BTS Fans Mad at Jimmy Fallon Warmup? The ‘Anyone Here From the North?’ Kerfuffle

March 29, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

This episode of Daily Comedy News rounds up recent comedy industry happenings, led by backlash against a Tonight Show warmup comic's remark misinterpreted by BTS fans, alongside late-night scheduling quirks, celebrity spats, podcast deal dilemmas for comedians, and briefer notes on events and festivals.

Seth Herzog's "North" Remark Sparks BTS Fan Outrage

During a warmup for Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show at the Guggenheim Museum—where BTS performed for a select audience before their interview on the regular Rockefeller Center taping—warmup comedian Seth Herzog asked the crowd, "Anyone here from the north?" Intended as a casual check on audience origins, some viewers, aware BTS hails from South Korea, took it as an offensive nod to North Korea. Social media posts called it "inappropriate," drawing ire from the group's global fanbase. Herzog apologized directly to BTS, per TMZ, and NBC discussed the incident with him internally. He skipped the second taping's warmup, replaced by Ryan Rice, though it's unclear if related. As of Friday, Herzog hadn't commented publicly. Host Johnny Mac noted the risks of live riffing: "If you say something into a microphone enough times, you will eventually say something stupid."

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What you'll learn

1 (00:10) **BTS Warmup Kerfuffle** - Seth Herzog's audience warmup question "Anyone here from the north?" offends BTS fans mistaking it for North Korea reference
2 (02:25) **Late Night Host Breaks** - Seth Myers off until April 20th, Jimmy Fallon two weeks from April 7th, sparking rerun concerns
3 (03:06) **Cheryl Hines Hits Back at Chelsea Handler** - Hines calls out Handler's "toxic house" complaints as timed attention grab after RFK Jr. marriage
4 (04:23) **Netflix Podcast Push Challenges** - Deadline reports Netflix struggles to scale comedy podcasts due to high talent prices and YouTube loyalty
5 (06:44) **Leanne Morgan Campus Return** - UT grad throws first pitch at Lady Vols softball vs. Ole Miss
6 (07:08) **Kelly Ripa Freezes Out Howie Mandel** - Insider says Mandel disrespected Ripa's show vibe by pushing back on age comments
7 (08:15) **Host Reflects on Celeb Encounters** - Recalls meeting Howie Mandel, Bruno Mars, Henry Winkler without photos to maintain professionalism

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Show Notes

Johnny Mac reports on a controversy involving Tonight Show warmup comic Seth Herzog, who drew backlash during a Guggenheim Museum BTS taping after asking “anyone here from the north,” which some interpreted as a North Korea reference; TMZ says he apologized and was replaced by Ryan Rice for the subsequent Rockefeller Center taping, though it’s unclear if related. The episode notes Seth Meyers is taking three weeks off until April 20 and Jimmy Fallon two weeks off starting April 7. Cheryl Hines responds to Chelsea Handler’s claims about buying a “toxic” $6M house from Hines and RFK Jr., saying she knew of no issues and suggesting Handler wants attention. Mack discusses a Deadline report on Netflix targeting podcasts, high talent costs, meeting audiences where they are, and whether carrying a weekly podcast could reduce incentives to buy comedy specials. Other items include Leanne Morgan throwing a ceremonial first pitch at Tennessee, a rumor Kelly Ripa is freezing out Howie Mandel, and Melbourne International Comedy Festival show recommendations.

00:19 BTS Warmup Controversy
02:25 Late Night Shows Breaks
03:06 Cheryl Hines vs Chelsea Handler
04:23 Netflix Podcast Strategy
06:42 Leanne Morgan First Pitch
07:08 Kelly Ripa Freezes Howie Mandel
08:23 Host Celebrity Encounters
09:02 Melbourne Comedy Picks

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