Sean L. McCarthy

@seanlmccarthy

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.

676 Following1,157 Followers2,669 Posts

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Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jul 11

You’re never as alone as you think you are

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jul 7

Presented without context

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 17

Name a TV show you're positive no one remembers but you.

We Got It Made, which I only remember because it was the one NBC show my dad could score us taping tickets to see during our trip to California

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 14

The Knicks have been unstoppable since I got these Nikes #itsgottabetheshoes

Nike sneakers in blue and orange, just like the Knicks (and the Mets!)

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 13

Happy DCM Weekend, improv nerds!

A souvenir of mine from one of the Del Close Marathons in the olden times beneath Gristedes

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· May 20

Update!

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· May 15

Mr. Mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social love what you’re doing, thank you for your service, but I’ve got a sinking feeling about my block in Astoria

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· May 6

That said, I did have Ron Taylor on my list of top specials of 2024! decider.com/2025/01/01/t...

There are hints of Chappelle in Taylor’s work, at least tonally in both delivery and subject matter. But while the extremely more rich and famous Chappelle may seem mired in trolling his critics, Taylor enjoys exploring all perspectives of his premises. Taylor has a strong point of view and an even stronger command of his audience. And his relative youth also works in his favor here, such as looking back on movies he grew up watching and realizing how, whether the films were intended for kids or for adults, their subtext said much more damning things about race, sex, and American society writ large. You might not always see his points coming, whether it’s defending the portrayal of sex in porn or refuting vegan arguments against eating animals, but you best keep an eye on Taylor. Because he’s very much up-and-coming, and deserving of much bigger platforms in the future.

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· May 5

Wtote this before seeing the Variety Netflix interview, because it’s all too predictable

Louis C.K. is headlining the Hollywood Bowl for the festival, and his next special will debut on the streamer. Tell me about the process of getting him back on Netflix.
PRAW: When it comes to Louis, part of the job of my team is we listen to the type of stand-ups people want to see, but we also spend a lot of time looking at who’s selling tickets all around the world. Louis has had a really impressive run for the last two years, and he has a great special right now, so we’re excited to see it on Netflix this summer.

You must have anticipated backlash [given his 2017 sexual misconduct scandal]. How much does that factor into the decision to partner with him?
PRAW: When our members sit and open up Netflix, they have a decision to make of what they want to watch. This is just about giving them an option to see a really popular comedian that they may want to watch who’s still putting out great stuff.

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· May 5

Top 2 I’ve tried. Third would go to the Black Butte Porter NA.

Athletic Lodge Life, a seasonal NA dark; and Fremont Dark NA

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Apr 20

What are we doing, People? Journal-AIsm must be saved from the vulture capitalist warlords at all costs

The Atlantic Hawks play the Newark Nicks tonight! Ain’t that right, Jami with an e?!

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Apr 5

“So stick around, and we’ll be White Black.”

Jack Black with Jack White during the SNL monologue

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Mar 15

The media is buying this Mc’Ds b.s. but they’re not fooling me

“The $4 meal deal will feature breakfast options including a McMuffin, hash brown and coffee. The $3 and less menu will include items like a sausage biscuit or a 4-piece chicken McNuggets, and it replaces the buy-one-add-one-for-a-dollar menu introduced in 2025. ”

Excerpt From
“McDonald’s Preps New Discounts to Feed Budget-Minded Diners for $3 or Less”
Heather Haddon
The Wall Street Journal

Their current McValue options near me already are less than $3, so there’s no savings here for anyone who pays attention

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Dec 20

Please update your pop culture records to reflect that the 1959 French New Wave film, Breathless, includes a high-five documented on film

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Dec 4

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.

Top artists I listened to on Apple Music in 2025: Mild Orange, Dutch Interior, Djo, Mt. Joy, Balu Brigada, The Beths, Bon Iver, Obongjayar, Magdalena Bay, Caamp, Automatic, Bartees Strange, Hand Habits, Blondshell, Hannah Cohen

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Nov 27

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Nov 25

The last Stand Up and Clown of 2025 really went for it @ifycomedy.com @scrambieggs.bsky.social

Anna and Ify interpret art under orders from Clown Boss Chad Damiani

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Nov 16

We used to live in a constitutional republic

From Article I of the U.S. Constitution, which used to mean something: No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State.

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Nov 14

From last night trying to get home from @lukeoneil47.bsky.social’s book release shindig

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Nov 4

You promise? Good riddance

Unsolicited text today reads “New York, today is your last chance to vote for Andrew Cuomo”

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Oct 11

my page 1 bylines from the Mariners walk-off ALDS win at Safeco Field in Seattle in 2000, and then the ALCS loss to the Yankees

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Sep 23

Wondering if you live somewhere in the United States where Nexstar or Sinclair owns your ABC affiliate? Here are the TV stations pre-empting your Jimmy Kimmel Live! and inserting their own politics for the displeasure of your local advertisers who didn't ask for lower-rated programming.

ABC affiliates owned by Sinclair Broadcast Group
Alabama — Birmingham-Tuscaloosa-Anniston, WDBB and WBMA
Alabama/Florida — Mobile/Pensacola, WEAR
Arkansas — Little Rock, KATV
California — Chico-Redding, KRCR
California — Eureka-Arcata, KAEF
DC — WJLA
Georgia — Macon, WGXA (ABC/FOX)
Michigan — Traverse City-Cadillac-Cheboygan-Sault Ste. Marie, WPBN, WTOM, WGTU, WGTQ
Missouri — St. Louis, KDNL
North Carolina — Asheville, WLOS (also Greenville/Spartanburg, SC) (ABC/MyNetwork TV)
North Carolina — Greenville-New Bern-Morehead City, WCTI
North Carolina — Winston Salem-Greensboro-High Point, WXLV
Nebraska — Hayes Center-McCook, KWNB
Nebraska — North Platte, KHGI
New York — Rochester, WHAM (ABC/The CW)
Ohio — Columbus-Chillicothe, WSYX (ABC/MyNetwork/FOX)
Ohio — Dayton, WKEF (ABC/FOX)
Oklahoma — Tulsa, KTUL
Oregon — Portland, KATU
Pennsylvania — Johnstown-Altoona, WATM (ABC/FOX)
South Carolina — Charleston, WCIV (MyNetwork/ABC)
South Carolina — Florence-Myrtle Beach, WPDE (ABC/The CW)
Tennessee — Chattanooga, WTVC (ABC/FOX)
Texas — Abilene, KTXS (ABC/CW+)
Texas — Amarillo, KVII (ABC/CW+)
Texas — San Angelo, KTXE (ABC/CW+)
Virginia — Lynchburg-Roanoke, WSET
Washington — Seattle-Tacoma, KOMO
West Virginia — Charleston-Huntington, WCHS (ABC/FOX)

ABC affiliates owned by Nexstar Media Group
Alabama — WDHN, Dothan
Connecticut — WTNH, New Haven (Hartford)
Florida — WMBB, Panama City (jointly ABC/The CW)
Georgia — WJBF, Augusta (ABC/MeTV/The CW)
Illinois — WTVO, Rockford (ABC/MyTV)
Indiana — WEHT, Evansville
Indiana — WAWV, Terre Haute
Iowa — KCAU, Sioux City
Kansas — KTKA, Topeka (ABC/The CW)
Louisiana — WGNO, New Orleans
Michigan — WOTV, Battle Creek
Michigan — WLAJ, Lansing (ABC/The CW)
Missouri — KSNF, Joplin
Montana — KSVI, Billings (ABC/The CW)
New York — WTEN, Albany-Schenectady
New York — WIVT, Binghamton
New York — WSYR, Syracuse
New York — WUTR, Utica-Rome (ABC/MyTV)
New York — WWTI, Watertown (ABC/The CW)
Ohio — WYTV, Youngstown (ABC/MyTV)
Pennsylvania — WJET, Erie
Pennsylvania — WHTM, Harrisburg
Tennessee — WATE, Knoxville
Tennessee — WKRN, Nashville
Texas — KAMC, Lubbock
Texas — KMID, Odessa-Midland
Utah — KTVX, Salt Lake City (ABC/MeTV)
Vermont — WVNY, Burlington
Virginia — WRIC, Richmond
West Virginia — WBOY, Clarksburg-Fairmont-Morgantown (NBC/ABC)

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Sep 19

You don’t gotta hand it to Cuomo lovers

Cuomo campaign spam text asking me to help them “fix the city” and “save the city” by stopping Zohran from doing just that

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Sep 16

"Thanks for your feedback."

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 26

Reminding you how little I’ve cared for America’s two-party system since I have been old enough to vote (congrats Zohran even if I couldn’t vote for you in the primary!)

My senior-year undergraduate thesis on “drawing a blueprint for third-party success in the United States”

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 25

Edited my ballot to pivot from what movies I think have defined cinema so far this century, now to just which films of the 2000s I’d watch and have watched a gazillion times

My favorite films of the 2000s so far: Elf, Almost Famous, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Mad Max: Fury Road, Edge of Tomorrow, Rogue One, Collateral, Snowpiercer, Idiocracy, and yea, Begin Again

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 24

Meeting the moment, bleak yet hopeful to the end: the story of our century so far

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 21

Also, the fact that the headline came from THIS interaction is such a WTF interpretation and abdication

Let’s take the example of your interview with Donald Trump. I know that you’re not a journalist. But am I not? I might be the foremost political journalist of my time.

You know, it’s possible! But in your interview, do you feel like you did the necessary work of asking him difficult questions? Do you think that’s necessary?

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 12

Sean L. McCarthy@seanlmccarthy· Jun 11

Make it make sense @redsoxstats.bsky.social