Summary: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

Episode: Nick Kroll Returns for the Longest Riff in Fly History

Date: August 28, 2025
Guest: Nick Kroll

Overview

This episode features comedian, writer, and actor Nick Kroll returning for one of the podcast’s loosest, funniest, and most free-wheeling episodes to date. The “Fly on the Wall” hosts, Dana Carvey and David Spade, riff endlessly with their old friend, bouncing from showbiz war stories to personal bits, SNL inside jokes, impressions, and deep dives into the art and evolution of comedy. The trio explores everything from the pressures of doing confessional comedy versus character-driven bits, to riffing on pop culture news like the (supposed) engagement of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. The episode is a joyride of impressions, absurd riffs, and honest talk about the weird world of show business.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Nature of Comedy: Bits, Jealousy, and Evolution

[08:49–12:09]

• Dana describes how some bits inexplicably get huge laughs (“George Bush Sr. on a high dive: ‘Gotta do it... Not gonna do it.’”), expressing envy of jokes that are funnier than he feels:
  • “You have bits in your act that get way, way bigger laugh than they should. It almost makes me mad.” – Dana Carvey [09:12]
• Nick reflects on moving away from confessional, personal comedy after he “was not rewarded enough for sharing”:
  • “I've retreated back away from the personal stuff... Let’s go back to broad characters separated from self.” – Nick Kroll [11:30]
• The trio discusses the dynamic of "feeding the beast"—sometimes favoring goofy, character bits over thoughtful stand-up or observational jokes because of audience response.

Riffing: 9/11 Jokes, Crossing the Line, and Audience Reactions

[13:07–15:21]

• David tries (and bombs) with a dark 9/11 joke about his mom’s bruise, highlighting how the audience’s discomfort with taboo topics can override the personal story.
• Nick shares his old 9/11 joke (“Show up late to work.”) [14:00], prompting debate about how far comedians are willing to go with edgy material and how conspiracy theories enter comic fodder.
• Quote:
  • “Are you jealous of some of your jokes?” – Nick Kroll [09:20]
  • “Some jokes are funnier than me, is that what you’re saying?” – David Spade [09:32]

Impressions, Riffs, and the Infinite Bit

[27:00–34:00]

• The episode becomes notorious for its marathon Arnold Schwarzenegger impressions and trading of character voices (e.g., Trump, Jimmy Stewart), pushing the bit as far as possible:
  • “28 minutes of trading Arnold impressions. That was a good one.” – Dana Carvey [58:28]
• Dana, David, and Nick bounce in and out of characters, demonstrating live what it’s like for pro comics to heighten and tag each other’s riffs without a set script.

Pop Culture & Showbiz Tangents

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Engagement (17:00–18:50, 22:51–27:00):

• Real-time riffing as “breaking news” of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s (fictional?) engagement hits. The group laughs about the implications for their hypothetical baby, brand deals, and what their lives would be if they weren’t famous.
  • “I think it’s a great day for white America. I’ll say that first catches a break.” – Nick Kroll [17:57]
• They spin up absurd stories about Oprah, Prince Harry, and even Megan Markle's jam business.

Industry Inside: Kids’ Shows, Voice Acting, and The Biz

• Discussion about Nick’s shows “Big Mouth” (Netflix) and “Adults” (FX/Hulu):
  • “Let’s do a cartoon about kids going through puberty. Oh, okay. We’ll make it G. No, let’s go right at it.” – Dana Carvey [39:25]
  • Nick discusses how “Big Mouth” arrived at Netflix’s formative streaming moment, giving the crew lots of leeway.
• They also joke about the oversaturation of TV and how audiences find content now (“There’s so much content… so that’s the task. How do we get people to watch it?” – Dana Carvey [32:02])
• Anecdotes about voice acting with Reese Witherspoon in "Sing" [34:33–35:44], and the difference recording together pre-COVID made for “Big Mouth.”

SNL, Sitcom Nostalgia, and Movie References

• Recollections of SNL legacy, the movie “Coneheads,” and the interweaving of SNL alums in different films (Ackroyd, Sandler, Farley, Jane Curtin, etc.).
• Joking about a proposed “Andy Griffith Show” remake with David as Barney Fife and Dan Aykroyd as Andy [49:35–50:13].
• Long riffs on sitcom characters like Mr. Roper, Don Knotts, and how comedic tropes and sexual innuendo landed differently in older TV.

Sexual Awakening and Media:

• A humorous tangent about what (and who) was considered the ultimate sex symbol when each host or guest was a teenager, ranging from Raquel Welch to Farrah Fawcett to Cindy Crawford.
• Nick: “Cindy Crawford in a Pepsi commercial and Dana Carvey doing Ross Perot—that was my sexual awakening.” [54:07]
• Dana delivers a Ross Perot-in-bed impression: “Can I finish? Can I finish one time?” [54:12]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On retiring confessional comedy:

  • “I was not rewarded enough for sharing... so I just was like, let’s go back to broad characters separated from self.” – Nick Kroll [11:30]

• On the inexplicable laughs certain bits get:

  • “You have bits in your act that get way, way bigger laugh than they should. It almost makes me mad.” – Dana Carvey [09:12]

• On pop culture news:

  • “I think it’s a great day for white America. I’ll say that first catches a break.” – Nick Kroll [17:57]

• On the perils of joke envy:

  • “Some jokes are funnier than me, is that what you’re saying?” – David Spade [09:32]

• On the unstoppable riff:

  • “Comedy ping pong... That might be kind of close to a record for one riff on one impression between three people on our podcast.” – Dana Carvey [61:00]

• On showbiz overload:

  • “Too much stuff. Can we... I see something in the studio chat that feels like something here.” – Nick Kroll [16:34]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [08:49] – Dana’s inexplicably big-laugh ‘Bush Sr.’ bit / Joke envy
• [11:30] – Nick Kroll on moving away from personal confessional comedy
• [13:07] – David’s “bombed” 9/11 joke and audience discomfort
• [14:00] – Nick’s 'show up late to work’ 9/11 joke
• [17:00–18:50] – Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce engagement riff
• [22:51–27:00] – The baby, the brand deals, and jam business riff expands
• [27:00–34:00] – Seemingly endless riffing as the group out-impression each other
• [39:25] – Dana on the genesis of “Big Mouth” and pitching to Netflix
• [49:35] – "Coneheads" movie and the SNL reunion story
• [54:07] – Nick explains his “sexual awakening” was Cindy Crawford and Dana’s Ross Perot
• [54:12] – Dana as 'Ross Perot having sex'
• [58:28] – Dana labels the episode’s Arnold riff “28 minutes” and a show record
• [61:00] – Post-show reflection: “comedy ping pong,” green room-style riffing

Episode Tone & Style

The episode is relentlessly energetic, silly, and fast-paced. The hosts and guest thrive on riffing, tagging each other’s bits, and heightening impressions with little regard for narrative structure. Their rapport is playful, often meta, and they regularly break the fourth wall by commenting on their own comedic process. There’s a strong sense of community and comic legacy—everything is fodder for a bit, nothing is too sacred, and show business is both celebrated and gently mocked.

Concluding Thoughts

If you love inside-comedy talk, unfiltered riffs, and impressions, this is an essential “Fly on the Wall” episode. It demonstrates what happens when three “funny mother-shut your mouths” (as Dana calls them) meet with no agenda but to keep the laughs going for as long as possible. You’ll hear confessions about joke jealousy, riffs on trending news, deep dives into the business of TV comedy, and endless absurdist spirals into sketch and character.
Nick Kroll, as always, is riotously agile, and this unforgettable episode proves why riffing with comic friends is the true engine of comedy.