Lovett or Leave It – "Night at the MAGAseum"

Date: August 23, 2025
Host: Jon Lovett
Guests: Tony Gilroy, Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette
Venue: Dynasty Typewriter, Los Angeles

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off a new season of Lovett or Leave It with Jon Lovett’s signature political satire and pop culture banter, performed live in Los Angeles. The main theme is a comedic, pointed breakdown of the current political climate, particularly focusing on how domestic and world leaders are handling Donald Trump’s ongoing influence. The episode balances news analysis with celebrity interviews—highlighted by in-depth, revealing conversations with filmmaker Tony Gilroy (Andor, Michael Clayton), and actors Adam Scott and Patricia Arquette (Severance).

1. Monologue & "What a Week": Trump and Global Politics

[00:00 – 19:04]

Main Points & Insights

• Lovett humorously charts world leaders’ changing reactions to Trump, likening them to the stages of grief before landing on "acceptance with depression"—or as he calls it, “the five stages of beef.”
• Recaps notorious Trump handshake moments: awkward, power-grabbing interactions with Macron and Shinzo Abe.
• Zelenskyy’s recent visit to the US: new sartorial choices (“you look fabulous in that suit” – [04:54]), adapting his behavior in the face of hostile questions and Trump’s disruptive influence.
• Lovett lampoons Trump's transactional approach to leadership and the corruption of democratic institutions:
  • Trump gifts, like the MAGA gift shop and a Trump 2028 hat, signal “his heaven is our hell.”
  • Trump’s PR stunts with Putin in Alaska, complaining about "woke" museums, and deploying the National Guard in D.C. for supposed public safety.
• Takedown of GOP efforts to redefine history and culture—including jokes about hiding artifacts from Trump’s legal team and mocking efforts to "de-woke-ify" the Smithsonian.
• Satirical segment on the border, “Kristi Noem painting the border wall black so it burns immigrants’ hands...incredible. The Washington Post also reports that ICE plans to spend millions on custom vehicles...with Trump's name in gold.” – [13:05]
• Lovett exposes the performativity and hollowness of MAGA-world "anti-woke" outrage, e.g., over the new Cracker Barrel logo (“When I go to Cracker Barrel, I want to see a cracker and a barrel.” – [16:56]).

Notable Quotes

• On Trump’s handshake:
  "A handshake shouldn’t last as long as sex.” – Lovett [02:22]
• On Trump’s afterlife:
  "His heaven is our hell.” – Lovett [07:15]
• On American democracy:
  “This country cannot be woke, because woke is broke. Quick, Trump's lawyers are coming—cover up that Sojourner Truth statue with the Seinfeld puffy shirt.” – Lovett [11:20]
• On rebranding:
  “This new logo fucking sucks. They’re claiming it’s woke DEI killed the Cracker Barrel. Even Don Jr. is pretending to be outraged.” – Lovett [16:44]

2. Interview: Tony Gilroy (Andor, Rogue One, Michael Clayton)

[21:06 – 39:09]

Key Discussion Points

• Meeting with Lovett years ago at a strange dinner with Elon Musk before Musk’s fame (“He was just the rocket guy...freezing and awkward.” – Gilroy [21:44])
• Gilroy’s relationship with Star Wars:
  • Uninterested as a fan, but came in as a “fixer” for Rogue One, which helped him bring a fresh, less reverential approach.
  • On writing Rogue One:
    “You want your surgeon to pay attention to what’s on the table...not care about you getting a promotion.” – Gilroy [24:03]
  • Difference between doing script fixes (Rogue One) and being all-in (Andor).
• The impact of 2016 election on making Rogue One (“We turned the TV off...it was the end of days there.” – Gilroy [26:16]).
• The anti-fascist subtext of Andor:
  • “It’s about fascism, authoritarianism closing its fist...about what happens when history comes knocking on your door.” – Gilroy [28:41]
• Handling the Force differently:
  • Grounding it in faith, being “the evidence of things not seen,” inspired more by Whoopi Goldberg in Ghost than classic Star Wars magic (“I played it from the Force healer’s point of view.” – Gilroy [33:13])
• Empathy and characterization ("If you're writing really well…every single person who gets any screen time has to be fully realized.” – Gilroy [34:43])
• Family collaboration and sibling rivalry with his brothers.
• Teases new film Behemoth with Pedro Pascal ("He's a cellist in the film...Carrying the cello will turn you into a cellist if you do it long enough." – Gilroy [36:53])
• Residuals from The Cutting Edge: “Of all the [films]...that is a residual that never fails.” – Gilroy [38:49]

Memorable Moments

• Lovett’s appreciation for Andor’s political resonance.
• Audience laughter at Gilroy ribbing his absent brothers.
• Behind-the-scenes tidbits (Keanu in a suit for Devil’s Advocate, Pascal carrying a cello for Behemoth).

3. Interview: Adam Scott & Patricia Arquette (Severance)

[40:59 – 63:27]

Topics & Insights

• Reflections on Severance’s launch and critical success.
• Arquette’s voice inspiration for Cobel:
  • “It was inspired by the Mid-Atlantic accent, but also Maude. I got the whole DVD set before I started. There’s a touch of Bea Arthur.” – Arquette [42:53]
• Oscar winner stats:
  • "Did you know Oscar-winning performers live on average almost four years longer...? ...Do you know what you’re gonna say at Ethan Hawke’s funeral?" – Lovett [44:02] (playful banter)
• Arquette’s long career through turbulent industry change, and her resilience as a single mom:
  • “I couldn’t even buy a beer, but I was like, I have to buy fucking diapers, so I need to make some money.” – Arquette [47:09]
• Impact of streamers and evolving roles for women in TV:
  • “There were women in TV in bigger parts...But when it became the 40 period, this Deborah Winger age, I won an Oscar, so it helped my career.” – Arquette [49:26]
• Adam Scott on career anxieties and almost quitting after not getting Six Feet Under:
  • "It's almost as if nothing will make me happy." – Scott [50:05]
  • Encouragement from his wife and finding renewal with Severance.
• Working with Ben Stiller:
  • Stiller’s alter ego ‘Bendo’ as on-set photographer and leader.
  • Both guests praise Stiller’s direction and Severance’s meticulous tone.
• The dualities of performance:
  • Shooting “innie” and “outie” scenes in rapid succession; actors' shared process for experimentation and finding character tone.

Notable Quotes

• Arquette on family support:
  "You tell me who you are. You tell me what you feel inside. I believe you." – Arquette [62:14]
• Scott on collaborating:
  "Being able to get in these scenes, dig into these scenes with Patricia, who is wholly unafraid to just walk in there and experiment...that is how we found it." – Scott [56:10]
• Lovett, meta-commentary:
  "Acting seems hard. And then you don't know if it's going to be good or not. You just do it in a room with a bunch of people. Then eight months later, you find out. That's crazy." – Lovett [58:06]

4. Small Talk Segment: "There’s No Small Talk, Only Small Hosts"

[65:20 – 72:21]

Highlights

• Guests pull random small-talk questions from an egg—shoes on or off at home? (Scott: “Whatever you want,” Gilroy: "Shoes on.”)
• Most defensible “bad” film: Adam Scott passionately defends Temple of Doom. [68:03]
• Patricia’s cult pick: “Deathbed: The Bed That Eats Itself.” [71:53]
• Lovett’s meta confessional: procrastination and guilt about to-do lists.

5. For Your Consideration: Rapid Final Recs

[72:47 – 79:40]

Quickfire Recommendations

• Adam Scott: Elastic shoelaces—“turn any pair of shoes into slip-ons. Life-changing in one specific way.” [73:44]
• Patricia Arquette: “Consider the health of your plumbing pipes—baking soda, vinegar, rag in the drain.” [75:03]
• Tony Gilroy: “Democracy. There’s a great old show that got cancelled. I really think we should consider it.” [76:04]
• Lovett: “One Hershey’s Nugget after every meal. But you’re lying to yourself because you have three or four after dinner.” [77:45]

6. Throughout the Episode:

Tone & Style

• Irreverent, quick-witted, and openly political with a blend of earnestness and biting satire.
• The episode regularly veers from emotional reflection (trans acceptance, anti-fascist resistance) to absurdist humor and “inside baseball” Hollywood stories.
• Seamless live atmosphere with recurring callbacks and laughter from both guests and audience.

Notable Quotes Montage

• “His heaven is our hell.” – Lovett [07:15]
• "It’s about fascism, authoritarianism closing its fist and what happens to regular people when history comes knocking on your door.” – Gilroy [28:41]
• “It's almost as if nothing will make me happy.” – Scott [50:05]
• "You tell me who you are...I believe you." – Arquette [62:14]
• "Democracy. There’s a great old show that got cancelled. I really think we should consider it.” – Gilroy [76:04]

Key Timestamps

• Political Monologue: [00:00 – 19:04]
• Tony Gilroy Interview: [21:06 – 39:09]
• Adam Scott & Patricia Arquette Interview: [40:59 – 63:27]
• Small Talk “Egg” Game: [65:20 – 72:21]
• For Your Consideration: [72:47 – 79:40]

Bottom Line

This Lovett or Leave It live episode offers a sharp, hilarious take on American politics, culture, and entertainment. Lovett’s political read is as biting as ever, guests provide candid insights into art and industry, and meaningful moments (like Arquette on family acceptance) add emotional heft. Whether lampooning MAGA handshakes or exploring storytelling in “Andor” and “Severance,” the episode blends the absurd with the poignant—making it a must for fans of political comedy and smart celebrity interviews alike.