Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Episode: Netflix is a Joke, Oscar Nominations, + Playing the Role of Poop???
Date: January 26, 2026
Duration: Approx. 55 minutes

Episode Overview

Dana Carvey and David Spade return with a freewheeling, banter-heavy episode riffing on current entertainment headlines––notably the Academy Awards (Oscars) nominations, the massive Netflix Is a Joke festival, and some gleefully absurd showbiz stories including the "Poop" Emoji Movie casting. As always, their signature chemistry, improvisation, and industry know-how create a fun, irreverent take on the comic side of Hollywood and pop culture.

Main Themes & Key Segments

1. Mock Oscars Rundown and Hollywood Satire (01:34–17:47)

• Blind Oscar Movie Review
  • Dana and David admit to not having seen many nominees, poking fun at Hollywood types who pretend otherwise.
  • [01:34, David] “Here’s our movie review of the year. We haven’t seen any of the movies, but we’re about to tell you.”
• Oscars Expansion and F1 Surprise
  • Surprise at “F1,” a Brad Pitt-starring blockbuster, making the Best Picture cut.
  • [03:07, David] “That is the surprise for sure. Brad Pitt is a genuine movie star.”
• Dissecting Nominee Names and Industry Quirks
  • Bit on how modern nominees all have unique, cool names.
  • [08:01, Dana] “Timothy Chalametti. You gotta have cool names…You couldn’t come in with Steve Edwards or something?”
  • Discussion of the Golden Globes' infamous craving for star power.
  • [08:26, David] “They’ll nominate any star for anything because they just want stars there.”
• Personal Industry Anecdotes
  • David recounts a “Train Dreams” star dropping a glass at his feet and musing about “emotional” movies and avoiding sadness.
• Comedy About Movie Tropes and Snubs
  • Mock complaints about movie snubs: “Velociraptorus,” Tommy Cruise, Scarlett Johansson.
  • [06:55, Dana] “You know who got snubbed? The Velociraptorus.”

2. More Oscars: Performances & Category Deep Dives (13:00–25:00)

• Actor & Actress Breakdowns
  • Chat about Ethan Hawke’s role in “Blue Moon,” Jesse Buckley in “Hamnet,” and Kate Hudson in “Song Sung Blue.”
  • Humorous Shakespeare wordplay: [16:18, Dana] “It’s a Shakespeare kind of thing. Real kind of old timey England, you know, they’d say Hamnet. Later on it became Omelette.”
• Comedian/Actor Backstories
  • Anecdotes about comics breaking into the Comedy Store and Improv.
  • Mitzi Shore’s legendary rejections: [21:51, Dana] “She looks up, ‘You should wear a sweater, darling. Come back in two years.’”

3. The Netflix Is a Joke Festival: Comedian-palooza (26:11–34:32)

• Festival Hype and Lineups
  • Massive festival spans LA, featuring headliners like Cat Williams, Letterman, Shane Gillis, Jim Gaffigan, Nikki Glaser, and the Fly on the Wall podcast live show.
  • [30:27, David] “I have never seen this many headliners come to LA and blow it up.”
• Overload of Talent
  • Jesting about how overwhelming the options are for fans.
  • [31:53, David] “If you’re a comedy fan, you should just move here and take all your–sell all your possessions.”
  • Plan to make their Fly on the Wall live podcast at the fest “unforgettable.”
  • [32:38, Dana] "I can't really say exactly what's going to happen at our show... But it will never be forgotten."

4. Industry Stories: Testing Movies and Editing for Laughs (34:32–41:47)

• Netflix Movies and "Dumbing Down" Plots

  • Discussing Matt Damon’s comments on being asked to keep reiterating plot points in Netflix films for distracted, multitasking viewers.
  • [34:51, David] “An executive said it wouldn’t be bad to keep letting people know…dumb it down is what he’s saying.”

• Movie Test Screening Rituals

  • How comment cards, first screenings, and reactions affect a movie’s fate.
  • Dangers of bad “stank” if an audience doesn’t respond favorably.
  • [39:16, David] “Your first screening…There’s more and more pressure over the years. This has to be almost finished.”

• Comedy Editing Tales

  • Stories from “Tommy Boy” and others: audience reactions versus writer expectations.
  • The mechanics and importance of holding onto a joke just long enough on screen, as with a fart gag or the deer-in-the-car scene.

5. Absurd Headlines & Improv: Role of Poop and Mr. Beast (43:38–48:59)

• Jordan Peele and the Emoji Movie
  • Peele reportedly quit acting when offered the role of “Poop” in the Emoji Movie—a springboard for riotous improv.
  • [43:51, David] “Director Jordan Peele quit acting when he was offered the role of Poop.”
  • [44:04, Dana] “Hi, this is Jordan Poop. The character’s name is Poop. Oh, that’s funny. No, it’s actual poop.”
  • The duo riff gleefully on casting choices for other bodily function characters (“diarrhea,” “peepee,” “oversized wiener”).
  • [45:43, Dana] “And David Spade as the oversized wiener…”
• Mr. Beast’s Squid Game-Style Dilemmas
  • Discussion of an actual Mr. Beast gameshow moment when a contestant chose $1 million for himself, screwing over team members he barely knew.
  • [46:21, David] “They get nothing. And you get…a million dollars. And he fucking hits it.”
  • Both hosts find the contestant’s choice fully understandable and lampoon the relentless moralizing of “playing for the team.”

6. Pop Culture Sidebar, Sports & NIL (49:32–52:29)

• NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) and College Sports
  • Reflection on how college athletes now make massive endorsement money — sometimes not even attending class.
  • Comparison to their own humble college years.
  • [51:04, Dana] “If I was Livvy Dunne, I wouldn’t graduate. That’s not why I didn’t graduate.”
• Closing Advice and Banter
  • Dana dispenses earnest health/lifestyle tips.
  • “Be kind, rewind” gags, VHS/cassette nostalgia, and preview of life on Dana’s mini-farm (horses, chickens, potential goats).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Blind Oscars riff:
  “Here’s our movie review of the year. We haven’t seen any of the movies, but we’re about to tell you.”
  — David Spade (01:34)

• On Golden Globes’ star-magnet nominations:
  “They’ll nominate any star for anything because they just want stars there.”
  — David Spade (08:26)

• On unique Oscar nominee names:
  “You gotta have cool names…You couldn’t come in with Steve Edwards or something?”
  — Dana Carvey (08:01)

• On festival overload:
  “If you’re a comedy fan, you should just move here and take all your–sell all your possessions.”
  — David Spade (31:53)

• On being offered the role of Poop:
  “Hi, this is Jordan Poop. The character’s name is Poop. Oh, that’s funny. No, it’s actual poop.”
  — Dana Carvey (44:04)

• On movie test screenings:
  “Your first screening…There’s more and more pressure over the years. This has to be almost finished.”
  — David Spade (39:16)

• On being snubbed by the Academy:
  “Tommy Cruise…he got ignored by the Academy. He got shunned by the Academy. By the way, are you in the Academy?”
  — Dana Carvey (07:22)

Show’s Tone and Style

The entire episode is characterized by:

• Irreverent, carefree riffing with constant asides.
• Underlying Hollywood-insider knowledge.
• Willingness to satirize both themselves and the industry.
• Frequent improvisational tangents—especially during the “Poop” casting and Mr. Beast segments.
• Self-deprecating humor and camaraderie.
• Occasional thoughtful moments about how comedy and showbiz have evolved.

Takeaways

This episode delivers what Carvey and Spade do best: equal parts industry insight, gonzo humor, and nostalgia. Whether explaining the logic of Oscars snubs, the glut of A-list comedy at Netflix’s festival, or riffing as “Jordan Poop,” their banter is easygoing yet sharply observed, perfect for listeners who want to feel like they’re eavesdropping on two long-time industry pals.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:34 – Oscars movie banter begins
• 03:07 – F1 surprise and nominee discussion
• 08:01 – Unique nominee names and Globe inside info
• 16:18 – Hamnet/Omelette Shakespeare riff
• 21:51 – Comedy Store/Improv audition memories
• 26:11 – Netflix Is a Joke festival preview
• 31:53 – Festival surreal overload
• 34:51 – Matt Damon and Netflix movie “dumbing down”
• 39:16 – Movie test screenings & industry pressures
• 43:51 – Jordan Peele offered “Poop” role/Emoji Movie bit
• 46:21 – Mr. Beast dilemma and commentary
• 49:32 – NIL: college sports and money
• 52:29 – Closing advice, farm/animal talk, episode wind-down

End of Summary