Your guide to the world of comedy — March 15, 2026
Welcome to The Jokebook, your Sunday update on comedy. This week:
Conan’s Oscars Return
Interview: Comedy in a Tense Dubai
Comedy Headlines
Festivals and Submissions
Conan’s Oscars Return Reflects a New Comedy Landscape
Source: Peter Yang for Variety
Conan O’Brien will host the 98th Academy Awards tonight at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Jimmy Kimmel will also appear as one of the evening’s presenters.
Conan’s career trajectory reflects a shift in entertainment. Traditionally, late-night TV was the goal. But today, the barrier to entry is far lower. Comedians and entertainers can self-publish and build audiences through podcasts, YouTube shows, and other digital formats. They also face fewer constraints from network standards or the FCC. And viewers no longer need to wait for a specific time slot; they can watch whenever they want.
The Changing Late-Night Landscape
Late night TV isn’t ignoring this. Shows like Saturday Night Live have built extensive digital infrastructure, releasing sketches online and producing content beyond the weekly broadcast.
Big streamers also want in: Spotify announced a partnership with Netflix that will bring 16 video podcasts to Netflix in 2026.
But there is still demand for recurring shows, wherever they are. As David Zucker wrote in Deadline, weekly YouTube comedy show Kill Tony receives viewership comparable to traditional late-night.
A New Pipeline for Comedy Talent
After leaving his TBS late-night show in 2021, Conan built a major podcast and digital presence with greater creative freedom than during his nightly TV years.
Meanwhile, comedy talent continues to emerge online. The upcoming Saturday Night Live UK reboot reportedly recruited several performers from TikTok and other digital platforms. And while Conan hosts the ceremony on ABC, his longtime sidekick Andy Richter will host a TikTok Live backstage.
The late-night ecosystem that launched so many comedians is giving way to one built around podcasts and streaming shows. Conan is another example of that transition.
Taher is a Palestinian stand-up comedian based in Dubai who is part of the city’s growing English-language comedy scene, where most audiences are international expats.
His perspective comes at a particularly tense moment. In recent weeks, Dubai has experienced drone and missile attacks tied to the escalating conflict involving Iran.
Yet, in Dubai, audiences are still showing up, and comedians are finding ways to talk about what’s happening around them. His story reflects a broader pattern seen around the world: in difficult or uncertain moments, comedy often becomes a way for people to process what’s happening around them.
Comedy Headlines
TV & Film
Peacock will stream Saturday Night Live UK in the U.S. beginning March 22, one day after its UK debut. Ahead of the launch, GQ went behind the scenes with the new cast and production team.
Harry Styles hosted Saturday Night Live while promoting his new album, marking his seventh appearance and second time pulling double duty as host and musical guest. Watch the promo here.
Discovery Channel will premiere Jeff Dunham’s new docuseries The Cars That Drove Us on March 31. Dunham will explore iconic cars with help from his ventriloquist characters. Trailer here.
David Lucas, a former regular on Kill Tony, joined the cast of a new Jonathan Majors action film backed by The Daily Wire.
Ashley Padilla led the SNL cast in screen time during Ryan Gosling’s March 14 episode. Padilla topped the cast for the third time this season, appearing in every live sketch.
Jimmy Fallon’s revived game show Password will return for Season 3 on June 2. Hosted by Keke Palmer, the series will feature Fallon as a regular contestant alongside rotating guest stars.
Last weekend, Sarah Sherman appeared in her 300th career SNL sketch, while Mikey Day became the show’s 10th longest-serving cast member with his 194th episode.
Charlie Day teased that It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 18 will bring back both the McPoyles and Guillermo del Toro.
The Scene
Dave Smith announced he is leaving the Legion of Skanks podcast after 15 years. Smith is stepping away as his career shifts toward other projects, particularly his political podcast Part of the Problem.
Comedy Gives Back announced that Bob Odenkirk, Patton Oswalt, and Mary Lynn Rajskub will perform at the Alt Comedy All-Stars benefit in Los Angeles on April 22. The event raises money for comedians facing financial or mental health crises.
Ali Siddiq told Deadline he has no interest in giving up ownership of his work despite his huge self-distributed success on YouTube.
Jeremiah Watkins discusses the evolution of his improv stand-up show Stand-Up On The Spot. Watkins explains how the show grew from an unfilmed improv exercise at Second City Hollywood into a touring comedy showcase.
Comedian Chris Fleming made his late-night debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live! with a chaotic, unpredictable interview. Watch here.
Frankie Quiñones signed a TV development deal with Fox Entertainment Studios. Quiñones will co-write and star in a scripted comedy built around his voice and characters.
Matt Ruby published several recent pieces on the craft of comedy, including advice from Tribeca’s Ben Thompson on translating stand-up to film, and a subscriber column on whether to switch to “A material” when a booker walks in right before a set.
Tours and Specials
Mark Normand (Netflix, March 17) and Paul Miller (YouTube, March 16) release new stand-up specials.
David Cross released his ninth comedy special on his website ahead of a wider YouTube launch on April 7. Trailer here.
Jimmy O. Yang’s new special will open for theatrical release in the U.S. and Canada on March 27. Trailer here.
Bobby Lee announced his first-ever headline tour starting in April, following his recent stand-up special for Hulu.
Comedy Fests This Month
Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival · March 4–15, 2026 · Toronto, Canada
Gilda’s LaughFest · March 11–15 · Grand Rapids & West Michigan
Canberra Comedy Festival · March 11–22 · Canberra, Australia
Glasgow International Comedy Festival · March 11–29, 2026 · Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom
SXSW Comedy Festival · March 13–16 · Austin, Texas
DC Sketchfest · March 25–28, 2026 · Washington, DC
Melbourne International Comedy Festival · March 25 – April 19 · Melbourne, Australia
Raleigh Comedy Festival · March 26–28, 2026 · Raleigh, North Carolina
Treefort Music Fest · March 25–29, 2026 · Boise, Idaho
Festival Submissions
Detroit Women of Comedy Festival · May 15–16, 2026 · Hamtramck, Michigan. Improv/Group $60; Stand-Up/Solo $35; Podcast $35; Video $20. Submission deadline: March 15 at 11:59pm CT. Submit here.
Lookout Comedy Competition · May 22–24, 2026 · Chattanooga, Tennessee. $15 submission fee. Submission deadline: March 15. Submit here.
Skankfest · November 13–15, 2026 · New Orleans, Louisiana. No submission fee. Submission deadline: 12pm EST on March 17. Submit here.
FunnyFest Comedy Competition · April 9–18, 2026 · Calgary, Canada. $5,000 in total prizes. Submission fee: $0. Submission deadline: March 20. Submit here.
Columbus Comedy Festival · August 27–30, 2026 · Columbus, Ohio. Submission deadline: March 21, 2026. Submission fee: $15. Standup submissions here; improv submissions here.
The Jokebook’s Joke of the Month · March 2026 · Digital Contest. Submission fee: $0 (free). Prize: $50. Submission deadline: March 31 at 11:59pm. Submit here.
Full list of festival submissions on our site here.
That’s The Jokebook — your Sunday comedy update. Have something to share? Message us at [email protected].