Handsome Podcast Summary

Episode: Will Arnett asks about living in a TV show
Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, Mae Martin
Guest Question: Will Arnett

Overview

In this lively and warm episode of Handsome, comedians Tig Notaro, Fortune Feimster, and Mae Martin ring in 2026 with their signature blend of ribbing, sincerity, and absurdity. Will Arnett drops in (virtually!) to ask: If you had to live in a sitcom, which would it be? The trio reflects on new year moods, community activism, TV nostalgia, iconic sitcoms, psychic experiences, riddle-of-life musings, and many, many caftan jokes. Threaded throughout are their affectionate roastings, updates on their comedy tours, and the joy (with a dash of chaos) that has made their podcast a fan favorite.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The New Year, Hope, and Personal Growth

• The hosts kick off by joking about “south Detroit” in Journey’s "Don’t Stop Believin’," which doesn’t exist—a quick detour into rock ‘n’ roll geography (02:09).
• Fortune reflects on feeling more grounded and hopeful compared to “the nightmare” that was last year (03:35).
• Tig credits Fortune for her resilience, sharing how listeners find inspiration in her journey (03:55).
• Discussion of evolving routines, especially sleep, with Fortune waking up earlier and all trading thoughts on sleep hygiene (04:20).

2. TV Binging and Sexuality in Pop Culture

• Fortune confesses to binging "Heated Rivalry," a hot HBO show about closeted gay hockey players, and how its portrayal is unique in media (04:54):
  • “It's got all the gays and all the girls in a chokehold because it's hot. It's hot.” – Fortune (05:04)
• Mae and Tig debate what makes such shows stand out in queer representation—it's not just sex, it's tenderness too (05:26).

3. Volunteerism and Community Care

• Mae shares about volunteering with LA nonprofit Food on Foot, emphasizing the good that small, local actions can do against the overwhelming tide of bad news (09:52).
  • “If everyone in their small Town... supported their local LGBT center, called their representatives, whatever... it would make a huge difference.” – Mae (10:17)
• Tig describes her family’s regular food drop-offs with Hangout Do Good, for those who want to help but have little time (11:50).
• Mae is charmed by an unhoused person’s compliment:
  • “Did you forget how beautiful you are?” (13:12)

4. Listener Gifts and Soap Comedy

• Fortune shares a sweet listener gift—handmade soap—which launches a tangent about nut allergies and dating etiquette. Mae considers (and rejects) gifting soap on a first date:
  • “I'm not gonna give it to someone on a first date.” – Mae (15:23)

5. Touring, Trans Issues, and Texas

• Mae expresses anxiety about new anti-trans laws in Texas impacting her upcoming tour, vowing to persevere so audiences in those towns still get queer visibility (20:38):
  • “I guess I'll just pee on the bus.” – Mae (21:09)
• The hosts banter about the prospect of moving to Canada and living together in literal wagons (21:44).

6. Psychic Experiences and the “Riddle of Life”

• Mae recounts visits to a Toronto psychic, who had eerily accurate readings and even a trippy face-melting moment:
  • “I look into her eye... I see her face change... like, became an old woman’s face... I’ve never had an experience like this when I’m not on psychedelics.” – Mae (28:25)
• Tig and Fortune crack up and debate what it means as Mae ponders “reality is not what we think it is.”

7. The Main Question: Living in a Sitcom (Will Arnett’s Question, 33:02)

Question: If you had to live in a sitcom, which would it be?

Fortune: Golden Girls

• Dreamed of living in a house of sassy friends eating cheesecake in caftans (33:12).
  • “It is my dream to one day just end up in a house when I’m older with my friends eating cheesecake and wearing caftans.” – Fortune (35:10)
• Explains the show’s queer appeal, strong writing, and lifelong obsession.
• The trio debates which characters they’d be, with much teasing about grumpiness, caftans, and Bea Arthur’s mustache (40:52).

Mae: Friends

• Drawn more to the cast vibes than the show’s premise itself; always wanted to be Matthew Perry’s Chandler.
  • “I think I want to be on Friends. I think I wanted to be Matthew Perry so bad...” – Mae (42:38)
• Loves shows where friendships are central and “penthouse apartments in New York” don’t hurt either.

Tig: Good Times

• Announces age “reveal” and delights in 70s sitcoms that balanced heart and drama.
  • “This family living in the projects, you know, and the comedy was there, but, like, the drama was so there.” – Tig (43:36)
• Cites the emotional gravity and classic theme songs of shows like Good Times and The Jeffersons (44:41, 46:01).

Honorable Mentions

• Cheers (especially by Will Arnett, whose answer is simply: “Cheers.” 53:10)
• Designing Women, Arrested Development, Sanford and Son.
• The discussion includes lots of nostalgia for silly, zany comedies and earnest “very special episodes.”

8. Community Dynamics & Podcast Joy

• The hosts debunk rumors about fights and drama, poking fun at podcast gossip on Reddit (58:24 onwards).
  • “The joy I feel in my heart walking into this room... is immeasurable.” – Tig (59:43)
• Heartfelt closing as they joke about their “stacked fingers” and read out tour dates and fan milestones (“over 50 million downloads!”).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On resilience:
  “You dug through all things, my friend.” – Tig to Fortune (03:51)

• On new year’s perspective:
  “Carl Jung said, Life begins at 40. Everything up until then is just research.” – Mae (08:13)

• On community action:
  “If everyone did [something for their local community], the massive change would be crazy.” – Mae (10:17)

• On sitcom fantasy:
  “As an adult you can just eat cheesecake whenever you want?” – Fortune (39:57)
  “Wait, you can?” – Tig (39:51)

• Highlighting generational TV gaps:
  “Well, here comes my age reveal. I was obsessed with Good Times.” – Tig (43:18)
  “Never heard of it.” – Mae (43:25)

• Meta-podcast moment:
  “Do you think people listen to the podcast?” – Tig (62:55)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening banter, South Detroit & Sleep: 02:09–04:43
• TV binging and queer representation: 04:54–05:47
• Volunteering and making a difference: 09:52–12:12, 13:12 (compliment story)
• Soap gift & listener appreciation: 13:50–15:22
• Touring, anti-trans laws in Texas: 20:38–21:28
• Mae’s psychic/face-melting story: 22:22–31:09
• Will Arnett question intro: 33:02
• Sitcom choices & discussion: 33:12–42:00
• Theme songs nostalgia: 45:23–46:35
• Meta-podcast chatter & Reddit rumors: 58:24–60:29
• Announcements & Outro: 62:22–63:59

Tone & Language

Throughout, the hosts are playful, sarcastic, and affectionate. Even their “arguments” are undercut with warmth and inside jokes ("I'm quitting this podcast. I don't feel safe!" – Tig, 50:27), and their cultural references put everyone on blast, including themselves (“My fingers are between your fingers. That is pretty intimate.” – Fortune, 51:28).

Final Thought

This episode epitomizes the Handsome blend of deep connection, irreverent humor, and shared cultural nostalgia. Will Arnett’s question sparks not just childhood memories and sitcom debates but also musings on chosen family, legacy, and what it means to feel “at home”—on a podcast, TV show, or anywhere else.