Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

RE-RELEASE – Kyle Dunnigan (March 11, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode is a re-release featuring comedian, impressionist, and writer Kyle Dunnigan. Dana and David reminisce about classic showbiz moments with Kyle, deep dive into his unique path in comedy, and share war stories from corporate gigs, failed auditions, brutal cruise ship sets, and more. As always, the episode is packed with candid conversation, mimicked voices, and hilarious riffing on the absurdity of making a living in comedy.

Main Topics and Key Insights

1. Kyle Dunnigan’s Background and Career Journey

• Kyle’s comedic roots: Childhood memories of accidental humor, developing impressions in high school, and realizing his comedic perspective thanks to the label of “class clown.”
• Early stand-up experiences: Getting started performing as a teen, facing tough crowds, and learning the highs and lows of live comedy ([29:31]).
• Writing for TV: Transitioning to writing for the Sarah Silverman Show and Inside Amy Schumer, winning an Emmy for “Girl, You Don’t Need Makeup” ([25:10]).
• The struggle of making sketches for social media: Doing everything himself—writing, acting, editing, and producing for his viral YouTube and Instagram sketches ([21:08]).

2. Impression Masterclass

• The art and process of impressions: How Kyle finds his unique “hooks” for characters like Biden, Stallone, Bill Maher, and Caitlyn Jenner.
• Notable character bits throughout the episode include:
  • Bill Maher: “Okay, people. Do you think you’re one of those people?” ([53:46])
  • Biden dueling impressions: Whisper-yell and mumbling, compared between Dana, David, and Kyle ([19:16]).
  • Alec Baldwin: “We're thinking of finishing Rust, but I haven't pulled the trigger yet.” ([70:36])
  • Trump: “It’s really not, but it’s silly. It’s exaggerated... Trans Trump, trying to get elected in 2024.” ([71:38])
  • Ray Liotta: “Chantix. Why would you want to quit smoking? Why would you do that?” ([72:34])
  • Stallone: The “punchy Stallone” with “confidence, stupidity, and sweetness.” ([42:43])

3. Showbiz Horror Stories & Behind the Scenes

• Tony Robbins Corporate Gig Disaster ([06:36]–[17:33]):
  • Kyle landed a huge payday to perform at Tony Robbins’ birthday, only to be put in the awkward position of being introduced as “the President of the United States,” performing as Biden to a confused and disappointed audience.
  • The crowd’s shock, followed by silence and awkwardness, with Kyle desperately trying to salvage the set:

    “Imagine. So then I pop up on the screen and you hear this Audible … and I’m like, ‘Hey, it’s Tony Baloney’s birthday. Pretty good guy. Come on, man.’” ([13:23])

  • Tony’s brutal post-show line:

    “This is a night I’d like to forget.”
    ([17:28])

• Bombing on Cruise Ships ([34:05]):
  • Performing three shows a night to elderly, indifferent crowds (mostly in wheelchairs), then obligated to face the entire audience post-bomb.
  • A woman informs Kyle he looks just like her recently deceased son, and the encounter escalates into awkward forced bonding.
• SNL Audition Turbulence ([49:20]–[54:00]):
  • Sent in a tape of impressions with little expectation, only to be flown out for a massive, nerve-wracking audition—30 comics, first up.
  • The confusion of the process (“Say hi to Lorne!”), nerves sabotaging impressions, and the “ice-cold” vibe from the panel.
  • Dana and David empathize, describing the harrowing, sometimes unsupportive SNL audition process for many comics.

4. Comedy Writing and Digital Creation

• The grind of independent online sketch creation:
  • “I’m a one-man band… I do it all myself—find wigs, film, edit, do graphics. If I miss something in the footage, it's another hour… It’s just so much work.” ([21:12])
• Juggernaut pace vs. burnout: If he pauses videos for a few weeks, viewership drops.
• Kyle as a “numbers game” of comedy—echoes SNL’s huge writing staff vs. solo creators ([22:02]).

5. Reflections on Fame, Aging, and the Comedy Life

• Battling “old man” moments: Dana and David’s barbs about “compression socks,” arthritis talk, and dating in their later years ([44:12]).
• The generational comedy gap: How references and age play into audience connection and social interactions.
• Candid honesty about bombing, envy within comedy, and the myth of “overnight” success.

6. Memorable Moments and Quotes

Impressions on Parade

• Kyle, as Alec Baldwin:
  “We’re thinking of finishing Rust, but I haven’t pulled the trigger yet.” ([70:36])
• Kyle, as Trump:
  “It’s the best Trump, fantastical Trump… it’s silly, exaggerated.” ([71:38])
• Dana (on mimics):
  “No one can do my voice. I have a blank voice. Hi, I'm Dana.” ([61:46])
• Kyle, as Bill Maher:
  “Okay, people. Do you think you're one of those people? … Do you really think? … You're wrong, church lady. Do you think there's a magic man in the sky? There's not.” ([53:46]–[54:11])

On the Corporate Gig Nightmare

• Kyle:
  “In my head, I’m going, ‘This is the funniest thing,’ and I’ve got another 25 minutes… You're like, this is just going to get worse.” ([13:29]–[13:47])
• Tony Robbins (via Kyle):
  “Did you guys have a day you’ll never forget?... This is a night I’d like to forget.” ([17:25]–[17:33])

On the SNL Audition

• Kyle:
  “They’re micing me up… The camera’s in front of me, and Lorne and everybody are to the left, and I'm just staring at the camera... The guy’s not counting me in. Then Lorne says… ‘Are you okay?’” ([51:58]–[52:28])
• Dana (on audition nerves):
  “Part of standup and show business is hiding nerves.” ([58:41])

On Creative Independence

• Kyle:
  “With making money on the internet, you’ve got to keep cranking stuff out, you know, sketch is really hard to crank out…So if I stop for a bit, my views tank 40% on the next video. I’m trying to figure out the business side.” ([21:02], [22:27])

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:38 | Introduction to Kyle and why he’s a favorite guest | | 06:36–17:33 | Kyle’s Tony Robbins corporate gig disaster story | | 19:16 | Comparing Biden impressions among hosts and Kyle | | 21:08 | The grind and process of creating online sketches | | 25:10 | Kyle’s Emmy-winning work on "Inside Amy Schumer" | | 34:05 | Bombing on cruise ships and the dead son story | | 42:43 | Finding the “sweetness” in his Stallone impression | | 49:20–54:00 | The SNL audition—mechanics, nerves, and aftermath | | 53:46 | Bill Maher impression example | | 61:46 | The art (and impossibility) of impressions of Dana and David | | 70:36 | Alec Baldwin, Trump, and Liotta impressions roundup |

For Listeners New to Kyle Dunnigan

• Follow him on YouTube and Instagram: Search for Kyle Dunnigan, where he showcases his face swap sketches, political parodies, and character-driven comedy.
• Not just impressions: The episode highlights the deeply creative, DIY side of modern comedy and the tenacity it takes to make it in both traditional and digital spaces.

Episode Tone and Atmosphere

Lighthearted, self-deprecating, and freewheeling. Dana and David’s long rapport with Kyle allows for honest discussion about the misfortunes and small victories of showbiz life, all threaded together with mutual respect and razor-sharp wit. Kyle’s humility about his career “failures” only makes his current success and comedic craft shine brighter.

Closing Impressions

The episode closes with a rapid-fire cavalcade of impressions, more jokes, and a reminder to check out all of Kyle’s work online for anyone who loves edgy, innovative comedy. The trio underscores what it’s like to still “chase the laugh” after decades in the business and never lose the hunger (or humility) that keeps real comics grounded.

Quotable Closer – Kyle, as Stallone, summarizing the podcast:

“I like the beginning whenever we said Kyle was funny. Then the beginning got a little weird when Kyle was talking. Then the end was nice when people said Kyle was funny.” ([72:56])

You can find full episodes of Fly on the Wall on YouTube (@flyonthewallpod) or wherever you get podcasts.