Who is ‘Is It Cake? Halloween’ Host Mikey Day? Background, Career, & Key Details

Mikey Day, a long-standing fixture of Saturday Night Live as both performer and writer, has steadily carved out a central role in Netflix’s unscripted entertainment landscape. Since the debut of Is It Cake? in March 2022, Day has transitioned from sketch comedy to hosting duties, becoming the irreverent face of a show that blends competition, artistry, and a peculiar guessing game.

The Halloween-themed iteration of the series, Is It Cake? Halloween, premiered on October 8, 2025, showcasing Day’s trademark deadpan wit and capacity to orchestrate playful rivalry among contestants and celebrity judges.

Mikey Day Shaping the Game

Retaining the format that propelled the original series to viral success, Is It Cake? Halloween once again challenged nine expert bakers to fabricate hyper-realistic cakes designed to mimic everyday Halloween objects. Day guided the contestants through each round, setting the tone for a rotating panel of celebrity judges—including Kevin Nealon, Melissa Joan Hart, Pete Holmes, and Whitney Cummings—who attempted to distinguish pastry from prop in the competition for the title of Is It Cake? Halloween champion.

Day’s comedic background plays a crucial role in defining the show’s atmosphere. In an interview, he expressed surprise at the breadth of the program’s appeal:

“I had no idea how much it would resonate with kids in particular. … It’s almost like a magic trick in action. I’ve had many people tell me, ‘You’re fine, but my kids will lose it when they learn I met you.’”

Beyond his on-screen banter, Day actively collaborates with the bakers behind the scenes. Conscious of his lack of culinary training, he seeks their guidance on how to slice into the cakes without undermining their intricate designs.

“Before I present it to the judges, the baker usually guides me on the best way to cut it, like, ‘There’s a lot of modeling chocolate here, so approach it at this angle.’ The crew behind the cameras will start shouting warnings [if I’m about to make a mistake],” he explained.

His approach infuses the competition with camaraderie, positioning him not merely as a presenter but as a bridge between contestants, judges, and viewers.

From Improv Stages to Global Streaming Platforms

Born in 1980 in Orange County, California, Mikey Day launched his career in sketch comedy with the Groundlings, an incubator for many prominent comedic talents. His early television work included writing and performing for The Jay Leno Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, as well as creating comedic material for programs such as Kath & Kim and Nickelodeon’s Incredible Crew.

Day joined Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2013 and became an on-air cast member in 2016. Over the years, he has established himself as one of the show’s most versatile performers, known for his sharp timing and memorable character work. As of 2025, Day’s net worth is estimated at approximately $3 million, drawn from his SNL tenure, television writing, and his work with Netflix.

When Netflix approached him to host Is It Cake?, Day was immediately intrigued by the viral phenomenon that inspired the show—videos of cakes crafted to look like everyday objects such as sneakers, hamburgers, and even animals.

He described the series as an unlikely yet compelling blend of comedy, visual illusion, and competitive television. Though he does not bake himself, Day has often remarked on the extraordinary creativity of the show’s participants, noting that “the bakers are the actual stars; the cakes steal the spotlight.”

A Seasonal Spectacle

Is It Cake? Halloween extends the series’ original concept into a four-episode special, each installment running roughly 40 minutes. While maintaining the brisk pacing that characterizes the franchise, the special introduces a Halloween-specific dimension: cakes camouflaged as pumpkins, eerie costumes, haunted objects, and gruesome anatomical replicas.

The show’s enduring presence in Netflix’s Top 10 reflects its global resonance, which Day attributes to the universal pleasure of the guessing game and the satisfying “reveal” moment when the truth is literally cut open.

Speaking on the seasonal twist, Day observed:

“Halloween is enjoyable because of the themed elements. … It’s a holiday that works perfectly for this show, allowing for creations like guts and hearts. Many bakers mention making body parts—it seems like a rite of passage to create a heart or brain.”

Read More: Who Is Ashley Dupré? All About TikTok Star Alix Earle’s Stepmom