Comedian Amber Ruffin is systematically taking over the entertainment industry. And now she’s bringing her sister Lacey Lamar along for the ride. With two books, and now a new podcast from iHeartMedia and Will Ferrell’s Big Money Players Network, the pair is busier than ever—even as the Writers Guild strike has shut down much of Hollywood. In this episode, Ruffin talks about the state of late-night TV as a whole (and her eponymous Peacock show specifically) and reflects on the ‘Saturday Night Live’ audition that inadvertently brought a generation of Black female comedians together and led Seth ..read more

Jay Baruchel never intended to be a comedian. But there was a brief moment there in the mid-2000s when he made what he now describes as the “stupid” decision to try and become a movie star. In this episode, the Canadian actor talks about taking on his most dramatic role yet in the new film ‘BlackBerry’ about the rise and fall of the Canadian predecessor to the iPhone. Baruchel also traces the story of how Judd Apatow plucked him from obscurity to star in the short-lived Fox sitcom ‘Undeclared,’ setting off a string of roles in comedy hits like ‘Knocked Up,’ ‘Tropic Thunder’ and ‘This Is the En ..read more

If there’s anyone in Hollywood who might be immune to criticism, it’s 11-time Emmy-winner and Mark Twain Prize for American Humor recipient Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But as the comedy legend admits in this episode, the rare negative comment about her work still “stings.” That feeling is at the heart of Louis-Dreyfus’ new film ‘You Hurt My Feelings,’ in which she delivers the most emotionally raw performance of her career. During our conversation, the actress reflects on her early struggles as a cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and the catharsis of returning as host. She also reveals what she re ..read more

One week into the WGA strike, it’s time for a closer look at what’s at stake for the writers who entertain us on a daily basis. And there’s no one better to break it all down than ‘Late Night with Seth Meyers’ writer Sal Gentile. In this episode, the man behind Meyers’ “A Closer Look” segments talks about both the immediate and potentially lasting impact of the strike on late-night TV, what it’s been like out there on the picket lines, and how long he thinks this thing could last. Gentile also shares the story behind his unique path from cable news to late-night, reveals how he ended up creati ..read more

Despite playing the often monstrously narcissistic Brooke Dubek on the criminally underrated comedy series ‘The Other Two,’ Heléne Yorke finds herself able to relate to her character more than she would like to admit. In this bonus episode, Yorke previews Season 3 of the show, which returned on HBO Max this week, and reveals how she ended up at the center of the one the funniest shows on TV. She also shares hilarious stories about making the leap from Broadway to the screen on shows like ‘Louie,’ ‘30 Rock’ and ‘High Maintenance’ and that time she almost pooped her pants on stage as Glinda in ..read more

After 27 years as a contributor on ‘The Daily Show,’ Lewis Black is finally getting the chance to host. While the comedian candidly admits that it took Comedy Central long enough to give him a call, he is set to take the reins as guest host for the week of June 20th. In his return to the podcast, Black drops his angry persona and reflects on his comedic legacy. He also talks about why he called his latest stand-up special ‘Tragically, I Need You’—available to stream today on YouTube—and weighs in on misplaced conservative outrage over Bud Light and Fox News’ decision to fire “asshole” Tucker C ..read more

There was a time when Jeff Hiller would have killed to play the stereotypical “gay best friend” on TV. Now, after years of fleeting guest spots from “gay hooker” to “bitchy” flight attendant, he’s showing the world what he’s capable of as the sweetly hilarious Joel on HBO’s ‘Somebody Somewhere.’ In this episode, Hiller talks about how his real-life relationship with star Bridget Everett is reflected on screen and why it’s so important for “normal” queer characters to exist on TV. He also shares what it was like to pop up on shows like ‘30 Rock,’ ‘Community’ and ‘Broad City’ as well as that tim ..read more

Jena Friedman wants you to know that she’s in on the joke. And in her new book of essays, pointedly titled ‘Not Funny,’ she deftly demonstrates how she has become one of the most uncompromising comedic voices of her generation, from her days as a field producer on ‘The Daily Show,’ to her Oscar-nominated writing on Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Borat Subsequent Moviefilm,’ to her first hour-long stand-up ‘Ladykiller,’ in which she delivered some killer abortion jokes while pregnant with her first child. In her third appearance on the podcast, Friedman holds nothing back, spilling tea about her negative ..read more

‘The Daily Show’s’ most valuable player is finally ready for his big moment behind the desk. It’s been more than nine years since Jordan Klepper became a correspondent on the late-night comedy show and since then has become a cultural force in his own right for his life-risking forays into MAGA world. In this bonus episode, Klepper returns to the podcast for a third time to preview his week as guest-host of ‘The Daily Show,’ starting next Monday, April 17. He shares his plans for the big chair, how hard it’s going to be to follow Roy Wood Jr. and what he would say if Comedy Central wanted to m ..read more

Mae Whitman has been a professional actor since she was two years old. But nothing she has done over the course of her career prepared her for how terrifying it would feel to bare her soul through song in the new musical rom-com ‘Up Here,’ streaming now on Hulu. In this episode, Whitman looks back on acting with George Clooney in ‘One Fine Day,’ Sandra Bullock in ‘Hope Floats,’ David Schwimmer on ‘Friends’ and more as a small child before making the transition to grown-up TV star on ‘Parenthood,’ ‘Good Girls,’ and now ‘Up Here.’ She also shares stories from the set of ‘Arrested Development,’ w ..read more