Obsessed: The Podcast

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices