Obsessed: The Podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. 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. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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 atThe Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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