Overview of Mark Normand & Sam Morril - We Might Be Drunk Podcast
In this episode, Mark Normand and Sam Morril recap a chaotic and star-studded run in Los Angeles centered around Netflix comedy events, a roast, and multiple podcast tapings. The conversation ranges from celebrity schmoozing, private jet invitations, and travel mishaps to roast comedy philosophy, fart jokes, classic sitcoms, and favorite action movies. It’s a very inside-baseball comics hang: loose, irreverent, and full of behind-the-scenes stories from the comedy world.
LA Comedy Fest Recap
The bulk of the episode is about their wild Los Angeles trip, which included:
- Multiple podcasts and shows packed into a tight schedule
- A Netflix brunch with a huge comedy and entertainment guest list
- Photos, group shots, and the awkward social dynamics of celebrity events
- Their impressions of the Netflix gathering:
- Ted Sarandos hosted a lavish brunch with “great waffles” but mixed food reviews
- The room was full of comedy legends and big names like Letterman, Eddie Murphy, Adam Sandler, Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and more
- They joked about the social ladder-climbing and “who’s who” behavior at these events
They also discussed:
- A strange multi-tiered group photo setup
- The weirdness of being shuffled around for celebrity photos
- How intense and performative big comedy events can feel
The Roast: What Worked, What Didn’t
A major theme is the recent roast they attended and/or watched closely. They break down why it landed differently than older roasts.
Their roast takeaways
- The tone was darker, more personal, and less playful than old-school Comedy Central roasts
- They felt the format has become more saturated and less special now that edgy comedy is everywhere online
- They argued roasts work best when the participants actually know each other
- A mix of hired writers and non-friends made the tone feel more impersonal
Notable roast observations
- Shane Gillis, Tony Hinchcliffe, Jeff Ross, Big Jay Oakerson, and others got shoutouts
- They thought some of the best jokes were among the sharpest they’ve ever heard
- They noted how some jokes killed in the room but also exploded online
- They debated crowd reaction vs. TV edit and how roast performance changes depending on the venue
Shaq, Jerry, and Celebrity Interactions
They tell a few standout stories involving major celebrities:
Shaquille O’Neal
- Shaq roasted the Knicks and had a fun, troll-like energy
- Mark joked that Shaq looked like Bert Kreischer’s liver
- They noted that Shaq is both likable and a natural on these kinds of stages
Jerry Seinfeld
- One of the funniest moments was Jerry telling Janelle James/Monique-style introduction “not funny” in a deadpan way
- They laugh about Jerry’s direct, almost brotherly style of roasting people
- They also discuss the “private jet” offer story:
- Mark and Sam were invited to fly back with Jerry
- Sam thought it might not be a real offer at first
- It turned out to be legitimate, but neither ended up taking it
Bryant/Cranston-style awkwardness
- Mark recalls asking Bryan Cranston an extremely weird Seinfeld-related question while photographing him
- Cranston’s response was a deadpan, serious reaction that Mark clearly still finds hilarious and slightly horrifying
Travel Chaos, Sleep Deprivation, and Drug Comedy
The episode has a long, funny stretch about surviving the LA/Canada/New York travel grind.
Key story beats
- Sam had to fly to Canada for a gig after forgetting his passport
- His agent advised a brutal workaround involving a red-eye and backtracking for the passport
- Mark tells a story about getting Klonopin through a comedy-store “drug guy”
- A fan offered to drive him to the kid’s house to retrieve it
- The whole thing became a comic mini-adventure involving a sketchy car ride, a house with a mom and cat, and a quick drug pickup
They frame this as part of the absurd reality of late-night comedian logistics:
- no sleep
- endless drinks
- weird favors
- still having to make the gig on time
Fart Comedy and David Cross
This turns into one of the more bizarre recurring bits of the episode.
The core joke
- Mark farted on a podcast guest
- David Cross reportedly hated it and reacted strongly
- They riff on David Cross being a “fart hater,” even though old footage suggests he used to like fart humor
Why it mattered
- Sam and Mark disagree on whether the fart was a big deal
- They mock how seriously some guests and PR people reacted
- The bit becomes a larger discussion about:
- how crude comedy lands differently across personalities
- how some comedians are much more sensitive than others
- how absurd it is to be angry about a fart on a comedy podcast
Classic Comedy and TV Talk
The episode veers into comedy nerdery, with a lot of affection for iconic shows and comics.
Seinfeld vs. Curb Your Enthusiasm
They compare the two:
- Seinfeld = more structured, more consistent, broader in appeal
- Curb = higher highs, more explosive, more hit-or-miss because of improv
Their general verdict:
- If forced to choose, they lean Seinfeld as the better all-around show
- But Curb’s best moments are untouchable
Other classic comedy references
- They talk about Norm Macdonald, Colin Quinn, and old-school roast/self-roast comedy
- They praise the original era of comedians writing their own material
- They also mention how many modern comics were already good at roasting in open mics and battle formats
Movie, Horror, and Cultural Tangents
They go on several side tangents that still fit the show’s tone:
Horror and “The Witch”
- They talk about watching The Witch
- Sam and Mark aren’t huge horror guys
- They joke about witch paranoia, women liking horror movies, and how horror often leads to overreaction in real life
Action movies and aging action stars
They discuss:
- Keanu Reeves’ action-movie run
- Denzel Washington in The Equalizer
- Liam Neeson, Stallone, and the weird appeal of older guys kicking ass on screen
The broader point:
- audiences like fantasy versions of toughness and protection
- action heroes often become symbols of mortality-defying competence
Martin Short documentary
Sam recommends a Martin Short doc, describing it as:
- heartwarming
- packed with legendary comedy history
- full of old footage and behind-the-scenes stories from Canadian comedy circles
Notable Takeaways
- The LA comedy scene is still built on schmoozing, hierarchy, and weird photo optics.
- Roasts are still funny, but the genre feels less special now that the whole internet is roast culture.
- Comedy works best when it’s personal among friends or real acquaintances.
- Mark and Sam are at their funniest when they’re telling gross, stupid, behind-the-scenes stories from the road.
- They both love classic sitcom structure and still think Seinfeld and Curb are the benchmark shows for comedy writing.
- They’re also deeply invested in the absurdity of comedians’ travel lives, social circles, and drug-fueled logistics.
Tour Dates and Promos Mentioned
They close by plugging a long list of upcoming dates and projects, including:
- comedy club appearances in the U.S. and Canada
- European dates in cities like Lisbon, Athens, Budapest, Vienna, Warsaw, Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen
- podcast and tour platforms, including their own sites and mailing lists
- Bodega Cat distribution updates and new market expansions
If you want, I can also turn this into a shorter “top 10 moments” version or a tighter SEO-style podcast recap.