David Spade and Dana Carvey are challenging Hollywood’s persistent emphasis on race and gender, arguing that the industry’s habit of highlighting those distinctions can feel diminishing rather than inclusive.

The comedians addressed the issue during an April 8, 2026, episode of their “Fly on the Wall” podcast. Their guest, comedian Tim Dillon, also joined a broader conversation about the entertainment industry’s struggles in Los Angeles and the departure of people and projects for other states.

Spade said award shows regularly draw attention to winners based on their race, gender, or status as the first person from a particular group to receive an honor. He argued that the industry should “stop separating us like that” and simply recognize performers and filmmakers for their work.

“On race, let me just say at any of these award shows, I saw a clip the other day saying, 'And this gentleman won, and he's the first Black director to win for this documentary,' I wish they would quit saying that because I think everyone, we can't all be equal to you,” Spade said.

Spade continued by questioning announcements emphasizing that a Black actor had won for the first time in decades. In his view, describing everyone simply as actors would make recognition feel more equal.

Carvey responded with a joke about his own Emmy Award. He said the announcement could have described him as the “198th straight white male that has won this award.”

Spade also recalled his experience on the NBC series “Just Shoot Me,” which ran from 1997 to 2003. He said people working on the show would specifically inform him whenever a female director was scheduled for that week.

“I [would] go, 'That's fine. Just is it a director? Yeah. Okay, we got it.' Like you don't even have to say that,” Spade said. He believed the label itself risked diminishing the director rather than treating her like any other person doing the job.

“Female director. It feels like a little, not condescending, but a little diminishing. That's a good word. It's a little 5%. Instead of going, 'We don't have a regular director,' you know what I mean? So, I was a big proponent of fighting that,” Spade said.

Carvey agreed with his podcast partner and called “female director” “a funny thing to say.” Their comments presented Hollywood’s language around representation as a source of unnecessary division.

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The discussion followed a March episode in which Spade gave a blunt assessment of Hollywood under the Democratic leadership of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. He said “the Hollywood industry is dying” while acknowledging that he was “just trying to put the blame somewhere.”

Spade remembered working at CBS Radford while filming “Just Shoot Me,” when “Seinfeld” was also being produced there. He called it “the greatest lot” and said its bankruptcy filing was terrifying for Los Angeles.

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Bass’ press office responded to Spade’s criticism in a statement to Fox News Digital. The office said, “Mayor Bass has championed the entertainment industry because it’s a bedrock of our middle class.”

“This year alone, she slashed filming fees at Griffith Observatory and reopened the LA Central Library to film production for the first time in over a decade,” the statement added. It also said more than 3 million square feet of studio and creative office space had been approved under Bass, with more than 120 sound stages under construction across Los Angeles.

When Spade and Carvey revisited Hollywood’s troubles with Dillon in April, Spade said he had “got in trouble” for his earlier remarks. He clarified, “I wasn't really mad at Gavin Newsom and Karen Bass.”

Spade said his actual request was for California leaders to make Hollywood slightly more of a priority. He wanted a portion of available money reserved for efforts focused on restoring the industry, adding, “That's all.”

Although Spade softened his criticism of Bass and Newsom, Dillon remained unconvinced by California’s leadership. He said they “seem to think everything's kind of going well” and argued that it is difficult to persuade leaders otherwise when they already believe conditions are good, even as people leave.

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