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Mary Beth Barone
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 engine.
Mary Beth Barone
Take care.
Benito Skinner
I'm Benito Skinner.
Mary Beth Barone
I'm Mary Beth Barone.
Benito Skinner
And this is Ride Ride. This goes out to my girls. Buying bottle service with the RIP Monday, Russ.
Mary Beth Barone
Respect.
Audible Voiceover
Kitty berries.
Mary Beth Barone
Riffs.
Benito Skinner
And this is how we do is so may they experience the loss of a child. I was just in the car laughing to myself, Going to bed with the ten and waking up with a two.
Mary Beth Barone
With a two.
Benito Skinner
Not me. Wait, what's the one where it says with the cars at the club valet and it's Tuesday. I need to get her in here to do those riffs.
Mary Beth Barone
I could have never. I could have. Could have.
Benito Skinner
You had no idea. I was gonna start with the this is how we do riffs. Go to bed with a 10, waking up with a Sue.
Mary Beth Barone
Ha.
Benito Skinner
Not me.
Mary Beth Barone
Oh my God, sweetie, I haven't laughed like that since SNL50.
Benito Skinner
Oh, oh, and happy SNL50 to you, my darling.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, they let us watch in the detention center because one of the security guards is a huge fan. So of course, that's actually the only thing we've been able to watch.
Benito Skinner
He loves Kristen Wiig's Target lady. It's his big fit.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, it reminds him of his mother he shared with us.
Benito Skinner
Oh, there's nothing worse than talking with someone from a different generation. And I'm not ageist, but they bring up a sketch and they have to tell you about the entire SNL sketch that's been happening to me more than ever lately. And I'm like, I'm so sorry. It's not that I don't need to see it. I have to see it to understand what you're talking about.
Mary Beth Barone
In fact, I'd rather just have the opportunity to watch it than hear it explained.
Benito Skinner
Yeah. Oh, coffee bean, check.
Mary Beth Barone
Coffee bean, check. Tiffany, check.
Benito Skinner
Oh, my.
Mary Beth Barone
I move my Tiffany to the left.
Benito Skinner
Whoa. Easter egg. Your T shirt today. Easter egg.
Mary Beth Barone
I know. I'm wearing an Easter egg. I'm wearing a gift from none other than Benny Drama.
Benito Skinner
She's wearing a black parade T shirt that I. I had to be a grailed warlord for that one. Let me just tell you, if you want My Chemical Romance merch, you're gonna have to fight.
Mary Beth Barone
It'll cost you.
Benito Skinner
It'll cost you.
Mary Beth Barone
It'll cost you. It's.
Benito Skinner
I was fighter. Respect.
Mary Beth Barone
When she says that your volume is so loud when you do that, that Zoom is actually muting you completely. Oh, that's so. It's like. No, but I like it because it's like. It's an act out. It's a little mimarie.
Benito Skinner
I've only known that to happen with one other person. And that was when you had to do a chem read with a guy who was reading for Peter. Do you remember? And it ducked out.
Mary Beth Barone
No, I didn't. Zoom. Crash.
Benito Skinner
Do you know how hard it is to be best friends with someone and. But then be in, like, a very corporate zoom, like, because Mary Beth and I are thinking the exact same thing.
Mary Beth Barone
And it's twin telepathy.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, it is. But everyone else is, like, cool. Like, they're all kind of feeling it, and I just desperately. I can't even text you because it'd be obvious. It would look like we were recording ride.
Mary Beth Barone
We just have to wait. We just have to wait patiently with our. With our mouths shut.
Benito Skinner
But we were in a chem read once for someone who was going to play Mary Bus boyfriend in the show, and he yelled so loud on it. It shut down zoom and it. It. It got rid of him. It kicked him off, it seems, didn't it?
Mary Beth Barone
They were like. They were like, this person is in danger, unfortunately.
Benito Skinner
We're so sorry, but our hands are tied here.
Mary Beth Barone
It goes against the content policy.
Benito Skinner
Well, of course. Content guidelines.
Mary Beth Barone
That was a really scary moment. He rejoined us, and I think he's fine to this day. But, yeah, he rejoined.
Benito Skinner
And I won't lie. If something like that happened to me in an audition, I'd just be like, well, c' est la vie.
Mary Beth Barone
No, you have to give it your all.
Benito Skinner
And I probably would one time, though. Oh, my God. So I was pitching all of season one to Amazon and my Internet.
Mary Beth Barone
Wait, wait, wait. This was in the great Internet outage.
Benito Skinner
Of 2024, you can't even imagine. It was shocking.
Mary Beth Barone
It was really hard to watch a friend go through that and to suffer because it was every single time we tried to FaceTime you in the writer's room, any meeting you were on, and sometimes I'd be at your house when it would cut out. And just the, like, the fire within you, it was like I just. As an empath, that was really hard.
Benito Skinner
Some Republican who saw my Cooper the Gen Z Intern video works at Spectrum. I can only say that that's the only explanation I could find, because it just. My Spectrum is. Anytime something so unbelievably important would be happening, they'd say, goodbye Internet.
Mary Beth Barone
They'd say, I'm filming.
Benito Skinner
I'm filming you. Just kidding. You have. No, I haven't read a book. I was in the middle of a pitch of season one, and it just completely crashed. Like my Internet. I had to use Terry's hotspot on his phone for it. I've never been more stressed in my life. Like, I almost had to scream in a pillow, which I don't think I've done since I was, like, six. I was throwing a fit because my Metamorphosis CD got a scratch on it. The Hillary Duff one?
Mary Beth Barone
Yeah.
Benito Skinner
I think I was probably a little bit older, but I'm gonna say six to make myself feel better. And I definitely screamed in my SpongeBob pillow. It was a tough day for me.
Mary Beth Barone
When CDs would get scratched. That was a form of suffering, and that's something that the current generation will never know.
Benito Skinner
Well, my OCD was like, hey, so that's the worst thing that could possibly happen. Do you understand that you're going to be sick about this for the rest of your life? But I still am.
Mary Beth Barone
And you're still talking about it.
Benito Skinner
I'm still talking about it.
Mary Beth Barone
I did want to say. Wait. Do you. Before I go off on this rant, do you have clear? Oh, yeah, of course you do.
Benito Skinner
Can I tell you how mortified I am by clear every time I use it?
Mary Beth Barone
Can I tell you, nothing makes me feel rage. Much like your wi fi situation when I see adults being escorted by their little babysitter in a gingham shirt. We're cutting you. We're filming you. Why do you need a babysitter? You're an adult.
Benito Skinner
And guess who they're babysitting. Yours truly. It is so mortifying. It keeps happening. And then the person I'm cutting is someone who I just. I feel, quite literally, so awful to cut It'll be like the oldest person you've ever seen and is like, with their entire family. And I'm just like, please don't cut me in front of this person. Like, it's really hard because, like, I love the service. I don't understand how the service exists.
Mary Beth Barone
But I don't either. It's such a bad service, in my opinion. If it requires that much human intervention. Like, I get if it's sort of integrated with preaching. Check where, like, you get in the clear line, you do your scan, and then you get in the pre check line. But the fact that they need to pay human bodies, I'm like, AI isn't taking over if they can't even figure out how to automate this.
Benito Skinner
No way.
Mary Beth Barone
It's so funny to me. I got pre check because I, you know, I used to trust the government. That's how I ended up here. So don't use me as a role model.
Benito Skinner
But Mary Beth is at Alcatraz. That's what they use it for.
Mary Beth Barone
I'm in Alcatraz.
Benito Skinner
Oh, wait. Did you know that Roku has an Alcatraz? We haven't even talked about that. There's a Shutter island, but it's empty.
Mary Beth Barone
It's a. It's a museum.
Benito Skinner
I think someone said that in Ride the Pot. It was some. I think someone said, there's an Alcatraz, and I can't stop thinking about it now. I go, who put this in there?
Mary Beth Barone
Oh, oh, oh. And that brings me to my next point. The founders of YouTube. They must just be living their best lives. I haven't heard a peep from them. The founders of Roku. I'm like, these guys must just be cashing their millions and just chilling the out. They're staying out of the headlines.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, they're darlings, I think. I don't think they're lifting.
Mary Beth Barone
No.
Benito Skinner
Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
No, no, no, no, no. They're definitely not.
Benito Skinner
Well, it's a really scary time to be in gyms, let me tell you. Because you'll think a trainer's cool, and then all of a sudden he'll say, rfk. And then you have to run for the hills.
Mary Beth Barone
They'll say, make America healthy again.
Benito Skinner
Now what?
Mary Beth Barone
Now what? You need to see some more studies, some more data.
Benito Skinner
I'm like, fine, if you want polio. That's what I keep telling people. I'm like, if you want polio, that's fine. That is on you. I don't. I'm like, I personally don't want it, but I guess, like, if you want it. No, I don't know.
Mary Beth Barone
I don't want measles either.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, I'm not gonna, I guess, you know. But chickenpox I did want because I got a Mulan Barbie for it.
Mary Beth Barone
Whoa. I was one of the rare people in history that got chickenpox and shingles. I got shingles in first grade. I got to stay home for a week. It was very painful. I have. I have several scars from it. But it had. Scientists stumped.
Benito Skinner
Well, of course. I mean, as you always have.
Mary Beth Barone
Now there's a chickenpox vaccine. Did you know that?
Benito Skinner
Oh, yeah. I thought it was just like, you get it? Which I kind of loved about it. It was something like. There was something fun about that.
Mary Beth Barone
There was something really American about that.
Benito Skinner
I agree. In whimsy. You know what it reminded me of? Do you remember that book in Catholic schools we would have to read? It was about someone who, like, put stickers on their face, and it's like, how many gold stars you could get? Do you know what I'm talking about? This book, like, sat with me in a really weird way.
Mary Beth Barone
I remember the gold star currency. Like, the. How there was a whole currency to having gold stars and how many you could accumulate.
Benito Skinner
Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
But I don't remember that book. Maybe I would if I saw it, and it would bring a bunch of memories rushing back.
Benito Skinner
But, like, I remember this other girl or something in the, like, world of this book, she would have dots on, and it was really different. And I don't know. I'm just gonna. I'm gonna look up this book. There's something to be said for it. I. I can see it in my mind's eye.
Mary Beth Barone
Did you see Julianne Moore's post about her book being banned by the federal government? It's called, like, strawberry hair and freckles, and it's not, like, accepting your differences. And it's banned by the government.
Benito Skinner
Wait, oh, so we're just there now, huh?
Mary Beth Barone
You were there. She did an Instagram post. She's like, I can't even fathom why this was banned. It makes me so sad. Sorry.
Benito Skinner
It's just.
Mary Beth Barone
What is happening?
Benito Skinner
Sorry. It's literally like, if we can't laugh, it's like, that's the book that's getting.
Mary Beth Barone
Banned, among many others. But also, I do want to shout out to the detention center for letting me keep the pod, because a lot of people here are podcast hosts and they don't get to record.
Benito Skinner
And totally no books, though. Just SNL50.
Mary Beth Barone
SNL50. And that's about it.
Benito Skinner
This one goes out to all my kids buying Ramana. Oh, my God. I can't stop thinking about it. This is how we do that.
Mary Beth Barone
I haven't thought about that song in a while. You know, there was a big apology after that song.
Benito Skinner
Well, of course.
Mary Beth Barone
That tracks nails done, all Japanese Y. And then she had boxer braids in the video.
Benito Skinner
Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
You know, so she was called in.
Benito Skinner
That time was interesting for culture.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, that was when people would apologize. What I think so interesting about what's happening now is that once you become a pariah and worshiped by the right, actually, the more bad stuff you do, the more they like you.
Benito Skinner
I know.
Mary Beth Barone
So then it becomes this impossible paradox of, like, nothing these people could ever do would be bad enough to get their fans to turn on them.
Benito Skinner
I do think, though, that for Kanye, and I don't want to speak on this too much, but I am just like, someone had to upload all of that to the site. And I'm not going to say what it was because that's just. I just. I can't. It's so insane. But someone uploaded that. That's where I'm like, it's not just him. I also need to, like, know all the people who, like, let this happen. I'm like, I'm into the logistics of it for some reason, because I'm like, I just can't. There are so many things that have to happen for that to then be up. I want all the people to be held accountable.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, think about the Doge people. Those, like, hackers who are just going into government buildings and just, like, stealing data and, like, hacking shit. I'm like, who raised you? Like, I was told that if you, like, run a stop sign, you're going to go to hell. So how do you get from there to, like, you're going to hack the nuclear codes? I just don't understand what happens in a person's life to make them think that that's okay. Like, in any way may they experience.
Benito Skinner
The loss of a child. I know you guys have been kind of radio silent about loss of a child.
Mary Beth Barone
They haven't been on Reddit. They actually haven't been good.
Benito Skinner
I know, because it's not. It's not hitting in the comments. But you, as I. I said to you, I go, they've been radio silent. My kids haven't said a word. I feel really uncomfortable. And you said, I think they just don't want their name attached to that statement. And I get that.
Mary Beth Barone
Agreed. I'm glad they'll post it on Reddit. Someone said on Reddit to whoever's leaving their dog in my garbage can, may they experience the loss of a child. And on note of Reddit. And I love that you guys on the Reddit, you feel like it's a safe space to have conversations and start discourse. There was a thread about Picasso and how he was a really bad man and a misogynist and he like mentally like abused women and stuff. And we aren't smart. We're riding for the art. We're not necessarily riding for the man.
Benito Skinner
No. And here's my thing. We're kind of hard up on finding any men during that time who like really treated women correctly or kindly or this time honestly. And this time too. So in the present, you know, we'll see. And like Sebastian Stan, I can only hope that you like, rise to the occasion. But I, I am, unfortunately, I'm not surprised. That kind of history has, has taught us that that's kind of just like to be expected. And of course I'm disappointed.
Mary Beth Barone
I know it's a bummer. I just want people to know that like we, I actually, I knew he had probably like, you know, slept around and stuff, but I didn't know the extent.
Benito Skinner
So I know I thought he was not like mean.
Mary Beth Barone
And you know, it sucks because Kanye said this, but name one genius that ain't crazy. I think about that a lot in.
Benito Skinner
Dear Media clip that this is how we do.
Mary Beth Barone
This is how we do. Should we get a note? What you ride for?
Benito Skinner
Oh, wait. I also want to say that if we ever say like Catholic school teachings and stuff, we are non practicing. We don't think that any of that was correct or right or like within our world.
Mary Beth Barone
It's propaganda. Yeah, it's like, to be clear, here's how I would sum it up. We Any teachings of the Catholic Church that we talk about on this podcast, we don't actually agree with or believe even a little bit. So if we're saying things that we experienced, it's not because we're like, everyone should be on board with this. It's more just like, can you believe we endured that?
Benito Skinner
Yeah. Well, and now you're in a black parade shirt in Alcatraz, in a basement.
Mary Beth Barone
In an, in an unstable.
Benito Skinner
Sometimes they shake the walls, right?
Mary Beth Barone
Yeah, well, you know, it's a, it's a 4D experience, as I said.
Benito Skinner
What do they feed you? They feed you factor factor meals.
Mary Beth Barone
It's all factor meals. But they're expired.
Benito Skinner
Oh, okay.
Mary Beth Barone
It's expired factor meals.
Benito Skinner
One time I got a factor package and it was all mushroom ones for like a week. I had to like scrape off mushrooms. It was like a busy week for me. So on that note, I will be writing for the Great American Arcade and.
Mary Beth Barone
I will be riding for sitcom theme songs. Hey bronies, it's Mary Beth here, back in the submersible with Ms. Pinky. You may have just heard her growl. My voice is a little shocked because I had five shows this weekend. Austin, Nashville, you guys were amazing. I missed you already. I still feel the energy. Burlington, Portland, Atlanta. I'll see you soon. But that's actually not even what I'm here to talk about today. Today I'm here to talk about Lumi. Lumi is deodorant and what is my absolute must before I step out on stage, before I go to a concert, before I go to the grocery store, before I even go to the doctor, I need to put on my Lumi. So Lumi is amazing because they actually make whole body deodorant. It is safe to use anywhere on your body. Pits, under boobs, thigh folds, belly buttons, butt cracks, vulvas and feet. Created by an OB GYN who saw firsthand how normal BL was being misdiagnosed and mistreated. Clinically proven to block odor all day and control odor for up to 72 hours. Lume deodorant Product Options Solid Deodorant Stick this is formulated and powered by mandelic acid to stop odor before it starts sweat control deodorant and then of course spray deodorant. All products are baking soda free and paraben free pH balanced for safe use below the waist. Lumi's starter pack is perfect for new customers. It comes with a solid stick Deodorant Cream Tube Deodorant Two free products of your choice like mini Body wash and deodorant wipes and free shipping as a special offer for listeners. New customers get 15% off all Lumi products with our exclusive code. And if you combine the 15% off with the already discounted starter pack, that equals over 40% off their starter pack. Use code RIDE for 15 off your first purchase at lumide.com that's code RIDE at L u m e-d e o d o r-a n t.com Please support our show and tell them we sent you Smell fresher, stay drier and boost your confidence from head to toe.
Benito Skinner
With Lumi coming to you live from an editing bay. I think it's really echoey and stuff. I wonder what Mary Beth's ad solo was like, here we go. This video podcast is sponsored and brought to you by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs like all my babies to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just starting out or managing a growing brand, Squarespace makes it easy to create a beautiful website, engage with your audience, and sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms. I'm going to tell you about some product features, maybe even three Squarespace Payments. Squarespace Payments is the easiest way to manage your payments in one place. With Squarespace, onboarding is fast and simple. Oh, God. Get started in just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away. Plus, give your customers more ways to pay with popular payment methods like Klarna, ACH Direct Debit US, Apple Pay Afterpay, and ClearPay UK. Visual design tools. Oh, this is my second feature. I'm talking about grow credibility and engage visitors with an unrivaled suite of visual design effects built in and ready to go on any Squarespace website. Create an elevated online esthetic with. Oh, my God, this is so aesthetic. You know what I mean? With dozens of modern and intuitive options that fit every brand, industry and purpose.
Mary Beth Barone
And just to chime in, yeah, I bet you didn't see that coming. You can connect major social media and multimedia accounts to your website in just a few clicks. Okay.
Benito Skinner
Go to squarespace.com for a free trial. And when you're Ready to launch squarespace.com ride to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or zone.
Mary Beth Barone
Wait, where are we going?
Benito Skinner
Who cares? Ride. This is like, so like, Dan, you know what I mean? Like, there's something very like, do op about this. Okay, so the Great American Arcade. I love arcades. And I was driving by one recently in LA and I saw it and I was like, oh, my God, I love arcades. Like, the ride was right in front of me and I had to just see. My eyes are open. You know this.
Mary Beth Barone
Where is there an arcade in la?
Benito Skinner
It was kind of random. I can't place it exactly. It was like Hollywood adjacent. I'll find it and take a photo of it. It had no windows, so I don't know if I'm going to it, but Idaho had some fucking fire ones. We had this one that was called Boondocks and now it's called Wahoos. And it was just totally fabulous. They had go karts, which love. I love being the passenger princess in a go kart.
Mary Beth Barone
Think of the square footage to have a go kart, like, track.
Benito Skinner
Honey, if Idaho's got anything, it's land.
Mary Beth Barone
It's. It's land.
Benito Skinner
How much did we love that? This is our land photo, darlings.
Mary Beth Barone
This is our land reveal.
Benito Skinner
God, I love that. It was a good day. It was a really good day. We have a lot of good memories together, Ken. So arcades, and I am really competitive, and so I used to take this babysitter. Well, I used to take this babysitter.
Mary Beth Barone
You used to take your b. And I believe that, too, the fullest extent that you took the babysitter to the arcade.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, it was clear. I went to the front of the line. It was my clear babysitter. They. They took me. They took me to an arcade. They'll take you to an arcade if you ask.
Mary Beth Barone
They legally have to take you anywhere you want to go.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, you can go front of the line at TSA or to an arcade.
Mary Beth Barone
To an arcade.
Benito Skinner
All you have to do is show your eyes. I will say, if you ever get mad at the person cutting you, they did just have to see themselves on camera with how they look. And every time I go asymmetrical, like, it's so scary. Like, seeing your face the morning before a flight, it's so jarring. So just know that at least we've endured that before we cut you in line.
Mary Beth Barone
Yeah. There's a lot of documentation of how I'm looking before a flight, and I really don't want anyone to ever get access to that.
Benito Skinner
Oh, my God. But one day I took this one, and I was like, can I have that? So the great American Arcade. I find that lately, I. I want this. I. I have been craving laser tag. People have sent me a few places, and I think I'm gonna go this. When you get here in two weeks, I'll pick you up. Like, there was laser tag at Wahoos. There was air hockey. And this is what I would do with my babysitter. And I loved her. Shout out, lauren, I love you, girl. She wouldn't be the babysitter thing. Who would let me win? I'm like, let's fucking play ball. Like, I don't. I don't want any of that shit. I'll be here all day. I loved air hockey. And I will say the motocross bikes and any of the games I played taught me how to arch my back.
Mary Beth Barone
Which is a skill you need in this industry.
Benito Skinner
Well, of course. So those kind of just like, electrified me. And then, I mean, I won't lie, like, any of the deer hunting ones weren't really for me. I'm not a guns guy, but no, get me at any kind of like car racing cruise in usa, like, any of that shit. It's so hardcore and it's so serious. I can't stress enough. Like Super Mario Kart, it is so serious. But to be on one of those things and to press nitrous like that to me was like. There was no better feeling as a kid than pressing nitrous. This is a little straight for me, I won't lie.
Mary Beth Barone
It felt like freedom, I think.
Benito Skinner
Yes. And also like getting like the rewards, like getting the little tickets and then going to turn those tickets in.
Mary Beth Barone
Were you a ticket queen like you were. You were stacking up?
Benito Skinner
Well, I was into gambling also because I would put. I would put the little coins in the things that would. Like there's that one thing where you keep adding the coins until they all spill off. And then you might get a bunch of tickets for it. But I would do all kinds of roulette, things like that too. I was a gambler, I was an addict. I was a race car. Race car driver. And then I was a gunslinger, AKA laser tag. Laser tag, to me is the most fun a woman and a man can have without taking their clothes off.
Mary Beth Barone
I completely agree. There's a thrill, there's a rush to it. There's just something like carnal and it's like, you're not hurting anyone. Like, it's just.
Benito Skinner
I would die to have a ride meetup at an arcade. Let's do that. Is there one in New York or.
Mary Beth Barone
Is it just Dave and Busters? But I mean, that could fit a lot of Baronies.
Benito Skinner
Well, I mean, also Dave and Busters, like, feels me coded. I don't know why, but here's my question. Do they have laser tag? Like, to me, I'm only seeing arcade. I'm seeing like the basketball hoops and stuff.
Mary Beth Barone
I don't know if they have the square footage for laser tag. That's when I'm saying we can look into it.
Benito Skinner
Maybe in Times Square where we used to record ride. That's where we used to record it.
Mary Beth Barone
We should do laser tag at Pod Stream.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, at Pod Stream. No, but I'm telling you, like hiding behind something, jumping in front of it and going, bam, bam. And it's like, like little laser sounds.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, it feels like Star Wars. It feels like sci fi. It feels futuristic. It's very. It captures the imagination.
Benito Skinner
What's character play? It's role playing.
Mary Beth Barone
I was taken in One of my many jobs I had after I started doing comedy, but wasn't working full time, but still was having to pay rent and things like that. I actually nannied part time for the child of a CEO and he took me to Dave and Buster's. It was a little wager that we made if he did swimming every week without complaining, then at the end of the season, we would go to Dave and buster's D&Bs. Which we did. Yeah, D&Bs. And you know what I will say, like, it's fun for the whole family. And that's what I'm about. I just want fun for the whole family. Also, what's really sad is I think, like, the Great American Arcade is. Is probably. If. I mean, I'm going out on a limb and saying it's probably a dying breed. Because one thing I read is that Americans don't have as many, like, places to meet up anymore because, like, people aren't super religious anymore. And people are so, like, on their phones, like, they don't go to malls anymore. We've lost communities. So that's why there's a loneliness epic. So to me, I say more arcades.
Benito Skinner
I completely agree. I can't imagine the boom in the 80s of that. You, Nancy Reagan. Sorry, when I say 80s, I have to say you, Nancy Reagan. It just goes without saying, there's something about arcades. To me, it just feels like warm and fuzzy. And you know what? I remember every day I've been to an arcade. So that's why I was saying to Terry at dinner last night, we were having a pork night, and I said, I need to go to an arcade this weekend. And then I said, I just texted Mary Beth that I want to ride for the Great American Arcade. Like, I. I love these spots. I think they're so fun. Sometimes they have bowling. I won't lie to. There's sometimes little pins moment my love. Which I love bowling too. I was gonna ride for that, but that's kind of the same thing. Like, there's this bowling alley in K town where they have, like, an arcade. And the bowling line was so long that we couldn't go bowling, which devastating. But. And I picked my outfit to go with the shoes and everything. So it was a bummer. But the arcade was there and we were able to do Super Mario Brothers. We got a little drink. Like, also just the food. Like the nacho cheese is there, little pretzels. It was just so fun. Like, it's just pure, wholesome fun. It's fun for the whole family. And it's competition, which I love. Friendly competition. I've said this, and, yeah, I want to get back out there. I want to go to an arcade more.
Mary Beth Barone
I want to know where kids are having birthday parties in the absence of arcades. Because when I was growing up in our town, we had. We had a place called the Varsity Club. And so that was, like. It was more games and, like, I think they had, like, a running track and, like, a ball pit and stuff. I. I have core memories from there, but I can't remember exactly what all the different stations were. It was a gym where they just sort of worked you out. You lifted weights. You did the Presidential Physical Fitness Test. But it closed. And I. I still think about it all the time. I mean, what a great name. The Varsity Club.
Benito Skinner
Oh, totally. That just appeals to kids immediately.
Mary Beth Barone
The merch was fabulous.
Benito Skinner
Oh, I can Only Cups.
Mary Beth Barone
You used to walk out with a cup.
Benito Skinner
Well, I could. I could only imagine. I mean, Wahoos and Boondocks. I think I like Boondocks better, to be honest.
Mary Beth Barone
Is it near the strip club or.
Benito Skinner
No, no, not even close. But it's near the water park, which I also will ride for at some point, because there's. No one loves a water park like Benny Drama, let me tell you.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, one day we're gonna go to Mountain Creek and we're gonna fuck some shit up.
Benito Skinner
Oh. Oh. One day we're gonna go to Roaring Springs and fuck some shit up. You couldn't imagine. I took Terry and he goes, this is one of my favorite places I've been. Idaho does water parks, period.
Mary Beth Barone
It's not just for kids. These experiences that bring you joy, they're not just for kids or for adults, too.
Benito Skinner
I know. And I kind of, like, always ride for those things. And it. I just, like, need to get back to that childlike wonder. But I think it's because I spent so much of my childhood in the closet. I can kind of piece together things I did, like, and then some that I really didn't. And so it's fun now to just, like, celebrate that. But this was fun when, like, boys would have their birthday parties at. At Wahoos or Boondocks. I was like, yeah, I'm. I'm game. Let's do this. Like, let's buckle up. I'm ready.
Mary Beth Barone
I want to say that I participated in a birthday party that was at a facility called Activate, which is like an arcade. But you have these wristbands, and you tap into the games with your Team, they weigh you and so then you have to do cardio until you can prove that you've lost three pounds. And then they let you go. And it's really cool. You don't get fed or anything, but they have interactive games and it's like, it's, it's. It feels very futuristic.
Benito Skinner
Let's take it to the arcade. Let's make it more communal. Let's bring fun back. I can only imagine how much we could get into in an arcade. So let's do it.
Mary Beth Barone
Bring fun back.
Benito Skinner
We're not having any fun. That's the issue.
Mary Beth Barone
I know.
Benito Skinner
So we need to go back to the arcades. We need to play laser tag. And you know what? I think a lot of us, we need to let off some steam and just like, get off our phones and don't watch the tv. It's just gonna make you too sad. Give yourself a break and don't feel guilty for that break. That's what I'm telling all my babies. Meet us at the arcade.
Mary Beth Barone
I agree.
Benito Skinner
At.
Mary Beth Barone
I agree.
Benito Skinner
At 8pm not too late.
Mary Beth Barone
Meet me at her spot.
Benito Skinner
Yeah. To me, it's the great American arcade, but it probably came from elsewhere. We've. We've stolen everything. And if you tell me that, I'm just, Just know that, like, I, I didn't really look up the origin, but for me it feels very 80s American, if I'm correct.
Mary Beth Barone
Agreed. And I love. I can't wait for the Baronies to tell us what the history is, the lineage.
Benito Skinner
Of course, they teach us as much as we teach them.
Mary Beth Barone
I was just gonna say that everyone should feel safe on the Reddit. Like, I've never been on the Reddit and been, like, pissed off or mad. It's like we are, like, truly engaging in a conversation with you all the time.
Benito Skinner
I just look, because it's fun to, like, know what people are latching onto. It feels communal to me. That's community, like, truly. That's the arc. It's my arcade of sorts. But what I really loved is that someone on the Reddit said they saw you and your new man and they didn't, like, do a description or say who it was, which. That I really respected. There was something about it that I was like, that's like respect. You know what I mean? Like, that is every time you cut.
Mary Beth Barone
Out, I just get to watch you do the hand thing.
Benito Skinner
Yeah. Don't worry, it'll be in the tape. Yeah, yeah, we're gonna bleep it. Yeah. No, that's when I know like the kids, like, they have. They have good morals, privacy.
Mary Beth Barone
They do.
Benito Skinner
It's very much. I'm not filming you.
Mary Beth Barone
I'm not filming you.
Benito Skinner
You do it. Hey, live your life. I'm not filming you.
Mary Beth Barone
They also, they posted a video of this waitress who was like, taking away an empty plate. And she was like, you have to pay for this. I'm so sorry. And the patron was like, there's still meat on the bones. I'm not paying for it. And she's like, you ate the whole thing. You have to pay for it. If you didn't, should have said something before you ate the whole thing. And then he goes, you think there's not meat left on those? She goes, let's ask the audience. She turns the plate towards the camera.
Benito Skinner
Real recognized.
Mary Beth Barone
Real empty bones.
Benito Skinner
Sorry. That's what I'm like. Stop putting the camera on stars. That's all I'm saying. Quit turning that camera onto a star because they'll act like a star. Oh, speaking.
Mary Beth Barone
Speaking of the camera on stars. Sorry, you go first.
Benito Skinner
Okay, just really quick. Claro has my favorite Internet moment of the year. She's asked by Teffy, what does she have to say to her? Is it bisexual men who are obsessed with her? And she just goes, it's my favorite.
Mary Beth Barone
Video I've ever seen is a full sentence.
Benito Skinner
Exactly. She. And what she manages to do in her face in that moment is some of the. The best character work I've ever like. She. A star has been born for a long time. I think she's incredible, but I can't stop watching. I'll send to you after it's so.
Mary Beth Barone
Yeah, I haven't seen that yet.
Benito Skinner
She really couldn't think of what to say to the bisexual men in Brooklyn who love her. And that, I think is. Yeah, it was very you coded to me.
Mary Beth Barone
That's a tough question to be asked on the spot. I don't know what I would say.
Benito Skinner
Well, do you have a perfect answer now? Um. Okay, hit me. Sitcoms.
Mary Beth Barone
So back in the 90s, early 2000s, Nick at Nite used to be this gorgeous blend of sitcoms from, like, the 50s and sitcoms from the 80s slash 90s. So I used to start my night with like a little Growing Pains, something of that nature. Then it would go into the Facts of Life. Then we're talking about I Love Lucy. And I was such a night owl as a kid. So I would just be up watching these shows by myself and, like, rolling in, in laughter. The Jeffersons, they had the great American sitcom on Nick at Night. It was. It was like so wholesome and there were so many life lessons to be learned and many, many times they were funny episodes. But sometimes they got serious. And for me, the show that really sticks out well. So ob. There's Full House as well, which then made it onto Nick at Night, you know, after our time with watching it so that my nieces could enjoy it. But for me, the sitcom that really sticks out is Growing Pains. Show me that Smile again. Also, Growing Pains had a character on it named Boner, which feels very Ride the pod.
Benito Skinner
Very Ride the pod. Yeah. That's very Chase bank.
Mary Beth Barone
It's very Chase bank to name a character Boner. So it was show me that smile. Oh, show me that smile. And it had a man's voice and a woman's voice. Don't waste another man minute on your cryin.
Benito Skinner
Very ride.
Mary Beth Barone
Very, very ride. And just thinking about all these amazing shows and family matters and just like getting into the show with a descriptive and thematic song. Like they just really don't do it like that anymore. Now they just put the title over the show, which is obviously artistic in its own right. But I love that you can still go back and visit these great American theme songs.
Benito Skinner
I feel like the White Lotus brought it back a little bit. I will say in overcompensating, we don't do it because there's a reason why and you'll all see why. So a couple really stand out. To me, Zoe 101 was like really vocal. Oh, I know. You see me standing here.
Mary Beth Barone
You sing that to me all the time.
Benito Skinner
I sing it to you all the time. Zova. Look good, my dear? Do I look good today? Yeah, I love that song. And then friends, I mean, like that's so huge. And then Lizzie McGuire, of course.
Mary Beth Barone
And if you believe.
Benito Skinner
You know what I mean.
Mary Beth Barone
You got a picture what they did.
Benito Skinner
With aerobics balls in that? No one has seen stuff like that before. It was just balls.
Mary Beth Barone
Well, it was. It was a wink to the rhythmic gymnastics of future episodes.
Benito Skinner
Activate my love that I loved. Oh, sister, sister. Never knew how much I missed you. That was so good too.
Mary Beth Barone
There was also a smart guy. He's a smart guy. Smart guy. Oh, it's a slice of the life of Mr. T.J. henderson. Super intelligent, a fine young gentleman. A 10 year old whiz kid bust in high school. A tenacious little shorty with a thousand iq and he's keeping it real. Your favorite letter. Steady buddy, he knows the deal. They say that he's cute, huh? Very clever. You could say that. He's bright, brainy, gifted, whatever. Your brother is smart. He's a smart.
Benito Skinner
Jackson just pissed himself. Jackson. Can you just say Jackson has excused.
Mary Beth Barone
Himself in the recording. They just don't make shows like this anymore. I'm sorry. They just don't.
Benito Skinner
Here's the thing. They're not trying to build worlds.
Mary Beth Barone
They're not.
Benito Skinner
And I wish they would. So in overcompensating, we do a thing where each episode is named after a song. I'm allowed to say that if I'm not. It is what it is at this point. It. You're gonna see it soon enough.
Mary Beth Barone
The show will come out.
Benito Skinner
The show will come out.
Mary Beth Barone
That's. We have to remind you.
Benito Skinner
So that's why it doesn't do it. But, like, it almost has a theme song in that. It doesn't. If that makes sense. Like, each one kind of has its own. It's like, why choose first of its kind? Why choose one?
Mary Beth Barone
I got a TV show.
Benito Skinner
I want to be indulgent. Of course I'm getting this opportunity. Let's have some fun. But I can only imagine what ours would be. But I really. I. I love this ride. I think it's so fun. I'll. I'll, you know, talk more during ride or die.
Mary Beth Barone
But whatever happened to predictability? That milkman, the paperboy, the evening tv. I mean, that's in West Philadelphia. Oh, my God. Yeah.
Benito Skinner
On the playground is where I spent most of my days. That's so me. At the arcade is where I spent most of my days. I'll always.
Mary Beth Barone
To have a theme song sort of cross over into culture as a song itself. There's nothing better than that. I'm just happy for everyone involved. Bride has one.
Benito Skinner
I love it. I don't think I ever want to change it. I don't think I ever.
Mary Beth Barone
No, we can't.
Benito Skinner
I love it. Boom, boom, boom. You know what I mean? It just brings you in.
Mary Beth Barone
Let us know your favorite theme songs and the ones that you could just sort of do off the dome, please.
Benito Skinner
I also think that it's something about it that, like, gets you into watching. Like, it just helps you kind of get into the zone of the show. Or else I feel like you're like, oh, I have to rewind. Like, sorry, I wasn't ready yet for, like, plot. I feel like there's something scientific about it. It feels very Pavlovian dog.
Mary Beth Barone
Pavlovian. It's. Wow. It's so true. Because when you hear the Friends theme song, when you hear the Sex and the City theme song, instantly you're transforming.
Benito Skinner
You know what I mean?
Mary Beth Barone
I know what's talkative? It's evocative. Er, I don't know that.
Benito Skinner
Oh, I remember. Gray's being something incredible. Wasn't it like Death Cab for Cutie?
Mary Beth Barone
Wait, that actually brings up something important? Not that, but the. Well, I did see Death Cab at MSG last year, and they did. They did a Death Cab slash Postal Service tour, and it was, like, one of the great nights of my life.
Benito Skinner
I might have been wrong. I think Grey's Anatomy might be Postal Service.
Mary Beth Barone
Okay.
Benito Skinner
I know someone will tell me.
Mary Beth Barone
I mean, don't mix those up.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, I wouldn't.
Mary Beth Barone
I watched Grey's Anatomy in high school, and I was so confused by the fact that her name was Meredith Gray and it was Seattle Grace Hospital.
Benito Skinner
Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
Like, why would they do that? And then that I had the same confusion in. Bring it on. Her name was Torrance, and the school is the Rancho Carne Toros. And I'm like, this is too close. I'm like. I'm seeing connections here with my Galaxy brain. It's taking me out.
Benito Skinner
Yeah, totally. You're like. You're thinking that they did it as a choice, but it actually is kind of just, like, it was probably, like, top of mind for them, and it sounded right, but then it is confusing. Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
I'm just saying, as a viewer, I was confused.
Benito Skinner
I do think I also maybe made some kind of Seattle Grace, like, association with that. That show was so sexual when it started, and it really was, like.
Mary Beth Barone
It was bombastic.
Benito Skinner
It was so many awakenings for me in a way that I just couldn't. I was like, oh, my God. Like, this is just a lot for me.
Mary Beth Barone
A lot of people also talk about the Twin Peaks theme song, so that's just important. I mean, the Brady Bunch, of course.
Benito Skinner
Mom was really into Providence. Did you ever watch that channel? I think it's one of those things where, like, your mom's watching something, and so you watch it and you think it's the most famous thing in the world. But I'm like, I don't think anyone watched this, but they literally had a Beatles theme song.
Mary Beth Barone
A Beatles theme song. You couldn't. I mean, wow. The industry has changed.
Benito Skinner
And now I think to myself, how the. Did they pay for that? Like, that's just.
Mary Beth Barone
I'm looking. Oh. In my life.
Benito Skinner
In my life. I love them all. That vibe. Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
I don't even know.
Benito Skinner
There are places I remember all my life. Yeah. That show Was, like, huge for me. I used to watch that with my mom. I had, like, quite the repertoire. Kids at school talking. I'm like, did y' all see Desperate Housewives last night?
Mary Beth Barone
See if Moms being star makers. I thought my mom didn't like the Beatles. So I grew up my whole life being like, hey Jude is fine. I like Strawberry Fields. But I just thought she didn't like, like them. So for that reason, I thought I couldn't like them. Yeah. And then I just found out literally three weeks ago. She's like, I love the Beatles. I don't know where you got that from. I'm like, so I've been harboring this for my whole life? And you didn't think to.
Benito Skinner
You're like, do you know how bad I wanted to, like, sing Yellow Submarine as a kid? Did you know how badly I wanted to stand these?
Mary Beth Barone
And I didn't feel like I could.
Benito Skinner
Should we get into Ride or Die?
Mary Beth Barone
You know what you are, Benny? Hmm? Your words, not mine, babe. You're my Ride or Die.
Benito Skinner
Ride or Die.
Mary Beth Barone
I think we should get into Ride or Die. I feel like this episode is very Americana, which I love lately.
Benito Skinner
We're still. We're still holding out hope for the old glory here.
Mary Beth Barone
Oh, speaking of. Of songs and things, I rewatched Hitch with my new man, which is also.
Benito Skinner
The live action Aladdin. I watched the live action Aladdin because we talked about it, and I'm like, I realized I hadn't seen that one.
Mary Beth Barone
Wait, so wait, Hitch is the live action Aladdin?
Benito Skinner
Well, if you watch the live action Aladdin, Will Smith is the genie, and he's not. Not Hitch. Like, it's the same thing. And so I was kind of like, this is, like, so Hitchcoated.
Mary Beth Barone
It's Hitch, too.
Benito Skinner
These are these big thoughts that hit my brain.
Mary Beth Barone
They have some amazing songs in that movie where I was just thinking, if you made this movie today, also if you made Ingrid Goes west today, both of those actresses would be nominated for Oscars. Elizabeth Olsen and Aubrey. Holy powerhouse performances. They should have been nominated then. I still think of that now in this current landscape. Absolutely.
Benito Skinner
Elizabeth Olsen. I still think of lines from it when she says, feet in the sand, head in the clouds, Joshua Tree, or it's like something like that. It's so. That movie is genius. I'm like, it does make you sick to your stomach the whole time, but in a good way. You're so nervous.
Mary Beth Barone
Also, Billy Magnuson is so good in it as well.
Benito Skinner
He's incredible. And he's also In Aladdin Live action. Not kidding.
Mary Beth Barone
Whoa.
Benito Skinner
Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
Whoa. The worlds are intersecting.
Benito Skinner
I want us to be in a fight in a movie. And it wasn't Billy who auditioned for your boyfriend. We should just say that if they're thinking it's.
Mary Beth Barone
Yeah, that would be a huge jump.
Benito Skinner
But, you know, you never know.
Mary Beth Barone
But the Bronies are always putting pieces together. I ride for arcades. It really reminds me of, like, having older brothers. Just like I have three, of course, and two older sisters. But, like, we do a lot of celebrating older sisters on the show.
Benito Skinner
Yeah.
Mary Beth Barone
And I feel like, for me, the arcade is such, like, an older brother gets to pick the activity.
Benito Skinner
Hey, let's celebrate some men. What do you say, Jackson?
Mary Beth Barone
Hey.
Benito Skinner
Jackson. Say, all right. All right, Jackson.
Mary Beth Barone
Speechless.
Benito Skinner
I ride four sitcom theme songs. I think this episode feels like home to me. It feels like making memories. It feels like childhood in a fun way. It's the good stuff. It's the things that make you feel like community in a way. You're a part of a community. You're. You're tapping in and. Yeah, I think we need to get back to theme songs. Hey, they teach the viewers how to watch the show in a lot of ways. I so ride for this also because I think it's time we watch a lot of it. More tv.
Mary Beth Barone
Oh, I'd have to agree. Shouldn't we just. Television.
Benito Skinner
I think tv.
Mary Beth Barone
And that reminds me of sister Mad Men.
Benito Skinner
I'm just out of the morning shows with the little balls. Talk about balls. Yes, the balls. Ah, see, there's so many to ride for. Send us your favorites, please. We're so curious.
Mary Beth Barone
Send us the ones that you can't get out of your head.
Benito Skinner
And this one goes out to all the girls still at the bar buying bottles with your rev on it.
Mary Beth Barone
And to that I say, if you want my auto, want my autofit, baby. Just ask.
Benito Skinner
1, 2, 3. May they experience the loss. Say it with me, Jackson. You're in. You're implicated now. 1, 2, 3. May they experience the loss of a child. Oh, my. Exit.
Mary Beth Barone
Benny, babe. Eyes on the road. Then you go.
Audible Voiceover
Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products or services referred to in this episode.
Episode Summary: "The Great American Arcade + Sitcom Theme Songs"
Ride with Benito Skinner and Mary Beth Barone dives deep into nostalgic reflections on arcades and iconic sitcom theme songs, weaving personal anecdotes with broader cultural observations. This episode, released on February 26, 2025, offers listeners a heartfelt and humorous exploration of bygone eras and their lasting impacts on today's society.
The episode kicks off with Benito and Mary Beth celebrating the 50th anniversary of Saturday Night Live (SNL50). They discuss generational differences in comedy appreciation, highlighting how older generations might dissect SNL sketches in detail, sometimes overwhelming younger listeners.
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Transitioning from live shows to virtual platforms, Benito shares a stressful experience during a virtual pitch for Season One of their project. An unexpected internet outage forced him to rely on a mobile hotspot, leading to heightened anxiety and a near breakdown.
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The conversation shifts to the troubling trend of book banning, citing Julianne Moore's Instagram post about her book "Strawberry Hair and Freckles" being banned by the federal government. They express confusion and sadness over the increasing censorship of literature that promotes acceptance and diversity.
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A significant portion of the episode is devoted to reminiscing about arcades, such as Boondocks and Wahoos. Benito and Mary Beth lament the decline of these communal spaces, attributing it to reduced social interactions and the digital takeover. They argue that arcades once served as vital community hubs, fostering friendships and providing a space for enjoyable competition.
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Benito shares fond memories of playing various arcade games, from laser tag to air hockey, emphasizing the thrill and camaraderie these games fostered. Mary Beth echoes these sentiments, recounting her own experiences and the lasting impact of arcades on her social life.
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Shifting gears, the hosts delve into the world of sitcom theme songs, reminiscing about classics from the 90s and early 2000s. They highlight how these melodies became integral to the shows' identities, enhancing viewer engagement and creating lasting emotional connections.
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Benito contrasts the immersive experience of watching older sitcoms with theme songs to the more subdued introductions of today's TV shows. They express a desire for modern shows to reclaim the memorable and evocative power of classic theme music.
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The episode touches on unexpected pop culture intersections, such as actors appearing in multiple franchises, highlighting the interconnectedness of the entertainment industry.
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Throughout the episode, Benito and Mary Beth emphasize the importance of shared memories and experiences in building a sense of community. They encourage listeners to engage by sharing their favorite theme songs, fostering a collective nostalgic journey.
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Wrapping up, the hosts reinforce the episode's themes of nostalgia and community, inviting listeners to reflect on their own cherished memories of arcades and sitcoms. They underscore the value of these shared cultural touchstones in fostering connections and preserving communal joy.
Final Quote:
Listener Participation: Benito and Mary Beth encourage listeners to share their favorite sitcom theme songs and arcade memories, aiming to create an interactive and engaging community dialogue.
This episode masterfully blends humor, nostalgia, and thoughtful commentary, offering listeners both laughter and reflection on the cultural landmarks that shape our collective experiences.