Podcast Summary

The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson & Robert Kelly

Episode: Chasing Kelly with Michael Che
Guest: Michael Che
Date: October 1, 2025

Main Theme/Overview

This episode of "The Bonfire" features Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly riffing with special guest Michael Che (SNL’s "Weekend Update" co-anchor). With their signature raw humor, the trio swaps wild stories about the comedy scene, behind-the-scenes moments at SNL, pop culture oddities (including Ghostface Killah’s "Sweet Face Killer" story), handling strange fan encounters, and the mechanics of late-night sketch show writing. Throughout, the hosts weave in bits about Kelly's desperate wish to meet Kelly Clarkson, viral rumors, and the stress and absurdities of public life in showbiz.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Kelly Clarkson Saga (Begins at 07:37)

• Robert Kelly is obsessed with meeting Kelly Clarkson. He pleads with Che to make it happen, jokingly playing it up as his "Make-A-Wish" dream.

  • Quote:

    "If I get cancer, that's going to be … I'm dying."
    — Robert Kelly (07:07)

• Che trolls Kelly about actually setting it up, with Kelly nervously falling for it.

  • Che feigns mysterious phone calls and updates, keeping the running gag alive:

    "She's literally across the street…but they're, like, in between something."
    — Michael Che (08:53)

• The theme comes full circle at the end, with Kelly still begging Che to deliver Kelly Clarkson:

  "Can you look at me, Mike? … Are you going to make this happen?"
  — Robert Kelly (39:44)
  "I'm going to make it happen."
  — Michael Che (39:47)

2. Comedic Riffs on Pop and Hip-Hop Culture (01:31, 36:12)

• Early in the episode, Jay and Bobby riff on Ghostface Killah’s child, who’s now known as Sweet Face Killer and released a diss track at their dad.

• Extended back-and-forths about absurd possible rapper names and trans names, filled with gleefully crude wordplay.

  • Quote:

    "I would make my trans name My Face Killer, but I would put a comma in it. My Face, Killer."
    — Big Jay Oakerson (02:20)

• Later, they circle back to actually watching the "Sweet Face Killer" video and debating whether it's son/daughter/child (36:12–37:37).

  • Che tries to thread the needle with sensitivity:

    "Sometimes people just like, I dress up like one. But I'm not a woman. I don't know how it goes, actually."
    — Michael Che (36:31)

  • Jay, true to form, goes for the jugular:

    "Look like Ghostface Killer. But you got tits."
    — Big Jay Oakerson (37:05)

3. Behind-the-Scenes at SNL: Tickets, Stalkers, Writing Process (11:18, 14:32, 25:03, 32:37)

• SNL Tickets: Jay and Christine get tangled in a scenario where Jay promises SNL tickets to their car salesman—something he immediately regrets.

  • Che explains the real scarcity and stress of ticket requests:

    "I tell people I give them to charity all the time...I shouldn't say it on air, but I usually say I give my tickets to charity, so that way they can't ask for it."
    — Michael Che (13:59)

• Stalker Incident: Che shares how security at SNL once quietly handled a real threat to his safety.

  “I could see that she’s still kind of talking to me…and she was like, I was saying we’re gonna catch that guy. Don’t you worry about it. I’m like, what guy?...She just shows me all these papers. They have like his pictures, his tweets. He’s like, this guy’s coming…They’ve been looking for him for like a week. And currently no one told me about it after that.”
  — Michael Che (15:04–15:59)

• Writing Under Pressure: Che breaks down how SNL’s sketch-writing process became even more grueling during the Trump years, with cold opens written as late as Friday night or Saturday morning due to the relentless news cycle.

  "Now we write our cold open, like, usually Friday night in the middle of the night. Sometimes we don’t even have it until Saturday morning. Nobody’s seen it until the table."
  — Michael Che (32:37)

4. Viral Video & the Kanye West "Cousin" Story (21:45–28:33)

• The hosts probe Michael Che about a viral video with Kanye West and rumors that Kanye discussed bizarre things backstage, including the now-infamous "suck my cousin's dick" line.

  • Quote:

    "He mentioned, you know, like, that song, like, I suck my cousin's dick and all of that…He said that that week. And I completely forgot until the song came out...That's how much shit was going on."
    — Michael Che (23:07)

• The crew jokes about whether Che’s stern-yet-cool demeanor scared Kanye and marvel at the absurdity of the week that spawned such moments.

  • Che says, "He holds court like Kanye holds court. So he'll just be talking. After a while, you're like, I gotta get out of here."
  • After years, Che says Kanye approached him with an apology at Eddie Murphy’s hosting return (27:21):

    “As soon as he sees me, goes, I owe you an apology. And, like, I hadn’t seen him in years. I didn’t even know if he remembered that that happened because he was saying so much shit.” — Michael Che (27:21)

5. Comedy, Social Media, and Real World Absurdities (29:03)

• Jay describes missing a viral video opportunity involving a woman urinating in public, with Bobby chastising him for not catching it on his phone.

  "A woman literally spreaded her ass cheeks and pissed. Spread her ass cheeks, spread between."
  — Robert Kelly (29:11)

• Che muses about how stories used to be told rather than filmed and how New York always supplies new viewing material.

6. TV & Comedy Business Models: South Park and SNL (30:55–33:26)

• The hosts compare SNL’s relentless schedule to that of "South Park," noting how the latter now occasionally bailed on weekly delivery, having earned the right to work at their own pace:

  "To me, the best business model in show business going right now South. What South Park got going is…They have f*** you money forever."
  — Michael Che (31:28–31:38)

• Che emphasizes that people still care what SNL and South Park have to say about current events, even if just to critique or hate-watch.

7. The Infamous "Write Each Other’s Jokes" SNL Tradition (34:08)

• Robert Kelly reveals his love for SNL’s “write each other's jokes” segment; Che jokes about hating interviews.
• The segment reflects the episode's recurring blend of earnestness and sarcasm about the comedy world.

8. Friendly Banter, Future Plans, and Closing (41:03, 42:20)

• The crew talk about attending SNL, invites to "Story Wars," and neighborly gossip, with plenty of inside nods to the New York comedy scene.

  "Not just Glenn, but Louis Jacob was like, me to lock you in for story wars…Jay, don’t make me go back to our text."
  — Big Jay Oakerson (42:11)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• "I would make my trans name My Face Killer, but I would put a comma in it. My Face, Killer." (Big Jay Oakerson, 02:20)
• "If I get cancer, that’s going to be … I’m dying." (Robert Kelly, 07:07)
• "She’s literally across the street…but they’re like, in between something." (Michael Che, 08:53)
• "I tell people I give them to charity all the time...I usually say I give my tickets to charity, so that way they can't ask for it." (Michael Che, 13:59)
• "I could see that she’s still kind of talking to me…and she was like, I was saying we’re gonna catch that guy. Don’t you worry about it. I’m like, what guy?" (Michael Che, 15:04)
• "He mentioned…'I suck my cousin's dick'…I completely forgot until the song came out. That’s how much shit was going on." (Michael Che, 23:07)
• "Now we write our cold open, like, usually Friday night in the middle of the night." (Michael Che, 32:37)
• "To me, the best business model in show business…what South Park got going is…I mean, they earned it. What, like 30 years now?" (Michael Che, 31:28)
• "A woman literally spreaded her ass cheeks and pissed. Spread her ass cheeks, spread between." (Robert Kelly, 29:11)
• "Are you going to make this happen?" (Robert Kelly, 39:44)
  "I'm going to make it happen." (Michael Che, 39:47)

Tone and Style

• Unfiltered, rambunctious, and rowdy—the episode is full of blue humor, inside jokes, and quick-witted banter.
• Jay and Bobby are relentless with each other (and Che), but all in good fun, frequently breaking up at their own jokes.
• Michael Che matches their pace, splitting the line between sarcasm and sincerity, especially when the roasting turns to real-life showbiz stress and cultural absurdities.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 07:37 – Michael Che arrives and the Kelly Clarkson saga kicks off
• 11:18 – SNL tickets story and Che’s strategy for fending off requests
• 15:04 – Che recounts an SNL stalker incident
• 21:45–28:33 – Viral video, Kanye West, and the cousin story
• 30:55 – South Park & SNL: writing under pressure and comedy in a news cycle
• 34:08 – SNL “write each other’s jokes” tradition
• 36:12–37:37 – Sweet Face Killer, gender discussion, and social commentary
• 41:03–42:50 – Story Wars, future neighbor jokes, and sign-off with plugs

Final Thoughts

This episode is classic "Bonfire": rambunctious, inside-baseball, and thoroughly unfiltered. Che seamlessly fits in with Jay and Bobby’s raucous rhythm, offering glimpses of what it’s like to be at the eye of the comedy storm—whether it's faking Make-A-Wish encounters, deflecting SNL ticket requests, or surviving the week Kanye confessed wild things in the writers’ room. If you like your podcast laughs rowdy and real, it’s one to catch.