Episode Overview

Episode Title: Glitter LIVE! w/ Adam Scott, Casey Wilson, & Dan Levy (HDTGM Matinee)
Podcast: How Did This Get Made?
Date: September 30, 2025
Location: Largo @ the Coronet Theater, Los Angeles
Hosts/Guests: Paul Scheer, Casey Wilson, Adam Scott, Dan Levy
Theme:
A live roundtable breakdown of Mariah Carey's infamous 2001 film Glitter—one of cinema’s most notorious flops. With regular hosts June Diane Raphael and Jason Mantzoukas absent, Paul Scheer assembles an “all-star” HDTGM panel to dissect this pop-star vehicle-turned-cult classic, exploring its baffling choices, period confusion, production lore, and legendarily wooden performances.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setup and Panel Introduction (01:11–03:41)

• Paul introduces the night as a “special How Did This Get Made? All Stars” event due to the absence of June and Jason (01:11).
• Panel features Casey Wilson, Adam Scott, and Dan Levy.
• Paul confesses: “I own the DVD, but never worked up the courage to watch it.” (03:42, Paul)

2. The Mystery of Glitter's Availability and Reputation (03:41–04:34)

• Comments on the film’s notorious difficulty to find and poor box office ($22M budget, $5.2M worldwide gross).
• “A lot of people say the reason why this movie didn’t do well is because of September 11, because it was released the week after, but has nothing to do with that. It is a terrible movie nonetheless.” (04:11, Paul)

3. Is Glitter Supposed to Be Set in the 80s? (05:08–06:39)

• Incredulity over the 1983 setting: “It’s an 80s movie, but there’s nothing 80s about it.” (05:30, Adam)
• Spotting timeline errors (cordless phones, magazines that didn’t exist in ‘83).
• “They just paid no attention... I almost think they decided to say it was in the 80s to make it seem more interesting.” (06:03, Casey)

4. Club Scenes and Music Industry Nonsense (07:02–08:58)

• Ridiculousness of club scenes: “Things that don’t ever exist, like the 80s clubs... someone’s doing semaphore.” (07:02, Paul)
• Unrealistic depiction of DJs breaking artists in clubs and instant music stardom.
• The infamous “two-second demo tape” talent discovery: “He listens to it for three seconds.” – “Two.” – “I think it was two seconds.” (07:43–07:48, Casey/Adam/Casey)

5. Mariah’s Friends and Backup Dancers (09:00–11:48)

• The roles of Da Brat and “the other one” (Roxy/Louise), their undefined ambitions.
• “I wasn’t sure what their own thing was.” (10:19, Paul)

6. Mariah Carey’s Passive Protagonist and Acting (34:44–37:19)

• The panel debates if Mariah’s character wants to be a singer or shows any passion (34:45).
• “Mariah is an interesting character, obviously, because she doesn’t really have a passion.” (34:48, Paul)
• “Every expression looks like she’s about to laugh... Is the laugh coming, or is it sad?” (35:15, Dan)
• Panel acknowledges her acting improves in Precious.

7. Dice: DJ, Producer, Possible Abusive Boyfriend (22:10, 24:33, 30:31–31:07)

• Confusing backstory and motivations for Dice (Max Beesley).
• “He seems to be... keyboard.” (22:49, Dan)
• Panel jokes about his addiction to marimba and confusing accent: “Can we talk about Dice’s accent?” (62:37, Dan)
• Later, his problematic behavior and the dynamic with Mariah: “Dice is a horrible person.” (30:41, Dan; 30:42, Adam)

8. The Silly and “Magical Realism” Moments (44:21–46:27)

• Director’s commentary refers to a photo changing after a kiss as “magical realism,” provoking laughter and disbelief.
• Continuity mistakes abound, justified as “subtle, sort of magical realist moments.” (44:21, Director Commentary)

9. Movie Logic Gone Haywire

• Limo with no driver, record label deals made on a whim.
• The “USA Music Awards” fiasco, news broadcasts driving plot points (39:37–40:43).
• “The main boss can’t be here. I was like, why?” (26:46, Dan)

10. The Dice Death, Plot “Twists,” and Rushed Ending (28:34–30:02; 41:28–41:46; 66:12–67:13)

• The panel highlights how abruptly Dice is killed, and how the film fumbles the supposed epic love story conclusion.
• “Luckily he went to Madison Square Garden, dropped off a handwritten letter and one rose...” (58:32, Paul)

11. Inane Transitions and Editing (52:11–53:06)

• Firework transitions, time jumps, pointless quick-cuts, and sped-up shots lampooned by all.
• “There were several times... when the scene would speed up. It was just because these stupid, shitty, terrible shots they were getting were taking too long.” (52:33, Casey)

12. Audience Questions & Notable Gags (50:20–55:18)

• Fans in the audience pitch alternate song titles, character names, and point out further film oddities (the disappearing cat, the mysterious accent).
• "She is a beige woman. She's like khaki. She's a khaki woman.” (51:01, Audience)
• “If it weren’t for Moulin Rouge, this could be the greatest musical of all time. It’s not even technically a musical.” (69:51, Paul)

13. Second Opinions: Five-Star Amazon Review Round-Up (69:39–71:28)

• Paul reads outlandishly positive Amazon reviews for Glitter live, to peals of laughter.
• “If this movie came out 10 years ago, it would have won an Oscar.” (71:28, Paul reading Mr. E.S.M. moshaya’s review)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Mariah Carey stars in what can be described as the frittata version of 8 Mile.” (02:01, Paul)
• “It looks like it was made for, like, five shits.” (05:20, Casey)
• On the music business plot: “Record label deals made on a whim… like, ‘Hey, you’re here, you’re signed.’” (27:15, Paul)
• On Mariah’s acting: “Every expression looks like she’s about to laugh... Is the laugh coming or is it sad?” (35:18, Dan)
• On director’s commentary: “Magical realism. What? For those of you who did not know what was happening, magical realism.” (45:07, Paul)
• “There's nothing more uncool than watching someone on an electric keyboard compose music.” (23:20, Paul)
• “Dice called her friend a fat ass, and he called the other one something.” (30:44, Dan)
• “If it weren’t for Moulin Rouge, this could be the greatest musical of all time. It’s not even technically a musical.” (69:51, Paul)

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:11 | Paul introduces “All Stars” panel and sets up the night | | 03:41 | Confession—Paul never watched his DVD copy before this show | | 05:08 | Panel discusses flimsy 1980s setting and period anachronisms | | 07:02 | Ridiculous club/music industry scenes dissected | | 09:00 | Discussion about Mariah’s backup dancers and their undefined goals | | 19:12 | Panel shows “Meet Cute” Dice/MC clip and pokes at their chemistry | | 28:34 | Panel reacts to Dice’s sudden murder and the movie’s haphazard plot | | 34:44 | Main discussion: Mariah’s performance and character passivity | | 44:21 | Panel plays director’s “magical realism” commentary—uproarious audience reaction | | 52:11 | Audience member points out transition weirdness and editing mishaps | | 58:30 | Panel muses on Dice's handwritten letter just before his death | | 69:39 | Five-star “second opinions” Amazon reviews, panel in stitches | | 72:13 | Closing panel recommendations—“fun to watch” as a bad movie |

The Panel’s Tone & Final Thoughts

The episode is a riotous, affectionate, and occasionally bewildered roast of Glitter. The panel ping-pongs between incredulity and creative appreciation; riffing, acting out scenes, calling out the weirdest lines, and laughing over the film’s earnest failures. Audience participation further layers on the absurdity and camaraderie. There’s a testing-the-limits-of-reality flavor to the night, especially around “magical realism” explanations, and a genuine joy in communal movie-watching.

Should you watch Glitter?
A unanimous, gleeful yes—“super fun to watch.” The HDTGM panel insists it’s best consumed in good company and with the director’s commentary for peak confusion and laughter.

Further Highlights & Running Bits

• Continuous mockery of the ambiguous 1980s setting and wardrobe.
• Multiple callbacks to the unexplained marimba fixation and the invented term “magical realism.”
• Good-natured jokes about the conspicuously absent cat and the vanishing Miyazaki-esque transitions.
• Audience’s creative song/character title suggestions (e.g., “Dice, Dice, Baby,” “Song in the Key of Yamaha,” “Going Braless” at 54:56).
• Good-natured theorizing about why anyone, including Mariah Carey, agreed to make this bewildering film.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

The HDTGM Glitter LIVE episode is a playful, deeply funny group therapy session for pop culture fans, where comedians bond over the bewildering, wrongheaded triumphs of a notorious flop. It’s loaded with bits, riffs, audience Q&A, and a running contest for the weirdest choice within a film bursting with them. The show captures a love of bad movies and the delight in dissecting every nonsensical detail—making you almost want to watch Glitter yourself. Almost.