Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: Chilling, Taste Testing & Quiet Quitting
Date: March 23, 2026
Podcast by: Audacy

Episode Overview

In this lively, riff-filled episode, longtime comedy partners Dana Carvey and David Spade deliver a classic blend of banter, impressions, showbiz stories, and playful commentary on pop culture. The hosts introduce silly new segments (“Johnny’s Back,” “Buzzing Around”), joke about “quiet quitting,” roast each other’s careers, and riff on everything from Oscars gossip to fast food taste testing. There are hilarious impressions (Johnny Carson, Burgess Meredith, Brad Pitt, Owen Wilson), confessional moments, and frank discussions of Hollywood’s oddities. The tone is upbeat, self-deprecating, and welcoming. Perfect for fans who crave both classic SNL energy and the feeling of hanging out backstage with comedy veterans.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. Banter & “Chilling” vs. “Quiet Quitting”

[02:14–03:40]

• Spade and Carvey mock how people now say they're “just chilling” instead of “doing nothing.”
• They riff about the trend of “quiet quitting”:
  David: "My favorite phrase is, someone says, I'm quiet quitting."
• Spade teases that jobs are pointless because “AI will take it in a week.”
• The pair revel in the generational shift to finding pride in doing less or “slacking off,” comparing to their younger, busboy days.

2. Segment: “Johnny’s Back” – Modern Johnny Carson Monologue

[04:25–06:29]

• Spade debuts a new bit: Johnny Carson doing topical jokes today.
• David (as Johnny): “The world's a little scary, so you gotta go to your local bar and forget all your troubles... The Dow Jones is falling faster than Doc’s trousers in a WH house.”
• Carvey cracks up, noting that the bit’s charm is the old rhythm with modern jokes.
• They invite fans to send in modern Johnny Carson material:
  Spade: “Legions of fans to write us Johnny Carson jokes as if it was in today’s vernacular.”

3. Oscars Parties and Star Encounters

[07:47–11:22]

• Spade recounts golfing with Andrew Santino and Travis Kelce, laughing about not asking Taylor Swift questions out of respect.
• Carvey jokes about awkward star meetups and laments the obscurity of TV shows and hosts now.
• Riffs on "Heated Rivalry," the HBO Max gay hockey show beloved by women.
• Conversation about the appeal of seeing same-sex relationships on TV from a gendered audience perspective.

Notable Quote [13:11]:
Dana: “Every girl in the world loves it. Literally every single girl in the world loves it—that’s ex...”

4. Hollywood Manager-Speak & Inside Baseball

[15:46–18:30]

• The duo pokes fun at cryptic “manager lingo” in showbiz deals: “the cat’s on the roof,” “I set the table,” “the cheese is in the fridge.”
• David: "He doesn't want to be replaced by AI, so he talks so insane that AI doesn't even know how to repeat it."
• They bemoan how dealmaking went from straightforward to a maze of coded language.

5. Oscars Live Episode & The Art of Being “Nice Guys”

[18:45–19:35]

• They discuss their Oscar live podcast episode and the benefits/limits of being “nice” in media.
• David: “The brand of our podcast is two nice guys. Not true. Behind the scenes—two incredibly nice guys get together and do a podcast.”

6. Movie Plug: "Outcome" and "Bus Boys"

[24:31–27:04]

• Spade talks about his roles in the Keanu Reeves film Outcome (directed by Jonah Hill, out April 10th, AppleTV) and Busboys (limited theaters April 17th).
• Carvey reminisces about a failed SNL sketch called "Billionaire Busboys"—cue a quick, impromptu song.
• Song [27:04]: “Billionaire Bus Boys, Billionaire Bus Boys, just like you and me…”

7. “Buzzing Around” Segment & Energy Drink Improv

[28:34–35:34]

• Presents a “Buzzing Around” improv sketch sponsored by Five Hour Energy.
• Features a surreal scene — Owen Wilson babysitting John Lovitz as a 3-year-old, Brad Pitt cameo included.
• Impressions pile up: Lovitz, Brad Pitt, Rocky’s trainer Burgess Meredith, Rocky, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Memorable Exchange [30:44]:
Dana (as Lovitz): “I've got good news Brad Pitt. I pooped my diapers.”
David (as Pitt): “I'm so jealous you have that.”

8. NIL Law in Mississippi: College Sports and Taxes

[41:37–44:37]

• They riff on Mississippi making NIL (name, image, likeness) money tax-free for college athletes.
• Concerns about athlete recruitment and disparities between states.
• David: “If you get a $3 million offer from California and you get, you know, the worst taxes in the country, and then you go, I can go to Ole Miss and keep all my money. I mean, crazy.”

9. Odd News, Taste Testing, & Wendy’s “Chief Tasting Officer”

[47:23–53:18]

• Spade shares a dark news story about a terminally ill comic’s criminal spree (“giving us a bad name”).
• They lampoon the Wendy’s campaign for a “Chief Tasting Officer,” seamlessly dropping into mock taste test auditions.
• Physical comedy: pantomimes of taste-testing, faking appreciation, grimacing at “dog tooth in it.”

10. SNL Memories & Celebrity Name-Dropping

[53:52–57:41]

• Spade and Carvey share stories from old TV pilots and SNL, recalling bits from “The Facts of Life,” “MTV VMAs,” and "Gap Girls" sketches.
• David: "I did read... SNL, 130 episodes—whoops, maybe 140, excuse me."
• Quick stories about meeting legends from Robert Mitchum to Charlton Heston, and every big band of the ‘90s.

11. Iconic SNL Sketches – “Gap Girls” Call-back

[59:41–61:08]

• Carvey brings back “Gap Girls”:
  Dana (as Meg): “My boyfriend last night... he's always telling me I look like I just slept on my face.”
• Light teasing and improv lines lead the episode to a “full circle” SNL close.

Memorable Quotes & Bits (with timestamps)

• On quiet quitting:
  David (03:03): “My favorite phrase is, someone says, I’m quiet quitting... They just don’t put any effort, they phone it in.”
• On generational chilling:
  Dana (02:49): "It used to be, 'What are you doing? Nothing.' But it sounds cooler to go, 'Just chilling...' Even if you’re doing nothing.”
• On starstruck moments:
  Spade (08:42): “I got to ask Travis Kelce nothing about Taylor Swift out of respect, did I? Oh, no. I just told him that Taylor’s dad was at one of the shows...”
• On NIL and Mississippi’s tax law:
  Spade (42:13): “If you get a $3 million offer from California... and then you go, I can go to Ole Miss and keep all my money.”
• On doing impressions:
  Dana (34:08): “I’m a huge fan of both those guys—Stallone and Schwarzenegger. Greatest movie stars.”
• On inside Hollywood negotiation speak:
  Spade (17:23): “The landscape has changed. So much manager talk. I can’t take it.”
• On SNL memories:
  Carvey (53:52): “The Facts of Life episode Big Apple Blues, you play the love interest in it and you’re like a... You’re 12 here or something.”

Run of Show — Timestamps for Major Segments

• Chilling & Quiet Quitting – [02:14–03:40]
• Johnny’s Back (Carson bit) – [04:25–06:29]
• Oscar Parties & Star Encounters – [07:47–14:33]
• Hollywood Deal Speak – [15:46–18:30]
• Oscar Live & Podcast Branding – [18:45–19:35]
• Movie/TV Plugs – [24:31–27:04]
• Buzzing Around / Impressions – [28:34–35:34]
• NIL Segments – [41:37–44:37]
• Wendy’s Taste Tester Bit – [49:39–53:18]
• SNL Stories – [53:52–57:41]
• Gap Girls Callback – [59:41–61:08]

Notable Moments

• Spade’s “Billionaire Busboys” impromptu song [27:04]
• Improvised movie scene with Owen Wilson, John Lovitz (as a toddler), and Brad Pitt [29:13–30:44]
• Physical comedy during fake taste test [51:11–53:18]
• Carvey’s iconic “Gap Girls” voice returns [59:41–61:08]

Final Thoughts

The hosts keep things light, satirical, and nostalgic—riffing on aging, the evolution of language, Hollywood absurdities, and the quirks of showbiz life. Their chemistry and decades-deep rapport shine through, offering listeners a genuine “fly on the wall” vibe. Frequent audience engagement invitations and personal stories add to the sense of inclusion and backstage fun.

Perfect for:
Anyone who loves classic SNL, off-the-cuff comedy, friendly roast battles, and sharp but never mean-spirited banter about pop culture, sports, and entertainment.