Podcast Summary

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: From Busboys & Dishwashers to SNL + Let's End White People?
Date: January 12, 2026
Duration: ~59 minutes
Hosts: Dana Carvey & David Spade

Episode Overview

Dana Carvey and David Spade riff on everything from anniversary traditions and their humble origins in the service industry, to critiques of current events, entertainment industry insights, and the state of politics and culture. They blend rapid-fire banter, satirical takes on trending news, nostalgic showbiz stories, and the occasional spot-on impression.

Key Discussion Segments & Insights

1. Hats, Fashion, and the Jiffy Pop Generation

• [01:00–03:30] The episode kicks off with playful banter about hats—trucker hats, Reebok branding, and Spade's “bad hair” days.
  • Memorable quote:
    • "Sometimes my hair looks...so bad, I'd rather just look dumber in a hat. That's a tough decision, but I do that." —David Spade [03:05]
• Discussion humorously ages themselves by asking if younger staff know what Jiffy Pop is, tying it to current reference gaps between generations.

2. Anniversaries, Movie Reviews, and Sydney Sweeney

• [04:30–09:55] Dana marks his 43rd wedding anniversary, jokes about traditional gifts, and debates low-key celebrations.
  • Carvey transitions to reviewing “Housemates,” a new Paul Feig movie:
    • Praises the cast, particularly Sydney Sweeney’s range, and admires the film’s blend of thriller and comedic elements.
    • On movie names and casting:
      • "Agents say to change your name just to make it easier. Like Brandon Boxcar would have been better. I'd remembered. Boom. Got it." —David Spade [08:26]
• Spade’s minor critique is film’s length, but concedes the third act’s twists deliver entertainment value.

3. Childhood Icons and the LA Fire Anniversary

• [10:20–14:50] Banter about environmental mascots (Woodsy Owl, Smokey the Bear) leads to a more serious reflection on the LA forest fires’ one-year anniversary.
  • Both hosts vent frustration about disaster relief mismanagement:
    • "So far nothing has gone to the victims. So that was a big problem..." —David Spade [16:15]
    • On California’s public spending: "That's why people get tired of paying taxes and going, 'what are you doing?'" —David Spade [18:45]
• They emphasize the difficulty and slowness of rebuilding, issues with relief funds, and political red tape.

4. California Politics, Homeless Crisis, and Transparency

• [18:45–21:10]
  • The conversation turns to California’s spending priorities, referencing the bullet train project, homelessness, and Governor Newsom’s lack of financial transparency.
  • Carvey suggests more states should offer line-by-line public budget access, noting the public’s frustration and mistrust.
• The duo role-plays a comedic Garth/Wayne-style audit inquiry, skewering the lack of accountability.

5. Gambling, Predictive Betting, and Inside Info

• [21:10–22:44]
  • Jokes about losing money on sports betting and the rise of predictive gambling—not just on sports but on anything from movie profits to wardrobe choices.
  • "I could probably go through 20 billion on DraftKings during the playoffs because I'm so bad at betting." —David Spade [20:48]

6. Medical TV Shows (ER, The Pit) and TV Pitching

• [23:02–27:19]
  • The two discuss new and recycled medical dramas like “The Pit” and “Doc,” poking fun at fast-paced hospital scripting and recycled TV formulas.
  • Spade gives a behind-the-scenes look at how TV pilots get greenlit based on showrunner reputations more than cast.
    • "If you're doing comedy and you go, Tina Fey's gonna produce it...they're looking at that more than the star." —David Spade [26:03]
  • They riff on punchy hospital lingo (e.g., “C5 474 hematoma!”) and why shows today feel faster-paced and more intense.

7. Hollywood Auditions, Humiliation, and Showbiz War Stories

• [27:46–34:56]
  • Both reminisce about their start as busboys and dishwashers, then debate the indignities of Hollywood castings.
  • Highlights include Dana’s story of being fired from 'Blue Thunder' and later seeing the wardrobe guy, who recognized his comic talent after SNL success.
  • “I was a busboy too. But we called ourselves table maintenance personnel managers.” —Dana Carvey [41:06]

8. Trending Clips: “Let’s End White People?”

• [35:11–39:46]
  • They dissect a Rutgers professor’s controversial comment on “whiteness” having “an end date,” acknowledging the provocative clickbait nature and societal context.
    • "Listen, whitey's having a rough go of it lately, but let's keep going." —David Spade [35:50]
• A clip of a New York official advocating for a “collective” approach to property ownership prompts a satire on socialism and property sharing.
  • “I am...rethinking my relationship with my property, you know?” —Dana Carvey [37:22]
  • Carvey draws parallels with Soviet collectivism, joking about receiving an official letter inviting him to “move into” Spade’s house.

9. Economics, Millionaires, and Service Jobs

• [39:46–41:26]
  • Anecdotes about what it meant to be a “millionaire” in their youth, lessons in thrift, and stories from their days as fast food and hotel dishwashers. Both recall the pride (and pain) of scraping by on minimum wage.

10. News Roundup: Diddy, Art Pranks, and the Beatles

• [42:45–55:50]
  • Quick-fire reactions to news: Diddy's Venezuela hair, Trump’s comments on George Clooney and Greenland, AI in podcasting, and rare earth mining.
  • Most memorable is a viral clip of Ringo Starr photobombing a livestream:
    • "Peace and love. The boys." —Dana Carvey, imitating Ringo Starr [54:53]
  • They muse on the Beatles’ lasting legacy and the quirks of art, like a teen facing charges for sticking googly eyes on a pricey sculpture.

11. Art, Money Laundering, and AI Voices

• [50:03–53:44]
  • Discussion on the “absurdity” of modern art pricing, suspicions about money laundering through high-value transactions, and the inevitable rise of AI voices in media.
  • Carvey jokes about someday being replaced by his own AI-generated podcast host.

12. Closing: Stand-Up Plugs & Reflections

• [58:04–59:00]
  • Spade plugs upcoming dates with Nikki Glaser.
  • Both share appreciation for “Tootsie” and musings on the staying power of the Beatles and classic movies.
  • They wrap up with a promise to report back with more stories next time.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “It's frustrating for everyone, to say the least. And I don't even know what NGOs do...” —David Spade [16:48]
• “So then I got the silly thing, and then I was just Quentin Wonderlove in a helicopter with a helmet. A fake helicopter.” —Dana Carvey [32:26]
• “I was a busboy too. But we called ourselves table maintenance personnel managers. You know, gave us...a little juice.” —Dana Carvey [41:06]
• “Peace and love. The boys.” —Dana Carvey as Ringo Starr [54:53]
• “That’s why people get tired of paying taxes and going, 'What are you doing?’ Gavin Newsom just vetoed a bill asking for an audit of where the money for homeless goes. He said, not a chance.” —David Spade [18:45]
• “Let's make a royal blue pelican... Penguin with a gut. That's my next big project.” —David Spade [48:42]
• “When I retire, which I won't till I'm 95, but when I do, I'm gonna do visual art.” —Dana Carvey [52:01]

Episode Structure Reference

| Timestamp | Topic/Skit/Event |
|-----------|------------------|
| 01:00–03:30 | Hat banter, Jiffy Pop, generational nostalgia |
| 04:30–09:55 | Anniversary, ‘Housemates’ movie breakdown |
| 10:20–14:50 | Woodsy Owl, Smokey the Bear, LA fire reflection |
| 18:45–21:10 | CA politics, transparency critique |
| 21:10–22:44 | Betting and predictive gambling tales |
| 23:02–27:19 | Medical drama TV, TV pitching |
| 27:46–34:56 | Audition humiliation, blue collar origin stories |
| 35:11–39:46 | Rutgers “end of whiteness” segment, collective property humor |
| 39:46–41:26 | Millionaire nostalgia, dishwasher days |
| 42:45–55:50 | Diddy/vl hair, AI, moon landings, Ringo Starr viral moment |
| 50:03–53:44 | Art, money laundering, AI voices |
| 58:04–59:00 | Standup plugs, closing |

Tone & Style

Light-hearted, irreverent, and nostalgic with quick wit, improvisational impressions, and a willingness to dart from pop culture satire to personal storytelling and social critique. The episode neatly blends showbiz inside-baseball with current cultural observations.

For listeners who missed it:
Expect a rambling, joke-packed journey through showbiz memories, hot takes on current headlines, and behind-the-scenes reflections from two SNL vets who still see the world—and each other—with equal parts cynicism, affection, and humor.