K-Pop Demon Hunters, And Just Like That’s Wild Finale, Emmy Picks, and Chelsea’s Check-In

Summary

Glamorous Trash: A Celebrity Memoir Podcast

Episode: K-Pop Demon Hunters, And Just Like That’s Wild Finale, Emmy Picks, and Chelsea’s Check-In

Date: September 5, 2025
Host: Christina Lopez (filling in for Chelsea Devontez)
Guest: Maria Randazzo
Segments: Pop culture check-in, K-Pop Demon Hunters review, “And Just Like That” finale discussion, Emmy picks, extra Parker Posey memoir tidbits, Chelsea’s check-in

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Episode Overview

This jam-packed installment of Glamorous Trash dives into some of the buzziest pop culture and memoir moments of late summer 2025. Host Christina Lopez, stepping in for Chelsea Devontez, is joined by returning guest Maria Randazzo for this “Cookie Jar” episode—a loose, eclectic round-up of current obsessions and hot topics. The pair dig into the Netflix hit K-Pop Demon Hunters, unpack the divisive And Just Like That series finale, preview the upcoming Emmys, and revisit Parker Posey’s memoir. The episode is also punctuated with a warm, revealing check-in from Chelsea herself, reporting from the set of her feature film.

A quick trigger warning: this episode contains candid discussions of body image.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. K-Pop Demon Hunters: A Celebration of Girlhood and Pop Culture ([03:33]–[22:24])

• Origin Story & Cultural Impact:

  • Christina shares how her 10-year-old niece—and her own mom!—got her hooked on the animated Netflix phenomenon about a K-pop girl group, Huntrix, who battle demons with the power of music.
  • The story taps into millennial nostalgia for early 2000s girl groups like the Spice Girls, while feeling fresh and empowering for today’s girls.

• Personal Journeys & Emotional Resonance:

  • Maria admits she might’ve skipped the film if not for Christina’s prodding, but ended up “full on a fan,” comparing the viewing experience to “Spice Girls on steroids.”
  • Both hosts are struck by the movie’s layered messaging around authenticity, female friendship, and media literacy.
  • Quote (Maria Randazzo, [06:12]):
    “This is like Spice Girls on steroids…the messaging of this movie also is just incredible about being your authentic self, embracing your flaws, not being scared. It tackles shame, vulnerability, authenticity. Mind-blowing.”

• Deep Themes & Fandom:

  • Christina notes that the show deftly explores how pop fandom, social media, and girl power can be forces for both good and ill.

• Industry Impact:

  • The film’s runaway success, from a $20M Netflix deal (after an abandoned $100M Sony version) to chart-topping singles, is pointed to as proof that “media that’s meant for women can be popular.”
  • Quote (Christina Lopez, [10:46]):
    "It shows that there's an audience for these kind of women-centric media pieces. Maybe Hollywood will learn this time to invest."

• Character Alignment Game:

  • Hosts have fun mapping themselves and Chelsea onto Huntrix members:
    • Christina: “very Mira-coded, a little sarcastic, bit pessimistic”
    • Maria: “Zoe Sun, Roomi Moon”
    • Chelsea: unanimously “Roomi—main character energy, great hair, dad issues!”
    • Quote (Maria Randazzo, [15:21]):
      “I was going to say I’m Roomi, but now I think I’m Zoe... maybe it’s like a Zodiac situation.”

• Body Image Commentary:

  • Maria raises a concern about the film reinforcing unrealistic body standards, even though it's animated. Christina reflects on her own struggles with hyper-femininity in media.
  • Both agree that kids’ media should do more to depict diverse body types, even as they praise the film for allowing crushes but keeping romance subservient to girlhood agency.

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2. Pop Culture Downturn: And Just Like That Finale ([23:57]–[37:49])

• Maria’s Disorienting Introduction:

  • Having never seen Sex and the City before, Maria watches the “and just like that” finale cold: “It was just bad television.”
    • Quote (Maria Randazzo, [26:24]):
      “To be throttled into the future in a way that can only be described as so completely bizarre… I'm sorry, it's just bad television.”

• Plot Summary & Critique:

  • Christina outlines the impromptu announcement and arguably botched promotion of the finale, along with an overview of the episode itself—Carrie delivering pies, hosting karaoke, ultimately choosing to be alone.

• Why It Didn’t Land:

  • The episode is lambasted for failing to bring the core female characters together and missing the vital chemistry once provided by Samantha.
  • Quote (Christina Lopez, [30:38]):
    “Without Samantha, the alchemy of the other three characters...the core of the show could never recuperate.”

• Personal Reflection & Grief:

  • Christina connects the finale’s message of being fine alone with her own family experience, as her mother rediscovers herself after widowhood.
    • Quote (Christina Lopez, [33:29]):
      “She’s just kind of like, okay, she has to completely reimagine her relationship to retirement. What does that look like for herself?”

• Feminist TV Representation:

  • Maria: “I want there to be parts and stories for women on television and in movies who are in their 50s, who are over 40… But, not seeing the friendship manifested leaves a lot to be desired. Huge miss.” ([32:06])

• Notable Moment:

  • Maria highlights a particularly “thin” moment where Charlotte responds to Carrie’s vulnerability with a pat, “You’re just fabulous,” calling out the show’s lack of emotional realism.

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3. Emmy Picks & Awards Show Talk ([39:19]–[43:41])

• What They’re Rooting For:

  • Maria is thrilled for the Emmys, especially rooting for White Lotus and Parker Posey (for her supporting role).
    • Quote (Maria Randazzo, [39:50]): “I’m so excited for the Emmys. I love award shows so much.”

• Comedy vs. Drama Debate:

  • Discussion about the controversial inclusion of The Bear in the Comedy category and the blurring of genres for shows like White Lotus.

• Other Shoutouts:

  • Maria supports Sharon Horgan (Bad Sisters), Sam Rockwell (White Lotus), and comments on how Natasha Rothwell deserves more comedic material.

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4. Parker Posey Memoir: Leftover Tidbits & Listener Comments ([43:41]–[54:17])

• Fashion Highlights:

  • Maria shares admiration for Parker’s Cannes look (coral lamé, matching turban)—and how Parker’s headwear becomes a motif in her memoir.

• Listener Responses:

  • The Parker Posey episode touched listeners deeply—especially around discussions of grief and parental loss.
    • Listener Quote ([45:31]):
      "When we really, really miss them, we find their voice coming out of our mouths..." (attributed to Katie Rich, quoted by Maggie)

• Grief Advice & Real Talk:

  • Christina and Maria share advice for people grieving or supporting a friend through loss:
    • There's no right thing to say—just show up and be present.
    • Allow for individualized grief and beware the urge to “fix.”
    • “Grief is not one size fits all… being a witness to it. Just letting that person know they’re not alone.” (Maria, [51:24])
    • Notable moment: They share the names of lost parents (“William, we love you and we miss you. Joanne, we love you and we miss you.”)

• Parker & Nora Ephron:

  • Maria: “Parker says Nora told her: ‘You will always feel the same, you will just keep getting older…’ And now that she’s accepted herself, she feels it’s ok to be different.” ([52:58])

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5. Chelsea’s Check-In from the Film Set ([55:04]–[64:29])

• Chelsea’s Updates:

  • Chelsea checks in late at night from the set of her debut feature, sharing that the work is tough but fulfilling.
  • She answers listener questions about set life, loving the new guest hosts, and her candid process, which she's sharing via Patreon.

• Pop Culture Hot Takes:

  • Love is Blind UK: Chelsea wonders if the lower-key emotional beats are a UK cultural thing or a production quirk.
  • Unknown Number: Praises the Netflix doc’s themes of codependency and trauma but critiques its use of teenage interviewees.
  • Celebrity Cookbooks: Lauren Conrad’s chocolate chip cookie recipe is declared “the best homemade cookie I’ve ever had in my life.”
  • K-Pop Demon Hunters:
    • Quote (Chelsea Devontez, [61:17]):
      “It is the theme of the podcast. The music is so good. Have I done some light workouts to K-Pop Demon Hunter soundtrack? Yes, I have.”

• Looking Forward:

  • Chelsea promises future coverage of the Mormon Housewives memoir.
  • She teases wanting a full episode on Elizabeth Gilbert’s latest memoir excerpt, “Eat Pray Love lady memoiring too hard and admitting she considered murder.”

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Notable Quotes & Moments With Timestamps

• "Every time I come on Glamorous Trash and read a book, it, like, cracks open my life in this way that I really didn’t expect." — Maria Randazzo ([02:44])

• "This is a movie about girlhood. This is a movie about female friendship. This is a movie about being your most authentic self... The numbers are right there. The most watched movie ever on Netflix." — Maria Randazzo ([10:46])

• “Stop running from the numbers.” — Christina Lopez ([11:08])

• On Grief:
  “Just talking about the person who has died is a really important way to keep them alive, keep them in your life, keep them connected to you.” — Maria Randazzo ([45:31])

• "You will always feel the same, you will just keep getting older." — Parker Posey via Nora Ephron ([52:58])

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Segmented Timestamps

• [00:32] Introduction by Christina and Maria; overview of the Cookie Jar episode
• [03:33] K-Pop Demon Hunters recap & emotional resonance
• [17:00] Fun segment: Which Huntrix member are you?
• [17:27] Body image discourse around K-Pop Demon Hunters
• [22:24] Move into And Just Like That finale discourse
• [32:31] Reflections on grief, family, and aging inspired by the finale
• [39:19] Emmy nominations & what the hosts are rooting for
• [43:41] Parker Posey memoir—fashion and headpieces; listener feedback
• [45:31] Grief: how to approach it, listener quotes, healing advice
• [52:58] Good advice: Nora Ephron on aging and authenticity
• [55:04] Chelsea’s late night check-in from the film set; pop culture updates
• [61:17] Chelsea’s rapid takes: Love is Blind UK, Unknown Number, celebrity cookbooks, and more
• [64:29] Wrap up; Maria and Christina reflect on hosting and community; credits

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Closing Thoughts

This Cookie Jar episode of Glamorous Trash is a heartfelt, spirited grab-bag that manages to be both playful—debating K-pop girl group alter egos, joking about bad TV, stanning award show hopefuls—and deeply moving, with raw conversations about loss, aging, and the comfort of communal nostalgia. With standout moments from both guests and Chelsea herself, it’s a quintessential "Glamorous Trash" mix of celebrity memoir, pop culture cheekiness, and authentic, feminist reflection.

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Where to Find the Hosts

• Maria Randazzo: Instagram/TikTok @mariafreakin, podcast “The List”
• Christina Lopez: Producer, Glamorous Trash
• Chelsea Devontez: Check-in via Patreon and ongoing podcast updates

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[All timestamps follow the MM:SS format. Quotes are attributed per speaker and timestamp. Ads and non-content sections omitted.]

Transcript

[Maria Randazzo]

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[Maria Randazzo]

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[Chelsea Devontez]

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[Christina Lopez]

To you by Lifelok. When you visit the doctor, you probably hand over your insurance, your ID and contact details. It's just one of the many places that has your personal info, and if any of them accidentally expose it, you could be at risk for identity theft. LifeLock monitors millions of data points a second. If you become a victim, they'll fix it, guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first [e-mail] podcast terms apply welcome to Glamorous Trash, a podcast that book clubs, viral articles, celebrity memoirs, and trashy discourse to elevate your life. I'm your host Christina Lopez, the producer of this podcast, sitting in for Chelsea devontez, and this is our Cookie Jar episode where we sort of root around the pop culture trash bin and cookie comments to talk about everything we love in the Glamorous Trash universe. Today we're covering K Pop Demon Hunters, the In Just like that finale, the upcoming Emmys, and a couple extra tidbits from the Parker Posey memoir. Plus, at the end of the episode, Chelsea herself will chime in with a few thoughts on Love is Blind uk, the Netflix documentary Unknown Number, and so much more. And just a quick trigger warning, we do get into some body image talk, so take care while listening. Now let's dive in. All right, our guest today is Maria Randazzo. You probably heard Maria host our recent episode about White Lotus star Parker Posey, but she's also been a guest on episodes with Griffin Dunn and Tina Knowles. She's a writing mod for behind the Bangs, doing amazing work with Jordan and Takara. And Maria is also a writer, comedian and actress. Most recently, she was a writer on the Problem with Jon Stewart, which is where she met Chelsea. You can see her live performing, sketch and improv all around New York City. Maria, welcome back to the podcast.

[Maria Randazzo]

Thank you. So fun to be on this episode.

[Christina Lopez]

It's so exciting to do this with you. So pressure's off. You're not hosting this one, but what was it like to Step inside the banks for a little bit and take over Chelsea's role of hosting the podcast.

[Maria Randazzo]

It was so much fun. I just loved every minute and, like, getting to dive into a book like that and really pick. Pick out the parts where it touched me. I thought it was important for people to know. Like, it felt like a really big responsibility, and, I mean, enormous shoes to fill with Chelsea being gone. I felt so supported by you, by Katie Rich, our guest. And I just had a great time. I said this on social media, and I'm gonna say it again. Every time I come on Glamorous Trash and read a book, it, like, cracks open my life in this way that I. I really didn't expect, I didn't know I needed. And so, yeah, I just, like, have this sort of new perspective on Parker and what it's like to be an actor and, like, the things that I want. And I learned so much from Katie, so it was so much fun. It was great.

[Christina Lopez]

And the listeners had such a great reaction to you two on the episode as well. We'll get more into a couple more Parker Posey tidbits from the recording and also talk through some of those reactions from our fellow cookies. But first, I do have to say, I don't know about you, but this summer had me feeling really nostalgic. There's something in the air from the early 2000s. I don't know if it's because I saw Freak Air Friday, and it made me feel like a preteen again, but there's another piece of media that really made me feel like a preteen again, and that was K Pop Demon Hunters on Netflix. Now, this first came up across my transom because my oldest niece, who's, like 10 years old, she was asking me if I had watched it every day from the first time that she told me. And I was like, I'll get to it. I'll get to it. And I was like, I don't know. Watching the Hunting Wives for the second time, instead of watching this, I had put it off. And then my mom watched it with her. And then my mom told me how amazing it was. And so finally, I was like, okay, okay, I'll watch it. And I did. It was the best decision I ever made. Holy crap. It's amazing. Basically, it follows this fictional girl group called Huntress, who also are demon hunters. And they use their music to kind of secure the rift between the human world and the demon world to make sure people stay safe. And so, like, they use their music to do that, and they also, like, hunt down demons and then a rival band called the Saja Boys that threatens their popularity and thus threatens that kind of veil between the demon world and the human world as well. Very fascinating. Amazing music. Maria, what did you think of the movie? Because I basically turned into my niece and started hounding you to watch it.

[Maria Randazzo]

I know. Okay. I loved it so much. This is what I'm talking about. Like, every time I come on this podcast, I'm, like, introduced to something new, like a new piece of media or a new book I maybe wouldn't have picked up or whatever. I'm like, wow, this was so amazing. I would not have sought it out if you didn't encourage me to watch it. And I'm truly so glad that I did. And, yeah, it really was funny. Like, Christina in my DMs being like, did you watch K Pop Demon Hunters yet? And then, like, three days later, hey, just want to know, did you watch K Pop Demon? I was like, I love this so much. So I appreciated the urging, and I'm so glad I watched it. I thought it was incredible, but I will. I had a bit of a journey while I was watching it.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay, let's talk about the journey. Because I. I also went through a journey. Part of it was also. I think there was something that made me feel like I was watching Spice World again. Like, I was just, like, this little, like, preteen girl watching this girl group be badass and give me a girl power high that I haven't had in a really long time.

[Maria Randazzo]

I fully agree with you. I was like, this is like Spice Girls on steroids. You know, in junior high, Spice Girls exploded. That's all that we played on the playground. And, like, also, I don't know. Have you seen pen15?

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. It's one of my favorite shows of all time. And I will always, always, always hold a special place in my heart for the early 2000s. I am always nostalgic for it, like, no matter what. So I love that you had that summer. But just know, like, if you ever want to talk about the early 2000s, any season, I'm your girl. I was completely taken by the Spice Girls when I was little and still am. I'm a huge super fan, but I'm like, whoa, this is like that. But it has evolved. It is even more badass. It is. The messaging of this movie also is just incredible about being your authentic self, being your whole self, embracing your flaws, showing who you really are, not being scared. It tackles shame, vulnerability, authenticity. It's like, mind blowing.

[Christina Lopez]

I would even say that it, like, opens up a really awesome door to talk about media literacy with your kids, with the way that the Saja boys manipulate through their music people to give up sort of their free will, their souls. But I thought it was just, like, a really cool way that they also played with fandoms, social media, pop culture, and how that is also a tool for forces of good and for forces of evil.

[Maria Randazzo]

After I was done watching it, I was like, this movie is deep. This movie is deep. So my journey with watching it is that I turned it on. You know, I'm watching it, and I'm.

[Christina Lopez]

Like, oh, Christina told me to watch this. Christina made me watch this for Cookie Jar.

[Maria Randazzo]

But I was like, okay, this is interesting. And then I'm like, this is a child's movie.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay.

[Maria Randazzo]

This is a kids movie. Simple. Cool. Got it. The songs are great. Loving it. Okay. And then there was this moment where it turned and when they were at the concert. This is not a spoiler. When they were at the, like, Idol Awards.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

I was like, I am a Hunt Tricks fan. When roomie's singing, she got on that golden thing, started swinging out over the crowd. I was like, yes, girl. I felt like I was in the audience at Cowboy Carter. They also touched on, like, what it is like to be unified in fandom and how special that is. That's not when the turn was for me. I think it was when she started to connect with the. The lead boy, and they talked about their patterns. And I also don't think it's an accident that they were called patterns.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

You know, I think that's kind of when it started to turn for me. And, yeah, I was just like, I'm full on a fan. I really, really wanted more musical numbers, though, and more choreography.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. So I think I read somewhere that it was supposed to be three hours long, and it got cut to, like, wow, the runtime now, which is close to, like, 90 minutes, I think.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, it's pretty sure.

[Christina Lopez]

So I think you can tell the third act. It, like, wraps up really quickly, and I'm like, there's another journey that was supposed to happen there that we didn't quite get. But it leaves the door open for the sequels, which have been confirmed. And there's so many interesting, like, storytelling elements to. To go down the path. I was like, you can even throw me a prequel and tell me how Rumi got here in the first place.

[Maria Randazzo]

I would watch that 100%.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. So the interesting thing about this and the reason why I'm bringing this to the podcast, I think, is, is it speaks to a narrative that Chelsea brings up over and over again, whether it's Barbie or other female centric media where studios have to learn this lesson that media that's meant for women can be popular. And the story that's interesting with K Pop Demon Hunters is that it was initially developed by Sony pictures for like $100 million, and then sort of something happened in the pandemic and they sold it to Netflix for around 20 million. Nobody really expected it to blow up as big as it did. It has four songs in the top Billboard Hot 100 with golden hitting number one. And golden was the first song by a girl group to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 since Destiny's Child's Bootylicious.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yes.

[Christina Lopez]

Which brings in another of your favorites.

[Maria Randazzo]

Shout out Destiny's Child. Shout out Stevie Nicks original guitar riff on that song.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes. And a sing along version that was released in theaters ended up being number one at the box office. Time to come again. It shows that there's an audience for these kind of like, women centric media pieces. And it's always the hope that, like, maybe Hollywood will learn this time to invest. What do you think, Maria, of both the success and also what this speaks to. To a lot of the themes of the podcast that Chelsea talks about on the show as well?

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, 100%. This is a movie about girlhood. This is a movie about female friendship. This is a movie about being your most authentic self and showing your real self to your female friends. And also women just being total badasses and being themselves. It's just like the numbers are right there. The most watched movie ever on Netflix.

[Christina Lopez]

And it did it in about six weeks.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yes. Like, stop running from the numbers.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. If anything, it's encouragement for creatives everywhere to kind of dig into those aspects of our lives, whether it's a reflection on our girlhood or a celebration of our female friendships, to keep making content. Because there's obviously this audience who wants that, who craves that and can relate to it. So I think the success of it is very fortifying for creators rather than pointing the gut at executives in which we, we should also still hold them accountable for green lighting these kinds of projects and having faith in them and backing. But I also think it's like, yes, keep going forward on whatever project you're telling about your own, like girlhood or awkward teen years or female friendships and all those themes. Like, I think it's still A confirmation of all of that. But that being said, Chelsea has talked about the millennial urge to pick which one you are in the groups.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh.

[Christina Lopez]

And so here's my question for you. Actually, it's a twofold question. Huh? Which member of Huntricks do you think you are? And which would you say Chelsea is?

[Chelsea Devontez]

Okay, this feels like a good time.

[Christina Lopez]

To take a quick break.

[Maria Randazzo]

It's so weird to say this, but.

[Chelsea Devontez]

I thought a lot about what I was going to wear on set as I am shooting my film. Because when you're on set, it's a lot of walking, a lot of squatting, a lot of sweating. But then also you want to look professional and you really want to be comfortable because it's really long days. I found my perfect fall wardrobe at Quint's. My favorite favorite thing are their ultra stretch pont super wide leg pants. They are really elevated but also comfy. And they have this super wide leg fit, which I think looks really chic but is also super comfortable. Quince has all kinds of elevated essentials like mongolian cashmere from $50 or washable silk tops and skirts. And here's how they do it. By partnering directly with eth ethical top tier factories and cutting out the middlemen, Quince cuts them out to deliver super luxury quality pieces at half the price of similar brands.

[Maria Randazzo]

Keep it classic and cozy this fall.

[Chelsea Devontez]

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[Maria Randazzo]

Ares has arrived.

[Christina Lopez]

I would like you to meet Ares.

[Maria Randazzo]

The ultimate AI soldier.

[Christina Lopez]

He is biblically strong and supremely intelligent.

[Maria Randazzo]

You think you're in control of this? You're not.

[Christina Lopez]

On October 10th.

[Maria Randazzo]

What are you?

[Christina Lopez]

My world is coming to destroy yours. But I can help you. The war for our world begins in IMAX. Tron Aries, rated PG13, may be inappropriate for children under 13. Only in theaters October 10th. Get tickets now.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Okay, let's dive back into the episode.

[Christina Lopez]

Which member of Huntrix do you think you are? And which would you say Chelsea is?

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, wow. Okay. All right. So there's Roomie.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. So I'll break it down.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, break it down. Break it down.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay, so there's roomie who's the leader of the group. She has this purple braid that's so lush. She's really struggling with some Inner demons, quite literally. And she's the lead vocalist of the group. Then there's Zoe, who was born in Burbank, which I remember because I live right over here by Burbank. And she does a lot of the lyrics. She raps, but she's a little bit more lighthearted at times. She has a little bit of an edge to her, but she's usually very fun, very optimistic. The kind of bright and bubbly person in the group.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, I feel like they made her, like, the quirky one.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes, exactly.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, yeah.

[Christina Lopez]

And then there's Mira, who's like the more sarcastic, sardonic. The person who picks up when something is sus. Immediately is going on. She, oddly enough, comes from, like, a very wealthy family, but she was just, like, the bad one of the family because she was different. But she is also the tallest. And. Yeah, so those. That's the character breakdown. Maria, with that in mind, which would you say you are?

[Maria Randazzo]

This is a really tough question. I was going to say I'm roomy, but now I think I'm Zoe.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay, well, maybe we can make it like a Zodiac situation where it's like, yeah, your son is roomy, but you're like Zoe Rising or like a Zoe Moon.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, I think. I think that's what it is.

[Christina Lopez]

Can you share why?

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. I like Zoe so much. I thought that she was, like, optimistic and kind of. I wouldn't say in her own little world, but, yeah, she was definitely the last one to catch.

[Christina Lopez]

Is that what you said? Is that how you think you are?

[Maria Randazzo]

No, no, no. I'm not the last one to catch on. But I'm definitely, like, can hang out with myself all day long and, like, never be bored. And that's how I think Zoe is. And I think the writer part of me is like, yeah, I think you're Zoe. I think Rumi is really grounded. And I think I. I see a little bit of. I can see a little bit of myself in that as well. Wait, who are you?

[Christina Lopez]

I would have to say that I'm very mirror coded. I am very, like, a little bit, like, sarcastic, a little bit pess. A lot of. Bit pessimistic. Sometimes in the weeks, you might catch me, but a little skeptical.

[Maria Randazzo]

I'll say that we need to figure out who Chelsea is.

[Christina Lopez]

Oh, I think it's very easy to say who Chelsea is. I'm gonna. I'm just gonna go out and say Chelsea is roomy. She's very roomy. Coded.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, I think definitely roomy.

[Christina Lopez]

Great head of hair, main character. Energy, dad issues, Checking off all the boxes. So what do you agree? Is this a accurate.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yes, 100%.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. Yeah. Maybe because she got a little Zoe in there, too. A little Zoe? Zoey, Mo, probably.

[Maria Randazzo]

I think Chelsea might be all three of them wrapped up in one.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes. I love that.

[Maria Randazzo]

But, yeah, the vocals, like, if you're not gonna watch this movie, fine. I think you should listen to the song Golden. If you want to hear an incredible vocal performance, listen.

[Christina Lopez]

I have been doing my part to seal the honed moon by listening to that song over and over and over again and singing and in my car and trying my best to learn the Korean parts of the lyrics.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, yeah, I love the Korean parts too.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

My one complaint about K Pop Demon Hunters is that I think it reinforces unrealistic body standards for young girls.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay. I actually love this conversation because I have a very complicated relationship with hyper femininity in media in general, especially when it comes to girl groups. And some of that. I don't know how much is tangled up in my own sort of feeling inadequate about my own gender presentation. So I do, like, you know, I am like a mask masculine woman, as, like, a lot of people in the queer community call it. I wear men's clothes. I get, you know, my haircuts at barbers. I feel more comfortable in pants. And, like, I just don't wear dresses. And, like, you know, there's just kind of things like that. And I've spent a lot of time sort of unpacking also Western beauty standards. And you know what I think how a woman shows up in the world and what a woman can look like and all that stuff. And so when I see something like this, which is like, yes, it's a celebration of femininity, it's a celebration of girlhood. But how does it also reinforce sort of some of the negative aspects of beauty and what we value in how women perform gender? It's very hard for me to unpack, but I'm curious, like, what are your thoughts on this since you brought the topic up?

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, it's really complicated. It's really complicated to talk about. And, like, you know, I had this thought, and I was like, this is an animation. These are animated characters. But just to be very blunt about it, like, they are three very, very thin women. I know they're animated.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay.

[Maria Randazzo]

But, like, like, I grew up, you know, watching the Little Mermaid, and she had a waist that, you know, is, what, 2 inches and, like, huge boobs coming out of her beautiful seashell bra. That probably influenced what I thought my body should be like for the rest of my life. So I think my ideal version of this movie would have more characters that represent more different body types.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, I could totally see that.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah. Like myself as a grown woman, I'm looking at these animated characters, these three leads, and I'm like, oh, their clothes are cute and I like what they're wearing and I like that they have these different looks and I'm looking at their hair and da da da and their makeup. And then I was also like, wow, they're like so skinny. These girls are so skinny. And so I'm just like, if I'm internalizing it like this, what is, what are these little, you know, eight and nine year old girls thinking? So that.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, yeah, it's. It's hard because it's like they're not real people, but they are representing like humans. You know what I mean? I did see some conversations come up about how they do have three different body types, but at the end of the day, I don't think you would quantify any of them as being above average in terms of size. And so I think it is an important question to bring up because it is kids media and it is sort of like what are we trying to, you know, put in front of girls and how they think about their bodies. Yeah, I think it's a fair question. We do see the boys having very different bodies and even like that's kind of a commentary on it. Right. Especially Abby, who is the guy with abs that, you know, everybody kind of loses their mind over. And the point of that character is the objectification of these sort of male pop stars. But it doesn't come back to a reflection on how any of these girls are viewed in the K pop fandoms in terms of looks or beauty or anything like that. And I guess it just maybe didn't want to weigh in on. Sure to that. But I think it's a worthwhile point to bring up for sure.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah. Just one thing that stuck out at me. But I will say I loved how they let these girls have crushes on the boy band characters. But that wasn't what really drove them. By the way, the boy band character with the hair that covers his whole face.

[Christina Lopez]

There's a cut.

[Maria Randazzo]

There's two of them. I know. But there was one literally who was like cousin it.

[Christina Lopez]

Oh yeah, that guy. His name is mystery.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. I love that you know their names.

[Christina Lopez]

Oh my God, you're so in it.

[Maria Randazzo]

I. That was like one of my favorite jokes. It was so funny to me. I. I loved. I really loved the boy band. They sucked my soul. I. I was like, I'm in.

[Christina Lopez]

I was like, you can have. I'm in.

[Maria Randazzo]

I was so. And they were all so hot. I will say, even though I have issue with the body type thing, they did tack other things that I thought. I. I love how they played with the. Like, you might have a crush on this guy and he might be your type, but at the end of the day, you got to do what you got to do.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

And you got to slay that demon. Don't be distracted.

[Christina Lopez]

Like, girl, stay on top.

[Maria Randazzo]

So, yeah, I have to give them their dues and I have to give them their flowers for handling. I just like that they didn't make the boys like the center of their life.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, totally. We can't go into any more because that would be spoiler territory.

[Maria Randazzo]

I know.

[Christina Lopez]

Definitely. Please share your thoughts with us on K Pop Demon Hunters in the Patreon comments and on the Spotify comments as well. You can do it over there. Okay, so shifting gears real quick, we've talked about a pop culture highlight. Let's get into a pop culture lowlight, which is the series finale of it. Just like that.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Okay, this feels like a good time.

[Christina Lopez]

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[Chelsea Devontez]

I use it.

[Christina Lopez]

Five, my mom uses it.

[Maria Randazzo]

Are you. Are you playing me off?

[Christina Lopez]

That's what's happening, right? Okay, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront.

[Maria Randazzo]

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[Chelsea Devontez]

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[Maria Randazzo]

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[Christina Lopez]

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[Maria Randazzo]

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[Christina Lopez]

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[Maria Randazzo]

Spend $250 on your first campaign and get a free $250 credit for the next one. Get [e-mail] campaign terms and conditions. Applying my trash.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Okay, let's dive back into the episode.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay, so Maria, probably the coolest Thing I did to you was make you watch this for the cookie jar.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, my God.

[Christina Lopez]

What did you think of the final episode?

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. I am still recovering from watching this episode of television. It was a extremely strange experience. I felt completely disoriented after I watched it.

[Christina Lopez]

You had not been watching in just like that, right?

[Maria Randazzo]

No.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes. Right. And so you just watched this one episode.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay, so technically it was a two part finale, which is probably why you were a little disoriented.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. But I connected some of the dots, but go ahead.

[Christina Lopez]

Exactly. But I didn't want to put you through an hour of that.

[Maria Randazzo]

I definitely would have watched a full hour, though. I will say it's very strange because you get addicted. You get, like, addicted to watching this extremely strange piece of, like, prestige comedy.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

Like, it was so bizarre.

[Christina Lopez]

You watched this going in cold, having not seen the past three seasons of. And just like that. And so you hadn't built up a tolerance to the zaniness that was this finale. So what was your relationship to Sex and the City before watching it? Just like that.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. So I know that I am a huge outlier as a woman. I have just started my very first Sex in the City Watch through. Like, I tell people I haven't seen the show and they're like, what? What? And I feel like I'm letting people down. I feel like I'm so embarrassed when I say it. So this is a very vulnerable moment for me. But anyways, I've started this journey very recently. I'm on, like, I don't know, episode seven or something in season one, and I'm loving it. I live in New York City and so it's like helping me fall in love with New York City in this new way. And like, it's just like, talk about being nostalgic, like, for the late 90s and the early 2000s. I mean, here you go.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

And it's still surprising and it still holds up. And it's still funny. Like the episode where whatever they get in the cab and Charlotte's like, he asked me to have anal sex. I was, I totally did not expect that. And I thought it was just like, so funny. And anyways, I, I, So I'm having my first Sex in the City experience right now. So to be throttled into the future in a way that can only be described as so completely bizarre. And, like, just. I mean, it's just. I'm sorry. It's just bad television.

[Christina Lopez]

Like. Yes, yes. So you don't have to apologize to me. I didn't write on it. Okay. But yeah, so it's so interesting because you're still in the first season. I would say the second season of Sex and the City is really where it comes into its voice. There's no direct to cameras like that. There is in the first season. Oh, wow. It very much gets centered in like Carrie's pov. And Carrie does have a voiceover that extends into all of the episodes, but very different animal, very different pace when you get into the second season. And that's, I would say, when it starts hitting its stride.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay, I can't wait.

[Christina Lopez]

You have such a fun couple of seasons over and then I wouldn't. I don't even know if I would recommend for you to watch and just like that, outside of this one particular piece. But let's dive into the timeline. There's some speculation about whether or not it was actually intentional to plan that this was the ending. Michael Patrick King announced that it was coming to an end on August 1st. This was after episode 10 of the season had aired on July 31st. So like, the next day they're like, hey, by the way, these next two episodes that you're gonna see over the next two weeks, that's it. That's the series finale.

[Maria Randazzo]

So jarring.

[Christina Lopez]

Part of the speculation was also because in the preview for the final episode, it said season finale instead of series finale in the, like, on air promo for it. And then there was sort of a rumor that I only saw reported in Radar online, I didn't see it reported in any of the trades, that Sarah Jessica Parker was trying to shop around the show to keep giving it life. Sure speculative. I haven't seen anything to back that up. But essentially, Carrie goes around, delivers pies to her friends for Thanksgiving. She ends up at Miranda's apartment where Miranda and her son Brady are hosting a Thanksgiving dinner. Brady is an expectant dad and the one night stand that he got pregnant shows up to the dinner with two Gen Z friends, one of whom who is named Epcot, who's apparently lactose intolerant, which leads to a bit of scatological humor that I'll spare everybody.

[Maria Randazzo]

Unbelievable.

[Christina Lopez]

It was crazy. But I think the biggest thing and spoilers for the ending, but essentially it comes out that, like, Carrie starts playing a song on her karaoke machine that she had gotten earlier in the season. Okay, and it's your first, my last, My Everything by Barry White. And she kind of just walks through her apartment and it's kind of this belief that she's fine on her own after chasing Aiden all season, most of the season. And then this other writer that she was living upstairs from. Love hadn't worked out. She kind of had like her great love and she's just kind of settling to be with herself now. I posted about the finale on the Patreon and even just in the Internet, you know, very, very mixed reviews. People just did not like this finale. And I think that's very fair. We don't even get a scene with all of the women together again, which is like the core of the series.

[Maria Randazzo]

Right.

[Christina Lopez]

And you have all these other characters who I'm sure you were completely confused by that are also like Seema. But it didn't seem like it was planned. And this has such a large reaction, in part because people have such an attachment to these characters. Right?

[Maria Randazzo]

Sure. Yes.

[Christina Lopez]

To this show and what the nostalgia made them feel. You know, I don't mind reboots, but I think that this could have been better served for sure. And I don't know how much of it was tied into power dynamics in the writer's room or, you know, the direction that Sarah Jessica Parker wanted to go with the characters and what the actresses wanted the characters to reflect, but it just didn't come together in the way that I think a lot of us had hoped. Seeing these characters again and wanting to feel that nostalgia while also updating it for the modern times. It just did not work out. And I will say there is an element of the show never working because it's missing Samantha, which is the biggest, hugest, I think, issue with it. It's just like when they tried to spin off Golden Girls with the golden palace. And then Bea Arthur, who played Dorothy, didn't want to act in the franchise anymore, so she left. And without Dorothy, the entire alchemy of those other three characters was completely thrown off.

[Maria Randazzo]

Right.

[Christina Lopez]

And I think the same thing happened here, like without Samantha, because of behind the scenes drama. The alchemy of the other three characters, and thus to me, the core of the show could never recuperate, even with all the new characters that they threw in to be part of this girl group because they were missing that initial element of Samantha to balance out all the personalities that these other three women represented.

[Maria Randazzo]

I wanted to see them together. And I think that I want there to be parts and stories for women on television and in movies who are in their 50s, who are over 40. I want that so very badly. I also think it's really important for women as they get older to continue to reinforce those female relationships in their Lives. Because I think a lot of women in heterosexual relationships, like, once you're married, you can lose your female friendships because you don't need each other. Kind of maybe in that way you did when you're single. And so I think that sort of reinforcing the importance of female friendships, what those relationships can do for you as an individual, to, like, not see that manifested in the show, whether that's just in, like, a scene with all of them or like you said, to be recreated with Samantha there as well, it really leaves a lot to be desired. So just. It just felt like a big. A huge miss.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

You know, because, like, I absolutely want to tune into a show about women in their 50s and. And I will say, the idea, the intention of the ending of Carrie being like, I'm on my own and I'm great with that and I don't need a man to complete my life. I'm like, yeah, great. Love that. The execution of it. Not my fave. But, yeah, it just felt like, oh, we got close and then we lost it.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, it was interesting because there were a lot of mixed responses. A lot of people were crying and, like, felt really emotionally connected to that ending where she is choosing herself. And, like, at that scene alone. Yeah, I was tearing up because it reminded me so much of what my mom was going through or is going through. You know, I lost my father. Coming up on September 8th, it will be six years. So we're in that season right now of, like, loss or whatever. And I'm not trying to minimize it. I'm just trying to move along for my own benefit.

[Maria Randazzo]

No.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, but we tell her, you know, we're okay with her dating now. You know, if she wants that. I'm encouraging her to get a younger boyfriend, someone to keep her young. The rule is that they can't be younger than my brother, who's 42. So I feel like that's fair. It was particularly when that song started playing. It was that Barry White song that my mom has. I've seen her so many times, whether it's at a wedding, a quinceanera, sweet 16, any sort of, like, formal, semi formal event that we've had in my family where she would drag my father to the dance floor and they would, like, dance their asses off to that song, to that song, to that specific song.

[Maria Randazzo]

And so, like, totally touch me too.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. And so it made me feel. Because she is also very fine with being on her own. She tells everybody. She tells me, she tells my brother. Like, she became a wife when she was 25. She became a mom when she was 27. And then somewhere in her late 50s, early 60s, she became a caretaker because my father became ill from congestive heart failure. And so she had spent the last sort of eight years with my dad taking care of him. And now she is not a caretaker. She's a wonderful grandma, but she is just kind of like, okay, she has to completely reimagine her relationship to retirement because you thought you were going to be living out your years with someone, traveling with someone, and now she has to decide what that looks like for herself. And to see a representation of that, I remember watching because she also loves sex in the city. And so I was just like, I can't wait to see what her reaction to it was because it just, I think, felt I knew someone who that would resonate with. And so it didn't feel absurd, but, like, how we got to there felt like very horrible and executed. But, like, the conclusion of Carrie choosing herself I don't have beef with. I think it was just the journey of how we got there that just didn't resonate with us.

[Maria Randazzo]

Agree. I love the conclusion of Carrie choosing herself. I think that's beautiful. It actually reminded me a little bit of the Tina Knowles memoir ending.

[Christina Lopez]

Oh, tell me.

[Maria Randazzo]

Well, Matthew, her ex, Beyonce's dad, which shout out Chelsea, she just did the funniest asides about, like, what kind of like, magic dick does Matthew have? Because Tina kept going back and back and back and back. And you're just like, Tina. No. So she kept going back to Matthew and then she saw, like, a couple other men and she married Richard and she's not with Richard anymore. So the end of the Tina Knowles book was like her being by herself and being like, I am accepting that my life is not going to be lived alongside a man, maybe. And I'm. I'm okay with that and I'm. I'm excited to continue to explore this chapter of myself that is just me.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. There was a cookie who had mentioned in the chat that was like 30 to 40% of women her age end up alone anyway. So it was whether via, like, being widowed or their own choice. So it wasn't an inaccurate portrayal of, like, somebody at that age. So.

[Maria Randazzo]

Of Carrie's age.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, wow.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay.

[Maria Randazzo]

Interesting.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

And thank you for sharing everything you did about your mom.

[Christina Lopez]

Oh, thank you. I mean, you did something similar fairly recently on the park of Proze app, but we'll get into that in a little bit.

[Maria Randazzo]

Sure. Yeah. Yeah.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

But I think that's beautiful how you're supporting your mother. And like, I. I also know what that's like to. But on the, on the flip side with my dad, to support him in this new stage of his life, which. It's really hard. Yeah, it's so hard. I just, I feel. I really feel for you. It can be a little bit like the child becomes the parent and it's like to see somebody who's been the parent in your life the whole time, you know, navigate their own new chapter in life, it's really hard to just navigate and it can feel uncomfortable, but at the same time builds a new chapter of your relationship with that parent.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. You know, it's interesting. We've talked a lot about girlhood in this episode, and there are a lot of ways that I feel like I'm getting her reconnected with her own girlhood too. Because of where she grew up in 1970s society, the freedoms that women had or didn't have, she now has to an extent, with the exception of Roe v. Wade, unfortunately. But, you know, she has her own bank account, she has her own money. My mom's a Capricorn. She's very like, you know, financially stable minded. So, like, she lives on her own. She wants to travel, she wants to go to Italy is a big place for her that she wants to visit. But she also has been visiting me in two more weeks. She'll be out here for another month. And so, like, I'm like, okay, like, what kind of fun can we have? And like, you know, what is it like exploring your girlhood again and like, freedom to be you and like, not have to answer to anybody in a way that she probably never felt even when she was in her 20s.

[Maria Randazzo]

Completely. Yeah, it's amazing. Yeah, it's amazing.

[Christina Lopez]

So I'm glad that, like, some of Sex in the City could be a representation of that. But that's probably the only positive thing I think we extrapolated from that social experiment that was. And just like that.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, my God. Social experiment. Good phrase for it. If I may just say. There was two other things that jumped out at me from observing the finale. So I know the show is built upon these strong female friendships.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

There was this one part that I was like, what did I just watch when Carrie is walking down the street with Charlotte and she opens her heart to Charlotte and she talks about how, like, she's actually crying and she's like, I need to accept my life right now that it's not about Aiden and it's not about this guy, and it's just about me. And. And I'm. You know, it's hard, but I'm gonna. I'm gonna go with that. I'm gonna explore that. She goes on this. Probably maybe the best lines in the show, I think.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

Like, the best writing in the show. And then Charlotte just turns to her and goes, you're just fabulous. And that was it. I was like, this is what you say to your friend of, like, how many decades?

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

I was like, come on. Do you know what I'm talking about?

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, it was a little. It was so thin.

[Maria Randazzo]

I was like, what the hel. I felt like at least three lines were missing from Charlotte.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. I wonder how much was, like, hacked away in an edit or something. Like. Like, what if that was the tail end of the statement that she made? And.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, could have been. Could have been. It was just, like, really bizarre. And then also the way that the actors were holding some of the props, I was like, what is going on?

[Christina Lopez]

I'm going to miss a hate watch.

[Maria Randazzo]

I will say that after I'm done with Sex and the City, I think I might watch the whole thing and then call you.

[Christina Lopez]

Oh, my God. Yes, please do that. I would love that. Okay, so, Maria, we can safely say that. And just like that is not getting recognized at the Emmys, which, by the way, is on September 14th starting at 8pm Eastern Time. So definitely join us at the live Patreon chat. We'll be talking red carpet. We'll be talking hottest moments. But, yes, Maria, is there anything in particular that you're rooting for? I know there's a lot of controversy with, like, the bear being nominated in the comedy category.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, always.

[Christina Lopez]

But I want to hear what. What Maria is rooting for.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. I'm so excited for the Emmys. I love award shows so much. Just like, Chelsea and I have finally gotten into the habit of putting them in my calendar when the date is announced, because I'll always say, like, yes to a show. And then I'm like, no, I have to put a fake mustache on and trot myself out on stage and do my stupid character when I could be watching the Emmys. God damn it. So I'm so happy that I have, like, finally put them in my calendar. Okay. But anyways, yeah, I'm really pumped. I'm rooting for. I'm rooting for White Lotus.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

I. I like this past season. I know some people were, like, complaining about it maybe not being as juicy or having some story lines. That didn't wrap up. I. I still really liked it. I thought it was great.

[Christina Lopez]

I think people get too caught up in the who done it? Of White Lotus when it's not that at all. This is, like, a meditation in characters, and you're just supposed to enjoy, like, spending time with the characters and, like, the who done it of it. A nice hook, but it's not the main focus and.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, correct. And also, the writing is like, this is how people talk. And, like, sorry to bring it back to. And just like that. But that's not how people talk. So, like that scene from White Lotus where the three friends are sitting around the table and they talk about how what they've all experienced together is the passage of time.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

It, like, resolved so much for me in terms of how I think about some friendships in my life.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. So.

[Maria Randazzo]

So, okay. I'm rooting for White Lotus.

[Christina Lopez]

I was gonna say, are you rooting for Parker for Best supporting Actress?

[Maria Randazzo]

Hell, yeah. Hell, yes. Hell, yes. I am rooting for Sharon Horgan from Bad Sisters. I'm rooting for Sam Rockwell in White Lotus. He's nominated up against Jason Isaacs. I just love Sam Roswell, and I love. I love what he did in White Lotus. I thought it was brilliant. And then with Parker, though, she's nominated in the same category against Amy Lou Wood and Natasha Rothwell and Carrie Coon.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes. I have to say, I'm kind of rooting for Natasha Rothrell. I kind of really love that character. I also thought Carrie Coon was really good. It's hard, but, yes, there's so many great performances now.

[Maria Randazzo]

I love Natasha Rothwell, but I will say I feel like Mike White could have written some funnier stuff for her.

[Christina Lopez]

That's true.

[Maria Randazzo]

She's so funny. And I felt like she carries, like, the.

[Christina Lopez]

But this is for a drama nomination, though. This is best supporting drama, which is also, like, the same trickiness of the Bear. Right. Because I do feel like White Lotus is a comedy, but it's being nominated in the drama category.

[Maria Randazzo]

It's tricky, I feel, because I'm like, what's more of a comedy, the Bear or White Lotus? Yeah, Like, I think White Lotus.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

But I. I feel like Natasha Rothwell is, like, the moral sort of center of that show, and so she carries that, and I feel like some of the other characters get to play more, and I want. Want Mike White to give her more to play around in.

[Christina Lopez]

Well, she survived, and now she's rich, so we might see her pop up in another White Lotus or she Might avoid it because there's been two murders in her vicinity at these White Lotus. So.

[Maria Randazzo]

Right.

[Christina Lopez]

Who knows?

[Maria Randazzo]

Right. And I will just say severance pissed me off this season, so I'm not rooting for it. I'm sorry. Who are you pulling for in the Emmys?

[Christina Lopez]

I really loved this season of Hack. Jean Smart's always great.

[Maria Randazzo]

I love Jean Smart.

[Christina Lopez]

She's so great. Yeah. Yeah. I really enjoyed the conversations they had about, you know, taking a stand for your talent and taking a risk and losing it because you want to stand on what you believe. Okay, I'm ready for hacks. You're rooting for Parker Posey. Let's dive into some of the extra tidbits that might have been cut out of the episode or that we didn't get a chance to tackle, and also sort of some really great comments that came out of it. Maria, is there anything specific that you kind of want to highlight from the book that we didn't get to in your episode?

[Maria Randazzo]

Well, sure. So in regards to the Emmys and awards show looks, there was a look that Parker had when she went to Cannes that I didn't get to talk about in the episode. It is the only bright spot in the Woody Allen chapter. She talks about what she wore to con when the movie premiered there. Irrational Man. She talked about the look in the book, and then I googled it, and I was like, like, oh, this is so good. It's a bright coral lame with a matching turban, and it's two pieces. And her friend was like, why don't you go blonde? And she was like, okay. And I just loved it. And that is a little bit of a thing that kept coming up in the book was like, she loves wearing turbans, and she loves wearing something on her head, and she encourages the woman who she's sitting next to on the flight to try out wearing headpieces. So I'm really excited to see what she wears to the Emmys. And she just always has a piece to me that makes it her. It makes it different, and I just love that. That's, like, something that I'm trying to go for in my own aesthetic is like, what is like that one thing that you're like, this is what sets my outfit apart. This is what makes me me. I. I think she's really good at doing that.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes. So, Maria, you also got a lot of love from the listeners for your episode, particularly surrounding the conversation that you and Katie had around your moms and the loss of your moms. And I'LL quote this one listener, Maggie, who said, I saved the quote from Parker Posey's episode, Maria and Katie Are Such Poets, quote. And when we really, really miss them, we find their voice coming out of our mouths, end quote. That episode was really lovely and just everything I needed when I listened to it. It came to me at the right time. We got a couple of comments like that. I'm wondering if you also got some DMs that were like that. And just how did that make you feel?

[Maria Randazzo]

It made me feel really nice. It really touched me. People's comments just truly, truly make such a difference. So it was, like, so beautiful to hear from people, and I'm really glad that it helped people. You know, there was a comment in the Patreon that someone said that this conversation inspired me to call my mom after I listened to it. And I just thought that was really sweet. And, you know, for me and a lot of other people I talk to who have experienced loss, like, just talking about the person who has died is a. A is a really important way to, like, keep them alive, to keep them in your life, to keep them connected to you. So I was really grateful to be able to have this conversation with Katie. And, yeah, that. That line from the quote that you read is something Katie said in the episode, and it fully resonates with me as well. I definitely catch myself saying things that my mom would say and laughing, like, her and all kinds of stuff. You know, honestly, I'm bringing it back to K Pop Demon Hunters because it's like, you know, I think we're in this new wave of how people process grief. And the old way was to, like, not talk about it at all or to talk about it in private. And it's like, well, it's just the most human thing that we could all experience. Whether it's happened to you or not, or maybe you've lost somebody, but not somebody who is super close to you. Like, you're gonna experience it in your lifetime. So it's the thing that we avoid talking about a lot, but it is the thing that unites us the most.

[Christina Lopez]

I've had two friends fairly recently, within this last year, one of whom has lost their mother and another who just lost their dad. And it's so interesting because there are parts of me that feel like a death doula now when somebody next to me goes through it, and I'm like, okay, here's what. And you kind of don't want to lay out too much because everybody's grief journey is different. So it's not going to mimic yours exactly. Right. And you know, how old were you when you lost your mom, by the way?

[Maria Randazzo]

31.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay, so you were, you were fairly young too, and I was 33. And so there's this outlook of like you want to tell them what to expect, but you can't project your, your grief journey onto theirs. And I think part of the thing that I and I think would be helpful if we both kind of shared like things that help. I think sometimes people don't know what to say and so they don't say anything at all, which I think is a mistake. I think there is no perfect right thing to say. But the point is show up and that you try. The way that I did this was like for one friend I was watching their dog for actually for both friends, I ended up dog sitting while they were, you know, sorting that out with their family. And I did let them know that when they came home there would be another journey of their grief because they had the freedom to feel it all in their own space, which is different. When you're around family, you would think, you know, there's comfort in there, but there's also some regression to who you are around them and also like wanting to be strong for each other and not being able to feel all the things. So I warn people when they go back home after sorting out all the stuff that they're. They go through another wave of grief. And I think there's this chase that I watch people do to go back to normalcy without realizing that they're going to have to construct a new normal for themselves. And that's only something that you realize when you are looking back and being reflective. And so I think the most important thing as a friend or as a loved one is just learning how to sit in the storm with them. You know, don't worry about trying to like get the right size umbrella to like cover them from all the rain. You just kind of got to sit with them in the rain and wait for the storm to pass. But is there anything you would. You have to like, be helpful for people who might be experiencing this or have a friend who's going through it? Because it is like the toughest thing that. Well, one of the toughest things. That's what I usually say when somebody brings it up to me and they're like, hey, my, I'm going through this. I'm like, I'm really sorry. This is going to be the hardest thing, one of the hardest things you ever. You'll Ever go through in your life. And completely. I don't. I. There's nothing you can perfectly say to prepare for people, but you can kind of be there when they go through this. Certain checkpoints, I guess, of grief. And also, part of you is grieving the person you were when you had your parent, and you still felt like you had your life intact. And so.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, my God. I'm. You're. You're grief counseling me right now. This is incredible.

[Christina Lopez]

You know, six months after I lost my dad, the pandemic started. So all I had. I had two years not seeing my family also because I was just so paranoid about, you know, spreading germs or getting it or spreading it to my mom and then, you know, potentially losing my mom. And I didn't want it to make this whole grief thing, but I have a very close relationship with my own grief because I spent so much time in isolation with it and sort of examining it. And then I've had about three or four friends over the last couple of years since I've lost my dad go through it. And so, like, I've kind of just seen the cycle, the reflection, and I feel like I know people's similar journey to it, and it also depends on the person's relationship with their parent. I had a pretty much good relationship with my dad. Like, the only thing I struggled, I think, was, like, him seeing the real me versus, like, the daughter he believed he knew because he raised me. And it's like, I feel like you kind of have to re. Get reacquainted with your kids, you know? And I wish, like, he would. He would have met me where I was at, but I reconciled a lot of things before he passed away. We had a lot of really good conversations. His name is William.

[Maria Randazzo]

William, yes. And so I'm gonna say what we said on the app, which is, william, we love you and we miss you.

[Christina Lopez]

Thank you. Yeah, let's do one for your mom. What's her name again?

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, Joanne.

[Christina Lopez]

Joanne, we love you and we miss you.

[Maria Randazzo]

Christ. Christina, everything you just said about grief was. That was truly some of the most beautiful, poignant, and accurate things I've ever heard somebody say about grief before. I hope you write those things down.

[Christina Lopez]

Thank you again. Everybody's relationship, too, is different. It depends on how their relationship is to their parents, you know, so it's just like finding out where they're at, meeting them where they're at, and not controlling, harnessing, or directing it, Just sort.

[Maria Randazzo]

Of being a witness to it, 100%, just witnessing it just like letting that person know that they're not alone. They don't have to go through this alone. You don't have to fix anything, because nothing can be fixed. And I think offer up to that person, like, do you want to talk about the person who died? Tell me about them. What has your experience been? Like, just ask questions if they want to talk about it. And you can also say, you know, if you don't want to talk about it, that's completely fine. And, you know, just simple things like, can I make you dinner tonight or come over for a glass of wine or some tea or whatever, or do you want to be distracted, like, I'm going to this event, or do you want to go see a movie or whatever it is? And then, yeah, you hit the nail on the head with, like, it. Grief is not one size fits all. It totally depends on the relationship with the person and everything. And I think that, you know, being aware that it's not like something that has a timeline and people don't, like, get over it. It's just like forever a part of your life. And, oh, holy. What you said about grieving who you were prior to that person's loss. Whoa. I'm going to take that and walk.

[Christina Lopez]

Around the block with that one. Yeah.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, my God. That. That's so true. That's amazing. That's very.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah. But one of the other beautiful pieces, I think, speaking of grief, was also when Parker would talk about Nora Ephron and, you know, Nora Ephron's funeral and how beautiful that was. But I know you have that there's more advice that Nora shared.

[Maria Randazzo]

And. Yeah, in the episode I said that, the chapter where Parker talks about Nora's funeral was just really beautiful. And I feel like it really crystallized, like, the deep love that she has for Nora Ephron. And so there's all this great advice that's imparted to Parker from Nora throughout the book. And there's one piece of advice about aging that I thought was fantastic and really resonated with me. She said, you know, Parker, you will always feel the same. You will just keep getting older. Parker says, that was stunning news to me since I'd had this fantasy that after I turned 30, I'd become Mariska Hargitay or another womanly type woman instead of the impish woman child I'll remain forever. I'd always feel the same, and I'd never exactly fit in. And it just goes on to say that now that she's older, she's accepted herself, and she realizes it's okay to be different. And also that a ball gown makes her feel like she got lost in a swath of someone else's curtains that got twisted around her body unsuccessfully. So maybe that's why she's wearing cool toothpastes, too.

[Christina Lopez]

It's crazy to also hear that she's like, I'll never be the cool enough girl. Because it's just, like, when I think about the epitome of, like, fashion style, I feel like Parker checks a lot of boxes. But. But, I mean, I guess it just goes to show you that, like, everyone's kind of faking it, right? And, like, everybody kind of feels like a little oddball freak at the end of the day.

[Maria Randazzo]

Yeah, definitely. I. I just love that too. Like, I. I don't think that, like, you're always gonna be who you are. You're always, like, you're gonna evolve, you're gonna grow, you're gonna shed skins. But, like, your spirit is always gonna be your spirit. And I think holding on to that is ultimately what makes you young.

[Christina Lopez]

I love.

[Maria Randazzo]

So all the older people I know who do that and remain curious, like, engage with life from curiosity and. And. And also stay connected to young people, I think is important. But, like, all the older people I know who subscribe to that, they look real young and they never really seem very old.

[Christina Lopez]

Yeah, I agree. Pivoting into some podcast stuff that's specific to the show, we have a couple notes from Chelsea. Here she is.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Hi, everyone. I miss everyone so much. Hi, Christina. Hi, Maria. Okay, so it is 11pm at night. We've been going since 8am so not bad. But, you know, it's a long day. Perfect for me to hop on the mic and answer some questions from the cookies. I mean, I miss this podcast. Isn't that so sick? I miss y'.

[Maria Randazzo]

All.

[Chelsea Devontez]

I miss talking about stuff. I miss reading all the time. I'll answer just, like, three questions about.

[Maria Randazzo]

What I'm up to.

[Chelsea Devontez]

And then, sorry, but I peaked at the pop culture questions, and I gotta give some hot takes. Just some quick hot takes. And you'd think I wouldn't have time for it, but no, I've still been, like, watching some stuff out here. So the first question was, okay, so I'm shooting my first feature film, and someone asked my favorite location that we found on the. The scout. So far it is. We were looking for a really cool location for a drag bar because obviously I wrote a drag performance into the script. We didn't find any good drag bar. Theaters that worked, but we found this incredible just regular bar with the most beautiful production design. It's one of my favorite places to be in, but also to shoot in. And I'm like, I cannot wait for you all to see it. It's very cool. A few people asked, like, how are you doing? And someone said, are you enjoying this moment? And if not, why? I will say this. It is so hard. This is as I knew it would be. As everyone will say, directing a film or writing a film is extremely hard. Also, when it's an indie, it's also hard. So it's so difficult that it's not like, it's enjoyable in the way where you're like. It's like, you know, like, I'm having so much fun. Like, the degree of difficulty is so high, and it's not for the work. It's like all these other kinds of outside factors make it so hard. But it is really enjoyable in that I've wanted it for so long, and I'm not letting a moment go to waste of just getting to be able to make my own art and my own story. I don't take a moment of it for granted. So I am very much enjoying it. And the level of difficulty is high. I can't even talk right now. Listen, y', all, it's 11pm okay. And then someone said they missed me on the podcast. Okay, thank you. Because I've been listening to the episodes, and I love them so much that I'm like, I created the podcast I wanted to listen to, and now when other people host it, I get the best time of my life listening to the Parker Posey episode. So I'm really enjoying other people hosting it. So that's been really fun for me.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay.

[Chelsea Devontez]

I am talking about the process of directing this film in detail on the Patreon. I've been doing these photo journal posts. And so if you really want to know more about it or you're into that kind of thing, I am documenting it on Patreon. There's a special tier where I am talking about it, because that's the kind of stuff that I live for always. So it's there if you want more details. Okay. A couple of things. Love is Blind uk. Yes, I watched. Here's my question. I need the biscuits to weigh in. Okay. I need the UK cookies to let me know what's going on. Because both seasons of Love Is Blind UK have been kind of buttoned up. There's not a lot of high drama until the reunions or the Very, very end. Because my question for the biscuits is, is this a cultural thing? Like, are these couples keeping their emotions closer to their chest and not expressing as much? So when they make these wild decisions that go against everything we've seen, is that like a behavioral thing or is that just the specific producers on Love Is Blind uk? Because it honestly feels like a more boring version of the show. But then the reunions and the finales are. Were psychotic because you were watching people who you thought were in love not be in love. And yes. So, like, I basically get home every night at 11 this time and put something on to fall asleep too. I've been listening to the podcast Unicorn Girl, which I guess maybe falls into true crime, but it's not. At least not yet. It's not like gritty or murdery. It's just like a scammy Utah mom, which I guess is my favorite type of content. So I've been loving that, but also I've been falling asleep every night to it, so who knows what I've missed? I also watched Unknown Number on Netflix, which I will keep it spoiler free, but I want to say this hugely touches on themes in the books and the podcast of codependency and trauma and enmeshment, where the person who was abused through the catfishing is still so closely tied with the abuser. But I actually feel really angry at the documentarians for putting like, a teenage girl's point of view on camera, as if it's the truth or something that, like, I just think she's gonna grow up and look back and be like, you are also exploiting me, a teenager, on camera. That's how I felt about it. I think it's so unbelievable how many people, they got to participate. And the worst part of the whole thing is when that woman. And if you don't know, you should watch this. It's crazy. Is like, listen, it's fine that I did this because, you know, other people get DUIs, and I did this, and so we're all equal. A truly psychotic thing to say. Okay, I'm scrolling through the other questions someone asked about celebrity cookbooks, and I just want to say that Jordan, the other half of Glamorous Trash producing partner is down here with me. We are living together in an Airbnb to save money in the budget and give more money to the movie. And the other day, to celebrate us finishing our shot list, she made chocolate chip cookies. I'm gonna say, the best homemade cookies I've ever had in my life. And I Said, what is this recipe? And she said, lauren Conrad's perfect chocolate chip cookie.

[Christina Lopez]

Okay.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Never saw that coming.

[Christina Lopez]

It's the best.

[Chelsea Devontez]

It's the best homemade cookie I've ever eaten.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay.

[Chelsea Devontez]

K Pop Demon Hunters. Oh, my God. Here's my review on it in one sentence. I texted it to my therapist and I said, you gotta watch it is theme of the podcast. It is theme of my therapy sessions. The music is so good. I'm like, I feel like I could cry when I think about young kids getting to watch this. And it is not my genre. I did not think I was gonna like it. And have I done some light workouts to the K Pop Demon Hunter soundtrack? Yes, I have. Yes, I have. Okay. Someone asked, will the Mormon Housewives memoir, Macy's memoir be covered? Yes. Christina and I tried to get it early so I could cover it before I left. It's, like, on lockdown or whatever. But that book will be on our podcast. Don't you worry. And then. Okay. If there's one thing I miss, miss so much about being back with the podcast right now is that I want to talk about Elizabeth Gilbert's latest memoir, Episode so Badly, or her latest essay, which is an excerpt from her latest memoir, Someone wrote the Eat Pray, Love lady memoiring too hard and admitting she considered murder. I could speak for hours on this. What I want to say most of all is that this piece is so wild, it is absolutely worth reading. I both feel so grateful to Elizabeth Gilbert for constantly being honest and authentic and giving us all this juice. And why is it in guru form? Like, it's the same with Denise Richards book, Which I think the episode's about.

[Christina Lopez]

To come out soon.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Which is like, we don't need your advice. Like, tell us your life. That's crazy. Your prose is great. Write about it, talk about it. But, like, like, not advice. Like, but then don't be like. And this is my lesson to you. Like, we don't need to be like. It's my whole thing of, like, don't take advice from someone's whose life you don't want. Like, Elizabeth Gilbert kind of wrote Eat Pray Love is sort of like a how to for women. Like, it was very inspirational content for women, and it should have just been like, a wild story from this one lady's life. And instead it's like, here's how you can, like, find yourself through yoga. And that was never the lesson, but it was passed on that way. And I feel like she's still writing that way. But I also. I am also so grateful for the piece she wrote. And I remember the first time I saw her actively posting about leaving her Brazilian husband, who is the person she ends Eat, pray, love with for her platonic best friend of years, who she had hidden her love affair for on the day that that that person said she has cancer. And thinking, like, something is deeply wrong. This is such a huge red flag. It's not that the actions necessarily were a red flag. It was that she was posting it in real time. So she was, like, posting online. I've left my husband. I'm with my best friend now. Like, the day it was happening. And that was the red flag to me. And this essay answers all those questions.

[Maria Randazzo]

Okay. Okay. I should go. I gotta go to bed.

[Chelsea Devontez]

We have a table scout tomorrow and I'll talk more about on Patreon. If you have any thoughts or questions.

[Christina Lopez]

You can put it there.

[Chelsea Devontez]

And, yeah, just miss y'.

[Christina Lopez]

All.

[Maria Randazzo]

I love all these episodes.

[Chelsea Devontez]

I listen to it when I'm driving to set, and it's the fucking best. Okay, bye.

[Christina Lopez]

All right, Maria, that was our note from Chelsea. I'm sure a lot of people are happy to hear from her. We know that you miss her so much. We miss her, too.

[Maria Randazzo]

I know.

[Christina Lopez]

We're so grateful to everyone who's been listening and enjoying our guest host. This has been a really fun experiment to, like, get people's different perspectives on hosting the show and also how we dive into these books. Did you have fun or. We're gearing up for another one with you soon, Maria.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, my God. I had so much fun on the Parker Posey app talking to Katie. I've had so much fun on cookie jars with you. And thank you for bringing these things into my life. Like I said, I don't have children. I don't think I would have sought out K Pop demon hunters, but now I am, like, obsessed. I've been singing golden for days.

[Christina Lopez]

Yes.

[Maria Randazzo]

Stays. Yeah, I'm really looking forward to my next episode as well. And I'm just feeling very grateful to be a part of this community because it really is phenomenal. And so. And thank you very much to everyone who has, like, dropped a comment and. And chimed in on these conversations that we've had. It's been really meaningful for me, and it's really made this month really beautiful.

[Christina Lopez]

So I love that. Thank you, Maria. It's been such a wonderful opportunity to work with you and get closer to you. You know, I've never met Maria in the physical realm.

[Maria Randazzo]

It's going to happen, though, soon. It's destined to we. I'm really excited.

[Christina Lopez]

So I've only gotten to know you through producing these episodes and like on this cookie jar, but it's been so wonderful to get to know you and to like have you in my universe now and like have you in the larger cookie universe as well. So same Maria, tell everybody where to find you, follow you, tell them where you're at, Tell them to listen to the list.

[Maria Randazzo]

Oh, thanks. Yes. Well, I will also just add, Christina, that I've been hearing you on the podcast for such a long time now and I am like, damn. Christina just drops all these gems left and right. And so it's been so wonderful to talk to you and thank you. Like I said, you should write your thoughts about grief down because they are really profound. Okay, you can find me on Instagram at Maria Freakin. That's M A R I A F R E A K I N and that's also who I am on Tick Tock and and I have a podcast called the List and you can check us out anywhere you get your podcasts. Yeah, that's what's up.

[Christina Lopez]

We'll link to all of this in the show notes to make it easy. Maria's a wonderful follow on Instagram. She makes the funniest videos.

[Maria Randazzo]

Well, people think I'm serious and they unfollow me. People think I'm really like not vaccinating the children that I don't have.

[Christina Lopez]

Everybody, thanks for listening. Chelsea will be back next month. Month. Hang in there.

[Maria Randazzo]

We miss you, Chelsea. A big thank you to our senior.

[Chelsea Devontez]

Managing producer, Christina Lopez, our executive producer, Jordan Moncada, our sounds engineer, Marcus Hamm, and our amazing associate producer, Jaron Padre. I also want to give a huge thank you to our incredible partners over at Thrive Cosmetics and every plate. We will link to those brands in the show notes. Go check them out. Everything else we discussed is also linked in the show notes. And if you have questions, thoughts, comments, go to the Patreon sign up. There's a free tier you can join. Leave a comment chat with your fellow cookies. We will keep the book club continuing over there.

[Christina Lopez]

Listen. That's the sound of the fully electric Audi Q6E Tron. The sound of captivating electric performance, dynamic drive and the quiet confidence of ultra smooth handling. The elevated interior reminds you this is more than an EV. This is electric performance redefined. The fully electric Audi Q6E Tron.