Sean L. McCarthy
@seanlmccarthy.bsky.social
Comedy journalist for The Daily Beast and Decider. Freelanced for The New York Times back when it meant something (complimentary). FKA @thecomicscomic on social media for olds.
https://fromthecomicscomic.wordpress.com/
https://buttondown.email/piffany
https://fromthecomicscomic.wordpress.com/
https://buttondown.email/piffany
Today I realized that Marco Rubio's end goal in taking a Trump cabinet job ---> becoming the prodigal son who brings democracy to Cuba by installing himself as its future president
Customs guy at Miami, upon hearing I’ve returned from Cuba: We should take that over next, don’t you think?
Me: —-
Customs guy: We’ve already taken over Venezuela. Plus Cuba would be a great resort destination.
Me: Let’s give it a day, at least
Me: —-
Customs guy: We’ve already taken over Venezuela. Plus Cuba would be a great resort destination.
Me: Let’s give it a day, at least
January 4, 2026 at 4:55 AM
Today I realized that Marco Rubio's end goal in taking a Trump cabinet job ---> becoming the prodigal son who brings democracy to Cuba by installing himself as its future president
Customs guy at Miami, upon hearing I’ve returned from Cuba: We should take that over next, don’t you think?
Me: —-
Customs guy: We’ve already taken over Venezuela. Plus Cuba would be a great resort destination.
Me: Let’s give it a day, at least
Me: —-
Customs guy: We’ve already taken over Venezuela. Plus Cuba would be a great resort destination.
Me: Let’s give it a day, at least
January 3, 2026 at 9:56 PM
Customs guy at Miami, upon hearing I’ve returned from Cuba: We should take that over next, don’t you think?
Me: —-
Customs guy: We’ve already taken over Venezuela. Plus Cuba would be a great resort destination.
Me: Let’s give it a day, at least
Me: —-
Customs guy: We’ve already taken over Venezuela. Plus Cuba would be a great resort destination.
Me: Let’s give it a day, at least
My choices for the best comedy specials of 2025. My top pick might surprise you only if you’re limiting yourself! decider.com/2025/12/30/b...
The 13 best stand-up comedy specials of 2025
There’s more stand-up specials than ever, but are there more GOOD stand-up specials than ever, too?
decider.com
December 31, 2025 at 1:41 AM
My choices for the best comedy specials of 2025. My top pick might surprise you only if you’re limiting yourself! decider.com/2025/12/30/b...
Here's my first take on Chappelle's surprise drop on Netflix, fashioning himself as his town's Potter living his wonderful life is quite a choice this Christmas! decider.com/2025/12/22/d...
December 22, 2025 at 9:33 PM
Here's my first take on Chappelle's surprise drop on Netflix, fashioning himself as his town's Potter living his wonderful life is quite a choice this Christmas! decider.com/2025/12/22/d...
Drake Maye-nia!
Can’t believe I have to stay up late for this dog shit game.
December 22, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Drake Maye-nia!
Reposted by Sean L. McCarthy
From 2022: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 AM
From 2022: www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Please update your pop culture records to reflect that the 1959 French New Wave film, Breathless, includes a high-five documented on film
December 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Please update your pop culture records to reflect that the 1959 French New Wave film, Breathless, includes a high-five documented on film
MLB teams are just waiting for the Japanese guys before signing all the other big free agents next week, right?
December 20, 2025 at 10:12 PM
MLB teams are just waiting for the Japanese guys before signing all the other big free agents next week, right?
The Epstein Files killed themselves
December 20, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The Epstein Files killed themselves
Just checked something on my Apple Music, and it turns out they actually do keep updating my Replay '25 while it's still 2025, so I'll be sure to check again in a couple of weeks to see what my June-December listening really was!
I listened to mostly new music this year. Apparently I’m a big fan of New Zealand indie rock!? Apple might not be the best alternative, but at least it’s not Spotify.
December 19, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Just checked something on my Apple Music, and it turns out they actually do keep updating my Replay '25 while it's still 2025, so I'll be sure to check again in a couple of weeks to see what my June-December listening really was!
Reposted by Sean L. McCarthy
"The newspaper industry served as a feeder for our entire news media ecosystem. So when we lose those newspapers, we've lost that journalism. In the early 2000s, we had 40 journalists per 100,000 people. We're now down to 8 journalists per 100,000 people," says @victorpickard.bsky.social.
December 16, 2025 at 7:12 PM
"The newspaper industry served as a feeder for our entire news media ecosystem. So when we lose those newspapers, we've lost that journalism. In the early 2000s, we had 40 journalists per 100,000 people. We're now down to 8 journalists per 100,000 people," says @victorpickard.bsky.social.
Reposted by Sean L. McCarthy
The run that Rob Reiner went on between 1984 and 1992 is one of the most amazing hot streaks any director has ever had. Legendary stuff
December 15, 2025 at 3:31 AM
The run that Rob Reiner went on between 1984 and 1992 is one of the most amazing hot streaks any director has ever had. Legendary stuff
I know good things happened for good people somewhere sometime in 2025, but all of this bad news sure makes it tough to remember that
December 15, 2025 at 3:51 AM
I know good things happened for good people somewhere sometime in 2025, but all of this bad news sure makes it tough to remember that
Could you imagine if Paramount+ actually let you pick which CBS NFL feed you wanted to watch?
Sunday morning snow and the fresh disappointment knowing you’ll be forced once again to choose between watching the Jets or the Giants. Only in New York!
December 14, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Could you imagine if Paramount+ actually let you pick which CBS NFL feed you wanted to watch?
Sunday morning snow and the fresh disappointment knowing you’ll be forced once again to choose between watching the Jets or the Giants. Only in New York!
December 14, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Sunday morning snow and the fresh disappointment knowing you’ll be forced once again to choose between watching the Jets or the Giants. Only in New York!
I worked at the Boston Herald during perhaps the heyday of the Dig, and this just makes me nostalgic for a time when even the alt-weeklies had alts
pour one out for Jeff Lawrence, a mad bastard who gave me the best job I ever had. I’ve never met anyone so simultaneously infuriating and impossible to stay angry at
thanks boss 🫡
end of an era, eh @barelytomson.bsky.social @secondhusk.bsky.social @dankennedy.net @sirosenbaum.bsky.social
thanks boss 🫡
end of an era, eh @barelytomson.bsky.social @secondhusk.bsky.social @dankennedy.net @sirosenbaum.bsky.social
Jeff Lawrence, founding publisher of the Dig, has died, family says - The Boston Globe
The Boston-based alternative weekly that Lawrence launched was known for its irreverent commentary, unhinged reviews, brash critique of local mainstream media, and endless nightlife and concert listin...
www.bostonglobe.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I worked at the Boston Herald during perhaps the heyday of the Dig, and this just makes me nostalgic for a time when even the alt-weeklies had alts
Emma Mackey as Ella McCay feels like a prank
December 11, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Emma Mackey as Ella McCay feels like a prank
Launching a newsletter in 2019, you had few options, especially if you hoped to attract paid subscribers. As 2025 begets 2026, you have options! I moved my paid one to WordPress, my free one to Buttondown. Others like Ghost or Beehiiv. And then there's Patreon. www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/top-...
Top Substack writers depart for Patreon
A platform better known for paid podcasts is poaching top newsletter talent. Patreon has successfully lured some top Substack newsletter writers — including Anne Helen Petersen, Lyz Lenz, and Virginia...
www.niemanlab.org
December 9, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Launching a newsletter in 2019, you had few options, especially if you hoped to attract paid subscribers. As 2025 begets 2026, you have options! I moved my paid one to WordPress, my free one to Buttondown. Others like Ghost or Beehiiv. And then there's Patreon. www.niemanlab.org/2025/10/top-...
Reposted by Sean L. McCarthy
This entire grift relies on convincing people that they don't know how to do the things they have always known how to do, and ironically, if it works, we will, in a very short amount of time, forget how to do all the things we have always known how to do.
Jimmy Fallon: "And do you use ChatGPT when raising your baby?"
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
Sam Altman: "I cannot imagine figuring out how to raise a newborn without ChatGPT."
December 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
This entire grift relies on convincing people that they don't know how to do the things they have always known how to do, and ironically, if it works, we will, in a very short amount of time, forget how to do all the things we have always known how to do.
College football always loves chaos in the final two weeks before playoffs
December 7, 2025 at 4:27 AM
College football always loves chaos in the final two weeks before playoffs
FX on Hulu walked so HBO on Netflix could …
December 5, 2025 at 1:43 PM
FX on Hulu walked so HBO on Netflix could …
I listened to mostly new music this year. Apparently I’m a big fan of New Zealand indie rock!? Apple might not be the best alternative, but at least it’s not Spotify.
December 4, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I listened to mostly new music this year. Apparently I’m a big fan of New Zealand indie rock!? Apple might not be the best alternative, but at least it’s not Spotify.
Reposted by Sean L. McCarthy
You, a dangerous radical: We have to change the system so cartoon villains can't wreck the country again
Me, a wise pragmatist: What if we simply rebranded the system? Welcome to America Premium+
Me, a wise pragmatist: What if we simply rebranded the system? Welcome to America Premium+
November 30, 2025 at 2:54 PM
You, a dangerous radical: We have to change the system so cartoon villains can't wreck the country again
Me, a wise pragmatist: What if we simply rebranded the system? Welcome to America Premium+
Me, a wise pragmatist: What if we simply rebranded the system? Welcome to America Premium+
At least sports and broadcasting aren’t in cahoots with gambling. Could you imagine how that might impact calls on the field and in the booth?
November 29, 2025 at 6:16 PM
At least sports and broadcasting aren’t in cahoots with gambling. Could you imagine how that might impact calls on the field and in the booth?
I’m Bluesky years old to become increasingly annoyed listening to broadcasters refer to inferior versions of Wink Martindale and Bo Jackson
November 29, 2025 at 5:43 PM
I’m Bluesky years old to become increasingly annoyed listening to broadcasters refer to inferior versions of Wink Martindale and Bo Jackson