Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade RE-RELEASE - Robert Smigel
Mar 25, 2026
Robert Smigel, comedy writer and creator of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and TV Funhouse, recalls SNL memories and sketch origins. He chats about developing impressions, navigating sensitive topics in comedy, and creating iconic characters. The conversation touches on casting debates, Night of Too Many Stars anecdotes, and reflections on changing comedic standards.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Smigel's Standing Among Comedy Peers
- Robert Smigel is widely regarded by peers as one of the greatest sketch writers of his generation, credited with shaping many SNL favorites.
- Dana Carvey and David Spade repeatedly praise Smigel for characters like Triumph and TV Funhouse cartoons that changed the show's tone.
Triumph Interrupts With Brutal Roast
- Triumph (Smigel's puppet) crashes the interview with barbed, adult humor and roasts the hosts live on the podcast.
- Triumph quips about the show's buzz and makes a crude ass-joke callback that turns the segment into playful chaos.
Church Lady Origins And Character Ownership
- Dana frequently slipped Church Lady into non-SNL projects; he owned the character when joining SNL per his contract.
- He and Smigel recall sneaking Church Lady elements into commercials and protecting character ownership in early careers.