Zach Cherry

Summary

Senses Working Overtime with David Cross: Episode Featuring Zach Cherry

Released on March 6, 2025

Introduction In this lively episode of Senses Working Overtime with David Cross, hosted by Headgum, David Cross welcomes comedian and actor Zach Cherry. The conversation flows seamlessly through a variety of topics, showcasing the hosts' sharp wit and playful banter. Skipping past the initial advertisements and intros, the episode delves into reality TV nuances, the intricacies of show adaptations, personal backgrounds, and light-hearted discussions about dogs and popular culture.

Reality TV Show Dynamics David and Zach kick off their conversation by dissecting the mechanics of reality TV shows, particularly focusing on adaptations like "Big Brother" and the fictional "Deal or No Deal Island."

• Big Brother Analogy: Zach draws parallels between their podcast setup and "Big Brother," noting, “[00:51] Zach Cherry: I've also been watching Big Brother, and in Big Brother, the red chairs mean you've been nominated for eviction.” This comparison sets the stage for their playful exploration of reality TV conventions.

• Deal or No Deal Island: The duo humorously critiques the concept of "Deal or No Deal Island," speculating on its mysterious banker character and potential links to notorious figures. David humorously muses, “[06:13] David Cross: So they've got to earn basically the money that they're going to try to win,” highlighting the absurdity of the show's premise.

Adaptation of British TV Shows A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing the American adaptation of the British classic, the Great British Baking Show.

• Great American Baking Show: Zach shares his experience hosting the American version, “[12:26] Zach Cherry: Honestly, they just asked if I wanted to do it and I said, yeah, sounds fun. And has been. It's been really fun.” He elaborates on the challenges and humorous elements of adapting a beloved British format for an American audience.

• Cultural Differences: The conversation touches on why certain British shows don't translate well to American TV, with David noting, “[20:13] Zach Cherry: It would be like on, I think. David Cross: That's channel four maybe, I'm not sure,” emphasizing the nuanced differences in audience reception and production styles.

Comedy and Personal Experiences David and Zach delve into their personal forays into comedy, contrasting stand-up with improv.

• Stand-Up vs. Improv: Zach reflects on his limited stand-up experience, “[15:00] Zach Cherry: So. No.” and contrasts it with his preference for improv, stating, “[15:32] Zach Cherry: So.” This segment highlights their differing approaches to comedy and performance.

• Upbringing in Trenton: Zach shares anecdotes about growing up in Trenton, New Jersey, adding a personal touch to the conversation. “[17:22] Zach Cherry: Yes, that's right. Yeah.”

Exploration of British TV Gems The hosts explore lesser-known British TV shows, praising their authenticity and charm.

• Come Dine With Me: David enthusiastically describes the show's premise, “[21:44] David Cross: They have four contestants, they host dinner parties, and viewers score each experience.” He praises its low-budget charm and genuine interactions.

• Goggle Box and Bullseye: Further discussion on shows like "Goggle Box," where families watch TV together, and the nostalgic "Bullseye" game show, showcases their appreciation for diverse television formats.

Insights on 'Severance' and Production Quality Zach shares his admiration for the HBO series "Severance," commending its meticulous production.

• Severance Praise: “[46:07] Zach Cherry: I love it so much, and I love. It's so.” He lauds the show's attention to detail and creative choices, reflecting on how it has influenced his own professional standards.

Light-Hearted Banter and Closing Remarks The episode concludes with humorous exchanges about dogs and a playful segment where David's daughter poses a question about cowboys wearing boots.

• Dog Stories: Both hosts share stories about their pets, adding warmth and relatability to the conversation.

• Cowboys and Boots Question: “[63:44] David Cross: Zachary, why do cowboys always wear boots?” Zach responds thoughtfully, blending humor with insightful speculation.

Notable Quotes

• “[06:13] David Cross: So they've got to earn basically the money that they're going to try to win.”
• “[15:32] Zach Cherry: So.” (Referring to his preference for improv over stand-up)
• “[21:44] David Cross: They have four contestants, they host dinner parties, and viewers score each experience.”
• “[46:07] Zach Cherry: I love it so much, and I love. It's so.”

Conclusion This episode of Senses Working Overtime with David Cross offers a rich tapestry of humor, insightful commentary on television formats, and personal anecdotes from both hosts. For listeners unfamiliar with the episode, it provides an engaging and entertaining glimpse into the dynamic interplay between David Cross and Zach Cherry, making it a must-listen for fans of conversational comedy and pop culture discussions.

Transcript

[David Cross]

Get the Angel REEF Special at McDonald's. Now let's break it down.

[Zach Cherry]

My favorite barbecue sauce, American cheese, crispy bacon, pickles, onions, and a sesame seed bun, of course.

[David Cross]

And don't forget the fries and a drink. Sound good? Ba da ba ba ba. I participate in restaurants for a limited time. Bombas makes the most comfortable socks, underwear and T shirts. Bombas are so absurdly comfortable, you may throw out all your other clothes. Sorry, do we legally have to say that? No, this is just how I talk. And I really love my Bombas. They do feel that good. And they do good too. One item purchased equals one item item donated. To feel good and do good, go to bombas.com wondry and use code wondry for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M-B-A-.com wondry and use code Wondry at checkout. This is a Headgum podcast.

[Zach Cherry]

This new year, why not let Audible expand your life by listening explore over 1 million audiobooks, podcasts, and exclusive Audible originals that'll inspire and motivate you. Tap into your well being with advice and insight from leading professionals and experts on better health, relationships, career, finance, investing, and more. Maybe you want to kick a bad habit or start a good one. If you're interested in learning how to master your emotions and hearing scientifically backed advice for using your emotions as a tool, may I suggest Shift by psychologist and bestseller author Dr. Ethan Krause. Trust me, listening on Audible can help you reach the goals you set for yourself. Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30 day trial at audible.com wondery that's audible.com wondery.

[David Cross]

I see.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay, I'll sit here.

[David Cross]

Okay. I don't know why that's funny, but okay.

[Unknown Guest]

I think. I think I'm just unsure. It seemed like you were set up over there, but I can sit here.

[David Cross]

Well, I was set up over there because it's a neutral area. Okay. I don't want to, you know, I don't want to give a little bias to where, like if I was sitting there and then I got up to greet you, right. You would say think, perhaps without even thinking that you shouldn't sit there. And that's why. No, you can't because cameras are set up for these two chairs.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay.

[David Cross]

That's why that's a neutral zone.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

That's the DMZ of the thank you of the area.

[Unknown Guest]

Cool. I've also been watching Big Brother, and in Big Brother, the red chairs mean you've been nominated for eviction. So I saw that the two red chairs were the only option for me, and it made me feel a little sensitive.

[David Cross]

Well, that's. I mean, that's astute. And we do take a lot of. A lot of. I don't wanna say we rip off Big Brother, but there's elements to it. And at the end of the episode, one of us will be evicted as well as the other person. Sure. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

I would say, ideally, I'd like to leave when we're done.

[David Cross]

Well, then it's worked out.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

You don't have to stay. Well, because part of it is if you're going to be a guest on the podcast, you set up camp here and you're here for three and a half, four weeks, and there's no communication with the outside world. Know what's going on.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, that will be tough. That's going to be tough for me because you wouldn't.

[David Cross]

This stage right now, you wouldn't even know if there's a world to enter three and a half weeks from now, if everything might be on fire.

[Unknown Guest]

I mean, the se. I have. The season I just watched of Big Brother 911 happened in the middle of the season, and they had to tell them that it happened.

[David Cross]

Big Brother goes that far back.

[Unknown Guest]

Season two, I went way back.

[David Cross]

So of all the. So was that. At some point, were you sitting around going, God damn it, I haven't watched all of Big Brother yet. I need to start watching every episode of Big Brother. And so you're just now on season two?

[Unknown Guest]

Sort of. I was watching Traitors.

[David Cross]

Right. I heard. I know of it. I haven't seen it.

[Unknown Guest]

Some of the people on Traitors were on Big Brother and they would be talked about as these, like, really good.

[David Cross]

Players, like mindfuck players kind of thing. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And I had never seen Big Brother.

[David Cross]

Right.

[Unknown Guest]

Then I started watching Deal or no Deal Island.

[David Cross]

Now. Okay, wait a second. I saw. Okay, so I saw a. Maybe a subway ad for it or something.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And it seems like a joke. Seems like a sketch. Like something in 30 Rock.

[Unknown Guest]

And they have put even less thought into it than that.

[David Cross]

So how does it work? I mean, Deal or no Deal? In. In. On paper could work anywhere. You could do it at a, you know, the Delta lab, the Omaha, you know, airport. You could do it anywhere.

[Unknown Guest]

Like an island.

[David Cross]

So it's just. What is the. What I. What does the island bring to.

[Unknown Guest]

So they live on an island and in the world of the show. The banker. Are you familiar with the banker?

[David Cross]

The banker is the unseen person. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Yes. The shadowy Figure, right, the banker owns this island.

[David Cross]

So it's Jeffrey Epstein. He's alive.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm not joking. At the end they go to the temple, the banker's temple, which I believe Epstein had a temple of his own on his island.

[David Cross]

Yeah, I'll see.

[Unknown Guest]

So it might be. We don't know. And then. So for the first half of the episodes, they play like island games. They like, are on zip lines and like run around and then the last 20 minutes.

[David Cross]

I'm sorry. So do the games give you an advantage or do they. Or are they just like, let's have fun like it's a carnival cruise? And then they get to.

[Unknown Guest]

That's how they collect money to put in the cases that will later be opened during the Game of Thrones.

[David Cross]

So they've got to earn basically the money that they're going to try to win.

[Unknown Guest]

Yes. And then the last 20 minutes are just an episode of Deal or no Deal, but they are on an island.

[David Cross]

And Epstein island and Tropical island or sub zero Arctic.

[Unknown Guest]

No, it's tropical.

[David Cross]

Yeah. Ish. There's beaches. So.

[Unknown Guest]

So then that is what led me to Big Brother is there were also Big Brother players on that. And I thought finally they've run out.

[David Cross]

Of people who won't debase themselves so they have to go back. They're recycling people who will allow themselves to, you know, and they mix them with.

[Unknown Guest]

On dealer no Deal Island. It's some newbies to the world of reality television. And then it's some old prose.

[David Cross]

Right.

[Unknown Guest]

And so I was like, let me see what these. How these people made their bones.

[David Cross]

But there's no. There's no mind fuckery in this one, is there?

[Unknown Guest]

There is, but it isn't necessary. It has really nothing to do with the show.

[David Cross]

So do you think any of those folks are like, what am I busting my ass trying to, you know, do this. This weird archery skill jumping thing when to get money for the thing when I could just go on the regular deal or no deal, stay in a hotel and then get free money, basically.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, I mean, the regular dealer, no Deal doesn't exist anymore to my knowledge.

[David Cross]

Oh, okay.

[Unknown Guest]

The banker has permanently relocated, likely for.

[David Cross]

Legal reasons, to the island.

[Unknown Guest]

Say that. So this is their only option if they want to play that.

[David Cross]

So it's a tax dodge. They're like, it's the Seychelles or whatever, the Antigua or, you know, one of.

[Unknown Guest]

The banker is mysterious. And also, just to clarify, the banker in season one is revealed to be Howie Mandel. But then in season two, there's a New banker who's a woman.

[David Cross]

Oh, on the island?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, on the island. But we don't know who she is yet.

[David Cross]

And so the person. Does the person. Do you ever hear the voice of the banker? Or they just pick up the phone and they go, yes, okay, I see. Okay. No, I didn't know that. Yeah. In like, I don't know, 20, 25, maybe a little later. Yeah, no. No allergies that I know of.

[Unknown Guest]

So you have seen the show?

[David Cross]

I've seen snippets. I've seen a whole show at some point.

[Unknown Guest]

It's a lot of.

[David Cross]

Or most of a show certainly say what?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, you want me to tell them they did that bad? And then they say the banker says, you discussed them.

[David Cross]

Really? They have that? Because I know. So, all right, here. Here's the thing. I know it's based. Like, half of our programs are based on a British show. So they had dealer no Deal. And I can't imagine a British banker being in on a British show being that harsh. Like, it was such a big deal when they had the missing link, weakest link.

[Unknown Guest]

Right.

[David Cross]

And then the woman would, you know, say something. In our culture, it'd be like, that's. That's how we talk to each other. And in England, it was like, oh, my goodness, what a Harrin.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, she might be the banker. We don't know.

[David Cross]

I don't know if she's still alive. The lady from.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, neither is Jeffrey Epstein. And he's.

[David Cross]

Well, he's. He's alive in spirit, I think.

[Unknown Guest]

Exactly. So she could be involved. We don't know.

[David Cross]

Okay. I can't remember that lady's name. It was like. Yeah, Anyway, it was a. It was a. It was a conversation point for Brits, or I should say the media like to talk about.

[Unknown Guest]

I wasn't culturally plugged into the British conversations at the time, so I miss that.

[David Cross]

Did you ever. Have you spent any time in the uk?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, actually, I now go there every summer. Oh, nice. Because I host the American version of the Great British. We call it Baking show for legal purposes. Exactly.

[David Cross]

So you're hosting the Great British Bake Off.

[Unknown Guest]

I host the Great American Baking show and we film it in London.

[David Cross]

Why?

[Unknown Guest]

Because that's where the tent is.

[David Cross]

That's where the tent is. That is the weakest excuse. And we have the same judges scared of flying. The tent is nervous about flying and would take too long to ship it.

[Unknown Guest]

But it is mostly that's where the tent is.

[David Cross]

So what is. What is the. Or do you think is the creative. The. The studio had reasoning for doing an American baking show that's a ripoff of a British show, but doing it even though it's American, doing it in London even though you're just in a tent.

[Unknown Guest]

I think it's because there was an American version that they did here.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And I think it felt. It didn't feel quite like the British version. Like, I think what people like about the British version is how sort of like low key and pleasant.

[David Cross]

Sure. Well, that's Britain for you, as opposed to America.

[Unknown Guest]

And I think the American version was a little more American.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And so now we go over there and it's the same crew. It's. Paul and Pru are the same judges.

[David Cross]

Got it. So it's.

[Unknown Guest]

It helps us, you know, ride the vibe a little bit.

[David Cross]

Because you couldn't find anybody in America outside of yourself who's a pleasant person.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

To be to. Yeah. I see.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. They did a nationwide search and I was.

[David Cross]

How did. Now that's. That's so interesting. How did you become a part of that?

[Unknown Guest]

Honestly, they just asked if I wanted to do it and I said, yeah, sounds fun. And has been. It's been really fun.

[David Cross]

How long or where do you shoot it?

[Unknown Guest]

We shoot it at Pinewood Studios.

[David Cross]

Okay.

[Unknown Guest]

And I stay in Windsor, right next to the castle.

[David Cross]

Wow.

[Unknown Guest]

Yep. My first summer there was actually.

[David Cross]

Have you been to the castle?

[Unknown Guest]

I haven't done the tour, but I've, like, walked.

[David Cross]

Oh, no, no, no. I mean, you gotta. There's a way to break. There's a way to sneak in. I will tell you when this is over.

[Unknown Guest]

There is a door. There's a door that. I've noticed that if I had to would be where I would start. My.

[David Cross]

You might be on the right track. You gotta wear a certain something and you have to get access. You have to get a security. You know, like a card. Almost like a chip reader card.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

To get in there. And you do not have to. And I'm not recommending you do this and you do not have to bring a gun, but you can.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay. My understanding culturally, and I've only been there for a few summers. Is that. That's not as cool.

[David Cross]

No, no. I'll tell you where it is and where to get it. It's tricky. And you'll need a Phillips head screwdriver and a.

[Unknown Guest]

For the gun or for the gun. For the gun.

[David Cross]

To get the gun. Which will allow you to get the security clearance key card to get in. It's. I'll tell you after this thing because.

[Unknown Guest]

I don't want to. I would love to get in there. I hear there's a big dollhouse in there.

[David Cross]

It's fun. It's super cool. And there's a. Oddly enough, an escape room. The Windsor Castle escape room.

[Unknown Guest]

That would be fun.

[David Cross]

And it's just for the royal family.

[Unknown Guest]

That would be fun.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And it's. It's. My understanding is it's less occupied now.

[David Cross]

It is. You know who's really good at it? Prince Andrew. He nails it every time.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And what I would say is don't. Not that you would, but don't bring a black light with you.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay. Yeah, same. Similarly, culturally, my understanding is that's less cool over there.

[David Cross]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

To have the black light just sort of on you.

[David Cross]

Yeah. Well, on the walls, on the sheets, on the carpet, on the. Anything. Yeah. Because. Yes.

[Unknown Guest]

I have one here.

[David Cross]

You have a black light. I have a black light here in the. Well, look at this. What is it? What is this? Sort of looks black. Lightish.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Let's see if there's any. Come over here. Let's see. Take a look at this.

[Unknown Guest]

Oh, I sort of.

[David Cross]

Chris, there's a lot of coming here. Look at this. There's so much come on the walls.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, because I asked him to set up the black light and I. If. You wouldn't even know it was a black light if there wasn't come for it to reveal. So I wanted to make sure there was. Thank you for. I don't know if that was homemade or where that came from, but thank you for.

[David Cross]

It's on your writer. Did you not know that?

[Unknown Guest]

That's right.

[David Cross]

Yeah. Yeah. That's on your contract.

[Unknown Guest]

That's right. I sometimes forget what I put in there.

[David Cross]

Did you ever do stand up?

[Unknown Guest]

Well, like three times.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

So. No.

[David Cross]

So it didn't go well?

[Unknown Guest]

It went fine. I just didn't like it. I didn't. I didn't like the vibe. I came up doing improv, which is a much more collaborative.

[David Cross]

Yeah, it's a lesser form of comedy.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure, sure, sure. I mean, it's freer. It's. I mean, it's more.

[David Cross]

How is it freer? It's not freer in any way.

[Unknown Guest]

It's completely.

[David Cross]

When you stand up, you just do what you want to do.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, but you.

[David Cross]

That's the freest you could possibly be.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, you're whole. You're, you know, you sitting down beforehand and writing it down and. No kind of stuff. No, you don't write your. Oh, it's all up Here. Jay Z style.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay. Well, I didn't actually know that was allowed, so maybe now I'll have to.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Revisit back into it. But no, I just didn't like the. I went to a few open mics and I remember, like, oh, that.

[David Cross]

That vibe can be not great. Yeah, yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

No one was listening. Everyone was talking during the show.

[David Cross]

But, dude, it's that the beginning is fucking hard. It is hard. Even if you're really good right out of the gate, it's a hard, not that pleasant several years, but you find your peers pretty quickly. Sure. And. And you, you know, you. You work with them, you hang out with them, you help each other and, you know, it's a nice. You get a nice little community out of it.

[Unknown Guest]

What I liked about improv is you sort of shortcut that a little bit because you have your group up there with you right away. So as a huge coward, that was. That was better for me.

[David Cross]

All right, I can understand. But you had a desire clearly, to perform.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, yeah, definitely. Like, improv and sketch and comedy was always in the mix for me.

[David Cross]

Where'd you grow up?

[Unknown Guest]

New Jersey.

[David Cross]

Where in New Jersey?

[Unknown Guest]

Trenton, New Jersey.

[David Cross]

Which is the something of the world. What is it? Trenton.

[Unknown Guest]

I was just saying capital.

[David Cross]

But yes, the catchphrase is Trenton makes the world take.

[Unknown Guest]

Yes, that's right.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Because it was some type of industrial powerhouse at some point.

[David Cross]

Yeah. For like a couple months when there was not a whole lot of.

[Unknown Guest]

I think it was more than a couple months because they built a whole bridge with the. They put a lot of effort into the bridge. Into the bridge and the lettering on it.

[David Cross]

Trenton makes the world takes Sounds very kind of bitchy almost.

[Unknown Guest]

It's like the giving tree of cities. It's. Yeah, it's like I give and I give and I give, and then now look at me.

[David Cross]

It's a Jewish city.

[Unknown Guest]

I. You know, demographically, I'm not so sure it is, but spirit.

[David Cross]

No, it just. The spirit of the city is Jewish. Yeah, it's. I used to have a. Well, I had a bit. In the standup sense, you don't do them once they're out there, but there is a product that they sell at Whole Foods that's all eco friendly, you know, 100% recyclable, blah, blah, blah. But the name of the brand is if you care. And so it's the most guilt inducing, but in a real Jewish way.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

You know, if you. There's like, you know, plastic. It's stuff for the kitchen, basically.

[Unknown Guest]

If you didn't care.

[David Cross]

Yeah, well, you know, okay, if you care, you'll, you'll purchase it. But okay, you don't care. That's, you know, teach his own.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

But you don't care. But this is for people who care. Yeah. The care about each other, they care about their children, you know, other people's children, but you don't care. So. Okay, go get the Reynolds wrap. That's fine.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. It's the trend of items, products.

[David Cross]

Yeah, yeah. So why did I bring up London? I was going to ask. This is going so far back.

[Unknown Guest]

Talking about the Queen. Well, we didn't mention her, but her presence was sort of.

[David Cross]

But there's a specific reason. Oh yes, I know what it was. It was about TV programs.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

And there are two shows. I spent a bunch of time over the years in London and there are two shows that I got pleasantly addicted to that I loved for different reasons. Just two. One is Come Dine With Me, which is one of my all time favorite shows. And are you familiar with it?

[Unknown Guest]

No.

[David Cross]

All right, well check it out when you're there.

[Unknown Guest]

It would be like on, I think.

[David Cross]

It'S channel four maybe, I'm not sure. They've this been on for many, many years and they have. Come dine with me and then. Come dine with me. Couples. The premise is really simple. It would never work here. And my wife and other people have gone you. Because I love it so much and I've seen so many episodes and you should try to pitch it and do it in America. I was like, it will not work because of the following reasons. So it's super low budget. Right. And the idea is really simple. You go to this town, anywhere in the UK and you get. There are four people that participate and, and they're, I mean literally in apartments like or, or you know, semi detached house, you know, small places. Sometimes there's somebody who's like on an estate occasionally somebody who's clearly got some money but mostly like he could be on the eighth floor of an apartment building right. In, in Liverpool, whatever. So. Or and they go to really small towns too. And they're four contestants, they don't know each other. And each week you host a dinner party where you cook and you know, you give them dinner and then you kind of provide entertainment while sort of while the dessert's getting ready. And, and so for talent.

[Unknown Guest]

What like you do a talent?

[David Cross]

Well, I mean everybody's got their own. It's not, you just have to sort of, you don't have to do that A lot of people.

[Unknown Guest]

Or they just put on a record or something.

[David Cross]

Yeah, something. And here's some, here's whatever. Here's a board game, whatever. So it's. And then you take in. Each episode is one, you know, it's 30 minutes and it's the, you meet the people, you know, somebody is a beautician and another person works for a tax firm and another person is a Uber driver, whatever. And they all have different, varying personalities. And the strangers, they're all strangers. So you go to the first person, they cook, and then it gets really, like, catty, like, this is terrible soup. When they go in the kitchen, sometimes it's really good. So, you know, they're trying, you watch them try to make it. And they, and usually I'd say most of the time people are unduly cocky about their cooking skills and, and then they'll. It's kind of part of the show. But then they'll sneak around the house and they'll go look at this picture and, oh, he's a drag queen and whatever. And then you do that. And then the person, each person separately as they get a cab home is filmed and they go, I, I thought Denise, you know, I thought her cocoa van was, it was okay. It was. The dough was not very good. I thought she was a wonderful hostess. I give her a seven, right? So each, the three people do that. They give their score, and each week you go to the next person's house and. And then they all start to get to know each other at the end. And there's definitely like, you know, right wing, left wing, or feminist, you know, you know, macho guy, whatever.

[Unknown Guest]

The thing is, they sort of intentionally cast for.

[David Cross]

Yeah, but not like in America where it's blatant and nobody's, nobody's poking them. There's no editing tricks. And it's, they're all real legit folks. And it's this low stakes thing. And sometimes there's a fight, you know, an argument, which is really fun. And, and then sometimes somebody just ruins the dinner by accident. And it, it's really, there's a sweetness to it. Oh, and the other thing that works really well is I don't know the name of the guy, but there's a kind of narrator. So somebody will say something who's like, oh, that certainly won't work. And you know, things like that. I'll pop in.

[Unknown Guest]

Is he ever there? Or he's just.

[David Cross]

No, no, he, no, he's never there. It's just in post, he's like, Good luck with that. You know, kind of thing. And. And so they have come dine with me and come dine with me couples. And it's just a really kind of sweet, completely real. There's nothing bullshit about it. And it's fun. It's fun to watch.

[Unknown Guest]

That sounds good.

[David Cross]

Yeah, it's good. And, you know, it's a half hour, so you get invested and by the end of four episodes, you got your winner and you get £500. Oh, nice. You know, if you win and it's a really. I'm telling you, check it out.

[Unknown Guest]

Based on the scores, everyone.

[David Cross]

The scores. Yeah. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

So have they. Do they ever. Because they want to win, do they ever, you know, sort of depress the.

[David Cross]

No.

[Unknown Guest]

See, that's what would happen if you did it here.

[David Cross]

Yes. Oh, but it couldn't work here.

[Unknown Guest]

I give it a zero.

[David Cross]

But also, there's a difference between going to, you know, whatever. Bristol, out just outside of Bristol. Right. And going to Phoenix. Like people in. We're such a big country that you're just not going to have any connection to these people outside of the way Americans are kind of trained to watch reality shows. You'd have to relearn everything.

[Unknown Guest]

So here's how you do it.

[David Cross]

Okay.

[Unknown Guest]

You get a bunch of Americans.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And you go shoot it in London.

[David Cross]

Oh, in a tent.

[Unknown Guest]

That's what we did. You could do it in a tent.

[David Cross]

But do you. Do you think your magic available?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, I mean, we shoot ours pretty quick, so.

[David Cross]

But they have to have four different.

[Unknown Guest]

Tents or four tents, or you put up magic. Well, it's not magic.

[David Cross]

Well, Zach, come on. You're. What you're describing. There's a. There's clearly a reason to go to that tent and there's got to be something supernatural to it, I think.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, it might. I don't think it's. Ma. There is every day at 3pm and I'm not exaggerating, 30 to 50 rabbits come out of. Out of the sort of shrubbery around the tent. So that's magical. It's a magical experience. Yeah, but it's not magic. But I think you just put up a partition, like in an apartment. Like in a. You know, you have a one bedroom apartment, but you got three.

[David Cross]

I don't think this is going to work. Well, I just don't think that's a.

[Unknown Guest]

I'll make it work and then.

[David Cross]

All right, well, then we'll pitch it together and you can produce and I'll ep. I think if we're going to pitch it Together.

[Unknown Guest]

It would be helpful for you to not say things like, I don't think it's going to work.

[David Cross]

Well, I would lead with that. And then I tell the people of the studio, say, now you convinced me why it's going to work. That's what you do.

[Unknown Guest]

All right.

[David Cross]

I actually call the old slippery do.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

Yep. You come in this way and then you go that way and then you come out the other way. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And there's another show that I urge you to check out. This one is, I think it's super old. It's like on itv, I think.

[Unknown Guest]

And this is just stuff you've stumbled on while you've been living.

[David Cross]

Yeah. And it's, they're just like, you know, kind of their low key programming. There's nothing fancy about it. It's not, you know, it's just a, you know, it's. It's like in a corner of the cheap TV world, you know, and the, yeah, the ether out there. And there's another one that is an old game show that is not nearly as old as you think it is. And which is really shocking because it looks, when you watch it, you're like, when did they shoot this? Like early to mid-70s. And they're like, no, that's from 2008. And you're. Oh my God. All right. And it's called Bullseye and it's a. Oh, it's so good. It's very. It's the, again, the lowest budget show and it's three pairs. So you can be a couple, you can be married, you can be brother, sister, friends, whatever. You answer some questions and then you go to a big dart board and you throw darts. It's all about darts. And, and the prizes are, I swear, if you watch a, an early episode of let's Make a Deal and they're like a brand new phone and a hi fi set from Korea. You know, like, whatever. They're weird old 70s products are like, they have that there, those are the little. And you. There's like a spinny thing.

[Unknown Guest]

Is it retro intentionally or.

[David Cross]

No, no, it's not retro. It's just, it's like if. Have you ever seen Turkish Superman? Oh, it's great. If you ever get a chance. So it's a. It was Superman made in Turkey and you know, the original Superman, I don't know what it would translate to today's dollars, but you know, had like a 75 million dollar budget.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

And Turkish Superman had a 75 dollar budget. And, and you could tell it's just fun to watch.

[Unknown Guest]

And I imagine I could pick up on some differences there.

[David Cross]

Yeah. So both. So there's a. There's. There's the old. The guy who used to host it died. And. And there was like all these kind of corny sexist jokes too. And the audience is like 80. The average age is about 80. And they're all pleasant. That's like. Remember in Monty Python when they'd cut away to the ladies clapping. It's like that. It's like that. And. And you just can't. And the guy looks like he's drunk or drinking. I should say not drunk, but has been drinking. And his assistant, when he leaves, his assistant goes on. They kind of redid the show a little bit, revamped it. And his assistant goes on to host after that. But it's one of those shows you're like, oh, this. When did you. When did you film this? 1982. No, 2000. It's from 2000.

[Unknown Guest]

I will have to seek it out.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

When I've been over there, the two things I've, like, stumbled on are Goggle Box.

[David Cross]

Yep.

[Unknown Guest]

Which is just people watching other TV shows.

[David Cross]

It's. It's the most meta. Like, oh, of course we came to this.

[Unknown Guest]

And it's like some of. Sometimes it's celebrities, but sometimes it's, well, just a family.

[David Cross]

But also those people have become celebrities in their own right.

[Unknown Guest]

See, I didn't know that.

[David Cross]

Yeah, yeah. The.

[Unknown Guest]

I didn't even know it was a recurring.

[David Cross]

So gogglebox, to those who don't know, is. Is, as Zach said, it's usually. I don't know, you'll check in on, like, three an episode. Three, sure. But there's probably nine, 10, 11 different. There's families or couples or husband and wives or. But it's just you're checking in on them, reacting to TV shows they're watching.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. To, like, currently airing. Popular.

[David Cross]

And they make, you know, observations, cutting remarks.

[Unknown Guest]

Hopefully they check out Dealer. No Deal Island.

[David Cross]

Oh. If it gets there.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[David Cross]

And it's. And some of those people I know, like, there's an older kind of poshy type couple. At least they sound posh. They're kind of popular.

[Unknown Guest]

I've. Whenever I turn it on, it's never. I haven't even noticed that they return to the same people.

[David Cross]

Oh, yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

It was like, just new every episode.

[David Cross]

No, no.

[Unknown Guest]

So I'm not plugged in enough to the Goggles Gogglebox World universe.

[David Cross]

It's like, it's. It's. I It makes me feel weird watching it.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, it's, you know, it's sort of like how people like to. Watching people play video games now.

[David Cross]

I don't know. Yeah, but at least you have the video game. You're not seeing the show they're seeing.

[Unknown Guest]

Right.

[David Cross]

You're kind of. You're the camera sort of like to the side and behind the tv.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And they're sitting on the couch.

[Unknown Guest]

But it doesn't connect for me.

[David Cross]

Yeah. So I don't. It's not a good experience.

[Unknown Guest]

And then I've watched sort of like their version of Cops, but it was like Bubbies. Yeah, I think it was called Bubbies. And I remember it being just. It was just focused on the lady answering the phone. Like at the.

[David Cross]

At dispatch.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

So it was just boring.

[Unknown Guest]

It was. It was extremely boring. It was just the lady being like, hello. Yeah, how can we help you? Okay, we'll send someone right over there. And that was pretty.

[David Cross]

Now that sounds like a bit too. That sounds like a sketch. It was like Cops Switchboard.

[Unknown Guest]

It was real. I watched. I only watched about 10 minutes of it. And then I switched over to ITV2.

[David Cross]

Well, that'll have some of the really dumb, bad old shows.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, now they basically play Family Guy 24. 7.

[David Cross]

Oh, God. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

So.

[David Cross]

And have you seen the. What's the one America's. That somebody did in America just recently? The. The Naked dating. It's not called Naked dating.

[Unknown Guest]

It's called Naked and Afraid.

[David Cross]

No, no, no. It's where you.

[Unknown Guest]

Oh, my God. Yes, I did watch that.

[David Cross]

It's that you're. It's like eight people in these kind of.

[Unknown Guest]

And you start by just seeing, like, their penis.

[David Cross]

Yeah. And then it.

[Unknown Guest]

And then it reveals a little more.

[David Cross]

Yeah, it's like.

[Unknown Guest]

I forget.

[David Cross]

Or their push or what. And it's like eight people and almost like a stripper box kind of lit thing. And then just one contestant, I believe. And then you go and you ask questions and then you, you know, more is revealed.

[Unknown Guest]

Yes. And this airs on. Just broadcast over there.

[David Cross]

Yeah. Well, it's late. It's called Past the. What is it? The Watershed. So it's after 11.

[Unknown Guest]

But I have watched it because some of the crew was telling me about that and I couldn't believe that it was real.

[David Cross]

I've probably seen it four or five times. I've yet to see one attractive woman on that show.

[Unknown Guest]

I mean, the episode I remember it was. Hey, everyone was doing their thing.

[David Cross]

Yeah. I mean. I mean, there's some fucking cut guys. Some really buff Guys on there with, like, that's a nice dick. But there was not the equivalent.

[Unknown Guest]

I don't remember anything being particularly nice about what I. What I witnessed. And it seemed just very awful for everyone involved. It seemed like a nightmare.

[David Cross]

I don't know. They. There. There are some. You know, when the first couple people who go out, you can see they're disappointed in a. In a way that's not just regular disappointment. You know, maybe the. The what's going through their mind is like, I can't believe I just showed everything on TV for 60 seconds to be humiliated.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. It doesn't seem fun.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

And then even if you last long, it's such a. I mean, I guess it is a. It's such a strange way to start your date with someone that you've gotten over a lot of the hump of.

[David Cross]

That's kind of good in a way. I mean, it's. It's got the. The. The. Maybe one of two or three upsides of social dating apps where you, like, oh, you know, oh, that's what your dick looks like.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

You start, you know, and. And, you know, maybe that's not the worst thing in the world, because when you do. When something is initiated, you're like, well, we don't have to worry about this shit. But it takes away that fun. I. I can't. I mean, I. I have a mix of. I don't want to say jealousy, but a mix of like, oh, I missed out on that kind of thing, and sadness for, like, a friend of mine, his son told him. Son's in his, like, early 20s, early mid-20s, and his son told him they were just talking about stuff, and he's like, oh, yeah, I've had. I think I've had sex with 50 different women. He's. Let's say he's. I don't know when he's. When this conversation happened. 24, 25, 23. I don't know. But, like, I didn't like to be 24 and have sex with 50 different. Just from apps. And then they have. Then they come over and then they leave, and there's. There's like, oh, that's. There's something, you know, very pure about that transaction. But you. You have. The great thing for me is. Or was, you know, go into a bar, going to somewhere and connecting with somebody and really connecting with them, and there's that chemistry and there's that spark, and then there's the whole rest of the evening. Where's this gonna go? What's gonna happen? Is it gonna. We gonna continue? And then either, you know, you do fuck or you don't, but maybe you're gonna later, maybe you wanna meet up again, or maybe you're both like, that's what I needed. Thank you. You're great.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

Or. That was great. Let's. Let's reconnect and learn more about them. Etc. Etc. Etc. Like, you've taken away that. That very human. That thrilling. And also, it's so satisfying. You haven't done anything. You haven't. You haven't been charming, funny, smart, interesting, curious.

[Unknown Guest]

Had to write a really funny bio.

[David Cross]

That's true.

[Unknown Guest]

You might have had to say, like, must love not dogs, because that's not funny.

[David Cross]

No.

[Unknown Guest]

Might have had to say, must love hogs.

[David Cross]

Must love your hog. Maybe that's not very good.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. I wasn't. I wasn't a big app user, so I didn't really write the bios, but.

[David Cross]

That'S what the naked dating. Whatever that name is.

[Unknown Guest]

It shortcuts that.

[David Cross]

Yeah. And it's. So that's kind of interesting.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

There's another one I forgot about this show. Very British in the world of what we're talking about, where a. It's a blind date and it's just a blind date. And you know, there's a. There's a. The same restaurant they always use and there's like a bartender there and you go sit at these specific stools and there are other people eating, but. And then it's just, you know, two people looking for romance and then you go. You basically eavesdrop on their blind.

[Unknown Guest]

But there's no gimmick.

[David Cross]

There's no gimmick. No.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't.

[Unknown Guest]

For me, you gotta. You gotta put that on an island or something.

[David Cross]

It should. It should be on an island. That's what. When I first saw it, I was like, I like this idea, but I don't even have to see the island. But I would like to know that this restaurant is within an island somewhere.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, yeah. Like, it could be at the restaurant from.

[David Cross]

Guess what?

[Unknown Guest]

The menu.

[David Cross]

The UK is an island. Done.

[Unknown Guest]

We do.

[David Cross]

So really, you're baking shows. Yeah, they're all on an island.

[Unknown Guest]

You could add island to the end of them and you would be absolutely earnest.

[David Cross]

Cops Island.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. Bobby's Island.

[David Cross]

Bubbies Island.

[Unknown Guest]

Bobby's Island.

[David Cross]

Yeah. All the great British Bake Off Island.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

No deal. Island Island.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Because if you shoot it there and.

[David Cross]

The soundtrack can be on Island Records.

[Unknown Guest]

Island Records Island.

[David Cross]

Well, it would be the soundtrack to no Deal. Island. Island, Available on Island Records. Island Records, yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Which is located on Island Records. Island, yes. Obviously.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

I mean, I assume I've never been.

[David Cross]

Now we've gone, let's see, 40 minutes so far without mentioning that you are on my wife and I's favorite show, the Great American. Great American show.

[Unknown Guest]

Island.

[David Cross]

Baking. Baking Show. Island. And it doesn't seem like the kind of thing he'd do, but Ben Stiller directs the great British American Baking island tent.

[Unknown Guest]

About half the episodes.

[David Cross]

Yeah, about half the episodes. But it's such an interesting approach. And your tent is huge, clearly.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. You mostly can't see the tent. Similar to how you. You were saying, you don't need to see the island. You just need to know it's on an island.

[David Cross]

It's within a tent.

[Unknown Guest]

The tent is there, but it's not.

[David Cross]

Where do you shoot that?

[Unknown Guest]

Mostly in the Bronx. Just. I got a stage in the Bronx.

[David Cross]

Okay.

[Unknown Guest]

But then some exterior stuff in New Jersey. Like, the building is this place called Bell Works, which is like a. Now it's kind of like a weird shopping mall slash office space hybrid thing.

[David Cross]

A we work meets.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Meets Etsy.

[Unknown Guest]

It's like we work on the upper floor, but then on the bottom floor it's like Annie's Shops and. Yeah. And like indoor driving range. Like. Sure, it's a very strange space. And then some of it in upstate New York and. But yeah, mostly. Mostly the stages are in here in New York.

[David Cross]

Well, that. Do you live here?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Are you based here?

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Oh, I guess if you were from Trenton, it's not the biggest move. And your family still back in Trenton?

[Unknown Guest]

Yep.

[David Cross]

Okay. And what did. I mean, I don't want to make you. This isn't a, you know, what do you call it?

[Unknown Guest]

Quiz.

[David Cross]

No, no. But when you go on the. When you have to do it is press for a junket. I know. Yeah. Who do you get paired with on the junkets?

[Unknown Guest]

Usually with John and Brit, which is great. We have a lot of fun. They're. They're fun. Fun crew.

[David Cross]

Yeah. I went to the screening.

[Unknown Guest]

I saw. I saw you there.

[David Cross]

I. I mean, it was. And there was something else that I was supposed to do that on paper was way more exciting, but it was like, even if I can get a 48 hour advanced sneak at the first episode, I want to do it. And whatever the thing was, I was like, I can't go. It was something pretty. Pretty good. I don't remember what it was, but it was like, I'm going to Go see. Go see Severance. And I'd love to know what it.

[Unknown Guest]

Was so we could. So they could feel bad that.

[David Cross]

What?

[Unknown Guest]

I'd love to know what it was so they could feel bad that you didn't.

[David Cross]

It was. Was it a Saturday or Sunday? It was a weekend, wasn't it? Or is it Friday?

[Unknown Guest]

I think it was a. I think it might have been a Thursday.

[David Cross]

Thursday. What would have been on a Thursday? It's probably a show.

[Unknown Guest]

Probably a show.

[David Cross]

And probably not music. It's probably. Anyway, I don't know. But it was something that was like.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, everyone check your calendars. And if he. If he bailed on you, that was why.

[David Cross]

That opening shot was amazing of Adam running around. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

That was really cool.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And the music and the title sequence is the best title sequence. And I'm so glad you guys did another for season two, which has more interesting clues in it.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, there's a lot going on in it.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

I hadn't seen that until. I didn't even see it until, like, when episode two aired or whatever.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And how. And how long in between wrapping season one and shooting season two was.

[Unknown Guest]

Was a while. It's hard to. It was. I know. It was three years between season one airing and season two airing.

[David Cross]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

So it was probably like a good year and a half.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Or maybe even. Yeah, it's probably a good year and a half. Almost two years between rapping and starting up again. Wow. Yeah.

[David Cross]

Was there any difficulty in, like, hey, can you. Can you show me some Dylan? How does he. How does he talk? How does he. How would he say this?

[Unknown Guest]

No, I mean, I did refresh myself. I watched the first season again before we, like, started shooting again, but then also, once we kind of just got there in the. In the space and with each other, it was pretty, like, easy to click back.

[David Cross]

I love it so much, and I love. It's so. That show is so up my alley. I love stuff like that. And it's almost a perfect example of that type of show. And I urge everybody to watch, to check out Severance if you haven't. It's just so good and keeps getting better. And. And, you know, I remember watching because people were telling me, like, yo, you got to check out the show. You'll love it, blah, blah, and. And I was so, like, I had to watch it again because I was distracted by how good it was and what an amazing job Ben did. And I, you know, I know Ben, we're not close, but I texted him after watching like, dude, that is. I was just, like, gushing. Like, that is like, every choice. And I've directed stuff, so I know all the choices. I mean, down to the fucking, you know, color of a suit, whatever. Like, it's just. It's really impressive to me.

[Unknown Guest]

Like, it's really fun to. To be on and. It is fun. Like, I've almost been spoiled by it in the sense of the attention to detail is so high from everyone from every department that, you know, since working on the first season, sometimes I'll work on other things where it's sort of like, who cares? Let's just. Let's just do it. And. And I'm like, whoa, that would never happen on.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

On severance. Like, everything is, like, so thought out that it's. Yeah, it has spoiled me a little bit.

[David Cross]

Yeah, I can see. I mean, and just, like, again, the. The choices and the casting outside of the guy who plays Dylan is just spot on. Really interesting. Some faces I haven't seen before.

[Unknown Guest]

I didn't want to do it either.

[David Cross]

So you get that sense that they didn't want you to do it.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, they didn't really want me, and I don't really want to be there. But we're, you know, we're finding our way.

[David Cross]

But everybody knows we're all on the same page.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. As long as you acknowledge it, it's, like, easy to.

[David Cross]

Oh, it's just. It's just such a great, cool show.

[Unknown Guest]

Well, you know what? I was gonna say we were in a movie together. We were, but not at the same time.

[David Cross]

Not at the same time.

[Unknown Guest]

So we're co workers.

[David Cross]

We are co workers. Yeah. We never met.

[Unknown Guest]

I just wanted to make sure I said that.

[David Cross]

Well, let's. We should start the episode. We should start shoot. Start doing it.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. Let's start recording.

[David Cross]

Okay. So we're here with Zach Cherry on Census, working overtime. Who stars in the new Dune movie, Dune Walker.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, you should have on the show.

[David Cross]

Who.

[Unknown Guest]

Dr. Smell. Do you know Dr. Smell? Are you on how online are you?

[David Cross]

Not at all.

[Unknown Guest]

So in the last few months, there was a woman who did a PhD thesis on the olfactory. Olfactory ethics.

[David Cross]

Olfactory ethics. What would that be? It was.

[Unknown Guest]

It's actually. It is very interesting.

[David Cross]

Outside of don't fart.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm sure she has thoughts on that, but it's sort of just the way smell is used in writing to other people or to. I don't even really know, but she.

[David Cross]

No, no. I'm trying to understand what the ethics of. I mean, just to sort like, you know.

[Unknown Guest]

Have you seen Parasite?

[David Cross]

Yes.

[Unknown Guest]

You know, this scene in Parasite where the rich guys are talking about how poor people smell and, and they have just this smell on that. Like. Yeah, she, she writes about things like that and how that's represented in media and writing basically in English literature specifically.

[David Cross]

About class or.

[Unknown Guest]

Not always just, just the ways in.

[David Cross]

Which smell is, is used as a, in a derogatory way or I think.

[Unknown Guest]

Not exclusively, but often like in racist ways. In, in class, differentiating ways. Understood interesting stuff. And she went very viral, but mostly because angry anti intellectuals were like, how can you like, waste your time studying this shit? Like, this is irrelevant. No one cares. And then.

[David Cross]

But you know what is a great use of time is writing things online. Yeah, you should do that more.

[Unknown Guest]

That's what they were hoping for. But she's just an interesting. She's become a public figure and she writes about smell. So I think she'd be a perfect fit for.

[David Cross]

Oh, Dr. Smell.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, Dr.

[David Cross]

Smell. Okay, so if we can set that up. Oh, shit. Okay.

[Unknown Guest]

Not now. But I'd love to listen.

[David Cross]

Or I would love for you to jump in as a co producer on the show and you set it up. Start setting shit up.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay.

[David Cross]

I'm happy with Zach. Who else should I have on the show?

[Unknown Guest]

Well, Senses.

[David Cross]

No, no. Well, that was. Senses working overtime was in the initial hook that they demanded.

[Unknown Guest]

I know.

[David Cross]

And then. So forget about it. Doesn't have to be.

[Unknown Guest]

But for me it's important to keep it.

[David Cross]

Okay, so Dr. Smell, what about Lawyer Touch?

[Unknown Guest]

If I could get, if I could get in touch with Lawyer Touch, I think they would be a great fit.

[David Cross]

Okay.

[Unknown Guest]

Do you have any sort of.

[David Cross]

I have. Reverend Listen.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, Reverend Listen.

[David Cross]

Hi. We got Dr. Smell, Lawyer Touch, and Reverend Listen.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm a little worried about, like some of the opinions they have.

[David Cross]

Right, well. And they also were caught molesting children. Yeah, right. In the ear.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Yeah. So that's a, that's kind of.

[Unknown Guest]

That'd be the main reason not to have them on.

[David Cross]

Right. But there are other reasons.

[Unknown Guest]

They just wouldn't be a good guest.

[David Cross]

Oh. Kind of boring. They prattle on about.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

About the ear canal and how what a tight fit that would be for your. Depending on your girth.

[Unknown Guest]

It just comes off as bragging.

[David Cross]

It does. It does.

[Unknown Guest]

It's not a good fit. Yeah, but teacher taste.

[David Cross]

Teacher taste.

[Unknown Guest]

Teacher taste, I think would be good.

[David Cross]

I, I, I have his first album, but I don't. I think I got the fourth album when he redid the first album. With the Right Philharmonic Symphony. Wasn't that into it?

[Unknown Guest]

I thought it was interesting. Yeah, I just thought it was interesting.

[David Cross]

I think like math, rock, backpack rap, that genre, that mixing, you know, with a guy with a DJ who does mashups and just, I don't know, Teacher Tastes not my cup of tea, as it were.

[Unknown Guest]

But it was. It felt new. Even though it was just the first album, but with the film, it felt. To me, it felt new. So.

[David Cross]

Yeah, I mean, well, that's why he called it new. But it was any U E, you know, with umlauts.

[Unknown Guest]

Right.

[David Cross]

A new. Oh, and then he had the other album, a new approach, but it was gnu like the animal.

[Unknown Guest]

Right. Yeah.

[David Cross]

And it was like.

[Unknown Guest]

For me, that's why I like.

[David Cross]

Right. It's clever wordplay.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Right.

[Unknown Guest]

It's like, you know, he. He's not phoning it in with the album title.

[David Cross]

Well, phoning it in is one of the album titles, so in a way he.

[Unknown Guest]

But that was commentary.

[David Cross]

Yeah. But it's still an album title. I know it's meta because then the follow up single was not phoning it in. Right. Which is you could say. Well, you phoned that one in. Not in a literal sense, but in a figurative sense. But he. Because he's true to his art and his ideas, he literally went outside the building, got in an Uber, went to a bus station, drove down to Durham, North Carolina, 18 hours with a couple stops, got out and then literally phoned the titles in.

[Unknown Guest]

Because that. For payphones, that was the closest payphone.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

He had to go down to Durham.

[David Cross]

The last working one. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Right.

[David Cross]

Durham, North Carolina, the bus depot.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. So I'm just. I'm into that kind of stuff. And. And so I think he'd be a great fit for the show. But I'm happy to be the booker if you. If you want.

[David Cross]

Yeah, that'd be great. I mean, if you've got connections or. I mean, I. You've. Those are, you know, three ideas that are. That are really interesting.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. And I would also happily be on an episode of the show. I know we haven't really started yet, but I.

[David Cross]

We're going to start shortly. Yeah. I think I may reverse the way I normally do the shows and start with a question from my daughter. I have a question. Who's just turned eight, but was seven when she came up with it. Do you have kids? You have family?

[Unknown Guest]

I have family, but no kids.

[David Cross]

What does that mean?

[Unknown Guest]

That means I have.

[David Cross]

Well, we did.

[Unknown Guest]

My parents. I know this was before the show started. My Parents still live in Trenton. And I'm. I'm married, but no. No kids.

[David Cross]

Right? Are you talking about having kids?

[Unknown Guest]

Not. Not really.

[David Cross]

We're.

[Unknown Guest]

We're. We're pretty psyched with our current setup.

[David Cross]

Sure, sure.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

And where. And where do y'all live?

[Unknown Guest]

We live in Brooklyn.

[David Cross]

Nice. We're in Brooklyn.

[Unknown Guest]

Dog. We have a. We have a dog who is a high. A high touch dog. You could say a high needs dog.

[David Cross]

You have a. A dog in Brooklyn? We're in Brooklyn, in Bushwick. Okay, so you have a dog in Brooklyn. Yeah, Bushwick. Okay. Bushwick is a lot hipper, chill, cooler area. I. There are.

[Unknown Guest]

There is a. I'm in, like, the quiet part, but.

[David Cross]

Yeah, but there's like a prototypical Brooklyn dog owner where I think of, like, kind of like younger, youngish, very young, like me, but also, like couples. High maintenance, white, jogging. They belong to a jogging club.

[Unknown Guest]

Now we're starting. Now we're starting to get away from me.

[David Cross]

No, no, I'm saying you're in Bushwick, but there's, like, the Park Slope and.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure, sure, sure.

[David Cross]

The. That kind of Brooklyn. Brooklyn Heights, like, the people you find and the dog owners who are really a very specific archetype.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, we fit that. We don't fit the mold.

[David Cross]

It doesn't sound like it.

[Unknown Guest]

No.

[David Cross]

But what kind of dog do you have?

[Unknown Guest]

The Chihuahua mix. She just has very bad anxiety.

[David Cross]

Yeah, that is. That is. That is hard. That's very hard. And do you have a dog? I do, yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

What kind of dog?

[David Cross]

Because I can't say the actual word. That is the common shortcut. I will say she's a Bernie's mountain doodle poodle mix.

[Unknown Guest]

Is the. Is the shortcut a slur?

[David Cross]

No. What?

[Unknown Guest]

You're like. I can't say. What would this slurp? What do you mean you can't say it? You can't pronounce it?

[David Cross]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Unknown Guest]

What I meant to say.

[David Cross]

I don't like to say it. It makes I feel a bit of shame.

[Unknown Guest]

I see. I see.

[David Cross]

We. So I've had dogs, you know, I had a dog growing up. I had a dog for 15 years before this dog. That rescue dog, very close with, traveled with, you know, and then had a very. As anybody would, a tough time. Had to put her down. She really degraded pretty quickly. Lived. Lived to be 15. So that's. That's good. But my wife was allergic to the dander sometimes, and both myself and my daughter really wanted to get another dog, so we had to get a hypoallergenic. Allergenic dog. And so it's a bred dog, which I'm totally opposed to. And it's a Bernadoodle, which is an overly cute name.

[Unknown Guest]

I don't know if we should.

[David Cross]

Yeah. I don't like saying it. And I was with my sister at the dog park about a month ago, and somebody was like, oh, what kind of dog is that? And I said, oh, it's a mix. Bernie's mountain dog and poodle mix. And then my sister went. He was like, it's a Bernadoodle. And I was like, I can't say that. I'm not going to say it. I'm not going to say.

[Unknown Guest]

I understand. I understand. Our dog is a Chihuahua blend, mostly Chihuahua, but then a lot of other.

[David Cross]

Like the risky dog.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah. Rescue.

[David Cross]

All dogs should be rescue dogs. And. And I appreciate that there's a dog deeply. We wouldn't be able to have one if it wasn't sure for this dog. And she's great and she's big muppety, you know, she's still like, not even 15 months old, and she's like, at least at this point, probably 68 pounds. Big super puppy. Big, fluffy, goofy, really goofy and playful dog. Yeah, yeah. And. And she's great. And she's, she's, you know, she chews everything up, but, you know, she's still in puppy mode. And we're, we're trying, but, you know, she's. She's. We're all happy she's there.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

And my daughter loves her.

[Unknown Guest]

That's great.

[David Cross]

And she's a really good kind of watchdog. I mean, I don't know what. I don't know. My first dog was a poodle that I didn't have. It was three months old when. Or four months old when I was born. And I grew up with it and we had that one till I was nine and a half.

[Unknown Guest]

At first I thought you were talking about the dog that was 15, and I was trying to do the math that.

[David Cross]

I'm 21.

[Unknown Guest]

Right. Yeah. Yes.

[David Cross]

Yeah. So I get to drink Now I'm going to start drinking and driving.

[Unknown Guest]

It rules. Not, not don't do that. But both are fun.

[David Cross]

But yeah, Separate, legal weed.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

I can get that, too.

[Unknown Guest]

All good. Keep them in three separate compartments. Monday, Mondays you drive. Tuesdays you drink. Wednesdays for the weed.

[David Cross]

Wednesday I would mix it up. I would. Mondays I would drive. Just load up on younger and weed to go.

[Unknown Guest]

You'll go pick up your weed booze on Mondays.

[David Cross]

Tuesday I will drink and because you drink, you make bad decisions. I'll get back in the car, trade my weed in for coke, do some fat rails, drink the rest of my drink, drive just because I got an itch to do it, go see Niagara Falls. There I go. Shit, I wish I had weed. Yeah, I wish I had weed. Well, I'll get there and go, why? Who wants a be jacked on coke to see, right? So then I trade the coke and for weed.

[Unknown Guest]

And are you on the American side or are you crossing to both?

[David Cross]

I. What I do is I park at the American side, do the fucking tightrope, get that all laid out, get halfway down, get one of those little chair, hammock, swing things. Do that until I get arrested.

[Unknown Guest]

Right.

[David Cross]

All right. Spend a day in jail, there's my food taken care of, and they give.

[Unknown Guest]

You the coke back.

[David Cross]

Then they give it on the American side.

[Unknown Guest]

Right.

[David Cross]

And then. And then, you know, get my court date. Yeah. And then scoot out of the country.

[Unknown Guest]

That's a.

[David Cross]

Good luck finding me in Costa Rica 21st. God damn it.

[Unknown Guest]

Why? They say that we can cut that out, right?

[David Cross]

Don't. Don't cut that out. Life's a challenge, Zach. Cherry, let's get this thing started. This was a absolute pleasure having you on. I appreciate it.

[Unknown Guest]

I am a fan and a listener, so it's exciting to be here.

[David Cross]

Oh, great. You listen to this. Oh, cool. Great. Well, my pleasure to have you on. And I love severance. I love your work on it. I loved seeing you in my movie. You hurt my feelings. It was really nice that you did that. You came on for my movie.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, I felt the same. I was like, I'm happy to be in your movie.

[David Cross]

It would be kind of fun if I wasn't known for being, like, funny, silly. It'd be interesting to go when you're doing like a day or a cameo on a film or something, to just treat it like it's your movie.

[Unknown Guest]

Go around and thank everyone for being here. Thank you so much for doing this. We're so excited to have you.

[David Cross]

Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

All right, where's my question?

[Unknown Guest]

I might try that.

[David Cross]

Okay, Zach, cherry, from my 7 year old daughter, your question. And you can answer this in any way you see fit. Zachary, why do cowboys always wear boots?

[Unknown Guest]

That's a good question. My guess is that it began as a functional thing, that their work is messy and muddy and cow.

[David Cross]

Shitty cow.

[Unknown Guest]

Shitty dung. Dungus.

[David Cross]

Dungarees.

[Unknown Guest]

Dungarees also in the mix.

[David Cross]

Yep.

[Unknown Guest]

But my guess is it started as functional, but now it's almost a cultural signifier of, this is my uniform. This is what I put on when I become a cowboy. Because probably now there are better style boots for that work.

[David Cross]

Well, to be fair, my daughter and I usually try not to editorialize, but my daughter said, why do cowboys always wear boots, not cowboy boots?

[Unknown Guest]

That's true. Well, I'm going to amend my question and say they're always wearing cowboy boots if you really pay attention. So I think you meant to ask. I don't mean to be rude, but I think you meant to ask, why are they always wearing cowboy boots?

[David Cross]

Now, if you're listening to this and not watching it on the YouTube thing, Zach made a really kind of insulting face when he said that.

[Unknown Guest]

So you have to.

[David Cross]

Condescending. You have to apply that look to the. What he just said.

[Unknown Guest]

I think it came across in my tone as well.

[David Cross]

Yeah, but I'm trying to get the people to visualize, really, like the kind of thing that if you heard somebody talking to your child like that, you'd be like, hi, excuse me. Yeah, can I help you? That kind of thing.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm sorry, do you show this to her?

[David Cross]

Will you show this to her when she turns 21? Okay. I'm gonna get a car, get her a car, get her a case of Tito's, and I'm gonna go to the travel agency, pick up some weed, and then I got a guy.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

Who get that sorted. And then she can sit down and watch everything.

[Unknown Guest]

Cool. Well, then. Yeah, then I'm happy with my answer, knowing that I'm happy with. With what I. What I did.

[David Cross]

Okay.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah.

[David Cross]

Well, then. Well, then, so am I.

[Unknown Guest]

Do you.

[David Cross]

Great, fine.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm happy to do many questions, too, if you want to knock a few out.

[David Cross]

No, you can use one.

[Unknown Guest]

You can have me answer a few and use them. If anyone doesn't have time or wants to leave early or if anyone gets mad and walks.

[David Cross]

They're not allowed to. That's not going to happen.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay. But I would be happy to answer a few more.

[David Cross]

Well, you can't. You know, what you can do at home is if you're listening or in the car, wherever you listen to it, you can stop it right before the person gives the answer. And then you, out loud, give your answer, and it'll almost be like playing along.

[Unknown Guest]

And if I send those in to you, will you put them in? If I send in a few? If we got time?

[David Cross]

Sure, if that's the. That's the big word there. If we got time.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay. Because I'll maybe I will go back to some old episodes.

[David Cross]

Do it. We'll put them in. And we'll put it in as a. Like, a little bonus.

[Unknown Guest]

Here's Zach Cherry's recordings.

[David Cross]

Here's Zach Cherry's answer.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm trying to remember. I wish I could remember. Oh, man. Do you remember any of the questions from the old episodes?

[David Cross]

One of my favorites was, why is there always pizza at birthday parties?

[Unknown Guest]

Ooh. Okay.

[David Cross]

That's what kid wants to know that.

[Unknown Guest]

Why?

[David Cross]

Why is that?

[Unknown Guest]

Okay, so for that I'd have to.

[David Cross]

Say, no, no, we're not doing this now. Dude, you go back and do this on your own time. I got shit to do.

[Unknown Guest]

Sure.

[David Cross]

All right. I gotta pick up a trout at the farmer's market.

[Unknown Guest]

I don't wanna leave. Maybe I can stay. We can knock out a few of these.

[David Cross]

I like that idea. Absolutely. So do I have an ad read?

[Unknown Guest]

No.

[David Cross]

Okay, great. Great. All right. So I'm going to go pick up some trout at the farmer's market.

[Unknown Guest]

Okay. And I was actually going to go pick up. I walked by. I walked through the farmer's market on my way here. I got my eyes on a Bavarian pretzel.

[David Cross]

Oh, I know the pretzel place. Yeah.

[Unknown Guest]

Looked good.

[David Cross]

There's really good. Some of the prices are crazy, but I've never. I've never, you know, had anything in the years I've been coming to this market and anything that wasn't pretty great.

[Unknown Guest]

Yeah, that pretzel looked really good.

[David Cross]

Pretzel looks good. The. There's a kimchi place that's really good. Kimchi stand.

[Unknown Guest]

And there was a good mushroom tent.

[David Cross]

Mushroom tent is good. I've gotten some of those mushrooms.

[Unknown Guest]

They had all the trout.

[David Cross]

The Hudson River Valley. Hudson Valley trout guy. It's so. There's no. Barely any. It just takes on whatever you're.

[Unknown Guest]

No, I'm just.

[David Cross]

You don't like the texture.

[Unknown Guest]

I'm not a trout.

[David Cross]

I love good trout.

[Unknown Guest]

Not a trout guy.

[David Cross]

Oh, all right.

[Unknown Guest]

So the. The reason there's pizza at a birthday party.

[David Cross]

No, brother.

[Unknown Guest]

My guess, it start. My guess is it started as functional. It probably started as a functional thing. You need. You need to feed kids.

[David Cross]

Sense is Working Overtime is a Headgum podcast created and hosted by me, David Cross. The show is edited by Katie Skelton and engineered by Nicole Lyons with supervising producer Emma Foley. Thanks to Demi Druchin for our show art and Mark Rivers for our theme song. For more podcasts by headgum, visit headgum.com or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Leave us a review on Apple podcasts, and maybe we'll read it on a future episode. I'm not gonna do that. Thanks for listening. That was a Hitgun podcast.