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

Johnny Mac covers the final episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” revisiting Colbert’s July announcement that the season would be the last and questioning CBS’s claim that the cancellation was purely financial amid Paramount’s merger with Skydance and its $16 million settlement with Trump over a “60 Minutes” interview. It cites reports the show loses $40 million annually and argues CBS could have tried budget changes instead of cancellation. Using excerpts from an April Hollywood Reporter interview, Colbert recounts how he learned the news, discusses the $40 million figure, the collapsing broadcast model, and the possibility of mixed motives, and says he focused on finishing the show with jokes rather than anger. The host also speculates about a Taylor Tomlinson timeline, notes Colbert has been approached about future work, includes an Obama exchange about Colbert running for president, and mentions Kimmel and Fallon airing reruns in solidarity while The Washington Post reflects on late night’s polarization in the Trump era.
 
00:24 Why CBS Canceled
01:20 Colbert Learns News
02:29 Money Model Debate
03:12 Two Things True
03:42 Tomlinson Timeline Theory
05:57 Life After Late Night
07:12 Ending On His Terms
08:10 Colbert For President
09:15 Late Night Solidarity
09:33 Big Tent Era Ends
10:13 Trump Changed Late Night
10:53 Letterman Comparison
11:45 Closing Thoughts

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Johnny Mac covers Jason Zinoman’s New York Times piece asking what is lost as CBS cancels The Late Show, arguing it ends not just Stephen Colbert’s run but an institution with a tradition of emotional late-night farewells, noting The Late Show will outlast the Carson era of The Tonight Show and recalling the Letterman–Leno rivalry and Colbert’s current-events counterprogramming versus Jimmy Fallon’s lighter approach. Other items include Nikki Glaser announced as headliner for the University of Florida’s Gator Growl on Friday, October 9, and Chelsea Handler on Howie Mandel’s podcast criticizing modern dating while saying she prefers not being tethered to one person. Mac also reacts to a GQ profile of SNL’s Marcelo Hernandez, cites Late Nighter odds on SNL Season 52 cast changes, and shares John McGinley’s ideas and comments about the Scrubs revival, including a proposed Hugh Jackman gag and Dr. Cox’s storyline.

00:00 Colbert Show Ending
00:45 Late Show Legacy
02:06 Letterman Leno Rivalry
03:17 Colbert Counterprogramming
04:07 Nikki Glaser Gator Growl
04:29 Chelsea Handler Dating
05:17 Marcelo Hernandez in GQ
06:51 SNL Season 52 Odds
07:19 Scrubs Revival Pitch
 

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

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Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month 

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

Johnny Mac covers comedy news including Netflix developing Grown Ups 3 with a script by Adam Sandler and Tim Herlihy and expected returns from David Spade, Rob Schneider, Kevin James and Chris Rock, with a Europe trip plot involving spreading a deceased friend’s ashes. He mentions the visual-heavy trailer for Will Ferrell’s golf comedy series The Hawk, Nick Kroll’s new series A Hundred Percent with Sam Richardson, Jason Mantzoukas and Vanessa Bayer, and Wanda Sykes’ Netflix special Legacy. Netflix also signed Mike Epps for two more specials after Delusional’s strong performance. Trevor Noah announced a YouTube travel series, Trevor Noah’s World Tour, and Mo Amer will host the 86th Peabody Awards. The episode highlights Stephen Colbert’s comments on The Late Show ending, late-night host questions, his views on Trump and authoritarians, and that he’s working on a Warner Bros. Lord of the Rings script. It also notes Shane Mauss on 800 Pound Gorilla’s YouTube, the return of the ISH Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2026 backed by James Corden, and a review and clip of New Zealand comedian Henry Yen.
 
00:17 Sandler Returns With Grown Ups 3
01:52 Will Ferrell Golf Series The Hawk
02:51 Nick Kroll Series A Hundred Percent
03:23 Wanda Sykes And Mike Epps Netflix
04:31 YouTube Upfronts Trevor Noah Tour
05:42 Mo Amer Hosts Peabody Awards
06:08 Colbert Q And A With Hosts
08:34 Why Colbert Show Ended
10:25 Colbert Politics And Authoritarians
11:22 Whats Next For Colbert
12:21 Comedy Bits And Festival News
13:18 Henry Yen Review And Clip
1 

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

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month 

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

Will Ferrell Hosts SNL, Paul McCartney Performs, and Late-Night Shakeups
Johnny Mac recaps a Saturday Night Live episode hosted by Will Ferrell with Paul McCartney as musical guest, including a Trump-and-“Jeffrey Epstein” cold open, a Chad Smith-as-Ferrell bit, the annual Jost/Che joke swap, and McCartney performing “Band on the Run” and “Coming Up,” with speculation around extended credits for executive producer Lorne Michaels. He covers Theo Von dismissing Joe Rogan’s mental-health concerns, Jim Gaffigan releasing an audio version of his bourbon-themed set, and reports that Pete Davidson and Elise Hewitt split while focusing on their daughter Scotty Rose, alongside Davidson’s real-estate sales. Other items include Triumph on Stavy’s World, a rumor about Shane Gillis in a Drake video, a planned Weird Al Broadway musical, Strike Force Five ratings and podcast talk, David Letterman’s comments on late-night’s future, Brian Stack on writing at The Late Show/Conan, Jon Stewart criticizing Apple TV, and the BBC announcing new and returning comedy shows.
 
00:13 SNL Cold Open Recap
01:06 Will Ferrell Host Bit
01:49 Jost Che Joke Swap
02:15 Paul McCartney Performances
03:07 Lorne Michaels Farewell Hints
03:41 Theo Von Rogan Concern
04:11 Jim Gaffigan Bourbon Set
04:24 Pete Davidson Split Details
05:46 Triumph on Stavys World
06:14 Drake Album Shane Gillis
06:28 Weird Al Broadway Musical
07:29 Strike Force Five Ratings
09:03 Kimmel Summer Off Debate
10:28 Letterman on Late Night Future
11:36 Brian Stack on Writing
14:31 Emmy Blotnick Release
14:36 Jon Stewart vs Apple
15:20 BBC Comedy Funding Fight
15:56 BBC Comedy Festival Lineup
16:24 Wrap Up and Sign Off

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

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month 

John's Substack about media is free.

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

Johnny Mac reports Nikki Glaser said she has imposter syndrome while appearing on the Night of Too Many Stars lineup with major comics and actors, calling it a dream moment where she’d rather observe than insert herself. NBC canceled Jimmy Fallon’s marketing-competition show On Brand after weak ratings and erratic scheduling, but ordered a Wordle-based game show executive produced by Fallon and hosted by Savannah Guthrie. Jimmy Kimmel will host a fifth season of Celebrity Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? on July 22. At Netflix Is a Joke, Jelly Roll asked audiences to put phones away during his stand-up debut, delivered self-deprecating jokes about nerves and weight loss, and later sang “Friends in Low Places,” with Andrew Schulz headlining and other comics appearing. Schulz announced Akaash Singh is leaving the Flagrant 2 podcast to focus on stand-up. The trailer for Kevin Hart’s 72 Hours and Hulu’s June 5 Hannah Berner special are noted, along with Carol Burnett reminiscing about learning slapstick and an interview with Toronto comedian Tyler Morrison about influences and pre-show habits.

00:00 Nikki Glaser Imposter Syndrome
00:51 Fallon Show Canceled
01:36 Wordle Game Show Ordered
02:16 Kimmel Hosts Millionaire
02:41 Jelly Roll Standup Debut
04:11 Akaash Leaves Flagrant
04:35 Kevin Hart 72 Hours Trailer
05:32 Hannah Berner Hulu Special
07:12 Carol Burnett Slapstick Lessons
08:13 Tyler Morrison Comedy Talk
 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry--4522158/support.

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

COMEDY SURVIVOR in the facebook group.

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

For Uninterrupted Listening, use the Apple Podcast App and click the banner that says Uninterrupted Listening.  $4.99/month 

John's Substack about media is free.

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