Kerri Kenney-Silver: ‘The Four Seasons,’ ‘Reno 911’ and The State
Kerri Kenney-Silver never thought she’d get a part like Anne on ‘The Four Seasons.’ After more than two decades playing the disturbingly odd Deputy Trudy Wiegel on ‘Reno 911!,’ the 55-year-old actress believed Hollywood saw her as little more than outrageous comic relief. But then Tina Fey gave her the gift of a lifetime by casting her opposite Steve Carell on Netflix’s latest hit series. In this episode, Kenney-Silver talks about finding the nuance in what could have been a stereotypical caricature of the jilted ex-wife. And she also discusses co-founding perhaps the most successful college sketch comedy group of all time with The State, the terrible career advice she gave her one-time co-star Ellen DeGeneres, and the bizarre longevity of ‘Reno 911!’ Follow Kerri Kenney-Silver on Instagram @kerrikenneysilverFollow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpodHighlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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55:22
‘Conan’ Writer Mike Sweeney: Mark Twain Prize, Oscars, and ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’
Mike Sweeney started writing for Conan O’Brien 30 years ago and has been right there by his side ever since. His work has fueled not only the host’s two big late-night shows—with a tumultuous stint on the ‘Tonight Show’ in between—but also his recent gig hosting the Oscars and his newest project, the travel show ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go,’ which arrives Thursday, May 8 on Max. In this episode, Sweeney discusses this particularly momentous time in O’Brien’s career, including how Donald Trump’s takeover of the Kennedy Center threatened to derail his acceptance of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (streaming Sunday, May 4 on Netflix). Instead, like with so much of their other work together, Sweeney and O’Brien found a way to marry a hopeful outlook on the world with deeply silly jokes. Follow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpodHighlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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58:28
Brett Goldstein: ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Shrinking’ and HBO Stand-Up Special
Brett Goldstein got so famous for his Emmy-winning role as Roy Kent on ‘Ted Lasso’ that most people have no idea he has been a professional stand-up comedian for nearly 20 years. Now, that is all about to change when he debuts his first-ever stand-up special, ‘The Second Best Night of Your Life,’ on HBO this Saturday night, April 26. In this episode, Goldstein talks about why he resisted putting his live show on tape for so long, how fans of his TV work are often surprised by the real him, and how his comedy serves as a much-needed counterweight to the toxic “manosphere” trend. He also discusses his accidental acting career in both ‘Ted Lasso’ and ‘Shrinking,’ why he’s just as surprised as everyone else that he’s returning as Roy Kent, and addresses the swirling rumors that he is dating his upcoming rom-com co-star Jennifer Lopez. Follow Brett Goldstein on Instagram @mrbrettgoldsteinFollow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpodHighlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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48:49
Robby Hoffman: ‘Hacks,’ ‘Dying for Sex’ and Gabby Windey
Comedian Robby Hoffman is having a moment. This month alone, she appears in prominent, memorable roles on two critically acclaimed TV shows—‘Hacks’ and ‘Dying for Sex.’ And, as Hoffman reveals in this episode, she is on the verge of some very big announcements regarding the future of a comedy pilot about her life and a high profile stand-up special. Of course, all of this comes after what has become her biggest claim to fame as one half of a queer power couple with reality TV star Gabby Windey, who she secretly married earlier this year. During our conversation, Hoffman breaks down how she went from a Hasidic Jewish family of 10 siblings to the alt-comedy world, why she has rejected the opportunity to perform stand-up on late-night TV, and why she would never follow in her wife’s footsteps to compete on ‘The Traitors.’ Listen to ‘Too Far with Robby Hoffman’ on PatreonFollow Robby Hoffman on Instagram @robbyhoffmanFollow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpodHighlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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57:09
‘Daily Show’s’ Michael Kosta: Mocking Trump and ‘Lucky Loser’
‘The Daily Show’ has undergone a lot of turmoil in the two and half years since Trevor Noah shocked even his closest colleagues by giving up the host chair. And even Michael Kosta can’t quite believe that he has emerged as one of four rotating hosts—along with Jon Stewart on Monday nights. In his return to the podcast, Kosta talks about his experience taking the reins of the long-running political late-night show every few weeks and how he’s striving to make it more than just a mouthpiece for the #Resistance. Kosta also discusses learning Jon Stewart, the backlash to his recent appearance on Joe Rogan’s podcast, and his new memoir ‘Lucky Loser,’ which tells the story of how he went from a semi-successful professional tennis player to achieving his wildest comedy dreams. But Michael Kosta’s ‘Lucky Loser: Adventures in Tennis and Comedy’Follow Michael Kosta on Instagram @michaelkostaFollow Matt Wilstein on Bluesky @mattwilstein Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpodHighlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to ‘The Last Laugh’: Real conversations with really funny people. Every Wednesday, The Daily Beast’s Matt Wilstein interviews some of the biggest names in comedy—as well as the new voices crashing the party—about what it’s like to make people laugh during this current cultural and political moment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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