Handsome – "Handsome records a song!" (December 31, 2025)
Episode Overview
In this festive and experimental episode of "Handsome," comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin leave their usual format behind to fulfill a running joke: they form a band, write and record a holiday song from scratch, and build a website to host it—all in real time and with their signature irreverent humor. Fueled by holiday spirit (and a Squarespace partnership), the trio mix banter with bouts of creativity, producing a hilarious, oddly heartwarming musical collaboration.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Setting the Scene and The Premise
- The Setup: Mae Martin introduces the special episode and explains the impetus—the joke about starting a band and recording a hit single became reality thanks to encouragement from their sponsor, Squarespace. (01:46)
- Meta Moments: The hosts repeatedly reference the episode's self-aware specialness ("It's a holiday miracle, guys" – Tig, 02:01) and their sense of comedic destiny ("This is why we have to be really careful what we say on the pod, because sometimes it comes to life." – Tig Notaro, 02:01).
Brainstorming the “Handsome” Holiday Song
- Band Goals: The crew delight in the specificity of their mission—writing the “greatest song ever written and recorded” (Fortune, 03:06) and making it a holiday classic, aspiring to the heights of Mariah Carey and George Michael. (03:12)
- Musical Talents (or Not): Banter ensues as the hosts joke about their dubious musical chops: “I’m one of the best out there. Why are you laughing?” (Fortune, 04:17), poking fun at each other’s skills and establishing their trio as comedic first, musical maybe.
- Emotional Touchstones: Conversation shifts whimsically to childhood, holiday wishes, Sister Act (with Mae and Tig passionately debating sequels), and the importance of bringing their unique perspectives to the lyrics. (05:10–06:06)
Songwriting Process: Structuring and Content
- Inclusivity and Uniqueness: The group agree on each having their own verse in their preferred style, plus a shared chorus (09:07). They riff on being “unique” and how everyone (even listeners) is special—“It’s so good to be uni–… unique. New York.” (Tig and Mae, 09:06).
- Laugh-out-loud Digressions: Mae and Tig get sidetracked by Tig’s recent fingerprinting appointment (“He put on rubber gloves, I guess this doesn't sound intimate”) and the odd intimacy of bureaucracy, showcasing the group's penchant for absurd tangents. (10:22–11:13)
- Romancing the Audience: Tig suggests the song should include a flirtatious appeal to the listeners, “like a little Boyz to Men, actually” (12:11), adding a layer of tongue-in-cheek sensuality to their holiday endeavor.
Recording “Holiday Wishes”: The Big Musical Moment
- In the Studio (or Living Room): After a break to write their verses, the team jumps into their (hilariously minimal) recording process, each taking a turn:
- Tig opens: “The hollabobs are that time of year to keep it handsome and spread good cheer…” (15:56)
- Mae’s wishful verse: “To sing at church next to an exec on a big talent search...” (16:37)
- Fortune/Tig channel rap and trivia: “My name is Tig and I’m here to wish / to always be handsome… I’m gonna wrap my part while we hear a Mae fact about Bonaparte.” (17:17)
- Bonus: A spoken interlude about Napoleon’s romance novel adds quirky trivia (“In 1795 Napoleon Bonaparte wrote a romance novel.” – Tig and Mae, 17:36).
- Chorus Magic: The chorus underscores themes of togetherness and podcasting kinship:
- “Making handsome holiday wishes while you wash the dishes and listen to the pod / Keep it handsome with you…” (16:11)
- Celebratory Reaction: Pride abounds after playback:
- “Damn, we’re good!” (Fortune, 18:09)
- “What a podcast.” (Backup chorus, 18:11)
Building the Handsome Band Website
- Jumping Into Tech: They turn their attention to building the Squarespace site—admitting their collective lack of tech savvy and relying on Thomas Willette’s guidance (19:01). The mood oscillates between giddy, lost, and self-congratulatory.
- Choosing a Domain and Template: “It’s handsomebandsome.com” (Thomas, 20:35). The group debates site layout, theme (aliens vs. album cover), and color scheme—living up to their “chaotic” brand. (21:01–22:45)
- “I like the black with flurries” (Fortune, 27:12)
- Meta Commentary: “Why didn’t we do this sooner? …Nobody asked us to.” (Fortune, 26:02)
- Final Touches: Playful wrangling over copy (“We hope it fills your hearts with joy and stuff and things” – Fortune, 30:20), selfie quality, filters, and favorite snowflakes, all while celebrating their “uniqueness.” (28:14–31:19)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On creating the band:
- “We said we wanted to start a Handsome band… and now we’re actually producing a song.” – Mae Martin & Tig Notaro (02:16–02:50)
- Unique Skills:
- “We are a triple threat here because we all bring something different to the table.” – Fortune Feimster (04:34)
- Holiday Wishes Theme:
- “My holiday wish has already come true, because it’s just to sing with my dear friends to spend New Year’s Eve [together].” – Tig Notaro (06:26)
- On Karaoke Preferences:
- “Do you like karaoke in general?” – Mae
“Love.” – Tig
“No.” – Fortune
“I do shoop.” – Mae (09:22–09:34)
- “Do you like karaoke in general?” – Mae
- Absurd Brainstorming:
- “Is there a three person waltz?” – Fortune (03:51)
- “Maybe we should write a song called Hot Potato, so we can drop it.” – Fortune (24:04)
- Song Lyric:
- “Making handsome holiday wishes while you wash the dishes and listen to the pod…” (Chorus, 16:11)
- After the Song:
- “Damn, we’re good.” – Fortune (18:09)
- “What a podcast.” – Group/Chorus (18:11, 36:55)
- On band legacy:
- “Do you think we’ll go down as one of the greatest bands of all time?” – Fortune (25:05)
- “Yeah, sure… In the rock and roll hall of fame.” (Tig, Thomas, 25:13)
- Team Pride:
- “I love that we have a band.” – Tig (26:15)
- “I love us. I’m so into being us. Especially because we’re unique, you guys.” – Fortune (33:45)
Episode Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:05 – Introduction and premise: The band idea & song challenge
- 02:01 – Holiday “miracle,” joking about accidentally manifesting things on the pod
- 03:06 – The quest for the “greatest song ever written and recorded”
- 06:13 – Holiday wishes as the theme for the song
- 09:07 – Each host will have their own musical verse
- 12:11 – Flirting with the idea of romancing the podcast listeners
- 15:27 – Songwriting break, followed by recording the holiday track
- 15:56–18:09 – “Holiday Wishes” song performance (full lyrics, solos, chorus)
- 18:09 – Hosts react to the recording – pride and jokes
- 19:01–24:55 – Building the Squarespace band website, choosing template and colors, naming debates
- 26:02 – Group marvels at how easy and fun website-building is
- 27:12–30:18 – Arguing over design, background, and final copywriting on the site
- 32:33–33:56 – Filter/selfie jokes and the joy of showing off the site
- 34:33 – Final enthusiastic goodbyes and song reprise
Episode Tone and Style
Throughout, the episode is marked by the hosts’ warmth, lightly chaotic creativity, and unscripted fun, with much of the joy coming from jokes-at-each-other’s-expense, half-serious brainstorming, and playful emotionality. They readily poke fun at their musical abilities, Squarespace tutorials, and even their teamwork, always looping back to their affection and the theme that what makes them (and the show) special is their uniqueness and togetherness.
Final Thoughts
For listeners who want a dose of Handsome’s signature chemistry, wit, and community spirit—plus a peek at their “musical” side—this episode’s a winner. The band may be tongue-in-cheek, but their celebration of friendship and creativity rings sincerely, making their "Holiday Wishes" song and shiny new website a genuine (if only slightly absurd) holiday treat.
Check out their single and website at: handsomebandsome.com
Memorable Lyric to Remember:
"Making handsome holiday wishes while you wash the dishes and listen to the pod… Keep it handsome with you..." (16:11)