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

Johnny Mac delivers a Derby Day comedy news briefing highlighting comedian Catherine Blandford’s early comedy start at the University of South Carolina, a Derby story involving her roommate’s arrest, and her rise after a 2022 viral joke that led to opening for David Spade, moving to LA, becoming a regular at the Improv and Laugh Factory, and planning two specials this year. The episode includes comments from comedian Max Amini on cultural change in Iran, his path into comedy, and how social media helped his popularity. A review of Hannibal Buress’ Charlottesville show notes political material and sparing onstage audiovisual elements. Jeff Dunham discusses his Discovery series The Cars That Drove Us and how shifting audience reactions affect comedy. Updates include Ismo partnering with ICS Nordic, 800 Pound Gorilla launching Gorilla Comedy Plus May 5, Roy Wood Jr., Amber Ruffin, and Michael Ian Black hosting Emmy ceremonies, and the Maria Bamford documentary Paralyzed by Hope.

00:18 Catherine Blandford Story
00:45 Lanford Comedy Breakout
01:27 Max Amini on Iran
03:12 Hannibal Buress Review
04:23 Jeff Dunham Car Show
05:12 Dunham on Cancel Culture
05:41 Survivor Clip Detour
07:12 Dunham Comedy Mechanics
08:17 Ismo New Partnership
08:39 Gorilla Comedy Plus Launch
09:08 Emmy Hosts Announced
09:44 Maria Bamford Documentary
 

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Daily Comedy News is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

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This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

Johnny Mac delivers a daily comedy news briefing, led by Colin Jost on the SmartLess podcast saying reports about the Pete Davidson ferry being a money pit are wrong, claiming events have already recouped their investment; he describes potential uses as an event/entertainment venue, docking challenges, and ideas like a middle-class swim-club concept and a seasonal Miami move. Tim Heidecker tells The Hollywood Reporter about getting involved with the Infowars situation and wanting it to become a home for curated, funded comedy creativity. Robbie Hoffman discusses relationship dynamics and splurging when traveling with her wife Gabby. The episode recaps jokes about King Charles’s U.S. visit (Kimmel, plus Charles’s own line), notes Adam Carolla and Ted Cruz defending Kimmel, and shares a New York Times detail on Colbert leaning back into politics. Johnny’s “comedy stock market” issues festival buys (Atsuko Okatsuka, Dave Chappelle, Flight of the Conchords, King Charles), plus items on Jenny Zigrino’s History Tonight, Caleb Hearon, and New Zealand Comedy Festival picks.
 
00:26 Jost Davidson Ferry Update
01:54 Tim Heidecker Takes Infowars
02:45 Robbie Hoffman Relationship Bits
03:17 King Charles Visit Kimmel Jokes
06:02 Kimmel Backlash Defenders
06:38 Colbert Politics Pivot
07:31 Josh Johnson Ballroom Jokes
08:00 Comedy Stock Market Picks
09:42 King Charles Funny Clip
10:39 History Tonight Drag King George
11:59 Cultured 100 Caleb Hearon
12:37 New Zealand Comedy Fest Recs
 

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 is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

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.

This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

Johnny Mac recaps comedy news, highlighting a feisty Bill Maher podcast conversation with David Cross that clashes over transgender politics, “the loony left,” and electability, plus a separate dispute about NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani and tenant official CEA Weaver, whose past quotes Maher cites. Cross laughs at Maher’s claim of being “soft-canceled,” including not receiving Emmys. Dave Chappelle is added to Netflix Is a Joke with three Hollywood Palladium shows May 7–9. Craig Ferguson announces CNN’s American on Purpose for the U.S. 250 anniversary. Kevin Hart’s Netflix film 72 Hours premieres July 24 with Ben Marshall, Cam Patterson, and Marcelo Hernandez. Ted Lasso season 4 debuts Aug. 5. Jermaine Clement’s Hulu series Alice and Steve premieres June 8. Pete Davidson cuts his Westchester home price as the Staten Island Ferry may become an artificial reef. NYC’s Paragon Comedy Festival runs through May 2. Ben Gleib launches YouTube late-night show Goodnight May 28, and Mack suggests John Mulaney isn’t taping during Netflix fest, implying his show is dead.

00:21 Cross vs Maher Clash
02:20 NYC Mayor Communist Talk
03:06 Soft Canceling  
03:58 Chappelle Joins Netflix Fest
04:11 Craig Ferguson CNN Series
04:44 Kevin Hart 72 Hours
06:07 Ted Lasso Season Four
07:01 Jemaine Clement New Hulu
07:42 Pete Davidson Money Moves
09:02 Paragon Comedy Festival
09:47 YouTube Late Night Launch
11:42 Mulaney Show Speculation
 

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 is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

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.

This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

Johnny Mac covers backlash to Jimmy Kimmel after a resurfaced joke about Melania Trump was recontextualized following an incident at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, prompting statements from Melania’s account and the President demanding ABC/Disney fire Kimmel; Mac explains he tried to remove the clip from his show but it accidentally remained. Kimmel responds on-air, and other comics (including Jimmy Fallon, Greg Gutfeld, and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog) add jokes; George Clooney comments on dangerous rhetoric, and reports mention the FCC may launch an early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses. Other news: King Charles reacts to Matt Friend’s impression; Stavros Halkias breaks his arm and postpones his Baltimore special taping; Tom Segura nearly booked Garth Brooks amid the “where are the bodies” meme; Fox’s Red Seat Ventures partners with Kill Tony; Laugh Factory launches comedian trading cards; Trevor Noah captains a South African comedy team for a September festival; Seth Meyers and John Oliver extend Beacon Theater dates; and Anjelah Johnson’s “Ugly Baby” special hits YouTube May 10.

00:00 Kimmel Controversy Begins
03:29 Kimmel Responds On Air
04:15 Other Comics Weigh In
06:05 FCC Review Rumblings
06:24 King Charles Roasts Matt Friend
07:16 Stavros Halkias Injury Update
08:15 Segura And Garth Brooks
09:25 Kill Tony Goes Corporate
10:39 Laugh Factory Trading Cards
11:46 Trevor Noah Comedy Festival
12:36 Jon Oliver Seth Meyers Beacon Theater Residency
12:56 Angela Johnson New Special
 

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 is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

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.

This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.

Nikki Glaser joked about Leonardo DiCaprio’s girlfriends at the 2026 Golden Globes, told Jimmy Fallon she sends flowers to joke targets, and said DiCaprio replied with three baskets of pasta. Conan O’Brien riffed about buying late-night NBC airtime, then joked about launching a syndicated daytime talk show; Jeff Ross confirmed a past, previously unreported meeting for a 30-minute daytime pitch. Mac plays a CNN “America Laughs” clip of Matt Friend that he says bombs, then contrasts it with a Mateo Lane clip trashing a 2019 Springfield, Massachusetts club; MGM Springfield and the mayor declined comment. He discusses Netflix Is a Joke Festival emails promoting free popup tickets amid reports of slow sales and checks ticket availability/prices for several shows. Other items: a Defector review of a boring, politically tinged Rob Schneider set; David Cross says he won’t do more Alvin and the Chipmunks films; Lisa Lau’s debut special; Emil Joaquin’s upcoming Netflix special; a Portland dog-based dating show; and WABE’s interview with Funny AF contestant Daniel Llano.
 
00:28 Nikki Glaser and DiCaprio
01:32 Conan Daytime Talk Idea
03:04 Matt Friend Bombing Clip
05:18 Mateo Lane Springfield Rant
07:40 Netflix Is a Joke Tickets
10:03 Rob Schneider Show Review
13:14 David Cross Chipmunks Drama
14:21 Comedy Specials and Updates
15:01 Portland Dog Dating Show
15:54 Kevin Hart Competition Wrap

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 is the number one comedy news podcast, delivering daily coverage of standup comedy, late night television, comedy specials, tours, and the business of comedy.

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

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.

This is the animal sanctuary mentioned in the February 10 episode.