Handsome – "Pretty Little Episode #81"

Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Date: March 6, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of Handsome leans into its signature banter and heart, as comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin field questions from listeners and each other. The core themes explored today are social awkwardness—particularly saying the wrong thing at the wrong time—and twin parenting advice. The hosts weave in personal anecdotes about family, loss, and the weirdness of daily life, peppered throughout with their offbeat humor and warmth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The "Hell, Yeah" Bit & Family Resemblance

[01:00 – 04:10]

• Mae has picked up the phrase "hell, yeah" from a friend but feels it doesn’t always fit, leading to a bit of playful back-and-forth and faux-alien banter.
  • Mae: “Doesn't feel like the right context.” [01:36]
  • Fortune: “Feels like you're an alien…just trying to figure out where to insert your 'hell, yes.'” [01:38]
• The conversation pivots to family resemblance.
  • Fortune observes she resembles her mother more than her father, sharing a bit about parental attractiveness and joking that she is "drop dead cute" as a result. [02:55–03:08]
  • Mae muses about genetics: "Sometimes you see that with celebrity kids…then their kids are aliens as well." [03:56]

2. The Mystery Hum of Connecticut (And Tig’s Movie Pitch)

[04:10 – 08:08]

• Mae brings up a real mystery in West Haven, Connecticut—a persistent hum the residents can’t explain.
  • Mae: "A persistent low frequency hum has invaded the city of West Haven...leaving some shaken by an occurrence they’re calling everything from mysterious to excruciating." [04:25]
• What could be a horror tangent is undercut by Fortune’s comedic disappointment, then taken into a (bleeped) movie pitch, and culminates in the hosts riffing on movie titles ("Full Tilt" vs. "Oh, no").
• Memorable moment: The pair stage a mock countdown to say the supposed movie title, culminating in silly wordplay about a Yoko Ono biopic.
  • Mae: "What if it’s Oh, no! The Yoko Ono Story?" [07:35]

3. Listener Question #1: Saying the Wrong Thing

[08:14 – 14:45]
Question from Emma, a palliative care physician:
Share a time you said the wrong thing and had to sit in that awkward moment.

• Fortune reflects on how awkward and difficult it can be to react to someone’s very sad news, especially if it comes unexpectedly, and worries about not seeming connected enough.
  • "I go into my head where I’m like, oh my gosh, that’s really devastating news. And I don’t know if I sounded connected enough..." [09:01]
• Fortune shares a touching anecdote about unintentionally stumbling into a discussion about a coworker's loss. The conversation leads to a sincere, emotional exchange and a supportive hug.
• Mae admits to sometimes turning conversations toward her own issues after breakups and needing to reach out afterward to apologize for being self-centered.

Notable Quotes

• Mae: “I say the wrong thing all the time.” [13:04]
• Fortune: “You never know what people are carrying.” [13:00–13:01]

4. Listener Question #1 Answered: Emma's Awkward Medical Phone Call

[14:20 – 14:45]

• Emma shares her own story:

  • After delivering tragic news to a family, she reflexively ended the call with, “I hope you have a good night," then felt awful for the slip.
  • Emma: “I felt truly, truly awful.” [14:42]

• The hosts reassure her:

  • Mae: “That’s not too bad. People know that’s just a turn of phrase...It’s like when the person who checks you into your flight says, ‘Have a good flight,’ and you go, ‘You, too.’” [14:50]

5. More Awkwardness: Fortune and Dr. Oz, Mae’s Dad’s Memoir, and Martin Short on TV

[14:59 – 17:32]

• Fortune recounts being on Dr. Oz shortly after her mother died; after she mentions her mom’s fandom, Dr. Oz replies, “Give her my love”—forgetting the context.
  • “She died. Remember? I was just talking about how she died.” [15:48]
• Mae’s father wrote a memoir about losing a son; book promoters frequently overlooked the tragedy at the core of the story, treating it like a light romance instead.
• The hosts recall a famous Martin Short interview where a host asked about his deceased wife; he went along politely.
  • Mae: “He actually said, ‘Oh, she’s doing great. Thank you.’” [17:08]

6. Listener Question #2: Parenting Advice for Twins

[18:17 – 22:53]
Question from Hannah: Any advice for parents of twins?

• Fortune emphasizes the difficulties of the first year—sleepless nights, constant care—but reassures it goes by quickly.
  • “That first year is so hard…But it’s only one year of your life.” [19:19]
  • “You are in it…but it’s also a blip in the big picture.” [20:43]
• Advice: Encourage individuality in twins; for example, avoid dressing them alike.
  • “As soon as a kid can dress themselves...cannot wait to see those shoes on the wrong feet.” [21:19]
• The conversation highlights the joy and chaos of early childhood—funny stories about mismatched shoes and inside-out clothing.
  • Mae: “Two t-shirts on top of each other...pants on backwards was constant in our house.” [21:39–21:46]
  • Fortune: “We also never called it the terrible twos because we didn’t think it was terrible.” [22:15]
• Mae closes: “It goes so quickly. It’s gonna be a rough year. But if you can remember it’s not endless, then you can maybe enjoy it more.” [22:04]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On awkward language:
  • Mae: “Doesn’t feel like the right context.” [01:36]
  • Fortune: "Feels like you're an alien…just trying to figure out where to insert your 'hell, yes.'" [01:38]
• On loss and empathy:
  • Fortune: "You never know what people are carrying." [13:01]
• On parenting:
  • Fortune: "As soon as a kid can dress themselves...cannot wait to see those shoes on the wrong feet." [21:19]
• On reassuring a listener:
  • Mae: “That’s not too bad. People know that’s just a turn of phrase.” [14:50]
• Comedy highlight:
  • Mae: "What if it’s Oh, no! The Yoko Ono Story?" [07:35]

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [01:00–04:10] – "Hell, yeah" catchphrase banter and family resemblance
• [04:10–08:08] – The Connecticut hum and movie pitch riffing
• [08:14–14:45] – Listener question on awkward moments and the hosts’ responses
• [14:45–17:32] – Overlooked grief stories: Dr. Oz, memoir promo mishap, Martin Short
• [18:17–22:53] – Parenting twins—advice, empathy, and hilarious stories

Style and Tone

The episode is warm, funny, and honest, filled with friendly jabs, comforting relatability, and real emotional insight. The hosts thrive in the space between humor and sincerity, circling serious topics with levity but also providing genuine advice and consolation.

Final Takeaways

• Sometimes, saying the wrong thing is just an unavoidable part of being human—what matters most is your willingness to acknowledge it and connect sincerely afterward.
• Parenting twins is intense, especially in the first year, but savoring the moments and allowing kids to explore their personalities makes all the difference.
• Throughout, Mae, Fortune, and Tig bring an abundance of good humor, candor, and camaraderie, making the awkward moments feel a little easier for everyone.

For tour dates and more, visit tignotaro.com and maymartin.net. Listeners are encouraged to send questions and join the expanding Handsome community.