Obsessed: The Podcast

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 End,’ a movie he was convinced would be a total disaster—not just because of his very real beef with co-star Jonah Hill, both on screen and off—and ended up wildly exceeding his expectations.  Follow Jay Baruchel on Instagram @jonathanadamsaundersbaruchelFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 really thought about the divisive ‘Seinfeld’ finale 25 years later, breaks down the difference between ‘Veep’s’ Selina Meyer and her own “narcissistic” father and a lot more.Listen to Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ podcast Wiser Than MeFollow Julia Louis-Dreyfus on Twitter @OfficialJLD and Instagram @officialjldFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 creating the most consistently funny and informative segment in late-night and recalls the time he got to go “toe-to-toe” with Larry David in a behind-the-scenes sketch.Follow Sal Gentile on Twitter @salgentile and Instagram @salgentileFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 ‘Wicked.’ Follow Heléne Yorke on Twitter @HeleneYorke and Instagram @heleneyorkeFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 Carlson. Watch Lewis Black’s new special ‘Tragically, I Need You’ on YouTubeFollow Lewis Black on Twitter @TheLewisBlack and Instagram @thelewisblackFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 time he totally botched his SNL audition. Follow Jeff Hiller on Instagram @boomboomhillerFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 experience with James Corden, revealing why she decided to turn the tables on male comedians like Jon Stewart and Jim Gaffigan by asking them the offensive questions female comedians tend to get in interviews and discussing that time Bill Burr “told on himself” by responding to her tweets about predatory comics. Follow Jena Friedman on Twitter @JenaFriedman and Instagram @jenafriedmanFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpodBuy Jena Friedman’s book ‘Not Funny: Essays on Life, Comedy, Culture, Et Cetera’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 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 make him the show’s permanent host. Follow Jordan Klepper on Twitter @jordanklepper and Instagram @jordanklepperFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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,’ where she received a comedy master class playing Ann Veal (“her?”) opposite Michael Cera.Follow Mae Whitman on Twitter @maebirdwing and Instagram @mistergarfFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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 @realsambeeFollow Matt Wilstein on Twitter @mattwilsteinFollow 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices