Bad Dates Season 2 with Joel Kim Booster!

Summary

SmartLess Podcast Summary

Episode: Bad Dates Season 2 with Joel Kim Booster!
Release Date: October 23, 2024
Hosts: Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
Guest: Joel Kim Booster

---

Introduction

In this engaging episode of SmartLess, hosts Sean Hayes, Jason Bateman, and Will Arnett welcome Joel Kim Booster as the new host for Season 2 of the popular Bad Dates series. Joel, known for his roles in Apple TV's Loot, Hulu's Fire Island, his Netflix comedy special, and his guest appearance on HBO's Industry, takes center stage to share and explore notoriously awkward and humorous dating experiences.

Sean Hayes kicks off the episode by introducing Joel and teasing the kind of entertaining stories listeners can expect:

“He'll be your guide through all of the iconic and painfully true bad date stories that his guests reveal with all the gory details you loved in season one.” (00:04)

---

Joel Kim Booster’s Bad Date Story

Joel narrates a particularly memorable bad date experience that sets the tone for the episode.

Meeting and Initial Connection

Joel recounts meeting his date at a show in Los Angeles around a decade ago. Despite being only seven years old at the time, he humorously downplays his own role in the story:

“No, I'll say like seven. Still am.” (01:06)

The evening seemed promising initially as they hit it off, exchanged numbers, and entertained the possibility of a long-distance relationship between Los Angeles and New York.

The Discrepancy in Reality

After maintaining contact for a few months, Joel decides to visit his date in New York. However, upon arrival, Joel is taken aback:

“He didn't look like the guy that I had seen that night.” (01:57)

Justin Martindale interjects with a humorous observation:

“York can do a lot of damage.” (02:27)

Joel humorously considers the possibility of a "twin switch" or a catfish:

“Do you think, Oh, I never thought about that. You're trapped. Oh, my God. Yes. Seriously, A twin catfish.” (02:38)

Unveiling Quirks and Awkward Moments

Inside his date's New York apartment, Joel notices peculiar Broadway memorabilia, notably a trench coat from Les Misérables:

“He had, like, a trench coat that was nailed to the wall.” (03:11)

This immediately raises red flags for Joel, who isn't particularly into musical theater:

“I am not like, a big musical theater gay.” (03:22)

The conversation reveals that his date is deeply entrenched in musical theater fandom, leading to heightened awkwardness.

The Wicked Incident

The date culminates in a disastrous outing to the Broadway show Wicked. Joel recounts the cringe-worthy experience:

“He is in the show, like, every song. And I'm mortified. I'm sitting there and I'm like, shut the fuck up.” (05:15)

A flying monkey from the show sternly asks them to quiet down, adding to the discomfort:

“Hushed by a flying monkey, which is not a CBS sitcom.” (05:19)

Joel emphasizes his discomfort with his date’s over-the-top enthusiasm:

“I've never seen it, so shut the fuck up.” (05:41)

Despite Joel’s efforts to get through the show, his date's behavior remains intrusive and embarrassing.

Aftermath and Reflection

Post-show, Joel discovers that his date has sadly passed away, adding a somber twist to the story:

“I clicked, and it was like this is like an in Memoriam, like, account now.” (06:25)

Reflecting on the experience, Joel shares how it has impacted him:

“But I will say, because I knew him, I have been changed for good.” (06:39)

His friends express disbelief and humorously speculate on the fate of the musical memorabilia:

“He probably was trying to sneak backstage and get something from Funny Girl and Leah Michelle Stand Her Ground Laws shopping.” (07:11)

---

Host and Guest Reactions

The hosts and Joel engage in lighthearted banter throughout the story, balancing humor with the underlying awkwardness of the situation. Their interactions add depth and relatability, making the narrative both entertaining and insightful.

Justin Martindale provides comic relief and empathetic reactions:

“Well, you flew across the country, and I'm assuming coach just.” (04:28)

Unnamed Speakers contribute humorous commentary, enhancing the storytelling with playful jabs:

“Do you think you got twin switch?” (02:36)
“What musical is that referencing?” (03:12)

---

Notable Quotes

• Sean Hayes: “He'll be your guide through all of the iconic and painfully true bad date stories that his guests reveal with all the gory details you loved in season one.” (00:04)
• Joel Kim Booster: “I've never been hushed to be.” (05:19)
• Joel Kim Booster: “I have to watch Elphaba so you don't steal her hat.” (04:14)
• Joel Kim Booster: “I have been changed for good.” (06:39)

---

Conclusions and Takeaways

This episode of SmartLess effectively combines humor with heartfelt moments, illustrating the universal experience of navigating the treacherous waters of dating. Joel Kim Booster's candid storytelling not only entertains but also invites listeners to reflect on their own dating mishaps.

Key Takeaways:

1. Authenticity Matters: Discrepancies between online personas and real-life appearances can lead to unexpected and awkward situations.
2. Shared Interests vs. Overcommitment: While shared interests are a foundation for connections, overzealous enthusiasm can become overwhelming.
3. Humor as a Coping Mechanism: Laughing at uncomfortable experiences can provide relief and perspective.
4. Impact of Experiences: Even negative experiences can lead to personal growth and change.

---

Final Thoughts

Joel Kim Booster's episode on Bad Dates is a blend of laughter, cringe-worthy moments, and poignant reflections. His ability to convey the nuanced emotions of a disastrous date while keeping the conversation light-hearted makes for an engaging and relatable listen. Whether you've had similar experiences or simply enjoy a good story, this episode offers valuable insights and plenty of laughs.

---

Listen to the full episode of Bad Dates Season 2 with Joel Kim Booster! wherever you get your podcasts to hear more hilarious and heartwarming bad date stories.

---

Timestamp Reference

• 00:02 - Joel Kim Booster introduces the theme.
• 01:06 - Joel begins his bad date story.
• 02:27 - Justin Martindale comments on New York's influence.
• 03:11 - Joel describes the trench coat.
• 04:14 - Joel explains the Wicked surprise.
• 05:19 - Joel gets hushed by a flying monkey.
• 06:25 - Joel reveals his date has passed away.
• 07:11 - Speculation about the trench coat's fate.

---

Transcript

[Joel Kim Booster]

Bad Dates.

[Sean Hayes]

Hey, smartless listeners, it's Sean Hayes with some exciting news. One of our Smart List media shows is back with a brand new host. I'm talking about the one and only Bad Dates. And for season two, it's hosted by the hilarious Joel Kim Booster. You might know joel from Apple TV's Loot, Hulu's Fire island, his Netflix comedy special, or his very revealing guest role on HBO's Industry this season. He'll be your guide through all of the iconic and painfully true bad date stories that his guests reveal with all the gory details you loved in season. And we'll still hear real letters and voice messages from listeners sharing their own worst dates. Plus, Joel will weigh in about his own lengthy and bizarre time in the dating trenches. We love the show because everybody has had them, everybody can relate to them, and now it's time to laugh at them on season two of Bad Dates with your new host, Joel Kim Booster. Check out this clip from the show and follow Bad Dates wherever you get your podcasts. Bad Dates.

[Justin Martindale]

And now the very funny Justin Martindale.

[Joel Kim Booster]

So it was a nice summer evening. This was probably about like almost, I want to say, 10 years ago.

[Justin Martindale]

Oh, wow. And a child. You were a baby.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, I'll say like seven. Still am. So I went to the show. It was a show here in la and I met this guy and the lighting was just good and I was very inebriated and we were talking, we kind of hit it off. We started making out, but. And then we exchanged numbers and he was living in New York, I was in la. So we were like, we're gonna just do this bicoastal long distance fantasy and one day, if destiny allows us, we will meet up again, right? We started talking regularly on the phone and this was kind of before FaceTime kind of took off. So we were just like talking and flirting and, you know, he started talking about like, so when are you going to come to New York and I'll make this, like, great weekend for us. And I'm like, okay, sure, yeah, let's make it happen. So finally, I want to say like November, maybe like a couple days before Thanksgiving, I got a flight, went out to New York and I'm waiting at the airport for him to pick me up. He shows up and I'm like, I don't know this person. Like, he didn't look like the guy that I had seen that night. Of course it was blurry and shadowy, but I was like, oh, and New.

[Justin Martindale]

York can do a lot of damage.

[Joel Kim Booster]

To your In a month? Yeah, a couple months.

[Justin Martindale]

Yeah, a couple months.

[Joel Kim Booster]

In New York, a couple months can change people. He was just, like, not the person that I remember.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Do you think you got twin switch?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Do you think, Oh, I never thought about that. You're trapped. Oh, my God. Yes. Seriously, A twin catfish. Yeah. So we go into his apartment, and I'm looking at his place and I'm like, oh, this is really weird. He had, like, a trench coat that was nailed to the wall. And I was like, what is that? And he was like, well, I love musical theater. And I'm like, shit. Like, immediately. Because I'm not like, a big musical theater gay.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

That's a logical response.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

What musical is that referencing?

[Joel Kim Booster]

I am so glad you asked, because he had stol. Lea Michelle's trench coat when she was Eponine and Les Mis.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Oh, my God.

[Justin Martindale]

Well, he just shot up in my estimation, I gotta say.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Nailed it to his wall. Like, it wasn't even in a frame. It was just a trench coat crucified to the wall. So I'm like, oh, okay. And he had, like, a whole bunch of, like, other little Broadway knickknacks. He didn't have time to steal a frame. What was the. Steal a frame? Like, do something. Like what? It looks weird. We hadn't made any moves on each other. We hadn't even, like, kissed. It was just very, very, very awkward.

[Justin Martindale]

Yeah.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And then finally he's like, I have a surprise for you. I got us tickets to go see Wicked. And so I had never seen Wicked. I was like, okay, cool. This is a Broadway show. Fine. He got us, like, orchestra seats. There were really good seats.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

And he said, I need you to be the lookout. You have to stand near the door.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I have to watch Elphaba so you don't steal her hat. Right.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

This story is also very Boil the Frog. Like, you're like, okay, all right.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah. I don't want. I don't want to be a bad sport, you know, I'm like. I don't want to seem like I'm not.

[Justin Martindale]

Well, you flew across the country, and I'm assuming coach just.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yes, I did.

[Justin Martindale]

You weren't in Delta 1 back then, so not.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Not bad. You know, Middle seat, back row, like, by the toilet. So we end up going to see Wicked, and I'd never seen Wicked. And it starts out and it's all grand and everything. And then I realized, like, I'm hearing something that's not part of the show. And so I look over and he is belting every Song like, he is in the show, like, every song. And I'm mortified. I'm sitting there and I'm like, shut the fuck up. To the point where one of the flying monkeys in one of the numbers looks at us and hushes us. I have never been hushed to be.

[Justin Martindale]

Hushed by a flying monkey. By Chister.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Hushed by a flying monkey, which is not a CBS sitcom.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Yeah, Pattypo, the flying monkey's looking at you like, be more civilized, please.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Seriously.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Returns just screeching, jumping around.

[Joel Kim Booster]

And I'm like, you have to shut up. And he's like, okay, sorry, sorry. It's like my favorite musical. I've seen it like, 800 times. And I'm like, okay, well, I've never seen it, so shut the fuck up.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

So in my head, does he sing every time, or is it for you? Do you know what I mean?

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I have no idea. He was just like, was it for.

[Justin Martindale]

You, or was he hoping a casting director was in the audience? And probably.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Probably so. Probably. So we went and saw Bring it on as well. And I don't remember that musical. It was so bad. It was just. I couldn't do it. But the same thing. And he was just like, you know, curtain call came out, and he was like, natalie, Natalie, Natalie. Yes. And I'm just.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

I've been sending you the packages. I've been sending you the packages, Natalie.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He's like, girl, you nailed it, girl. And, like, Natalie's not even, like, looking like. It was just. It was awful. And that was it.

[Justin Martindale]

And did you ever hear from this man again?

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, I didn't, but, I mean, can I get a little dark?

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Oh, please.

[Justin Martindale]

Oh, no.

[Joel Kim Booster]

He died.

[Justin Martindale]

You tell us that after we've been riffing on him, making fun of him.

[Joel Kim Booster]

I got, like, a memory on Facebook and I was like, oh, yeah, that guy. And I clicked, and it was like, this is like an in Memoriam, like, account now. And I was like, oh, no. But I will say, because I knew him, I have been changed for good. So. Wow.

[Justin Martindale]

Fuck you. Fuck you. Do you know if he died doing what he loved? Stealing Broadway memorabilia.

[Joel Kim Booster]

No, I don't.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

I wonder who got the Lea Michele trench.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, I know, right? Who got that in the estate sale?

[Justin Martindale]

He probably was trying to sneak backstage and get something from Funny Girl and Leah Michelle Stand Her Ground Laws shopping.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Yeah, yeah, I know. This is so dark.

[Justin Martindale]

We have to stop she Bad dates.

[Sean Hayes]

You can hear the rest of this episode by listening to Bad Dates wherever you get your podcast.

[Joel Kim Booster]

Smart. Bless me.