The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: TDS Time Machine | Emmy Nominated Guests
Date: September 5, 2025
Theme: Emmy-nominated guests join the Daily Show team to discuss their latest work, the intersection of arts and pop culture, and how creative industries are evolving—with Jon Stewart, the News Team, and a series of in-depth interviews.

Episode Overview

This "Time Machine" edition jumps into conversations with 2025’s most Emmy-nominated and buzzworthy TV/movie creators, cast members, and artists. The guests share stories about their careers, onscreen chemistry, the emotional depth of their work, and take on social issues like the impact of social media and criminal justice reform. The episode flows from lighthearted anecdotes to insightful critiques on the entertainment world, always maintaining the show's witty and irreverent tone.

Key Discussions & Insights

1. Jason Segel on 'Shrinking' and Emmy Gold

• Chemistry with Harrison Ford:

  • Segel recounts how Harrison Ford joined 'Shrinking' after being told to watch 'Forgetting Sarah Marshall.'
  • “Apparently he went off and he watched it and he texted Bill Lawrence, 'I'm in, btw. Good, Dick.' And I have it framed.” (Segel, 05:11)

• Improv and Collaboration:

  • High praise for co-star Jessica Williams:
    • “If this ship is going down, we're going down together. I will ride the Titanic down with you.” (Segel, 08:40)
  • Notes the vulnerability of improv and value of supportive collaborators.

• Giving Advice:

  • Segel fields tongue-in-cheek "advice" questions from the Daily Show office.
  • “Marry. That is probably the worst thing you could do [at your sister’s wedding].” (09:44)
  • On workplace slackers: “Just tell them they're doing a great job. Mondays are gonna have to be good enough.” (10:18)

• Looking Ahead:

  • Shares excitement about flying to Finland to film an action movie: “And I have abs right now.” (12:32)

2. Colman Domingo on 'Sing Sing' and Art’s Transformative Power

• Finding a Voice and Artistic Redemption:

  • Domingo details acting with formerly incarcerated men, where 90% of the cast lived the film's reality.
  • “It’s about finding your voice, finding that you have feelings. You can name them and you can actually place them.” (Colman Domingo, 17:12)

• On Authenticity:

  • Discusses the realness of filming in decommissioned prisons, the meta-collaboration with his best friend, and the lack of an “agenda beyond humanity and hope.” (21:33)

• Tackling Prison Tropes:

  • Contrasts typical prison dramas with 'Sing Sing’s' focus on personal growth and community, noting the very low recidivism rates after theater programs (3% versus 60% nationally). (25:38)

• Oscar Prospects and Humility:

  • Refuses to prep an Oscar speech, preferring spontaneity: “I just sit and I’m just… happy to be there, hugging and kissing on people.” (28:10)

3. Cynthia Lowen on Gen Z, Social Media, and Documentary 'Social Studies'

• Empathy for Digital-Native Teens:

  • Host admits initial cynicism, then is moved by teens' candid pleas for help—“They feel like something is wrong with them… and they are asking for help.” (32:01)

• Digging Deep for Access:

  • Technical challenges were overcome (with her teenage son’s help) to film kids’ actual screen usage and reveal the impacts of algorithm-driven toxicity.
  • “We hired an engineer… so my 14-year-old son ended up helping me hack it.” (35:31)

• The Unique Pain of Today's Adolescence:

  • “They’re suffering from 24/7 comparison… looking at every person in the world, half of them who are not even real…” (38:50)

• Social Media as the New Drug:

  • Host: “It’s like blaming a drug addict for an opiate addiction. Like giving your kids drugs and telling them not to use it while having drugs in your pocket.” (42:12)

• Possible Solutions:

  • Calls for adult intervention, advocating that algorithms and screentime controls can be reformed (as seen in other countries).
  • “The algorithm does not have to be this way… it is a teaching tool.” (44:02)

4. Bowen Yang on SNL, Las Culturistas, and 'The Wedding Banquet'

• SNL Chameleonic Roles:

  • Yang discusses the challenge and fun of playing both loathsome (George Santos) and inanimate (the Titanic iceberg) characters:
  • “I really love just this thing… people in media who hate it too much, but they chose to be in front of the camera…” (51:15)

• On Representation and Comedy:

  • Opens up about the pressure of playing J.D. Vance:
  • “Every time I have to play him… You can please reach out to Zach Galifianakis…” (53:18)

• Podcast Roots and Pop Culture:

  • Yang reflects on the endurance and relevance of Las Culturistas:
  • “We're basically the same show as we were nine years ago, which is dinosaur years in podcasting.” (56:20)

• 'The Wedding Banquet' – Remake and Relevance:

  • Describes the film as a “warm hug of a movie,” revitalizing the rom-com:
  • “You're bringing the rom coms back? Yeah. Finally. We need more. It's me, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. We're all on the front line.” (59:08)

5. Chef David Chang on the Modern Kitchen and Toxicity in Culinary Culture

• Kitchen Culture, Then and Now:

  • Chang rejects the “angry chef as genius” myth, stating:
  • “The idea of getting someone to do something through intimidation doesn't really work… It's going away for the right reasons.” (01:04:19)

• Transferring Knowledge Without Trauma:

  • Critiques the old system: “...Chefs that were working in kitchens, they weren't able to communicate exactly what they were looking for. And so they were running around and screaming...” (01:06:15)

• On 'The Bear' and Realism:

  • Humorous jab at current food TV trends: “If you're saying that, hey, we don't need to be yelling in kitchens, then I guess everything that's happening in the bear is completely unnecessary.” (01:07:12)

6. Paul W. Downs on 'Hacks', Comedy, and the Female Perspective

• Writing and Directing Multi-Generational Comedy:

  • Downs discusses why 'Hacks' connects:
  • “It’s a show about people who have been kind of cast aside by the industry. I think it’s really relatable…” (01:10:49)

• On Selfishness and Success:

  • Explores the character’s ambition: “You have to really be married to your work… you kind of do sacrifice things in your life.” (01:12:04)

• Improv and Collaboration:

  • Reveals that the much-loved “God, it feels so 80s in here” line was improvised—highlighting the show’s collaborative spirit. (01:16:05)

• Meaning and Importance of Comedy:

  • Downs values comedy’s connective power, regardless of subject:
  • “That thing of, like, getting together with people and laughing does bring people closer together… even if it's not satire and it's not political comedy.” (01:18:45)

• A Nod to The Daily Show Heritage:

  • “There’s DNA in the Daily [Show],” acknowledging how late-night comedy influences shape his work. (01:20:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jason Segel on Harrison Ford:

  “He texted Bill Lawrence, 'I'm in, btw. Good, Dick.' And I have it framed.” (05:11)

• Colman Domingo on Prison Arts:

  “It’s about finding your voice… and actually, it does some really good work in our film.” (17:12)

• Segment on Social Media:

  “It's like blaming a drug addict for an opiate addiction… Like giving your kids drugs and telling them not to use it while having drugs in your pocket.” (42:12)

• Bowen Yang on Comic Roles:

  “I really love just this thing in our culture of people who are in media who hate it too much, but they chose to be in front of the camera…” (51:15)

• David Chang on Yelling in Kitchens:

  “The idea of getting someone to do something through intimidation doesn't really work… It's going away for the right reasons.” (01:04:19)

• Paul W. Downs on Comedy’s Importance:

  “That thing of, like, getting together with people and laughing does bring people closer together.” (01:18:45)

Suggested Timestamps for Listeners

• Jason Segel on 'Shrinking' & Harrison Ford: 03:15 – 13:45
• Colman Domingo on 'Sing Sing': 14:45 – 29:40
• Cynthia Lowen on 'Social Studies': 31:31 – 46:55
• Bowen Yang on SNL & 'The Wedding Banquet': 49:05 – 01:01:12
• David Chang on Modern Kitchen Culture: 01:03:59 – 01:08:09
• Paul W. Downs on 'Hacks' and The Daily Show DNA: 01:10:05 – 01:22:02

Overall Tone

The episode is brisk, witty, and deeply human, balancing comedy with empathy and sharp critique. The guests bring vulnerability, humor, and thoughtful perspectives, reminding listeners of the messy, hopeful artistry behind the industry's biggest stories.

For anyone who missed it:
This episode delivers introspection, roast-level banter, and behind-the-scenes insights straight from some of the most interesting voices in pop culture and the arts of 2025.