In addition to his television work, McDermott has continued to be involved in live comedy. He has frequently participated in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, having often captained one of the two competing teams in the festival's Great Debate since his first debate appearance in 1994. At the 2002 festival he not only presented a solo comedy show titled "Comedyoscopy", but also performed with Cameron Bruce and Mick Moriarty in a music-based comedy trio called GUD. McDermott described GUD as being in a similar vein to DAAS in that it revolved around music, comedy and the inter-relationships between the band members onstage. As of 2018, McDermott is host of ABC quiz show "Think Tank".