Bad Friends Podcast

Episode: Rudy Shoots Her Shot with Marcello Hernandez
Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Bobby Lee & Andrew Santino
Special Guest: Marcelo Hernandez (SNL)

Episode Overview

This episode centers around the much-anticipated visit from Saturday Night Live cast member Marcelo Hernandez, whose quick wit and charm create dynamic interactions among the Bad Friends crew. The episode weaves in playful flirting from Rudy (“Rudy Shoots Her Shot”), lively discussions about comedy careers, body image and self-confidence, cultural identity, and plenty of friendly roasting. Classic Bad Friends themes of belonging, vulnerability, and camaraderie shape the episode’s comedic, yet genuine, tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Anxiety, Special Tapings, and Stand-Up Life

• Bobby Lee shares nerves about his upcoming comedy special taping.
  • “I don’t know if excited is the word. It’s like… a lot of anxiety.” (03:20)
• Santino reassures him:
  • “You’ve worked so hard on this… it’s going to break records.” (03:24)
• Conversation about intro music rights and public domain leads to jokes about walking on stage to “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” or “Amazing Grace”. (02:35–03:10)
• Both reminisce about their most peaceful moments, mostly involving oceanic serenity (06:11–08:28).

2. High-Tech Gadgets, Limbs, and Running Shoes

• The group discusses prosthetic advances, bionic hands, and Nike’s futuristic shoes:
  • “Mind controlled bionic arms… your brain does it.” (11:55)
  • “Nike has a shoe… it gives you more propulsion.” (12:00)
• Playful skepticism about wellness shoes and reflexology connections. (13:13–14:03)

3. Head Transplants & Immortality

• Pondering the future of medicine and ethics:
  • Would you want a new body with your brain?
  • "I've always wanted to be a little Black guy—Gary Coleman." – Bobby Lee (16:48)
• Marcelo and Santino joke about head transplants, donor bodies, and the complications of acquiring a body. (16:48–19:39)
• Philosophizes on whether a new body extends life, youthfulness, or happiness (19:25–19:51).

4. Comedy and Cultural Reflections

• Discussion of MLK Day, Bobby’s “I have a dreaming…” comedic bit, and the lighter side of civil rights icons playing pool. (20:03–20:40)
• Marcelo is asked about “Yoko” (Rudy’s crush possibly “breaking up” his career), leading to jokes about SNL’s strictness and relationships derailing careers. (31:01–31:24)
• The perennially silly but real question: “Can you sing? Can you dance?” (31:31–32:04)

5. Marcelo’s Career—From Intern to SNL

• Marcelo details his journey from making charcuterie boards for comics at Skank Fest to SNL and movie deals.
  • “I was an intern… making the goodie bags for the comedians…” (58:50–61:17)
  • Delivered a charcuterie board with a deli guy, “We built a… relationship. Then I walked in like a legend… I didn’t get the credit I deserved.” (59:21–61:06)
• Marcelo talks about his new Netflix film co-starring with Kevin Hart, and how he’s handled unexpected fame (34:14–35:20).
• Lively banter about unapproved Variety photoshoots, shirtless chain poses: “Something felt weird to me about smiling with my shirt off.” (36:04–36:12)

6. Personal Rituals & Gross-Outs

• The group debates proper sheet-washing frequency. (21:14–22:04)
• Hot tub in the rain appreciation, referencing Shawshank Redemption. (23:01–24:29)
• Would you crawl through a “poo pipe” for freedom? (23:35–25:00)

7. Bad Friends Flirting School

• Marcelo coaches Bobby and Santino through “shoot your shot” roleplays, critiquing and demonstrating both Bobby’s “slow open, fast close” method and his own directness.
  • “You slow open, fast close. Kids like you don’t understand that move.” – Bobby Lee (68:38–68:49)
  • [Skit example: 65:10–69:50]
• The bad friends riff about modern dating expectations (“They need to be 6’2”, make 3 million a year…”) vs. “real” traits that attract partners (70:35–71:14).

8. Cultural Foods & Identity

• Rudy gift-wrapped in nerves, asks Marcelo about pozole and cultural dog-eating references, sparking a short, awkward exchange:
  • “In my culture, it is okay to eat dogs, and I thought it would be nice to share culture.” – Rudy (51:18)
  • Marcelo gently responds, “I really do love Rudy. I’m a fan of yours… We don’t eat dogs in my culture.” (51:32)
• The show explores balut (developing duck embryo), pickled chiles, and cultural cuisines—eliciting comic disgust:
  • “It's not sauce, Marcelo. That’s guts.” – Bobby Lee (56:37)

9. Compliments to Latino Culture—A Sweet Circle

• The group shares what they appreciate about Latin culture, transitioning from jokes into earnest praise:
  • “Some of the most beautiful women I think I’ve ever seen in my life.” – Santino (74:11)
  • “I have a dream too—Richie Lamba… Richie Valens.” – Bobby Lee’s earnest, oddly Asian-accented tribute (73:35)
  • “My first crush was… a Puerto Rican chick… I didn’t know what this feeling was, but I liked that thing.” – Santino (74:13–74:37)
  • “My wife, it’s like, years in the future. It’s a dream… and she’s Latin.” – Richie (75:55)
  • Carlos points to the Mexican hairless dog as a cultural icon (77:29–77:42)

10. Authenticity, Insecurity, and Physical Appearance

• Banter on body image, losing weight, and the "Hollywood transformation arc" (39:05–40:17).
• Roast and support for Carlos’ hair loss and unique look, with the group suggesting he do a ‘Turkey hair transplant trip’ for content (78:25–79:43).
• “He has a great smile. He has a great face.” – Marcelo, with comic backhand, “From the forehead down.” (78:47–78:53)
• Recognizing confidence as the most attractive trait, even above looks (80:00–80:33).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Marcelo, on what women want:
  “When you think about it, right, what are women looking for? Someone that’s successful, someone that’s working a lot, someone that’s busy, and someone that’s taking care of themselves.” (70:27)

• Bobby on life transformation:
  “I’m a sinking ship. I’m the Titanic.” (70:12)
  “I always shoot my shot. …I’m not Robin Hood. Sometimes the arrows miss.” (65:02)

• Rudy, nervously flirting:
  “Well, because it’s Snoopy, but I don’t know if it’s in your culture to eat dogs, but in my culture, it is okay to eat dogs. And I thought that it would be nice to share culture.” (51:18)

• Marcelo, grateful and earnest:
  “You guys have such a special place in my heart… I truly believe [the podcast] saved my life [in the pandemic].” (40:41–42:01)

• On complimenting Latin culture:
  “I love their food. I love their language. I love their noses.” – Rudy (73:17–73:23)
  “Some of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen in my life.” – Santino (74:11)

Key Timestamps

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|---------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:20 | Bobby's Anxiety over Taping Special | | 10:53 | Losing a Limb: Which Would You Sacrifice? | | 11:55 | Mind-Controlled Bionic Arms; Nike Tech | | 16:48 | “I want Gary Coleman’s body,” Head Transplants and Future Medicine | | 20:03 | MLK Day, Bobby’s “I Have A Dreaming” Bit | | 31:01 | Marcelo Arrives, Rudy’s Crush Addressed | | 36:04 | Shirtless Photo Shoot, SNL Fame | | 39:05 | Body Image and "Hollywood Arc" | | 58:50 | Marcelo’s Skank Fest Intern Story & Charcuterie Board Quest | | 65:10 | Bobby & Marcelo Flirting School Roleplay | | 73:17 | Group Compliments to Latino Culture | | 80:00 | Real Talk: Confidence and Attraction vs. Looks | | 83:12 | Marcelo’s Special “American Boy”—Plugs and Sign-Off |

Episode Highlights & Takeaways

• Marcelo’s appearance creates a fun, flirty energy—especially with Rudy, who turns shy.
• Silly roleplays and theoreticals (“Would you crawl through a poo pipe for freedom?”) showcase classic Bad Friends zaniness.
• Beneath the roast and bravado, there’s real affection and gratitude—especially in Marcelo’s heartfelt pandemic story and the hosts’ supportive ribbing.
• The episode closes with a celebration of Marcelo’s achievements (“American Boy” special debut) and a reaffirmation of the core Bad Friends message: Stay weird, stay connected, and don’t take anything too seriously.

For New Listeners:
You’ll laugh, you’ll cringe, and you’ll catch a surprising amount of wisdom about life, fame, and friendship amid the nonsense. Most of all, you’ll see a tightly-knit gang genuinely rooting for each other’s happiness—even if that means roasting each other nonstop.

Watch Marcelo Hernandez’s special “American Boy”—out now!