Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 5 days ago

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Today’s mini episode is the best of Ali Barthwell (Last Week Tonight with John Oliver) from October 2024’s Writing on Eggshells: Political Comedy Cracked Up panel, featuring Peter Grosz (The Colbert Report, Late Night with Seth Meyers) and John Lutz (Late Night with Seth Meyers, Saturday Night Live), moderated by Second City's Kelly Leonard. Chicago’s own Barthwell shares war stories from the front lines of touring the country with Second City and the experience of being a Black voice in comedy writers’ rooms.

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SHOW NOTES

Read the podcast transcript.

CW: Profanity

PHOTO: Ali Barthwell, Peter Grosz, Kelly Leonard, John Lutz.



EXPLORE:

Ali Barthwell

Peter Grosz

John Lutz

Kelly Leonard



WATCH:

John Oliver, "Elmo's mom"



Live event programmed by Michael Green

Live event produced by Jesse Swanson

Live event stage managed by Sophia Fishkin

Live event produced and mixed by Jeff Kolar

Production assistance by Hope Mignini, Logan Venezia, and Josh Harlow

Podcast edited and mixed by Alisa Rosenthal

Podcast story editing by Alexandra Quinn



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