"Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of" (w/ Matt & Bowen)
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- Bo, listen, vacation, it's something you gotta get right. - I have never agreed with you more. And I've had so many wonderful trips with you in the past. I remember one of our fantastic Airbnb trips upstate. We got this four bedroom Airbnb, little cabin,

We had like a whole acre to waltz around in. It was so much fun and a gorgeous kitchen, remember? I do remember. That ended up being an iconic trip. But why is Airbnb better than a hotel? First of all, more space. Second, more bathrooms because sharing a bathroom, I know it's not our favorite thing to do. Also, more common area spaces to hang out together. Airbnbs can have things like a private movie room or game room. Doing an Airbnb may also get you access to a better location. Airbnb, it's just for you and me. Fee!

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Look, Matt. Oh, I see. Wow. Bowen, look over there. Wow, is that culture? Yes. Las Culturistas. Ding dong. Las Culturistas calling. One of the most important weeks in culture. But is it the correct week in culture? That's the thing with Oscar nominees. It's always important, but never quite correct. It's always a mixed bag, isn't it, Bowen Yang? Absolutely. Like my life right now.

Yeah, you're sick. You're not feeling good. Well, this is my second sore throat in as many months. And I looked it up finally. I don't know why I didn't do this in my youth. I qualify for a tonsillectomy and I might get those suckers out. I don't think that's a good idea. You think it'll change my voice? I'm getting a sore throat like 10 times a year. It's bad. You have to make sure that it's because of your tonsils though. Like it could be something else. Like if you're going to have your tonsils removed and it's not like...

That's not why. Girl, I'm going to the ENT. She's going to tell me what's what. I'm not going to go in and book it. I just think it's very funny and very you to be like, I'm getting my tonsils out. Babe, I've been dealing with this my whole 33 years on this planet. I get sore throats all the time. Don't talk down to me. Don't you dare. I don't think of you as like my girl who gets a sore throat.

But I keep it from you because I don't want to burden you with my pain. Do you know what I mean? And you know I'll internalize that right away. My empathetic soul. You are such empath. It's like when I saw that America for our performance, I was bawling. Well, first I want to say that you removing your tonsil should be a last resort, honey. But I think we've gone through all the resorts and we are reaching the last one. Honey.

White Lotus season 15. Cancel it already. Becca Ramos, our producer, says, OMG, I've been personally worried about that. It's changing my voice. I looked it up. That happens more in children who get the procedure. Yes, that is true. But also, I would say that the recovery for a tonsillectomy as an adult is insane. Yes. I've heard worst pain of your life are words that have been used. Oh,

Honey, it can't be much worse than the pus on the damn throbbers. Now you hate to hear pus. It's actually rollercoaster number 50. Now you hate to hear pus. How are you, my sweet? I'm good. I'm good. You know, I'm really enjoying getting up early. So peek behind the curtain. We've been doing the episodes...

even closer to release nowadays. Just because things on the calendar. And I've been really enjoying getting up early. I've been on my Barry's kick. I'm kind of obsessed now. I want to go with my sister when we're both in New York. I would love that. I would love that, Matt. We've never really...

exercise together. You've come to a couple SoulCycle classes back in the day. Yeah, but like, you'd think that we're besties for, um, well, besties. I never use that term. You are my best friend for...

A decade and a half. We've probably exercised together, like done physical exercise together, like less than five times, less than ten. Well, it's a lifestyle change. It's a lifestyle change. It's a lifestyle change because we really are sloppy-doppy girls. We really are those girls eating pizza on the couch. But something about this year, we're almost into February. I have not kept up good practices for this long.

Oh, right. Like I'm still on my meal prep grind, even though that's so annoying. But can we remove the stigma on me around meal prep? I think we can. I'm a single childless gay man. Yeah. I have decision. I was going to say that. Yes. You were mouthing it and I read your lips. I feel like it's fine. I'm just cooking for myself and it's actually quite lovely. And I'm eating nutritious meals. I'm eating broccoli like never before.

I mean, I too have been consuming a lot of broccoli. I just think, you know what it is? It's that thing of like,

I think what I was good at this year in terms of resolutions is I didn't make that many. And also, I'm not saying like it has to be this. I'm like sticking to it at a 10. I'm like, I'd like it to be this. And by putting less pressure on myself, I feel like I'm able to exercise more and also able to eat a little bit better. And also, it can't get more out of control than the second half of the year last year for me. So like it's easy to regain control.

But, you know, I just feel like I would like to enjoy looking over at my sister sweating amok. I am a sweater. We have also performed together in high intensity situations many times. So that sort of replaces exercise. We've performed together in high intensity situations. That's true. Now, speaking of that.

Let's just put this out there. Matt and I would love to do The Traitors. We want to do it. We want to do it. I want to do season three of The Traitors. I will clear my schedule. I will clear it. We'll both do it. I know we're not reality people. We're not reality TV people necessarily. I don't think it matters. Yeah, because John is literally...

former Speaker of the House of Commons. That, I mean, like, Deontay the Quitter. Right. We'll get into that. But, like, he was a, you know, former heavyweight champion. Like, there's, like, many people there that

I think all you have to be is like a personality that pops or whatever. And like, you have to be just someone willing to play the game. Oh honey, that is you. I was going to say that was you. I think they would obviously be very, very thrilled to have you. I'm not a personality that pops necessarily. I think I'm very... That's so silly. I'm not getting into this with you. Very shy. You are gregarious, girl. You are smiling bright. I'm smiling bright. We would love to see you smile.

We would love to do it. It's actually Real Culture number 59. Bowen Yang is a gregarious girl. Gregarious girl. He is smiling bright. Would you want to be a faithful or a traitor? We discussed this yesterday with our friends, I think with Sudi. I would prefer to be a faithful, and what about you? I know the answer, but... Can I just say I feel very patronized and dragged by the Lost Culture Readers, Katie's publicist and finalist.

Because I feel like they don't have faith in me that I would be a good traitor. And I know that I would be a good traitor. Why? Why are they saying that? Because they say, like, a lot of people are like, no. Okay, so here's some peek behind the curtain. During the pandemic, I played an online version of Survivor. Yes. Real Katie's

and readers, et cetera, know that I played something called Survivor Quarantine during the quarantine. Yes. And I went too hard and made the merge, but was voted out immediately in the merge just because I was essentially the villain of the game. So you learned something from that? I do think I've learned something and picked up some skills from that. And I think that I would be a better trader than people give me credit for. I really do.

I agree. I must agree. Matt is very much a Parvati in the sense that he talks to you and you feel like he's flirting. And I mean that with utmost respect, that you and Parv are cut from the same cloth. I'm very perceptive, okay? And I think that the thing about me at breakfast is I'm always so excited to see everyone.

So you would never be able to tell like when people come in and breakfast, like, and it didn't look like, Oh, like I just think that I will be able to channel my Matt Rogers ishness into being a good trader. And I do think you'd be a wonderful faithful because I think that you have a force of personality where people would want to engage in your opinions. I would have a target on my back.

I would be killed pretty early on, I think. I don't think you would be killed. I think that other idiot faithfuls might try to banish you. But they are fools. Because my flaw would be that I, and again, am somewhat, somewhat quiet. I can be a little quiet. Bowen. Just a little. And that would, as we've seen in these last, in the various iterations of the show, that becomes a red flag at some point in the minds of the players.

But I do think I would perceive and pick up on things. Like, I do think this is probably unfair to say, but like some of these people are really, really off. These faith tools on these shows are off.

So they really are. Yes. And it makes me feel a little crazy because I'm watching it and I'm like, okay, so obviously they are not in the position that you are in the viewer, which is you're watching an edited television show where you know and can say like, oh, look at her. She's being obvious. Oh, look at her. She's dumb. Obviously, it's not that easy. Right. But I do think that.

One thing that people are forgetting about this particular cast is, of course, they weren't going to brush up on the other franchises. These people are collectively all, on the narcissism scale, pretty close to Tam. Well, that's why it's a shame that Peppermint got voted out so early, because I think Peppermint was really a purveyor of all their shows. She knew everybody. Yeah.

Yeah, I think she might have been on the on the spectrum of too far that way, though, because her personality was really like big. And obviously, the way that she was voted out was, I don't think, totally above board. But I do think it was a matter of time because the thing about Peppermint is like,

She can't really blend in because she's coming in hot with her opinions. She's a star. She's got a big personality. She's an actual performer, unlike most of these people. Right. You know, I did DM a little bit with Parvati Shallow. Yes. By the way, if you're new to the podcast, Parvati's been on the podcast.

and it's an episode called Fire's Family. This is initially when we were very obsessed with her because of her Survivor tenure. She came on, and I DMed with her. She is down to come back. So at some point, either when she's voted out or when the season is over, hopefully at the end when she wins, she'll come back. But just look forward to that. Maybe we'll try somehow to get that to be an in-person episode. I would love that. Yes, we'd love that. But she said...

This was my first experience with the housewives and it was wild and all caps wild. And I was like, yeah, it's kind of crazy to watch their insane social tactics at play here. And it feels like these gamers have kind of met their match with the housewives. There's no way to plan for chaos. Right. Or for chaos.

Brutal honesty. I don't think Phaedra coming for Parvati is necessarily in Parvati's playbook. Well, it might be the editing, but they cut to Dan and Parvati in that moment where Phaedra rightfully is like, don't do that. I'm playing very fair with y'all. And then just the kicker, which is her...

which is her saying, both of you. Like, delicious. Both of you. Both of you. Neither of them are used to this. No one likes you, Parvati. Parvati. Hard T. Everyone thinks you're a traitor. Don't do that, Parvati. That was not cool, Parvati.

I mean, it was definitely an epic moment in television. And as I was sitting here watching it, I kind of thought, okay, so for Phaedra, her game is 100% I need to blend in. And now that's kind of not possible. That being said, I do think that Parvati casting aspersion on the housewives doesn't make me think of Phaedra as much as it makes me think of Larsa, who she was targeting, and Tamra, who's a lot more vocal. So...

I get why Phaedra's upset because her method of madness here is a little bit threatened. But I do think she is big-dogging them more as a threat for ongoing than she is, like, pissed off in the moment because it's not that big of a deal. No, but it does seem apparent in these episodes, in these four episodes so far, that...

Dan and Parvati are pairing off in ways that leave out Phaedra. Yeah, they want her out. And that's, it's interesting that this moment happened because I wonder how they respond to this. Either they go, they go, well, then we got to sacrifice Phaedra or if they, if they fucking fly right with her.

Yeah, I think there's two ways they can go. One is they can defer to her right now in the turret, say, Phaedra, we're sorry, murder who you want to murder. It's now your turn to steer the ship and try to make her feel like she's back on board with them and allow that to be their path forward for eliminating her because they do want to do that. I mean, they've said it like,

Phaedra's upset, actually justifiably, because they do want her out. They do want to throw a bone to the Faithfuls and they want that to be Phaedra. Great strategy. Right. Or they can go full destruction mode and turn it on her directly and be like, okay, fine, every person for themselves if you're going to act like this. And then at the round table, Parvati can literally turn to Phaedra and be like, why were you acting so defensive when I said that?

Wait, say that again? Parvati can say that or Phaedra can say that? Parvati can throw it in Phaedra's face and be like, at the last roundtable, you were extremely defensive and even used my name when I even threw out there that a housewife could be a traitor. Why? Right. And Phaedra's response to that, I mean, I think Phaedra could absolutely flame Parvati too. Right. She's very capable. I mean, it's going to be very interesting. Phaedra has ruined people's lives. That's what we must remember. She's trying to. Has anyone like...

If you do a deep dive on Phaedra, it's like she was Bobby Brown's lawyer. She was married to a felon. Her ex-husband went to jail for what Jen Shah went to jail for. Right, right. She's a certainly questionable moral character when you look at how she's not on Real Housewives of Atlanta anymore, which is that she created a...

rape allegation against Candy based on nothing where she alleged that Candy Burris and her husband, Todd Tucker, tried to drug and rape Portia Williams. And it resulted in one of the most insane reunions in Housewives history and Phaedra was fired. This is season nine, by the way, for people who haven't watched. She is a traitor. Yeah, 1000%. I think...

This is the best of television. This is the best that television can be. The show. I wake up, I think about it. I think about it. I feel like that Sondheim song. I'm losing my mind. That's me with the traitors. You know who I think is getting the winner's edit? Who? Sandra. Yeah, that's interesting. She is getting the TV edit of a reality show winner. That's very interesting that you say that because there are moments where

There is a comedy to her. And there always has been. Yeah. And this is not to say that we don't take any of her... Like, we don't take her seriously. She's a legend. But it's like, between, like...

The wound on her forehead. She's a mafiosa. She's a mafiosa, and she can absolutely walk away with this and lead the Faithfuls to victory. I will say, I still think Dan is not the player he thinks he is. Not the skilled player he thinks he is. I really do. I think he has gone up. His name's been brought up. Yeah. His name's been brought up. His name has been brought up. I do think he's gone up in the power rankings for me.

As opposed to the first three episodes, I agree with you, he didn't play well then. I think the fact that, like...

Here's what I'll say. The fact that Larsa can march those housewives over to the board and say, let's look at the board and say we need to vote someone out, point to Dan, someone who she's literally voted for before and targeted before and still went for CT instead, means that Dan is positioning himself with shields well. And I think that he also...

has two shields in the traitor's turret, which especially now, they're going to be way bigger targets than him. Like, the conversation is not going to be on him moving forward. At least I don't think for the next couple episodes. Shields don't protect you from banishment, though.

No, what I'm saying is human shields. What I'm saying is other competitors using them as shields. Right, right. In Survivor, they call it a meat shield. Like when you have someone else in front of you to take the bullet. But just to speak about who I think is going to win, I still think that's Sandra because I think that maybe this is from me watching so much reality television, but...

From the first episode, they have made sure she's in the narrative. She always gets shown. You always know her opinion. They've set up the Parvati versus Sandra thing. They seem to mention every 15 minutes that Sandra is a stone cold killer. They show Sandra flipping the votes against Larsa. They show Sandra ingratiating herself with the housewives.

Then flipping very smart, very smart. She also was a viable trader to be recruited. I'm just saying, like, if you actually watch it as something and it's like a rule of reality television, where if you go back to the first episode and binge it, you need to be able to see the winner's arc. Sure, sure. That is only really there with a few people, which are all the current traders.

Sandra, and I would argue Janelle. Yes. And I also think they're setting Peter up for something. Yes, that's true. Hmm. I have really mainlined UK. What are all your thoughts and feelings about UK? UK Traders is also out on Peacock, everybody, and it's a really good watch. It's really good. Very different. Very different. There's something appealing about it being all...

quote-unquote normies yeah they cast it really well the half and half of season one us just didn't really work but um no they know that now and i think it is an incredibly emotional game oh yeah they incredibly emotional what episode are you on of uk season two i started episode six okay great so

What are your thoughts about Claudia? We're dressing up as her for Halloween. That's a really good idea. We're getting a giant cowl neck sweater, a dark wig, a dark curtain banged wig, and deep heavy makeup. The best idea I've ever heard. Because now in Halloween, you could just enter a room being like, the traitors have struck again. The traitors have struck again. What a tragedy. There's a tragic...

Tragic tale. And it's the one you're living right now. How could you allow this to happen? And the traces will strike again tonight. Sleep well. She's very good at outlining the game. Whereas Alan is so reveling in the camp of it all. She is very...

She's dropped in. Serious. Direct and dropped in and clear as day. Yeah. With these people. It's really fun because Alan Cumming in the US version is giving like this like camp drama flair. Like he's almost like, he's like, I can't believe I'm doing this a little bit. Whereas like Claudia in the UK is like,

I am dead serious about this. And she even refers to them as my traitors, my faithful. She's like, I'm with you. I'm rooting for you. But like, I just, I'm so disappointed when you fail and so uplifted when you succeed. Whereas in the Australian version, the guy is very like hot and smarmy and cheeky, almost like James Bond. He's giving like,

His name is Roger. I started the first episode. Yeah, he's good. And that season is really good, too. They cast some loony birds. It's Australia. Yeah. Love to my birth country, but, you know, it's a bunch of loony birds. Apparently, Claudia Winkleman is very funny. Funny girl. She goes on these podcasts. She does interviews where she is, like, cutting up.

I mean, she has big fans in us. Absolutely. We're new to Claudia Winkleman. We can't wait to see more. I'm so happy you finally are watching that season because I enjoyed it like probably eight months ago. Right. And it was... I'm late. I just think the traders in general, what a home run. What a win for the world. The audience, the world. I mean, how many of... There are many countries. I know there's Belgium. I know it's like...

or as big as Drag Race, I feel. Like, in terms of the international franchising. It's definitely got international presence. Yeah, I mean, like, clearly. How many Traders shows are there in countries? Ha ha. Ha ha.

20 countries and territory. Oh, wow. Yes, yes, yes, yes. That's amazing. And it did just win the casting Emmy. I think that this will be nominated for the Emmys. I think this is a cultural phenomenon. By the way, it showed last night on NBC after America's Got Talent. So clearly it's big enough where it's not even one of those things where Peacock is like, oh, yeah, let's throw this on Bravo. It's like on NBC. Yeah.

So pretty cool. It's giving flagship. Happy for Alan. Happy for everyone involved. Yeah. Happy for the traitors. The traitors. Bo, listen, vacation, it's something you got to get right. You can't roll the dice. You have to make sure that it's all together. Everything is where it's supposed to be when you get where you're going on vacation. Can you agree? I have never agreed with you more. And I...

I had so many wonderful trips with you in the past. Bowen, I remember one of our favorite trips to Toronto when we shared that Airbnb. Remember that? Airbnb came in the clutch. We were doing our I Don't Think So Honey live in Toronto. We stayed in that amazing Airbnb. We loved it. We had the time of our life there.

Thanks, Airbnb, still to this day. I remember that Airbnb like it was my own childhood home. Thank you, Airbnb. If you're planning a trip on Airbnb, try a guest favorite. The most loved homes on Airbnb. The guest favorites are a collection of some of Airbnb's most loved homes based on reviews and reliability. But why is Airbnb better than a hotel? First of all, more space. Great for a trip with a lot of people and allows you to be closer to friends and family when traveling together. Second, more backstories.

Bathrooms, because sharing a bathroom, I know it's not our favorite thing to do. Also, more common area spaces to hang out together. No more feeling crammed in one person's hotel room for the pre-party. Airbnbs can have things like a private movie room or game room. Think pool table darts, board games. These are easily accessible and you don't have to share the amenities with others. Looking for an authentic and local experience? Stay in the coolest parts of the area instead of the touristy ones. Airbnb, it's just for you and me.

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My pay credit limits range from $20 to $500. $2 fee to get funds instantly. Spot me eligibility requirements and overdraft limits apply. Fees apply at out-of-network ATMs. So speaking of winning and losing and traitors, let's touch on these Oscar nominations. So the leader, no surprise, was Oppenheimer. What are the upsets? Greta. You know, I have to say, I'm so bored with...

of this conversation about Greta, Greta, Greta Gerwig. Don't tell Greta. No, disappointing. Every blonde, every blonde in, in the United States is like, what was I made for today? They're just, they're having a hard time. I just think, you know, she made a movie that was bold and, you know, did something really new and was so funny and so culturally important and made over a billion dollars. Like,

And for her to miss out on the director nomination again feels like it's just a disappointing, boring conversation to keep having. She's obviously one of the most consequential filmmakers out there right now. That being said, I don't know who I kick out of that director lineup. I'm thrilled for Justine Triet. I love Anatomy of a Fall. It's just unfortunate. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah, I don't know. Actress, director, very competitive. Actor, very happy for Coleman. Thrilled. And supporting actress bummed me out. And supporting actor kind of confounded me.

Look, that's all I'll say. I feel that Charles Melton snub is... You didn't nominate the best supporting performance of that category. I also, I would say the same about... Rachel? Best supporting actress, I would say I miss Rachel McAdams there. I miss Julianne Moore there. I mean, like, I think we...

I don't know, actors. That's what I would say. And like, can I just say, I'm a big America Ferrera fan. I really like America Ferrera. I always have. I just don't think it's an Oscar-worthy performance, especially when there were so many performances that were up there for me in terms of like really, really challenging, great stuff. And it feels like she got nominated for that monologue, which...

you took care of in the screenplay nomination. I just think it's disappointing to see Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie not be nominated in director and actress when I don't think those were easy things to pull off. And clearly the movie was beloved in other areas, but it actually didn't do as well overall as I thought it would, Barbie. Yeah. Surprising or you're saying you're bored of the entire conversation around the film?

No, not that. I'm just, this thing with Greta Gerwig missing for director is boring to me because it's just like, we're still having this conversation. Like, she deserves to be nominated for this movie. I don't know who misses out. Again, like, I don't know. You could have seen a snub coming based on precursors. Yeah. I had a sneaking submission. Submission? I had a sneaking... Sneaking submission is me when people think I'm a top.

No, I don't know. I had a suspicion just because they've bumped her from that category before. I was just disappointed. You know what I mean? Because I think her efforts merit a nomination there. The Sterling K. Brown nomination...

I don't know about that. It doesn't make sense to me. Was Greta's director nomination for Lady Bird, not Little Women? I see. Yeah. I would have loved Charles to have gotten in there. That's all. And Natalie and Julian. I really think those were really compelling performances. Yeah.

Actors really said this year, go in the easy route. Like, and even this Annette Banning nomination, she's not going to win, people. It's like, and also I don't believe that that performance looking back is going to be like, oh yeah, wow, remember 2023? Remember NIAID?

No, no one remembers Nia. Yeah. Jody and America and supporting is tough for me. I'm sorry. I just, I just, I, you know, it's nothing against, again, I fucking love Jody Foster. I fucking love America Ferreira. I love them all. It's just when you're looking at it, it's like, what?

exactly are we doing here? Just people I would love to have seen. There's just countless. I mean, even Taraji in Color Purple. Taraji, Rachel McAdams, Julianne. The actress categories were incredibly competitive as...

I don't know. This was a really packed year for the girls. Yeah. I mean, there was great things. I mean, I'm thrilled for Anatomy of a Fall. I love that Sandra Hueller was nominated. Yes. Love that. I mean, I also think that script is so amazing. And her performance is great. And...

You know, we'll see. It just feels like it's locked up a little bit too. You know what I mean? Like if I had to predict, it feels like Divine Joy Randolph is winning. It feels like Robert Downey Jr. is winning. It feels like Killian is winning. Well, Killian and Paul is very interesting. That's a race. I would say that's a race. Yeah. I would vote for Paul Giamatti. I really loved Paul. And then Emma is locked for actress? It feels like Emma and Lily. Right.

That's a race. That's a good race. Yeah, there's some races for sure. I think Oppenheimer will win best picture. I think it'll end up feeling more anticlimactic than we thought or it could have. I mean, ultimately, Oppenheimer is sweeping the thing. Yeah, but poor things coming in second with the number of noms is...

Pretty cool to me. I really love poor things. My favorite, as you all know, I am excited to watch Oppenheimer soon and to completion. I still have not, as you know, Matt and I did leave the theater. Yes, we did. Cause we were like, we got it. We got it. So we kind of haven't even seen when allegedly Emily Blunt and Robert Downey Jr. performances get good. You know what I mean? All year I've been like, Oh,

I've been waiting for years for Emily Blunt to get an Oscar nomination for years. And now she gets one and I'm like, oh, but like I didn't make it to the part or the movie where apparently she was good. Same with Robert Downey Jr. And also, you know what? They're both icons and I'm not mad at anyone's nomination. I'm happy for everyone. I'm just bummed for people that got left off. Yeah, same. There are a lot of snubs. There are more snubs than I thought there would be.

I was wondering last night, I was like, is this going to be a straightforward morning or a chaotic morning? I think it was pretty chaotic. It was a little chaotic. A lot of times, like, things would pop up and I'd be like, whoa. We're going for it this morning, aren't we? Yeah. I can't stand Maestro. I can't stand that movie. And I really feel like we're so lazy and boring for giving it as much as we gave it. Like, it's just, who loves that movie?

If you loved Maestro, reach out. I just want to talk. Just talk to Matt because that was another one that I haven't sat through. I'm bad. I'm bad. I'd rather watch The Traitors every time. It's 100% understandable. Did you watch Salt Lake? I did. Let's touch on it. I mean, the Monica thing is... It made my head spin the number of times she...

contradicted herself within seconds or on a larger scale, never once took accountability for anything. Even with the admission, quote unquote, of her being one of the people who was involved in Rihanna-Divanti's, it's still extremely, there's no purchase there. There's no grip there. There's no, it's slippery. She makes it slippery on purpose and she lies on herself within sentences.

She's very emotionally stunted. She's an unwell person. I don't think she should come back, but I have it under authority that she will. I don't know if I will like the next season, if it's as nasty and ugly as this reunion was. And that's my main thought. And then Heather's stuff was interesting too, and the way that Andy kind of took her to task in a way that was respectful, but ultimately valid. Yeah.

Yeah, she was in trouble. I mean, he really held her feet to the fire for that. And for good reason, because to be honest with you, I had never even thought about what she was insinuating. About production? Yeah. And here's what I'll say. I want to come at this with some sympathy and empathy for Monica because I believe she acts like a 14-year-old because she's stuck there. I have a lot of sympathy for what her mother did

treats her like. I mean, that seems like such a toxic, terrible atmosphere. She's obviously not got a relationship with any paternal figure. She's a divorced woman. You know what I mean? I think that she probably did want to improve her station in life, and I think she probably was abused by Jen Shah. And I actually think

That at the end of the reunion, her place on this cast to me is more uncertain than I thought it was because I would have thought she's done. Now I actually think if Heather can somehow get over this and Monica can stop being so defensive, they actually have a place to start, which is that they...

We're both, like, abused by this person. Yeah. I thought the allegations were one thing, and then the explanation of what really happened with Jen Shah and the black guy. You know, I understand why she was scared. I do think that Jen Shah is a scary person. I thought she was scary just to watch. Imagine being with her in private. Like... Yeah. The way she would just pop off and get in people's faces, the look she would get in her eye. And what I really resent...

is that whenever she was called out for that, she always made it about like, you can't say that about brown and black women, da, da, da, da, da. And it's like, I'm sorry, but that is so...

disgusting of you to hide behind that. Meanwhile, you are someone who is physically violent and dangerous in your activity. Like that is so, that's like a very real thing that black and brown women and women of color have to deal with. And you weaponize that to shut people down so that they would continue to fear you. And I just think that's disgusting. I think she's obviously a disgusting person inside and out. And, um,

At the end of the reunion, when they were all like holding each other and crying and Andy said, can we all just really realize the fact that this person was like an asteroid. We're still cleaning up her mess. That's what he said. We're still cleaning up her mess. And then I thought it was powerful when Heather addressed her. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, and I think ultimately when the rest of the women came to her defense and said, I understand why Heather did what she did. I understand that.

you know, you do see why the show ultimately has ended up being a great show, which is there is that sisterhood there and that understanding. And I also believe that we're actually able to get with this franchise to an emotional truth. Yes. Yes. You know what I'm saying? It's like ultimately at the end of the season, which was one of the best seasons, we're able to really start talking about like something real. About the things that bring women like this together. Yeah.

Right. Which is honestly, the comparison has been made. It's big little lies. It's like someone who has abused and caused tremendous pain on multiple levels.

It's so funny. Like, Jen Shaw is the, what's his face? Alexander Skarsgård. Alexander, not Peter, sorry. Alexander Skarsgård. I get my Skarsgårds mixed up. You got your Peter Skarsgård and your Alexander Skarsgård. Don't even bring Bill Skarsgård into this. I thought Monica seemed very defeated at the end of the reunion, which I refuse to believe is her final act.

And I think she'll be back. She'll be back. Because I think that the way they put it together, if I had to guess, is that Mary's coming back. That's a way for Monica to come back. And I think that there will be a Mary Whitney conversation. And I think if Monica has a path forward with someone, it's Whitney. It's Whitney. Although, can I say, I think you're totally right. I am personally sort of done with...

Mary, I don't think the entertainment value is sustainable. Brooke Ashley actually made a great point about this. I think she like themed her whole recap on this. It's like Mary being that rude and that toxic, honestly, not in the same way as Jen, but like Mary being cruel and she is cruel.

It's not fun to watch anymore. I would agree. And the way these women talk to her and Andy talks to her, it's like she is in an institution.

I also think people are forgetting a lot about her, about Mary, about what she's done and been like on this show. There is a reason why Whitney used the word predator about her. I'm not alleging anything. I'm just saying there is a reason why, because there was a lot wrong about

with what I saw on that television show in regards to Mary's church and the way they treated her. Go back and watch the episode where Jen Shah visits Mary at the church. The power structure of that place is dark. Problematic.

And for Mary to throw around racism, which, you know, she's entitled to do, but I'm sorry, but I seem to remember her speaking in a comical Asian accent about Miss Jenny. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like,

Mary is not above board and she's always been who she's been. Yes, it's sometimes funny because it's crazy that she'll just come out and call someone inbred and chubby and fat and she'll just say these things like,

And she seems to get away with it because no one seems to know how to handle it. And therefore it lands under or it gets filtered under comedy. Ha ha ha. But it is just me. Yeah. And I have a feeling that if she were on a cast with people who could like actually handle her verbally and weren't just in shock. Like, you know, because none of these women can read. None of these women can like tear her apart with words. Like, so she kind of just gets carte blanche.

if she were on a cast with someone that could stand up to her for real, we wouldn't be as entertained by it because it would get called out for being what it is. Right, which is bad. Yeah. So those are my thoughts on Salt Lake. Yeah. And...

What else? Is there more current events? Or are we diving back in time? I've started True Detective. Oh, yeah. And it's good so far. It's the Jody songs. It's the Jody songs. And then I am randomly starting Fargo season two with Miss Kirsten and Mr. Plemons and Miss Jean Smart and Kieran Culkin. That's apparently a great Kirsten performance. It's really good. Really good so far. I've never seen it.

And I want to kind of work my way through those seasons because it feels up my alley and I don't know why I never really explored. Bo, listen, vacation, it's something you got to get right. You can't roll the dice. You have to make sure that it's all together. Everything is where it's supposed to be when you get where you're going on vacation. Can you agree? I have never agreed with you more. And I've had

so many wonderful trips with you in the past. Bowen, I remember one of our favorite trips to Toronto when we shared that Airbnb. Remember that? Airbnb came in the clutch. We were doing our I Don't Think So Honey live in Toronto. We stayed in that amazing Airbnb. We loved it. We had the time of our life. Thanks, Airbnb, still to this day. I remember that Airbnb like it was my own childhood home. Thank you, Airbnb.

If you're planning a trip on Airbnb, try a guest favorite. The most loved homes on Airbnb. The guest favorites are a collection of some of Airbnb's most loved homes based on reviews and reliability. But why is Airbnb better than a hotel? First of all, more space. Great for a trip with a lot of people and allows you to be closer to friends and family when traveling together. Second, more bathrooms because sharing a bathroom, I know it's not our favorite thing to do.

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Toyota, let's go places. Okay, should we go back in time? Should we go into the... Oh, well, we've already gone into the bowl. We've gone into the bowl and we've chosen a year. The year... And it's a year. And it's a year, you guys. And I was saying to Bowen, like, so...

Remember how I was like, I don't want to give us homework. We did have a little bit of homework. I've created a document, which has like all the highlights from 2009. And this actually was really fun because I think that the culture gods were looking down on us when we picked this because 2009 is not only the year that birthed so many, uh,

culturally relevant items and was the beginning of so much and, you know, also the end of so much. But also it was the year that Bone and I became friends. Big year. So for that to come out of the bowl first, it's a sign. It's a sign. It was the last thing that Matt wrote on this document and it made me very emotional, very beautiful. It was the year that you and I became friends because it was the year that we were both

Doing comedy at our school. Yeah. And we got to meet amazing people through it, lifelong friends, and no less each other. This also was the year I came out of the closet. Ooh! Big year. Yeah, I just remember, like, I was thinking, what's 2009? What's important about 2009? I was like, oh, yeah, it was like the year everything changed. I would not come out of the closet again until the next year, 2010, again.

And I will never forget, I just blurted it out to my expense and Henry Melcher in our apartment. You just said I'm gay? Yeah, it's kind of. Well, we'll get to it when we get to 2010, whenever we do. But it was a lovely moment. Oh, yours was 2010. Okay, so we have to wait for that. We have to wait for Bo and Yang's coming out story until 2010. Talk about you coming out in 2009. What are the tentpoles of that experience for you?

So I had internal transferred into Tisch and I found out I was going to get in. So I was it was like March or April of 2009 when I found out I was going to get into Tisch because I was in the College of Arts and Sciences. It was freshman year and I was going to do an internal transfer. And a lot was riding on that because I was like,

For some reason, it's like, before you do anything big, like coming out of the closet, you have checklists. I want to make sure that I'm able to do this and do that. I was just working so hard over time in my brain to make sure that...

The environment was going to be a healthy one once I had come out. So I had gotten into Tish. I remember hitting the streets and listening to all my music of the time. I remember listening to Ready by Kelly Clarkson in 2009. After I found out, I got into Tish, and it was a really nice spring day. I remember I walked around...

Fourth Ave, like around U-Haul where my dorm was. And I just like took a really long walk and just smiled and like was so excited about my future. And I was really galvanized about coming out of the closet that summer. And I was like, I'm going to do it. I'm going to tell all my friends. And, you know, basically I had come back to Long Island to work over the summer at a restaurant and I was going to start waiting tables.

And that was the first summer I had like a relationship. I had like a, you know, my sexual awakening that summer and started to tell all of my friends. And, you know, I told my mother that Christmas, I didn't tell my dad actually until the next year. Like my parents were the last to know, but that was actually one of the most difficult summers of my life because I was like having sex for the first time. And that was like a whole new awakening. And that was excited. But also at the same time, like having to look,

my friends from high school like in their eye and say I'm gay that was it was like I had a fever every day you know you remember wow anyone who's closeted or has been closeted knows what that's like to have to come forward with that information and

Yeah, so just sitting in this year and looking at all the culture of this year, it's not triggering in a bad way. It's just triggering in an interesting way, in a very emotional way, because all of this stuff has attachment to a very heightened time. Well, all the culture of this year that we'll get into is suffused with your personal experiences

experience of just like coming out. Yeah. Well, one of the things I even put in the document was that this year really marked the first year of superstardom for Taylor Swift, but also Lady Gaga. And I remember Lady Gaga when she first came out, like I was resistant. I think because of the messaging of,

Be the little monster. Let your freak flag fly. Like be gay, like et cetera. Like it's time, like Obama being elected and Gaga bursting out and like being at NYU. It was all just like, it was like life was telling me like, it's time to dive in.

And that is scary. You know what I mean? Like, the culture of the time, in the ways that I'm sure you feel this way, and, like, I know I feel this way, like, it was interacting in a way where I was like, whoa. It was a call to action. Yeah. Like, Gaga was out here saying... Get your dicks out. Well, that was 2010. Well, yes, but she was metaphorically saying get your dicks out. Right. Well, let's start with Gaga. Symbolically, she was get your dicks out. Let's start with Gaga. Sure. So...

This is, so Fame, the Fame comes out August, I want to say, of 2008. I might be getting the month wrong. So later, latter half of 2008. We'll, for context, we'll mention that. Fame Monster comes out November of 2009. And I just remember her doing, her promoting that album in a way that was thrilling to me, where I think this was before Bad Romance even came out, but she was just doing interviews with,

in a way that she changed up her look in a way that like was deeply exciting. She was going from this like Euro trash adjacent aesthetic of the fame into like, I'm going to look like Marilyn or I'm going to like, look, I'm going to really start doing my Madonna drag. And it was when she started doing these interviews where she was like,

you're judgmental that i'm promiscuous in my songs but if i were a guy grabbing my crotch talking about girls you'd call me a rock star i'm just a rock star that is a huge huge cultural moment for i think a lot of people to hear a pop star who was deeply intelligent deeply studied deeply

aware of like the things that have led up to her career and to say that to some asshole who was like your songs are about sex like what do you like how do you feel about that she's like I don't feel anything about that it's not revolutionary

I'm just a rock star. That's so powerful to me. Yeah. I think people didn't know what to do with her, but knew they had to do something with her because she was so undeniable. I mean, I will never forget. It was like Just Dance came out and I wasn't a huge Just Dance fan. For me, I got poker face. I was like, oh, okay. I would have thought that Lady Gaga looking the way she looked

Because remember when she came out, everyone was like, oh, she's ripping off Christina Aguilera bionic. That's so funny. No, it's true. It was like Christina had like a very similar aesthetic with the bionic era. Like the keeps getting better of it all. And like the not myself tonight of it all. Like that was sort of Gaga ish at a time when Gaga was.

doing, you know, the early days of Gaga, the fame. And that was, they were speaking to each other aesthetically. And then it would become so clear that Gaga was her own thing when Poker Face came out. And it was like, you know, this like ode to bisexuality and like this like bizarre melody and this weird hook and this insane sort of like, you know,

She was hinting at insanity, weirdly, in her interviews. And everyone was like, what does she really look like? Because this was during the era when no one really knew what she looked like. And then what really got me, to speak of Alexander Skarsgård again, was paparazzi. Oh, paparazzi. Paparazzi. Oh, because I also loved Love Game. Paparazzi, for me, I was like, oh, got it. Something's happening. Something's happening. Got it. And I remember, you know, say what you want, but Perez Hilton...

was all over her. He was like, this is the new princess of pop. Mark my words. This is her. And I was like, all right, it feels like we're being like force fed her a little bit. And then it was so clear, like, okay, get on board or be lame. And I just, I remember I decided to be lame because I was not ready for it. I've said it on this podcast. Like if you don't love Gaga, you don't love yourself. I did not love myself at that time. I was learning to.

You would just come out. There is a developmental latency around reaching that sort of place. And I think a couple years later, Gaga comes out with these missives about self-love that we'll get into another time. But there's Gaga. Nicki Minaj, Beam Me Up, Scotty comes out in 2009 as well.

This is a hugely important year.

let's keep going. Should we talk about... We should also say 2009, just to speak on this, which is essentially a Swifty podcast, this was Fearless winning album of the year. This was Taylor Swift. This was truly the beginning of her superstardom. This was VMAs. Because prior to this, she had been a Country Music Award winner and Country Music star, and now she was legitimately household name status, which I think...

you know, also speaks to the Kanye West of it all. That was one of the big cultural moments of the year. Kanye West storming the stage that would have ripple effects for decades. Yeah. And he was also speaking up in protest of Beyonce's loss, which this was also a big moment for Beyonce because this was really the end of Beyonce as Matthew Knowles. Yeah. Sort of let's call her like a,

pop star in the way of like, you'd always see pop stars like this. You know, I Am Sasha Fierce was Beyonce's last like conveyor belt pop album. It was great, but it wasn't like

the artistic sensations that would come later, like with Four, which was a turning point, with the self-title, et cetera, which she became Beyoncé 2.0 or even 3.0 after I Am Sasha Fierce. But this was the year of Single Ladies and Halo, and this was Beyoncé in that first Imperial phase. Let's say this, best-selling album, Fearless, would-win album of the year at the Grammys,

Record of the Year, You Somebody by Kings of Leon. Bitch. Song of the Year, Single Ladies, put a ring on it. Best New Artist, Zac Brown Band. Most Awards, Beyonce won six of the Grammys. And you said, Made History is the winningest female artist in a night. Does she still hold that record? I think so, because I think they've also changed it so that it would be pretty impossible for an artist to win six awards in a night. Because this was a time where there was like,

There was best female pop vocal and best male pop vocal, whereas now it's best solo pop vocal. They've done a lot of changing with the categories, I think because it was so easy for people to win so many. Also, I just want to say in terms of Use Somebody, do you want to know the first time I ever heard the song Use Somebody? Was it at a Hammercat show? No. No.

It was at Saturday Night Live. Oh, you went to see Kings of Leon. I went on the standby line. So we've talked about this on the pod, but, and this is one thing I forgot to say when I talked about this with Seth Meyers. The Anne Hathaway show. No, it was James Franco and Kings of Leon. And do you know who I sat next to in the audience? You've told me before, but this is going to blow my mind again. Emma Stone.

Oh, my God. Emma Stone had only been in Superbad. Uh-huh. And I remember no one recognized her, but I did. Uh-huh. Because I loved Superbad and I loved Emma Stone in it. And I'm telling you, she was sitting next to her boyfriend at the time, Teddy Geiger. Whoa. So I remember when the taping was over, like...

Everyone was getting up and it was so major. And I remember you, somebody had come on and I remember being like, wait, that song was kind of great. Like I had never heard that. Like I had, I knew sex on fire by Kings of Leon. So they perform sex on fire and they were somebody. And I was like, whoa, that song is kind of a smash. And then those are both great songs. They were great. And it would go on to win record of the year, as you just said, but I was sitting next to Emma Stone. And I remember at the end when everyone was getting up to file out so many people stopped Teddy Geiger for a picture. Wow.

I think Emma Stone might have been taking photos for Teddy Geiger and her fans. You know, Teddy Geiger has transitioned and become, you know, more of like a songwriter. I think she works with Shawn Mendes a lot now, but this was a time when they were dating. I sat next to them. That's wild. And watched Kings of Leon perform You Somebody at a show that would change the course of my life in terms of what I was perceiving

pursuing and would ultimately be a show that my best friend was the star of. And I would also meet him that year. It just, this is, and I was coming out and like all these things, like just unreal. Can I say this segment is already amazing. Not to pat ourselves on the back. I love this. I love this so much because I mean, we'll get to a point where we do a year that like we weren't even born in and

And we won't have this personal connection to it as much, but... Who's to say? Who's to say? I mean, this is... Emma Stone, by the way, Culture Awards...

accolade fan. Well... Should we say she was almost going to show up to last year's ceremony? Yeah, we were... We actually almost had Emma Stone come to the Culture Awards. Talks fell apart at the last minute because I believe there was a hair-dyeing situation. I think she had just dyed her hair and she was concerned about quote-unquote looking crazy. But, you know...

the door is open Emma Stone was it black no it couldn't have been black she had dyed her hair for something which probably people will find out soon but I think that she was like

eh, it's not really the vibe for me to show up in public right now. Totally. But she has an open invitation to come at any point in the future. Whenever she wants. The vibes are good, right? I mean, like, she seems like... Vibes are great. We were, like, naked on a garbage truck in the cold.

Just like our teeth clattering, chattering, whatever. And then I was like, we just talked. When she hosted SNL for the fifth time. And I'm telling you, I sat next to her on what had to be the first time she had ever seen it. Yeah, yeah. Isn't that weird? It's crazy. A show that she loves, that she's loved her whole life. And you know what's funny? I remember her watching it. And I remember, this is so weird. And maybe I'm rewriting history here.

But when I was watching it, I remember I was having a moment where I was just like,

wow, this is so exciting. I don't know if I need to be on this show or want to do this show, but there's something about this. I need to explore this as a career. I need to pursue this. Yes. I need to pursue this feeling, this energy. And I feel like I was, of course, looking over at her because I knew who she was. And I feel like I saw something similar in the way that she was

And I would make, if she ever comes on this podcast, I would love to ask her about that because I'm sure she remembers being there, you know, like, and I'm sure it was like a moment because I mean, she would go on to host the show five times and it was just unreal. It was, it's just so crazy.

This is 2008, so this is a different thing. We're cheating a little bit, but the use of somebody got us into it. No, no, no. Yes, yes, yes. No, no, no. I didn't mean to be fastidious about the year. I just think that also was when you were seeing Tina as Sarah Palin. Yes. And that's going to be relevant as well. I mean, that night was basically one of the days I decided to come out of the closet. Wow. I mean, to be honest, I remember I got home from seeing SNL

And I like sat on my bed and I like, oh gosh. What? I like cried. I cried because I wanted to get out of my situation so bad. And I was so unhappy. And I was so convinced I could do more. I was like, I know I'm better than this. I just know I'm better than this.

not speaking to people. I know I'm better than not doing what I'm capable of doing. Like, I know I can do something. And like seeing everyone there, like engaged in what they were doing and excited and the energy around that. I was just like, I literally decided in that night, I was like, I'm going to try to internal transfer into Tish and I'm definitely going to come out of the closet because I can't do this anymore. I can't allow myself to be a prisoner anymore.

Yeah. Like I've come so far. Like my parents are spending so much money for me to go to this school. I'm not going to hide in my room. Like, and even just like not make friends and just go to the SNL standby line every weekend. I knew that was a crutch. It was something I could do to waste a lot of time because I love that show so much. But I also like, wasn't making friends cause I was scared. Right. Cause I was scared. Like, I mean,

And ultimately I would, you know, triumph in that and like come out of the closet and we all would. But it was hard. It was really hard at that time. And I remember I sat on my bed, cried, and I Googled the person that I respected more than anyone else. And that was Amy Poehler.

And I saw that she was in her improv group in college, and I saw that she started something called the UCB. And I signed up for a class, and I said, next year, I'm definitely getting into a group. I'm definitely getting into a group at my school. I will. And... And you did. I did...

That's amazing. That's beautiful. And also, that show spurring you to come out of the closet and be yourself is amazing because...

I think Andy Samberg had an effect on you, both artistically and physically. He did. You know what? I was thinking, one of the handsomest men in the world. I love Andy Samberg. Also, this was a time where the digital shorts were really popping off. Oh my God. Are you kidding me? This was a peak era. This was a great era of SNL. And it changed my life. It really did. For so many reasons. I'm so grateful I went to that. Yeah.

and allowed that to change. But anyways. Thank you for sharing. What else? Avatar. Avatar. Top grossing film, Avatar. Best picture, Hurt Locker. That was an intense...

year that was... No, that's the only James Cameron-Katharine Bigelow matchup, right? Yeah, that was the showdown of the exes. Yes, yes, yes. And Catherine Bigelow won Best Director. First ever woman to win the award. It's apropos on this morning. Presented by Barbra Streisand. Not to say that things have changed so much. I mean, claps to Justine Triay. You know, and just a couple years ago, we had two women nominated for Best Director. So...

It's amazing. I'm sorry about the Greta thing, but like, it's great. And it was presented by Barbra Streisand, which was a moment. And yeah, the Hurt Locker won six Oscars, Avatar won three. This was also the year of Sandra Bullock's Oscar win, which was controversial at the time, I think has held up a little bit better. You think so?

I think because she has gone on to slay so hard. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But I remember the blind side feeling like, okay, we're giving the movie star the Oscar. But then you see Gravity a couple years later and talk to me. Like, you know what I mean? Like, tell me something. Tell me something. Other notable films. Inglourious Bastards. Precious. Up. Nine. Very important movie for you. Nine is a movie I saw twice in theaters.

And I felt very seen by Kate Hudson. Absolutely. And Fergie. And Sophia Loren. Fergie, by the way, this was Fergie's year. Yeah. Oh my God. This was a great year for the Black Eyed Peas. Oh, for sure. The Black Eyed Peas were in the culture. Yeah. And education, a movie that I took myself to see on a day that I had off from school. I was like, I'm going to go take myself to a movie.

And my first Carey Mulligan exposure, and I was like, I'm obsessed with this girl. I'll never forget one of your most iconic Instagram bios. I am as pretty as Carey Mulligan, please confirm. Please confirm. Please confirm. The Hangover, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

An important installment of the Harry Potter story. The death of... Dumbledore. No, he... Does he die in Half-Blood Prince? Yes. Or does Snape die in Half-Blood Prince? No, Snape dies at the end of Deathly Hallows. No, he doesn't. Yeah, he does. Does he?

Half-Blood Prince is 1000% Dumbledore being killed. Okay, you're right. You're right. You're right. The way that Bowen Yang is looking at me right now, he's saying... I'm not looking at you in any way. He's saying, honey, you know I read Harry Potter books every day. No. What? No. Come out of the closet as a Harry Potter daily reader. As a Joanne Kathleen apologist. Dan.

Death of Dumbledore. Yes. Death of Dumbledore. Okay. Let's go back quickly to music. Other top selling albums. I Dreamed a Dream by Susan Boyle. Was this the year of Susan Boyle? Or was that a viral? I mean, talk about a viral moment. Was that 2008 or 2009? I think her virality was 2008. Her album was 2009. But the Susan Boyle phenomenon opened the door for Adele.

No, I mean, I don't think you're wrong. Susan Boyle walked so Adele could run. It's actually Real Culture number 100. Susan Boyle walked so Adele could run. Meanwhile, 19 comes out in 2008. Adele being on SNL is 2008. Shut up. I'm sorry. I'm just saying.

I think Susan Boyle and Adele, though, are sort of cosmically linked in a way. Yeah, they are. They should do a conversation and it should be filmed. They should do an Actors on Actors. Neither of them. Actors. British tontuses drinking wine. I hope Susan Boyle is well. I think she's fine.

I am Sasha Fierce, the fame, Hannah Montana, the movie soundtrack, and the END by Black Eyed Peas. Let's talk about the Black Eyed Peas. The Black Eyed Peas had a number one hit on the Billboard Hot 100 for this year for 26 weeks, cumulatively. I Got a Feeling was a number one hit for 14 weeks. Boom Boom Pow was a number one hit for 12 weeks. Boom Boom Pow. Boom Boom Pow, sure.

I mean, you're incredulous. You find it incredulous that Boom Boom Pow had such a chokehold on the culture. But I will say, I Got a Feeling was that song. It was definitely giving, like, this is the song we're going to play for the trailer for, like, Valentine's Day. You know what I mean? It's like, I got a feeling. But I Got a Feeling is, like, the pregame song.

It is the pregame song. And I feel like that concept kind of, for me at least, I'm just gonna say in my personal experience, 2009 was really when I started to embrace the pregame. Because this was college, this was freshman year of college. I was getting, I was like drinking with other students for the first time. I didn't really do it that much in high school.

This was a huge cultural and personal moment for me. And I got a feeling encapsulated. Do you remember our pregame for the Violet Ball? Oh my God. Well, we did a postgame for the Violet Ball. We did a pre and postgame because I remember we, this was also right around the time when we discovered marijuana. And I remember we were like, let's smoke and then go to the Violet Ball. The Violet Ball was like NYU's like yearly social, how would you describe it? It was like a, like a nice prom. Yeah.

And that wasn't totally real, but it was a social and it was at Bobst Library, was it not? It was at Bobst. Yeah, I remember we were all so excited to go to Bobst. It was my like second time at Bobst. I remember me being like, I remember one of our conversations, Bon, was like, I've never been to Bobst. And you were like, I'm at Bobst every day. Every day. I was at Bobst Library every day for four years. Yeah, you really worked very hard in college. Not really. Yeah.

But Bowen, you were at Boebst every day. Actually, no, I did. Don't do that to yourself. You worked so hard. I was slaying organic chemistry. I was in grad classes by my senior year. Yeah, you're so smart. Whatever. And you were at Boebst every day. You knew exactly where the bathroom was with the violet ball from attending Boebst study sessions. Right. I was like, where am I going? Matt, do you want to rattle off more of these number one hits? Sure.

Sure. Number one hits from the year 2009. Three by Britney Spears. Great song. Crack a Bottle by Eminem. I don't even know what that is. Baby, are you down, down, down, down, down? I love down by Jay Sean. What says 2009 more than this next one? In New York.

The perfect song about that doesn't... We were in New York, baby. We were in New York. Grammatically, it didn't make sense, but it was an amazing song. Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of might be title of ep. Concrete Jungle Where Dreams... Fireflies by Owl City. This was a bop. 10,000 fireflies. You know who loved this. Taylor. Taylor. Oh my God. Absolutely. Just Dance, Lady Gaga.

Three weeks in number one in 2009. My Life Would Stuck Without You. Two weeks in number one. Kelly Clarkson. My Life Would Stuck Without You was a number one hit for two weeks. It broke her own record for biggest jump to number one. Did you just rattle that off off the top of your head? Yes.

That's amazing. It went from, I believe, I believe a moment like this went from 97 to number one. Wow. And then I think My Life What's Up Without You was like number 98 to number one in like a week. Wow. Poker Face being number one for one week is shocking to me, but I believe it. There are so many songs you think are going to be number ones, and then you look back and they were not. Right.

Like, it's kind of shocking. Right Round by Flo Rida. This was also the intro to Kesha. She would only start her solo career next year. And you know we'll be talking about K-E-$-H-A in 2010. Single Ladies. Single Ladies. One of the most iconic. And Whatcha Say by Jason Derulo. Ahead of the curve in terms of the image and heapification of pop music. Ab-

Absolutely. That is a really good way to put it. The Imogen-hipification of pop music. Like, we're still in it. Taylor and Ari are still influenced by Imogen. Imogen? You can see her image in music. Period. In heaps of music. That's really good for number 30. Imogen? You can see her image in heaps of music. That's one of our best ever. Absolutely.

That's one of our best ever. Television of the time, Bowen. Talk about it. Let's go. Emmy for Outstanding Drama, Mad Men for the second consecutive year. Emmy for Outstanding Comedy, 30 Rock for the third consecutive year. I think that was also the fourth season of the show. Yeah. Maybe. No, no, no. I think it was the third season because I remember they won their first year and didn't stop winning. Right. These two shows had a chokehold. Absolutely. And there was a lot of crossover between the two as well. Yeah.

John Hamm. Yeah, yeah. And John Slattery. Great, great shows. We love them. Outstanding TV movie. Grey Gardens. Wow.

Drew and Jessica Lange. This was like a moment where this was like Drew's first big prestige moment. And then it never, it didn't continue. But I remember Drew was so great in this movie. She was amazing. I mean, she like, she slayed. This is the first outfit for the day. Yeah.

It's my impression of Drew Barrymore as her impression of that crazy lady. What was it? It's my imitation of Drew Barrymore's impression of that crazy lady. My husband and I are so absolute. My husband and I are so absolute.

Clues. Clues. Okay. Talk about these premieres. What premiered in 2009? These following shows, which would all be culturally important, began in 2009. RuPaul's Drag Race. Wow. Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. Wow. Glee. Wow. Watch What Happens Live. Wow. Modern Family, The Good Wife, and Jersey Shore. Now, RuPaul's Drag Race...

Did not have an immediate cultural impact. But this was obviously the year that BB's A Heart of Benet won. I just, I have to say, it was also with you that I started watching the show. It would be the next year. But I just have to say, remember when RuPaul's Drag Race was on Logo and it was just lube commercials? Like, bring me back to the days. Yes, yes.

It was so for queers. Yeah. And it's just so interesting. Like other things on this list too, like these things that were so for faggots, like Lady Gaga on RuPaul's Drag Race, that would then ultimately become Oscars and Emmys. You know what I mean? Like these things that,

were so niche that people did not have any clue what to do with. Years later, they would truly find out what to do with them until they were like,

literally almost like both those things are like and i don't say this in a pejorative but like for moms now right and that's not that's not a pejorative thing it is the usual for faggots both are still for faggots but they're also for moms now it's the sort of life cycle of social media as well it's like facebook is facebook starts out cool and for the kids until it becomes for moms

And no problem. Moms are the ultimate terminus for anything cultural, I think. Oh, in 15 years, when like Tate McRae is for moms, remember this conversation. I can't wait. I can't wait for that day. Remember this conversation. When Rene Rapp is for moms, remember this conversation.

And it'll be beautiful. It'll be beautiful. These are shows that entered syndication as in they reached 100 episodes. Grey's Anatomy, The Hills, Laguna Beach, Law & Order SVU, and The Office. Yeah. Amazing. I mean, all those things are...

Very indicative of this time. And ER ended this year. So this was ER ending and Grey's Anatomy sort of being the apex predator, as it were. One hospital drama falls, another reigns supreme. And I think Grey's Anatomy has kind of eaten ER now.

Well, it is. I think they announced this at the Emmys. It is now in its 20th season. I think it surpassed ER pretty recently as the longest running medical drama. Right. Yeah. American Idol winners, Chris Allen with runner-up Adam Lambert. Wow. This was also a time when American Idol was the number one show and it was not close. This was still the era of...

And also, not for nothing, but Adam Lambert on American Idol was also a gay moment. Revolutionary. I remember he performed Feeling Good on American Idol. And I remember he wore like a white suit and walked his gay ass slowly down a huge staircase. And I remember being like, this gay guy is turning up on this show and he will not win. Yeah.

And lo and behold. But he didn't win, but like... But he did. But he has the cultural staying power that like Chris Allen didn't. Yeah, isn't that interesting? I feel like Chris Allen winning American Idol like certainly speaks to the fact that we were... Where we were. Well, it's like...

He was definitely talented, but it wasn't what Adam Lambert could do. But then, like, I think before the end of the year, Adam Lambert did come out with his album. For your entertainment! Oh, yeah. That was a cunty album. Cunty, cunty, cunty. What do you want from me? Wow. Originally for Pink. Paula Abdul stepped down as judge. Her replacement is announced as Ellen DeGeneres. L-O-L-1. That did not go good. No. ER aired its series finale, as we said. MADtv aired its series finale.

Oprah announces she will end her talk show in 2011. Yeah. Okay, very interesting. And then, obviously, like, you can't really talk about 2009 without talking about two things. And I would say that's, like, death of Michael Jackson. I think we all remember where we were. Yep. And Obama being fucking sworn in. Like, the Obama story is more 2008. Right. But, like, I just remember that feeling like...

And it's really interesting we pulled this year out for so many reasons because it did feel like when he became president, like it was sworn in and that year was starting and it felt like there was so much good news about like same-sex marriage being embraced around the country and him even starting to embrace it. And just maybe it was us being at NYU and like us like finding our ways out of the closet or getting there or being halfway in, out, whatever. This year really felt like

There was so much promise and potential, even with Gaga. You know what I mean? It's like this new fucking throwback to David Bowie that's coming out. Obama being elected. So much culturally encouraging stuff. Yeah. Yeah. I wish I internalized that optimism more.

Because I feel like I've really forgotten the literal emotion of that. - Well, it's easy to now. - Of course. - Remember being optimistic? How sad is that? - How sad is that? Where were you when Michael Jackson died? - I was at work. - Me too. - I was at work. I was working at a seafood restaurant on Long Island.

It was a very interesting time because, like I said, I was in a relationship or something that I was keeping a secret with someone I worked with and was much older than me. And I remember Michael Jackson, I found out he died at work. And then also the funeral was playing when I was at work. And I remember...

We weren't playing music. We were just playing the funeral. And we would never do that for anyone else. That's Michael Jackson. Yeah, it was. I mean, it was the death of beyond a cultural icon. And this was a really interesting time, too, because everyone was it was like worldwide grief. But also there's that weirdness in the air about like the fact that he had, you know,

I don't know. His life. The allegations of him and his predatory behavior was really also hanging in there. Right. Well, it was just, it was tragedy on top of tragedy on top of tragedy. Between, like, his upbringing and then the way that death transpired. Yeah. And the way, and, like, his legacy being very compromised. Yeah.

It was just layers of devastation. You remember Nicki Minaj's iconic lyric? Like, MJ doctor, they're killing me. Probe a fall. They really hope a fall. I know they hope a fall.

Bo, listen, vacation, it's something you got to get right. You can't roll the dice. You have to make sure that it's all together. Everything is where it's supposed to be when you get where you're going on vacation. Can you agree? I have never agreed with you more. And I've

so many wonderful trips with you in the past. Bowen, I remember one of our favorite trips to Toronto when we shared that Airbnb. Remember that? Airbnb came in the clutch. We were doing our I Don't Think So Honey live in Toronto. We stayed in that amazing Airbnb. We loved it. We had the time of our life. Thanks, Airbnb, still to this day. I remember that Airbnb like it was my own childhood home. Thank you, Airbnb.

If you're planning a trip on Airbnb, try a guest favorite. The most loved homes on Airbnb. The guest favorites are a collection of some of Airbnb's most loved homes based on reviews and reliability. But why is Airbnb better than a hotel? First of all, more space. Great for a trip with a lot of people and allows you to be closer to friends and family when traveling together. Second, more bathrooms because sharing a bathroom, I know it's not our favorite thing to do.

Also, more common area spaces to hang out together. No more feeling crammed in one person's hotel room for the pre-party. Airbnbs can have things like a private movie room or game room. Think pool table darts, board games. These are easily accessible and you don't have to share the amenities with others. Looking for an authentic and local experience? Stay in the coolest parts of the area instead of the touristy ones. Airbnb, it's just for you and me. Hey everyone, we here at Lost Culture East just love

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This also was the year we lost Brittany Murphy.

I was at Bob's library when that happened, when I heard. Oh my God. I know. Sad for many reasons. Sonia Sotomayor swung in as a Supreme Court justice. She would go on to speak at our graduation. I'll never forget her first words. This is awesome.

This is awesome. It's so good to be in the Bronx. Sonia! Sonia! Yeah, Natasha Richardson passed. So did Bea Arthur and Farrah Fawcett. Not a good year for actresses living. Joe Biden was the vice president. Democrats had a 59 seat majority in the Senate. We missed that. Sarah Palin resigned as governor.

A political storm. At large. I like this section. Read some of these.

The Walt Disney Company acquires Marvel Entertainment. This at the time didn't feel like a big deal because this was a time when DC was sort of slaying and Marvel was kind of flopped. No one was checking for Marvel, really. But also Iron Man had just come out and there was a little bit of a tickle in the Marvel idea. Well, there was a lot of importance around this at the time. I remember reading so many pieces about

I think it was Kotaku or Gawker. I mean, Gawker is like, that is 2009. The House Down. The House Down. The 2009 was a Gawker, original Gawker peak. For me, at least. It was like Richard Lawson writing all this stuff. Richard Lawson, I remember that summer of 2009, left Gawker and wrote his goodbye, his farewell post, and

Through the voice of, at the time, famous New York socialite, Tinsley Mortimer. Mm. Yeah.

Like that was like the level of like, that's what we were at. Well, that's where we were at. And I was just like, Oh, Gawker feels like this really exciting place, like on the internet where like people are funny and cheeky and these, like, it just, I really miss that time. The internet specifically, it was like Twitter kind of starting out. Oh yeah. This was 2008. I remember is when I became really aware of Twitter. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And 2009 was when I started my account, I think.

And it was just a fun, fun place for the most part. I remember like Michael Ian Black was like a Twitter celebrity to me. And he mentioned me one time and it was the most star, it was the closest to fame that I had ever felt. It was like Michael Ian Black acknowledged me on Twitter.

Isn't that so funny? I remember thinking Ashton Kutcher created it. Oh, that's funny. I wonder why. He was out talking about it so much. Remember, Ashton Kutcher and Twitter were like, that was the era of Ashton and Demi, too. It was like, what was more synonymous, Ashton and Demi or Ashton and Twitter? You could not tell me.

That's interesting. It was also Twitter. I think early days of Twitter, specifically 2009 was, I'm going to say a name. She was the queen of Twitter, Katy Perry. She was on it all day, every day, just being funny on it. Like, I remember this so well. I couldn't stop laughing at this. Katy Perry one time, one day tweets, I'm fucking walking down the street with my ice cream cone, enjoying my day.

It was pithier than this, but she was like, I'm enjoying my day with like walking down the street when a car goes by and all the people in it shout, Zooey Deschanel, fuck my life. This was, this was FML. This was also the peak, like this was FML culture. This was FML culture and where that tweet constituted an LOL reaction. Right, where I was like, oh my God, the internet is so funny. Also the era of, oh my God, Katy Perry and Zooey Deschanel look so much alike. Yeah.

Meanwhile, years later, who would star in the video that satirized that concept? I would.

You and Zoe. Me and Mitra Juhari. And Mitra. Happy birthday, Mitra. Happy birthday, Mitra. Happy birthday, queen. We love you. Let's see. Bernie Madoff pleads guilty in the biggest Ponzi scheme in America. The effects of the Great Recession are deeply felt in the U.S. despite it ending in June of 2009. If you want to understand the recession, watch the movie Hustlers starring Jennifer Lopez. That's actually rule of culture number 88.

If you want to understand the Great Recession, watch the movie Hustlers starring Jennifer Lopez.

Swine flu is a global pandemic. The first COVID. I had it. You had swine flu? I had swine flu. Okay, can I ask you a question? Because you know what? Now I remember you saying this at the time and me being like, no, you don't. You doubted me. I did. I remember Bowen Yang was saying, I have swine flu. I have swine flu. Why would you doubt me? Because I believed at the time that you wanted attention.

That's so toxic. It was toxic. We weren't close friends at the time. I remember being, I think I told Billy Domino, like, Bowen Yang does not have swine flu. He's lying. Nicole Conlon, who we love and currently works at The Daily Show, came over to my apartment, God bless her, gave me echinacea, bourbon,

and like all the Tylenol in the world to help me go to sleep and bounce back. Well, okay. I never got it diagnosed, but I was experiencing... No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

No, no, no, no, no. Dashboard confessional singing. This is I had deep flu like symptoms during the peak of the swine flu pandemic. Don't you dare doubt me. That does not mean you had swine flu. Had you gotten a positive result. There is a high likelihood that I had swine flu. You are ridiculous. It wasn't circulating around where we were.

Yes, it was. It was a global pandemic. Bowen, don't raise your voice with me. I'll come over there. I'll smack you. I'm not letting you anywhere near my apartment. Banned. Banned. Oh, my God. Matt Rogers banned. I can't believe we still haven't resolved this. This is crazy. I am living that this because I remember this is like maybe the third or fourth episode.

we ever had was I remember being like, he does not have swine flu. I had it. You fool. I'm not having this conversation. Can I apologize to you? I'm extending my hand to you like Sandra did to Parvati. I'm sorry, Bowen.

There was a high likelihood that I had swine flu. And what does it matter that I did or did? I was sick. I was very sick for a time. Producer Becca says she has it too. I think she's a liar as well. Why do you doubt? I don't understand.

I think you were a liar, Becca. No, Matt. No, I got tested, she says. Okay, receipts or nothing? Receipts! Proof! Timeline! Screenshots! 104 fever. Fuck, that's terrible. I think I had the same fever. Yeah, you'd think. The Grindr app launched in 2009, so... I was an early adopter. See, I'm saying this is the thing. This is what I'm pointing at. It's like,

this was the floodgates opening for gay people. Like, and it was overwhelming. It was like, not only being in New York, Gaga, Obama,

Drag race. Grinder. Adam Lambert. Adam Lambert. It's like, oh my God, is Gay in? Because Gay was just so out. 2009 really was a big year for Gay. When you think about 2007 to 2009, Gay was out. Then Gay started to be in. And I was just like, hold on a second. Let me emotionally catch up here. Because I'm pretty sure you guys just wanted to kill me 15 minutes ago. Now you want me to come second on Idol? No.

- I don't think so, honey. - I remember one of my first Grindr meetups. - Whoa. - Was when my sister was out of town. I was roommates with my sister my freshman year of college. - Healthy. - She was out of town and a guy I was talking to on Grindr was like, "I'll come over." And I was like, "This is my address."

And then he comes over and I think he like sees a picture of Yang or something. I don't think she knows this. Sees a picture of Yang and I don't remember his name, but he was like, I know your sister. No. He was like, this is too weird. I know Yang. We can't hook up. I'm so sorry.

And I was like, really? He was like, yeah, this is just, you sound like her too. It was all this stuff. And we were sitting on my couch in that apartment on 6th Street and Avenue A. Yeah, I remember. And this was one of my first, isn't that so funny? My first Grindr, one of my first meetups at a time when gay culture was also very different, where it was the time of no fats, no femmes, no Asians. It was. That was a very different, the etiquette, the rules of engagement,

on these apps was, I mean, not that it's gotten that much more orderly and it's fine. It doesn't have to be, but like back then it was the wild, wild west. Yeah. I would imagine you experienced a lot of abuse on there. 1000%. And like Asian people really, I think like took it, took it. It's so wild. But that was, that was the beginning of Grindr and like, it just, you learned a

within, and for any gay man or for anyone who used that app, you learned pretty quickly what the value system was, right? In a way that like you didn't necessarily understand if you went to like a gay bar or if you watched like, you know, fucking, what's that show? Like Queer as Folk or something. You know what I mean? It's like,

The desirability politics were immediately set when Grindr launched. Yes. Well, we had almost no representation. So that just allowed these niche areas where we were communicating to be the only way to talk about it. You know what I mean? And like, because there was no representation of like diverse queerness at the time, it probably did filter down to, well, if you're not being depicted as attractive, you're not.

Right? And if you're not attractive, then there isn't really a place for you. But I was... You want to know something? I was using Craigslist. I was using Craigslist to hook up with people. Like, this was the time of Craigslist. I think you've told me that before. Other friends of mine have said the same... Of ours have said the same thing. So was it just you'd go on Craigslist and, like, respond to a post? Or would you post? I would never post. No, I did a few times, but, like...

It was just really scary to receive. Anyone could reach out to you and send you really jarring things, whether or not you wanted it. So what I would usually do is respond to people. You would trade pictures over email, over proxy accounts, proxy email addresses. And then you would arrange the meetup. There was just a lot of...

It's just like Grindr now. It's just like the apps now. It's like there's a lot of like...

And like Craigslist was kind of like the only thing in town until Grindr came along. And I didn't use Adam for Adam. I didn't use like the more legacy platforms. But Grindr, I think really, the fact that it was on your phone really fucking blew the gates open. Totally unregulated too, which now it feels odd to say this, but the apps are very regulated now.

But that's because there's a deep need for it because it's not a safe environment. No, no. It's inherently somewhat dangerous if you're putting yourself out there in any sexual way. I don't know. There's just some danger. That's all. Here's what I'll say. I was not on Grindr then. I wouldn't be on Grindr until like 2016, 2017. Really? And was rarely on the apps. I was...

I was at the time very afraid of sex. 2009 is also the year, unfortunately, I was assaulted. It's taken a very long time. I don't think it was until 2017 that I...

understood that that's what that was. It was during the Me Too era that I realized I recognized a lot of the conversations that were happening. And I realized that where I recognized it from was that it had happened to me. So looking back, one of the things I always feel disappointed about and like,

about my college experience is that I wasn't out there more. Like, I always tell myself, it's like that scarcity thing where it's like, oh, when you were young, you should have been out there doing this and doing that. But like, I think that was another reason for my anxiety around gayness and around like thrusting myself into this world and why it was so hard is because I was confused about whether to trust gay people or not. You know what I mean? Like, I was bullied very badly. Yeah.

when I first got to NYU by gay men. I remember the specific bullies as well. And I also had trusted one and been taken advantage of. And so... Oh my God, we both have a name that we were both... Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wow, that's so funny. Well, I mean, like, and then I remember I came back to school and like had, you know, gained like some confidence and some power. But I filtered all of that into like...

The comedy and the friendships and none of that into my romantic and sexual life because I was so scared of sex. I was scared of interacting with other gay men and masks. You really were one of my only gay friends. But can we just say, and maybe we haven't really acknowledged this, us being in these comedy groups was a lifeline for both of us. I mean...

We'll talk about this whenever we talk about 2008, but I remember going to NYU being like, if I don't get on this improv group, I will have no way of making friends. I think I felt really similar, or I was concerned about... I put all my chips in it. Yeah, I felt the same way. When you actually made it in your first year, I remember like, so I had sworn...

myself to like this thing. I was like, I'm going to do what Amy Poehler did. And then in 2009, when I went to my danger box audition for the improv group and I tease you because you were there and we had an interaction and I didn't make it. I was really scared because I was like, okay, that's one down. There's only one other one.

It was the right one. I was not at the time a self-starter. Like, Sudi didn't make it into Dangerbox her first year. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And she was enough of a self-starter to start her own group called Captain Soldier, which would then become its own thing. And she made her own way. At the time, like, I think I was so insecure about...

And such a different version of myself. I don't think I would have been able to start my own comedy group. So it was really important for me. And I think for you too, to make it into this thing that was like established and we could join and I could like code switch my way in. I never pretended to be straight there, but I was always very good at playing with boys. Right. You were. Well, so were you. We want to know why? Because we took a lot of shit. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You way worse than me.

Was this also the year of our wedding? No. I think that was in the next. We don't have to get into that. Suffice it to say, we were playing boy ball

And that was actually like comfortable for us. Right. And at the time it was like, well, this beats the alternative, which is that we're not in these groups at all. And that we have no outlet for this thing that we, this art form that we love and want to do and want to start early. Yeah. I just knew I needed to do comedy and it was more important for me to commit to that than to like figure out my gay inner and outer life because I was so stunted.

Yeah. So, yeah. But no regrets. No regrets. Not at all. Because ultimately, like, that is how we met. Mm-hmm. And we've made, like, again, deep friendships in these groups. Yeah. Yeah, we don't have to say names necessarily, but, like, we keep in touch with... Oh, oh, my God. No, I have warmth in my heart for everyone from that time. Mm-hmm. Obviously, mostly you and Sudi. You know what I mean? Like, ultimately, like... Sure. I mean, like, Anna Dresden, for me, like...

She was the first person. I reached out in April of 2008 before I even decided on NYU, or maybe right when I decided on NYU. And I was like, what's the process like for getting into these groups? And then she reached out. We joked back and forth. Cosmically, that is crazy to me because it's like she and I would then work at SNL together and write Iceberg together. That is crazy to me. But we can get into this in 2008.

Yeah. That was all 2009 for me. All my firsts in terms of all that was 2009. Well, I think we had very different 2008s. Yeah, yeah. But anyway, all of this was 2009. This was such a blessing of a year to choose first. A deep reflection, would you say? Wouldn't you say? A deep one. And now I'm getting the goblet out. Okay. Okay.

Goblet of Cultural Years is coming. It is actually an ice bucket, but that's okay. Can you hear the sounds of the goblet? Yes. Okay. I was telling the Katie's Readers Publishers finalist that it's actually an ice bucket, but for the... No, it's a goblet. Okay. Are you ready? I'm ready. The next year on next week's Last Coach to be culturally excavated is 2017. Wow. Wow.

Wow. 2017, this was just off the top of the dome. This was the year that Lost Cult really became a thing. This was... It was our second year. Yeah, but this was like the year that it like really became a thing. Well, I was going to say like we can go through the episodes from that year and like take a stroll down memory lane.

That's a good year. There's going to be some darkness. There's going to be some darkness. There's going to be some light. And that's just culture, baby. But look forward to that one next week. 2017, brush up. That is the year that will be culturally excavated. Wow. Period down. Oh, I forgot to mention DJ Earworm. That is an incredible mashup, as we've talked about last week.

but um there's not much more to say it's just it's just an incredible mashup but that was when he did like the top 50 songs of the year check it out y'all check it out y'all bo listen vacation it's something you got to get right you can't roll the dice you have to make sure that it's all together everything is where it's supposed to be when you get where you're going on vacation can you agree i have never agreed with you more and i had

so many wonderful trips with you in the past. Bowen, I remember one of our favorite trips to Toronto when we shared that Airbnb. Remember that? Airbnb came in the clutch. We were doing our I Don't Think So Honey live in Toronto. We stayed in that amazing Airbnb. We loved it. We had the time of our life. Thanks, Airbnb, still to this day. I remember that Airbnb like it was my own childhood home. Thank you, Airbnb.

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Also, more common area spaces to hang out together. No more feeling crammed in one person's hotel room for the pre-party. Airbnbs can have things like a private movie room or game room. Think pool table darts, board games. These are easily accessible and you don't have to share the amenities with others. Looking for an authentic and local experience? Stay in the coolest parts of the area instead of the touristy ones. Airbnb, it's just for you and me. Hey everyone, we here at Lost Culture East just love

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Toyota, let's go places. It is time for I Don't Think So, Honey. Yes. This is our one-minute segment where we take a minute, as I've said, to go off on culture. Matt, do you have something? I do. Okay. This is Matt Rogers' I Don't Think So, Honey. His time starts now.

I don't think so, honey, if you're out there pronouncing it or spelling it like America Ferrara. Her name is America Ferrara. This woman has been famous for over 20 years. I'm going to reputable websites and they're saying in bold, America Ferrara.

This is not her name. Her name is America Ferreira. It has been since she was born and since she was born into the public eye. If you are saying Ferrara, it feels racist to me. Just learn this woman's name, America Ferreira. It is an E, not an A. Why am I going to these websites and seeing Ferrara? It just feels so lazy to me. This is one of the most famous people. Like, just...

I don't want to see in the lead up to the Oscars. And you know who's a spoiler? America Ferrara. Please, please, please call her by her name. America Ferrara. I don't think so, honey. America Ferrara. Here's who I don't think is dealing with this. Amber Tamlin. Alexis Bledel.

Blake Lively. It would be like calling her Alexis Bledol. Like, it's not. It's not. It's Ferreira, not Ferrara. This has bothered me for such a long time. And this didn't happen today on Oscar nominations morning, which, by the way...

were announced by Jack Quaid, who I was in Hammercats with. And Zazie Beetz. At NYU, and Zazie Beetz, who we love. But it's just so funny because literally I was like, who's announcing? I was like, Jack? Wow. Like that, that blew my mind. Like, again, it all goes back to fucking what we've been talking about. He was in that group with me. Anyways, but...

Just so funny. But America Ferrara is her name. Her name is not America Ferrara. I think that it is a demerit on you personally going forward if you call her America Ferrara. It is not that. That is not her name. Please say this woman's name correctly. Thank you. She's an Oscar nominee. Emmy winner.

Coming for the EGOT, Queena. All right, Bowen Yang, I put to you now your opportunity to do an I Don't Think So Honey. Do you have something? I do. I do. Slay and a half. All right, here's Bowen Yang's I Don't Think So Honey coming at you fast. Time starts now.

I don't think so, honey. Putting tape on coffee cup lids. Because guess what? The hole is going to be sticky with adhesive and I don't want to put my mouth on that and taste epoxy with my cold brew. Okay? I want pure coffee. There are already microplastics in every corner of the world.

I'm going to call out my Starbucks, my not my Dunkin Donuts is because they've got the straws. 30 seconds. If we're not going to do straws, which I respect, you can't cover the hole with sticky shit because then what's going to happen is I got to take off the lid and sip from the rim like I'm at a restaurant when I'm not. I'm on the go or if

I have to pour it into another container. 15 seconds. And you're making me do physical and emotional labor in that same breath. And you need to govern your ass. Five seconds. Okay? Don't put the tape on. I know you're trying to protect the spillage, but it doesn't need to be that. Put the little...

sticky circle on that's easy to pop off. And that's what I meant. Or just trust that I'm not going to spill it. Like, stop. I hate that. Do you know what I'm talking about? Am I crazy? No, I know exactly what you're talking about. And every time I'm like... That green tape, it doesn't come off easy. I'm like, what are we doing here? I just don't get it. It feels like something that we don't need to produce en masse. It's like... It can't be more sustainable than that little paper sticky circle that you kind of just like...

flick off. I don't think we need either of them though. Why do we need the hole on top of the, that tiny hole on top of the iced coffee covered? I don't get it. Because I guess for sometimes the delivery people, if it's a delivery, they don't want it to splash and splish in their bag. It's to help them. I would rather have the lid that's like, you know, those plastic lids that like just have the little divot or indent in them and you can do it yourself. Like,

I don't know. I just feel like... There is a better way. There's a better way. Period.

Listen, this has been, I think, an excellent episode of Lost Cult. I think so. I would have to agree. And to the doubters, you said... Yeah, you guys flopped. You really flopped. Doubters forgot how good we are at this. Sorry. And no one should doubt us on The Traitors. Season 3, 4, 5, 6, whatever they want us, we will be there. I think we're...

I mean, they would break us up, though. We can't be on the same season because they wouldn't want to break us up. No, we have to be on the same season, I think. That's the whole point. It's like, if they make one of us a traitor and one of us a faithful, that's iconic television. Yeah, but the traitors will want to kill, you as a traitor will want to kill me, or the table will want to banish you or I and split the group. It's Larsa and Marcus. I think we have to play together. That's all I'm going to say about that. I would love that, but I think that compromises both of us.

We're going to continue this conversation off air. It's going to continue all day. Bao and Yang, I hope you feel better. Thank you. And I hope those tonsils get sorted. And by sorted, I mean snipped. Girl. I want them out, girl. Okay. We end every episode with a song. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies. All the single ladies.

Just hung up doing my own little thing. To listen to that song, get the album I Am Sasha Fierce. Buy it on iTunes like it's 2009. In the Sasha Fierce half of that album. Bye.

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