Podcast Summary: Smosh Mouth – Episode #21: The Worst Food Show Ever w/ Ian Hecox

Introduction

In episode #21 of Smosh Mouth, released on November 13, 2023, hosts Shayne Topp (Shayne) and Amanda Lehan-Canto (Amanda) delve into a nostalgic and humorous exploration of their past culinary ventures. Joined by longtime Smosh collaborator Ian Hecox (Ian), the trio reacts to old cooking show clips, sharing laughs, awkward moments, and insightful reflections on their growth as content creators and food enthusiasts.

Amanda's Cooking Show: "Food New England"

Amanda introduces her old cooking show, "Food New England," which dates back over a decade. The show combined Amanda cooking simple dishes, like a breakfast sandwich, with her touring Boston's favorite restaurants.

• Concept and Origin

  Amanda explains, “It’s a cooking show called Food New England, where I make an egg sandwich and then visit local spots” (00:31). The show was pitched to her by a Channel 7 News producer during a transitional period between her time with Defy and the revival of Smosh.

• Reactions and Highlights

  Reacting to the clips, Shayne notes, “I started one, I laughed immediately and I said, I am going to save this because it's so good” (02:45). Amanda reflects on her past self, admitting, “When I watch it back, I'm literally saying in my head, I have no idea what I'm doing” (02:36).

• Humorous Awkwardness

  The trio laughs over Amanda's nervousness and unintentional quirks. Ian quips, “This is so look out for the side mouth” (03:02), referencing Amanda’s subtle facial expressions during filming.

• Notable Quote

  Amanda humorously recounts her scripted yet improvised lines: “I don't know what the show’s purpose was, but I'm improvising all of it” (02:28).

Ian Hecox's Cooking Show: "Sunday at Nana's"

Transitioning to Ian’s cooking show, "Sunday at Nana's," Shayne and Amanda react to his earnest yet somewhat underwhelming culinary segments filmed for Facebook.

• Concept and Origin

  Ian mentions, “I started the process when Smosh was in limbo, and then... after Smosh came back” (49:34). The show features Ian cooking alongside different “Nanas,” typically older women sharing family recipes.

• Reactions and Highlights

  Shayne observes, “This is so wholesome for those just listening. The visuals are so sweet” (53:54), contrasting the production quality with Amanda’s own show. Amanda adds, “Seeing it is so funny” (53:54), highlighting the genuine and unpolished nature of Ian’s segments.

• Culinary Insights and Friendship

  The group discusses the chemistry between Ian and the hosts of his show, noting how it contrasts with Amanda’s moments of panic. Ian shares fond memories of cooking with the Nanas, such as making spaghetti bolognese: “We made spaghetti bolognese, I think” (60:15).

• Notable Quote

  Ian’s sincere introduction stands out: “I’m Ian Hecox, a mediocre comedian and a terrible cook. I’m off to learn from the best kind of teacher there is” (50:15).

Cooking Preferences and Personal Anecdotes

Throughout the episode, Shayne, Amanda, and Ian discuss their diverse culinary interests and experiences, weaving personal anecdotes into their reactions.

• Foodie Discussions

  Amanda shares her love for baking, particularly Middle Eastern desserts like baklava: “I have yet to find a good cookbook that is dessert” (05:52). Ian talks about his dietary restrictions, mentioning, “I can’t have gluten anymore” (03:35), and his frustrations with restaurants that don’t accommodate his needs.

• Favorite Recipes

  Shayne reminisces about his successful attempt at making baklava from a Mediterranean cookbook: “My first attempt at baklava... turned out great” (04:48). Amanda discusses her cooking evolution, highlighting her husband’s influence: “My husband cooks all the time. He’s such an amazing cook” (09:25).

• Notable Quotes

  Amanda candidly admits her struggles: “I am so deeply uncomfortable” (13:07) and humorously comments on her cooking mishaps: “I panicked” (20:10).

Humorous Moments and Awkward Interactions

The episode is peppered with funny and awkward moments as the trio watches the old cooking show clips.

• Amanda’s On-Camera Panic

  Amanda frequently panics and stumbles over her words during her old shows, leading to laughs from Shayne and Ian. For instance, she nervously says, “I don’t know what I’m saying” (15:02), showcasing her unrehearsed style.

• Awkward Cooking Steps

  The group reacts to bizarre cooking steps, such as Amanda struggling with French toast without syrup, saying, “I am dying” (22:19), and Ian’s overly enthusiastic yet somewhat clumsy interactions in his show.

• Notable Quote

  Shayne humorously critiques Amanda's old show: “What am I watching? It’s like the very informational video” (16:42), highlighting the lack of meaningful content.

Future Plans and New Cooking Show Ideas

Inspired by their old culinary attempts, Shayne and Amanda brainstorm ideas for new cooking shows, considering their past experiences.

• Shayne’s “Tender Time with Shayne”

  Shayne suggests, “It’s gonna be called Tender Time with Shayne. I go to restaurants and I order chicken tenders no matter where I am” (62:07), envisioning a humorous take on restaurant reviews focused solely on chicken tenders.

• Amanda’s Support and Suggestions

  Amanda encourages creative ideas, proposing, “We can always change that. We can do a cooking show for you, Shayne” (61:41), and expresses interest in Shayne’s concepts: “I love that” (62:24).

End Segment: Smart Mouth

To wrap up the episode, Shayne and Amanda introduce a new segment called “Smart Mouth,” where they exchange interesting facts to challenge each other’s knowledge.

• Gameplay and Interaction

  Shayne initiates the game: “Do you guys know the largest animal that's ever existed on Earth?” (63:04). Shayne shares a fact about blue whales, while Ian presents a historical tidbit about Gandhi.

• Notable Quotes

  Shayne confidently states, “The blue whale that exists today is the largest animal that's ever existed” (64:06), while Ian reveals, “Gandhi was a stretcher bearer in a war in South Africa” (65:02).

• Humorous Banter

  The segment is filled with playful banter as the hosts humorously interact over their facts, emphasizing the lighthearted nature of the show.

Conclusion and Reflections

As the episode concludes, Shayne, Amanda, and Ian reflect on their past cooking shows, acknowledging their growth and the comedic value of their previous content.

• Reflection on Growth

  Amanda remarks, “It showed me how far I have come” (48:47), appreciating the journey from her awkward beginnings to her current love for baking.

• Plans for Improvement

  The trio discusses enhancing future episodes with better production quality and more engaging content, inspired by the contrasting styles of their old shows.

• Final Notable Quote

  Shayne humorously ends the episode by saying, “You just made this whole clip on your dating profile” (56:11), highlighting the entertaining chaos of their past culinary attempts.

Key Takeaways

• Evolution of Content

  Both Amanda and Ian have evolved significantly since their early cooking show days, transitioning from awkward and unpolished presentations to more confident and skilled culinary endeavors.

• Humor in Nostalgia

  The episode leverages nostalgic content to generate humor, highlighting the unintentional comedy arising from past mistakes and genuine moments of panic.

• Future Endeavors

  Inspired by their past, the hosts are eager to explore new and improved cooking show formats, aiming to blend humor with informative content.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Amanda on Improvisation: “I have no idea what I’m doing” (02:36)

• Ian on Hosting: “I’m Ian Hecox, a mediocre comedian and a terrible cook” (50:15)

• Shayne on French Toast: “I just went with it” (32:33)

• Amanda’s Embarrassment: “I am so deeply uncomfortable” (13:07)

• Shayne’s Smart Mouth Fact: “The blue whale that exists today is the largest animal that's ever existed” (64:06)

• Ian’s Smart Mouth Fact: “Gandhi was a stretcher bearer in a war in South Africa” (65:02)

Conclusion

Episode #21 of Smosh Mouth offers a delightful blend of nostalgia, humor, and camaraderie as Shayne, Amanda, and Ian revisit their past cooking show endeavors. Through candid reflections and witty banter, they celebrate their growth while playfully critiquing their early attempts at culinary content creation. This episode not only entertains listeners with behind-the-scenes stories but also sets the stage for future, more refined culinary adventures.