It’s been six years since W. Kamau Bell’s last special ‘Private School Negro’ premiered on Netflix. And after hosting CNN’s ‘United Shades of America’ for seven seasons and directing two hit documentaries, he’s not totally sure that he should still be considered a stand-up comedian. In his third appearance on the podcast—taped in-studio in his native Oakland—Bell speaks frankly about his ambivalence around pursuing the life of a comic right now and why he keeps finding himself on stage, especially as the 2024 election heats up. Bell discusses comedy’s role in the Biden vs. Trump rematch, why comedians like Joe Rogan have embraced third-party spoiler RFK Jr., the fallout from his ‘We Need to Talk About Cosby’ docuseries and a lot more.
But first, The Daily Beast’s Allegra Frank joins host Matt Wilstein to answer some burning questions about the first episode of ‘Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show.’ How real is it? Is the identity of the anonymous masked man supposed to be so obvious? And why do we find this deeply sad show so funny?
Follow W. Kamau Bell on Twitter @wkamaubell and Instagram @wkamaubell
Follow Matt Wilstein on Threads @mattwilstein
Follow The Last Laugh on Instagram @lastlaughpod and Threads @lastlaughpod
Highlights from this episode and others at The Daily Beast
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Mae Martin (Live From Netflix Is a Joke Fest) + John Mulaney’s ‘Everybody’s in LA’
Nikki Glaser Returns: ‘Someday You’ll Die’ and Roasting Tom Brady
Netflix Is a Joke Fest + The State of Stand-Up on Streaming
Laura Benanti Tells All! | Plus: ‘Conan O’Brien Must Go’
Demetri Martin ‘Deconstructed’ | Plus, What’s Up With SNL?
Alex Edelman on ‘Just for Us’ | Plus, ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ Series Finale!
Tig Notaro Returns: ‘Hello Again’
Kyle Kinane: From Comedy Central to ‘Dirt Nap’
Renée Elise Goldsberry: From ‘Hamilton’ to ‘Girls5eva’
Bassem Youssef: ‘Egypt’s Jon Stewart’ on Biden, Piers Morgan and More
Donnell Rawlings: From ‘Chappelle’s’ Show’ to Netflix
Rory Scovel Returns: ‘Religion, Sex and a Few Things in Between’
Jenny Slate: ‘Seasoned Professional’
Laurie Kilmartin: ‘Cis Woke Grief Slut’
Moshe Kasher: ‘Subculture Vulture’
Jacqueline Novak: ‘Get on Your Knees’
Zach Woods: ‘The Office,’ ‘Silicon Valley’ and ‘In the Know’
Paul F. Tompkins: The Best Comedy Podcast Guest
Joe Pera: ‘Slow & Steady’
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