Charlie Kirk Criticism Ignites MAGA Cancel Culture Spree | Jay Duplass & Michael Strassner

Summary

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The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode Title: Charlie Kirk Criticism Ignites MAGA Cancel Culture Spree | Jay Duplass & Michael Strassner
Release Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Desi Lydic
Special Guests: Jay Duplass, Michael Strassner
Podcast Source: Comedy Central

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the political and cultural fallout following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, with Jon Stewart and the Daily Show team examining the ensuing online toxicity, government responses, and the rapidly escalating cancel culture within the MAGA universe. The episode subsequently shifts to a lighter yet poignant spotlight: an interview with filmmakers Jay Duplass and Michael Strassner on their new indie film, “The Baltimorans,” delving into creativity, sobriety, and unexpected paths to cinematic success.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Charlie Kirk’s Assassination and Its Aftermath

[02:25 – 13:06]

• The tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk became an explosive catalyst for both online celebration and outrage, setting off a storm of vitriolic social media responses from both political camps.
• Conservative activists are actively tracking, shaming, and sometimes doxxing individuals who expressed celebration or mockery over Kirk’s death.
  • Desi Lydic: “Those activists have created online websites to hold accountable those behind the messages. The website claims it's received more than 63,000 submissions so far.” [04:36]
• Employers, from teachers and pilots to NFL staff, have fired or suspended people based on their posts.
  • Michael Kosta: “Even NFL staff are getting fired. Oh, that’s why the Giants suck.” [04:49]

Rise of Cancel Culture and Government Involvement

• Conservative calls escalate, with government officials directly supporting employer crackdowns and legal consequences for hate speech.
  • Desi Lydic: “Employers, you have an obligation to get rid of people.” [05:36]
  • Michael Kosta: “Is this what we want? The vice president’s job isn’t to lead an online mob.” [05:53]
• New lengths of “justice” considered, with Republicans suggesting social, financial, and legal penalties for online speech.
  • Michael Kosta: “Congressman Clay Higgins…will use his congressional authority to get people banned for life from social media platforms, blacklist their businesses…even have their driver’s licenses revoked.” [07:01]
  • Desi Lydic: “There’s free speech, and then there’s hate speech, and there is no place, especially after what happened to Charlie, in our society.” [08:00]
• The government’s growing role in “cancel culture” is lampooned and critiqued.
  • Michael Kosta: “You would think that the Attorney General would know that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment—even if you’re not a big reader, it is the first one, okay?” [08:04]

Satirical Solutions & Societal Critique

• In a comedic repartee, Desi and Michael discuss reverting society back to the 1980s—before the internet—as a (clearly impractical) fix for online toxicity.
  • Desi Lydic (joking): “If you want to fix a society poisoned by social media, the only solution is to return to before the Internet. So all of us need to pretend that it's the 1980s again.” [10:04]
  • Michael Kosta: “We can't solve our issues with mass delusion. We have to address our social media, not to mention our widespread gun use, the collapse of our social bonds, mental health treatment.” [12:14]
• The pair ultimately acknowledge the depth of systemic problems underlying the current crisis.

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2. National Guard Deployment & New Yorkers React

[14:06 – 18:21]

• President Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to various US cities, including a potential move toward New York City, is met with skepticism and characteristic New York banter.
  • Desi Lydic (on the ground): “‘Are you excited that the National Guard might be coming to New York City?’”
    New Yorker: “‘That's horrific. They can put that some other state. But New York, we don't need that.’” [15:39]
• New Yorkers weigh in with humor, sarcasm, and typical city spirit:
  • On the National Guard’s visit: “You know, I've just never been a big fan of roommates in general.” [15:51]
  • On what to do in NYC: “Eat a hot dog…I mean, we got museums, we got plays. If they're hot, I would go to the west side Highway.” [16:16]
  • On what they hate more (tourists or National Guard):
    • “Tourists…I would have to say. You know, they take up the whole sidewalk. They take pictures of the dumbest things, right?” [16:57]
• Concludes with classic New York hospitality:
  • Desi Lydic: “We don’t want you here. That’s just genuinely just what it is.” [18:15]

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3. Interview: Jay Duplass & Michael Strassner—The Power of Indie Filmmaking

[20:13 – 33:20]

Origin Story & Creative Chemistry

• Michael Strassner (actor) and Jay Duplass (director) share the unconventional origins of their collaboration, which began via social media contact and evolved through quirky, authentic personal connections.
  • Strassner: “I was putting up crazy comedy videos…And I saw that J. Duplass followed me, and I was like…this is the coolest thing in the world. I took my shot one day…I was just gonna DM him.” [21:29]
  • Duplass: “I didn’t know what a DM was. I thought it was for sex…But I caught up on the DMs, and I saw this guy, and we started.” [22:13]
  • Memorable meet-cute mythos: Michael arriving, shirtless and sweaty—“I don't have heat in my Volkswagen. And it was a hot day in LA…” [22:34]
  • Michael Kosta: “What an adorably dark and disturbing meet cute.” [23:01]

The Film’s Inspiration: Recovery, Comedy, and Real Life

• The opening of "The Baltimorans" is based on Strassner's real-life experience of a failed suicide attempt and journey into sobriety.
  • Strassner: “That opening scene of the movie is a failed suicide attempt. And that is how I got sober… The only reason why I'm still here is because…the belt broke…and I was holding a bit of holiday weight.” [23:27]
  • Turning pain into art: “I think since I've worked through that time in my life…It was really cathartic because…I was, like, finally doing, like, my art in a way that he finally took a chance on me. And it was like the coolest moment.” [24:39]
  • Duplass on his motivation: “This is the most gentle, sensitive man trapped inside the body of a 1978 Chicago Bears linebacker. You know what I mean? I was like, I have not seen this before.” [25:28]
• Central message: Transformation, taking chances, and resilience.

Production Stories & Artistic Process

• Low budget, documentary-realist style; rapid, close-knit shoot in Baltimore over Christmas.
  • Strassner: “It was a tiny movie made by 15 people. So it was kind of like going to summer camp in Baltimore in Christmas time, freezing our butts off, you know, just kind of making a movie on the streets of Baltimore.” [28:44]
• Chemistry between leads (Strassner and co-star Liz Larson) developed organically; little time to rehearse, but intense mutual understanding.

Highlight: The Improv Scene

• A pivotal, meticulously scripted scene captures the awkward, hilarious, and transcendent reality of comedy improv as recovery and performance converge.
  • Kosta: “It was the most accurate depiction of improv that I’ve ever seen in a movie…beautiful little moments of magic and then it takes off and it was so cool to see.” [28:54]
  • Duplass: “There's like seven acts to the scene…it's because of his sobriety, it's because of him being able to be in the moment that they're able to turn the corner in that scene and create something new…” [29:41]

Reflections on Success & Independent Spirit

• The film, against all odds, becomes a breakout hit and symbol of indie resilience.
  • Duplass: “Nobody was begging us to make a suicide sobriety menopause comedy. They weren’t banging down our door for that story. But we just did what we wanted to do. You know, we went to South By Southwest, we won the audience award. We’re in 500 theaters right now…It’s truly like unprecedented.” [31:18]
  • Strassner: “I'm so happy that he took a chance on me and that also I get to share it with so many amazing family and friends…But it's the coolest, truly…I almost missed it.” [32:05, 32:54]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On cancel culture cycles:
  • Desi Lydic: “This is a pattern we've gotten used to because we live in an Internet landscape that is so toxic, even RFK wouldn't swim in it.” [04:49]
• On the First Amendment vs. hate speech:
  • Michael Kosta: “You would think that the Attorney General would know that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment—even if you’re not a big reader, it is the first one, okay?” [08:04]
• On solving today’s social ills:
  • Michael Kosta: “We can't solve our issues with mass delusion. We have to address our social media, not to mention our widespread gun use, the collapse of our social bonds, mental health treatment…” [12:14]
• On indie filmmaking struggle:
  • Jay Duplass: “Nobody was begging us to make a suicide sobriety menopause comedy…But we just did what we wanted to do.” [31:18]
• On gratitude and resilience:
  • Michael Strassner: “Again, I hate to repeat myself, but it's like I almost missed it.” [32:54]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |---|---| |02:25 - 13:06 | Charlie Kirk assassination, cancel culture, and government overreach satire | |14:06 - 18:21 | National Guard deployment reactions from New Yorkers | |20:13 - 33:20 | Interview with Jay Duplass & Michael Strassner (Indie film, sobriety, improv) | |28:54 - 30:42 | The pivotal improv scene discussion | |31:08 - 32:54 | Film’s festival success and unexpected breakout |

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Overall Tone & Takeaways

The episode moves deftly between satirical, rapid-fire takes on our increasingly punitive internet culture and a heartfelt, genuine conversation about art, struggle, and second chances in the indie film world. Desi Lydic and Michael Kosta bring equal parts irreverence and earnestness, while the interview segment with Duplass and Strassner offers catharsis and inspiration for anyone fighting for their own voice amid chaos.

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Recommended for listeners interested in:

• Political satire about cancel culture and freedom of speech
• Commentary on current events and government overreach
• Behind-the-scenes insights into indie filmmaking and creative risk-taking
• Stories of resilience, comedy, and recovery

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Referenced Works:

• "The Baltimorans" (film)
• South by Southwest (SXSW)

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End of Summary

Transcript

[Desi Lydic]

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[Michael Kosta]

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[Desi Lydic]

I just. Whoa, wait, you mean finance? Yeah, finance got pre qualified for a.

[Michael Kosta]

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[Desi Lydic]

All within my budget.

[Michael Kosta]

That's cool. But financ financing through Carvana was so easy. Financed. Done.

[Desi Lydic]

And I get to pick up my.

[Michael Kosta]

Car from their Carvana vending machine tomorrow.

[Desi Lydic]

Financed, right? That's what they said.

[Michael Kosta]

You can spend time trying to pronounce financing or you can actually finance and buy your car. Today on Carvana financing subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions may apply.

[Desi Lydic]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Michael Kosta]

From the.

[Desi Lydic]

Most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Desi Lydick.

[Michael Kosta]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Desi Lydick. We've got so much to talk about tonight. Someone needs to take away America's father. Phone the National Guard's getting its own ERAS tour, and Trump is building an entire room just for his balls. So let's get into the headlines. All right. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. It's been a tough week for America. No matter what side of the aisle you've been on, we have all been processing what happened to Charlie Kirk and what's happened since. Honestly, I don't even know if I have the right words for this, but I do take comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one who can't seem to find the right words.

[Desi Lydic]

My condolences are lost at the center. Coaches, how are you holding up over the last three and a half too? I think very good. And by the way, right there, you see all the trucks? They've just started construction of the new borough for the White House, which is something they've been trying to get, as you know, for about 150 years. And it's going to be a beauty. It'll be absolutely magnificent.

[Michael Kosta]

Well, we all grieve in our own way. To be fair to Trump, he is an old man. And when an old man wants to tell a story, it doesn't matter what you asked him about. Uncle Marty, you want some coffee? You know, my dentist is an Asian lady. She dyed her hair pink. I told her, you look disgusting. But while the President is retreating into home renovations, the Internet has been processing Kirk's death in a different way. If you've been on social media over the past week, you've probably seen some pretty shocking reactions to a public figure getting assassinated. There was celebration. There was mockery. Honestly, I found a lot of it so disturbing, I almost went back to threads. I mean, I didn't. Nothing could make me go back to threads. But I did think about it, and as expected, when people are being this shitty on the Internet, there's gonna be backlash on social media. People who've criticized Kirk are being called out, their names and photos widely circulated.

[Desi Lydic]

Some people who celebrated his death are now under scrutiny from conservative activists. Those activists have created online websites to hold accountable those behind the messages. The website claims it's received more than 63,000 submissions so far.

[Michael Kosta]

Some employers already firing or suspending people for their posts about Kirk, impacting teachers, commercial pilots, doctors, and even. Even NFL staff. Even the NFL staff are getting fired. Oh, that's why the Giants suck. Okay, okay. Unfortunately, this is a pattern we've gotten used to because we live in an Internet landscape that is so toxic, even RFK wouldn't swim in it. So every horrible event tends to have the same. Same cycle. One side starts posting their hot takes for clicks, and the other side tries to cancel them for it. But one thing is different this time. This time, the government's getting involved. Employers, you have an obligation to get rid of people.

[Desi Lydic]

People say, oh, people have a right to say things. Well, actually, they don't necessarily have a right to say things.

[Michael Kosta]

I think it is time for this to be.

[Desi Lydic]

To be a crackdown on people. So when you see someone celebrating Charlie's murder, call them out in hell. Call their employer.

[Michael Kosta]

Hold on. The vice president wants me to try to get people fired from their jobs? First off, as a white woman, we've been doing that for years. Okay, stop appropriating our culture. But secondly, is this what we want? The vice president's job isn't to lead an online mob. The vice president's job is to. Okay, he doesn't really have a job, but you get my point. You get it. And look, a lot of people are saying that this is a left versus right thing, but truly, I think this problem goes so much deeper. Our discourse has been so poisoned by the Internet that our elected officials are now using the power and resources of the federal government to carry out social media style. Justice Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed his staff to look for posts from service members. Secretary of State Marco Rubio floated revoking critics visas.

[Desi Lydic]

The power of law enforcement under President Trump's leadership will be used to find you, will be used to take away your money, take away your power.

[Michael Kosta]

Republican Congressman Clay Higgins of Louisiana posted he will use his congressional authority to get people banned for life from social media platforms, blacklist their businesses, and they should be kicked out of school and have their driver's licenses revoked. All right, first of all, revoking someone's driver's license is not a punishment for them. It's a punishment for their friends. Okay, I'm not driving Amy to the airport because you got mad at her tweets. Clay Higgins, you drive Amy to the airport. But do you see how far this has gotten out of control? We're gonna revoke a person's driver's license just for having shitty tweets. And our attorney general is in so deep that she doesn't think it's going far enough. There's free speech, and then there's hate speech, and there is no place, especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie, in our society.

[Desi Lydic]

We will absolutely target you, go after.

[Michael Kosta]

You if you are targeting anyone with hate speech, anything. And that's across the aisle. First of all you would think that the Attorney General would know that hate speech is protected by the First Amendment, even if you're not a big reader, it is the first one, okay? You have to read it to get to the one you like. Now, honestly, if I went back in time and told the Founding Fathers that this is what would become of the First Amendment, they would say, that's insane. And why are you wearing pants, woman? To which I would say, why are you wearing a wig? Anyway, I'm getting off track. I'm getting off track. The point is, we need to understand that no matter how mad someone makes you online, that's not enough to make it illegal. That said, if you are gonna crack down on hate speech, can I request that we start with the YouTube comments? Under my lasagna recipe, My mozzarella portions are not gay.

[Desi Lydic]

Very good.

[Michael Kosta]

Now, I was heartened to see a lot of conservatives criticized Pam Bondi for what she said about prosecuting hate speech. Unfortunately, one guy thinks she didn't go far enough.

[Desi Lydic]

And what do you think? Pam Bondi saying she's going to go after hate speech? Is that.

[Michael Kosta]

I mean, a lot of people, a.

[Desi Lydic]

Lot of your allies say hate speech is free speech. She'll probably go after people like you because you treat me so unfairly. It's hate. You have a lot of hate in your heart.

[Michael Kosta]

Yikes. Someone's ballroom construction is not going well. For more on how we can move forward as a country, let's turn now to Michael Kosta. Wait, Costa, why? Why are you dressed like that?

[Desi Lydic]

Dressed like what? Desi, this is just how people look now. Totally rad. Quit being such a freakazoid.

[Michael Kosta]

You look like an undercover cop trying to take down the Breakfast Club.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, well, thank you. But, look, if you want to fix a society poisoned by social media, the only solution is to return to before the Internet. So all of us need to pretend that it's the 1980s again. No Twitter, no algorithms, just the sweet sounds of Duran Duran playing whatever music is they play. Totally tubular.

[Michael Kosta]

Okay, okay. Even if this made any sense, why the 80s? Why not the 1950s or the 1800s? None of those times had social media.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, they did. Psych. They didn't. No, Desi, the 1980s is right. The music is fresh, the fashion is bitchin', and we're in that sweet spot after the smallpox vaccine, but before RFK Jr. Said we couldn't get the smallpox vaccine. You know, he was just a cool heroin addict. Back now. Cowabunga. Where's the beef?

[Michael Kosta]

Come on. This is clearly an overcorrection. That era wasn't all, sorry, stupid hair and wearing neon. There was still political violence in the 80s.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, but I didn't know about that. You know, I was just a little kid back then. Do you remember any of that?

[Michael Kosta]

No, of course not. I was born whenever 29 years ago was. Don't Google it.

[Desi Lydic]

I can't Google it. It's the 80s. Plus the 80s. Being awesome is one of the only things conservatives and liberals agree on. Liberals have early Madonna, the dawn of hip hop, thongs on the outside of pants. Conservatives get to run politics, hang out with Mr. T, and hate gay people even while being secretly gay. We all get something to the max.

[Michael Kosta]

Our entire country can't just pretend it's the 80s.

[Desi Lydic]

Why not? What's your damage? ET Phone home, gagged me with a credit card and put me on layaway.

[Michael Kosta]

Okay, stop. Shut up. Shut the up. Costa. We can't solve our issues with mass delusion. We have to address our social media, not to mention our widespread gun use, the collapse of our social bonds, mental health treatment. There is so much that we have to fix if we want to move forward.

[Desi Lydic]

And you think fixing all of those systemic issues will be easier than just pretending it's 1980?

[Michael Kosta]

Shit. I'll have what she's having.

[Desi Lydic]

Yippee ki yay.

[Michael Kosta]

Desi Michael Konsta, everybody. When we come back, we find out how New York will deal with an occupation. So don't go away.

[Desi Lydic]

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[Michael Kosta]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. President Trump has sent federal troops into Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. and now there's more on the way. President Trump's federal crackdown on crime is heading to Memphis. The President announcing he's sending new deployments of the National Guard and other Federal agencies to the city. He is calling it the Memphis Safe Task Force. He says it will mirror the large police and military presence in Washington, D.C. basically, the National Guard is going into every American city except Party City. Trump would never do anything to disrupt the slutty Halloween industrial complex. Now some say it's only a matter of time before Trump brings the National Guard right here into New York City. Our own Grace Kuilenschmidt hits the streets to find out what New Yorkers think about that. Hey, Donald Trump's National Guard, we heard you had a great time in LA and dc. As one Marine summed it up, quote, there's not that much to do.

[Desi Lydic]

I really don't think he thought he would just be walking around for 12 hours every day. When I talked to him, he was just like, yeah, this is crazy. And now, just like the Muppets, you're about to take Manhattan. Chicago will be our next, and then we'll help with New York.

[Michael Kosta]

So I'm here in midtown Manhattan, home.

[Desi Lydic]

To iconic eyesores like Penn Station and.

[Michael Kosta]

Commuters from New Jersey, to see just.

[Desi Lydic]

How excited New Yorkers are for your deployment. Are you excited for them to come? Nah, nah, nah. We got police. Police need to do their job. We don't need to have the whole government coming in the city. So are you excited that the National Guard might be coming to New Yorking City? That's horrific. They can put that some other state.

[Michael Kosta]

But New York, we don't need that.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we built for this. We've heard that the National Guard and other states have been staying in perfect parking garages and in tents. Would you be up for hosting a.

[Michael Kosta]

Member of the National Guard?

[Desi Lydic]

You know, I've just never been a big fan of roommates in general. They're always messy, they're loud, they don't take accountability, they don't know how to clean. I think it's also unconstitutional. What would you recommend for these officers to do while they're in New York? Eat a hot dog. I mean, we got museums, we got plays. Well, if they're hot, I would go to the west side Highway. Okay, sure. Okay. Fair on Saturday.

[Michael Kosta]

Or if they're cute, like, there's, like, date night at the Met.

[Desi Lydic]

So, like, I'll be there. So you guys are both single, presumably, or do you just not give a about your boyfriends? There's a great diner. It's called Hector's. Good Bacon, egg and cheese poke ladder. We got the Empire State Building right there. We got Times Square, ground zero. There's so much to do. It's New York. Any nightlife you'd recommend seeing, any shows, going to any club for the National Guard? Yeah, go to the project. You're gonna get all the shows you want. So, as a New Yorker, what do you hate more, the National Guard or tourists? Oh, that's tough. That's tough. That's tough. That's a tough question. Tourists, I would have to say. You know, they take up the whole sidewalk. They take pictures of the dumbest things, right? And it's like, buddy, you gotta. You gotta walk faster. Like, what are we doing here? Come on. What do you hate more, the National Guard or tourists? So while we're here, is there anyone you want the National Guard to kind of, like, help you out with? I think they should arrest Eric Adams. Who else? Oh, man, you know what? Throw Cuomo in there for good measure. Okay, sure. Do you think Donald Trump will send the National Guards to the projects? I don't know. That man crazy. He just might. So y' all better be on the lookout.

[Michael Kosta]

If Trump. If Trump does end up sending troops to New York, they'll have a lot to deal with. There's some serious violence happening on these steps right now.

[Desi Lydic]

But don't take my word for it. Donald Trump. You from Queens. Like we from. You know, we built strong. Ideally, you don't come, but if you do, just chill out, man. You know, and just hang out. You know, smoke a joint with a guy on the corner.

[Michael Kosta]

Make sure you're wearing comfortable sneakers.

[Desi Lydic]

Treat people the way you like to be treated. You know, when people are upset or mean, you kill them with kindness. Wait, hold up, hold up. Look.

[Michael Kosta]

Fill them with kindness, okay?

[Desi Lydic]

Don't kill them, please. You probably won't have much to do, so just relax. Relax. You're that National Guard.

[Michael Kosta]

Relax and embrace that welcoming New York spirit.

[Desi Lydic]

We don't want you here. That's just genuinely just what it is.

[Michael Kosta]

Thank you, Braves. When we come back, Jay Duplox and Michael Trapper will be joining me on the show. So don't go away.

[Desi Lydic]

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[Michael Kosta]

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[Desi Lydic]

In 10 people taking EBGLIS achieved itch.

[Michael Kosta]

Relief and clear or almost clear skin at 16 weeks. And most of those people maintain skin.

[Desi Lydic]

That'S still more clear at one year.

[Michael Kosta]

With monthly dosing.

[Desi Lydic]

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[Michael Kosta]

When did making plans get this complicated?

[Desi Lydic]

It's time to streamline with WhatsApp, the secure messaging app that brings the whole group together.

[Michael Kosta]

Use polls to settle dinner plans, send.

[Desi Lydic]

Event invites and pin messages so no one forgets mom 60th and never miss.

[Michael Kosta]

A meme or milestone.

[Desi Lydic]

All protected with end to end encryption. It's time for WhatsApp message privately with everyone. Learn [e-mail].

[Michael Kosta]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight co wrote the critically acclaimed independent film the Baltimorans. Please welcome Jaden Floss and Michael Traffner.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah. Wow. Hey. Oh, nice.

[Michael Kosta]

Thank you both for being here. I am so excited about this film. Congratulations to both of you. Thank you, Jay. I've been such a fan of your work for such a long time. You've been at the forefront of independent film. True character driven stories. And Michael, it's been so awesome to get to know your work and so this film, your performance is outstanding.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, man. Thank you very much.

[Michael Kosta]

It's true. I only speak the truth. Oh, I heard. Yeah, we have fact checkers here and we tell the truth.

[Desi Lydic]

That's good. That's good.

[Michael Kosta]

For legal reasons, correct?

[Desi Lydic]

Absolutely.

[Michael Kosta]

Refer to the first act. No, but I heard that the two of you started your collaboration from a DM on Bumble.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, he was director looking for actor. And no, it was on Instagram. Private audition, I think it was. Exactly. But yeah, no, I saw that J. Duplass followed me because I was putting up, you know, crazy comedy videos like Buffalo Bill talking to his Alexa. It was like, alexa, where can I buy skin? And then Alexa Would respond back, being like, you can get skincare products that. I'm like, no, human skin. And that's J. Duplass humor. And I saw that he followed me, and I was like, like, this is the coolest thing in the world. And I took my shot one day. I was trying to make this thing, and I'm like, I'm just gonna DM him, tell him how much of a fan I am, and then see if he can help me. And then he made a boy wait. It took six months to get back to him.

[Michael Kosta]

Wow.

[Desi Lydic]

Guys, I'm 52 years old. I didn't know what a DM was. I thought it was for sex. I really thought. I was just like, what is that? I don't know. But I caught up on the DMs, and I saw this guy, and we started. Yeah, he invited me over his house immediately, and I was like. I was doing Buffalo Bill impersonations. And you want a stranger to come over your house? Okay. The trick is, he showed up at my house, and I saw him get out of his car completely shirtless, wafting his sweaty body with a towel. I don't have heat in my Volkswagen. And it was a hot day in la, so I always bring two shirts. And I just see Jay come out, and I'm like, hey, bud. Sorry, I'm just. Just gotta get the sweat off, and then I'll head on in. Nice house. Really nice neighborhood. I was like, yeah, come into my house where my children are. This'll be good.

[Michael Kosta]

What an adorably dark and disturbing meet cute that. See, people. Good things can happen when you DM words and not just butt pics.

[Desi Lydic]

Correct.

[Michael Kosta]

So inspiring.

[Desi Lydic]

Yes, indeed.

[Michael Kosta]

Oh, my God. So the two of you together wrote the screenplay. Jay, you directed. Michael, you starred in. And it all started from Based on a true story.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, I mean, you know, that opening scene of the movie is a failed suicide attempt. And that is how I got sober, you know? And I told Jay over at lunch, you know, the only reason why I'm still here is because I was. The belt broke, and I was holding a bit of holiday with wait. And he smiled, and I was like, you can laugh. It's okay. You know, I'm here. And little did I know he was planning to, like, kind of start a little origin story on my life. And, you know, it's. I'm so happy I'm here because I almost missed it.

[Michael Kosta]

How was that for you? Diving into the character when it's so close to home, going back to that period of Time. How did it. Did it feel cathartic to be able to channel it into your performance?

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, yeah. I mean, like, you know, it was really like that. That opening scene we did, like, a couple times, and I think it was the stunt coordinator. He was like, what kind of idiot couldn't kill himself? And I'm like, this guy right here couldn't figure it out. He did not know the origin story.

[Michael Kosta]

Didn't get the memo.

[Desi Lydic]

Didn't get the memo, no. Yeah. But, you know, like, I think since I've worked through that time in my life and have been able to, you know, clean up the wreckage of my past and all that stuff and, you know, just my side of the street and was able to. It was really cathartic because I was, like, finally doing, like, my art in a way that he finally took a chance on me. And it was like the coolest moment. You were able to turn the toughest moment of your life into kind of one of the best things that's happened, truly, which has been amazing. Yeah.

[Michael Kosta]

Jay, when you met Michael, what was it about his story that made you go, I have to direct this film?

[Desi Lydic]

Well, yeah, it did start on Instagram. I was watching him dance and prance across my computer screen and just enjoying him. I was, like, started to get to know him a little bit, and I was like, this is the most gentle, sensitive man trapped inside the body of a 1978 Chicago Bears linebacker. You know what I mean? I was like, I have not seen this before. He told me he was alive because he was holding a little bit of holiday weight. And also that the first six months of getting sober, he was convinced that he would never be funny again and that that actually wasn't true. So, you know, all those elements just got me brewing a story inside that was like, this is an original thing. I hadn't made an original movie in 14 years, and I was trying to come back to it, and I was like, I think this is it. I want to back a movie into somebody's life, do it really low budget, and make something that matters.

[Michael Kosta]

You achieve that. I love. I love the. That you gave Michael the one piece of direction that you gave him that I. Well, you probably gave more direction than that. The one that stood out to me was enunciate. Enunciate clearly. Louder, Faster, Louder, faster. Funnier note. You gave the note, you're enough. Just be you.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah. I mean, I feel like we're on Sesame street all of a sudden. It's getting real. Real sweet. But yes. I mean, I think it was definitely like, you know, you're mainly a sketch comedian. You know, our co star, Liz Larson, she was a musical theater star. Like, we were kind of just going off of instinct and mysticism, kind of making this movie that the three of us really wanted to make. But I think, you know, it is a documentary style realism that we're capturing. And that was kind of the idea is like, you're enough. Do your thing. You are amazing. I. I want to make this movie because of who you are. So, you know, just. Just be you.

[Michael Kosta]

Yeah, you're. You bring up. You bring up Liz Larson, who's fantastic in this movie. And the two of you have such great chemistry. Did you meet each other beforehand? Was there a long rehearsal process before you started filming?

[Desi Lydic]

No, we literally just met like a couple days before we started. Jay had lunch with her and, you know, they kind of talked about everything but the movie, about her life and where she was in her life. And, you know, she kind of felt like, similar to the character of Dee Dee. Like, you know, when she go to parties, nobody would or no one even invited her to parties anymore. And that she just felt kind of like not seen anymore. And that's very much what Dee Dee's character put in. And we literally have trailers or anything. So we had the Cadillac or the Mercedes and the Cadillac, similar. Didn't have heat. All my cars don't have any type of air conditioning or heat. Yeah, it's kind of like a nice way to live feel Memo, actually. Exactly. But we just sat in the Mercedes and we just got to know each other. And that's truly, like, how I think our chemistry just was so beautiful. Yeah, it was a tiny movie made by 15 people. So it was kind of like going to summer camp in Baltimore in Christmas time, freezing our butts off, you know, just kind of making a movie on the streets of Baltimore, so.

[Michael Kosta]

Oh, that's the best, though.

[Desi Lydic]

It was nice.

[Michael Kosta]

Can I tell you, my one scene that really stuck with me was a pivotal scene in the movie, and it's an improv scene. The two of you are doing improv together. And I will tell you, as someone who did improv for exactly, probably three people, tops, would show up to our shows. It was the most accurate depiction of improv that I've ever seen in a movie. It was awkward and cringy and uncomfortable in some parts and hilarious. It's hilarious all the way through. But then there were these, like, beautiful little moments of magic and then it takes off and it was so cool to See, that was that. You talk about that scene as being one of the hardest, most challenging scenes to write.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, that scene was, you know, it's kind of like he goes back to his heart of darkness where he's gotten sober and he doesn't think he can be funny again on stage. And he gets thrown on stage and, you know, Liz Larson basically has to go up there and save him. And it was, you know, it was a really complicated scene. That is hilarious because a lot of audiences are like, did you guys just like improv that when it happened? I'm like, no, I've never written harder on any scene in my entire life. There's like seven acts to the scene. But it's probably good that you think it just happened that way. But yeah, it truly is. And like you said, they are teetering on the edge of disaster at all times. And you know, not to give too much away, but it's because of his sobriety. It's because of him being able to be in the moment that they're able to turn the corner in that scene and create something new, different than what he thought it was going to be. Which is kind of what the movie is about, is saying yes and to life, you know, jumping off a cliff and hoping there's warm water down there. That's really what the movie's about.

[Michael Kosta]

Do you consider yourselves yes, Anders or no, Butters?

[Desi Lydic]

I'm a huge yes, Ander, huge. Yes, Anders, truly, I'm about half and half. Cause I think a lot of directing is no budding. But I do like to, I like to give a compliment sandwich. It's like compliment, direction, compliment.

[Michael Kosta]

Beautiful, beautiful. You were told, Jay, that this movie would never be in theaters.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, I mean, you know, we made a tiny little movie with no stars. I mean, look, this guy's the movie star of the world. Doesn't know it yet.

[Michael Kosta]

That's true.

[Desi Lydic]

But yes, we made a tiny, no budget movie at the tail end of the pandemic and the strikes when people thought, okay, maybe independent film is dead. But you know, we followed our hearts. We told the story that we wanted to tell. Nobody was begging us to make a suicide sobriety menopause comedy. They weren't banging down our door for that story. But we just did what we wanted to do. You know, we went to south by Southwest, we won the audience award. We're in 500 theaters right now. You guys, you made it say truly insane. It's truly like unprecedented. Yeah.

[Michael Kosta]

Amazing and so deserved. Michael, how do you feel now in this moment? In time. Having made this beautiful film and received. Receiving so much accolades for it, recognition, how does it feel?

[Desi Lydic]

It's insane. Like, truly, like, it's beyond what I could have ever imagined. Like, you know, I came from the sketch background, so I always just wanted, like, just to be on SNL or do you know that? And this has been something I could never have imagined and it's been so much better. And I'm just like, I'm so happy that he took a chance on me and that also I get to share it with so many amazing family and friends. A lot of nepotism in the movie. It's. Half his family is in the damn movie, guys. I mean, yeah, my mom's in it, my dad's in it, my sister's in it, my sister's in it, my fiance's in it. So, yeah, there's about five people in the movie that aren't related to Michael Stratzner, but that's Hollywood. A ton of nepotism, so. Yeah, exactly. So don't come for him. Okay.

[Michael Kosta]

We had an bring it on.

[Desi Lydic]

But it's the coolest, truly. Like, I. And I'm just like, again, I hate to repeat myself, but it's like I almost missed it. So, like, that's.

[Michael Kosta]

I'm so grateful that you did and I'm so grateful that you made this movie. Thank you both for keeping independent film alive. Congratulations on all the success. I couldn't be happier.

[Desi Lydic]

Thanks for having us.

[Michael Kosta]

Congrats.

[Desi Lydic]

Congrats.

[Michael Kosta]

The Cult of Morons is now in theaters nationwide.

[Desi Lydic]

Michael Stratzer and Jason Clark, come on.

[Michael Kosta]

We're gonna take a quick break, but we'll be right back after this.

[Desi Lydic]

This episode is brought to you by FXX and Hulu. An all new season of Futurama is back. Blending heartfelt moments with razor sharp humor while accidentally saving the day. The Planet Express crew is back, defying gravity and common sense. From the creator of The Simpsons comes 10 new episodes where the romance is hotter, the threats are bigger, and the action hits harder. Don't miss the all new season of Futurama. Watch it Mondays on FXX or stream it on Hulu. Welcome to Murders in the Building, the official podcast. Join me, Michael Ciro Creighton, as we go behind the scenes with some of the amazing actors, writers and crew from season four. The audience should never stop suspecting anything. How can you not be funny crawling around on a coffin? Yeah, that's true. Catch only Murders in the Building official podcast now streaming wherever you get your podcasts and watch only Murders in the Building. Streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers terms apply.

[Michael Kosta]

That's our show for tonight. But before we go, happy National Voter Registration Day. Today is the day to make sure you are registered to vote. Go to headcount.org to find out everything you need to know about the status of your registration. Now, here it is, your moment of Zen.

[Desi Lydic]

It's National Guacamole Day. Guacamole.

[Michael Kosta]

How do you say it?

[Desi Lydic]

National Guacamole Day.

[Michael Kosta]

I know.

[Desi Lydic]

Avocado from Mexico.

[Michael Kosta]

Yes, that's right.

[Desi Lydic]

I could swim in this stuff. I love it. I love guacamole. This is good, guys. We got guacamole back there. We'll work on it. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus, this has been a Comedy Central podcast Trip planner by Expedia. You were made to outdo your holiday, your hammocking and your pooling. We were made to help organize the competition. Expedia made to travel.