Mike Lawrence & Mike Vecchione on We Might Be Drunk | Full Episode Notes
WMBD Mark Normand & Sam Morril – We Might Be Drunk Podcast – May 18, 2026 Kevin Nealon – Mark Normand and Sam Morril – We Might Be Drunk Podcast William H. Macy w/ Sam Morril & Mark Normand – We Might Be Drunk Podcast Ari Shaffir w/ Mark Normand & Sam Morril – We Might Be Drunk Podcast Gaten Matarazzo & Sean Giambrone – Mark Normand & Sam Morril – We Might Be Drunk Podcast Adam Carolla – Mark Normand & Sam Morril – We Might Be Drunk Podcast We Might Be Drunk Podcast with Greg Fitzsimmons: Tour Tales, Tipping & The Art of Comedy Patton Oswalt Gets Not Drunk with Sam Morril & Mark Normand – We Might Be Drunk Podcast Mike Lawrence & Mike Vecchione on We Might Be Drunk | Full Episode Notes WMBD – Dolph Lundgren with Mark Normand and Sam Morril Hosts Sam Morril and Mark Normand are joined by comedians Mike Lawrence and Mike Vecchione. The episode features the hosts and guests reminiscing about their early days in the New York City comedy scene, sharing wild anecdotes from various clubs, and discussing the struggles of the comedy industry. Topics range from their comedy heroes to the frustrations of selling a TV show with actor Brian Cox. The comedians also talk about pop culture, parenting, and their upcoming tour dates. Mike Lawrence is a comedian and the guest on this episode. He is one of Sam Morril’s oldest comedy friends. He is also the host of the podcast “Nerd of Mouth”. He discusses his experiences writing for award shows and his creative process. Mike Vecchione is a comedian and guest on the podcast. He joins the hosts to promote his new YouTube special, “Low-Income White”. He and Sam Morril share their ongoing struggle to sell a TV show with actor Brian Cox attached. He is also part of a Euro tour with Sam Morril. Summary Guests Profile Mike Lawrence Mike Vecchione Overview This episode of the “We Might Be Drunk” podcast features a reunion of comedians and friends, with hosts Sam Morril and Mark Normand joined by guests Mike Lawrence and Mike Vecchione. The conversation begins with Lawrence being introduced as one of Sam Morril’s oldest friends in comedy. They share formative stories from the early New York City comedy scene, recalling clubs like Mo Pitkins (The Pit) and Auto Shrunken Head, and mentioning fellow comedians like Zach Sims. A significant segment focuses on wild anecdotes from NYC clubs, including a tense confrontation Mark Normand had during Obama’s 2009 inauguration night in Harlem. They also vividly describe Mocha’s Lounge (Smokey’s), a club where the owner, Smokey Suarez, would “trash” comedians who bombed. The discussion moves to comedy heroes, with Sean Patton being praised as a “beacon of hope” for his generation. They reflect on the “wilderness years” of comedy, a period of building one’s act in front of peers, and contrast this with the modern era of posting content online. A frustrating aspect of the entertainment industry is highlighted as Sam Morril and Mike Vecchione share their 18-month struggle to sell a TV show, despite having actor Brian Cox attached. The episode includes humorous anecdotes about Hollywood, such as Brian Cox’s non-method acting and Jared Leto’s extreme method acting for Suicide Squad. They also discuss movies, pop culture, and changing sensitivities in comedy, noting that films like Rush Hour now have disclaimers for “outdated jokes”. Later segments delve into nostalgia for 90s sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Family Matters, and the evolution of voice acting on shows like The Simpsons. They share more comedy club memories, including the sad story of an open micer named Gowi, who had a line cut from the 30 Rock finale and watched it from a homeless shelter. The conversation turns to roast battles, with Mike Lawrence recounting a brutal roast of Ralphie May and the shift to more personal attacks. Mike Lawrence, known for his prolific writing, discusses his creative process and the challenges of writing for TV. They touch on the impact of social media on comedy and express exhaustion with the prevalence of Trump jokes. The episode concludes with a rapid-fire list of pet peeves, a discussion about parenting and Mike Lawrence’s official autism diagnosis at 38, and a mention of upcoming tour dates and their Bodega Whiskey brand. Timestamps & Segment Breakdown 00:00 — Comedy Reunion & Early Days Mike Lawrence is introduced as a long-time friend of Sam Morril, and the group reminisces about their early days in the New York City comedy scene and performing at venues like Mo Pitkins. 06:00 — Stories from NYC Comedy Clubs Mark Normand recounts a tense confrontation he had during Obama’s inauguration night in Harlem. The comedians also discuss Mocha’s Lounge, an “inclusive but insensitive” club run by Smokey Suarez. 14:00 — Comedy Heroes & Finding Your Voice The group praises comedian Sean Patton and reflects on the “wilderness years” of comedy. 25:00 — Behind the Scenes: The Comedy Industry Sam Morril and Mike Vecchione discuss their ongoing 18-month struggle to sell a TV show, even with actor Brian Cox attached, and express frustration with Hollywood’s slow pace. 32:00 — Brian Cox, Method Acting, & Hollywood Tales The conversation covers different acting styles, contrasting Brian Cox’s non-method approach with Jeremy Strong’s method acting. They also share humorous anecdotes about Jared Leto and Jim Carrey. 41:00 — Movies, Reviews, and Comedy in Pop Culture The comedians discuss various films, praise actor Gary Oldman, and note the changing sensitivities in comedy, such as disclaimers on old movies like Rush Hour. 50:00 — Sitcoms, Childhood TV, and Nostalgia A nostalgic look back at 90s sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and Diff’rent Strokes. They also talk about voice acting and societal norms of the past. 58:00 — Comedy Club Memories & Touring Stories More anecdotes from their early comedy careers are shared, including a sad story about an open micer named Gowi and the evolution