Netflix Disputes Mark Normand ‘Muslim Joke’ Call, Vince Vaughn rips Late Night Shows, Colbert to develop Lord of the Rings!

March 26, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Netflix comedy news host Johnny Mac covers a range of stand-up, TV, and industry updates, leading with disputes over comedian Mark Normand's claims about a Netflix special, Vince Vaughn's critique of late-night shows, and Stephen Colbert's involvement in a new Lord of the Rings film, alongside shorter reports on SNL spin-offs, festivals, and new projects.

Mark Normand's Netflix Dispute

Mark Normand detailed on his Tuesdays with Stories podcast (episode 648) a conference call with Netflix execs about his special. He said they approved his hour-long set but wanted to remove a Muslim joke from social media promos, citing past bomb and death threats from a similar comic's material. Normand described pushing back, half-jokingly demanding they admit "they're dangerous people" on the call, which they refused as offensive. He agreed to cut the clip reluctantly, noting social media amplifies backlash unlike TV.

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What you'll learn

1 (01:49) **Mark Normand Netflix Dispute** - Plays Normand's clip on execs rejecting Muslim joke promo due to threats; Netflix source denies claims, says reps only on call, no admission of Muslims as "dangerous"
2 (05:25) **Vince Vaughn Critiques Late Night Shows** - Vaughn on Theo Von's podcast calls late night agenda-driven, inauthentic, politically uniform, favoring podcasts for real talk
3 (07:40) **Stephen Colbert's Late Night and Star Trek Exit** - Host celebrates CBS pulling Colbert's show and canceling Starfleet Academy where he voiced computer
4 (08:09) **Colbert Developing Lord of the Rings Film** - Peter Jackson announces Colbert co-developing "Shadows of the Past" from unused Fellowship chapters, set post-Frodo with Sam's daughter plot
5 (10:00) **SNL UK Production Costs and Premiere** - £2.6M per episode for exclusive London studio; premiere draws 226K viewers called "respectable"
6 (11:03) **SNL's New Short-Form Series The Rundown** - Cast picks favorite sketches for fantasy episodes on Peacock/YouTube; Colin Jost highlights Tina Fey/Amy Poehler Palin-Couric cold open
7 (12:00) **Last One Laughing UK Returns** - Jimmy Carr hosts comedians trying not to laugh; season cast includes David Mitchell, Diane Morgan; 5 episodes out, finale April 2nd

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Johnny Mac delivers a daily comedy news briefing led by Mark Normand’s account on Tuesdays with Stories of Netflix wanting a "Muslim joke" removed from promo clips, which a Netflix source strongly denies, saying only his reps were on the call and the story is embellished.

The episode also covers Vince Vaughn telling Theo Von late-night shows became agenda-driven and less authentic than podcasts; Johnny’s continued criticism of Stephen Colbert amid news of a new Lord of the Rings project involving Colbert and his son; costs and ratings for SNL UK; SNL’s new short-form “The Rundown” with Colin Jost and the next live show on April 4 with Jack Black and Jack White; Last One Laughing UK’s return; Tim Dillon on TSA lines; Louis Theroux with Stuart Lee; Netflix developing a scripted comedy with Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo; Eliza Schlesinger’s Jeep campaign; a Laughing on the Lake festival headlined by Bert Kreischer; Melbourne Comedy Festival picks; Langston Kerman joining an NBC PI comedy; and a last-day vote reminder for Comedy Survivor.

00:24 Normand Netflix Clip
03:19 Netflix Source Denial
03:57 Vince Vaughn on Late Night
06:13 Star Trek Ruiner Colbert and Lord of the Rings
08:32 SNL UK Costs
10:33 Last One Laughing UK
11:20 Tim Dillon idea for TSA
11:56 Van Halen's 5150
14:14 Festivals And New NBC
17:04 Wrap Up Survivor Vote

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