Las Culturistas: “Oh, Look! Spider-Man!” (with Kristen Wiig)

Podcast: Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers & Bowen Yang
Episode date: January 21, 2026
Guest: Kristen Wiig

Overview

In this lively, nostalgia-packed episode, iconic comedy star Kristen Wiig joins hosts Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation. Together, they reminisce about their shared history at SNL, explore Kristen’s earliest odd jobs and improv beginnings, dish about “Palm Royale,” and dissect formative pop culture—from “Annie” and “Grease” to the wild world of children’s TV. The group veers from culture analysis to backstage tales, punctuated by sharp observations, memorable riffs, and characteristically goofy tangents.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. SNL Memories & Farewells

• Matt describes clearing out his SNL dressing room on his last day, feeling sentimental and “kismety” about running into Kristen just afterward ([01:59]–[03:46]).
• Kristen shares her own memories of her SNL send-off: “You go when you don’t do it when everyone’s there. So it’s haunted. And you like come in with a box, right. You fill it up and then no one's there and they're just like, goodbye, building.” ([07:14])
• Warm tributes to the SNL security guards—especially Monet X Change’s brother—underscore the family atmosphere ([07:32]).

2. SNL Veterans: Writers and Collaboration

• Bowen and Kristen rave about legendary SNL writers James Anderson and Kent Sublette, recalling their penchant for surreal character names (e.g., “Beginnings Chang,” “Latony Garage”) ([08:33]–[09:49]).
• Matt shares his favorite James Anderson-penned line:

  “This song was an homage to my mother, the mother of the house, Ms. Buffet Styles. Yeah. It was written at 5:00am When I was skiing with Ms. Connie. See what I’m saying? The snow that goes up. Thunderstand. The snorty snow. I’m talking about Crade. I have that in my bones.” ([09:53]–[10:28])

3. Parental Life & Children’s TV

• Kristen discusses how kids have changed her viewing habits—no more live Saturday night SNL, now it’s “Gabby’s Dollhouse” and “Wild Kratts” ([11:00]–[12:05]).
• The trio riff on the weirdness of children’s programming past and present (“Ren & Stimpy,” “Rocko’s Modern Life,” and the more wholesome “Bluey”) ([15:51]–[17:11]).

4. Culture Awards, Real Housewives, and Reality TV Obsessions

• Kristen admits she was starstruck meeting the women of “Real Housewives of Salt Lake City” at the Culture Awards, preferring to maintain a little “magic” and not ruin the illusion by asking questions.

  “I want to meet them, but I don’t want to meet them.” ([17:55])

• Bowen sings the praises of “The Traitors UK,” encouraging Kristen to watch Claudia Winkleman, whom he describes as “a Kristen Wiig character” ([19:43]–[20:40]).

5. Kristen’s Job History: Universal Studios Shenanigans

• Matt and Bowen revisit the iconic “Mutants on the loose!” story from the X-Men/Spider-Man stunt show at Universal Studios, with Kristen detailing her gigs as a faux reporter corralling crowds for the outdoor show ([22:03]–[29:34]).
• Scene is set hilariously: reporters in 90s polyester, guests bemused, Spider-Man plunging onto a puffy mat to Evanescence music ([27:20]).

6. Early Career: Improv, The Joe Schmo Show, and Dr. Pat

• Kristen reminisces about her first “paying comedy job” doing improv at Universal Studios, then starring as “Dr. Pat” on the reality TV satire “Joe Schmo Show.” She describes the ethical weirdness of pranking the unsuspecting “Joe” in the sumo wrestling challenge:

  “I wouldn’t do it again. I love everyone involved, but… I felt bad.” ([36:55])

• “Oh, my stars” becomes a running joke as Kristen recalls being knocked down in character ([37:41]).

7. Formative Cultural Touchstones

• In the classic Las Culturistas question, Kristen reveals her culture-making moments:
  • “A combination of Annie and Grease.” ([41:41])
    • Annie planted her earliest performer dreams: “Why didn’t I get to audition for this even though I’ve never acted in my life?” ([41:52])
    • Grease was the high school fantasy, “the high school aspect… what high school could be. John Travolta, so handsome. And then her. Obviously, don’t just change your identity for a man… but there was something about her becoming this sexual thing and not giving a shit.” ([42:14])
• Hosts note both films’ themes of belonging and transformation for women and girls, resonant with Kristen’s own comedic ethos ([43:38]).

8. Comedy, Musicality, and Favorite SNL Sketches

• The hosts highlight the musical comedy of Wiig’s SNL era, the joy of group numbers (e.g. “Santa’s My Boyfriend,” “Lawrence Welk Show”), and the camaraderie among that “peak cast” ([53:09]–[54:39]).
• Bowen rhapsodizes about Wiig’s control and vulnerability as an actor, especially in “Palm Royale’s” finale and in sketches like Rebecca LaRue, noting the unpredictability between dress rehearsal and live air ([60:18]–[61:55]).
• Kristen discusses the universal imposter syndrome at SNL: “I would never read something and be like, this is gonna kill… you never know… there’s the one where you try to pull it and they’re like, sorry, it’s already in the pack. And it’s on the show.” ([57:54]–[60:07])

9. Advice & Reflection on Criticism

• Kristen urges the new generation of SNL cast to “enjoy the job while you can—cause you’ll miss it every day afterwards” ([07:45], [62:10]), and to avoid obsessing over reviews or online comments.

10. On-Screen and Off: Cultural Sisterhood

• Kristen praises ensemble acting, especially with women: “All the female cast members at that time were very musical… Abby Elliott, Casey [Wilson]… On and on. But it just felt like a really good musical energy” ([53:09]).

11. “I Don’t Think So, Honey” Segment Highlights

• Matt: “My fat thumbs”—riffs on the woes of texting with “chunker” thumbs ([78:12]–[79:27]).
• Bowen: “The word ‘squeegee’”—laments that the item and name don’t match; “Squeegee should be a dog toy or a pet name… not the most un-cute thing in the world.” ([82:01]–[83:04])
• Kristen: “Too Many Snack and Flavor Options”—calls on chip and drink companies to rein it in:

  “Back in the day, you wanted to get a popcorn. You get a plain, you get a cheese, you get a caramel. Now you’ve got the truffles, you’ve got the herbs. It’s too much confusion. I get grocery store confusion.” ([84:39]–[85:48])

12. Snack Culture, Chips, and Overwhelm at the Grocery Store

• The trio discuss “chip anxiety” and too many beverage flavors, with Matt exclaiming: “When I go to the grocery store now… I look at the chip aisle, I get so overwhelmed. I just move on. I don’t even buy a chip, and that’s robbing me of a chip.” ([90:45])

13. Closing Praises, Laughter, and Community

• Bowen and Matt heap praise on Wiig’s versatility and heart—citing “Palm Royale” and “The Skeleton Twins”—and the joy of seeing her and fellow Groundlings like Melissa McCarthy and Rose Byrne thrive ([93:40]–[95:00]).
• The group compares notes on ensemble work, playing antagonism for comedy, and closing with mutual gratitude.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Matt, on the SNL experience:

  “You were the first alum to impart something to me, which was: Enjoy the job while you can. Cause you’ll miss it every day afterwards. And it’s the funnest job in the world.” ([07:45])

• Kristen, on early jobs:

  “We did [improv at Universal Studios] for one day. And they were like, thank you… We did not have a stage. We were walking through the park doing improv.” ([24:47])

• Kristen, on pop-culture touchstones:

  “There was just something about that [in Annie and Grease] that I was like… I realized how much entertainment could, like, affect me. And I think that’s for sure… the seed that was planted was like, I want to do this.” ([43:08])

• Bowen, on “Lawrence Welk Show” live:

  “I don’t think I’ve ever felt the way I felt watching you do Lawrence Welk. No, truly. I think it altered the course of my life.” ([54:53])

• Kristen, on career insecurity:

  “Three seasons in, having a breakdown, being like, I’ve done every voice. I have nothing.” ([59:04])

• Kristen, on snacks:

  “There's chips, there's salsa syrup, apples. There's too many… Where are they going if people don't buy them—are they going into a landfill?… The aisles are too long.” ([85:17–85:48])

• Recurring self-deprecating humor about Cool Ranch Doritos and “cummy” flavor adds a signature Las Culturistas wink ([88:19–89:12])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• SNL Farewell & Guest Introduction: 01:59–06:35
• SNL Writers and Character Names: 08:32–10:28
• Kids TV & Comfort Viewing: 11:00–15:51
• Real Housewives & Reality TV: 17:11–20:40
• Universal Studios Stories (“Oh, Look! Spider-Man!”): 22:03–29:46
• “Joe Schmo Show” & Improv Beginnings: 35:36–39:56
• Cultural Origin Story (“Culture Was For Me”): 41:28–44:41
• Lawrence Welk Show & SNL Live Moments: 54:39–56:54
• On Failing at SNL & Validation: 56:54–60:07
• Snack Overload & Grocery Store Anxiety: 84:39–91:11
• Actor Compliments & Ensemble Joy: 93:40–96:00
• “I Don’t Think So, Honey” Segment: 77:47–87:04

Closing Tone

This episode bubbles with warmth, comedic energy, and sincerity. The hosts and Kristen Wiig oscillate between unfiltered nostalgia, razor-sharp cultural takes, and intimate reflection on creative life, maintaining the playful, irreverent Las Culturistas voice throughout. Their mutual admiration and inside-baseball comedy knowledge produce both belly laughs and genuine moments of insight.

For fans and newcomers alike, this episode is an essential portrait of Kristen Wiig’s journey, her comic influences, and the enduring joys (and pitfalls!) of performing, collaborating, and loving culture.

“There was just something about that… I realized how much entertainment could, like, affect me. And I think that’s for sure… the seed that was planted was like, I want to do this.”
—Kristen Wiig, [43:08]