MTG Claps Back at Trump as House Votes to Release Epstein Files | Hikari

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: MTG Claps Back at Trump as House Votes to Release Epstein Files | Hikari
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Ronny Chieng (and The Daily Show team)
Guest: Hikari, award-winning filmmaker
Special Segments: Commentary from Leslie Jones, field reporting by Josh Johnson
Theme: Satirical analysis of current political news (Epstein files, MTG vs Trump, Saudi relations), air travel woes, and a conversation about connection with filmmaker Hikari.

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Overview

This episode is a classic Daily Show blend of sharp political satire, investigative comedy, and current event commentary. The team covers the House’s unanimous vote to release Jeffrey Epstein’s files, the unexpected political rift between Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) and Donald Trump, and Trump's relations with foreign leaders. Comic relief breaks up the heavy headlines, with Leslie Jones diving into the miseries of holiday air travel. The show concludes with an insightful interview with Japanese-American filmmaker Hikari about her movie "Rental Family," exploring Japan's unique surrogate family industry and the universal need for connection.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Epstein Files Release & Political Fallout

[01:04–09:37]

• House Votes to Release Epstein Files:
  • The House passes a vote (427–1) to release the DOJ’s Epstein files.
  • Only Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) votes no, prompting Ronny to joke, “Does Clay Higgins represent the 3rd congressional district of Epstein Island?” [04:32]
• Trump’s Flip-flopping:
  • Trump first tried to block the release, then changed stances when defeat was obvious.
  • Satirical take on Trump’s handling: “He tried persuading Republicans, then he tried threatening them, then he pointed up at the sky and went ‘whoa, what’s over there?’” [03:42]
• Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG) Claps Back:
  • Despite being a Trump loyalist, MTG votes for the files' release. Trump labels her a “traitor,” leading her to fire back:

    “A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves.” — MTG [05:44]

  • Ronny lampoons her sudden anti-Trump stance and likens her transformation to being bitten by a radioactive Rachel Maddow [06:12].

2. Trump & MBS: America First… or Saudi First?

[06:41–08:24]

• Trump’s Deference to Saudi Crown Prince:
  • Hikari notes Trump “rolled out the red carpet” for MBS [06:41].
  • Ronny mocks Trump’s etiquette, “Why are you asking him about the journalist he bone sawed?” [07:20].
• Shifting Blame for Epstein Scandal:
  • Trump claims the Epstein files are “a Democrat problem,” reframing responsibility [09:06].
  • Interview parody: Josh Johnson doubles down on this deflection, satirizing the right’s talking points and absurd rumors (e.g., Clinton and Summers “double-teaming a goat”) [09:51].

3. Satirical Segment: Penny Abolishment & Government Delay

[09:48–11:37]

• Parody news: Trump wants to get rid of pennies, but keeps finding reasons to delay the release of incriminating files.
  • “He wants it out there now... right after the House signs the petition so the Senate can sign the petition…” — Josh Johnson [11:13]
• Satire on bureaucracy and political grandstanding.

4. Leslie Jones on Thanksgiving, Air Travel & the FAA

[13:44–21:21]

• Thanksgiving Gripes:
  • Leslie lampoons the holiday as “just a meal where families argue over which race should be deported next” [13:47].
• First Class vs Economy:
  • Complains about travel “hacks,” and jokes that the only real solution is to “be rich, bitch” [15:34].
• Airlines' Extravagance:
  • Skewers luxury airline features (caviar, champagne, pyjamas), noting “farts are immediately vacuumed back to the economy class” [16:08].
• Air Traffic Controller Crisis:
  • Points to dangerous staff fatigue and obsolete FAA technology (“1950s technology. Bitch, my Tamagotchi is newer than that.”) [19:36]
  • Suggests airlines could recycle confiscated TSA cocaine to perk up overworked controllers [18:32].
  • Concludes airlines should pamper air traffic controllers, not just passengers.

5. Interview: Hikari on "Rental Family," Japanese Surrogate Family Services, and Cultural Connections

[22:25–35:28]

Hikari’s Journey to America:

• Moved from Japan to Utah at 17 for the “American Dream”— inspired by Hollywood movies (not news) [24:16].

  “I wanted to get on the yellow school bus… I just watched all the heartwarming, good feeling, good movies.” – Hikari [24:21]

• Initial passion in theater and photography, eventually leading to filmmaking at USC [25:10].

Rental Family: Exploring Japan’s Surrogate Family Business

• The film follows a white actor in Tokyo (Brendan Fraser) who joins a "rental family" business (agencies that hire actors to stand-in as relatives) [26:54].
• Hikari explains the real phenomenon of renting surrogate family members to fill emotional needs due to loneliness. Anecdotes include:

  “There’s a guy called 'Mr. Do Nothing.' He doesn’t… his job is just sit next to you and just, like, eat ramen with you.” – Hikari [30:24]

• Even Hikari, as a Japanese person, found the existence of such businesses shocking (“I was just like, what the f*** is happening?”) [29:06].

On Making the Film & Its Message

• Chose narrative fiction over documentary out of love for cinema and to universalize the story [31:15].
• The movie’s theme: “This movie talks about the importance of having this true connection… Even though you’re not related, it’s a found family that they create.” [32:52]
• On balancing Japanese and English in the script: “I just kind of let it be… I wanted to make this movie for the world.” [33:45]
• Directed one of her acting heroes, Akira Emoto (making him audition at 77!) [34:28–34:51].

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Larry Summers and Epstein:

  “Larry Summers just asked Harvard to do a study on how to make you…” — Ronny Chieng [02:31] “Here’s a tip on girls: they don’t like guys who talk like Yoda.” — Ronny Chieng [02:38]

• On Trump’s Deflections:

  “Don’t talk about it too much 'cause honestly, I don’t want to take it away from us. It’s really a Democrat problem.” — Trump Impressionist [09:06]

• On FAA Technology:

  "1950s technology. Bitch, my Tamagotchi is newer than that." — Leslie Jones [19:36]

• On Surrogate Family Services:

  “They’re focusing so much on luxury, they’re forgetting the most important part of luxury: getting from A to B in one piece. It doesn’t matter how much my seat reclines if I’m using it as a flotation device.” — Leslie Jones [20:58]

• On the Universal Desire for Connection:

  “People are like, always constantly talking through phones or computers. There’s always something between us. But this movie talks about the importance of having this true connection…” — Hikari [32:52]

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Important Timestamps

• 01:04 – Show opens, covers Epstein files and House vote
• 05:44 – MTG’s response to Trump calling her a traitor
• 06:41 – Trump’s relationship with MBS
• 09:33 – Josh Johnson on Trump’s shifting positions
• 13:44 – Leslie Jones segment on Thanksgiving/air travel begins
• 17:51 – FAA controller crisis & tech woes
• 22:25 – Interview with Hikari begins
• 26:54 – Hikari explains rental family business concept
• 29:47 – Discussion of loneliness epidemic in Japan
• 31:15 – Why Hikari shot a narrative film vs documentary
• 32:52 – On the universal themes of connection in "Rental Family"
• 34:23 – Directing Akira Emoto, Japanese acting legend

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Tone & Style

• The show maintains its trademark satirical, irreverent humor, often punctuated by parody impressions (especially Trump).
• Leslie Jones delivers unfiltered comic commentary, mixing personal anecdotes with biting social critique.
• Hikari’s interview is earnest, thoughtful, and frequently self-effacing, offsetting the otherwise raucous tone of the episode.

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Conclusion

This episode offers a biting, laughter-filled take on headline politics, the absurdity of political loyalty shifts, and the darkly comic side of US-Saudi relations. Leslie Jones brings razor-sharp wit about Thanksgiving and air travel’s class divide, while Hikari provides a heartfelt counterpoint, discussing loneliness, connection, and the making of her new film "Rental Family." The episode is a dense blend of comedy, social commentary, and poignant exploration of what it means to feel connected in a disconnected world.

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Transcript

[Announcer]

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[Comedy Central Announcer]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Ronny Chieng]

From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Ronnie J. Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Roy Chang. We got so much to talk about tonight. The house throws an Epstein release party. Leslie Jones stops by to rolls air travel, and American politics has finally gotten too crazy for even Marjorie Taylor Greene. So let's kick things off with another installment of the very normal and not shady handling of the Epstein files.

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

It's pretty boring, Stu.

[Ronny Chieng]

We've learned a lot in the last week about the monsters that Jeffrey Epstein surrounded himself with. But let's not forget he also surrounded himself with total losers. Harvard professor and former treasury secretary under Bill Clinton, Larry Summers. On Monday night, Summers said he is stepping back from public commitments after messages between him and Epstein were released where he asked the sex offender for advice.

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

About pursuing a young woman he described as his mentee.

[Ronny Chieng]

And Epstein described himself as Summer's wingman.

[Sponsor Voice]

Wow.

[Ronny Chieng]

Really? I can't believe this guy needed help getting laid. Why are you asking Jeffrey Epstein to be your wingman? You are the president of Harvard. Larry Summers just asked Harvard to do a study on how to make you. And by the way, Larry Summers is married. But he's all over these emails asking Epstein about girls like he just got his first pube. On March 16, 2019, Somers wrote. We talked on phone. I said, what are you up to? She said, I'm busy. I said, awfully coy you are. Tone was not of good feeling. Tone was not of good feeling. Awfully coy you are. Here's a tip on girls they don't like guys who talk like Yoda. And if you're wondering, when did Larry Summers stop emailing Jeffrey Epstein about women? The answer is up until he couldn't. In June of 2019, Summers asked Epstein about the chances of getting, quote, horizontal with a woman. Epstein responded that Summers needed to play the long game. Epstein was arrested soon after. Yeah, I kind of actually feel a little bad for Jeffrey Epstein. I mean, the walls are closing in on him at this point, and he still has to teach this dork game. It's like texting. It's hot to talk, hiding from feds, keep negging. But Epstein emails are just a gross appetizer. Here everyone is still waiting for the disgusting main course, the DOJ's Epstein files. For months, Trump has done everything he can to prevent the release of these files. He's tried persuading Republicans not to vote for it. Then he tried threatening them. Then he tried pointing up at the sky and going, whoa, what's over there? What is that? But nobody looked. Except for Tommy Tuberville, who is actually still looking. But when it became clear that the House was gonna ignore Trump and vote to release the Epstein files anyway, Trump backtracked and said, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, do that. That's also what I want. Which is why today, the vote passed unanimously. Almost in a rare show of unity, the vote was 427 to 1. Louisiana Republican Congressman Clay Higgins, the only member voting against this bill. Okay, does Clay Higgins represent the 3rd congressional district of Epstein Island? Who even is this guy? Oh, Okay, that makes sense. Now, I believe this is a guy who would vote to block the Epstein files. I mean, he doesn't need the DOJ to release them. He's just gonna steal them from Indiana Jones later. But aside from him, all the House Republicans voted against Trump. Even his most ardent supporter, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia representative and woman who just started taking her meds. Trump was so mad, he called her a traitor this weekend, and I bet that got her back in line.

[Announcer]

I was called a traitor by a man that I fought for five. No, actually, six years for. Let me tell you what a traitor is. A traitor is an American that serves foreign countries and themselves.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, what the is happening with Marjorie Taylor Greene? Did she get the severance surgery?

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

Was she.

[Ronny Chieng]

Was she bit by a radioactive Rachel Maddow?

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

Like.

[Ronny Chieng]

She'S. She's. She's getting so liberal that a month from now, she's gonna be performing on NPR's Tiny Desk. I mean, and how dare she? How dare she imply that Trump serves foreign countries, okay? The President is out here every day thinking about America First.

[Hikari]

President Trump rolled out the red carpet for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, look, sometimes America first means Saudi Arabia first, but so what? He rolled out a red carpet for mbs. It's not like Trump is endorsing everything he's done.

[Announcer]

Your loyal Highness, the US Intelligence concluded that you orchestrated the brutal murder of a journalist.

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

You're mentioning somebody that was extremely controversial. A lot of people didn't like that gentleman that you're talking about. Whether you like him or I didn't like him. Things happened, but he knew nothing about it. And we can leave it at that. You don't have to embarrass our guests by asking a question like that.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah. Hey, hey. Shut up. A little etiquette, please. This man is a guest in our country. Why are you asking him about the journalist he bone sawed? It's like no one has manners anymore. Trump is dealing with a lot of shit right now, okay? He lost the Epstein vote being mean to his best friend. One more reasonable question and he's gonna lose it.

[Announcer]

Mr. President, why wait for Congress to.

[Ronny Chieng]

Release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

Well, it's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you are a terrible reporter. It's the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who's highly respected, asking him a horrible, insubordinate and just a terrible question. And you could even ask that same exact question nicely. You're all psyched. Somebody psychs you over at abc, you're gonna psych it. You're a terrible person and a terrible reporter.

[Ronny Chieng]

Well, I hope you guys are happy. Would it have killed you to ask MBS about the murder nicely? Just a little. Excuse me, Crown Prince, Will you be so kind as to stop murdering my colleague, please? And as for releasing the Epstein files, Donald Trump's position has been very clear. Kind of. I just want to be super clear on your position. Do you want to see that passed in the Senate? Would you sign that bill if it gets to your desk?

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

Sure, I would. Let. Let the Senate look at it. Let anybody look at it. But don't talk about it too much because honestly, I don't want to take it away from us. It's really a Democrat problem.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's a Democrat problem. So you don't want to talk about it to help them. That's nice. For more on the release of these files, we go live to Washington D.C. with Josh Johnson. Josh Seems like Trump can't figure out his position on the Epstein files.

[Josh Johnson]

Wrong again, Ronnie. All right, I've been talking to President Trump, and he's always had one position. The Epstein files will expose the sex crimes of the Democratic Party. It's the most explosive story of the century, so shut up and let's move on.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, but you just said it's the most explosive story of the century.

[Josh Johnson]

You better believe it is. This shit is gonna blow your mind. They got photos of Bill Clinton and Larry Summers double teaming a goat.

[Ronny Chieng]

All right.

[Josh Johnson]

So take a quick look and then forget about it so we can talk about how Trump' getting rid of pennies.

[Ronny Chieng]

Whoa, wait, Are. Are you serious?

[Josh Johnson]

Yeah, you heard me.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

No more pennies. No more pennies. No more pennies.

[Josh Johnson]

Why aren't y' all clapping?

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, wait, wait. Stop, Wait, stop, stop. Wait. Go back to the Clinton and Larry Summers go thing. What was that?

[Josh Johnson]

Well, Bill Clinton was. But Larry Summers couldn't close the deal with the goat. This man has no game. It was sad to watch. More sa.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, but still, this is juicy stuff.

[Josh Johnson]

Oh, the juiciest. There's also 4K video of Chuck Schumer and Bill Clinton double teaming a go. All right, Clinton had to get Larry Summers out of there. He was killing the whole vibe.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay. Oh, my God. This is all insane.

[Josh Johnson]

I know.

[Ronny Chieng]

No.

[Josh Johnson]

Go to safe. But what's more insane. What's more insane is grocery prices. Did you know that under Donald Trump, free samples are now free? You're welcome, America.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, okay. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. If there's video of these sex crimes, can't Trump just release it?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Hell, yeah, he can.

[Josh Johnson]

He wants it out there now.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, then why doesn't he just release it now?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

He is.

[Josh Johnson]

Right after the House signs the petition so the Senate can sign the petition. So that he can sign the petition to get it out there in, like, eight months. It's called suspense.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, but why wait if it will ruin the Democrats forever?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Because that would be too fast.

[Josh Johnson]

You ever bite into ice cream too quick and then you get a brain freeze? Do you want that to happen to the whole country? I see you, Ronnie.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, Josh, I'm more confused now than when we started.

[Josh Johnson]

Then my work here is done.

[Ronny Chieng]

In fact, I gotta head out.

[Josh Johnson]

Uh, Larry Summers needs my help. He's at a petting zoo striking out right now. Help is on the way, Larry.

[Ronny Chieng]

Uh, more than I needed to know. Josh Johnson, everybody. When we come back, Leslie Jones will give us her opinion. So don't go.

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[Ronny Chieng]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. We all know I've got great opinions, but I'm not the only one. Studies show that other people also have opinions. So here with another installment of in my Opinion is our good friend, the one and only, only Leslie Jones.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Yes. What's up? Happy Thanksgiving, America. Gobble gobble. That's not a turkey. That's how Donald Trump sounded going down on Bubba Clinton. Personally, I don't know why people like Thanksgiving. It's just a meal where families argue over which race should be deported next. Ronnie, for the last time, albinos is not a race but Thanksgiving. But Thanksgiving isn't just about racism. It's also the worst travel weekend of the year. Just look at the goofy shit people are doing to make flying 1% less miserable. It's the travel hack that's supposed to make taking a snooze on a plane a lot easier. Fasten your seatbelt around your feet and you will sleep like an angel, says one passenger. Flying has never been this comfortable before, says another. Get your goddamn toes off the seat before I put your ass under the plane with the pets. That hack is dangerous as shit and also it only work for tiny people. I can't do that. Why the you even on a plane just mail yourself. But hey, I sympathize flying economy sucks. So I got a real travel hack for you. Be rich bitch. Because if you fly first class like your girl. You get treated like a queen. Okay, now, it really makes me feel bad when I say stuff like that, but it's true. They treat you so nice in first class. Hot towel, ma'? Am? May I take your coat, ma'? Am? Can you put that blunt out now, ma'?

[Hikari]

Am?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Just so classy. And first class is getting nicer and nicer every day.

[Sponsor Voice]

Airlines are ordering more caviar and champagne, hiring Michelin chefs to design their menus.

[Ronny Chieng]

And teaming up with luxury designers to.

[Sponsor Voice]

Make custom in flight pyjamas.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Now, I know what you're thinking. Champagne and caviar on a flight. Farts. But the farts are immediately backing back to the economy class. Where do you think they get that air from the nozzle y' all be twisting on? Those are rich people farts. So classy. What else you got?

[Announcer]

New premium seats with doors, privacy wings, wireless charging, even showers to win over customers.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Who takes a shower on a plane? And why is that? Okay, but when I take a whole bath on the C train, all of a sudden it's a felony. But the rest of that stuff looks amazing. The only thing missing is the wireless vibrator charger that I'm gonna need. Yeah.

[Hikari]

Yes.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I bring my emotional soul support vibrator on the flight. Everybody knows the most important thing on the plane is the black box. But while it's fun to experience America's wealth gap in the sky, there's one thing missing that would really help me sleep better on the plane. Knowing the guy in the tower is awake.

[Announcer]

A dire nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers is creating an increasingly dangerous situation in the skies.

[Ronny Chieng]

One big problem. Controller fatigue. We're tired of working six days a week. We're tired of working 10 hour days.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Give these people some rest. This isn't an ordinary job. They up at the Wendy's. All you get is the wrong drink. They up at air traffic control and I'm in the Emmys memorial reel. And I better be in it. And when my name come up, you, mother better clap. Bet not. You bet not. Treat me like some old editor from the 80s. If you can't give them time to sleep, at least give them some of the cocaine that the TSA finds. They won't be tired. And no cocaine gets wasted. Recycling. And even if the workers are okay, the technology they're working with, the FAA.

[Josh Johnson]

Is running on a copper wire system.

[Ronny Chieng]

I mean, it's crazy.

[Josh Johnson]

Every American home's got fiber into it now.

[Ronny Chieng]

And the FAA is running on 1950s technology.

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

What you've ended up with is a system that was built essentially in the 1950s with spinning radars and people talking on radios, VHF radios. That really hasn't moved into an age of the Internet to an age of computers, to an age of satellites.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

1950S technology. Bitch. My Tamagotchi is newer than that. Oh, shit. My Tamagotchi. Oh.

[Hikari]

Oh.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Oh, Lord is dead.

[Ronny Chieng]

Lord.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

I forgot to feed his father. I'm so sorry. Oh, well, none of this needs to be happening. The FAA has a budget of $21 billion. And if that's not enough, I know where they can get more. Because right now almost all of it comes from the ticket fees and taxes. That stuff we the consumer are paying. What we need is the airlines to chip in more. They're focusing so much on luxury, they're forgetting the most important part of luxury. Getting from A to B in one piece. It doesn't matter how much my seat reclines if I'm using it as a flotation device. And if you still wanna splurge on luxury shit, don't put it on the plane. Give it to the people in the tower. They should get the showers and the massage chair. Not US Airlines. That's right. Ye airlines should be sending them caviar, champagnes and blowjobs every morning. Send Trump's ass over there so they can get a little bit of that gump Gump. But that's just my opinion.

[Ronny Chieng]

Leslie Jones, everyone. What is a hoback? When we come back, Ikari will rejoin me on the show. So don't go away. With new, gentler scented Clorox Disinfecting Wipes. Clean finally. Smells as good as it feels on everything from lamps to ceiling fans. Even on your kid's toy shark.

[Josh Johnson]

Oh.

[Ronny Chieng]

Ouch. Clorox Disinfecting wipes now available in. Ooh, Crisp lemon. Find it on Amazon. Clorox Clean feels good.

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

Extra value Meals are back. That means 10 tender juicy McNuggets and medium fries and a drink are just $8 only at McDonald's for a limited time only.

[Sponsor Voice]

Prices and participation may vary.

[Ronny Chieng]

Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and California.

[Sponsor Voice]

And for delivery.

[Hikari]

Hey.

[Ronny Chieng]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is an award winning writer, director and producer whose latest film is quot called Rental Family. So what do you think we do? You have to guess.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

You.

[Ronny Chieng]

You sell people?

[Hikari]

No.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, we sell emotion. Oh. How we play roles in the clients lives. Thanks. But you, you can't just. You replace someone in your life. Yes and no. But people are willing to take a leap. Please welcome Hikari.

[Hikari]

Oh, my God. I love you guys. Thank you so much for having me.

[Ronny Chieng]

Thanks for coming on the show. Thank you, filmmaker extraordinaire. What a triumph the film is.

[Hikari]

Thank you.

[Ronny Chieng]

So you moved to America from Japan when you were 17?

[Hikari]

17, yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

You moved to Utah.

[Hikari]

I moved to Utah, yep.

[Ronny Chieng]

Right?

[Hikari]

Yep. I was the only. I told my. My counselor, she asked me where I wanted to go. I said, I want to go to a place where I don't see my people. And they say, I have a perfect place for you. And I landed in Utah, right? Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

So I am very lucky to visit Japan once a year. My wife and I love it. Oh, wow.

[Hikari]

Once a year.

[Ronny Chieng]

We love it. Yeah. It's clean. Everyone's polite, train's on time. Everything tastes amazing. Why the. Would you leave? Why did you leave?

[Hikari]

Well, I left for American Dream.

[Ronny Chieng]

Go back.

[Hikari]

Well, now I feel like I should go back to. But no, I'm not, because I wanted to get on the yellow school bus. You know, I watched a lot of Hollywood movies, and I wanted to come to America and then just.

[Ronny Chieng]

You watch the movies? You didn't watch the news?

[Hikari]

I did not. I did not. I did not watch the movies. I just watched all the heartwarming good feeling, good movies.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, that's what made me come here.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Hikari]

Oh, my God.

[Ronny Chieng]

It was Back to the Future.

[Hikari]

Yeah. Back to the Future. Goonies.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah. It was RoboCop.

[Hikari]

Yeah. RoboCop. Yep.

[Ronny Chieng]

One and two. One and two.

[Hikari]

One and 2 and 3. Terminator.

[Ronny Chieng]

Terminator 1 or 2. Die Hard. Die Hard. Die Hard.

[Sponsor Voice]

Oh, my God.

[Ronny Chieng]

When I saw Die Hard, I was like, I gotta go there.

[Hikari]

Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

So you moved to Utah and then you. You didn't. You came for show business, not filmmaking?

[Hikari]

Yeah, I was doing a theater. You know, that was kind of my passion back then. I just became a photographer. I started shooting rap artists and then musician. And then next thing I know, I was at the film school.

[Ronny Chieng]

You had film school at usc?

[Hikari]

I went to usc, yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

So you came here for the art?

[Hikari]

Yeah, I did.

[Ronny Chieng]

Essentially American arts. And that's. I think sometimes Americans don't understand that outside of America, when you grow up, you do come here for the arts.

[Hikari]

The arts, yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

You know, and we don't think of it. When you live here, you don't think of it as the arts. You think of it as, you know. TikTok.

[Hikari]

TikTok, that's right.

[Ronny Chieng]

It was the arts as the arts. And so my question is, like, why didn't. Why was it something that you wanted to come here? For instead of pursuing it in Japan.

[Hikari]

Well, I felt like, you know, like, as a kid, my parents had this factory and was doing a press work, like, you know, metal pressing metals. And it felt like the life have to be better than pressing metals. I mean, you know, child labor didn't exist back then. So, you know, you're doing whatever their parents tells you. My grandparents and I just wanted to, I don't know, see the world. What else is out there? I felt like. I just felt like in my gut, just felt like I had to get out of there. So I find opportunity and I moved to Utah.

[Ronny Chieng]

Right. You just follow something inside. And it looks like it paid off because you did. Yeah, I did your first movie, the Rental Family.

[Hikari]

Yes, I did. I did my. Yeah, my second movie. Thank you. Thank you.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, I mean, I appreciate that you guys understand how hard, like, making a movie is cool. But I don't think you fully understand how hard it is to make a movie. The number of hoops you have to go through. You have to get the script, you have to get the actors time, you have to get financing, you have to get the cameras, you gotta get food, you gotta get coffee.

[Hikari]

You got people, you gotta, you know.

[Ronny Chieng]

You gotta deal with all this. Yeah. So. And you managed to make this. Can you tell us a little bit about what rental families are?

[Hikari]

Sure. The Rental family follows this American white guy, Mr. Brendan Fraser. Mr. Brendan Fraser. And he's amazing in it. And yeah, he's an actor who's not really quite working after. And we just follow him how he navigates through Tokyo. But he run into this rental family.

[Ronny Chieng]

Business, the owner and what are rental families? This is a real thing.

[Hikari]

It's a real thing, yeah. So Rental Family is where people who basically rent out. Well, the agency that rents out actors or people who wants to be the surrogate of the people who needs to just be mom, dad, sister, brothers, whatever you want. You just. You just walk in and they're gonna play exactly what you asked them to do. And it's just kind of fulfilling the voice of, you know, emotional needs too. Sometimes people deal with the trauma or, you know, without any license because they're not licensed therapists, but that's what they kind of do.

[Ronny Chieng]

So you could literally go into the shop and go, I want to hire a dad who likes me.

[Hikari]

Yeah, exactly. Exactly.

[Ronny Chieng]

And they'll find someone.

[Hikari]

Exactly. And they were like. And you can go through the pictures, like, you know, going through the extra agency. Right. And he's like, oh, he looked like that. I was like, I'm gonna pick him, right? Tell him like, as he walking, just grab my shoulder. Or just say I love you.

[Ronny Chieng]

And then.

[Hikari]

And he'll do exactly, exactly how.

[Ronny Chieng]

But there's no. Like when you hire someone and this is. Again, this is a real thing. When you hire a fake dad, when they enter, the illusion starts. There's no pre discussion. There's no like, okay, I want you to come in here and then you.

[Announcer]

Can do that too.

[Hikari]

You can order. Exactly. You can talk to him directly or you can talk talks through the agency. But they'll do walking as if.

[Ronny Chieng]

So there's an option.

[Hikari]

There's no broken characters whatsoever.

[Ronny Chieng]

They just don't break character. Just come in. Just be a dad.

[Hikari]

Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

And is this very. Is this. Okay, so how fringe is this in Japan?

[Hikari]

Well, what do you mean? Fringe is like, sorry, I'm a foreigner.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, I meant like, you know, we obviously it's a very kind of of out there concept in America. How much do Japanese people also think this is an out there concept?

[Hikari]

I think a lot of people. I mean, I'm Japanese and when I found out about this business, I was just like, what the.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, you can't say. You can't say.

[Hikari]

Yeah, okay, cool. So, yeah, I was just like, what the is happening? I have to stop.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, you're too polite.

[Hikari]

You're too polite. I'm Japanese.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, but you're American now. Just say it. No, I'm seriously saying.

[Hikari]

Yeah, okay, well. Yeah.

[Announcer]

Loudest.

[Hikari]

I love you.

[Ronny Chieng]

Way to break barriers.

[Hikari]

I was told not to say a force on anything.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, who told you say that?

[Hikari]

Okay, well, my time to off.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's not what you say like that. Yeah. So yeah, even in Japan, this is kind of like, whoa, what is this?

[Hikari]

Yeah, what is this? And I'm Japanese. And I was just like, what the is this? Yeah, Okay, I said it. And then I found out why this business exists. Right. Yeah. I just started on why, like, what kind of people use services, who gives the services? And as we just went through really intensive research, I found out that those are really people who needs to feeling lonely. And it's kind of like epidemic loneliness. People are needing somebody to be there for you and happen to be in Japan. There's a lot of people need that.

[Ronny Chieng]

So people are hiring like grandmothers, hiring brothers, sisters.

[Hikari]

You can do. You can literally hire anybody. There's like now grandma, there's a group of grandmother goes into some random people's house and make lunch. Oh, yeah. And then they're like happy because they eat lunch. Together. And she's like, okay, I'll see you tomorrow. And they walk away and they have business like that. And then there's a guy called Mr. Do Nothing. He doesn't. He absolutely do nothing, like crazy. And his job is just sit next to you and just, like, eat ramen with you. You need salt. You, like, put the salt next to you.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, that's doing something.

[Hikari]

Yeah. Well, yeah, if you ask. If you don't, you can just eat random.

[Ronny Chieng]

You can hire a useless man to come in.

[Hikari]

Exactly. And it's like, what, 30 bucks an hour?

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, you Japanese people are looking for that. Come to America. You can get that for free. And so you made a movie about it instead of a documentary. Like, why do you choose a scripted narrative for this?

[Hikari]

I mean, I love cinema. I mean, that's always the bottom line. I love watching. Growing up watching Hollywood movies and behind my grandmother's tea shop. And, you know, it just always felt like that's something that I. Maybe I didn't think about it then, but now looking back, that was kind of my practicing of learning what kind of movie I want to make.

[Ronny Chieng]

So, yeah, I watched the film and it's beautifully made.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Thank you.

[Ronny Chieng]

The editing is perfect. The story's perfect. The acting is great. Everything feels very considered and. And it's. It's one of those movies where even though you don't know, it's character driven. Right. There's no big action set piece.

[Hikari]

Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

But it's one of those movies that catches you from the start and you can't stop watching it. Every scene is very entertaining. Do you have any, like, commentary on, like, this? You know, there's some kind of, like, this back. Hollywood's kind of, like, in a little bit of a mess right now in terms of everyone's stuck either between big blockbusters that maybe aren't making money and small indie films that, you know, no one's watching. So I guess I'm saying everyone's bitching about these big blockbusters, but when you make something small and character driven, that's good. No one comes out to watch it anyway.

[Hikari]

Yeah, that's true.

[Ronny Chieng]

So what the people want.

[Hikari]

I mean, seriously.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

What the watch is, it's a good movie. You don't watch it. Stop bitching about it. So.

[Hikari]

I mean, you know, you just kind of. I mean, you hope that people come. And I hope you guys will come for this one.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah.

[Hikari]

But this really. This movie talks about connection. You know, I feel like in just in general, people are like, always constantly talking through phones or computers. There's always something between us. But this movie talks about the importance of having this true connection. Even you're hiring people or whatever the circumstances is. So yeah, talks about even though you're not related, it's a found family that they create. And then Brendan Fraser does incredible job navigating individual character and then finding who he is really.

[Ronny Chieng]

Eventually, no, the message and theme is so relevant. It comes through to it. And one of the beautiful things about the film I feel was that I guess technically it's a foreign film, but when I was watching it, it didn't feel like a foreign film at all. It just felt like a well made movie. How much did you consider, how much thought did you put into Japanese dialogue versus English dialogue or did you just let it be what it was?

[Hikari]

I just kind of let it be. Like once I find, you know, who Philip was and you know, Brandon being the Philip, I just kind of, you know, just wanted to be equal. But then what is it like to be in Japan if you're the Phillips character? You know, being there for seven years, it's like a half and half. But I also wanted to. To make this movie for the world. You know, if it's just all Japanese, it'll be a little bit difficult to understand. So, yeah, we kind of find a fine balance in between.

[Ronny Chieng]

I think you got the balance right. Like when they speak English, it doesn't feel weird, it feels like it fits in the. And when they speak Japanese also obviously feels correct because they're set in Japan and you got a chance to direct one of your acting heroes.

[Hikari]

Yes, yes. Akira Emoto. And yeah, he's like a growing. Yeah. Child.

[Ronny Chieng]

Sure. He's Japanese acting legend. And was it weird? How did you direct him? Was it weird to give him direction?

[Hikari]

Well, at first I was so nervous. I mean, he came into audition because he had to speak English and then like, shit.

[Ronny Chieng]

You auditioned him?

[Hikari]

I auditioned him. I was like, yeah. He was like, he's 77. He just turned 77.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, that's awful.

[Hikari]

Only, yeah, he never. And he never auditioned ever in his life.

[Ronny Chieng]

And you made your 77 year Hero audition for your indie film.

[Hikari]

Yeah, and so I was like all of a sudden, like shitting my pants. And I was like, hey, excuse, can you do this? And he's like, what do you want? I'm like, oh, okay. But anyway, working with him was great. We did a lot of improvisation.

[Ronny Chieng]

And you just told him to shut up and do it the way I tell you.

[Hikari]

Yeah, exactly.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, he took it a role. No, he's great in the movie. He's awesome. You see these actors who are at the top of their game.

[Hikari]

Yeah, totally.

[Ronny Chieng]

So thanks so much for making a movie. It's a beautiful movie.

[Hikari]

Thank you.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's telling a real human story and I hope everyone out there can go watch it.

[Hikari]

Yeah, totally.

[Ronny Chieng]

Rental Family will be in theaters everywhere November 21st. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back after this.

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[Ronny Chieng]

Call of Duty Black Ops 7 available now.

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[Ronny Chieng]

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[Ronny Chieng]

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[Ronny Chieng]

Hey, that's our show for the night. Now here it is, your moment of Zen. We've worked with all presidents away. Son of the league, Mr. President.

[Donald Trump Impressionist]

And Trump doesn't give a fist pump. I grabbed that hand. I don't give a hell where that hand's been. I grabbed that.

[Ronny Chieng]

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.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.