom Brady roast; her Hulu special Good Girl premieres April 24, and she’s nervous about longtime road jokes being recorded and judged. He also previews the National Comedy Center’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival in Jamestown, New York, headl...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, highlighting Pete Holmes’ LA Times “perfect Sunday” itinerary centered on family, local shops, vegan eats and nonstop stops from coffee and children’s books to Donut Friend, the Huntington, Crossroads Kitchen, Largo, and late-night Norms. He recaps a Forbes conversation where Jerry Seinfeld and Nate Bargatze discuss breaking past a 60-minute barrier, corporat...

Johnny Mac delivers a comedy news roundup, saying he quit watching “Rooster” despite liking Steve Carell, and sharing Robbie Hoffman’s comments about being starstruck and awkward around Carell. Nate Bargatze discusses coming up around dirtier comics, a past joke about murdered prostitutes that upset a sex worker after it surfaced on YouTube, and his decision to drop it. Jim Gaffigan is set as keyn...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, leading with Netflix bringing Louis C.K. back to headline the Hollywood Bowl on May 5 at the Netflix Is A Joke festival and releasing his upcoming special “Ridiculous” this summer, revisiting his 2017 cancellation and admission of misconduct allegations. He reports Eugene Merman was hospitalized with serious injuries after crashing into a toll plaza in New Ha...

Johnny Mac delivers Daily Comedy News and apologizes for audio peak distortion before covering Kid Rock’s Comedy Jam returning for its fifth year at the 2026 Nashville Comedy Festival on April 13 at the Ryman, benefiting the Kid Rock Foundation, with a lineup including Kevin James, Kathy Griffin, Shane Gillis, Joey Diaz, Heather McMahon, Morgan Jay, and Nate Jackson. He notes Matt Rife threw the f...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Rob Schneider clarifying his social media comments supporting a mandatory draft with no exemptions to deter wars and stop “other people’s kids” from dying. Jon Stewart critiques the White House Ballroom Project after a New York Times report describing odd design elements, and contrasts Trump’s detailed ballroom defense with his war answers; the press secreta...

The plot forces JD and Dr. Park to work together when hospital board member Mr. Walton is hospitalized after being found passed out; suspicion falls on his trophy-wife stereotype, but the cause is ultimately two medications interacting poorly. Turk helps Elliot navigate a new romance with a pilot, and the episode features more Turk/Elliot teaming. The episode includes Rowdy appearing in JD’s offic...

Rob Schneider is urging a restored U.S. military draft with two years of service for 18-year-olds, prompting a Michael Imperioli joke. NYC Mayor Zoran Mamdani and Curtis Sliwa went viral for an Inner Circle Dinner comedy sketch about cat adoptions and political dynasties. Howie Mandel posted an apology to Kelly Ripa after joking about “looking great for 70” and then quipping he “does look great fo...

One Comedy Survivor goes home, and only four remain!  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry--4522158/support . 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. Foll...

Johnny Mac delivers daily comedy news, highlighting Arsenio Hall’s Conan O’Brien appearance where they revisit Jay Leno’s Tonight Show history while noting Leno’s participation in an abused-animals benefit and referencing his 2019 “Standup for Animals” remarks. The show addresses Bert Kreischer claiming Dollywood is closing; a Newsweek fact check says the park only closed early for a few hours and...

 Johnny Mac reports on a controversy involving Tonight Show warmup comic Seth Herzog, who drew backlash during a Guggenheim Museum BTS taping after asking “anyone here from the north,” which some interpreted as a North Korea reference; TMZ says he apologized and was replaced by Ryan Rice for the subsequent Rockefeller Center taping, though it’s unclear if related. The episode notes Seth Meyers is...

Johnny Mac delivers a Saturday Daily Comedy News briefing featuring late-night jokes about the Army’s enlistment age increase and ICE agents being sent to airports, with riffs from Seth Meyers, Josh Johnson, Jimmy Kimmel, and Jon Stewart. He covers negative reactions to Bert Kreischer’s appearance during Netflix’s MLB opening-day coverage, including Dan Le Batard’s criticism and social media compl...

Johnny Mac previews Netflix Is a Joke Festival programming, highlighting the Roast of Kevin Hart (hosted by Shane Gillis), Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade featuring Chris Rock, Nate Bargatze at the Intuit Dome, and “A Night of Too Many Stars” hosted by Jon Stewart with a large guest list, plus other billed acts and shows. He notes frustration trying to reach Netflix PR. He also fl...

Johnny Mac delivers a daily comedy news briefing led by Mark Normand’s account on Tuesdays with Stories of Netflix wanting a "Muslim joke" removed from promo clips, which a Netflix source strongly denies, saying only his reps were on the call and the story is embellished. The episode also covers Vince Vaughn telling Theo Von late-night shows became agenda-driven and less authentic than podcasts; J...

Johnny Mac’s Daily Comedy News covers WWE partnering with Tony Hinchcliffe for “Kill Tony WrestleMania” in Las Vegas on April 18 after night one of WrestleMania 42, featuring WWE talent, comedians, and surprise guests. Ari Shaffir is ending his long-running storytelling show with “The End,” a seven-episode run on YMH Studios starting April 16 for $25, with a large comedian lineup and quotes from S...

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Netflix Is a Joke Festival’s closing-night “Roast of Kevin Hart,” hosted by Shane Gillis, airing live on Netflix May 10 from the Kia Forum in LA, and speculates on likely roasters. He recounts a story in which Hart intervened in a brewing Logan Paul–Rob Gronkowski feud that stemmed from comments by Tom Brady. The composer-performer of The Lion King’s “Circle...

We are down to the final five contestants on Comedy Surivor? Can Leslie Jones and Atsuko Okatsuka survive another week? Is there momentum against a name that was previously safe? Te result! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry--4522158/support . Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac...

Johnny Mac covers Mark Normand’s Club Shay Shay comments about Taylor Swift and a BBL, explains what a Brazilian butt lift is, and notes online backlash aimed at Normand and Shannon Sharpe. He shares mixed reactions to Normand’s new special, saying the relentless one-liner pace wore him out and arguing sets should ebb and flow. News items include Josh Johnson’s upcoming HBO special “Josh Johnson:...

Johnny Mac covers Jay Leno on Judd Apatow’s podcast discussing a comedy “Mount Rushmore,” with Mac calling George Carlin and Richard Pryor undeniable while debating other candidates and noting women like Joan Rivers; Leno’s four picks are Richard (“Richie”) Pryor, Robert Klein, Bob Newhart, and Rodney Dangerfield, with Carlin as his fifth. Mac also recounts Leno telling Craig Ferguson about failin...

Johnny Mac’s Daily Comedy News recaps a conversation with Jerry Seinfeld and Nate Bargatze, with Nate describing building opportunities for comics via showcases and longer sets, highlighting Greg Warren’s rapid success after a short arena spot and noting Derek Strope’s Netflix presence. They discuss how standup became a destination as sitcom paths narrowed, alt rooms expanded, and arena/Netflix-er...