Having 1 Labubu + Letting People Pay

Summary

Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone

Episode: Having 1 Labubu + Letting People Pay
Release Date: June 4, 2025

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Introduction: Welcome Back and Season Transition

The episode kicks off with Benito and Mary Beth warmly welcoming listeners back to the podcast. They humorously discuss the transition from previous seasons, emphasizing that the podcast's essence remains unchanged despite taking a short break.

Notable Quote:

Mary Beth Barone [00:42]: "It's now you3 me."

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AMA Segment: Listener Questions and Personal Insights

The hosts dive into the "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) session, addressing questions sourced from their podcast's Instagram followers. This segment highlights their personalities and offers listeners a deeper glimpse into their lives and perspectives.

1. Advice on Turning 26

Mary Beth celebrates her 26th birthday, prompting listeners to seek advice for this milestone.

Notable Quotes:

Benito Skinner [01:31]: "I think you just have to not judge yourself so much. I feel like that's all I've done for, like, 10 years."

Mary Beth Barone [01:57]: "I didn't start respecting myself until I was 28. So you have two years until you can really hold yourself accountable for your decisions."

Insights: Both hosts emphasize self-compassion and personal growth, encouraging listeners to enjoy life without undue self-judgment.

2. Favorite Outfits in Hometown

A question about what outfit they'd wear in their hometown leads to a discussion about personal style and comfort.

Notable Quotes:

Benito Skinner [05:06]: "What would I wear? Eileen Baggy when I'm in Idaho? Because I'm home and I'm just comfortable."

Mary Beth Barone [05:06]: "I just wore baggy jeans, baggy sweatshirt, and baseball cap."

Insights: They prefer comfortable, casual attire when in their hometowns, reflecting a desire for ease and familiarity.

3. Favorite Gregorian Chant

The question about favorite Gregorian chants sparks a humorous exchange, revealing their playful dynamics.

Notable Quotes:

Mary Beth Barone [08:07]: "Oh, I don't actually know what that means. Can I be honest?"

Benito Skinner [08:59]: "The bells. Bells. That's how I'm taking Gregorian chant."

Insights: Their lighthearted approach showcases their ability to navigate unexpected or unconventional questions with humor.

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Nostalgia Dive: Childhood Cartoons

Benito and Mary Beth reminisce about the cartoons they grew up watching, highlighting the influence of Nickelodeon and Disney on their childhoods.

Notable Quotes:

Mary Beth Barone [03:00]: "It's nature versus nurture. And we were kind of fucked on both sides."

Benito Skinner [03:17]: "Nickelodeon parents were idiots. Disney, they were dead."

Insights: They critique the quality of children's programming from their past, expressing a mix of nostalgia and critical reflection on how these shows impacted them.

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Behind the Scenes: Filming "Overcompensating"

The conversation shifts to their experiences working on the film Overcompensating, sharing favorite and most challenging scenes.

Notable Quotes:

Benito Skinner [08:00]: "Favorite scene to film... the scene with Wally in the Domino's parking lot... I just felt like, oh, I think we're gonna make exactly what's in my head."

Mary Beth Barone [10:28]: "The only scene that was hard for me was the Halloween I did. We were in a really dusty warehouse."

Insights: They highlight the emotional depth and personal significance of certain scenes, illustrating their dedication and passion for their craft.

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Letting People Pay: Navigating Social Etiquette in Dating

One of the central themes of the episode is the social nuance of allowing others to pay for meals, particularly in dating scenarios. Benito and Mary Beth offer practical advice and share personal anecdotes to underscore their points.

Notable Quotes:

Mary Beth Barone [23:39]: "When the check is coming and the person that you're with takes out their wallet and they say, 'I got this,' all you have to do is say, 'Thank you so much.'"

Benito Skinner [24:29]: "You're a cheap bitch."

Insights: They advocate for graciously accepting offers to pay, discouraging unnecessary back-and-forth that can create awkwardness. Their candid and humorous take makes the advice relatable and engaging.

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Consumer Culture and Conspicuous Consumption

Benito and Mary Beth discuss the impact of consumer culture, particularly focusing on the allure of collectible items like Labubus.

Discussion Points:

• Labubus: A collectible toy that Benito becomes obsessed with, representing a return to childhood joy and whimsy.
• Conspicuous Consumption: They critique the excessive consumption mentality, tying it back to environmental concerns and personal fulfillment.

Notable Quotes:

Benito Skinner [35:10]: "Tell me they don't. I'm sorry. Terry was even like, it looks like you."

Mary Beth Barone [41:05]: "I ride for getting one labubu. I think it speaks to the conspicuous consumption to just have one."

Insights: Their conversation highlights a tension between enjoying small, meaningful purchases and the broader implications of overconsumption, advocating for mindful consumer habits.

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Final Thoughts: What We Ride For

Wrapping up the episode, Benito and Mary Beth share personal declarations of what they "ride for," encapsulating their values and passions.

Notable Quotes:

Benito Skinner [23:39]: "I ride for having one labubu."

Mary Beth Barone [23:28]: "I ride for letting people pay."

Insights: These declarations serve as personal mantras, reflecting their commitment to simplicity, joy, and positive social interactions.

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Conclusion

In Having 1 Labubu + Letting People Pay, Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone blend humor, personal anecdotes, and thoughtful commentary to engage listeners. From navigating social etiquette in dating to critiquing consumer culture, the episode offers a rich tapestry of discussions that are both entertaining and insightful. Their dynamic interplay and candid conversations make the podcast a relatable and enjoyable listen for those seeking both laughter and meaningful dialogue.

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Note: Advertisements and promotional segments have been intentionally omitted from this summary to maintain focus on the core content of the episode.

Transcript

[Mary Beth Barone]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. Hey, can you come pick me up?

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. What's wrong?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Nothing.

[Benito Skinner]

Are you sure?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah, no, I just need a ride. Ride, ride. I just want to have fun.

[Benito Skinner]

Start your engines. Take care. I'm Benito Skinner.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I'm Mary Beth Barone.

[Benito Skinner]

And this is Ride.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Welcome. Okay, so welcome to the Black Parade.

[Benito Skinner]

You are so like. Come on, we have to talk about other things.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Dude, I was gonna say welcome, because it's not season two. It's what we do anymore. It's now you3 me.

[Benito Skinner]

It's now you3 me.

[Mary Beth Barone]

So it's just important to, like, internalize that. We took such a short break that this still feels like season two to me. But it is. It's now you3 me.

[Benito Skinner]

But it's like everything's different, but everything's.

[Mary Beth Barone]

The exact same and everything is romantic.

[Benito Skinner]

Course.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Course. So we have some questions. We said, ama, ask me anything on Ride. The pod's Instagram.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And we got some really good questions from Brony. So we're just going to dive right in. What do you guys think?

[Benito Skinner]

I'd love that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I'd love that too. In honor of the POD being back on my 26th birthday, which also, by the way, I want to say, it's on my birthday, it's coming back. So that was a week ago. Wait, so this is kind of like a week later. So you're a week into your 26th year.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

This person, Alexis, says, in honor of the pod being my 26th birthday, what advice could you give me?

[Benito Skinner]

Hmm. 26 year. I think you just have to not judge yourself so much. I feel like that's all I've done for, like, 10 years.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

You know, and probably more.

[Mary Beth Barone]

More.

[Benito Skinner]

But I just, like, even when I was just having so much fun, it's like I just judge myself for every feeling and every interaction. And it's like, maybe you're just trying to figure it out. Maybe things are scary. Come give mommy and daddy a kiss.

[Mary Beth Barone]

We love you.

[Benito Skinner]

Come as you aren't. How good of a slogan is that?

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's so fabulous. I think my advice would be, I didn't start respecting myself. I was 28. So you have two years until you can really hold yourself accountable for your decisions. So just have fun and enjoy it. And, yeah, try not to be too hard on yourself, because we're all figuring out this crazy little thing called life.

[Benito Skinner]

Sorry, my brain's making a timeline right now. I think you met someone when you were 28.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I sure did.

[Benito Skinner]

And everything changed.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Everything changed.

[Benito Skinner]

I held up a mirror to you, and you finally saw yourself.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You said, this is what you can be. And I said, okay, take me there. I want to go there. Let's go there. Speaking of original songs, immediately I went.

[Benito Skinner]

To Take Me away.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No, that's from Rugrats in Paris. Maya did an original song for Rugrats in Paris.

[Benito Skinner]

Reptile. You know, Ordinary Monster. That song was huge for me. But I would say Rugrats in Paris and Overcompensating share a love for slight camp. And the second after, you laugh something really fucking sad when he sees his mom in the clouds.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

Whoa. Holy shit.

[Mary Beth Barone]

If you're wondering why our brains are the way that they are, it's nature versus nurture. And we were kind of fucked on both sides. Yeah, my brain works this way naturally. But then also, the programming I was exposed to as a child, they didn't make kids cartoons that were, like, fun and cool. It was like. It was devastating and, honestly, esthetically, very scary.

[Benito Skinner]

I would say that it's crazy. Nickelodeon parents were idiots. Disney, they were dead. So you could either have one of the other.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's one or the other. It's pick your poison. It's a real Monsters you. No one talks about the show, Adriel Monsters. But I'm talking about it. I didn't watch that one scary cartoon.

[Benito Skinner]

I didn't watch that one.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It was about monsters, and they were fucking scary.

[Benito Skinner]

You know which one was, like, a little seedy?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Rocko's Modern Life.

[Benito Skinner]

Cat Dog.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, yeah. I was not into Cat Dog.

[Benito Skinner]

See, I'm not a Cartoon Network girl.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No, no, no, no. Cat Dog was Nickelodeon. And Same with Rock was my.

[Benito Skinner]

Maybe I'm thinking of Courage the Cowardly.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Dog and Ren and Stimpy. Courage the Cowardly Dog was definitely Cartoon Network, as well as the Animaniacs, which I did like. But, yeah, Ren and Stimpy was kind of scary, too. And Pinky and the Brain. I mean, they just had a lot of really, like, heady concepts.

[Benito Skinner]

I'm a Nickelodeon girl, and then Disney, when I wanted to be a little, like, whimsy. But I would say I'm just Nickelodeon at my core. It's like I was spongebob. Sorry.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And I'm Disney.

[Benito Skinner]

We'll get into today.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. But those two things can come together in a really beautiful way, of course. What outfit would you wear in your hometown? That's one of the questions we got, which is such a good question. That is, what outfit would you wear in your hometown?

[Benito Skinner]

That's just like I've never been asked such a good question before.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's like, what would I even needs to do red carpet interviews?

[Benito Skinner]

I agree.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Imagine being put on the spot to answer this without the ability to edit. And some of the questions really put me in that position. Someone asked, like, what would be the theme song to a show about your life? And I was like, I don't know.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh. I said, they asked me that and they go, the Charlie song. And I was like, well, I don't know how I would do.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah, I'm like, oh, specifically, that almost would be easier for me because I thought of any song ever made.

[Benito Skinner]

Okay. Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

That's really scary.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. Well, I was like, lucky. But then it's kind of like, well, I don't feel that way anymore.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

But, yeah, it's just like. It's just like some of the hardest things we've ever done have happened in the past month. But here's the thing. What would I wear? Eileen Baggy when I'm in Idaho? Because I'm home and I'm just comfortable.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Same.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. Of course.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I went to the mall recently as I put on my TikTok and Instagram to my push up bra older sister, and I just wore baggy jeans, baggy sweatshirt, and baseball cap. And the Victoria's Secret was tragically closed, but they reached out and they're gonna send me some bras.

[Benito Skinner]

I literally knew they had reached out. You know what I mean? There's a skims bra that came out that has pierced nipples on it.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Not pierced. Yeah, not pierced.

[Benito Skinner]

Pierced. I just. No, it was real.

[Mary Beth Barone]

That's stolen Valor. And as someone that had a nipple ring for several years. Fuck y' all. You better go get your nipple pierced. And almost passed out.

[Benito Skinner]

Who made you take it out?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Bunny Drama.

[Benito Skinner]

I'm sorry. It didn't work with the character.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It didn't work with the character.

[Benito Skinner]

You knew that too.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Of course. I was anticipating out. I was so happy to take it out.

[Benito Skinner]

Because you knew that you had to take that out. And she's a lesbian.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It was. And those were the two things the character description said. She does not. It said nothing. But she does not have her nipple pierced either one. And she is fully a lesbian. My hometown. Yeah. I think if I was trying to go stunt at, like, a bar the night before Thanksgiving, I would wear something like skimpy and tight, even if it was cold.

[Benito Skinner]

Can I show you something?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Collarbone.

[Benito Skinner]

I give them that. I give him a little bit of the one, two, punch that Benny Drama sauce. But yeah. And then Also, like, my mom's shoes. Like, yeah. My parents, like, kind of run a North Face store out of my house, so that's cool. Just to, like, see all the.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You just have many different jackets.

[Benito Skinner]

I'm like, up to 100 puffers. Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Well, they don't know what their vibe's going to be that I'll be talking.

[Benito Skinner]

About mass consumption in a minute.

[Mary Beth Barone]

In a minute. So the same person asked these two questions in all caps. Can you guys please come to Cleveland?

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And then what is your favorite Gregorian chant?

[Benito Skinner]

Endear media clip that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

If we could put. If we could put Baronis in a box, like, good luck. It's good luck. And we will. The smallest box in the world, Duh. I would say those questions. That really is like a perfect.

[Benito Skinner]

That's just exactly painting a perfect picture. The kind of brilliant brain rot we want. What were the questions again?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, also, someone DM me today, and they're like, Adam's manager, and he was like, I love the pot. I love your guys. Hive mind. It's so hilarious. And I go, that's such a nice way of putting it. Hive mind. We call it mental illness.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. So we are sick.

[Mary Beth Barone]

We're twisted. And no one should be listening to.

[Benito Skinner]

This, but we have hearts of gold.

[Mary Beth Barone]

We do.

[Benito Skinner]

Jackson told me that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

So the question was, can you guys please come to Cleveland? And the other one was, what is your favorite Gregorian chant?

[Benito Skinner]

So I was in Cleveland three years ago, and I can only go once every five years.

[Mary Beth Barone]

So we're coming up very soon.

[Benito Skinner]

I'll see you there. I love it. It feels like the set of the Hunger Games, but the last one, when the town is empty because I was downtown and it was empty, but this was the middle of winter.

[Mary Beth Barone]

But, yeah, I like Ohio. Can I just say. And dare me to clip that.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. With your tea while I'm drinking peppers. My grandpa's from Columbus, Ohio. I love Ohio. And I love the suburban areas of Cleveland. Downtown Cleveland. I wouldn't, like, live there, but I. Yeah, I mean, I would love to visit Cleveland. Let's go check it out, girl.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Let's go. What scene made you break the hardest?

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, wait, but what's your favorite Gregorian chant?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, so I don't actually know what that means. Can I be honest?

[Benito Skinner]

And yet again, my brain goes immediately to the Hunchback of Notre Dame. The bells. Bells. That's how I'm taking Gregorian chant.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Okay. I would guess the one from Monty Python, but I wouldn't be able to.

[Benito Skinner]

Is unholy.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Not that we're not sure. Oh, and. And Wally, in an interview, calling that the Body Shop. Someone saying, like, what. What song did you guys use to pump yourselves up? And she goes, benny and I would always sing the Body Shop. And I go, what's that?

[Benito Skinner]

Well, you know that she only hung out with bi guys before she met me. I'm her first, like, true gay.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I very.

[Benito Skinner]

Claro. What do you have to say to the bi guys in Bushwick who love your music? I love it.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. Gregorian chant. Oh, let me think on that one.

[Benito Skinner]

Okay.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Favorite scene to film or the one that you broke the most?

[Benito Skinner]

Favorite scene to film. I think the scene with Wally in the Domino's parking lot. I really was like, oh, we found the show. I wrote this scene so long ago. She's perfect in it. I am having a really emotional reaction. And that was, like, 2:00am it was second week of shooting. I just felt like, oh, I think we're gonna make exactly what's in my head. And I was really, really happy. I also love shooting. The last shot we did was me drinking and doing the fish. And that was pretty village. That was really fun. And I was with all my boys, and that was fun. I love doing Rish at the door because to me, that was so Y2K. Like, what's going on? I had fresh spray, too.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It was quintessential.

[Benito Skinner]

It was so, like, the show, like, we're having fun, so that was fun. The one I broke the most in. I broke a lot in the. Me getting caught for saying, I titty fucked Carmen.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, yeah. Oh, my God.

[Benito Skinner]

Because Holmes, I didn't realize she was gonna go so hard. She was shaking and she gotta have.

[Mary Beth Barone]

A Don't touch our mail.

[Benito Skinner]

I was like, I couldn't do that. And I also did not know she was on the other side of the door when I walked out. I'm filming you. The ultimate. I'm filming you. I'm filming you in a virgin that I screamed. But Matt and Bowen on the couch, and Matt, when he put his, like, tongue to the bottom of his chin.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

And did the. Ah. I was very happy to get out of there. There was. I was so lucky that that harness was cutting off my circulation in a huge way. What about you?

[Mary Beth Barone]

I got asked this a few times in press, and I definitely. I had fun every day on set. Like, even the days that were hard or if I had, like, personal stuff going on, whatever. I just, like, I had so much fun every day.

[Benito Skinner]

The only scene that was hard for me was the Halloween I did Feel like, emotionally, like. Well, that was, like. I just felt.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And we were in a really dusty warehouse, and people don't know that there was a lot of dust in there.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, of course. Easy. Hey. Easy to cry allergies, but, yeah, I just felt like, damn, this is such a true coming of age moment for, I think everyone. But I think for gay people, it. It's just like, you just. You put all this weight in something.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And then it disappoints.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. We are kind of getting into spoilers at this point, so if you haven't watched, like, come on, let her rip.

[Mary Beth Barone]

The scene where I broke the most was when Peter gets the keeper mask and the. And the robe, because, I don't know, there's something in the air. And every single setup we did, I was just cackling. And then. Okay. Another thing that I really didn't want to do was the finger guns. And you were like, no, you have to do it. And I was like, I really don't want to. And then I decided, all right, fine. If I'm going to do it, I'm going to go so hard. And so I went.

[Benito Skinner]

I went whole body and Clyde.

[Mary Beth Barone]

We could not stop breaking. And that's why, like, they cut away from me so quickly. And at one point, Desiree was like, guys, we have to move on. And. And she was like, we're just gonna have to move past this. And I go, no, we're getting it.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And so we did one last take where we kept it together, but that was definitely the scene where I broke the most.

[Benito Skinner]

Very miracle. Again.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Again.

[Benito Skinner]

Okay. It's so funny. I wanted to plant this joke in the Halloween episode, but at that point, it was an emotional scene. But when you kiss Peter and walk in, I wanted someone around there to go. They and one guy to go, I think they're Bonnie and Clyde. And then one person goes, that's gang. Yeah. It's just at that point, it was so, like, sad that we kind of had to stick to gang. That's gang.

[Mary Beth Barone]

The dialogue, it just pours out of you.

[Benito Skinner]

I love it. I love it.

[Mary Beth Barone]

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[Benito Skinner]

I would say a Bjorn Corn.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Totally.

[Benito Skinner]

Because it's like, yeasty.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Just one. You're going up and getting the body of Christ over and over. You need like a bucket.

[Benito Skinner]

Well, you don't think it would be a handful. They would have the bag and kind of shake. They go like this.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

And she write down the. So I think Bjorn Corn, of course. And then I would say, as far as.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Come on, you're gonna do a sparkling water.

[Benito Skinner]

I'm gonna. But it's like, should it be a poppy randomly, I don't know.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Or like a mint lemonade?

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, stop, kid. Maybe it's a spin drift. Oh, it's such a. Wait, it's a blood orange spin drift.

[Mary Beth Barone]

When we register ride as a church, we're gonna have our own body and blood of.

[Benito Skinner]

Hey, I'm not paying taxes.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Mm. Mm. Hell no.

[Benito Skinner]

Wait, what about you?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, I kind of have no notes on that, to be honest.

[Benito Skinner]

It's the same.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's like, Bjorn Corn would be so cool to eat at church because it's like, it's a little bit. You know, it's toward the end too. So you're just like, cool, we're almost done. It's like a way to show that we're just like, about to wr. And then I think to have a little, like, sudsy little, you know, sparkling water, like. Yeah, I'm so down.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, one time my. My grandpa Ed, he came to a mass for my 8th grade graduation, and he's just like, fully not Catholic. And he went up and did body and blood, and he finished the blood he just finished it. So that's my king, and I miss him.

[Mary Beth Barone]

The throat?

[Benito Skinner]

No, the fro. So wait, I love this sweatshirt on you.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Sorry, that's just like.

[Benito Skinner]

That's good, clean merch.

[Mary Beth Barone]

That's gang.

[Benito Skinner]

That's gang.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Did you guys write the synopsis for each episode? Because they're so rad coded.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, yeah, we did. So we did. Yeah. And that was like a late in the. It was so funny. The showrunner, Scott King, asked me. He's like, they have them. Do you want to, like, zest it up? And so then I did a pass. And then I was like, I think I know just the straight A student to get this.

[Mary Beth Barone]

To get this done.

[Benito Skinner]

But I love some of it, though. You can't make too many jokes. Like, I had. Oh, my God. I was really. It started to be like I was.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Doing a little tight five in there.

[Benito Skinner]

I'd love to be a Carrie Bradshaw for a minute.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Who. From Gossip Girl and. Or the OC Would fit in at Yates. Final question.

[Benito Skinner]

So I do think Serena would come and be a dropout. Of course. I think Flesh and Gold would love her immediate letter.

[Mary Beth Barone]

She would be their queen.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. But then Blair would come to campus and she would want one, too. But then I think for some reason, someone there would, like, hate her. For some reason, they wouldn't fuck with her, but she'd make her own life. She'd make her own fun. And she'd maybe be with us, the freaks.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I think she'd be with us, the freaks. The counterculture.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. Who else? Well, from the OC Definitely not Serena's gay brother.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No. There's only room for a couple gay guys at this school.

[Benito Skinner]

Maybe three. And then who else? Oh, Chuck Bass. Feels very flesh and flesh and gold.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

And I love that my girls know what I was doing with that name.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I know.

[Benito Skinner]

Took a second.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It took a second. But it was brought up in my group chat, and so I'm just glad that the girls got there. I would say from the O.C.

[Benito Skinner]

Flesh fish.

[Mary Beth Barone]

From the O.C. i would say. Anyone? Really? Honestly, anyone? I would take Sandy. Sandy Cohen. Coming. And do a guest lecture, of course. Hell, yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

Hey. And hello, reformed alcoholic.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

Kirsten.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Kirsten.

[Benito Skinner]

Kiki. She comes through.

[Mary Beth Barone]

She's coming to do Scared Straight kids.

[Benito Skinner]

Don't. What?

[Mary Beth Barone]

She's saying stop drinking.

[Benito Skinner]

Don't. Don't do that. Yeah, pretty much all of them. The ghost of Marissa.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Summer.

[Benito Skinner]

Summer, of course.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I just did Rachel Bilson's podcast. Can I just reveal something to you?

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Rachel Bilson. Watched the scene where Marissa dies with Misha Barton.

[Benito Skinner]

I know. I watched.

[Mary Beth Barone]

She had never seen it before.

[Benito Skinner]

Rachel had never seen that scene with her.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Misha had never seen the scene at all. She never watched it.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, my God.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. So that's a little herstory.

[Benito Skinner]

How was she?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Rachel Bilson, total doll.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Like you would not believe. How fabulous and lovely and wonderful. And I felt like. It just felt like hanging out with friends.

[Benito Skinner]

Well, of course. It's Summer Roberts.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's Summer Roberts.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. So, yeah, she'll be at Yates real soon. I actually won't stop.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I think she would love that.

[Benito Skinner]

I think she has to.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I think she would love that.

[Benito Skinner]

Should she be someone's, like, sister or something?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. Or godmother?

[Benito Skinner]

Peter's only child with really old parents. But I'll try to think about that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Think about it.

[Benito Skinner]

Okay.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Should we get into what we ride for? Thank you for all of your thoughtful questions. And hey, if you have more questions and we happen to come across them and we feel like answering them, we will.

[Benito Skinner]

Of course, they weren't that show specific, which I love.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It was ask me anything.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. Someone did ask. And if you want to speak on this, you can. They said, what was it like kissing Lucas Gage?

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, great. He's the best. He had a little stubble, though, so it did make me wrong.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I mean, a lot of people don't know that I kissed him first.

[Benito Skinner]

And that's so accurate. At a Halloween party is Paris Hilton video. He is just the loveliest man. And yes, that's cheating. Of course. It was funny. So I got a DM this morning. I had posted something with Rish, and they're, like, cheating. And then they came back later and we're like, hey, sorry. I meant that in the, like, podcast way. I'm not really. I'm not accusing you of this.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Thank God they clarified.

[Benito Skinner]

And thank you so much.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And thank you so much.

[Benito Skinner]

I mean, what a dream. What a king. We had so much fun with him. I loved all the bar stuff.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. That was a fun day.

[Benito Skinner]

You. If you watch. I don't know if it made it in the cut, but there's somewhere. It's like you clock him. Oh, and. And you're looking at him and I don't know, there's some moments in it. Yeah. Or what. Like, clearly you two know each other, I think. Which I like that. It's like, obviously you would know him if he was my best friend. So it was.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And I'm wondering what happened there, but I'll find out. Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

You Go. I gotta talk to this little. That had a lot to say about me in the press. Over here.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah. Hey, Sammy, what's good? Wait.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, my God. I watched this fan edit of. Well, honestly, I was so speechless when I woke up to your voice. Carmen and Grace.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Thank God. I need to see that. You need to be sending me more of them.

[Benito Skinner]

I ship.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Let's get into what we ride for.

[Benito Skinner]

I ride for having one labubu.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And I ride for letting people pay. Wait, where are we going?

[Benito Skinner]

Who cares? Ride.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I'm going first.

[Benito Skinner]

My scorpio brain immediately went revenge.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Revenge. Not that. No. Here's what I'm talking about. And as you know, I am a storyteller and I like to paint a picture. So here's what I'm going to say about this concept.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You're at a dinner. It's someone you haven't seen in a while. You're having a fabulous dinner. Maybe. Hey, maybe you even get dinner drunk. What the hell? Who knows? Who the hell knows?

[Benito Skinner]

You had some sake.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You had some sake. Maybe you had a couple marks, like, whatever it may be. And you get to the moment in the meal where the check is coming and the person that you're with takes out their wallet and they say, I got this. Don't worry about it. I want to pay. Let me pay. And all you have to do in that situation is say, thank you so much. Yes.

[Benito Skinner]

And hey, I got you on the next one.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Literally.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Don't put up a fight. Don't do the whole thing where you insist on splitting. Don't make it awkward. Don't fight for 2 minutes, 120 seconds of going back and forth. Just let the person pay.

[Benito Skinner]

I've given the card.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Just. It's over. By the way, if that card hits the table, it's over. Just stop. Let it go.

[Benito Skinner]

You lost.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Let it go. I'm paying.

[Benito Skinner]

You're a cheap bitch.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And I'm not. You're.

[Benito Skinner]

Hey, you're a cheap bitch.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Just accept it. I just think it's like, there's so much, like, back and forth over these things, and then maybe eventually you end up splitting it and it's like. Does that make you feel better? Did that make you feel better that we split it? No, because I really wanted to pay. I wanted to do that for you.

[Benito Skinner]

Splitting feels childish.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Spitting is crass. It's crass.

[Benito Skinner]

It's crass.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's very crass. And I don't think it's appropriate for people.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, at our age, I don't think so. Either.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I think if the person wants to pay, you let them. And. Exactly. Next time you have a meal clock, it put in your records and you think, I'll pay on the next one. That's the most gracious thing you can do in that situation. Don't fight. Don't fight me.

[Benito Skinner]

And I. I can't stress enough. I don't venmo people. I don't Venmo charge people. I just. Baby, don't do things like that. Do you understand?

[Mary Beth Barone]

By that same thing too. Don't offer to pay. If you secretly want to split it. If you secretly want to split it. Just. We'll split it.

[Benito Skinner]

Just go, let's split it. Exactly. Just be real. But you frequently date men who take me to dinner, which says. I think it speaks volumes to you, my character, of course, and your character as. As a woman on earth. But it takes my breath away because I think I'm such a people pleaser. I pay because I'm just like, I. I don't even want to. Like, I can't deal with it. And any of the weirdness. I'm like, here you go. Done. Like, the last thing I would want on earth is someone's like. And he didn't even fucking pay. Like, I don't know. I just. I don't know why that's in my head, but it is. But I. I love this. And I think when I want to pay, I want to pay. I don't know if this is true outside of the U.S. but we've made money so fucking weird and uncomfortable.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, my God.

[Benito Skinner]

It's just all so. God, it's like you can't ask someone salaries. You can't ask. It's like there is no transparency on anything. So it's like, I just. I. I hate it.

[Mary Beth Barone]

But if you offer to pay, I'm assuming that you can take on the financial burden of the meal, of course, and that you're gonna do it with flair.

[Benito Skinner]

You want to take daddy to dinner?

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's okay. And I did want to mention that I was told, as I was butt naked at Sugar and Bronze with a Baroni spraying me down, which is. There's hardly a safer place for me than that.

[Benito Skinner]

No, I love to show my girls hole the whole.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I was informed that due to tariffs, they have to change their formulas. So if you think the tariffs aren't going to affect you, you're dead fucking wrong.

[Benito Skinner]

They are. We'll see what your level 3 looks like next year, sis. Scared? Maybe next month. What are the undertones going to be. I got a level four recently. That was crazy.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, the best level four I've gotten was the Barone, by the way, west third location.

[Benito Skinner]

And hey, I believe that. Should we talk about when I got turned away at the door.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I knew this was going to come up at some point and I'm ready to talk about it if you are, but I don't want you to make this a New York LA thing. It's not.

[Benito Skinner]

Sometimes it really be your own communities. It was one of those things. I was eight minutes late. I swear to God. You even know this? I was eight minutes late.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You called me before and after you go. I just called them and they. I said I'm gonna be late. And they said they don't know if they can.

[Benito Skinner]

No, they were like. They were kind of like, no. And I was like, but it's only eight. I guess in LA they're kind of like if you're there within 15, like we.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Because everyone's late for everything.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, of course they're like.

[Mary Beth Barone]

But this was at 8pm on a weeknight.

[Benito Skinner]

They say, get that sock on your and let's spray it.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Let's go.

[Benito Skinner]

And yeah, it just was. It was one of those things, like I had to. To walk in and out of a Sugar and bronze, the same color as when you came in. Like, it's just I've. I've never held my head so low.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Low. Yeah, it was. It was a big tail between your legs.

[Benito Skinner]

It was.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I had to call you and then you had to come back. So it was 8pm on a weeknight. And this is just how booming the business of Seth Meyers. And then he couldn't meet me like that back at 10pm he had to reschedule you.

[Benito Skinner]

Seth said, come as anything, but don't come as you are.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You got. He said, come as you aren't. You better get a level four. We don't allow you in.

[Benito Skinner]

30 rock, sweetie. And Seth has a fabulous tan. So I was not about to be next to him, like not at a hundred.

[Mary Beth Barone]

That would have been humiliating.

[Benito Skinner]

It would have been so. So it was really hard. I got turned away. I went back about three hours later.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Well, the funny thing is like, sugar and bronze could kind of treat me however they want at this point because I won't go anywhere else. So I had a membership snafu and I had to go in there guns blazing. But I was very respectful. And you know, as. As everyone knows, I used to work in customer service. So I always come in knowing that it's not that manager's policy, but I was like, you have to extend these expiration dates. And they did, and that was fabulous. And thank you so much. But even if they hadn't, like, I can't go anywhere else. I need the consistency. And so I just. Yeah, it all really comes back to tariffs and. And letting people pay. When the tariffs are in effect. Let people pay. Because you don't know when that next paycheck's coming. No, it's all going towards the steel industry or something. We don't know. And dear media, clip that.

[Benito Skinner]

Don't clip that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah, we're not sure.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, we aren't sure.

[Mary Beth Barone]

There's no way of knowing.

[Benito Skinner]

But I do. On Amazon. It says it next to it and I'm like, damn. And say that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No, please.

[Benito Skinner]

Stating the obvious.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Finally, some financial transparency.

[Benito Skinner]

Exactly. I'm like, let's talk. Hey, let's talk about it. But, yeah, I love this. It can just feel really good that, like, you know, you have these relationships with people where you feel comfortable, like, treating them and. And allow people the. You know, sometimes, like, my love language is gift giving. So I'm just like, I like it. I don't know. Just let me do it and don't.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's along the same lines of let glam happen. Just let people pay.

[Benito Skinner]

Exactly. And they're the exact same.

[Mary Beth Barone]

They are. That little moment of, like, discord in the meal. It just doesn't need to happen.

[Benito Skinner]

I agree.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I was playing mafia last night for the first time. I was taught the rules by two straight men. Three in the room, two straight men teaching. Three.

[Benito Skinner]

Who are you with?

[Mary Beth Barone]

I don't even want to talk about it. But guess what gave me away? Because everyone has their heads down and what am I doing with my hand? Raising it. And what? It's the distinct sound of a Tiffany check.

[Benito Skinner]

So they all knew that. Everyone at once said, tiffany check.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And I said, fuck me.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, God. Fuck me.

[Mary Beth Barone]

My fucking life with a huge fox cock.

[Benito Skinner]

That family. Oh, my God. That was an acting master class. That family. Who looks at her? Yeah, my huge. No, fuck my life.

[Mary Beth Barone]

My fucking life with a huge horse cock. Thank you, Kaia.

[Benito Skinner]

That's just great writing.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah, that is. Madison's here. She's just unpacking a gorgeous Weiderhoff gown that I'm about to try on. But before I do that, I need to actually talk about Built rewards. Attention Renters. If you haven't heard of Built and Madison, if you rent, this could be, like, really eye opening for you. You're about to thank me. Earn your favorite airline miles and hotel points through BILT just by paying your rent on time. Let me explain. There's no cost to join bilt, and just by paying your rent, you unlock flexible points that can be transferred to your favorite hotels and airlines, a future rent payment, your next lift ride, and more. When you pay rent through bilt, you unlock two powerful benefits. First, you earn one of the industry's most valuable points on rent every single month, no matter where you live or who your landlord is. Your rent now works for you, which we love that. Second, you gain access to exclusive neighborhood benefits. And there's a little trademark next to that in your city. Built neighborhood benefits are things like extra points on dining out, complimentary post workout shakes, free mats or towels at your favorite fitness studios, and unique experiences multiple that only Built members can access. And when you're ready to travel, Built points can be converted to your favorite miles and hotel points around the world, meaning your rent can literally take you places. So if you're not earning points on rent, my question is, what are you waiting for? And when I said rent can literally take you places, I know that if Benny were here, he would be singing I can show you the world from Aladdin. Just think about that as I continue. Start paying rent through Built and take advantage of your neighborhood benefits trademark by going to joinbuilt.com ride that's J-O-I-N-B-I-L-T.com ride make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you joinbuilt.com ride to sign up for Build today. And I'm gonna be late for my wax appointment. Oh yeah, Crap Eyewear. They have a phonetic pronunciation on the ad copy, which is how you know they know that we are bimbos. It literally says phonetic pronunciation and then just the name of the company. Crap Eyewear. Crap Eyewear is an independent sunglass brand designed and tested beachside in sunny Los Angeles, California. So they know sun and they know sunglasses. Born in Reaction.

[Benito Skinner]

Wow.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Born in Reaction is such powerful prose. I was also born in Reaction. Crap Eyewear was born in reaction to an overpriced and overly serious sunglass market. They're on a mission to create. Wow, I'm getting choked up here thinking about how I was born in Reaction. They're on a mission to create funky Earth friendlier eyewear without the heavy retail markup. I have, I think, seven pairs of Crap Eyewear because they did send us a few pairs. They have a fabulous selection. The Sunglasses are such high quality and they go with every outfit. Truly. I have some basic ones that are like black and then I have more fun ones. Like I have a red pair with rhinestones which like, you might not think of me when you see a pair of red rhinestone sunglasses. But like, I can still surprise you after all these years. They make the best price premium sunglasses on the market. They are handcrafted bioassid acetate. In parentheses it says biodegradable frames with optical grade lenses. CR39 lenses with 100 UVA UVB protection. That's actually really important because if they don't have that, then like what are they really even doing? Certified carbon neutral business and independently owned. Huge head to crap eyewear.com to shop. That's C-R-A P E Y-E W-E-A-R.com to shop, use the code RIDE at checkout for 20 off full price items. And just to clarify, to, to reiterate, I should say it's pronounced crap.

[Benito Skinner]

Should we get into my ride?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Let's get into your ride because I have no idea what these are.

[Benito Skinner]

Can you look up the history really quick?

[Mary Beth Barone]

I don't want to get started. Let me just get a quick history.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah. Can you look up the entire background of Labubus?

[Mary Beth Barone]

When did you first become aware of Labubu? Because that's something only you know.

[Benito Skinner]

So I first became aware of Labubus about a month ago and I was watching people have 30 of them attached to their bags. And. And you know, I love keychains. I've always been addicted to flair. I love pins. My laptop is covered in stickers. I just think it's a cool way to express yourself.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And I completely agree. It's similar to mom's flip flops, I would say.

[Benito Skinner]

On my little Dior bag I have like this little football player keychain. And it's just like, it's just cool. Like to me, to me it's like, well, that's Benny's bag. You know what I mean? It's like getting to do that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's not someone else's bag, it's Benny's bag.

[Benito Skinner]

Anytime adults can go back to childhood whimsy and just get excited for a toy, like that's just fun.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You're not ready for the Labu Boo Wikip.

[Benito Skinner]

I do believe it comes from where the Wild Things Are.

[Mary Beth Barone]

If I'm correct, Labuhu is a character designed by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong born artist raised in the Netherlands. It's part of Lung's story series, the Monsters, which was influenced by Nordic folklore. My people are Nordic. And mythology that he enjoyed during his childhood. But you're not ready for this, Labubus. This is written. This is in. This is the sacred text. The Boo Boos are described as having a playful yet slightly fierce look. If that ain't Benny drama, I swear to God.

[Benito Skinner]

So this is one of those things where you see yourself reflected in media.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

I look at Le Boo dolls and I've never seen my face more clearly. They look exactly like me. Tell me they don't.

[Mary Beth Barone]

They do.

[Benito Skinner]

I'm sorry. Terry was even like, it looks like you. Like, I'm sorry. It's just like I am a Labubu doll. So I just think it's so fun. They sell them at PopMart, which I believe originated in Hong Kong. Can you tell me that that's the only other like, fact? We'll do that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, yes. Marketed by popmart. Very good.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, Pop Mart.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And see how you know more than you think.

[Benito Skinner]

There's one in Glendale. Oh, yeah. But these things have been selling out because they have these thing called blind boxes.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Right.

[Benito Skinner]

Which obviously I'm familiar with because of my love of Disney adults.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And something you might not know is that they gained widespread attention in 2024 after Blackpink's Lisa was spotted with it both as a plush toy and as a keychain on her bag.

[Benito Skinner]

And Rihanna had one on her bag as well.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Well, I mean, might as well be a bullseye.

[Benito Skinner]

So, I mean, fashion darling things can't.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Stay on the shelves.

[Benito Skinner]

True fashion darlings. Well, they can't. So I just kept seeing, like, well, so that's me and I need one. And this is where I get to this. So I fear we are consuming too much. And something about watching a grown adult have 30, I think is a little stressful to me. Do whatever you want, as long as it's not hurting anyone.

[Mary Beth Barone]

But it might be hurting the planet.

[Benito Skinner]

It might be hurting the planet a little bit. But I say this, and then I live in a glass house. I know, because I of course, told the entire cast of Overcompensating. Hey, I'm, like, so excited for premiere day. You have until the end of the day to get me a Labubu. I can't find one. Like, can someone get me a Labubu? Cortian Moore gets me what is technically my first Labubu because he got it before the other one I found, which I'll talk about in a second. So this is the Labubu series. It's Blind Box, which. It's so fun because you can be like, I really want that one. And if you don't get it, it's like, well, this is the one that was meant for me.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Blind Box is genius marketing. I mean, it's just good for business. Of course we're gonna do Blind Box.

[Benito Skinner]

Bottom line. I mean, this. The fat cats came up with this.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Totally.

[Benito Skinner]

So o.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Here's.

[Benito Skinner]

Here's what we have. Camera. Dear Media.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And for those that can't see, watch it on YouTube.

[Benito Skinner]

Okay, so here we go. I think I know which one I want. Which one do you think I want?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, that's tough. I'm gonna say this one. And this is just a shot in the dark.

[Benito Skinner]

Exactly the one I wanted.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No way. Let's bring Blush.

[Benito Skinner]

Yes, he has Blush on. And that one looks the most like me, I'd say. And. And he has platinum hair. Oh, fuck, I feel the rush. This is what Troy was talking about.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It has nothing to do with opening a Labubu.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Stop. I'm starting to sweat now.

[Benito Skinner]

This is so. Well, I will say the background is. I found two at a resale place. So I did pay, you know, top dollar for two of them. Terry couldn't have given a less. But I did know exactly the ones we'd get. So I have the kind of furry one. Keychain. And I said, I bet I get toffee, because that one's so me. And I said, terry, you're gonna get the bl One. There's, like, a light blue one. I wonder if it's called. It's like sea salt or something.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And he got it. I hope you're right.

[Benito Skinner]

Oh, I didn't get that one. But look. Wait, is this the secret one?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Are you about to be a millionaire?

[Benito Skinner]

Oh. Oh, my God. I got the secret one.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Whoa, Court, you're on notice.

[Benito Skinner]

It's worth up to $4. No, this is. It's. I just got the Princess Diana beanie Baby. Holy. Wait, does this go on a phone?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Can I see?

[Benito Skinner]

Where does he sit?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Let me. Let me touch it.

[Benito Skinner]

Look at him. That one specifically doesn't look like me. It kind of looks like you.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah, that's very me. We're gonna figure out how to place this. Oh, it's sticky. Yeah, I think it goes on the phone.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah, so that's going on my phone later.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Wow. I love it. I love her.

[Benito Skinner]

Isn't that so fun? Okay, so I have a little one, and then I have the keychains, but I Just think it's a return to childhood whimsy.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Pokemon culture.

[Benito Skinner]

Pokemon culture.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Culture. Pogs culture.

[Benito Skinner]

McDonald's toys. And so I know what it's tickling in my brain. The blind box of it all. Like, I can't believe this thing has made me happy. It really. It really do be the smallest thing.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I know. And it's not what you would ever expect. To get a text from you saying, I need a little Boo Boo doll was totally. I mean, you can still surprise me after all these years.

[Benito Skinner]

Adam goes, oh, yeah, yeah. And then Court goes, oh, yeah, I want one.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

So I knew that, like, I just, like, we, you know, tapped into something. We've got the right cast.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I know.

[Benito Skinner]

And Wally goes, what's that?

[Mary Beth Barone]

Right?

[Benito Skinner]

And exactly. I'm like, everyone was.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And rich didn't respond. See to stay.

[Benito Skinner]

Yes, he did. Oh, poor guy. It's really die culture coming.

[Mary Beth Barone]

We talked about on Jake Shane's podcast. The style community needs to pipe the.

[Benito Skinner]

F down the last three. I'm telling you, it won't stop until it gets us all.

[Mary Beth Barone]

It's like a horror movie for me in a lot of ways.

[Benito Skinner]

I swear to God. You've seen the Babadook. Sorry.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I love that. You know Babadook? Yes. Rish, the international sensation, commercially successful, absolute blockbuster horror movie.

[Benito Skinner]

Okay, well, this is.

[Mary Beth Barone]

This.

[Benito Skinner]

This is my labubu. I'm obsessed. I just. Okay, so now I have two. But here's my thing. I think just get one. I think they keep selling out everywhere. I watched a mom open six in front of her kid, and they were all for her. And. Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Okay, so I don't.

[Benito Skinner]

I just wanted to say that. You don't have to amplify. Say. I just wanted to tell you that.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Totally.

[Benito Skinner]

But, yeah. And I love watching people open them. It's a lot like pin trading at Disneyland. I'm really tapped into this. I don't know, something about, like, when you're making a TV show, you need the things you watch to be so absolutely different than all of it. But I do think that this feels like a Haley thing to be immediately, like, 50.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Second semester, she's gotten 50 for Christmas. She got every single one.

[Benito Skinner]

She's on the resale.

[Mary Beth Barone]

She made her mom buy 1,000 of them. She's like, I have every single one.

[Benito Skinner]

Yeah.

[Mary Beth Barone]

You know what you are, Benny? Your words, not mine. Babe, you're my ride or die.

[Benito Skinner]

Ride or die.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I ride for getting one labubu. I think it's. It's. It speaks to. Yes. The. The conspicuous consumption to just have one. You now have three, which I think is interesting that you're riding for having one, and you now have three.

[Benito Skinner]

Terry has the other one.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Sure. That was a gift in the home, though.

[Benito Skinner]

He let me pay for his labo.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Boo in the home. I think it's these little joys, and that is really what ride is all about. And, like, yeah, you're not hurting anyone. And you have a cool new phone accessory also. I think little tiny things that are cute bring that back.

[Benito Skinner]

I agree.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I think we've strayed too far from that culture, and that's why we're in the situation that we're in.

[Benito Skinner]

Things are too big. I agree.

[Mary Beth Barone]

They're way too big, and they're not cute.

[Benito Skinner]

No, no. I need, like, little cutie. Like, little. Little cutie little keychains. I will say my little boo boo is kind of big. I had him on my backpack, and he was kind of getting in my way during tsa, so I did take him off that. I don't know where I'll put him. Court said, maybe on your belt loop. And I'm like, that feels kind of like a big statement.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No, I need to see that. I'm kind of fucking down for you to see you at. At a panel wearing that.

[Benito Skinner]

I think I will, like, have one at a panel.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Yeah.

[Benito Skinner]

I hope. I can only hope. You can, but that really means so much. Labo booze would love to have you. I do think you could also be their queen, but steampunk is still waiting.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, can I just say that all the on TikTok that say Tim Burton created you couldn't mean more to me. Couldn't mean more.

[Benito Skinner]

Well, you know my favorite joke Credit Titleman, that he's. If you died, he'd come to your funeral and go, that's the bitch I was talking about.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And he'll be jacking off course. And Tim Burton, if you're listening, we love your work.

[Benito Skinner]

We are such stands. We are such Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice heads. He is, like, one of my heroes. I will say I really ride for just letting Papa pay. And I think also, I'm, like, learning in myself to let people pay. And I'm like, it doesn't mean they're mad or they're gonna hold this over me for the rest of my life.

[Mary Beth Barone]

And that says a lot that you even. That that would cross your mind.

[Benito Skinner]

It probably speaks to, like, some real deep trauma within my body, which we'll all unpack in season two.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Love being transactional. I'm just Gonna put that out there.

[Benito Skinner]

Well, this has been an amazing show. We would love to watch you open your labubus. But also, if you don't wanna get one, don't get one.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Right. And you can just watch other people open them. And it sounds like that's just as gratifying.

[Benito Skinner]

It's. Oh, fabulous. Just like a woman in her car with obviously locked. Because, like, of the world we live in, just getting to, like, have a drink and opening anything. I have never felt so good.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Observe.

[Benito Skinner]

Damn it.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Observe. Female joy. Can I just say observe? And observe female joy. When you offer to pay for a woman's meal.

[Benito Skinner]

Seeing the female joy of overcompensating is, like, one of the greatest, like, gifts in my life. I'm serious. You couldn't put that in a blind box. I know some of you would try. We have to stop consuming so much. It's really scary. And if I'm saying that kind of means a lot. Yeah. Because I was raised on mall.

[Mary Beth Barone]

We're nearing the end.

[Benito Skinner]

That's about all, folks. Wow. How do we end this one? My princess. My princess of Sheba.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Of darkness.

[Benito Skinner]

Of Darkness.

[Mary Beth Barone]

I will. All I'm gonna say is that if you are going to consume anything, let it be Yates merch. Let it be overcompensating merch. Let it be Slut Slayer merch.

[Benito Skinner]

That's as good as it gets. Thank you. A24. I mean, I really don't have much to say.

[Mary Beth Barone]

No notes. Every straight man in my life asking me who designed Slut Slayer, including members of my family. I go, that's a gay guy.

[Benito Skinner]

So a gay guy came up with it, and a group of iconic straight men ate it up. For me. It really? Oh, I have the version that's gonna be in season two. I can't wait.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Oh, okay. No spoilers.

[Benito Skinner]

Bleep it. Say Slut Slayer for me. Jackson. That's a little Easter egg for you, dude. Love me like you do. 1, 2, 3. Now you three me. Say it. 1, 2, 3.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Now you three.

[Benito Skinner]

Me. Oh, my. Exit.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Benny, babe. Eyes on the road. Benny.

[Benito Skinner]

Go Ry.

[Mary Beth Barone]

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a.

[Benito Skinner]

Direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.