Handsome – Episode Summary

Episode: "Trixie Mattel Asks About Party Invitations"

Date: February 17, 2026
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Guest Question Asker: Trixie Mattel
Podcast Theme: Each week, comedians Tig, Fortune, and Mae field a question from a friend and attempt to answer it, mixing comedy, candid conversation, and often the unexpected.

Episode Overview

This episode of "Handsome" centers on social etiquette—specifically, whether it's rude to include an end time on party invitations. The discussion is sparked by a question from superstar drag queen and comedian Trixie Mattel. Along the way, the hosts dive into stories about parties, orgies (hilariously, and repeatedly), celebrity encounters, documentary filmmaking, and the evolution of their own social habits. With the group's trademark humor, they explore the practical and emotional realities of hosting and attending social gatherings.

Key Discussion Points & Memorable Moments

1. Catching Up & Bouncing Between Tangents (01:54–13:07)

• The trio opens with playful banter about their musical collaborations and the hypothetical "Christian Handsome" podcast (“He is risen!” jokes, [02:57–03:09]).
• They riff on religious entertainment and accidentally wandering into churches for the free snacks and music ([03:19–04:49]).
• Mae shares a story about picking up a knight’s costume from a Hindu temple in London, highlighting the randomness of party prep ([04:56–06:09]).
• Fortune reveals she’s currently filming with Kim Kardashian, and the hosts discuss their own storytelling abilities (or lack thereof compared to Kardashians, [06:31–08:02]).

2. Tig's Ups and Downs: Sick Cat & Oscar Nomination (09:23–17:04)

• Tig discusses her ailing cat Fluff—a segment equal parts touching and wryly funny ([09:23–12:16]).

  “We just… fingers crossed. Thank you. Fingers, paws, toes, everything crossed.” – Tig, [11:36]

• Simultaneously, she announces getting an Oscar nomination for "Come See Me in the Good Light" ([12:16–16:58]).
  • The group reflects on the emotional rollercoaster of good and bad life news colliding.
  • Tig shares the moment she found out—sleeping with her breathing machine and eye mask when Stephanie, her wife, woke her with the good news ([15:40–16:41]).

    “I’m like pulling all my gear off my face—‘Huh? What?’…and she was like, ‘You got nominated!’” – Tig, [16:40]

  • They discuss the cutthroat, unpredictable world of documentary filmmaking and award politics.

3. Party-Throwing, End Times & Social Dynamics (38:43–44:49, 49:11–54:27)

• Trixie’s Question Introduced ([38:43–41:03]):

  “Last summer, I had a pool party and put on the invitation 2 to 5, and everyone was like, ‘Damn, bitch, jump in the water and get wet and leave.’ I don’t think it’s rude to add an end time. Do you guys?” – Trixie Mattel, [40:46]

• Mae is 100% pro end-time:

  “I love an end time because it means people arrive on time… You could tell a select group of people, ‘Hey, stick around after.’” – Mae, [41:03]

• Fortune and Tig agree, sharing that end times help with crowd control, set expectations, and make it easier to wind down.
• The hosts spiral into stories about afterparties turning into orgies, spectators, and who gets “the afterparty invite.” This becomes a consistent comedic theme, with plenty of ribbing and raised eyebrows (see [41:31–44:49]).
  • “I’m not at every party, telling people ‘stay after for an orgy’...I just slip a little card in their pocket.” – Mae, [42:32]
  • “When it starts to get salacious, I do have to leave. I can’t sit and watch—Fortune, Tig are bolting out the door.” – Fortune, [43:00]
• Discussion of the term “Fuggos” for party guests not invited to stay for after-party shenanigans (with disclaimers it’s all in jest, [45:00–46:31]).

4. Social Realities: Hosting, Parties, and Selectivity (49:11–54:27)

• Tig, once a big party-thrower, confesses she’s retired from hosting large blowouts—she now prefers intimate dinner parties.

  “I could do [dinner parties] until the cows come home…” – Tig, [54:00]

• They talk about the challenge of keeping in touch as adults, and how parties offer a way to reconnect ([50:14–50:41]).
• All agree end times are necessary, especially to avoid awkward lingering ([54:27]):

  “If you add, like, ‘Party ends at 8, but you’re having a good time,’ you can say, ‘Guys, we can go till 8:30.’” – Tig, [54:22]

5. The Wild Side of Parties (41:34–47:02, 55:06–56:47)

• The orgy party bit continues to sidetrack, with frequent references to “who stays for the afters,” awkward spectators, and lube.
• “There was one spectator, she was like, ‘I’m not gonna get involved, but I’ll pass out lube.’” – Mae, [44:33]

6. Hosting Tips and Practical Advice (57:09–57:44, 57:53–59:34)

• General consensus: Giving an end time isn’t rude. It helps guests plan, and hosts enforce boundaries.

  “It’s never who you want to stay, who stays late.” – May, [57:28]

• The hosts share party faux pas involving lingering guests and the inability to pick up on social cues:

  “[Some people] show up ten minutes before the party starts and, you’re still putting things out, and they’re just there…not helping and staring at you.” – Fortune, [57:28]

7. Comedy Bits, Bits, and Prank Energy (59:01–61:26)

• Tig shares delight in doing awkward anti-social bits, like refusing to leave a director’s house after a party ([59:01–59:44]).
• Mae recounts coaching a child to help her escape unwanted conversations at a party, only for the kid to “blow her cover” ([60:32–61:00]).

Notable Quotes & Timed Highlights

• On Oscar Nominations:

  "You got to leak some [Kim K stories] on the pod."
  “Never. I cannot. I’m a vault. Otherwise you don’t get fun stories.”
  — Fortune, [07:07–07:13]

• On Big Parties:

  “If I knew you on some level, you were invited to some degree.”
  — Tig, [49:58]

• On Social Cues:

  “There are people who don’t read the room… it’s never who you want to stay, who stays late.”
  — May, [57:25–57:28]

• On End Times:

  “I personally don’t think that’s rude… Quality over quantity. Come over for lunch doesn’t mean you should be here at 10pm.”
  — Trixie Mattel, [57:09]

• On Comedy & Pranks:

  “I love an awkward…Wouldn’t you want to see me do that? …I need to have a prank show.”
  — Tig, [59:24–59:40]

• On Orgies (joking):

  “As they come in, I slip a little card in their pocket.”
  — Mae, [42:43] “I do not want to be the old woman in the corner.”
  — Fortune, [43:12]

Key Segment Timestamps

• Opening Banter / Musical bits: 01:54–03:45
• Religious entertainment riff: 03:09–04:49
• Kim Kardashian stories/outdoing celebrity anecdotes: 06:31–08:02
• Tig’s cat + Oscar nom saga: 09:23–16:58
• Trixie’s party invitation question: 40:42–41:03
• Orgy after-party tangent: 41:31–44:49
• The “Fuggos” bit and party selectivity: 45:00–46:31
• Tig’s take on parties & adulthood: 49:11–54:27
• Party guest stereotypes / lingering guests: 57:09–57:44, 57:53–59:34
• Tig’s “awkward pranks” / Mae’s party escape plan: 59:01–61:26

Recap / Final Advice

• Setting an end time for a party is not rude; it helps set expectations, ensures things don’t spiral, and gives hosts control over the event's arc.
• “Quality over quantity”—a select core can always be quietly invited to linger for the “after” (orgy or otherwise).
• When planning a gathering, it’s wise to communicate clearly, and don’t be afraid to establish boundaries—whether to manage clean-up, your own energy, or just to make sure you’re only spending your time with people who don’t try to flush their hairbands down the metaphorical (or literal) toilet.

Tone & Vibe

The hosts are quick-witted, irreverent, and keep things friendly and inclusive despite endlessly lampooning one another. The episode blends heartfelt moments (pet woes, vulnerability around awards, nostalgia) with absurd and risqué comedy, making their advice on parties as entertaining as it is relatable.

Summary for the Uninitiated

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too controlling to “end” your own party (or wanted to avoid lingering guests who just won’t take the hint), you’ll find comical commiseration and actual solutions here—from Trixie Mattel and the “Handsome” crew. Just don’t expect a party invite that lasts past midnight…unless you get the special after-party card from Mae.