Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: Mike Myers and Paul Myers Talk Beatles and John Candy!

Date: November 17, 2025
Guests: Mike Myers, Paul Myers

Overview

This episode reunites comedy legends Dana Carvey and David Spade with acclaimed actor/writer Mike Myers and his brother Paul Myers (musician, author, and podcaster), for an in-depth, freewheeling discussion. The group nerds out over The Beatles—analyzing their melodies, lyrics, band dynamics, and cultural legacy—before turning to John Candy’s remarkable legacy in comedy, as chronicled in Paul Myers’s new biography. The tone is lively, nerdy, and affectionately irreverent, with lots of impressions, banter about comedy and music, and personal anecdotes.

Key Topics & Insights

1. Opening Banter & SNL Talk

Timestamps: 03:01–11:38

• Dana and David kick off with colorblindness jokes and SNL reflections, using Nikki Glaser’s recent hosting gig to riff on the vibes and challenges of doing monologues on the show.
• David recounts a failed backstage plan to do a monologue with Adam Sandler, giving a glimpse behind the SNL process.
• They touch on the unique energy of SNL’s crowd, the tricky audience mix, and the challenge of performing stand-up on a non-club stage.

Quote:

"It sounds crazy that it’s not a comedy crowd. It is, but it’s not a comedy club crowd. ... You have the high ceiling. You know, it’s not like a tight—"
—David Spade (05:07)

2. Impressions Segment: “Buzzing Around”

Timestamps: 16:26–19:55

• Dana does impressions of Johnny Carson, Jimmy Fallon, Paul McCartney, and Senator Kennedy—all in a scenario of being pulled over by a cop, riffing off the synergy and quirks of each personality.
• The bit is a hilarious demonstration of Carvey’s rapid-fire skills.

Quote:

“Well, my name’s Paul McCartney. I was in a band called the Beatles...”
—Dana Carvey as Paul McCartney (18:03)

3. Welcoming the Myers Brothers: Comedy & Canadian Pride

Timestamps: 25:47–28:29

• Mike and Paul Myers join, opening with lighthearted banter about Canadian identity, haircuts, and Beatles T-shirt orders.
• The conversation pokes fun at U.S.-Canada relations, referencing Trump’s infamous “51st state” joke.

Quote:

“Who pushes Canada more than almost anyone? You do a good job. You must be like a hero.”
—David Spade to Mike Myers (26:21)

4. John Candy’s Legacy – Paul Myers’s Book & the Documentary

Timestamps: 30:31–37:15

• Paul describes the journey of writing “John Candy: A Life in Comedy,” and discusses the parallel development of Ryan Reynolds’ and Colin Hanks’ Candy documentary.
• The group emphasizes Candy’s profound influence and impeccable reputation—as a kind, universally loved performer.
• Mike Myers shares his own formative meeting with John Candy and how influential Candy’s encouragement was to his career.

Quotes:

“He might be one of the most universally liked performers…I have never heard one negative thing about him.”
—David Spade (32:06)

“There’s only two people that I’ve ever waited outside a stage door for. One was Lily Tomlin. The other was John Candy… John came out and I said, ‘I want to do what you do.’ And he said, ‘You should join Second City workshops’...”
—Mike Myers (39:04)

5. Canadian Comedy – Why So Much Greatness?

Timestamps: 42:29–49:04

• The group marvels at Canada’s outsized contribution to comedy and music, from SCTV to Dan Aykroyd, Norm MacDonald, and beyond.
• Mike and Paul discuss the blend of influences—American ambition and British observer humor—and what it meant to “make it” in America.

Quotes:

“We’re an observer nation, you know what I mean?”
—Mike Myers (43:16)

“My mom…when she saw Wayne’s World, she said, ‘Oh, that Dana’s very good, isn’t he?’”
—Mike Myers (47:43)

6. Brotherly Wars & Childhood Stories

Timestamps: 49:04–53:21

• Stories of rough-and-tumble boyhood in Canada: fistfights, pranks, and physical comedy reminiscent of the unstructured, pre-helicopter-parent era.
• Slapstick tales of injuries, near-misses, and unsupervised mischief.

Quote:

“I once dragged Mike around by his ankles and his head hit the side of a counter and you got a small cut in your head and I thought I’d killed you.”
—Paul Myers (51:42)

7. Deep Dive: Beatles Nerdery

Timestamps: 53:33–87:50

A. Why Do We Keep Analyzing The Beatles?

• The group unselfconsciously “geeks out” on melodies, favorite tracks, and why the Beatles remain a touchstone for creativity.

Favorite Melodies:

• “She’s Leaving Home,” “Martha My Dear,” “And I Love Her.”

“She’s Leaving Home does this…There’s a counterpoint with the strings…It’s like two swans or eagles or something. And that is the most exciting thing with McCartney when he does that.”
—Paul Myers (56:23)

B. John & Paul’s Songwriting / Band Dynamics

• Discussion of the yin and yang between Lennon’s abstraction and McCartney’s melodies, and how their collaboration elevated both.
• Reflections on the Get Back documentary, Paul being the “de facto producer,” and the heartbreak of the band’s dissolution.

“Paul was pushing everybody to the point where they’re mad at him…But he just wants the Beatles to have the Beatles again.”
—Paul Myers (65:42)

C. George’s Evolution

• George Harrison’s underappreciated journey, learning from Lennon/McCartney, branching out with Dylan and Clapton, bringing in Indian influences.
• His “hay wait up” role—catching up, then surpassing—with songs like “Something” and “Here Comes the Sun.”

“He had to work three times as hard to get it because…he had to write Here Comes the Sun, he had to write Something.”
—Paul Myers (68:10)

D. Ringo: Secret Sauce

• Ringo’s unsung “secret sauce” role as a song-serving, vibes-brightening, supremely musical drummer.
• Lively breakdowns of his fills, swing, and ability to play for the song, rather than virtuosity.

“He was the guy that kept it up, kept it light, and didn’t let all the Liverpool attitudes have a fist fight…He was the soup spoon.”
—Mike Myers (79:07)

E. The “Pop Shivers”

• The crew discusses those moments in music that give them chills (“pop shivers”)—from the Beatles to Hendrix, Clash, and The Police.

“No matter what I’ve done or will ever do in my life, I aspire to the pure excitement that is listening to the Beatles.”
—Mike Myers (83:59)

Notable Quotes, Highlights & Moments

• On John Candy’s kindness:

  “He was so incredibly gracious and fantastic. That actually meant more to me than a lot of things during that really exciting time of Wayne’s World.”
  —Mike Myers (40:12)

• On the Beatles in-band rivalry:

  “There’s no other band during that era they ever could have been in where they were not sometimes not sure they were the ‘best guy in the band’.”
  —Dana Carvey (67:34)

• On the Beatles’ partnership:

  “They cared about each other’s opinion…Even when they were fighting, they were fighting in a lover’s quarrel kind of way.”
  —Paul Myers (65:12)

• On Ringo’s unique drumming:

  “He never plays over the words…He was helping. He laid back when he needed to lay back…A Day in the Life—almost no drums, except falling down the stairs.”
  —Paul Myers (80:21–82:29)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start | End | |------------------------------------- |--------|--------| | Cold Open/SNL Talk | 03:01 | 11:38 | | Buzzing Around (Impressions) | 16:26 | 19:55 | | Welcoming Mike & Paul Myers | 25:47 | 28:29 | | John Candy Book & Doc Discussion | 30:31 | 37:15 | | Canadian Comedy Debate | 42:29 | 49:04 | | Brotherly Childhood Stories | 49:04 | 53:21 | | Beatles Deep Dive | 53:33 | 87:50 |

Overall Tone & Takeaways

Fly on the Wall beautifully delivers on its promise of giving fans a “behind the curtain” look at both comedy and music. The Myers brothers’ appearance brings warmth, deep fandom, and playful rivalry. The Beatles analysis is energetic and affectionate; each host and guest brings their own perspective (“musicologist” vs. “pure vibe chaser”). Paul Myers’s John Candy biography adds a touching, behind-the-scenes layer to the discussion, reaffirming the emotional intelligence and decency at the heart of great comedy.

Final Note:
Both Beatles obsessives and casual fans will come away with new insights, lots of laughs, and a sense of the camaraderie and pathways that link comedy, music, and pop culture across generations.