"Riding The Brown Line" (w/ Joel Kim Booster)

Summary

Podcast Summary: "Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang"

Episode Title: "Riding The Brown Line" (Featuring Joel Kim Booster)
Release Date: April 30, 2025
Hosts: Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Guest: Joel Kim Booster
Produced by: Big Money Players Network and iHeartPodcasts

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1. Introduction and Culture Banter ([00:34] - [02:30])

The episode begins with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang engaging in their signature playful banter about cultural nuances and iconic figures. They humorously navigate topics like "Kyle's" and Katie's publicist finalist, setting an energetic and comedic tone for the episode.

Notable Quote:

• Matt Rogers ([00:35]): “Wow. Is that the culture?”

---

2. Launching the Lost Culturistas Culture Awards ([02:31] - [04:49])

Matt and Bowen proudly announce the inaugural Lost Culturistas Culture Awards. Scheduled to air on Bravo on August 5th and stream on Peacock the following day, these awards aim to honor significant cultural moments and figures ahead of major award seasons like the Emmys. They emphasize the importance of recognizing impactful contributions to culture and tease upcoming details about categories and nominations.

Notable Quote:

• Bowen Yang ([03:09]): “We can officially say we truly start awards season now.”

---

3. Welcoming Joel Kim Booster and Airport Mishaps ([05:24] - [07:06])

The hosts welcome Joel Kim Booster as their special guest. Joel shares a recent frustrating experience of losing his wallet at the airport, which complicates his Real ID verification. This anecdote highlights the bureaucratic challenges in today’s climate and sets the stage for deeper discussions on personal and professional hurdles.

Notable Quote:

• Joel Kim Booster ([06:16]): “I have a provisionary birth certificate that Illinois issued me because Korea can't find mine.”

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4. Navigating Awards Shows and Gender-Neutral Categories ([08:11] - [09:14])

The conversation shifts to the evolution of awards shows, with Matt and Bowen expressing excitement over their own Culture Awards. They critique traditional award structures and advocate for gender-neutral categories, discussing the feasibility and potential impact of such changes in fostering inclusivity.

Notable Quote:

• Bowen Yang ([08:11]): “We need rules to change the way this is.”

---

5. Reflections on Acting and Industry Challenges ([09:15] - [12:28])

Joel delves into his acting career, particularly his role in "Fire Island," praising the director's ability to create a strong sense of place and community within the film. He discusses the challenges actors face in maintaining authentic chemistry on set and the demanding nature of role preparation, highlighting the industry's shifting dynamics.

Notable Quote:

• Joel Kim Booster ([12:28]): “One of the best storytelling periods in any medium.”

---

6. Gaming Interests and Maintaining Relationships ([12:29] - [17:06])

Matt reveals his passion for Final Fantasy XIV, dedicating over a decade to the MMO as a relaxing escape between press tours. Joel relates through his involvement in "Marvel Rivals," discussing how immersive gaming can strain personal relationships, especially when competitive play leads to frustrations and conflicts.

Notable Quote:

• Joel Kim Booster ([16:47]): “It's like, boy, do I. It's like I cannot stand that he is a higher rank than me.”

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7. Dynamics of Friendship and Busy Lifestyles ([17:07] - [27:19])

The trio explores how friendships evolve amidst busy careers and geographical separations. Joel shares a humorous story about his partner failing to pack essentials during an evacuation due to LA fires, emphasizing the everyday challenges of managing responsibilities in relationships. They discuss the importance of intentionality in maintaining close bonds despite professional obligations.

Notable Quote:

• Joel Kim Booster ([37:42]): “We sit at home alone and play the Newlywed Game just to practice.”

---

8. Critiquing Current TV Shows – White Lotus and Fire Island Sequel ([53:50] - [66:10])

Matt, Bowen, and Joel analyze the current television landscape, specifically critiquing the third season of "White Lotus." While acknowledging high-quality performances, they question the narrative coherence and character development. The hosts express admiration for Salma Hayek’s performance in "House of Gucci," discussing the importance of meaningful character arcs in maintaining cultural relevance.

Notable Quote:

• Bowen Yang ([54:59]): “You recognize that because you really do have to be intentional about maintaining friendships when you are in a relationship.”

---

9. Salma Hayek and Representation in Media ([86:00] - [88:11])

A significant portion of the episode focuses on Salma Hayek's impact in "House of Gucci" and her broader influence in the entertainment industry. The hosts praise her versatility and discuss how her roles enhance representation of marginalized communities in media. They debate casting choices and express a desire to see more substantial roles for Hayek in future projects.

Notable Quote:

• Bowen Yang ([85:56]): “We all want that.”

---

10. Social Media and Podcast Engagement ([97:00] - [105:15])

The discussion shifts to the influence of social media on personal interactions and audience engagement. Joel shares his experiences with being hacked on Twitter, leading to a reassessment of his social media presence. They touch upon the importance of adhering to texting etiquette and how online interactions shape their personal and professional lives.

Notable Quote:

• Joel Kim Booster ([97:00]): “Do not send me your email address or phone number in the body of a large block of text so that I cannot get to it.”

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11. Closing Segments and Humorous Sign-offs ([105:15] - [109:00])

The episode concludes with the hosts engaging in playful, fictional segments, including pitches for new shows and mock song performances. They reinforce their camaraderie and the importance of maintaining personal connections despite busy schedules. The trio promises more engaging content in future episodes, keeping listeners eagerly anticipating what’s next.

Notable Quote:

• Joel Kim Booster ([106:57]): “And other things. To be continued.”

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Conclusion

"Riding The Brown Line" offers a rich tapestry of personal anecdotes, critical media analyses, and heartfelt discussions on friendship and professional life. Matt Rogers, Bowen Yang, and Joel Kim Booster blend humor with insightful commentary, making the episode both entertaining and thought-provoking for listeners seeking an in-depth exploration of contemporary culture and personal dynamics.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Matt Rogers ([00:35]): “Wow. Is that the culture?”
• Bowen Yang ([03:09]): “We can officially say we truly start awards season now.”
• Joel Kim Booster ([06:16]): “I have a provisionary birth certificate that Illinois issued me because Korea can't find mine.”
• Bowen Yang ([08:11]): “We need rules to change the way this is.”
• Joel Kim Booster ([12:28]): “One of the best storytelling periods in any medium.”
• Joel Kim Booster ([16:47]): “It's like, boy, do I. It's like I cannot stand that he is a higher rank than me.”
• Joel Kim Booster ([37:42]): “We sit at home alone and play the Newlywed Game just to practice.”
• Bowen Yang ([54:59]): “You recognize that because you really do have to be intentional about maintaining friendships when you are in a relationship.”
• Bowen Yang ([85:56]): “We all want that.”
• Joel Kim Booster ([97:00]): “Do not send me your email address or phone number in the body of a large block of text so that I cannot get to it.”
• Joel Kim Booster ([106:57]): “And other things. To be continued.”

---

This detailed summary captures the essence of the episode, highlighting key discussions and insights while providing notable quotes with accurate timestamps for reference.

Transcript

[Bowen Yang]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, readers, Katie's publicist finalist, Kyle's. It's time to talk about one of the most iconic payment brands out there. That's right. It's PayPal. PayPal lets you do you. Meaning you can pay your own way.

[Bowen Yang]

PayPal offers people flexibility on how they can pay. Once you click the PayPal button, you can choose from a bunch of payment.

[Matt Rogers]

Options, including paying later with PayPal at millions of online stores.

[Bowen Yang]

Iconic pay in store, pay online, pay overtime. Don't just pay PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

Learn [e-mail] look, man, there. Oh, I see my eye. Oh, my.

[Bowen Yang]

Bowen, look over there.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow. Is that the culture?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes. Goodness.

[Bowen Yang]

Wow.

[Matt Rogers]

Las culturistas.

[Bowen Yang]

Ding dong. Las culturistas calling with a big announcement.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my gosh. We can finally say the sleuths have been getting their magnifying glasses out. Smoking from their little pipes.

[Bowen Yang]

Sherlock Holmes. Are we gonna have to create a new category? Rears Katie's publicist finalist Kyle Central Combs. No, we're not.

[Matt Rogers]

That's enough.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Kyle's. I also want to just fold into Katie's. Can we just officially fold?

[Bowen Yang]

Kyle's no, we can't do that. And what?

[Matt Rogers]

I like four?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't. No.

[Bowen Yang]

You know what? I can't believe it's already this acrimonious. You can come in here, you fly in with your big ideas. You're supposed to run this by me. Why would Kyle's float you? You think I forced the Kyle's through?

[Matt Rogers]

I wouldn't say that. You ran it by my ass, honey. Well, anyway, we can have this discussion.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, but here's the thing. Maybe Kyle should do something to make it so that they deserve to stay Kyle's.

[Matt Rogers]

Y'all better hit us up if you want to be in the acronym.

[Bowen Yang]

We're talking to you. Oh, by the way, later on in the episode when we bring our guests in, I want to pitch my Kyle Richards spin off.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't think we need any more of her on my television.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, I think you might. You might disagree with me when you hear what I have to say.

[Matt Rogers]

Is it Kyle Richards does tongue twisters, and we can't even understand her more? I lost the throat.

[Bowen Yang]

Big old bitch.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I'm just like. I'm so tired of hearing this is my cow Richter's impression. I don't have a relationship. Like her voice.

[Bowen Yang]

When she gets emotional, she does, sort of.

[Matt Rogers]

That's actually.

[Bowen Yang]

You know what?

[Matt Rogers]

No, we do need more Kyle Richards on tv.

[Bowen Yang]

When you hear my idea for the spinoff, you're going to be like, yes, that girl and her twisted tongue.

[Matt Rogers]

Green light on the screens again.

[Bowen Yang]

I have such a good idea for her.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay. Speaking of Bravo.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

I think it is public now. August 5th, the Lost Culturistas Culture Awards will be on Bravo and streaming on Peacock the next day.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, immediately streaming on Peacock. This is going to be incredible. We are filming it in la. We can't say where, we can't say when yet. All this information is going to come out.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Piecemeal over the next couple months. But, yes, it's true, I guess in a way. Publicist season has begun.

[Matt Rogers]

This means publicist season has begun. That's why it's a little bit delayed. Normally we have them in June. Obviously the timeline is a little bit sort of shifted down, but your work begins now.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. We can officially say we truly start awards season now.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Because it's going to be us August 5th and then the next month, probably what, three weeks into the month in September is the Emmys, whenever that is. But we will be first. It's time for everyone to start talking about people, things, places, happenings that you think need to be called out and shout out. Categories will be announced soon.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes. And nominees following after.

[Bowen Yang]

And then we're gonna have a big old show again in LA. We'll say more about when later, but August 5, August5, big day when we.

[Matt Rogers]

Have a culture award winner here.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes. Culture award winner. I was trying to count how many times our guest has been on the show. I think this is like eight or nine.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

But then that wasn't including all of the sort of iconic, I don't think so, honey appearances, of course.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my God. Gauntlet do gag. How about that for a while?

[Bowen Yang]

Remember the Gauntlet do gag where. Where our guest famously said, I don't think so, honey, when you fart and a little cum comes out in front of my mother, father and sister. Thus bringing us all closer. And he still didn't even win.

[Matt Rogers]

He should have, though.

[Bowen Yang]

No. Well, Rachel.

[Matt Rogers]

Rachel Peagram iconically won.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

And she is. Yes, Rachel Pigram did win that fair and square. But it's like any awards show where there's the winners and then there's the.

[Bowen Yang]

People that you rigged. Well, I mean, you'd have to take that up with our judges for that show, which were Jinx, Monsoon and Alaska Icons. Wow.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow.

[Bowen Yang]

The glass Coach really has remained over the years.

[Matt Rogers]

It has remained last.

[Bowen Yang]

Coach really has remained over the years. Actually, really close. Your number four Last Culture really Has remained over the years. We'll get to work on that book soon at some point, too. So our guest is the host of Bravo. Speaking of Love Hotel.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Which airs on. Go ahead and say it.

[Matt Rogers]

April 27, 8, 7 Central. After Atlanta, which, by the way, Atlanta has been great. I've heard.

[Bowen Yang]

I know that we're going to talk a lot about the happenings in Housewives right now. Remember, we're recording this. What is it?

[Matt Rogers]

April 16th.

[Bowen Yang]

So we're about, you know, some days behind where we are when this comes out. But we're going to give generalized thoughts.

[Matt Rogers]

No, right. It's. This is airing the 30th. Thank you.

[Bowen Yang]

Airing the 30th. So listen, everybody, you know our guest. You love our guests from the film Fire island, the television show Loot. Stand up all across America and the world.

[Matt Rogers]

Australia.

[Bowen Yang]

Australia even. God, it's just like, cool it. You know what I mean? Like, getting on the Delta.

[Matt Rogers]

Must be diamond.

[Bowen Yang]

I bet it is. Everyone, please welcome us. Your ears.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Joel Kim, Booster Million miler. Actually. Yes. Honey, are you a million miler? Driven to her connecting flight on the.

[Matt Rogers]

Tarmac, on the Porsches. Yes, in the Porsche.

[Bowen Yang]

You know, that is a good perk. But one. One thing is, like, you better make sure that you don't have your AirPods in or else when they call your name for that, you're gonna miss it one day.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, no. Um, I just got back from Boston in my little pod and left my wallet.

[Bowen Yang]

No.

[Joel Kim Booster]

At the airport. And it has ruined my life because, boy, do I not have proof of citizenship.

[Bowen Yang]

Whoa.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Which in this climate, you need it. Tough, tough, tough stuff. Tough stuff.

[Bowen Yang]

So does that. Where's your passport?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I have a passport, but here's the thing. That is no longer enough. And I have a provisionary birth certificate that Illinois issued me because Korea can't find mine.

[Bowen Yang]

Jesus, Korea.

[Matt Rogers]

This.

[Bowen Yang]

It's actually roller culture number eight.

[Matt Rogers]

Jesus, Korea.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I was likely stolen, let's be honest. But honestly.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay, you were. You were.

[Bowen Yang]

The beginning of your life was a caper. The beginning of Joel Kim's life was.

[Matt Rogers]

A caper starring George Clooney and JLo.

[Bowen Yang]

Imagine that was out of sight. I've never seen it.

[Matt Rogers]

I've never seen it. Wait, so it's. What do you mean it's no longer enough?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, they. I literally got my real ID with this provisionary birth certificate that Illinois issued, but that is no longer. They need, like, the real hard copy of it now.

[Bowen Yang]

Come on. What do you mean now? Like it in the.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, it's because, like, Back when I got the real ID a couple years ago, it was all fine and dandy. And I did scan my way into getting a replacement real ID by holding my thumb over the provisionary part of the birth certificate when I got to the desk. And they don't care.

[Matt Rogers]

You can't really.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The woman in line, whatever. I don't think any of he's really.

[Bowen Yang]

Big for his purchase as a million miler.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah. But no, the thing is, is like the woman in line who checked my documents was like, they won't take this. And then I got to the desk and of course she did, right? She didn't. She doesn't care about her job. She has no loyalty to the dmv.

[Bowen Yang]

It makes me feel so sad when people so obviously don't care about what they do. Like, or. Or like. Or. Or they're so checked out and hate what they do so much. And I. I just walk away from people like that and I'm like, God, they have to sit there and do that all day. How do we. How do we bring joy to the world?

[Matt Rogers]

You would rather they be River Ramirez's character In. In.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I think the funniest moment in any film.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The funniest moment of 2024.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, bar none.

[Bowen Yang]

That was so fucking good.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is like, where was the nom. Viola Davis in doubt level, like, coming.

[Bowen Yang]

In and, you know, this is what I keep saying. And now that we're out of Oscar season, no one can really take offense because it's all over. I have to say, the category fraud was worse than ever this year. It's so bad. We need rules to change the way this is. Because how can we honor the River Ramirez is of the world and how can we keep honoring. Honoring the Viola Davis of the world, who, mind you, I will remind you the reason we have Viola Davis is because she got an Oscar nomination. 14 second performance.

[Matt Rogers]

The race should have been Ariana Grande versus River Ramirez, period. Period.

[Bowen Yang]

Down until they change it. Like, are they gonna change it? Oscars gonna go gender free?

[Matt Rogers]

Because it's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Who has those so far? The indie spirits have.

[Bowen Yang]

They have it. The Gothams have it. I believe, like, a lot of the critics things have it, but not all the Golden Globes don't. Critics choice doesn't.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, yeah. Well, the wave has begun and we are restarting the wave here. We're rippling it here.

[Bowen Yang]

Like, you know what I think would be fun? If it's like, everyone shows up to the Oscars and no one knows who everyone. It's Just. It's a surprise. Five people get Oscars and it's a total surprise. It's totally random.

[Matt Rogers]

You've said this before. I love it.

[Bowen Yang]

It's like, okay, we're going to announce one winner.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Have I told you about the production of Urinetown that my college did my senior year before we graduated, wherein they put up the cast list? It was just a list of names, and we were all confused. No cast, no characters. Okay. Everyone was very confused. And then we come to find out that they will all be wearing black, I'll be wearing masks, and I'll be playing every part, and every night will be different because they will pass the ball, quote, unquote, mid song or midline, mid scene.

[Matt Rogers]

Chaos.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is true. It was one of the worst things I have ever.

[Matt Rogers]

I was on board. And this is terrible.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is the entire life because it's like, I just want to see the one bitch who can hit the note being privileged to pee. I just want to see that one bitch who actually can hit the note.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

He was set up to fail by being born with a male voice. Yeah. Oh, we all were. It's actually roller culture number 30. We were all set up to fail.

[Matt Rogers]

By being born with a male voice. Amab voice is a curse.

[Bowen Yang]

Amab voice. Who cares what we can sing about?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, my God, it's real. Yeah. So that sounds like your production of the Oscars.

[Matt Rogers]

Honestly, I'm not even behind this. No, I am.

[Bowen Yang]

I would like behind this. I'm like, I. I don't know how to fix it, but it needs to be fixed. I did have a whole, like, rubric with how they could do the lead in supporting things, but then I'm just like, I don't know. Ultimately, who cares, right?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Where are you finding the time to sit down at Google Sheet and break this?

[Bowen Yang]

Until you've known me, what, over 10 years, you know, you know, I just sit here and talk. Where am I finding the time here and now?

[Matt Rogers]

I don' Know. But no, I am genuinely curious about the same thing of, like, what is your. In the day? Like, when do you find the time to watch videos about Universal Studios, to watch videos about, to watch, to read prognosticators like you. You do have a really wonderful palette in terms of your media.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You. But we all three of us sitting here know that acting is 90% sitting around, 100% drinking LaCroix. Yeah, yeah. And so, like, you're at your. I'm sure you're in that chair.

[Bowen Yang]

Here's the thing. And to answer your question and probably actually start a conversation about what are specific things that we go online for. I have one, I only have like three or four little online hobbies. And to be honest with you, ever since I was a very young gay kid going online and looking what was getting like the Oscar buzz and finding out what was happening in the film industry was always one of them. So now that I'm like in the business, it's, it's directly aligns with what my online interests always were. And the same is true of like me being on roller coaster tycoon when I was a little kid and like wanting to know what was going on in that industry. So that's still one of my niche interests. But it's like literally Real Housewives, like what's going on in the theme park industry and what's going on in the entertainment industry and when awards season kicks up, that really is in high gear. But those are my things and I'm curious like what your guys things are.

[Matt Rogers]

I. Especially after this Japan trip, I am like. And I. And you, you guys have known this about me, but it's, it is specifically Final Fantasy games and I am all I've been doing on this press tour where I'm this way. I just finished press for Wedding Banquet and what I've been doing in between is just playing this fucking game, being a botanist, going around the woods collecting tree bark and collecting plants.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Are you. Are we talking real rebirth?

[Matt Rogers]

No. 7 rebirth. Absolutely. One of the best, one of the best final boss sequences ever. But I'm talking about the MMO Final Fantasy 14.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm still in that MMO world.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm 10 years into this fucking game. I love this game. So some of the best storytelling period in any medium. I am Jonathan Bailey voicing a little catboy. I've always, I've always hyped up Jonathan Bailey's performance as GRA Hatia. And I've even told him on the set instead of Wicked, I said I just have to tell.

[Joel Kim Booster]

After he complimented me is a lyric from Abracadabra.

[Matt Rogers]

It's Graha Graha Tiya.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, I just want coffee all over my good fucking shirt.

[Matt Rogers]

First of all, you don't know the.

[Bowen Yang]

I think it will be okay.

[Matt Rogers]

The niche culture of people of gamers who are going to die. The fact that you have made a lost culture moment out of singing the name G'raha Tia.

[Bowen Yang]

I just want to say I sang Graha Tia to Avracadabra Lady Gaga and I think ruined this.

[Matt Rogers]

No drag queenie baby just Dry clean it and we'll.

[Bowen Yang]

I love this too.

[Matt Rogers]

It's a really good knit.

[Bowen Yang]

This is a knit I wore.

[Joel Kim Booster]

This is like an. It. Like only la.

[Matt Rogers]

Only la.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That weight of the top.

[Bowen Yang]

Did you feel it? So this type of fabric. This is just water.

[Matt Rogers]

No, that, that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That'll.

[Matt Rogers]

That'll be.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That'll do.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

You guys, sorry, but this is all going in the episode.

[Matt Rogers]

It's all going in the episode because.

[Bowen Yang]

This is a very real human moment of sisters being by me and there for me and supporting me when I ruined my Todd Snyder tank. That can only be worn in la.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, that can only be worn in la.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Pre Coachella.

[Bowen Yang]

Anyways, we're going to.

[Matt Rogers]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, no. I just want to say more on Grahati.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I complimented on the set of Wicked Jonathan Bailey's performance at Gahati after he was so kind and effusive about Fire Island.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

So anyway, it just. I just. That felt like the proper exchange. Ok, Joel, what are your Internet.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I mean, mine right now is literally YouTube essays about movie projects that never happened.

[Matt Rogers]

Be Kind, Rewind. Be Kind, Rewind.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Be Kind Rewind is one of them. Bullets and Blockbusters is the one that I'm really into. And quite frankly, hours and hours and hours of Marvel Rivals.

[Matt Rogers]

Really?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I am playing so deep into Marvel rivals and watching YouTube videos, all I do in my trailer is watch YouTube videos about Marvel Rivals.

[Matt Rogers]

Explain, because I have not dipped my toe in Marvel Rivals.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It is. It's Overwatch but with Marvel characters. And I never played Overwatch. I never played any of these kinds of games before because it seems like I need a game that has an end point, otherwise it will happen. What is happened to me with Marvel Rivals, which is I've played over 200 hours of this game since December. The last four large arguments that I have gotten in with my fiance. 100% congratulations about this game.

[Matt Rogers]

What are the arguments that are just me getting tilted.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like fully getting on a losing streak and wanting and getting so angry. And he's like, you can't. This is a game. And then.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And then of having a sports team and yelling at your wife. JM Being like, I can't live like this.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Are you? Yeah, exactly. And he. And it's so ironic because he loves. He's a video game producer.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, he understands.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He understands. But like. And he's wanted me to get into games. You know, we've played games together a lot, but like this kind of game for a minute and then I did, and it's turned into something Quite.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

The slope was slipperier than you thought.

[Matt Rogers]

Can I ask not to reveal too much about jm? Well, not. People know this about jm. Would it be different if you played League of Legends?

[Joel Kim Booster]

No.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay. Because JM is associated in.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He works it. Right. But like, I don't think. He definitely doesn't care what it is. Yeah. What it is.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay.

[Bowen Yang]

He probably thinks it's beautiful, the game you love.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, no, he. I mean, he plays himself too, but, like, that's the problem is, like, we're directly playing this game and he is so much better at video games than I am. And it's this first time where I am. Like, we've never. We never compete, but, like, there is, like, you get ranked in this game.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, that will do you the ranking.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's like, boy, do I. It's like I cannot stand that he is a higher rank than me.

[Bowen Yang]

How much higher?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, a fair amount. Like, it's gotten to the point where we can't play together because he's in a higher.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, he's in a different tier.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He's in a different tier than I am.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't understand why how professional athletes are friends with each other, because that is a thing system where you are. There was a value system literally for.

[Bowen Yang]

Love of the game.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, at least. At least it's an objective standard. I mean, the fact that we're all still friends, quite frankly, is ridiculous.

[Matt Rogers]

If there was a numerical system that.

[Bowen Yang]

They ranked gay actors. I mean, they.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Each other, though.

[Matt Rogers]

They do.

[Bowen Yang]

I mean, they do, but like publishing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It currently as we speak. No, but that's.

[Bowen Yang]

That's not real. I always know where I stand when there's an announcement about the podcast and it's like Chapel Ron was on Bowen Yang's podcast Last Culture. I always remember that. I'm like, down here in 54, and we're sitting here with three, and three.

[Matt Rogers]

Is a chasm away from two.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay, let's talk about it then. Who's one and two right now?

[Bowen Yang]

I think Jonathan's probably. Jonathan's one, and I would say number two is.

[Matt Rogers]

Is McKellen.

[Bowen Yang]

Matt Bomer. Andrew. Oh, Andrew Scott.

[Matt Rogers]

Andrew Scott. Oh, for sure. I'm three. The famous three. I'm not three. Let's be very clear.

[Bowen Yang]

You don't have. You don't have permanence on your number.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The third most viral moment from the Academy Awards. So let's not three.

[Matt Rogers]

Three and that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

All right, so we all know we love theater here on Lost Cult, and we want to make sure that you get your butts in seats affordably, the weather's warming up, and if you're looking for something to do, catching a Broadway show is a no brainer. Today Ticks makes it easy to grab tickets to Broadway, Off Broadway, or whatever fits your vibe. No waiting in long lines or overpaying. Download the Today Tix app, book and go. If you haven't tried it yet, now's the perfect time. Spring's here and your next night out is just a few taps away. It's the perfect excuse to try something new. Maybe you've been meaning to catch that hit show, or maybe you want to take a chance on something you've never heard of. Either way, Today Tix makes it simple. Like for example, I used Today Tix to see Gypsy. I saw Sunset Boulevard again, I took my parents to go see Death Becomes Her. We had an amazing time. So this spring, instead of just hanging around, why not book a night out, catch a show, and experience the magic of live theater with zero hassle? And I truly mean zero hassle. The app is very easy to use, and that show you're looking forward to is truly just a click away on this extremely, extremely easy to use and affordable app. Go to todaytics.com Ding Dong and use promo code Ding Dong to get $20 off your first Today Tix purchase. That's promo code Ding Dong at todaytix t I x.com/dingdong todaytix.com Ding Dong this.

[Matt Rogers]

Is Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Bowen Yang]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, readers, Katie's publicist finalist Kyle's it's time to talk about one of the most iconic payment brands out there. That's right, it's PayPal. PayPal lets you do you, meaning you can pay your own way with just a click.

[Bowen Yang]

Once you click the PayPal button, you can choose from a bunch of different ways to pay.

[Matt Rogers]

You can pay later with PayPal at millions of online stores. If you choose Pay in four, you can split everyday purchases into four smaller payments. No interest, no fees.

[Bowen Yang]

I think we've all had those chaotic, unhinged purchases.

[Matt Rogers]

Hmm. Another way to pay is with your PayPal Debit Mastercard. You can use it online or in store and earn 5% cash back on up to $1,000 spent in the monthly category. You choose like a payroll or ride shares. 5% cash back on a ride home from a messy first date.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, please pay in store, pay online, pay overtime. Don't just pay paypal pay in for a. Subject to approval. Eligibility varies. Learn more at paypal.com forward/payinfor PayPal debit card terms and limits apply. This card is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to a license by MasterCard International, Inc. Full [e-mail] rewards. Pal.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And let's talk about your amazing performance in the Wedding Banquet. No, we're not.

[Bowen Yang]

Wait. If you haven't yet seen the Wedding Banquet, it's out now. Twice. It's so good. It's. It's fantastic. It's in theaters.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's in theaters. And can we get cast crushes?

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

It's so good. It's a great passing of the ball. I mean, it's. You know, we're talking here.

[Matt Rogers]

My friends are being sweetheart angels. And that. That's very.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But no, Bone, you're so incredible in it, everybody. And, like, you're literally next to fucking Lily Gladstone. Lil. And can I tell you, I told her this at the premiere the other night. I. I took her hands in mine and I said, we know you can act, mama.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But I did not know you could make me laugh.

[Matt Rogers]

Like.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. I did not know you could land the joke.

[Matt Rogers]

And that's a riot Games right there.

[Bowen Yang]

She's a riot. Yeah, she is a riot. She gives us, like, a sweet, soulful performance. I love Kelly Marie Tran.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Kelly Marie Tran.

[Matt Rogers]

I'll die for her.

[Bowen Yang]

I hope.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I hope that this is, like, her Phoenix Rising rebirth. I love her because the way these fucking geeks and nerds and losers and incels treated that woman.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, yeah. No.

[Joel Kim Booster]

During Star Wars.

[Matt Rogers]

Yep.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And the infrastructure of Disney and Star.

[Bowen Yang]

Wars not protecting her more 100%.

[Matt Rogers]

And what I find to be the perfect sort of inversion of that is that she felt that she was given time and space to come out as queer. Like, she did this Vanity Fair interview, and she kind of blurted that she was, like, excited to make a movie as a queer person. A queer movie as a queer person. She's like, wait, oh, I've never told anyone that before publicly. They. The journalist David Canfield. Bless. And the producers of the movie were like, we're gonna hold the story until you decide what you want to do with this. And then she came out, made that decision, and then has felt nothing but love and support ever since. And I'm like, that is the perfect panacea to that crazy, crazy experience of Star wars, which I'm like, now it just seems like it's not quaint in retrospect at all. That is. It's still, it still remains crazy to me in terms of that scale and that outrage. But I'm like, we've all kind of experienced that here in some degree, too, where I'm like, God, what is. And this is the thing that. It's. This thing that Matt has said. It's like, it's bad. The culture is bad because the political climate sucks, and therefore people exercise any kind of control or will over the culture, over what they consume. And so I'm like, I'm so glad Kelly has this moment to come out of that and be like, oh, I. Now I know what it's like to be, like, held and loved for who I am.

[Bowen Yang]

She's really fantastic in the movie. Like, and. And it's also like, I was. I did the Q and A. There was, like, a special screening last night. I did a Q and A with Andrew and the cast. And one thing that I was noticing is she's got so many individual relationships to play. She's really, like, It's. She holds it true ensemble, but she. She is the lead.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Andrew is such a fudgeing, wonderful collaborator.

[Matt Rogers]

He lets.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He allows every performer to put so much. And I can tell. I just know, knowing him and having worked with you two, like, I was watching the movie and I was like, well, that's Bowen. That was Bowen, you know, and, like, that, like, there's a. There's a beautiful silent moment between Lily Gladstone and Kelly that came from them.

[Bowen Yang]

So great.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Andrew, you know, collaborated with them. This scene that has no dialogue, that is one of the most beautiful scenes, and that came from them. And, like. And the fact that Andrew allows space for that in his films, I mean, you. You guys remember island was just sort.

[Bowen Yang]

Of like, there was so much connective tissue there. And one thing I was noticing is, like, the theme and, like, this of Polaroid pictures and family photos. Like, my compliment to him that I'll say now on the podcast is, I feel like I could walk into the house of the wedding banquet because the house where they live is also a character. And I say that in not an annoying section. The city is like. The city is the fifth woman way. I just. I just mean, like, the. The house is this, like, beautiful landmark. But it's more than that. I feel like I could walk into that house and know where everything is.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And I feel like, as a director, his sense of place and his sense of, like, community within an environment is so strong, and he's so. He's so gifted at creating atmosphere.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Can I say, though, Matt, unfortunately Like, intent doesn't always relate to impact. So you saying you're not. You're saying it not to be annoying, does it?

[Bowen Yang]

But unfortunately, we get super annoying.

[Matt Rogers]

We decide.

[Bowen Yang]

Go ahead. Was it annoying or not?

[Matt Rogers]

No.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, I was nervous there for a second.

[Matt Rogers]

No way.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Personally, can I say, too, I had a really emotional moment when I went to the premiere and the big poster was on the screen, and it was the first time I'd ever seen from the director of Fire Island.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it made me feel so. Like, I was like, oh, that. That is kind of forever for a sec. Well, at least, like, it's still alive in that way. And there's, like, I don't know, a legacy now. Like, our. Our movies are sisters, like, in a lot of ways.

[Matt Rogers]

But it's that. It's that. That quote in the studio, in that pile of the studio Catherine O'Hara says where it's like, if you make a great movie, it's great forever.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

You know what I mean? That's. That's the beauty of film.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And let me. I'm gonna say this. And I don't care we're masturbating.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't care that we're masturbating.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But, like, somebody posted a photo of a bootleg DVD that. That they had created of Fire island, and I reposted it, and everyone thought I was mad about the. No, no, baby, please bootleg the film. Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

I. I need physical media.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, we actually do need physical media.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm like, the way it's living on streaming and, like, at the whims of Disney and whatever tax breaks they might be looking for at any given moment is so scary to me that I'm like, I need you all to disseminate. Like, it would be currency in the new world.

[Matt Rogers]

Absolutely.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you know what? I actually did, like, not. Not recently, but not a long time ago, like, someone I had even thought about. I love that for you in a while. But I was like, you know what? It's been, like, a couple of years since I've watched it. Let me just, like, watch it. I was with a couple of friends. Now you can't even watch it. You have to buy it on itunes. You can't stream it. They did write it off as a tax.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's crazy.

[Bowen Yang]

And you can't watch it anywhere. They did such great work. And then it gets written off like a fucking tax write off. And that happens all the time now in the era of streaming, which I guess we thought we really had it good there For a while. Because we did.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I mean, Netflix, thank you so much for completely changing the contours of our entire industry for the worse in many ways. And also, please buy my shit.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, it's like, it's like. I guess if it hadn't been them, it would have been somebody. You know what I mean? It's like that's, that's. I guess the, the thing is, it's like that's the way the industry was going to change. You know what I was thinking about the other day was the Quibi of it all. Like, Quibi, like failed so spectacularly. Like we both, we both had shows like, like Launch with it. But the idea wasn't wrong.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No. Because listen, my boyfriend works for a Chinese owned company and has meetings with China over there all the time. And. And TikTok in China is much different than TikTok over here in some ways because. Because all they're doing is creating now narrative content that is broken down into five to ten minute chunks, AKA over time Quib, AKA quick bites. And it's taking off like wildfire in China and it will be modeled over here eventually. He was just too early and I think the pandemic kind of fucked up.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, the pandemic certainly the lack of.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Ability to make stuff viral was real. Was really what killed it.

[Bowen Yang]

The lack of screenshots.

[Matt Rogers]

You're right.

[Bowen Yang]

That was a huge. I remember we had to completely. Game show. Had to completely rely on like what the Social was. And I was like, sure. Like you don't know.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Taking screenshots of it. Honey, I'm not about.

[Bowen Yang]

It wasn't even born at the time. There was no Evan Ross cats to screenshot this stuff.

[Matt Rogers]

That's how K dramas are too, apparently. Because Gichon was saying Hanky John Wedding make win fantastic.

[Bowen Yang]

She's so good.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Huge fine. Huge fine. Like so good. What a revelation.

[Matt Rogers]

I know. Amazing.

[Bowen Yang]

Him. Him. I was saying like one of my favorite moments of the whole movie is. Well, this is a spoiler. But there's a moment of like pure, pure joy and euphoria that he has towards the end of the movie.

[Matt Rogers]

Future legend. So sweet. But he, he comes from this whole pedigree of K dramas where they just. It's basically a movie. It's like what Fire island would have been on Quibi, but they break it down into like these like two minute episodes. It's really. That is the future in a scary way.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, they were without a. Like. I genuinely believe that. One of the reasons why we even talk about all of these Things is because there was a piece of content to launch it, like with Netflix. Like, the reason why they became a prestige streamer was because of House of Cards. And then Orange is the newbox solidified the reason why we talk about Evan.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Spacey out the door.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes. Oh, my God, he's coming in the door. It's a surprise guest. Kevin Spacey. And then, like, even hbo, like the Sopranos and Sex and the City, like, made hbo.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

So it's. Kibi was without a flagship. Flagship piece of content.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Because they went for, you know, and this is not even to drag what we were doing, but, like, stuff that felt like quick bites.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No. And the thing is, though, I will say is they took big swings. Like, no one wanted to buy Fire Island. No one before it was a completed project at Quibi.

[Bowen Yang]

Right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No one wanted them. That no one would touch it.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. It was originally a quick bite.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. And then they were the only ones who, who were really, who really believed in it as a project. And like. Yeah. So I, I, Oh, I owe Jeffrey Katzenberg my.

[Bowen Yang]

I remember, I remember walking from the, Our game, the office that Dave and I shared at the, at Jack's over to your office, and watching Joel put like, the, the index cards up on the board and they had the, the Fire island plot points.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wow.

[Bowen Yang]

When he was still creating it as like a 10 episode.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I mean, it didn't change much from Quibi, by the way, too. Right. Like, I basically just took out the act breaks and like squeezed it together and made it one big long script. But. Yeah, no, it didn't really change.

[Bowen Yang]

But they would have made you cast like, George Clooney as Conrad.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, we, I mean, we basically had like a full cast of like, bones always attached to it. Like, I think you probably were even. Because we were getting ready to film.

[Matt Rogers]

We were getting ready to film. I remember who my Charlie was.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So it was like, it was like we were there and then, I don't know, it just, it all changed.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay, wait, because did you now. Did you see. I forgot. I think it was like gay times or something. And now it was like talking about the Fire island sequel.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I want this one. I want this on record. We have to put it to bail.

[Matt Rogers]

No, he was, he was pushed in the interview about the sequel. And I think he was forced to give an answer. And then they, of course, ran with it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, no, listen, no, we've all been fucked over by, like, poll quote heads before.

[Bowen Yang]

I think everyone has been asked about that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm not really that mad about it, but the thing is, it's like, it's just not happening. Let's talk about Legally Blonde 2, honey. Let's talk about three. Reality two.

[Bowen Yang]

First of all, Legally Blonde 2, red, white and blonde. We. We. We can. We can skip it because now there's going to be another one.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Legally Blonde 3 is the real sequel.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. No, but it's just like, let's talk about success. Successful comedy sequels, especially romcom sequels. I. I think people think they want to see it, but they don't actually want to see it. Like, I think what I want to do and what will scratch that, Neighbors too.

[Bowen Yang]

It's the rare sequel that improves on the original.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But, like, I think, like, I just want to cast the same people in the same movie, do Christopher Guest and just have, like, my. Okay, so do it, and you'll be hearing from my.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, that's what I had heard. No, I mean, listen, I do still think Fire Island 2 Provincetown is a funny title.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But, I mean, there was that summer we were workshopping a lot of ideas about how to, like, how to. How do we, like, reintroduce Dex, like Zane Zayn's character.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I also had an idea that me and Tomas's podcast exploded and we were rich. And so that Dex was kind of a grifter and dating me for my money, my huge podcast empire.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I can't remember whose idea, what it was that we just cast him as a different character and we're like, doesn't he look like every guy but Wickham is.

[Bowen Yang]

But Wickham remains in the story that.

[Matt Rogers]

Zane Phillips looks like every gay guy is crazy.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, he certainly does not.

[Matt Rogers]

He certainly does it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Sweetheart. Sweetie. Going to be. Well, no, I should.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah. You know, but. But he's. But there's going to be a little reunion going up.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, we might be working together.

[Matt Rogers]

I love him.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He's such good angel. Such good edge. So funny, so nice. And it's so annoying. It's so annoying to look like that and to be smart and charming and nice.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And in truly Creature Ador. Reader, a Not. Not capital R reader, literally reader of literature.

[Bowen Yang]

He was always reading on set. He was always. I remember my image of Zane. My image of Zayn will always be. I would go out, come out of my trailer, and we would have, like, this, like, bench area, we would always say. And he would be eating his chicken, drinking a hot coffee, and doing the crossword.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And that was always his thing, and.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That'S who he is. On the inside. Ignore what you're saying on the outside, honey, because that is not him.

[Matt Rogers]

That's not him.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is not him.

[Bowen Yang]

It gets easier when you're around him a long time.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, it does. I will say, though, like, it is genuinely like, I remember filming our. Our meet cute moment in the movie and being humiliated. It's so scary. It's like. Like what? And what will happen now that he's in la? This has happened three or four times. It is so infuriating. We'll be at one of these, like, stupid gay parties, and some guy will, like, come up and, like, will be standing in a club next to Zayn, and he'll introduce himself and I'll be like, hi, I'm Joel. And, like, he'll go around the line and get to Zane and be like, oh, my God, you're the guy from Fire Island. And I'm, like, standing there paid fucking dust. And I am like. I was like, I fucking made you and I will end you, too.

[Matt Rogers]

Brought you into this world. Wait, wait. Let's just speak on this, because I experienced this recently of getting the nerves when you're acting with a hot person.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh.

[Matt Rogers]

Not that it doesn't. It happens all the time, but certain people really fuck your shit up. Where I was, like, when Jon Hamm was hosting snl, I was just like. Like, we were playing a couple and I was just like, wait, I'm scared. Like, this is, like. This is like, I'm. This is no reason to. No reason to feel nervous around him. Just such a wonderful person. But I was just like, wait, but you're so. First of all, you're Don Draper. Second of all, you're so handsome. Third of all, you're so funny. Like, like, just so many wonderful things about that man. And sometimes it knocks me off my center.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It knocks it for me. I was just. And like, trust me, I've seen what people have said about it. Like, of course this guy cast this guy to be, like. To make out with whatever. But, like, no, you do think you do take yourself out of it a little bit, and suddenly those little. Your inner saboteur comes knocking and you're like, what are people going to say when they see. See this?

[Matt Rogers]

Right?

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, but it's not even that.

[Matt Rogers]

It's just like, there's something in the space of. Of acting with someone where you're just like, oh.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I mean, I genuinely thought that way. The reason we cast Conrad is because Conrad made me forget my lines in our chemistry. I was so flustered because he is such a vibe. Like, I mean, a hot man. Like on paper, just physically. Pictures. Yes. It reads, he's very hot. But then you get with him and like that close to him and it's just like, the nerves are like. It's crazy because he is so charismatic and such a vibe and like, gravitational field is distorted. He's great. Want nothing for the best. For all of you. Except for one person. Is it anyone? Say who? I won't say. No, it wasn't you.

[Matt Rogers]

Is this real? Be someone.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, no, no, no.

[Matt Rogers]

I was like, but no, we all love everyone's family. Everyone's family.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. The chain is alive for birthdays. The chain is alive for when someone runs into someone exciting.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes, that's true.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I will say so. We were briefly evacuated during the LA fires. John Michael was like, we should. The night before. And I live in an area that is normally not affected by fires at all. And he was like, we should pack go bags. And I was like, okay, like, thinking, this is never going to affect me. I don't need to do this. So I just packed a go bag with my passport, Social Security card, which apparently is not enough.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, I was gonna ask that was the needle?

[Joel Kim Booster]

No. And nothing else. And then the next day, I drive to San Diego for a gig and I get the evacuation notice. And he said, don't worry, babe, I grabbed your go back before we left. And I went, but did you look inside of it? And he said, no, why would I need to. And of course, this is an impasse that you get to with your partner where you're like, I'm mad at you, but I know I have no. I have no standing legally in a court of law. I have no standing. You told me to pack the bag. I did not pack any underwear, toiletries, or anything in the bag.

[Bowen Yang]

So he just grabbed an empty bag.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And he just grabbed the empty bag. But what he did decide, in a moment of panic to grab was the GLAAD Award and the Gotham Award.

[Bowen Yang]

The cutest thing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Cause he was like. He was like, I don't know. I just thought, like, maybe you might want these, like if something happened to the house.

[Bowen Yang]

This is so funny.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Not any underwear or two toothpaste. I'm sorry. But, like, we do sit at home alone and play the Newlywed Game just to practice. Because.

[Bowen Yang]

Just to practice.

[Matt Rogers]

That's. I get it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Because. And the real strategy here is it's not about answering what you really feel. It's about answering how you think your partner will answer.

[Matt Rogers]

It's a Mentalism game.

[Bowen Yang]

I was gonna say it's a mentalism.

[Matt Rogers]

There was a mentalist at the screening last night, and he blew my mind. Anyway, we'll keep talking about this.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, no, I. I think we're done.

[Matt Rogers]

No, no, no, no, no, no. Wait, wait.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But I was just going to say because, like, he. He. He knows that if someone asked, what is Joel's favorite movie? Obviously, that's a ridiculous question. Ask like, crazy. Who has, like, if you have a favorite movie. I don't think so, honey. Like, grow up. But he knows the answer is My Best Friend's Wedding. Yeah, I know. The answer for him is Scott Pilfer versus the World.

[Bowen Yang]

And so now when you're put in the situation, we have to play the Newlywed Game. You know, speaking of being a newlywed, do you have something to ask?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I think.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you have something to ask us?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Fuck the Culture Awards. Here's the real announcement for the pod. Here's the real thing. I was not brought on to promote Love Hotel. I brought on to anything else. I was brought on for this announcement and this announcement alone after. After years away that these two might. Let's get tactile.

[Matt Rogers]

Tactile.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Let's get tactile.

[Bowen Yang]

Don't forget me in the circle.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Bowen, Yang and Matt Rogers are in my wedding dress.

[Matt Rogers]

Me.

[Bowen Yang]

Can we say what we're planning on doing, not when, not wed, but for the bride? Nola.

[Matt Rogers]

Nola.

[Joel Kim Booster]

We're doing joint bachelor parties. Separate houses.

[Matt Rogers]

So smart.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, is it Separate houses?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Separate houses. And then we've joined together for one night.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, got it, got it, got it, got it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The rest of the time, we just get to be for the last time with our friends. Before we ever see each other. No, before.

[Bowen Yang]

You can never sleep with anyone again.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I. Yeah, I know. I'm really excited. You know, we're not finding out what the other person is wearing to the wedding until the day of. That's beautiful. And what is happening is my stylist is coordinating.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, gosh.

[Joel Kim Booster]

To make sure that we don't look insane. And then also coordinating with whatever you guys, because it's sort of gonna be like a free for all. Like, you.

[Bowen Yang]

Chris is gonna tell us, like, things.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He will just, like, I will send you, like, color palette, probably, and just, like, live within that world. But, like, yeah, I'm not. I'm not going to be precious about, like, everyone wearing.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you.

[Matt Rogers]

Because the. My. My big gripe. Biggest gripe with weddings is there's such a single use fashion right to it. It's like, award shit. It's like, oh, what do you mean? I can only wear this once, you know?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

So that is true. Thank you for. So we can, like, go from our own.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, you can pull from the closet.

[Bowen Yang]

What colors are you thinking?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't know yet. He wants me to do the mood board because it's a December wedding. I kind of want it to be like, well, obviously, like, he's gonna probably wear white and I'll probably wear black. Cause I'm the boy and he's the girl. But I. I do sort of. And this was. This actually came to mind watching your film is. I would love to reference a traditional Korean wedding outfit, but, like, not. Not the full giche, but, like, full.

[Matt Rogers]

Geish, but, like, some embroidery.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But something that. Something that is, like, a reference to that. Because I do want to have that in my wedding. And, like, you know. Yeah. So that's sort of where I'm at right now. And we'll see what I have no Ide Boy is planning for.

[Bowen Yang]

But again, I will be coming in a traditional hambock Hanbach. Did I say it wrong?

[Matt Rogers]

No, no, it's. You said it. You said it great.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, you say everything perfectly.

[Bowen Yang]

I think I would slay the humbock.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes. Slay the humbug.

[Bowen Yang]

Gosh.

[Matt Rogers]

But, you know, kimchi. At the premiere, I got to tell her to her face. I was like, your ball challenge is still absolutely. Your book ball challenge is legendary stuff. Still one of the best Drag Race comedies ever.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The premiere.

[Matt Rogers]

Slayshin Diva of LA Salesian the premiere.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Joel.

[Bowen Yang]

Joella. I have to say, I didn't watch this last season.

[Joel Kim Booster]

We can talk about it. It feels less urgent to watch it.

[Bowen Yang]

I would agree.

[Matt Rogers]

And yet also, more. In a weird way, the ratings keep.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, it's feeling more and more distant for me. I mean, I still watch it live when I can, when I have the chance, but it is, like, it does feel less, like, urgent. Like, I used to be. Like, if I am not there seeing it, like, in that moment, like, I am offline, I am not, you know, like, so scared of spoilers. And now it just doesn't feel. It doesn't feel, honestly, quite as much for us.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you want to know why? It's because here's what it was for for us. And this is why we really loved it. Obviously, the queens were incredible. And they were all, like, aspirational and older than us and smarter. Like, it felt like they were funnier and smarter than us. Not to say the girls aren't giving now, but we're literally older than everyone watching the chaos. And also, another thing is we were watching it at a time when it was very community building for us.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

You know what I mean?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, at a gay bar, we got older. And the show is just unfortunately, like, I'm really excited for people to discover the show in the later seasons, because unfortunately, I think what has happened is that you see these queens and they're. They're all very talented. And this is not to take away, but it has become sort of like, oh, that's your. That's Jinx. Yeah, that's just new Jinx. And that's just new her. And that's like giving Simone. And that's like, that's why Simone actually is my favorite of the new.

[Matt Rogers]

The newer batch of winners.

[Bowen Yang]

I would agree.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Simone feels like she created a new lane archetype for herself and. And that. And I don't know that any of the other recent winners have quite done that in quite a distinct way. They're all wonderful. I love them. Huge Animphia fan. Huge Willow fan.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Sasha, like, all of them amazing. But. And that's not to take away from that, but, like, let's be honest. When we went to dragcon, Drag Race is for. And this is not a pejorative. No, Drag Race is for.

[Matt Rogers]

Katie's now not a pejorative at all.

[Bowen Yang]

I thought you were going to say kids.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, no, no.

[Bowen Yang]

And I will say, like, it did become, like, it. It was interesting because now I'm like, now with everything changing again, I'm like. Because I remember we were at the dragcon promoting Fire island, and there were so many children.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And now it's like they're really trying to divorce drag and, you know, queer identity at all from, like, exposure to kids or whatever. And I'm like, how could you not say this is a positive thing? Even if me as, like, a true faggot who, like, misses when there was lube commercials on Logo watching Drag Race, you know, I do miss that, like, rawness of it and the aspirational quality of what they were doing in terms of, like, I'm entering into the queer community and learning so much about this. I still was there. And I'm like, you know what? These kids are empowered to be anything they want to be. And there was nothing weird about it. There was nothing ugly about it. There was nothing sexual about it, which is what they're trying to, like, make it all seem like it's like a grooming center. And it's like, it was nothing to do with that. It was only empowering. Even if I felt like, oh, it's for kids now and straight people now, it still felt like we won in the fact that, like, this is mainstream culture.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And to say, like, it's not urgent watching for, like, the three of us is not to say that it's not an urgently. Like, no one is happier that Trump won than RuPaul.

[Matt Rogers]

Charles.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay. Because it has been the show. It has made the show so important, so, so important. Again, in jest and just, you know, allegedly. But it is. It is sort of like, I don't want to talk about the state of the world really on this. Let's keep it light. But, like, it does make the show. You watch these shows, and we're so desensitized to it because we've so.

[Bowen Yang]

We've, like, we've been lucky to have seen it, to see.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Exactly. But, like, you know, it's exciting that this continues to skyrocket and will continue to be an outlet for these kids. But the other thing that makes it hard to watch sometimes is that it drastically altered the landscape of what? Drag in the real world.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it created an entire cottage industry that did not exist.

[Bowen Yang]

Right, right, right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That did not exist for drag queens before. The model of what a working drag queen now looks like is so different from what it looked like back, you know, even 10 to 15 years ago.

[Bowen Yang]

But. But that's even changed back in the last couple years as, like, spaces close as, like, laws start getting put into place.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The show is very important, and I'm. I have enjoyed the hell out. Like, I just remember Alyssa and Tatiana lip syncing and watching that live in a gay bar. Like, and the people reacting, like, you could just. It was so utter joy. Like, you know, and, like, I just, I enjoy getting together with my friends and watching. It is a very nice communal Friday ritual, but it just, like, I feel 10,000 years old.

[Matt Rogers]

Totally. I mean, it's the reason why, like, Survivor's development cycle and it's the way that has aged over time is.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, they're facing a very similar problem in that the contestants now are so aware of the meta. Totally. The world outside of. They're so concerned about what the narrative is going to be, and they know the game so well. Actually, all credit to queens like Corey King, who said in an interview she worded everything in those confessionals so that they would have to use her the full. She was like, I know the real winner of this show now is in confessional is who wins the confessional queen of the season. And to be honest, Cory was like fourth or fifth out but one of the most memorable queens.

[Matt Rogers]

So memorable.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And has had such a, like, I think was number one on cameo for a while, like afterwards and has like become like sort of like the winner of the season, so. Well, yeah, yeah. She's. And she knew going in how to do that. And I all credit to her. All like love and power to her. But it is also like it makes.

[Matt Rogers]

It less about the show.

[Joel Kim Booster]

About the show. I don't know. It's just like if it's like a different game.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Than, than it was when. When you know Jinx won.

[Matt Rogers]

This is Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers.

[Bowen Yang]

From Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, readers, Katie's publicist finalist Kyle's. It's time to talk about one of the most iconic payment brands out there. That's right. It's PayPal. PayPal lets you do you meaning you can pay your own way with just a click.

[Bowen Yang]

Once you click the PayPal button, you can choose from a bunch of different ways to pay.

[Matt Rogers]

You can pay later with PayPal at millions of online stores. If you choose Pay in four, you can split everyday purchases into four smaller payments. No interest, no fees.

[Bowen Yang]

I think we've all had those chaotic, unhinged purchases.

[Matt Rogers]

Hmm. Another way to pay is with your PayPal Debit Mastercard. You can use it online or in store and earn 5% cash back on up to $1,000 spent in the monthly category. You choose, like a payroll or ride shares. 5% cash back on a ride home from a messy first date.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, please pay in store, pay online, pay over time. Don't just pay PayPal. Pay in 4 is subject to approval. Eligibility varies. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor PayPal debit card terms and limits apply. This card is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Inc. Full [e-mail] rewardspal.

[Matt Rogers]

What I was gonna say about Survivor though is that like, that can age in a way that like somewhat linear. Like more people like discover the show and retroactively get into it. But it's like no one was ever really going to bars to like meet up with their friends to watch Survivor.

[Bowen Yang]

Necessarily, which is weird because you know what? Now tonight actually they are. We can even go to try Tops tonight to watch. They have a great watch party that they do every week and but I'm.

[Matt Rogers]

Saying like with root With Drag Race starting out like that and now with that dissipating as people get older, as people don't go out as much with COVID whatever. Like, all these reasons, it's like it. It has lost some of that binding agent. And that's. And that's not the show's fault.

[Bowen Yang]

No, but Survivor is funny because, like, Survivor is huge with nerds and gays. Yeah, Nerds and gays. And that is who is reflected in the casting, too.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And gay nerds. Like, and I sometimes I get lost watching it because these people know the game so well.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's.

[Matt Rogers]

It's so crazy.

[Bowen Yang]

They have to throw 8 million twists into every episode. And you. If you don't watch it with your full brain, you. You miss.

[Matt Rogers]

It can't be ambient. It can't be ambient. Drag Race can be ambient, which I appreciate.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I mean, the way I will put on. I've watched certain seasons of Drag Race, like, dozens of times, probably at this point, because it is just like season.

[Bowen Yang]

Eight, season nine, season ten.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's those.

[Matt Rogers]

Go put it on.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, like, the All Star season's also really exciting. I mean, really excited about this insane Survivor esque All Star season that's about to come out.

[Bowen Yang]

Wait, what is that?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm not sure of Drag Race. I'm not sure how much has been announced, but it's 18 queens. And I will say that the format, from what I have read the scuttle online, is that the format might mirror a certain other Drake.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay, did you see Bob the Drag Queen as All Stars is for losers.

[Matt Rogers]

Damn.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, Bob the Drag Queen.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But, like, Bob is one of the few winners who could. Or queens from that franchise who can get away with saying that. And you're sort of like, yeah, okay.

[Bowen Yang]

You know what, though? All Stars is for losers. Like, is something a drag queen should be saying.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes, sure, totally, totally.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And Bob is like one of the last winners who will say, like, yeah, whatever the fuck. Whatever the fuck on that podcast, you know, because I just had a realization moment getting off Twitter. And, like, part of it was the reason I got off Twitter was I was hacked by the Russians and I was away from my account for four days. Had to pay a lot of money to a lawyer to get in contact with Twitter to get my account back. And then I deleted it immediately because I kept a little note of all the things I would tweet if I had access to my account. And then I read it back after four days and I said, none of this is Useful. None of this is edifying.

[Bowen Yang]

No.

[Joel Kim Booster]

None of this is.

[Matt Rogers]

That's incredible that you did this.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I was like, I don't need to say this about Ashley Tisdale. Like, why would I say this? Why would I say she's done nothing? She's an innocent person.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I now have. Like. It's just, like, your perspective really does shift, like.

[Matt Rogers]

Yep.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's so crazy. Like, I am. I am not in the. I try not to be in the comments. After years of doing this, you. We all struggle with this. I know.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But. Because the thing is, is I know all six reasons why people hate me now.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And no one says. No one says anything.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's all in the same six buckets.

[Bowen Yang]

You're actually right. Yeah. There is. Between. It's. It's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's.

[Bowen Yang]

It's. It's a short list.

[Matt Rogers]

It's a short. And it's like, God bless it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No one says anything new. I'm like, there's no new reason to hate me yet. Except I. The. The new strain that I am seeing on some of my videos that come out, like, on podcasts such as this is people being like, his work looks crazy. Why is he getting all this black?

[Matt Rogers]

You have not got. You haven't got.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I haven't even gotten Botox yet. Okay. I'm pushing 40 with rosacea. All right. Thanksgiving's filler. That one. I asked the 7th bucket now is that I've been seeing that happen, and I'm sort of like, huh, I get you.

[Matt Rogers]

That's a function of time, I think.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't know. I think it's just weird. I think it's a Weird. It feels, like, counterintuitive. Like, it doesn't feel like these both can be true, but I think it's because I both look older but don't look as old as I look. And those two things combined have caused people to confuse people because I do look very much the same as I did 10 years ago.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm just saying that it's like the hair probably, it throws. There's one thing about framing the face that throws people off. And they're like, well, he's gotten work done. It's literally the hair growing out and getting permed. It looks amazing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I wanted to come in here and talk about, like, fucking White Lotus. And I'm like, oh, that's a distant fucking movie.

[Bowen Yang]

But you know what? Talk about White Lotus.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, I do want to talk about White Lotus a little bit and say, I think that my take on Season three is that it is a lot of really captivating, wonderful moments that did not coalesce into.

[Bowen Yang]

So you were not ultimately a fan of the season.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I enjoyed my experience on a Sunday to Sunday basis of watching each of those episodes. But did I come away thinking that it all came together at the end as something meaningful? I don't know that I can say that. I really thought it was high quality performances, really, on an episode to episode basis. Very good writing and great moments. But the only thing I'm gonna take away from that finale is Carrie Cooper monologue.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, the only thing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I think so. I think so.

[Bowen Yang]

See, I was so. I'm a huge fan of season three. Like, I loved pretty much every single thing about it. And I feel like the Walton Goggins and Amy Lou Wood storyline, like, to me it was. It was also so personally gratifying because I was like, I was watching it and I sat there and I was like, you can't save broken people. They have to save themselves. They have to work on themselves. It doesn't matter how much you love them.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The reason I think I will remember Carrie Coons monologue and you will remember that is because that is so what you have lived and, like, what you. A lesson you have learned in your own life.

[Bowen Yang]

What do you mean? Like that broken people. Yes. Right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, like, that is a lesson that you have learned the hard way in many ways.

[Bowen Yang]

And you've connected with the Carrie Coon monologue.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No. And the Carrie Coon monologue where she says, like, she has. And listen, I do not think that we are as toxic as those three women ultimately thinking about us as them. No. But I did have this moment because, like, we talked about let's get raw and real again as sisters. When I asked you to be in my wedding party, like, we are. We are dear, like, besties down. And we will. And I asked you to be in my wedding party because I know you will be in my life for the rest of my goddamn life. But we're also fucking busy. You live in two different cities practically most of the time. You are the busiest man in Hollywood. I'm very busy. Like, we don't get to do these things. And it's so funny when people talk about why I haven't been back on the podcast.

[Matt Rogers]

Right, right, right.

[Bowen Yang]

When they assume that there's always a.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Beef, they assume it's a beef. But it's honestly because, like, when we do get to hang out, we don't want to do this. We only get so much time to see Each other. We don't want to come in and do this when we do it, but when I asked you to be at my wedding party, I said, I know that we aren't seeing each other every week like we used to, and we aren't, like, you know, able to go on, like, all the trips that we used to go on and all these things. But, like, when I think about the people in my life that matter to me, it's not necessarily, like, maybe the people that come to my house every Friday for dragons. It's you guys. And, like, that monologue really resonated because it really does have meaning. And, like, I think that that is, like, for me, it's like being in a relationship and, like, getting older. Like, both of those things combined. Like, I really. You recognize that because you really do have to be intentional about maintaining friendships when you are in a relationship. Like, and. And it's so hard to do because I am living and about to marry my best friend, you know? And so, like, I think, like, a lot of the things I used to, like, need from friendships are being provided, but, like, it's a metric. It's a trick. It's a trick, though, because, like, we. I don't. Like, we've. We've also, like, been like, we need to hang out with our friends without each other, too. Like, you know, like, we don't have to do everything.

[Matt Rogers]

Does that happen more?

[Joel Kim Booster]

And it has happened more. Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, I. You know, like, we, like. I was just talking to Jared the other day, who shout out, I'll announce Jared's also in the wedding. But, like, I was like. He was like, you and James should come over. And I was like. Or I could just come over.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Because that might, like. That might be nice.

[Bowen Yang]

It is interesting. It's like, because it's all about, like, all of a sudden, because life goes. It does go by quick.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And then I feel like what was so great about that episode and the arc that the three of them were going through was they will leave that vacation, and they'll probably remember two things. The traumatic shooting that they survived and the fact that they were able to have a great last dinner. And they won't even remember Valentin. They won't remember the bitchy little comments. They won't remember that one of them was a little bit more drunk. They'll remember, like, this piece of it, and they'll remember how their relationship, like, got better and now has this, like, memorable, like, trauma bond moment again. And that's when life goes by. Like, that. And then she's saying, like, you look at your choices. It's because it's the people that have been there for a really long time that you can see in different stages of your life. And then you can say, wow, like, I have made choices to be this person who I'm sitting here right now. And now I'm sitting with two other people who are also have gone through the same amount of time and the same amount of development, but in a different way. Like, here you are about to get married. You know what I mean? Like, you have a certain type of career which is, like, you know, keeps you busy and is in the stratosphere all the time. And sometimes, like, you would think, like, maybe a third person in that would look at both those things and be like, I'm the Carrie Coon. But we all, at some point are feeling like the Carrie Coon.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

You know what I mean?

[Joel Kim Booster]

And Leslie Bibb. No, you're Michelle. I'm Leslie, and you're Carrie.

[Matt Rogers]

Well, I mean, you're Leslie. No, no, you're Leslie.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, no, I don't. Well, you're getting married. I've now switched.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm Michelle, and you spend the most time in Austin.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, that's true. Yeah. And I smile.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

And you would rock a cunti.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Bob. And you're an independent.

[Bowen Yang]

You probably are the closest to independent. He certainly hates the Democrats the most. Yes, yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That's the headline. Joel Kim, booster, hates the Democrats.

[Bowen Yang]

No, but I mean, like, it's. I was. I. It was actually. I can't remember the last time I spontaneously burst out in tears.

[Matt Rogers]

No, it's a beautiful movie, actually, Ken.

[Bowen Yang]

It was when Kiyo Kwan was in Everything Ever all at once. When he was saying, you have to be kind. Like, please be kind. I, like, spontaneously burst out in tears. But I was watching Carrie Coon give that monologue, and I just. I burst into tears because I was just like, it's true. As you get older, like, it. It's not about, like, what haven't I done or what don't I have. It's, like, very hard to get to a point where you're like, you know, the things I've done are enough. Like, I've tried, you know, to develop myself. Like, it's gone this way in a positive way, this way in a negative way. Whatever. It all comes out in the wash anyway when you're still here.

[Matt Rogers]

My mirror this season is thinking, he is your father.

[Bowen Yang]

What does Shritella say at the end?

[Matt Rogers]

She told me, I love I love Streetla.

[Joel Kim Booster]

When we got to see a little bite of her as a young performer, which was real footage, iconic. I mean, also, like, the thing about him being the dad, though, I was like. I said that the minute he said the story that his mom told him to Amy Lou, I was like, oh, well, that guy is gonna be your dad. That's the dad, like. And they cast him very well.

[Bowen Yang]

I will say that. That part, I was like, this. We saw. We did see coming from a mile away. And you know what I think would have even been a better reveal?

[Joel Kim Booster]

A monkey with a gun.

[Matt Rogers]

Because we all want a monkey with a gun.

[Bowen Yang]

Here's what I was thinking the whole time. How did Walton Goggins character afford that vacation? What if it was revealed, like, he's been a trust fund baby his entire life? Well, and actually, he isn't this badass. He's just like, this, like, sort of spoiled, like, straight guy who's like, the kind of guy who's like, I'm going to wear, like, a funky scarf.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I've been worried about a lot of the shit that I've said on this podcast so far, but this is, like, I don't really care, but, like, this is why he needs a writer's room. Because this is one of my biggest problems with the Walter Goggins storyline is I don't know who that man is. I do not know who that.

[Bowen Yang]

I think we could have gotten to a very funny thing, which is, where the fuck did you think you got all your money from? Like, your dad is the owner of this.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Put it up on the board. Like, put it up on the board.

[Matt Rogers]

It needs to be an index card.

[Bowen Yang]

Because literally, how did that couple afford that vacation?

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's. And that's the thing is, like, it's not super important, but it would have been nice.

[Bowen Yang]

But you know what? Justification always makes things better. I feel like that is true in writing. Like, justifications always make jokes funnier if you can get there. And justification always makes, like, if you can strengthen it. I think it's always better to include it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, and that's why I think, like, for me, too, like, it's a. The fact that, like, the first two seasons were what they were, and even the third season was as strong as it was is a miracle that he did this by himself, that he has that in him to do by himself. But I think the seams that we're now seeing and the disconnect that we're feeling with the third season is because I don't think that One man can continue to play with the same ideas over and over and over again and create something that is gonna feel as meaningful as the first time.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes. There are limits to ottership.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

That we need to come to grips with.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't disagree that. That.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Because he's not reinventing the show every season. He's not.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, I actually kind of like that about it, though. I kind of like that the formula. Like, the formula for me, like, really works. And I do think that there's been drastically different, like, things that have been said by both. By all three of the seasons. I will say, though, just out of principle, there should be a writer's room on a show like that.

[Matt Rogers]

That's what we're saying.

[Bowen Yang]

Just out of principle, because it is. It is one of the last ways that you can, like, apprentice great writers and, like. You know what I mean? Like, get people started in the industry. And this. This has nothing to do with how talented and how brilliant I think he is. Because ultimately, let's be real. All creators and showrunners rewrite all these episodes anyway.

[Matt Rogers]

Right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Honestly, that would be a huge win. Yeah. For the entire.

[Matt Rogers]

Let's give the monkey the gun.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Let's. Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Can I say I hated from the beginning. Monkey has the gun. I still hate.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I was a big advocate. Y'all are laughing.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm not laughing. I don't think it's funny. I don't think it's funny to think about the monkey with the gun at all.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I just didn't think it was going to be.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't like humor.

[Matt Rogers]

It was pretty straightforward.

[Bowen Yang]

See, I. But. But for me, it's just like when I saw Amy Lou Wood unable to run away from the toxic man. Who was gonna get. Who was gonna. It was gonna end badly for her. I was like, I've been her.

[Matt Rogers]

Totally.

[Bowen Yang]

And this is an important story.

[Matt Rogers]

No, those are Yalls mirrors for sure.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And you are a famous actress who.

[Matt Rogers]

Asian actress who married a wealthy white woman.

[Bowen Yang]

That wasn't really your mirror, though. What was? Your actual mirror.

[Matt Rogers]

I was gonna say my mirror was. I. I don't know. Is that bad?

[Bowen Yang]

It's also fine to not have a mirror in the season.

[Matt Rogers]

Let's see. I am gonna say I'm still thinking about Aubrey in season two.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And see that.

[Matt Rogers]

But that's not. That's not. That's not. That's not an answer to the question.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't.

[Matt Rogers]

I probably don't have one.

[Bowen Yang]

I mean.

[Matt Rogers]

But.

[Bowen Yang]

But like. But that just goes to show there's different Things being reflected in each of the.

[Matt Rogers]

Right.

[Bowen Yang]

In each of the seasons. I think that. Yeah, no, her character was fascinating. You know, my. I've been pressuring my therapist into watching White Lotus because she's never watched it. And I go in today, and she's like, I'm halfway through season two. I fucking love it.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, God.

[Bowen Yang]

She was like, season one was amazing. I'm like. It was like, put some respect on season one's name.

[Matt Rogers]

One's great.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, and that. Can I just say, I don't want to beat up Mike White too much because, again, I love his work. Enlightened is one of my favorite shows of all time.

[Bowen Yang]

He's brilliant. We can talk about all this stuff. Because he's brilliant.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, because he's brilliant. But, like, there was very little, like, with the staff this season. Yeah, this was the least amount of story. Of impactful story that we got about the staff this season. Well. Well, I mean, what was the storyline for the manager, the. The security guard? Lisa.

[Bowen Yang]

Can I say the thing with Lisa? I think the reason why the Lisa thing feels weird is because they did not even expect anywhere near a star at her level to want that part. And when she wanted that part, I think part of his hesitance was like, but the character does. Is not consequential enough to justify her. But then she was so good and really wanted to do it. What are they gonna do, say no?

[Matt Rogers]

I mean, her acting is so grounded. This is great.

[Bowen Yang]

She just. And ultimately, I remember we were all like, and there's gonna be something with.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Lisa, because why would you cast Beyonce in a show and not have her be, like, a centerpiece of the finale?

[Bowen Yang]

And I think that probably was something that was on his mind during casting. It's like, well, should the role be more. I don't want to just make it more and change the whole thing because it's her. But if she wants to do it and she's good enough.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You didn't. Did you find any mirrors in the family? Are you a Lachlan at all?

[Matt Rogers]

I might be. I might be a Piper. I might as well.

[Bowen Yang]

That's interesting.

[Matt Rogers]

Someone who wants to, like, individualize and then realizes that, like, they are not going to go to such lengths to, like. Like, they have found themselves in the act of trying to find themselves in a different way, and then they swing back the other direction, being like, this is not who I am.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And you also would rather die than be poor.

[Matt Rogers]

Exactly.

[Bowen Yang]

I loved her storyline as well. And when she was giving that monologue about, like, she was great, by the way.

[Matt Rogers]

Great vibes. She interviewed. She was my interview on today's show when I co hosted.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, really?

[Matt Rogers]

Such a cute vibe. Yeah, she's adorable and she's talented and a trained opera singer.

[Bowen Yang]

What? Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

@ SUNY Purchase. Anyway, this is Bowen Yang and Matt.

[Bowen Yang]

Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, readers, Katie's publicist finalist Kyle's. It's time to talk about one of the most iconic payment brands out there. That's right. It's PayPal. PayPal lets you do you, meaning you can pay your own way with just a click.

[Bowen Yang]

Once you click the PayPal button, you can choose from a bunch of different ways to pay.

[Matt Rogers]

You can pay later with PayPal at millions of online stores. If you choose Pay in four, you can split everyday purchases into four smaller payments. No interest, no fees.

[Bowen Yang]

I think we've all had those chaotic, unhinged purchases.

[Matt Rogers]

Another way to pay is with your PayPal Debit Mastercard. You can use it online or in store and earn 5% cash back on up to $1,000 spent in the monthly category. You choose like a payroll or ride shares. 5% cash back on a ride home from a messy first date. Yes, please.

[Bowen Yang]

Pay in store, pay online, pay over time. Don't just pay PayPal. Pay in 4 is subject to approval. Eligibility varies. Learn more at paypal.com payinfor PayPal debit card terms and limits apply. This card is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Inc. Full terms at paypal.com forward/rewardspal. Let's touch on Housewives.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I want to pitch my housewives.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, yeah. We'll start there. We'll start there, and we'll get granular.

[Bowen Yang]

Here's the show. And this is literally. Consider this a pitch. Bravo. We're now in business.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And he's listening.

[Bowen Yang]

Kyle goes to Aspen. Kyle starts her life over as a lesbian of the woods. Kyle of the woods. The poster for the show is Kyle in her huge kimosabe hat looking at the camera in the back. The woods. Kyle starts over as a lover of same sex in Aspen, where she wants to live. I'm sorry. She leaves Beverly Hills. We start the show over. It's her. It's maybe a couple of her friends that come in. It's more like people visit from Beverly Hills to come see her come in and out. And we see Kyle's new life in Aspen as a queer woman.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I Will say my only note, my only adjustment, if I'm the executive sitting across the table, is I would say we already have a winter landscape, and that is doing quite well. I would maybe suggest, if you want woods, maybe Pacific Northwest.

[Bowen Yang]

I was gonna pay that Aspen is where she wants to live.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Maybe Seattle.

[Bowen Yang]

And also I would say the fact that Salt Lake City works is a reason. Season two. Do it.

[Matt Rogers]

Interesting.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, how about this? Kyle of the Mountains. Kyle of the woods, like J.T. tried to be.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I like Kyle of the Woods.

[Matt Rogers]

I like Kyle of the Woods.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Is this Kyle the Woods sounds like a dangerous plant you shouldn't eat.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, honey, that's Kyle of the Wood.

[Bowen Yang]

That's Kyle of the Wood.

[Matt Rogers]

Don't touch that Kyle.

[Bowen Yang]

Out of your mouth.

[Matt Rogers]

Is this modeled. Because I'm not watching the Denise Show. Is this kind of like the Denise Show?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I like the Denise show, by the way.

[Bowen Yang]

Show is the way that they live their life is so crazy. But, yeah, I guess it is. I mean, I. Maybe it doesn't have to be an ongoing thing. I just think maybe like, eight episodes of Kyle living in Aspen, like, exploring this new part of her personality. Because I don't think this is my kind of hot take about Beverly Hills. It's not there yet for a reboot, but I don't think we're far away.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Right.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think we're far away at all.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's getting the. The self production on Beverly Hills, I think, is the worst of any of the franchises.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. They're also afraid to say or do anything.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. It's just. It's so, like, I really, like, talk about something that didn't coalesce into anything. Yeah. Like, I'm so sorry, Mike. Wait, I meant to say that. Take that note away from White Lotus, apply it to Beverly Hills, because by the end of that reunion, I was exhausted and I wanted to walk out like Garcelle.

[Bowen Yang]

So, like Sutton going to Garcelle's room and Garcelle not being there, just being like she's gone. And like. Like that being the way that their friendship ended. Like, well, I don't know. How do you guys feel about the Garcello at all?

[Matt Rogers]

I didn't watch the. I didn't watch the third part.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I will say I'm only halfway through the third part. And again, didn't feel urgent to finish in the same way that some of these other shows are right now. I think that. And I just actually presented an award with Garcelle. Met her in real life. So warm, so kind.

[Bowen Yang]

She's been on the show.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She's great star. It's great star. I don't think she has it in her to be a housewife.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think she ever liked it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't think, like, because she. When the. When the guns were pointed in her direction, couldn't handle it. I don't even think that she couldn't handle it. It's. She didn't want to do it. Like, she didn't. Like, she doesn't want to do that.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

She went a really long time, I guess, five seasons without ever being the person in the hot seat.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. And kind of far down on the couch. Always.

[Bowen Yang]

And also, not for nothing, but for something that I knew when she was saying in the beginning of the season that she was positing the theory that the Dorit robbery was staged, I'm like, you're gonna have to deal with saying, stand by that.

[Matt Rogers]

You will have to stand by that.

[Bowen Yang]

And she did. But she hated that they had a problem with it. And it's like, well, of course they're gonna have a problem with it. Like, and then. And then you can't walk your way out of the insinuation you're making. You're very baldly making the insinuation.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And lots of people did. And so, like, stand 10 toes down, like, you know, but, like, I just don't know that she, like, she thinks in that way. She has. She. And clearly doesn't need it in the same way. And that's the difference. That's the difference is that I think, like, she was working really hard at the beginning, maybe because, like, it did kind of reignite a lot of things for her. But all those other women. I mean, the reason Dorit is showing up right now. Yeah, like, love or hate. Is because she needs the check. And Garcelle, one thing you could say about her right now is she's leaving, not needing the check. She is making Lifetime movies. Good for fucking her, you know, like, she doesn't need it. And I think you could feel that. And I want them hungry and desperate and needing it. Right.

[Matt Rogers]

I mean, Sutton unwatchable. Kyle. We know. My feelings on Kyle. Erica home makeover.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The fact that Erica came for Garcelle for not being interesting. And Erica's one storyline this season was redoing her fucking living room. I'm sorry.

[Bowen Yang]

I liked Bose. I mean, I thought that Bose, like, definitely livened things up, I think.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. No, she's. She's gonna be a major player for a while, you know, I don't know, I. It just. Just felt icky. Felt icky.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't believe that they're friends.

[Matt Rogers]

And the. And the. And the Kathy sort of Runway moment, I was like, that is.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, yeah, you'd really.

[Joel Kim Booster]

We've really let. But we've. Unfortunately, I think we've fed the goose too much with Kathy.

[Matt Rogers]

The future of the entire Housewives empire lies in one woman and one woman alone. And that woman's name is Stacy Rush. But still I rise.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wait, can we go back? Can we go back for a second? I actually believe that the relationship was not real, but I do believe that what she said to him was, this will be really good for you, like, and your business. And then he extrapolated from there that she was paying him to be on the show.

[Bowen Yang]

Agree.

[Matt Rogers]

You're gonna trust him over her? He's clearly on his.

[Joel Kim Booster]

We've seen him on the show. Like, it is like, to take his word for anything is actually quite ridiculous.

[Matt Rogers]

Exactly. I believe Stacy more than tj.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I believe that she's not telling the full story, but that's okay.

[Matt Rogers]

She's like, to withhold.

[Bowen Yang]

I think that Bowen has some, like, I love her. He's got love blinders on.

[Matt Rogers]

I've got tit blinders on. She's got the most amazing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You are famously bouquet.

[Matt Rogers]

Her boobs are perfect.

[Joel Kim Booster]

When you were saying the future of the franchise, I really thought you were gonna say one word and one word alone, and that is Shamia. I mean, I need to start Atlanta.

[Matt Rogers]

I need to start Atlanta.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You haven't started yet?

[Matt Rogers]

I haven't started the season.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, Atlanta's really good. So Atlanta has been. So Kenya Moore just exited herself.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And it's been really. I think it's been a really, really compelling.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No season. Overall, really works. And the thing is, Portia's great on the show, is great on the show, and I. I worry. I don't want to see a schism between her and Shamia, and I. I fear that, oh, it's happening. Direction.

[Bowen Yang]

It's like. It's, like, definitely happening.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But, like, Shamia starts the season like she is the center. She's in the center with Portia.

[Bowen Yang]

No, Shamia is a Rev star, and I didn't know she had it like that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No. And. And what I have since learned is that they have been. That Bravo has known all along that she has got the juice in that peach, but her husband wouldn't let her be more than a friend of. Until now because I think he did not understand how powerful the show was until Now I honestly, it really is.

[Bowen Yang]

Surprising because the first episode, the first scenes of the first episode are all Shamia's amazing home. Like, she starts the season, she's multi talented. She's got like this very full family, this big full life. Like, and it's just. She's obviously great on camera. She gets. It's like the. The way that they started fights but.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Ended them at the right. Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Sound bites. She's beautiful. She got fashion. She's very connected to everyone already. It's like so surprising that they tried this with Marlo before Shamia. But I guess, yeah, Shamia had like an extenuating circumstance because.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. It's just. She's. Yeah, I love it. Portia's doing great. Love, Angela. Love Kelly.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, I like Kelly a lot.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And again, like, the thing is, is that like, Kenya really, it's so frustrating because Brit is not for the show. You know, I don't know.

[Bowen Yang]

I can't.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I agree with you. The thing is, is like the threatening her with a gun is crazy.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And like, if we didn't know. If we didn't know what gun violence. If, if. If we didn't know what was coming with Kenya, the entire audience would have.

[Bowen Yang]

Been like, behind Kenya.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, would have been behind Kenya. But then Kenya takes it to such an extreme level that is unforgivable. And like, you. You just can't get past it.

[Bowen Yang]

It's also. It's like. It's like the look in her eyes when she was doing it. I was like, oh, no, you gotta deal with stuff.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, like, this is.

[Bowen Yang]

This is so many other dark things.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And can I say too, like, the big difference between a lot of what Kenya did and say, like, for instance, Portia physically assaulting Kenya at the reunion and still coming years ago being on the show, is that with Portia, that was like a heat of the moment, in the moment thing that she immediately.

[Bowen Yang]

Immediate remorse.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Immediate remorse.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

It was not a premeditated.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Kenya's thing was fully. She had to print. She had to go to fucking Kinko's.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And print revenge porn.

[Bowen Yang]

She went out of her way. Okay. So we should also say it is not revenge porn because it was not private.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Not legally. Not legally speaking.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But let's.

[Bowen Yang]

But we should be.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But it was porn that was being used for shame. For shame.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So.

[Bowen Yang]

But I want to protect us legally.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm. I'm Sunny Hostin.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I have a legal note.

[Matt Rogers]

Kenya would sue last colch.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't put anything past anyone.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, you're right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's true. Because you put.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you put things past people?

[Matt Rogers]

No. Never?

[Bowen Yang]

You've never been one to suffer fools.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't put anything past y'all.

[Bowen Yang]

That's your Housewives tagline. I don't put anything past anyone except.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't know. This is mine. This is mine. I don't suffer fools, but I do suffer joint pain. Not suffer from. Suffer joint pain.

[Bowen Yang]

Here's mine. I'm back on the east coast, and I'm doing the most.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, that's actually pretty slant rhyme. Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

East, east, and thee kind of rhyming those words.

[Bowen Yang]

Go ahead.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't know. Cause I have my go to one, but I don't want to do that one. I do want to do a new one, and it's like, I'm from Chicago, so, you know, I know how to ride the brown line, you know?

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, my God.

[Bowen Yang]

Riding the brown line as a euphemism for gay sex.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But like, riding the brown line.

[Bowen Yang]

Finest time.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Unfortunately, I'm a powerful woman in this scenario, so you don't know what it means, right?

[Bowen Yang]

It means you're taking. It means you're a powerful woman taking it in the butt.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But what if. Never mind. Yeah, we'll leave it at brown line.

[Matt Rogers]

Writing the brown line can mean topping. It is verse, vocabulary.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, for sure.

[Bowen Yang]

Well, no one would know. You know, he's coming out as all sorts of things. Bisexual.

[Matt Rogers]

No, I'm saying that he's bisexual. I'm Kinsey 5, maybe 4.5. But Matt is kind of twisting that into thinking that I'm a top, which I never have identified.

[Bowen Yang]

I think it would be fabulous for you to try it.

[Matt Rogers]

Have you ever.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I've topped.

[Matt Rogers]

I've topped.

[Bowen Yang]

You have.

[Matt Rogers]

I just don't. I don't wear that as an identity in a way that I think is meaningful.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I mean, you know. You know what I mean? He doesn't watch gay porn and see a mirror of himself in the top.

[Matt Rogers]

No, it's always the bottom.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Honestly. Yeah. Although I'm back in my. I'm back. Back in the game. Back on the case.

[Joel Kim Booster]

By the way. Still getting subscribers to. It's an iconic podcast, Matt and Joel's Search for the next L. Woods.

[Bowen Yang]

Really?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Still? I get. I get notifications every now and then. It is still available on Patreon, is it? Actually, it is still available on Patreon.

[Bowen Yang]

Search for the next lwood.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, I forgot until I just was listening to the other day that Patty Harrison herself wrote the theme song.

[Bowen Yang]

The whole theme Song.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Thank God for Covid. There's the headline. Thank God for Covid. That Patty had nothing to do, and we had nothing to do better than to make this podcast. And Patty was free enough and the only time she'll ever be free again to write the theme song for our podcast.

[Bowen Yang]

Wait, so if we're still getting subscribers, does that mean people are still paying?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I made it free.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, you made it free. Okay. Cuz I was say. I was like, scandal would be that we've accrued like, thousands of dollars that we said was going to charity. It's now free.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay, that's good. For cousin of the week.

[Matt Rogers]

Still, one of the great podcast segments.

[Bowen Yang]

Cousin of the week was good. Okay, let's do cousin of the week.

[Matt Rogers]

We still reference in general.

[Bowen Yang]

Cousin of the week was a. Was a segment on Matt and Joel.

[Joel Kim Booster]

On the search of the next Joel.

[Bowen Yang]

On the search of the next alb where we said which of the girls.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Was cousin of the week.

[Bowen Yang]

Who was giving the most energy.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I have one.

[Bowen Yang]

Who's your cousin of the week?

[Joel Kim Booster]

And again, this is all going to be dated, but my cousin of the week is. Congratulations on your opening sister. Haley Stein.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

She's cousin of the week.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She is cousin of the week because of that flame dress.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And we won't say why.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But that dress is cousin.

[Bowen Yang]

This is a Haley Steinfeld Stan podcast. I believe she's the queen of pop. I. I do need her to release more music. I will jam. First of all, don't even get me started on you want to go higher, which is that song. But also there's what's the hell? Nose and headphones.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I love that. Where she's at the party slut shaming people. I love that.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, right.

[Matt Rogers]

She did a song for the Bumblebee movie, the Transformers spin off Bumblebee, called actually Excellent. Really? I need to see.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, it's like bumblebee, essentially.

[Bowen Yang]

Number 18. Bumblebee is excellent.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Watch it on a plane and you'll get your life.

[Matt Rogers]

Love it.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's small. It's a small. It's a character piece. And Haley Carries always does.

[Bowen Yang]

All right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

My cousin of the week is Megan Fahey in Drop because now my cousins have kids and they love their kids so much. And Megan Fahey in drop was so determined to save her child. And if you haven't seen drop, it's really, really good. No, you would love it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, I know.

[Bowen Yang]

Do you want to know why? It's because it's just like red eye.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, that Is that. Is Someone else said that to me today.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. It's really fun. Jeffrey Self is great in it. Megan's amazing. Like, she should be movie star down.

[Matt Rogers]

Megan being spiritually linked to Rachel McAdams feels so correct.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes. And at the time, Rachel McAdams was my cousin of the week.

[Matt Rogers]

That's right.

[Bowen Yang]

Years ago. And so I would say cousin of the week. And also because I do feel we could play cousins. My cousin of the week is Megan Fahey and drop. Who's your cousin of the week?

[Matt Rogers]

My cousin of the week is. I did not really see a moment of this, but it just. It just. I felt the cousin energy was Addison Rae showing up at the Argusette at Coachella. I was like, I love that for her.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, that's.

[Matt Rogers]

She's always going to be a cousin.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No. Yeah, she. The. The. She gives cousin in that. Like, I'm always like, she's got stuff going on. I don't know about it.

[Matt Rogers]

Exactly.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know what? I'm happy for her. Of course. You know, when I see the updates scroll on by. But, like, I don't know what she's going.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't know what she's going on.

[Joel Kim Booster]

My cousin Addison is doing things right. What they are. I couldn't tell you.

[Matt Rogers]

I couldn't.

[Bowen Yang]

She.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, she shot a music video in Paris. Oh.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But if you know exactly what your cousins are doing right now. Grow up, Grow up.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't know what they're doing, but I will say, you know who are.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Close to their cousins. No, that could be an. I don't think so, honey, for me. Oh. Frankly, you know who else kind of.

[Bowen Yang]

Was giving cousin when she came out? Wait, Weekend one, by the way, the Charlie set at weekend one of Coachella was Billy Troy and Lord all came out, which was only bested by Megan. Thee stallion set, which saw Victoria Monet, Queen Latifah.

[Matt Rogers]

Huge.

[Bowen Yang]

And Sierra.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow.

[Bowen Yang]

They did goodies.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Good luck booking that. She finally spoke of stage. That she spoke of.

[Bowen Yang]

But Lord was kind of giving cousin energy.

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, that's good.

[Bowen Yang]

Lord kind of gives cousin. And you're one of Lord's biggest fans.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Biggest fans. I will say that, like, especially.

[Bowen Yang]

She announced her new single.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I saw that. I saw that. I'm so excited. It'll probably be out by the time it's called.

[Bowen Yang]

What was that?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Did you know that? Oh, my God. You know, I love that sentence. Wait, literally, I get texts from Lord. Look, Lord, because I signed up for the mailing list. I love looking down on my phone and seeing that Laura texted you my new song. What was that? Out soon.

[Matt Rogers]

Wendy William.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She samples.

[Matt Rogers]

I hope she samples.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my God, look. And they're single. Art.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She gave cousin energy and that she was finally, for the first time in a while, she was the elder cousin in that. In that lineup of people.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes, she was the elder.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She was the elder cousin. And like, you know, it's like that thing where it's like. Yeah, I just like. Because she for so long was the youngest in the entire extended family.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, she really was.

[Matt Rogers]

And now that we're a little bit older, we're like, welcome, welcome. Yeah, welcome in.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay. Well, by the way, I just pre saved what was that on Spotify? It's probably out by now when we put this out, but I'm really excited. We need a powerful Lord era.

[Matt Rogers]

Absolutely. And I was going to say we have needed a huge song in pop that ends with the word that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That.

[Matt Rogers]

Not. I still think about the impact of why did you do that?

[Bowen Yang]

I can't stop thinking about it. The. The One of the titles of Joel's episodes.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Why did you do that to me?

[Bowen Yang]

How have our thoughts on Star is Born sort of developed since that episode? I think the movie's even better.

[Matt Rogers]

It's even better. I'm sorry to say that after Gaga hosted, I was like, I need to dig into this once again.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. So good.

[Matt Rogers]

And I just. I. The first 20 minutes of that fucking movie, the whole movie is amazing.

[Bowen Yang]

It took you to the Garden of Eden.

[Matt Rogers]

It took me to. Took me to the Garden of Eden. And I mean, she's so damn good.

[Bowen Yang]

So good.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, I forgot about the moment where they're at the bar at the beginning, she was like, I'm here with Jackson, Maine. Like, I don't know what's going on.

[Bowen Yang]

Like.

[Matt Rogers]

Like, the way she's like, I don't even know what's going on right now is I'm like, that's so sweet.

[Bowen Yang]

We love Gaga.

[Matt Rogers]

Love Gaga.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Love Gaga.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay. What about you?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Star is Born. You know, I haven't revisited. I just talked about it recently, though, because I was talking about how she was so wasted in Joker too. Like, why cast her in that role? And why do. Why do bad singing. Why cast Lady Gaga to be a bad singer? Like, it doesn't. Like, it seems like such a waste. Like, Gaga is a. As a singular entity, will forever be iconic as a musician, as a pop star, as a. As a. As a person of the culture and as an actress. But I do think after seeing the Penguin, you could slot Christine Kristen. Kristen Miliani into any role that Gaga has ever done would be better.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my dare.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You would be better.

[Matt Rogers]

You are.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Except for Star is Born. Except for Star is Born. Right.

[Matt Rogers]

Except for Star, of course. But wow.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I know she was. I know you're close personal friends now.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no, no. But you just want Cristin Milioti to work more.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I want.

[Bowen Yang]

We all want that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I just think she is so brilliant. You guys just watched the Penguins.

[Matt Rogers]

She's amazing.

[Bowen Yang]

I mean, I came on here and said. Sang the praises.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is the way you. In this world where we cannot sell anything that is not connected to an existing ip. Like, that's the way you do it is you sneak in like women's. That the Penguin is not a story about the Penguin. It is about women.

[Matt Rogers]

And women's stories.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Women's stories matter. They wrapped up women's stories in a fucking penguin piece of cheese. Superhero piece of cheese to these boys that didn't know what was about to hit them.

[Matt Rogers]

And Colin was amazing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And Colin. And Yes. No. And that's not to discount Colin's performance. It was incredible as well. But, like, I was so impressed with that show because you could have never. You could not know what Batman is and enjoy the shit out of that show.

[Matt Rogers]

Absolutely.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And in fact, I had to convince many people who were like, I don't want to watch a Batman show.

[Matt Rogers]

It's not a Batman show and it's.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Not a Batman show. It's simply not a show about women.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, but can I say Gaga would have been great in Penguin.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, she would have.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She would have. No, no, it's true. I. Maybe not better. Is that. Maybe that's not the verbiage I want to say. But, like, I do think that, like.

[Matt Rogers]

You'Re seated for either of them.

[Bowen Yang]

You wanted Kristen Miliotti in House of Grief.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes, that's. I think what I'm. Okay. That's the note behind the note I wanted.

[Bowen Yang]

I want House of Gucci, too, with Lady Gaga.

[Matt Rogers]

Right. This is Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Bowen Yang]

This podcast is sponsored by PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, readers, Katie's publicist finalist, Kyle's. It's time to talk about one of the most iconic payment brands out there. That's right. It's PayPal. PayPal lets you do you. Meaning you can pay your own way with just a click.

[Bowen Yang]

Once you click the PayPal button, you can choose from a bunch of different ways to pay.

[Matt Rogers]

You can pay later with PayPal at millions of online stores. If you choose, pay in four. You can split everyday purchases into four smaller payments. No interest, no fees.

[Bowen Yang]

I think we've all had those chaotic, unhinged purchases.

[Matt Rogers]

Another way to pay is with your PayPal Debit Mastercard. You can use it online or in store and earn 5% cash back on up to $1,000 spent in the monthly category. You choose like like a payroll or ride shares. 5% cash back on a ride home from a messy first date.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes, please pay in store, pay online, pay over time. Don't just pay PayPal. Pay in for a Subject to approval. Eligibility varies. Learn more at paypal.com forward/payinfor PayPal debit card terms and limits apply. This card is issued by the Bancorp bank and a pursuant to a license by MasterCard International Inc. Full terms at paypal.com forward/rewards pal like I can't get enough of I can't get enough of House of Gucci.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know? You know? Best supporting actress House of Gucci.

[Bowen Yang]

Salma Hayek.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Salma Hayek. Salma Hayek will do the goofiest shit. She will. She is down to clown.

[Bowen Yang]

Like the fact I'm ready to do. I don't think it's funny.

[Matt Rogers]

This is I don't think so any. This is where we take one minute to go off on something in culture. Matt has something he is ready and rearing to go. This is Matt Rogers. I don't think so when he's time starts now.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think so, honey. Not enough utilization of the icon Salma Hayek in media across television film. I would love to hear the album. We need Salma Hayek's Pino's debut album, by the way. House of Gucci. We needed the lesbian scene with Lady Gaga and Salma Hayek, I'm saying and now in the year of Award 2025, we needed that. I don't think so, honey. That we didn't get it and they shot it. Where's the deleted scenes? Bring back DVDs. That's another topic. Yeah, I don't think so, honey. The Marvel movie they tried to do with all of them and they kill Salma Hayek off right away.

[Matt Rogers]

Eternals.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, eternals. I guess not. I guess very, very temporary. The opposite of eternal. And I don't think so, honey, that we talk about Salma Hayek in this casual way. You should be bowing down to Salma Hayek. Salma Hayek has impact that we're not even understanding or recognizing and we need to change that. I don't think so, honey.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And that's one minute. Just a little asterisk to your. I don't think so, honey. Is that like, I don't think so, honey. Marvel changing the line reading. In the original trailer for the Eternals, you can clearly hear Salma Hayek say, and we've talked. I think we've talked about this on the pod before.

[Matt Rogers]

Thanos.

[Joel Kim Booster]

When Tanos. And she says it like that. And then we go and watch the film. We sit down for the film. Me and my life partner go down and sit for this film, excited to hear the line reading. Thanos.

[Bowen Yang]

And they do changed it to Thanos.

[Joel Kim Booster]

They changed it to Thanos.

[Bowen Yang]

They made her go back to Thanos.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Go back into the ADR booth and say, thanos.

[Matt Rogers]

I've got it. I don't think so, honey.

[Bowen Yang]

Let's go. This is.

[Matt Rogers]

I was gonna do it out zippers, but I'm like, I got nothing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

All right.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Bowen Yang's. I don't think so, honey. His time starts now.

[Matt Rogers]

I don't think so, honey. Adr. And this coming from an ADR legend. I slay the ADR booth. Cause guess what I'm doing. I'm matching tone, I'm matching acoustics, I'm matching lip flaps. But sometimes it doesn't need to happen. Sometimes we stumble on our words, and sometimes the audience doesn't have to understand us. Sometimes you can just cut around, you lose the whole damn line. Adr, sometimes I don't mind it, but sometimes they count you in and they sink it in wrong. Sometimes it's just. Sometimes it's humiliating. You see, I don't want to see my fuck up. Up close and 15 seconds. Maybe it's okay to sit with that. Maybe it's okay to not go back in the booth because you know what? I like Sandra Bullock Crumble.

[Bowen Yang]

Five seconds.

[Matt Rogers]

I am not good at voiceover in general, and ADR is my one safe space. But now I'm ready to let that go because I don't think it's worth it.

[Bowen Yang]

And that's one minute. I also. I've never. Not noticed it exactly. Notice it every single time. And I. I'll go into do ADR and I'll be like, I'll see what the issue is. And I'll be like, so you think it's better to do obvious ADR over this? It's something about the post process that I don't understand. And when ADR is obvious, it drives me.

[Matt Rogers]

Sometimes it's necessary. Listen, you get moments like Thanos you.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Get Mahomes like that.

[Bowen Yang]

First of all, who's to say it's not actually pronounced Thanos?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

A different planet, different galaxy, Very American. That they did that.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, it is like, I think that they saw because there was like a little bit of. It was a little viral for that reason. And I think that they were like, this is a serious film.

[Bowen Yang]

That is ridiculous. First of all, here's my question. Do we think. And this is my question to you, someone who's seen Eternals. Was her performance in the moment where she said Thanos, like so stunning that they felt like they had to use the Thanos take. And maybe she said Thanos eight other times, but they just didn't like those takes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't.

[Bowen Yang]

I believe that Salma Hayek gives a brilliant take.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I mean, comedic. I, I think Salma is like independently wealthy in a way that like she. The reason we don't see Salma is because Salma does not want to be seen.

[Matt Rogers]

Doesn't need to, need to work.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah. She. She picks and chooses the weirdest things. Like that Black Mirror episode she did.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, I love that episode.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So incredible. It's so incredible. But like you're. I'm sitting there watching it and I'm like, how did they get her? How did they get her?

[Bowen Yang]

I think it's an opposite thing. I don't think people go to her enough.

[Matt Rogers]

I think people just assume that she's comfortable.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Ooh.

[Bowen Yang]

I think people. I think people should roll the dice more on Salma. I think filmmakers need to shoot their shot with Salma more.

[Joel Kim Booster]

She is like down. She's so willing to do big, like big take, big comedic swings, big character choices.

[Bowen Yang]

Like Oscar nominated actress.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. Forget Incredible. Incredible. 30 Rock. Legendary. Oh, so like one of the best of all time. Guest stars. Reoccurring guest stars on that show.

[Bowen Yang]

And she was one of the best.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Presidents and almost, I would say all of his girlfriends. Stunt casted girlfriends on that show.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Elizabeth Banks.

[Bowen Yang]

Edie Falco. There was another one. There was another one. Oh, Julian Moore.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Julianne Moore. Of course. Elizabeth Banks.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And then Lachlan's mom.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh. Emily Mortimer.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Emily Mortimer, right.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes. Yep. Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Bones. Avian Bones.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I just want to say, I know this is cheating, but like I have been here in a while. The. The other two. I don't think so, honeys. That we're going to do other than the one I'm about to do.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Is a. I don't think so, honey. People who text their email address or Phone number in the. Not in a separate text to make it easily copy and paste.

[Bowen Yang]

That's A Very nice.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That is texting etiquette 101 as far as I'm concerned. Do not send me your email address or phone number in the body of a large block of text so that I cannot get to it. But I have to do it. Instagram DMs. Instagram DMs especially are hard.

[Matt Rogers]

Yes.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You know, and it's just like I cannot stand it. I was like, now I have to do this manually.

[Matt Rogers]

You've changed my behavior. Thank you.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Thank you. And the other one was people who say, wow, that really made me laugh. The group chat. Because you are upending the entire ecosystem of haha lol. Hahaha. It's texting.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

You've now. You've now downgraded.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, now it's impact. You've really pulled the curtain. And I'm seeing like, oh, that pithy thing that I said that got 4 haha reacts on the chain.

[Bowen Yang]

So how do you feel about this? How do you feel about these two words? Actual lol?

[Matt Rogers]

You know, you've broken the illusion I say actual law.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And the thing is, what does law mean then? What does law mean?

[Matt Rogers]

What does LOL mean?

[Bowen Yang]

Should this ever so be called actual lol?

[Matt Rogers]

What about this? I'm laughing.

[Bowen Yang]

I love.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm laughing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

I love I'm laughing.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm laughing.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm laughing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's like all of it though, is just sort of like, oh, that took me out. Did it take you out?

[Matt Rogers]

Right?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Did it really take you out?

[Bowen Yang]

That took me out.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm laughing is so general use. So many use cases for it. If you're actually Ling, say it applies if you're just Ling, you know, for. For etiquette purposes. Great. I'm laughing is the way I'm laughing. You.

[Bowen Yang]

I promise you, I really am. Like, if I say I'm laughing, I promise you I really am haha emoji or haha whatever reaction thing. I can't promise that I'm haha. No, no, I can promise that I. I can. That I did think it's fun.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah. You. It's an intellectual exercise. The haha react.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, that made me laugh. I don't like I'm laughing.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm laughing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Wow, that really made me laugh. Fuck you.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And I of course love actual LOL read.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I have friends who do real grin rg. I'm so sorry. Their fans.

[Bowen Yang]

You don't have those friends anymore?

[Matt Rogers]

Oh, no, they're gone. What about is ball itch Ball.

[Bowen Yang]

It's.

[Matt Rogers]

I love it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Had a moment. It did really well is still but it's like going. It's. The cycles are moving too fast. Like we had chuggy for just a brief moment.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

But now he was never built to last.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Hubs is apparently the new one.

[Bowen Yang]

Hubs.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Hubs. It's how you refer how Gen Alpha is referring apparently to people that they have crushes on. And correct me if I'm wrong, I believe it's. It's. It's. Yeah. It is associated with that.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I like that father word. But I. This is a. This is direct intel from Maya rudolph about her 14 year old. I see. So like it could just be whatever is going on in la. I haven't done the research or you know, I haven't asked. Chatgpt sure, sure.

[Matt Rogers]

Confirm or deny Ijball I really am a fan of.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Are people Ishmaeling still.

[Bowen Yang]

He does.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm doing it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Wow.

[Matt Rogers]

I just burst out laughing.

[Bowen Yang]

I just burst out laughing.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Well, I mean it's the same sort of over the top like nonsense as rolling on the floor.

[Bowen Yang]

Right? I never like.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Sorry. Get off the floor. Off the floor.

[Matt Rogers]

You're rolling around.

[Bowen Yang]

Filthy on the floor.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's filthy. Okay, now I'm ready.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay.

[Bowen Yang]

All right. So after two. I don't think so, honeys. Here's Joel's real. I don't think so, honey. This is Joel Kim Bush. I don't think so, honey. It's time. Starts now.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't think so, honey. Singing competition shows. I'm talking about you. American. American Idol. Guess what? American Idol. You did it on the first try. You found her. Okay, hang it up. We don't need you anymore. We do not need the Voice. We do not need X Factor. We do not need America's Got Talent to find singers for us anymore. Because guess what? There is no monoculture. There is no monoculture. And your gig, your little playbook only works if everybody's watching. And no one is watching anymore. Not all of America. Okay? There are too many. These are professional karaoke competition shows with a cash prize at the end. And that's okay.

[Matt Rogers]

That's okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But sell them on that. Do not promise them a career. Do not promise them that they'll be stars because many of them will not be stars. They will end up as the third replacement of Broadway of a B tier musical.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay?

[Bowen Yang]

That's a job.

[Joel Kim Booster]

A B tier musical. G box. And yes, I don't want to take away jobs for People. But I'm just saying.

[Bowen Yang]

Five seconds.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Let's frame what you are appropriately. And that is a karaoke competition show with a prize, cash prize.

[Bowen Yang]

And that's one minute. Okay.

[Matt Rogers]

Edge. I just stood up clapping.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Edge.

[Bowen Yang]

Edge.

[Matt Rogers]

Suck.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Edge.

[Bowen Yang]

Suck.

[Matt Rogers]

I just stood up clapping.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I would like to say, for the record, and I told you this before, the record. I am watching. I'm still watching. Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm the biggest fan of these shows.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm watching American Idol. I'm watching the Voice. I'm watching it all happen. Amazing, talented people come through there. But the fact of the matter is, is that no one is famous anymore anymore. It is, like, so crazy. It makes me laugh when people, as an insult, are like, I don't even know who this person is. And it's like, no one knows.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

There is not one person. There are not. There are very few people, I should say.

[Matt Rogers]

Right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That everybody knows.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Like, it just doesn't exist. And in a world where that doesn't exist and it's so fractured.

[Matt Rogers]

Right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

That, like, you can't. You couldn't create another Kelly Clarkson.

[Matt Rogers]

Right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You couldn't. Like, and the reason why, like, it did. It was successful up until a certain point through, you know, we got Fantasia, we got Carrie, we got Jennifer Hudson, et cetera. Clay. But, like, that was still back when we were talking at the water cooler about television.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And there's just no monoculture anymore. And that only. You can only create a stars like that when there is a monoculture.

[Bowen Yang]

You know, what's funny is, like, who technically is an American Idol find is Benson. Boom.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I found that.

[Bowen Yang]

And the only reason he's as famous as he is is because he quit abruptly.

[Matt Rogers]

I didn't.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I didn't.

[Bowen Yang]

So he. He was on American Idol. He gave this insane audition, like, this amazing audition, and Katy Perry was literally like, do you want to win this show? You can. If that's what you want, you can win the show. And then he, like, made it to, I guess, like the live rounds or whatever and then was abruptly gone, I think, because someone got in his head and was like, yo, if you want a real career, don't stay on this through the live shows. Do not.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, that. That. That happened recently with another contestant, a young girl who was giving, like, Taylor Swift, like, she. The heir apparent. And like, by the time she made it to the lives, she was out because of the contracts.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And that's another thing that is a problem with this is that, like, you're locking these people into things that, like, maybe not necessarily help them.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. Do you listen to this podcast?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I. I watch it. I listen to it.

[Matt Rogers]

Was it.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Do you watch or listen? I listen to it.

[Bowen Yang]

There's a lot of holes in your story already.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I listen to it when it. For me, It's a touchdown for me and my friends.

[Matt Rogers]

Okay.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't listen to it when it's stars.

[Bowen Yang]

You don't listen to it when it's stars?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't listen to it.

[Bowen Yang]

You didn't listen to the Gaga episode?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I have listened to the Gaga episode, obviously.

[Bowen Yang]

So there's lots of holes in the stars.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Okay. And I listen to the Kelly. I listen. I guess for me, I listen to.

[Bowen Yang]

The Kelly Clarkson episode, what, two years ago?

[Joel Kim Booster]

The thing is, I don't like this at all. I listen when there's stars that I know matter to. To YouTube.

[Bowen Yang]

So did you listen to Chapel Roan that dropped today?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I watched her. I don't think so. Honey claps to her as a scholar of the form. I think it was a fantastic. I don't think she did great.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, and you did great. And you did great. And I did great today.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, everybody did great.

[Bowen Yang]

This was a wonderful return to form.

[Matt Rogers]

I was gonna say people will herald this as a return to form or back.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I mean, like, listen, I've listened to the Cole episode 19,000 times.

[Bowen Yang]

No, no, no, the recent one.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The reason I literally we. We were trapped in a burning man exit line for about eight hours, and we only had the podcasts that were already downloaded on our phones to listen to.

[Bowen Yang]

We had to go back.

[Joel Kim Booster]

We went back and listened to it again.

[Bowen Yang]

I forget about that as a. A thing people can do. Like, people can have favorite episodes of a podcast.

[Matt Rogers]

That is sweet.

[Bowen Yang]

Like, I. We have that. Like, we listen to that.

[Matt Rogers]

What is stupid. Absolutely.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. We revisit Meg's episode constantly.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, that. Well, that was when I got hit by a car.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah, we visited. We. I. I feel like people see a new classic in the Gabby Windy episode.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, they do.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I love that. That one was great, too. But, like, I think, like, it makes me sad sometimes because I want to be tactile with my sisters. I want to be. I want to be.

[Bowen Yang]

You want to be in the room.

[Matt Rogers]

You want to be in the room. I understand.

[Bowen Yang]

You want to be with.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Me. Just had her on my podcast. She was amazing.

[Matt Rogers]

She's great.

[Bowen Yang]

She's great. That was a really good episode.

[Matt Rogers]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, and again, I did listen to that one, too, but it's just.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay, so lots of holes and maybe that's the title of it.

[Matt Rogers]

Lots of holes.

[Bowen Yang]

No, but we have. We have actual law. We have lots of holes and we have riding on the brown Line. Maybe riding on the brown Line.

[Matt Rogers]

That feels the most, Joel. You know what I mean?

[Bowen Yang]

Well, what else would feel the most, Joel, is to plug his project.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Oh, yeah. So you can listen to Bad Days. It comes out every Monday. I think I want to say every Monday or Tuesday. It comes out every week. It comes out on a weekly basis. Matt's been on I haven't gotten bone yet. I haven't landed my white whale yet. You can watch Love Hotel every Sunday at 8, 7 Central following real Housewives in Atlanta on Bravo. Not on Peacock. Not anymore.

[Bowen Yang]

Wait, 7 Central, but following Atlanta.

[Matt Rogers]

I might have gotten it wrong.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Maybe it's.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, you.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Or maybe I got. Maybe it's not following Atlanta. Maybe it's lead into Atlanta.

[Matt Rogers]

It's just on Sundays.

[Joel Kim Booster]

But it's just on Sundays.

[Bowen Yang]

It's got to be following Atlanta.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I don't know.

[Bowen Yang]

But if I'm programming Bravo, I'm putting it on after Atlanta.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. So catch that. The show is fucking fantastic. It is.

[Matt Rogers]

I want to see.

[Joel Kim Booster]

It's going to be really. It's very different from anything that they've ever tried to do. I think it's. I. You know, obviously I'm biased, but I think it's. It's. It's a compelling watch. And you'll see these ladies in a very different light from their respective.

[Bowen Yang]

And. Wait, it's. It's Shannon, Giselle, Ashley and Luanne.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Luann.

[Bowen Yang]

Luanne. Okay, so I like one of them. Some of the people on it, I.

[Matt Rogers]

Like one of them.

[Joel Kim Booster]

The thing is, you'll get your life watch you. It will take you out.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And you'll be on the floor because I'm laughing. No matter who you're watching.

[Matt Rogers]

It's writing the brown line. Period.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Period.

[Matt Rogers]

Unless we'll discuss.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And then let's discuss.

[Matt Rogers]

I want to support my sister riding.

[Bowen Yang]

On the brown line.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Right.

[Bowen Yang]

What else?

[Joel Kim Booster]

And then, yeah, I guess, like Loot will be out later this year. And other things. To be continued.

[Bowen Yang]

To be continued. We end every episode with a big old song.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I'm sorry, I forgot about this part. I'm so excited.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, holy night Lots of holes the stars are brightly shining it is the night it is the day it is.

[Matt Rogers]

The night I've got wrong.

[Joel Kim Booster]

You really. That song. You made it your own.

[Bowen Yang]

Carry on DeWitt, everyone. Bye bye.

[Matt Rogers]

Las Coldaristas is a production by Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and iHeartRadio podcasts.

[Bowen Yang]

Created and hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, executive produced by Anna Hosnier.

[Matt Rogers]

And produced by Becca Ramos, edited and mixed by Doug Behm and Monique Laborg.

[Bowen Yang]

And our music is by Henry Komirsky. This podcast is sponsored by PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

All right, readers, Katie's publicist finalist Kyle's it's time to talk about one of the most iconic payment brands out there. That's right, it's PayPal. PayPal lets you do you meaning you can pay your own way.

[Bowen Yang]

PayPal offers people flexibility on how they can pay. Once you click the PayPal button, you can choose from a bunch of payment.

[Matt Rogers]

Options, including paying later with PayPal at millions of online stores.

[Bowen Yang]

Iconic Pay in store, pay online, pay overtime, don't just pay PayPal.

[Matt Rogers]

Learn [e-mail].