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The Last Laugh

Welcome to ‘The Last Laugh’: Real conversations with really funny people. Every Wednesday, The Daily Beast’s Matt Wilstein interviews some of the biggest names in comedy—as well as the new voices crashing the party—about what it’s like to make people laugh during this current cultural and political moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wed, April 09, 2025
‘Daily Show’s’ Michael Kosta: Mocking Trump and ‘Lucky Loser’
‘The Daily Show’ has undergone a lot of turmoil in the two and half years since Trevor Noah shocked even his closest colleagues by giving up the host chair. And even Michael Kosta can’t quite believe that he has emerged as one of four rotating hosts—along with Jon Stewart on Monday nights. In his return to the podcast, Kosta talks about his experience taking the reins of the long-running political late-night show every few weeks and how he’s striving to make it more than just a mouthpiece for the #Resistance. Kosta also discusses learning Jon Stewart, the backlash to his recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, and his new memoir ‘Lucky Loser,’ which tells the story of how he went from a semi-successful professional tennis player to achieving his wildest comedy dreams. But Michael Kosta’s ‘Lucky Loser: Adventures in Tennis and Comedy’ Follow Michael Kosta on Instagram @michaelkosta Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, April 02, 2025
Riki Lindhome: Going Solo After Garfunkel and Oates
Riki Lindhome spent her 20s and 30s as one half of the musical comedy duo Garfunkel and Oates. Now that she is solidly in her 40s the comedian is finally going solo with a debut album ‘No Worries if Not,’ which tackles the unique challenges of being a “middle aged” woman, as she put it. In this episode, Lindhome breaks down the process of turning real-life struggles into comedy songs and shares what it has been like to perform music for the first time without her longtime bandmate Kate Micucci. She also talks about the surreal experience of attending ‘SNL50’ as a “plus one” with husband Fred Armisen, the moment in her career where she had to choose between pursuing ‘SNL’ or sticking with Garfunkel and Oates, and how bizarre it was when the first movie she ever appeared in won the Oscar for Best Picture. Follow Riki Lindhome on Instagram @rikilindhome Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Sun, March 30, 2025
Amber Ruffin on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the latest episode of The Daily Beast Podcast ! Comedian Amber Ruffin joined hosts Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee to talk about how she planned to pregame for comedy’s toughest gig and least receptive audience, and the challenge of roasting both sides in D.C. Shortly after this interview dropped, the White House Correspondents’ Association fired Ruffin as host of its annual dinner—and now won’t be having a comedian performer at all. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Follow Amber Ruffin on Instagram @amberruffin Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 26, 2025
Sam Seder: The Progressive Who Took on 20 Trump Supporters
‘The Majority Report’ host Sam Seder has been a political commentator for more than two decades. But nothing he has done in his long career has brought him quite as much attention as a new video in which he was forced to debate 20 hardcore Donald Trump supporters one by one as part of Jubilee Media’s increasingly popular “Surrounded” series. In this episode, Seder breaks down the surreal experience of systematically schooling the shockingly young and diverse MAGA adherents on everything from Social Security to DEI to the prospect of a full-on American theocracy. He also has some choice words for California Governor Gavin Newsom, who has taken a very different approach to engaging with the other side. Later, Seder talks about getting his start in political media at Air America, the current state of MSNBC, his long-running voice role on ‘Bob’s Burgers’ and the unexpected benefits of appearing on ‘Sex and the City’ 25 years ago. Follow Sam Seder on Bluesky @samseder Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 19, 2025
Andrew Schulz: Interviewing Trump, Roasting Tom Brady, and ‘Life’ on Netflix
Andrew Schulz knows that hosting Donald Trump on his Flagrant podcast would make everyone think he’s a “right-wing MAGA lunatic.” But, as he makes clear in this episode, his politics are more complicated than what meets the eye. Schulz, who just put out a surprisingly vulnerable Netflix stand-up special called ‘Life’ about his experience with fertility and fatherhood, opens up in this conversation about the backlash he has received for being part of the Joe Rogan-led podcast manosphere, how he thinks this new Trump era could actually be bad for comedy, why he believes his triumphant set at the ‘Roast of Tom Brady’ marked the night “wokeness died”—and his inspired idea for which “GOAT” Netflix should roast next. We also go deep on his controversial Trump interview, the “Rorschach test” reactions from the two ends of political spectrum, why he declined an invitation to attend Trump’s inauguration, his biggest disappointment in the administration so far, and a lot more. Follow Andrew Schulz on Instagram @andrewschulz and TikTok @theandrewschulz Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 12, 2025
Edi Patterson: ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Breakout Star
There’s a stunning transformation that happens to Edi Patterson when she puts on the aggressively curly haired wig for her character on ‘The Righteous Gemstones.’ “Something different happens to the makeup of my atoms, once I get Judy’s hair on,” Patterson says in this week’s episode. “Because I do really feel like she’s a living person who’s inside of me, and I just get to unleash her and turn it up.” Without the wig, the Groundlings alum is nearly unrecognizable—and her real-life persona is far less unhinged than the sex-crazed evangelical Christian she plays on ‘The Righteous Gemstones,’ which just began its fourth and final season on HBO. Patterson, who also writes for ‘Righteous Gemstones,’ discusses keeping the season premiere’s massive cameo a secret, her alternative casting idea for that episode, getting “weird” with guest star Megan Mullally later in the season, and how Judy and her on-screen siblings—series creator Danny McBride and Adam Devine—have evolved over time. She also looks back on her very brief experience as a writer on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ the shocking line she ad-libbed during her original audition with McBride for their previous show ‘Vice Principals,’ and what it’s really like to improvise opposite Larry David on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ Follow Edi Patterson on Instagram @edipattersonhi Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 05, 2025
George Wallace: Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld and ‘Clean Slate’
Comedian George Wallace has finally become the lead of his own sitcom at 72. And all it took was convincing Norman Lear to reimagine ‘Sanford and Son’ with Laverne Cox as his character’s trans daughter in the TV legend’s final project. In this episode, Wallace talks about everything that went into making his new series ‘Clean Slate’ happen—and what he hopes it teaches the most ignorant members of MAGA nation. The stand-up comedian also looks back at his more than 50 year career in show business, from the racist undertones of his early appearances on Johnny Carson’s ‘Tonight Show’ to his lifelong friendship with Jerry Seinfeld, who he says he still competes with for laughs to this day. The prolific tweeter also takes time to sound off on Elon Musk, who he believes should “go to jail just for creating that Cybertruck.” Follow George Wallace on X @MrGeorgeWallace and Instagram @therealgeorgewallace Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 26, 2025
Oscars Legend Bruce Vilanch Tells All!
Bruce Vilanch has written monologues for Oscars hosts like Billy Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Steve Martin, Ellen DeGeneres, David Letterman, and more. And in this episode, he not only shares some of his favorite jokes, but also reveals which of the many hosts he worked with over more than two decades gave him the most trouble. As the 97th annual Academy Awards approach this weekend, Vilanch walks through the highs and lows of his illustrious Oscars career, from nearly blowing it his first time out with the disastrous Rob Lowe and Snow White opening, through the game-changing Billy Crystal years, to the Anne Hathaway and James Franco-hosted year that marked the unfortunate end of his long run. Along the way, he also shares some shocking stories about Oscar presenters, including his jaw-dropping theory about the origins of that Richard Gere gerbil rumor—and reveals why he turned down the opportunity to write for the very first season of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ And Vilanch, whose new book ‘It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time’ chronicles his biggest failures as a writer, takes us inside the most infamous bomb of his career: ‘The Star Wars Holiday Special.’ ‘It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time’ on Amazon Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 19, 2025
‘SNL’ Writer Rosebud Baker: ‘The Mother Lode’
Comedian Rosebud Baker has gone through intense tragedy, grief and addiction in her life. But for her, nothing has been more viscerally “traumatic” than the experience of becoming a mother. Baker—who grew up traditionally conservative as the granddaughter of George H.W. Bush’s secretary of state James Baker—finds a way to turn that trauma into super dark comedy in her new Netflix special ‘The Mother Lode,’ half of which she recorded while pregnant and the other half after giving birth. In this episode, Baker discusses how her political upbringing has influenced her approach to both parenting and comedy and how becoming a mother has only made her more ambitious to succeed as a comedian. She also discusses the unique challenges of her role as “Weekend Update” writer on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ what makes a great joke for Colin Jost and Michael Che, why she thinks her viral comments about ‘SNL’ host Travis Kelce “practicing reading” were misconstrued, and why she’s “dying” to perform at a celebrity roast. Follow Rosebud Baker on Instagram @rosebudbaker and TikTok @rosebudbaker Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 12, 2025
Kevin Nealon on ‘SNL,’ Lorne Michaels, Dana Carvey and More
30 years ago, Kevin Nealon was anchoring “Weekend Update” on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Now he's walking the woods with his famous comedian friends on the YouTube series Hiking with Kevin. In this episode, Nealon talks about how that show got started and looks back at his ‘SNL’ days, including how he got hired, when he knew it was time to leave and shares some hilarious stories about Lorne Michaels, Dana Carvey, Chris Farley, Al Franken, and more. And ahead of the big ‘SNL50’ special this coming weekend, Nealon reflects on sharing the stage with fellow “Update” anchors Norm Macdonald, Colin Quinn, and Seth Meyers at the show’s 40th anniversary event in 2015. This episode was originally published on September 10, 2019. Follow Kevin Nealon on Instagram @kevinnealon Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 05, 2025
Carol Leifer: Oscars, ‘SNL,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Curb,’ ‘Hacks’ and More
Carol Leifer has been a working stand-up comedian and writer for nearly 50 years. And she shows no signs of slowing down. After winning her first-ever Emmy Award in 2024 for her work on ‘Hacks,’ Leifer, 68, is currently toiling away in the writers’ room for her 11th Academy Awards ceremony, this one airing live with host Conan O’Brien on March 2. And she is about to release a new book that attempts to teach people ‘How to Write a Funny Speech’ for the big events in their own lives. In this episode, Leifer looks back at her extensive comedy career, including her one season as a writer on ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ “weird year,” her role as a “real-life Elaine” behind-the-scenes at ‘Seinfeld,’ why she tried to talk Larry David into keeping ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ alive, what she makes of ‘Curb’ star Cheryl Hines embracing the MAGA movement alongside her husband Robert F. Kennedy Jr., channeling her experience with aging into Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance on ‘Hacks,’ and a lot more. Pre-order Carol Leifer’s new book ‘How to Write a Funny Speech’ Follow Carol Leifer on Instagram @carolleifer Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 29, 2025
Rose Matafeo: ‘Starstruck’ and ‘On and On and On’
Rose Matafeo was almost finished making the final season of her exceptional rom-com series ‘Starstruck’ when she started to seriously question the show’s essential premise. The experience of going through a breakup while trying to find a satisfying ending for the love story at the center of her show has now inspired her latest stand-up special, ‘On and On and On,’ streaming now on Max. In this episode, Matafeo discusses what it was like to move away from the genre that has defined much of her career into something a bit darker and more nuanced on stage. The 32-year-old New Zealander comedian also reveals the high-concept show she almost made instead of ‘Starstruck,’ whether she can imagine returning to the characters of Jessie and Tom in the future, and why she decided to cut jokes at the expense of Taylor Swift fans from her new hour. Follow Rose Matafeo on Instagram @rosematafeo Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 22, 2025
James Adomian: Impersonating Elon, Bernie, Mike Lindell and More
There are few comedians more ready to take on the insane cast of characters that will surround Donald Trump in his second term than James Adomian. The 44-year-old comedian has made a name for himself over the past two decades for his spot-on impressions of political characters like Elon Musk, Jesse Ventura, and the MyPillow guy Mike Lindell. In this episode, Adomian talks about channeling some of his many voices into his first-ever hour-long stand-up special ‘Path of Most Resistance’ on YouTube (after all the major streamers turned him down). He also talks about why he never ended up on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ getting two big breaks from late-night hosts Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel, and what it was like to finally do his Bernie Sanders impression to Bernie Sanders’ face. Watch James Adomian’s ‘Path of Most Resistance’ on YouTube Follow James Adomian on Instagram @jadomian Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 15, 2025
Roy Wood Jr. Returns: ‘Daily Show,’ CNN, and ‘Lonely Flowers’
It’s been more than a year since Roy Wood Jr. left ‘The Daily Show’ and he’s not looking back. This week, the comedian is dropping what is arguably his best stand-up special yet on Hulu and next month will see the second season premiere of his CNN comedy quiz show ‘Have I Got News for You.’ In his return to the podcast, Wood discusses why he wanted to make his yearning for connection the central theme of his new hour, ‘Lonely Flowers.’ He also opens up about his decision to leave ‘The Daily Show’ behind before Comedy Central brought back Jon Stewart and elevated his former correspondent colleagues to become rotating hosts—as well as what it’s been like to bring some much needed humor to CNN in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s re-election. Follow Roy Wood Jr. on Instagram @roywoodjr Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 08, 2025
Stephanie Hsu: ‘Laid,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ and More
Stephanie Hsu broke through—and landed her first Oscar nomination—three years ago in Best Picture winner ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once.’ That film had some oddball laughs for sure, but if you had only seen her in the dual roles of the diminutive Joy Wang and villainous Jobu Tupaki, you would have no idea she was capable of playing a classic rom-com lead like she does in the new Peacock series ‘Laid.’ In this episode, Hsu talks about how a background in comedy helped prepare her to portray a deeply flawed character who discovers that all of the men she has slept with are dying and why getting cast in the show felt like a “huge step” in the fight for representation on TV. She also gets into the wild journey from her audition for ‘Everything Everywhere’ to the Oscars, explains why she turned down the chance to possibly play Glinda in John M. Chu’s ‘Wicked,’ and teases her upcoming buddy comedy with ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Quinta Brunson. Follow Stephanie Hsu on Instagram @stephaniehsuofficial Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 01, 2025
Jim Gaffigan Returns: SNL, Trump, ‘The Skinny’ and More
Jim Gaffigan is heading into 2025 an even bigger comedy star than he was before—thanks to a guest-starring gig on ‘Saturday Night Live’ as vice presidential candidate Tim Walz, a headlining spot alongside Donald Trump at the Al Smith dinner, his latest stand-up special ‘The Skinny’ (which delves into the secret behind his massive weight loss) and a big national tour with Jerry Seinfeld. In his return to the podcast after more than five years , Gaffigan goes deep on the state of his career and how his approach to stand-up has evolved over time. He talks about being in the room with Trump and Kamala Harris at key points during their campaigns and reflects on his decision to risk his clean comedy brand by unleashing a profanity-laced tirade against Trump during the previous election. Follow Jim Gaffigan on Instagram @jimgaffigan Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 24, 2024
Bridget Everett on ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ Amy Schumer and More
With her raucous cabaret act, Bridget Everett has never been shy about putting all of herself out there for audiences to enjoy. But in her semi-autobiographical HBO series ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ which just wrapped up its third and final season, she is laying herself bare emotionally on a whole new level. In this episode, Everett opens up about the real life trauma that helped inform her revelatory performance, what she learned about being “relatable” from a previous pilot that didn’t get picked up and shares what it was like to get back on stage for the first time in two years. She also shares hilarious stories about getting cast in the ‘Sex and the City’ movie, meeting her friend Amy Schumer for the first time and getting in the middle of an epic feud between Jerry Seinfeld and Bobcat Goldthwait. This episode was originally published on February 8, 2022. Follow Bridget Everett on Instagram @bridgeteverett Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Sun, December 22, 2024
Joe Rogan, Stephen Colbert, SNL, and More With The New Abnormal
Once again, the time has come for our annual, year-end crossover episode in which Matt Wilstein joins The New Abnormal host Andy Levy to talk about the year in political comedy from the comedy podcasters like Joe Rogan, Theo Von, and Andrew Schulz who helped win Trump the 2024 election, to Kamala Harris’ decidedly safer appearances on Call Her Daddy and SNL, to the unfortunate decline of “resistance” late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert heading into Trump’s second term. Plus, the one comedian who could serve as the perfect “anti-Joe Rogan.” Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 18, 2024
Ronny Chieng Returns: ‘Daily Show’ and New Netflix Special ‘Love to Hate It’
When Trevor Noah stepped down as host of ‘The Daily Show’ a couple of years ago, it didn’t even occur to Ronny Chieng that he could be capable of taking over that seat. But now that he’s been sitting in as guest-host as part of a rotating group of correspondents he finally feels like he deserves to be there. “I think I get how to do it,” he says. “And I’ve done it like 20 times now, so it’s definitely possible for me to do it.” In his return to the podcast, Chieng discusses the process of putting together his third stand-up special for Netflix, ‘Love to Hate It,’ which includes material about possibly becoming a father, how the internet is destroying male brains, and making “MAGA friends” in Hawaii. He also talks about grabbing the “fearless mantle” from heroes like Jon Stewart, being the first late-night host to joke about the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting, and how he thinks ‘The Daily Show’ will evolve when Donald Trump takes back the White House in 2025. Follow Ronny Chieng on Instagram @ronnychieng Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 11, 2024
Joe Mande: ‘Hacks,’ ‘Parks and Rec’ and New Hulu Special ‘Chill’
Over the course of his nearly 20 years as a stand-up comedian, Joe Mande has developed an uncanny ability to accurately forecast the utter stupidity of American culture. That unique skill led his friend John Mulaney to suggest that he’s more prepared for a second Donald Trump presidency than anyone else they know. In this episode, Mande discusses his latest stand-up special ‘Chill,’ which premieres on Hulu this Friday, December 13 and was recorded before the 2024 election but includes some eerie predictions about how the country might change over the next four years. He also talks about his time in the trenches of the writers rooms for ‘Parks and Rec,’ ‘The Good Place,’ and ‘Hacks,’ on which he appears as Ray the Las Vegas hotel clerk who at least some fans want to see end up with Hannah Einbinder ’s Ava. Mande isn’t ready to predict that outcome quite yet, but he definitely wants it to happen. “Hannah and I have talked about this at length and it just does feel like the natural conclusion to both of our stories,” he says. “We call it hashtag #Rayva, and we need to get this going.” Follow Joe Mande on Instagram @joemande Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, December 05, 2024
Jim Gaffigan on Donald Trump’s Unorthodox Comedic Style
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the latest episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! Comedian Jim Gaffigan reflects on the surreal experience of performing at the Al Smith Dinner, describing Donald Trump’s unorthodox comedic style as “performing on his heels” and surprisingly “killing the entire time.” Gaffigan also jokes about parenting his five kids: “Every Monday morning is kind of a surprise for them. Like, ’What? There’s school?’” Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 04, 2024
Ilana Glazer: ‘Broad City,’ ‘Babes,’ and ‘Human Magic’
Ilana Glazer knows that she will forever be known as the “freewheeling stoner” Ilana Wexler from her beloved Comedy Central series ‘Broad City.’ But over the past few years she has fully embraced the role of mother—in her life, in her indie film ‘Babes’ and now on the stand-up stage in her upcoming Hulu special ‘Human Magic.’ In this episode, Glazer opens up about channeling the joy and anxiety of parenthood into comedy and the pressure not to disappoint the ‘Broad City’ superfans who want her to be her iconic character in real life. She also shares details about the episode of that show that she and Abbi Jacobson planned to shoot in Israel and why she’s “very glad” that decided not to go through with it at the last minute. And Glazer discusses the decision to walk away from ‘Broad City,’ her thoughts on a possible reboot down the line, and why, after so much time spent trying to mobilize young voters, she ultimately wasn’t “surprised” by the 2024 election results. Follow Ilana Glazer on Instagram @ilana Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 26, 2024
Anthony Jeselnik on Trump, SNL, and Why He’s ‘Uncancelable’
Self-described comedy “villain” Anthony Jeselnik has made a career out of telling expertly crafted, extremely dark one-liners, from his breakthrough set at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in 2011 to his newest Netflix special ‘Bones and All,’ which marks his 20th year in comedy. In this episode, he talks about crafting his Comedy Central interview show ‘Good Talk,’ how he thinks his comic persona will continue to evolve as he ages, how getting fan mail from a white supremacist made him rethink one of his darkest jokes, what “surprises” him about Louis C.K.’s attempt at a comeback, his failed audition to anchor SNL’s “Weekend Update,” how Lorne Michaels “helped Trump get elected,” why he considers himself “uncancelable,” and a lot more. This episode was originally published on September 3, 2019. Follow Anthony Jeselnik on Instagram @anthonyjeselnik and TikTok @anthonyjeselnik Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein and Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, November 20, 2024
‘Parks and Rec’ Star Jim O’Heir: ‘Welcome to Pawnee’
Jim O’Heir has almost 200 acting credits to his name, appearing on dozens of iconic TV shows like ‘ER,’ ‘Friends,’ and ‘Better Call Saul.’ But as he reveals in this episode, he almost turned down the role of Jerry Gergich on ‘Parks and Recreation’ because his agents worried it was too small. O’Heir writes about his fateful decision to take a chance on what could have remained a “background” part in his new book ‘Welcome to Pawnee,’ which is part memoir, part oral history and all around love letter to the show that changed his life. The veteran character actor shares stories about auditioning for Ron Swanson, finding out he and Retta had been elevated to series regulars just of Paul Schneider (Mark Brendanawicz) had been let go, learning that Christie Brinkley had been cast as his wife, and why he believes the show is still comforting people in dark times nearly a decade after it went off the air. Plus, O’Heir delivers perhaps the all-time greatest answer to our final question: What’s a memory from your career that you laugh about now but really was not funny when it happened? Buy Jim O’Heir’s Welcome to Pawnee: Stories of Friendship, Waffles, and Parks and Recreation Follow Jim O’Heir on Instagram @therealjimoheir Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein and Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, November 13, 2024
Timothy Simons: From ‘Veep’ to ‘Nobody Wants This’
For better or worse, Timothy Simons will probably always be best known for the first TV role he ever booked: the cravenly odious political climber Jonah Ryan on HBO’s ‘Veep.’ He could have been typecast as a lanky creep forever, but in the years since that show ended, Simons has managed to have a surprisingly varied acting career, most notably with his role as rom-com sidekick Sasha in this fall’s Netflix hit ‘Nobody Wants This.’ In this episode, Simons talks about finding the nuance in what could have been a one-note character and reacts to the controversy around the show’s depiction of its Jewish female characters. He also looks back on what it what like to begin his career opposite a comedy legend like Julia Louis-Dreyfus and reveals the disturbing similarities between Jonah Ryan and America’s next vice president, JD Vance. Follow Timothy Simons on Instagram @timothycsimons Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, November 08, 2024
Sam Bee and Michael Ian Black on Trump’s Shocking Win
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the latest episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! In the aftermath of Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 election, co-host Samantha Bee has some tough talk for President Joe Biden and his team and comedian Michael Ian Black has news for everyone. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, November 06, 2024
Jenny Slate on Stand-Up, SNL, ‘Big Mouth,’ and More
Jenny Slate has never been a traditional stand-up comic. And after a lengthy hiatus that followed her 2019 Netflix special ‘Stage Fright’ and included both a global pandemic and the birth of her daughter, she wasn’t sure she’d ever get up in front of an audience again. “I didn’t have a system in place for how to get back up on stage. I didn’t know how to do that,” she says in this episode. But now, as she puts out her latest hour ‘Seasoned Professional’ , Slate breaks down how she made her way back in front of the mic and why she decided to get so intimately personal in the special. Slate reflects on how her one unfortunate season as a ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast member has informed the rest of her career, from finding the right kind of community on projects like ‘Kroll Show’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers’ to learning how to make her own unlikely success with ‘Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.’ And she discusses what it was like to pass the torch of her mixed race character on ‘Big Mouth’ to Ayo Edebiri, why she’s not sure ‘Obvious Child,’ her comedy film about abortion, would hit viewers in the same way 10 years later, and a lot more. This episode was originally published on February 21, 2024. Buy Jenny Slate’s new book of essays ‘Lifeform’ Follow Jenny Slate on Instagram @jennyslate Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, October 30, 2024
Seth Meyers: Trump, Vance, Harris, and ‘Dad Man Walking’
Seth Meyers knows his show is likely to change based on the results of the presidential race. But with the election just days away, the comedian, ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum and host of NBC’s ‘Late Night’ is doing his best to stay in the present and take each new insane development as it comes. In this episode, Meyers talks about how he ended up releasing a stand-up special (‘Dad Man Walking’ on Max) that has nothing to do with politics so close to the election and goes deep on where his is at head on the stakes of Trump vs. Harris right now. The comedian also shares thoughts about his infamous ice cream date with Joe Biden, why he regrets platforming JD Vance on his show, how SNL’s reliance on guest stars has changed the show since he was in the cast, and so much more. Follow Seth Meyers on Twitter @sethmeyers and Instagram @sethmeyers Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, October 25, 2024
‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Girls’ and ‘Nobody Wants This’ with Bruce Eric Kaplan
For the past 30 years or so, Bruce Eric Kaplan has toiled away as a staff writer on some of the best television series ever produced, including ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Six Feet Under,’ and ‘Girls.’ But as he writes in his new book ‘They Went Another Way: A Hollywood Memoir’ —and discusses in this bonus episode—Kaplan has never managed to get his own show past the pilot stage. And it’s not for lack of trying. Kaplan has written more unproduced pilots than anyone else he knows, and tells the story of how the Hollywood system has slowly beaten him down in hilarious fashion in the new book. He also reveals some details about his new gig as co-showrunner for Season 2 of the Netflix hit rom-com ‘Nobody Wants This,’ shares what it was like to join ‘Seinfeld’ in its final season, and so much more. Buy Bruce Eric Kaplan’s ‘They Went Another Way: A Hollywood Memoir’ Follow Bruce Eric Kaplan on Instagram @bruceerickaplan Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, October 24, 2024
James Carville on Kamala and Trump on Joe Rogan
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the latest episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! With less than two weeks until Election Day, Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee are joined by political strategist James Carville for intel—and an insider’s take—on the state of the presidential race. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, October 23, 2024
Kathy Griffin Returns: ‘My Life on the PTSD-List’
“I’m glad to be here. We have a lot to laugh about,” Kathy Griffin says at the top of her triumphant return to the podcast after a very eventful five years since her last appearance . In this episode, Griffin breaks down how she turned some of the most traumatic experiences of her life into jokes for her new “My Life on the PTSD-List” tour, which hits Carnegie Hall this week. The legendary comedian, who finally has her voice back after a botched lung cancer surgery, is still climbing out the “cancellation” that followed her infamous 2017 photo in which she posed holding up a Trump mask covered in fake blood. And since Hollywood may have left her behind—for now—she has no qualms sharing her unfiltered thoughts on everyone from Elon Musk and Donald Trump to Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld to Cheryl Hines and Ellen DeGeneres. Get tickets to see Kathy Griffin live Follow Kathy Griffin on Twitter @kathygriffin and Instagram @kathygriffin Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, October 17, 2024
John Oliver and Sam Bee's Lessons from Jon Stewart
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the latest episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! This week, guest John Oliver and co-host Samantha Bee take a trip down late-night TV memory lane, sharing fun times and lessons learned from their time as correspondents on ‘The Daily Show.’ Joanna Coles and Sam dive deep into the Beast’s exclusive story of the consultant making serious bank on Trump’s campaign payroll, and obsess over Kanye West’s sexploits as well as other, unrelated sex toys. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, October 16, 2024
Lamorne Morris: ‘Saturday Night,’ ‘Fargo,’ ‘New Girl’ and More
Fresh off his surprise Emmy Award win for Season 5 of ‘Fargo,’ actor and comedian Lamorne Morris joins this week’s episode of The Last Laugh to break down his scene-stealing performance as the “elder statesman” of the original SNL cast in Jason Reitman’s new film ‘Saturday Night.’ Morris, who portrays Garrett Morris (no relation) in the movie, discusses what it was like to enter the fictionalized world of SNL more than a decade after he auditioned for the show (and didn’t get it). He also reveals how his ‘New Girl’ character Winston’s “kind eyes” helped land him his Emmy-winning role on ‘Fargo,’ tells the full story about how he almost missed out on the sitcom that has defined his career to date, and explains his running joke with ‘New Girl’ cast mate Jake Johnson about a potential reunion. Follow Lamorne Morris on Twitter @lamornemorris and Instagram @lamorne Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, October 10, 2024
The Daily Beast Podcast On Melania's New Book
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the third episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! This week, Joanna Coles and Samantha Bee talk all things Melania and share the latest scoop on Silicon Valley with Jessica Lessin, CEO of The Information. Sam shares her experiences with menopause and Joanna talks celeb sightings at opening night of the new Robert Downey Jr. play on Broadway. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, October 09, 2024
Taylor Tomlinson Returns: ‘After Midnight,’ Save Me Tour and More
In the handful of years since she broke through in a big way with her ‘Quarter-Life Crisis’ special on Netflix—and first appeared on this podcast —Taylor Tomlinson has become a bona fide comedy star. The 30-year-old comedian put out two more hours on Netflix, became the host of her own late-night show with CBS’ ‘After Midnight,’ and is currently touring her newest hour nationwide. In her second sit-down with The Last Laugh podcast, Tomlinson opens up about how fame has impacted her material, why she’s focusing on religion for her Save Me tour, and how ‘After Midnight’ is starting to look more like a traditional late-night talk show—even though that’s not what she signed up for. Get tickets for Taylor Tomlinson’s Save Me tour Follow Taylor Tomlinson on Instagram @taylortomlinson and TikTok @taylortomlinsoncomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, October 03, 2024
VP Debate Recap w/ The Daily Beast Podcast!
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy this excerpt from the second episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Bringing their sharp wit and insights to each episode, co-hosts Joanna Coles (Chief Creative & Content Officer of The Daily Beast) and celebrated comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee will navigate the latest in politics, pop culture, and everything in between. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, October 02, 2024
Lauren Lapkus: From Comedy Bang! Bang! to ‘Another Happy Day’
Lauren Lapkus grew up with one goal in mind: someday joining the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Now, nearly 20 years into a comedy career that has included scene-stealing roles in everything from ‘Orange Is the New Black’ to ‘Jurassic World,’ she has finally been able to “let go” of the way she thought things would go and fully embrace her unique place in the comedy world. It helps, Lapkus explains in this episode, that she has now landed lead roles in both broad comedies like 2020’s ‘The Wrong Missy’ (opposite David Spade on Netflix) and her latest, the darkly comedic postpartum depression dramedy ‘Another Happy Day.’ Lapkus also discusses how the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast opened new doors for her and what it was like to go up against Kate McKinnon for that coveted spot on SNL. Rent or buy ‘Another Happy Day’ Follow Lauren Lapkus on Instagram @laurenlapkus Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, September 26, 2024
The First Episode of The Daily Beast Podcast! w/ Kara Swisher
The Last Laugh listeners, please enjoy the first episode of The Daily Beast's new podcast! The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Bringing their sharp wit and insights to each episode, co-hosts Joanna Coles (Chief Creative & Content Officer of The Daily Beast) and celebrated comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee will navigate the latest in politics, pop culture, and everything in between. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, September 25, 2024
Sam Bee Returns: Kamala, Trump, Cat Ladies and Her New Daily Beast Podcast!
Comedian Samantha Bee is back for the third time on The Last Laugh podcast—and this time it is as host of her very own Daily Beast podcast! Along with the Daily Beast’s Joanna Coles, Bee is bringing her always sharp and hilarious political insights to The Daily Beast Podcast. And before their first episode premieres this Thursday, Bee is here to share her unfiltered thoughts about interviewing Kamala Harris, being exhausted by Donald Trump, and those pesky “undecided voters” who seem to get so much attention this time of year. The former ‘Full Frontal’ host also reveals how she would have approached stories like JD Vance’s “childless cat ladies” if she—or really, any other woman—was still on late-night TV and reacts to Jon Stewart’s triumphant return to ‘The Daily Show’ and the backlash he received (including from the host of this podcast) for “both sides-ing” Trump and Joe Biden. Subscribe now to The Daily Beast Podcast Follow Samantha Bee on Twitter @iamsambee and Instagram @realsambee Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Mon, September 23, 2024
The Daily Beast Podcast Trailer
The Last Laugh listeners please enjoy! The Daily Beast Podcast is as wildly exciting, energizing, and entertaining as the topics it covers. Bringing their sharp wit and insights to each episode, co-hosts Joanna Coles (Chief Creative & Content Officer of The Daily Beast) and celebrated comedian and political commentator Samantha Bee will navigate the latest in politics, pop culture, and everything in between. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, September 18, 2024
Emmy-Winner Alex Edelman on ‘Just for Us’
“Oh god, you’re crying in front of Carol Burnett, fantastic,” Alex Edelman said at the top of his acceptance speech for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special at the 76th Emmy Awards. It was just the latest unexpected milestone in the life of his widely celebrated solo show ‘Just for Us,’ which premiered on HBO and also won a special Tony Award earlier this year. In this episode, the 35-year-old Jewish comic shares the unique challenges of bringing his story about attending a white supremacist meeting in Queens to the stage and screen, including the sudden death of his director just before opening on Broadway and how performing a show about antisemitism changed after October 7th. Edelman also discusses the surreal experience of getting notes from comedy heroes like Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal, tells a story about the time he baffled Mel Brooks by calling him “woke” to his face, and teases his next stand-up hour, which will take on the Israel-Gaza war. This episode was originally published on April 10, 2024. Follow Alex Edelman on Twitter @alexedelman and Instagram @alexedelman Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, September 11, 2024
Michael Ian Black: Trump’s Bad ‘Crowd Work’ vs. Kamala’s Hopeful Joy
Michael Ian Black began his career performing deeply absurdist comedy with his legendary sketch group The State and the besuited comedy trio Stella. Now, among other things, he’s a weekly columnist covering the 2024 election for the Daily Beast. But Black does not consider himself to be a political commentator “in any way, shape or form, even though I often comment on politics,” he says in this week’s episode of The Last Laugh podcast. During our wide-ranging conversation, Black shares his thoughts on where the 2024 race stands right now, how Donald Trump became America’s worst crowd work comedian, why he’s cautiously optimistic about the prospect of a Kamala Harris presidency, and what viewers can expect from his new satirical CNN game show ‘Have I Got News for You’ with Roy Wood Jr. and Amber Ruffin . Plus, what he remembers about filming his explicit sex scene with Bradley Cooper in ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and why, after two reboots on Netflix, the cult classic finally “feels like it’s done” to him. Follow Michael Ian Black on Twitter @michaelianblack and Instagram @michaelianblack Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, September 04, 2024
Susie Essman on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ Larry David and More
Susie Essman made a name for herself cursing out Larry David as her alter-ego Susie Greene on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ But as she reveals in this episode, in the 24 years since the show premiered—and nearly four decades since she met David in the New York comedy clubs—they have never once gotten into an actual fight. Essman opens up about David’s unique “genius” as a comedian, how ‘Curb’ gets away with being so politically incorrect, the unconscious inspiration for her character and the bizarro world in which she could have played Elaine on ‘Seinfeld.’ Plus, stories about roasting Donald Trump to his face at the Friar’s Club, her “horrible” late-night debut with Johnny Carson, and getting to portray Ilana Glazer’s mother on ‘Broad City.’ This episode was originally published on November 30, 2021. Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, August 28, 2024
Langston Kerman: John Mulaney, Chris Rock and ‘Bad Poetry’
Before Langston Kerman was one of the most exciting stand-up comedians working right now, he taught poetry to high school students. As he tells the audience in his debut Netflix special ‘Bad Poetry,’ he was desperate to find another path for his life. In this episode, Kerman talks about getting his big break writing for Oscars host Chris Rock (even if he didn’t get a single joke on the broadcast), convincing his favorite comedian John Mulaney to direct his special, trying not to alienate Larry David during his very first Hollywood gig, and why he fears that fans of HBO’s ‘Insecure’ will never, ever let him “be free.” He also shares some behind-the-scenes stories from his time writing on the year’s most brilliantly weird talk show, ‘Everybody’s in LA,’ including the one pitch that was deemed too weird by Mulaney. Listen to My Momma Told Me with Langston Kerman and David Gborie Follow Langston Kerman on Instagram @langstonkerman Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, August 21, 2024
DNC Special With Kamala Harris Impersonator Allison Reese
There are few Americans who have had a crazier past month than Kamala Harris—but comedian Allison Reese is among them. Reese’s impression of the vice president was already a hit on social media before Harris picked up the baton from President Joe Biden, but it has blown up in a much bigger way since. In this episode, Reese talks about the wild ride she has been on as millions of followers eat up her deliciously spot-on take on the candidate’s cadence—especially her signature laugh—and the efforts she is taking not to inadvertently become a right-wing caricature. She also reveals why she wanted to impersonate Harris in her first audition for ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2019, what she made of former cast member Maya Rudolph’s very different approach to the impression, and why she believes her videos might have an even bigger political impact on TikTok than she would have had if she had been cast as Harris on SNL. Listen to N’Kay with Allison Reese Follow Allison Reese on TikTok @alienreese , Twitter @alienreese , Instagram @alienreese Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, August 14, 2024
Hannah Einbinder: ‘Hacks,’ Stand-Up and Overconfidence
Hannah Einbinder had never really acted before she was cast as Ava Daniels opposite Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance on ‘Hacks.’ Now, she’s a three-time Emmy nominee. In this episode, Einbinder opens up about the overconfidence she brings to that role as well the onstage persona she displays in her excellent debut stand-up special ‘Everything Must Go’ on Max. She also talks about overcoming the intimidation of acting with Jean Smart, compares the generational gap between their characters to her relationship with her own mother (original SNL cast member Laraine Newman), and teases what fans can expect from a more “badass” Ava in Season 4. And later, Einbinder shares her unfiltered thoughts about the “old fucking guys” in comedy who complain that political correctness is stifling their craft. Follow Hannah Einbinder on Instagram @hannaheinbinder Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, August 07, 2024
Mike Birbiglia: ‘The Old Man and the Pool’
When a special arrives on Netflix in its finished form, viewers don’t typically get to see all of the excruciating work that went into making it a polished piece. But for anyone who has been listening to Birbiglia’s Working It Out podcast over the past couple of years, it’s all there. “I was doing it privately,” he says on this week’s episode of The Last Laugh podcast. “I feel like it’s something that’s kind of unspoken about stand-up, that for the most part, we are in communities of comedians who kick around joke tags: ‘Hey, what if you did this with it?’ And ‘I have a similar story about this, and you know you could use that if you want to,’ or whatever it is. And we kind of just put it out there with audio rolling.” In his second appearance on The Last Laugh, Birbiglia talks about how this process helped shape his latest Broadway show-turned-Netflix special ‘The Old Man and the Pool’ (now Emmy-nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special), shares his thoughtful response to the “emotional truth” controversy that came for his friend and fellow comic Hasan Minhaj , breaks down how he handles criticism of his own work, and a lot more. This episode was originally published on November 22, 2023. Follow Mike Birbiglia on Twitter @birbigs and Instagram @birbigs Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, July 31, 2024
Carmen Christopher: ‘The Bear,’ ‘The Curse’ and Chicago Comedy
Carmen Christopher is one of those comedians who you’ve definitely seen before but can’t totally be sure how you know his face. Over the past several years, he’s popped up in bit parts on show’s like ‘Shrill,’ ‘I Think You Should Leave,’ and most notably—given his born and bred Chicago roots—all three seasons of ‘The Bear.’ In this episode, Christopher talks about putting together his breakthrough, Chicago-themed stand-up special ‘Live From the Windy City,’ which arrives on the Veeps streaming platform August 1st. He also shares stories about collaborating with alt-comedy icons including Joe Pera and Tim Robinson, why he’s no longer interested in pursuing SNL after two unsuccessful auditions, that time he almost killed David Letterman, serving as a writer on Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie’s ‘The Curse’ and more. Follow Carmen Christopher on Twitter @CarmChristopher and Instagram @carmenyescarmen Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, July 24, 2024
Jon Lovett Returns: Kamala, Biden, Trump and Surviving 2024
In the weeks between President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance and his decision to step aside, no one in political media was making the case against his candidacy louder than the former Obama staffers and co-hosts of Pod Save America . In his third appearance on The Last Laugh, Crooked Media co-founder Jon Lovett returns to talk about his unexpectedly prominent role in the Democratic Party’s existential crisis and how he’s feeling now that Vice President Kamala Harris has emerged as the presumptive nominee who will take on Donald Trump in the fall. We also discuss how the political comedy world handled Biden’s decline and Trump’s assassination attempt, how he navigates writing jokes for his own podcast Lovett or Leave It , and how on earth he ended up as a contestant on the upcoming season of ‘Survivor.’ Buy Crooked Media’s new book ‘Democracy or Else: How to Save America in 10 Easy Steps’ Follow Jon Lovett on Twitter @jonlovett and Instagram @jonlovett Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, July 17, 2024
Reggie Watts Is Here for Our 250th Episode!
In an age of comedy that aims to shock, Reggie Watts is arguably the most unpredictable comedian working today. That’s not to say he’s particularly controversial. And in fact, he decided to “set” his latest stand-up special ‘Never Mind’ in the mid-’90s precisely so he wouldn’t feel any pressure to talk about what is happening in America right now. In this 250th episode of The Last Laugh, Watts breaks down how he uses his completely improvised comedic approach to “disorient” audiences and even make them question their reality. He also reveals the real reason he gave up his gig as one-man band leader on the ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ TV show (hint: It wasn’t because James Corden hired him away) and why he was so “stoked” when ‘The Late Late Show’ ended after a longer-than-expected eight-year run. Follow Reggie Watts on Instagram @reggiewatts Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, July 10, 2024
Jack Quaid: ‘The Boys’ and Embracing His ‘Nepo Baby’ Roots
Jack Quaid has taken great pains to carve out a unique path for himself in Hollywood. Determined not to follow too closely in the footsteps of his very famous parents (Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan), the 32-year-old actor has fully embraced “genre” storytelling, from his very first blink-and-you’ll-miss-it role in the first ‘Hunger Games’ film to his break-out performance as the endlessly relatable Hughie Campbell in Amazon Prime Video’s wildly popular comic book adaptation ‘The Boys,’ currently streaming its fourth season. In this episode, Quaid breaks down his character’s evolution, shares his view on the show’s satirical politics and teases just how “insane” the fifth and final season could get. He also shares stories from working with Christopher Nolan on ‘Oppenheimer’ and openly admits that he is definitely a “nepo baby” no matter what his mother, the “undisputed queen of rom-coms” has to say about it. Follow Jack Quaid on Twitter @JackQuaid92 and Instagram @jack_quaid Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, July 03, 2024
Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. on ‘The Daily Show,’ Biden vs. Trump and More
The first time Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. worked together was for a 2015 ‘Daily Show’ field piece that asked the question, “Are all cops racist?” In 2024, they joined forces once again for a series of “comedic town halls” across the country. In this episode, Klepper and Wood return to the podcast (for their fourth and third appearances, respectively) to share their thoughts about the inevitable Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump rematch nobody seems to want. The pair of ‘Daily Show’ correspondents also speak openly about that show’s very public search for a host to replace Trevor Noah, including why Wood decided to step down when it seemed like it wasn’t going to be him, whether Klepper is still gunning for the big seat and what they both thought about everything that went down with their old colleague Hasan Minhaj. This episode was originally published on January 3rd, 2024. Follow Jordan Klepper on Twitter @jordanklepper and Instagram @jordanklepper Follow Roy Wood Jr. on Twitter @roywoodjr and Instagram @roywoodjr Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, June 26, 2024
Mo Welch’s ‘Dad Jokes’ + Is ‘The Bear’ a Comedy?!?
Mo Welch spent years trying to make jokes about the father who abused her mother and abandoned her family funny without totally bumming out her audience. Now, she has perfected the art of the extremely dark “dad joke” in her new stand-up special-slash-documentary ‘Dad Jokes.’ In this episode, Welch talks about how terrifying it was to come face-to-face with her father for the first time in 20 years after he went to prison for stealing TVs and how she managed to thread the needle of turning that trauma into comedy on stage. She also reveals what she has learned about comedy from collaborators (and previous Last Laugh guests) Anthony Jeselnik and Beth Stelling and tells the story of how she dropped her microphone in a toilet seconds before her late-night stand-up debut on ‘Conan.’ But first, Allegra Frank joins Matt for her final appearance on the podcast to wrap up their discussion about the big comedy categories at this year’s Emmy Awards, including what to expect from ‘The Bear,’ ‘Hacks,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and more. Stream Mo Welch’s ‘Dad Jokes’ on YouTube Follow Mo Welch on Instagram @momowelch Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow Allegra Frank on Twitter @LegsFrank Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, June 19, 2024
Keith Robinson’s ‘Different Strokes’ + John Mulaney Enters the Late-Night Emmy Race
As a mainstay at New York’s prestigious Comedy Cellar for many years, Keith Robinson has long been the definition of a comedian’s comedian. But it wasn’t until he suffered two debilitating strokes over the course of four years that he finally landed his first hour-long special on Netflix. In this episode, Robinson talks about how managed to get back on stage so quickly after his first stroke (against medical advice) and how he was able to find so many cathartic laughs in what has otherwise been a truly terrifying experience. He also discusses how he felt about the standing ovation that opens his special ‘Different Strokes’—especially with so many comedian friends in the room—and looks back at the chaotic early days of his career, including stories about working with Wanda Sykes, Amy Schumer, Chris Rock and more. But first, Matt and Allegra break down the Variety Talk Series category at the Emmys, including new entrants ‘Hot Ones’ and ‘John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in LA.’ Follow Keith Robinson on Twitter @1keithrobinson and Instagram @keithrobinson438 Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, June 12, 2024
John Early’s ‘Now More Than Ever’ + Our Emmy Stand-Up Predictions
It’s been nearly a year since John Early released his first stand-up special, Max’s ‘Now More Than Ever.’ But it’s only now that he’s gotten the chance to talk about the go-for-broke special in-depth, with any chance at promotion waylaid by last summer and fall’s back-to-back strikes. And the comedian, best known for his work on ‘Search Party,’ ‘30 Rock,’ and with collaborator Kate Berlant, is relishing his overdue moment in the spotlight. In this episode of The Last Laugh podcast—Early’s second appearance on the show, following his 2022 visit with Berlant —he opens up about the genesis of his Emmys category-breaking special, including how he sees himself as less in step with his fellow campaigning comics and more in the mold of performers like Bette Midler. Plus, Matt and Allegra take a look at John Early’s Emmy competition in the Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-recorded) category and share their thoughts on who else deserves some love over the same old contenders. Follow John Early on Twitter @bejohnce and Instagram @bejohnce Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow Allegra Frank on Twitter @LegsFrank Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, June 05, 2024
Wanda Sykes on 2024, Chappelle, ‘Curb’ and More
It’s been more than three decades since Wanda Sykes first stepped onto the stand-up stage. And sometimes, it feels like she’s just now getting her due. This past year, the legendary comedian received her first-ever Grammy nomination for her latest Netflix special ‘I’m an Entertainer,’ which also landed nods at the Emmys and Golden Globes. The hard-hitting hour takes on many of the most divisive topics of the year without pandering to either side or ever punching down. “It’s just noise. And I like to try to cut through that,” she says of the way her comedy reacts to the broader political conversation. In this episode, Sykes takes on everything from the problem with Dave Chappelle’s anti-trans jokes to why she was shocked Will Smith didn’t get dragged out of the Oscars for slapping her friend Chris Rock to what Joe Biden has to do to win back Black men in 2024 to how she thinks about her place in the comedy pantheon and a lot more. This episode was originally published on December 20th, 2023. Follow Wanda Sykes on Twitter @iamwandasykes and Instagram @iamwandasykes Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, May 29, 2024
Rachel Feinstein’s ‘Big Guy’ on Netflix + ‘Hacks’ Rules and ‘Tires’ Sucks
Since first getting what she thought was her big break on ‘Last Comic Standing’ almost 15 years ago, comedian Rachel Feinstein has been waiting for something to come along and help her achieve the next level of success. “By the time this comes, I’m going to be a star,” Feinstein says. “Hopefully after this interview, I’ll at least get a Clorox commercial or something.” In this episode, recorded just after she taped her latest ‘Tonight Show’ appearance and right before her debut Netflix special ‘Big Guy’ premiered, Feinstein reveals that she may never have gotten this breakthrough moment in her career had she not done the one thing that “scared” her the most: getting married to the New York firefighter husband she spends much of her special mocking and then having a daughter. She also shares stories about mentoring Lil Jon in stand-up comedy on Donald Trump’s ‘The Apprentice,’ roasting Gilbert Gottfried’s Hitler as Anne Frank on Netflix’s ‘Historical Roasts,’ and more. Plus, Matt and Allegra break down what makes ‘Hacks’ the only funny comedy series on TV right now—and why Shane Gillis’ ‘Tires’ on Netflix is the exact opposite. Follow Rachel Feinstein on Twitter @RachelFeinstein and Instagram @rachelfeinstein_ Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, May 22, 2024
Paul Scheer’s ‘Joyful Recollections of Trauma’ + SNL50 Here We Come!
With his delightfully silly roles on shows like ‘The League,’ ‘Veep,’ ‘The Good Place’ and many others, comedian Paul Scheer has always projected a sense of unencumbered fun. That’s partly why, as he explains in both his new memoir ‘Joyful Recollections of Trauma’ and on this episode, he was so hesitant to reveal the very real pain that dominated much of his childhood. Scheer talks about how comedy helped rescue him from the violently abusive household in which he was raised and has continued to be an essential part of his life as he raises children of his own. He also tells some unbelievable stories about his bizarre run-ins with celebrities like Christopher Walken and Bill Cosby, describes the unique experience of improvising opposite Larry David on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and explains how he was able to emotionally move past a whopping four unsuccessful auditions for ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Buy ‘Joyful Recollections of Trauma’ by Paul Scheer on Amazon Follow Paul Scheer on Twitter @paulscheer and Instagram @paulscheer Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, May 15, 2024
Mae Martin (Live From Netflix Is a Joke Fest) + John Mulaney’s ‘Everybody’s in LA’
Live from Netflix Is a Joke Fest in Los Angeles this past week, comedian Mae Martin returns to the podcast to share stories about making out with ‘Ted Lasso’s’ Brett Goldstein on stage, making Jon Stewart laugh on ‘John Mulaney Presents: ‘Everybody’s in LA’ and the exhilarating feeling when a new stand-up bit that kills for the first time. Martin also looks back on the surreal experience of watching their autobiographical show ‘Feel Good’ take off on Netflix at the very start of the pandemic and teases their new narrative series for which they are strongly considering becoming a brunette. And make sure to stick around until the end of the show to hear a very special acoustic performance by Claud. Plus, ‘John Mulaney Presents: ‘Everybody’s in LA’ wildly exceeded our expectations, leading Matt and Allegra to wonder whether we deserve more or should just be happy with the perfect six episodes that streamed during the festival. Follow Mae Martin on Instagram @hooraymae Follow Claud on Instagram @claud.mp3 Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, May 08, 2024
Nikki Glaser Returns: ‘Someday You’ll Die’ and Roasting Tom Brady
The last time Nikki Glaser was on The Last Laugh podcast , our conversation ended up producing material for her stand-up act. Now, in her return to the show, she apologizes for throwing me “under the bus” before sharing even more unfiltered thoughts about her objections to motherhood, struggles with suicidal thoughts and the very tricky balance between self-censorship and saying something she knows could get her “canceled”—all of which are integral to her latest HBO special ‘Someday You’ll Die.’ The comedian also reveals her approach to roasting Tom Brady at Netflix’s epic live event, explains why she decided to leave it all on the table with her jokes about Ted Cruz, Majorie Taylor Greene and other political figures while guest-hosting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and shares how she’s feeling about turning 40 next month. Come to a live taping of The Last Laugh podcast with special guest Mae Martin at Netflix Is a Joke Fest on May 8. Follow Nikki Glaser on Instagram @nikkiglaser Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, May 01, 2024
Netflix Is a Joke Fest + The State of Stand-Up on Streaming
The massive, sprawling Netflix Is a Joke Festival kicks off in Los Angeles today and host Matt Wilstein is joined by The Daily Beast’s Allegra Frank and Sean L. McCarthy to preview what comedy fans can expect—including a starry roast of Tom Brady, a live Katt Williams stand-up special, a John Mulaney-hosted late-night show and a lot more. They also delve into how Netflix came to dominate the streaming comedy world—for better and, occasionally, for worse. Come to a live taping of The Last Laugh podcast with special guest Mae Martin at Netflix Is a Joke Fest on May 8. Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow Allegra Frank on Twitter @LegsFrank Follow Sean L. McCarthy on Instagram @thecomicscomic Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, April 24, 2024
Laura Benanti Tells All! + ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’
Laura Benanti has been nominated for five Tony Awards (with one win) and appeared in dozens of TV shows and movies since making her Broadway debut at 19 years old as Maria in ‘The Sound of Music.’ But as the title of her new solo stage show attests, she still reminds herself on a daily basis that ‘Nobody Cares’ about her many accomplishments. In this episode, Benanti talks about mining her most embarrassing life stories for musical comedy in her new show, which returns to the New York stage and premieres on Audible next month. She also reveals how playing Melania Trump on ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ finally made people take her “seriously” as a comedic actress and what she thinks is going through the former first lady’s head as her husband stands trial for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels. But first, Matt and Allegra break down Conan O’Brien’s triumphant (or is it?) streaming premiere after his decades-long run on late-night TV with the new travel series ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’ on Max. Come to a live taping of The Last Laugh podcast with special guest Mae Martin at Netflix Is a Joke Fest on May 8. Get tickets for Laura Benanti: Nobody Cares at Audible.com Follow Laura Benanti on Instagram @laurabenanti Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, April 17, 2024
Demetri Martin ‘Deconstructed’ + What’s Up With SNL?
Demetri Martin just put out his first new stand-up hour in six years. But when he sits down for this interview with The Last Laugh podcast, he’s about to tape the second of what will be a trilogy of specials for Netflix. It’s quite a comeback moment for the (shockingly) 50-year-old comedian, who has remained mostly out of the spotlight in recent years as provocative, autobiographical stand-up comedy has overtaken the one-liner “joke machine” style that he has been honing for more than half of his life. In this episode, Martin breaks down the meta-concept behind his new ‘Demetri Deconstructed’ special, reveals why he started bringing drawings on stage, shares his take on some of the more concerning comedy trends and a lot more. Plus, Matt and Allegra take on the state of ‘Saturday Night Live’ and why this past weekend’s Ryan Gosling-hosted episode was the show at its very best. Follow Demetri Martin on Twitter @DemetriMartin and Instagram @demetrimartinofficial Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, April 10, 2024
Alex Edelman on ‘Just for Us’ + ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Series Finale!
Alex Edelman was having a hectic week before an unexpected earthquake briefly knocked out the internet in his New York apartment just before our podcast taping. “I feel crazy every day,” Edelman admits on the eve of his solo show, ‘Just for Us,’ premiering on HBO. “But also, this is what a comedian wants for his work. I’m very verklempt.” In this episode, the 35-year-old Jewish comic shares the unique challenges of bringing his story about attending a white supremacist meeting in Queens to the stage and screen, including the sudden death of his director just before opening on Broadway and how performing a show about antisemitism changed after October 7th. Edelman also discusses the surreal experience of getting notes from comedy heroes like Steve Martin, Jerry Seinfeld and Billy Crystal, tells a story about the time he baffled Mel Brooks by calling him “woke” to his face, and teases his next stand-up hour on the Israel-Gaza war. But first, Matt and Allegra break down the series finale of ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ including an unsentimental goodbye to Richard Lewis and a surprising twist on the infamous ‘Seinfeld’ ending. Follow Alex Edelman on Twitter @alexedelman and Instagram @alexedelman Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, April 03, 2024
W. Kamau Bell Returns + ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show’
It’s been six years since W. Kamau Bell’s last special ‘Private School Negro’ premiered on Netflix. And after hosting CNN’s ‘United Shades of America’ for seven seasons and directing two hit documentaries, he’s not totally sure that he should still be considered a stand-up comedian. In his third appearance on the podcast—taped in-studio in his native Oakland—Bell speaks frankly about his ambivalence around pursuing the life of a comic right now and why he keeps finding himself on stage, especially as the 2024 election heats up. Bell discusses comedy’s role in the Biden vs. Trump rematch, why comedians like Joe Rogan have embraced third-party spoiler RFK Jr., the fallout from his ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ docuseries and a lot more. But first, The Daily Beast’s Allegra Frank joins host Matt Wilstein to answer some burning questions about the first episode of ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.’ How real is it? Is the identity of the anonymous masked man supposed to be so obvious? And why do we find this deeply sad show so funny? Follow W. Kamau Bell on Twitter @wkamaubell and Instagram @wkamaubell Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 27, 2024
Tig Notaro Returns: ‘Hello Again’
It’s been more than a decade since Tig Notaro broke through in a big way by walking onto the stand-up stage in Los Angeles and telling her audience, “Hello, I have cancer.” And for better or worse, she has even more medical scares to joke about in her latest special ‘Hello Again,’ streaming now on Amazon Prime Video. In this episode, which marks the five year anniversary of The Last Laugh, Notaro returns to the podcast to discuss how she manages to keep finding humor in these terrifying life experiences. The comedian also opens up about collaborating with her wife Stephanie Allyne, who directed the new special, getting heckled by her twin boys at a charity event, mining her awkward interactions with celebrity friends for comedy and a lot more. Stream Tig Notaro’s ‘Hello Again’ on Amazon Prime Video Pre-order David E. Low’s ‘Transgressive Humor in Classrooms’ (20% off with code EFLY01) Follow Tig Notaro on Twitter @TigNotaro and Instagram @therealfluffnotaro Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 20, 2024
Kyle Kinane: From Comedy Central to ‘Dirt Nap’
It’s genuinely disorienting to see Kyle Kinane without the signature beard that has become his comedy brand over the past 15 years or so when his clean-shaved face pops up on Zoom. “God, I hate brands so much,” he says. “I love nothing more than exploding personal brands.” In this episode, Kinane opens up about his decision to leave Los Angeles for Portland after losing his coveted gig as the official voice of Comedy Central and why he no longer feels like he needs the corporate structure that has kept so many of his fellow comedians tethered to the center of the entertainment industry. He also discusses why his comedy seems to appeal to both sides of the political aisle—for better or worse—and why he has no respect for any comedian who embellishes the truth on stage in an effort to “garner sympathy.” Stream/download Kyle Kinane’s new special ‘Dirt Nap’ Follow Kyle Kinane on Twitter @kylekinane and Instagram @kylekinane Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 13, 2024
Renée Elise Goldsberry: From ‘Hamilton’ to ‘Girls5eva’
Despite never really doing comedy before ‘Girls5eva,’ Renée Elise Goldsberry has managed to steal nearly every scene she’s been in over the two seasons of that show’s initial run on Peacock and third, which arrives with a splash on Netflix this week. In this episode, the Tony and Grammy Award winning actor reveals what it was like to find her comedic voice as the self-obsessed diva Wickie Roy, including how the character has inspired her to become more ambitious in her own career and the parallels between mastering Tina Fey’s brand of rapid-fire jokes and learning to rap for her role as Angelica Schyuler in Lin-Manuel Miranda’s ‘Hamilton.’ Goldsberry talks about getting cut out of Fey and Amy Poehler’s movie ‘Sisters,’ meeting co-star Paula Pell in their musical episode ‘Documentary Now’ and why she would be “shocked” if there wasn’t a fourth season of ‘Girls5eva’ coming to Netflix in the near future. Follow Renée Elise Goldsberry on Twitter @reneegoldsberry and Instagram @reneeelisegoldsberry Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, March 06, 2024
Bassem Youssef: ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’ on Biden, Piers Morgan and More
Comedian Bassem Youssef has been widely known as “The Egyptian Jon Stewart” ever since he gave up being a heart surgeon and made himself into the premier political satirist of the Arab Spring. Now, more than a decade after that career transformation took place, Youssef has been back in the news thanks to his mega-viral with Piers Morgan and subsequent outspoken commentary against both Israel and President Joe Biden. In this episode, Youssef breaks down how he has employed the darkest of humor to draw attention to the fate of the Palestinian people, shares his strong reaction to Stewart’s recent take on the Israel-Gaza War, and reveals why he thinks it might be “too late” for Biden to win back the Arab-American support he may well need to beat Donald Trump. Get tickets to see Bassem Youssef on ‘The Middle Beast Tour’ Follow Bassem Youssef on Twitter @Byoussef and Instagram @bassem Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 28, 2024
Donnell Rawlings: From ‘Chappelle’s’ Show’ to Netflix
Before Donnell Rawlings was a professional comedian, he was an amateur heckler. He would go to comedy clubs and yell back at the stage, sometimes getting even bigger laughs than the guy with the mic. So even with his Dave Chappelle-produced stand-up special ‘A New Day’ dropping on Netflix this week it’s perhaps no surprise that he recently came full circle, getting caught on camera heckling fellow comic Corey Holcomb at The Laugh Factory in L.A. for going after both him and his famous friend of more than 20 years. In this episode, Rawlings breaks down that viral incident and talks about the long and “humbling” road he took to finally get his own Netflix moment. He also reflects on making a huge mark on “Chappelle’s Show” with relatively little screen time, how he felt about Chappelle walking away from that show without telling him and why he has no time for anyone who might be offended by their comedy. Follow Donnell Rawlings on Twitter @donnellrawlings and Instagram @donnellrawlings Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, February 23, 2024
Rory Scovel Returns: ‘Religion, Sex and a Few Things in Between’
Comedian Rory Scovel has never really known what he was going to say when he walked onto the stand-up stage. But that all changed when he decided—20 years into his career—to finally do the “homework” of actually writing a complete and cohesive hour. The result is his new special, ‘Religion, Sex and a Few Things in Between,’ which Scovel describes as the “tightest” set of material he’s ever produced (and is streaming now on Max). In his return to the podcast for this bonus episode, Scovel discusses how this new approach changed his experience on stage, how he still strives to stay ultra-present in his work and why he has decided to lean into politics (with an eye on George Carlin) for his next act. Follow Rory Scovel on Instagram @roryscovel Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 21, 2024
Jenny Slate: ‘Seasoned Professional’
Jenny Slate has never been a traditional stand-up comic. And after a lengthy hiatus that followed her 2019 Netflix special ‘Stage Fright’ and included both a global pandemic and the birth of her daughter, she wasn’t sure she’d ever get up in front of an audience again. “I didn’t have a system in place for how to get back up on stage. I didn’t know how to do that,” she says in this episode. But now, with her new hour ‘Seasoned Professional’ set to premiere this Friday, Feb. 23 on Amazon Prime Video, Slate breaks down how she made her way back in front of the mic and why she decided to get so intimately personal in the special. Slate reflects on how her one unfortunate season as a ‘Saturday Night Live’ cast member has informed the rest of her career, from finding the right kind of community on projects like ‘Kroll Show’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers’ to learning how to make her own unlikely success as ‘Marcel the Shell With Shoes On.’ And she discusses what it was like to pass the torch of her mixed race character on ‘Big Mouth’ to Ayo Edebiri, why she’s not sure ‘Obvious Child,’ her comedy film about abortion, would hit viewers in the same way 10 years later, and a lot more. Follow Jenny Slate on Instagram @jennyslate Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, February 15, 2024
Introducing: The Chris Chatman Do-Over, starring Ike Barinholtz
In this improvised comedy podcast, Ike Barinholtz stars as controversial shock jock host Chris Chatman. Chatman’s hit podcast was canceled but he's listened, learned, and is back on the mic to finally win over a few female listeners. Or maybe even just one. In each episode, Chatman and his co-hosts Frankie (Lisa Gilroy) and the Professor (Neil Casey) unpack hot-button issues with expert guests but offend pretty much everyone in the process. Guest stars include Amy Poehler, Fred Armisen, Ashley Nicole Black, Carla Cackowski, Craig Cackowski, Liz Cackowski, Jessica St. Clair, E.R. Fightmaster, Ego Nwodim, Busy Philipps, Emily Spivey, and Alice Stanley Jr. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 14, 2024
Laurie Kilmartin: ‘Cis Woke Grief Slut’
Laurie Kilmartin knew that naming her new stand-up special ‘Cis Woke Grief Slut’ might be a little provocative. “I'm open to hate watches!” the comedian and longtime ‘Conan’ writer jokes in this episode. No stranger to controversy, Kilmartin also breaks down why she decided to tweet an incredibly dark series of jokes as her mother was dying of COVID in 2020, opens up about the experience of receiving death threats from right-wingers after making an abortion joke on MSNBC and why she prefers reluctant, involuntary laughter to the type of agenda-affirming applause that currently dominates late-night television. Stream Laurie Kilmartin’s new special ‘Cis Woke Grief Slut’ Follow Laurie Kilmartin on Twitter @anylaurie16 and Instagram @anylaurie16 Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, February 07, 2024
Moshe Kasher: ‘Subculture Vulture’
Before Moshe Kasher became a stand-up comedian, his life was defined by his intimate connections to Alcoholics Anonymous, the deaf community, rave culture, Burning Man and Judaism. Each of these distinct communities serve as chapters in his excellent new book, ‘Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes .’ In this episode, Kasher breaks down how these various identities helped make him the person he is both on and off stage today, from early jokes about growing up with two deaf parents to the Emmy-winning documentary about antisemitism that hits very differently in the wake of the October 7th attacks and Israel’s response. He also reads a passage from the book about how he overcame his inherent skepticism about Burning Man, explains why he feels at home on both sides of the comedy world’s woke vs. anti-woke divide and shares his reaction to all of the recent attention his wife, fellow comedian Natasha Leggero , received when she went topless on stage at the Hollywood Improv. But Moshe Kasher’s new book ‘Subculture Vulture: A Memoir in Six Scenes’ Follow Moshe Kasher on Twitter @moshekasher and Instagram @moshekasher Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 31, 2024
Jacqueline Novak: ‘Get on Your Knees’
Jacqueline Novak spent six long years developing her “90 minute meditation on the blow job.” Now that “Get on Your Knees” is streaming on Netflix—and garnering rave reviews—the comedian sits down with The Last Laugh podcast to talk about what it’s like to give up control as viewers around the world are welcomed into her most intimate thoughts and ideas. In this episode, Novak breaks down how she decided to take her career into her own hands and create something that felt worthy of her talents after years of five-minute sets on pizza and french fries, opens up about the double-edged sword of being a female comic who talks about sex on stage and shares what she wants to do next now that her star-making project is finally finished. Follow Jacqueline Novak on Instagram @jacnov Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 24, 2024
Zach Woods: ‘The Office,’ ‘Silicon Valley’ and ‘In the Know’
When Zach Woods was first cast as Gabe on Season 6 of ‘The Office,’ he found a comment online where someone described his face as a “combination of sadness and food poisoning.” And that was before he had even appeared in an episode. “I was like, buckle up, here we go!” he recalls thinking at the time. In this episode, Woods breaks down how he went from the “abject terror” of joining one of his favorite comedy shows to channeling some of the tech world’s biggest weirdos as Jared on HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley’ to co-creating and starring as the deeply awkward fictional NPR host Lauren Caspian in his new stop-motion animated Peacock show ‘In the Know’ opposite live-action celebrities like Mike Tyson, Hugh Laurie, Nicole Byer and others. Follow Zach Woods on TikTok @zachwoods and Instagram @mrzachwoods Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 17, 2024
Paul F. Tompkins: The Best Comedy Podcast Guest
Paul F. Tompkins is widely considered to be among the best comedy podcast guests of all time. But as he tells me in this episode, he doesn’t let that pressure get to him, because he offers up humbly, “I don’t believe it.” Tompkins has done it all in his nearly four decades of comedy, from sketch to stand-up to voicing animated characters on shows like ‘Bojack Horseman’ and ‘Bob’s Burgers.’ But among his greatest comedic achievements are the hundreds of hours he’s spent improvising in character with Scott Aukerman and others on the ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ podcast. In this episode, Tompkins discusses how that experience has helped to shape his comic sensibility and bring him the ideal level of fame and respect within the comedy world. He also opens up about starting his career alongside alleged insurrectionist Jake Johnston, why he never wants to work with Bill Maher again and the problem with comedians who believe their only job is to offend. Stream ‘Varietopia with Paul F. Tompkins’ on February 2nd Follow Paul F. Tompkins on Threads @pftompkins and Instagram @pftompkins Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 10, 2024
Joe Pera: ‘Slow & Steady’
Is Joe Pera for real? That’s the inevitable question you start asking yourself after seeing him perform soft-spoken stand-up jokes, listening to his deliberately sleep-inducing podcast or watching his exquisitely serene Adult Swim series ‘Joe Pera Talks With You.’ In this episode, Pera goes deep on how he developed his very unique comedy style and responds directly to those who think his entire comic persona might be some sort of elaborate ruse. He also reflects on the end of his beloved and deeply personal show, reveals how Taylor Swift helped inspire his upcoming stand-up tour and tells the full story behind securing the rights to The Who’s “Baba O’Riley.” Get tickets for The Peras Tour at joepera.com Follow Joe Pera on Twitter @JosephPera and Instagram @joepera Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, January 03, 2024
Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. Return—Together!
The first time Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. worked together was for a 2015 ‘Daily Show’ field piece that asked the question, “Are all cops racist?” Now, they are kicking off 2024 by joining forces once again for a series of “comedic town halls” across the country. In this episode, Klepper and Wood return to the podcast (for their fourth and third appearances, respectively) to let fans know what they can expect from their ‘America: For the Last Time’ tour and share their thoughts about the inevitable Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump rematch nobody seems to want. The pair of ‘Daily Show’ correspondents also speak openly about that show’s very public search for a host to replace Trevor Noah, including why Wood decided to step down when it seemed like it wasn’t going to be him, whether Klepper is still gunning for the big seat and what they both thought about everything that went down with their old colleague Hasan Minhaj. Get tickets for the ‘America: For the Last Time’ tour Follow Jordan Klepper on Twitter @jordanklepper and Instagram @jordanklepper Follow Roy Wood Jr. on Twitter @roywoodjr and Instagram @roywoodjr Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 27, 2023
Julia Louis-Dreyfus on SNL, ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Veep’ and More
If there’s anyone in Hollywood who might be immune to criticism, it’s 11-time Emmy-winner and Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But as the comedy legend admits in this episode, the rare negative comment about her work still “stings.” That feeling is at the heart of Louis-Dreyfus’ latest film ‘You Hurt My Feelings,’ in which she delivers the most emotionally raw performance of her career. During our conversation, the actress reflects on her early struggles as a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the catharsis of returning as host. She also reveals what she really thought about the divisive ‘Seinfeld’ finale 25 years later, breaks down the difference between ‘Veep’s’ Selina Meyer and her own “narcissistic” father and a lot more. This episode was originally published on May 16th, 2023. Follow Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Twitter @OfficialJLD and Instagram @officialjld Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, December 22, 2023
‘Daily Show,’ Hasan Minhaj and Matt Rife With The New Abnormal
It’s time again for our annual, year-end crossover episode in which Matt Wilstein joins The New Abnormal host Andy Levy to talk about everything from how the Hasan Minhaj “emotional truth” debacle upended the search for a new ‘Daily Show’ host to the disturbing rise of TikTok comedian Matt Rife to why they are both so obsessed with Nate Bargatze and more. Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 20, 2023
Wanda Sykes: The Slap, Chappelle and Turning 60
It’s been more than three decades since Wanda Sykes first stepped onto the stand-up stage. And sometimes, it feels like she’s just now getting her due. The legendary comedian just received her first-ever Grammy nomination for her latest Netflix special ‘I’m an Entertainer,’ which also landed nods at the Emmys and Golden Globes. The hard-hitting hour takes on many of the most divisive topics of the year without pandering to either side or ever punching down. “It’s just noise. And I like to try to cut through that,” she says of the way her comedy reacts to the broader political conversation. In this episode, Sykes takes on everything from the problem with Dave Chappelle’s anti-trans jokes to why she was shocked Will Smith didn’t get dragged out of the Oscars for slapping her friend Chris Rock to hitting the road for her Please & Thank You tour during an election year to how she thinks about her place in the comedy pantheon and a lot more. Follow Wanda Sykes on Twitter @iamwandasykes and Instagram @iamwandasykes Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, December 15, 2023
Judd Apatow Returns to Talk Rickles, Newhart and Norman Lear
Judd Apatow is known for making long movies, from comedies like ‘Funny People’ or ‘This Is 40’ that balloon past two hours to documentaries on his comedy heroes like the two-part, four-hour films about Garry Shandling and George Carlin. So it was somewhat of a shock when he dropped a 20-minute short last month about the lifelong friendship between Don Rickles and Bob Newhart. “I’ve changed,” he jokes. “All my movies are going to be shorts now, no matter the genre.” In this bonus episode—his third appearance on the show—Apatow breaks down what made those two stylistically opposed icons a perfect off-stage pair. He also weighs in on how the art of roasting has evolved over the years, shares memories about his friend and mentor Norman Lear and explains why he thinks Lena Dunham’s ‘Girls’ is finally being fully appreciated more than a decade after its premiere. Watch ‘Bob and Don: A Love Story’ at newyorker.com Follow Judd Apatow on Twitter @juddapatow and Instagram @juddapatow Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 13, 2023
Leo Reich: ‘The Youngest Comedian Ever!’
Before Leo Reich takes the stage at the top of his new HBO special ‘Literally, Who Cares?!’ we hear him introduce himself as the “youngest comedian ever.” As he explains in this episode, “I try to really lean into a kind of self-appointed voice-of-a-generation or young genius vibe,” before making sure to add, “in an ironic way.” That upending of expectations around the attitudes of a queer Gen Z comedian—or “rug-pulling,” as he puts it—are at the heart of Reich’s excellent new show, which first ran at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2022 and premieres on HBO and Max this Saturday, December 16th. Reich talks about writing the show while he was still living at home with his parents during the pandemic, why he prefers the connection of a live audience to being a slave to the TikTok algorithm and the ultimate laziness of railing against “cancel culture.” Follow Leo Reich on Twitter @leoistired and Instagram @leo_reich Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, December 06, 2023
‘American Fiction’s’ Cord Jefferson: From Gawker to the Oscars
10 years ago, Cord Jefferson was blogging for Gawker. Now, his directorial debut ‘American Fiction’ is almost guaranteed a Best Picture nomination at the Oscars and he’s a frontrunner for Best Adapted Screenplay. In this episode, Jefferson traces his path from online journalist to full-fledged filmmaker, with stops along the way writing for ‘Master of None,’ ‘The Good Place’ and HBO’s ‘Watchmen,’ for which he won an Emmy Award in 2020. He talks about nailing the darkly satirical tone of his new movie that interrogates the expectations of Black artists, how his own experience in Hollywood influenced the script and the “emotional breaking point” he hit before doing the hard work he had to do on himself to get where he is today. Follow Cord Jefferson on Twitter @cordjefferson and Instagram @cordjefferson Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, November 29, 2023
Larry Charles: ‘Seinfeld,’ Larry David and ‘Dicks: The Musical’
Even if you don’t know Larry Charles’ name, his work is inescapable. He spent years as a writer on ‘Seinfeld’ before starting his career as a director on shows like ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and movies like Sacha Baron Cohen ’s ‘Borat’ and ‘Brüno.’ Now, after swearing off Hollywood, he’s back with what might be his most “transgressive” movie yet, ‘Dicks: The Musical,’ a truly deranged comedy about two “straight” twins who were separated at birth and ultimately fall in love. In this episode, Charles reveals why this was the project that got him to narrative filmmaking and shares stories from the sets of ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Curb,’ ‘Borat’ and more. Plus, the director opens up more than ever before about the major falling out he had with longtime collaborator Larry David after HBO pulled their documentary project at the very last minute. Watch ‘Dicks: The Musical’ at home Follow Larry Charles on Twitter @larrycharles and Instagram @larrycharles Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, November 22, 2023
Mike Birbiglia Returns: Comedy, Truth and ‘The Old Man and the Pool’
When a special arrives on Netflix in its finished form, viewers don’t typically get to see all of the excruciating work that went into making it a polished piece. But for anyone who has been listening to Birbiglia’s Working It Out podcast over the past couple of years, it’s all there. “I was doing it privately,” he says on this week’s episode of The Last Laugh podcast. “I feel like it’s something that’s kind of unspoken about stand-up, that for the most part, we are in communities of comedians who kick around joke tags: ‘Hey, what if you did this with it?’ And ‘I have a similar story about this, and you know you could use that if you want to,’ or whatever it is. And we kind of just put it out there with audio rolling.” In his second appearance on The Last Laugh, Birbiglia talks about how this process helped shape his latest Broadway show-turned-Netflix special ‘The Old Man and the Pool,’ shares his thoughtful response to the “emotional truth” controversy that came for his friend and fellow comic Hasan Minhaj , breaks down how he handles criticism of his own work, and a lot more. Follow Mike Birbiglia on Twitter @birbigs and Instagram @birbigs Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, November 15, 2023
Whitney Cummings Returns! — And Gets ‘Mouthy’
Whitney Cummings likes to think of herself as a comedy “martyr,” one of many modern comedians who are willing to “sacrifice themselves just to make sure the First Amendment is still intact.” She believes so strongly in her right to say whatever she wants on stage that she left Comedy Central, HBO and Netflix behind to put out her latest uncensored stand-up special on Only Fans TV. In this new episode, Cummings talks very openly about the state of comedy as she sees it in 2023 and why she decided to embrace the “safe-for-work” arm of the popular porn platform to produce a series of celebrity roasts and now her sixth special, ‘Mouthy.’ The comedian also discusses why trans jokes comprise nearly half of the new hour, how her perspective on the divisive issue differs from male comics like Dave Chappelle, why she was willing to apologize to one trans audience member who was offended by her material, that time she may have gone too far in front of an audience of Saudi businessmen and more. Stream ‘Mouthy’ on OFTV Follow Whitney Cummings on Twitter @WhitneyCummings and Instagram @whitneycummings Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Wed, November 08, 2023
Get Ready for All-New Episodes Coming Soon!
The Last Laugh podcast is back… and moving to Wednesdays! Make sure you’re following this feed so you can listen to all-new episodes of this podcast, with some very exciting new guests, starting next Wednesday, November 15th. Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 31, 2023
Henry Winkler (‘Barry’)
Henry Winker (2023 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series) has repeatedly doubted himself throughout his long and storied career. From landing the coveted role of Arthur Fonzarelli on ‘Happy Days’ to winning his first Emmy Award for playing Gene Cousineau on Bill Hader’s ‘Barry,’ the beloved actor has struggled to overcome what only became known as “imposter syndrome” in recent years. “I invented the syndrome!” Winkler says in this episode. Winkler, who has just written a new memoir called ‘Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond,’ tells stories about his struggles to find work after The Fonz, explains how Adam Sandler helped revive his comedy career, reveals why he turned down hosting SNL, recalls his funniest line from ‘Arrested Development’ and so much more. This episode was originally published on July 26th, 2022. Buy Henry Winkler’s new book ‘Being Henry: The Fonz… and Beyond’ Follow Henry Winkler on Twitter @hwinkler4real Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 17, 2023
Sharon Horgan (‘Bad Sisters’)
Sharon Horgan (2023 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Lead Actress and Writing in a Drama Series) can’t seem to stop creating television shows. From ‘Pulling’ to ‘Catastrophe’ to ‘Divorce’ to ‘Motherland’ to ‘Shining Vale’ to her latest, the Apple TV+ comedy thriller ‘Bad Sisters,’ she is one of the most prolific TV showrunners in the game. In this episode, Horgan talks about going outside of her comfort zone for her new show and creating her first truly villainous character after years of writing flawed but ultimately sympathetic figures. She also reflects on how she met her ‘Catastrophe’ co-creator and co-star Rob Delaney on Twitter, remembers her final dinner with the late Carrie Fisher (who just happened to bring along Salman Rushdie) and looks ahead to the even more personal show she’s hoping to create next. This episode was originally published on August 23rd, 2022. Follow Sharon Horgan on Twitter @SharonHorgan and Instagram @sharonhorgan Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 03, 2023
Alan Ruck (‘Succession’)
For the first 30 years of his career, Alan Ruck (2023 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series) was sure he would always be remembered as Ferris Bueller’s sad best friend. Then ‘Succession’ came along and changed everything. In this episode, Ruck shares his thoughts on the end of ‘Succession,’ including what lies ahead for Connor and Willa’s marriage, the story behind filming that “virtual dinner” with Brian Cox, and why creator Jesse Armstrong made the right decision to quit while he was ahead. The actor also reveals why he asked for his character to be killed off in Season 2 and how the role he was waiting his entire career for has forever altered his professional legacy. This episode was originally published on June 6th, 2023. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 19, 2023
Gary Gulman on Growing Up a ‘Misfit’ and ‘The Great Depresh’
It’s now been four years since Gary Gulman released his remarkable stand-up special ‘The Great Depresh.’ And despite a global pandemic that caused its own parallel mental health crisis, he says he’s really never felt better. The prolific comedian has a new memoir out called ‘Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the ‘80s’ and when we spoke, he was about to perform at Carnegie Hall—less than five years after he walked out of a psychiatric ward. In this episode, Gulman opens up about how he turned things around and achieved a new level of comedy confidence that has allowed him to be vulnerable on stage in a whole new way. He also weighs in on Bo Burnham’s anxiety-themed special ‘Inside,’ discusses his role in Amy Schumer’s Hulu series ‘Life & Beth’, looks back at his “miserable” time on Dane Cook’s ‘Tourgasm’ and a lot more. This episode was originally published on September 21st, 2021. Buy Gary Gulman’s book ‘Misfit: Growing Up Awkward in the ‘80s’ Follow Gary Gulman on Twitter @GaryGulman and Instagram @garygulman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 05, 2023
Maria Bamford on Stand-Up, Netflix and Mental Health
Maria Bamford has been performing stand-up comedy for more than 30 years and just keeps getting better. Her most recent hour-long special ‘Weakness Is the Brand’ found her at the top of her game, delivering operatic bits about her ongoing mental health struggles and relentless drive to be a good person in the world. In this episode, we talk about how she arrived at relative stability, the challenges that female comics still face in a male-dominated industry, how she felt when Netflix canceled her autobiographical show ‘Lady Dynamite’ after two seasons and a lot more—including an unvarnished take on Louis C.K. This episode was originally published on January 28th, 2020. Buy Maria Bamford’s book ‘Sure, I'll Join Your Cult: A Memoir of Mental Illness and the Quest to Belong Anywhere’ Follow Maria Bamford on Twitter @mariabamfoo and Instagram @mariabamfordcomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 22, 2023
Sam Richardson (‘Ted Lasso’)
The first two professional acting gigs that Sam Richardson (2023 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘Ted Lasso’) booked were on ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘The Office.’ And he has never stopped rising the ranks of the comedy world since, from what was supposed to be a one-episode guest spot as Richard Splett on ‘Veep’ to his first real romantic leading role on Apple TV+’s high-school reunion murder mystery comedy ‘The Afterparty.’ In this episode, Richardson talks about collaborating with his former improv teacher Tim Robinson on the brilliantly funny ‘Detroiters’ and ‘I Think You Should Leave,’ how he ended up channeling his Ghanaian heritage on ‘Ted Lasso’ and how it felt to be called “his generation’s Tom Hanks” by one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood. This episode was originally published on February 15th, 2022. Follow Sam Richardson on Twitter @SamRichardson and Instagram @thesamrichardson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 08, 2023
Martin Short (‘Only Murders in the Building’)
Comedy icon Martin Short (2023 Emmy nominee for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for ‘Only Murders in the Building’) is well into his 70s. And while he’s still capable of the unbounded energy he first showed the world on shows like ‘SCTV’ and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ he can also be more sincere and reflective than his biggest fans might expect. In this in-depth conversation, the man who’s known as just “Marty” to his famous friends tells hilarious stories about working with Steve Martin, performing for David Letterman, embodying Jiminy Glick and more. Plus, he breaks down what it took to transform himself into a #MeToo monster for his Emmy-nominated role on ‘The Morning Show’ and talks about the origins of ‘Only Murders’ co-starring Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. This episode was originally published on August 18th, 2020. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 25, 2023
Bill Hader (‘Barry’)
Bill Hader (2023 Emmy-nominated actor, writer and director for HBO’s ‘Barry’) is well known as the most generous “laugher” in comedy. But when he’s talking about his increasingly dark HBO series ‘Barry,’ those laughs come with a razor sharp edge. In this episode, the ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum goes deep on the mental state of his hitman character as the show approached its final season. He also reflects on his anxiety-filled SNL experience, why he and John Mulaney never made that rumored Stefon movie, the specific genius of ‘Documentary Now!’ and why he couldn’t stop laughing at Paul Rudd’s final ‘Mac and Me’ prank on the final week of ‘Conan.’ This episode was originally published on April 26th, 2022. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Tue, July 18, 2023
We’ll Be Right Back!
After 215 episodes, featuring interviews with some of the funniest people on the planet, The Last Laugh podcast is taking a little breather. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements about what the next iteration of this show will look like when it returns in the fall—and please take a moment to show us some love in the meantime by leaving a rating and review. See you back here very soon! Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from all of our episodes at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 11, 2023
Andrea Martin: 50 Years of Comedic Genius
Andrea Martin has been a force to be reckoned with in the comedy world since her professional debut as part of the Toronto cast of ‘Godspell’ in 1972 and a few years later as a cast member on Canada’s answer to ‘Saturday Night Live,’ ‘SCTV’—both alongside Martin Short . This summer, she is reteaming with Short once more on Season 3 of ‘Only Murders in the Building,’ which premieres next month on Hulu. In this episode—our final one for a while—Martin teases her role as Steve Martin’s love interest and reveals there may have been a moment when she was up for the part that ultimately went to Selena Gomez. The 76-year-old actress also reflects on five decades in show business, from the ego blow of never being asked to do SNL to an update on Martin Scorsese’s SCTV reunion documentary to the one big project that is still on her career bucket list. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 04, 2023
Nick Offerman on ‘Parks and Rec,’ Hollywood and More
Nick Offerman, who is poised to land his first acting Emmy nomination for his guest appearance on HBO’s ‘The Last of Us,’ takes us inside his prolific Hollywood career. In this episode, the actor opens up about tearing up at the end of the ‘Parks and Recreation’ reunion special, breaks down his intense performance on ‘Devs,’ looks back on his earliest TV roles on ‘ER’ and ‘24,’ shares how his priorities shifted as he entered his 50s and a lot more. This episode was originally published on May 26th, 2020. Follow Nick Offerman on Twitter @Nick_Offerman and Instagram @nickofferman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 27, 2023
Nimesh Patel: ‘Lucky Lefty’
Comedian Nimesh Patel knew the second he was diagnosed with testicular cancer that he would be talking about it on stage very soon. And about a week later—after successful surgery to remove his right testicle—there he was at the Comedy Cellar in New York City making jokes about his one remaining ball. In this episode, SNL’s first Indian-American writer breaks down how he turned cancer into comedy in his new special ‘Lucky Lefty’ and shares his reaction to the way his comedy mentor Chris Rock tackled his own traumatic incident with Will Smith on stage. He also reveals why he turned down an invitation to appear on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show after inadvertently becoming a hero on the right when he was kicked off stage by Columbia University students mid-show in 2018—and how that experience has made him rethink the debate over “cancel culture” in comedy. Follow Nimesh Patel on Twitter @findingnimesh and Instagram @findingnimesh Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 20, 2023
‘Jury Duty’ Director Jake Szymanski Tells All
Director Jake Szymanski came up at Funny or Die and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ but nothing he had ever done in the comedy world could have prepared him to pull off what was essentially a real-life version of ‘The Truman Show,’ with jokes, on ‘Jury Duty.’ In this episode, the director breaks down what went into making the comedy-reality show’s unsuspecting star Ronald Gladden think he was in a documentary about jury duty when he was actually surrounded by actors and improv comedians for three weeks straight. Szymanski reveals how they cast Ronald, the secret maneuvers behind the show’s hilarious Margaritaville episode, and the huge sigh of relief he let out when they finally let the cat out of the bag. Follow Jake Szymanski on Twitter @szyjake and Instagram @szyjake Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 13, 2023
Paula Poundstone: Stand-Up Legend
Paula Poundstone may have essentially invented “crowd work,” as the process of turning conversations with members of an audience into comedy is known today. But she still hates the term. “If I’m walking down the street and I say hi to somebody, is that street work?” she asks. In this episode, Poundstone opens up about her unlikely path to becoming a comedy icon in the 1980s and ‘90s and how it all nearly came crashing down after her arrest in 2001. She also reflects on her frosty relationship with Johnny Carson, reveals what her own early brush with “cancel culture” made her think about second chances and a lot more. Follow Paula Poundstone on Twitter @paulapoundstone and Instagram @paulapoundstone Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 06, 2023
Alan Ruck: ‘Succession’s’ Connor Roy Says Goodbye
For the first 30 years of his career, Alan Ruck was sure he would always be remembered as Ferris Bueller’s sad best friend. Then ‘Succession’ came along and changed everything. In this episode, Ruck shares his thoughts on the end of ‘Succession,’ [SPOILER ALERT!] including what lies ahead for Connor and Willa’s marriage, the story behind filming that “virtual dinner” with Brian Cox, and why creator Jesse Armstrong made the right decision to quit while he was ahead. The actor also reveals why he asked for his character to be killed off in Season 2 and how the role he was waiting his entire career for has forever altered his professional legacy. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, June 02, 2023
Preview: Alan Ruck on the ‘Succession’ Finale
In this preview of our upcoming episode with Alan Ruck, dropping next Tuesday, the actor who brought Connor Roy to life over the last four seasons of HBO’s ‘Succession’ shares his reaction to the series finale and what he thinks might lie ahead for Connor and Willa. Follow The Last Laugh now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, June 6th. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 30, 2023
Amber Ruffin and Lacey Lamar!
Comedian Amber Ruffin is systematically taking over the entertainment industry. And now she’s bringing her sister Lacey Lamar along for the ride. With two books, and now a new podcast from iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network, the pair is busier than ever—even as the Writers Guild strike has shut down much of Hollywood. In this episode, Ruffin talks about the state of late-night TV as a whole (and her eponymous Peacock show specifically) and reflects on the ‘Saturday Night Live’ audition that inadvertently brought a generation of Black female comedians together and led Seth Meyers to hire her as the first Black woman to write for a network late-night show. The sisters also reveal how they find humor in “everyday racism” and why they decided to embrace their true, deeply silly selves, on their podcast. Listen to THE AMBER & LACEY, LACEY & AMBER SHOW Follow Amber Ruffin on Twitter @ambermruffin and Instagram @amberruffin Follow Lacey Lamar on Twitter @LaceyLamar1 and Instagram @laceylamar1 Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 23, 2023
Jay Baruchel: ‘Knocked Up’ to ‘BlackBerry’
Jay Baruchel never intended to be a comedian. But there was a brief moment there in the mid-2000s when he made what he now describes as the “stupid” decision to try and become a movie star. In this episode, the Canadian actor talks about taking on his most dramatic role yet in the new film ‘BlackBerry’ about the rise and fall of the Canadian predecessor to the iPhone. Baruchel also traces the story of how Judd Apatow plucked him from obscurity to star in the short-lived Fox sitcom ‘Undeclared,’ setting off a string of roles in comedy hits like ‘Knocked Up,’ ‘Tropic Thunder’ and ‘This Is the End,’ a movie he was convinced would be a total disaster—not just because of his very real beef with co-star Jonah Hill, both on screen and off—and ended up wildly exceeding his expectations. Follow Jay Baruchel on Instagram @jonathanadamsaundersbaruchel Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 16, 2023
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: ‘Seinfeld, ‘Veep’ and ‘You Hurt My Feelings’
If there’s anyone in Hollywood who might be immune to criticism, it’s 11-time Emmy-winner and Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But as the comedy legend admits in this episode, the rare negative comment about her work still “stings.” That feeling is at the heart of Louis-Dreyfus’ new film ‘You Hurt My Feelings,’ in which she delivers the most emotionally raw performance of her career. During our conversation, the actress reflects on her early struggles as a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the catharsis of returning as host. She also reveals what she really thought about the divisive ‘Seinfeld’ finale 25 years later, breaks down the difference between ‘Veep’s’ Selina Meyer and her own “narcissistic” father and a lot more. Listen to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than Me Follow Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Twitter @OfficialJLD and Instagram @officialjld Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 09, 2023
‘Late Night’s’ Sal Gentile on the Writers’ Strike
One week into the WGA strike, it’s time for a closer look at what’s at stake for the writers who entertain us on a daily basis. And there’s no one better to break it all down than ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ writer Sal Gentile. In this episode, the man behind Meyers’ “A Closer Look” segments talks about both the immediate and potentially lasting impact of the strike on late-night TV, what it’s been like out there on the picket lines, and how long he thinks this thing could last. Gentile also shares the story behind his unique path from cable news to late-night, reveals how he ended up creating the most consistently funny and informative segment in late-night and recalls the time he got to go “toe-to-toe” with Larry David in a behind-the-scenes sketch. Follow Sal Gentile on Twitter @salgentile and Instagram @salgentile Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, May 05, 2023
‘The Other Two’ Star Heléne Yorke
Despite playing the often monstrously narcissistic Brooke Dubek on the criminally underrated comedy series ‘The Other Two,’ Heléne Yorke finds herself able to relate to her character more than she would like to admit. In this bonus episode, Yorke previews Season 3 of the show, which returned on HBO Max this week, and reveals how she ended up at the center of the one the funniest shows on TV. She also shares hilarious stories about making the leap from Broadway to the screen on shows like ‘Louie,’ ‘30 Rock’ and ‘High Maintenance’ and that time she almost pooped her pants on stage as Glinda in ‘Wicked.’ Follow Heléne Yorke on Twitter @HeleneYorke and Instagram @heleneyorke Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 02, 2023
‘The Daily Show’s’ Lewis Black Returns!
After 27 years as a contributor on ‘The Daily Show,’ Lewis Black is finally getting the chance to host. While the comedian candidly admits that it took Comedy Central long enough to give him a call, he is set to take the reins as guest host for the week of June 20th. In his return to the podcast, Black drops his angry persona and reflects on his comedic legacy. He also talks about why he called his latest stand-up special ‘Tragically, I Need You’—available to stream today on YouTube—and weighs in on misplaced conservative outrage over Bud Light and Fox News’ decision to fire “asshole” Tucker Carlson. Watch Lewis Black’s new special ‘Tragically, I Need You’ on YouTube Follow Lewis Black on Twitter @TheLewisBlack and Instagram @thelewisblack Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 25, 2023
Jeff Hiller: ‘Somebody Somewhere’
There was a time when Jeff Hiller would have killed to play the stereotypical “gay best friend” on TV. Now, after years of fleeting guest spots from “gay hooker” to “bitchy” flight attendant, he’s showing the world what he’s capable of as the sweetly hilarious Joel on HBO’s ‘Somebody Somewhere.’ In this episode, Hiller talks about how his real-life relationship with star Bridget Everett is reflected on screen and why it’s so important for “normal” queer characters to exist on TV. He also shares what it was like to pop up on shows like ‘30 Rock,’ ‘Community’ and ‘Broad City’ as well as that time he totally botched his SNL audition. Follow Jeff Hiller on Instagram @boomboomhiller Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 18, 2023
Jena Friedman Returns (Again!): ‘Not Funny’
Jena Friedman wants you to know that she’s in on the joke. And in her new book of essays, pointedly titled ‘Not Funny,’ she deftly demonstrates how she has become one of the most uncompromising comedic voices of her generation, from her days as a field producer on ‘The Daily Show,’ to her Oscar-nominated writing on Sacha Baron Cohen ’s ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,’ to her first hour-long stand-up ‘Ladykiller,’ in which she delivered some killer abortion jokes while pregnant with her first child. In her third appearance on the podcast, Friedman holds nothing back, spilling tea about her negative experience with James Corden, revealing why she decided to turn the tables on male comedians like Jon Stewart and Jim Gaffigan by asking them the offensive questions female comedians tend to get in interviews and discussing that time Bill Burr “told on himself” by responding to her tweets about predatory comics. Follow Jena Friedman on Twitter @JenaFriedman and Instagram @jenafriedman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy Jena Friedman’s book ‘Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera’ Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, April 14, 2023
‘The Daily Show’s’ Jordan Klepper Returns!
‘The Daily Show’s’ most valuable player is finally ready for his big moment behind the desk. It’s been more than nine years since Jordan Klepper became a correspondent on the late-night comedy show and since then has become a cultural force in his own right for his life-risking forays into MAGA world . In this bonus episode, Klepper returns to the podcast for a third time to preview his week as guest-host of ‘The Daily Show,’ starting next Monday, April 17. He shares his plans for the big chair, how hard it’s going to be to follow Roy Wood Jr. and what he would say if Comedy Central wanted to make him the show’s permanent host. Follow Jordan Klepper on Twitter @jordanklepper and Instagram @jordanklepper Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 11, 2023
Mae Whitman: ‘Arrested Development’ to ‘Up Here’
Mae Whitman has been a professional actor since she was two years old. But nothing she has done over the course of her career prepared her for how terrifying it would feel to bare her soul through song in the new musical rom-com ‘Up Here,’ streaming now on Hulu. In this episode, Whitman looks back on acting with George Clooney in ‘One Fine Day,’ Sandra Bullock in ‘Hope Floats,’ David Schwimmer on ‘Friends’ and more as a small child before making the transition to grown-up TV star on ‘Parenthood,’ ‘Good Girls,’ and now ‘Up Here.’ She also shares stories from the set of ‘Arrested Development,’ where she received a comedy master class playing Ann Veal (“her?”) opposite Michael Cera . Follow Mae Whitman on Twitter @maebirdwing and Instagram @mistergarf Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 04, 2023
Samantha Bee Returns for Our 200th Episode!
It’s taken a while for Samantha Bee to get over the “shock” of losing her late-night TV platform. But now that she has, the comedian wants to make it clear that she still has a lot to say. In our 200th episode, Bee returns to The Last Laugh to look back on the legacy of ‘Full Frontal’ and ahead to the nationwide live tour she never could have pulled off while still hosting a weekly show. She directly addresses those who found her on-screen persona too “angry” and reveals whether anyone from ‘The Daily Show’ reached out to her about being a guest host after Trevor Noah stepped down. After everything, Bee is more confident than ever about how she wants this next chapter of her career to go. Follow Samantha Bee on Twitter @iamsambee and Instagram @realsambee Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, March 31, 2023
Preview: Samantha Bee on the End of ‘Full Frontal’
In this preview of our upcoming 200th episode with Samantha Bee, dropping next Tuesday, the comedian reveals how she really felt about her late-night show ‘Full Frontal’ getting canceled and responds to conservative haters who gleefully celebrated her demise. Follow The Last Laugh now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, April 4th. Follow Samantha Bee on Twitter @iamsambee and Instagram @realsambee Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 28, 2023
Mae Martin: From ‘Feel Good’ to ‘SAP’
At just 35 years old, Mae Martin has been performing stand-up for more than two decades—from their teenage years at open mic nights in the Toronto comedy scene to hit one-person shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival to their first-ever hour long special ‘SAP,’ which was directed by Abbi Jacobson and premieres on Netflix today. In this episode, Martin talks about everything it took to get to this huge moment in their career, including what they learned about themselves making the autobiographical Netflix series ‘Feel Good,’ the difficult decision to come out as gender nonbinary both on the show and in real life and what they make of the rise of anti-trans comedy from some of America’s most popular comedians. Follow Mae Martin on Twitter @TheMaeMartin and Instagram @hooraymae Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 21, 2023
Paula Pell: SNL, ‘Girls5eva’ and ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter’
Paula Pell spent 18 seasons toiling behind-the-scenes as one of ‘Saturday Night Live’s’ most legendary—and often unsung—comedy writers. Now, on the eve of her 60th birthday, she’s never been a bigger star. In this episode, Pell shares her unlikely SNL origin story, breaks down why she stayed for so long, and reveals what it’s been like to finally become the comedic performer she’s always wanted to be on shows like ‘A.P. Bio,’ ‘Die Hart 2: Die Harter,’ and ‘Girls5eva,’ which was recently picked up by Netflix for its upcoming third season. Pell also opens up about how SNL changed—for better and worse—during her nearly two decades there and how she knew it was time to move on. Follow Paula Pell on Instagram @pellpix Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 14, 2023
Hasan Minhaj on ‘Daily Show, ‘Patriot Act’ and More
Hasan Minhaj has had a very busy five years between the release of his first big stand-up special ‘Homecoming King’ in 2017 and the premiere of his new hour ‘The King’s Jester’ on Netflix. The former ‘Daily Show’ correspondent roasted Trump in absentia at the White House Correspondents Dinner, launched and ended his weekly Netflix series ‘Patriot Act’ and found himself in the crosshairs of the Saudis for his unflinching criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. All of it and more form the heart of his new special, which Minhaj discusses at length in this episode. The comedian also opens up about the moment he realized he may have crossed a line with his comedy, reveals an elaborate prank he pitched to Nathan Fielder, addresses the accusations of a toxic work environment at ‘Patriot Act’ and a lot more. This episode was originally published on October 4th, 2022. Follow Hasan Minhaj on Instagram @hasanminhaj Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, March 10, 2023
God and Satan Interview Matt Wilstein!
In this bonus crossover episode from our friends at the GOD POD , Satan joins God to interview The Last Laugh host Matt Wilstein. They discuss TikTok, the decline of reading, Fox News getting caught spreading election fraud, the importance of investigative reporting, meeting your heroes, SNL, and The Last Laugh podcast, where he gets to interview his favorite comedians. On ‘Ask Matt,’ you’ll learn why it’s called The Daily Beast, who his favorite Australian comic is, what’s the good stuff on late-night TV and if he sleeps. On ‘Ask God,’ find out if Satan and MTG are getting “Physical,” what Satan’s dog is like, and play a game of ‘Would You Rather.’ And it’s a historic first on ‘The Satan Show!’ when Satan reads the guest’s articles about Chelsea Handler , Jimmy Kimmel, and much more. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 07, 2023
Ike Barinholtz: Picking Up Where Mel Brooks Left Off
It’s taken just over a decade for Ike Barinholtz to fully make it in Hollywood, with starring roles in big films like ‘Blockers’ and high-profile streaming shows like ‘The Afterparty.’ Now, with ‘History of the World, Part II,’ he’s returning to his sketch comedy roots. In this episode, the Second City and ‘MADtv’ alum talks about how he ended up becoming one of the driving forces (along with Nick Kroll and Wanda Sykes) behind the continuation of his comedy hero Mel Brooks’ 1981 classic and how he thinks about what it means to be “offensive” in 2023. Barinholtz also shares stories about ‘MADtv’ going up against SNL in the early 2000s, convincing Mindy Kaling he was really Russian on ‘Eastbound and Down,’ his breakthrough movie performance in ‘Neighbors’ and a lot more. Follow Ike Barinholtz on Twitter @ikebarinholtz and Instagram @ikebarinholtz Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 28, 2023
Danny Pudi: ‘Born to Play’ Abed on ‘Community’
When Danny Pudi received the pilot script for ‘Community,’ his agents wrote at the top that Abed was the role he was “born to play.” He had no idea at the time how true that would be. In this episode, Pudi traces his road from guest star on dramas like ‘The West Wing’ and ‘ER’ to his breakthrough role as the pop culture-obsessed Abed to his charming reunion with ‘Community’ co-star Alison Brie in her new rom-com ‘Somebody I Used to Know.’ We also talk about the career challenges he faced after the sixth season of that cult hit sitcom and how he’s feeling about the chance to inhabit the character again when the ‘Community’ movie finally starts shooting in the near future. Follow Danny Pudi on Twitter @dannypudi and Instagram @danielpudi Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 21, 2023
Ken Marino: ‘Party Down’ Is Back!
Ken Marino knows that he’s often called upon to play one of two archetypes. From his earliest days as a member of his NYU sketch group The State to his roles in films like ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ and ‘Wanderlust’ and TV shows like ‘Eastbound and Down’ and ‘The Other Two,’ he mostly swings between insecure buffoon and “straight-up asshole.” But no character better captures his particular comedic gifts than Ron Donald of ‘Party Down,’ which returns this week for its long-awaited third season—13 years after it was canceled. In this episode, Marino talks about what it was like to reunite with Adam Scott , Jane Lynch and the rest of the ‘Party Down’ crew and what fans can expect from the new batch of episodes. He also reflects on the biggest moments of his career, including almost losing out on his roles in ‘Party Down’ and ‘Wet Hot’ to Steve Carell and Sam Rockwell, respectively, the decision to take things into his own hands as a screenwriter with movies like ‘Role Models’ and how he views his place in the comedy world after 30 years on screen. Follow Ken Marino on Twitter @KenMarino Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 14, 2023
Alison Brie on Rom-Coms, the ‘Community’ Movie and More
Alison Brie had one of the luckiest big breaks in the history of television. Before the age of 30, she managed to simultaneously co-star on TV’s most celebrated drama (‘Mad Men’) and most obsessed over comedy (‘Community’) before the age of 30. In the seven years since those two shows ended their iconic runs, she has gone toe-to-toe with both comedy stars like Will Ferrell and acting legends like Meryl Streep on the big screen and rose to the top of the call sheet in her beloved Netflix series ‘GLOW.’ In this episode, Brie talks about making the move to indie film screenwriting with ‘Horse Girl,’ her Italy-set comedy ‘Spin Me Round’ and her new rom-com ‘Somebody I Used to Know’ in which she reunites with ‘Community’ co-star Danny Pudi. She also addresses whether fans can expect to see Chevy Chase in the upcoming ‘Community’ movie, explains why she felt the need to apologize for her voice work on ‘Bojack Horseman’ and a lot more. This episode was originally published on September 20th, 2022. Stream ‘Somebody I Used to Know’ on Amazon Prime Video Follow Alison Brie on Twitter @alisonbrie and Instagram @alisonbrie Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 07, 2023
Sam Jay Returns: SNL, ‘Pause’ and ‘You People’
Since leaving her gig as a writer at ‘Saturday Night Live’ behind in 2020, Sam Jay has become an increasingly prolific force in the comedy world. From her debut hour-long Netflix special ‘3 in the Morning’ to her unique take on the late-night variety show ‘Pause’ for HBO to co-creating the sitcom ‘Bust Down’ for Peacock, the Atlanta-born, Boston-raised comic has already shown audiences that she contains multitudes. And all of that was before her breakout performance opposite Jonah Hill and Eddie Murphy in Kenya Barris’ new Netflix movie ‘You People.’ In her return to the podcast, Jay talks about how she landed her key role as rom-com bestie and responds to the backlash the film has received for perpetuating racial stereotypes. She also opens up about her decision to leave SNL, reveals the fate of ‘Pause’ and addresses those who felt “hurt” by her jokes comparing trans women to X-Men. Follow Sam Jay on Twitter @SamJayComic and Instagram @samjaycomic Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, January 30, 2023
Sherri Shepherd: Daytime TV’s New ‘Feel Good’ Queen
Sherri Shepherd has been a stand-up comedian, sitcom star, ‘The View’ co-host, and now, with her eponymous syndicated talk show ‘Sherri,’ a leading figure on the daytime TV scene. In this episode, Shepherd opens up about the inspiration and advice she received from Ellen DeGeneres, Oprah Winfrey and Barbara Walters, how she wants her own show to avoid the types of controversies that still fuel ‘The View’ and how she’s learned to handle the inevitable backlash that will come her way. She also shares some hilarious stories about starting out in stand-up comedy with the Wayans brothers and Jamie Foxx, her memorable guest-starring role on ‘Friends,’ what it was really like to play Tracy Morgan’s wife on ‘30 Rock’ and how she found out she wasn’t Mindy Kaling’s first choice to play Senator Chase on ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls.’ Follow Sherri Shepherd on Twitter @sherrieshepherd and Instagram @sherrieshepherd Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, January 27, 2023
Nate Bargatze Returns! (Again!)
Comedian Nate Bargatze describes what he does for a living as “saying dumb stuff in front of large groups.” And he’s very good at it. In his third appearance on the podcast for this bonus episode, Bargatze talks about making the jump from Netflix to Amazon for his latest special ‘Hello World,’ which premieres on Tuesday, January 31st and finds him grappling with the everyday challenges of parenthood and middle age as only he can. We also get into the pros and cons of being a “clean” comedian, the one joke that caused a sex worker to call him out for being insensitive and his biggest comedy goals moving forward. Follow Nate Bargatze on Twitter @natebargatze and Instagram @natebargatze Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 24, 2023
Vir Das: From ‘Two Indias’ to ‘Landing’
With five specials on Netflix and millions of followers on social media, Vir Das is an international comedy superstar who can sell out stadiums around the world. But his career nearly came crashing down after he put out his “Two Indias” video in 2021 and had charges brought against him for defaming his home country on foreign soil. In this episode, Das breaks down how he managed to turn one of the most painful experiences of his life into his strongest hour of stand-up yet in ‘Landing,’ which premiered on Netflix this past December. He opens up about what it felt like to be labeled a “terrorist” for speaking out against injustice, shares how he pulled off the “magic trick” at the center of his special and responds to American comedians who complain about getting “canceled” but have never been threatened with imprisonment for telling jokes. Follow Vir Das on Twitter @thevirdas and Instagram @virdas Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 17, 2023
Jermaine Fowler: ‘The Drop’
Jermaine Fowler has never shied away from a challenge. The comedian and actor dropped out of college to become a stand-up and painstakingly worked his way up the ranks of show business until landing his breakthrough performance opposite his comedy idol Eddie Murphy in 2021’s ‘Coming 2 America.’ In this episode, Fowler talks about his latest leading role in ‘The Drop’ as a man whose life is thrown into comedic chaos after his wife (‘PEN15’s’ Anna Konkle) drops their friend’s baby at a destination wedding in Mexico. Fowler also discusses the highs and lows of his comedy career so far, from rejecting “imposter syndrome” while acting opposite Murphy to the promising sitcom he co-created with ‘Abbott Elementary’s’ Quinta Brunson that never saw the light of day to the game-changing stand-up hour he currently has in his sights. Follow Jermaine Fowler on Instagram @jermainefowler Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 10, 2023
‘Paul T. Goldman’ Creator Jason Woliner Returns!
Jason Woliner is still trying to figure out why he has spent more than 10 years of his life working on a strange comedic docuseries about a middle-aged Florida man who tweeted at him out of the blue. Earlier this month, the director of ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ and several ‘Nathan for You’ episodes finally premiered ‘Paul T. Goldman’ on Peacock. And as he explains in his return to the podcast, the impossible-to-describe project has left him with more questions than answers about its mysterious protagonist. In this episode, Woliner talks about how working with Sacha Baron Cohen helped inform his freewheeling approach to ‘Paul T. Goldman’ and addresses the many comparisons that have been made to his friend and collaborator Nathan Fielder’s HBO series ‘The Rehearsal’—including allegations that he’s “exploiting” the man at the center of the show. Follow Jason Woliner on Twitter @jwoliner Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 03, 2023
Chelsea Handler Returns: ‘Revolution’
Chelsea Handler knows exactly what she wants. After an eventful 2022 that included a celebrated guest-hosting gig on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and the release in December of her latest Netflix special ‘Revolution,’ the comedian is gearing up for an even bigger 2023. She is set to guest-host ‘The Daily Show’ in February, and as she readily admits in her return to the podcast, she is actively pursuing that chair on a permanent basis. Handler talks about finding a new level of confidence on stage, why late-night TV is desperate for female voices and why she still believes in love after breaking up with fellow comedian Jo Koy . She also weighs in on Kanye West and Dave Chappelle’s “hurtful” antisemitism and recalls the time she narrowly escaped an unwanted sexual advance from her one-time comedy hero Bill Cosby. Follow Chelsea Handler on Twitter @chelseahandler and Instagram @chelseahandler Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 27, 2022
The Funniest Performances of 2022!
In our final episode of the year host Matt Wilstein is joined by The Daily Beast’s Laura Bradley and Allegra Frank to share their lists of the funniest performances of 2022 across stand-up, TV, movies and more. If you’re looking for ideas about what to watch over the holidays, this episode is for you! See our full lists of the funniest performances of 2022 at The Daily Beast. Follow Allegra Frank on Twitter @LegsFrank Follow Laura Bradley on Twitter @lpbradley Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, December 23, 2022
Elon, Chappelle and More With The New Abnormal
It’s our annual, year-end crossover episode in which Matt Wilstein joins The New Abnormal host Andy Levy to talk about Dave Chappelle inviting Elon Musk up on stage to get booed at his final tour stop of 2022, how comedians and others have responded to a rise in antisemitic rhetoric, the state of “free speech” and “cancel culture” in the comedy world and a lot more. Follow Andy Levy on Twitter @andylevy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 20, 2022
Paul Walter Hauser: ‘Black Bird,’ Chris Farley and More
Paul Walter Hauser is the rare actor who can make audiences laugh hysterically and break down crying, sometimes within the same project. From early guest spots on comedies like ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia’ and ‘Community’ to his breakthrough roles in dramatic films like ‘I, Tonya’ and ‘Richard Jewell’ to his deeply disturbing performance as a deranged serial killer in the Apple TV+ series ‘Black Bird,’ Hauser has proven himself to be a force to be reckoned with as a performer. But as he reveals in this episode, it has taken a toll on his personal well being. We get into all of it, including how he broke into the business by writing a movie for Keegan-Michael Key & Jordan Peele, talking his way into a role on Tim Robinson’s ‘I Think You Should Leave,’ hitting “rock bottom” and getting sober during the filming of ‘Black Bird,’ and the Chris Farley biopic he is more ready than ever to make. Follow Paul Walter Hauser on Instagram @paulwhausergram Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, December 16, 2022
‘Reno 911’s’ Thomas Lennon Returns!
For the past two decades, comedian Thomas Lennon has spent more time on screen in short shorts than he could ever imagined. In this bonus episode, Lennon returns to the podcast to talk about his latest performance as Lieutenant Jim Dangle in the new holiday film ‘Reno 911!: It’s a Wonderful Heist.’ He explains why he thinks the show’s characters keep getting funnier as they age, shares the story of how he found out Steven Spielberg was a fan and looks back at the earliest days of his influential sketch group The State and the original creator of ‘Reno 911!’ Follow Thomas Lennon on Twitter @thomaslennon and Instagram @thomaspatricklennon Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 13, 2022
Atsuko Okatsuka: #DropChallenge to HBO
Comedian Atsuko Okatsuka can’t seem to stop blowing up on the internet. Sometimes, it’s by accident, like when she joked through an earthquake on stage, and other times more deliberately, like the Beyoncé-inspired #dropchallenge she started on TikTok with her grandmother earlier this year. Now, those fleeting moments of online attention have culminated in her explosive new HBO stand-up special ‘The Intruder.’ In this episode, Okatsuka opens up about her often difficult journey from Taiwan to Japan to Los Angeles all before the age of 10, how she has managed to turn those challenges into her own unique brand of joy-filled comedy and how her grandma really feels about her own viral fame. Follow Atsuko Okatsuka on Twitter @AtsukoComedy and Instagram @atsukocomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, December 09, 2022
Tom Papa Returns: ‘What a Day!’
Tom Papa has to be considered one of the least controversial comedians working today. And yet, as he explains in his return to the podcast for this bonus episode, even he has been subjected to “cancel culture” for a past joke that was considered culturally insensitive. The veteran stand-up comic, whose latest hour-long special ‘What a Day!’ premieres on Netflix next Tuesday, December 13th, reveals the gig he lost out on and why more famous comedians may be able to evade similar fates. He also breaks down how his wife, teenage daughters and elderly parents feel about being the target of his jokes and teases a new bit about meeting your heroes that just might end up in his next hour. Follow Tom Papa on Twitter @tompapa and Instagram @tompapa Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 06, 2022
Sebastian Maniscalco: ‘Is It Me?’
Sebastian Maniscalco is consistently one of the highest-grossing stand-up comedians in the country. And now, with a new Netflix special ‘Is It Me?’ and upcoming autobiographical movie ‘About My Father’ co-starring Robert De Niro, he’s about to finally become a household name. In this episode, Maniscalco opens up about doubling down on nostalgia and (mostly) avoiding controversy in his new special. He also talks about how the comedy world has changed for better and worse since he got his start in the late ‘90s, shares stories from the sets of ‘Green Book’ and ‘The Irishman’ and explains how he decided to embrace the most embarrassing moment of his career on Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show.’ Follow Sebasian Maniscalco on Twitter @SebastianComedy and Instagram @sebastiancomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 29, 2022
Matt Rogers: ‘Have You Heard of Christmas?’
Matt Rogers can’t quite believe the year he’s had. From his first regular TV role on Showtime’s ‘I Love That for You’ to his scene-stealing work in the Hulu movie ‘Fire Island,’ the Long Island-born comedian has seemingly been everywhere in 2022. And it all culminates this December with his big holiday special ‘Have You Heard of Christmas?’ In this episode, Rogers talks about how unofficial “Queen of Christmas” Mariah Carey inspired him to become a Christmas prince and why the tears streaming down his face at the end of the performance are very real. He also shares his unfiltered thoughts about the way ‘Fire Island’ and Billy Eichner’s ‘Bros’ were pitted against each other as the year’s two gay rom-coms and opens up about what it has been like for him to watch his best friend and Las Culturistas co-host Bowen Yang become an SNL star. Follow Matt Rogers on Instagram @mattrogerstho Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 22, 2022
Patton Oswalt Returns!
Comedian Patton Oswalt’s role as a desperate father who ends up impersonating a beautiful woman on social media to catfish his troubled son in the new film ‘I Love My Dad’ just might make him the perfect person to weigh in on Elon Musk’s crackdown on Twitter parody. In his return to the podcast, Oswalt talks about finding the humanity in his “monstrous” character and why he will never pay $8 a month for a blue checkmark. The elder statesman of comedy also breaks down the bit from his most recent Netflix special ‘We All Scream’ about realizing he won’t be “woke” forever and shares what he learned from the backlash he received for simply posting a photo of himself with friend Dave Chappelle. Follow Patton Oswalt on Twitter @pattonoswalt and Instagram @pattonoswalt Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, November 21, 2022
Wondery Presents: This Job is History
Where the oddest jobs from the past meet a comedian from the present… and it’s awkward! On this weekly show, Chris Parnell (SNL, Rick and Morty) welcomes guests who have held some of human history’s most unexpected and downright bizarre jobs: funeral clowns, garden hermits, VHS clerks, and everything in between. With the help of his tireless producer, Chris hears from the essential workers from decades and centuries past. Because before there were actual medical doctors, there were barber surgeons. And before there was Instacart, there were milkmen. Wondery’s This Job Is History is a funny, absurd, and informative look into how time can change the way we live and work. Listen to This Job is History: wondery.fm/TLL_TJIH Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 15, 2022
Neal Brennan: ‘Chappelle’s Show’ to Netflix’s ‘Blocks’
Neal Brennan has always felt like an “outlier” in the comedy world. He’s a successful stand-up who’s still best known for co-creating ‘Chappelle’s Show’ and as he jokes in his latest special ‘Blocks’ on Netflix, he’s often the least famous comedian in a room that contains some of the biggest comedy stars on the planet. In this episode, taped before Dave Chappelle’s most recent SNL monologue, Brennan talks about trying to get to the bottom of what’s “wrong” with him on stage, why he still thinks the “old Kanye” is still in there somewhere and what he’s learned helping others comics achieve some of the greatest work. He also goes deep on the origins of his creative partnership with Chappelle and shares his thoughts on the controversies that have consumed his friend in recent years. Get tickets for Neal Brennan’s upcoming stand-up tour at nealbrennan.com Follow Neal Brennan on Twitter @nealbrennan and Instagram @nealbrennan Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, November 11, 2022
Natasha Leggero Returns!
Comedian Natasha Leggero doesn’t think she’ll ever make a Netflix special about her daughter. So instead, she wrote a laugh-out-loud hilarious book about what it has been like to become her mother. In this bonus episode, Leggero returns to the podcast to talk about the cathartic process of writing her new book, ‘The World Deserves My Children.’ She also breaks down how much her parenting style differs from husband and fellow stand-up comic Moshe Kasher and opens up about how motherhood has affected everything from her career to the way she sees the world. Buy ‘The World Deserves My Children’ on Amazon Follow Natasha Leggero on Twitter @natashaleggero and Instagram @natashaleggero Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 08, 2022
Chris Redd: SNL, Kanye and ‘Why Am I Like This?’
It was never Chris Redd’s dream to be on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ And yet the rapper-turned-comedian seemed to just be hitting his stride on that show when it was abruptly announced less than two weeks before the 48th season premiere that he was leaving the cast. In this episode, the comedian unpacks the mysterious circumstances surrounding his departure and talks about grabbing the spotlight for himself in his new HBO Max stand-up special ‘Why Am I Like This?’ Redd also shares the gory details from the attack outside of the Comedy Cellar in New York that recently landed him in the hospital and weighs in on the controversy surrounding Kanye West, who he memorably portrayed on SNL and was apparently not a fan of his impression. Follow Chris Redd on Twitter @Reddsaidit and Instagram @chrisreddis Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, November 03, 2022
Preview: Chris Redd on Comedy Cellar Attack
In this preview of our upcoming episode with Chris Redd, dropping next Tuesday, the comedian and recent SNL alum opens up about the brutal attack outside of the Comedy Cellar in New York that left him bloodied and landed him in the hospital last week. Subscribe to The Last Laugh now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, November 8th. Follow Chris Redd on Twitter @Reddsaidit and Instagram @chrisreddis Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 01, 2022
Nick Kroll on ‘Big Mouth,’ Stand-Up, SNL and More
Nick Kroll is an actor, stand-up comedian and co-creator of one of the funniest shows on television, ‘Big Mouth.’ Season six of the Emmy-nominated animated series just dropped on Netflix and Kroll joins us to talk all about how it continues to push the envelope and how its themes led to his first real hour of stand-up, ‘Little Big Boy,’ also streaming on Netflix. He also explains why so-called “woke culture” has never stopped him from getting away with “crazy shit” on screen, shares the story of auditioning for SNL alongside John Mulaney, teases the ‘Big Mouth’ spinoff show ‘Human Resources’ and a lot more. This episode was originally published on October 22, 2019 Follow Nick Kroll on Twitter @nickkroll and Instagram @nickkroll Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, October 28, 2022
Fortune Feimster Returns!
Comedian Fortune Feimster has had an incredibly busy two years. And she put as much of it as she could fit in her new Netflix stand-up special ‘Good Fortune.’ In this bonus episode, Feimster returns to the podcast to discuss how she wanted to move past her coming out story in her second Netflix hour, explain why she decided to respond to a particularly “nasty” Instagram message on stage and share stories from the set of the upcoming action series in which she co-stars with Arnold Schwazenegger. Follow Fortune Feimster on Twitter @FortuneFeimster and Instagram @fortunefeimster Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 25, 2022
Melissa Villaseñor: Life After SNL
Melissa Villaseñor was among the eight cast members to leave ‘Saturday Night Live’ after its most recent season. And in this episode, she opens up for the first time about everything that led her to the difficult decision to step away from the show that had become her home for the past six years. The comedian and author of the new book ‘Whoops… I’m Awesome’ also talks about how she got her start doing celebrity impressions on ‘America’s Got Talent,’ looks back at the most surreal highlights from her time on SNL and shares some thoughts about what she wants to do with her life now that she has left that high pressure job behind. Follow Melissa Villaseñor on Twitter @melissavcomedy and Instagram @melissavcomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy ‘Whoops… I’m Awesome: A Workbook with Activities, Art, and Stories for Embracing Your Wonderfully Awesome Self’ Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 18, 2022
‘Daily Show’s’ Roy Wood Jr. Returns!
When Trevor Noah announced he would be stepping down as host of ‘The Daily Show,’ he cited a conversation with Roy Wood Jr. as part of what made him decide it was time to move on. In his return to the podcast, the longtime ‘Daily Show’ correspondent, who started the same day as Noah, talks about this huge moment of transition for the show and addresses the speculation that he is on the short list to take over as host. Wood also opens up about how Jerrod Carmichael’s ‘Rothaniel’ special lit a fire under him to put out his own deeply personal hour of stand-up and previews how he might cover Herschel Walker when ‘The Daily Show’ travels to Atlanta for the midterms. Follow Roy Wood Jr. on Twitter @roywoodjr and Instagram @roywoodjr Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 11, 2022
Judy Greer: ‘Arrested Development’ to ‘Reboot’
It wasn’t until Judy Greer had more or less given up on becoming a Hollywood star that it finally started to happen for her. The perennial “best friend” in early aughts rom-coms like ‘13 Going on 30’ and ‘The Wedding Planner’ has spent the past few years popping up in huge franchise films like ‘Ant-Man,’ ‘Jurassic World’ and this month’s ‘Halloween Ends.’ Now, she is the co-lead—and the funniest part—of Hulu’s high-profile meta-sitcom ‘Reboot.’ In this episode, Greer opens up about her uniquely prolific career and explains why she no longer covets the type of massive fame she once desired. She also reflects on her big breakthrough comedy role on ‘Arrested Development’ and shares her reaction to the ugly drama behind the scenes. Follow Judy Greer on Twitter @missjudygreer and Instagram @missjudygreer Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 04, 2022
Hasan Minhaj: ‘The King’s Jester’
Hasan Minhaj has had a very busy five years between the release of his first big stand-up special ‘Homecoming King’ in 2017 and the premiere this week of his new hour The King’s Jester on Netflix. The former ‘Daily Show’ correspondent roasted Trump in absentia at the White House Correspondents Dinner, launched and ended his weekly Netflix series ‘Patriot Act’ and found himself in the crosshairs of the Saudis for his unflinching criticism of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. All of it and more form the heart of his new special, which Minhaj discusses at length in this episode. The comedian also opens up about the moment he realized he may have crossed a line with his comedy, reveals an elaborate prank he pitched to Nathan Fielder, addresses the accusations of a toxic work environment at ‘Patriot Act’ and a lot more. Follow Hasan Minhaj on Twitter @hasanminhaj and Instagram @hasanminhaj Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, September 30, 2022
Jena Friedman on Borat, ‘Daily Show’ and ‘Indefensible’
Jena Friedman is a former ‘Daily Show’ field producer, an uncompromising stand-up comedian and, as of this past year, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter for ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.’ Now, she is headlining her own hour-long stand-up special ‘Ladykiller’ on Peacock and taking on the true crime industrial complex as the host of ‘Indefensible,’ which premieres its second season on SundanceTV and AMC+ next month. In her second appearance on the podcast, Friedman talks about exposing “crisis pregnancy centers” in ‘Borat,’ weighs in on “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” and shares her thoughts on the death of John McAfee, with whom she conducted the definitive interview for her previous show ‘Soft Focus.’ This episode was originally published on October 12, 2021 Read Matt Wilstein’s review of Jena Friedman’s new special ‘Ladykiller’ Follow Jena Friedman on Twitter @JenaFriedman and Instagram @jenafriedman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 27, 2022
Sheng Wang: ‘Sweet and Juicy’
Comedian Sheng Wang has spent much of his comedy career trying to hide in plain sight. Now, thanks to a boost from his longtime friend and colleague Ali Wong, he is reluctantly stepping into the spotlight. In this episode, Wang opens up about everything that led to his first hour-long stand-up special ‘Sweet and Juicy,’ which premiered on Netflix earlier this month and also marks Wong’s directorial debut. He breaks down how seeing the late, great Mitch Hedberg perform forever changed the way he thought about comedy and tells stories about getting judged by Norm Macdonald on ‘Last Comic Standing,’ channeling his own childhood as a writer on ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’ the origins of his most famous bit about ripe avocados and more. Follow Sheng Wang on Twitter @shengwangtime and Instagram @shengwangtime Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 20, 2022
Alison Brie: ‘Community’ to ‘Spin Me Round’
Alison Brie had one of the luckiest big breaks in the history of television. Before the age of 30, she managed to simultaneously co-star on TV’s most celebrated drama (‘Mad Men’) and most obsessed over comedy (‘Community’) before the age of 30. In the seven years since those two shows ended their iconic runs, she has gone toe-to-toe with both comedy stars like Will Ferrell and acting legends like Meryl Streep on the big screen and rose to the top of the call sheet in her beloved Netflix series ‘GLOW.’ In this episode, Brie talks about making the move to indie film screenwriting with ‘Horse Girl’ and now her Italy-set comedy ‘Spin Me Round.’ She also addresses whether fans can expect to see Chevy Chase in the eventual ‘Community’ movie, explains why she felt the need to apologize for her voice work on ‘Bojack Horseman’ and a lot more. Follow Alison Brie on Twitter @alisonbrie and Instagram @alisonbrie Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 13, 2022
Jay Duplass: Breaking Into ‘Industry’
Jay Duplass never wanted to be an actor. For years, he remained entirely behind the scenes of the intimate indie films he wrote and directed with younger brother Mark Duplass. Then, he was handed the role of Josh Pfefferman in ‘Transparent,’ which transformed his life and career more than he ever could have imagined when he still thought it was a little “web show” for Amazon. In this episode, Duplass reveals how his latest acting gig as “Mr. COVID” Jesse Bloom on HBO’s ‘Industry’ was inspired by Jeff Bezos, opens up about the difficult decision to separate from his brother professionally, explains why it would be “unthinkable” for a cis actor to play Jeffrey Tambor’s role on ‘Transparent’ today—even if that’s what viewers “needed” at the time—and a lot more. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 06, 2022
Natasha Rothwell on ‘The White Lotus,’ ‘Insecure’ and More
Emmy-nominated comedian and actress Natasha Rothwell talks about her very big year, from facing off with Jennifer Coolidge in ‘The White Lotus’ to stealing scenes in the final season of ‘Insecure.’ And things are only looking up from here, with two new shows in development at HBO, a third in the works with Disney-ABC and a mysterious role in the upcoming ‘Wonka’ movie starring Timothée Chalamet. In this episode, Rothwell opens up about auditioning for ‘Saturday Night Live’ as part of that show’s “clunky” search for a Black female cast member and ending up as a writer instead, getting hired as a writer on ‘Insecure’ before landing her breakout role as Kelli and returning to her dramatic roots as Belinda in ‘The White Lotus,’ a role that became very different after she was cast. This episode was originally published on November 16, 2021 Follow Natasha Rothwell on Twitter @natasharothwell and Instagram @natasharothwell Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 30, 2022
Dave Foley: Dark Side of ‘Kids in the Hall’
Comedian Dave Foley is thankful to be the narrator and not one of the subjects of Vice TV’s ‘Dark Side of Comedy’ docuseries. The co-founder of the iconic sketch group ‘Kids in the Hall,’ which premiered its long-awaited sixth reunion season on Amazon Prime Video earlier this year, had his share of life-threatening troubles before cleaning up his act and finally getting sober a few years back. In this episode, Foley talks about why so many comedians have dark backstories, traces the contentious history of ‘Kids in the Hall,’ recalls the best audition of his career for the role of Michael Scott on ‘The Office’ and reflects on working with outsized personalities like Andy Dick, Joe Rogan and Phil Hartman on ‘Newsradio.’ Follow Dave Foley on Twitter @DaveSFoley and Instagram @davefoley Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 23, 2022
Sharon Horgan: ‘Catastrophe’ to ‘Bad Sisters’
Sharon Horgan can’t seem to stop creating television shows. From ‘Pulling’ to ‘Catastrophe’ to ‘Divorce’ to ‘Motherland’ to ‘Shining Vale’ to her latest, the Apple TV+ comedy thriller ‘Bad Sisters,’ she is one of the most prolific TV showrunners in the game. In this episode, Horgan talks about going outside of her comfort zone for her new show and creating her first truly villainous character after years of writing flawed but ultimately sympathetic figures. She also reflects on how she met her ‘Catastrophe’ co-creator and co-star Rob Delaney on Twitter, remembers her final dinner with the late Carrie Fisher (who just happened to bring along Salman Rushdie) and looks ahead to the even more personal show she’s hoping to create next. Follow Sharon Horgan on Twitter @SharonHorgan and Instagram @sharonhorgan Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 16, 2022
Adam Scott on ‘Severance,’ ‘Step Brothers’ and ‘Party Down’
Adam Scott is best known for his roles in workplace comedies like ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘Party Down,’ which makes him the perfect actor to subvert that genre in Ben Stiller’s new deeply disturbing workplace thriller ‘Severance.’ In this episode, Scott talks about the “mind fuck” of playing two versions of one character in the excellent new Apple TV+ series and looks back on highlights from his comedy career, from his game-changing role in ‘Step Brothers’ to his long-running stint on ‘Parks and Rec’ and a lot more. This episode was originally published on February 22, 2022 Follow Adam Scott on Twitter @mradamscott and Instagram @mradamscott Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 09, 2022
Abby Elliott: SNL to ‘The Bear’
Abby Elliott had been holding out for a role like Sugar on a show like ‘The Bear.’ Despite four mostly successful seasons on ‘Saturday Night Live’—she is still the youngest woman ever hired and the only second generation cast member, following in her father, Chris Elliott’s, footsteps—the comedian and actress struggled a bit to find her footing in Hollywood in the 10 years since was cut loose from the show. In this episode, Elliott opens up about how meaningful it has been to be part of a show that has connected with viewers so intensely and what it was like to be thrust into the cutthroat world of SNL so young—something she says she’s still working through in therapy. She also reveals the Chicago-based actress she wants to see play Carmy and Sugar’s mother in season two of ‘The Bear’ and confirms that Jon Bernthal really is that charismatic in person. Follow Abby Elliott on Twitter @elliottdotabby and Instagram @lilcutieforever Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, August 05, 2022
Jo Koy on Stand-Up, Chelsea Handler and ‘Easter Sunday’
What’s the difference between challenging stereotypes and perpetuating those same stereotypes? That’s just one of the many questions international comedy superstar Jo Koy tries to get to the bottom of on this episode. Koy talks about putting the jokes aside to deal with the harsh realities of his childhood as a half-Filipino, half-white kid in his new memoir ‘Mixed Plate ’ and breaks down how he forged his own comedy path, refusing to take no as an answer from Netflix and gaining Steven Spielberg, who’s producing a new movie based on his life, as a fan. He also tells stories about turning down the chance to be Chelsea Handler ’s sidekick and shares his reaction to mentor Jay Leno’s recent apology for decades of anti-Asian jokes. This episode was originally published on April 6th, 2021 Buy ‘Mixed Plate’ on Amazon Follow Jo Koy on Twitter @Jokoy and Instagram @jokoy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 02, 2022
D’Arcy Carden: ‘The Good Place’ to ‘A League of Their Own’
Before D’Arcy Carden landed the role of a lifetime as Janet on ‘The Good Place,’ she was starting to worry her comedy career might never take off. And yet, in the less than six years since that show premiered on NBC, she has earned an Emmy nomination, appeared with her former babysitting boss Bill Hader on ‘Barry’ and is now about to star opposite her best friend Abbi Jacobson in a high-profile reimagining of ‘A League of Their Own’ on Amazon Prime Video. In this episode, Carden opens up about how she turned things around and expresses her shock and disappointment at her ‘Barry’ co-star Sarah Goldberg’s Emmy snub. She also reminisces about the early days of UCB, shares the important lesson she learned about screen acting during her first TV gig on ‘Broad City’ and recalls the demoralizing experience of being an extra on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Follow D’Arcy Carden on Twitter @DarcyCarden and Instagram @darcycarden Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 26, 2022
Henry Winkler: From Fonzie to ‘Barry’
Henry Winker has repeatedly doubted himself throughout his long and storied career. From landing the coveted role of Arthur Fonzarelli on ‘Happy Days’ to winning his first Emmy Award for playing Gene Cousineau on Bill Hader’s ‘Barry,’ the beloved actor has struggled to overcome what only became known as “imposter syndrome” in recent years. “I invented the syndrome!” Winkler says in this week’s episode. On the heels of his third consecutive Emmy nomination for ‘Barry,’ we break down that show’s “intense” season finale. Winkler also tells stories about his struggles to find work after The Fonz, explains how Adam Sandler helped revive his comedy career, reveals why he turned down hosting SNL, recalls his funniest line from ‘Arrested Development’ and so much more. Follow Henry Winkler on Twitter @hwinkler4real Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, July 22, 2022
Desus and Mero on Late-Night TV, AOC and Taylor Swift
Desus Nice and The Kid Mero—who officially announced this week that they will be “pursuing separate creative endeavors moving forward”—join The Last Laugh podcast to talk about launching their Showtime late-night series Desus & Mero . We get into their close relationship with fellow Bronx-native Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , why they viewed their show as an “escape” from the “dumpster fire that is America,” their unlikely Twitter feud with Taylor Swift fans and a lot more. This episode was originally published on August 27th, 2019. Follow Desus Nice on Twitter @desusnice and Instagram @desusnice Follow The Kid Mero on Twitter @THEKIDMERO and Instagram @thekidmero Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 19, 2022
Jon Gabrus: ‘101 Places to Party Before You Die’
Jon Gabrus didn’t realize he had spent his entire comedy career preparing to travel around the country getting wasted and being hilarious on camera. But that’s exactly what he has ended up doing, along with his best friend and co-host Adam Pally , in their new truTV series ‘101 Places to Party Before You Die.’ In this episode, Gabrus talks about landing his “dream job” as a travel host and explains why the “before you die” in the show’s title resonates with him so deeply. He also talks about the origins of his incompetent intern character Gino Lombardo on the Comedy Bang Bang podcast , tells the story of his embarrassingly terrible ‘Veep’ audition in front of his comedy crush Julia-Louis Dreyfus and reveals why he once quit smoking pot in hopes of joining the FBI. Follow Jon Gabrus on Twitter @Gabrus and Instagram @gabrus Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, July 15, 2022
Nikki Glaser on Stand-Up, Celeb Roasts and ‘FBoy Island’
Nikki Glaser is a world-class stand-up comedian, a ruthless celebrity roaster and an endlessly engaging daily podcaster . Now, she’s also a reality TV star thanks to her new gig hosting the deliberately absurd dating show ‘FBoy Island’ on HBO Max (which returned for its second season this week). In this episode, Glaser talks about how she landed her dream job after “embarrassing” herself on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ shares her unvarnished opinions on thorny issues like body image and cancel culture and reveals some wild behind-the-scenes stories about roasting Ann Coulter, Alec Baldwin, Caitlyn Jenner, Blake Griffin, Jeff Ross and more. Check out Nikki Glaser’s new hour-long stand-up special ‘Good Clean Filth,’ premiering on HBO this Saturday night, July 16th, at 10pm and streaming on HBO Max after that. This episode was originally published on July 27th, 2021. Follow Nikki Glaser on Twitter @NikkiGlaser and Instagram @nikkiglaser Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 12, 2022
Tim Heidecker: ‘No More Bullsh*t’
If you only know Tim Heidecker as one half of ‘Tim and Eric’ with his longtime comedy partner Eric Wareheim, you are missing a lot. The comedian, musician and ‘Office Hours’ host just set out on a big summer tour in which his meta “no more bullshit” stand-up character shares the bill with the “real” Tim playing music from his new album ‘High School.’ In this episode, Heidecker holds nothing back going after Joe Rogan (“so boring”), Dave Chappelle (“a leader in the anti-trans movement”) and Jim Breuer (“a tremendous inspiration”). We also look back at the early days of ‘Tim and Eric,’ from Bob Odenkirk’s role in bringing the duo’s comedy to Adult Swim to that time Gary Busey almost assaulted them during a taping. And Heidecker explains why having the freedom to explore his own solo projects has been the “key to not having a bad break-up” with Wareheim. Stream Tim Heidecker’s new album ‘High School’ Tour dates and tickets at TimHeidecker.com Follow Tim Heidecker on Twitter @timheidecker and Instagram @timheidecker Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 05, 2022
Robert Smigel on Triumph, SNL, Conan and More
In 1997, Robert Smigel put a dog puppet on his hand, started making poop jokes in a thick Russian accent and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was born. 25 years later, he’s still going strong. In this rare long form conversation, Smigel talks about how he pulls off his epic confrontations of politicians like Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham. He also opens up about his time writing for Conan O’Brien, ‘The Dana Carvey Show’ and SNL, where he created ‘TV Funhouse’ and ‘The Ambiguously Gay Duo’—an animated sketch he readily admits would not work today. Robert explains why his eventual exit from SNL was “not pretty” and weighs in on Alec Baldwin’s “easy” satirical take on Donald Trump. This episode was originally published on June 30th, 2020. Follow Robert Smigel on Twitter @TriumphICDHQ and Instagram @triumphicdhq Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 28, 2022
Sarah Cooper Returns!
Sarah Cooper became famous using only her face to lip-sync Donald Trump. Now, in her new audiobook , all she has to work with is her voice. In her return to the podcast, Cooper reflects on the “craziest” few years of her life, from having “no idea” what she was doing on her own Netflix special to guest-hosting ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ before ever performing stand-up on TV to landing a role in her comedy hero Jerry Seinfeld’s upcoming Pop-Tart movie ‘Unfrosted.’ Cooper also reveals the right-wing politician she recently tried lip-syncing and why she will “never” imitate Donald Trump again. Follow Sarah Cooper on Twitter @sarahcpr and Instagram @sarahcpr Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Listen to Let’s Catch Up Soon: How I Won Friends and Influenced People Against My Will Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, June 24, 2022
Joel Kim Booster on Stand-Up, ‘Fire Island’ and More
Joel Kim Booster likes to play the “hot idiot” on stage. But as you will quickly learn by listening to this episode, he is actually quite insightful when it comes to the unique challenges he has faced on his path to becoming one of the funniest young comedians working today. In this conversation, the writer and star of Hulu’s ‘Fire Island’—previously titled ‘Trip’—opens up about growing up with his adoptive Evangelical Christian family, how he gave up self-deprecation to embrace over-confidence and why there hasn’t been a gay male stand-up comedy superstar on the level of Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes or Tig Notaro . This episode was originally published on June 1st, 2021. Follow Joel Kim Booster on Twitter @ihatejoelkim and Instagram @ihatejoelkim Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 21, 2022
Kate Berlant and John Early: ‘Would It Kill You to Laugh?’
If we lived in a just world, Kate Berlant and John Early would be the most famous and successful comedy team on the planet. So that’s the reality they manifested for themselves in their new Peacock special ‘Would It Kill You to Laugh?’ In this episode, the pair reveal how they got Meredith Vieira to host their emotional reunion after an imagined falling out and look back on their years as “chief collaborators” from the early videos that took off on YouTube to their breakthrough performances in Netflix’s ‘The Characters.’ Later, Early shares how “surprising” it was to dive deep into Elliott over five seasons of ‘Search Party,’ Berlant explains why she had to reel in her comedic instincts on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’ and so much more. Follow Kate Berlant on Twitter @kateberlant and Instagram @kateberlant Follow John Early on Twitter @bejohnce and Instagram @bejohnce Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others a The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 14, 2022
Will Forte: MacGruber Lives!
Will Forte is the king of second chances, whether it was getting another shot at ‘Saturday Night Live’ after turning down Lorne Michaels or reviving his now iconic character MacGruber on Peacock after the 2010 movie bombed at the box office. In this episode, Forte breaks down how he overcame his SNL fears to deliver some of the show’s weirdest and funniest sketches and shares behind-the-scenes details of MacGruber’s full journey from one-off sketch to Super Bowl commercial to cult classic. He also opens up about his regrets around replacing Will Ferrell as George W. Bush on SNL and shares stories from filming his hilarious cameo on fellow SNL alum Tim Robinson’s ‘I Think You Should Leave’ and that time he ended up on a private jet with comedy hero Steve Martin. Follow Will Forte on Twitter @orvilleiv and Instagram @orviv Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 07, 2022
Chris Parnell: SNL’s Unbreakable ‘Ice Man’
Chris Parnell is the only cast member to ever be fired twice from ‘Saturday Night Live.’ And as he explains in this episode, it was only after Lorne Michaels admitted his mistake and brought him back into the fold that he really started to take off on the show. During our conversation, Parnell also opens up about why he may have never decided to leave SNL on his own and breaks down highlights from his prolific career since, including iconic roles as Dr. Spaceman on ‘30 Rock’ the “poop mouth” guy in ‘Anchorman’ and Rebel Wilson’s dad in the new Netflix movie ‘Senior Year,’ as well as his brilliant animation voiceover work as Cyril Figgis on ‘Archer’ and Jerry Smith on ‘Rick and Morty.’ Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 31, 2022
Kristen Schaal on ‘Bob’s Burgers,’ ‘Daily Show’ and More
From her breakthrough performance as Mel the stalker on ‘Flight of the Conchords,’ to her long-running gig as the voice of fourth-grader Louise Belcher on ‘Bob’s Burgers,’ which just premiered its first big screen movie in theaters this past weekend, Kristen Schaal never fails to bring a unique energy to the screen. And it all begins with her unmistakable voice. In this episode, Schaal looks back on her winding road from alt-comedy darling to mainstream children’s TV star, including detours writing for ‘South Park,’ serving as the “Senior Women’s Issues Correspondent” on ‘The Daily Show’ and getting a well-deserved Emmy nomination for—what else?—her voice-over work on ‘Bojack Horseman.’ This episode was originally published on August 3rd, 2021. Follow Kristen Schaal on Twitter @kristenschaaled and Instagram @k.schaal Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 24, 2022
The Lonely Island’s Akiva Schaffer: SNL to Chip ‘n Dale
Akiva Schaffer prefers to stay behind the scenes. But that doesn’t mean he’s any less funny than his Lonely Island bandmates Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. The three middle school best friends started shooting videos right out of college before landing a plush gig making digital shorts for ‘Saturday Night Live,’ including hits like “Lazy Sunday,” “Dick in a Box,” “Jizz in My Pants” and many others. In this episode, Schaffer talks about their unusual path to SNL and how directing outrageous movies like ‘Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping’ led him to take on a meta ‘Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers’ reboot for Disney+ starring Samberg and John Mulaney. He also explains why he might be single handedly responsible for Netflix deciding to pull the trigger on ‘I Think You Should Leave’ with Tim Robinson. Follow The Lonely Island on Twitter @thelonelyisland and Instagram @thelonelyisland Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 17, 2022
Mary Lynn Rajskub: ‘Fame-ish’
You know Mary Lynn Rajskub’s face even if you don’t necessarily recognize her name. That conflict is at the center of her new book of essays about an unconventional career that started with cult comedies like ‘Mr. Show’ and ‘Larry Sanders’ and took an unexpected swerve into drama with her role as Chloe O’Brian on Fox’s ‘24.’ In this episode, Rajskub shares wild stories from her Hollywood journey, including what she learned about acting from Garry Shandling, her make-out scene with Tom Cruise that was cut out of ‘Magnolia,’ the origins of her Gail the Snail character on ‘It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,’ a very public unwanted kiss from Rush Limbaugh and why she’s “not sure what happened” to her insurrectionist co-star Jay Johnston. Follow Mary Lynn Rajskub on Twitter @MaryLynnRajskub and Instagram @marylynnrajskub Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy Fame-ish: My Life at the Edge of Stardom Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, May 09, 2022
Jessi Klein: ‘I Love That for You’
One of the most influential comedy voices of her generation, Jessi Klein spent years working as a development executive at Comedy Central before making the leap to stand-up, SNL and then head writer for ‘Inside Amy Schumer.’ Now, in addition to her long-running role as the angsty tween Jessi on ‘Big Mouth,’ Klein has taken on the role of showrunner for ‘I Love That for You,’ a new Showtime series co-created by and starring fellow SNL alum Vanessa Bayer. In this episode, Klein opens up about her unconventional road to comedy success and why SNL wasn’t the best environment for her. She also talks about her new book of essays on midlife and motherhood and tells hilarious stories about working with Amy Schumer, Maya Rudolph, Molly Shannon and more. Follow Jessi Klein on Twitter @jessirklein and Instagram @youracquaintancejessiklein Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy I’ll Show Myself Out: Essays on Midlife and Motherhood Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, May 06, 2022
Margaret Cho on Chappelle, Tarantino and Alt-Comedy
Nearly three decades after starring in the first major sitcom to center on an Asian-American family, Margaret Cho is more “hopeful” than ever about the opportunities for Asian-American comedians. In this episode, Cho talks about how she would approach that sitcom differently today and tells stories about dating director Quentin Tarantino and acting opposite Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. She also weighs in on Dave Chappelle’s jokes about the bisexual community and reflects on the backlash she received after portraying an exaggerated North Korean character alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes. Get tickets to see Margaret Cho perform live at Netflix Is a Joke Fest This episode was originally published on November 19th, 2019. Follow Margaret Cho on Twitter @margaretcho and Instagram @margaret_cho Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, May 02, 2022
Ronny Chieng: ‘Cancel Me!’
Since breaking through as a correspondent on ‘The Daily Show’ in 2015, Ronny Chieng has continued to prove himself to be one of the funniest stand-up comics in the game. Now, he is back with a second hour-long special on Netflix called ‘Speakeasy’ that takes on everything from anti-science podcasters to the myth of “cancel culture.” In this episode, Chieng talks about pushing the envelope without fear of the consequences, breaks down how Trevor Noah changed his life, takes down his favorite “piece of shit” Fox News host Jesse Watters and a lot more. Follow Ronny Chieng on Twitter @ronnychieng and Instagram @ronnychieng Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Get tickets to see Ronny Chieng at Netflix Is a Joke Fest Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, April 29, 2022
Mike Birbiglia on Stand-Up, ‘Offensive’ Jokes and SNL
Mike Birbiglia is currently working out his latest one-person show ‘The Old Man and the Pool,’ including a stop at this coming week’s Netflix Is a Joke Fest . But before he went on stage for one of his final performances of ‘The New One’ in Los Angeles, Mike Birbiglia opened up about his unique process putting that show together and broke down his evolution from stand-up to theater—and why he doesn’t care how anyone wants to characterize what he does. We also discussed the state of “offensive” jokes, what he learned about telling stories from ‘This American Life’ host Ira Glass and our mutual, unhealthy obsession with ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Get tickets to see Mike Birbiglia perform live at Netflix Is a Joke Fest This episode was originally published on November 26th, 2019. Follow Mike Birbiglia on Twitter @birbigs and Instagram @birbigs Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 26, 2022
Bill Hader: SNL, ‘Barry’ and More
Bill Hader is well known as the most generous “laugher” in comedy. But when he’s talking about his increasingly dark HBO series ‘Barry,’ those laughs come with a razor sharp edge. In this episode, the ‘Saturday Night Live’ alum goes deep on the “dumb idea” that fuels his hitman character in the long-awaited third season and reflects on his anxiety-filled SNL experience, why he and John Mulaney never made that rumored Stefon movie, the specific genius of ‘Documentary Now!’ and why he couldn’t stop laughing at Paul Rudd’s final ‘Mac and Me’ prank on the final week of ‘Conan.’ Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 19, 2022
Rhea Seehorn on ‘Better Call Saul’ and Kim Wexler’s Fate
Rhea Seehorn may be best known for playing the very serious Kim Wexler opposite Bob Odenkirk on ‘Better Call Saul,’ which premiered its highly anticipated final season this week. But for the first 15 years or so of her acting career, she couldn’t break out of the “sitcom” box. In this episode, the actress opens up about getting “pigeonholed” in the comedy world, fighting to get the role that transformed her career, and then proving that she can still be hilarious by going toe-to-toe with Julia Louis-Dreyfus on ‘Veep.’ Plus, Seehorn teases season six of ‘Better Call Saul,’ including what it’s been like to have Bob Odenkirk back on set after his heart attack, how she feels about Tony Dalton’s Lalo surviving last season’s finale and what those finger guns were all about. Vote for ‘The Last Laugh’ at The Webby Awards Follow Rhea Seehorn on Twitter @rheaseehorn and Instagram @rheaseehorn Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod This episode was originally published on October 1st, 2021. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 12, 2022
Craig Robinson: ‘Killing It’ After ‘The Office’
Craig Robinson spent years stealing scenes in movies like ‘Knocked Up,’ ‘Pineapple Express,’ and ‘This Is the End’ and on TV—most memorably as Darryl on ‘The Office’—before scoring his first major lead role in ‘Killing It,’ a new streaming series that lands on Peacock this week. In this episode, Robinson talks about the challenges of working with live snakes in the new show and looks back on highlights from his career, including trying not to laugh opposite Steve Carell’s Michael Scott, why he’s glad he didn’t know Leslie Mann was Judd Apatow’s wife while filming ‘Knocked Up,’ singing a duet with Rihanna in ‘This Is the End’ and a lot more. Vote for ‘The Last Laugh’ at The Webby Awards Follow Craig Robinson on Twitter @MrCraigRobinson and Instagram @mrcraigrobinson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 05, 2022
Stephen Merchant: ‘The Office’ to ‘The Outlaws’
It has now been more than 20 years since Stephen Merchant and his comedy partner Ricky Gervais changed TV comedy forever with their original British version of ‘The Office.’ Now, after co-starring with Gervais in ‘Extras’ and creating his own HBO comedy series ‘Hello Ladies,’ Merchant is back with ‘The Outlaws,’ a surprisingly intense crime thriller—with plenty of laughs throughout—that co-stars Christopher Walken and just landed on Amazon Prime Video . In this episode, Merchant talks about creating that series with an ex-convict and how they got Walken to paint over an original Banksy piece in the finale. He also tells stories about the early days of ‘The Office,’ what he thought about the even more successful American version, his complicated relationship with Gervais and a lot more. Follow Stephen Merchant on Twitter @StephenMerchant and Instagram @stephenmerchant Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 29, 2022
Judd Apatow Returns!
Judd Apatow has spent much of his career trying to illuminate the deep emotional core of humankind through comedy. Now, after two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, he just wants to “make people happy.” In a return appearance for the 150th episode of this podcast—taped before everything that went down at the Oscars —Apatow talks about why he decided to go for “hard jokes” in his new Netflix movie ‘The Bubble’ and shares his unvarnished thoughts on everything from his daughter Maude’s performance on ‘Euphoria’ to the Pete Davidson-Kanye West feud to his upcoming George Carlin documentary to his comedian friends who “can’t handle” criticism and a lot more. Follow Judd Apatow on Twitter @juddapatow and Instagram @juddapatow Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy Judd Apatow’s new book ‘ Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy’ Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, March 25, 2022
Preview: Judd Apatow on ‘Euphoria’ and Becoming ‘Maude’s Dad’
In this preview of our 150th episode featuring the return of Judd Apatow, dropping next Tuesday, the director of ‘Knocked Up,’ ‘This Is 40,’ and the upcoming ‘The Bubble’ on Netflix addresses all of those ‘Euphoria’ fans who just found out that star Maude Apatow has “some director” father. Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, March 29th. Follow Judd Apatow on Twitter @juddapatow and Instagram @juddapatow Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy Judd Apatow’s new book ‘ Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy’ Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 22, 2022
Michael Cera: Fame Is ‘Embarrassing’
After bursting onto the comedy scene at just 14 years old nearly two decades ago as George Michael Bluth on ‘Arrested Development’—followed by the box office hit ‘Superbad’ and Best Picture nominee ‘Juno’ in quick succession—Michael Cera has been laying pretty low of late. So his latest gig as Amy Schumer’s love interest in the comedian’s new semi-autobiographical Hulu series ‘Life & Beth’ is kind of a big deal. In this episode, Cera explains why he said yes to his first regular TV role since ‘Arrested Development’ and opens up about how he “freaked out” when he suddenly became super famous at such a young age. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, March 18, 2022
‘Big Mouth’s’ Brandon Kyle Goodman Embraces ‘Love and Chaos’
From his breakthrough gig as a writer for Netflix’s ‘Big Mouth’ to his breakout role as Walter the Lovebug on the new spin-off ‘Human Resources,’ Brandon Kyle Goodman has a lot to say about what it means to be Black and gender-nonconforming in comedy right now. In this bonus episode, Goodman opens up about how he knew his only path to pop culture success would be writing for himself, reveals how his own coming out story came to life on ‘Big Mouth’ and shares his reaction to Netflix’s handling of the Dave Chappelle debacle. Follow Brandon Kyle Goodman on Twitter @brandonkgood and Instagram @brandonkylegoodman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 15, 2022
River Butcher: ‘A Different Kind of Dude’
“The pandemic was so long I transitioned,” River Butcher jokes near the top of his impressive new half-hour special ‘A Different Kind of Dude.’ It’s the comedian’s way of reintroducing himself to the comedy world and addressing the reality of his personal evolution since breaking into the stand-up scene nearly a decade ago. In this episode, Butcher discusses the unique challenges of being a trans comic in a moment of widespread anti-trans comedy and breaks down how he uses humor to combat hate. Butcher also opens up about his public divorce from longtime comedy partner Cameron Esposito and what it was like to be one of the only comedians to ever perform stand-up on ‘Ellen.’ Follow River Butcher on Twitter @rivbutcher and Instagram @rivbutcher Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Stream ‘River Butcher: A Different Kind of Dude’ on YouTube Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, March 11, 2022
Taylor Tomlinson on Netflix, Conan and Stand-Up Stardom
Taylor Tomlinson started performing stand-up at church shows when she was just 16 years old. Still just 28 years old, she is one of the fastest rising stars in the comedy scene, premiering her first hour-long special “Quarter-Life Crisis’ on Netflix in March of 2020 and now dropping her second Netflix hour ‘Look at You’ this week. As Tomlinson breaks down in this episode, she had to make a hard break from her religious upbringing to be accepted into the mainstream comedy world, trading in her “clean” material for jokes with a “darker” edge. Follow Taylor Tomlinson on Twitter @taylortomlinson and Instagram @taylortomlinson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod This episode was originally published on September 28th, 2021. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 08, 2022
Rhys Darby: ‘It’s Pretty Ridiculous, But It Really Happened’
From his early days as Murray the manager on ‘Flight of the Conchords’ to his latest role as the “gentleman pirate” in Taika Waititi’s new HBO Max series ‘Our Flag Means Death,’ comedian Rhys Darby has never stopped being the funniest part of whatever he’s doing. In this episode, the New Zealander talks about how he first hooked up with Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, how he felt when they decided to end their seminal HBO show after just two seasons and whether he can imagine a reboot down the line. We also get into what it was like to star opposite Jim Carrey in his first movie, hilarious stories about his failed auditions for dramas like ‘Westworld’ and ‘True Detective’ and a lot more. Follow Rhys Darby on Twitter @rhysiedarby and Instagram @rhysiedarby Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, March 04, 2022
Nick Offerman Returns!
Before Nick Offerman joins forces with his wife, Megan Mullally, to co-host the Independent Spirit Awards this Sunday, March 6th on IFC, the star of ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘Devs’ returns to the podcast to chat about what it takes to be a good award show host and what he makes of the Oscars’ oddly lax vaccination requirements. We also get into his incredible performance as a sleazeball pornographer on ‘Pam & Tommy’ and his latest venture into the world of Substack with “Donkey Thoughts.” Follow Nick Offerman on Twitter @Nick_Offerman and Instagram @nickofferman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 01, 2022
Aparna Nancherla: ‘Why Should I Apologize for Who I Am?’
Aparna Nancherla is one of the most accomplished and well-respected stand-up comedians of her generation. But she has spent most of the past two years off stage, recording voiceover work and writing a book about imposter syndrome, the kind of “showbiz activities,” as she put it, that can be done in a “cave.” In this episode, Nancherla opens up about “commodifying” anxiety in her comedy and taking on the culture wars with her new animated Comedy Central series ‘Fairview.’ She also shares why it was so hard to write jokes for Seth Meyers, why it was so rewarding to play Bojack Horseman’s daughter and why Joe Rogan should stop hiding behind the “I’m just a comedian” defense. Follow Aparna Nancherla on Twitter @aparnapkin and Instagram @aparnapkin Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, February 25, 2022
Pamela Adlon on ‘Better Things,’ Louis C.K. and More
Pamela Adlon has had to reinvent herself several times over the course of her unconventional career. From child star (‘Grease 2’) to Emmy-winning voice actor (‘King of the Hill’) to creator and showrunner of her own phenomenal autobiographical series ‘Better Things,’ which premieres its fifth and final season on FX this coming Monday, February 28th. In this episode, we talk about all of that and more, including her audition for ‘Friends,’ a darkly hilarious story about Redd Foxx and why she’s still “proud” of the work she did on ‘Louie.’ Follow Pamela Adlon on Twitter @pamelaadlon and Instagram @pamelaadlon Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod This episode was originally published on February 25th, 2020. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 22, 2022
Adam Scott: ‘The Role I’d Been Waiting My Whole Career For’
Adam Scott is best known for his roles in workplace comedies like ‘Parks and Recreation’ and ‘Party Down,’ which makes him the perfect actor to subvert that genre in Ben Stiller’s new deeply disturbing workplace thriller ‘Severance.’ In this episode, Scott talks about the “mind fuck” of playing two versions of one character in the excellent new Apple TV+ series and looks back on highlights from his comedy career, from his game-changing role in ‘Step Brothers’ to his long-running stint on ‘Parks and Rec’ and a lot more. Follow Adam Scott on Twitter @mradamscott and Instagram @mradamscott Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, February 18, 2022
Preview: Adam Scott Teases ‘Party Down’ Return
In this preview of our next episode with Adam Scott, dropping next Tuesday, the star of ‘Parks and Recreation’ and the new Apple TV+ series ‘Severance’ teases the long-awaited third season of ‘Party Down,’ which is returning to Starz 12 years after it was canceled. Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, February 22nd. Follow Adam Scott on Twitter @mradamscott and Instagram @mradamscott Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 15, 2022
Sam Richardson: Hollywood’s Funniest Leading Man
Sam Richardson’s first two professional acting gigs were on ‘Arrested Development’ and ‘The Office.’ And he has never stopped rising the ranks of the comedy world since, from what was supposed to be a one-episode guest spot as Richard Splett on ‘Veep’ to his first real TV leading role on Apple TV+’s new murder mystery comedy ‘The Afterparty.’ In this episode, Richardson talks about collaborating with his former improv teacher Tim Robinson on the brilliantly funny ‘Detroiters’ and ‘I Think You Should Leave,’ how he ended up channeling his Ghanaian heritage on ‘Ted Lasso’ and how it felt to be called “his generation’s Tom Hanks” by one of the most successful filmmakers in Hollywood. Follow Sam Richardson on Twitter @SamRichardson and Instagram @thesamrichardson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, February 11, 2022
Martha Kelly: ‘Euphoria’s’ Most Terrifying Villain
Martha Kelly spent close to two decades as a semi-successful, hilariously deadpan stand-up comedian before her friend Zach Galifianakis called her up out of nowhere and asked her to play one of the main roles on his beloved FX series ‘Baskets.’ It was that opportunity that led directly to her most powerful performance to date as Laurie, the dangerously deadpan drug dealer who holds the fate of Zendaya’s Rue in her hands on HBO’s ‘Euphoria.’ In this bonus episode, Kelly opens up for the first time about how the “intimidating” part fell in her lap, why she seriously considered saying no and how her own experience as an addict impacted her performance. She also shares stories about how her comedy career evolved after getting sober, acting opposite a very intense Adam Driver in ‘Marriage Story’ and the pure joy of working with the late Louie Anderson on ‘Baskets.’ Follow Martha Kelly on Twitter @MarthaKelly3 and Instagram @mkellyatx Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 08, 2022
Bridget Everett: ‘From the Heart to the Tits’
With her raucous cabaret act, Bridget Everett has never been shy about putting all of herself out there for audiences to enjoy. But in her new semi-autobiographical series ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ which HBO has just renewed for a second season, she is laying herself bare emotionally on a whole new level. In this episode, Everett opens up about the real life trauma that helped inform her revelatory performance, what she learned about being “relatable” from a previous pilot that didn’t get picked up and shares what it was like to get back on stage for the first time in two years. She also shares hilarious stories about getting cast in the ‘Sex and the City’ movie, meeting her friend Amy Schumer for the first time and getting in the middle of an epic feud between Jerry Seinfeld and Bobcat Goldthwait. Follow Bridget Everett on Twitter @bridgeteverett and Instagram @bridgeteverett Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 01, 2022
W. Kamau Bell: ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’
W. Kamau Bell returns to the podcast to go deep on his illuminating new four-part documentary series ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby.’ And with his career as both a comedian and filmmaker on the line, he holds nothing back. This sprawling conversation covers everything from Bell’s early admiration for Bill Cosby to the shattering of those illusions when his rape allegations came to light to why he thought his big project might be dead when Cosby was suddenly released from prison last summer. We also talk about why ‘The Cosby Show’ cast members have been so reluctant to speak out against “America’s Dad,” whether Bell is able to separate the art from the artist and still appreciate Cosby as a comedian and so much more. Follow W. Kamau Bell on Twitter @wkamaubell and Instagram @wkamaubell Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, January 28, 2022
Preview: W. Kamau Bell Worries Cosby Doc Could End His Career
In this preview of our new episode with W. Kamau Bell dropping next Tuesday, the comedian and director addresses the backlash he’s already started receiving in response to his bombshell four-part documentary ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’—before it even premieres this Sunday night on Showtime. Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, February 1st. Follow W. Kamau Bell on Twitter @wkamaubell and Instagram @wkamaubell Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 25, 2022
Amrit Kaur: ‘Sex Lives of College Girls’ Breakout Star
Before The Sex Lives of College Girls, Amrit Kaur had only appeared in a handful of Canadian dramas. Hand-picked by Mindy Kaling to play Bela, a sex-positive, comedy-obsessed version of her younger self, Kaur defied both South Asian stereotypes and immigration laws to deliver one of the funniest performances of the past year . In this episode, we talk about her unlikely audition process, studying stand-up comedy to nail her character’s comic timing, what it was like to meet Kaling for the first time on set, how her conservative Indian parents reacted to the show’s more scandalous moments and more. Follow Amrit Kaur on Twitter @AmritKaur and Instagram @amritkaur Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 18, 2022
Moses Storm: From Doomsday Cult to Stand-Up Star
In his first hour-long stand-up special ‘Trash White,’ comedian Moses Storm describes himself as going “from the dumpster to HBO Max.” But as he explains in this week’s episode, his real story is even darker, which makes his ability to find so much humor in it all the more remarkable. During our conversation, Storm breaks down how comedy became his only way out of extreme poverty and why he pushes back when privileged audience members have tried to tell him it’s offensive to use the word “homeless.” He also reveals how the late Bob Saget ended up appearing in his new special, how Conan O’Brien changed his life overnight and a lot more. Follow Moses Storm on Twitter @MosesStorm and Instagram @mosesstorm Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 11, 2022
Naomi Ekperigin: Netflix’s Most ‘Inclusive’ Comedian
With a fiery new half-hour special as part of Netflix’s ‘The Standups’ series, Naomi Ekperigin is more ready than ever to achieve that next level of comedy success. And she does it all while remaining far more “thoughtful” about how her jokes affect the audience than many of her anti-woke peers. It’s been a long road, as she explains in this episode, from starting out as a writing assistant on ‘Broad City’ to her current role as a writer and guest star on the final season of ‘Search Party.’ We also talk about her risky decision to burn any potential bridge to ‘Saturday Night Live’ by calling out the show for its lack of Black female cast members and why she felt “less excited” about being on Netflix after the Dave Chappelle controversy exploded. Follow Naomi Ekperigin on Twitter @Blacktress and Instagram @blacktresscomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 04, 2022
Nicole Byer on Netflix, Stand-Up, ‘Nailed It!’ and More
Before Nicole Byer became the Emmy-nominated face of Netflix’s family-friendly baking competition show ‘Nailed It!’ she was best known as one of the raunchiest comedians on the stand-up scene. It’s the type of juxtaposition that has drawn parallels to Bob Saget, another filthy comic who found fame on the super-saccharine sitcom ‘Full House.’ On this episode, Byer breaks down how she balances these two disparate sides of her comedy persona, sizes up her Emmy competition and reflects on the bizarrely “segregated” SNL audition in which she lost out to her best friend Sasheer Zamata. Follow Nicole Byer on Twitter @nicolebyer and Instagram @nicolebyer Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod This episode was originally published on August 24, 2021. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Tue, December 28, 2021
‘Succession,’ Chappelle and More on ‘The New Abnormal’
On this special annual crossover pod, ‘The Last Laugh’ host Matt Wilstein joins ‘The New Abnormal’ co-host Molly Jong-Fast and producer Jesse Cannon to look back at the year in political comedy, from the problem with Dave Chappelle to big changes at SNL to the pitch black humor of ‘Succession’ and a lot more. Follow Molly Jong-Fast on Twitter @MollyJongFast Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 21, 2021
The Funniest Performances of 2021!
As we get to the end of the year, host Matt Wilstein is joined by The Daily Beast’s Laura Bradley to share their lists of the funniest performances of 2021, including previous podcast guests ( Busy Philipps! Nicole Byer! ) and more of the biggest names in comedy who made us laugh the hardest this year. See our full list of the 20 funniest performances of 2021 at The Daily Beast . Follow Laura Bradley on Twitter @lpbradley Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod ‘Succession’ clip via @jga41agher Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 14, 2021
Mo Amer Talks Chappelle, Letterman and Eric Trump
As a Palestinian refugee who grew up in Houston, Mo Amer has one of the most unique stories in the stand-up comedy scene. With his latest Netflix special ‘Mohammed in Texas,’ the comedian is proving himself as one of the most talented as well. In this episode, Amer talks about how a summer spent performing in the Ohio cornfield of his friend and mentor Dave Chappelle prepared him to put out his best material yet. He also shares stories about making David Letterman a fan, finding himself seated next to Eric Trump in business class and why he doesn’t believe Chappelle is actually “canceled” after his own controversial Netflix hour. Follow Mo Amer on Twitter @realmoamer and Instagram @realmoamer Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 07, 2021
SNL’s Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer Reunite!
During the three years they overlapped in the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Rachel Dratch and Ana Gasteyer didn’t have “some big sketch together.” But they always made each other laugh and ever since they left the show have kept looking for new ways to collaborate. Now, they have reunited in a big way to co-write and co-star in ‘A Clüsterfünke Christmas,’ their new parody of those guilty pleasure Hallmark and Lifetime Christmas movies for Comedy Central. In this episode, Dratch and Gasteyer break down how they pulled off their spot-on send-up and reminisce about the highs and lows of their time on SNL—from behind-the-scenes antics to wild after parties to the struggles they faced in the entertainment industry when they each decided to move on. Follow Rachel Dratch on Twitter @TheRealDratch and Instagram @raedratch Follow Ana Gasteyer on Twitter @AnaGasteyer and Instagram @anagasteyer Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 30, 2021
Susie Essman Actually Loves Larry David
Susie Essman made a name for herself cursing out Larry David as her alter-ego Susie Greene on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ But as she reveals in this episode, in the 21 years since the show premiered—and the 35 years since she met David in the New York comedy clubs—they have never once gotten into an actual fight. Essman opens up about David’s unique “genius” as a comedian, how ‘Curb’ gets away with being so politically incorrect, the unconscious inspiration for her character and the bizarro world in which she could have played Elaine on ‘Seinfeld.’ Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 23, 2021
‘How To With John Wilson’ Is Back!
Ahead of this week’s season two premiere, the mysterious New York filmmaker behind HBO’s ‘How To With John Wilson’ breaks down how he made the most fascinating TV show of 2020. John Wilson reveals how ‘Nathan for You’ creator Nathan Fielder helped pitch the show to Hollywood executives, why he considers himself “completely different” from Sacha Baron Cohen, how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the season one finale and what fans can expect from season two. This episode was originally published on November 26, 2020. Follow John Wilson on Twitter @howtojohnwilson and Instagram @peepingjohn Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 16, 2021
Natasha Rothwell Gives ‘All of the F*cks’
Natasha Rothwell has had a very big year, from facing off with Jennifer Coolidge in ‘The White Lotus’ to stealing scenes in the final season of ‘Insecure.’ And things are only looking up from here, with two new shows in development at HBO, a third in the works with Disney-ABC and a mysterious role in the upcoming ‘Wonka’ movie starring Timothée Chalamet. In this episode, Rothwell opens up about auditioning for ‘Saturday Night Live’ as part of that show’s “clunky” search for a Black female cast member and ending up as a writer instead, getting hired as a writer on ‘Insecure’ before landing her breakout role as Kelli and returning to her dramatic roots as Belinda in ‘The White Lotus,’ a role that became very different after she was cast. Follow Natasha Rothwell on Twitter @natasharothwell and Instagram @natasharothwell Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 09, 2021
Bobcat Goldthwait and Dana Gould Used to Hate Each Other
When they first started performing stand-up in the early 1980s, Bobcat Goldthwait and Dana Gould could not have been more different. And as they reveal in their new documentary ‘Joy Ride,’ they “hated” each other’s comedy. But over the years, their styles converged and now they tour the country together, telling hilarious stories from their wild pasts and making each other laugh as hard as their audiences do. In this episode, Goldthwait and Gould open up about their contentious past and reveal how a harrowing car accident on tour nearly cut their lives and careers short. They also share the truth behind Goldthwait’s decades-long feud with Jerry Seinfeld, what Robin Williams was really like when the cameras weren’t rolling, Gould’s favorite jokes he wrote for ‘The Simpsons’ and a lot more. Stream ‘Joy Ride’ on Amazon Prime Video Follow Bobcat Goldthwait on Instagram @bobcatgoldthwait Follow Dana Gould on Twitter @danagould and Instagram @danagould Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 02, 2021
Adam Pally Goes for Broke
Adam Pally has a special knack for making hilarious but little-seen comedy that only gets rediscovered by a wider audience years later. There was his beloved cult hit ‘Happy Endings,’ which struggled to find viewers when it ran on ABC from 2011 to 2013, but is now finding new relevance on Netflix. There was his legendary guest-hosting trainwreck on ‘The Late Late Show’ that has since become an internet obsession. And now there’s ‘Champaign ILL,’ an alternate universe ‘Entourage’ that came and went without much fanfare when it debuted as a YouTube Original three years ago but is now making a splash on Hulu. In this episode, Pally opens up about how the gay character that launched his comedy career might look less “progressive” in hindsight and tells hilarious stories about Regis Philbin introducing him to Donald Trump, how he ended up impersonating Don Jr. on ‘The President Show’ and a lot more. Follow Adam Pally on Twitter @adampally and Instagram @adam.pally Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 26, 2021
Roy Wood Jr. on Trump, Chappelle and ‘The Daily Show’
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. tells us what his year of ‘Daily Show’ correspondent appearances from home was like and the many ways in which the show has changed since Trump left office. He also talks about his podcast ‘Roy’s Job Fair,’ previews his new stand-up special on Comedy Central, breaks down how his trans jokes differ from Dave Chappelle’s and explains why his first ‘Daily Show’ audition didn’t go as planned. This episode was originally published on March 23rd, 2021. Follow Roy Wood Jr. on Twitter @roywoodjr and Instagram @roywoodjr Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 19, 2021
Ricky Velez Makes Trouble
For the last several years of his career, comedian Ricky Velez has been best known as Pete Davidson’s best friend , both in real life on on-screen in ‘The King of Staten Island.’ Now, he is grabbing the spotlight for himself in his new hour-long HBO special called ‘Here’s Everything.’ It’s his first time ever performing stand-up on TV and, as the title suggests, he holds nothing back. In this episode, Velez talks about how growing up half-Irish, half-Puerto Rican in Queens made racism a foreign concept, how his gig as a contributor on Larry Wilmore’s ‘Nightly Show’ led to beef with Bill Nye the Science Guy , and what he’s learned about fame and unwanted attention from SNL’s Davidson. Follow Ricky Velez on Instagram @rickyvelez Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 12, 2021
Jena Friedman Is the ‘Hipster Nancy Grace’
Jena Friedman is a former ‘Daily Show’ field producer, an uncompromising stand-up comedian and, as of this past year, an Oscar-nominated screenwriter for ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.’ Now, she’s taking on the true crime industrial complex as the host of ‘Indefensible’ on SundanceTV and AMC+. In this rare repeat appearance on the podcast, Friedman talks about exposing “crisis pregnancy centers” in ‘Borat,’ weighs in on “Missing White Woman Syndrome,” and shares her thoughts on the death of John McAfee, with whom she conducted the definitive interview for her previous show ‘Soft Focus.’ Follow Jena Friedman on Twitter @JenaFriedman and Instagram @jenafriedman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 05, 2021
Dane Cook Never Wanted to Be a ‘Frat Comic’
Dane Cook was, for a brief time in the mid-2000s, the most popular comedian on the planet. Then, as the rockstar cliche goes, it all came crashing down. It turns out his story is more complicated than that, as he lays out in this episode. We talk about his humble Boston beginnings, why he turned down the chance to replace Adam Sandler on SNL and how he has continued to push himself as a stand-up comic with his first special in over a decade on the horizon. Cook also opens up about his joke-stealing feud with Louis C.K., his own “cancel culture” moment and a lot more. Follow Dane Cook on Twitter @DaneCook and Instagram @danecook Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Tour dates and tickets at DaneCook.com Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, October 01, 2021
‘Better Call Saul’s’ Rhea Seehorn Is Secretly Hilarious
Rhea Seehorn may be best known for playing the very serious Kim Wexler opposite Bob Odenkirk on ‘Better Call Saul.’ But for the first 15 years or so of her acting career, she couldn’t break out of the “sitcom” box. This fall, while fans eagerly await that ‘Breaking Bad’ spin-off’s climactic final season, Seehorn is returning to her comedy roots as the hot-mess matriarch Debbie in Paramount+’s new animated series ‘The Harper House.’ In this bonus episode, the actress opens up about getting “pigeonholed” in the comedy world, fighting to get the role that transformed her career, and then proving that she can still be hilarious by going toe-to-toe with Julia Louis-Dreyfus on ‘Veep.’ Plus, Seehorn teases season six of ‘Better Call Saul,’ including what it’s been like to have Bob Odenkirk back on set after his heart attack, how she feels about Tony Dalton’s Lalo surviving last season’s finale and what those finger guns were all about. Follow Rhea Seehorn on Twitter @rheaseehorn and Instagram @rheaseehorn Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 28, 2021
Taylor Tomlinson Got ‘Canceled’ by Church
Taylor Tomlinson started performing stand-up at church shows when she was just 16 years old. Now, at 27, she is one of the fastest rising stars in the comedy scene, with a popular hour-long special on Netflix called ‘Quarter-Life Crisis’ and a new nationwide theater tour this fall. As Tomlinson breaks down in this episode, she had to make a hard break from her religious upbringing to be accepted into the mainstream comedy world, trading in her “clean” material for jokes with a “darker” edge. Follow Taylor Tomlinson on Twitter @taylortomlinson and Instagram @taylortomlinson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Subscribe to Taylor Tomlinson’s ‘Celeb vs Superfan’ podcast Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 21, 2021
Gary Gulman Goes From the Psych Ward to Carnegie Hall
It’s been two years since Gary Gulman released his remarkable stand-up special ‘The Great Depresh.’ And despite a global pandemic that caused its own parallel mental health crisis, he says he’s really never felt better. The 51-year-old comedian is currently touring two new hours of material, one of which will land him at Carnegie Hall in November, less than five years after he walked out of a psychiatric ward. In this episode, Gulman opens up about how he turned things around and achieved a new level of comedy confidence that has allowed him to be vulnerable on stage in a whole new way. He also weighs in on Bo Burnham’s anxiety-themed special ‘Inside,’ previews his role in Amy Schumer’s new show, looks back at his “miserable” time on Dane Cook’s ‘Tourgasm’ and a lot more. Follow Gary Gulman on Twitter @GaryGulman and Instagram @garygulman Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 14, 2021
‘Daily Show’s’ Josh Johnson Grabs the Mic
Comedian Josh Johnson spent the first few years of his comedy career writing monologue jokes for Jimmy Fallon at ‘The Tonight Show’ and then crafting longer bits for Trevor Noah at ‘The Daily Show.’ Now, after an extended pandemic-induced delay, he is getting his own voice out there in a big way. In addition to his new stand-up special ‘Hashtag,’ which is streaming now on Paramount+ , Johnson also put out a mixtape album this year called ‘Elusive’ that combines both deeply funny comedy and deeply emotional music. On this episode, he opens up about how a fear of dying young pushed him to expand his creative ambitions and shares stories from his late-night writing gigs, including what it was like to watch Fallon playfully ruffle Donald Trump’s hair and how working with Trevor Noah has made him a better comedian. Follow Josh Johnson on Twitter @JoshJohnson and Instagram @joshjohnsoncomedy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Stream Josh Johnson’s ‘Elusive’ mixtape Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 07, 2021
Martin Short on SNL, Steve Martin and ‘Only Murders in the Building’
Comedy icon Martin Short somehow turned 70 last year. And while he’s still capable of the unbounded energy he first showed the world on shows like ‘SCTV’ and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ he can also be more sincere and reflective than his biggest fans might expect. In this in-depth conversation, the man who’s known as just “Marty” to his famous friends tells hilarious stories about working with Steve Martin, performing for David Letterman, embodying Jiminy Glick and more. Plus, he breaks down what it took to transform himself into a #MeToo monster for his Emmy-nominated role on ‘The Morning Show’ and teases his latest series ‘Only Murders in the Building’ co-starring Steve Martin and Selena Gomez. This episode was originally published on August 18th, 2020. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 31, 2021
Simon Rich, From SNL to Pixar and Beyond
As the youngest writer ever hired at ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Simon Rich achieved his biggest dreams ridiculously early in life. Everything that’s followed, including a stint at Pixar writing ‘Inside Out,’ running his own shows—‘Man Seeking Woman’ and ‘Miracle Workers’—and turning his multi-part ‘New Yorker’ story ‘Sell Out’ into the movie ‘An American Pickle’ starring two Seth Rogens, has been beyond his wildest imagination. And for him, that’s really saying something. On this episode, Rich reads an excerpt from his latest short story collection ‘New Teeth’ and reflects on his incredibly prolific career as the most ambitious comedy writer in the game. Plus, hear stories about what it was like to guest-write an episode of ‘The Simpsons,’ the rejected sketch he pitched to LeBron James on his first-ever SNL episode and tackling Willy Wonka’s origin story in the upcoming prequel starring Timothée Chalamet. Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Buy ‘New Teeth’ on Amazon Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 24, 2021
Nicole Byer Is the Bob Saget of Her Generation
Before Nicole Byer became the Emmy-nominated face of Netflix’s family-friendly baking competition show ‘Nailed It!’ she was best known as one of the raunchiest comedians on the stand-up scene. It’s the type of juxtaposition that has drawn parallels to Bob Saget, another filthy comic who found fame on the super-saccharine sitcom ‘Full House.’ On this episode, Byer breaks down how she balances these two disparate sides of her comedy persona, sizes up her Emmy competition and reflects on the bizarrely “segregated” SNL audition in which she lost out to her best friend Sasheer Zamata. Follow Nicole Byer on Twitter @nicolebyer and Instagram @nicolebyer Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 17, 2021
Kathy Griffin on Trump, Don Jr., SNL, CNN, TMZ and More
Comedian Kathy Griffin opens up about the infamous photoshoot that changed her life and sounds off on President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., TMZ’s Harvey Levin, CNN’s Jeff Zucker, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Alec Baldwin, Lorne Michaels, Jerry Seinfeld and a hell of a lot more. This episode was originally published on July 2nd, 2019. Follow Kathy Griffin on Twitter @kathygriffin and Instagram @kathygriffin Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Stream ‘Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story’ on Amazon Prime Video Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 10, 2021
Jake Johnson’s ‘Weird Ride’ From Stoner Bro to Action Star and Back Again
Jake Johnson has run from dinosaurs with Chris Pratt, fought off mummies with Tom Cruise and embodied an alternate universe Spiderman. But for his latest project ‘Ride the Eagle,’ the actor has scaled things way back, teaming up with ‘New Girl’ director Trent O’Donnell to see if they could create a movie that is both safe to shoot during the pandemic and satisfying from a storytelling perspective. On this episode, Johnson breaks down how his experience in those blockbuster films have shaped his views on Hollywood, reveals how Cruise taught him the difference between “injured and hurt” and teases the future of his Peter B. Parker character from ‘Spiderman: Into the Spider-Verse’ Follow Jake Johnson on Instagram @mrjakejohnson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Stream ‘Ride the Eagle’ on Amazon Prime Video Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 03, 2021
Kristen Schaal Always Knew Her Voice Was ‘Special’
From her breakthrough performance as Mel the stalker on ‘Flight of the Conchords,’ to her long-running gig as the voice of fourth-grader Louise Belcher on ‘Bob’s Burgers’ to her latest role as Number Two on the Disney+ adaptation of ‘The Mysterious Benedict Society,’ Kristen Schaal never fails to bring a unique energy to the screen. And it all begins with her unmistakable voice. On this episode, Schaal looks back on her winding road from alt-comedy darling to mainstream children’s TV star, including detours writing for ‘South Park,’ serving as the “Senior Women’s Issues Correspondent” on ‘The Daily Show’ and getting a well-deserved Emmy nomination for—what else?—her voice-over work on ‘Bojack Horseman.’ Follow Kristen Schaal on Twitter @kristenschaaled and Instagram @k.schaal Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 27, 2021
Nikki Glaser Would Rather Be ‘F*ckable’ Than Funny
Nikki Glaser is a world-class stand-up comedian, a ruthless celebrity roaster and an endlessly engaging daily podcaster . Now, she’s also a reality TV star thanks to her new gig hosting the deliberately absurd dating show ‘FBoy Island’ on HBO Max. On this episode, Glaser talks about how she landed her dream job after “embarrassing” herself on ‘Dancing With the Stars,’ shares her unvarnished opinions on body image and cancel culture and reveals some wild behind-the-scenes stories about roasting Ann Coulter, Alec Baldwin, Caitlyn Jenner, Blake Griffin, Jeff Ross and more. Follow Nikki Glaser on Twitter @NikkiGlaser and Instagram @nikkiglaser Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 20, 2021
‘Wet Hot American Summer’ Director David Wain, 20 Years Later!
Director David Wain thought his career was over when ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ bombed at the box office in July of 2001. 20 years later, the film has become a full-blown comedy classic thanks to the exploding celebrity of previously unknown cast members like Bradley Cooper, Elizabeth Banks, Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler and the fierce dedication of fans who made sure it would live on forever. On this very special episode of the podcast, Wain reflects on the wildly difficult process of putting the movie together, reveals some of the future stars who didn’t make the cut and how its initial failure and ultimate success has affected his prolific career as a comedy director. Follow David Wain on Twitter @davidwain and Instagram @davidwain Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 13, 2021
Rory Scovel Has No Idea What He’s Doing
Comedian Rory Scovel never knows exactly what he’s going to say when he steps on stage. But in his latest stand-up special ‘Live Without Fear,’ he threw out the script altogether and performed six consecutive nights of fully improvised material. On the other end of the creative spectrum, Scovel recently took on a major role opposite Rose Byrne in the Apple TV+ series ‘Physical.’ He joins the podcast this week for a surprisingly deep conversation about his unlikely path from experimental comedian to mainstream actor. Follow Rory Scovel on Twitter @roryscovel and Instagram @roryscovel Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Watch the ‘Live Without Fear’ special on YouTube Stream the ‘Live Without Fear’ album on Amazon Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 06, 2021
Mindy Kaling on ‘The Office,’ ‘Never Have I Ever’ and SNL
Mindy Kaling broke through as a writer and star of ‘The Office’ and then ‘The Mindy Project’ before taking those roles to new heights in her latest film ‘Late Night’ opposite Emma Thompson. In this episode, we talk about the complicated politics of that movie and what it’s actually like to be the only minority woman in an all-male writers room. Plus, Kaling speaks out for the first time about her controversial Instagram post supporting Aziz Ansari, reveals why she had to turn down her “dream” job at SNL and previews her hit Netflix show ‘Never Have I Ever.’ This episode was originally published on June 18th, 2019. Follow Mindy Kaling on Twitter @mindykaling and Instagram @mindykaling Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 29, 2021
‘Tooning Out the News’ with R.J. Fried
10 years before he created the hilarious, Stephen Colbert-produced ‘Tooning Out the News,’ R.J. Fried spent time in the trenches of actual cable news, working for MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell. That experience, along with his years as a writer for ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ and Robert Smigel’s Triumph the Insult Comic Dog , helped prepare him to run what has somehow become the most consistently funny and hard-hitting political comedy show on TV. On this episode, Fried breaks down how he gets people like Alan Dershowitz , Matt Schlapp and real-life members of Congress to subject themselves to brutal interrogations from the show’s cartoon news anchors—and reveals which right-wing pundits he’s turned down. Follow R.J. Fried on Twitter @rjfried Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 22, 2021
Busy Philipps Came This Close to Giving Up Acting
With a best-selling memoir , beloved podcast and insanely popular Instagram account , Busy Philipps was ready to quit acting for good when Tina Fey came along and offered her one of the four lead roles in this summer’s breakout comedy hit ‘Girls5eva.’ On this episode, Busy opens up about two decades in the entertainment industry that haven’t always been easy, from the intense pressure that came with her early days on ‘Freaks and Geeks’ and ‘Dawson’s Creek’ to her prematurely canceled late-night talk show ‘Busy Tonight’ on E! She also explains why her best friend Michelle Williams stays far away from social media, shares her reaction to Seth Rogen’s decision to stop working with James Franco and explains why she doubts any of Hollywood’s predators will ever “fuck with” her again. Follow Busy Philipps on Twitter @BusyPhilipps and Instagram @busyphilipps Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 15, 2021
Jim Gaffigan on Trump, Fox News, #MeToo and God
One of the most successful stand-up comedians of all time, Jim Gaffigan became the first comic to premiere a special with Amazon Prime Video in 2019. Quality Time , Gaffigan’s seventh hour-long special, finds the comedian getting back to basics like his weight and an inordinate number of horse jokes after dealing with his wife and writing partner Jeannie’s harrowing medical scare. In the episode, Jim opens up about that experience and explains why he’d rather make jokes about brain tumors than President Trump. He also weighs in on David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Bill O’Reilly, the Pope and a lot more. This episode was originally published on August 20th, 2019. Follow Jim Gaffigan on Twitter @JimGaffigan and Instagram @jimgaffigan Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 08, 2021
Why Gina Yashere Fled Britain’s ‘Subtle’ Racism for ‘In Your Face’ America
Comedian Gina Yashere’s new memoir is titled ‘ Cack-Handed ,’ which, she explains, means “left-handed or awkward and clumsy, which I am all of these things.” She’s also the first Brit to perform on ‘Def Comedy Jam,’ a one-time Senior British Correspondent for ‘The Daily Show’ and the co-creator with Chuck Lorre of the CBS sitcom ‘Bob Hearts Abishola,’ which uses her Nigerian heritage as comedic inspiration. She originally thought he was trying to exploit her and is really glad she gave him a second chance. We get into all of it on this week’s episode and Yashere reveals the unique challenges she has faced in the entertainment industry and shares her thoughts about “that pug-faced twat” Piers Morgan. Follow Gina Yashere on Twitter @ginayashere and Instagram @ginayashere Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 01, 2021
Could Joel Kim Booster Be the First Gay Male Stand-Up Superstar?
Joel Kim Booster likes to play the “hot idiot” on stage. But as you will quickly learn during this episode, he is actually full the insights about the unique challenges he has faced on his path to becoming one of the funniest young comedians working today. To kick off Pride Month, the stand-up comic and co-host of the ‘Flameout’ podcast on Spotify opens up about growing up with his adoptive Evangelical Christian family, how he gave up self-deprecation to embrace over-confidence and why there hasn’t been a gay male stand-up comedy superstar on the level of Ellen DeGeneres, Wanda Sykes or Tig Notaro . He also reveals some exciting news about the status of his big gay rom-com ‘Trip’ co-starring SNL’s Bowen Yang! Follow Joel Kim Booster on Twitter @ihatejoelkim and Instagram @ihatejoelkim Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 25, 2021
Tig Notaro on Louis C.K., Jennifer Aniston and ‘The Office’
In this episode, Tig Notaro opens up about moving on from ‘One Mississippi’ and Louis C.K., the fundamental silliness of her online talk show ‘Under a Rock’ and why decided to host her new advice podcast ‘Don’t Ask Tig.’ She also tells a hilarious story about the time she guest-starred on ‘The Office,’ shares an update on her forthcoming Netflix film in which she plays the first lady opposite Jennifer Aniston’s president and reveals that she has taken on a whole new career during quarantine. This episode was originally published on July 28th, 2020. Follow Tig Notaro on Twitter @TigNotaro and Instagram @therealfluffnotaro Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 18, 2021
David Alan Grier Dishes on ‘In Living Color’ vs. SNL
Three decades after they appeared together on ‘In Living Color,’ David Alan Grier is now playing Jamie Foxx’s father on their new Netflix sitcom ‘Dad Stop Embarrassing Me!’—despite just an 11 year age difference between the two comedy legends. On this episode, Grier recalls his first impressions of Foxx when he joined that iconic sketch series in its third season and tells some outrageous stories about doing the Super Bowl halftime show, hosting ‘Saturday Night Live’ twice before turning down a spot in the show’s cast and tackling the rape charges against his one-time mentor Bill Cosby on ‘The Carmichael Show.’ Follow David Alan Grier on Twitter @davidalangrier and Instagram @davidalangrier Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 11, 2021
Mike Schur Returns to Tackle the Culture Wars
After creating ‘Parks and Recreation,’ ‘Brooklyn 99’ and ‘The Good Place,’ Mike Schur has decided to dive head first into the culture wars with his ‘Rutherford Falls.’ The new show, now streaming on Peacock, stars ‘The Office’s’ Ed Helms as a well-intentioned but problematic descendant of colonizers who finds himself in a battle over historical statues and everything they represent with the nearby Native American tribe. Schur returns to the podcast this week to get into all of the controversial issues raised in his new series, explain why Native American representation was so important on-screen and off and share some hilarious stories from his early days writing for SNL and ‘The Office.’ Follow Mike Schur on Twitter @KenTremendous Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 04, 2021
‘Bad Trip’ With Eric Andre and Lil Rel Howery
The stars of Netflix’s hit prank movie ‘Bad Trip’ join ‘The Last Laugh’ podcast this week! Wel hear from comedian—and Oscars savior— Lil Rel Howery about why he almost quit the film on day one and from writer, producer and star Eric Andre about his long history of outrageous comedy antics, the important advice he got from Sacha Baron Cohen , his wonderfully weird interview with Larry King and a lot more. Follow Eric Andre on Twitter @ericandre and Instagram @ericfuckingandre Follow Lil Rel Howery on Twitter @LilRel4 and Instagram @comedianlilrel Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 27, 2021
‘Bridesmaids’ Director Paul Feig, 10 Years Later
Exactly a decade after ‘Bridesmaids’ hit theaters and smashed records, director Paul Feig joins the podcast to look back on how it all came together so perfectly. Feig goes deep on the whole process, from how he escaped “movie jail” to land the gig to discovering the power of Melissa McCarthy during the audition process and shares behind-the-scenes stories from the movie’s funniest sequences. He also opens up about the pressure he and collaborators Kristen Wiig, Annie Mumulo and Judd Apatow felt to deliver a hit that would somehow prove the value of female-led comedies and why that burden never should have been placed on their shoulders. Follow Paul Feig on Twitter @paulfeig and Instagram @paulfeig Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 20, 2021
Abbi Jacobson Celebrates 4/20!
‘Broad City’s’ Abbi Jacobson joins this very special 4/20 episode to look back on highlights from the game-changing comedy series she created and starred in with partner-in-crime Ilana Glazer and ahead to her new diverse adaptation of ‘A League of Their Own.’ Jacobson also talks about her latest gig voicing a college-bound teenager whose family finds itself combatting the robot apocalypse in Netflix’s new animated film ‘The Mitchells vs. the Machines.’ Plus, Hillary Clinton, Larry David and Phish! Follow Abbi Jacobson on Instagram @abbijacobson Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 13, 2021
The Lucas Brothers Crash the Oscars!
Keith and Kenny Lucas spent 9 years developing, pitching and ultimately co-writing ‘Judas and the Black Messiah.’ It was all worth it when they landed a Best Original Screenplay Oscar nomination for their work. On this episode, the identical twins talk about dropping out of two separate law schools to become a stand-up comedy team, why they have more or less disowned their 2017 Netflix special ‘On Drugs.’ They try to get the bottom of how the two actors who play the title characters in their film—Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield—both ended up getting nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category and also dig deep on the “codependency” that has defined their lifelong relationship, which once included sharing a therapist. Follow The Lucas Brothers on Twitter @lucasbros and Instagram @thelucasbros Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 06, 2021
Jo Koy Takes Down Asian Hate
What’s the difference between challenging stereotypes and perpetuating those same stereotypes? That’s just one of the many questions international comedy superstar Jo Koy tries to get to the bottom of on this week’s episode. Koy talks about putting the jokes aside to deal with the harsh realities of his childhood as a half-Filipino, half-white kid in his new memoir ‘Mixed Plate ’ and breaks down how he forged his own comedy path, refusing to take no as an answer from Netflix and gaining Steven Spielberg, who’s producing a new movie based on his life, as a fan. He also tells stories about turning down the chance to be Chelsea Handler ’s sidekick and shares his reaction to mentor Jay Leno’s recent apology for decades of anti-Asian jokes. Buy ‘Mixed Plate’ on Amazon Follow Jo Koy on Twitter @Jokoy and Instagram @jokoy Follow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 30, 2021
Lisa Lampanelli Leaves Behind the ‘Queen of Mean’
Two and half years after Lisa Lampanelli retired from insult comedy to become a life coach, the former “Queen of Mean” opens up about what made her decide to leave roasting behind and why she decided to make a rare appearance in the new FX documentary ‘Hysterical’ about the history of female comedians. Lisa tells wild stories about her early days roasting Chevy Chase and Pamela Anderson, the two separate times she roasted Donald Trump and how that led to a bizarre stint on ‘The Celebrity Apprentice.’ Plus, she breaks down her beef with Patrice O’Neal, Louis C.K. and Joan Rivers. Get tickets for Lisa’s upcoming live storytelling show . Twitter: @LisaLampanelli and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lisalampanelli and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 23, 2021
Roy Wood Jr. Cleans Up Trump’s ‘Skid Marks’
Comedian Roy Wood Jr. tells us what his year of ‘Daily Show’ correspondent appearances from home has been like and how the show has changed since Trump left office. He also talks about his new podcast ‘Roy’s Job Fair,’ previews his recently announced stand-up special set to premiere on Comedy Central later this year and shares hilarious stories about his late-night debut on ‘Letterman’ and why his first ‘Daily Show’ audition didn’t go as planned. Twitter: @roywoodjr and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @roywoodjr and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 16, 2021
Nate Bargatze Is Back! (And Better Than Ever)
Stand-up comedian Nate Bargatze returns to ‘The Last Laugh’ this week to talk about his latest special ‘The Greatest Average American,’ which premieres this Thursday, March 18th on Netflix. He breaks down how he managed to pull off his funniest hour yet during the pandemic, why he needed to try out his COVID jokes on Jimmy Fallon’s ‘Tonight Show,’ where he sees himself in the comedy pantheon and a lot more. Twitter: @natebargatze and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @natebargatze and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 09, 2021
Comedy Under Quarantine: One Year Later
To mark one year since our world was turned upside down, this episode features stories from eight comedians about trying to stay funny in the middle of a global pandemic: — Cameron Esposito — Jimmy O. Yang — Nick Offerman — Tig Notaro — Beth Stelling — Jordan Klepper — John Wilson — Sarah Cooper Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 02, 2021
Nathan Lane Opens Up About ‘The Birdcage’ and Oprah
It’s the 100th episode of ‘The Last Laugh’ podcast and Nathan Lane is here to talk about his iconic role in ‘The Birdcage’ nearly 25 years to the day after that classic comedy film was released. We get into all of it, including how he landed the breakthrough role of his movie career, improvising on set with Robin Williams and the complicated experience of promoting the film on ‘Oprah’ before he was ready to come out publicly. Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, February 26, 2021
Preview: Nathan Lane Teases ‘The Birdcage’ Sequel
In this preview of our 100th episode with Nathan Lane dropping next Tuesday, the star of ‘The Birdcage’ weighs in on the debate over straight actors playing gay roles and shares some unexpected news about a possible sequel to the classic comedy film 25 years after its release. Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, March 2nd. Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 23, 2021
Blaire Erskine Exposes MAGA Insanity
Atlanta-based comedian Blaire Erskine has blown up on Twitter over the past year with videos that not only roast Trump-loving conservatives but have also managed to fool a large number of prominent liberals. With characters like Tiffany Trump’s best friend, Marjorie Taylor Greene’s daughter and Ted Cruz’s spokesperson, Blaire rides a fine line between parody and reality and nails it every time. In this episode, we talk about how she honed this new craft during the pandemic, why 90% of the hate she gets comes from the left and a lot more. Twitter: @blaireerskine and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @blaire.erskine and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 16, 2021
Larry Wilmore on Obama, Jon Stewart and ‘The Office’
Larry Wilmore is a comedy writer, producer, former host of ‘The Nightly Show’ and current host of the podcast ‘Black on the Air.’ Now, Larry has executive produced a new six-part docuseries called ‘Amend: The Fight for America,’ hosted by Will Smith, that will premiere on Netflix this Wednesday, February 17th. In this episode, Larry shares behind-the-scenes stories from ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘The Office,’ and his infamous speech at President Obama’s final White House Correspondents’ Dinner. This episode was originally published on May 5, 2020. Twitter: @larrywilmore and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @larrywilmore and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 09, 2021
Bobby Moynihan Fanboys Over SNL
After nine seasons spent bringing lovable weirdos to life as a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Bobby Moynihan is at it again on the Tina Fey-created sitcom ‘Mr. Mayor.’ On this episode, Bobby talks about being one of the biggest SNL fans to ever make the cast, shares Donald Trump’s alarming praise of his racist “Drunk Uncle” character and reveals what made him leave the show after a presidential election season dominated by Alec Baldwin. Twitter: @bibbymoynihan and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @bibbymoynihan and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, February 05, 2021
An Exclusive Interview With God (AKA David Javerbaum)
In a rare interview, the man behind @TheTweetofGod —former “Daily Show” writer David Javerbaum—opens up about creating that wildly popular Twitter account and adapting it into the new ‘Godcast’ podcast. He also tells stories about writing jokes with Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart, composing songs with James Corden and Adam Schlesinger and teases his upcoming book, ‘ The Book of Pslams: 97 Divine Diatribes on Humanity’s Total Failure . ’ Twitter: @TheTweetOfGod and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 02, 2021
Natasha Leggero Would Rather Roast Houses
After years spent roasting D-list celebrities on ‘Chelsea Lately,’ A-list celebrities on the Comedy Central roasts and hipster couples on her ‘Honeymoon Stand Up Special’ with husband Moshe Kasher , Natasha Leggero has moved on to roasting houses. On this week’s episode, the co-host of ‘House Hunters: Comedians on Couches Unfiltered’ opens up about her “uniquely challenging” comedic journey, including a transcendent stand-up debut, an early brush with “cancel culture” and a lot more. Twitter: @natashaleggero and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @natashaleggero and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 26, 2021
Sam Morril Is the ‘Taylor Swift of Comedy’
Comedian Sam Morril is so prolific that he managed to release two full-length stand-up specials in 2020 when most comics couldn’t even get on stage. In this episode, we talk about how he pulled off ‘I Got This’ and ‘Up on the Roof,’ both of which are available to stream for free on YouTube now, plus his unique outlook on the power of “offensive” jokes, his unexpected cameo in ‘Joker’ and a lot more. Twitter: @sammorril and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @sammorril and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 19, 2021
Sarah Cooper Celebrates the End of Trump
On Donald Trump’s last full day as president, comedian Sarah Cooper looks back and her life-changing year lip-syncing him on TikTok and ahead to her own post-Trump ambitions in comedy. We also talk about the early stand-up material she now worries might get her “canceled,” the surreal experience of watching Trump talk about her on Fox News, how she got Helen Mirren to recreate the ‘Access Hollywood’ tape for her Netflix special and a lot more—including whether she’s really done with Trump. Twitter: @sarahcpr and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @sarahcpr and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, January 15, 2021
Preview: Sarah Cooper Calls Trump a ‘Petty Bitch’
In this preview of our episode with Sarah Cooper dropping next Tuesday—AKA Donald Trump’s last full day in office—the comedian shares her parting message for the president she has spent the past year making fun of on TikTok . Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released next Tuesday, January 19th. Twitter: @sarahcpr and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @sarahcpr and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 12, 2021
Colin Quinn Is ‘Actually Glad’ He Got COVID
Colin Quinn got COVID-19 for the jokes. Well, not exactly. But as the stand-up comedian and star of HBOMax’s ‘Colin Quinn & Friends: A Parking Lot Comedy Show’ explains in this episode, he’s already developing new material about the experience. “And guess what? If I find out other comedians are doing a corona routine, I want to make sure they had it,” he jokes. “I don’t want any medical appropriation!” During this hilarious conversation, Quinn goes deep on his long comedy career, including why he turned down a chance to perform on the ‘Tonight Show,’ how his friend Jerry Seinfeld ended up directing his one-man shows and why he ended up “sabotaging” himself on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Twitter: @iamcolinquinn and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @iamcolinquinn and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 05, 2021
‘Borat 2’ Director Jason Woliner Reveals All!
Jason Woliner thought it was a terrible idea to make a sequel to the “funniest movie ever made.” Sacha Baron Cohen hired him to direct it anyway. In our first new episode of 2021, Woliner tells some truly insane stories about the making of ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,’ including how they found Maria Bakalova to play Tutar, why he was forced to bleach his hair blonde and take on a secret, less “globalist” identity, the time he almost got beat up after the debutante ball dance scene and what really happened in that hotel room with Rudy Giuliani. Stream ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm’ on Amazon Prime Video . Twitter: @jwoliner and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 29, 2020
Phoebe Robinson Says Good Riddance to 2020
Phoebe Robinson is a stand-up comedian, podcast host, best-selling author and, until recently, one half of ‘2 Dope Queens’ with Jessica Williams. Now, she has officially gone solo, first with a new advice podcast called ‘Black Frasier’ and soon with her own Comedy Central talk show titled ‘Doing the Most’ in which she “big spoons” celebrity guests like Kevin Bacon and Tan France. We get into all of this, plus what it’s been like experiencing the resurgence of Black Lives Matter during a global pandemic and her thoughts on Kanye West’s “ignorant” attack on Harriet Tubman. Watch Phoebe’s ‘Yearly Departed’ special on Amazon Prime Video . This episode was originally published on August 11, 2020. Twitter: @dopequeenpheebs and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @dopequeenpheebs and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Sun, December 27, 2020
SNL, Borat and Sarah Cooper on ‘The New Abnormal’
On this special crossover pod, ‘The Last Laugh’ host Matt Wilstein joins ‘The New Abnormal’ co-host Molly Jong-Fast and producer Jesse Cannon to look back at the year in political comedy, from the confrontational antics of Sacha Baron Cohen and Jordan Klepper to viral impressionists Sarah Cooper, Blaire Erskine and the women who saved SNL from Alec Baldwin and Jim Carrey. Twitter: @NewAbnormalPod , @MollyJongFast , @JesseCannon and @mattwilstein Instagram: @mollyjongfast , @jessecannon and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 22, 2020
The Funniest Performances of 2020!
To celebrate the end of this absurd year, Matt Wilstein is joined by The Daily Beast’s Laura Bradley to share their lists of the funniest performances of 2020. They include some previous ‘Last Laugh’ guests ( Sam Jay! Jordan Klepper! ) and a whole bunch of comedians who will hopefully join us on the show in the future. See our full list of the 20 funniest performances of 2020 at The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/the-20-funniest-performances-of-2020-from-borat-schitts-creek-snl-and-more Twitter: @mattwilstein and @lpbradley | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 15, 2020
Jason Mantzoukas Is Comedy’s Go-To ‘Maniac’
Starting with his breakthrough role as Rafi on ‘The League,’ Jason Mantzoukas has a solid decade under his belt as the comedy world’s favorite “crazy, wild-eyed maniac,” in his words. In this episode, Jason takes us through his prolific career, including hilarious turns in ‘The Dictator,’ ‘Transparent,’ ‘The Good Place’ and so many others. Remarkably, some of his most nuanced work has come as Jay, a horny bisexual tween, on Netflix’s animated hit ‘Big Mouth,’ which premiered its excellent fourth season earlier this month. Finally, Jason reveals the one scene from ‘The League’ that he and Nick Kroll couldn’t get through because they were laughing too hard. Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, December 11, 2020
‘Daily Show’s’ Michael Kosta Can Be Funny Anywhere
When Michael Kosta decided to call his new Comedy Central stand-up special ‘Detroit. NY. LA.’ he had no idea people would be watching it in lockdown just so they could vicariously travel around the country. In this bonus episode, the ‘Daily Show’ correspondent (and former tennis pro! ) talks about finding the balance between George Carlin and Steve Martin, becoming Trevor Noah’s token white guy and how he thinks late-night comedy will change post-Trump. Twitter: @michaelkosta and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @michaelkosta and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 08, 2020
Jessica Kirson Can’t Stop Being Funny
It took Jessica Kirson 19 years to land her first-ever hour-long special ‘Talking to Myself’ . Despite her reputation as a club comic who can kill in any room, the networks weren’t exactly banging down her door. “I was never the hot, skinny, flirtatious female comedian,” she says. “So I was just funny.” Ultimately, it was fellow comedian Bill Burr agreeing to produce her special that made Comedy Central pay attention. In this episode, Jessica opens up about her long road to success, including how she became Robert de Niro’s comedy mentor and how she’s adapting to a world in which most live shows are happening on Zoom. Twitter: @JessicaKirson and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @jessykirson and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy tickets for ‘Jessica Kirson: Disgusting Hawk’ at RushTix.com Stream her hour-long special ‘Talking to Myself’ on Amazon Prime Video . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 01, 2020
John Michael Higgins, From ‘Best in Show’ to ‘Saved by the Bell’
As the new Mr. Belding stand-in on Peacock’s ‘Saved by the Bell’ reboot, John Michael Higgins is “basically a dunk tank clown,” in his words. The comic role of “old white man” is one the veteran character actor has come to accept later in his career. But he’s still probably best known for playing the younger, more flamboyant half of the gay couple with a Shih Tzu in the 2000 comedy classic ‘Best in Show’—a part he says he would never get today. In this episode, John opens up about his risky big break playing David Letterman in ‘The Late Shift,’ the unique challenge of improvising through Christopher Guest movies, what he learned from the late great Fred Willard and a lot more. Twitter: @Real_JMHiggins and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, November 27, 2020
John Wilson Demystifies ‘How To With John Wilson’
The mysterious New York filmmaker behind HBO’s ‘How To With John Wilson’ joins this very special bonus episode to break down how he made perhaps the most fascinating TV show of 2020. John reveals how ‘Nathan for You’ creator Nathan Fielder helped pitch the show to Hollywood executives, why he considers himself “completely different” from Sacha Baron Cohen, how the COVID-19 pandemic transformed the season one finale and what fans can expect from a possible season two. And yes, we talk about the foreskin restoration guy. Twitter: @howtojohnwilson and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @peepingjohn and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 24, 2020
Mary Holland Breaks Through in ‘Happiest Season’
After stealing scenes in ‘Silicon Valley,’ ‘Veep,’ ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and bunch of your other favorite shows, Mary Holland is about to break out in a big way as the co-writer and co-star of the new holiday rom-com ‘Happiest Season,’ premiering on Hulu November 25th. In this episode, Mary talks about how she went from improvising ridiculous characters at the Upright Citizens Brigade and on Scott Aukerman’s ‘Comedy Bang! Bang!’ podcast to becoming a go-to eccentric character actor on screen and shares some truly embarrassing audition stories. Twitter: @maryhollandaise and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @maryhollandaise and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy tickets for the live stream ‘Wild Horses’ show at eventbrite.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 17, 2020
David Cross Sounds Off on Trump, Bush and Netflix
In his most recent stand-up special ‘Oh Come On’ David Cross imagined the many outrageous ways that Donald Trump’s presidency could end. Now that it’s actually happening, the famously cranky comedian isn’t exactly dancing in the streets. In this episode, David expresses cautious optimism for America’s future and looks back on his majorly influential comedy career. He also breaks down why he was “disappointed” that Netflix took down a controversial episode of his recent ‘Mr. Show’ reboot and reveals why he believes ‘Arrested Development’ is finally over for good. Twitter: @davidcrosss and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @davidcrossofficial and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Subscribe to the ‘Assembly’ podcast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 10, 2020
John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen and Tim Heidecker Unite!
The hilarious stars and creators of Showtime’s ‘Moonbase 8’ are here to help take our minds off of politics. John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen and Tim Heidecker are individually three of the funniest people around and they’re even funnier together in their new show about a trio of wannabe astronauts stuck in the middle of the Arizona desert. In this episode, they talk about how their overlapping careers led to this triumphant collaboration, tease the possible return of their good friend Dr. Steve Brule and a lot more. Twitter: @timheidecker and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @timheidecker , @sordociego and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Stream the ‘Moonbase 8’ premiere on YouTube . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 03, 2020
Election Day Special With Anthony Atamanuik
The creator and star of ‘The President Show’ on Comedy Central joins ‘The Last Laugh’ podcast for a special Election Day episode to mark what could be the political end of Donald Trump. “I wouldn't go that far!” Atamanuik, whose incredibly dark outlook on the future of America helped define his scathingly funny show, says when the idea of Biden blowout is raised. We talk about how he created his damning Trump impression, the backstory behind his bizarre feud with SNL’s Alec Baldwin and when he thinks he’ll be able to finally stop playing the president he despises. Twitter: @TonyAtamanuik and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @therealactualtony and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy his book ‘American Tantrum: The Donald J. Trump Presidential Archives’ on Amazon . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 27, 2020
Chelsea Handler Is Still Evolving
Chelsea Handler is a comedian, activist and best-selling author of the book ‘Life Will Be the Death of Me,’ which is available in paperback now . In this episode, Chelsea talks about the Trump-inspired midlife crisis that shifted her priorities away from celebrity culture and towards progressive politics. She also opens up about what she learned about systemic racism by making her 2019 Netflix documentary ‘Hello Privilege, It’s Me Chelsea,’ previews her new stand-up special ‘Evolution’ on HBO Max and reveals why she still thinks the president might be suffering from syphilis-induced dementia. This episode was originally published on June 22, 2020. Twitter: @chelseahandler and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @chelseahandler and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Order ‘Life Will Be the Death of Me’ on Amazon . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 20, 2020
Jordan Klepper Rides Again!
‘Daily Show’ contributor Jordan Klepper returns to ‘The Last Laugh’ podcast to talk about his insane year spent going to Trump rallies amidst a pandemic and delivering some of the most scathing political comedy of the 2020 election cycle. He reveals how a new sense of “desperation” has pervaded MAGA world compared to 2016 and what he’s learned about Trump’s chances by trolling his supporters. Jordan also opens up about how his own experience with the coronavirus back in March makes him skeptical about the president’s rapid recovery this past month. Twitter: @jordanklepper and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @jordanklepper and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 13, 2020
Hari Kondabolu Gets ‘Politically Re-Active’
Comedian Hari Kondabolu has reunited with his friend (and former ‘Last Laugh’ guest ) W. Kamau Bell for a new season of their podcast ‘Politically Re-Active.’ In this episode, Hari shares his thoughts about Donald Trump, Joe Biden and undecided voters ahead of the 2020 election. He looks back on his mildly embarrassing late-night stand-up debut on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ and explains why Margaret Cho made him want to become a comedian in the first place. And finally, Hari reacts to the way ‘The Simpsons’ directly responded to his documentary ‘The Problem With Apu,’ shares how he feels about Hank Azaria’s decision to stop playing the role and why it shouldn’t have taken “the brutal murder of a Black man in Minneapolis to change animation.” Twitter: @harikondabolu and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @harikondabolu and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 06, 2020
Lewis Black Is Madder Than Ever
Comedian and ‘Daily Show’ contributor Lewis Black has a brand new stand-up special called ‘Thanks for Risking Your Life.’ Taped at a Michigan casino on Friday, March 13th, it’s the first comedy special to actually address the coronavirus pandemic. In this episode, Lewis sounds off on the first presidential debate, talks about dodging Donald Trump’s phone calls and reveals how he almost got pushed out of ‘The Daily Show.’ He also tells stories about going on his first USO tour with Robin Williams, Kid Rock and Lance Armstrong and how he ended up personifying Anger in Pixar’s ‘Inside Out.’ Twitter: @TheLewisBlack and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @thelewisblack and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, October 01, 2020
Preview: Lewis Black’s Debate Rant
In this preview from next week’s episode, comedian and ‘Daily Show’ contributor Lewis Black shares his instant reaction to the insane first debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released on Tuesday, October 6th. Twitter: @TheLewisBlack and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @thelewisblack and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 29, 2020
Michelle Buteau Doesn’t ‘Give a F*ck’
Comedian Michelle Buteau says that stand-up “saved” her life after 9/11. Nearly 20 years later, she finally has her first hour-long special on Netflix. And the explosive ‘Welcome to Buteaupia’ is long overdue. In this episode, Michelle talks about taping the special just days before New York City shut down in March, the story behind her instant-classic “nobody wants to see yo dick” #MeToo bit, the “mind fuck” of playing a pregnant woman opposite Ali Wong in Netflix’s ‘Always Be My Maybe’ while at the same time struggling to become a mother herself and a lot more. Pre-order Michelle’s book ‘Survival of the Thickest’ on Amazon . Twitter: @MichelleButeau and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @michellebuteau and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 22, 2020
Joe Lo Truglio Breaks Through
After years spent stealing scenes in movies like ‘Wet Hot American Summer,’ ‘Superbad,’ ‘Pineapple Express’ and ‘I Love You, Man,’ Joe Lo Truglio finally landed the role he’d been waiting for as Officer Charles Boyle on ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine.’ Now, the comedic actor has taken on an even bigger challenge, playing former Attorney General Jeff Sessions opposite Jeff Daniels’ James Comey and Brendan Gleeson’s Donald Trump in Showtime’s ‘The Comey Rule.’ We talk about how he transformed himself into the septuagenarian southerner without slipping into “parody,” how ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ plans to address the George Floyd protests in a “very real way” and a lot more. Twitter: @JoeLoTruglio and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @joelotruglio and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 15, 2020
Pauly Shore Gets ‘Under America’s Skin’
Pauly Shore rose to massive fame in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, first with his MTV show ‘Totally Pauly’ and then in hit films like ‘Encino Man,’ ‘Son in Law’ and ‘Bio-Dome.’ Now he’s back with his first starring role in a long time in the new movie ‘Guest House.’ In this episode, Pauly opens up about his early years growing up in The Comedy Store, the surreal experience of becoming one of the most famous people on the planet and the challenge of watching it all come crashing down more than 20 years ago. He also shares stories about meeting Donald Trump at MTV’s Spring Break, playing Stephen Miller for Funny or Die and a lot more. Stream ‘Guest House’ on Amazon Prime Video Twitter: @PaulyShore and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @paulyshore and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 08, 2020
Ramy Youssef Takes Off
Emmy-nominated actor and director Ramy Youssef talks about creating his Hulu series ‘Ramy’ and what it’s like to be young and Muslim in the comedy world right now. He also discusses his HBO stand-up special ‘Feelings,’ growing up in New Jersey in the shadow of 9/11, how his Egyptian immigrant father ended up working for Donald Trump and a lot more. This episode was originally published on April 16th, 2019. Twitter: @ramy and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @ramy and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 01, 2020
Beth Stelling Goes Full ‘Girl Daddy’
Beth Stelling may have been the very last stand-up comedian to tape a special before the country shut down. Performed on March 7th, 2020 and released this past month on HBO Max, ‘Girl Daddy’ is Beth’s debut hour-long special and we should all be grateful she got it in under the wire. In this episode, we talk about how her own experience with sexual violence helped fuel some of the funniest #MeToo jokes ever committed to film and why she’s sick of answering for comedy’s male predators. Beth also talks about writing with past ‘Last Laugh’ guests Sarah Silverman and Pete Holmes , the experience of watching Richard Pryor for the first time during quarantine and why she is in no rush to get back on stage anytime soon. Twitter: @BethStelling and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @bethstelling and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 25, 2020
JB Smoove Brings the Ruckus
Best known for playing Leon Black on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ comedian JB Smoove is never not the funniest person in the room. That was certainly true when he wrote for ‘Saturday Night Live’ and took on legendary status for his outrageous pitches to hosts. In this episode, JB goes deep on his challenging SNL experience, making Larry David crack up on ‘Curb,’ what he thought of Donald Trump’s reaction to the MAGA hat plotline from last season and how the show might tackle life under quarantine in the upcoming 11th season. He also talks about co-starring in the new Quibi series ‘Mapleworth Murders’ and what it was like improvising with Kanye West in an infamous HBO pilot that never made it to air. Twitter: @ohsnapjbsmoove and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @ohsnapjbsmoove and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, August 21, 2020
Ron Funches Checks In
Stand-up comedian and host of the ‘Gettin’ Better’ podcast Ron Funches is back on ‘The Last Laugh’ for this very special bonus episode. Since we last talked to Ron in April of last year about his Comedy Central special ‘Giggle Fit’ he has developed an all-new hour that he will be live-streaming on YouTube on Saturday, September 5th. He also has a new comedy game show called ‘Nice One’ premiering on Quibi next Monday, August 24th. In this catch-up chat, Ron talks about those projects and shares his thoughts on Joe Rogan, Dave Chappelle, Louis C.K. and more. Buy tickets to stream Ron Funches’ new live-stream special ‘Awakening’ Twitter: @RonFunches and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @ronfunch and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 18, 2020
Martin Short Is ‘Pure Joy’
Comedy icon Martin Short somehow turned 70 this year. And while he’s still capable of the unbounded energy he first showed the world on shows like ‘SCTV’ and ‘Saturday Night Live,’ he can also be more sincere and reflective than his biggest fans might expect. In this in-depth conversation, the man who’s known as just “Marty” to his famous friends tells hilarious stories about working with Steve Martin, performing for David Letterman, embodying Jiminy Glick and more. Plus, he breaks down what it took to transform himself into a #MeToo monster for his Emmy-nominated role on ‘The Morning Show.’ Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 11, 2020
‘Dope Queen’ Phoebe Robinson Goes Solo
Phoebe Robinson is a stand-up comedian, podcast host, best-selling author and, until recently, one half of ‘2 Dope Queens’ with Jessica Williams. Now, she has officially gone solo, first with a new advice podcast called ‘Black Frasier’ and soon with her own Comedy Central talk show titled ‘Doing the Most’ in which she “big spoons” celebrity guests like Kevin Bacon and Tan France. We get into all of this, plus what it’s been like experiencing the resurgence of Black Lives Matter during a global pandemic and her thoughts on Kanye West’s “ignorant” attack on Harriet Tubman. Twitter: @dopequeenpheebs and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @dopequeenpheebs and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 04, 2020
John Cleese Is Hopeless
Comedy legend John Cleese joins the show this week to talk about his first-ever live stream event ‘Why There Is No Hope .’ During this rousing conversation, he shares his take on the laughable “hypocrisy” of Donald Trump, why Monty Python steered clear of overtly political satire, his crusade against “woke” comedy and the people who were offended by the crucifixion scene in “Life of Brian.” He also reveals the biggest regret of his professional career and what he hopes his comedy legacy will be. Twitter: @JohnCleese and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @johncleeseofficial and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, July 31, 2020
Preview: John Cleese Teases His New Show
In this preview from next week’s episode, Monty Python co-founder John Cleese shares details about his upcoming live stream event ‘Why There Is No Hope,’ including his uncensored thoughts on the “complete assholes, who are really only out for themselves” like President Donald Trump and the time he told off Steven Spielberg. Subscribe to ‘The Last Laugh’ now to hear our full conversation when it’s released on Tuesday, August 4th. Buy tickets to live stream John Cleese’s ‘Why There Is No Hope’ Twitter: @JohnCleese and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @johncleeseofficial and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 28, 2020
Tig Notaro Has Never Felt Better
This week marks exactly eight years since comedian Tig Notaro opened her stand-up set in Los Angeles with the words, “Hello, I have cancer.” She now finally has a clean bill of health for the first time since 2012. In this episode, Tig opens up about moving on from ‘One Mississippi’ and Louis C.K., the fundamental silliness of her online talk show ‘Under a Rock’ and why decided to host her new advice podcast ‘Don’t Ask Tig.’ She also tells a hilarious story about the time she guest-starred on ‘The Office,’ shares an update on her forthcoming Netflix film in which she plays the first lady opposite Jennifer Aniston’s president and reveals that she has taken on a whole new career during quarantine. Twitter: @TigNotaro and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @therealfluffnotaro and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 21, 2020
‘Daily Show’s’ Dulcé Sloan Speaks Her Mind
Comedian Dulcé Sloan likes to joke that she was “forced to move to New York because of success.” She’s still there, even though she’s been recording her ‘Daily Show’ correspondent bits from home for the past four months. On this episode, Dulcé reveals how her relationship with Trevor Noah has changed during the pandemic and what it’s been like trying to find comedy in the George Floyd protests. She also talks about her new podcast ‘That Blackass Show’ and previews how her input helped shape her role in the upcoming Fox animated series ‘The Great North’—in a way that a white actress voicing a Black character never could. Twitter: @dulcesloan and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @dulcesloan and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, July 17, 2020
Kevin from ‘The Office!’ (Brian Baumgartner)
Brian Baumgartner spent nine seasons playing Kevin Malone on ‘The Office’—and yet sounds almost nothing like his iconic character in real life. This week, Brian launched his new podcast, ‘An Oral History of The Office,’ in which he interviews the show’s cast and creators about how it all came together and why it remains so massively popular seven years after they stopped filming. On today’s bonus episode of this podcast, Brian reveals which part he originally auditioned for, how he ended up as Kevin, why he thinks the show was more “woke” than people think, the moment Steve Carell made him laugh the hardest and more. Twitter: @BBBaumgartner and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @bbbaumgartner and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 14, 2020
Richard Kind Is That Guy
You might recognize Richard Kind from ‘Mad About You’ or ‘Spin City.’ Or from his voice work as the imaginary friend Bing Bong in Pixar’s ‘Inside Out’ or John Mulaney’s character’s dad on ‘Big Mouth.’ This summer, he’s taking on the role of the inventor of the internet in the mockumentary ‘The Social Ones.’ On today’s episode, Richard talks about what it’s like to be just famous enough to work all the time but not famous enough to play himself on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm.’ (He plays Larry David’s cousin Andy and is hilarious.) He also shares showbiz stories about almost getting cast on ‘Seinfeld,’ playing Rudy Giuliani in last year’s ‘Bombshell’ and offers up some very strong opinions about Woody Allen. Twitter: @RealRichardKind and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @realrichardkind and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 07, 2020
W. Kamau Bell on CNN, Fox News, Trump and More
Stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell has been hosting ‘United Shades of America’ on CNN since before Donald Trump was elected. With its fifth season premiere on Sunday, July 19th, the show gives Bell a chance to talk to people from every corner of the country about issues like guns, race and religion. He tells us how he learned to listen to people on the opposite end of the political spectrum, why he would never go on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show, why he doesn’t mind performing for “woke” college students and a lot more. Twitter: @wkamaubell and @mattwilstein | Instagram @wkamaubell and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Buy ‘The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell’ on Amazon . This episode was originally published on May 7th, 2019. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Sun, July 05, 2020
Ben Stiller on ‘The New Abnormal’
‘The Last Laugh’ host Matt Wilstein joined his Daily Beast colleagues Molly Jong-Fast and Rick Wilson on their podcast ‘The New Abnormal’ to interview Ben Stiller about Donald Trump’s ‘Zoolander’ obsession, playing Michael Cohen on SNL, Twitter rediscovering ‘Tropic Thunder’ and a lot more. Twitter: @RedHourBen and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @benstiller and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, July 03, 2020
Trump Impersonator J-L Cauvin
Stand-up comedian J-L Cauvin went viral overnight at the start of the coronavirus pandemic when he started posting videos of his expert Trump impression online. J-L, who also hosts a podcast as the president called ‘Making Podcast Great Again,’ shares the story of his sudden rise to internet fame on today’s bonus episode. He demonstrates how he nails Trump’s unique stream-of-consciousness style, looks back at the Louis C.K. impression that first brought him viral success and shares his mixed feelings about “sharing the spotlight” with the internet’s other favorite Trump impersonator Sarah Cooper. Twitter: @JLCauvin and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 30, 2020
Robert Smigel Triumphs Again!
In 1997, Robert Smigel put a dog puppet on his hand, started making poop jokes in a thick Russian accent and Triumph the Insult Comic Dog was born. 23 years later, he’s still going strong. In this rare longform conversation, Smigel talks about how he pulls off his epic confrontations of politicians like Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham. He also opens up about his time writing for Conan O’Brien, ‘The Dana Carvey Show’ and SNL, where he created ‘TV Funhouse’ and ‘The Ambiguously Gay Duo’—an animated sketch he readily admits would not work in 2020. Robert explains why his eventual exit from SNL was “not pretty” and weighs in on Alec Baldwin’s “easy” satirical take on Donald Trump. Watch Triumph’s ‘Quarantine Squares’ game show on YouTube . Twitter: @TriumphICDHQ and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @triumphicdhq and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, June 22, 2020
Chelsea Handler Faces Her White Privilege
Chelsea Handler is a comedian, activist and best-selling author of the book ‘Life Will Be the Death of Me,’ which is available in paperback now . In this episode, Chelsea talks about the Trump-inspired midlife crisis that shifted her priorities away from celebrity culture and towards progressive politics. She also opens up about what she learned about systemic racism by making her 2019 Netflix documentary ‘Hello Privilege, It’s Me Chelsea,’ previews her upcoming stand-up special on HBO Max and reveals why she still thinks the president might be suffering from syphilis-induced dementia. Twitter: @chelseahandler and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @chelseahandler and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Order ‘Life Will Be the Death of Me’ on Amazon . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 16, 2020
Eric Andre Talks Pranking While Black
Comedian Eric Andre is best known for pulling outrageous pranks on Adult Swin’s ‘The Eric Andre Show,’ which is finally returning for its long-awaited fifth season soon. But first, Eric is about to drop his debut hour-long stand-up special on Netflix, called ‘Legalize Everything,’ on June 23rd. In this episode, we talk about how the absurdity and hypocrisy of the police have been a running theme throughout his work, including in his upcoming prank movie ‘Bad Trip’ co-starring Tiffany Haddish and Lil Rel Howery , which will also premiere on Netflix later this year. Plus. Eric shares his uncensored thoughts on Joe Biden, Bill Cosby, Michael Richards and a lot more. Twitter: @ericandre and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @ericfuckingandre and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 09, 2020
Michaela Watkins Makes Everything Better
Michaela Watkins was “rudely” fired by SNL after just one season. She has been proving them wrong ever since. This week, the comedian and actress opens up about celebrity activism in the wake of George Floyd’s murder, hosting a “Zoom shiva” for director Lynn Shelton , sex scenes from a “female lens” on ‘Casual,’ her rocky one season as a cast member on SNL and a lot more. Michaela also previews her role as a Marcia Clark-esque prosecutor on the upcoming third season of ‘Search Party.’ Twitter: @michaelaWat and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @michaelawat and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Wed, June 03, 2020
Ricky Gervais Refuses to ‘Shut Up’
Ricky Gervais joins this week’s show from home in London to talk about his darkly funny and surprisingly moving Netflix series ‘After Life,’ which just got picked up for a third season. The comedian explains how he ended up creating a show about grief and shares his strong opinions about political correctness in comedy, free speech and cancel culture. Plus, Ricky looks back at his most controversial Golden Globes jokes and reveals what it was like to work with the late David Bowie on ‘Extras,’ Larry David on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and a lot more. Twitter: @rickygervais and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @rickygervais and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 26, 2020
Nick Offerman Gets Emotional
Ron Swanson has been “social distancing” his entire life. Nick Offerman, on the other hand, is a “social animal.” On this episode, the actor opens up about staying busier than ever under quarantine, from hosting his podcast “In Bed with Nick and Megan” with his wife Megan Mullally to tearing up at the end of the “Parks and Recreation” reunion special. Offerman also breaks down his most intense performance to date on ‘Devs,’ looks back on his earliest TV roles on ‘ER’ and ‘24,’ shares how his priorities have shifted on the cusp of turning 50 and a lot more. Twitter: @Nick_Offerman and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @nickofferman and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 19, 2020
Patton Oswalt Sounds Off
Comedian Patton Oswalt is here to talk about his new Netflix special ‘I Love Everything.’ The title is a huge turnaround from his 2017 special ‘Annihilation’ and on today’s episode Patton opens up about how far he’s come emotionally since the sudden death of his former wife, ‘I’ll Be Gone in the Dark’ author Michelle McNamara. The comedian, who turned 50 last year, also shares his unvarnished thoughts on the futility of making Trump jokes, why he thinks Fox News is the “height of evil” for pushing the country to reopen during a pandemic, and the fate he believes the Golden State Killer deserves. Then he looks back on highlights from his career, including his acting debut as a video store clerk on ‘Seinfeld,’ his late-night stand-up debut on ‘Conan,’ his epic ‘Star Wars’ filibuster on ‘Parks and Rec’ and a lot more. Twitter: @pattonoswalt and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @pattonoswalt and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Fri, May 15, 2020
‘Reno 911’ Reunion!
‘Reno 911’ creators and stars Thomas Lennon, Kerri Kenney-Silver and Robert Ben Garant come together for this very special bonus episode of ‘The Last Laugh’ podcast. 11 years after the show ended its original run on Comedy Central, ‘Reno 911’ is back this month on Quibi. These three comedic geniuses tell us all about how it came together, what’s different this time around and what they’re most excited for fans of the show to see. Twitter: @thomaslennon , @KerriKenney and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @thomaspatricklennon , @kerrikenneysilver and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 12, 2020
Jimmy O. Yang Fights Coronavirus Racism With Comedy
Comedian Jimmy O. Yang is best known for playing Jian-Yang on HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley.’ Now, he is finally revealing his true self to the world in a new stand-up special called ‘Good Deal,’ which is currently available to stream on Amazon Prime Video . In this episode, Jimmy tells the story of how he broke into comedy after moving from Hong Kong to Los Angeles at 13 years old and why he thinks humor might be the best way to combat anti-Asian-American racism during the coronavirus pandemic. We also talk about why T.J. Miller’s dramatic departure from ‘Silicon Valley’ was the “end of an era” for him, the “life-changing” experience of appearing in ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ and a lot more. Stream ‘Jimmy O. Yang: Good Deal’ on Amazon Prime Video . Twitter: @FunnyAsianDude and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @funnyasiandude and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 05, 2020
Larry Wilmore Is Still Keeping It 100
Larry Wilmore is a comedy writer, producer, former host of ‘The Nightly Show’ and current host of the podcast ‘Black on the Air.’ In this episode, we go deep on the current state of comedy and politics, including how he feels the coronavirus pandemic has upended the race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump and why he thinks conservative podcast host Ben Shapiro is actually a “really nice guy.” Larry also shares behind-the-scenes stories from ‘The Daily Show,’ ‘The Office,’ and his infamous speech at President Obama’s final White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Twitter: @larrywilmore and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @ldub61 and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 28, 2020
Thomas Middleditch Breaks Out of His ‘Silicon Valley’ Box
Thomas Middleditch is best known for playing Richard Hendricks on six seasons of HBO’s ‘Silicon Valley.’ Now, he is leaving that ultra-specific persona behind to take on dozens of different characters alongside his friend Ben Schwartz in three new improvised comedy specials for Netflix called—what else?—‘Middleditch & Schwartz.’ In this episode, Thomas breaks down the tricky business of bringing live improv to the screen. Plus, he looks back on his big SNL audition, recalls almost starring in a spinoff of ‘The Office,’ expresses regret over telling ‘Playboy’ that swinging “saved” his marriage and a lot more. Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @tombini and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 21, 2020
Cameron Esposito Wants You to ‘Save Yourself’
Cameron Esposito made a huge splash in the comedy world seven years ago when she made her late-night stand-up debut on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson . The other guest on the show, Jay Leno, called her the “future” of comedy and declared “Lesbians rule!” Since then, Cameron has created her own TV show called ‘Take My Wife,’ released a stand-up special called ‘Rape Jokes’ and this past month published a memoir with the inadvertently timely title ‘Save Yourself.’ On this episode, Cameron talks about all of that, plus getting “zoom-bombed” with hardcore pornography, starting to tell jokes about divorcing her ex-partner comedian Rhea Butcher, her current girlfriend’s battle with the coronavirus and a lot more. Twitter: @cameronesposito and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @cameronesposito and @lastlaughpod Order 'Save Yourself' by Cameron Esposito . Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 14, 2020
Eugene Mirman Gets Personal
Eugene Mirman is perhaps best known for voicing Gene Belcher on ‘Bob’s Burgers.’ But as his new documentary ‘It Started as a Joke’ proves, he is also one of the most innovative and influential stand-up comics of his generation. In this episode, we check in with Eugene via Zoom from his home on Cape Cod before sharing the longer interview we taped with him before the coronavirus pandemic forced us all indoors. He talks about starting the Eugene Mirman Comedy Festival “as a joke,” learning to get more personal in his comedy and of course, ‘Bob’s Burgers.’ Twitter: @EugeneMirman and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @eugenemirman and @lastlaughpod Stream ‘It Started as a Joke’ on Amazon Prime Video . Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Trailer · Fri, April 10, 2020
The Last Laugh Podcast Is Back!
Starting next week, The Last Laugh returns with all-new episodes featuring great conversations with comedians about how they’re staying funny when the world around them is falling apart. Stay tuned! Twitter: @mattwilstein | Instagram: @lastlaughpod Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, March 13, 2020
Bumping Elbows with Jeff Ross (‘Thick Skin’ Crossover Episode)
‘The Last Laugh’ is still on hiatus, so this week we’re bringing you a very special crossover pod from our friend ( and previous guest ) Jeff Ross! On the latest episode of his podcast ‘Thick Skin,’ Jeff talked to Matt Wilstein about how “cancel culture” is affecting comedy and got into some “touchy subjects,” including the 2020 Democratic primary, getting retweeted by Donald Trump and of course, the coronavirus. No more “Bumping Mics,” now we’re bumping elbows. We will back with all-new episodes and some exciting guests very soon! Twitter: @realjeffreyross and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @therealjeffreyross and @lastlaughpod Subscribe to ‘ Thick Skin with Jeff Ross .’ Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 25, 2020
Pamela Adlon Reinvents Herself
Pamela Adlon has had to reinvent herself several times over the course of her unconventional career. From child star (‘Grease 2’) to Emmy-winning voice actor (‘King of the Hill’) to creator and showrunner of her own phenomenal autobiographical series ‘Better Things,’ which premieres its fourth season on FX Thursday, March 5th. On this episode, we talk about all of that and more, including her audition for ‘Friends,’ a darkly hilarious story about Redd Foxx and why she’s still “proud” of the work she did on “Louie.” Twitter: @pamelaadlon and @mattwilstein | Instagram: @pamelaaddlon and @lastlaughpod Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 18, 2020
Ben Schwartz Is a Comedy Machine
The one and only Ben Schwartz is here for our 50th episode! This month, Schwartz is starring in two wildly different movies: the box office smash ‘Sonic the Hedgehog’ as the titular video game hero and ‘Standing Up, Falling Down’ as a struggling stand-up comic opposite his actual childhood hero Billy Crystal. On this milestone episode of ‘The Last Laugh,’ he talks about getting his start writing jokes for David Letterman and SNL and how he almost missed out on the chance to play Jean-Ralphio on ‘Parks and Recreation.’ He also previews two upcoming projects for Netflix—a version of his improvised live show with ‘Silicon Valley’ star Thomas Middleditch and ‘Space Force,’ the new comedy series from ‘The Office’ creator Greg Daniels co-starring Steve Carell and John Malkovich. Follow @rejectedjokes and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 11, 2020
Russell Peters Defends Comedic Stereotypes
Russell Peters is a global comedy sensation who sells out arenas in London, New York and Mumbai, where he taped his most recent stand-up special ‘Deported,’ streaming now on Amazon . In this episode, Peters talks about how YouTube helped make him a comedy star, why mainstream fame has alluded him in America, his beef with Trevor Noah, his love for Roseanne Barr, why he does NOT have a problem with Apu from ‘The Simpsons’ and a lot more. Stream ‘Russell Peters: Deported’ on Amazon Prime Video . Follow @therealrussellp and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @russellpeters and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, February 04, 2020
Tom Papa Is Doing Great!
Tom Papa might be best known for his longtime friendship with Jerry Seinfeld. But on this week’s episode he demonstrates that he has much more to offer. Tom talks about why he called his latest Netflix special ‘You’re Doing Great!’ and the various ups and downs of his career, from the crazy experience of hosting ‘The Marriage Ref’ to the way NBC may have used his sitcom ‘Come to Papa’ as an audition for Steve Carell to lead ‘The Office’ and a lot more. Follow @tompapa and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 28, 2020
Maria Bamford Is Feeling Better
Maria Bamford has been performing stand-up comedy for 30 years and just keeps getting better. Her latest hour-long special ‘Weakness Is the Brand’ finds her at the top of her game, delivering operatic bits about her ongoing mental health struggles and relentless drive to be a good person in the world. On this episode, we talk about how she arrived at relative stability, the challenges that female comics still face in a male-dominated industry, how she felt when Netflix canceled her autobiographical show ‘Lady Dynamite’ after two seasons and a lot more—including an unvarnished take on Louis C.K. Stream ‘Weakness Is the Brand’ on Amazon . Follow @mariabamfoo and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 21, 2020
Fortune Feimster Has Arrived
Stand-up comedian Fortune Feimster made her TV debut 10 years ago on ‘Last Comic Standing.’ This week, her first-ever hour-long special ‘Sweet & Salty’ lands on Netflix. In this episode, Feimster talks about finding the comedy in her unique life story as a “tomboy” growing up in a small North Carolina town who didn’t realize she was gay until arriving in Los Angeles after college. She also shares stories about auditioning for SNL and finding mainstream success on ‘Chelsea Lately,’ ‘The Mindy Project’ and as the “female Homer” on ‘The Simpsons.’ Follow @fortunefunny and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 14, 2020
Michael Schur Says Goodbye to ‘The Good Place’
Ahead of the ‘The Good Place’ series finale, creator Michael Schur is here to answer all of our burning questions about the existential sitcom, which airs its series finale at the end of January. On this episode, taped inside his office on the Universal Studios lot, Schur reveals how the final season of ‘Parks and Recreation’ helped influence the end of ‘The Good Place’, looks back at his early days as a writer for SNL, teases a potential future for ‘The Office’ on NBC’s Peacock streaming service and a lot more. Follow @KenTremendous and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, January 07, 2020
Andrea Savage Is a Great Podcast Guest
Andrea Savage knows she’s a great podcast guest. “Not to brag,” she says on this week’s show. The creator and star of truTV’s ‘I’m Sorry’ talks about finding the balance between cringe-worthiness and comedy, the challenges she faced as a woman in The Groundlings, what she learned working on ‘Step Brothers,’ ‘Veep’ and ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ and her hilarious new podcast ‘Andrea Savage: A Grown-Up Woman #buttholes.’ Follow @andreasavage and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Go to ratethispodcast.com/laugh to leave us a rating and review. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 31, 2019
Sacha Baron Cohen (Live)
Comedy legend Sacha Baron Cohen goes deep on all of the crazy things that happened during the filming of his Showtime series ‘Who Is America?’—including truly incredible stories about his interactions with Sarah Palin, O.J. Simpson, Ben Carson and more. He also talks about interviewing Donald Trump as Ali G. and reveals some big secrets behind his classic film ‘Borat.’ This episode was recorded in front live audience as part of the SAG Conversations series at the SAG-Aftra Foundation in Los Angeles on May 21, 2019. Follow @SachaBaronCohen and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 24, 2019
Sarah Silverman (Premiere)
Comedian Sarah Silverman opens up about the cancelation of her Hulu show ‘I Love You, America’ and what it’s like to be a target of the alt-right. She also shares her thoughts on the #MeToo allegations against former Senator Al Franken and Louis C.K. and a lot more. This episode was originally broadcast as our series premiere on March 26, 2019. Follow @SarahKSilverman and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 17, 2019
Lil Rel Howery Turns 40
Happy birthday to Lil Rel Howery! Today, the comedian and actor turns 40 and is here to talk about his new HBO special ‘Live in Crenshaw.’ Directed by his friend and fellow comic Jerrod Carmichael, ‘Live in Crenshaw’ is unlike any other stand-up special released this year, both in how it looks and how it came together. As Rel reveals in this episode, he barely had time to prepare and had no idea exactly what he was going to say when he took the stage. We also discuss his early days in the Chicago comedy scene, his humble advice for idol Eddie Murphy and his iconic roles in films like ‘Get Out’ and ‘Bird Box.’ Follow @LilRel4 and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 10, 2019
Iliza Shlesinger Is Not Sorry
Iliza Shlesinger just dropped her fifth stand-up special on Netflix. It’s called ‘Unveiled’ and finds the self-described ‘Elder Millennial’ sharing hilarious stories about her wedding and everything that led up to it. In this bonus episode, the comedian opens up about facing criticism from women who think she’s “not doing feminism right,” explains how her ‘Last Comic Standing’ win turned into a nightmare, previews her upcoming sketch series for Netflix and a lot more. Follow @Iliza and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, December 03, 2019
Dan Soder Takes on Outraged ‘Couch Warriors’
Whether you know stand-up comedian Dan Soder from Showtime’s ‘Billions’ (he plays Mafee) or his Comedy Central SiriusXM show ‘The Bonfire’ (he co-hosts with comic Big Jay Oakerson) or are just meeting him for the first time, you will quickly realize that he has some very strong opinions and loves to talk. And on this episode, we get into it on everything from his new HBO special ‘Son of a Gary’ to his friend Shane Gillis’ firing from SNL and a whole lot more. Follow @DanSoder and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 26, 2019
Mike Birbiglia Doesn’t Care If You Think He’s a Stand-Up
Mike Birbiglia invites us backstage at the Ahmanson Theatre in downtown LA where he has been performing his latest show all month long. This week, ‘The New One’ premieres on Netflix. Before he went on stage for one of his final performances this past weekend, Mike opened up about his unique process putting ‘The New One’ together and broke down his evolution from stand-up to theater (and why he doesn’t care how anyone wants to characterize what he does). We also discussed our mutual, unhealthy obsession with ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Follow @birbigs and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 19, 2019
Margaret Cho Won’t Be ‘Intimidated Into Invisibility’
25 years after starring in the first major sitcom to center on an Asian-American family, Margaret Cho is more “hopeful” than ever about the opportunities for Asian-American comedians. In this episode, Cho talks about how she would approach that sitcom differently today and tells stories about dating director Quentin Tarantino and acting opposite Nicolas Cage and John Travolta. She also weighs in on Dave Chappelle’s recent jokes about the bisexual community and reflects on the backlash she received after portraying an exaggerated North Korean character alongside Tina Fey and Amy Poehler at the Golden Globes. Follow @margaretcho and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 12, 2019
Jeff Garlin Puts It All Out There
Jeff Garlin had no idea when he helped come up with the idea that became ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ two decades ago that he would be starring the show’s 10th season this coming January. In this episode, Jeff reveals that season 10 features his “favorite” premise yet and talks about the process of putting together his new Netflix stand-up special ‘Our Man in Chicago,’ which includes some of the most personal material of his career. There are stories about daring ‘The Goldbergs’ to fire him after he made someone on set uncomfortable, his 2013 arrest for felony vandalism that he says led to the end of his marriage and a lot more. Follow @mattwilstein on Twitter and @jeffgarlin and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, November 05, 2019
Judd Apatow Takes on Comedy’s ‘Civil War’
Writer, director, producer and stand-up comedian Judd Apatow invites us into his L.A. office for an in-depth conversation about all things comedy. We talk about his new Garry Shandling book and working on his upcoming film with Pete Davidson. Judd also weighs in on the so-called “civil war” in comedy, from fired SNL comic Shane Gillis—who called him “gayer than ISIS” in one of his controversial rants—to Louis C.K., who he thinks still deserves “criticism” for making fun of the Parkland shooting survivors. Plus, Judd looks back on some of his biggest movie hits and reveals the funniest person he’s ever worked with. Follow @JuddApatow and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Buy ‘It’s Garry Shandling’s Book’ on Amazon . Read Matt’s profile of comedian Gary Gulman at The Daily Beast . Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 29, 2019
Amanda Seales Refuses to ‘Play It Cool’
Amanda Seales has had many careers: Nickelodeon star, spoken word poet, MTV VJ, stand-up comedian, podcast host and actor—she plays Tiffany on HBO’s ‘Insecure.’ Now, she has added author to the list with her new book, ‘Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use.’ In this episode, Amanda opens up about making the transition from music to comedy, tensions within the ‘Insecure’ cast, confronting Caitlyn Jenner over her “white privilege” and a lot more. Follow @mattwilstein on Twitter and @amandaseales and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Buy Amanda’s new book ‘Small Doses: Potent Truths for Everyday Use’ on Amazon . Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 22, 2019
Nick Kroll Gets Away With ‘Crazy Sh*t’
Nick Kroll is an actor, stand-up comedian and co-creator of one of the funniest shows on television , ‘Big Mouth.’ Season three of the Emmy-nominated animated series just dropped on Netflix and Nick is here to talk about its unique place in pop culture. He also weighs in on ‘Joker’ director Todd Phillips’ controversial comments about “woke” culture and comedy, shares the story of auditioning for SNL alongside John Mulaney, teases the upcoming ‘Big Mouth’ spinoff show and a lot more. Follow @nickkroll and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Get ticket for Nick’s “Middle-Aged Boy Tour” at nickkroll.com . Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 15, 2019
Lake Bell Becomes a ‘Comedy Person’
Lake Bell made her feature directorial debut with 2013’s ‘In a World...’ and has been on a roll ever since. Now, she has co-created ABC’s ‘Bless This Mess,‘ a sitcom on which she and Dax Shepard play a neurotic New York couple who move to a farm in Nebraska. In this episode, Lake discusses how her decision to ditch so-called “push-up bra” roles and fully embrace comedy on shows like ‘Children’s Hospital’ and ‘Wet Hot American Summer’ completely transformed her career for the better. Follow @lakebell and @mattwilstein on Twitter and @lastlaughpod on Instagram. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 08, 2019
Deon Cole Can’t Stand ‘Cancel Culture’
Deon Cole started doing stand-up comedy on a $50 bet in his hometown of Chicago. 26 years later, his new special Cole Hearted is premiering on Netflix. Cole says he’s come too far to be “canceled” now: “I should be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, but this culture nowadays, they’re like, man, if you mess up it’s off with your head.” In this episode, Cole breaks own his comedic journey, which has included stints writing for Conan O’Brien and starring on ABC’s Black-ish and Grown-ish. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow @deoncole and @mattwilstein . Tour dates at deoncole.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, October 01, 2019
Tom Green Faces Reality
For a short period two decades ago, Tom Green was one of the most famous comedians on the planet. He graced the cover of Rolling Stone , hosted Saturday Night Live and (briefly) married actress Drew Barrymore. These days, when he’s not touring the world as a stand-up comic, Green is mostly known for getting fired by Donald Trump on The Celebrity Apprentice and sharing a house with Anthony Scaramucci on Celebrity Big Brother . In this episode, the man who changed MTV with his infamous prank show opens up about his rise to fame and everything that’s happened since. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Tom @tomgreenlive and Matt at @mattwilstein . See Tom’s tour dates at tomgreen.com and order his new album on Amazon . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 24, 2019
Scott Aukerman Goes ‘Between Two Ferns’
Scott Aukerman is the host of Comedy Bang! Bang! , co-creator of Funny or Die’s Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis and now the writer and director of Netflix’s Between Two Ferns: The Movie . In this episode, we talk about how he landed so many huge celebrity cameos for the new film, what it was like directing Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton and—because it’s my favorite thing he’s ever done—making the Analyze Phish podcast with the late Harris Wittels. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Scott @ScottAukerman and Matt at @mattwilstein . Real our oral history of the Comedy Bang! Bang! podcast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 17, 2019
Bill Burr Doesn’t Care About Your Outrage
Stand-up comedian Bill Burr just released his sixth hour-long special Paper Tiger on Netflix. In this episode, he speaks out against “outrage culture,” defends his controversial Michelle Obama jokes, shares his thoughts on Trump’s 2020 chances and insists he’s not as “angry” as everyone thinks. Plus, Bill teases some details about his role in the upcoming Star Wars series The Mandalorian . Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Bill @billburr and Matt at @mattwilstein . Tour dates at BillBurr.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 10, 2019
Kevin Nealon Gets Nostalgic
25 years ago, Kevin Nealon was anchoring “Weekend Update” on Saturday Night Live . Now he's walking the woods with his famous comedian friends on the YouTube series Hiking with Kevin . In this episode, we talk about how that show got started and look back at his SNL days, including how he got hired, when he knew it was time to leave and some fascinating stories about Dana Carvey, Chris Farley, Al Franken and more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Kevin @kevin_nealon and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, September 03, 2019
Anthony Jeselnik Is ‘Uncancelable’
Self-described comedy “villain” Anthony Jeselnik has made a career out of telling expertly crafted, extremely dark one-liners, from his breakthrough set at the Comedy Central Roast of Donald Trump in 2011 to his most recent hour-long stand-up special Fire in the Maternity Ward on Netflix. In this episode, he talks about his new Comedy Central interview show Good Talk , how he thinks his comic persona will continue to evolve as he ages, what “surprises” him about Louis C.K.’s attempt at a comeback and a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Anthony @anthonyjeselnik and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, August 30, 2019
Bill Nye Is on ‘F*cking Fire!’
Bill Nye (The Science Guy!) checks in this week to talk about his podcast ( Science Rules! ) and help preview next week’s Climate Crisis Town Hall event on CNN, which will feature the top 10 Democratic presidential primary candidates. Bill also looks back on his shout-fest “interview” with Fox News host Tucker Carlson and the catharsis of screaming obscenities about the warming planet on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Bill @BillNye and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 27, 2019
Desus and Mero Are ‘Disrupting’ Late-Night
Desus Nice and The Kid Mero are here to talk about the first six months of their Showtime late-night series Desus & Mero . We get into their close relationship with fellow Bronx-native Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , what it's been like to interview 2020 Democratic presidential candidates like Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker and Pete Buttigieg, their unlikely Twitter feud with Taylor Swift fans and a lot more. Desus and Mero returns to Showtime on Thursday, September 12th. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Desus @desusnice , Mero @THEKIDMERO and Matt @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, August 23, 2019
Natalie Morales Looks to the Future
Natalie Morales ( Parks and Recreation ) stops by to talk about her new scripted podcast Ellie and The Wave and opens up about her disappointment over NBC canceling Abby’s , the first sitcom in which the lead character was a bisexual Latina woman. “So much for diversity!” she says. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Natalie @nataliemorales and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 20, 2019
Jim Gaffigan Tells All
One of the most successful stand-up comedians of all time, Jim Gaffigan just became the first comic to premiere a special with Amazon Prime Video. Quality Time , Gaffigan’s seventh hour-long special to date, finds the comedian getting back to basics like his weight and an inordinate number of horse jokes after dealing with his wife and writing partner Jeannie’s harrowing medical scare last year. In the episode, Jim opens up about that experience and explains why he’d rather make jokes about brain tumors than President Trump. He also weighs in on David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, Aziz Ansari, Louis C.K., Bill O’Reilly, the Pope and a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Jim @JimGaffigan and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 13, 2019
Jillian Bell Becomes a Star
For years, Jillian Bell has been stealing scenes in TV shows like Workaholics and movies like 22 Jump Street . This month, she has her first leading role in the hilarious and moving new film Brittany Runs a Marathon . On this episode, Jillian talks about getting her start as a writer on SNL , improvising with Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld on Curb Your Enthusiasm , why her newest role “terrified” her and the latest on her gender-swapped reboot of Splash with Channing Tatum. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Jillian @jillianbell and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, August 06, 2019
Brett Gelman Disgusts Himself
You know Brett Gelman as Martin from ‘Fleabag,’ Murray from ‘Stranger Things’ and dozens of other characters who he says share one big trait: “toxic masculinity.” He’s also a brilliant improv and sketch comedy performer who relentlessly pushes the bounds of his art on every level. On this episode, we talk about how he got to where he is and what he wants to do next. Hint: It involves Kanye West. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Brett @brettgelman and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 30, 2019
Whitney Cummings Gets a Sex Robot
Stand-up comedian and writer Whitney Cummings is here to talk about her brand new special ‘Can I Touch It?’ streaming right now on Netflix. Whitney explains why she decided to feature a sex robot version of herself in the special and breaks down her career as TV showrunner, from her debut on Whitney’ to the ‘Roseanne’ reboot that went down in flames last year to an exciting new pilot for Amazon that takes on PC college students. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Whitney @WhitneyCummings and Matt at @mattwilstein . Buy Whitney’s memoir I'm Fine... And Other Lies on Amazon . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 23, 2019
Rob Riggle Tees Off
Rob Riggle spent 15 years in the Marines before landing his first real comedy job on the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ It has seemingly been nothing but smooth sailing since then with stints on ‘The Daily Show,’ scene-stealing turns in films like ‘Step Brothers’ and ‘The Hangover’ and his most recent gig hosting ABC’s ‘Holey Moley.’ In this episode, Riggle opens up about the struggles he faced along the way, including what he describes as a ‘dysfunctional’ year at SNL and the highest-stakes audition imaginable for Jon Stewart. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Rob @RobRiggle and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, July 19, 2019
Jon Lovett Checks In
On this special Friday episode of ‘The Last Laugh,’ Crooked Media co-founder and ‘Lovett or Leave It’ host Jon Lovett checks in to talk about ‘Pod Save America’s’ upcoming live benefit concert at the Greek Theatre as well as Trump’s racist tweets, the 2020 Democratic primary debates and his obsession with both Marianne Williamson and ‘Big Little Lies.’ Get tickets for the Greek Theatre and Radio City Music Hall live shows at Crooked.com . Follow Jon @jonlovett and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 16, 2019
Jane Lynch Shows Up
Jane Lynch, Emmy-winning star of ‘Glee’ and ‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,’ talks about getting her big break at 40 in Christopher Guest’s ‘Best in Show,’ improvising with Steve Carell in ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin,’ acting opposite Meryl Streep in ‘Julie and Julia’ and having a blast hosting NBC’s ‘Hollywood Game Night.’ Plus, how Ellen DeGeneres made it so she never had to ‘come out’ but rather just got to ‘show up.’ Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy Jane’s memoir ‘Happy Accidents’ on Amazon . Follow Jane @janemarielynch and Matt at @mattwilstein . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, July 09, 2019
Nate Bargatze Blows Up
Comedian Nate Bargatze broke through on Netflix’s ‘The Standups’ before premiering his own hour-long special ‘The Tennessee Kid’ on the streaming service earlier this year. But he’s about to get even bigger. Next up, he’ll be starring in a sitcom based on his life for ABC, executive produced by Jerrod Carmichael. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Nate @natebargatze and Matt at @mattwilstein . Get tickets to see Nate on the road at NateBargatze.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mon, July 01, 2019
Kathy Griffin Stands Up
Comedian Kathy Griffin opens up about the infamous photoshoot that changed her life and sounds off on President Trump, Donald Trump Jr., TMZ’s Harvey Levin, CNN’s Jeff Zucker, Anderson Cooper, Andy Cohen, Alec Baldwin, Lorne Michaels, Jerry Seinfeld and a hell of a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Follow Kathy @kathygriffin and Matt at @mattwilstein . Get tickets to ‘Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story’ at FathomEvents.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 25, 2019
Matt Walsh Moves On
This week, Upright Citizens Brigade co-founder Matt Walsh talks about the end of HBO’s ‘Veep,’ reacts to the resignation of White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and previews the 21st annual Del Close Marathon, which is coming to Los Angeles for the first time after two decades in New York. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Get tickets at DelCloseMarathon.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 18, 2019
Mindy Kaling Grows Up
Mindy Kaling broke through as a writer and star of ‘The Office’ and then ‘The Mindy Project’ and this summer she has taken those roles to new heights in her excellent new film ‘Late Night’ opposite Emma Thompson. In this episode, we talk about the complicated politics of that movie, Kaling speaks out for the first time about her controversial Instagram post supporting Aziz Ansari and reveals why she had to turn down her “dream” job at SNL. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy Mindy Kaling’s books on Amazon . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 11, 2019
Jeff Ross Lives to Roast
Jeff Ross is always expanding his duties as Roastmaster General—most recently helming a series of ‘Historical Roasts’ for Netflix. This summer, he will be roasting Alec Baldwin for Comedy Central. In this episode, talks about casting Gilbert Gottfried at Hitler, “bumping mics” with Dave Attell and looks back at some of his most memorable moments roasting everyone from Donald Trump to Justin Bieber. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . See his tour dates at RoastMasterGeneral.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, June 04, 2019
Sacha Baron Cohen Exposes America
Comedy legend Sacha Baron Cohen goes deep on all of the crazy things that happened during the filming of his Showtime series ‘Who Is America?’—including truly incredible stories about his interactions with Sarah Palin, O.J. Simpson, Ben Carson and more. He also talks about interviewing Donald Trump as Ali G. and reveals some big secrets behind his classic film ‘Borat.’ This episode was recorded in front live audience as part of the SAG Conversations series at the SAG-Aftra Foundation in Los Angeles. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Bonus · Thu, May 30, 2019
Preview: Sacha Baron Cohen Confirms ‘Borat’ Rumor
In this preview of next week’s episode, Sacha Baron Cohen confirms something that has long been rumored about Pamela Anderson’s role in the ‘Borat’ movie and the unlikely effect her cameo had on her marriage to Kid Rock. Subscribe now to ‘The Last Laugh’ to hear our full conversation with the creator and star of Showtime’s ‘Who Is America?’ when it is released on Tuesday, June 4th. Find more from ‘The Last Laugh’ at thedailybeast.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 28, 2019
Jordan Klepper Drops the Act
Former ‘Daily Show’ correspondent Jordan Klepper discusses making the transition from playing an Alex Jones-inspired madman on ‘The Opposition’ to revealing his true self on the new Comedy Central docuseries ‘Klepper.’ Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Fri, May 24, 2019
SNL's Sam Jay Slays
Just six years into her career as a comedian, Sam Jay has become one of the fastest rising stars in the comedy world. After joining ‘Saturday Night Live’ as a writer in the fall of 2017, the Atlanta-born, Boston-raised comic put out her first album ‘Donna’s Daughter’ and delivered a tight 15-minute banger of a set for Netflix’s ‘The Comedy Lineup.’ We recorded this very special bonus episode of ‘The Last Laugh’ from the SXSW festival in Austin, Texas. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy Sam Jay’s album ‘Donna’s Daughter’ on Amazon . See her tour dates at SamJayComic.com . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 21, 2019
Pete Holmes Goes Deep
Pete Holmes is a stand-up comedian, creator and star of HBO’s ‘Crashing’ and host of the podcast ‘You Made It Weird.’ Now, he’s become an author with the release of his new spiritual memoir ‘Comedy Sex God.’ In this episode, we talk about what drove him to write the book, how he found his voice as a comedian and sharing the screen with Artie Lange one last time in what ended up being the ‘Crashing’ series finale. As Pete would say, get into it! Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy ‘Comedy Sex God’ by Pete Holmes on Amazon . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 14, 2019
Samantha Bee Is Fearless
Before hosting ‘Full Frontal’ on TBS, Samantha Bee was the longest-serving correspondent on ‘The Daily Show.’ And yet as she tells me in this week’s episode, Comedy Central didn’t even consider her as a possible successor to Jon Stewart when he stepped down four years ago. Bee opens up about that experience and a lot more, including her second ‘Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner,’ why she’s so disappointed with ‘handsy’ Joe Biden and what it felt like to have the president of the United States call for her to be fired on Twitter. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, May 07, 2019
W. Kamau Bell Fights Hate
Stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell has been hosting ‘United Shades of America’ on CNN since before Donald Trump was elected. Now in its fourth season, the show gives Bell a chance to talk to people from every corner of the country about issues like guns, race and religion. He tells us how he learned to listen to people on the opposite end of the political spectrum, why he would never go on Tucker Carlson’s Fox News show, why he doesn’t mind performing for “woke” college students and a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy ‘The Awkward Thoughts of W. Kamau Bell’ on Amazon . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 30, 2019
Jena Friedman Confronts Reality
Former ’Daily Show’ field producer and host of Adult Swim’s ‘Soft Focus’ Jena Friedman shares her secrets to getting people to embarrass themselves on camera. We talk about her uniquely feminist spin on the type of confrontational comedy that has traditionally been performed by men like Sacha Baron Cohen and Nathan Fielder, what she learned from Jon Stewart and Samantha Bee and what it was like to be working for Roseanne when ABC fired her. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Watch ‘Soft Focus’ on Adult Swim . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 23, 2019
Jon Lovett Gets Frustrated
Former Obama speechwriter and host of ‘Pod Save America’ and ‘Lovett or Leave It’ Jon Lovett invites us into his Crooked Media studio to preview the first comedy-free White House Correspondents’ Dinner since 2003. He also shares his thoughts on Donald Trump’s SNL obsession, allegations against Al Franken and Joe Biden, the 2020 Democratic field, what it’s like to write jokes for the president of the United States and a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . See Jon Lovett and the Crooked Media crew on tour . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 16, 2019
Ramy Youssef Discovers Himself
Stand-up comedian and actor Ramy Youssef talks about creating his new Hulu series ‘Ramy’ and what it’s like to be young and Muslim in the comedy world right now. He also discusses his New Jersey adolescence in the shadow of 9/11, how his Egyptian immigrant father ended up working for Donald Trump and a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 09, 2019
Ron Funches Gets Fit
Stand-up comic and host of the ‘Gettin' Better’ podcast Ron Funches talks about his new special ‘Giggle Fit,’ explains why he turned down Netflix for Comedy Central, shares his uncensored feelings about Louis C.K. and a lot more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Watch Ron Funches’ stand-up special ‘Giggle Fit’ on Amazon . See Ron Funches on tour . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, April 02, 2019
Tony Hale Starts Over
Emmy-winning actor Tony Hale opens up about the final season of ‘Veep,’ admits he would be “very surprised” if ‘Arrested Development’ continues after its most recent batch of episodes on Netflix and gives us a sneak peek at what comes next in his career. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Buy Tony Hale’s ‘Archibald’s Next Big Thing’ on Amazon . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Tue, March 26, 2019
Sarah Silverman Gets Canceled
In the premiere episode of ’The Last Laugh’ podcast, comedian Sarah Silverman opens up about the cancelation of her Hulu show ‘I Love You, America’ as well as her thoughts on the 2020 Democratic field, former Sen. Al Franken, Louis C.K. and much more. Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Last Laugh

‘Daily Show’s’ Michael Kosta: Mocking Trump and ‘Lucky Loser’

Riki Lindhome: Going Solo After Garfunkel and Oates

Amber Ruffin on the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Sam Seder: The Progressive Who Took on 20 Trump Supporters

Andrew Schulz: Interviewing Trump, Roasting Tom Brady, and ‘Life’ on Netflix

Edi Patterson: ‘The Righteous Gemstones’ Breakout Star

George Wallace: Johnny Carson, Jerry Seinfeld and ‘Clean Slate’

Oscars Legend Bruce Vilanch Tells All!

‘SNL’ Writer Rosebud Baker: ‘The Mother Lode’

Kevin Nealon on ‘SNL,’ Lorne Michaels, Dana Carvey and More

Carol Leifer: Oscars, ‘SNL,’ ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Curb,’ ‘Hacks’ and More

Rose Matafeo: ‘Starstruck’ and ‘On and On and On’

James Adomian: Impersonating Elon, Bernie, Mike Lindell and More

Roy Wood Jr. Returns: ‘Daily Show,’ CNN, and ‘Lonely Flowers’

Stephanie Hsu: ‘Laid,’ ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once,’ and More

Jim Gaffigan Returns: SNL, Trump, ‘The Skinny’ and More

Bridget Everett on ‘Somebody Somewhere,’ Amy Schumer and More

Joe Rogan, Stephen Colbert, SNL, and More With The New Abnormal

Ronny Chieng Returns: ‘Daily Show’ and New Netflix Special ‘Love to Hate It’

Joe Mande: ‘Hacks,’ ‘Parks and Rec’ and New Hulu Special ‘Chill’

Jim Gaffigan on Donald Trump’s Unorthodox Comedic Style

Ilana Glazer: ‘Broad City,’ ‘Babes,’ and ‘Human Magic’

Anthony Jeselnik on Trump, SNL, and Why He’s ‘Uncancelable’

‘Parks and Rec’ Star Jim O’Heir: ‘Welcome to Pawnee’

Timothy Simons: From ‘Veep’ to ‘Nobody Wants This’

Sam Bee and Michael Ian Black on Trump’s Shocking Win

Jenny Slate on Stand-Up, SNL, ‘Big Mouth,’ and More

Seth Meyers: Trump, Vance, Harris, and ‘Dad Man Walking’

‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Girls’ and ‘Nobody Wants This’ with Bruce Eric Kaplan

James Carville on Kamala and Trump on Joe Rogan

Kathy Griffin Returns: ‘My Life on the PTSD-List’

John Oliver and Sam Bee's Lessons from Jon Stewart

Lamorne Morris: ‘Saturday Night,’ ‘Fargo,’ ‘New Girl’ and More

The Daily Beast Podcast On Melania's New Book

Taylor Tomlinson Returns: ‘After Midnight,’ Save Me Tour and More

VP Debate Recap w/ The Daily Beast Podcast!

Lauren Lapkus: From Comedy Bang! Bang! to ‘Another Happy Day’

The First Episode of The Daily Beast Podcast! w/ Kara Swisher

Sam Bee Returns: Kamala, Trump, Cat Ladies and Her New Daily Beast Podcast!

The Daily Beast Podcast Trailer

Emmy-Winner Alex Edelman on ‘Just for Us’

Michael Ian Black: Trump’s Bad ‘Crowd Work’ vs. Kamala’s Hopeful Joy

Susie Essman on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm,’ Larry David and More

Langston Kerman: John Mulaney, Chris Rock and ‘Bad Poetry’

DNC Special With Kamala Harris Impersonator Allison Reese

Hannah Einbinder: ‘Hacks,’ Stand-Up and Overconfidence

Mike Birbiglia: ‘The Old Man and the Pool’

Carmen Christopher: ‘The Bear,’ ‘The Curse’ and Chicago Comedy

Jon Lovett Returns: Kamala, Biden, Trump and Surviving 2024

Reggie Watts Is Here for Our 250th Episode!

Jack Quaid: ‘The Boys’ and Embracing His ‘Nepo Baby’ Roots

Jordan Klepper and Roy Wood Jr. on ‘The Daily Show,’ Biden vs. Trump and More

Mo Welch’s ‘Dad Jokes’ + Is ‘The Bear’ a Comedy?!?

Keith Robinson’s ‘Different Strokes’ + John Mulaney Enters the Late-Night Emmy Race

John Early’s ‘Now More Than Ever’ + Our Emmy Stand-Up Predictions

Wanda Sykes on 2024, Chappelle, ‘Curb’ and More

Rachel Feinstein’s ‘Big Guy’ on Netflix + ‘Hacks’ Rules and ‘Tires’ Sucks

Paul Scheer’s ‘Joyful Recollections of Trauma’ + SNL50 Here We Come!

Mae Martin (Live From Netflix Is a Joke Fest) + John Mulaney’s ‘Everybody’s in LA’

Nikki Glaser Returns: ‘Someday You’ll Die’ and Roasting Tom Brady

Netflix Is a Joke Fest + The State of Stand-Up on Streaming

Laura Benanti Tells All! + ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’

Demetri Martin ‘Deconstructed’ + What’s Up With SNL?

Alex Edelman on ‘Just for Us’ + ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Series Finale!

W. Kamau Bell Returns + ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show’

Tig Notaro Returns: ‘Hello Again’

Kyle Kinane: From Comedy Central to ‘Dirt Nap’

Renée Elise Goldsberry: From ‘Hamilton’ to ‘Girls5eva’

Bassem Youssef: ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’ on Biden, Piers Morgan and More

Donnell Rawlings: From ‘Chappelle’s’ Show’ to Netflix

Rory Scovel Returns: ‘Religion, Sex and a Few Things in Between’

Jenny Slate: ‘Seasoned Professional’

Introducing: The Chris Chatman Do-Over, starring Ike Barinholtz

Laurie Kilmartin: ‘Cis Woke Grief Slut’

Moshe Kasher: ‘Subculture Vulture’

Jacqueline Novak: ‘Get on Your Knees’

Zach Woods: ‘The Office,’ ‘Silicon Valley’ and ‘In the Know’

Paul F. Tompkins: The Best Comedy Podcast Guest

Joe Pera: ‘Slow & Steady’