On June 5, 2026, Robert Smigel released a new episode of his podcast, Humor Me with Robert Smigel and Friends, featuring guests Jim. The comedy veteran is stepping directly into the spotlight to promote the project, drawing warm praise from public radio circles.
Over on Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!, host Peter Sagal introduced Robert Smigel as a "legendary comedy writer" who is famously "the hand up the butt of Triumph, the Insult Comic Dog." Sagal pointed out that while Smigel has written for Saturday Night Live and Late Night with Conan O'Brien, he remains unrecognized by most because he is "usually just off camera from his alter ego."
The praise continued as Peter Sagal highlighted the unique premise of the new show, in which Smigel "helps non-funny people be funny." Sagal described the podcast as "both hilarious and sometimes kind of moving," celebrating the rare opportunity to speak with the comedy icon.
As Robert Smigel continues to expand his audio footprint, the industry is watching to see how long he can play the straight-faced mentor before Triumph the Insult Comic Dog inevitably wrestles back control of the microphone.