Podcast Summary: Jeff Lewis Has Issues

Episode: Jane Lynch & Michael Hitchcock: Game Shows & Meat

Date: December 5, 2025
Host: Jeff Lewis, SiriusXM
Guests: Jane Lynch, Michael Hitchcock

Overview

In this lively and irreverent episode, Jeff Lewis is joined by Jane Lynch (host of The Weakest Link, actress from Glee) and Michael Hitchcock (actor/writer, long-time collaborator with Jane). The group delivers candid, laugh-filled conversation as they dig into everything from Jane's meat-based keto diet and game show hosting gigs, to messy childhoods, unlucky dating, celebrity dumbness, neighbor drama, and the true nature of crows. The episode moves seamlessly from inside-showbiz tales to personal quirks, all colored by Jeff’s signature no-filter style and the guests’ sharp wit.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jane Lynch's Move to Montecito & Life Upgrades

• Jane's New Home: Jane moved to Montecito in 2020 amid the pandemic, finally fulfilling a long-time wish to live there.
  “It’s wonderful. Yeah, it’s Mayberry for rich people.” – Jane Lynch [02:10]

• Hollywood Connections: Jane and Michael have had a long-running creative friendship since the late 90s, cemented by work on Christopher Guest films. Humorous recollections of their first brush, with Jane noting Michael's initially "snotty" group at a commercial shoot.

2. Career Highlights & Hollywood Walk of Fame

• Jane's Accolades: Emmy, SAG, Golden Globe, and a star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
  “Michael, where is your star? Have you seen Michael’s?” – Jeff Lewis [03:58]
  Michael jokes about buying a star on Amazon and speculates his real one would be on the "Van Nuys walk of fame."

• Collaborative History: The two reminisce about their many film and TV projects together, including the Christopher Guest “canon” (Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman).

• Glee Memories:

  • Jane reflects on Glee as her breakout to mainstream fame.
  • Michael discusses his four years on Glee's writing staff.
  • Hilarious recounting of their shared Chicago-area roots (and subsequent restaurant-related digestive distress).

3. Jane Lynch’s Keto & Carnivore Advocacy

• Keto Evangelism:
  Jane reveals she lost 15 pounds rapidly on keto, prefers ribeye to bacon, and only eats one fatty steak per day—around 2 or 3 pm.
  “I dropped 15 pounds, like, in five minutes.” – Jane Lynch [07:57]

• Diet Debates:
  Open discussion about fiber, bacon, processed foods, and Michael’s use of “the shots” (semaglutide for weight loss).

  • “You eat a lot of bacon and all that stuff?” – Michael Hitchcock
  • “A lot of ribeye steak and I eat eggs... just don’t like bacon.” – Jane Lynch

4. Quirky Personal Anecdotes

• Michael's Crow Friends:
  Michael proudly describes befriending two crows since COVID (one named Charlie). Jane and Jeff rib him for his lonely “crow dad” status, and advocate for organic birdseed.
  “They tell their families if they like you. So you gotta be nice to crows.” – Michael Hitchcock [12:28]

• Jane’s Multiple Houses:
  Jane confesses to owning two homes, needing to sell one (Laurel Canyon), and her niece (with baby Jane) currently occupying it.

• Hollywood Gossip:

  • Trivia about Laurel Canyon, Mama Cass, and celebrity real estate.
  • Jane and Michael bond over neighborhood and Hollywood lore.

5. Game Show Banter: Hollywood Game Night & The Weakest Link

• Hosting Gigs:

  • Jane discusses her transition from Hollywood Game Night to hosting NBC’s revival of The Weakest Link.
  • “I’m sure they pay you really well… Montecito money.” – Jeff Lewis [15:15]
  • Jane jokes: “It’s better than the podcast money I’m making on this, that’s for sure.” [15:17]

• Celebrity Weakest Link:

  • “It’s gone to the next level, Jeff. And they are exceptional television programs.” – Jane Lynch [15:05]
  • Behind-the-scenes producer facts: filming schedule, caffeine management (Jane: “I have a mini fridge full of Celsius…” [16:02]), and aiming for endorsements.

• Housewives Edition:
  Jane dishes on an “Ex-Wives Club” episode, where housewives ousted Kate Gosselin in spectacularly cold fashion.
  “They were gonna, you know, put a knife in her back after the first round. They’re cutthroat.” – Jane Lynch [21:38]

  She describes the only “sore loser” in the show’s history: “She had her shoes off…had to put her shoes back on to do the walk of shame. It was so painful.” – Jane Lynch [22:37]

6. Celebrities, Charity, and “Dumbass” Moments

• On Celebrity Game Shows:
  Jeff questions the tradition of celebrities only winning for charity (“That’s the show I want to do—where stars keep the money!”), and details typical appearance fees ($5–15k).
  “You can never have a show where celebrities win money without donating to charity. That’s the show I want to do.” – Jeff Lewis [25:27]

• Smartest/Dumbest Contestants:
  Jane is surprised by “dumb blonde” Glee cast members outperforming expectations.

  • “Cord [Overstreet] and Heather [Morris] did so well!”
  • Michael: “Chord’s smart. He’s just…yeah.”
    Jane notes some football greats shine only on sports—proving question variety makes for entertainment.

7. Showbiz Survival Jobs

• Old School Grit:
  Both recall temping, working as Universal Studios tour guides, and doing phone reception work long before stardom.
  “The very first thing I did—I was a Universal Studios tour guide during college.” – Michael Hitchcock [33:13]

  Michael: “I worked at this thing called Celebrity Service…they would tell you where celebrities lived...” [33:22]

• Jane: “Reception work. Temp work...in Chicago...I was good at the switchboards.”

8. Odd Jobs, Practical Cars, & Lesbian Stereotypes

• Car Talk:
  Light jokes about lesbian car stereotypes—Jane currently drives a Mercedes plug-in hybrid, but previously owned a Volkswagen Golf and Volvo, further cementing the “practical lesbian” narrative.

  “Lesbians are so practical...and very predictable.” – Jane Lynch [36:06]

• Gardening & Grilling:
  Discussion veers into lesbian love of gardening and grilling steaks, even in the rain.

  “I BBQ even in the rain—I will hold up my umbrella and cook my steak.” – Jane Lynch [36:54]

9. YouTube Rabbit Holes, UFOs & Anomalies

• Conspiracy Corner:
  Jane watches UFO and near-death experience videos, following the anomalous "Three-Eye Atlas" comet and quoting Harvard scientist Avi Loeb.

  “If there are any gifts to be bestowed, I want to receive them.” – Jane Lynch [38:34]

  Jeff: “I kind of go down the rabbit hole with tsunamis, car accidents, planes…” [39:02]

10. Listener Call: The Power of Crows

• Wild Listener Story:
  Caller Allison recounts feeding crows to ward off a predatory neighbor—and returning to find him dead after the crows “chose his destiny.”
  “So I started feeding the crows peanuts...they chose his destiny, not me.” – Allison [40:34]

  The group jokes about Hitchcock’s The Birds and crow revenge.

11. Customer Service Rants & Shopping Pet Peeves

• Lululemon Bag Drama:
  Michael’s failed attempt to get a box pre-Dec 1st for a gift leads to a spiraling customer service saga.
  “Two different people told me... you can only have a box on December 1st.” – Michael Hitchcock [43:05]

• Target’s “Forced Greeting” Policy:
  Jeff rails against Target’s requirement that staff greet every customer, Shane argues it’s anti-theft policy, and Jameson loves forced cheer a la Disney.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jane on Montecito:
  “It’s Mayberry for rich people.” [02:10]

• Jane, on the Keto Diet:
  “I dropped 15 pounds, like, in five minutes... I just get a big fatty ribeye and I’m done.” [07:57]

• Michael on Weight Loss Shots:
  “Ever since I saw myself on ‘Nobody Wants This’ ...my shirt rode up... and I thought, time to do the shots.” [09:59]

• On “The Weakest Link” Housewife episode:
  “It was the hardest walk of shame I’ve ever experienced. My heart broke for her—even though she’s not a very pleasant person.” – Jane Lynch [22:37]

• Crow Conspiracy:
  “I bet they like your hair color.” – Jeff Lewis, referring to Michael’s befriended crows [12:38]

• Listener “The Crows Got Him” Story:
  “So I started feeding the crows peanuts and telling them, hey, I wish the best for this man—somewhere else. They chose his destiny, not me.” – Allison [40:34]

Key Timestamps

• 02:10 — Jane on moving to Montecito
• 03:58 — Jane’s walk of fame star
• 07:56–08:26 — Jane’s keto explanation
• 09:59–10:18 — Michael on starting weight loss shots
• 12:04–13:44 — Michael’s crow anecdotes
• 14:03–15:05 — Game show stories: Hollywood Game Night to Weakest Link
• 21:08–22:59 — Weakest Link “Ex-Wives Club” drama
• 25:27 — Celebrity appearances/charity pay
• 33:12–34:49 — Survival jobs pre-fame
• 36:06 — Lesbian stereotypes/car talk
• 38:02–38:26 — Jane on UFO researcher Avi Loeb
• 40:34–41:13 — “Crows got him” call
• 43:05–44:48 — Michael’s Lululemon box rant
• 45:20–46:22 — Forced customer service greetings debate

Conclusion

This episode of "Jeff Lewis Has Issues" perfectly demonstrates why the show is a must-listen for fans of candid celebrity banter, pop culture deep-dives, and the hilarious unraveling of life’s big and small problems. Jane Lynch and Michael Hitchcock serve up a heady mix of self-deprecating humor, sharp insights into Hollywood and modern life, and infectious frankness alongside Jeff Lewis’s signature bite.

Recommended for anyone who likes their celebrity interviews with unvarnished reality and a side of steak and crows.