#25 - 2023 Was A Wild Year - Smosh Mouth

Summary7 min read

Smosh Mouth Episode #25: "2023 Was A Wild Year" - Detailed Summary

Release Date: December 18, 2023

In the 25th episode of Smosh Mouth, hosts Shane Madej, Amanda Lehan-Canto, and Courtney Miller dive deep into a comprehensive recap of the tumultuous and eventful year that was 2023. From personal milestones to significant developments within the Smosh community and the broader internet landscape, the trio reflects on the highs and lows, sharing insights, humorous anecdotes, and heartfelt conclusions. Below is a detailed summary of the key discussions, insights, and memorable moments from the episode.

1. Personal Life Updates

The episode opens with the hosts sharing significant personal events that shaped their year.

Amanda Lehan-Canto's Marriage: Amanda reveals that she got married in 2023, describing the experience as both intense and transformative. She humorously downplays the event initially but elaborates on the memorable aspects of her mini-honeymoon.

Quote: “I got married this year. Which is intense.” [02:02]

Shane Madej's Personal Resolutions: Shane discusses his initial determination to form new habits, particularly focusing on his goal to achieve the splits. He reflects on the challenges of maintaining perfectionism and the balance between commitment and personal fulfillment.

Quote: “I was really stubborn about it, but I also found myself having a bit of a struggle... am I giving in to my perfectionism?” [07:00]

Courtney Miller's Unique Celebration: Courtney shares a quirky personal highlight—marrying herself during her birthday party. This humorous and unconventional celebration underscores her vibrant personality.

Quote: “I married myself for my birthday party in May.” [15:37]

2. Career and Smosh Developments

The hosts delve into the professional side of their lives, focusing on the evolution and challenges within the Smosh brand.

Challenges in the First Half of 2023: Shane reflects on the uncertainty surrounding the future of Smosh, especially amid rumors and concerns about the company’s stability. The impending return of Anthony brings a mix of anxiety and hope.

Quote: “I truly thought that we were about to go under again.” [09:16]

Return of Anthony and Creative Peaks: With Anthony’s return, the team experiences a resurgence in creativity and channel performance. Shane notes that the second half of the year felt like “Smosh Prime,” where the quality and engagement reached new heights.

Quote: “These past couple months have been Smosh at a peak that I experience. It is Smosh Prime.” [09:50]

Embracing Creative Risks: The increased stability allows the team to take bigger creative risks, resulting in some of their most engaging and innovative content to date, such as “Sniper Chess” and the “Love is Blind” episode.

Quote: “We're really taking risks and we're having fun, and we're having fun on a level that we've never had before.” [09:59]

3. Impact of External Events

SAG Strike: The Season Actors Guild (SAG) strike profoundly impacted their work dynamics. Despite the strike, Smosh continued to produce content, adapting by collaborating with different creatives and incorporating new elements into their live shows.

Quote: “We still get to be super creative, and on live shows, you get to work with a lot more people who aren't usually there.” [16:47]

VidCon Experiences: VidCon emerges as a significant highlight for the team, serving as a bonding and creative catalyst. The event fostered deeper connections within the Smosh family and enhanced their collaborative spirit.

Quote: “VidCon definitely counts. That was a journey.” [27:03]

4. Reflections on Entertainment and Content Creation

Live Performances vs. Online Content: Courtney and Amanda discuss the resurgence of live performances and improvisational comedy, especially during the strike. They highlight the unique challenges and rewards of engaging with live audiences compared to online content creation.

Quote: “Live theater forces you to push outside of your comfort zone.” [21:29]

Balancing Perfectionism and Creativity: Shane articulates the struggle between striving for perfection and maintaining genuine, spontaneous creativity. This balance is crucial for sustaining both personal satisfaction and audience engagement.

Quote: “Am I doing this out of want and desire, or am I doing this out of... obligation?” [08:32]

5. Personal Growth and Lessons Learned

The hosts share their personal growth journeys, emphasizing the importance of boundaries, acceptance, and following one’s passion.

Boundaries and Self-Care: Both Amanda and Courtney highlight how setting boundaries has been pivotal in managing their professional responsibilities and personal well-being.

Quote (Amanda): “This year was boundaries and I think next year. I feel like this year was a very intense, intense year.” [41:28]
Quote (Courtney): “I'm so much better because of boundaries.” [43:53]

Acceptance and Letting Go: Shane discusses the concept of acceptance, learning to let go of societal pressures, and focusing on what truly brings joy and fulfillment.

Quote: “Acceptance is a little bit of just like, hey, I can't do everything that I want or that I expect of myself.” [43:30]

Pursuing Passion: Looking forward to 2024, Shane expresses a desire to focus more on passion-driven projects rather than external expectations.

Quote: “For 2024, I want it to be like passion.” [69:25]

6. Favorite Media and Consumed Content

The conversation shifts to media consumption, with the hosts sharing their favorite books and movies of the year, showcasing their diverse interests.

Books: Shane mentions several books that left a significant impact on him, including “She Who Became the Sun” and “The Three-Body Problem” series.

Quote: “I finished the Three Body Problem series. That's incredible.” [55:00]

Movies: Amanda and Courtney discuss standout films like “Barbie”, “Oppenheimer”, and “Killers of the Flower Moon”, highlighting their diverse tastes from horror to historical drama.

Quote (Shane): “I think Barbie was my favorite movie of the year.” [57:56]
Quote (Amanda): “Talk to Me is a great horror movie.” [58:56]

7. Plans and Expectations for Next Year

As 2023 wraps up, the hosts outline their aspirations and themes for 2024, focusing on maintaining balance and embracing creativity without overcommitment.

Setting Intentions: Each member shares a single word that encapsulates their experiences and goals. Amanda emphasizes "grace," Courtney focuses on "boundaries," and Shane aspires to "passion" in the coming year.

Quote (Shane): “For this year it was acceptance. For me personally, I think next year what I want it to be is like passion.” [69:25]
Quote (Amanda): “I think boundaries was my word for this year.” [69:32]

8. Memorable Highlights and Fun Moments

The hosts reminisce about amusing and unexpected moments from the year, such as borrowing and naming a keg during VidCon and sharing lighthearted frustrations with daily life in Los Angeles.

VidCon Keg Antics: Courtney narrates the humorous incident of borrowing a keg, naming it "Jacoby Keg," and the subsequent challenges of returning it, adding a playful touch to their VidCon memories.

Quote: “We named it Jacoby Keg. Michael Myers.” [65:00]

Daily Life Frustrations: Shane humorously vents about the quirks of California drivers and public behaviors that irked him, adding relatability and comedy to the episode.

Quote: “I have really bad luck with when I'm on an escalator and someone stops and just looks around.” [37:24]

9. Closing Thoughts and Final Reflections

In concluding the episode, the hosts express gratitude for the year's experiences, acknowledge the lessons learned, and look forward to continuing their creative journey together in 2024.

Quote (Amanda): “2023 has just been a wild year. It has been a wild year.” [47:42]
Quote (Shane): “I can see that [the finish line]. And I can have fun.” [47:38]

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

Shane Madej: “I was really stubborn about it, but I also found myself having a bit of a struggle... am I giving in to my perfectionism?” [07:00]
Amanda Lehan-Canto: “This year was boundaries and I think next year. I feel like this year was a very intense, intense year.” [41:28]
Courtney Miller: “I married myself for my birthday party in May.” [15:37]
Shane Madej: “These past couple months have been Smosh at a peak that I experience. It is Smosh Prime.” [09:50]
Shane Madej: “I could just do a little thing every day. I'm just going to. I'm not going to think acceptance.” [41:35]
Courtney Miller: “I'm so much better because of boundaries.” [43:53]
Shane Madej: “For this year it was acceptance. For me personally, I think next year what I want it to be is like passion.” [69:25]

Conclusion

Episode #25 of Smosh Mouth serves as an insightful and entertaining reflection on a year marked by personal growth, creative challenges, and significant milestones both within the Smosh community and the broader digital landscape. Shane, Amanda, and Courtney candidly discuss their experiences, offering listeners a blend of humor, sincerity, and relatable content. As they look forward to 2024, the trio emphasizes the importance of boundaries, passion, and maintaining a balance between personal aspirations and creative endeavors. For fans and newcomers alike, this episode provides a comprehensive glimpse into the dynamic lives of Smosh’s beloved hosts.

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Transcript834 lines

[00:00]
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[00:24]
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[01:04]
Shane Madej
Hi.
[01:05]
Courtney Miller
Oh.
[01:05]
Shane Madej
Welcome to Smoshmouth. I'm Shane.
[01:08]
Amanda Leighton
Hi. And welcome back to Smosh Mouth. I'm Amanda, and.
[01:12]
Shane Madej
Hi.
[01:13]
Amanda Leighton
Okay.
[01:14]
Courtney Miller
Welcome back to Smosh Mouth.
[01:16]
Amanda Leighton
This is Chance. You're welcome.
[01:18]
Shane Madej
And this is Chance. And today we are talking all about this year. Year 2023. It's coming to a close. It's the holiday season. It's. It's almost. It's almost Christmas.
[01:29]
Amanda Leighton
And we want to do a full recap of the biggest moments, the dumbest moments, the worst moments of 2023. Whether that's smosh or on the Internet.
[01:38]
Shane Madej
Yeah. Or in our lives, our journeys this year, because it. It's been both a long year, but it also feels like one of the shortest years of my life.
[01:46]
Courtney Miller
So quick.
[01:47]
Shane Madej
It feels super quick. Quick, but also I think back on, like, March, and I'm like, that was years ago. That was five years ago.
[01:53]
Amanda Leighton
That was. Yeah. A million years ago.
[01:56]
Shane Madej
Real quick, just for you and your own life, your own personal journey. How was this year?
[02:02]
Amanda Leighton
This year was wild for me. I mean, I got married.
[02:06]
Shane Madej
Holy.
[02:06]
Courtney Miller
Oh, that's crazy.
[02:07]
Amanda Leighton
I got married this year.
[02:09]
Shane Madej
Okay.
[02:10]
Amanda Leighton
Which is intense.
[02:12]
Shane Madej
Okay. Boring.
[02:15]
Amanda Leighton
Boring.
[02:16]
Shane Madej
Okay.
[02:17]
Amanda Leighton
Lame. I got married. I went on a honeymoon.
[02:21]
Courtney Miller
Where did you go on a honeymoon?
[02:23]
Amanda Leighton
Well, it was. We called it a mini moon, but it was 10 days.
[02:26]
Courtney Miller
It's not mini girl.
[02:27]
Shane Madej
A mini moon.
[02:28]
Amanda Leighton
We drove through Northern California.
[02:30]
Shane Madej
That's cool. Did you take redwoods?
[02:33]
Amanda Leighton
We did. We went up to Humboldt.
[02:35]
Courtney Miller
You took the one.
[02:36]
Amanda Leighton
We went up To. Yeah, we took the one. We went up to Humboldt, we went up to Monterey Bay, we went up to wine country, we went into some mineral baths and Vichy.
[02:44]
Courtney Miller
The one is the road that goes all the way along the beach.
[02:47]
Amanda Leighton
Yes, but. But remember we went in May and that was when the heavy rains were so Big Sur. The one was completely closed.
[02:55]
Courtney Miller
Oh no.
[02:55]
Amanda Leighton
So we're parts of the one that we couldn't do. But we did do Cambria.
[02:58]
Courtney Miller
Do you see them seals that are always fortin'yeah?
[03:01]
Amanda Leighton
We saw the Fortin seals.
[03:02]
Shane Madej
Is that the elephant seals?
[03:03]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[03:03]
Shane Madej
That's so cool.
[03:04]
Amanda Leighton
We went to Hearst Castle. That was my first time. You know the movie Citizen Kane?
[03:09]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[03:10]
Amanda Leighton
Is based on William Hearst.
[03:13]
Shane Madej
I don't know that. I'm not a huge nerd.
[03:15]
Amanda Leighton
William Hearst is one of the first guys to start the newspaper or that's not a good fact.
[03:23]
Courtney Miller
The newspaper.
[03:24]
Amanda Leighton
He started one of the biggest newspapers and he took over his dad's cattle farm. He's the guy who had the mansion. Literally architect or created? Architect. Built by one woman. Like literally. She didn't build the whole thing, but she was the architect genius behind everything. That is Hearst Castle. Hearst Castle is right by Cambria. It used to have zebras and pe. Peacocks and all these crazy animals on the land. Now it's like a park.
[03:52]
Courtney Miller
And he hunted them.
[03:53]
Amanda Leighton
He didn't hunt them. No, he hunted people.
[03:57]
Shane Madej
Oh.
[03:57]
Amanda Leighton
But no, he, he. He would have huge parties in his castle because his castle was all different parts of like chapels, Roman empire, all brought flown in or brought in from different parts of the world and basically puzzled together in this huge castle. He has a pool made out of little pieces of gold. It is the most insane thing. Never heard of William Hurst. Citizen Kane is about him. And how do you swim in it? He was. He used to have big parties with Charlie Chaplin. Frickin.
[04:30]
Shane Madej
And this is Northern California?
[04:32]
Amanda Leighton
Yes. So this is Cambria.
[04:34]
Shane Madej
I don't know where Cambria is.
[04:35]
Amanda Leighton
It's central. So Cambria is right on top of Big Sur, north of Pismo Beach.
[04:41]
Shane Madej
Kind of just kind of ran a random location.
[04:43]
Amanda Leighton
It's on the coast. It's a random location. But it was where his great grandfather had a dairy farm. And there's lots of stories about him. He. He basically jump started one of the biggest female silent acting careers.
[04:56]
Shane Madej
Cool.
[04:57]
Amanda Leighton
What was her name? Mimi. Mimi. Anyways, we went on a tour through it and what was great, we used the term newlyweds 24 7. So we got free shit all the time. I still try to use It. But some people are like, I can.
[05:10]
Courtney Miller
You could. There's a difference.
[05:11]
Amanda Leighton
You don't have the glow.
[05:12]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, yeah, there's a glow.
[05:13]
Amanda Leighton
So we. We did the tour, and normally it's like a hundred people on a bus. And Gardy really wants to see because he loves architecture. The woman gave us a hint. She's like, you know, if you do the one ten minutes after the. The normal time, there's no one on that tour. So we got a private tour.
[05:28]
Courtney Miller
Wow.
[05:29]
Amanda Leighton
It was sick. You should go.
[05:32]
Shane Madej
That's awesome.
[05:33]
Courtney Miller
One of his descendants.
[05:34]
Amanda Leighton
No, that would be insane.
[05:36]
Courtney Miller
That would be cool, though.
[05:37]
Amanda Leighton
That would be insane. No, by this woman who was literally like a mini Helen Mirren. No, who's the woman who was in succession? Anyways, this is now just going off. The one who talks like this. Who's in succession.
[05:52]
Courtney Miller
She doesn't talk like that.
[05:53]
Shane Madej
Anyways, so, okay, so you went on your mini moon.
[05:56]
Amanda Leighton
So, yeah. Marriage. Mini moon. My husband is now a citizen in the U.S. bravo. Which is huge. So that means he can get his passport. And I'm very proud of him. And what's the first place you're gonna.
[06:12]
Courtney Miller
Go out of the country with him?
[06:14]
Shane Madej
I don't know.
[06:16]
Courtney Miller
Maybe I want Mexico City.
[06:17]
Amanda Leighton
Maybe Mexico City. I really want to go to Portugal.
[06:20]
Courtney Miller
Cool.
[06:22]
Amanda Leighton
I really want to go to Ireland.
[06:23]
Courtney Miller
There's a lot of places.
[06:25]
Amanda Leighton
Italy.
[06:26]
Shane Madej
There is a lot of places you could go.
[06:28]
Amanda Leighton
So those are. Those are my biggest things that have happened this year. But I just feel like there's more. Oh, other than Smoshmouth.
[06:38]
Courtney Miller
That's true.
[06:38]
Amanda Leighton
Smosh mouth.
[06:40]
Shane Madej
Can you believe this didn't start till halfway through the year?
[06:43]
Amanda Leighton
Halfway through the year. And we are on episode 27.
[06:47]
Shane Madej
This is 26.
[06:48]
Amanda Leighton
We're on episode 26. And.
[06:50]
Shane Madej
Or the 26th week of doing it. It might be episode 25 or something. I don't know the exact number, but it's up there. We've been doing it for. We've been doing it for a while now.
[07:00]
Amanda Leighton
So my career has shifted.
[07:02]
Courtney Miller
And also, yeah, I went to a wedding.
[07:06]
Shane Madej
I did go to a wedding. Two weddings. I went to one wedding. I went to Kimmy's wedding, which was really cool.
[07:13]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, yeah. Kimmy got married right after me.
[07:15]
Shane Madej
Yeah, yeah, yeah. There was a lot of that. My year was interesting. I think this year. I started off this year with a lot of determination. It's been a bit of a journey. Cause I started off this year like, okay, this is the year where I'm gonna get my shit together. And it was one of those On a very personal level of just my commitment to things and persistence. And I made a bunch of calendars and things of like, okay, I'm stick to. I'm going to form new habits this year. I'm going to. I got really perfectionist and I started off and I was really diligent about it and I held to resolutions longer than I ever have. But I also found myself having a bit of a struggle then, like, months in where I'm like, wait, I've been really consistent with all this. But I also found myself like, oh, am I giving in to my perfectionism by doing this every day? By like. So am I doing this out of want and desire, or am I doing this out of, like, this feeling of obligation and that I need to accomplish something in order to feel happy? And so that was kind of the whole splits journey this year. And I was really, truly doing it. And I have fallen off a little bit on specifically the splits. Not on stretching and stuff.
[08:33]
Courtney Miller
Like, I. Metaphorically.
[08:35]
Shane Madej
Yeah. And physically. But. But I don't know. So I was struggling with that and. But I really stuck with it. And I'd say, overall, this year I have stayed committed to things more than ever. It was tough because the first half of the year felt like one year, and then the second half of the year felt 100% completely. There was a divide. And what's also weird about this year is the first half of this year, although was really fun here at Smosh. It was a time that I don't know if you guys saw or knew, but behind the scenes, I was like, I don't know if this job is going to be around much longer. I was just like, I am feeling like we're.
[09:17]
Amanda Leighton
I felt that too.
[09:17]
Shane Madej
Struggling a little bit. We are really proud of the work we're doing, but we're just not seeing the results. And it was just very, like, murky of the, like, messages I was getting behind the scenes where I'm like, what's going on? What's happening? What's going on with mythical, you know, pre.
[09:33]
Amanda Leighton
Anthony buyout was a totally different year.
[09:36]
Shane Madej
So there was, like, the weeks leading up to Anthony coming back where I didn't know Anthony was returning. I didn't know about the news.
[09:42]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[09:43]
Shane Madej
But Ian kind of was like, being kind of. He's being kind of weird because obviously.
[09:47]
Courtney Miller
He was kind of weird.
[09:48]
Shane Madej
He knew what was about to happen, but we didn't.
[09:50]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[09:51]
Shane Madej
So he was trying to keep it secret. And I truly thought that we were about to go under again.
[09:58]
Courtney Miller
I thought we were too.
[09:58]
Shane Madej
I was like, okay, this is the end. And so also, I think a lingering thought in my head the first half of this year was like, what should I do? What should my plan be? Like, what. What should I be? What. What should I be planning on doing moving forward? Where. Where should I go with my career? It was so intense all the time, and I couldn't stop thinking about that all the time.
[10:19]
Courtney Miller
100% was doing the exact same thing. I'm like, googling, who are the try guys? Can I be a try guy?
[10:27]
Shane Madej
Is Mr. Beast hiring?
[10:29]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[10:30]
Shane Madej
But then the news broke, and I had been so in that mind space of, like, I'm screwed, that even when Anthony returned that there's that footage of him walking in and telling us. You can tell on my face that I still am in that zone where I'm kind of like, oh. But I was still like, what?
[10:49]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[10:49]
Shane Madej
And then it wasn't till like, a couple weeks after where I suddenly was like, oh, shit, like, back. This is better than ever. And this has truly been, like, these past couple months have been smosh at a. At a peak that I experience. It is smosh prime. And truly, like, you know, views don't matter to. To an extent of what we are creating matters that what we make is what we're proud of and that we're having fun doing it. But the success of the channel and the audience that we're reaching and how much we're entertaining our audience does matter. You know, it is still a business. And so to know there's a comfort level of like, okay, people are really loving what we're watching, and we're reaching more audience and we're gaining subscribers. It does make you feel secure. And then that. That security allows you to take bigger risks and you're going, okay, great, let's try crazier stuff. And that's where I feel like we're in a place where we're really taking risks and we're having fun, and we're having fun on a level that we've never had before. And so this year's been weird in that way. So that it's been split. Yeah, it feels like two different years. So the first half of the year was one thing, Second half of the year was another one. But it has been a personal journey and. But there are a lot of things I'm proud of myself this year that I feel I've accomplished. But, yeah, Chance, Chance, your year, your year.
[12:17]
Amanda Leighton
Tell us.
[12:17]
Courtney Miller
I also felt the dividend. I started off the year so committed to my goals. And I think halfway through this year, I had the realization that I have made habits out of the things that I needed to make habits out of.
[12:32]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[12:33]
Courtney Miller
Which is really cool.
[12:34]
Shane Madej
What do you mean? Yeah. Do you have an example?
[12:35]
Courtney Miller
Like, I'm gonna go to the gym five times a week.
[12:37]
Amanda Leighton
Yes.
[12:38]
Courtney Miller
If I don't, I'm gonna feel not bad for it, but be like, oh, you missed. And I'll be like, oh, I didn't even think that. Like, I missed. It was like, oh, I have to go. And like, I'm. It's like, kind of like the obligation that you were talking about. But I don't feel bad for breaking it. I'm just like, it's okay. You can miss a day. You're okay. You're not going to be just more.
[12:58]
Amanda Leighton
Intense on those goals.
[12:59]
Courtney Miller
Just more intense on those goals. And it's like, they're just not even goals. They're just like, I'm going to go.
[13:04]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[13:04]
Courtney Miller
That's the standard.
[13:06]
Shane Madej
I do. I do. Like I said, I didn't commit. I didn't complete the splits. I have stretched more this year than I think I stretched in, like, the past five years combined.
[13:15]
Courtney Miller
So. Good for you.
[13:16]
Shane Madej
I know the problem. The problem, simultaneously, as we've already discussed on this podcast, is I also have gotten to some of the best shape of my life. Like, I have been working out harder than ever, partially. I was part of. It was for Anthony's funeral roast. I was like, okay, I'm gonna be the chosen in this vampire gear. I want to try to bulk up for this, because I think that'd be fun. And I did gain weight for it. Like, I genuinely got into good shape for it, but that simultaneously fucks up your flexibility kind of packing it on. But I. I think in a lot of ways, I have committed in. In a lot of ways that I hadn't in previous years. And so. Yeah, so you're working out five days a week.
[13:58]
Courtney Miller
So I'm working out a lot. I took a couple sober months.
[14:02]
Shane Madej
I did that, too.
[14:03]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, you did. We were never on the same. I don't think we were ever on the same month.
[14:07]
Shane Madej
It was more like springtime that I took. I took, like, two months off, and I did feel incredible.
[14:11]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[14:12]
Shane Madej
And. Yes. So.
[14:14]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[14:15]
Shane Madej
Sorry, go on. I keep interrupting you because I keep relating.
[14:17]
Courtney Miller
You're totally fine. I also said this year, I said for this 20, 23, I was not going to any weddings, and I only went to two.
[14:26]
Shane Madej
Oh.
[14:26]
Amanda Leighton
Only went to two.
[14:27]
Courtney Miller
The year before, I went to six.
[14:29]
Amanda Leighton
You went to six the year before. But also your outfits.
[14:32]
Courtney Miller
Every single worst serving. Every single wedding had a different outfit completely. The suit, the bow tie, the shoes. Every single one.
[14:42]
Amanda Leighton
You went to a wedding in Miami?
[14:44]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, Texas. This year I only went to Guatemala and Laguna.
[14:50]
Amanda Leighton
Only.
[14:51]
Shane Madej
Only.
[14:52]
Courtney Miller
Only.
[14:52]
Amanda Leighton
So, okay, so you went to Miami, Texas.
[14:55]
Courtney Miller
Miami, Texas. Texas. Twice. Dallas and Austin. I went to.
[15:01]
Amanda Leighton
Hey, Yee haw.
[15:03]
Courtney Miller
Yee haw. Chicago.
[15:08]
Amanda Leighton
Okay, but this year you went to Guatemala.
[15:10]
Courtney Miller
I went to Guatemala and Laguna. Where'd I go?
[15:13]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, my God.
[15:14]
Shane Madej
That's pretty cool.
[15:15]
Amanda Leighton
Gorgeous.
[15:16]
Courtney Miller
A lot of crazy. Oh, somewhere random. In Lake Fucking.
[15:20]
Shane Madej
Not Mead.
[15:22]
Courtney Miller
Not Lake Tahoe. No, it was in, like, funk Wisconsin or some shit.
[15:26]
Shane Madej
Oh, Lake Superior.
[15:27]
Courtney Miller
No, it wasn't a big one.
[15:28]
Amanda Leighton
It was just Finger lakes.
[15:30]
Courtney Miller
I won't think of it right now.
[15:31]
Shane Madej
A shitty lake.
[15:32]
Amanda Leighton
So. So those are your. Are those the goal? The goals are your kind of, like, big wedding?
[15:37]
Courtney Miller
Yeah. Oh, I had my own wedding for my birthday party.
[15:40]
Amanda Leighton
Yes.
[15:41]
Shane Madej
Oh, shit.
[15:41]
Courtney Miller
That's right. I married.
[15:42]
Amanda Leighton
You got married to yourself.
[15:43]
Courtney Miller
Oh, married life has been great.
[15:47]
Amanda Leighton
Yes. You got married to yourself.
[15:49]
Courtney Miller
I did. And I recommend it for everyone because I went to so many weddings.
[15:52]
Amanda Leighton
So you were like, I'm gonna marry.
[15:53]
Courtney Miller
Myself for my birthday party in May. Gemini. I was like, I'm gonna marry my. I'm gonna marry myself and I'm gonna make all my friends come to my fucking wedding.
[16:03]
Amanda Leighton
Fuck. Yeah.
[16:04]
Courtney Miller
We had rehearsal dinner the night before.
[16:06]
Shane Madej
I love that.
[16:07]
Amanda Leighton
That's actually amazing.
[16:08]
Courtney Miller
Snatched in my dress.
[16:09]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah, I saw a picture.
[16:10]
Shane Madej
That's really awesome, Shane.
[16:11]
Courtney Miller
Did I look good in my dress?
[16:12]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[16:13]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah, you look snatched.
[16:14]
Courtney Miller
You didn't say anything.
[16:15]
Shane Madej
Sorry. Yeah, you look snatched.
[16:18]
Amanda Leighton
Damn. Okay. That's amazing. So those are, like, our big parts of the year.
[16:23]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[16:24]
Amanda Leighton
Should we go to kind of our, like, side chicks?
[16:29]
Shane Madej
Side chicks.
[16:29]
Amanda Leighton
Should we go to our side chicks?
[16:31]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[16:31]
Amanda Leighton
Which we don't really want to talk about, but they're there.
[16:34]
Courtney Miller
Oh, that's funny.
[16:35]
Shane Madej
No.
[16:36]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, we don't want to talk about them, but they are there.
[16:38]
Amanda Leighton
Side chicks. SAG was on a strike for five months, and people were on picket lines, and Fran Drescher sent me a voicemail every single month.
[16:47]
Shane Madej
Oh, that's fun.
[16:48]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[16:50]
Shane Madej
Like, okay. Thank you.
[16:51]
Courtney Miller
It's funny because I didn't feel the results of the strike like other people did, because it made I feel like our content. We were, like, not really affected. We still get to be super creative, and on live shows, you get to work with a lot more people who aren't usually there. And so, like, at the live theater that we do shows at, me and Angela, we got to see like a lot of celebrities like come and do shows and play with us that are never like, they're alumni of the theater, but they don't come back anymore really.
[17:25]
Amanda Leighton
There's a plus side to the strike. I feel like there was more artists out there who were like, I want. Who reminded you that they still love to perform and they still love seeing audience members and they still want to go out there and perform. And I love that about this city because the theaters are so accessible in that sense.
[17:48]
Courtney Miller
You know, you live in LA and you're not going to comedy shows, you're doing something wrong.
[17:53]
Amanda Leighton
I kind of agree with you on that because there's just so much.
[17:56]
Courtney Miller
I mean, it's the comedians that you see on TV and you get to see them in a live fucking show right there. And you don't break the bank going to a show.
[18:03]
Shane Madej
What I used to go to improv shows every week. I haven't gone much because I. That's too much because I'm tired.
[18:10]
Courtney Miller
You're tired?
[18:10]
Shane Madej
I'm tired. I'm like, I get done with this and I'm like, do I want to go all the way there and see a show? I mean, it would be. Once I'm there, it's really fun.
[18:17]
Amanda Leighton
It's a commitment. It's a commitment. I think if you're doing, if you are already doing improv outside, you're already like, oh, I'll go to your show. Or like, I'm already there.
[18:26]
Courtney Miller
Like, I feel like actually any city, any city, if you live in any city, there's probably improv.
[18:31]
Shane Madej
I was curious.
[18:32]
Courtney Miller
Definitely, there definitely is.
[18:33]
Shane Madej
I feel like it could be even more fun to see in other cities. I'm so curious. Definitely let us know in the comments if you've gone to comedy shows or improv shows, what your city is and what the show was like. Yes, Because I'm so curious, like what a. What an improv show in friggin Arkansas is like.
[18:52]
Courtney Miller
Sure.
[18:53]
Shane Madej
But I mean, you know, you think about it, this is a tough thing, is that if people are really into improv and comedy, where they want to do it professionally, they are probably going to move to one of the cities where that's like a big industry.
[19:05]
Courtney Miller
But there's so many people that probably don't and they're probably so good and they're. They just do improv in Arkansas. You don't.
[19:12]
Shane Madej
Well, something I think about too is like, if I ever am like, oh, I Am done doing this as a career, but I still love performing. Yeah, I still want to do comedy. If I lived in some other state, I would still probably join a theater and do it and go all out. Because I'm like, yeah, it's not. There's no stakes anymore. I'm just doing this for fun.
[19:33]
Courtney Miller
This show was fucking phenomenal.
[19:35]
Shane Madej
I would go. Want to go insane on it. I think that'd be a blast. I wonder how many people are getting into performing in that way now that social media is, like, how it is, you know, where you can just kind of perform on your phone all the time and reach a wider audience. I don't know.
[19:51]
Amanda Leighton
Like, social media took over and people were like, theaters are dead. I remember feeling like theaters were dying. I don't know when that was. Well, definitely during COVID but, like, I remember that feeling and feeling really nervous about that. But I think it's made a comeback in a way of, like, people are on social media. Yes, they can perform there, but now they want to see them in person.
[20:12]
Courtney Miller
They want to see them in person.
[20:13]
Amanda Leighton
People on social media come to perform. And also, I think it's very clear when you are on social media in front of your camera to go see them in person and see what they're like, because I think it's different. It completely is a different.
[20:26]
Shane Madej
Oh, totally.
[20:27]
Courtney Miller
People cannot carry over. They do not translate from their phone to the live stage.
[20:31]
Shane Madej
It's like, oh.
[20:32]
Amanda Leighton
And when they do and they translate and they kill it, you're like, you are a fucking God. Yeah, but some people cannot translate.
[20:40]
Courtney Miller
Yeah. And it's really exciting when you see the people that do. Yeah, I saw one that didn't.
[20:45]
Amanda Leighton
And this is their worst moment of the year.
[20:50]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, this is their worst moment. But they. They do impressions, and they had a segment in a live show, and it just. They couldn't get it. They couldn't wheel you into the impression. They couldn't set up the stakes. And so it just did not work for them.
[21:07]
Amanda Leighton
It's brutal. I think a lot of people rely on multiple takes, edits, like, music cuts. And I think that's why I love live theater, because you cannot hide, you cannot edit, and you really have to push outside of your comfort zone. I think that type of training is the best.
[21:30]
Courtney Miller
Or you hire a director, you're like, I have this segment. I can pay you this much money. Like, can you direct me? Because I can't see what I'm doing because I'm doing the thing.
[21:38]
Amanda Leighton
But I think views give them a Boost of confidence.
[21:40]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[21:40]
Amanda Leighton
And they don't have views are immediate, like validation. Validation. And it gives them that confidence.
[21:47]
Shane Madej
And I think, yeah, it's such a different thing, though. Cause on TikTok, not only can you edit and do as many takes of one post, but a lot of TikTokers, I mean, this is the case from my TikTok and stuff. You just kind of keep posting. It's like, oh, that didn't hit. Whatever. The next one might. The next one might. Oh, you have a bunch of duds in a row and then you have the one that hits, and everyone's like, oh, my God, you did that thing. That's awesome. Whereas when you go do a live show, it's like, you. All right, if this doesn't miss. This doesn't. If not only if it. The whole thing doesn't hit. But it's like, oh, you might hit for five minutes straight. And then if you have a minute of dead. That's awful.
[22:23]
Courtney Miller
High pressure.
[22:24]
Shane Madej
Performing in front of a live audience is fucking rough.
[22:27]
Amanda Leighton
But I will say those moments of silence are what you need to build up your character. Like, you need an entire audience of people where you think it's going to kill and it doesn't. And they do not laugh. It sucks. It feels awful. But we need that as performers, because then we stop performing for laughs. Then you actually just perform for that feeling deep inside that, you know, you're like, I'm clicked in. And I think that people miss out on that. I think that people are so hungry for the laughs when it's actually like, don't feed off the laughs right now.
[23:05]
Courtney Miller
And sometimes the energy, that silence just tells you that one didn't work and that's okay.
[23:11]
Amanda Leighton
Or they're listening.
[23:12]
Courtney Miller
Or they're listening. But sometimes it's that one didn't work.
[23:14]
Amanda Leighton
Or usually it's that one didn't work.
[23:16]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[23:17]
Courtney Miller
Or I didn't communicate that joke correctly. There's probably a better way to get to the place that I'm trying to get you to.
[23:23]
Amanda Leighton
Exactly. And I love the friend that goes, it's because they're listening. And you're like, no, it didn't.
[23:28]
Courtney Miller
It's not.
[23:29]
Shane Madej
I think, though, that's something I feel like that Chosen and Sarah Christ episode we did a few weeks back, there were moments when we were doing it where I was like, you're not trying to make me laugh. You're not trying to say something funny. You are just fully locked in on this character and you're just. You're just living Right now, it's my.
[23:50]
Amanda Leighton
Favorite place to be, and I. I can't tell myself to get there. Something happens. I, like, push through a point of where I shut down the chatter, and then something happens where I click in and I don't even know. I'm just there.
[24:06]
Courtney Miller
Maybe it's like a past life and she's just, like, taking over.
[24:08]
Amanda Leighton
Probably.
[24:09]
Courtney Miller
I love that. Or a future.
[24:11]
Shane Madej
Oh.
[24:12]
Amanda Leighton
I mean, most of my characters are like different versions of me. But when I did my solo show, that's what it was about. It was about my. Because I have a lot of. I get kind of controlling over my work and how good it needs to be. And my solo show was all about trying to release control. So I just would force myself to do characters based on what the audience chose for me. And many times I wouldn't get laughs. And I had to fucking just keep.
[24:37]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[24:37]
Amanda Leighton
Going. And when I had those moments where I was so tapped in, I could have. I literally didn't even need to think about the character. All the thoughts were coming to me because my brain was like, you good. Here you go. All the character ideas and that. It's. It's. It's the best feeling I could ever have. It's like that tapped in. Like, I'm in. I'm so in. I'm so present right now, and I can't even hear the laughs. Cause I'm so just cushy in this character.
[25:08]
Shane Madej
I was trying to. And I was very inspired by it in the moment in that episode. But also just thinking about it with my character, the Chosen. I realized sometimes when I'm doing that character, I'm like, ah, I'm not feeling as. Like it's hitting that hard right now. And I think it's moments where I'm trying to be funny, and then it just loses all its steam. The point of when my characters are at their best is when I'm like, oh, it's not a joke. I'm dead serious. I'm. This is real life and I'm in this. That is such a cartoonish character. But I'm like, no, I'm. I'm fully what's really going on. And then you're just. You're just living it and you're role playing as it.
[25:48]
Amanda Leighton
And that's what's funny.
[25:49]
Shane Madej
So fun. And then it's actually so funny. Cause, like, wait, you're not serious, are you? It's like, yeah, I am.
[25:54]
Courtney Miller
Yes.
[25:54]
Shane Madej
And that's what's funny.
[25:55]
Amanda Leighton
They believe. They believe they are literally living and breathing as that character. That is what me, Amanda, is personally laughing at. I don't. I struggle to laugh at the jokes where I go, huh, Clever. I'm not really laughing.
[26:09]
Courtney Miller
I'm not laughing.
[26:09]
Amanda Leighton
I laugh when someone is so deep. It's truth.
[26:13]
Shane Madej
That was you as Mr. Peanut.
[26:15]
Courtney Miller
Yes.
[26:16]
Shane Madej
That's my favorite character you've ever played.
[26:18]
Amanda Leighton
You as Mr. Peanut is so good.
[26:20]
Courtney Miller
Did we.
[26:21]
Shane Madej
Holy shit. What? You know what just occurred to me?
[26:24]
Courtney Miller
What?
[26:24]
Amanda Leighton
That was a year ago.
[26:25]
Shane Madej
We rapped. We. We were still filming Bath Legacy this year.
[26:30]
Courtney Miller
No way.
[26:33]
Shane Madej
Yes.
[26:33]
Courtney Miller
March in February.
[26:35]
Shane Madej
We were.
[26:35]
Amanda Leighton
We were our year of Smosh.
[26:38]
Shane Madej
I will say we were filming that into this year. How crazy.
[26:42]
Amanda Leighton
Our year of Smosh has been so wild. Like, I would say the highlights for me in Smosh, genuinely, would be dnd.
[26:50]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[26:51]
Amanda Leighton
Smash Mouth. And literally getting to know you and Angela and Arasha, like, so much more. I felt like VidCon just made us.
[27:00]
Courtney Miller
Go, like, 100% sure.
[27:02]
Shane Madej
Oh, my God.
[27:02]
Courtney Miller
I forgot about VidCon.
[27:03]
Amanda Leighton
I know. Cause the year is the longest.
[27:06]
Shane Madej
It is crazy to think back at the beginning of this year. I didn't. I hardly knew. I think I had gotten a chance to know you more than anyone else because you started to, like, come around last, like, a year and a half ago. But I feel like I look back to the beginning of this year, and I'm like, did I. I didn't really know Angela or Arasha that well, but it's crazy because now I feel like I know them so well.
[27:32]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[27:32]
Shane Madej
But it's been, like. It's been such an intense.
[27:35]
Courtney Miller
They also found their identities within Smosh.
[27:38]
Shane Madej
I mean, Angela. I feel like Angela and Arasha, but, like, in such different ways.
[27:42]
Courtney Miller
Yeah. It was definitely secret Sith that got Arasha her.
[27:45]
Shane Madej
Arasha and let's do this.
[27:47]
Amanda Leighton
Nice. And then what was Angela's cat food?
[27:50]
Courtney Miller
It was cat.
[27:51]
Shane Madej
Probably cat food. I feel like that was just, like, the beginning.
[27:54]
Courtney Miller
And we were like.
[27:55]
Shane Madej
And then it was just up from there.
[27:57]
Amanda Leighton
What was yours, Mr. Peanut? No, but that wasn't this year.
[28:03]
Courtney Miller
No.
[28:03]
Shane Madej
I actually do think DD was really weird. I think Baff and D and D. Yeah. I think Baffle, Legacy and D and D, people really started to see how much you commit to those types of games and how serious you are about them in a good way. I just think, overall, it's a general thing.
[28:21]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[28:22]
Shane Madej
And how you guys work with each other. The dynamics nowadays are so funny. I mean, you and Angela, it's like. I love how it's when people. People will comment. Angela and we Know that it's in your voice.
[28:37]
Courtney Miller
Yeah. You can hear it.
[28:38]
Shane Madej
Like, it's like Angela.
[28:41]
Courtney Miller
So funny. The disappointment.
[28:42]
Amanda Leighton
It's so true. Yeah. Those are my top favorite things of like the smosh year. What about you?
[28:52]
Courtney Miller
Those are. I mean, does vidcon count?
[28:54]
Shane Madej
Vidcon counts.
[28:54]
Amanda Leighton
Vidcon definitely counts.
[28:56]
Shane Madej
That was the first vicon.
[28:56]
Amanda Leighton
That was a journey.
[28:57]
Courtney Miller
That was my first vidcon. It was like summer camp.
[29:00]
Shane Madej
And it was also the first vidcon in Hawaii. No. Yeah. Or no. No. It wasn't the first vidcon summer camp.
[29:06]
Amanda Leighton
In a hotel, though.
[29:07]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, but that's. I mean, all of our rooms are like adjacent, close to each other. And then there's all the lobbies and get all that free shit and do all those fun things.
[29:15]
Shane Madej
It's a pretty cool vibe.
[29:16]
Courtney Miller
Activities.
[29:17]
Shane Madej
It's a fun time.
[29:17]
Courtney Miller
Then at 5 o'clock, it's happy hour. And everybody starts drinking.
[29:20]
Shane Madej
Yes. There's other YouTubers there. And you're just like, who are these crazy people?
[29:26]
Amanda Leighton
So fun. The rooms are my favorite.
[29:28]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, the rooms are. Oh, my God, I have a jaw drop. I'll tell you at the end.
[29:32]
Amanda Leighton
All right, tell us at the end.
[29:34]
Shane Madej
Okay. Yeah. It's been a crazy year, man. What are your tops, top moments from this year? I will say the show is gone, but. And I highly recommend people to go back and watch this series. But let's do this. Did have a couple just things that I was like, let's do this is psychotic.
[29:56]
Courtney Miller
They were so.
[29:57]
Shane Madej
And I think it was fun because I was like at that time, this is earlier this year. I was like, we're. This is. It doesn't feel like this is all working, but.
[30:05]
Amanda Leighton
But I was in Courtney's car trying to eat Mac and cheese.
[30:09]
Courtney Miller
Let me tell you, it was so much fun. Fun.
[30:11]
Shane Madej
We were having. Some of the most fun was being had at the beginning of this year, despite the fact that behind the scenes, some of us were kind of like, ah, this is probably coming to a.
[30:21]
Courtney Miller
Close that I think there's.
[30:24]
Shane Madej
Yeah, it was.
[30:24]
Courtney Miller
We're like, okay, fuck it. Let's.
[30:25]
Shane Madej
We're just gonna have some of the most fun. We're gonna have.
[30:27]
Amanda Leighton
You're having so much fun.
[30:28]
Shane Madej
But since. Since Anthony returned and we've. I think we are just being a little crazier. I do think some of the best work we've ever made is happening. And something that I am really personally proud of is like, Sniper chess was a dumb ass pitch that I was like, I just threw it to Alex and Spencer and I was like, we should do this on the games channel. What if we played chess, but two people had dart guns and they're trying to shoot pieces off, and you just have to keep playing the game of chess. And we're like, let's do it. And then we actually turned it into a really fun episode, and it was really stupid, and it was great. And then, like, we have, like, the Love is Blind episode.
[31:05]
Courtney Miller
Love is blind.
[31:06]
Shane Madej
Like, every. Every episode we're putting out is cr. Crazy.
[31:11]
Amanda Leighton
I also think that this year, since so much crazy stuff happened and, like, obviously life things happened, I really think that we have really sunken into our personalities and our POV on who we are in the channel. Like, I feel like before, when we were doing main channel, now that main channel is just Ian and Anthony, now that we get to do, like, games and pit. It's not a script. It's just our personality. So now I feel like it's like when people look at our cast, they're like, oh, yeah, I see how all of them fit, how all of them mesh, and I love that.
[31:47]
Courtney Miller
It's so weird because now when I'm playing games with my friends, it feels like Smosh sometimes. And I'm like, wait, this is not who I am on Smosh. I can be a different person with my friends.
[32:01]
Shane Madej
Oh, I think I have a jaw drop that I don't think will make your guys jaw drop, but maybe it'll make fans jaw drop. Oh, it's not that great, but it just made me think of one.
[32:11]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, but it's also made me. Working here has made me so, so good at, like, Quiplash.
[32:19]
Shane Madej
Oh, stupid board games.
[32:20]
Courtney Miller
If we play a stupid board game, I'm gonna win also. I'm gonna, like. There's not even gonna be competition.
[32:26]
Amanda Leighton
You feel like you go and hang out with, like. I feel like one time I hung out with my friends, and we had wine after a Smosh day, and I was like, bitch, what are you doing? And they're like, your energy is way too high. And I'm like, oh, whoops.
[32:40]
Shane Madej
I have. I have a question, because I think Smosh has primed me for this. I think I can handle, like, roasts and just, like, shit talking, because it's just part of what we do here.
[32:49]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[32:49]
Shane Madej
I think if I went to the east coast to, like, Boston and stuff, I don't think I'd be too fazed by just talking to random people.
[32:55]
Amanda Leighton
You would not be phased at all.
[32:57]
Shane Madej
They'd throw shit my way. And I'm. I'd Just be like, oh, yeah, I.
[33:01]
Amanda Leighton
Think that you would enjoy Boston. Because I think what people don't understand, like every time I bring H there, he's like, I love it here. Because I feel like. I feel so seen. Because I think what people get confused is Boston people are just direct. They cut through all the passive aggressive shit and they're just very direct. And Boston people actually say hi and smile on the street. Whereas in California and la, no, nobody says hi or smiles. Whereas Boston, they're like, hey, how you doing? They actually are really fucking kind and loving. They're just very direct. So in a way it's like, wow, I can't believe you said that. But I love it because I'm like, at least I don't have to wonder. Or at least I don't have to sit in that weird passive aggressive silence. I actually think that you would really like Boston. But I think that you'd be a little stunned in the beginning. You'd be like, because the bartender doesn't give a fuck if he's making your day. He's like, what do you want? What can I get for you?
[33:59]
Shane Madej
See, but I like a bartender like that. I don't want a bartender to be.
[34:04]
Amanda Leighton
And then the moment they realize you're in, they're like, okay, he can handle my shit talking. Let me tell you about this very fancy place. Do you want to come over? I can give you a ride. Like, they'll give you whatever you need. It's like this.
[34:15]
Courtney Miller
That's not me. That's not for me.
[34:17]
Amanda Leighton
You don't like.
[34:18]
Courtney Miller
That's not for me? No, because I have. I. My field's up, my wall's up. I'm kind of like that. And I'm from Nashville, where you talk to anyone for any reason. You like, smile and hey, how you doing? You're talking to anyone. But I don't like that.
[34:32]
Amanda Leighton
You don't like what?
[34:33]
Courtney Miller
I don't like the now that he can handle my shit talk. You want to ride home? I'll do this.
[34:38]
Shane Madej
Whoa, whoa, whoa.
[34:40]
Courtney Miller
Give me my drink. I'll drink it. That's all I want.
[34:43]
Amanda Leighton
And you know what? If you acted like that, they'd be.
[34:45]
Courtney Miller
Like, I. Oh, but see, I would never say that. Cause that's rude. I'm just like, can you just leave.
[34:49]
Shane Madej
Me to my own devices?
[34:50]
Courtney Miller
I'll leave your walls. I'm not touching your wal. My walls.
[34:53]
Shane Madej
That's a good question of like, what states in the U.S. are there? Are the polar opposites in a way. That one, if you go. If you go from living in one state and move to another, you're gonna have the hardest time, you know, because some states you probably could like transfer over.
[35:06]
Amanda Leighton
Honestly, when I moved to California, I struggled really hard. A I was like, everyone walks so fucking slow in the grocery store.
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[35:39]
Shane Madej
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[35:45]
Amanda Leighton
I'm like, move. Hello? Move your body. That's what I wanted to say. I wanted to be like, you need to move your body. In Trader Joe's are just like people. I'm just like, your fucking body. And also drive. Drive like you have a purpose. Why are you driving just for drive? What? Somewhere to go?
[36:05]
Shane Madej
I don't know if I agree. I don't know if I agree with that. I feel like, I feel like LA drivers absolutely know where they want to go when they're driving.
[36:11]
Courtney Miller
I think they are slower, but it's kind of slow.
[36:15]
Shane Madej
LA drivers are slow.
[36:16]
Amanda Leighton
I feel like compared to Boston's like. And you're just like, okay. But at least it's like, well, you had somewhere to go. Whereas Ellie, they're just like, huh, turning here and I'm gonna turn here and what do we want for dinner? I've gotten used to it.
[36:34]
Courtney Miller
I love the whole vibe of LA though, in general. Like, that's also the mindset of everyone.
[36:37]
Amanda Leighton
I got used to it, but it was really hard for me in the first year where everything was go, go, go, go, go.
[36:44]
Courtney Miller
You gotta lay back. You gotta chill, man.
[36:47]
Shane Madej
Dude, it's the beach. I do agree though, about the grocery store. I've noticed I have bad luck and maybe I. Maybe it's just how people are of people being so unaware of their surroundings that you'll be. You'll be walking and someone will be in front of you and they'll just kind of stop.
[37:02]
Courtney Miller
Yep.
[37:03]
Shane Madej
And there's kind of like around and you're like, yep. I know when someone's behind me. I'm like, do. Do I just have like a spider sense that most people don't have? But I'm like, why are people just stopping? And I have. What I have really bad luck with is when I'm on an escalator and you're. And someone's in front of you on the escalator, they get off the escalator and then they just stop and they just kind of look around and you're like, yeah, what the fuck?
[37:24]
Amanda Leighton
That's every day.
[37:26]
Shane Madej
I want to. At my worst moments, I want to then somersault down the escalator and just knock them over like a rolling throw.
[37:33]
Amanda Leighton
That would hurt your head.
[37:34]
Shane Madej
Hurt myself in the process of getting my frustrations out of the way. But when people just stop, I'm like, why are you stopping?
[37:41]
Amanda Leighton
Exactly.
[37:42]
Shane Madej
Why are you stopping?
[37:43]
Courtney Miller
Why are you stopping?
[37:46]
Amanda Leighton
I also feel like states versus states is weather. Like someone from California going to.
[37:52]
Courtney Miller
That's true. They don't have to hurry. There's no rain coming.
[37:54]
Shane Madej
There's no rain coming, of course.
[37:56]
Amanda Leighton
And it's just like.
[37:56]
Courtney Miller
It's not cold outside.
[37:57]
Shane Madej
There's nothing that's going to happen in California.
[38:00]
Courtney Miller
Well, the.
[38:01]
Shane Madej
Hardly anything ever. I mean, minus this year. Okay, well, this year we had actually so much fucking.
[38:07]
Courtney Miller
We have so much rain.
[38:08]
Shane Madej
We had more rain this year than we've had in, like the last 15 years that I've lived here. Yeah, I'm used to in L. A. The weather being the same all year round. It's hot and then it's not hot. It's never anything other than that.
[38:21]
Amanda Leighton
I would say the one time the weather, like, really got me like, oh, fuck. This year was in May. And I know that rain is a potential, but our, like three days before our wedding, they were like, oh, it's going to downpour on your day. And we were getting married at noon. And I was like, I literally. The thing is, when you plan your own wedding, you do not think about weather. It's the last thing on your thing.
[38:47]
Courtney Miller
And then because you can't control it.
[38:49]
Amanda Leighton
You can't control it. And I was like, I love rain. Why? I hate that I'm getting upset about rain. And it made me go into this whole psychological bullshit about weddings. And like, fuck this, it's too much pressure for one day. So I let it go. I was like, you know, what if it rains, great, fine, whatever. And the night before, we had a rehearsal dinner on the beach and it downpoured and it was the best thing that could have ever happened. Because H got one little tent, and the entire party, which was smaller, was all under a tent, dancing to Beyonce, dancing to music, and just having the best time ever. And that was the night before the wedding. And it was, like, so connecting.
[39:29]
Shane Madej
And then the wedding day.
[39:30]
Amanda Leighton
The wedding day was stunning. You got the rain after the rain. Yeah, it was stunning. It had just rained. Everything was bright green. And. And then H, last minute, got like, a white, like, carpet thing, which made it just shine and shimmer. So it literally looked like everyone was shining with, like, light. It was the best thing. They were shining.
[39:58]
Shane Madej
Everyone was shining.
[39:59]
Amanda Leighton
So, yeah, weather. Weather. We're talking about weather on the podcast.
[40:06]
Courtney Miller
But it does affect you.
[40:07]
Amanda Leighton
I'm just thinking about this year and, like, all. I definitely feel like this year was like a rebirth year for a lot of people.
[40:14]
Courtney Miller
Like, oh, shit.
[40:15]
Amanda Leighton
It was like death rebirth.
[40:17]
Shane Madej
Like, major people have talked about it being like, the end of. And I know, like, it's not necessarily over, but it feels like a blip. Like, it feels like this year was when we awakened at. From lockdown in March of 2020.
[40:31]
Courtney Miller
You're.
[40:32]
Amanda Leighton
Yes.
[40:32]
Shane Madej
Like, it's just like, oh, time feels like it's moving forward again. Yeah.
[40:37]
Amanda Leighton
And rapidly.
[40:38]
Courtney Miller
Rapidly.
[40:38]
Shane Madej
Yeah. It's just like, oh. And I do feel like I. I look back and I'm like, did I grow from 2020 to 2022? And I'm like, I don't know. But I do feel like I've grown this year and, oh, I grew.
[40:54]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[40:55]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[40:55]
Courtney Miller
I'm ready to date now.
[40:57]
Shane Madej
Oh, really?
[40:58]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, I've been ready to date this whole year.
[41:00]
Shane Madej
Did you. Have you been. Have you just not been, or have you.
[41:03]
Courtney Miller
No, I've been trying, Shane. I've been out here trying.
[41:06]
Amanda Leighton
What's, like, the biggest thing that you feel like if you could say, like, one word, like, what's the biggest thing that you're like, ooh, I learned this. Mine is boundaries.
[41:18]
Courtney Miller
Oh, that might be mine, too.
[41:21]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah, good. Boundaries.
[41:24]
Courtney Miller
Walls.
[41:25]
Amanda Leighton
You learned walls.
[41:26]
Courtney Miller
Same thing. Well, same thing.
[41:29]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[41:29]
Shane Madej
I think me, it's. It's a little bit of a acceptance and humility of like. Or just.
[41:36]
Courtney Miller
You get one word, Shane.
[41:37]
Shane Madej
I know.
[41:38]
Amanda Leighton
Pick.
[41:39]
Shane Madej
I think we went without one word. I think less like. I think. I think the beginning of the year and why I did stick to a lot of things longer was because I was like, I. A lot of years my resolutions are like, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this, I'm going to do this. And it's like, big, I think, big. And this year I went small, and I'm like, I can just do a little thing every day. I'm just going to. I'm not going to think acceptance. I think acceptance is a little bit of just like, hey, I can't do everything that I want or that I expect of myself. And I think it's also been giving up. I think this show has helped me with this too. And we've had a lot of episodes geared towards this of, like, a lot of my goals and a lot of what I. What I think I want out of life are like, oh, I should be this, or I should be able to do this or I should do that thing. And it's not coming from a place of, like, desire and fun and want. It's from, like, oh, I need. I should be able to do that. Like, and it's a more societal view, and it's egotistical in a way. And I think something that has been, like, an underlying theme on this show is motivating people to do the things they want to do, like, allowing, like, what is your real passion in life? And part of that is also, like, do I really want this thing? And, like, a lot of it has been letting go of things and going, oh, I actually don't know if I want that enough. But we are. I think I'm so conditioned, and I don't know by what. I don't know if it's where I live. I don't know if it's being in this entertainment industry or being a dude or whatever has conditioned me to go, you should want more, you should be doing more, and you should be working harder. And at a certain point, I go, wait, I should take things off my plate.
[43:30]
Amanda Leighton
Yes. Because there's no way that you can follow your passions or your happy moments if you're depleted. If you're depleted, a. And you have way too much on your plate. It's like someone being like, hey, last minute thing, do you want to go out and explore or go see a show or whatever? And you have a hundred things on your list or you're exhausted.
[43:49]
Shane Madej
No, I used to be really bad, and I've gotten better. Are you still bad? Boundaries.
[43:54]
Courtney Miller
I'm so much better because of boundaries. And I'm like, I even Sometimes I'll be like, yes, earlier in the day, and then when I get done here, I'll have to be like, I am so sorry. That was a previous chance that sent that text. He no longer feels this way. Like, he needs to sleep.
[44:10]
Amanda Leighton
We also have to remember, like, in order to keep up stamina in our job, in our work that is very connected to people and community and entertainment. It's so important for us to set a boundary with social situations so we can recharge, at least for me. And I think what I'm going to try to do in the next year is, is not set up these aggressive goals for myself. Instead, try to keep it more open ended because I could have never planned where this year was going to go. So trying to keep it more open ended in the fact that like, I don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to do my best in those moments when I can rest. I'm going to rest because I know good things are coming.
[44:57]
Shane Madej
Yeah. You know, gifting yourself something.
[44:59]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[44:59]
Amanda Leighton
Good things, wild things, hard things.
[45:01]
Shane Madej
It makes me something to be completely transparent with our audience as of recording this right now. And we, we've been recording things kind of in advance. We do that towards the end of the year because we, leading up to the holidays, we try to take a break. We have filmed so much shit over the over. I am not kidding. I think I have filmed like we've been filming videos every day. Every day for over a month.
[45:29]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[45:30]
Shane Madej
It's insane.
[45:31]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah. More than a month.
[45:34]
Shane Madej
Like, I. I don't know, I can't.
[45:36]
Amanda Leighton
Calculate if we're not filming where we're planning and organizing and getting ready to film or we're having meetings about what we're gonna.
[45:43]
Shane Madej
Right. But even those days are few and far between. Lately I think we've truly been filming stuff. I have been on camera every day for like a month. I mean truly. And, and we. There's been. We've. Cause now we've been on sketches on the main channel. We've. I don't know if they're out by the time this airs or not, but we've got those, We've got. We've got Smash Mouth, the whole Smoshmouth stuff all the time. And we've got. And tons of pit and gains. Of pit and gains that it's been so much and all of that at the same time. We were leading up to the live show, we were doing that. I mean, it's been insane. And I have. I reached points and it was, it was really tough for me because I felt like a failure. But I reached points where I was like, I need to ask for help more and I need to delegate more and I need to accept that. I'm like, oh, I don't have the time.
[46:34]
Courtney Miller
That is a Healthy feeling. That is what people in power.
[46:36]
Shane Madej
That's.
[46:37]
Amanda Leighton
Boundaries.
[46:37]
Courtney Miller
Need to do, have to do. You can't do everything yourself.
[46:41]
Shane Madej
Kiana and Selina have helped me out a ton with this because, you know, we record this, but we also are. We try to pre produce, like, what are we gonna talk about on these episodes? And we're trying to get farther ahead on that. And also, once we film them, we need to, you know, put notes on. On the edit and stuff. And I'm just like, oh, I actually do not have an hour this week to review it. It's like.
[47:03]
Amanda Leighton
And we do all that work so that when we're here, we're just relaxing. Like, when we're here, we're able to just talk and chat and connect. It's like we do all this prep.
[47:14]
Shane Madej
Work, but we're towards the. I feel like we're coming towards. I see. I feel like I see the finish line now.
[47:20]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[47:21]
Shane Madej
Because we still have a bunch of stuff to shoot. As of recording this, we still have another. More stuff to shoot, but it's getting close to the end.
[47:32]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[47:33]
Shane Madej
And I'm like, okay, I can picture that. I can see that. And I can have fun.
[47:39]
Amanda Leighton
2023 has just been a wild year.
[47:42]
Courtney Miller
It has been a wild year.
[47:43]
Amanda Leighton
It has been a wild year. And also it's been wild not just in our lives. It's been wild on the Internet. I mean, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey, they are together. I get it.
[47:55]
Courtney Miller
How are you.
[47:56]
Amanda Leighton
I mean, they're together. I guess. I don't know why, but I secretly think someone's paying him to be with her. Is that weird?
[48:01]
Shane Madej
Why do you think so? That's not.
[48:03]
Amanda Leighton
I don't. It feels. I don't know.
[48:06]
Shane Madej
You don't think it's real? Look, if you want to. If you want to end 2023 with that hot take, that's fine.
[48:12]
Amanda Leighton
My hot take is that their. Their relationship is really helping out his career and his brother's podcast. And I think I have a hot take.
[48:21]
Courtney Miller
But listen, if they like each other.
[48:24]
Shane Madej
Both have won Super Bowls.
[48:25]
Amanda Leighton
Listen, listen. I bet they really like each other. Okay, that was just my little fun hot take.
[48:31]
Courtney Miller
Like, she gets. She gets to, like, be with someone that she, like. Maybe it is just a publicity stunt, but if she likes me spending time with him, she likes spending time.
[48:38]
Shane Madej
Have you seen his tweets? Have you heard about this?
[48:42]
Amanda Leighton
No.
[48:42]
Shane Madej
Oh, my God. Travis Kelsey's had. This is weeks old by the time this is airing. He's had a bunch of resurfaced tweets from, like, 2009 to 2012. And the dude is just. He's just a vibe. The doodle literally has a tweet where he's just like, yo, I just gave a squirrel a whole piece of bread and he fucking crushed it. This guy is crazy. Haha. Like, that's the type of tweets that he was tweeting, or he'd be like, nap time, all caps. This is from, like, 2010. Like, this guy was truly just like, he's just a dude.
[49:10]
Amanda Leighton
This is why he's.
[49:11]
Shane Madej
He's got. He's. He's a Ken. Like, he's full on Ken energy. And so people are like, wow, he's just some guy.
[49:17]
Amanda Leighton
He's just.
[49:20]
Courtney Miller
Everyone's just.
[49:21]
Shane Madej
Yeah, he's just, like, hanging.
[49:22]
Amanda Leighton
Wow.
[49:23]
Shane Madej
No, I actually look as a fan of football, and I like Taylor's music. I think it's. I think it's. I believe in it.
[49:31]
Amanda Leighton
Okay.
[49:32]
Shane Madej
But maybe by the time we air this. Does 2023 end with them breaking up?
[49:35]
Amanda Leighton
I don't know.
[49:36]
Shane Madej
So sad.
[49:37]
Amanda Leighton
I don't know.
[49:37]
Shane Madej
They are the. Probably the biggest couple of 2023.
[49:40]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[49:40]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah. Or, you know, jaded Pinkett Smith who won't stop interviewing about who she used to date.
[49:46]
Shane Madej
Uber.
[49:46]
Courtney Miller
Last night was Smith interview in my Uber. And I was like, what?
[49:51]
Amanda Leighton
Why are we not with her interviews? Did you also hear that she dated Tupac?
[49:56]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[49:56]
Courtney Miller
She's like, is the love of my life.
[49:57]
Shane Madej
I got to be honest. I got to be honest. Look, she makes the headlines, but nobody wants them. I know.
[50:06]
Courtney Miller
How does she profit off of this?
[50:08]
Shane Madej
Her people watch this.
[50:09]
Amanda Leighton
She has a show.
[50:09]
Shane Madej
I feel like people watch the show. I feel like I gotta be honest. It reminds me of, like, when we've made up segments, you know, when we say blatant lies and we say insane shit.
[50:19]
Courtney Miller
Yeah, she used to date Tupac.
[50:20]
Shane Madej
It's just like, she just will say the craziest thing. Every headline I see that has Jada Pinkett Smith in it is always the most insane thing I've ever heard in my life. And then I'm like, all right, I'm not gonna listen to the show. But it makes me, for a second, I go, well, I should hear more about this.
[50:40]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah.
[50:40]
Shane Madej
So, I mean, maybe none of it's real. What if the whole thing is fake?
[50:45]
Courtney Miller
Good for her.
[50:45]
Shane Madej
I sometimes believe that with celebrities, I'm sometimes like, I don't believe a single thing. Yeah, it's all an act. It's all a character. What if it's all a character? I don't know, but no. The slap.
[50:55]
Courtney Miller
Oh. Shawn Mendez and Camila Cabana, they broke up this year.
[50:59]
Amanda Leighton
He has a new girlfriend.
[51:00]
Courtney Miller
He has a new girlfriend.
[51:02]
Amanda Leighton
I saw pictures of them on the beach via people.com.
[51:05]
Courtney Miller
That'S insane.
[51:07]
Shane Madej
You go to people.com.
[51:08]
Amanda Leighton
Here'S a little. Dirty little. Here's my jaw drop. Should I just do it earlier? No, I have a jaw drop. I am subscribed to people.com. i am disgusting, and I get their emails.
[51:23]
Courtney Miller
Oh, my God.
[51:24]
Amanda Leighton
And I will go on people.com and read all the top headlines. And I don't know why, because I get mad almost every time I click it. But I can't stop. Amanda, I'm addicted. Amanda. I am addicted. And you know what? Meghan and Harry, you know, Meghan's not going back. She's not going back. She's done with the Royals for good.
[51:48]
Courtney Miller
Okay?
[51:48]
Amanda Leighton
Did you know that?
[51:49]
Courtney Miller
Can we get.
[51:49]
Amanda Leighton
Did you know that Meghan is done?
[51:51]
Courtney Miller
We need assistance.
[51:52]
Amanda Leighton
No, I can tell you all about it. And did you know that Oprah found the best Amazon prime deals for Christmas? Did you know that? Well, she did.
[52:02]
Shane Madej
Awful. This is.
[52:03]
Courtney Miller
This is.
[52:04]
Amanda Leighton
There's. That's my jaw drop.
[52:05]
Shane Madej
This is the lowest point of my 2023. You actively type in of.
[52:10]
Courtney Miller
You have dropped.
[52:11]
Shane Madej
Go to the search bar and you type in People.
[52:14]
Amanda Leighton
No, I don't go to the search bar. It comes through my mail.
[52:16]
Courtney Miller
Stop. Don't pull up right now.
[52:18]
Amanda Leighton
It comes through my email.
[52:19]
Shane Madej
We don't want to.
[52:20]
Amanda Leighton
People, news alert.
[52:21]
Courtney Miller
Oh, People.
[52:23]
Amanda Leighton
Hulk Hogan's son was arrested.
[52:25]
Courtney Miller
Hulk Hogan.
[52:29]
Amanda Leighton
Kate Middleton's dance moves goes viral. Travis Kelsey, who's all on my page, talks the scrutiny of dating Taylor Swift. She. He says he's not running away from any of it.
[52:44]
Shane Madej
He's running into the end zone. No, Amanda, this is. This is. This is actually the worst thing I've ever learned about anyone.
[52:51]
Courtney Miller
I think I agree.
[52:52]
Shane Madej
I. I really am.
[52:53]
Amanda Leighton
Guys, it's pretty fun. I get to see pictures of Austin Butler and Kai Grimber walk hand in hand in New York City.
[53:01]
Shane Madej
Okay.
[53:02]
Amanda Leighton
Crawford's daughter.
[53:03]
Shane Madej
Why do what. What kind of joy does this bring you? You said it frustrates you. Twitter.
[53:07]
Courtney Miller
You don't have a Twitter.
[53:08]
Amanda Leighton
It makes me feel. It's. It's fun. Okay. It's my. It's a mom thing that I want to do.
[53:14]
Courtney Miller
Okay.
[53:15]
Amanda Leighton
All right. It's like reading the Star magazine, but worse.
[53:17]
Courtney Miller
It's way worse.
[53:18]
Amanda Leighton
It's way worse than the Star.
[53:20]
Courtney Miller
I don't know what the Star is, honestly, now.
[53:21]
Amanda Leighton
Well, you haven't lived. You haven't gone to gal since.
[53:23]
Shane Madej
When was the last time you bought a People magazine?
[53:26]
Amanda Leighton
No, I don't do that.
[53:28]
Shane Madej
Okay.
[53:28]
Amanda Leighton
Because I don't want any evidence. It has to be on my phone. And then I quickly.
[53:32]
Shane Madej
The evidence that you just putting out there on the Internet.
[53:34]
Amanda Leighton
Well, you told son was arrested, rested. You're welcome.
[53:36]
Shane Madej
You're telling hundreds of thousands of people this information also for what? No, I don't. I don't. I'm too nervous.
[53:43]
Courtney Miller
Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. This is how they get you. This is how they get you.
[53:45]
Amanda Leighton
Oh. Oh. Are you interested?
[53:47]
Shane Madej
No.
[53:48]
Amanda Leighton
If you want us.
[53:49]
Courtney Miller
I'm not interested. I've never been less interested.
[53:52]
Shane Madej
Well, you know, on the other hand. On the other hand, I've read many books this year.
[53:57]
Amanda Leighton
Well, good.
[53:59]
Courtney Miller
What?
[54:00]
Shane Madej
What.
[54:00]
Amanda Leighton
What books?
[54:01]
Courtney Miller
What was a good one?
[54:02]
Shane Madej
I could pull it up. I could list.
[54:04]
Courtney Miller
I could.
[54:04]
Shane Madej
I have a.
[54:05]
Amanda Leighton
Make me believe that this is more exciting than people.
[54:07]
Courtney Miller
Com.
[54:07]
Shane Madej
I have a Google sheet of all the books and I haven't updated it, but I Google sheet of books, movies and TV shows that I was trying to keep. I was trying to keep all your. Okay, let me Google.
[54:18]
Amanda Leighton
Let me explain all your crazy stuff.
[54:20]
Shane Madej
I told Kiana that I was like, another one of my goals this year that I didn't really. I mean, I did a little bit was to get better at Google Sheets. I'm very insecure about my technical prowess, especially when it comes to, like, things that are more business savvy. And, you know, here at Smosh, we really like Google Sheets. We use them for a lot of planning and stuff. But I have all my books that I read this year. I am at. I'm trying to think. There's some that I haven't added. So I think I could. I. By this point when this is airing, I might have reached about 30 books this year. That's pretty good. Some of them are pretty big books. I read a book called she who Became the Sun. That's a good fantasy, historical fiction, Song of Achilles. I didn't read that this year, but I've read that book.
[55:09]
Amanda Leighton
Love that book.
[55:10]
Courtney Miller
I read it.
[55:11]
Amanda Leighton
Was it good? Yeah, it wasn't good because I read Cersei. Loved Cersei.
[55:16]
Shane Madej
That's one of my favorite authors.
[55:18]
Amanda Leighton
Madeline from Boston Mouse.
[55:20]
Shane Madej
Oh, now I'm gonna picture them all with Boston accents.
[55:23]
Amanda Leighton
No. God, no.
[55:24]
Shane Madej
Oh, God. I'm just gonna say some, like, standouts from this year. I'm not gonna say every single one.
[55:33]
Amanda Leighton
Little.
[55:34]
Shane Madej
Stuart. I read Stuart Little.
[55:37]
Courtney Miller
Oh.
[55:37]
Shane Madej
One of my favorite books this Year was called. It's called Piranesi by Susanna Clark. Piranesi or Piranesi. I don't. I don't know, but it's very cool. No, no, no. But really good book. Highly recommend that. Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow. Yeah, you were talking about that by Gabrielle Zevin. That's. That could be number one. That book is unbelievable. So good. I finished the Three Body Problem series. So I read the last book is called Death's End. That's incredible. Sci fi series that's now, I think, gonna be on Netflix.
[56:13]
Amanda Leighton
Wow.
[56:15]
Shane Madej
But that book. That book was really cool. Very weird. Read a lot of Berserk, which is a manga. Amanda, I know you're a big fan of those.
[56:26]
Amanda Leighton
I am.
[56:27]
Courtney Miller
You love manga.
[56:28]
Amanda Leighton
Big time.
[56:29]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[56:29]
Courtney Miller
What's your favorite manga?
[56:32]
Amanda Leighton
You know Avatar, The Last Airbender.
[56:34]
Shane Madej
Of course. Of course.
[56:37]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[56:38]
Shane Madej
The fans are gonna love that you just said that.
[56:44]
Amanda Leighton
So I'm people.com Shane is books.
[56:47]
Shane Madej
Yeah.
[56:48]
Courtney Miller
And chances I'm gonna pick my favorite movie from this year.
[56:51]
Shane Madej
Oh, that's pretty good.
[56:52]
Amanda Leighton
Favorite movie that you can.
[56:53]
Courtney Miller
Let me see.
[56:53]
Shane Madej
Oh, and lastly, I'll say Babel by R.F. koang is a really great.
[56:56]
Courtney Miller
Oh, you don't have the am.
[56:58]
Shane Madej
Oh, and I have my movies here too. I have. I gotta say, I think. I think by this point I can safely say I think Barbie was my favorite movie of the year. And that was another thing. This year. Barbenheimer was fucking crazy.
[57:10]
Amanda Leighton
Barb and Heimer.
[57:10]
Shane Madej
I think that I was afraid. I didn't. I made a couple jokes, but I overall avoided trying to talk too much about current movies and TV shows during the strike.
[57:22]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah, me too.
[57:22]
Shane Madej
Which was tough, you know, even though.
[57:24]
Amanda Leighton
I was dressed as the nun.
[57:25]
Shane Madej
I just want to make fun of movies sometimes, you know, I'm not even trying to promote them. I just want to make fun of them. But Barbenheimer was huge. And I did go see Barbie and Oppenheimer opening weeks.
[57:36]
Courtney Miller
Oh, I didn't see them opening weeks, but I saw.
[57:38]
Shane Madej
Not opening week. I saw Oppenheimer the following week.
[57:40]
Amanda Leighton
Wow.
[57:41]
Courtney Miller
I saw Barbie first and then Oppenheimer.
[57:43]
Amanda Leighton
So what's your biggest thing that you consumed this year?
[57:45]
Courtney Miller
My biggest thing or biggest movie? My favorite movie. This is crazy.
[57:52]
Shane Madej
Okay.
[57:53]
Courtney Miller
Besides across the Spider verse, because I'm.
[57:55]
Shane Madej
That movie rocked too.
[57:57]
Courtney Miller
It was spectacular. I'm gonna go with Megan.
[58:00]
Shane Madej
Wow.
[58:01]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, I kind of.
[58:03]
Shane Madej
I respect that.
[58:03]
Amanda Leighton
I kind of have to side with you on that. I thought it was so good.
[58:07]
Shane Madej
It was so unique, fun.
[58:08]
Courtney Miller
It was very fun.
[58:09]
Amanda Leighton
I have a better movie Though that I thought.
[58:11]
Courtney Miller
Okay, I have a. I just keep going. I just saw Saltburn as well.
[58:15]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, I really want to see that. Oh, so it was the woman who wrote Emerald. She wrote Emerald Chanel. She wrote Promising Young Woman and she won an Oscar for it. And she was. She was literally filming the Crown and pregnant when she accepted that Oscar or. No, she was filming the Crown when she did Promise a Young Woman and accepted the Oscar.
[58:34]
Courtney Miller
Oscar when she was pregnant and.
[58:36]
Amanda Leighton
And did Saltburn.
[58:37]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[58:38]
Amanda Leighton
Was. How was Saltburn?
[58:39]
Courtney Miller
It was really, really insane and I loved it.
[58:42]
Amanda Leighton
Okay. Insane.
[58:43]
Courtney Miller
Yeah. I just didn't know. I kind of knew it was going, but I didn't know where it was going. That's all I'll say about that.
[58:48]
Shane Madej
And then.
[58:49]
Amanda Leighton
And then the other. What. What was the one you just said? I'm sorry.
[58:51]
Courtney Miller
Megan.
[58:52]
Shane Madej
Megan. Yeah. See, the movie that I think is number two for me.
[58:56]
Amanda Leighton
Talk to Me.
[58:57]
Shane Madej
Talk to Me. Dude.
[58:57]
Amanda Leighton
I agree.
[58:58]
Shane Madej
Talk To Me was, I thought was so original.
[59:00]
Amanda Leighton
I loved Talk to Me.
[59:02]
Shane Madej
I was a big fan.
[59:03]
Courtney Miller
I didn't see it. I was just a big fan of horror movies.
[59:05]
Amanda Leighton
You don't like horror movies? Well, I guess Megan was not really a horror movie.
[59:10]
Shane Madej
Megan felt more like a thrill. Felt it, felt like fun. It was campy.
[59:14]
Courtney Miller
It was.
[59:14]
Amanda Leighton
Talk to Me is a great horror movie. And then, you know those blockbuster horror movies, the Nun to the Exist, Those.
[59:21]
Shane Madej
Are the horror movies that I'm not really.
[59:24]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, I'm not.
[59:25]
Shane Madej
I'm not like. Not like a horror movie person. But there's occasionally, I think it's like a 24 horror movie movies that I'm like, okay, hell yeah.
[59:32]
Courtney Miller
Artsy.
[59:32]
Shane Madej
Because it's art scene. It's weird. And they're often like a very original. I'm like, I don't want to know what's going to scare me necessarily.
[59:40]
Courtney Miller
Yeah.
[59:40]
Shane Madej
You know, when I see like the Nun to it, I'm like, okay, that thing's going to jump out at me for two hours. But Talk to Me. I was like, I don't know what this is.
[59:47]
Amanda Leighton
I really like. Talk to Me. I will say I did see Killers of the Flower Moon, and I know it's like four hours long, but I was really, really into it because I thought the story was really in depth, really good, also heartbreaking. But I really enjoyed, you know, what Martin Scorsese had to say about art during the strike. And I really. I really enjoyed just the time and energy that was spent on that film. Like the research. All those extras are actually, you know, from the indigenous Tribe. Like, I actually enjoyed that part about the movie. I just don't understand why movies need to be so long. Like, I just. We can.
[60:32]
Shane Madej
Not all movies are.
[60:33]
Amanda Leighton
I mean, I struggle with really long movies. I think that we need, like, an intermission.
[60:39]
Courtney Miller
Sure.
[60:40]
Shane Madej
If it's three hours, I think an intermission.
[60:42]
Amanda Leighton
3 hours and 45 minutes.
[60:44]
Courtney Miller
Oh, my God.
[60:44]
Amanda Leighton
No. Yeah, it was almost.
[60:45]
Shane Madej
Yeah, I think that's fair. Because movies used to be longer, but they would have an intermission. I think movies are. I just.
[60:53]
Courtney Miller
Or just put the toilet in my seat.
[60:55]
Amanda Leighton
Yeah, put the toilet in your seat.
[60:58]
Shane Madej
If there was a movie theater that was all toilets, could you imagine that?
[61:03]
Amanda Leighton
Someone's just like.
[61:11]
Shane Madej
Welcome to the arc shite theater.
[61:13]
Amanda Leighton
Did you imagine it's just like, how dare you? How dare.
[61:16]
Courtney Miller
And it's like, dude, can you stop? Can you stop?
[61:21]
Amanda Leighton
Who's farting?
[61:22]
Shane Madej
Oh, what? So they have toilets.
[61:23]
Courtney Miller
So I can't shit right here.
[61:25]
Shane Madej
It's not a fart if I'm shitting.
[61:29]
Amanda Leighton
And then you flush. Think about the pod is we always go to farts. We always land on farts and poops.
[61:37]
Shane Madej
Oh, I need to get the fart machine back. The fart machine was entirely just this year.
[61:41]
Courtney Miller
Teenage Ninja Turtles was also.
[61:43]
Shane Madej
Oh, I haven't seen it yet. A feat.
[61:46]
Courtney Miller
It was. It's in the same style as across the spider version.
[61:49]
Shane Madej
It was good this year, I will admit.
[61:51]
Courtney Miller
It was also bad.
[61:52]
Shane Madej
This was the year. This was the year where I think I finally. I finally hit my Marvel Star Wars.
[61:57]
Courtney Miller
That's what I was just thinking.
[61:58]
Shane Madej
Hit my point, and I was. I was. I was abysmal. I was committed to it. I wouldn't say that I was, like, a super fan.
[62:06]
Amanda Leighton
It was.
[62:07]
Shane Madej
But I was. I was committed. I love a cinema. I love a connected story. And I. Whenever there's like, oh, do you need this to back up that information? I'm a big fan of that. It takes teamwork. But it hit the point where I was like, okay, just over it. This is not. This is not enticing so bad. Because it didn't feel like it was exhausting. It felt like it stopped being original. And it started to feel like I compared it to, like, Law and Order or csi, where I'm just like, all right. This is just feeling like watching an episode of a show where it's not going to build upon itself and it's just kind of going anywhere. Procedural, procedural. When I started feeling too procedural to me, and I was like, I don't care anymore.
[62:47]
Courtney Miller
What I will say is that Loki Season 2 had me by the balls.
[62:53]
Amanda Leighton
Really, because I haven't.
[62:55]
Shane Madej
I haven't watched it yet.
[62:56]
Amanda Leighton
I thought Loki season two was good, but I thought it was a little.
[62:59]
Courtney Miller
It got slow. It was a little slow.
[63:01]
Amanda Leighton
Okay.
[63:02]
Courtney Miller
It was a little. So. And I still appreciate it for. I'm like, okay, I still appreciate. Are we gonna get to it? And then when we got to the last episode, I was like, okay, pay off. Great.
[63:10]
Amanda Leighton
Payoff was good.
[63:11]
Courtney Miller
Got it.
[63:12]
Shane Madej
Oh. Just makes me think of another movie that I really liked from this year. And I think this is what I'm eager for, is more just original shit or just a new. A new thing is the Dungeons and Dragons movie. I thought so. I thought it rocked. I was like, hell, yeah. And I'm also down. I think we're also at the end of the phase that's been going on for, like, 10 to 15 years of, like, I don't need to see dark, gritty shit anymore. I'm. I'm down for some happy, like, happy ending stories and Dungeons and Dragons. I was like, hell, yeah.
[63:41]
Amanda Leighton
I totally disagree, silly. Give me dark. Give me gray, dude.
[63:45]
Shane Madej
Like, I was.
[63:46]
Courtney Miller
Look, I like when you have both because you don't know which one you're going to.
[63:49]
Shane Madej
I was a Die Hard, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad fan, but I think, like, I got that for so long that I'm like, okay, I'm down for some just fun. Yeah, like, Barbie felt like that. I was like, it's fun.
[64:01]
Amanda Leighton
I'm down for some romance. Where is the romance?
[64:05]
Courtney Miller
Where is the romance?
[64:06]
Amanda Leighton
There's like, no. They did. They did Lady Chatterley's Lover on Netflix, and it was a bust because their chemistry was just off. Do you guys know that movie? Probably not.
[64:15]
Shane Madej
I've read the book.
[64:15]
Amanda Leighton
It's their third round of the movie, and it's a very sexy, wonderful movie. And I'm like, where is the romance? Anyways, so you guys know my jaw drop? My jaw drop was people dot com.
[64:28]
Shane Madej
That is an insane fact.
[64:31]
Amanda Leighton
So as an end segment to this, I want to hear your guys's jaw drop to a wild year of 2023.
[64:40]
Courtney Miller
My jaw drop was at Vidcon and. Oh, and tea. A little bit of tea. Me and Aaron. There was these decorations.
[64:52]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, I know this.
[64:53]
Courtney Miller
Outside of the.
[64:54]
Amanda Leighton
I know this joke.
[64:55]
Courtney Miller
There are these decorations outside of the bar.
[64:57]
Amanda Leighton
Decorations.
[64:58]
Courtney Miller
They were decorations. One of them happened to be a keg.
[65:00]
Amanda Leighton
That's not a decoration. I mean, it is a decoration, but.
[65:03]
Courtney Miller
And so me and keg at me and keg. Me and me and keg. Me and En were like, can we get this keg? Like, can we get this keg? Can we physically get this keg? Cause, like, everything in everything was, like, up for grabs. Kind of, sort of.
[65:18]
Shane Madej
It was kind of like.
[65:19]
Amanda Leighton
No, it wasn't.
[65:20]
Shane Madej
It was.
[65:20]
Courtney Miller
If you were a future creator, if you wanted something. No, it was like, well, well.
[65:25]
Amanda Leighton
Stealing the bar stools. Let's go.
[65:27]
Shane Madej
Let me make it clear. Vidcon does not have the rule of featured creators can.
[65:31]
Courtney Miller
No, no, no. I'm not stealing anything. And we. But we did borrow a keg for a minute. We named it. We took care of it. We took great care of it, and we put it back where we got it.
[65:42]
Shane Madej
Okay, that's funny. See, it's funny to me. You put it back. We didn't steal something.
[65:46]
Amanda Leighton
You didn't know this.
[65:47]
Shane Madej
I knew it. I didn't know that you put it back. Oh, yeah, that makes it funny.
[65:51]
Amanda Leighton
They babysat it for a second.
[65:52]
Shane Madej
I remember when you guys had it, and I was like, oh, it's not.
[65:54]
Courtney Miller
The night in our room. It's.
[65:55]
Shane Madej
I was like, what?
[65:56]
Courtney Miller
Oh, we named him now.
[65:57]
Shane Madej
I knew it was something.
[65:58]
Amanda Leighton
Wait, you named him what?
[65:59]
Courtney Miller
Jacoby keg. Michael Myers.
[66:01]
Shane Madej
That's so.
[66:01]
Amanda Leighton
Oh, my God.
[66:02]
Shane Madej
I will say, looking at this keg, I was like, nobody's missing this. No, like, it's a decoration. It's a decoration that they absolutely threw away.
[66:09]
Amanda Leighton
It was. It was.
[66:10]
Shane Madej
The weekend was over. But the fact that you put it back is so funny.
[66:14]
Courtney Miller
And it was harder to put it back.
[66:15]
Shane Madej
You know, there was something. You know, there's some worker who's like, wait, that was gone. Now it's.
[66:19]
Courtney Miller
It's bad. It's just a minor there.
[66:21]
Shane Madej
No, they were. They were stoked that it was gone because, like, sweet. I don't. To throw that one away. Then it came back, and they're like, God dang it.
[66:27]
Amanda Leighton
So it was harder to put back.
[66:29]
Courtney Miller
Way harder to put back. Because, like, to take it, it was just like, okay, we're just gonna go. But then to put it back, it's like, wait, why did they just put that? Where did that come from? No one has said anything, but.
[66:38]
Amanda Leighton
And no one ever will.
[66:39]
Courtney Miller
And no one ever will.
[66:40]
Amanda Leighton
Except for right now.
[66:41]
Courtney Miller
Except for right now.
[66:42]
Amanda Leighton
Jaw drop. Listen, you borrowed it, you babysat it, you gave it a night out.
[66:46]
Shane Madej
We did give it.
[66:46]
Courtney Miller
And you know what?
[66:47]
Amanda Leighton
And you named it.
[66:48]
Courtney Miller
It deserved a night out.
[66:49]
Amanda Leighton
And it deserved a night out.
[66:50]
Courtney Miller
Probably in the.
[66:51]
Amanda Leighton
And now it's in the trash.
[66:52]
Courtney Miller
I really wanted to keep It.
[66:53]
Amanda Leighton
Well, that is a jaw drop. Even though I knew about it, it's still a jaw drop.
[66:56]
Shane Madej
Still a jaw drop. This is. This is more a jaw drop for viewers, and maybe for them it won't even make their jaw drop and whatever. I had a game night with friends, with a couple friends recently, and I realized at it because we played like, Clue and we played, like, Uno, one.
[67:12]
Amanda Leighton
Of my favorite games.
[67:13]
Shane Madej
I realized it's the only time this year where I've played board games off camera. But. And I realized. I realized I hardly play board games outside of here. Like, I think in my lifetime I've. Or at least in the past 10 years, I have played, like, a board game. I think it's like, less than 10 times.
[67:34]
Courtney Miller
What.
[67:35]
Amanda Leighton
I'm a board game person.
[67:36]
Shane Madej
I love. I do love board games. It just doesn't happen that often.
[67:39]
Amanda Leighton
That's crazy.
[67:41]
Shane Madej
But. But, like, I've played so many board games, but I've played almost all of them on camera here at Smosh. How crazy is that?
[67:51]
Amanda Leighton
That's crazy.
[67:52]
Shane Madej
And like I said, I love them, but it just doesn't. It's just not something that happens that often in my life, which is not what my friends and I do.
[67:59]
Amanda Leighton
I think when you're playing them so much on camera, you don't want to go home and play a board game. But what's crazy is I love board games so much, and then when I got here, it changes. It's a different way to play a board game game because it's, you know, it's. We're having fun, but it's, you know, it's for content and it's cameras and it's. But it's still so fun.
[68:17]
Shane Madej
It was so weird playing Clue, where I'm not worried about, like, what I'm saying and stuff. So I actually got to sit there and be like, okay, let me look at this really quick. And I was like, oh, this is weird. Where I can actually, like, focus.
[68:30]
Amanda Leighton
Is it less fun or more fun?
[68:32]
Shane Madej
It's a different. It's a different experience. It's more. It's more fun in the. I get more into the challenge and the puzzle of it. That's not to say I'm not trying to actually play the game and win when we're playing it here. I absolutely am. But you're more. You're. You're. You have more energy, and you got to play it at a faster pace. Yeah, but. And I don't know, it's. It's truly an equal trade off. But maybe we should try to have more game nights outside of work next year.
[69:00]
Amanda Leighton
Jaw drop, baby.
[69:02]
Shane Madej
Yeah, that's my jaw drop.
[69:03]
Amanda Leighton
So if we were to attach one word to 2023 and one word to 2024, hopefully, what would it be?
[69:10]
Courtney Miller
So my wall. My walls.
[69:11]
Amanda Leighton
Yours is walls and.
[69:13]
Courtney Miller
Ooh.
[69:15]
Shane Madej
Ooh.
[69:16]
Courtney Miller
Okay, let me think. Grace.
[69:22]
Shane Madej
Oh, I think that's.
[69:24]
Amanda Leighton
I think walls and grace.
[69:25]
Shane Madej
I think grace.
[69:26]
Amanda Leighton
Grace wall Sounds like an old forties.
[69:28]
Courtney Miller
I'm Grace wall.
[69:30]
Amanda Leighton
Walls and grace for chance.
[69:32]
Shane Madej
I think. I think for this year it was acceptance. For me personally, I think next year what I want it to be is like passion.
[69:43]
Amanda Leighton
Nice.
[69:43]
Shane Madej
That's what I want.
[69:44]
Amanda Leighton
I think that's good.
[69:44]
Courtney Miller
Dangerous.
[69:45]
Amanda Leighton
I think that's good.
[69:46]
Courtney Miller
Dangerous.
[69:47]
Shane Madej
I know. But also. But the combination with acceptance sounds like a sith.
[69:51]
Amanda Leighton
Yes, I think that's good.
[69:52]
Courtney Miller
Yes.
[69:53]
Amanda Leighton
Mine would be. This year was boundaries and I think next year. I feel like this year was a very intense, intense year. In amazing way. In an amazing way. But I think boundaries for this year and play for next year.
[70:06]
Shane Madej
Whoa.
[70:07]
Amanda Leighton
Play for 2024.
[70:10]
Shane Madej
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