But Epstein's Emails

Summary

Lovett or Leave It: “But Epstein's Emails”
Date: November 15, 2025
Host: Jon Lovett
Guests: Henry Winkler, Mo Amer

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Lovett or Leave It takes place live at Dynasty Typewriter in Los Angeles, featuring Jon Lovett’s signature blend of political satire and pop culture commentary. The night’s main guests are TV legend Henry Winkler and comedian Mo Amer. Together, they tackle the week’s political circus—most notably, a dramatic release of Jeffrey Epstein emails implicating high-profile figures, Democratic capitulations in Congress, and the enduring ineptitude of American leadership. Humor runs through the exploration of personal journeys—Winkler’s battle with dyslexia and self-doubt, Amer’s perspective as a Palestinian-American artist—and a biting segment on Hollywood’s history of “gentile-casting." The tone is sharp, funny, introspective, and irreverent throughout.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political News Rundown: Government Shutdown, Democratic Cave-Ins, and Epstein’s Emails

Highlights:

• Democrats strike a deal to end the government shutdown without securing Obamacare subsidies, drawing criticism for caving to GOP pressure.
• Lovett lampoons party infighting and the futility of blaming Senate leadership:
  • “Days since Democrats were huge pussies: sign back to zero.” (01:23)
  • “Standing up to Trump gives him more power. He’s not powered by hopes and dreams. He’s a fascist, not Santa’s sleigh.” (03:20)
• Tariff policies unravel as Trump floats impossible $2,000 tariff rebate checks and threatens Italian pasta imports with a 107% tariff.
• The “Epstein alert” breaks: House Oversight Committee releases 23,000+ pages of Jeffrey Epstein's emails, many with embarrassing typos, damaging implications for Trump, and bipartisan calls to fully release DOJ’s Epstein files.

Notable Quotes:

• Lovett: “It’s like they didn’t even see Barack Obama’s surprise appearance at Crooked Con.” (01:48)
• Lovett: “You can’t pardon the turkeys then have Thanksgiving with a pedophile. You have to pick one.” (12:12)

Timestamps:

• Government shutdown analysis: [01:23–07:00]
• Epstein email fallout & political aftermath: [08:31–13:30]

---

2. Interview: Henry Winkler – On Fame, Dyslexia, and Turning 80

Segment: “80 for 80” (Start: 19:15)

Discussion:

• Winkler opens up about turning 80, lingering insecurities, and his evolution:
  • “It is only in the last 10 years I saw myself as a block of Swiss cheese filled with holes. And in the last 10 years I have tried to make myself into a block of cheddar.” (22:34)
• He recounts how being called "Dumahund" (dumb dog) by his parents and his struggle with undiagnosed dyslexia shaped his self-image.
• Winkler’s journey as a children’s author (40th book recently released!) and his commitment to positive representation for young readers.
• Anecdotes about his acting career: why he passed on Grease, how studio meddling doomed projects like “Monty,” and lessons for creative integrity (“When they try to bastardize your work—go home.” 32:51).
• Thoughts on learning lines with dyslexia; raw honesty about battling self-doubt; bonding with Lovett over being “terrible with maps.”

Notable Quotes:

• Winkler: “My knees are 80. They sometimes take an Uber home on their own.” (19:42)
• Winkler: “You are who you are. That doesn’t go away. No matter what changes—your age, your physicality—the inside pretty much stays the same. It is really up to you to make yourself more whole.” (22:55)
• “Be authentically who you are, which is magnetic and powerful and cool.” (36:07)

Timestamps:

• Start of Henry Winkler segment: [18:40]
• Discussion on dyslexia, creativity, and growing up: [21:14–27:32]
• Creative lessons, acting anecdotes: [28:23–34:37]

---

3. Interview: Mo Amer – Personal Storytelling and Palestinian-American Visibility

Introduction: [38:23]

Discussion:

• Amer describes the weight of making his Netflix show “Mo,” inspired by his Palestinian refugee experience in Houston:
  • “It took me 20 years to get my citizenship. ...I never thought I’d ever be releasing a show depicting a Palestinian family in Texas while everything is happening in the backdrop.” (40:34)
• Deliberation on how to handle representation post-October 7 attacks, refusing to let trauma or politics hijack the story’s authenticity:
  • “It becomes about the event, like it all started after October 7, which is not true historically. ...I made it purposeful to focus on everything that happened pre-October 7.” (43:10)
• On the pressure to always be “the first” for Palestinians and Arab Americans in pop culture—and the journey to creative freedom.
  • “Early on it was always: ‘Arab American comedian’ or ‘Muslim comedian.’ ...It became about honesty with the audience. Now I feel freer than I’ve ever been.” (46:15)

Notable Quotes:

• Amer: “The best way to tell any story is to focus on each character and allow them to grow throughout the season... Also, I’m making a comedy. This is not a drama.” (45:10)
• Amer (to Lovett): “This is the best interview I’ve had in years, to be honest with you. Most people don’t know how to ask these questions.” (46:15)

Timestamps:

• Mo Amer on “Mo,” storytelling, and responsibility: [39:00–47:43]
• Reflections on identity and progress: [47:43–48:05]

---

4. Comedy Segment: “Halal in the Trey Family” – Ranking Fake Semites in Hollywood

Setup:

• Lovett, Amer, and Winkler riff on Hollywood’s history of gentiles playing Jews and Arabs, with a blind ranking game ranging from “halal/kosher” (acceptable) to “haram/traf” (egregious/culturally offensive).

Memorable Riffs:

• Cillian Murphy as Oppenheimer: “I was missing a little kishkes, you know what I mean?” (52:19)
• Ralph Fiennes in Prince of Egypt: “Eight. You don’t even need to finish.” (52:55)
• Antonio Banderas as Ahmed bin Fadlan: “At least the complexion is there… What number? Oh, now you’re being pushy all of a sudden.” (57:00)
• Winkler: “I just want to say… When you say yes to something and they try to bastardize it, go home. Do not go down that path. It never works out well or good.” (32:51)

Timestamps:

• Blisteringly funny "blind ranking" discussion: [51:19–59:10]
• Wrap-up and cross-lingual jokes about Hollywood: [59:10–61:06]

---

5. Closing Segment: “No Complaints” — Wheel of Grievances

Complaints include:

• Mo Amer: “Enough of two-wheel luggage. I don’t want to see two-wheel luggage. You’re dragging it behind you like an idiot. Stop.” (63:32)
• Henry Winkler: “[I want to complain about] the lack of listening. ...Critical thinking has just gone the way of clearing your plate into the garbage man.” (64:51)
• Jon Lovett: “People watching things on their phone in public with the volume on—no headphones. It’s the decline of civilization.” (66:08)
• Group conclusion: You can scold loud people, but only if you support weary parents with loud babies.

Timestamps:

• Complaints and playful banter: [63:31–69:01]

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “You can’t pardon the turkeys then have Thanksgiving with a pedophile. You have to pick one.” – Jon Lovett (12:12)
• “If Subway came out and said their bread was only 9% bird shit, I wouldn’t say my cold cut trio was 91% awesome. I would not eat there.” – Jon Lovett (13:25)
• “Be authentically who you are, which is magnetic and powerful and cool.” – Henry Winkler (36:07)
• “This is the best interview I’ve had in years, to be honest with you.” – Mo Amer (46:15)
• “Enough of two-wheel luggage. ...If I see you with no wheels on your luggage, you and I are not friends ever.” – Mo Amer (63:33)
• “Critical thinking has just gone the way of clearing your plate into the garbage man.” – Henry Winkler (64:56)

---

Episode Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp Start |
|------------------------------------------------|------------------|
| Government shutdown & Epstein news | 01:23 |
| Winkler interview (“80 for 80” segment) | 18:40 |
| Winkler on acting, dyslexia, childhood | 21:14–27:32 |
| Creative process, project meddling | 28:23–34:37 |
| Mo Amer interview | 38:23 |
| Amer on identity, storytelling | 43:10 |
| Halal in the Trey Family (Hollywood gentile-casting) | 51:19 |
| Wheel of Complaints | 63:31 |

---

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is a rapid-fire blend of high-wire satire, earnest introspection, and live audience energy. Lovett’s critique of American politics is unsparing and hilarious, while Winkler and Amer anchor the show in authenticity and the wisdom of hard-earned perspective. The comedy never lets up, even as deep issues of identity, representation, and mental health are tackled with warmth and insight.

For new listeners:
This episode masterfully balances its political edge, showbiz inside-baseball, and big-hearted human moments—no wonder the crowd didn’t want it to end.

---

Transcript

[A]

This episode is sponsored by Better Help as we head into the holidays. This season isn't for everyone and it's important to stay connected. We're healthier when we have a community and when we have support. BetterHelp therapists work according to a strict code of conduct and are fully licensed in the US BetterHelp does the initial matching work for you so you can focus on your therapy goals. A short questionnaire helps identify your needs and preferences and their 12 plus years of experience and industry leading Match fulfillment rate means they typically get it right the first time. If you aren't happy with your match, switch to different therapists at any time from our tailored Rex with over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is one of the world's largest online therapy platforms, Having served over 5 million people globally and it works with an average rating of 4.9 out of 5 for a live session based on over 1.7 million client reviews. Therapy can really help. Everybody needs it. I remember and especially in the holidays. I remember one time I was talking to my therapist during the holidays and she described it as her busy season, which is why she's always kind of around during the holidays. It's not like when the therapists don't take vacation, then a lot of them don't. Anyway. This month, don't wait to reach out. Whether you're checking in on a friend or reaching out to a therapist yourself, BetterHelp can make it easier to take that first step. Our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com Love it. That's BetterHelp. H-E-L-P.com Love it. What's up Los Angeles? Welcome to Love it or Leave It Live at Dynasty Typewriter. We have got a great show for you tonight. Henry Winkler is here. You know him from 1600 Penn. Maybe some of his other work. The hilarious Mo Amer is here and the three of us are gonna answer some questions, rank some gentiles and share some complaints. But first, let's get into it. What a week. Hey, do you guys remember last week and how fun it was? Remember how Democrats won big on election night? And then we all lived out at Crooked Con and we were riding high. Alas, we can flip that. Days since Democrats were huge pussies signed back to zero. That's right. A group of eight Democratic senators struck a deal with Republicans to end the government shutdown this week without extending Obamacare subsidies Democrats had demanded. Unbelievable. It's like they didn't even see Barack Obama's surprise Appearance at Crooked Con. Other Democrats were furious about the agreement, with many calling for a shake up at Senate leadership. Ah, but could another Senate leader do this? Said Chuck Schumer, revealing that he somehow does the wordle with pen and paper. And the senators who caved didn't make the best argument for their decision. Here's Maine independent and guy who looks like he's named Angus King. Angus King on Monday. In terms of standing up to Donald Trump, the shutdown actually gave him more power.

[B]

Exhibit A being what he's done with SNAP and SNAP benefits across the country. So standing up to Donald Trump didn't work. It actually gave him more power.

[A]

Hey, man, shut the fuck up. There's a hundred ways you could defend that vote without saying we tried too hard. Standing up to Trump gives him more power. He's not powered by hopes and dreams. He's a fascist. Not Santa's sleigh. But it's also unclear how continuing the shutdown would have led to a better outcome. And the truth is, the best and easiest politics is to rail against the Democrats who cave to Trump and decry their lack of a fight. But doing it in a world where the government is open. Like how the best position for me to be in is to say, damn, I was really looking forward to our hike. In a world where it is raining and I am already downloading Hades too. There are many ways in which Chuck Schumer has been a weak leader and a weak communicator, but that doesn't mean a different leader would have produced a different result. After all, we achieved our number one goal, which was to fuck up all the flights at jfk. That I don't think that's right. No. The shutdown focused the country's attention on health care and affordability, and Trump is finally feeling the heat. Trump put it best himself.

[C]

So I don't want to hear about the affordability because right now we're much less.

[A]

Oh, you don't want to hear about affordability. I don't want to hear about YouTube title SEO.

[B]

But.

[A]

But these are the careers we've chosen. Here's Laura Ingraham, of all people, pressing Trump on this. Is this a voter perception issue of the economy or is there more that needs to be done by Republicans on Capitol Hill or done in terms of policy more than anything else, it's a.

[C]

Con job by the Democrats.

[A]

So you're saying that voters are, are they mispredicted how they feel or.

[C]

So when I took over, you remember.

[A]

Because you said Biden did that too because he was saying things were great. Oh my God. Sorry. Continued Ingraham, reaching for a glass of water that felt like a hiccup, but the sound that it made was journalism. I'm so sorry. My apologies, Mr. President. Man, a week ago he's like, I'm president for life. Week later, Laura Ingraham's like, are you too much like Joe Biden? CNN even played Trump and Biden side by side. People saying they're anxious about the economy. Why are they saying that? I don't know that they are saying, I think polls are fake.

[C]

We have the greatest economy we've ever had.

[B]

You look at the Michigan survey for.

[A]

65% of American people think they're in good shape economically. They think the nation's not in good.

[C]

Shape, but they're personally in good shape.

[A]

The polling data has been wrong all along. Post Obama, the country wanted old, defensive white male cranks and we're just getting it out of our system. And I was thinking about this. If we go Obama, not Trump, Biden, Trump, Obama, it will be nicely symmetrical, like how it went. James I, Charles I, interregnum Charles ii, James II in England. Are you not laughing because you don't know about England? Are you not laughing because you're here to see Henry Winkler? In a panic, Trump has been tossing out half baked ideas. Over the weekend, he suggested sending $2,000 tariff rebate checks to all but the wealthiest Americans and using the rest of the revenue to pay down the debt. Sounds nice, except the new tariffs have generated about $117 billion in revenue. To give half the country $2000 would cost several times that. Tariff rebates aren't like 90,000 square foot ballrooms. They don't just pay for themselves. Treasury Secretary and gay trader Scott Besson was asked about this idea on Sunday and he was clearly caught off guard. The $2,000 dividend could come in lots.

[B]

Of forms in lots of ways, George.

[A]

You know, it could be just the tax decreases that we are seeing on the President's agenda. It could be a check you receive, or it could be nothing. Another option is nothing. But Trump's instinct here isn't wrong. He promised that tariffs would magically make life better, but all they've done is driven up costs and fucked with people's livelihoods. We learned this week that the Trump administration is considering a 107% tariff on Italian pasta. As if Andrew Cuomo's November wasn't bad enough, Italian pasta makers are pleading with the administration to reverse course, saying stuff like mama mi 107%. That's a spicy meatball. And it's me, Mario, telling my wife where to find the life insurance policy while a sobbing, Epstein alert. Epstein alert. Epstein alert.

[C]

Epstein alert.

[A]

All right, folks, we got an Epstein alert. Stay in your seats. It either means he's escaped his paddock or Epstein smack in the news. Yes, as the shutdown came to a close and Democrats returned to their natural state, complaining about how Democrats never have a message, in part because Democrats prefer talking about how Democrats never have a message instead of actually having one. The House Oversight Committee made public for the first time a massive trove of Jeffrey Epstein emails. And I hope he's dead, because if not, I he'd die of embarrassment. So many typos. There are 23,000 pages worth of correspondence, including emails between Epstein and his pimp girlfriend, Ghislaine Maxwell, and one email to reporter Michael Wolfe that said plainly Trump, quote, knew about the girls. Epstein's other emails, mostly rejections from the New Yorker shouts and murmurs section. It turns out that's actually why he killed himself, which is kind of Sad. In one 2011 email to Maxwell, Epstein wrote, I want you to realize that the dog that hasn't barked is Trump. Victims spent hours at my house with him. He has never once been mentioned. This is the main way that Trump is different from my dog, replied Maxwell. I have been thinking about that. And replied Atlantic editor in Chief Jeffrey Goldberg, I'm sorry, why am I on this? In January of 2019, in an email to Wolf, Epstein weighed in on the rumor that Trump kicked him out of Mar a Lago, saying, Trump said, he asked me to resign. Never a member ever. Of course he knew about the girls as he asked Ghislaine to stop. To stop what? Just like Epstein to leave us hanging. In response to a 2018 email from a New York Times reporter, Epstein said, Trump feels alone and is nuts. I told everyone from day one, evil beyond belief, mad. And most thought I was speaking metaphorically. It's obvious he could crack Stormy Daniels. Lies after lies after lies. It's like I'm always saying, if only America had listened to to Jeffrey Epstein. In one damning email, Epstein implies that he'll be spending time with Trump over the Thanksgiving holiday. Was this before Epstein's plea agreement in 2008? Was this before Trump claimed he had a falling out with Epstein? Was this before Epstein had apparently stole Virginia Giuffre who worked at Mar A Lago? No. According to this email, Epstein implies he was going to see Trump over Thanksgiving in 2017. While Trump was President of the United States. You can't pardon the turkeys then have Thanksgiving with a pedophile. You have to pick one. And these emails weren't bad enough for Trump. As the shutdown ended, Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, had run out of excuses for refusing to see Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who won her special election back in September and promised to be the 218th vote on a petition introduced by Republican Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna to force the release of the Epstein files by the Department of Justice. No, no, I knew what you meant by time to get shredding, said Casputel, awkwardly trying to hide a skateboard behind his back. ABC News reported that White House and DOJ officials met with Lauren Boebert to try to convince her to remove her name from the Epstein bill in a last ditch attempt to stop the vote from succeeding. But much like in the security footage of a Denver production of Beetlejuice, Boebert kept a firm hand. Boebert subsequently told reporters she is all in on the Epstein petition, telling the press, I'm a co sponsor of the bill. I'll force the vote. Yes, like her date at a family friendly musical, this vote is coming on Wednesday. Grijalva took the oath of office and soon after signed the petition. And with the bill now certain to head to the House floor, it looked like as many as 100 Republicans would add their names as well. Which means Trump has to go to plan C, loading all the Epstein files onto a speedboat in the Caribbean to blow it up by Hellfire missile. Massie explained his support for releasing the files even though he's a Republican.

[C]

You know, I vote with my party.

[A]

91% of the time, which means I agree with the have agreed with the President 91% of the time. Time. But they when they're protecting pedophiles, when they are blowing our budget, when they are starting wars overseas, I'm sorry, I.

[C]

Can'T go along with that.

[A]

Even if protecting pedophiles makes up less than 9% of the Republican agenda, it still seems like way too much. Like if Subway came out and said their bread was only 9% bird shit, I wouldn't say my cold cut trio was 91% awesome. I would not eat there. All of this has left Trump fuming and floundering in his gilded cage. His bullying isn't working on Republicans anymore. The administration is now saying the Epstein story is a hoax and a distraction from their victory. According to White House spokesperson Caroline Levitt, it is not a coincidence that the Democrats leaked these emails to the fake news this morning ahead of Republicans reopening the government. This is another distraction campaign by the Democrat and the liberal media and it's why I'm being asked questions about Epstein instead of the government reopening because of Republicans and President Trump. But also, Caroline Levitt is making the point that the shutdown permanently ruined their proof of how good the economy is. The Democrats may have permanently damaged the federal statistical system with October CPI and jobs reports likely never being released. And all of that economic data released will be permanently impaired, leaving our policymakers at the Fed flying blind at a critical period. The shutdown ate their homework in the midst of a shutdown. Democrats performed so well in the election, it's made Republicans afraid that their gerrymanders might actually cost them House seats. The shutdown successfully focused the entire country on Trump's failure to deliver on his promise to make the necessities of life more affordable and and the end of the shutdown has turned the nation's focus entirely onto the administration's cover up of the Epstein files, which can only lead us to one Chuck Schumer should resign as Senate leader and run for President. We've got a great show for you tonight coming up. I've got questions and Henry Winkler has answers. We'll be right back. Hey, don't go anywhere.

[C]

There's more of Love it or Leave it coming up.

[A]

Love it or Leave it is brought to you by Laundry Sauce. The holidays are in full swing. Celebrations, gatherings, cozy nights in, and all the chaos that comes with the season. One thing that doesn't take a break? Laundry. Whether you're hosting, family, heading out for parties, or just trying to keep up with the holiday rush, one thing's for sure, laundry doesn't quit. Enter the Laundry Sauce signature and essential packages, your secret weapon for making laundry feel just as festive as the rest of the season. From fresh and vibrant to warm and indulgent, these packages deliver the complete experience. Premium detergent pods, scent boosters, dryer sheets, and more. All designed to infuse your laundry with high end fragrance fight stains and make every load feel effortlessly elevated. Tommy, do you like to make every load feel effortlessly elevated? I do. And this season it gets even better with Himalayan Cashmere, their first ever hypoallergenic fragrance created to be gentle on even the most sensitive skin. A soft blend of airy florals, sweet sweet pear and warm amber wraps you in an instant comfort, while creamy sandalwood and Himalayan musk brings a sense of cozy Sophistication. Like slipping into the perfect cashmere sweater by the fire. With a subscription, you'll never run out. You can get any laundry sauce package delivered on your schedule of flexible options and exclusive perks. You will be so happy. Load after load after load after load. Tommy, no heavy bottles, no emergency trips. Does everything you need exactly when you need it. Smell amazing. Stay stocked and make this holiday season your best smelling one yet. We love laundry sauce. Great scents, great sense. Great, great product. This holiday season, turn your routine into a ritual with laundry sauce. During our Black Friday Cyber Monday signature sale, you'll save up to 40%. Get $75 in free gifts and free [e-mail] Love it. It's the perfect time to treat yourself or gift the world's most luxurious detergent to someone you love. That's laundrysauce.com love it. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half the price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah. Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow. After 35 gigabytes of network's busy, taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com and we're back. Please welcome to the stage a television icon, a living legend, the one and only, Henry Winkler. Wow, look at that. Come on. Ready with a bit. That's why he's the best. Come on. Thank you for being here.

[C]

I am so happy. How did you pick this place? It's closer to New York than it is to my house.

[A]

I don't know. Yeah, but it's a nice theater.

[C]

It is a nice place.

[A]

It's like Koreatown. You can get Korean barbecue if you want.

[C]

You mean close?

[A]

Close enough, yeah. Do you ever have Korean popcorn? Do you have Korean barbecue ever?

[C]

I've had Korean barbecue once and I had to work too hard to eat it. Do you know I had to make it myself. Yeah.

[A]

So you recently celebrated your 80th birthday?

[C]

I did.

[A]

Thank you. Thank you.

[C]

You know, and it was so hard for me to actually wrap my tongue around the number. People would say, so how old are you now? And I would go, I could not say.

[A]

Huh.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Do you think it makes it less true when you don't say it?

[C]

It does not make it less true. No. My knees are 80. Yeah. They sometimes take an Uber home on their own.

[A]

Well, in celebration of this milestone, I'm here. We're introducing a segment called 80 for 80.

[C]

80 for.

[A]

For those at home. We are.

[C]

Is that me?

[A]

That is a version of you. Of what could have been. Yeah. This is 80 for 80 in the style of 80 for Brady. Yeah, I think we look great.

[C]

No.

[A]

And so we have. We're going to try to get through as many of 80 questions as we can. In honor of your 80th birthday, Milwaukee, Wisconsin officially declared October 30th. Henry Winkler Day. Happy Days was set in Milwaukee. They previously have erected the bronze Fonz.

[C]

Yes.

[A]

Do you have to be able to pull off a leather jacket to achieve your level of acclaim, you think?

[C]

Do you know, I was not able to wear leather in the beginning. I had to wear cloth because ABC thought I would be associated with crime. So. And it very hard to be cool in cloth. I am not kidding. The collar did not stay up.

[A]

It's very funny to imagine a time in which this was dangerous. This sweet character with his leather jacket and white T shirt. We had Rob Reiner on and Rob Reiner had played a tough in the style of the Fonz where he had worn a leather jacket. But it's like, I'm sorry, but this is just a sweet Jewish boy on a motorcycle.

[C]

Well, they wanted a tall Italian and they got a short Jew. That is true. But I loved it. I really did. I loved. And you know, my parents would. Were shorter than I was and they were from Germany and they were really not supportive at all. And they would call me Dummet, which means dumb dog.

[A]

What? Yes.

[C]

Because I'm very dyslexic, so I didn't do well. I'm in the bottom 3% academically in America. And then that jacket, I called my parents, I said, well, Dumahunt's jacket is now in the Smithsonian.

[A]

Wow. Did you ever feel insecure about being short?

[C]

I feel insecure about almost every single thing. It is only in the last 10 years I saw myself as a. Honest to God, as a block of Swiss chees filled with holes. And in the last 10 years I have tried to make myself into a block of cheddar.

[A]

What is it? So you really feel like. So when you were. When you turned 70, you were carrying some of the insecurities you carried when you were being called?

[C]

Without a doubt.

[A]

Really?

[C]

Yes.

[A]

And in the last decade you shed.

[C]

Some because, you know, unless you actually do some work, you are who you are. And that doesn't go away. No matter what changes your age, your physicality, the inside pretty much stays the same. It is really up to you to make yourself more whole.

[A]

And do you think you talked about being dyslexic? One of the children's book that's just coming out. Right. Or one of the children's books you've written recently.

[C]

Okay. Can I brag?

[A]

Yes. All right.

[C]

The 40th. My 40th children's book came out September 30th. Thank you. Can I. I would like to say, and no pressure at all, but the holidays are coming, and I. It's about a little duckling who dreams about being a detective. And she's an environmentalist. Yeah.

[A]

And the duck is not dyslexic.

[C]

The duck is not dyslexic.

[A]

But. But the. There's an overachiever.

[C]

The writer is.

[A]

Yes.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But didn't you write Hank Zipser?

[C]

Hank Zipser. 28 novels about a little boy, Me. Okay, Great. Great story. PS 87. I went to PS 87 on 78, just up the block from where I was born and raised and grew up on 78th between Broadway and Amsterdam. So P.S. 87. And I went there, and I read Hank Zipser because he also goes to PS 87. You write what you know. And so I. I went to one, an award show, and there was Timothee Chalamet. And I went up and I said, I have to shake your hand. Cause you are really terrific at what you do. He said, I'm a hugger. And so he gave me a hug. I was thrilled. And then he said, the first time you came to PS 87 with Hank Zipser, I was in the fourth grade, and I was in the audience when you read the book.

[A]

Oh, my God. Wow. Wow. Little Timothy.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

But the boy in that book has dyslexia.

[C]

He is me.

[A]

He is you. Yes. And you had dyslexia.

[C]

So the emotionality of that little boy in the book is true. And the comedy. My writing partner, Lynn Oliver, the comedy, we made up.

[A]

But I guess what I'm asking is, do you think your insecurities came from dyslexia? Like, how much of a role has dyslexia played in driving you? Well, you.

[C]

I took geometry for four years, same course. I took it in regular school and in summer school. Regular school, summer school, regular school, summer school. And I finally passed it with a D minus so I could go to the one college that accepted me, Emerson in Boston. And thank you. Yeah. I got in and I nearly got kicked out, but I got in. And from that day in August of 1963 that I passed with a D minus, not one person has ever said hypotenuse to me.

[A]

But sometimes you're figuring out which direction to go, and then you think, I.

[C]

Know my left because it's the arm I stick out the window when I'm driving. That's how I know my left.

[A]

Really? I struggle with that, too. You know what I struggle with? I have to get in the map. Like on Friends. I gotta rotate whatever direction I'm facing. I gotta turn the map fully around.

[C]

Is that true?

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

I can't read the map.

[A]

Boy, we'd be terrible in the Amazing Race. Or would we?

[C]

That is. I'm fascinated by that show, but I know my limitations. When you have to make a doll out of leaves and have somebody who doesn't speak your language at all nod that you've made it the doll correctly, I would be. I would still be there.

[A]

Plus, they have to connect their flights a lot. They gotta connect. So when you. You didn't get diagnosed with dyslexia until you were 31?

[C]

I wasn't diagnosed. My stepson Jed was in the third grade. Very verbal, very funny. Couldn't get his homework done. And we had him tested, and everything they said about Jed was true about me. And then I realized, oh, my God, I'm not a domohund. I've got something with a name.

[A]

You want to hear an opposite story? I do. About confidence. When I was a little boy. Where did you grow up? Long Island. Okay. And I was what town? Syosset.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

I was very good at math. I was very good at math, but I was not a good reader. Right. It turned out that I was seeing double some of the time, which was a hindrance. But the teacher led me to a section in the library that had the easy to read books. And so I went home and I told my mom, I've done it again, Mom. They brought me to this section of the library for the kids that find it easy to read. Are there any roles you wish you had taken but ended up passing on for logistical reasons or things that just didn't happen?

[C]

No. You know, I always thought that if I was supposed to do something, it would have happened. But I was offered Grease, Danny Zuko. And I thought, you know, I've done the FONZ now for 10 years. I've got to move on. So I said no. I went home. I had a ginger Alex and then John Travolta. Took the role. He went home and bought a plane. Who?

[A]

Listen, here's the thing. Here's the thing. You buy a plane, now you gotta think about what's happened with my plane. Where is it being kept? Who's keeping an eye on it.

[C]

It's true.

[A]

It's a lot of work having a plane.

[C]

It's true, it's true. You know, yeah, I could have donated it to Qatar, but.

[A]

So you have a TV series, Hazardous History with Henry Winkle.

[C]

Yes, I'm on that now. So I've never done this before. And of course this is crazy because the show is on the History channel. It is about all of the crazy stuff that people did, either for entertainment or to make money. I'll give you an example. Seven up. Born 1927. Bubbly, refreshing, citrusy. And the tagline was we will take the edge off because it was laced with lithium.

[A]

Oh, God, what a time that was. What a time. What a time where people were like, oh, do you have a headache? We have this new thing, heroin.

[C]

No joke. I did that. But Anyway, we did eight episodes and they just picked us up for 30. Thank you. Now here's the crazy thing. All I do is read on that show, I have to read copy for days. And I read the Tale of Two Cities. Well, I didn't. I read the COVID Thank you.

[A]

Do you.

[C]

I like that woman.

[A]

But you've been a. You've. Do you have like a technique to deal with the fact that sometimes dyslexia makes it hard for you to learn lines?

[C]

Like what I. You know what I did, I would audition. I would memorize as much as I possibly could. I would then during the audition forget. And I ad libbed and they said, excuse me, that is not what we wrote. I said, I'm giving you the essence of the character. It worked.

[A]

Wow. Do you think it might have something to do with your raw charisma and kind of an energy that captivated to.

[C]

Even think about that I had raw anything. I'm not kidding. I was just fighting for my life.

[A]

Do you remember starring in the short lived 1994 sitcom Monty?

[C]

Oh my God. So I read the. Written by one of the people who was writing for Gary David Goldberg at the time. And it was so funny, but it was so controversial. I would play Rush Limbaugh with a gay daughter and it was so funny. And I called and I said, I'm so sorry, I can't do it. And then I would think about it. And I called him up and I said, well, I rethought and no, I can't do it. And the third time I said yes. So I learned a big lesson from this show because we did it. And then somebody at NBC saw it and said, not on my network. And so I had tickets to go to New York for the upfronts, you know, where they sell time for advertisers. And then they took my ticket away, and then we sold it to Fox. So Fox, they had the brilliant idea, we're not gonna have a gay daughter. They, David Schwimmer is going to go to college and study law, but come back and want to be a chef. That was the controversy.

[A]

So instead of a gay daughter, it was a son. That was like cooking, because that was very. People don't remember this. In the early 90s, cooking was coded as very gay.

[C]

Except I don't believe that. But here it is. This is the lesson. When you say yes to something and they tried to bastardize it. Go home. Do not. Do not go down that path. It never works out well or good.

[A]

Cause, you know, I made this show called 1600 Pen.

[C]

But it was a good show.

[A]

It was a great show. But the original pitch was that was a much like darker comedy. And the first lady was gonna be, like, raunchy and cheating on the president. It was gonna be a darker show. And I remember being on a notes call with some studio executives, and they were like, we love it, but have you thought about. Think about this. Instead of the first lady being a drunk who's sleeping with the Secret Service agents and hates her husband, what if she is a working mom trying to have it all? And I was like, well, I don't know that that's as funny. And they were like, well, if you don't do it, I don't know that you're gonna make this show. And I thought, I'm gonna go home and write what they're asking for.

[C]

No, but I understand that. I mean, this is your dream of getting a show. You now have a shot at getting it produced. You're trying to make yourself into a pretzel. And here's the lesson that you then put in a dog, and then you put in a best friend, and then you take out a character that might be African American, and they cancel you. And you say, but I did everything you said. And they went, that was your first mistake.

[A]

That's interesting. It's a lot to think about. It's a lot to think about.

[C]

It's true.

[A]

So Happy days airs in 1974, but was set in the 50s so if we were to make a Show now in 2025, it would be set in the 2000s. So your character had obviously famous catchphrases. I'm gonna work here would be the Fonz catchphrases. See which one of these you would take for a show made in 2025, about the 2000s. Are you ready?

[C]

Yes, I am.

[A]

Omdebomb.com check out the bling biatch. Talk to the hand because the face ain't listening. That's gay. Biatch. Nuts. One final question. Yes?

[C]

Wait a minute. Did we go through 80?

[A]

It felt like it.

[C]

It did.

[A]

Do you have. Was there anything about turning 80 that have you have advice or wisdom that suddenly come to you that you realize you turn 80, then all of a sudden, like, I gotta tell the people.

[C]

If I have advice at all? I learned to be quiet about advice. I used to have advice about everything and people would say to me, so you played a cool guy. How am I cool? How do I get to be cool? And my advice is to be authentically who you are, which is magnetic and powerful and cool.

[A]

I like that. I like that. Henry Winkler, thank you so much.

[C]

I'm.

[A]

So you say you're going to stay. We'll be right back with Mohammer. Hey, don't go anywhere.

[C]

There's more of Love it or Leave it coming up.

[A]

Love it or Leave it is brought to you by policygenius. With rising costs, sometimes you're shocked by how expensive things are. But when it comes to life insurance, 72% of Americans actually overestimate the cost of what life insurance will be. Policy Genius makes finding and buying life insurance fast, easy, and surprisingly affordable. So if something happens to you, your loved ones have a financial safety net. With PolicyGenius, real users have gotten 20 year $2 million policies for just $53 a month. Policy Genius helps you compare your options by getting quotes for America's top insurers in just a few clicks. To find coverage that fits your needs and your budget, talk to a team of licensed agents who will walk you through the process step by step. They'll answer questions, handle paperwork, advocate for you. Throughout the process, PolicyGenius lays out all the options clearly. Coverage, amounts, prices, terms, no guesswork. Life insurance is a form of financial planning, and Policy Genius is the country's leading online insurance marketplace. Policy Genius has thousands of five star reviews on Google and trustpilot and customers who found the best policy fit for their needs. Secure your family's future with Policygenius. Head to policygenius.com lovett to compare life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save. That's policygenius.com hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month New customer offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow hacker 35 gigabytes of networks Busy taxes and fees extra c mintmobile.com Our next guest has been Mohammed in Texas. Now he's waiting patiently backstage. Please put your hands together for the hilarious Mo Ammer. Hi, Mo.

[B]

Hi.

[A]

Thanks for being here.

[B]

Thank you for having me. Henry Winkler. So cool.

[A]

You get used to it in a minute.

[B]

Yeah, you're right. It's old, so. I can't believe you're 80. You look beautiful, baby.

[C]

Thank you very much. I can't believe it myself.

[B]

God bless you.

[A]

Thanks.

[B]

I definitely won't look like that when I'm 80.

[A]

You're putting on some city miles?

[B]

I think so, yeah. Some global miles. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[C]

But you've just been all over the world.

[B]

I have, yes.

[C]

On your tour.

[B]

I did. I did my son. And that's what keeps me young, is my little boy.

[A]

Really?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I think that would age you faster.

[B]

Honestly, I've never felt worse. You're right. It's really hard, man. He always wants me to sit on the floor. I don't want to sit on the floor. I can barely sit in this chair, to be honest with you.

[A]

Yeah. I see him doing good. John and Tommy have kids and they seem exhausted. I'm like, I'm tired too, from watching all these streaming shows.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

So, Mo, you have a Peabody Award winning Netflix show called Mo.

[B]

Thank you.

[A]

In the second season, your character is seeking asylum in the U.S. it came out on January 30th.

[B]

Correct.

[A]

Are you disappointed with how timely it feels?

[B]

Yeah, probably on some level. You know, you always dream about making it and you always think about it. And I've always had just such a love for storytelling. I never thought in my life I would ever be releasing a show that is depicting a Palestinian family living in Texas while everything is happening in the backdrop. It was easily one of the most gut wrenching, artistic things I've ever done in my life. Yeah, this got really quiet. Really Quickly, so you.

[A]

Because just for people that know you're Palestinian, you were born in Kuwait.

[B]

That's correct.

[A]

You were a refugee living in Houston.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

And so I think the question.

[B]

Refugee living in Houston.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Seeking asylum. Fuck, yeah.

[A]

And the question that people have about it, though, it's like, what are the best places to eat?

[B]

Yes. Ironically, some of the best sushi I've ever had in the world. Katarabas.

[A]

Oh, come on.

[B]

I'm dead serious. The best Indian food I've ever had in my life. It's in Houston. It's called Agas. Incredible. Yeah.

[A]

So, like, it does seem like this is. This show is coming out at a time when Americans are learning more about asylum, learning more about the refugee process.

[B]

Like what?

[A]

But why? What? Like, just talk about what made it such a wrenching thing to be making this show that is kind of inspired by your own experience.

[B]

Sure. Well, it took me 20 years to get my citizenship, and I've always been highly, highly sensitive about immigration and what it actually takes to get your asylum. And layered with the fact that I'm Palestinian, and no one really understands what that is. And certainly what's happened in the last two years has been. You know, I don't even know how to describe it other than the devastation. And so it comes with an immense amount of responsibility, like, how are you gonna tell this story? And what are you gonna do in a post 10-7-world? And do you even jump into that or not? And I tussled with it a lot. I went back and forth so many times, and I realized that that was like a clear trap. You know, if I did jump into that, the show became didactic, and you really didn't know anything about the characters. And then I had this vision of taking the family to the west bank, and that would obviously not work as well. And then the show would come out a year after you film. So all the. There's so many things that are gonna unfold within that year as well. So you could pretty much time yourself out in a way where it makes it irrelevant. So I made it very, very clear and very purposeful that I was gonna focus on everything that happened pre October 7th. What kind of world was it like, not only as an immigrant living in Houston, but as a Palestinian? What was that world as a family? And kind of consistently in that. And it's really contextual, too, because if you do entertain that, then it becomes about that event and makes it look like this all started after October 7, which is not true as well, historically. So it was Just a lot of responsibility. And coupled with the fact that it's filmed in Houston, it's the first ever narrative sitcom filmed in Houston. And I wanted Houston to be a backdrop and a character.

[A]

So.

[B]

So many things to think about. And. Yeah, and that's why I made those choices. And even the season finale, it ends up on October 6th, you know. Yeah.

[A]

And you mentioned being. You mentioned not wanting to be didactic. And I do think that there's something that has happened in the way that politics intercedes into scripted television like fiction. And there is a kind of. I don't know, often a lack of trust or insecurity on the part of the filmmaker, lack of trust in the audience to let a story just be a story. Like, there's always now a moment in some kind of a piece of culture where the main character kind of turns to the camera and says, let me tell you what the lesson is of all this.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's hard to avoid, right, that feeling like, oh, I need to tell people what I'm trying to tell them.

[B]

Yeah, it is hard to avoid. But in this scenario, it wasn't like, I did entertain it, and I did, you know, in our very small writing room, and. And we did try to have these. We did absolutely have very difficult conversations, and we had to. I think any writing room, any creative situation, you must do that to get to whatever story you want to tell. And this situation is based off of my life, so I knew what the foundation of this was. So every time I entertained it, it definitely felt like it was taking away from the whole story as it all. We lost everything about each character's identity, what they were going through, what they were filtering through their emotions. And I think the best way to tell any, really, is to focus on each character and allow them to grow throughout the season. Also, on top of that, I'm a comedy. I'm making a comedy show. This is not a drama. So it's very, very. It's a slippery slope if you get in there. It felt like it was absolutely the wrong move. And it would be indulgent if I did that and become maybe from my ego, not really from what the story is needing.

[A]

That's good. There's a lot of people that think, oh, this is indulgent. I like how it feels.

[B]

No, I didn't. I didn't at. It was. It was really, really painful. It was super painful. And I'm recreating memories with. With, you know, my grandmother is no longer here, or my uncle is no longer here, or My father is no longer here. I mean, the. The amount of times that I, you know, I had to walk away. You know, I was directing, I was acting, I was showrunning. I was, like, doing all these. Wearing all these hats, and inside, I'm just dying. So many times. I've probably died I don't know how many times, but it felt like I died, like, a dozen times making the show.

[A]

And one thing you've talked about, too, is that being Palestinian is such a. It requires somehow being first. Right? Like, you don't just get to be leading a sitcom, you're a Palestinian leading a sitcom. And I'm wondering if you feel like you're gonna be on the other side of that feeling, like you'll get to just be a funny person, or if you feel like that somehow that's kind of. I don't know, that the culture makes it so central.

[B]

I gotta say, this is the best interview I've had in years, to be honest with you. Most people don't know how to ask these questions, but I absolutely feel that way. It's very frustrating. Early on in my career, it was always like, Arab American comedian or Muslim comedian. It's all these attached things to who I actually am. But I do feel like it was an important. An honesty thing with me and the audience. It was like, this is who I am. This is where I come from. Cause it's always these questions that come. Oh, wait, you're born in Kuwait, though, but aren't you Kuwaiti? Like, yeah, no, I'm not. It's where your parents come from. It's an ancestral thing. Oh, okay. So then you're Palestinian, so you go to Palestine. No, no, no, I can't go back to Palestine. All these questions would arise. So it became like, this trust between me and the audience. You have to know where I come from, you know, the whole story. I'm also a Texan, you know, and just kind of covering all of that. And now I do feel like I'm on the other side of that. And quite frankly, what's happened is in the last few years, I've never felt freer in my life. This is the most free, creatively I've ever been. It's always, you know, I'm kind of walking on eggshells. I felt like in certain scenarios, and I feel so relieved that I did go through that, and I'm so grateful, you know, that I stuck to my guns and I really just went through that, you know, it felt like a fire, you know, it really did But I do feel like I'm on the other side of that.

[A]

That it's beautiful.

[B]

Henry, help me out. So it's a rough crowd.

[A]

No, I think they're just listening. I think they're just listening.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. No, no, no, I. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. That's all I wanted to hear.

[A]

Yeah. Cuz you. You know what, Can I just say one thing?

[C]

Can. Do I have to use my mic?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. Okay.

[C]

So I just want to say one thing. You in what you just said, you said I stuck to my guns. And ultimately that is one of the lessons of living on this planet.

[A]

Kate, don't go anywhere.

[C]

There's more of Love it or leave it coming up.

[A]

Love it or leave it is brought to you by Bombas this time of year at sensory overload. But one feeling we're still chasing cozy. And Bombas has the socks, slippers and basically everything to get you there. There's something weirdly therapeutic about fresh socks and the sock. Scientists at BOMBAS have found a way to channel that energy into everything from slippers with sink in cushioning to the perfect fitting ankle sock. And that feeling, it doesn't stop after one wear. It keeps going. They've got answers for all your questions too. Like, what do I get my son's new marathon training girlfriend? Bombas running socks have sweat wicking and impact cushioning. What about the neighbor's fussy newborn baby? Bombas fit like a hug. And they're designed to feel soft and stay snug on even the weakliest of toes. Bombas is really stepping up their slipper and slide game this season. They've got new shapes, new styles, fluffy things, suede things, a little something for every foot. And if there's one thing Bombas knows, it is feet. That's what the scientists are focused on. That's the part they cover the most. And we haven't gotten to the best part. For every pair of Bombas you purchase, Bombas donates one on your behalf to someone facing homelessness. So anytime you get something cozy, someone else does too. I love Bombas. I wear them basically every day. They're my go to socks. I have the, I'm trying the Gen Z style socks. They're the ones that go higher, whatever they're called now I feel like ankle socks look wrong. I'm like, my brain's changing sucks. But I have the vintage ones. They look cool. I really like them. They're super comfortable. I wear them constantly. Head over to bombas.com Love It. And use code Love It. For 20% off your first purchase, that's B O-M-B-A-S.com LoveIt code. Love it at checkout. Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half. Half price, not half the service. Mint is still premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day. Yeah. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to 15 per month. Required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed flow 135 GB of networks busy. Taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com there's one thing that Jewish people and Palestinian people have in common. It is that gentiles will be playing us in TV and film. At least historically speaking. Shout out to mo. Streaming now on Netflix. That's why we are going to rank the most egregious faux semites in silver screen history in a segment we're calling Halal in the Trey Family. Halal in the Trey Fam. Here's how this game works. This will be a blind ranking so you will not know which artificial, which artificial Arab or junk pile Jew will be named next. The next. It's fine. It's fine. I just want to be clear to everybody. We think this game is fine. We think it's fine.

[B]

I thought making my show was hard. This is it.

[A]

We think that this game is fine. So we are going to rank. We are going to rank these gentiles playing semites on a scale from halal and kosher to haram and traf. The most kosher halal will be number one. The one that's the most haram Traf will be number eight. Okay. Okay, here we go. First up. And again, you don't know who will be next.

[B]

Are they going to come up on screen? Okay, cool.

[A]

First up we have Cillian Murphy as a theoretical physicist, J. Robert Eimer in 2023's Oppenheimer. Here's the real Oppenheimer. It looked exactly like comedian. And next week, guess Pat Regan.

[B]

Oh, my God. He does a little bit.

[A]

Yeah. So we have Cillian Murphy playing Oppenheimer. What do we think on our scale?

[C]

I'm going two.

[A]

Two. You think he was a good? Do you think he was a good?

[C]

I think he was good.

[A]

I think he did a good job.

[C]

Oh, my God.

[A]

I think it was a good performance. I was missing a little Kishkus you know what I mean? I was, I was.

[B]

Yeah. So much kish kiss was missing. I, I. You know, this game is like they're tricking us a little bit. You gotta know they're gonna set us up. You know, they're putting it up there. So if you put them too high, then you might be in a tricky situation.

[C]

I understand. I'm sticking to my guns.

[A]

Okay, next up, we have.

[B]

2 it is.

[A]

2 it is. Next up, we have Ralph Fiennes voicing the Pharaoh Ramses in 1998's Prince of Egypt.

[B]

Eight.

[A]

No, eight.

[B]

You don't even need to finish.

[A]

That's an eight for you. That's an eight immediately.

[B]

They're all eight eights.

[A]

Why don't you just think for a moment about the advice you gave TV legend Henry Winkler a moment ago.

[B]

I'm going to add a nine on there.

[A]

All right, next up. All right, we're going to put him at 8. Unless Henry Weakler chimes in, it's going.

[B]

To be an eight.

[A]

No, no. You should tell Mo he's wrong about this.

[C]

I'm. I will not do that.

[A]

And again, we think that this game is fine.

[B]

Wait, Jafar is gonna be next, too? I think so. 7. Can I change 7? There's gonna be a Jafar something in there.

[A]

Next up, we have Rachel Brosnahan as comedian Midge Maisel in Amazon prime videos. And marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She was good.

[C]

Two.

[A]

Two? What do you think? Two?

[B]

You already had two.

[A]

You already have two.

[B]

That's why I told you you shouldn't put them at two.

[C]

I'm okay with that. I thought she was great. I think she's great, too, and she's a lovely person.

[B]

Oh, then you should have given her one if you thought that much.

[C]

Not that lovely.

[A]

Just kidding.

[B]

We're losing in this game. We got 2A and 2B.

[A]

Yeah, I know. The judges are going to be furious with me. Okay, they're back there. All right, next up, we have Alec Guinness as Prince Faisal in 1962's Lawrence of Arabia.

[B]

20.

[A]

It's pretty bad.

[B]

A solid 20.

[A]

Pretty bad. It's pretty bad. Now, you were telling us backstage that you also turned this part down, right? Henry Winkler.

[B]

Well, that would have been a 2.

[C]

I was there at the beginning of film, but I. I thought he was wonderful.

[B]

Do you really?

[A]

I really.

[C]

He's such a good actor, this guy.

[A]

Yeah, makeup's tough, but he was a good actor because he also wasn't a Jedi.

[B]

Okay, let's just. Why, you guys? I gotta soften up for him.

[A]

No, you don't. You don't.

[B]

Okay. All right. Okay.

[C]

Go with nine.

[B]

It's your fault. You know everybody. That's the problem.

[C]

I never met him. I just. I. I was a lovely person.

[B]

We had coffee.

[A]

76.

[C]

No, but I. I met.

[A]

I met. You met him.

[C]

No, I never met him. I wish I had, though.

[B]

Just stayed over at his house on weekends or something. I just do. I had seven before. Let's go.

[A]

Six. Six. Okay, okay, okay.

[B]

I'll just. Final answer.

[A]

Next up, we have Rachel McAdams as Orthodox Jewish lesbian, SD Cooperman.

[B]

Sorry, I don't mean to laugh. I apologize. It's really funny.

[C]

I don't think I saw it.

[B]

But just based off of the two, you can't. Somebody's got to be down on the list.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

Why is it you guys are more, like, okay with the roles that they're playing and clearly how racist. The shit that I'm watching, it's like, much, much worse.

[A]

Yeah, it's interesting.

[B]

Okay. Yeah. Patterns. Interesting. Yeah, it is.

[A]

Next up, we have Antonio Bandera. I'm going to say that's a three. We're going to.

[B]

That's a solid three, right?

[A]

That's a three.

[B]

Yeah. Maybe a four.

[A]

Antonio Banderas as Ahmed bin Fadlan in 1999's the 13th Warrior. Jesus.

[B]

We're getting closer, you know?

[A]

Yeah, we're getting closer. Getting warmer.

[B]

Yeah, I'm saying, like, at least the complexion is there. You know what I mean?

[A]

You know what would be cool?

[C]

What number?

[B]

Oh, well, you being so pushy all of a sudden. You're right. You're right. It does wear off after a few minutes. God. Somebody get him a leather jacket. It's raining outside. I'm just kidding. I'm so sorry.

[A]

No, no, no, it's all right.

[B]

I love you so much.

[C]

It's your soul.

[B]

Yeah. Fuck. Six.

[A]

Six. Okay, okay, okay. You know what's interesting? The name Antonio Banderas is a beautiful name. But then if you met somebody in English whose name was Tony Flaggs, it would also be cool.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I'm Tony Flaggs.

[C]

Cool.

[A]

Different cool, though.

[B]

Different energy.

[A]

Antonio Banderas, Antonio. Tony Flags. It's cool.

[B]

I love it.

[A]

All right, next up.

[B]

He's concerned.

[A]

He is. Ah, he's good. Felicity Jones is Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in 2018's on the Basis of Sex. You know, it's hard. You know what's hard? It's not. The portrayal of Arabs has a much more racial element in the photos. I'll say and the Jewish portrayals. What's not coming across in these photos is the lack of Jewish energy in the performances. Because we had David Krumholtz on the show last week, and he was in Oppenheimer. You've gotta love him.

[C]

I worked with him when he was 13.

[A]

Yes. On Monty. On Monty.

[C]

He was my son.

[A]

He was your son On Monty.

[B]

Yes, of course.

[A]

But when he shows up in Oppenheimer.

[C]

Can I just say, I don't care whether she was good or not, as a Jewess, I would date her.

[A]

And that's a two. And that's a two.

[B]

That's also a two.

[A]

And that's gonna have to be a two. But Cromwell shows up in Oppenheimer and it's like, all. And it's Cillian Murphy sitting across him. And I agree, he did a great job performing it, but that's a guy with bagels in his pockets. You know what I'm saying?

[B]

I don't know what you're saying.

[C]

Honest. Truth is, he is. David Krumholtz is limitless. He is one of those actors who just is good at everything. He is just good.

[B]

Can I get that sound bite? I want to put Mo in the middle of it.

[A]

We can. We'll do Sora, too.

[B]

Good.

[C]

At everything.

[B]

Thank you. For God's sakes, let's get that.

[A]

Want to see the last one?

[B]

It was really bad, wasn't it?

[A]

Let's show the last one.

[B]

Show the last one.

[A]

It's Eugene Levy as Mr. Habib in Father the Bride Part 2.

[B]

That's 55. Just the. Just the Chaschutz Chaschuts being thrown around. Solid, solid. 75. 100. It's 100. It's a. Look at her. She's not even feeling good about the whole situation. She's like. I don't know. They named him Mr. Habib. Like, this is not right. He spit on my face three times just trying to pretend he's speaking Arabic. This is rough. Yeah, it's not good. I love him, though.

[A]

He's a great actor.

[B]

We had coffee one time, he and I. No, we didn't.

[A]

What's interesting is you've achieved such a level of success that they didn't know you were choking.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's exciting.

[B]

That's how I am out here. Me and Henry are about to go do the town here in a second. No, no.

[C]

No, no. And it has nothing to do with you.

[B]

Oh, I know. I got the sound bite. What the hell do I care?

[A]

Nice. I think I'm out of questions.

[B]

Special's called Wild World, by the way.

[A]

Special's called that's what I wanted to say. The title of the special is called Wild World on Netflix.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Which you can check out and. And the show is called Mo, also on Netflix.

[B]

That's correct.

[A]

Everybody check it out. And you can watch Henry's show, Hazardous History on the History Channel and pick up Henry's book, Detective the Mystery at Emerald Pond. It turns out that the mystery is how did Epstein kill himself?

[B]

It's a children's book, for God's sakes.

[C]

Ergo, Epstein.

[A]

We'll be right back.

[C]

Be right back.

[A]

And we're back. One note, thank you to everybody who came to CrookedCon and made it possible. Attendees, speakers, sponsors, we couldn't have done it without you. I really do appreciate everybody that came to CrookedCon. Appreciate everybody that helped put it together. Everybody on the team that worked so hard, really. It was something that took years for us to get to the place where we could do and to have the team in place that could put on something as big as that. I was generally blown away by, like, how much, how many great people participated and how, like, the conversations really did seem to go everywhere. Like, it really had a moment. And it felt like something that we built Crooked Media to do, which is to have a place that was a gathering point for everybody that believes in democracy, from the former Trump Republicans who have shown great personal courage in leaving that party behind all the way to the far left and trying to remember that we're all part of one big coalition, even when that can seem difficult. And it felt like a real proof that that was possible. So thank you. If you couldn't make it and want to hear the conversations, panels, and all the other fun stuff we got into, head to crookedcon.com we're posting a lot of it and you can also hear the panels on the Pod Save America podcast feed or YouTube channel. And sign [e-mail] for all the details on our next Crooked Con. Coming to you in 2026, just in time for the midterms. And next week, we'll be back at Dynasty. We have a live show with Hayley Kiyoko and Pat Regan, which will be fun. And on Tuesday, the next episode in my reality series Bravo America will be out with John Cochran of Survivor. All right, end of plugs. This week, Trump gave us an uplifting gem on Veterans Day with this moment.

[C]

If we die, we must die. And we as men would die without complaining.

[A]

Ironic, since he complains every second of every single day in a Celebratory refutation of his advice. My guests and I will each share a complaint because life is about enjoying complaining until we die in a segment we're calling no complaints. Now to the wheel. Wherever it lands, you complain about something.

[B]

Mo.

[A]

What's something you'd like to complain about?

[B]

Enough. Enough of two wheel luggage. I don't want to see two wheel luggage. You're dragging it behind you like an idiot. Like, stop. You're taking over too much real estate.

[C]

You get this.

[B]

Four wheels exists, okay? You can roll it smoothly next to you, it's perfect. If I see you with no wheels on your luggage, you and I are not friends ever, okay? If you're just carrying it, sweating like a lunatic, trying to get on a plane, smacking every other person when you're walking on the plane, you and I cannot operate in the same universe. That's it.

[A]

That was beautiful. That was beautifully said. And so important. And so important.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

And so important. Let's spin it again. You know what's funny? I forgot we had a whiteboard for ranking in the previous segment. Just didn't do it. I was supposed to write it down. I forgot.

[B]

Well, it's easy. It's all twos.

[A]

What a dummy. But I think if you had seen the previous twos, it would have been chastening, you know, and it would have led to maybe more respect for the format. I agree, but I didn't respect the format. And you know what? How are other people gonna respect my show if I don't respect my show?

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Another lesson that maybe Henry could say to other people. If you want to take that one, you could take it.

[C]

No, I'm gonna leave.

[A]

Has landed on Henry Winkler. What is something you'd like to complain about?

[C]

Okay, honestly, I want to complain about two wheel luggage.

[A]

I.

[C]

No, no kidding, Momo. I want to complain about the lack of listening. How did that happen? In supposedly the greatest country in the world, that critical thinking has just gone the way of, you know, clearing your plate into the garbage man.

[B]

I can't agree with you more, 100%. I cannot stand it. Everyone is just. They're not listening. They're just waiting to respond.

[C]

And in such a terrible way.

[B]

Terrible. Yeah, I agree with you.

[A]

This is a great show. Thanks for saying that.

[C]

Oh, my God, this was wonderful.

[A]

And.

[C]

And I enjoyed myself and enough.

[B]

I had such a great time.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And it had such a. This is the best. I don't want it to be over. I have a show at 9:30. I don't give a shit. About the show anymore.

[A]

Let's spin it again. I think really what I wanted to complain about is people just putting their phone. Watching things on their phone in public with the volume. I was.

[B]

Oh. With no headphones.

[A]

No headphones.

[B]

Oh my God.

[A]

And it's the decline of civilization. I was at a pizza place in New York because I was in New York. And if I'm in New York, I only have two meals a day. I have a bagel and then I have pizza. That's it. I have a bagel and I have pizza day after day after day after day. And I don't feel great when I leave. That's why I stop it. I can't stop it. So I was in a pizza place and there was a man at the table next to me on his phone watching videos. And it was a little bit annoying. And I go to take a bite of my pizza and when I say this man was watching what I can only imagine was just videos of women screaming. Just high pitched shrieking. And finally I just like. I like turned to him and I was like. Volume. He just looked back at me. What, are you gonna keep the fight going? You gotta move on. I'm a little man. I'm not. We're. I'm not. I'm not physical.

[B]

Did he turn it up?

[A]

I don't know that he. I don't know. Maybe it was a language. It was just. It was sort of like a. Kind of like a. And then back down into it.

[B]

It's awful.

[A]

It's. But what has happened to us?

[B]

I can't do it.

[A]

What has happened to people.

[B]

That's one of my biggest pet peeves though. For sure.

[A]

It's outta control. On the train. On the train. Yeah. On the train. On the subway. Everywhere.

[B]

Airplane. Airplane. It happens on an airplane. Diabolical that you say something.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

Immediately.

[A]

Now you say something. I. I pop up like a meerkat. If somebody in my area. I really do. I really do. And I will say something. I will say something.

[B]

Oh. I'm the guy. I'll say something too. 100.

[A]

And I think you have to have a. A sacred deal. And the deal is this. You can speak out about rude loudness. But that means you have to be super supportive of parents that have a loud baby. Yeah. And you have to be a def. The permission structure for being a scold of the volume is being a protector of the loud baby. And even though it is annoying.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's a loud baby.

[C]

The baby isn't.

[A]

The baby doesn't know. And the parents don't want to be on the plane with the baby. So you side with that and that gives you a little bit of a good feeling for the battles ahead. Yes, that's what I think.

[B]

My God. Nothing more stressful if your baby's being fussy on a flight. It's like you're just dying inside. You're looking around like this doesn't happen. I swear I'm trying. Just catastrophizing, thinking everyone wants to kill you. You know what I mean? For this baby, my son is a great traveler, but every once in a while he was like, yeah, you know, he wants to run, he wants to be free. He's not even two.

[A]

Not even two.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

And that's gonna make noise.

[B]

Yeah, it's gonna make noise. It's gonna make. It's funny.

[A]

What?

[B]

I'm just referring to a kid. Like, it's gonna make noise.

[A]

It is. I enjoyed this show.

[C]

I did, too. I did too.

[A]

It's Henry Winkler.

[B]

It's Henry Winkler. It's amazing.

[A]

It's Mo Amer. That is our show. We will see you next week at Dynasty typewriter. There are 353 days until the midterms. Have a great night and have a great weekend.

[C]

Thank you so much and a great holiday.

[A]

If you're already scrolling endlessly, which we know you are, don't forget to follow us at Crooked media on Instagram, TikTok and all the other ones for original content, community events and more. You can also find Love it or leave it on YouTube. YouTube for videos of your favorite segments and other YouTube exclusive content. And if you want to type our praises or rip us a new one, consider dropping us a review. Finally, you can join Crooked's Friends of the Pod subscription community for ad free. Love it or Leave it and Pod Save America episodes subscriber exclusive pods and more. Sign [e-mail] friends love it or Leave it is a Crooked Media production. It is written and produced by me, John Lovett and Lee Eisenberg. Kendra James is our executive producer. Bill McGrath is our producer and Kennedy Hill is our associate producer. Hallie Keefer is our head writer. Sarah Lazarus, Jocelyn Kaufman, Peter Miller, Alan Pierre and Subha Agrawal are our writers. Jordan Kanter is our editor. Kyle Seglin and Charlotte Landis provide audio support. Stephen Colon is our audio engineer. Our theme song is written and performed by Shirsher. Thanks to our designer, Sammy Caderna Rees for creating and running all of our visuals which you can't see because this is a podcast and thanks to our digital producers David Toles, Claudia Shang, Mia Kelman, Delon Villanueva and Rachel Gajewski for filming and editing video each week. Our head of Production is Matt de Groat and our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America east. The Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid has a bold design, a spacious interior with 232 horsepower and a 12.3-inch panoramic display to keep the adventure going and fit with the way you live. And with SiriusXM, every drive comes alive, bringing you closer to the music, sports talk and podcasts you love right in.

[C]

Your vehicle or on the SiriusXM app.

[A]

Every SiriusXM equipped Kia Sportage Turbo Hybrid includes a three month trial subscription to SiriusXM, so the experience begins the moment you drive. Learn [e-mail] Sportage Hybrid Kia Movement that inspires Are you ready to get spicy? These Doritos Golden Sriracha aren't that spicy. Maybe it's time to turn up the heat. Or turn it down. It's time for something that's not too spicy. Try Doritos Golden Sriracha Spicy but not too spicy.