Stavvy's World – Bonus #148: Live Call Show Vol. 32 w/ JP McDade (Euro Catch-up)

Date: October 2, 2025
Host: Stavros Halkias
Guest: JP McDade

Episode Overview

In this Patreon bonus episode, Stavros Halkias and comedian JP McDade kick off with an in-depth “Euro catch-up,” focusing on Stavros’ recent wild trip to the Venice Film Festival. Stav describes surreal moments mingling with Hollywood elites, his anxieties about debuting in a high-profile film, and the bizarre realities of red-carpet and celebrity culture. The conversation is full of signature irreverence, humility, and hilarious behind-the-scenes tales of movie festivals – with personal reflections on fame, imposter syndrome, and the absurdity of showbiz.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Venice Film Festival Experience (00:00 – 04:00)

• Stavros recounts attending Venice, mingling with Oscar winners and “one of the greatest filmmakers.”
  • “It was me and a couple, you know, Oscar winners, Oscar nominees. Two of the best actors of our generation, one of the greatest filmmakers, a legend. Aiden. My boy Aiden, he was great.” (00:19)
• Surreal logistics for celebrities: Boat arrivals, no cars, extravagant expenses.
  • “Each boat ride’s like €200. These Italians, really, they know you’re… They’re like, okay, walk.” (00:53)
  • “You pull up on a little boat, you have to go everywhere by boat. It’s like an ancient city.” (00:54)
• Red carpet nerves:
  • “No more nerve-wracking moment of my life than in a tuxedo, having just been on the red carpet. Everybody's sucking your dick and then being like, what if I suck in this movie?” (01:19)

2. On Being a Comic in a Serious Film (01:43 – 02:23)

• Anxiety about the “comedian in a drama” trope:
  • “Comedians get their big shot in a movie and they’re so bad, it’s just their career craters.” (01:49)
• Reflecting on fitting the “Fargo-esque” vibe of the film.
• Honest self-assessment:
  • “I have some notes for my own performance for the future, but it was a great—I mean, this is one of the best things that’s ever happened.” (02:09)

3. Navigating Fame and Legacy (02:23 – 03:14)

• Playful riffing on possible career arcs, likening himself to Brando or John Goodman:
  • “I just skipped the part where he’s one of the sexiest men in Hollywood and just get to the point where he's losing his mind and is fat as shit.” (02:44)

4. Hanging Out with Hollywood (03:35 – 05:11)

• Hanging with Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone:
  • “Me and Plemons hung out all the time. Stone was there a little bit and she was cool, but we didn’t chill that much.” (03:45)
  • Candid hook-up with Emma Stone’s director husband, who has a comedy background.
• JP reflecting on finally watching Breaking Bad and Plemons’ acting gifts.
  • “This guy really is unbelievable.” (04:18)
• Failing to impress Willem Dafoe in a car ride, feeling out of place:
  • “I am bombing with Willem Dafoe. He does not like anything I’m saying. He’s being polite... just, 'yeah, nice, okay.'” (04:30)
  • “It would’ve been better if he was like ‘shut up.’” (04:36)

5. The Social Awkwardness of Celebrity Interactions (05:11 – 07:14)

• The agony of small talk with Dafoe:
  • “Made a joke. Completely went over everybody’s head. And even if it connected, they probably would have given him a weak chuckle anyway.” (07:04)
• JP and Stavros relate to getting in their own heads around famous people.
• Stavros likens bombing the conversation to "fumbling the snap" in a stadium (06:48).

6. Red Carpet Absurdities & Culture Clash (07:19 – 09:16)

• Craziness of red carpet treatment, rude autograph seekers, and security:
  • “I told the guy to shut the fuck up because he was rude to Alicia Silverstone.” (07:27)
• Notable anecdote: Stav gets mistaken for security, gets skipped in photos:
  • “They assume I'm like security or something... They say, skip right past me. And I go after Jesse, I think.” (09:10)
  • “It literally just looked like some fat guy with Alicia Silverstone.” (09:04)

7. The Surreal, Disorienting Side of Fame (09:16 – 10:10)

• On how the surreal attention warps your brain:
  • “I don’t understand how famous people don’t go insane. That amount of attention... it was literally like hallucinatory. Like when it’s over, you feel like you just did a drug.” (09:34, 09:49)
  • “Nobody knew who the fuck I was. Everybody else is getting their name shouted. I didn’t even bother to go over to the autograph section…” (09:50)

8. Fans, Autographs & the Hustle (10:10 – 11:01)

• The only one seeking Stav’s autograph: “There was one fat guy in a Hawaiian shirt… but it’s like, dude, we’re literally leaving. Like, I’m going on a boat.” (10:10)
  • “He was like, ‘oh, you big time me?’ I was like, you picked the wrong time, dickhead. I was doing nothing for a half hour.” (10:18)
• Dismisses the idea of negative celebrity encounters being indicative:
  • “Take it with a grain of salt whenever anyone has a report of a celebrity being rude… you have no idea.” (10:27)
• Comic riff on signing memorabilia for profit:
  • “Should we just start our own? Should we just flood the market?... That’s actually a great idea, give out signed pictures…” (11:01)

9. European Jet Lag & Roasting Italians (11:09 – 11:52)

• Arriving in Europe jet lagged and immediately working.
• Making fun of Italians on the red carpet, big laughs from the cast:
  • “I was getting big laughs mocking the Italians on the red carpet to my… to my, you know, my—” (11:43)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On red carpet anxiety:
  “Everybody’s sucking your dick and then being like, what if I suck in this movie?” – Stavros (01:19)
• On fame's surreal nature:
  “When it’s over, you feel like you just did a drug.” – Stavros (09:49)
• On bombing with Dafoe:
  “He does not like anything I’m saying. He’s being polite… but I am just bombing.” – Stavros (04:30)
• On his career arc:
  “I just skipped the part where he’s one of the sexiest men in Hollywood and just get to the point where he's losing his mind and is fat as shit.” – Stavros (02:44)
• On starstruck fans:
  “I didn’t even bother to go over to the autograph section. I don’t need to be to like have one guy pity ask me for my autograph.” (09:50)
• On showbiz absurdity:
  “It was literally just some fat guy with Alicia Silverstone.” (09:04)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 04:00: Venice Festival, arriving by boat, first night nerves
• 04:00 – 05:11: Hanging w/ Plemons, Stone, bombing with Dafoe
• 05:11 – 07:14: Social anxiety and celebrity awkwardness
• 07:19 – 09:16: Red carpet culture and fan interactions
• 09:16 – 10:10: The disorienting aftermath of fame
• 10:10 – 11:01: Thoughts on autographs and celebrity stories
• 11:09 – 11:52: Roasting Italians, jet lag stories

Tone & Language

The tone is irreverent, honest, and self-deprecating, employing comedic stylings and plenty of biting wit. Stavros and JP McDade blend candid showbiz reflection with constant self-awareness and humor, never taking themselves – or Hollywood – too seriously.

This episode provides hilarious, behind-scenes glimpses into the chaos and comedy of breaking into Hollywood’s elite circles, with plenty of humility and roasts along the way. Perfect for fans interested in the intersection of comedy, movies, and absurd fame.