Last Looks: Christmas Mail

Summary

How Did This Get Made? – Episode Summary: "Last Looks: Christmas Mail"

Release Date: December 20, 2024

In the December 20th episode of the award-winning comedy podcast "How Did This Get Made?", hosts Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, and Jason Mantzoukas embark on a deep dive into the holiday-themed film "Christmas Mail". This detailed, long-form summary encapsulates their spirited discussions, listener interactions, and behind-the-scenes insights, providing a comprehensive overview for both dedicated fans and newcomers.

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1. Introduction to "Christmas Mail"

The episode kicks off with June Diane Raphael setting the stage for their analysis of "Christmas Mail," a film centered around the United States Postal Service during the bustling holiday season. The hosts express a mix of anticipation and skepticism, preparing to unravel why this film made it to the big screen.

2. Corrections and Omissions

Timestamp: [04:57]

In the "Corrections and Omissions" segment, the trio addresses listener feedback pinpointing inaccuracies and overlooked elements in "Christmas Mail." They discuss character details, plot inconsistencies, and factual misrepresentations.

• Paul Scheer emphasizes the importance of authenticity, saying, "Every memorable gift starts with a story. And what better gift to give this holiday season than giving something that represents pure power." ([00:47])

• Jason Mantzoukas humorously critiques the film's depiction of postal workers, particularly the use of clip-on ties, stating, "Clip on ties can save your life." ([01:08])

3. Behind-the-Scenes with Wicker Man

Timestamp: [02:52]

The episode features a special guest, Joe Wicker, the location manager for "Christmas Mail." Wicker shares invaluable insights into the film's production process, highlighting challenges such as limited filming time and the logistics of shooting in actual USPS facilities.

• Wicker Man recounts, "Principal photography lasted for 14 days in the spring of 2010, and the finished film was delivered a few months later in time for the holidays." ([16:50])

He also touches upon the cooperation with USPS, stating, "They offered an official uniform to our wardrobe department so everyone would look the right way." ([16:58])

4. The Importance of the USPS

Timestamp: [08:53]

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the role of the USPS, both in the film and real life. The hosts delve into the economic struggles of the Postal Service, discussing listener Carrie's input on its operational importance, especially in rural areas.

• June Diane Raphael reflects, "The post office is super important and it being part of the government." ([11:29])

• Carrie the Librarian adds, "The USPS is the only one that will go to rural villages... to deliver to extremely rural post boxes." ([11:47])

5. Movie Trends Discussed

Timestamp: [22:02]

In their "Movie Trends" segment, Paul, June, and Jason critique prevalent clichés in contemporary filmmaking, particularly those evident in "Christmas Mail."

• Jason Mantzoukas laments, "Something I do not enjoy in movies are people who don't appear to have jobs... As a middle-class person, that should always be a part of a movie." ([23:21])

• The hosts also discuss the unrealistic portrayal of corporate Christmas parties and characters' lack of independence, reinforcing the necessity for relatable and believable storytelling.

6. Just Chat Segment

Timestamp: [25:50]

The "Just Chat" segment is a lively exchange where the hosts share personal anecdotes, discuss recent TV shows and movies like "Taskmaster Junior," and explore the impact of AI-generated content on media consumption. They touch upon themes of creativity, collaboration, and the evolving landscape of entertainment.

• June Diane Raphael enthuses about shows that blend humor with heartfelt narratives, while Jason Mantzoukas shares his fascination with AI's role in creating fictional scenarios, stating, "You can't just solve the mystery and not go to work." ([34:56])

7. Announcements and Next Episode

Timestamp: [60:43]

As the episode draws to a close, the hosts announce their forthcoming discussion on "Bad Boys Ride or Die", the fourth installment in the "Bad Boys" franchise. They provide a brief plot overview and tease their comedic breakdown of the film's merits and shortcomings.

• Jason Mantzoukas provocatively declares, "Next episode, we'll be watching 2024's Bad Boys Ride or Die." ([60:43])

8. Listener Engagement and Final Thoughts

Throughout the episode, the hosts encourage listener participation, inviting feedback on their Discord server and highlighting contributions from dedicated fans. They express gratitude towards their production team and reiterate the importance of supporting authentic storytelling in cinema.

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Notable Quotes:

• Jason Mantzoukas [05:32]: "Danny, you and I are on the same page here. I don't believe Christy. Unless I can see him with my own eyes, I don't know who she's calling."

• Wicker Man [16:50]: "Principal photography lasted for 14 days in the spring of 2010, and the finished film was delivered a few months later in time for the holidays."

• June Diane Raphael [11:29]: "The post office is super important and it being part of the government."

• Jason Mantzoukas [23:21]: "Something I do not enjoy in movies are people who don't appear to have jobs... As a middle-class person, that should always be a part of a movie."

---

Conclusion:

In "Last Looks: Christmas Mail," "How Did This Get Made?" offers a blend of humor, critical analysis, and heartfelt appreciation for a film that navigates the often-overlooked world of postal services during Christmas. Through engaging discourse and listener interaction, the hosts provide a multifaceted examination of the movie, ensuring that even those who haven't watched it gain valuable insights. As they prepare to tackle "Bad Boys Ride or Die" in their next episode, listeners are left with a renewed appreciation for the intricacies of filmmaking and the importance of narrative authenticity.

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For more episodes and detailed discussions, follow "How Did This Get Made?" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or visit their official website.

Transcript

[Paul Scheer]

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is available now. Uncover one of history's greatest mysteries in a first person single player adventure video game. Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and the Last Crusade. The year is 1937. Sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle. And only one person can stop them. Indiana Jones Adventure calls on Xbox Series X and S Game Pass and PC Rated T for Teen. Copyright and trademark 2024 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights served. Every memorable gift starts with a story. And what better gift to give this holiday season than giving something that represents pure power.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Nature's power.

[Paul Scheer]

I'm talking about Jefferson's Ocean Bourbon and Jefferson's Ocean Rye.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

They are aged at sea. They have dealt with elements you could only dream of. You'll taste the journey in every sip. It's darkened by the pounding waves, it's kissed by ocean air and it's caramelized by equatorial heat. Give the gift of adventure.

[Paul Scheer]

Give Jefferson's Ocean Bourbon and Jefferson's Ocean Rye. Please sip responsibly.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Copyright 2023 Jefferson's Bourbon Company Crestwood, Kentucky after investing billions to light up our network, T Mobile is America's largest 5G network. Plus right now you can switch keep your phone and we'll pay it off up to $800. See how you can save on every plan versus Verizon and AT&T. @T mobile.com keepandswitch the four lines via virtual prepaid card. Allow 15 days qualifying unlock device credit service ported 90 plus days with device ineligible carrier and timely redemption required. Card has no cash access and expires in six months. Why clip on ties can save your life. How kids are better at Taskmaster than adults and the location manager of Christmas Mail speaks all this and more on today's how did this get Made? Last looks hit the theme.

[June Diane Raphael]

How did this get made? Trash can fires in Jacob's ladder start out bad, now it's getting better. Jason Stinkle Angelina down at the lago is where I seen em how did this get Baby Tall John cheering, chasing suits balcony monster's about to puke July and ask what's its mission and where the march starts is another question. How did this get made? How did this get made? How did this get made?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Hello all my fedora wearing postal workers. It's me, the ragman Paul Scheer. And welcome to how did this Get Made? Last Looks, where you, the listener, get to voice your issues on Christmas Mail, a movie that discord user Scully thinks Should have had the tagline Christmas Mail.

[Paul Scheer]

Return to sender, please.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Thank you, Scully, for that tagline. And remember, if you have an alt movie tagline or title, submit it to us on our discord and we may just read it on the show. Coming up on today's show, we will be hearing all your corrections and omissions on Christmas Mail. And let me tell you, you people are coming out strong with your post office takes. We'll then open up the Last Looks hotline to hear about what movie trends you think are B plus. Jason will stop by to chat about a bunch of stuff like the new Taron Egerton film, Carry On, Taskmaster Junior, Anthony Jeselnik's stand up special, and teen slang that we don't understand. And finally, as always, I will reveal the movie for next week's episode. But big news, people. How did this get made? Is going on tour this spring. That's right. We're gonna be on tour all over the country. Well, I mean, in a couple places. We're gonna be in Austin, Denver, Boise, Seattle, San Franc, Portland and Los Angeles for a big, big Los Angeles show celebrating our 15th year anniversary. So you can get tickets for [e-mail] we also have some shows at Largo. Dinosaur is going to be performing in January in San Francisco as well as Largo. So check out hdtgm.com that will have all your ticket needs for us in Austin, Denver, Boise, Seattle, San Francisco, Portland and la. Okay, that's all the plugs I got. So let's get into it. Last week we talked at length about Christmas mail. We had questions, and we might have even missed a few things. Well, here is your chance to set us straight. Put a stamp on it. Let us know what we got right and what we got wrong in something I like to call corrections and omissions.

[June Diane Raphael]

Corrections and omissions. Corrections and omissions. Corrections and omissions. Withhold John shield.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah. Thank you, John Faulding, for that theme song. Let's go to the discord. All right, Adam, 1138 has chimed in on something that everybody has come at us about, which is Mrs. Kloss's first name. Now, in the Rankin Bass Christmas special, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, we learn that her first name is Jessica. People say, I highly recommend watching or rewatching that special for the hippie dippy musical number that she has midway through it. Well, now, Adam, are we going to say that Rankin Bass is responsible for Santa? I don't think so. That's why Beneferon adds an alternative name option. On the other side of the Atlantic, where Santa Claus is known as Father Christmas, Mrs. Claus has a default first name, Merry, as in Merry Christmas. Right. This is what I'm saying, people. You can't just say. Well, in the Scooby Doo holiday special, they called her Julia. That doesn't make. We need to go deeper. I like Ben Efron's point of view here. Merry so far is the winning name for me. Merry Christmas is a great name for Mrs. Claus, but as I've been told on social media, let the women pick the names. Okay. Bonjour, Jamie writes. Rolanda Watts, who played Shelly, was a talk show host in the 90s. Her eponymous show ran for almost a thousand episodes. She was also the announcer on the show, Judge Joe Brown.

[Paul Scheer]

Whoa.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

That is crazy. First of all, that was Rolanda. Oh, my gosh. I'm reading it and I'm capturing it back. I know Rolanda. I used to watch Rolanda. How did I miss Rolanda? And then she became the announcer on Joe Brown.

[Paul Scheer]

Good.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Cash that check. Anyway, Dr. Guts 1003 writes, Matt looks at the photo of his bandmates and decides to give him a call. We then cut to the scene where Heather is helping the band with their breathing exercises, and two of the guys are wearing the same exact outfit that they're wearing in the photograph. I guess they wasted their wardrobe budget on fedoras. I mean, maybe they're like a character band, like Kiss. Like Kiss is always in the same outfits. Ultimately, you know, that's their. That's their show outfits, right? Don't bands have show outfits? I think they do. Danny, the Wall writes, call to action for team sanity here, we're assuming a lot of circumstantial evidence to accept that Christy is related to Santa Claus. Thank you, Danny. Thank you for bringing up what I have been passionately saying in that episode. What if there isn't any Santa at all in this movie world and Christy is just really a disturbed person with psychotic delusions? Danny, you and I are on the same page here. I don't believe Christy. Unless I can see him with my own eyes, I don't know who she's calling. All right, let's go to the phones. First up, Jen from Kentucky.

[Jen]

Hi, Paul, this is Jen, and I am calling about. You've got Christmas mail. There was a comment in the live show about one of the characters wearing a clip on tie. I think this actually speaks to the authenticity of the representation of the postal service in the film. My husband used to be a supervisor at UPS and he had to wear a tie to work, but it had to be a clip on because they work around conveyor belts. And if you're wearing a traditional necktie and it gets hung in a conveyor belt, you're in trouble. You wear clip on ties so that they will just rip off the front of your shirt instead of taking you down to the conveyor belt and, you know, causing all sorts of terrible trauma. Anyway, hope that helps.

[Austin]

Love the show.

[Jen]

Love you all. Thank you so much for all the joy and laughter you guys bring into our lives. I wish you all a merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a very happy 2025.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Thank you, Jen. Yes, I've heard a lot of these theories. As a matter of fact, there's a famous story. Well, not a famous story, a story on that I remember because it happened to me on Human Giant. We, our showrunner got into a fight with our costume designer because Aziz and I were playing cops and we had regular ties. And he's like, you would never put regular ties on a police officer. They need clip on ties. So if someone goes to choke the cop, it would fall right off. So I guess what I'm realizing is most people need clip on ties because they can be choked. So I didn't know that about cops. I don't think it made a difference in our sketch. I think that we were giving our costume designer a hard time, and if I was a little bit smarter and older, I would have stepped in there, and I think I did. But here's what I'm saying. Clip on ties are for our protection. All right, let's go to Austin. What do you got?

[Carrie]

Hi, this is Austin calling about the Post Office Talk podcast. Wanted to mention a big part of the reason why the Post Office runs at a deficit is because of the Postal Accountability and enhancement act of 2006. You mentioned that it had been running at a deficit for about 15 years. And a large part of that is because the Postal Accountability and Enhancement act, which, up until then, the Post Office funded their pensions on a pay as you go basis, which is how most places do it. But this law required the Postal Service to calculate all of its likely pension costs over the next 75 years and then stow away enough money between 2007 and 2016 to cover most of those pensions for 75 years. The result of that was a massive catastrophe for the Post Office. The Postmaster general said in 2015 that their $15 billion debt is a direct result of the mandate. According to the week, the USPS began defaulting on pension payments in 2012, but the Postal Service lost $62.4 billion between 2007 and 2006. Its inspector general attributed 54.8 billion of that to pre funding retiree benefits. So there you go. Thought it was worth mentioning that a big part of the reason they're running at a deficit, some of it's competition, some of its modernization, but a big part of it is because they were required to cover all of their pensions for 75 years, which is pretty silly. Anyway, thanks. Love the podcast.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Bye now. This is fascinating. I read about this after the show because I was interested in this. Now, this is not the end of the post office talk. No, it's not. Because Kerry the librarian, not Carrie the postal Service worker, explains why the post office is important.

[Vicky]

Hey guys, this is Carrie the librarian. I actually just paused the new episode a few seconds into it, a few minutes into it, to call about the post office real quick. This is a really important topic because it's. Well, it's honestly kind of like saying, why do we need libraries? We've got Amazon, you know, it's about access. As somebody who has spent a fair amount of time in rural Alaska, let me tell you, the post office is super important and it being part of the government. And while yes, it is self funded, it still needs taxpayer dollars because the postal office is. The USPS is the only ones that will go to rural villages to out of the way places very difficult LOC, Amazon, UPS, FedEx, DHL. None of these people will go to the fishing villages who will deliver to extremely rural post boxes, et cetera. So in order for literally everybody in the country to get their mail, the post office is important. But yes, it does self fund. It works really hard to self fund and especially around Christmas time. So if you want to love your post office, get some stamps. They have cool seasonal stamps. Anyway, I love you guys. I'm gonna go back to watching the podcast, listening to the podcast, and I hope you have a great holiday.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes, exactly, Carrie. And this is what June was saying at the top of the episode. She had this momentary thought of why do we need it? And then when she did some research on it, she changed her tune. That's what we were saying at the top of the show. People didn't know, you've let us know and now we got it. All right, thank you, Carrie. Thank you, Austin for giving us some good old post office details. I'm like, I feel very connected to the post office now. Our post office truck on our Christmas tree is right in front. We gotta support our post office. And congratulations to the Canadian post office, who just recently came off strike. So, Vicky from Winnipeg, what do you got?

[Wickerman]

First of all, I love the episode of Christmas Mail. I had a lot of big laughs listening to it. I wanna talk about Heather. Why didn't they just make her his cousin or his other sister? Why did she have to be this other woman who could potentially be a love interest for him? Also, I feel like they went out of their way to make sure we knew how fun Heather was. So she was always, like, skipping while walking slowly down the street with the little girl, but she had to stay in frame so she couldn't really skip that much. Or they were always, like, tickling each other or dancing. Any interaction just seemed very unnatural. Happy holidays. Love the show and thanks for all you do.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

You know, Vicki, great question. Could have been a sister, right? Could have been a sister. Would have been easier if it was a sister. Would have been maybe less creepy. Oh, I guess her sister died. I guess his sister died, I should say, huh? Well, maybe if there's any other family member, they were worried that, like, why doesn't that person who's more responsible take care of the kid? Probably that was a reason, like, he clearly shouldn't be taking care of the kid. So if you introduce a family member who could take care of the kid, you'd be like, why isn't the kid with that person? Anyway, I also want to point out that someone on Discord realized that Matt was making a sandwich with peanut butter and jelly and vegetables. So there we go. He's not good. But, yes, Heather probably should have been maybe a distant cousin. I don't know. Yes, it would have been better. All right, let's go back to the Discord for one last message. Okay, this is from Wickerman, longtime listener, first time working on a movie featured on the pod. Wait, hold on. What? Wickerman says they were the location manager on Christmas mail. And I don't fully understand how the post office works either, but I can help answer a small percentage of movie related questions that came up in the episode. Oh, Wicker Man, I cannot wait. Okay, first of all, unsurprisingly, it was a quick shoot. Principal photography lasted for 14 days in the spring of 2010, and the finished film was delivered a few months later in time for the holidays. At the time, I took a big swing and reached out to the USPS corporate, and I asked them, could I shoot there? And they got permission to film at an actual USPS facility and use the official USPS logo and signage on screen. Now, all the scenes in the USPS sorting area were filmed on one Sunday. Yep. Just one day. To be clear, the interior scenes in the Post Office suites were filmed at different non USPS locations over multiple days. And those machines were a bit loud in the sorting area. So most of the dialogue in those scenes had to be ADRs later. Now, that space was so large that some of the crews used bikes and tricycles to move to different locations, like Matt did in the film. Now, the USPS did not finance a film or anything like that. Nor did the Ragman, to my knowledge. I mean, we have to. Well, you wouldn't know if the Ragman was involved. Honestly, Wickerman Ragman works in mysterious ways. The truth is that the on site USPS staff as well as all the USPS corporate filming contacts were very kind and generous to this film. They even offered an official uniform to our wardrobe department so everyone would look the right way. Now, I agree, the exteriors definitely felt Pasadena coated. Now, most of the movie was filmed in the Valley and Santa Clarita. For me, the work experience was fun. We were all aware of the type of the movie we were making and the stakes and budget were very low. I since moved on from locations and have never worked on a film quite like Christmas Mail again. Also, the whole crew was paid in fedoras. I made 10 fedoras a week and was able to put my kids through hat college. Oh, man. Joe Wicker. Forget it. I'm not even gonna. I'm not even gonna hesitate. You, my friend, are the winner of this week's Corrections and Omissions. And you don't get anything. But you do get this amazing song from Case Silva. Hit it.

[June Diane Raphael]

You win.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Are you proud?

[June Diane Raphael]

I think you'll stand out from the.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Rest of the crowd.

[June Diane Raphael]

But now here's the thing. All you get through that is just some fucking nothing.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Thank you, Case, for that song. And thank you, Joe, for all that amazing info. I mean, if you don't come away loving the Post Office more and more after this episode, you must be dead inside. Anyway, if you want to submit a theme song to us, email your theme to how did this get [e-mail]. please keep them short. 15 to 20 seconds is best. And if you want to chime in with your own thoughts. But the latest episode, hit up the discord at discord gg hdtgm or call us at 619p a u l a s k okay, coming up after the break, we are talking about movie bs. Plus Jason will stop by to just chat. Stick around.

[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

Psyched because what I love about their hot sauce is their tanginess. Okay?

[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

You'Re going to try every flavor. I mean, you got the original, which is great. That's fermented peppers. It's a special blend. Then you got the hotter hot sauce.

[Paul Scheer]

Which is three times hotter than the original.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Paul Scheer]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

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[Jason Mantzoukas]

That's simplisafe.com bonkers. There's no safe like Simplisafe. All right, welcome back, everybody. Before Jason stops by. Our friends at Midas have inspired us to talk about some BS trends in movies. But remember, when it comes to car care, there's even more BS out there. Bad service that is. Now Midas provides an auto experience without the bs from oil changes to tires, they provide reliable services that you can trust. And I trust that all of you have delivered on my demand to call us and sound off on what you think is BS in movies. So let's go to the phones. Jake from Milwaukee.

[Jake]

Hey, Paul. This is Jake in Milwaukee with a BS movie trend. It drives me up a wall. It's the Christmas party on Christmas Eve. I have never worked for a company that would even consider such a thing. I don't know, maybe it was a big deal in the 70s and 80s, but I can't imagine a company having a Christmas party on Christmas Eve.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Love you guys.

[Carrie]

Bye.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

That's right, Jake. That would be. I mean, only people probably like working on Grand Theft Auto, you know, where they're not allowed to leave their desk. Are having Christmas parties on Christmas Eve. The psychotic way to. To move forward in this world. All right, what else do we have? Ben from D.C. hey, Paul.

[Jake]

This is Ben. Driving around, thinking about things I hate in Movies. Something I do not enjoy in movies are people who don't appear to have jobs, don't appear to be independently wealthy and just spend all their time on the plot of the movie. You have to have a job to survive. As a middle class person, that should always be a part of a movie. It shouldn't just be frictionless free living. It always bothers me. And I think it adds a lot to a movie when you actually have to work and earn a living. Anyway, thanks. Thanks for all the great entertainment over the years.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Amen. Ben. Yes, you are right. People need jobs in movies. We make it all about like the girlfriend or the boyfriend. What about showing up to work? You can't just solve the mystery and not go to work. Okay, the mystery ain't paying you. So I love this point of view. It's something that I think we overlook so much. Just people don't have jobs. So far, 10 out of 10. Jay coming in hot. Ben coming in hotter. And now we go to Anonymous. Hi Paul. I have a BS movie trend. Whenever a movie acknowledges that they're doing something that has been seen in other movies, they always have to say it's like something from a bad movie. Why does it have to be a bad movie? Why can't they just say it's from a movie? Thank you, Anonymous. I'm going to agree to disagree here because yes, you are right. It's kind of like a bad movie trope. They're like, hey, you know how that thing is bad in a movie? Well, if we comment on it, it's probably not that bad because we're commenting on it.

[Paul Scheer]

I agree with you.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

That sucks. But then when you have like a scene like Philip Seymour Hoffman and Magnolia saying, you know that scene in the movie where like they're trying to find the son and you call them up like, that's this scene that works really good. So yes, it's hack, but it could be used. Well, we do use movie references in our lives, but I hate it the way that you talk about it. So you know what? I'm a mixed on yours, but I believe that your heart is in the right spot. And these are amazing BS trends we are seeing in movies. I love this. I want to continue this segment. Keep on calling us. I love hearing your thoughts. So thanks again to Midas for sponsoring this segment. And remember, don't let yourself get taken for a ride when you bring your car in for service. Turn to Midas for transparent automobile care without the BS. Say goodbye to bad service and visit Midas.com for a location near you. All right, people, now that we've said goodbye to bs, let's say hello to a little Just chat. Seth Chatfield, perfect name. Play us in.

[Austin]

Is it this?

[June Diane Raphael]

Could it be that? A little swing of the cane, a little tip of the hat. No, it's Jason and Paul just getting into it all in a segment that we call Just chill. Yeah.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Jason. How are you? Paul?

[Austin]

I'm doing great. Hooray.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Hooray. Man, oh, man, there are so many things going on and I have to ask you right off the bat, because I think you and I, there's a certain type of film that we like, that we enjoy. Did you watch the movie Carry on on Netflix?

[Austin]

I have not. It's so funny you say that because I was driving through Los Angeles the other day, driving down Sunset Boulevard and came upon. At this time of year, there is an overabundance of, for your consideration. There's tons of billboards and installations and stuff. And the installation for the movie Carry on is a three story tall Christmas tree made out of black roller suitcases on Sunset. I was looking at this thing like, what on earth is this monstrosity? And then figured out that it was promo for this movie.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

A movie that, as someone has said, does what, What Top Gun has done for Air Force, for TSA workers. It is a, it is. Taron Egerton is our hero. Our bad guy is Jason Bateman.

[Austin]

And, and it's a holiday set. TSA airport. Like Thriller, right? Yes, thriller.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Thriller. A very reminiscent of Die Hard 2, I would imagine. Oh, yes, of course. It is fun. I won't tell you much more about it, but I, I, here's the thing. Every now and then, and you know that June loves a plane movie. This movie kept her up. Like she, she falls asleep, Whoa. Five minutes into anything that's not really engaged, fully engaged up and rewinding sequences and excited about wanting to talk about it the next day. Never are these things that June does.

[Austin]

It's so funny. Oh, that's great. Oh, I'm excited to watch it.

[June Diane Raphael]

Yeah.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

So I think you will. I think you're like, I think the beginning, if anything, if people watch it, like I would say the beginning, I'm like, I don't know what's happening here. But then it gets, then it get within the first five, the first five minutes. There's just a little bit of. They have to, they gotta like you, make you like the character. And sometimes I find that to be a little bit like, all right, all right.

[Austin]

We like the baddie or the good guy. And I like, like a classic Save the cat kind of moment.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes. And I like Taron Egerton a lot. But, yeah, I felt like I'm like, we're existing in this.

[Austin]

Is he playing Elton John in this?

[Paul Scheer]

He.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Well, that's the funniest thing is, like, they put a piano for his TSA thing. So he. When he's pulling it through, it's a kind of a subtle.

[Austin]

You know, some airports just have a piano in the middle of the airport. Like, he just, like, saunters over and starts playing Elton John.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

That would be. I want that we should have more mashups of people playing characters in other movies. Like, we just like. Like, you know, just like.

[Austin]

Wouldn't that be so funny?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Incongruous.

[Austin]

I would love it. I would love it if people were in other movies as the characters they were famous as from. From a previous movie.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Well, that was kind of like I was watching, like, Roger, not Roger Rabbit. I was watching Last Action Hero, which we were watching for Blank check. And they have, like, funny, like, little, like, asides like that. Like, Humphrey Bogart was partnered up with somebody else from Casablanca. I was like, oh, this is. I want more of that. I like that. Why not? That will be what.

[Austin]

Give us more.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

That's what AI is going to be. We're going to be.

[Austin]

That is what AI is going to be. It's going to be like, oh, okay, what about if Pee Wee Herman was playing the. You know, a character playing. You know, and you just start to get it down the rabbit hole of fictitious characters meeting other fictitious characters.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

But here's the thing. Not that I'm saying anything revolutionary about a. It does lose some of its soul because you start to realize the personality of the person who's inputting the options. Like, I saw one that I didn't even seek out. It just kind of popped up on my social media. It was like, Chris Farley in GQ ad.

[Austin]

Oh, my God.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

So it was just like, Chris Farley being really sexy.

[Austin]

Oh, wow.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And that was interesting. And then the other one that I.

[Austin]

Saw recently, such insight into the person who made that, you know, and it's.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Like, there's no sound to it. So you're just watching like, Like, Chris Farley, like, in nice suits, like, and looking very Unchris Farley, like.

[Austin]

Okay, so you just said you came across it. You said you are not looking for sexy Chris Farley photos. Okay. Just making sure.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

As far as, you know. Yes.

[Austin]

But so where. How do you Come across it. Like, where is it? Well, where does it exist?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

So, like, there are these pages. So like, occasionally, if you're watching, especially on TikTok, but if you're watching Instagram.

[Austin]

It'S just in your feed or something.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

It's in your feed. And so, like, Instagram, like, I'll watch something that I did want to watch, and then as I click through the next thing, it might just be that thing. The other one that I really love that I sent to my basketball chat group is it was how Michael Jordan saved LeBron from a plane accident. So they're both sitting together in their uniforms, holding hands because they're scared of the turbulence. And then the plane explodes and Michael Jordan jumps out of the plane. He has the only, like, a parachute and grabs LeBron and they fly down together.

[Austin]

Oh, my God. This is. But that's. That's what I guess. And I wonder, is that what is going to be? Will this contribute to the end of kind of how much social media people consume when the amount of what they're looking at is just patently AI like fiction?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Well, again, it's. It's like, it's. You know, I would argue that sexual or, like, sexual fan fiction, fan fiction in general, they have niche audiences, you know, because they are very specific. So I imagine that, you know, anyone who's going to be like, oh, I need to see how Michael Jordan saved LeBron in a plane crash. I don't know how many. What the audience is.

[Austin]

More. My question is more. Once the. Once all of your feed is more.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Right?

[Paul Scheer]

More.

[Austin]

Just these crazy constructs, right, that are not what you're looking for, but are what you're being fed. At what point are you, like, why would I look at this platform when 80% of what I'm seeing is nonsensical AI generated content? That is not for my niche fandom.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

You know what I mean? Sometimes you'll come across Elton John chopping onions, and you're like, wow, this is. I didn't know I needed to see this. Like, and I have seen that I've seen.

[Austin]

I don't know what that is, but okay.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Just John in a kitchen chopping onion.

[Austin]

Is it real or is it AI?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

No, it's AI.

[Austin]

Oh, my God. Oh, my God.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And again, I'm like, making that point.

[Austin]

This is a game show. Is it real or is it AI?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah. Oh, my God. It really is. It's a bizarre. It is interesting, especially as I talk to my kids about stuff. You know, you have to kind of let them Understand that things are not always real, you know, And I remember we were going to school one day, and one of their kids we were carpooling with is like, I saw that there's a dog the size of the White House. And I'm like, well, that's not true. And they're like, no, I saw it on YouTube. I'm like, well, yeah, but. Yes, but you understand, like, not every. Like, YouTube is not like, a fact based.

[Paul Scheer]

And he's like, but I saw it.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I saw a dog.

[Austin]

Well, he's got all the tentative facts.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes, exactly. And then you. And then, you know, you have to talk to my. Like, I have to talk to my kids about that, and I have to be like, there is no solution.

[Austin]

One of the kids in your carpool is Kellyanne Conway. Right.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And, yeah, but, you know, look, something she says I disagree with, but a lot of times I know her heart's in the right place.

[Austin]

Wait, did you get to the root of the dog the size of a white House?

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah, it was just a.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

It was just a crazy. It was even like. I mean, the shit that my kids are watching on YouTube, I mean, it's like, it. And they're watching kids YouTube. So that's the one that's, like, really vetted. Like, you can't get much stuff on kids YouTube.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

You know, like, I can't even find a how to for them. Like, for drawing how tos. It's like, it really stops. Like, my kid has done every drawing one. But so, yeah, it's just like, you know, funny picture of dog as big as White House. It could be as simple as that, you know, just like, that's all. And it was a still. Still image of a giant dog. And I'm also like, I'm. The funny thing to me was the lead wasn't, oh, my God, there's a scary. The dog as big as the White House. It was like, like, oh, I want to get a dog as big as the White House. Like, this kid wanted a Clifford. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And not like I was gonna say.

[Austin]

Like, we had Clifford or Marmaduke, of course, Big, giant dogs in our world, you know, in our stories. Rather stories. But, you know, but. But. But to consider that. Yeah. That the kids these days are just, like, learning off of YouTube. Just like, the preposterous nature of the world. Boy, would it be hard to, like, drill down into what is real and what is not. Right.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Well, that's why, I mean, you know, I will say, as a parent, I'm being Subjected to words that I've never heard before. It's the first time I've truly felt old. When. Yeah, you know skibidi slang.

[Austin]

You mean skibidi do toilet or whatever?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah, yeah, Skibidi Ohio, yacht, a lot of gats. And like, I'm like, oh, boy, am.

[Austin]

I somebody else who has teenagers was just running down all of this for me and it was making me laugh so hard because to hear my 50 something year old friend detail all of her kids slang terms was making me laugh for so long because she was having to deliver them earnestly. And I would be like, well, no, how do you use that though?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah, well, by the way, I'm. And that's where I get online and I start going, all right, there's a guy I follow on TikTok. He's called like Mr. So and so, the middle school slang teacher. And he's like, I teach these kids and this is what I got. And I'm like. And the funniest thing is. And this is the thing that I've found to be the most interesting. So I've watched that and I try to be up on it and then I'll ask my kids what they mean. They don't even know what it means. They're just repeating.

[Austin]

Some of these things are beyond. Oh, oh, they don't know. They just, they don't know context.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

They just skippity like, they, they'll. They don't know what even like, you know, skibidy toilet means. They just know they're saying skibidy toilet. They know riz means something, but they don't really know what riz means. They do know that gap means, but like, but they're not saying it in a way that's like aggressive, you know? It's so crazy.

[Austin]

It's so crazy.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

It really makes me laugh. Really. It. And I'm always just like, okay, all right, guys. And I like. But then they're surprised when I know what it means and they don't. So it is like.

[Austin]

Then I'm like, well, because you're researching the etymology of these things and they're just, they're just overhearing them and then reusing them.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes. And then, you know, now we've gotten into a thing too with June where. And this is probably something that you'll fall into if you, if you have these little. These kids, which is. I don't know how to gauge what is appropriate and what is not appropriate for them.

[Austin]

Oh, like, yeah, yeah. Like what is too sexual or what is What's a dirty or a swear word?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah. So, like, I mean, more matter of factly, we were. My wife walked in on me and my 8 year old playing Mortal Kombat and she was like, you cannot play that with him. It's too violent. I'm like, well, it's not that violent.

[Paul Scheer]

I mean, it is, but.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

It is. But it's also kind of funny violent. I'm like, you know where you like.

[Austin]

Rip someone's like, spine out?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah, exactly. It's like, you know, and look, he doesn't know how to do that move. We're just kicking and punching.

[Austin]

Sure, sure, sure, sure. He doesn't know the finishing moves.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

No, but what is acceptable in our house is Star Wars Battlefront, which is something that we play a lot, which is just, you know, and there's a thing called Ewok Hunt where you just go around trying to kill Ewoks.

[Carrie]

Whoa.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

They're very resourceful. These Ewoks are gonna come.

[Austin]

I know. I, I mean, like, I don't mind. As someone who hated the Ewoks. Yeah. I, I would love. I, I would. I'm surprised they let you play a campaign where you can hit where you can hunt the Ewoks.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Ewok Hunt is a lot of fun, but again, like I said, hard to kill these Ewoks. They're, they're, you know, they're, they're tricky.

[Austin]

Oh, yup. Nub.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

You know, by the way, that, that was a moment that I showed my kids that blew their mind. We were watching something and I was able to show them the original face of Anakin Skywalker. You know, and like at the end when they're like on the planet. Oh, that's what it was. I was playing them that Yubnub song. Cause I was like, you gotta hear the original song. And then they cut, you know, they cut over to Luke looking over and my son's like, who's that old guy? I'm like.

[Austin]

Oh, that's, that's Anakin Skywalker.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And he's like, no, it's not. And I go, yeah, it is, it is.

[Austin]

Wow. I mean, imagine you can, I mean, look, you can for your kids. Star wars. The like. Exposing yourself to Star wars as a child is to experience all of the aging process that George Lucas spent the last 60 years depicting. He. They can watch it all at once, you know, from a young person's story, from a coming of age young person story to a story that is about the totality of a person's life. You know, from light to dark, to light. Again, what a crazy story to process, you know?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Well, and I'm gonna give you a little thing that you're not gonna like. What they often say to me is like, I hate when they get old. I don't want to watch them when they're old.

[Austin]

Of course, I feel like that's what the old people are saying to the I feel like all the old fans are like, oh, you know, like the toxic fandom of Star Wars. I feel like wishes it was like, again, you guys are too old to talk about this show like this. Right, Right, Right.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes.

[Austin]

Supposed to be a story about young people for young people.

[Paul Scheer]

You already love DoorDash. And now there's even more to love with the new DoorDash Dash Pass annual plan benefit.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

All right, here it is.

[Paul Scheer]

Drumroll, please. Max with ads is now included at no extra cost. That means you can have dinner delivered with DoorDash and settle in for a night on the couch watching the HBO original series House of the Dragon. Plus, while you're watching Gotham's own Oz COBB and the HBO's original series the Penguin, you can enjoy some New York City pizza or soft pretzel with DoorDash. And if you're rewatching Friends, don't be surprised if those coffee shop scenes make you crave having a latte delivered fast. Of course, you still get all your favorite DashPass annual plan benefits too, like unlimited zero DOL dollar delivery fees on eligible orders and exclusive member only offers and menu items. Sign up for DashPass annual plan and get Max included at no extra costs. It's your door to more. Terms and conditions apply. Max is now included with your DashPass annual plan. Stream Max with ads up to $120 value included at no extra cost. Terms apply. See doordash.com max for details. This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

All people.

[Paul Scheer]

I love the holidays. I love the food. I love the fun. But I also know that sometimes as we get to the end of the year, we start, you know, getting wrapped up in a blanket. And maybe we start getting wrapped up in our own anxieties, right? Something that we start reflecting on is.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Like, what did we do this year?

[Paul Scheer]

What could we do better this year? And, you know, maybe instead of just wrapping yourself up in a blanket and watching a movie and just thinking about what you want to do more, why don't you start talking to somebody that can help you do more? Therapy is a great way to bring yourself some comfort that never goes away, even when the season changes. If you're thinking about starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible and suited to your schedule. You just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist and switch therapists at any time for no additional charge. You can find comfort this December with BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.combonkers today to get 10% off your first month. That's BetterHelpH. E l-p.combonkers for a gift that's always on time and lasts a lifetime, you can't do better than Masterclass. I have been on the Masterclass bandwagon for a long time.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

That's right.

[Paul Scheer]

I am a member since the very beginning. Why? Because Masterclass is the only streaming platform where you can learn and grow with over 200 plus of the world's best instructors. You can learn from any Masterclass instructor anywhere on a smartphone, computer, smart TV or even in audio mode. I've used this for a long time. Right now my son and I are watching the Steph Curry masterclass where we are learning. Well, he is learning. I'm watching how to be a better shooter. There are so many great deep dives in here. David Sedaris Before I wrote my book, I listened to his Masterclass and watched how he edited and worked through all of his pieces. I I love it. I have given it to people and they have thanked me. Masterclass always has great offers during the holidays and sometimes up to as much as 50% off. So head over to masterclass.com hdtgm for the current offer that's up to 50% [e-mail] hdtgm Masterclass.com hdtgm I will say.

[Austin]

Though, Skeleton crew so far is loving. Wonderful young people storytelling. Star wars, young people storytelling.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

This is what I get that I'm so kind of blown away by. I'm like how can they make it so good? And what I think, like there's a lot of stuff that's bad, right? Or not bad or mid length sometimes. But this is like what they did that they took a giant swing and created like again, just if people have not watched it, we won't spoil it all. But suburban planet, We've never seen that in Star Wars. Never have seen a planet that doesn't have a lot of spires going up in the sky. A planet really like during the day, like at school.

[Austin]

I mean, Coruscant is an entire city. An entire planet that is a city. There are no suburbs. It's all just the city. So to see like a beautiful suburban, Amblin esque kind of suburb is really fun and funny.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I thought that was so cool. And I'm like. And the fact that that got through, whatever it got through, I was like, this is great. Like I'm. And it just makes me go, we need more of that. You just need more people just allowing that to happen, I think. You know. And then you're gonna get better stories. But I agree. I love it. I highly recommend it.

[Austin]

I'm having a blast with it. I think it's so fun. I'm really enjoying it. And I just love a Goonies style coming of age kid story. Kid adventure story. Regardless. So the fact that they've put it into very compelling Star wars world. Great. I love it so far.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I love it. And I love that guy who's. He's the. The dad of that one kid. He's a.

[Paul Scheer]

From a band.

[Austin]

Right. He's Tunde out of Bimbe.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes.

[Austin]

TV on the Radio.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes. Okay. I love it.

[Austin]

The recently re or not reformed because I don't think they've properly broke up. But a band that has been on hiatus for many years and has re come back together and is playing a lot of shows and releasing music again. They just released the 20th anniversary of their debut record. Incredible band. TV on the radio.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah, I love it.

[Austin]

And fantastic actor Tunde Adebimbe and who made.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Also is in Twisters. Very good. Yeah.

[Austin]

Was in Twisters, is in Rachel Getting Married, is in a bunch of movies.

[Paul Scheer]

He's on one of those guys who.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I feel like he's a great actor, but also his voice does so much great work for him. Like he's got a great, great voice. I'm like, I'm on. I'm on whatever you're saying. I'm in big time. Anything else you've been watching? Been.

[Austin]

Yeah, I've watched some pretty fun stuff. I. I'll keep going on the line of like. Like stuff for young people.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah.

[Austin]

Talking about skeleton crew. Taskmaster Junior has started on YouTube which is so good. Exceptional. Like we talked about Taskmaster before but this is so fun.

[Paul Scheer]

I am loving it.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And I have the Taskmaster app so I get all the things. You know, it's. It's great. You get every. Every country, every show. It's all there. It's. It can go right onto your Apple TV or your Roku, whatever you stuff. And we are as a family loving it. I will say that like the. My kids are enjoying the sassiness of these kids because when you Go out. Like, that was at the part I was like, oh, I wonder how they're gonna do this. Like, the conversation pieces. Totally. And Rose is so funny with them.

[Austin]

And Wozniak is so sweet and supportive.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes. It's weird because you would think, oh, I don't know if they could do. But they managed to keep the soul of the show. It's still very funny. And they keep their, like, status as taskmaster, but at the same time, they allow themselves to be poked. It's really beautifully done.

[Austin]

It's very well done. And. Cause taskmaster is. It can be very, you know, Greg can be very surly. It can be very negative. It can be like a lot of roasting and ball busting and all that stuff. And so to apply it to now a children's show, you have to keep all of that energy and that mischievous, chaotic energy while still keeping it appropriate for kids, which is a really hard trick. But they do it so well. They. They. They thread the needle expertly. And the show is not just a blast, but in the same way that I have felt about MasterChef Junior or some of the other shows like that. The emotionality of the kids and their stories is so wonderful and accessible. It's really. It's so funny, but also so sweet and heartfelt in a way that regular taskmaster simply is not. You know, I'll shout out a couple of other things. The. The Netflix show Black Doves espionage show starring Keira Knightley and Ben Wishaw. Yeah, Is terrific. Is just a straight up British espionage spy story. Six episodes, very fun, very pulpy. Not maybe not as spy, crafty as a slow horses.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Right.

[Austin]

But. But nonetheless a very, very compelling, like, spy thriller. Really?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Okay. June has been watching and she told me I should talk about it. Disclaimer. She loves.

[Austin]

Oh, I haven't watched it yet. Yeah, she loves it.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, good. She loves it. And is. And again, every now and then she'll watch one of these shows and it surprises the hell out of me. And this is the one that she is constantly talking about.

[Austin]

This is the Cuaron one. I haven't watched any of it. I'm curious. Well, have you.

[Paul Scheer]

Have you seen the short that Cuaron.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Did with David Lowry on Disney plus?

[Austin]

Oh, wait, is it the owl one?

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes.

[Austin]

Oh, I did. I didn't know that Cuaron did it. I thought it was just David Lowry. Okay. Yes.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

David Lowry directing it and Quorum producing it. I. I thought that was really beautiful. Yeah, we may have.

[Austin]

I did too. I thought it was Stunning. It's like a stop motion animation kind of.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah. Really, really beautiful thing.

[Austin]

Thing. I loved that. I loved that thing. I will also shout out man on the Inside, the Mike Sh. Netflix show, starring me and Ted Danson. Yes, this show is absolutely phenomenal. This is a, this is a show where Mike Scher created from Parks and Rec and the Good Place. Ted Danson, of course, you know Ted Danson. Retired man goes undercover, retired professor, goes, takes a, takes a job and goes undercover in an old age home, an assisted living facility in order to do detective work at the behest of like a young private investigator. And so he's the man on the inside. And what, what ostensibly is a setup for a very funny sitcom, a half hour show full of very funny characters and very funny stuff, is in fact that. But then gives way to this absolutely beautiful show that is about grief and loss and mortality and, and all of the discrepancies between parent and child and what it is to get older and lose your partner or lose your. Lose the things that are keeping you invested in moving forward in the world when you've lost your partner or lost your job or aren't working anymore like it is. Confronting so many things. The, the differences between adult children and their aging parents is such a component of it. It's absolutely fantastic. The show is absolutely so silly and so funny. I've never seen my dad laugh harder than he did at this show. He laughed so hard at this show and then turn on a dime and be absolutely devastating and heartbreaking in a way that is so earned and so wonderful. I think the show is, is fantastic. Man on the inside.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

All right, I, I've been mean. It's on my to do list and I have to watch it. I've been watching a bunch of movies because I try to like, what do you got? You know? Yeah, well, I mean, I'm just new. Like, I'm, I'm in Christmas mode. I'm watching favorites. I'm like, yeah, so I'm not doing anything new. So that is like, you know, I'm, I'm down to watch like the, the Travis Kelsey Taylor Swift Kansas City Chiefs produced by Movie Hallmark Film. I'm watching like that.

[Austin]

Oh, yeah, I didn't know that. I did watch. I watched the Sabrina Carpenter Christmas special.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I've been wanting to watch that. And I also have to watch sketches in it.

[Austin]

Yes, sketches in it which written by.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Megan Amram, I believe.

[Austin]

Oh, no, not. And Fran Gillespie. It's got, it's got good writers. She. I mean, Obviously, she comes out of, like, a comedy.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Well, yeah, she's the Disney background.

[Austin]

Disney background. So she's terrific. Like, and the show, it's. It's. It's fluff. It's like, you know, holiday fluff. But it was. It was the. The perfect thing to have on while decorating the tree, so.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And that's. And that's the way to do it. I mean, it was great. Do you cook at all during the holidays?

[Austin]

Do I cook.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Cook. Yeah.

[Austin]

No.

[Paul Scheer]

Interesting.

[Austin]

No, not really.

[Paul Scheer]

Yeah, I get it.

[Austin]

Why are you.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

No, I mean, I do. Yeah. But I'm also realizing that a majority of things I cook, and especially around the holidays, are egg based.

[June Diane Raphael]

Oh.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like cookies and things like that. It'd be very hard for you to cook.

[Austin]

Zero. No. Yeah. I have no tradition inside of, like, a special dessert, a special cookie. All that stuff was never. Never been a part of it for me.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, yeah. All right.

[Austin]

Sadly.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah. I mean, I get it. I also understand the. Why I did. I did bring the family to Tam O'Shanter out here, which is a Tim.

[Austin]

Oh, now we're going. Yeah, we're talking. Yeah, we.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

We do it every holiday season because they have these. Those carolers that come to the table.

[Austin]

And I didn't know that.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, yeah, it's really fun. It's really decked out for the holidays. And then the carolers come over to the table, and they are absolutely amazing. And what. And they will pull out some weird hits. Like, the other day we asked them, like, my mom, as a matter of fact, can you play Grandma Got Run over by a Reindeer? And I was like, mom, they're not gonna sing that. And let me tell you, they sang it and they killed it. And it got the restaurant very excited.

[Austin]

Oh, that's awesome.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Cause everyone's hearing, like, sigh. Yeah. You know, like they're hearing Jingle Bells, and all of a sudden they're talking about grandma getting run over by reindeer.

[Austin]

Oh, that's great. Oh, I love that.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Anything else you got?

[Austin]

I'll shout out a couple more things.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yeah, please.

[Austin]

We. I've talked a bunch lately about some of the fantastic standup specials that have come out this year.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, yes.

[Austin]

From Joe Mandy.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Our friend Joe Mandy.

[Austin]

From Joe Mandy's Chill to. I mentioned James Acaster special earlier. Fortune Fiend special, Langston Kerman special that I thought was fantastic.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

But Alana has a great Alana Glazer special on Hulu as well.

[Austin]

For me, the. The best special of the year, a, like, truly incredible comedy special is Anthony Jeselnik's bones and all.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Absolutely one of the funniest things I've seen one of.

[Austin]

I just. That special was phenomenal. Just demolished. I don't have Great hour.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I don't have the metaphor, but I can kind of give you the half metaphor that I've been playing with. It's like watching him do that special is like watching a magician and being surprised every time they do a trick. I'm like, oh, right, of course. Like, because you think he gets you every time. Single time. It's crazy.

[Austin]

It's exceptional. He is, I think, just the best person, the best joke writer, the best joke teller we have currently. I think he's the best, the smartest, the sharpest, the most. Like, the most incisive. He's getting a knife so deep in every one of these jokes. It's crazy.

[Paul Scheer]

And he is also.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I mean, I don't want to say it's mean. It's not mean, but it's darker than, like, it's like he's able to keep you writing. There's a moment, and I say this to kind of underline how good he is at reading the audience. At a certain point, I'm watching the show, I'm like, all right, I've had enough of this dead baby stuff. And literally, as. I literally thought that he said, I know you're thinking, yes, enough of this. And I was like. And it was like, oh, no. Just had it down to, like, a sign. Like, it was. And it was perfect.

[Austin]

He is. He is one of the only people, I feel like, who is truly ahead of us.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Yes.

[Austin]

You know what I mean? Like, he is. He is. Whether you know it or not, and you really don't know it. He's walking you through the special. He's holding your hand without you realizing it. He knows, and a magician is a great way to put it, or he is so in tune with what the audience is thinking and feeling at every step. It is an absolute blast to watch. I just thought that was a masterpiece.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I really was blown away by that special. Really, really loved it. You know who else I thought, you know, had that same vibe and completely different as far as content was Gaffigan. Gaffigan Special.

[Austin]

I haven't watched it yet. The new one.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, man, I haven't watched it yet. It's like, Gaffigan Special to me is. Look, he's. He's definitely catered a mark. A market of, like, dad jokes, right? Like, I mean, not dad jokes, but it's. It's so Effortless and funny. And you're like, I. Why have I not heard this point of view articulated? Or I've seen people dance around this but never articulated as well as this. And it's. It is. And it's, you know, completely clean and it's in. So, so funny. He's so good. And then. And again, a person that I'm like, oh, right. He's so like. Like you're surprised at how funny it is. It's like, oh, that's why he's like one of the greats.

[Austin]

He is truly a next level talent. He's just fantastic. All of his specials are great, but this one in particular I thought was phenomenal. Yeah. And I'll shout out a couple of movies that I watch that I think are smaller and I would love for people to check out just because I think they're great. The Irish movie Kneecap. And it's called Kneecap. It's about a hip hop band, it's about the Irish language. It's about. It's about a lot of things and it is just fantastic. It's a blast. It's hilarious. It's very sweet and heartfelt. Kneecap. It's terrific. I think it's. I think I watched it on Netflix. I can't remember the. I've been watching so much anime and so like two movies this year that have truly blown my mind, like reduced me to blubbering tears that I will think about for years to come. One I've mentioned before, Blue Giant, all about creativity and jazz musicians and improvisation and stuff like that. The next one is called Look Back. This is an anime that's also based on a manga. It's by Kiyotaka Oshiyama.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Is that the one that's like only 55 minutes or something like that?

[Austin]

It is, yes. It's like a little over an hour or it's just an hour. And it is also about creativity and collaboration and. And ambition and. And what it is to be friends and what it is to be collaborators and. And it's also a bit of a Sliding doors, what if this didn't happen? But that happened. And it's about a lot. It's a coming of age story. It's all the stuff that gets me so in the feels. And it is absolutely fantastic. I can't recommend it enough.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Love this.

[Austin]

It's called Look Back. And then the other one I'll recommend, which is a very sad one, but nonetheless absolutely stunning and beautiful, is the. The documentary opus, which is the final performance of Ryuichi Sakimoto playing his songs for the last time and is absolutely stunning and beautiful piece of piano, concert piano. Just to watch him play these songs in this manner, shot this beautifully, knowing that these are the last times he will perform many of these songs is staggering. It's. It's really. Wow.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

All right, I gotta watch this. This is it. This is good. And you know, Jason, I will say that a lot of 2024 lists have we Are Lady Parts on their list. I know you gave that a huge shout out here.

[Austin]

That show is the best.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

And so, you know, listen to these recommendations. Jason knows what he's talking about.

[Austin]

I can't recommend We Are Lady Parts enough. It's on. It's on. Peacock. And another one that I'll recommend that I've recommended here before that I feel like deserves the. The attention is Shoresy on Hulu. Those are two of the best half hours of the year. I'll shout out a couple of books just because people buy books for people for the holidays and maybe this will be out by then. Dolly Alderton's good material. The Tamaki Cousins Roaming the Clementine Books by Tillie Walden are fantastic graphic novels set inside the Walking Dead universe that are so beautiful. These are some new comics. There's been a bunch of new Batman comics that have been just absolutely beautiful. Absolute Batman by Scott Snyder and Nick Dragoda. Incredible. But I can't recommend enough. Batman and Robin year one, Mark Waid and the incredible, the incomparable Chris Somni drawing a Batman and Robin year one book. And it is.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Oh, I didn't know about this.

[Austin]

So gorgeous. There's only one story. There's only, I think, two issues out now, but it is, I gotta tell you, it's fantastic. It's so good. And then last but not least, our friend Scott Aukerman has a book, the Astonishing Spider man, an ongoing book that he's writing on the Marvel Unlimited app. There's, I think there are eight issues in her so far. It's terrific. It's great.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

I. I love it. And by the way, if you're confused, like, I write all this stuff down, don't worry about it because it's in the show description. So just, you know, you can go visit it at any point. You'll see it all there. That is the hard work of our producer, Scott, who is keeping track of all this shit, which is a lot, A lot of stuff. Well, Jason, this is so great to talk to you. We will talk soon.

[Austin]

Great.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Bye for now. Thank you, Jason, for dropping by. Now it is finally time to announce our next movie. And all I have to say is, what you gonna do? What you gonna do when they come for you? That's right. Next episode, we'll be watching 2024's Bad Boys Ride or Die. That's right, Bad Boys 4. Starring Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Vanessa Hudgens. This is the fourth movie in the Bad Boys franchise, and I gotta say.

[Paul Scheer]

They keep on getting better and better.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

All right, here's a breakdown of the plot. When their late police captain gets linked to drug cartels Wisecrack and Miami cops Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett embark on a dangerous mission to clear his name.

[Paul Scheer]

All right, Rotten Tomatoes gives this film.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

A 65% score on the tomatometer. What? What? Oh, man. And my wonderful unspooled co host Amy Nicholson wrote in the Washington Post, Lawrence's high spirits also defibrillate the franchise. Turns out the Bad Boys film need less swagger and more dorky, goofy joy. Well, that I can agree with. This movie is is funny and weird and it's perfect. Let's listen to the trailer for Bad Boys Ride or Die.

[June Diane Raphael]

Mike, you've been my partner a long time.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

You my boy. Your people want to get this? We are being framed. They'll have it coming from cops and.

[Austin]

Every gang in the city.

[June Diane Raphael]

That's my boy, Bad Boys. I got this mic. What you don't be gone, gator. I rebuke you. That's how you command the universe. That must racist, Mike. That was racist.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Rated R Tickets on sale now.

[Paul Scheer]

Bad Boys Ride or Die is available.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

To stream on Netflix. You can rent it on Amazon Prime Video and Apple tv. In addition, I also encourage you to.

[Paul Scheer]

Check out Hoopla Canopy and Libby, which.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Are digital media services offered by your local public library that allow you to consume movies, TV and music, audiobooks, any books and comics for free. I mean, why aren't you using those? It's so good. Anyway, that is it for last looks. If you listen to us on Apple podcasts or Spotify, please rate and review us. Please also make sure that you are following us and have automatic downloads turned on. Yes, that helps the show a lot and we appreciate it. Visit us all on social media at hdtgm. And a big thank you to our producers, Scott Sonny and Molly Reynolds and our movie picking producer, Avril Halley, our associate producer, Jess Cisneros and our engineer, Casey Holford. We'll see you next week for Bad Boys Ride or Die. I got a line.

[Austin]

He got a line.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

She got a line.

[Austin]

We got four lines.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Cricket Nation Q finger guns really easy, super stress free 5G so fast like blazing fast games and memes, you'll have a blast. You can get fast 5G across 4 lines. You can get fast 5G across 4 Lines. As we discuss. Take it from us, we four are one cricket nation and only 25 bucks a line.

[Austin]

Welcome to more lines.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Welcome to Cricket Nation. Smile, you're on cricket cricket 5G requires.

[Austin]

Compatible devices not available everywhere. Discount varies by line, fees be applied, terms and restriction supply.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Seecretwireless.com for details.

[June Diane Raphael]

TWAS the nights before Christmas. Despite last minute stress, few were delivering except Walmart Express. Stockings were hung by the fire. Christmas onto the road Walmart Express delivery went ch full of wondrous things in the Saint Nick of time scent let's.

[Austin]

Go get Express delivery in as fast as an hour even on Christmas Eve.

[Jason Mantzoukas]

Orders must be placed by 4pm local time on 1224, subject to availability. Fees and restrictions apply.

[June Diane Raphael]

Express Delivery to y'all and to all a good night. Welcome to your Walmart.