Hour 1: The Ear Flushing

Summary

The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz

Episode: Hour 1: The Ear Flushing
Date: March 13, 2026

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Episode Overview

Broadcasting from the Elser Hotel in downtown Miami, Dan Le Batard, Stugotz, and the crew open the hour by digging into the latest in sports and pop culture, leaning heavily on the hype around the World Baseball Classic (WBC)—especially Miami’s central role—and then taking a sharp, extended turn into Academy Awards season, debating Best Picture nominees and overrated Oscar winners. The hour ends memorably—and hilariously—with Dan recounting his recent ear flushing and the unexpectedly heightened sensory experience that followed.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. World Baseball Classic (WBC): Miami as Global Stage

Timestamps: 00:50-09:29

• Roy’s Against The Spread Picks: Islanders vs. Kings, and a strong "vibes" case for Dominican Republic (DR) over South Korea in the WBC, based on team energy and passionate fanbase (00:50-01:44).
• Miami’s Electric Atmosphere:
  • Panelists rave about the Dominican fan turnout and the celebratory energy around the WBC games in Miami. "They were just packed that place. It was incredible. So anytime you go to Dominican, that's why I'm thinking I'm gonna go in tonight for my package." (Manny, 04:52)
• Global Star Power:
  • Anticipation for marquee matchups, like Japan’s Yamamoto (World Series MVP) vs. Venezuela (02:35-03:31).
  • The abundance of Japanese media ("...there must have been like 200 media members alone for Shohei..." – Zaz, 03:31)
• WBC vs. MLB Culture:
  • Dave criticizes MLB’s "muted" emotional climate:
    "MLB should be embarrassed. ...It's the antithesis of everything Major League Baseball stands for at this point. Shouldn't they adopt what we're seeing in the World Baseball Classic a little bit more?" (Dave, 05:05)
  • Panel explores the difference in team attitudes—highlighting the passion and communal spirit of teams from the DR, Venezuela, and Japan, compared to the more individualistic, "showcase baseball" ethos prevalent in the U.S. system (05:49-07:56).
  • The conversation turns to national pride and the players’ diverse motivations, contrasting U.S. players returning to spring training with international stars willing to lay it all on the line (07:19-09:29).

2. Oscars & Best Picture: An Overstuffed Field and “Sinners”

Timestamps: 10:30-25:57

• Gripes Over 10 Best Picture Nominees:
  • The panel debates whether the Oscars benefit from expanding the Best Picture field.
    "When they're doing the voting process...whichever one finishes with the 10th most votes, it didn't need to be nominated for Best Picture." (Mike, 10:43)
  • Dan chimes in skeptically on the “inclusivity” rhetoric, framing it as a cynical, marketing-driven move:
    "It was a straw man. No one was complaining really. ...It's all marketing to get more people..." (Dan, 12:17)
• Favorites and Predictions:
  • Dan, Stugotz, and Zaz compare notes on how many nominees they’ve seen, and Dan shares his sentimental favorites:
    "I loved one battle after another. Probably need to watch it again. Hamnet...It'll get you in the feels." (Dan, 16:27)
  • Dave calls it "a banner movie year...the best movie year we've seen in at least the last decade." (18:06)
  • Vigorous discussion of performances: Jesse Buckley’s emotional powerhouse role (“Hamnet”), and the Sean Penn vs. Benicio Del Toro supporting-actor debate (20:23-21:53).
• Pop vs. Art House—What Should Win?
  • Sinners, Marty Supreme, and F1 line up as the crowd-pleasers that might bolster the box office if awarded, versus art house darlings like The Secret Agent.
  • Zaz injects, "If there’s an underdog to make a play on, it's Sinners...there's a lot of growing momentum…you get more movies made like Sinners." (Dan, 24:03)
• Timothee Chalamet’s Opera Controversy:
  • Bizarre micro-debate over whether Chalamet’s comments about opera “tarnished” his standing, leading to snarky asides about how few people have actually been to an opera (22:32-23:20).

3. Review Roulette: “Sinners,” Hype, and Honest Reactions

Timestamps: 28:40-33:14

• Lukewarm Receptions and Hype Fatigue:
  • The panel admits to liking (but not loving) Sinners and how overblown word-of-mouth killed its magic:
    "Before I saw Sinners, I was made out to feel that this is the greatest movie of all time. ...And then I watch Sinners, and it's like, all right, it's a good movie." (Mike, 30:17)
• Notable Quotes and Exchanges:
  • "I like Sinners. There's a but somewhere in here." (Roy, 29:15)
  • "You got the whole point about the cultural appropriation, though, and everything, right? ...It's a thrilling horror vampire movie with a, with, with a valuable message." (Dave, 30:55)
• Comic Digressions:
  • Raucous banter about "playing twins" in movies (“multiplicity,” Lindsay Lohan’s “Parent Trap”) (26:20-26:43)
  • Hailee Steinfeld’s rumored “raunchy” scene in Sinners turns out to be much ado about nothing (“it was pretty hot, but…” – Dan, 32:25)

4. Overrated Oscar Winners & Pop Culture Hot Takes

Timestamps: 33:16-40:20

• Crash, Dances With Wolves & Avatar:
  • Lightning round of “Worst Best Pictures.”
    "Crash is, I think, the correct answer." (Dave, 33:35) "Dances with Wolves...does not hold up." (Dave, 34:01)
  • Dan jests, "That's that movie that ripped off Avatar, right?" (34:16)
  • Dave’s broader point: how some films, like Avatar, achieve financial success without meaningful pop culture impact—"I have never met a soul who has seen any of those Avatar movies..." (Dave, 34:22)
• Hollywood Politics and Oscar Campaigns:
  • Roy and Dan discuss Harvey Weinstein’s influence on “Shakespeare in Love”’s win over “Saving Private Ryan,” with Roy pointing directly to awards-season lobbying (39:08).

5. The Ear Flushing: Hilarious Medical Misadventures

Timestamps: 41:53-end

• Dan’s Medical Update (“The Ear Flushing”):
  • An extremely candid—and funny—account of Dan’s ear flushing, including the “nickel-sized” (well, “dime-sized”) chunk of ear wax removed and the immediate reboot of his hearing: "I had both my ears checked out...the ear that gets the headphone really backed up with wax." (Dan, 42:46) "This thing fell out of my ear and I immediately had an incredible experience...It was like the scene where Spider-man discovers he has powers." (Dan, 44:11) "I heard the fibers of the seatbelt brushing against my shoulder—I’m like, these are all sounds that I haven’t heard!" (Dan, 44:27)
• Gross-Out Factor and Antics:
  • Banter over how satisfying—or revolting—the procedure is, and how some celebrities (like Sarah Silverman) are obsessed with ear cleaning.
    "She used to loved doing that in his dressing room...some of the stuff that she pulled out...really gross stuff." (Dave, 45:01)

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Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• On MLB’s "Emotionless" Contrast with WBC:
  "It really kind of, to me stands as a black eye for what awaits us now in the regular season, which is more like mute your emotions. Stop. Stop acting like a human being might. And when it's on display here, it's joyous and a marvelous watch."
  — Dave, (05:05)
• On Feeling the Pressure to See Oscar Nominees:
  "You have to watch them for work. You have to. It's for work."
  — Dan LeBatard, (12:04)
• On Dan’s Ear Flushing Superpower:
  "It was like the scene where Spider-man discovers he has powers for the first time. Everything was heightened."
  — Dan LeBatard, (44:11)
• On Sinners’ “Greatest Movie of All Time” Hype:
  "Before I saw Sinners, I was made out to…feel that this is the greatest movie of all time...Then I watch Sinners, and it's like, all right, it's a good movie."
  — Mike, (30:17)
• Best Picture Worst Winner:
  "Crash is, I think, the correct answer."
  — Dave, (33:35)
• On Avatar’s Phantom Audience:
  "How come I have never met a soul who has seen any of those Avatar movies? ...They have nothing to do in pop culture. ...Something ain't right. Something's fishy here."
  — Dave, (34:22)

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Episode Structure: Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:50-09:29 – World Baseball Classic: picks, vibes, Miami as host city, U.S. vs. international baseball culture.
• 10:30-25:57 – Oscars conversation: nominee field, movie reviews, favorites, and industry talk.
• 28:40-33:14 – Sinners: divisive reactions, hype fatigue, and group debates.
• 33:16-40:20 – Bad Oscar winners; pop culture references; industry politics.
• 41:53-45:01 – The Ear Flushing: medical saga, fast-hearing, and Sarah Silverman's ear-cleaning hobby.

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Tone & Style

• The show maintains its signature blend of smart, irreverent, self-aware banter; panelists openly disagree and volley pop culture references liberally, never taking themselves too seriously.
• Occasional detours into absurdity and self-deprecation—especially in the “ear flushing” sequence.

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Summary: Why Listen?

This episode exemplifies what longtime fans love about Dan Le Batard’s show: an ability to veer from high-level sports analysis, to Oscar handicapping and comedic life updates, all within a single segment. Whether you care about baseball, the Oscars, or just want to laugh at Dan’s post-wax-removal superhearing, you’ll find something to both inform and entertain.

Transcript

[Announcer]

Shot clocks, big shots, upsets, aces. TGL playoffs are here. First, Atlanta drives starts their repeat run against Los Angeles Golf Club. Then Rory's Boston Common golf and Tigers Jupiter Lynx face off in their playoff debuts. Who will advance? Keep up its playoffs tune in Tuesday, March 17th at 6:30pm and 9:00pm only on ESPN and the ESPN app.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugats podcast.

[Stugats]

Against the spread is brought to you by DraftKings against DraftKings. The Crown is yours. Roy, what do we got?

[Roy]

All right, we got Kings and Islanders tonight. The Islanders have failed to cover the puck line against Pacific Division in the last six games and the Kings have covered the puck line as underdogs in seven straight games against the Metro Division. But looking at the stats, the Kings just do not score and the Islanders are 730 in the last 10. So I'm going to have to go with the Islanders as the favorites at a goal and a half against the spread.

[Dave]

Against the spread.

[Manny]

Tony, a lot of analytics and numbers there from Roy. We're going to the vibes portion of against the spread. La Republica Dominicana. Just like you saw in the video of me going around town at the World Baseball Classic and hyping up all the Dominicans. Dominican Republic minus four and a half on the run line against South Korea. That's what they told me. So I'm taking the Dominican Republic. The lineup in the bin. Good pick, Manny.

[Stugats]

Keep going.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hold on, Manny. David Ortiz. There's one man, Miguel Tejada.

[Manny]

He's not there anymore. A bunch of guys in this lineup.

[Dan LeBatard]

Big boppy.

[Manny]

We saw him not that big.

[Roy]

Thinned out a little.

[Stugats]

I saw something on social of like that lineup, the Dominican lineup in like I think, was it 16 or something, man, fire lineup.

[Zaz]

It's crazy.

[Manny]

They're just hitting home run after home run after home run after home run.

[Zaz]

Vladdy like Catal Marte. Marte, who's one of the most underrated players in baseball because he's in Arizona and not as many people are paying attention to him. He's amazing. The fact that you've got tonight and this is here in Miami.

[Manny]

O' Neal Cruz doesn't even play right.

[Zaz]

O' Neal Cruz has not been a starter for them for a like the majority.

[Manny]

Where are they hiding this guy?

[Dan LeBatard]

He's huge.

[Zaz]

It's crazy that you've got the doctor in that team that may very well win it all the way they're playing probably will.

[Mike]

This should be a wild atmosphere tonight, right?

[Zaz]

It's going to Be nuts. Like, you have doctor Playing in an elimination game as they're going against Korea. And then tomorrow night, it's Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the World Series mvp, starting for Japan against Venezuela. That's also a great team. That's tomorrow night. And those are both here in Miami. It's pretty cool. I'm looking at this type of atmosphere here.

[Mike]

I'm looking at the prices, because I checked out the prices the other day, and I guess maybe because I'd like to go, actually. And I've been to the WBC before, like, years ago, and it's. It's an atmosphere, all right. But I checked recently, and I guess it was because the matchup, the tickets were very expensive. But looking at tonight, tickets are pretty affordable.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Manny]

Because you don't have the second. That second team. That's right, right, right. A long trip from South Korea to Miami, where Venezuela, you have west and you have Doral. Everybody's here.

[Zaz]

You're going to have a ton of Japanese media that shows up.

[Manny]

We already start seeing them on Wednesday night. We'll be there, like, all the drills,

[Zaz]

preemptively, like, preemptively coming here and getting settled. Because I remember, like, last year during that championship game, I mean, there must have been like 200 media members alone, let alone fans that came over here, because simply for Shohei, let alone the fact that now Yamamoto just won the World Series mvp. So the fact that you have those two guys playing together tomorrow night and that Venezuela is great. Venezuela could have won that game. They had an opportunity late. That's a team that, if they lose here, like, what a. What a disappointment. It's the way it's set up in your bracket. But to then have a matchup where you'll have Japan against doctor and likely for a chance to square up against the United States in a championship game here in Miami. Like, no matter who wins, you either get a rematch of USA and Japan, you. You could get doctor against usa, which, you know, happened a few years back, which would be electric. Like, it's real. It's really cool that Miami gets a chance to have this type of moment here before the season even starts.

[Manny]

Zaz, you said, like, you're probably looking at the Dr. Venezuela game, which was 500 bucks.

[Mike]

I think the cheapest ticket was 400 to get in.

[Manny]

Yeah, it's insane, but we were able to go to. To different games. We went to the game in Nicaragua, we went to the game against Israel, which was Monday, and then Wednesday against Venezuela, and it was like the. The Dominicans showed out every single time. They were just packed that place. It was incredible. So anytime you go to Dominican, that's

[Mike]

why I'm thinking I'm gonna go in tonight for my package.

[Manny]

I decided to follow the. The Dominican team because their fans are so amazing. They're so loud, they're so fun that that's the atmosphere you want to see. So if you can get to a Dominican game, head out there.

[Mike]

Jeremy, can you.

[Dave]

Doesn't it?

[Mike]

Go ahead, Dave.

[Dave]

Can I just say very quickly on the wbc, I feel like MLB should be embarrassed. I see them on social media celebrating the events at the World Flips and everything else. It's the antithesis of everything Major League Baseball stands for at this point. Shouldn't they adopt what we're seeing in the World Baseball Classic a little bit more? I mean, it really kind of, to me stands as a black eye for. For what awaits us now in the regular season, which is more like mute your emotions. Stop. Stop acting like a human being might. And when it's on display here, it's joyous and a marvelous watch. And I couldn't give a crap about who wins the wbc, but it's still ale electric.

[Zaz]

There's something about it that really, it stems down to the youth level, like what we've seen from Team usa, right, where Team USA has more guys playing this time around than in years past. Like, they took it more seriously from that perspective, but we saw the way they went into their game not knowing it was necessarily an eliminate elimination game. No matter what they try to say now, the. The vibes around the team where it's very muted as opposed to the joyous euphoria that you see. I mean, the way that the stadium would erupt at a walk, at a. At a single. The other way during that game the other night was amazing. And the players and the joy that they're playing with. And this is, Dave, like a construct of the fact that with Team USA you have these kids playing showcase baseball from the time they're 12, 13 years old. The way that works if you're a pitcher is you show up, you throw as hard as you can for two innings, you leave and don't even finish the game, and you come back the next time you're pitching. Like that's where we're at. And it's not as much of a team atmosphere caring about winning and losing. They only get to the winning and losing stage really, when they get to the major leagues, because in the minors, it's also just about personal development if you're that excellent of a player. And so that versus what you get at the younger ages where you have these kids, you know, clawing out of whatever position they're in. Not to sound like Dan talking about the NFL, but like, you have these kids coming from these other countries, from

[Manny]

third world countries where they have nothing

[Zaz]

who Sandy El Contra came from. Absolutely nothing. There's a reason that he's turning around and saying, I am available for whatever you need in the championship game, whether it's as a starter or a reliever. And you have guys even like Matt Boyd leaving Team usa, like, no, I got to get back to spring training. It's just a different mentality. And I really hope that what Team USA is seeing and what some of these stars are seeing playing against these teams and having a chance to witness it starts to break down that barrier a little bit. It's better than it was when guys like Brian McCann were in the league. But it can still continue to, to get better from here.

[Dave]

Yeah. Or Carlton Fisk. But then the other example out there looming beyond the the World Baseball Classic is the Savannah Bananas. I mean, that, that weirdness is more popular than, than the Major League Baseball version of what baseball is now. But you're absolutely right. It sort of has the vibe of like we chose for our 10 year old instead of golf to focus on that baseball. And it has that sort of proper vibe to it. It lacks a certain emotion.

[Manny]

Jeremy, to that point too. Really quick, Zaz, I'm sorry. The juxtaposition of what you were talking about with the guys going to spring training and, and how David talked about yesterday, everything has already been negotiated. Everything has already been finalized with the club. Hey, you got, you know, X person for seven at bats. You've got this pitcher for four and a third innings. Like that's all you have them for. And then you have Sandy saying like, I'll, I'll burn my arm out to try and win a dozen season.

[Zaz]

And you could do it on his home mound.

[Dave]

Right.

[Stugats]

How cool would it be because he knows he plays for the Marlins if

[Zaz]

Sandy pitched on Tuesday by.

[Manny]

But that's it.

[Zaz]

But that's anybody that they're. They're this team this year. I'm excited about opening day.

[Stugats]

I'm as excited about this. Marlin didn't sound like any team. I'm just going for.

[Zaz]

But how crazy is that though, right? Because if he pitches on Tuesday, like he's supposed to turn around and start on opening day for them on Friday. So it does put him, but he's like, I'm out there. And the Marlins are right there encouraging it on Friday of next week. What of the week after that? Oh, hold on. 27.

[Stugats]

It's the 27th.

[Dave]

Yamamoto is going to pitch his final start and then stick around to provide emotional support for the team. And it's fascinating because I was just in Little Tokyo here in Los Angeles, and it. The. The national pride for Showy and Yamamoto. It's all over the place with Dodgers Dodger stuff, but specifically those guys. But now Yamamoto, is that going to create, like we talked about with, you know, Sidney Crosby trying to play for Canada instead of playing for the NHL? Does that create some fraught emotions for Dodgers fans and for fans of guys that are. That are clearly prioritizing the World Baseball Classic over their major league team that's paying them millions of dollars?

[Zaz]

You got USA Canada tonight, guys.

[Roy]

It'd be.

[Zaz]

It'd be pretty funny if USA beat Canada and hockey, but then Canada eliminated the USA in baseball.

[Stugats]

Throwing out the first pitch.

[Zaz]

That's a good question. It's in Houston.

[Mike]

So. So this Sunday we have select your Sunday. You can catch on the YouTube channel 5:45pm Eastern Time. Dave, is going to be. You getting on the bird. You coming in?

[Dave]

Oh, no, no, no.

[Mike]

All right, good job. Out of me right there. So select your Sunday, 5:45pm Eastern Time. We have. It's selection Sunday. We have Red Carp Oscars. It's a whole shebang. All right, Adnan and Samson and all of us. It's gonna be a lot of fun. But I look at, I want to talk a little bit about the, the, the movies here. All right? I, I look at the best picture and what happened to when we had four, maybe five nominees for best picture where I can realistically watch the show and I'm like, yeah, I got an opinion on all these movies because, you know, it's only five movies now. We got ten best picture nominees. I'm sorry, like, when they're doing the voting process, Dave, whichever one of these movies finishes with the 10th most votes, it didn't need to be nominated for best picture. Then if you finish 10th, like, like, you need 10 nominees. Like, Dave, I've only seen three of these movies that are best picture out of the 10. Like, do you have any idea how many you've seen?

[Dave]

Well, I mean, so an hour ago, Chris Cody was lamenting having to watch sports too much, and now we have Zaz upset about having to watch too much movies.

[Mike]

No, but maybe I don't want to see all these movies. There's not 10 movies.

[Dan LeBatard]

You have to watch them for work. You have to. It's for work.

[Stugats]

Because they were getting so much criticism about just having, like, the movies that no one ever watches. So they wanted to expand it so they could have the popular movies and the art.

[Dave]

It was a marketing.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was a straw man. No one was complaining really. Like, Star wars wasn't nominated that. That this is a marketing ploy by the movie industry. Hey, Formula One was, you know, F1 was nominated for best picture, right? We have to go see this now because it's a. If you're nominated for best picture, that means you're an amazing movie. It's all marketing to get more people, right?

[Mike]

Like, I haven't seen F1. It looks cool. Maybe I'll watch it this weekend so that I could talk intelligently about it on Sunday night. It looks like a fun movie. But you're telling me that if F1 was not nominated for best picture, people like, oh, my God, I can't believe F1's not nominated.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, nobody would have minded that at all. But it's also a very political process too. You have producers with a lot of stroke in Hollywood, Brad Pitt being and Jerry Bruckheimer behind it. So let's bring back tentpole box office summer smashes and let's incentivize, like, hey, if you're one of those that helps buoy the theater industry, you're gonna get some love come awards season.

[I]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Quick break to tell you about a special Miller time I had with my good buddy Mochetta. Mochetta texted me the other day. He said, hey, what are you doing for the game? I said, I'm just on my couch right now doing nothing, enjoying it. He's like, hey, do you want some company? I said, from you, Mochetta? Absolutely. Mochetta comes over to the house and I pull out the Miller Light. Miller Light made that casual hang a memorable good Miller time with my good friend Mochetta. Because Miller Lite brought us together. We took that first sip after we toasted our beers and we knew we made the right call. We watched A game. All of a sudden, we're standing up on our feet. Big threes are being drained and white cans are being clanged. See, times like these. That's exactly why Miller Lite is my go to clean, refreshing, easy to drink. Brewed for taste with simple ingredients. The original light beer since 1975. And it still hits. Different for yours truly and his good friend Mo Chedda. Cheers to legendary moments made with Miller Lite. Great taste. 96 calories. Go to millerlight.com dan to find delivery options near you. Or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. It's Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Co. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces.

[Mike]

Don LeBatard John, can you rate my Al Pacino from that billiard scene in Carlito's Way if I do it for you? I think it's pretty good.

[Zaz]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Okay. Stugats.

[Mike]

You think you're big time or you're gonna die big time.

[Dave]

That is on my infamous scale of 1 to 10.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a.

[Dave]

That's a 7.6.

[Zaz]

Solid.

[Roy]

Good job.

[Dave]

Good job.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a suey nominee right there. This is the Dan Levatar show with the stug.

[Mike]

How many of these movies have you seen, Mike?

[Dan LeBatard]

I've seen seven. So where. If you've seen three. I'm only needing to get around to three.

[Zaz]

Which.

[Mike]

Which are the ones you need.

[Dan LeBatard]

I need to watch the Secret Agent, which I gotta see that. I will be seeing that before. Select your Sunday Train Dreams. I. I've heard mixed reviews on. I haven't seen that. And sentimental value I am hoping to get to before our Sunday. Those are the. The three that I'm missing. But most people assume one battle after another is going to win this year. Of the seven films that I've seen, this is a. It's a great year for movies in that. I don't think there is like a clear lead dog for me if a gun to my head. I think my favorite movie of these was Marty Supreme. I've rewatched Begonia. I love the performances there, man.

[Stugats]

Begonia. I saw that one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Begonia I really loved. I still have Marty supreme just a tick over it. I loved one battle after another. Probably need to watch it again. Hamnet. I get it. Hamnet was Tony.

[Mike]

You know about the Hamnet?

[Manny]

I don't know shit about that. Hamnet.

[Dan LeBatard]

Hamnet. Like it. It'll get you in the fields. It'll get you in the feels.

[Zaz]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

And this is a film that Jesse Buckley is going to win for best actress. This is a film that is built on the power of performance, drawing emotion out of you. It's kind of meta that way because you're watching a performance of a performance. And I. I loved Hamnet. It's a movie that really, really stays with you, depending on some of the life experience that you had. Hamnet is about William Shakespeare. That he had a son whose name was.

[Dave]

Spoilers.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, no, no.

[Dave]

This is like.

[Manny]

Yeah, but I don't know what the hell it's about. Daniel's got Hamnet. I've never heard of that word in my life.

[Mike]

I want the plot.

[Manny]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't think. If you want to know nothing at all about Hamnet, shut your ears for the next five seconds.

[Mike]

Who goes into a movie knowing nothing? I just want the plot.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, like, I mean, part of this now.

[Stugats]

The next five seconds.

[Dan LeBatard]

History. Yeah. So wait. Starting now, William Shakespeare's son dies, and he writes Hamlet as an ode to his and his memory. And William Shakespeare's wife watches this performance for the first time and goes through a whole range of emotions. But it. It's really about William Shakespeare's.

[Mike]

Why is it called Hamnet?

[Manny]

That's what I'm saying.

[Dan LeBatard]

So, like, they actually explained it at the very beginning of the movie. There's, like, apparently no difference between Hamnet and Hamlet Zazard. I know. I know. You're gonna say there's an N and an L. Yeah.

[Mike]

And an L are different.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Apparently.

[Mike]

I don't know what language you're talking about.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's apparently the same thing. But Hamlet was incredible.

[Dave]

I'm with Mike. I think, though, that this has been. In our cynical world, you have to express what you don't like about everything. I think this has been a banner movie year and in fact, the best movie year we've seen in at least the last decade. You know, I think it's in contention for the best movie year that we've had this century.

[Mike]

Have you seen all these movies nominated?

[Dave]

Yes. And, Mike, you didn't mention Sinner, which also makes the winners.

[Mike]

I saw Sinners.

[Dave]

Ultimately. Ultimately, for me, it's one. One battle after. It was all right. You didn't think I liked it.

[Dan LeBatard]

Careful.

[Manny]

I liked it. Careful.

[Roy]

I liked it.

[Dan LeBatard]

You can't say it's all right.

[Manny]

That's.

[Dave]

I. Oh, I thought it was great. I thought F1 was only okay. Chris Cody's wife was like, F1. I'd be more into it if it was F2 or 3.

[Dan LeBatard]

But okay, FF1.

[Manny]

Zaz, you know about that? FF1.

[Mike]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is a sequel called F2. Even though it's a Formula One based movie, because they're definitely going to do a sequel, especially now that it's nominated for best Picture. I'm super pumped about this. I think this year more than any other year, I'm not even that into the competition of best Picture. I love the best picture nominees from last year. I kind of like rated them a little bit more than this year, but

[Mike]

that's one last year.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's a great. Who did.

[Dave]

We looked this up on football. America. We were talking about this. The, about the Anora.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, Nora. Nora was great. That. That was one of the, the times I'm like, yes, my favorite movie actually won best Picture. Anatomy of the Fall last year, I think was nominated. No, that was two years ago. I loved that movie. That movie was incredible.

[Stugats]

Last year was Amelia Perez. A complete unknown. Conclave, Nickel Boys, Wicked, Dune Part two. The Substance. I'm still here. Anora and the Brutalist.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Last year was we, but Anora was. If Anora was slotted in this year's best picture nominees, I think I'd still rate Anora the best. Two years ago I thought that those were bangers. Anatomy of a Fall is one of my favorite movies of the last five years, but I think this year it's really performance based. You have Jesse Buckley, you have Sean Penn. Sean Penn is reportedly not going to appear at the Oscars, which is a bummer because everybody kind of wants to see how that speech goes given everything that's going on.

[Mike]

Is he like he's gonna win?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, he's a heavy.

[Mike]

I mean, I know he's great.

[Dan LeBatard]

I. Dave, I took a look at DK predictions and I got. I have some money on Benicio Del Toro because I think he was just unbelievable and efficient. But it's going to be hard because he's not the best supporting actor in his own movie. I don't think they're going to split the votes at all. But Benicio Del Toro, in terms of laughs per second and just knocking the assignment out of the park. If it weren't for Sean Penn in his very same. In this very same movie. For me, it's Benicio. But Sean Penn's got to run away with this thing.

[Dave]

Yeah. It's why I keep saying one battle after another is Boogie Nights for Anarchy. You know, it's, it's, it's really the pleasure, say those two movies. It's the pleasure of the journey more than it is the destination. And once you understand that, sort of like the big Lebowski to the. The beginning, middle, and end are. Take a back seat to. To the. The people you meet along the way. And yeah, so I. I think Benicio Del Toro is great. Sean Penn maybe a. A tick better there. It's funny, too, in the same way we talk about QB draft classes. Like, Cam Ward is great, but he would only be the fourth or fifth quarterback in the draft. Prior to that, Begonia, which is an afterthought in this best picture race, would have won last year. But it's not even in the top three or four. Probably in 2026. Right?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. I think it's neck and neck with. With Anora, but certainly, I mean, it is a distant underdog this year, whereas last year a thinner year for. For great films. 2024 was a banger of a year. I think 2024, top to bottom, was better than this year. But Sinners is actually getting a lot of traction in the prediction market. Space Zaz, because Michael B. Jordan ended up winning the. The Actors Award. And Timothee Chalamet's got, like, this whole weird moment in pop culture right now where he's gone from universally like. To people like, forming a negative opinion about why.

[Mike]

I like Chalamet.

[Dan LeBatard]

Because of the opera thing. Because of the opera.

[Dave]

There's no way whatever headed that direction a little bit.

[Mike]

Do I have to remind everyone that opera sucks?

[Dave]

People.

[Manny]

People don't get that.

[Mike]

It's such an easy concept.

[Manny]

People keeping up for the opera. Like they've ever been to one.

[Dan LeBatard]

Give me a point.

[Mike]

Don't look all disappointed. Whatever, man.

[Stugats]

He took out the ballet, too. And opera.

[Dave]

I'm not here.

[Zaz]

Keeping up for the.

[Manny]

What was the last time somebody went to an opera in here? Please tell me.

[Dave]

Not me.

[Zaz]

I've never been to the opera.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't. It doesn't appeal.

[Manny]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

It doesn't appeal.

[Manny]

Then why is it. Why is he getting tarnished because of an opera?

[Stugats]

He took out an entire field.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Manny]

Of 17 people.

[Zaz]

No, see, that's the. That's the part of it, right? Like, people are keeping up for the opera.

[Manny]

Jeremy. That nobody has gone to.

[Zaz]

It's. That's not the point. The point. It was people within the industry. But more than anything, it's the idea. This is not this.

[Stugats]

We're given the full context.

[Zaz]

This is the strawberry back for people. So Timothee Chalamet. We talked about it with Jess on Wednesday, but he was saying that he didn't want to be part of an industry like the opera or I think it was ballet, that nobody cares. Nobody cares. But that was the part of the quote, but without the context of the full interview where he's saying, hey, the movie industry is headed in a strange direction. I don't want to have to be one of the people that like puts it on my back to keep it afloat. I want people going to the movies. I don't want what has happened to the opera and ballet with so few people going to it as compared to 50 years ago or 100 years ago.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, this is why a lot of people are saying Sinners has a real chance here. If there is an underdog to make a play on, it's Sinners. Because there's a lot of growing momentum. I saw Sinners and the school of thought behind Sinners winning much to the point of like having a larger tent pole box office smash like F1 be nominated for best picture. Sinners was huge for the box office. And there is a notion bubbling that if you reward a picture like Sinners, you get more movies made like Sinners. And that's a rising tide that lifts all boats. Like, I don't know how much like the industry will benefit from, you know, the Secret Agent winning. Right. But the industry does stand to benefit from a film that had crossover pop culture appeal like Sinners winning because most people have seen it and most people enjoyed it.

[Zaz]

The irony is that Marty supreme would kind of qualify in the same way. No. Because Timothee Chalamet was such a big star in the marketing campaign.

[Dave]

Yeah. But first of all, I don't know that. I don't know the timing on the voting. Are they pulling their votes for Timothee Chalamet? I suspect a lot of people have already cast their ballots at this point. So I don't know how they would retract them because of his opera based statements. But I feel like Marty Supreme Chalamet, and that is just based on his sort of particular intrinsic charisma. Whereas it feels like if you look at the history of, of who wins Academy Awards, Michael B. Jordan is much more in line with like he played two guys. It was, it wasn't just one guy. He was twins. It seems like that's the sort of shiny object that, that voters would react to. I'm surprised Michael B. Jordan isn't assumed to be the best actor this year.

[Mike]

Is there like an all time again, 5:45pm Eastern on the YouTube channel, we're going live with. Select your Sunday red carpet and of course. The selection show for the tournament. Is there. Is there like an actor or actress? Although I can't think of an actress. But is there an actor or actress who is known as the best performance when they played two characters? Like when you play twins.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah.

[Zaz]

Lindsay Lohan.

[Stugats]

Parent Trap.

[Dan LeBatard]

Multiplicity should touch my Pappy Steve. Michael Keeaton played like 20 dudes.

[Dave]

No, no. He says. They say he's the same dude, man.

[Dan LeBatard]

Come on. Well, they're clones, but like the clones aren't.

[Dave]

Well, it's the same guy.

[Mike]

They got dumber. Each clone got dumber.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, and that's why she touched my pappy Steve.

[Zaz]

It's like Mickey 17 with. With that movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

That movie is one of the worst movies I've ever seen.

[Zaz]

Oh, yeah. Super entertaining. Really terrible.

[Dan LeBatard]

Really disappointing. Really disappointing.

[Zaz]

Cool opportunity.

[Dave]

Follow up.

[Roy]

Fun performance.

[Zaz]

Terrible movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Bad movie.

[Stugats]

Folks, listen up. Quick break in the action. Are you counting down the days until payday? Instacash from Moneylion can help you access up to $500 of your hard earned pay early. There's no interest, no credit check and no monthly fees, so you can manage those in between expenses with less stress. Download the MoneyLion app and link your qualifying bank account to see what you qualify for. Moneylion make money easy. Instacast is subject to terms and eligibility requirements. Expedited delivery requires a turbo fee.

[Manny]

See moneyline.com this episode is sponsored by Better Help. March is one of those months where we talk about celebrating women. And it's very, very deserved. Because when you actually look around, a lot of women in our lives are carrying a ton. Work, family, relationships, expectations nobody notices or sees. I start thinking about the women around me. My wife, my mom, my sister, my friends, my co workers. People who somehow take care of everybody else while still trying to hold it together themselves. And it's a ton to carry. Therapy can be a place to put some of that weight down. It can help you figure out what's yours, what isn't, and how to set better boundaries so you're not running on empty all the time. BetterHelp works with fully licensed therapists in the US and they handle the matching process for you. You fill out a short questionnaire and if your therapist isn't the right fit, you can switch at any time. With more than 30,000 therapists and over 6 million people served, it's the world's largest online therapy platform. With an average of 4.9 out of 5 session ratings. Your emotional well being matters. Find support and feel lighter in therapy. Sign up and get 10% off at betterhelp.com/DLB. That's BetterHelp. H E L p.com/DLB Don LeBatard.

[Mike]

Always good to see everybody, despite the

[Roy]

fact that everyone appears to hate me.

[Dan LeBatard]

Stugats. Yeah.

[Dave]

I love you, but that's on you.

[Mike]

I mean, I don't know you that well.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, they said that you both suck ass and were bitten in the ass, so those are both things that you. You were accused of during this. You're upset for my ass situation.

[Roy]

Yes.

[Dan LeBatard]

This is the Dan Levatar show with the stugats. Zaz, I. I've seen your takes on Sinners. And number one, let me thank you for your.

[Mike]

My takes. Like. Like, they're out there.

[Dave]

Oh, my God.

[Dan LeBatard]

Well, let me thank you for your courage.

[Mike]

Yeah, don't look at me like that, Roy. You haven't turned around once during the show until now.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Yeah. Well, I mean, Roy turning around actually kind of plays into this because. Look, Roy, I'm an ally.

[Stugats]

Me too, Roy.

[Dan LeBatard]

And I like sinners.

[Roy]

Okay?

[Dan LeBatard]

I like sinners.

[Roy]

There's a but somewhere in here.

[Dan LeBatard]

I thought it was, you know, when

[Dave]

compared Chris Cody's wife's ears perked up. There's a button here somewhere.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. I think it's in the bottom half of movies that are nominated. And I'm saying this very carefully because

[Dave]

I've seen three of them.

[Dan LeBatard]

I don't mean to offend at all, but I just thought it was, you know, it was. It was all right. It was good. Yeah, solid.

[Dave]

Here's.

[Mike]

Okay, here's where I stand on. On Sinners. It's good and I enjoyed it.

[Stugats]

I'm gonna turn around, too.

[Roy]

Better than.

[Dan LeBatard]

All right.

[Dave]

You know what?

[Zaz]

It was.

[Mike]

I'll look everyone in this room in the eye. All right? I don't care.

[Manny]

Zaz, I'm with you.

[Mike]

I say with my chest out. I can't be scared. I'll say right in front of your face. I like. I'll look right in your eyes, Roy, while I'll say it too, right here. I like Sinners. It's a good movie. Here's the part that I object to. Before I saw Sinners, I was made out to. To. To feel that this is the greatest movie of all time. Like, I went into watching it.

[Dan LeBatard]

A lot of people feel that way.

[Mike]

This movie is apparently going to change my life based on what I'm hearing about this movie. So it was built up very, very, very high. And then I watch Sinners, and it's like, all right, it's a good movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's it.

[Mike]

It's good. My life didn't change.

[Zaz]

Mean was right about you, huh?

[Mike]

Everybody stop grilling me. Tony, say something.

[Dan LeBatard]

Pretty. Pretty bad take.

[Manny]

Yeah, I thought it was.

[Dan LeBatard]

I. Whoa.

[Zaz]

That's not the ally you want.

[Dave]

You got the whole point about the cultural appropriation, though, and everything, right? I mean, as a. Works on two levels. It's a, it's a thrilling horror vampire movie with a, with, with a valuable message.

[Stugats]

What is Sinners? MF what is it again?

[Mike]

Again? Let me reiterate. What. Which part did I say I didn't like it and it was not good?

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you.

[Mike]

I did like it, and it's a good movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

Did you not like the musical part? Is that what bothered you?

[Mike]

I'll be perfectly honest. I know there's, I know there's a very deep meaning with the musical parts. You like the blues, but, like, I, I, I didn't understand, you know? I know there is.

[Dave]

You didn't understand that the banjo music wasn't the good music in the movie. He's like, wait, wait, they're the bad guys. But this banjo is delightful. The little trio that comes to the front door of.

[Mike]

I didn't like them. They were nasty. I didn't like them.

[Dan LeBatard]

I did like.

[Dave]

They were, they were bad.

[Dan LeBatard]

Really did like Jack o' Connell's performance in it as the villain.

[Mike]

Was he the, the main.

[Dan LeBatard]

He was the white guy. Yeah. So, like, he was.

[Zaz]

His name is Jack o'? Connell?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, he was. Yeah, he was the, the guy singing, like, the little sea shanty.

[Dave]

And I'll.

[Mike]

You know what? I'll also be honest with you. When I went in to see Sinners, I. I had this impression that Hailee Steinfeld apparently had the raunchiest of raunchy sex scenes.

[Dan LeBatard]

It wasn't sexy enough.

[Mike]

Get out of here. It's a, it was a.

[Dan LeBatard]

It wasn't sexy enough.

[Zaz]

That wasn't sexy.

[Manny]

Normal.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was mf.

[Stugats]

All I've heard about the movie, it was.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was pretty hot, but it was

[Mike]

like, Josh Allen is supposed to be embarrassed now.

[Zaz]

So my favorite words more than the actions.

[Dan LeBatard]

Honestly, my actual favorite movie that I've seen over the last few months, including award season, is a Jack o' Connell vehicle, but it is not Sinners. It was actually the Bone Temple. Like, for me, I like Bone Temple more than I like any of the other nominated films.

[Stugats]

My wife's read that.

[Dan LeBatard]

She did, yeah. Now, Bone Temple's not for anybody. And you do need to see the, the previous sequel that that came out 28.

[Mike]

Yeah, I want to see. I want to see that.

[Dan LeBatard]

But Bone Temple and Ralph Fiennes, his performance was incredible. And Jack o' Connell was unreal in that movie.

[Mike]

Again, I liked Sinners. I think it's really good. That's it. That's it. A good movie. The good movie.

[Dan LeBatard]

Racist. I think.

[Dave]

What's the worst? We did this on football America. Coming up in. In a matter of minutes, into your. In your YouTube and audio feed and into your heart soon after. What is the worst, best picture that you can think of?

[Mike]

Crash.

[Dave]

Crash is, I think, the correct answer.

[Mike]

That's always the one for me whenever I hear this.

[Dave]

When you look at the movie, it's terrible. But now I can't think the answer that we came up with that, oh, the worst movie, the most overrated movie that people still prop up as being good is Dances With Wolves. That. That. That movie does not hold up, and I will argue with anybody who tries to say otherwise.

[Dan LeBatard]

Another really heated turd from football America.

[Dave]

You're gd, right? You're gd, right? The truth is the truth. It carries.

[Zaz]

Does he even dance with a wolf?

[Dan LeBatard]

Dances with Wolves? Kind of Dances with Wolves.

[Dave]

He does.

[Dan LeBatard]

That's that movie that ripped off Avatar, right?

[Mike]

It's true.

[Dave]

Avatar.

[Mike]

Here.

[Dave]

Here's my hot take on Avatar you always read about. Oh, biggest. Biggest box office in the history of people. Then how come I have never met a soul who has seen any of those Avatar movies? I don't know anybody who's seen them. I've never heard anybody invoke them, brother. In pop culture. What now? Okay, maybe I've known a dozen or so people who've seen them and be like, yeah, it's neat to look at. I've never heard anybody reference it. They have nothing to do in pop culture. I mean, people make star Wars References 50 years after the fact. Nobody ever talks about Avatar. Something. Something ain't right. Something's fishy here.

[Roy]

Keep in mind that Dances With Rules won the best Picture Oscar over Goodfellas

[Dan LeBatard]

for ripping off Avatar.

[Dave]

That's what I'm thinking of. That's right. That's right. Goodfella. That's right. It beat out Goodfellas. Shame the devil.

[Zaz]

What movie is that?

[Manny]

Dances With. I've never heard of this movie.

[Roy]

You never heard of dancing?

[Dan LeBatard]

It's Avatar, but not with. Yeah, no.

[Zaz]

Kevin Costner.

[Dan LeBatard]

It's the other way around.

[Manny]

And that beat Goodfellas.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes. What year was that?

[Dave]

Have you ever heard of Dances with Wolves?

[Manny]

Never heard of Dances with Wolves. Ever.

[Dave]

Wow.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. I. I am one of those people that has seen every Avatar and I've seen them all in the movie theater and Avatar. I kind of do it.

[Mike]

Do you do the 3D?

[Dan LeBatard]

I have. I kind of do it as a chance.

[Mike]

I get vertigo.

[Dan LeBatard]

I do.

[Manny]

Everybody knows that about.

[Dan LeBatard]

I do it as a rib because I don't really like the avatar. Although the second one wasn't bad. Second one was pretty solid, but I saw the third one, 20mg in College Station before the CFP game and I fell asleep. It's bad. The third one, straight up bad.

[Stugats]

The gummy could have.

[Dan LeBatard]

No. And the bottle of red wine that I had to myself also may have played a role. What do you mean? Oh, my God. Nah, that's what's putting you to sleep. It was the movie.

[Stugats]

Sounds like a damn perfect evening.

[Dan LeBatard]

It wasn't. Absolutely. The thing is, it wasn't an evening.

[Zaz]

It was an afternoon.

[Dan LeBatard]

It was 2 o' clock in the afternoon. I was killing time before I hit the town in College Station, telling everybody that we were gonna kill him. And we did. To the tune of 10 to 3.

[Roy]

Yeah, he did.

[Dan LeBatard]

Gale Force wins out there. It was so windy.

[Manny]

Bryce Fitzgerald. Thank you.

[Stugats]

Thank you, Ms. Field Goals.

[Dan LeBatard]

Thank you.

[Roy]

So it was the night.

[Dave]

Can I just say again real quick? I just want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Miami Hurricanes on a really great.

[Manny]

All right, Roy, cut him off.

[Dave]

I mean, came up. You came up a little short.

[Mike]

Very good.

[Dave]

All right.

[Roy]

It was the 1991 Oscars for the movies that came out in 1990. Dances with Wolves 1. It beat out Awakenings, Ghost, the Godfather Part 3 and Goodfellas.

[Dan LeBatard]

I can't believe Godfather 3 got nominated. Godfather 3 was nominated a legacy ghost. Hey. What? You don't like ghost?

[Mike]

You're nuts. You like ghosts. You're a nuts man.

[Dave]

No, I. I didn't say I don't like ghosts. I said it's a good movie. I said it's a good move. I can't do a zazzle like you guys can. Mike Ryan has know about that pottery intent. Whether or not he intends to or not, he is. He talks like Zaslo. You know who really talks like Zazlow? Dan Lebatard. I don't think he realizes how the. The influence that Zaslo has had on his patois. But. But yes. I mean, listen, that's the worst. Maybe what be. Oh, Chariots of fire beat out E.T. that was bad. Star wars not winning against anything is crazy given its cultural impact.

[Dan LeBatard]

Shakespeare in Love Also beat out some really good movies when.

[Roy]

When it won.

[Dan LeBatard]

Shakespeare.

[Dave]

Saving Private Ryan.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. Which was an abomination.

[Dave]

Straight up crazy. But if I. Pretentious Dave will tell you that the. That sometimes, not every time I sit down to watch a war picture, Thin Red Line that same year, might be a superior war movie. Really, the statement it makes about the taking of life and all of that. Like I say now, I'm not so pretentious that if you said, you have two and a half hours to kill, I'll take Saving Private Ryan. That's a heavy lift too. But I find that movie is confused. I think Steven Spielberg, may I say, you know, he's a writer, I'm a writer. Where people, both of us. I can say this. I think Spielberg says one thing in the first 20 or 25 minutes of the movie and then says something very different and kind of contradicts the first 20 or 25 minutes of the movie the rest of the way. With Saving Private Ryan, I just can't

[Zaz]

believe in 07 that the departed beat high school musical.

[Manny]

Departed.

[Dave]

I mean, the Departed. Talk about an overrated movie. The Departed. Sheesh.

[Roy]

I mean, there's one reason and one reason why only why Shakespeare in Love won that Oscar for Best Picture is because of Harvey Weinstein and the political pressure he put on Academy.

[Dan LeBatard]

What?

[Announcer]

Really?

[Dan LeBatard]

Yes. He was the producer on that movie, famously. Weinstein had a lot of.

[Mike]

But why did he put pressure on the Academy for that movie in particular?

[Dan LeBatard]

Because that was his movie, had lots of movies. Yeah, but that was. That was the movie that had the best opportunity to. To win Best Picture.

[Mike]

Is that the only time one of his movies won?

[Dan LeBatard]

No, Harvey Weinstein. Well, that's why I'm asking Harvey Weinstein, the film producer.

[Mike]

That's what, like, why so much pressure for that movie?

[Dan LeBatard]

I just really wanted to win.

[Zaz]

Okay.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. I mean, I don't know. Like, it works. It was a. That's what he wants. Yeah. All right, so select your Sunday. This was a big, organic Oscar conversation that we had.

[Mike]

I enjoyed this. I didn't enjoy when everyone was looking and staring at me.

[Dan LeBatard]

More of that to come this Sunday.

[Dave]

I didn't enjoy. I didn't enjoy in the Departed that the criminal mastermind Jack Nicholson couldn't figure out. And his crew of five people, all of them were with him for 20 plus years. But the new guy who used to be a cop, like, I don't think he's the guy. I don't think he's the guy who's working against. Must be One of the other guys who I've known for 25 years, not the young guy so stupid.

[Dan LeBatard]

Select your Sunday. Join us 5:45 Sunday, where we'll be talking this and the college basketball selection. We will be filling out brackets.

[Manny]

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[Dan LeBatard]

Don LeBatard. I went in the margins. I'm like. I'm like, you're Moneyball of sex. I'm basically Scott Hatterberg. Stugats a lot of walks, but I'm on base when it comes to sex. A lot of foul tips. Other, other dudes, they can be Giambi.

[Manny]

You know your role, you play.

[Dan LeBatard]

I know my role. This is the Dan Levatar show with the Stugach.

[Mike]

All right. So, Mike, you. You look like you were in a pretty good mood this morning. I know you had a doctor's visit yesterday. Everything checked out okay.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

I mean, there was one thing. I have, like, a blister on my lung that apparently hasn't grown since 2023, which was news to me because I didn't even know I had a blister on my lung.

[Mike]

How does that even happen?

[Dan LeBatard]

Apparently, I got a scan for something different. Something showed up on my lung in the other skin. They just never told me. But I'll be okay. It could pop at any moment, but I'll be alright. And just a little collapsed lung, they come back from that in the NFL all the time, so I should be alright. But all the blood work, everything else was good. But this is the. This is the headline. I had my ear drained. Oh, I had My ear flushed out.

[Mike]

Like in one of those commercials where. Where the stuff comes out and, like,

[Manny]

the ear gets flushed out.

[Dave]

Yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

So like. But I had a professional do this because what's the.

[Stugats]

Like, what position are you in?

[Dave]

Paint picture here.

[Dan LeBatard]

I had both my ears checked out. Both my ears checked out. I did not need to do it to the right ear because my right ear was totally clean. Why is that? Because if you've watched this show for the several years that we've done it, I wear one headphone. That way. The other ear. Yeah, that way the other ear can pick up on the other conversations that are being had in the studio. And the ear that gets the headphone

[Dave]

really backed up with wax.

[Stugats]

My left ear now.

[Dan LeBatard]

So I had this thing flushed out and there was like a. Like a nickel sized, not nickel size nickel. A dime sized stone of water.

[Stugats]

I'm picturing downward dog with your head.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah, to the side. They put in hydrogen peroxide at first, and then you hear it all fizzing. And then they. They put like this Windex bottle filled with like, some sort of solution.

[Mike]

Yeah, that's like in the commercial.

[Dan LeBatard]

Yeah. A long hose that this nurse just squeezes into your ear until everything falls out of it. And this thing kind of fell out of my ear. It was huge. It was disgusting. And also, like, an amazing job by her. She must love her job. I'm like, this is very satisfying.

[Mike]

Amazing job that she didn't barf.

[Dan LeBatard]

No, it is a look. It is a little gross look. It's one.

[Mike]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan LeBatard]

Let the record show that that is not my ear. Oh, I think that was. That was.

[Mike]

That looked like your ear.

[Stugats]

Never said this before, but you shouldn't be watching us today.

[Dave]

That only.

[Roy]

Listen.

[Dan LeBatard]

That was not my ear. That was supplementary stuff.

[Roy]

But.

[Dan LeBatard]

And not even the procedure that I had done. But Danny, you're fine. This thing fell out of my ear and I immediately had an incredible experience with it because I push the elevator down and I go down and I park my car park. I park my car next to a construction site and it was like the scene where Spider man discovers he has powers for the first time. Everything was heightened. I get in, like, I heard everything in this construction site. I sit down in my. In my car. I put my seatbelt on, and I hear the fibers of the seatbelt brushing against my shoulder. I'm like, these are all sounds that I haven't heard.

[Mike]

Now I want this.

[Dan LeBatard]

And. And I'm in my car, fellas. Play, playing. And I'm like this. Hi hat. Am I a jazz guy now? I think. I think I get jazz because I just had my ear flushed out. Dave, you got to do this.

[Dave]

Oh, I definitely do. Congratulations on becoming Daredevil Man. That. That's a revelation I've seen. Here's a name drop for you. You know who used to be obsessed with this was Sarah Silverman, who was. Who used to be with Jimmy Kimmel. And she used to loved doing that in his dressing room before and after the show. To people who would let her do it, which was flush their ear. And some of the stuff that she pulled out really was like, Zaslo says vomitus. I mean, like, really gross stuff. Made me think less of people that that's what was residing inside their head.