Transcript of “A Friendsgiving Episode” (w/ Matt & Bowen)

Had enough of this country? Ever dreamt about starting your own?

I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this.

It's surprisingly easy. There are 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh, my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-Istaan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, everybody. It's me, Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale now to see me on tour, the Prince of Christmas tour, that is. I'm doing my whole album, Have You Heard a Christmas, plus a lot more with the whole band all throughout December. Go to www. Mattrodgersofficial. Com to see me in a city near you. And now, Lost Culture Drums. Look Matt. Oh, I see. Wow. Bowen, look over there. Wow. Is that culture? Yes. Oh, my goodness. Wow.

Las Culturistas.

Ding, ding. Las Culturistas calling. This is Breaking Bread Culture.

We are breaking absolute ciabata baguette, pacacha tonight. Can we say, Cheers? Can we say, Cheers?

Yeah, it's the Friendsgiving episode of Los Cult. How about that? How about that?

It's giving friends. You are all invited auditorially, in a sense. Don't come to my house, please. No. There's not room.

It would be too much I wish you guys all came over.

One at a time. One at a time, please. You're invited to one at a time. I'll be whole up, face down.

Oh, my God. Now you're getting horny. Now you're insinuating you like to be stuffed before all this stuffing. Bro.

Come on. I like to be sniffied and snipped. Have you ever gone on Sniffies? Oh, of course, I browse. I don't have the gumption, the bravery, the braverism to post up on it, to literally post on Sniffies.

Have you? I've never downloaded Sniffies. I never went there.

You know my story- How to download it? It's not a download, it's just a website. Oh, is it a website?

I didn't even know that.

A mobile browsing experience. You were so innocent.

I'm so... Yeah, I'm like the young dough. I'm like the young lamb.

Young lamb.

In a short while. A female deer. A female deer. Wait, that would be a good rendition. Yes. Do, a deer, a Female D. Yes. But isn't that... No, it's not beside the point because do is still the... Do, re, What are you trying to get at? What I'm trying to get at is if you did alterations with that melody, it was like...

No, as long as you hit the do, as long as you hit each first... Exactly. Oh, yeah, don't worry. Please take the liberty.

Do, a, d, and... Yes. I'm so happy this is now a music theory podcast.

Oh, my God. What's your experience of music theory? That shit is hard. I don't know how you all memorize the circle of fits. You know what? Music Theory Girls.

It's actually something I never thought I would be able to understand. Now I'm in I'm in three times a week vocal lessons getting ready for this tour. You can hear it. You sound great. I'm now understanding, oh, it's just about like, it's just something to learn.

It's something to learn. It's math. It's something in half the back of your head. Do you think you could develop perfect pitch? I think you could hear a tone and then call it out. I'd be like, That's an A sharp. You definitely could. No, you definitely could. I can call an A just because I grew up with one of my only toys as a young cable-less child was the metronome, you see.

You just play around with the metronome. I went, A. Was that an A?

I think that's an A. Reader's Katie's Pup is a finalist. Perfect pitchers. For anyone to have perfect pitch, you're a finalist. Absolutely. Yeah.

Speaking of finalists, tons It ends a finalist storm in the culture. Look at this list of things that have happened in pop culture.

We got to hit all of them.

Look at this list. Oh, my God. You see what's number two? No, let me see. Bowen on Hot Ones.

Bowen on Hot Ones. Let's talk about it.

You have to talk about your experience.

Well, do you want to go in order on the Well, literally, the first thing is, this is what I wrote down.

Wicked is Out, Critically beloved, Huge at the Box Office, Hold Space for That.

Hold Space with the L lyrics. Hold Space with the L lyrics, MS6.

Let's talk about that first.

Can I just say-Let's talk about it. Tracy Gilchrist, if you're listening, I've had the privilege of talking to Tracy before. She is a wonderful journalist.

She holds space.

She does. That's exactly what she was doing. This was, again, important context. I think it's really vital for people to know that this was the week of the election. That was recorded the week of the election. Emotions were high, feelings were raw. I think that really touched Cynthia. Even if Tracy only saw it on two posts.

The reveal that it was... It is. Well, I work in Cribs Media, so I have seen a couple of posts. The holding of the Pinky, too. It's all funny to me.

It's all so good. Everyone's having fun with it. You're going to get that moment in the press tour with a queer outlet like out with someone like Tracy who looked fabulous. She did. She looked great. Also, I love that we all got on board with it and lost our minds just a little bit because, God, bald and doubt is out here posting, tweeting about- Balda and Doubt is an icon.

You know what? Best person on the news social media.

My biggest regret is. What? I found out after the fact that she was trying to get in on the John Mulaney Chapel run episode of SNL, and I could have so easily gotten her a ticket.

Oh, that will be made up.

Balda and Doubt- We can make that up to you. We will make that up to you. Balde and Down, any show you want this season, please let me know. We would happily have you arrived. Come. I'm so sorry I couldn't make chapel happen, but you are so important to the culture. Balde and Down, but she's out here tweeting, This video is changing the way I talk.

Was Baldeind out the one that was like, It's a language I don't understand, but they do? Someone was like, They are speaking a language fluently with each other that I do not speak and breaking down every single thing of it, the holding of just a pinkie. Holding of just the pinkie. The accepting of the compliment as if she wrote the song.

That's really powerful.

That's what I wanted to happen. That's what I wanted to happen. Every element of is part of a larger conversation that I want to have about the Wicked Press Tour, which is- It's incredible. It is so funny. It's amazing. It is funny. The fact that we will think back on this press tour- No, this is so fun. And the image we will have in our brains is Ariana wiping away at the air around her face so she doesn't cry. That image of them running away from... Just like them hiding from their own tears, serrates this press tour- It's serrated. In the same way that there could be 100 people in a room serrated the Star-is-Born press door. We will always remember this press door. If it's irritating you, honey, don't worry. Honey, you're going to miss it tomorrow. It's going to be over very soon.

We're going to do it again.

We're going to do it again next year. Who knows?

Who knows? Who knows. But thank you so much for saying that.

It's funny.

It's so funny. Also, it is sitting next to the fact that they are both giving Oscar-worthy performances.

Now we can say it because now they've said it, they being all the critics and everything. I was saying in the beginning, everyone that was being very gay about it and being like, It will be nominated for Oscar. It literally will. I was like, Now, let's not set a bar that's crazy high. Totally. But then having seen it, I left being like, Oh, this movie She's got it. It can go the distance because it emotionally works.

Every emotional beat hits.

Yes. The performances are very rich and the characters are complex and dynamic.

The world is so fun.

Yes. Now you're seeing, I think on Gold Derby as of today, Ariana is in the two-spot in supporting an actress, and Cynthia is at seven. Suddenly, that best actress category looks very crowded. Stacked.

Stacked category. Can I just say one more thing about the crying?

Yeah.

We got to experience that individually on this podcast. Let's just say in the room, it gets you. Yeah, it does. And watching Cynthia tear up about this character that she obviously has sat with for years. Just let her. She delivered. Everything else is just fun, is just fluff, basically. You know what I mean?

It's actually Ruela culture number 6. Let actresses be actresses. Let actresses be actresses. That's what they're going to do. It can confirm from us, I think maybe being the first interview where there were tears shed. This wasn't even when they were together. We separately had them crying.

No, we separated them.

The emotions are real. They are very real. Am I out here just crying? I was about to say, I'm not out here just crying, but I guess I am.

Anytime you do, it's so... It's real. It's real. It's wonderful. It's earned. I don't have the capacity to cry the way that I used to. If something's going on, it's just because I'm tired.

Oh, here we go. You feel too tired to cry? Oh, yeah. See, when I'm tired, that's when it happens.

Oh, fun.

I'm that classic like...

Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, that's great. I'm just going to veer away from the T-word.

The T-word.

Let's move on.

We're not holding space for T-word.

We're not holding space for T-word. Hot Ones?

I want to hear all about Hot Ones because, of course, all the conversation, as it should be, is all about them doing their press tour. You have turned some L-E-W-K-S, and I specifically want to say kudos to you and the number one in the game, Michael Fisher. The number one. For what you wore on the Tonight Show, bitch. That suit was everything. Speak about that look.

Thank you, Valentino. Head to toe, Valentino. Very good. They would not make a single concession adjustment because it's Valentino. They go, No, you're wearing head to toe, Valentino. He's not wearing anything else.

When a house says, We're dressing you, you listen to the house.

Oh my God. Period. I am not pushing back.

That was amazing. That was a great look.

Michael Fisher, the king that you are.

Dressing me for my tour.

I mean, this man doesn't fuck around and dress Josh Nieran for the Dix press tour.

Dressing Sebastian Stan for all his stuff. By the way, can we say, Can someone fucking nut up? Oh my God. Wait, maybe this will be my I don't think so, honey. Hold on. But let me just say right now. Actually, you know. Hold space with it. I'm going to hold space on this one. It's Sebastian Stan related at the end of the episode, but that's my I don't think so, honey. Talk about hot ones. This is a dream. This is such a cool opportunity.

I'm hot tasks culture down. You did amazing. Thank you. That was so much fun. I left buzzing. My stomach lining was only ruined for one day, the rest of the day, and then I woke up the next day being like, Oh, I feel fine.

But it was an experience on the toilet later.

Not even on the toilet. It was just like... Because I had a day, I was running around, and then it was just like, Oh, my stomach feels awful.

Did you have more stuff to do after that? Yeah. Okay, so they say people that have done it were like, I'm so unhappy that I scheduled more things after that because of the way it fucked me up. You didn't experience all that.

I didn't experience it. My bowels were irritated, and that was the syndrome. I had IBS. I hear you. In that moment. And then just in general.

I was worried about you as someone whose stomach is volatile.

Wait, did Is this a thing about me?

Because I have multiple people- I've shared a toilet with you in a room with you so many times. Sure.

Multiple people are like, You are king of my tummy hurts. I'm like, I don't say those words.

No, I don't think you ever say that. I just think you will have an intense bowel reaction.

Well, I got my gut biome checked. There you go. What's the T? I'm overall fine. I have a huge overpopulation of one fauna, which is a bacteria that creates a lot of gas.

This is going to connect you with a lot of people.

Oh, yeah. Guys, this is not the first time I've said this. Look it up. This is not sponsored. Flore. Com. F-l-o-r-e. Not. Com. Just Google, flore, gut biome..

Gov, it should be.

Well, in the Biden administration because RFK Junior sure ain't touching that. No. We can't talk about it. But poop in a tube, send it in. It will show you the world.

Oh, this is a callback to your poop in a tube?

This is the poop in the tube.

Oh, so this is what it ended up saying.

Yes. It was very It was valuable information.

Especially because you were going on the Hot One show. Yes.

And I'm taking my... They custom made me a prebiotic.

How much of the experience was enjoyable from a taste perspective?

So enjoyable. I would say they're all Very good hot sauces, except Devam, which I always knew was that girl. When Charlie's there and described it as battery acid, I said, Well, now I know exactly what I'm in for. And it was even worse than I thought.

Even worse than battery acid.

I have some. Do you want to try some? Oh,.

Is it going to ruin my night? They let you take it with you?

Part of the gift bag, part of the snack bag is they give you a bottle of each.

Do you want it? Are you kidding me? We're having chicken tonight, right?

We're having chicken tonight, but I- Should I wait or should I do a little dab?

Do you want to dab just a little bit? Yeah, let's do a little dab for the episode. Oh, my God.

Just one little dab.

I don't want you. I swear to God, no, this is a huge moment.

I don't have milk. Or should I wait? I don't have milk.

You don't have any milk? You know what's funny about the milk of it at all? I actually love drinking milk.

Yes, me too. I love milk.

That would be one My Favorite Parts of Being On.

The caisson washes away the spice. Do you want to try it?

You know what? I'm actually not going to try it just because we have a full night of friends coming over, and if I react badly, I don't want that. No, I don't want to wait the night. Also, I'm going to hold space for my opportunity to one day do the show. Yes. No, Matt. I'm going to kick this can manifesting it for myself that I one day get the opportunity to go do the show. You will.

Absolutely, you will, Matt. You are literally the superstar of my life.

Okay, that's enough. More on Sean Evans and your flirty chemistry with him.

Was there chemistry? I just find him be so charming and he's so thoughtful. Such a great interviewer.

Comment below if you think that there was chemistry. Clap if you think she should suffer.

Handsome guy. Very handsome man. He is. Very handsome.

I bet in person, it's even better.

Yeah, totally. But listen, you know me, when I see someone, I'm not a big flirt.

You don't think?

Unless I really call my target, I'm like, I want to flirt with that person. I'm just like, no. I'm a big flirt. I know you are. Hello.

What was that? Did someone knock? Okay, while he goes and checks and sees if someone just knocked, even though it's an hour before someone is supposed to be here, I'm going to say... He asked you, actually, It was all a great experience. You definitely were flirting. You said that he mirrors.

He mirrors. So whatever you just... By the way, let's just get this out of the way. I chose tenders.

Yes, people were wondering.

I love a wing. I didn't want to deal with bones that day because that just gets Then my fingers get too oily and it just becomes a hole.

I think you inched even closer to legendary status when you chose Tenders. Why do you say so? Because I feel like a lot of people don't do that. I feel like people were just like, Oh, no, I'll do the wing thing. Because I also think there is this ideology that you're going to go do the wing show. Maybe this is the patriarchy speaking, but it's like a real wing is on the bone. But you, queer culture, you'll take it on the tender.

Absolutely take it on the tender. Plus, it's a bigger bite. It's more surface area. With a wing, you're just puncturing the skin with your teeth, and then you nibble just a little bit off, and then it just... It's a little... I don't know, something about a tender. It's like, you are... I took some bites. I would not have done it. That with a wing.

Did you eat a lot of them? Or is a bite of each, a bite of each, a bite of each?

I ate about a half of each. For some of them, those early ones, I was like, Little Dicks, it's the Per one.

That was interesting.

I don't think I had seen that one before. Per and Ghost Pepper, Per and Habanero. That's a wonderful sauce. I'm so excited to have it in my pantry.

You are one who has Da Baam in your house now. You have a weapon in your home. I have a weapon in my home. You don't need to get a gun.

Oh, yeah. Someone comes into my house, I'm throwing that in their eyes.

It's Da Baam on site beyond insanity.

Beyond insanity. It's that bad. It's that bad. And the last dab, delicious.

Really? Okay, good.

Because it really does. It peaks at Da Baam, and then the last dab is so delicious.

But I noticed you did have a hard time with the second and last one, It wasn't good after Da Baam.

I would have tolerated it if the order had been the second and last, if Da Bomm was the second to last. You know what I mean? I hear you. All the way up to Da Bomm, I was like, This isn't that bad. I love my Sashmanese food. I love my spices. I look up hot sauce production videos when I'm eating a spicy meal at home by my lonesome.

You were a legend on that. Thank you.

It was so much fun.

You were dragging your outfit, but I thought, again, Michael Fisher killed it.

Michael Fisher. That was a wear shirt. So fun. Yeah, it was good. That was a great time. I'm so grateful I got to do it. That whole crew, that staff there, loveliest people, the loveliest people in digital media. We love First We Feast. A lot of people in the comments saying, Who is this guy? I go, Really? At this point, this is my thing. I go, No one can possibly know who everyone is in the culture.

Oh, yeah. I really don't think so, honey. That's not a good- I don't even know who this is. It's like, Okay.

I don't know who half of the girls are anymore.

I don't I don't know either.

It's not a thing worth spending your thumb muscle energy typing.

Also, it's like if you're commenting on a video who is this person and the person you're talking about is in the video, maybe if you watch the video, you'll find a little bit more- Yeah, maybe you learn more about me. Maybe you learn more about the person that you're in lack in terms of knowledge about. I thought it was a wonderful appearance. Thank you. When he asked you your Mount Rushmore of albums for the year- That was him.

I did not leave out Brat, by the way. They cut around that.

You definitely didn't have Brat in the episode.

People are calling me on it rightfully, but I think what you must understand is that I did, of course, give Brat its flowers.

Do you want to, in an episode that we will not edit, Because this episode never has that. It's one perfect every time. What is your actual Mount Rushmore of pop albums in there in 2024? This will lead us into the grab me nominations category because we didn't get to talk about it.

We didn't get to talk about it. Things have since changed with Beyoncé with this Christmas performance. Yes. I'm very excited about that. Me too. That does change things for me. I'm like, Thank you. She's giving us a moment with Cowboy Carter. I would put Cowboy Carter up there. Brat, for sure. See, this is where it gets hard. I got two more slots. I'm going to say Short and Sweet.

Which did make it in the hot one episode.

I revisited this week because I'm just like, this woman has the number one movie, the number one album, has had a number one album this a number one single. Eternal Sunshine is still so fucking good.

Eternal Sunshine is fucking phenomenal. In fact, I was wearing the sweatshirt the other day, and the merch goes off, too. Oh, yeah. Speaking of a merch I have, Sabrina Carpenter, Short and Sweet. I'm happy you said it has now reemerged back in the.

I don't know why I pit that against Eternal Sunshine. They're both excellent albums and very emblematic of the year.

I went to the tour.

Please tell me you were there when Domingo was there.

I was there when Domingo was arrested. He was arrested for being too hot. The show was great. Of course it was.

It's funny.

It's so good. It's so funny. Every song is good. Also, not only is every song on Short and Sweet good, and obviously in the show, Justice for Tornado warnings. Go back and listen to Tornado Warnings.Is it on the set list?Yes.Yeah.

She knows. She knows how fucking good.

It's a really fun part of the show. I don't know, just the whole thing is a blast. Marcelo being out there as Domingo was so fun. You know what he did?

You know what that guy did?

Yeah, he flew out the writers, right?

He spent his own coin and flew out the writers. Good. And flew out Kara and Hair, the amazing Kara and Hair.

The Wigmaker.

What a fun moment.

It was great. I was really happy to be there for that. It was a really fun concert. Really, really just like a Then I turned around. Who's sitting next to each other behind me? I felt so weird about this because the entire stadium turns around and looks at the fact that Jeffrey Eppsian and Ghaley were there.

Oh, my God. I knew it.

They were catching up. He was like, How do you spell your name again? It's coming up on the holidays. It's like what? The three-year anniversary of our Gee Lane episode. You got to check that one out again.

The Gee Lane episode, that's some of my proudest words.

Honestly, the 12 Days of Christmas, the McDonald's episode, and the Gee Lane episode, and the Mary M. Cosby episode. Oh, 12 Days of Culture.12 Days of Culture.

Should we do that again?

Maybe we should.It's been four years.It's.

Been four years.

Has it been? I guess, yeah, because that was 2020. That was 2020. Okay, so what was I saying? John Mayer and...Oh, John Mayer and Katie Perry. In the same-What? Well, they clearly didn't know it was happening. Then I felt weird because everyone was turned with their phones out facing them, watching them talk, and I was just facing forward like, You guys, Please don't. That's not.

But in the words of John Maroney, respect celebrity privacy.

Respect celebrity privacy. Celebrity rights. But everyone was enjoying the short and sweet tour. How did Juneau go? Juneau was amazing.

Bad Cam looks so fucking fun.

Bed Cam is great. Juneau is probably Now, Nowadays, the song I listen to the most.

It's fantastic. By the way, Nonsense Christmas looks so fun. Lauren Mandel, Culture Awards, the only The Culture Awards.

The only reason the Culture Awards- You produce that down.

You produce that down. She produced Nonsense Christmas. Can we say?

Yeah, we can say.

We try to move heaven and earth to do it. We were asked to do it.

We were asked to be in it.

We were asked to be in it and we couldn't make it work. We're so bummed. We couldn't make it work. We love you, Sabrina.

We were actually doing a Culture Awards related thing in LA, and she was shooting it in New York, and we heard, we got the ask, and that would have been so fun.

It would have been so fun. Oh, well.

Next year is nonsense Christmas.

Next year is nonsense Christmas.

She's the perfect person to do a Christmas special. It's the humor. She said all of that. Oh, my God. I can't believe I just said the word humor after the Anagost there.

Humor. Oh, my God. That was such a fun episode.

Wasn't that fun? I listened back and I was like, Wow, this is even more fun than I remember.

It's also about a pancake breakfast. That was special. Okay, what else is on the left?

I have Charlie XX on SNL. Oh, my God. That episode was so much fun. I have to say Shrek actually is back. Shrek is now permanent, relevant monoculture. It's actually rule of culture number 15. Shrek is now permanent, relevant monoculture. There's never a time... Because by the way, they keep coming out with Shrecks.

Yeah, Shrek 5 is coming.

Also, Pussin Boots is a full spin off. Oh my God.

Come on.

But Shrek will never not be Shrek.

What are you thinking about? You sent me a Lord Farquad thing the other day.

Why was Farquad on the brain? I don't know why this happened, but I found myself. I woke up from a blackout and was on Lord Farquad's Wikipedia, looking at information about his past. I just was like, I don't know why I'm here. I'm screenshotting this and putting this on my story. But it was basically like...

Farquad's history.

It was Farquad. It was his basic info. I was just like, I don't know why I'm here, but the reason is because...

Shrek is on the brain.

Shrek is never going to be far from top of mind. For everyone.

For everyone. I had the privilege. Oh, my God. I go to the Today show.

I'm actually going tomorrow morning. I'm actually going tomorrow morning. What? I'm on the 9 AM hour.

Oh, my God. We're talking to Hoda and Jenna?

No, I'm talking to... Sorry, I'm I'm eating the fruit from them.

Chanel, and Craig and everybody.

Oh, they're so fun. Chanel, Crag, Al Roker.

If you can talk to Sean Hickey today, Jenna and Hoda want us to do something.

What do they want us to do? Because you said at the end of your segment, there's going to be a surprise.

It's going to be a surprise for Hoda. Hoda knows about it, but I'm going to tell you off later.

Okay, I'm into it. I'm interested because I keep wanting to go back there.

It would involve us recording something in the studio.

Wow. Okay, now I think I have an idea about what this might be. Obviously, you know I'm interested. I'm I'm so interested.

To send off Hoda Khadbi. Are you kidding me? Sorry, I'm saying too much.

Hoda legend.

Hoda legend, Cathy Lee.

She is a legend.

Oh, my God. I can't believe I got to look her in the eyes and say, Thank you so much for the years you put in and for sharing everything about your life with us, about Hope and Haley. That is so special.

God. I love her. Just the best. Wow.

I was on Today's show, and then in between segments, first of all, the stunning, wonderful, incredible Paul Mescal and I are next to each other in the dressing rooms. Oh, my God. He got to introduce himself to each other. He's so excited. I can't wait for him to host. Oh, yes, he's hosting. He's hosting the next show. Then, lovely staff member on Today goes, But when John Lithgau would like for you to say hello?

John Lithgau.

Lord Farquad himself.

Wow, this is- This is what I'm saying.

This is what I'm saying. Couldn't have been nicer.

John Lithgau would like for you to say hello.

I was like, I was being invited to meet the king. Wow.

I mean, in a way- In a way. I've met him years ago. I interviewed him and Blyth Daner about a movie at Sundance, and they do. They have the gravitas.

They are like American. People constantly think he's British. Yeah. Even though he's American.

Yes, probably because the Churchill of it all. It's the church, he'll love it all.

But Anyway, Shrek is on the brain. Farquad. You know, I never got until years later that it's supposed to be a play on Farquad.

Is it really? Yes. See, the thing about Shrek, it was subversive, bitch. Very subversive. I'll never forget. My grandfather was fighting me when I was a kid. He was like, You really want to see this movie, Shriek? Yes, bitch. I was like, I want to see it. It has a good review in Newsday, which was the Long Island newspaper. I was like, It has three stars in Newsday. We're going. It might even have four stars. I bet it had four. Because whoever was reviewing at Newsday fucking understood the assignment. Yes. My grandfather was like, All right, I can't believe we're going to see Shriek. We go there, and immediately it starts giving this most biting humor. Yes. He was on board. When they said, Dulac is a perfect place.

Just keep up off the grass, turn your shoes, wipe your face.

Come on. This is great comedic work.

Jennifer Sanders singing Holding Out For A Hero.

In the second one, yes.

Rupert Everett playing Prince Charming. That was the first time they let a gay man really go off in a fantasy world.

Rupert Everett walked so Jonathan Billy could twirl his ass.

Thank you for that close-up shot, by the way. You know the shot I'm talking about, you all? Yeah. A Dance of your Life where really has ass in face. If you get to see that 20 feet tall at IMAX, I'm so happy for you.

It's wonderful. But I've been a fan of Jonathan Billy's ass since Bridgerton. Since Bridgerton? In the first episode, you see it, and it's all its glory.

Since crashing, since Final Fantasy 14. I'm going to keep saying it.

Fellow travelers, too. I mean, the sex scenes in Fellow Travelers are real and intense.

Happy for everyone involved.

I'm so happy for those boys that they got to live their dream.

Let's see. What else about Direct the Musical?

It's Then we changed it to Direct the Musical, and then it was so fun. Did you know from Charlie that she was doing Coachella? Did she tell you that week? No. She didn't? She got to very close to the best. Now they've announced Coachella for next year. Daga headline. When she took to Instagram and said, I have long dreamed of hosting a Night of Chaos in the Desert. I said, You better talk to us about what you've long dreamed about.

I long dreamed of hosting a Night of Chaos in the Desert, right? Right.

So the desert is a place for chaos, right?

Gaga ending every sentence with right.

Perfect. It's right. She's going to be out there. First of all, Friday night is going to be freakish. Missy Elliott into Gaga.

I can't believe it. I'm so jealous.

I can't believe you're working.

I can go the second week. I can't go the first. God, that's what we have tickets to first. We have literally flying in Sunday to go to Sunday.

Are you actually going to do that? Because you know I have a ticket for you.

I love Mr. Malone.

Yes. Oh, post Malone on Sunday. I am. Megan The Stalion on Sunday.

I am just to miss Charlie and Gaga and Missy. That is really tough. Anything Green Day, I love Green Day.

It's a pretty tough series of acts to miss, but it's going to be worth it. Sunday is going to be amazing.

We're going to have a great time.

Yes, we will. I'm so excited about twigs. Oh, my God. The lineup is good. I would say it's more exciting in the headliner space. But the thing about not knowing a lot of the people on the... Because I'm not familiar with a lot of the acts like... Below the Line. Below the line is you discover them, and it's going to be fun. That's the best part. It's going to be great. I'm really excited.

That's how Chapel blew up. Yes. That is Coachella at its best when it's like, Oh, this is a place where people find someone.

Yeah. Chapel rolling in the goby tent going absolutely off.

You better go see T-Pane this year.

Oh, there's no way I'm missing T-Pane. My story last year, Dave Mizzoni and I were all we wanted was to see T-Pane, but the Heineken house where he was performing was absolutely... It's the... Give him a bigger venue. We tried to see T-Pane in the Heineken house of Coachella. I was there for my absolute sponsorship. Listen to this fucking sentence.

You got to go.

That's very special. But I did. I did get to go. I'm so excited. I cannot wait. I cannot wait.

Hey, I'm Jack Peace Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. I'm Jack Peace Thomas, and I'm inviting you to join me and a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts dedicated to protecting and celebrating our stories. Black Lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands, for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works while uncovering discovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Blacklit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Blacklit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorne-Smith, Laura Leighton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July 8, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same. As Melrose Place was introduced to the world. It took drama and mayhem to an entirely new level. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, every backstab, blackmail and explosion, and every single wig removal together. Secrets are revealed as we rewatch every moment with you. Special guests from back in the day will be dropping by. You know who they are. Sydney, Allison, and Joe are back together on Still the Place with a trip down memory lane and back to Melrose Place. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Postrun High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Postrun High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's light-hearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Postrun High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Theresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for a spooky season. Now, I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra. We're talking spirits, demons, and the supernatural chaos that will make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and batter than ever. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Happy holidays from me, Michael Rappaport. My gift to you is a free subscription to the I am Rappaport Stereo podcast, where I discuss entertainment, sports, politics, and anything and everything that catches my attention. I am here to call it as I see it, and there's a whole lot of things catching my eyes these days. Here's a clip from one of my favorite episodes. You are not a real fighter. You will never be discussed anywhere in boxing history, ever.

Fake Paul.

The movie is The Apprentice, and the movie is about young Donald Trump and His apprentice, Roy Cohen, real character, obviously, both are real characters. It has a scarface vibe to it, which I thought was very interesting. Listen to the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast on the iHeartR radio app, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcast.

I was hanging out with some friends the other night and just doing gay music videos, and disease came on, and I go, This fucking video rules.

It really does rule.

It's so good. Yeah. It's giving... Something's going on in the culture right now where a lot of people are doing stuff in the suburbs in the music video space.

What do we think? Is it to appeal?

No, I think it's just a fun backdrop always, especially when you have debauchery going on.

Do you have any thoughts on, speaking of the music space, any thoughts on the Grammys nominations?

I'm very excited. Award season is upon. Award season is upon us. I think for the most part, what we wanted.

Yeah, actually exactly what I wanted. But obviously, Ari was snubbed a bit.

Ari snubbed, and she's like-He don't care. Well, it's not that she doesn't care. I think she's just like, I'm on a totally different journey. I'm so proud of that album, but it's not top of mind in a way that I think is so healthy.

My thing is, she's going to get an Oscar nomination, and of the nominations she did get, she can now say that she's nominated for a Grammy alongside Brandy Monica. To me, the morning was a win.

That's the dream.

To look at the list and see, there is my name next to Brandy and Monica, as it should be. But I was so happy with that nomination because their vocal in that altogether was truly crazy. Oh, God. Great. That song is great.

But that album is really spectacular.

It's crazy to see all of the Album of the Year nominies, six of the pop girlies, and then Jacob Collier and Andre 3000 for an instrumental album. It's a cuckoo year that they would do that. I guess the one big pop girl who missed out on the album of the Year nom was Ariana. Maybe because it came out super early. March? March. It feels earlier than everything else, but then Chapel was September of last year's.

It's a snap. What are your thoughts?

Well, the thing that I had hoped, my predictions for winners, or at least my hopes for winners, can all happen. I hope they spread the wealth. I don't know that they will. I don't know that they will. My My dream would be album of the Year, Brat, record of the Year, Espresso, Song of the Year, either Good luck, Babe or Birds of a Feather, Chapel Roon, Best New Artist, pop vocal album. That is where Ariana could win. I would give it to her now that she isn't up for the other big ones, but I could see Sabrina taking it. Also Chapel, that category stacked. Pop duo, I think you have to give it to Lady Gaga Bruno Mars. But I could also see it being Billy and Charlie because that song is fucking huge. It comes on and you feel so excited.

Of course, it's so exciting. I do think Die with a Smile. Yeah, Die with a Smile, fastest song to billion.

It's number one. Now, I think it's like that song could win a lot more than we think. Also, I realized I didn't say Beyoncé in any of that, but watch out for this Christmas thing. Christmas I didn't even know there was a football game on Christmas. Did you know about this? I knew.

I know that classically, there are big football games on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

But otherwise-Is this part of her Netflix deal?

Yes, because it's the live game on Netflix.

Okay, so people are all up in arms about the potential for this to be a nightmare because I guess- Big glitches with the Jake Paul.

Yeah, the Jake Paul might- And the Love is Blind stuff. Netflix's live thing is just always technically a little…

We got to get it together. You got to get it together for Beyoncé.

Come on, Ted. Ted?

What's next? Speaking of awards, have you been seeing any Oscar movies?

I'm so behind. The answer is no. I have recently, last time I watched Look Back, which I think will probably get nominated It's going to be tough. It's only an hour long. It's an anime movie, but I certainly think it might... It's going to be hard to categorize either. I need to do some more reading on this, too. It should be up for best animated film. It has a chance of being foreign for sure. I don't I don't know. I got to look into the criteria for a short film.

I actually don't know. I feel like usually they are less than like...

Okay, then yeah.

I don't know the ins and outs of that. I haven't been in the animated short space. I've been in the feature space.

I think this is the year that I really go all the way down the bell.

Are you a member of the Academy?

No, girl. If I were a member of the Academy, I would not leave the house. I would be on the Academy app all day, all night.

It's probably not far away I'm really in it for you.

Listen, Janet Yang, the legend, you, oh, my God. I got to meet Janet Yang at this event, and she was so nice to me. She spoke me, I turned to my parents. I was like, this woman can take over the world if she wants. President of the Academy, the chicest woman.

Oh, you're not Your invitation is not far away. Well, I don't...

No, no, no.

You'll be getting one.

But I'm really only in it for the app. I'll be transparent. I just want the academy app on my Apple TV.

I get that. I've seen a few things. I saw a real pain. Yes, what did you think? With Jessie Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin. I thought it was good. I mean, I thought it was like, it's a great examination of that relationship, like a brotherly relationship, but complicated and estranged. It's bizarre to me that people are saying, I went and saw it because it had Oscar buzzed, and I was like, Oh, Kieran Culkin is in the one spot on Gold Derby for-Supporting? Best supporting actor. You go see it. He's in 95% of the derby.

Sure. This is going to be a theme of the year, I think.

Then I was looking at best supporting actress, and Zoe Saldana is in the one spot, and they're saying she's the lead of that movie. I'm like, and I think there are very few people in that business as talented as Kieran Culkin and Zoe Well done. Absolutely. I think that if their performances merit that consideration, they should be in the Oscar conversation. But the problem with just throwing rules to the side-In a post Olivia Coleman world? Yes. My thing with when a lead performance wins or is nominated for a supporting category, it really just like it robs all those character actors and those supporting players of the opportunity to get that shine. You know what I mean? It's actually really... Because why even have a supporting category if you're just going to ignore the rules? I can't help but wonder what exactly makes them feel like they can make those decisions sometimes. If Zoe Saldana, the lead of Amelia Perez, who is also the lead of not just Avatar, but also the Marvel series at large in Guardians, who has been a star since the late '90s, who has consistently worked year in and year out, why do they feel like they can bump her down to supporting- It's a bummer for everybody because, yeah, it's supporting ends up being this repository now.

It feels like, Oh, don't worry, we're going to campaign you for the Oscar, just not the one that is the one everyone's going to be talking about. Why? If Zoe Saldana is brilliant in Amelia Perez, and I haven't seen it yet, but by all accounts, she is ferocious, her best performance, whatever, then why aren't you campaigning Zoe Saldana, someone literally everyone in America and the world has seen her movies? Why isn't she competing elite actress if she's the lead of that movie? I just don't understand why they have... Obviously, it's a studio decision, so they can hopefully maximize their opportunities to win more Oscars. But if you move Zoe to lead, maybe you do get two nominations in best actress with her and Carla Sophia, Gascon. Now they're talking about nominating Isabella Rosalini in Conclave, a movie I saw on election day, which was rough to watch old white Catholic men count votes on election day and then leave. That's really tough. Check my phone.

But Isabella for supporting.

She has maybe three scenes, doesn't really do much. But she's going to compete with Zoe Saldana, the lead of the movie, and Ariana Grande, the lead of the movie. If these performances are good enough to be in lead, which they are, put them there. It is interesting.

Right now, currently, Golder Bay has Mikey Madison, the favorite or best actress. Have you seen Anora? I have not. I have. I meant to. I'm very behind, like I said. But yeah, it's like you're seeing your Angelenas in Nicole's, and you wonder if all the shuffling is just to make room for them.

100%.

Where, yeah, you must have wondered how they feel about it, where, I don't know. I mean, their feelings are important, but also not the most important thing.

For me, the thing I'm thinking about the most is it's like, you just want the opportunity to reward character work. And especially with someone like Kieran Culkin, who is a character actor. His entire career has played character roles, and he has built his career playing roles like this. And then he's a lead in the movie, especially after he wins a lead Emmy for a show that has three, arguably four leads.

Yes, yes, yes.

They did the right thing with him there, put him in the lead category. He want a deserved lead Emmy for that. Why are you putting him in the supporting category? He's not a supporting role or a supporting actor.

The direction of this matters where it's on Olivia Coleman thing where she gets bumped up from supporting to lead. Yeah, when the two leads were bumped to supporting. Well, yeah. It goes both ways in that situation. But you're talking about how it moves from top down.

It moves down, literally.

You need to read Oscar Wars by Michael Schulman.

Right. I do.

You would love it. You would eat it up.

But I guess my point is like, if we can lift, for example, Viola Davis in Doubt, great supporting nomination. One amazing scene sequence, if you want to call it that, she becomes a superstar, and Then years later, she gets to commit her own category fraud and win best supporting actress for Fences. You know what I mean? But you wouldn't have the superstar that is Viola Davis, is what I'm saying, without...

Without the nomination.

Making room for a nomination like that. That's why it's important. You wouldn't have Octavia Spencer as this marquee name. It's important to make room for real supporting work because it actually opens up a door to interesting actors who are doing interesting work in these types of roles who are crucial functionally to these movies.

You need to run this business.

But if I did run the business, they'd be like, Oh, we can't do that because money. I'm like, Okay, I think this is what I would do. If you're in more than 70% of a movie, a jury looks at it. For example, a lot of movies have ensembles that are in the whole movie. Think about who's afraid of Virginia Wolf, right? It's an ensemble of four people that are in the movie the whole time. You would look at the role of Honey. A jury would look at it. She's in more than 70% of the movie, and they could decide this is a supporting role because Elizabeth Taylor is the lead. And that, I think, would be fair. I'm not even saying if you're in more than 70% of the movie, you must be considered elite. I'm like, If that's the case, let's at least look at it so that this can hold some fairness, because there needs to be something in place to achieve fairness because the current system is not fair.

Yang, legend. Take note. Hire Matt. Put Matt in the academy.

I think it's a pretty easy fix and a pretty reasonable fix. It doesn't even change things that much.

The Who's a Frid of Virginia Wolf example is perfect, too. It's like, Okay, she's in the movie, but it's lose.

It's But you can create new stars with Oscar nominations. Yes. So do that.

I am very happy to see Clarence Mclin be number four for best supporter. But he should win.

That's my point. Clarence Mclin in Sing-Sing should win that award. Because Kieran Culkin, who, by the way, it's nothing against him. No. I think he's so talented and he's terrific in the movie as a lead.

It's the system of it all.

That Clarence Maclin performance is a supporting-Revelation.definition of what should be highlet by that category, and he's in the fourth spot. You know what I mean? That is the category for the scene-stealing work.

How How much is Denzel in Gladiator 2? I have not seen it yet.

I don't know, but apparently, he tears it up.

Yeah, I hear he's having fun. Yeah.

I can't wait. Putting on these rings on the stress and going crazy was his line. I saw Saturday Night.

Yes.

I think it would be better if it were all Muppets.

You're so right.

I don't know why I'm there. The way that it moves throughout 30 Rock and different characters come in- It's literally Muppet. It's the Muppet, and I was like, this should have been the Muppet.

It's the moment in 30 Rock when you see the world through Kenneth's eyes and he sees Liz walking around as a Muppet.

Literally.

That's the energy.

Balushi's behavior in the movie, Muppet-esque. Muppet-esque. Even Chevy, the way he's a cat and everything. I just think the way the characters moved in and out, and they all just popped in their little moments. It's Muppetry. I was like, This is Muppets, and this movie would be more memorable if they just committed to it. Maybe it was the fact that Jim Hensen is there in the movie mentioning the Muppets, and I was like, Oh, This should all be Muppets.

Yeah, totally.

Like that scene where Lil Mama, Andrew Barth Feldman gets too high. I'm like, This is a Muppet scene.

This is the Muppet.

He's given like a… I love him. He's given like a Muppet performance. I love Andrew Barth. No, he's great.

Fantastic.

Andrew Barth Feldman in No Hard Feelings.

Oh, he's so good. He's so good in that movie. Great in this movie, too.

Noel Muppets should be in Anora. Anora is one of the great movies of the year.

You're going to love it. I'm so behind.

She's incredible. I saw myself on screen when I saw her. Oh, yeah, I did. Like a Staten Island stripper. I'm like, Come on, let's go to the ATM. I was like, I get her.

She's a Heidi Gardner character.

Oh, definitely. Oh, wait, didn't she do- She did 80's Cocaine Wine. No, she played Mikey Madison. She played Mikey Madison in the Wicked Others.

Oh, just string for Wicked.

Yes, I was like, Well, we really went niche with this one.

Yeah, no, people loved it. I got to see Conclave. I got to see the Brutal Ass. Nickel Boys is the first time I heard it's really good hearing of this.

Oh, based on the book, of course. Anjanu Ellis Taylor. I heard tears it up.

She's listed as well. Well, this is an interesting year. Yeah.

Then I went to the theater last night.

You need to tell everyone about Gipsy. Audrey and Gipsy.

When you also saw Sunset Boulevard.

I saw Sunset Boulevard, yes.

Across the street from Sunset Boulevard, Audrey McDonald is in Gipsy, and I went to the third preview. I'm going to take the tone that I took when I saw Sweeni Todd in previews and say, I'm going to give this all the benefit of the doubt. It was the third preview. I have also heard this director in particular works a lot out in previews because from what I saw, a lot needed to be worked out in previews.

They worked it out with Sweeni Todd in the end, I believe.

Absolutely. I think that that's the thing with previews is you see, at least from a distance, what's working. Things are in process. I get it.

She is spectacular.

Audrey McDonald, I happened to have a seat where I was pretty close to her, and she comes very forward and gives Rose's turn right in the first row. It's the highest quality acting on Broadway, I would say.

It is.

Her Rose is very interesting. It's almost pathological. It's almost like she's playing Rose's Mental Illness more than we've ever seen.

Because Because a lot of actors will love to play up to the break.

Yes. I feel like Bernadette is giving seductive narcissists. Patty is giving- Bombast. Bombast bull of a woman. I don't take no for an answer. Almost like it's born in her culture to take over. Then the despondency when she realizes she's gone too far, it just gives me like, it's an attitude issue that goes out of control. Audra, in her quiet moments, You see her processing and working out disappointments and things that make her angry. I'm obsessed. Then she leaps into action in a way that you know her brain is telling her, You'll die if you don't fix this. It's thrilling to watch. You can't have a more special experience than watching her do Rose's turn. From an acting standpoint, everyone that's wondering about how her voice is going to fit the music, it really just depends how married you are to Patti Lepone and Bernadette. Some people are very married. And Ethel Mermon. You know what I mean? It depends how married you are to a brassy, belty Roses. If you're married to that, this is going to feel weird to you because it's very Audra. It's very legit sounding. It is mixed. You know what I mean?

Yeah. I guess we're split in the culture as to what we want, which is some people might be married to the classic Roses, and then others might be like, Maybe it is time for something new. How has it got to get a gimmick?

Amazing.

I love that song.

It is... Act 2 of Gipsy really soars. Yeah. Act 1 is good, but act 2 of Gipsy is incredible. The Gimmick, ladies, I love it.tore it up.

It's always my favorite part of Gipsy. Besides the big showstoppers. But you got to get to get them. I'm just like, This is so fun.

It's three charm songs in one. Yeah, it It's so good. The costumes are great. The actresses are so good. It's just so crazy because across the street, Nicole is so different.

Different.

Doing this avant-garde abstract, almost like a multiple personality performance.

Yeah, it's like a disordered.

Singing down. But now I think she made it really fucking tough for herself.

She made it tough. Can I say my note, my critique for Nicole? What? The moments that are played for comedy. Pushed. Pushed. No need to do the Valgairl voice. It doesn't need it. You're putting too much sauce on it.

I think here's the thing. It's like, Audra is so... It's crazy because you cannot deny the performance, the power of Nicole's performance, she is spellbinding. She's amazing. Her singing is out of control. It's almost like you've never heard the songs like this in an amazing way. Across the street, Audra sings the songs from Gipsy, and Audra McDonald is one of the greatest singers alive. But the style of singing is so different from what people are accustomed to that you're also hearing those songs like you've never heard them.

The bar is so high for Audra to me, and the bar is whatever for Nicole.

Well, now I think the bar is so high for Nicole because everyone's talking about it. I think she made it really difficult for herself saying this stupid comment about the hat on Russell Brand's Instagram. Because in terms of Tony voting- No, that's alienating so many people. Well, the Tony voting block is only 800 people. That's a community of people. You really do need a community to rally around you. I don't know that they rally around her after even an explained comment like that when they have other options.

The way that the comment was explained also could have gone better, in my opinion.

Here's what I'll say. I believe her when she says, I'm just a religious person, but that's not really an excuse. I don't know. I don't know. A lot of it's weird to me, but It's a shame because I'm a huge fan of her performance, and I still do think everyone should go see this production, which I think is incredible.

I want to go see Amanda Gonzales on Tuesdays because I hear she is incredible. It's a different take on With the same production, obviously.

She does every Tuesday?

She does Tuesdays. Okay, we should go to one. I would love to see her. The direction of the show, I think, is phenomenal.

I mean, you did enjoy it.

I really enjoyed it.

It was amazing. That's my thing is it's like, as it stands right now, if you're picking between the two performances, the one production is just way more memorable. But again, maybe Gipsy will get there. But I'm seeing Death Becomes Her next month.

Oh, my God.

I heard it's to die for. Can we just- No pun intended.

Of course. Can we give respect to the name Megan Hilti, obviously? Oh, period. But Jen Samar.

Yes.

One of our best.

Yeah. No. All I'm hearing is that they tear it up, and the show is so fun. Oh, my God.

I love it.

No. Also, to say nothing of Michelle Williams.

Of course. When you see Michelle Williams the day after Beyoncé on TV.

Oh, my God. Yeah. Wow, wow, wow. I'll have to do something with Kelly.

Absolutely.

I have to play Lay It On Me for my parents, the music video. Lay It On Me, Baby Lay It On Me. Oh, Lay It On Me.

Death Becomes Her will be a gag. I can't wait.

We've been asking for it as a culture.

I know, but the great cast.

I love Megan Hilton. Oh, my God.

She was great on Watch What Happens Live.

Yeah, she's great. She's so fun. Watch Smash Again. Watch Smash Again. Even when the third-graders, because the original third-graders were writing Smash. Those third-graders are now How they're like, they've grown up, they have kids. But when they were in third grade writing Smash, it didn't matter to Megan. She tore up no matter what the storyline was and always sang her tits off.

Of Of course. She was dealing with Republican leads way before anyone else.

Cathy McFuke.

Mcfuke. Jen Samard. Oh, my God. I just got to say, I got to meet her at the Tony's, and I was gagged, and she was my favorite part of company. My favorite part of company. I didn't get to see Company. She was fabulous in Company. She was making my ass laugh.

I love I mean, everything I've seen her do, I do love. God, I love her. I was super excited when I found out it was the two of them because I was like, Oh, that's really fun. They found people that are really going to give it. Yes. A show like that would be so easy to cast Stunty. Totally. But they found some of the real girls. Here you go.

Hey, I'm Jack B. Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. Culture. I'm Jack Peace Thomas, and I'm inviting you to join me in a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts dedicated to protecting and celebrating our stories. Black Lit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works while uncovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Blacklit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Blacklit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorn Smith, Laura Layton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July eighth, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. It took drama and mayhem to an entirely new level. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, every backstab, blackmail and explosion, and every single wig removal together. Secrets are revealed as we rewatch every moment with you. Special guests from back in the day will be dropping by. You know who they are.

Sydney, Allison, and Joe are back together on Still the Place with a trip down memory lane and back to Melrose Place.

So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to podcast.

Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview Show, where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Postrun High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Postrun High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's light-hearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Postrun High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Theresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for a spooky season. Now, I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra. We're talking spirits, demons, and the supernatural chaos that will make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Happy holidays from me, Michael Rappaport. My gift to you is a free subscription to the I am Rappaport Stereo podcast, where I discuss entertainment, sports, politics, and anything and everything that catches my attention. I am here to call it as I see it, and there's a whole lot of things catching my eyes these days. Here's a clip from one of my favorite episodes. You are not a real fighter. You will never be discussed anywhere in boxing history, ever. Fake Paul. The movie is The Apprentice, and the movie is about young Donald Trump and his apprentice, Roy Cohen. Real character, obviously, both are real characters. It has a scarface vibe to it, which I thought was very interesting. Listen to the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, and wherever you get your podcast.

Here's what I have. Housewives? I have Housewives There's a whole ton of stuff happening with the housewives.

Of course. Let's do quick heads.

Quick heads. Team Dorit or team Kyle?

I'm going to go team Dorit, even though she's going through something. She's more fun to root for in this moment because Kyle, I don't know what to feel because she is not really... She's being vague in the information, which she has every right to be. I just am like, I don't know what my feelings are on this. I don't know.

I think I'm team Dorit. Yeah. I think I have to be team Doreet because as much as I love Kyle, and as much as I give her name when I order at Starbucks, something about Doreet on the verge, flying down the canyon smoking a cigarette, I'm like, This woman has no fucks to give, and therefore, I believe she's going to come and be honest.

That's what you want to see on Housewives. It's not fun, and not that it's for fun or entertainment, even though it's a show, but it's like, and she's dealing with a deeply personal painful thing, not painful, but just sensitive thing. It's not fun for someone to be cagey about something like that.

Yeah. I will I also say, when they were picking on her hat that she wore for the surreal party, I'm like, You guys know that she's one of the only ones that's actually doing the surreal assignment? Sure. You all are dressed as woodland creatures.

You all are being like, Goofy.

Yeah.

Wait, you're talking about Dorita.

Yeah, her thing that she wore to the surrealism party. I thought it worked.

I thought it worked. The antlers didn't really make sense to me.

Why were they all in them?

I don't know. We're talking about Dali surrealism. Right. Magritte surreal.

Magritte surreal.

Where an apple, put an apple on your face. Do that. Some people were being goofy and random.

It was too goofy for me. No. Bowes I love. I like Bowes.

I like Bowes as a vibe, even though whatever her career history is, is weird and checkered.

I don't know if it's checkered or not. My question is just why... It's like when she was like, I worked here and here and here and here and here a lot of places. It means they've had to leave a lot of places. But I also don't want to take anything away from her because she's clearly a very dynamic, compelling, very riveting. No, she's a very riveting.

I'm very... I think this is the right vibe, and I don't really miss your Crystal Kong Minkaus.

Oh, I didn't even think about her. I don't think about any of the housewives that aren't on anymore. That's why whenever anyone's like, Oh, we missed so-and-so, I'm like, We're going to miss so-and-so. I'm like, You're not, though.

The only exception is because maybe it's a full reboot is Roni, and we'll talk about that.

Roni is nothing. It's tough. It is tough. I was rooting for them. We were all rooting for them. We were all rooting for them.

How dare I am? This whole fucking Aaron. Aaron, I'm just like, Girl, What are you doing?

To me, she's not even the problem. She's not even the problem.

But the Rebecca Mink, the prank, I'm like, I hated the prank.

Ducks, balls. Yeah, I hated the prank. Erin didn't even need to do the prank because I was like, You're one of the ones actually giving a storyline. I Meanwhile, so many of them are not, and they can't get me to care about Raquel.

They can't get me to care about Raquel.

I don't even know the women from last season, really. It's like, why are you suddenly doing Raquel? It's like, I don't know the girls that we have on the show already. Right.

I'm like, sorry, what is Uba about again? What happened to the Hot Sauce?

I would love to know what happened with the Hot Sauce.

I like the Hot Sauce. Jessel, I'm rooting for still in a way. Puvet makes it very tough. That is one of the lamest motherfuckers to ever be on television.

Yeah, he- He sucks. That thing of when straight men neg their lives. The thing of like, Oh, I'm going to be annoying as a funny thing and eat on our therapy Zoom. I would turn to my husband and say, You better close your mouth and put that snack away right now. You are embarrassing me. You are embarrassing me. You are embarrassing me while the cameras are on.

Here's the thing.

The reason why you're embarrassing me is because you are embarrassing yourself. Yes. Now I'm on this television show on Therapy, and you are not being funny, and you think you are, and it's humiliating. His thing of constantly minimizing her, I get that she's no saint and obviously, their relationship was established as being very the meanness to each other is a foreplay that they do. But it's like, dude, come on.

Come on. Now I'm like, Oh, you're just a want to be tech bro. You worship Elon.

He wouldn't want the daughter to be Taylor Swift, but he would want his son to be Elon. I was like, You said it all right there.

I'm like, You jack off to the cyber truck or something. He literally is like, I want a cyber truck. I'm like, This is our guy. Not our guy, but this is the guy.

He's giving cabinet appointment. Okay, so OC. I thought Emily Simpson won the reunion.

Emily Simpson.

You're the dumbest girl ever. Don't you dare. Don't ever call me dumb. You're the dumbest girl I've ever met.

You're the dumbest girl I've ever fucking I've ever fucking met. I've never fucking met.

No lies told there.

No lies told. Sorry, Alexis.

Sorry, girl.

But you're a wonderful mother.

She's a wonderful mother. I'm sure they're all wonderful mothers. These people, they come on, and I just wonder, what did Alexis think this was going to be like? What exactly did she think was going to happen when she went fresh off getting together with the star of the show's Ex-husband. Ex-fianca, whatever it was, and have no contrition about it? No. Did you expect it to have a future on the show?

No. You're in, you're out.

Defense against the Dark Arts.

Katie, that was tough.

I wanted a come back, though.

I do. I want that as well. I think there's extrapolation there.

I thought one of the lowest parts of the reunion was that... I think it was Heather Dubrow, who I do like, brought up that years before Katie had had that legal situation. I was like, This is not relevant and feels petty.

So petty. I think she felt bad. Heather felt bad, and then that's where she went over. I don't know. That's part of the reason why she went over. And, you know.

And, Tamara, I don't... I don't buy it. I never buy it. It needs to be a Three times a week therapy.

For so many reasons. Potomac, I am so on board with... Oh, my God. Someone stopped me today in the street as I was getting into an Uber. She was like, Hold on your window. I was like, Okay, what's she going to say? She goes, I just want to let you know I loved Giselle, that you and that changed my mind on it. I said, But wait, she's fun again. I like her. Then she's like, Really? I need to start watching Potomac.

This person flagged you down to share a Potomac thought. To share that we had helped her change her mind on Giselle because if anyone knows the history of our podcast and Giselle, we've been very anti.

Now with the Robin Dix side of the picture, now that I think the producers… Now that I think Giselle might have been a little scared, fired her ass, something happened. Now, I think she's very enjoyable, and I never thought I would say those words.

I'm enjoying Giselle. I'm even enjoying Ashley. I'm actually enjoying the group as a whole. I think Wendy is so much better when she's not feeling like she has to anxiously be on the defensive all the time. Ms. Stacey is-I am obsessed. She's here to stay. I said, I want Stacey in a confessional after every scene, even when she's not in. I want her reacting to every single thing that happens on the show. The boyfriend is-Oh, I love it. It's too good.

No, I'm just... Can I just say, none of it is embarrassing. None of it lowers any thing I have for Stacey. I will follow her to the ends of the year.

I'm a Stacey fan.

Sarah's from the air like, That is the most beautiful woman. Sarah and I are upset.

She now takes the crown away from Lisa Barlow for you. Yes.

Lisa has not been doing it for me lately. I'm so sorry.

Transitioning to Salt Lake. We are at an impasse, you and I, with Bronwyn. I'm very pro-Bronwyn.

I'm not to draw a comparison of pivot. It's like rich people being funny and quirky is like taking a plane and going to Vietnam to eat a ban me. I don't know if this is fair to draw a parallel, but it's like you dress up in an inflable dinosaur costume to go greet your husband, or you have, I don't know, tacky PJs and you have dog turds around the house.

I'm like, something is off. You revealed what it really is about Bronwyn, though, for you.

It's one of the things. It's not the main reason, but she does trigger me, and for lack of a better word, to this awful person than I knew growing up. It's because she talks like this. The way she confronts is with this.

I don't like that tone of voice. Yeah.

Fucking hate it.

I will say for me, my like of Bronwyn is because I do think that she's able to explain her perspective in a way that I've noticed something about the Salt Lake women. They often don't get it. They can't explain their own point of view. They can't see the forest for their trees emotionally. Lisa Barlow, most of all. It's funny and it's funny and it's great, I feel like Bronwyn is the most grounded, and she's like, No, I know how I feel. My moral compass is what it is. You might not agree with it, but I'm going to eloquently and intelligently dress you down and get you together. No. She's the first good on the spot conversational- High EQ. Yes, sure.

Then sometimes she lets things slip in a way that I'm like, Whoa, where she's like, How many I bought your loyalty. I sat in first class because it was my credit card, which I guess is a flex.

The first class of it all.

I don't know. When she's backed into a corner in a real way, I think she… It's tough.

Yeah, but I do think, though, If you take all of your friends on a private plane to your home for your anniversary with your husband, you do get to say to someone that they're being an asshole and it's fucked up when you paid for shit. I do think you get to say that. As a real housewife of Salt Lake City. I think she's within her rights. Todd scares me, though. Todd's scary.

I think we're going to see that marriage, really the hood of that pop up.

That's Girardi-ish as fuck.

Yeah, but I think-Not in a legal way.

That set up is giving me Ajna.

I have not made up my mind on Bronwyn, and I see potential for-She's here to stay. Look, if Giselle can get me to like her, anything's possible. There you go. And Bronwyn seems very interesting, and that's what the show thrives on.

I think the fact that Heather is so pressed about Bronwyn is because I think Heather... Heather doesn't realize the audience can tell. Heather's trying to make it about, I am very protective of this group because we've been through a lot. It's like, Okay, that might be true, but what you're protective of is the dynamic of the group for the show reasons. That's your status. For the show reasons and your status. Bronwyn makes the show better, but I don't know if in Heather's mind that's true, because I think Bronwyn brings a big personality and takes up a lot of space. When you're there, that's something I was thinking about. I didn't even think about that with housewives. I was actually watching an interview with Bozema on Kelly Clarkson, and Kelly was like, So what's been your experience of being on Housewives? And Bozema goes, You know, it's not dissimilar to being in the boardroom. She was like, You're all sitting there and you're trying to work out a problem or a solution, and people are very convinced of themselves, and you have to be able to broker communications and conflict and resolve, and everyone has different things that they want.

She was like, I can liken it to I was thinking about that and I was like, you know, Bronwyn brings a new element to that boardroom, and you don't have a great set of minds on Salt Lake City, I think, in a boardroom sense. I think you have a lot of people screaming very convinced to themselves. Which is all I care about. We have entertainment, but Bronwyn is just bringing a new element to the boardroom, and Heather is uncomfortable with that. But she should get totally with it.

She should get uncomfortable. Bronwyn is here to say, I do to bristle a bit at the vernacular sometimes.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Who definitely makes the show better.

I don't know if she makes the show- The vernacular she possesses.

The vernacular she possesses. She does not have. But I think, Bronwyn, I don't know if I agree with you yet that she makes the show better. Who makes the show objectively better? Talk about it. Angie K. Angie Cattanavis. This is a Stan account. This is a Stan account for Angie K. You have shown vulnerability this season. You've pulled the campiest stunts that loop all the way back around to them working. The scroll is so stupid. You executed it so beautifully and- Timing. And the timing of it was so bad that it was good.

It was brilliant. But I'm just saying it wasn't even bad. It was so bad that it was good. When she does campy housewives things, when she shows up and it's so clear she knows she's on camera, for me with her and with almost no one else, it's charming.

The awareness works.

Yes. It's like, well, Meredith, I actually was going to want to talk to you about this, Meredith. I'm like, yes, Angie, wind up.

It's so beautiful.

Well, Lisa, you are not a good friend to me. I think it's shown Lisa, I'm speaking. I'm just like, You better be a housewife.

Lauren, Matt's got an Angie K.

They gave me another shot, and I go in there with just Angie K. If I go back in there, years and years later for my third screen test at SNL. After you're gone. Oh, my God. I'm Matt Rogers, and today I'll be doing Angie Cazenevas. Immediately higher. And I just do her for five minutes. Immediately higher. Actually, no, I saved for 15. I refused to leave.

Yeah, don't leave. You're doing Angie C.

Just like Angie K wouldn't.

Oh, my God. We love you, Angie, so much.

Can we come stay at your place in Salt Lake?

I got the invite.

Oh, I know, but I want to come, too.

No, can we both come, ENG? There's room in that house.

Hey, I'm Jack B. Thomas, the host of a brand new Black Effect original series, Black Lit, the podcast for diving deep into the rich world of Black literature. I'm Jack Peace Thomas, and I'm inviting you to join me in a vibrant community of literary enthusiasts dedicated to protecting and celebrating our stories. Blacklit is for the page turners, for those who listen to audiobooks while commuting or running errands, for those who find themselves seeking solace, wisdom, and refuge between the chapters. From thought-provoking novels to powerful poetry, we'll explore the stories that shape our culture. Together, we'll dissect classics and contemporary works while uncovering the stories of the brilliant writers behind them. Blacklit is here to amplify the voices of Black writers and to bring their words to life. Listen to Blacklit on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, everyone. This is Courtney Thorn Smith, Laura Leighton, and Daphne Zuniga. On July eighth, 1992, apartment buildings with pools were never quite the same as Melrose Place was introduced to the world. It took drama and mayhem to an entirely new level. We are going to be reliving every hookup, every scandal, every backstab, blackmail and explosion, and every single wig removal together. Secrets are revealed as we rewatch every moment with you. Special guests from back in the day will be dropping by. You know who they are. Sydney, Allison, and Joe are back together on Still the Place with a trip down memory lane and back to Melrose Place. So listen to Still the Place on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Hey, guys. I'm Kate Max. You might know me from my popular online series, The Running Interview where I run with celebrities, athletes, entrepreneurs, and more. After those runs, the conversations keep going. That's what my podcast, Postrun High, is all about. It's a chance to sit down with my guests and dive even deeper into their stories, their journeys, and the thoughts that arise once we've hit the pavement together. You know that rush of endorphins you feel after a great workout? Well, that's when the real magic happens. So if you love hearing real, inspiring stories from the people you know, follow, and admire, join me every week for Postrun High. It's where we take the conversation beyond the run and get into the heart of it all. It's light-hearted, pretty crazy, and very fun. Listen to Postrun High on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Hey there, my little creeps. It's your favorite ghost host, Theresa. And guess what? Haunting is back, dropping just in time for a spooky season. Now, I know you've probably been wandering the mortal plane, wondering when I'd be back to fill your ears with deliciously unsettling stories. Well, wonder no more, because we've got a ghoulishly good lineup ready for you. Let's just say things get a bit extra. We're talking spirits, demons, and the supernatural chaos that will make your spooky season complete. You know how much I love this time of year. It's the one time I'm actually on trend. So grab your pumpkin spice, dust off that Ouija board. Just don't call me unless it's urgent. And tune in for new episodes every week. Remember, the veils are thin, the stories are spooky, and your favorite ghost host is back and badder than ever. Listen to Haunting on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Happy holidays from me, Michael Rappaport. My gift to you is a free subscription to the I am Rappaport Stereo podcast, where I discuss entertainment, sports, politics, and anything and everything that catches my attention. I am here to call it as I see it, and there's a whole lot of things catching my eyes these days. Here's a clip from one of my favorite episodes. You are not a real fighter. You will never be discussed anywhere in boxing history, ever. Fake Paul. The movie is The Apprentice, and the movie is about young Donald Trump and his apprentice, Roy Cohen. Real character, obviously, both are real characters. It has a scarface vibe to it, which I thought was very interesting. Listen to the I Am Rappaport Stereo podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple podcast, and wherever you get your podcast.

I don't think so, honey. This is the segment where we take one minute to rail against something in culture, and we are going to do just that right now.

Okay, yes, I have something. I alluded to it earlier in the episode, and I just... Yeah, I'm ready to go.

Okay, this is Matt Rogers. I don't think so. When his time starts now.

I don't think so, honey, that Sebastian Stan doesn't get to do an Actors on Actors for the Apprentice for Variety because no one would sit with him and talk about that movie. He was quoted as saying that no actor would agree to sit down with him and talk about the Donald Trump biopic that he is in. That is so cowardly and stupid. I don't know if it's the publicist. I don't know if it's the actors themselves. Just sit down and talk with this man about his good work. He's also in another movie called A Different Man, which was getting rave reviews. He apparently gives a terrific performance. Of course he does. This guy is a great actor. He takes himself seriously. Because you're What? Scared of blowback? Trump voters aren't watching the variety Actors on Actors. I have news for you.

Here we are.

I don't think so, honey.

That's one minute.

I'm just saying, Sebastian Stan, if I had a movie out there, I would sit down with you.

You would go on Hot Ones? You would do Actors on Actors with Sebastian.

I would do anything.

Michael Fischer would dress you both.

I love Sebastian Stan. I love that. I didn't like seeing him be disrespected because he shows up, he looks like he does a great job at his stuff. He seems like a nice guy. We've heard that he's such a sweet, nice this guy. I think it was incredibly brave of him to do that movie. Yes. Someone should step up and not be a loser. Especially now, you would get a lot of credit for doing it. Of course. Because he called it out. Yeah, and I'm happy that he did.

Yeah, me too.

Because that is really important. Because are you telling me that now we're going to take what's happened and move forward in fear?

No, no fucking way. That implies the mandate. Let him host to SNL. Yeah. Lauren.

I don't know if he... Do you think he would want to do that?

I've heard that he wants to.

Oh, great.

I would love for him to do that. He would be fantastic. I mean, for him and I, Tanya, it's like he can do a fun voice, a fun accent. He can commit. That's all you need.

He's my favorite actor. That's all you need. I'm on record on this podcast. He's my favorite actor. Sebastian, I watch you before I audition.

Oh, that's so beautiful. It works. It works. Because she books. I'll do one really quickly.

Yes. Okay, so this is Bowen Yangs, I don't think so, Honey. On the Friendsgiving episode of Lots of Closer, we hope you've all enjoyed celebrating Thanksgiving with us. We hope you had a snack and a cocktail. Or not, or not. This is Bowen Yangs, I don't think so, Honey. His time starts now.

I don't think so, Honey. Pejorative on theater kids at this point. It's like, we get it. It's fun to make fun of them. But also, what's the alternative? These people grow up and have no outlet for their creativity, the innate creativity that all human beings have. What? They grew up to be a fucking mass shooter? Shut up. Stop it. Stop this culture. Look, you got two theater kids in front of you. Well, I'm one of them, not you. I think you were a late comer. Yeah, but I count. You do count. We both give off the energy.

I'm a late-in-life theater kid.

This is the thing. It's like, the alternative is bad, okay? Right. So not too much on the theater kid nonsense. It's not even that I am annoyed that people are making fun of them. I'm just like, Can't we do better as a culture? It's the least original thing when people call me one and I'm like, You don't really know me that well. I have sex and I play video games as well.

Yeah, that's one minute. He fucks, he plays video games, and he's a theater kid. And I'm a dancer, period. And he dance down in Wicked. The discourse online has gotten so bad that everyone's going to Blue Sky now. I'm like, This is going to become garbage, too, though. No.

I thought that this is... Either a social media platform becomes for suburban people who don't really give a fuck about all of it. It's so funny.

It's all a bit.

It's Facebook is for moms. We love moms. Instagram is a mall now. Millenials. Social media always... No, it's not even for millennials. Every platform veers off into some crazy new identity that had nothing to do with what it originally was meant to do. Facebook being for moms, it's like nothing against moms. It was for a cool college student, and then it became something totally different. It just will always fall off a cliff. And podcasting is, not that it's a social media platform, but podcasting is... It's so funny. God, Matt and I are keeping you in old school.

Oh, this is for sure an old school It's so weird.

We got to end the podcast. The chef is coming.

We're having a chef cook us our-I was gifted a chef.

I was gifted a chef. Gifted a chef. It's a lovely gift.

Happy Friendsgiving, everyone. This is our episode Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow. I apologize on this episode. I'm a little nasal. I have a little allergies, but we still are going to soldier on it and end every episode with this song.

We love you so much.

Oh, I leave quite an impression. Happy to If you are lucky enough to go see the Short and Sweet tour internationally, go do it. It's the first song, Sabrina Performa.

Lost Culture Eats is a production by Will Farrell's Big Money players in iHeartRadio podcast.

Created and hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. Executive produced by Anna Hosnie and Hans Ani.

Produced by Beckeramos. Edited and mixed by Doug Bae and Monique Le Bord.

Our music is by Henry Kupersky. I don't need it to be Christmas. I don't need it to be Christmas. I don't need it to be Christmas. Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale now to see me on tour, the Prince of Christmas tour, that is. I'm doing my whole album, Have You Heard a Christmas? Plus a lot more with the whole band all throughout December. Go to www. Mattrodgersofficial. Com to me in a city near you. The Black Tag event is now on at Curry's. Treat them or treat yourself. Get the 15-inch Samsung Galaxy Book 4 for 549. Save €200. Or save 200 euro on the 17-inch HP Envy laptop with Intel Core Ultra-5 processor, now 899. Shop in store or online at curries. Ie. Had enough of this country. Ever dreamt about starting your own?

I planted the flag. This is mine. I own this.

It's surprisingly easy. There's 55 gallons of water, 500 pounds of concrete. Or maybe not. No country willingly gives up their territory. Oh, my God. What is that? Bullets. Listen to Escape from Zakistan. That's Escape from Z-A-Q-Istaan on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.