Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac

Before David Letterman became a late-night television legend, he was the guy at 12:30 in the morning reinventing what a talk show could be.

In the premiere of Is Late Night Dead?, Johnny Mac of Daily Comedy News goes back
to the birth of Late Night with David Letterman and the strange path that took Letterman from an Indianapolis weatherman to NBC, The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, a failed daytime talk show, and finally the after-midnight time slot that changed comedy.

We look at how Johnny Carson’s restrictions helped shape Letterman’s groundbreaking NBC show, the influence of Merrill Markoe, Paul Shaffer and Chris Elliott, and the creation of classic Late Night comedy including Stupid Pet Tricks, the Top Ten List, Larry “Bud” Melman, the Guy Under the Seats, dropping objects off buildings, and Letterman’s constant war with the conventions of network television.
We also revisit unforgettable David Letterman moments with Bill Murray, Andy Kaufman, Jerry Lawler, Cher, Crispin Glover and Harvey Pekar, and explore why Late Night became a cult phenomenon for a generation of comedy fans.

By 1991, Letterman had transformed the 12:30 time slot and become one of the most influential figures in television comedy. Johnny Carson was preparing to retire. The Tonight Show was about to become the most coveted job in television.
And everyone thought David Letterman was next.

Then came Jay Leno.

Is Late Night Dead? is a series from Daily Comedy News tracing the history of late-night television, from Steve Allen, Jack Paar and Johnny Carson through David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, the late-night wars, and the uncertain future of the format.

Questions this episode answers: How did David Letterman get his start in television? When did Late Night with David Letterman begin on NBC? Why did Johnny Carson have control over Letterman’s 12:30 show? What rules did Carson impose on Late Night? How did those restrictions help create David Letterman’s comedy style? Who were Merrill Markoe, Paul Shaffer, Chris Elliott and Larry “Bud” Melman? Where did Letterman’s Top Ten List and Stupid Pet Tricks come from? Why was David Letterman so influential on late-night television? Why did Letterman expect to replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show? And how did Jay Leno become part of the battle to succeed Carson?

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🎄 DCN every day, no ads, for the whole family: Caloroga+ on Apple Podcasts is $49.99 a year and shares with up to 6 people. Try it free for 30 days: tap Try Free in Apple Podcasts.

Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!

Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

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

John's Substack about media is free.

Chris Rock tells GQ that therapy made him rethink how he treated people and why he used to blame celebrity when he struggled to connect. Johnny Mac gets into what Rock learned about being honest in therapy and the separate support he gets for nonverbal learning disorder.

Queens comedian Liam Dalton gives Knicks legend John Starks the John Mulaney treatment. Chris Pratt gets Nickelodeon’s King of Comedy honor, Sheng Wang explains how everyday awkward moments become jokes and recalls coming up with Ali Wong, and Trevor Noah gets a reported 3.92 pickleball rating in Singapore.

Plus: New York Comedy Festival picks, a look ahead to the Ashland Sarcasm Festival with Aparna Nancherla and Beth Stelling, and the one thing that might get Johnny Mac out of the house: Jaws: The Very Unauthorized Musical in Montclair.

Weekend bonus: Two David Letterman episodes of Is Late Night Dead? drop in the Daily Comedy News feed at noon Eastern on Saturday and Sunday. The Johnny Carson episode is in the separate Is Late Night Dead? feed.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.

🎄 DCN every day, no ads, for the whole family: Caloroga+ on Apple Podcasts is $49.99 a year and shares with up to 6 people. Try it free for 30 days: tap Try Free in Apple Podcasts.

Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!

Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

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

John's Substack about media is free.

A regular show. Station management has confirmed it in writing, underlined twice. Last week’s chart has been retired to a better place, so all five songs are new entries again, and Thanksgiving is in the building. Someone put a paper turkey on the engineer’s door. The engineer says it wasn’t him.

5. The Middle Managers, “Reply All”
4. Gourd Almighty, “Pumpkin Spice Is Back”
3. Second Helping, “The Kids’ Table (I’m 41)"
2. The Thaw, “Defrost (The Turkey’s Still Frozen)”
1. Standard Time, “I Got an Extra Hour and I Wasted It”: 

Worst Lyric of the Week: Dale Pruett returns with a Thanksgiving record, “Gravy on Everything.” He is the lumps again.

Brought to you by Mattress Kingdom, currently between locations. Executive producers Mark Francis and John McDermott. AI assistance was used in this production. A Caloroga Media production.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.

🎄 DCN every day, no ads, for the whole family: Caloroga+ on Apple Podcasts is $49.99 a year and shares with up to 6 people. Try it free for 30 days: tap Try Free in Apple Podcasts.

Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!

Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

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

John's Substack about media is free.

A heckler asked Jimmy Carr about Russell Brand. Carr said Brand was going to prison for “something he didn’t do.” Then came the punchline. “Get consent.”Johnny Mac plays the clip on Daily Comedy News and covers Gary Gulman’s new HBO special Grandiloquent,

John Mulaney’s return to Saturday Night Live, and the fire alarm that cut short Stephen Colbert and Yo-Yo Ma’s Harvard appearance. Plus, rare 1963 Tonight Show footage of Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon turns up in a California garage.

Larry the Cable Guy returns with American Mayhem, Johnny Mac compares the New York and Flyover comedy festivals, and the Comedy Stock Market buys Gianmarco Soresi and Nate Bargatze and sells Dave Chappelle. The episode also covers The Guardian’s reporting on allegations against David Walliams, which he denies, and previews bonus episodes of Is Late Night Dead? and Nobody’s Top Five.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.

🎄 DCN every day, no ads, for the whole family: Caloroga+ on Apple Podcasts is $49.99 a year and shares with up to 6 people. Try it free for 30 days: tap Try Free in Apple Podcasts.

Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!

Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

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

John's Substack about media is free.

Ricky Gervais told people setting off fireworks in London, “I hope you die.” On Daily Comedy News, Johnny Mac explains what prompted the post and how it fits into the debate over private fireworks in London.

Shane Gillis joins John Mulaney on the red carpet for Madden, and Theo Von is named King of Bacchus for New Orleans Mardi Gras 2027. Johnny Mac also takes on the argument that podcast fame is hurting stand-up comedy, looking at Theo Von, Joe Rogan, Tim Dillon, Tony Hinchcliffe and Marc Maron.

Plus, Matt Rife responds after Lisa Ann says he’s been showing footage of her removal from his Radio City Music Hall show. Johnny Mac previews Thursday’s New York Comedy Festival lineup and reacts to Tina Fey and Rachel Dratch reuniting for a Volkswagen ad celebrating NBC’s centennial.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support.

🎄 DCN every day, no ads, for the whole family: Caloroga+ on Apple Podcasts is $49.99 a year and shares with up to 6 people. Try it free for 30 days: tap Try Free in Apple Podcasts.

Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN!

Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

Contact John at John@thesharkdeck dot com 

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

John's Substack about media is free.