The Breakfast Club: Interview with Sebastian Maniscalco

Date: November 21, 2025
Podcast: The Breakfast Club (iHeartPodcasts)
Hosts: DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious (absent), Charlamagne Tha God, Lauren LaRosa
Guest: Sebastian Maniscalco

Overview

In this lively and relatable episode, The Breakfast Club welcomes stand-up comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. The crew discusses his comedic influences, Italian-American background, handling stereotypes, insights into his family life, and details about his brand-new Hulu special, "It Ain't Right." The conversation is marked by Sebastian’s observational wit and the hosts’ trademark banter, delving into everything from funeral jokes and pet peeves to fatherhood, Hollywood, and staying grounded amidst fame.

Key Discussion Points

1. Chicago and Comedy Roots

• Chicago Comedian Culture

  • Lauren LaRosa mentions Jess Hilarious, who’s not present, calling Sebastian one of her favorites and asks why Chicago produces such great comedians—naming Bernie Mac, Lil Rel, Hannibal Buress, etc.

  • Sebastian credits Chicago’s sarcasm and tough skin:

    "Growing up in Chicago, there’s a lot of sarcasm, there’s a lot of making fun of one another, but it’s in good spirit... I think you have a tough skin growing up there. Sarcasm and making people laugh is just kind of part of the way we get through the winter." ([03:30])

  • Humor as a way to process emotion:

    "Just at the dinner table was fun. We were either laughing or crying, there was no in-between. We always used to kind of laugh to mask anything that was happening that was getting serious." ([04:12])

2. Funerals, Humor, and Family

• Comedic Approach to Difficult Times

  • Sebastian describes lightening the mood at funerals, finding humor in the setting (e.g., imagining cocktail service during a wake).
  • Quote:

    "At the last funeral, I started looking around the room and said, wouldn't it be nice if there was like a cocktail service here? ...A little food to make it a little bit more of a lounge." ([05:17])

• Family dynamics influence humor:

  • Joking to avoid getting too emotional:

    "Even to this day, if I feel somebody’s going to cry, I get uncomfortable. I’m like, okay, we gotta get out of this." ([04:12])

3. Observational Comedy and What's 'Off Limits'

• No politics in his act:

  • Sebastian avoids political material, preferring to provide an escape from divisiveness:

    "I don’t do politics. I don’t think people want to hear that, especially when they’re coming out to a show. ...I want to give people a departure from that." ([06:58])

• His main material:

  • Family, parenthood, and relatable everyday annoyances.
  • Finds exaggerated frustration relatable.

4. Pet Peeves and Modern Annoyances

• Pet Peeves:
  • People wearing Invisalign during the day:

    "All I'm looking at is your mouth and how the saliva is in between the teeth... Invisalign should be done at night where nobody could see it." ([08:35])

  • Overused buzzwords:

    "Buzzwords like 'I’m on a journey,' 'I’m speaking my truth.' Sorry, it bothers me." ([09:41])

5. Fatherhood and Family Life

• Kids and Comedy:

  • Uses his family for material, especially his children and their school stories.
  • Funny family ritual:
    • Puts cologne on his 6-year-old son to see if anyone comments, much to the confusion of the teachers ([13:16]).

    "Do you think six years old is a little too young to be wearing cologne?"
    They debate the oddity and fun behind it.

• Being an older dad:

  "I'm 52, I got a six year old. So when I go to the school events, I feel like I'm like an antique...but I feel like I'm bringing a bit of wisdom to the school here." ([11:57])

• Changes in his comedy post-fatherhood:

  "I'm extracting humor out of being a parent, especially in today's day and age." ([15:01])

6. Health, Aging, and Staying Real

• Sebastian’s body ‘breaking down’:

  • Talks about aging, injuries, and the group riffs on colonoscopies, naps, and check-ups.

    "I have detached biceps, which... I don't know how that happened." ([15:32])
    He highlights the necessity of preventative health.

• Concern about health and mortality:

  • DJ Envy and Charlamagne relate with stories about constant doctor visits after hearing of peers passing away ([24:09]).

7. Italian Stereotypes and Representation

• Mob and Italian tropes:

  • Sebastian addresses stereotypes like "being in the mob," how some are annoying but usually just part of popular culture.

    "You get, like, the whole mob thing, you know...'oh, your father's in the Mafia.'... I just think that's from people seeing Italians in movies." ([29:15])

• Italian pride and punctuality:

  • Defies the "Italians are always late" stereotype:

    "Punctuality is the prince of politeness. I'm always early for anything." ([30:36])

8. Hollywood vs. Stand-Up

• Differences and Preferences:

  • Finds film and TV (“hurry up and wait”) frustrating compared to immediate feedback from stand-up.

    "When you're doing stand-up, you're performing right there. You know whether or not you're funny." ([33:26])

  • Loved working on the series “Bookie,” found feature film acting stressful but formative, especially working with De Niro.

• Robert De Niro stories:

  • De Niro played his father in “About My Father.”

    "My dad was teaching De Niro on set how to do...hair...Never thought in a million years my dad would be teaching De Niro hair tips." ([25:59])

  • On acting lessons from De Niro:

    "He was always active—doing business while acting... I learned it’s a lot more natural than just saying the lines." ([35:54])

9. Dealing with Fame and Success

• Sebastian’s relationship with fame:

  • Doesn’t feel famous; keeps a low profile despite SNL spoofs and arena tours.

    "No, I don’t feel famous at all... I don’t behave famous. I don’t walk around with a lot of people." ([37:01])

• Money anxieties and saving:

  • Difficulty processing wealth coming from a middle-class, immigrant family.

    "I always think this is going to end tomorrow... I'm preparing for my tongue to fall out." ([31:51])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Immediate Family Influence:

  "Whatever my father is doing is a lot funnier than whatever the President is doing. So I kind of stick to my family." – Sebastian ([06:58])

• On Relatable Humor:

  "I just feel like everybody... it's relatable humor, observational humor. That's my lane." – Sebastian ([08:17])

• On Parenting and Comedy:

  "Kids are probably one of the hardest people to make laugh." – Sebastian ([11:20])

• On SNL Spoof:

  "I'm like, are they even gonna know who he’s spoofing or do they think this is a character that he's introducing?" – Sebastian ([37:04]) "I got more traction on that skit than I've gotten in any skit that I've ever been in." ([38:29])

• On Mom in His Comedy:

  "My mother is wondering why she's not in the act more, so she's a bit offended that she's not." ([39:23])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction / Chicago Comedy Roots: 02:39 – 04:42
• Funerals and Humor: 04:42 – 06:37
• Observational Humor and Pet Peeves: 06:42 – 09:56
• Family, Parenting, and School Stories: 11:00 – 15:57
• Aging, Fatherhood, and Health: 15:32 – 20:00
• Italian Stereotypes & Representation: 29:08 – 30:36
• Showbiz vs. Stand-Up: 33:26 – 34:50
• Robert De Niro and Acting Stories: 25:59 – 27:48, 34:53 – 37:01
• Fame and Money Worries: 31:51 – 33:21
• SNL Spoof and Reflections: 37:04 – 38:51
• Mother in Comedy & Boundaries: 39:14 – 41:24

Conclusion

Sebastian Maniscalco’s visit to The Breakfast Club showcases the comedian’s sharp observational wit, humble roots, and deep ties to family and culture. The interview seamlessly blends humor with real-life reflection, covering his comedic process, feelings about fame, and heartfelt stories of navigating both parenting and show business. “It Ain’t Right,” his new Hulu special, promises more of the everyday hilarity and relatable gripes that have made him a standout in modern stand-up.

“Thanks for having me, sharing your audience with me. I really do appreciate it.” – Sebastian ([41:32])