Trump Enters War on Showers & Kristi Noem Takes "Photo Shoot" Literally | Bowen Yang

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Enters War on Showers & Kristi Noem Takes "Photo Shoot" Literally
Release Date: April 11, 2025
Hosts: Desi Lydic, Michael Costa, Troy Iwata, Bowen Yang

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Introduction

In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, the news team dives into the latest political satire surrounding former President Donald Trump’s unconventional campaign strategies and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s controversial photo shoot. The episode blends sharp humor with biting commentary, offering listeners a humorous yet critical take on current political maneuvers.

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Trump’s War on Showers

The episode opens with Desi Lydic introducing the main storyline: Donald Trump’s latest declaration of a "war on showers," a satirical take on his approach to policy-making. Desi mocks Trump’s focus on seemingly trivial issues amidst broader economic concerns.

Key Points:

• Economic Downturn: Desi highlights Trump’s attempts to salvage a crashing economy plagued by tariffs and trade wars, particularly targeting China. She sarcastically remarks on Trump's strategy of surrounding himself with flattering voices to maintain his image.
  “...there's one thing a serious leader does. Gather up all your closest friends on your payroll and make them say nice things about you.” (00:55)

• Water Pressure Issues: The core of Trump’s satire revolves around his complaints about low water pressure, portrayed as a national crisis. Desi humorously questions the practicality of focusing on such minor issues during significant economic turmoil. “I'm gonna come.” (02:01)
  “It takes 15 minutes for your hair to get wet. Are you sure you're not standing in the pantry?” (04:15)

• Executive Orders on Showers: Troy Iwata discusses Trump's executive orders aimed at improving water pressure and regulating shower faucet temperatures. The segment highlights the absurdity of these measures amidst a trade war. “With this executive order, we're effectively going.” (04:25)
  “Toeshing faucets can’t do that thing where you turn it and it's cold, cold, cold, but then super hot.” (08:32)

Notable Quotes:

• Desi Lydic: “This is the stuff that he's passing in the middle of a trade war. What a waste of time.” (09:01)
• Donald Trump: “I'm gonna come.” (Multiple instances, used to parody Trump's repetitive and trivial statements.

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Kristi Noem’s Photo Shoot Misstep

Desi shifts focus to Governor Kristi Noem, who has come under fire for a viral photo shoot that appeared to trivialize the serious role of federal agents.

Key Points:

• Viral Video Controversy: Bowen Yang explains how Noem’s photo shoot, where she posed with federal agents pointing guns, has sparked backlash for its insensitivity. “Today, she's posing with two federal agents pointing a gun right at the agent's head. Wow.” (02:31)

• Satirical Commentary: Desi quips about the absurdity of the photo shoot, questioning whether Noem inadvertently caused harm, further mocking the trivialization of serious political roles. “I'm starting to wonder if maybe she actually shot her dog by accident while taking a family photo.” (02:38)

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Parody of Trump’s Cabinet Members

The show satirizes Trump’s cabinet by presenting fictional statements from appointed members, each delivering outlandish promises and actions.

Key Points:

• Fake Cabinet Announcements: The team humorously creates scenarios where cabinet members announce bizarre initiatives, such as Tulsi Gabbard promising to stop election rigging and RFK Jr. vowing to remove fluoride from water. “Tulsi Gabbard said she's going to stop election rigging.” (03:34)
  “RFK Jr announced that he'll get fluoride out of the water.” (03:34)

Notable Quotes:

• Bowen Yang: “The US Americans want you to be president.” (01:49)
• Michael Costa: “You are overwhelmingly elected by the biggest majority.” (01:45)

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Michael Costa’s “Costa Doing Business” Segment

Michael Costa takes over for a satirical business segment, mocking the economic policies and their impact on everyday Americans.

Key Points:

• Tariff-Induced Panic Buying: Costa humorously discusses the repercussions of Trump’s tariffs, highlighting consumer behaviors like hoarding essential items. “Consumers going on a tariff induced shopping spree from appliances to alcohol, hoarding items like toothpaste and toilet paper.” (12:40)

• Impact on Products: He elaborates on how tariffs affect various products, from toys to iPhones, exaggerating the consequences for the average consumer. “US tariffs on Chinese goods soared to 104% on everything from clothing and shoes to toys.” (14:00)
  “Apple seeing a wave of panic buying for iPhones as higher prices loom due to Trump's tariffs.” (15:59)

• Satirical Solutions: Costa offers absurd “business opportunities” arising from the tariff-induced chaos, such as harvesting apples in waiter uniforms or selling rice as a panic commodity. “If you’re looking at a guy who just converted his entire bathroom into a rice patty.” (16:03)

Notable Quotes:

• Michael Costa: “Now, what I mean, despite a 90 day pause for other countries, tariffs on China are still sky to the high.” (13:03)
• Desi Lydic: “Apple seeing a wave of panic buying for iPhones as higher prices loom.” (15:59)

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Interview with Bowen Yang

Bowen Yang joins Desi Lydic for an engaging interview, where they discuss his experiences on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and his new movie, The Wedding Banquet.

Key Points:

• SNL Characters: Bowen talks about portraying controversial characters like George Santos and the prima donna iceberg, sharing the challenges and humorous aspects of these roles. “Every time I have to play him, I go to Lorne and I say, you can do a buyback.” (22:13)

• New Movie – The Wedding Banquet: Bowen introduces his upcoming film, a remake of an Ang Lee classic, focusing on themes of sham marriage and cultural intersections. “It's about this sham marriage that has to get staged between these two couples who are friends with each other.” (25:16)

• Cultural Commentary: The discussion delves into how pop culture has evolved and Bowen’s perspective on being both an observer and a participant in it. “I feel like we're still, like, tuning into, like, the same shows.” (24:12)

Notable Quotes:

• Desi Lydic: “I love hearing that, because your presence on SNL is like, I can't imagine the pressure cooker it must be.” (23:31)
• Bowen Yang: “And I feel like there. I get why everyone thinks that, like, things are fragmented now and there's no monoculture anymore, but I feel like we're still, like, tuning into, like, the same shows.” (24:23)
• Bowen Yang: “It's me, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. We're all on the front line.” (26:05)

Interactive Segment: Desi and Bowen engage in a playful game relating to wedding scenarios, further showcasing their chemistry and humor.

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Conclusion

The episode wraps up with Desi Lydic summarizing the satirical take on Trump’s minor policy focuses against the backdrop of significant economic issues, Kristi Noem’s questionable public relations tactics, and Michael Costa’s humorous financial advice. The interview with Bowen Yang adds depth, highlighting the interplay between pop culture and political satire.

Final Thoughts: The Daily Show: Ears Edition effectively blends humor with critical commentary, offering listeners a comprehensive and entertaining analysis of current political antics and their broader implications. The episode stands out for its sharp wit, engaging interviews, and ability to make complex issues accessible and amusing.

Join the Conversation: Listeners are encouraged to watch the full episode on Comedy Central at 11/10c or stream it on Paramount+ for an in-depth experience of the satirical news coverage.

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Notable Timestamped Quotes:

• “I have to stand in the shower for 15 minutes till it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It's ridiculous.” – Donald Trump (04:22)
• “If I'm gonna be spending five hours a day stress pooping on the toilet, at least give us an executive order like the one this afternoon that says no more itchy tags on clothes.” – Troy Iwata (09:22)
• “TikTok is simply too popular. The American people love it.” – Michael Costa (16:10)

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This comprehensive summary encapsulates the essence of the April 11, 2025 episode, highlighting key discussions, satirical insights, and memorable quotes, providing a clear and engaging overview for both regular listeners and newcomers alike.

Transcript

[Michael Costa]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Donald Trump]

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 Lighting.

Oh. Welcome to the Daily Show.

I'm Desi Lydic. Got so much to talk about tonight. Kristi Noem does border cosplay. The tariffs might make you rich. And Trump declares war on water. So let's get into another installment of Trump 2.0. Coming for the White House.

[Donald Trump]

I'm going to come.

[Desi Lydic]

I'm sorry. I don't know why we keep. We're not gonna show that clip anymore. Okay, let's get into the big story. Today, Donald Trump had a rough week. His beautiful economy crashed because some dum dum came and tariffed every country on the planet. He tried to save it yesterday, but the markets are still crashing today because, again, some absolute moron keeps ramping up a trade war against China. But in moments like this, there's one thing a serious leader does. Gather up all your closest friends on your payroll and make them say nice things about you.

[Michael Costa]

Thank you for your leadership, and thank you for everything you're doing.

[Desi Lydic]

Your leadership at the border, absolutely remarkable.

[Kristi Noem]

I want to thank you as well for the shipbuilding.

[Desi Lydic]

I want to thank you for standing up to the Chinese Communist Party. What you're doing now, I think, is.

[Michael Costa]

A great service to our country, but ultimately to the world.

[Troy Iwata]

You are overwhelmingly elected by the biggest majority.

[Bowen Yang]

The US Americans want you to be president.

[Troy Iwata]

Your vision is a turning point and an inflection point in American history.

[Desi Lydic]

Wow. What do you even say to that?

[Donald Trump]

I'm gonna come.

[Desi Lydic]

No, stop it. Stop it. Not that. But let's be fair. Serving in Trump's cabinet isn't just photo ops at the White House. They also do photo ops out in the field. Although with Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, this was less like a photo op and more like a photo. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. Watch where you point that thing.

[Bowen Yang]

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem is taking heat today for her latest viral video.

[Desi Lydic]

Here we are with Marco and Brian.

[Bowen Yang]

Today, she's posing with two federal agents pointing a gun right at the agent's head. Wow.

[Desi Lydic]

Give it up for Friendly Fire Barbie. Everyone, to be fair, this is Kristi Noem, and these agents were wearing dog tags. You know, I'm starting to wonder if maybe she actually shot her dog by accident while taking a family photo. Fido. Fido, get in here. Oh, never mind. Just people. So Trump's cabinet has been very active at today's meeting. Tulsi Gabbard said she's going to stop election rigging. Pam Bondi said she'll seek a 20 year prison term for someone who vandalized a test. And RFK Jr announced that he'll get fluoride out of the water. So congrats in advance to your dentist on his new Bentley. But don't worry, they're leaving the big issues to the President himself.

[Troy Iwata]

The Biden administration launched what you've called a war on showers.

[Desi Lydic]

Ah, yes, yes, the war on showers. A fight. Steve Bannon has been on the front lines of his whole life. Now, most people probably didn't even realize we were in a war on showers because no one in the Biden administration ever accidentally added a reporter to the war on showers. Group chat. But in all seriousness, I know the war on showers very well. Okay? My uncle actually lost his leg from stepping on a bath bomb. It's never been the same. But luckily, that war is now coming to an end.

[Troy Iwata]

Certain regulations that basically killed the water pressure of showers and other water appliances.

[Bowen Yang]

With this executive order, we're effectively going.

[Troy Iwata]

To be reversing that set of regulations.

[Donald Trump]

In my case, I like to take a nice shower to take care of my beautiful hair. I have to stand on the shower for 15 minutes till it gets wet. It comes out drip, drip, drip. It's ridiculous.

[Desi Lydic]

It takes 15 minutes for your hair to get wet. Are you sure you're not standing in the pantry? The water pressure is terrible in here. And we're out of Cheez Its. But if you're as big of a Trump head as I am, you know that water pressure is not a new issue for him. He's been passionate about this crisis for a while.

[Donald Trump]

Take a shower, and water comes dripping out. It's dripping out very quietly. Dripping out sinks, Right? Showers. You take a shower, the water doesn't come out. It's the shower, it's the sink. And you know the third element in the bathroom, People have to flush their toilet 15 times. 10 times, right? 10 times. Turn on the shower.

[Desi Lydic]

Ding, ding.

[Donald Trump]

It goes drip, drip, drip, drip, drip. Please come out the water. Come on, water. Come out, baby.

[Desi Lydic]

Come out, baby, please come out. Come out for daddy. Has he ever said anything more embarrassing?

[Donald Trump]

I'm gonna come.

[Desi Lydic]

Stop doing that. Stop it. But, guys, guys, we did it. We found the one issue Donald Trump has stayed consistent on. It is literally the dumbest issue ever, but we'll take it. But this is still a major announcement, which is why Fox News deployed its most sophisticated journalism technique. Talking to old people. At a diner, your thoughts about your.

[Audience Member]

Chance of having water pressure strong again.

[Michael Costa]

In the shower, that's just fine with me.

[Desi Lydic]

I think you should.

[Donald Trump]

I think it ought to better blow.

[Michael Costa]

The skin off of it if you.

[Desi Lydic]

Want it that way.

[Audience Member]

We don't want to blow the skin off. The epidermis is quite vital.

[Desi Lydic]

All right, hold on. Kill me. Don't act like that guy is the weird one. You're the one walking around a diner going, tell me what you do in the shower. By the way, why are you talking to the men in here? You gotta talk to these ladies. That's a group of ladies excited about a stronger showerhead. Am I right? Yeah, they get it. They get it. Still, I'm not sure the majority of Americans want their skin blown off. Anyone else want to chime in about water pressure?

[Audience Member]

So tell me about what you picture now. That water pressure will be great again.

[Desi Lydic]

I have to sit there, stand there for two or three minutes before the.

[Donald Trump]

Water even get warm.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, that's a different thing. This is not just an open forum for general shower complaints. The water's too cold and I don't like how it tastes. It should taste like Hawaiian. Is there anyone in this diner Brian Kilmeade can have a normal interaction with?

[Audience Member]

How old are you?

[Troy Iwata]

I'm 12.

[Audience Member]

Do you even remember the way it used to be in 2008 before Barack Obama came in?

[Bowen Yang]

No.

[Desi Lydic]

Kilmade, dude, he just told you he was 12. Do you even know what year it is? Excuse me, little boy, where were you for the moon landing? A kid was born in 2012. He doesn't remember Obama as president. He's probably like, Obama. Is that the guy who puts out the Spotify playlist? For more on these executive orders, let's go live to the White House with our very own Troy Iwata. Troy, is water pressure really what Trump's going to be focusing on?

[Troy Iwata]

Absolutely, Desi. And it's not just water pressure. A few minutes ago, he passed another executive order that says a shower faucet can't do that thing where you turn it and it's cold, cold, cold, but then super hot. There has to be a warm middle, if that makes sense. You know what I mean? Best wishes, djt.

[Desi Lydic]

Best wishes.

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah, I think halfway through, he forgot it was an executive order and not a letter. I don't know.

[Desi Lydic]

This is the stuff that he's passing in the middle of a trade war. What a waste of time.

[Troy Iwata]

You know, hard. Disagree, Desi. I like this version of Trump. Let him have his little showers okay. Also, I do love a warm middle.

[Desi Lydic]

Okay, but who does this help?

[Troy Iwata]

The real question is, who does this hurt? And the answer is no one. Right.

[Bowen Yang]

Okay.

[Troy Iwata]

They're gonna do bad things anyway, Desi. But if I'm gonna be spending five hours a day stress pooping on the toilet, at least give us an executive order like the one this afternoon that says no more itchy tags on clothes. It's too, too, too, too itchy. Have a great summer, Donald Trump.

[Desi Lydic]

Okay, I do agree with that. Tags are itchy. But shouldn't he be focusing on bigger, real things?

[Troy Iwata]

He's bad at bigger, real things. 95. 95 of these executive executive orders are about punishing people who just disagree with him. So I'm fine with SideQuest. TRUMP. Okay, would you go up to Hitler and be like, why are you painting? You've got work to do.

[Desi Lydic]

Is it too much to ask for a president who's not Hitler?

[Troy Iwata]

Yes, apparently it is. So just focus on the wins. Yes. He's putting Dora the Explorer on a flight to El Salvador. Okay. But he's declared that anyone on the flight who asks for a soda has to get a whole can. Xoxo. Donnie.

[Desi Lydic]

Troy, I hope you confronted them about that deportation order.

[Troy Iwata]

I did.

The soda can was my idea.

[Desi Lydic]

These are terrible concessions for the American people.

[Troy Iwata]

Desi, if you don't like that one, how about this one? It says, toilet paper must be rolled over the top and not from the bottom. Lilas. Donald Trump. We can all get behind that, right?

[Desi Lydic]

Actually, I like toilet paper rolling from the bottom.

[Troy Iwata]

Oh, okay.

[Desi Lydic]

Thank you.

[Troy Iwata]

So you're one of them bottom rollers. Okay, Enjoy your flight to El Salvador. Hello? Ice.

[Desi Lydic]

What? No, Troy. Troy, you hang up right now. Hang up the phone. Troy. You oughta. Everyone, when we come back, Michael Costa will do some business. So don't go away.

Excus.

Welcome back to the Daily Show. If you want honest and rigorous financial news, then go eat a dick. But if you want to get rich, then you want Michael Kosta in another installment of Costa Doing Business.

[Michael Costa]

What up, players? This is the King. I'm Michael Costa. Doing business. And I'm Michael Costa. So let's make some fat stacks of that stinkin cash. But first, I know what you're thinking, all right? And just to clarify, I didn't jump off a building because of the market crash, all right? This happened because I couldn't pay my coke dealer after the market crash, and then he threw me off a building. What up, Hector? Anyways, all the more reason to get down to making some of that money. Okay, now this week, Big Daddy Trump's game of tariff. No tariff caused a lot of selling on Wall, but on Main street everybody's still singing bye bye bye but it's spelled B U Y. Hit me.

[Desi Lydic]

With fears that prices will be going way up, some Americans have started panic buying.

[Kristi Noem]

Consumers going on a tariff induced shopping spree from appliances to alcohol, hoarding items like toothpaste and toilet paper.

[Troy Iwata]

We were talking about it that we should buy some rice because we get that's made in Thailand. And we said we don't really need it right now, but we're going to buy it.

[Michael Costa]

Yup, that's right. American consumers are acting like me when I saw my coke dealer. They are panicking. Now as a rule of thumb, in a financial crisis, you should never panic. Then again, rules of thumb were meant to be broken and I'm talking repeatedly smashed in a car trunk over and over again. But where there is panic, there are, ah, panic tunities. If people are snapping up rice, then call me the rice Patty Daddy, because you're looking at a guy who just converted his entire bathroom into a rice patty. Yup, look. And if anyone has a contact at Whole Foods, Sensei Costa's Toilet Rice is still looking for a distributor. Now of course, grocery stores aren't the only ones caught up in Uncle DJ T's economy lobotomy. Now what I mean, despite a 90 day pause for other countries, tariffs on China are still sky to the high. Hit me. Oh Jesus.

[Desi Lydic]

US tariffs on Chinese goods soared to 104% on everything from clothing and shoes to toys.

[Kristi Noem]

It could soon be much harder to get your hands on Tonka trucks, Care Bears, and even the new Nintendo Switch 2 that's out this summer. With companies opting to pause shipments to the U.S. swiss watches and X ray tubes for CAT scans could also be impacted with the tariff wars.

[Michael Costa]

Aw, sorry kids. These tariffs are affecting all your toys. Care Bears, Nintendo Switches, X ray tubes for CAT scans. Now you're never gonna know what's going on inside of your Care Bear. Well, until. Until puberty. Am I right? Up top. But seriously, these are just the kind of sacrifices we need to make to get the economy back to where it was 10 days ago. So with toys in the red, that means I'm buying up children's tears. Okay, these things, these things go for $10,000 an ounce on the streets of Silicon Valley. What do you think Mark Zuckerberg fills his cold plunge with? All right, that's how he keeps it. So Zuckerber. So Daddy T's tariffs are going to be affecting some shit that we don't care about, like child's happiness or your estranged grandma's 401k. But who cares? Because you weren't getting that money anyway. Not since your ex wife told her about what you did in Sarasota during a crypto conference. And even though you agreed to counseling and couples therapy and you deleted all the dating apps from your work phone and you swore you'd never be caught with $5,000 cash and a Costco sized bottle of amyl nitrates ever again, it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. So you grandma. But that doesn't mean Papa Trump's tariffs aren't gonna impact things that we do care about. Like iPhones. Hit me.

[Desi Lydic]

Apple seeing a wave of panic buying for iPhones as higher prices loom due to Trump's tariffs.

[Bowen Yang]

An iPhone 16 Pro Max already $1,200 could jump by another 350 bucks when.

[Michael Costa]

It comes to Apple. They were find many 747s as they could to get iPhones out of China.

[Donald Trump]

Planes stuffed with billions of dollars of iPhones to arrive before the tariffs take effect.

[Michael Costa]

That's right. That's right. IPhones are flying here business class. So Apple can make a little business cash. But refugees fleeing a wicka wicka war, they're not going to make it, are they? So that little shiny rectangle in your pocket is now worth a whole lot of Wicca wicka. Which is why I'm bullish on unsupervised coat checks. Okay, these rooms are teeming with tariff free phones. All it takes is a cater waiter uniform and you'll be harvesting apples like a family in autumn. You're no longer allowed to see anymore. Hey. Hey, Siri. How much green gravy did I just make off this iPhone? Tariff crisis.

[Desi Lydic]

This phone has been reported stolen. Calling police.

[Michael Costa]

Oh yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

Oops.

[Michael Costa]

Clumsy me writing a cup of coffee.

[Bowen Yang]

Look.

[Michael Costa]

Looks like I'm gonna have to dry that out. In what, a bowl of Sensei Costa's toilet rice? Yeah, baby. Now available in the third stall of the men's bathroom at the ETH Rutherford Whole Foods. Now for those of you that have a working iPhone and your favorite app for watching tradwives make slow churn smoothies, it's about to get a new owner. Hit me.

[Kristi Noem]

The president announced he was extending by 75 days the deadline for TikTok's owner to find a non Chinese buyer.

[Desi Lydic]

There are a number of interested parties who have said they would be willing to acquire the app.

[Bowen Yang]

The founder of the adult content site.

[Troy Iwata]

OnlyFans has also submitted a bid.

[Michael Costa]

TikTok. It's money o'clock, and I'm betting on OnlyFans. Hell, I've been putting money into that site for years, but I can't pull anything out because Mistress Victoria tells me I'm not allowed to. Well, at least I put two of her kids through north. Let's go, Wildcats. But no matter who Buy Buy buys TikTok, do not worry, because it will not be banned in the US and that's a Costa guarantee. TikTok is simply too popular. The American people love it. And for some, it's the only workaround we have to communicate with our kids. Hey, Skyler. Hey, Brandon. Do you guys want to go see the Minecraft movie this weekend? Sound off in the comments. Your mom sucks. Well, that's all I have time for. If I don't get $2,500 to Hector in the next hour, he's gonna shatter my pelvis. But, hey, that's just the cost of doing business.

[Desi Lydic]

Thank you, Michael. And when we come back, governor will be bringing in the show. Welcome back to the Daily Show.

My guest tonight is a comedian, writer, and actor. You know, from snl. He stars in the new movie the Wedding Banquet. Please welcome Bowen Yang.

I don't know about all that.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't know.

[Desi Lydic]

We got some Bowen fans.

[Bowen Yang]

Hi, everyone. That's very nice. Wow.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, I am so happy that you're here. I hope you're ready, because I am gonna hammer you with tariff questions.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydic]

We have got to get to the bottom of Trump's trade war.

[Bowen Yang]

Let's do it. You and me. I mean, first of all, I miss 104. We're at 125 now, but 104 just felt like a steam sex. Your number. Right? Right.

[Desi Lydic]

I totally agree.

[Bowen Yang]

It's like random missed opportunity, missed opportunity.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, my God, I am such a huge fan of yours.

[Bowen Yang]

Likewise, Desi. But, like, okay, I ran into you. I think it was some. It doesn't matter. Some awards thing.

[Desi Lydic]

But, like, I'm sure it was very fancy and very elite.

[Bowen Yang]

It was very fancy, very elite. But I like, whatever. I have tunnel vision at those things. I don't look in the periph. Cause I'm like. I don't know who I'm gonna like, you know, and get into the crossfire with. But, like, you. I turned to you and it felt like there was a star shower behind you. I was like, desi Lyck is right there. And God, I love her.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, you're so sweet. I travel with a ring light.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Desi Lydic]

And I haven't.

[Bowen Yang]

And your backlit.

[Desi Lydic]

Yes, I'm always backlit.

[Troy Iwata]

That never works.

[Desi Lydic]

I hire an intern to follow me around. So it makes you think. It's a moment.

Yes.

Yes.

[Michael Costa]

No.

[Desi Lydic]

I felt the same way. I was like, I need to corner you and make sure that you come on the show to see us, and then I can snag you. Yes. We snagged and we did it.

[Bowen Yang]

We did it.

[Desi Lydic]

I love all of the characters that you play on snl. You've played George Santos.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes. Oh, there he is.

[Desi Lydic]

The very handsome George Santos JD Vance. There he is. And my favorite, the prima donna iceberg. Yeah, that guy from the Titan. That's my favorite of all time. It feels like you choose these highly unlikable, unsavory characters and just somehow find the humor and make them engaging.

[Bowen Yang]

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, they chose to be on display, and yet they're like, don't look at me, don't look at me. But it's like, you know, you opted into. There was some buy in on some level.

[Desi Lydic]

The idea that the iceberg is a victim in all of this.

[Bowen Yang]

Totally.

[Desi Lydic]

That's very.

[Bowen Yang]

And isn't he? He was just sitting there.

[Desi Lydic]

I mean, what was he doing? It wasn't really his fault.

[Bowen Yang]

And by now he's gone. He's melted away with climate change.

[Desi Lydic]

What was the moment when you were asked to play JD Vance? Lauren asked you. And what did you say?

[Bowen Yang]

Lauren asked me and I said, please, please, please, please don't make me do this.

[Desi Lydic]

Why?

[Bowen Yang]

I really find him challenging. First of all, I like God's honest truth, I really do my best with him, but every time I have to play him, I go to Lorne and I say, you can do a buyback. You don't have to stick with me. You can please reach out to Zach Galifianakis. Please reach out to Taran Killam. But no, that's my charge.

[Desi Lydic]

So how did you find your way through him? Was it a challenge?

[Bowen Yang]

It was. Oh, my gosh. You really are grilling me.

[Desi Lydic]

We'll get.

[Bowen Yang]

I love it. I love it. No, you know what? I worked with. You guys are gonna roll your eyes. I worked with, like, an accent coach. We had to find the middle between. We had to find the middle between, like, Appalachian, but Ohio. Like, we really had to, like, find the Right.

[Desi Lydic]

I love this.

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

And, like, I was like, I don't wanna screw this up. Like, I have such an uphill battle here. Like, I've got my almond eye.

[Desi Lydic]

I've got.

[Bowen Yang]

And everyone in America's gonna be like, this Asian guy's playing that guy. I was like, I really gotta nail this down. And I'm just telling you guys, I'm doing my best, okay?

[Desi Lydic]

It is so far beyond that. I love hearing that, because your presence on SNL is like, I can't imagine the pressure cooker it must be. And you always look so calm and. And cool and relaxed. So thank you for sharing that. You work really hard and you hire.

[Bowen Yang]

An actor, and I'm not even on ketamine. It's amazing.

[Desi Lydic]

Yet.

[Bowen Yang]

Yet, yet, yet.

[Desi Lydic]

I want to talk about your podcast.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydic]

Las Culturistas. Pop culture has been a huge part of your life. You started doing that in 2016, before SNL. How has your perspective changed over the years? Being someone who observes and is passionate about pop culture to then becoming part of the culture.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, my gosh. I really think there is no big difference. We're basically the same show as we were nine years ago, which is dinosaur years in podcasting.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah. Truly.

[Bowen Yang]

But, I mean, it's the same show. We start off, we just riff, and then we end with this silly segment. But I think, like, I'm just like, y'all going home watching the pit. You know what I mean? Like, I. We're all watching the same stuff. And I. And I feel like there. I get why everyone thinks that, like, things are fragmented now and there's no monoculture anymore, but I feel like we're still, like, tuning into, like, the same shows. Like, there's just fewer shows that we're all tuning into. But I feel like that kind of makes our jobs, our jobs as people, as consumers easier if we're just like, all right, it's Sunday. We're gonna watch Walton Goggins, you know, be scary. Yes.

[Desi Lydic]

Yes. And we all did. And I have not caught up on the finale, so please, I didn't spoil anything.

[Bowen Yang]

I didn't want to watch it.

[Desi Lydic]

Blow it for me. I'm gonna watch tonight. I want to talk about your new movie, the Wedding Banquet. It's so good. You're fantastic in it. This cast is amazing. Lily Gladstone.

[Bowen Yang]

Yep. Yeo Jung Yoon. Joan Chen. Hunky Chan. It's his first English movie ever. He's amazing in it. Kelly Marie Tran. It's a great.

[Desi Lydic]

Tell us what the story is all about.

[Bowen Yang]

So it's a remake of an Ang Lee film from the 90s. It's about this sham marriage that has to get staged between these two couples who are friends with each other. The lesbian couple needs an IVF treatment. The Korean guy, my boyfriend, needs to just stage this wedding so that his parents in Korea, his family in Korea doesn't find out. He's really wealthy. He offers to pay for the IVF treatments and my character kind of gets sidelined. And he's like, how do I fit into this? And it's so fun. It's a warm hug of a movie. You'll all love it, I promise.

[Desi Lydic]

It's great. It is. It's a rom com. You're bringing the rom coms back?

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydic]

Finally. We need more.

[Bowen Yang]

It's me.

[Michael Costa]

Oh, my gosh.

[Bowen Yang]

Thank you. Yeah, it's me, Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney. We're all on the front line.

[Desi Lydic]

I'll take. That's a movie I'd like to see, actually, if you can make that happen. A throuple with the three of you. The movie, as you said, centers around a sham marriage.

[Bowen Yang]

Yes.

[Desi Lydic]

Have you thought about who you would want your sham wife to be?

[Troy Iwata]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydic]

For a green card, like if you had to. Situation.

[Bowen Yang]

Who needs one? But who wants to come here anymore?

[Desi Lydic]

You know what I mean? That's a fair point.

[Bowen Yang]

I'm gonna say, would she be like.

[Desi Lydic]

A blonde in late night or you could choose anyone.

[Bowen Yang]

I see. I feel like you're spoken for. I feel like. Right. But she would absolutely be a blonde. No.

[Desi Lydic]

As you were.

[Bowen Yang]

As I was. You know what I would really take? I'm a self proclaimed boob gay. I love a booksome bosom.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I appreciate that. So. Yeah. As long as you're stacked, I'll marry you.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah.

[Bowen Yang]

I love that.

[Desi Lydic]

I love that. I would love to play a game with you because this movie is about a wedding. So I was wondering if we could play a game where I mention things at a wedding and you tell me do or. I don't think so, honey.

[Bowen Yang]

Great. Love it.

[Desi Lydic]

Okay. All right. Ready?

[Bowen Yang]

Yep.

[Desi Lydic]

These are things at a wedding. Five day long. Bachelor or bachelorette party?

[Bowen Yang]

I'm gonna be. I'm gonna say that's a hard pass. Five is too long. Even with like family.

[Desi Lydic]

Even with people you love. I totally agree. So. I don't think so, honey.

[Bowen Yang]

I don't think so, honey.

[Desi Lydic]

Okay. Dog as a ring bearer.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, I do. I love that. I love that.

[Desi Lydic]

It's cute. I agree. Groomsmen taking clothes off on the day dance floor.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah. Who I mean, depends on the groomsman, but sure.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah.

Yeah.

The more the merrier. Performing at your own wedding.

[Bowen Yang]

Unless your name is Ariana. JD Vance. Unless your name is JD Vance or Ariana Grande, then no.

[Desi Lydic]

Yes.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydic]

Oh, she can.

[Bowen Yang]

She can perform.

[Desi Lydic]

She can do whatever the hell she wants.

[Bowen Yang]

Absolutely.

[Desi Lydic]

Unprompted speeches.

[Bowen Yang]

Oh, no. I feel like the programming for speeches is so intentional. And, like, if that uncle or cousin has not been designated, then there's a huge reason why it's always gonna go off the rails. Always gonna go off the rails.

[Desi Lydic]

Unwelcome. I don't think so, honey. D.J. getting on the dance floor with you.

[Bowen Yang]

If you. If he's taking. If he. She. They are taking record. If they will let you play, you know, a frigging, like, Tears for Fear song that you love or something, then yeah, absolutely.

[Desi Lydic]

I hope our DJ heard that. So he's gonna play Tears for Fears.

[Bowen Yang]

And then next winning, you guys go to request. Everybody wants to rule the world. It will bring people together. Absolutely.

[Desi Lydic]

The answer to all of our problems. Cole Ying, thank you so much.

[Bowen Yang]

Thanks for being here.

[Desi Lydic]

Love you. Thank you. The Wedding Banquet is in theaters nationwide April 18th. Bow and Yang, Everybod.

Take a quick break, and we'll be right back after this. That's our show for tonight.

Now here it is, your moment of them.

[Audience Member]

And off we're going to go for the golden age of America. It's coming now. You feel it now. Finally, someone is behind the desk in the Oval Office who's going to protect America and the world. And it's coming, and it's coming now. And I tell you what, it feels great.

[Desi Lydic]

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.

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