# Robert Schimmel: Confessional Stand-Up, Cancer, Howard Stern and a Comic’s Comic Legacy

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry-519311/robert-schimmel-confessional-stand-up-cancer-howard-stern-and-a-comic-s-comic-legacy
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry-519311/robert-schimmel-confessional-stand-up-cancer-howard-stern-and-a-comic-s-comic-legacy.md
Podcast: [Daily Comedy News with Johnny Mac](https://stenobird.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac-a-daily-briefing-on-comedians-and-the-comedy-industry-519311)
Published: 2026-08-22T07:08:52+00:00
Episode link: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/robert-schimmel-confessional-stand-up-cancer-howard-stern-and-a-comic-s-comic-legacy--74421969
Audio file: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/rss.pdrl.fm/a6631c/prfx.byspotify.com/e/op3.dev/e/api.spreaker.com/download/episode/74421969/dcn_schimmel_ds_auphonic.mp3
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Duration seconds: 1411

## Resource

Johnny Mac spotlights comedian Robert Schimmel as part of Saturday deep dives on comics who peaked before YouTube and podcasts. He describes Schimmel’s brutally confessional style—turning tragedies like his 11-year-old son’s leukemia death and his own stage-three non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma into jokes—and recounts Schimmel’s improbable life, including marrying and divorcing the same woman three times, later marrying his daughter’s best friend during chemotherapy, and dying at 60 from a 2010 Scottsdale car accident while awaiting a liver transplant. Mac traces Schimmel’s career: Bronx upbringing, Rodney Dangerfield’s 1986 HBO Young Comedian’s Special boost, Showtime specials, writing for In Living Color, frequent Howard Stern appearances, and a Fox sitcom pilot “Schimmel” canceled after his cancer diagnosis. Mac shares a SiriusXM story about Schimmel swapping stories on-air with David Brenner and cites Schimmel’s specials, memoir, Fresh Air interview, and Comedy Central Top 100 recognition. 00:00 Deep Dive Setup 00:53 Tragedy Into Comedy 03:05 Early Life Breakthrough 03:50 Dangerfield Special Clip 04:35 Career Highlights 05:16 Sitcom Then Cancer 06:57 Stern And Sirius Years 07:38 Raw Dog Lobby Story 10:45 Legacy And Conan Clip 12:44 Old Episode Stories 19:01 Cancer And Faith Bits 21:10 Carlin And Jackie Mason Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/daily-comedy-news-with-johnny-mac--4522158/support . Today's DCN is brought to you by MyBookie use promo code DCN! 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 cove…

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