Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac
Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac

Nate Bargatze on Selling Out Madison Square Garden, Plus Josh Johnson’s Comedy Band Camp Quiz

August 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

“I believe I could make a career out of stand-up comedy when I was in my 20s, even when it sounded like a crazy thing to do,” Nate Bargatze told the New York Times for a piece on comedians who sold out Madison Square Garden. “I was just hoping somebody would come to the show. You spend so many years doing clubs, it’s hard to picture anything bigger than that until it happens.” Bargatze sold out three shows at the Garden in September 2024. The Times piece collected reflections from several comedians who had hit that milestone, and Johnny Mac, host of Daily Comedy News, walked through the quotes one by one—offering his own reactions, especially to Matt Rife’s.

The MSG quotes and the Matt Rife controversy

Dane Cook, who sold out MSG three times (two shows in 2006 and one in 2009), called it “the greatest honor in my career” and said the achievement “forever changes how your career is viewed.” Jim Gaffigan, who sold out in 2015, said he never thought it was a possibility when he started stand-up. “Having lived in New York City for three decades, MSG has exceeded its legendary status for me,” Gaffigan said. Andrew Schulz, born and raised in NYC, sold out twice in 2024 and noted his father made him wear a collared shirt whenever they stepped into the building.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (02:00) **Nate Bargatze & MSG Sell-Out Roundup** - Johnny Mac reads a Times piece collecting quotes from comedians who sold out Madison Square Garden, starting with Nate Bargatze's three shows.
  • 2 (03:27) **Matt Rife's "Wrong Answer" Quote** - Johnny Mac pauses to critique Matt Rife's take on selling out MSG as purely a ticket-selling milestone.
  • 3 (04:19) **Josh Johnson Explains Comedy Band Camp** - Josh Johnson introduces his interactive live show, describing its origin and the personality quiz that sorts audience members into troops.
  • 4 (04:49) **Taking the Comedy Band Camp Quiz** - Johnny Mac takes the 15-question quiz live on air, answering each prompt and explaining his choices.
  • 5 (06:21) **More Quiz Questions & Reasoning** - Johnny Mac continues through the quiz, offering rationale for his picks on animal gossip partners, constellations, and camp personality.
  • 6 (07:39) **Final Quiz Questions & Troop Reveal** - Johnny Mac finishes the quiz, learns he's in the Fuchsia Flames troop, and reads the troop's personality description.
  • 7 (09:20) **Troop Demographics & Josh's Role** - Johnny Mac reads the troop distribution percentages and notes that Josh Johnson doesn't assign himself a troop.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Nate Bargatze Josh Johnson

Show Notes

Johnny Mac recaps an LA Times piece featuring comedians reflecting on selling out Madison Square Garden, including Nate Bargatze (three shows Sept. 26–27, 2025), Dane Cook (three shows in 2006 and 2009), Jim Gaffigan (Dec. 12, 2015), Matt Rife (two shows July 18–19, noted as the youngest to do so), and Andrew Schulz (two shows May 3–4, 2024). He then discusses Josh Johnson’s “Comedy Band Camp,” describing its troupe personality quiz and takes it himself, landing in the Fuchsia Flames, and shares Johnson’s comments on differences between stand-up and The Daily Show’s collaborative process. The episode also covers Austin’s “Anybody But Tony” show reacting to Kill Tony and the Rogan sphere’s influence, Caitlin Palouffe citing Ofira Eisenberg’s memoir as inspiration for stand-up, and Leanne Morgan shopping at an Alabama farmer’s market.
 
00:12 Comics Selling Out MSG
01:29 Matt Rife and Schulz Takes
02:28 Josh Johnson Comedy Band Camp
02:52 Taking the Camp Quiz
06:58 Fuchsia Flames Results
07:58 Josh on Daily Show vs Standup
08:42 Anybody But Tony in Austin
10:00 Alt Comedy vs Rogan Sphere
10:43 Memoir That Inspired Standup
11:32 Leanne Morgan Farmers Market
 


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Daily Comedy News is hosted by Johnny Mac and releases every weekday. Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite app. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network. For transcripts and show notes visit www.dailycomedynews.com

Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac is a daily podcast covering comedians, stand-up comedy, late night television, and the comedy industry. New episodes every morning. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.  

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