RE-RELEASE - Iliza Shlesinger

Name: RE-RELEASE - Iliza Shlesinger
Uploaded: 2026-08-26T07:00:54-07:00
Duration: 50 min 25 s
Channel: Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade
Description: Comedians Dana Carvey and Eliza Slesinger discuss the evolution of stand-up comedy, from early career struggles to modern touring habits, while sharing…

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

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About this episode Comedians Dana Carvey and Eliza Slesinger discuss the evolution of stand-up comedy, from early career struggle… AI summary

Comedians Dana Carvey and Eliza Slesinger discuss the evolution of stand-up comedy, from early career struggles to modern touring habits, while sharing personal anecdotes about industry dynamics, family life, and fan interactions. The conversation highlights the importance of consistent material refinement, the surreal nature of meeting idols, and the specific challenges female comedians face regarding audience perception and harassment.

Key takeaways 5

Comedians often use crowd-sourcing via Instagram stories or on-stage requests to remember specific joke phrasings that worked well in the moment, as listening to recordings can be psychologically difficult due to self-criticism.
Female comedians face a unique dynamic where they may attract unwanted attention or 'creep element' simply by being visible in public, regardless of attractiveness, whereas male comedians often embrace a 'degenerate scumbag' persona that is part of their brand.
The timeline for a comedy special is deceptive; by the time it releases, the comedian has already been touring for 4+ months, meaning the material is constantly evolving and jokes recorded may already be outdated.
Meeting idols who become colleagues creates a complex emotional shift where the mystique fades, replaced by the reality of them being normal people who also worry about their craft.
Introducing other comedians without a known reference (like TV credits) now relies on vague praise like 'one of my good friends' or 'known from the internet,' reflecting the shift from traditional club/college circuits to digital fame.

Notable quotes 5 AI-generated: wording and quote attribution may be wrong. Use the play link to verify.

“Comedy is like music. What kind of comedy are you doing? It's too general to say 'I like music.'”

▶ 6:37 Eliza explains why asking 'can you make a girl laugh?' is as vague as asking someone what kind of music they like, highlighting the need for specific comedic styles.
“I crowd-source my own memories and phrasing. If you follow me, you're a pretty decent fan. I will put on my own Instagram stories... 'what was that thing I said about pigeons?'”

▶ 12:45 Eliza describes her method for retaining successful joke setups by asking her audience directly rather than relying on memory or recordings.
“Most male comics would proclaim themselves degenerate scumbags and I think they wear it proudly. You become a comic 'cause you're like look we can all agree I'm physically repulsive right but if you can make a woman laugh... disregard that rumor.”

Eliza analyzes the self-deprecating persona many male comedians adopt as a shield or brand identity.
“It's so sickening that I have to make myself go... I just have to hear it or write it down. So it's lazy, but it's something sickening that repels me... it's an existential kind of torture.”

▶ 13:04 Dana Carvey describes the difficulty comedians face when reviewing their own recorded sets to refine material.
“The art of standup is 99% making up a credit for the next comic who you have no real reference for.”

▶ 46:26 Eliza humorously notes the challenge MCs face when introducing unknown comedians in an era where TV credits are less common.