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- [00:01]
Mike Peska
Right now the Home Depot has spring deals under $20. So what are you working on? If you're planning on cooking out this season, head to the Home Depot so you can fire up the grill with deals on charcoal. Right now, get two 16 pound bags of Kingsford Charcoal for only $17.88. Was $19.98. Don't miss spring deals under $20 now through May 7th at the home Depot. Subject to availability. Valid on select items only.
- [00:30]
Michelle Buteau
When you have high standards and fancy all the fancy things like a Dior saddlebag or that diamond tennis bracelet, you go to ebay. There you'll find new loves that will never disappoint. Expertly authenticated. Whether it's that vintage pearl necklace or brand new ruby earrings, a Prada crossbody bag, or classic watches like that Rolex Oyster or that Cartier tank. On ebay, there are no limits to your high standards. Yeah, ebay the place for new pre loved vintage and rare fashion. Ebay things people love.
- [01:00]
Mike Peska
Do you like listening to Funny you should mention? Maybe you're saying, of course I do. That's why I clicked on this podcast. And maybe you're saying, I don't know yet. This is the first time I've clicked on this podcast. But however much you enjoy listening to Funny you should mention. And for me it's a lot watching it. Well, that's a feast for the senses. We tape every episode of Funny you should mention me and the comic at the comedy Seller studios and we have those videos available for you in the Gist's YouTube channel. That's at Pesca Gist. Or just go to the search engine of YouTube and type in Funny you should mention and have it a little click in the show notes which we will also provide should you care to watch the hilarity which shall henceforth ensue. It's Friday, May 2, 2025 from peach fish Productions. It's the Gist. I'm Mike Peska. It's a funny you should mention. Friday we have the very funny Michelle Bouteau. She recently became the first female comic to tape a special at Radio City Music Hall. But sometimes I like to lead with a little bit of the news. So I was scanning the news and I found this story in York Times. What green card holders should know in preparing to travel outside the US And I could read the story to you, I could summarize it, but it was weird. I've never seen that big headline. And the story was just don't. Just the word don't. I guess that's terse. Guess that's the axiosing of all news. So, Michelle Bhuto from Survival of the Thickest Standup Comedian and like I said, set this record or milestone. First female comedian to tape a special in in Radio City Music Hall. I was wondering who has the most performances ever at Radio City Music Hall? Someone who might not shock you. I was first thinking maybe Sammy Davis Jr. He played a lot at the Apollo. The answer is Barry Manilow. Barry Manilow set a record with 53, I believe. But when he set the record they gave him a plaque and it was in the 40s. And so I was trying to find, all right, whose record did he break? And quite unhelpfully, some of the sources say he broke his own record. Yes, this is how records work, right? Babe Ruth, Barry Bonds, Alexander Ovechkin. Right. He breaks the record for most goals and then he keeps breaking his own record. But there is just no documentation in any of the write ups which all seem to come from a press release that the Rockettes gave Barry Manilow a plaque for most performances. No one says whose record did he break? I spent way too much time trying to find this out. I hoped it was Liberace. I think it might have been Sinatra. Set. Listen, FM says it was Sinatra. Then again, they don't have an individual listing for my leader in the clubhouse. Sammy Davis Jr. Let's just think and hope it was Radio City Music Hall. Lot of history. Built in 1931 as part of the plot of land that was to include. Well, they wanted to call the whole thing Radio City because the plan I'll read from a New York Times article in 31. The plan is reported to be sponsored by the radio. Keith Orpheum.
- [04:04]
Michelle Buteau
What?
- [04:05]
Mike Peska
Rko, you know, RKO Radio Pictures. That's radio. Keith Orpheum, National Broadcasting Company and General Electric Company yes, you know, some of them. And then rca. They were the ones who got involved in Radio City Music Hall. And at the time we don't. It's one of those phrases that we just say in a row, we don't really think about what it means, but it does speak to a time when radio, yes, radio was the cutting edge of excitement. And just like the L A lakers playing the crypto.com arena. Oh, how sad. And maybe this is why they lost. We go to Radio City Music hall and don't even think of transistors or the AM&FM band or station identification on the ones. But I do, as an old radio man and as a young pioneer of radio City Music Hall. Join me now on Funny you should mention with my guest Michelle Buteau. This episode is brought to you by.
- [05:08]
Michelle Buteau
The Disney Hulu Max Bundle.
- [05:11]
Mike Peska
With plans starting at just $16.99 a month. Stream the latest seasons of the Last.
- [05:15]
Michelle Buteau
Of Us on Max and or on.
- [05:17]
Mike Peska
Disney and the final season of the Handmaid's Tale on Hulu. All of these and more streaming soon.
- [05:23]
Michelle Buteau
Terms apply.
- [05:24]
Mike Peska
Visit disneyplush hulumaxbundle.com for more details.
- [05:30]
Michelle Buteau
Are you still quoting 30 year old movies? Have you said cool beans in the past 90 days? Do you think Discover isn't widely accepted? If this sounds like you, you're stuck in the past. Discover is accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide. And every time you make a purchase with your card, you automatically earn cash back. Welcome to the now it pays to Discover. Learn more@discover.com credit card based on the February 2024 Nielsen report. You guys have a type, right? But you don't even realize that you are somebody else's type. Hello? Hello from the other side. Whoever. Yes, honey, you are somebody else's type. You don't even know that. Like I realized way too late in life that I am an achievable Beyonce for government workers. Oh my God, are you serious? And if they like old black government workers named Lawrence, Dennis, Curtis, Otis, anything in the is they love me. Ooh, I can't go to a Veterans Day parade. My booty ain't safe. She is not safe. They looking at me like they want me to motorboat the PTSD off their face and I'll do it cause I'm a patriot. Thank you so much. Ooh, thoughts and prayers. Thank you for your service. Thank you so much.
- [07:20]
Mike Peska
Today on Funny you should mention Ms. Michelle Buteau, the first woman to tape a special at Radio City Music Hall. Also the first woman of color to tape a special at Radio City musical. Also the first woman of color with 5 year old twins to tape a special musical. Also the first woman of color with 5 year old twins married to a man with a name mostly unpronounceable to American ears. What a trailblazer. More so than most 12th century indigenous people. Michelle Buto joins me.
- [07:53]
Michelle Buteau
Thanks for coming in and happy Columbus Day to you.
- [07:56]
Mike Peska
Yes, I call it. We were here first day.
- [08:00]
Michelle Buteau
Oh my goodness.
- [08:01]
Mike Peska
I am Italian so I grew up. Yes, I grew up with the idea that I should be proud of Christofa Ro Colombo.
- [08:08]
Michelle Buteau
I'm so dyslexic with history. So is Christopher Columbus Italian. He went to The Spaniards and said, your wife is cute, but give me the money for the boat.
- [08:14]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [08:15]
Michelle Buteau
Or is it the opposite?
- [08:15]
Mike Peska
Okay, no, that was it. And Ferdinand and Isabella, who oversaw the Spanish Inquisition, among other things. Money. So I'm also half Jewish, so I'm very conflicted about all this.
- [08:25]
Michelle Buteau
You are? Just in general. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [08:27]
Mike Peska
I think of all, by the way, of all that, like you care. But I'm going to tell you about myself. Of all the things I've been asked to reconsider about history, I think that reconsideration has the most validity.
- [08:37]
Michelle Buteau
Good.
- [08:37]
Mike Peska
Because normally I look back and say, it was a different time. And to judge by our standards, has costs. But even from what I understand, by his standards, real asshole.
- [08:48]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. And bad at directions. Well, by the way, Badger and by the way, like, gave everybody in the island syphilis.
- [08:54]
Mike Peska
Like, oh, yeah.
- [08:55]
Michelle Buteau
Nobody wants to get dick.
- [08:56]
Mike Peska
Yeah. But, you know, enough about 1492. Let's bring it up to 2024. Oh, 2025.
- [09:03]
Michelle Buteau
Come on now. Yeah.
- [09:05]
Mike Peska
Radio City Music hall is what, 6,500 seats?
- [09:08]
Michelle Buteau
Something like that. Yes.
- [09:09]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [09:09]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [09:09]
Mike Peska
So is that bigger than most venues you play or.
- [09:12]
Michelle Buteau
Absolutely.
- [09:14]
Mike Peska
So what are the considerations when you're.
- [09:15]
Michelle Buteau
Playing a show that says, well, the first thing is, like, can I do it? And not can I do it? Like, can I perform in front of, like, this many people, but, like, can I just do this? Can I afford it? How do we go about it? Because, you know, usually when you are filming a comedy special, you do a venue that obviously feels like a lot of people, but can be intimate. And you do two shows. You do an early show and a late show, so you can edit the best out of each one. Well, playing my hometown after I just sold out the Beacon in October, and then I'm just gonna go try and sell out Radio City Music hall in June felt crazy.
- [09:58]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [09:59]
Michelle Buteau
But after I found out that no female had ever recorded a special there, I'm like, well, now it's just bigger than me because we have to break those ceilings, lay down the groundwork, plant the seeds. Any other example you want to think of? Keep the hold or hold it, hold it, or whatever it is. We have to do that. And so I'm like, okay, I'm going to try and do this. And I just love that theater. It's so iconic. And Netflix is in 190 countries. That's not nothing. And so if you're in South Korea or Kenya and you can't afford to come to New York, I would love to make it Feel like you are in New York with me. And so that consideration was, like, insane. But I don't know when I really am passionate about something. I have a really dope team of people who are just like, okay, let's go, because I don't want to hear. I don't want to hear naysaying at all. Yeah, it's just like, how can we get creative and make this happen? And. And so I already forgot the question. I'm just like, I love this special.
- [11:01]
Mike Peska
Well, here's a qu. Here's a more specific question. I noticed that you had your own rug, your own carpet. And a lot of times performers do this for acoustics and intimacy, but did you do it for cleanliness? Because I don't want to give away anything at the end, but, you know, you make yourself familiar with the ground.
- [11:20]
Michelle Buteau
No, it was. You know, we had a rug because the space is so big. We want it to feel intimate and, like, draw your eye.
- [11:29]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [11:30]
Michelle Buteau
To where I'm standing. So no, I. So I'm not giving too much away. We can say that I crawled on the ground and danced, because I think.
- [11:38]
Mike Peska
They put it in the trailer.
- [11:38]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. She is who she is. And that's just, like, 30 seconds out of, like, the 62 minutes, you know, so I'm just like, go get it. But I mean, I've been in, like, the City Winery in Pittsburgh on, like, a Wayfair carpet that was, like, haunted, that could, like, walk away.
- [11:54]
Mike Peska
That was the one they actually shipped the kids in, as per the rumor.
- [11:57]
Michelle Buteau
Exactly. So, like, yeah, I have no qualms about getting a little dirty. Comedy's dirty, you know. You know, being a former hoe is dirty. You're gonna.
- [12:04]
Mike Peska
When you were down there in Pittsburgh, we were like, okay, I'm getting hints of merlot, maybe with a little chutney in the after.
- [12:09]
Michelle Buteau
I mean, it was definitely giving more like, I don't want to, like, def. I don't wanna. It's not just, like, city wineries. It's, like, a lot of stale. Is it giving. Dusty, moldy situation. Like, we're never cleaning the carpets. I don't even know what's happening up here. You know, I just feel a little tightness in my chest.
- [12:27]
Mike Peska
Right. That's okay. Breathe in, breathe out. Do you. Now, I've been watching a few of your specials, going back to a lot of your comedy, and there is a ratio of how often you're. I'm not gonna say making fun of others, but others are the butt of your joke and how often you become the butt of your own joke. And I've sensed that it has stayed mostly in equilibrium throughout your career. Something like a two to one ratio. But you never, you never go so far where you're only making fun of other people without bringing it back to yourself. Now, do you think that's strategic or who you are?
- [13:03]
Michelle Buteau
I mean, I don't know. Come on, Rayman, give me the ratio. I, you know, I, that's, that's such a fan. Fantasy football answer. I don't know. I just do what I feel. I, you know, sometimes I call feelings like farts. You gotta let them out and then you feel better. And so, yeah, I think everything is sort of like a careful balance and you sort of figure out your recipe as you go on.
- [13:24]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [13:25]
Michelle Buteau
You know, I know a lot of particularly female comedians when they first start comedy, it's a lot of self deprecating stuff. You know, they want to make everybody feel comfortable to let you know, I don't think I'm too attractive or whatever the fuck it is. Can we curse on this? Oh, good. Whatever the that is. And then also, that is. And also female comedians, when they start out, they tend to be dirty. You know, there's like a freedom and a license that we have when we first start that we can say fuck and shit and all this other stuff that like, we're not supposed to say. And.
- [13:58]
Mike Peska
Well, comedy's about transgression, I think still that's, that reads is transgressive and we'll get maybe a nervous giggle. And then the good comedians both work past that. Right. But also hold on to it. Like, there are great comedy moments to be.
- [14:11]
Michelle Buteau
It's in the roots, but you know, it's not in the leaves. So bad example, like, what am I on the Food Network? But like, yeah, yeah. And so, yeah, I, I think with comedy, like, no one is like, no. No one's like happily safe, if that makes sense. Do you know what I mean? In a fun, funny, inclusive way. And that's sort of like, that's why a good roast. Well, you'll just be quoting it for days because you're like, oh, I can't. Because, you know, a perfect roast joke, you know, will cut you down and lift you up at the same time.
- [14:45]
Mike Peska
But a bad roast, and I don't want to call out bad roast, but I just saw one. It will make you feel. It's not just that, oh, that was cruel for no reason. It's like, why it implicates you. Why was I part of that sport? You know, and so, I don't know, maybe that gives roasting a little more frison of danger, is a little more edgy.
- [15:04]
Michelle Buteau
You know, I think you have to work really hard. Like, I think people think roasts are easy. And don't get it twisted. Beyonce will make a halftime show look easy, but there's so much work behind that. And a good joke for a roast is not. You cannot be lazy. You have to work that joke over and over again. It's not. It's sort of like the way you do any joke. And that's why roast roaster like insane. Because you leave it there that one time, you don't get to do it over and over and over again. And. Yeah. And also there I was just, like. I was just talking to my assistant about this or somebody. I don't even remember, because what is space or time? But, you know, there's people who are funny, and there's people, like, the straight person, and there's the people who think they're funny.
- [15:42]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [15:42]
Michelle Buteau
And that's the dangerous place. You're not funny.
- [15:45]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [15:45]
Michelle Buteau
And it feels crazy now. It feels. Now people feel like they're being gasless. Like, oh, my God, what is this? And so when people meet me, sometimes they're like, I got a joke. I'm like, please don't tell me. I don't. I don't. I'm not your comedy teacher.
- [15:59]
Mike Peska
Right. But even if it's good, what are you gonna. How's that gonna leave you? You're gonna feel a little jealous.
- [16:03]
Michelle Buteau
I don't even know. Jealousy is not. Yeah, jealousy's not my thing. I'm always just like, I have Boo Boo. I'm the supportive mom at the playground. But I'm like, not for me. It's like showing me that your kid could walk. Good for you. I don't give a shit. I gotta take care of my other kids. You know what I mean? It's just like, I'm busy, but go.
- [16:17]
Mike Peska
So what's the cruelty quotient in the show? Back to fantasy football, and I'm gonna throw the toothpicks.
- [16:22]
Michelle Buteau
That's so subjective. Right?
- [16:23]
Mike Peska
Well, I mean, you have this bit where you're in the reptile house, right, with the bearded dragon, and you essentially are roasting an unseen character who. You establish this woman who gets on your case for being, quote, one of the woke ones.
- [16:37]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. And I was like, fine, I will go look at lizards with you because I love you. And he goes, you know, it might be really fun if we got a little High. So I took an edible, but this time I only took one. And it was wonderful. All you have to do is just wait 2 hours and 17 minutes. And it was great. I was in a good mood. Nothing was fazing me. I felt joyful. You know, I was like driving us to the reptile sanctuary in the Bronx in my minivan. I'm not proud of that sentence. You know, in the Bronx everyone's got road rage. They're like, move over, bitch, learn how to park, whatever it is. And I couldn't even. Usually I would yell back, but I was just like, I hope you heal.
- [17:43]
Mike Peska
So how do you convey, how do you establish the character enough to the audience, but also don't make it. Since she's of your own creation, you can make it so she's totally ridiculous and you're just beating up essentially a, you know, a tackling dummy. She's not there to offer resistance.
- [17:59]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, I mean, it seems a little.
- [18:00]
Mike Peska
Harder than it comes across when you're enjoying it.
- [18:04]
Michelle Buteau
I mean, as an audience member specificity.
- [18:06]
Mike Peska
Yes, yes.
- [18:06]
Michelle Buteau
Get specific.
- [18:07]
Mike Peska
Okay.
- [18:07]
Michelle Buteau
You know, let people know who this person is.
- [18:10]
Mike Peska
So what, what is it with this character with that woman?
- [18:12]
Michelle Buteau
I believe I said something along the lines of Walmart shoes optional. Uh huh. It's giving third cousin insurrection. It's giving camouflage. But I see you.
- [18:24]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [18:25]
Michelle Buteau
And so just by setting that up, it feels like people might know the type of person I'm talking to or people.
- [18:31]
Mike Peska
That's brilliant. They anchor in their mind. When you say that, it's a different kind of person for everyone. So now you're not speaking of an abstract idea or even a stereotype. They're saying, oh yeah, that's Sheila or whatever or whoever that is. And then offensive.
- [18:45]
Michelle Buteau
Your name is Sheila. But you know who he was?
- [18:46]
Mike Peska
This one specific January 6th. Sheila. But. Right. So like, when you're making fun of her, they're more on your side because they find that woman, you know, make fun of all.
- [18:56]
Michelle Buteau
And also she's making fun of me.
- [18:57]
Mike Peska
She is, yes.
- [18:58]
Michelle Buteau
You know what I mean? And this is sort of like a. A grown tete. A tete, right? It is. It's sort of like, where are you in your life? Buto when you are in your 40s, you are happily married, you are highly therapized, you are a mom. You don't want to become a Today show interview because you just got in a fight at a reptile sanctuary because Hoda will be so disappointed. But like, and it's supposed to be.
- [19:19]
Mike Peska
A sanctuary for those reptiles.
- [19:21]
Michelle Buteau
It's a sanctuary. Not in front of the reptile Sheila.
- [19:25]
Mike Peska
I mean, they are cold blooded sons.
- [19:27]
Michelle Buteau
Of bitches, but still with a warm soul. But like. Yeah, it's also like that bit really also kind of. I'm trying to talk about when you are nice, you're tipsy, you're high, and then somebody just comes along and just ruins that for you with their ignorance. And I really kind of. I've done so much work on myself, but when people really get like the Jersey mall parking lot in the back of my throat that wants to come up and let them know, you know, who the fuck she is, it's just like, can't do that, girl. Right. You're not 27, you're 47. So calm it down.
- [20:03]
Mike Peska
How much of that. If we were filming, how much would the documentary reflect? Your. Your recitation of it and how much does that matter?
- [20:13]
Michelle Buteau
Those words were so big sis. What? Can you make it simple for me?
- [20:18]
Mike Peska
Yeah. How much was real and does that matter?
- [20:22]
Michelle Buteau
Thank you. Why did you just say that to begin with? I mean, we're upstairs.
- [20:27]
Mike Peska
Well, you know, in the reptile house, we have to use somewhat exalted language, I think.
- [20:32]
Michelle Buteau
How much of it was real? I mean, this, this has happened to me quite a bit. So it was sort of like my back and forth with her was a combination of things that have happened to me where I'm just like, oh, here we go again. And whether they're like in real life or on social media and you know, when you get me in a safe place because I'm with my husband and also like, you know, and I'm a little high, then like, it's gonna come out, but it's gonna come out with a smile. So, yeah, it's. And honestly, like, there was a lot of blackout moments because I do say I turned into like a George Jefferson because. Have you ever gotten in a fight with a stranger?
- [21:24]
Mike Peska
Yes. Yes.
- [21:25]
Michelle Buteau
And you probably remember everything.
- [21:27]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [21:27]
Michelle Buteau
I don't remember everything.
- [21:29]
Mike Peska
Okay.
- [21:29]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. I don't remember everything. I want to.
- [21:32]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [21:33]
Michelle Buteau
But I don't.
- [21:34]
Mike Peska
But it's okay because then you could play it back and switch in that. Which is funnier? That which is always more always, like better for you. You come off better.
- [21:45]
Michelle Buteau
It's a condensed story.
- [21:47]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [21:49]
Michelle Buteau
About a bigger picture, but something that will happen to us every day. And it's always a painful, hurtful, disgusting argument and or conversation and or debate. But putting it on, arguably one of the biggest, nicest stages in the world for a special to close your special is gonna need some editing. It's gonna need some judging, some fine tuning, some space, some tightness. And, you know, anybody who's that friend that really loves to tell a dinner story, like a story at a dinner table, they know what's up, you know, what's working when you tell a story.
- [22:27]
Mike Peska
Or not, you know, besides being high and dealing with some woman who comes at you. You were in the reptile house, so that seems important. You could look at it like there's a bunch of reptile house jokes and there's a bunch of me arguing with a woman who accuses me of wokeness jokes, but the juxtaposition somehow makes it even weirder and funnier.
- [22:50]
Michelle Buteau
Always going to be. But that's what life is.
- [22:52]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [22:52]
Michelle Buteau
You know, I was in the butterfly sanctuary at the Bronx Zoo with my kids, and somebody, like, said something like, really gross about butterflies and was, like, squatting them away.
- [23:04]
Mike Peska
And the sanctuary, you went into the.
- [23:07]
Michelle Buteau
Butterflies zone, and now you talk. And I was just like. And it took me back to, like, colonialism. I'm like, well, get out of here if you don't want to be here. Stop taking their space and complaining about their space. But yeah, it can, like, it turns into like, King Woman real quick, where I'm like, you gotta go. But, yeah, I mean, it's. It's always the most inopportune times like that something like that happens, and even in stand up. And that's why I think so many people post crowd work now, because you're like, this is the show and now this is happening. It's not supposed to happen.
- [23:41]
Mike Peska
Right.
- [23:42]
Michelle Buteau
But let's, you know, and that's sort of like what this story is. It's like, it's crowd work at this point because it's not supposed to happen.
- [23:50]
Mike Peska
But I don't know. Sadly, some comedians have expressed this to me, that the comedy club used to be the butterfly sanctuary of performance spaces, and now it's become, if not the petting zoo, then something like the rodeo. Of course, I'm done with animal analogies, by the way.
- [24:06]
Michelle Buteau
I know. Yeah.
- [24:07]
Mike Peska
I mean, a lion's den. Yeah.
- [24:09]
Michelle Buteau
It's weird because social media is one of those things where it makes us. It makes it smaller, more intimate, but also, like, bigger and dumber. And so it's just. Yeah, it's weird. It's one of those things. And that's why I love when clubs ask me before I perform, do you want people to put their phones away? And should we tell them to take their phone? Like, you know, put their Phone away when they take it out. And I'm like, yes, because, you know, I don't want to share everything with everyone. Some. Some of those things, it's intimate, you.
- [24:38]
Mike Peska
Know, do you put yourself in situations that might be uncomfortable? Like the bearded rep, the bearded dragon sanctuary? And you got high to do it, but do you do it to some small part of you say, well, even if it goes south, it might be good for comedy.
- [24:53]
Michelle Buteau
I'm so, like, at this point, I've told my family, I don't want any more material.
- [24:57]
Mike Peska
Right, right, right.
- [24:58]
Michelle Buteau
Just make it simple for me. But, yeah, no, I never know. Every day is such a crazy adventure, especially with kids and a Dutch husband, that I'm just like, that's not.
- [25:09]
Mike Peska
In case people are listening and saying, wait, what's that phrase? I've not heard of it. You literally have a Dutch husband.
- [25:15]
Michelle Buteau
I have a Dutch husband, yeah. I'm not like, he's not in a crock pot. I am not holding him under the COVID for farts.
- [25:24]
Mike Peska
He's a bit of a Dutch husband, if you know what I mean. No, you mean a Dutch husband.
- [25:27]
Michelle Buteau
My husband is from the Netherlands, which is also called Holland.
- [25:29]
Mike Peska
Yeah, like that.
- [25:30]
Michelle Buteau
Pick a name. And. And clogs actually are meant for people that work on a farm because there's horses and cows and so when they step on your foot, it's meant to protect your foot.
- [25:42]
Mike Peska
That's more.
- [25:43]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [25:43]
Mike Peska
Here's another way around that. Don't let the horses step on your foot.
- [25:47]
Michelle Buteau
I know.
- [25:47]
Mike Peska
I think many American farmers have figured that one out.
- [25:50]
Michelle Buteau
But again, are we being culturally insensitive to the horse?
- [25:53]
Mike Peska
Let the horse step where he wants.
- [25:55]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. It's a bunch of horseshit. Yeah. But, yeah, it's so weird. I really thought Holland was sort of like Germany light, but it's not. It's got his own thing. Yeah, yeah.
- [26:05]
Mike Peska
So when you say that he's frugal. You have an interesting relationship with money.
- [26:10]
Michelle Buteau
Given do.
- [26:11]
Mike Peska
Given the rest of your life, given.
- [26:12]
Michelle Buteau
What Sue Orman is going on right now. Tell me, what is it?
- [26:16]
Mike Peska
Here's why I need to get you into a lower apr. Michelle. No, I've heard you in different interviews and even when we were chatting before, you said something like, I want to be able to make the most money. And then as I assess the rest of your politics, which are probably more lefty. I don't know. Very few, kind of. You seem socialist in many regards, except the actual socialism is what I say. You have a lot of policy positions of aoc, but you Want to make money?
- [26:43]
Michelle Buteau
I do. I feel like historically we have not been paid what we are owed.
- [26:50]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [26:51]
Michelle Buteau
And I'm done with that. Pay me money. And so, yeah, we were talking about living in Holland and that, you know, you have everything you need, but you'll never be rich, but you're rich in other ways. And that you could have millions of dollars and still basically have, like, no savings or even, like, health insurance or, like, access to good education or something. Right.
- [27:10]
Mike Peska
And even if you're a farmer, you probably don't have broken feet.
- [27:12]
Michelle Buteau
Exactly. A farmer, please. That's just me combing my hair on a Sunday. But, yeah, I think, you know, I think generational wealth creates generational health. And so I want to be comfortable, but I also want to set my family up the way my parents set me up. So my mom's from Jamaica, my dad's from Haiti. They left. They educated themselves in another country, and, you know, they were able to, you know, take care of me and provide for me and their family. So, yeah, I want to do that. I want to keep it going. I don't need to be like, a Kardashian or a Jackson. I don't need to be like, some, like, famous family. I just wanna make sure that my kids are okay.
- [28:00]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [28:01]
Michelle Buteau
And that their kids are okay.
- [28:02]
Mike Peska
You picked a pretty good one. And a gigantically dysfunctional example of families, I think.
- [28:08]
Michelle Buteau
I mean, also, I don't even know which one you're talking about. Like, it's all. Really.
- [28:12]
Mike Peska
You think the Jacksons are doing? Well, I don't know.
- [28:14]
Michelle Buteau
What. I don't know what they're doing. I haven't been privy. I know. Janet just performed in Vegas. It looked like fire.
- [28:19]
Mike Peska
Looks like Janet. Yeah.
- [28:20]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [28:20]
Mike Peska
I haven't checked in on Latoya lately. And we'll be back with more of Michel Bateau in a second.
- [28:33]
Michelle Buteau
It's the Smuckers Uncrustables podcast with your host, Uncrustables. Okay, Today's guest is rough around the edges. Please welcome crust. Thanks for having me. Today's topic. He's round with soft, pillowy bread. Hey. Filled with delicious PB and J. Are you talking about yourself? And you can take them anywhere. Why'd you invite. And we are out of time. Are you really cutting me off? Uncrustables are the best part of the sandwich. Sorry, crust. Your gut affects everything, even your mood. So Ollie created two brand new products to take care of your insides. Ollie Big 10 Probiotic has 10 strains of probiotics, their most ever to support a healthy gut, microbiome, immune system and stress response. And Ollie Super Good Superfoods delivers 15 superfoods in tasty gummy form. Find them at ollie.com and exclusively at Walmart. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
- [29:35]
Mike Peska
We're back with Michelle Buteau on Funny youy Should Mention. It is interesting politically. And you get. You get into politics, I guess, a little bit obliquely. A lot of older black Democratic politicians, essentially, and maybe it's because you're children of immigrants, but essentially have that view, which is they are dedicated to the social justice part, but they know what their constituents want is not a reorganization of society, society, economically. They just want the opportunity to get their share.
- [30:06]
Michelle Buteau
I say both. Yeah, I say both.
- [30:09]
Mike Peska
Well, they do. It's not as if, you know, Clyburn doesn't want some sort of organization, but when push comes to shove, if you look at the Squad, for instance, they have different economic prescriptions for what's going on with society.
- [30:22]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. It almost feels like. Honestly, it almost feels like it's out of hand in a way where I'm like, was the world always this up or am I just old enough to know better?
- [30:34]
Mike Peska
Now, that's interesting.
- [30:36]
Michelle Buteau
You know.
- [30:36]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [30:37]
Michelle Buteau
And I don't. No. And I know, like, a lot of people will say two steps forward, four steps back, or whatever it is, but I'm just like, I don't know what this world is. I. I just have no idea. I thought I did. I have no idea.
- [30:52]
Mike Peska
What do you mean? In regards to what?
- [30:53]
Michelle Buteau
In all of it?
- [30:54]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [30:54]
Michelle Buteau
You know, I mean, there's such. You would think there's like such a, like, big difference between like. Like a doomsdayer. Right. And then, like, you know, someone who's not. And now I'm just like, I am overwhelmed by information.
- [31:16]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [31:16]
Michelle Buteau
And I don't know what's real. And I used to work in the news business.
- [31:19]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [31:19]
Michelle Buteau
You know what I mean?
- [31:20]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [31:20]
Michelle Buteau
And that fucked me up even more.
- [31:23]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [31:23]
Michelle Buteau
Because now it really is feeling like a real life black mirror house of cards where I'm just like, here's the information, here's what they're giving us. And then we have to decide. But then we have all this access to social media where we get to have this yelling conversation with each other. No one's actually sitting in a room talking. And so I'm just. And now I'm just, like, saying words, but I'm really just I'm really overwhelmed by it, especially with this new administration. I'm just like, well, what do I have control of? And that's sort of like what comedy has been for me because, you know, I'm really proud to be a multi hyphenate. And I feel like you have to, especially if you're a woman in this business, figure out how to do other things. Don't wait for somebody to tell you what you can and cannot do. Create it, no matter big or small, you know? And so I feel like comedy sort of is like how I'm holding on to humanity. Like, what can I control?
- [32:17]
Mike Peska
Can you think of a bit or routine where you help define into the uncertainty of the world? So the phrase that I sometimes hear about it is epistemic collapse. Like, what do we even know what we believe in? And it's all up for grabs. So maybe a comedian could say, yeah, this is crazy, but here's my theory and maybe I'll help guide you through it with what I think about this issue or that issue. Can you think of a cause? I know you talk a lot about your life and you're a great storyteller. I'm trying to think if you've ever kind of defined the world in a way that is helpful to the audience or one small aspect of the world.
- [32:53]
Michelle Buteau
God, I really, I can't. It's sort of like an argument. When I'm like in the zone. It does feel like blackout. Because I do speak from the heart.
- [32:59]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [33:00]
Michelle Buteau
So I don't know. I don't know. I know, like, the biggest question I get from people whether they're in the industry or not is when do I start making money? When will it happen for me? And, you know, the parallel to me is like, it. What is it? What is this defining thing that you need? And like, the way you do one thing is everything. So when will it happen? That's saying you're waiting again for someone to define your happiness when you're not defining it yourself. So when will they love me? When will he call me? When will she take me seriously? When will he give me a raise? When will I become? When, like, what paycheck are you going to need to feel? It's a series, right? It's like when we're climbing a mountain. It's. Everyone talks about the view, but the real journey and like the fucking. The good part of that climb up to the mountain is like all the little rocks that you had to figure out in between. And so I'm just like, why Are we not, like, living in the moment more? And so, yeah, I. I don't fully. I don't really know what I've said. Even when I'm editing it. I was like, dang, I said it like that. I don't really remember. I wish I did. This is why my husband probably loves me. I'm so good to argue with because I'm like, did I say that? I don't really remember.
- [34:18]
Mike Peska
So he could, like, gaslight you afterwards and tell you what your position is.
- [34:21]
Michelle Buteau
Oh, my. We go to Home Depot for more matches. That's how much she could just, like, let it burn. I'm like, I can't confirm or deny. Yeah.
- [34:29]
Mike Peska
So you were in the news business, and from what I hear, you were working at WNBC TV, Channel 4, WSV and Fox with a little. With Sue Simmons, Chuck Scarborough, all that. Lynn Berman on sports.
- [34:40]
Michelle Buteau
Yes. Felicia Taylor, the Dream Team Morrison. Yeah, I was there in it.
- [34:46]
Mike Peska
And wsvb, is that Channel five?
- [34:48]
Michelle Buteau
WSBN is Channel five. Fox in South Florida.
- [34:51]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [34:51]
Michelle Buteau
And Deco Drive, Alex.
- [34:53]
Mike Peska
Wow. So you were. You were editing film on 9 11. You were editing tape on 9 11, and somehow you said, as someone with comedy in your soul, this isn't funny enough.
- [35:04]
Michelle Buteau
I didn't even think I had comedy in my soul. I thought it was just like a big titty freckle face bitch trying to get through the day that loved free donuts on an overnight.
- [35:10]
Mike Peska
Listen, if you phrased it like that, you had comedy in your soul, I had no idea.
- [35:14]
Michelle Buteau
That's what they told me. People in the news business that literally edit death every day, they're like, you should be a comedian. And I was like, I don't know what you're talking about because comedians seem broke. And then I like fucking money, as we know.
- [35:25]
Mike Peska
Yes.
- [35:26]
Michelle Buteau
I want to feel safe as the core and pay all these bills on time. But yeah, it's weird. It's like, I don't know why it takes death to, like, really make you live, but sometimes it does.
- [35:39]
Mike Peska
I also read that you wanted to get into entertainment news per se.
- [35:42]
Michelle Buteau
Is this true? I love a red lip and a shoulder pad. And I want to be like a little Mary Hart. Little John Tesh. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [35:50]
Mike Peska
With the leg cam on Entertainment Tonight getting higher and higher every year.
- [35:55]
Michelle Buteau
I'm right. Where's my taxi?
- [35:57]
Mike Peska
So now that you are the interview, do you have. Do you think you have. You give more leeway to the entertainment interviewers or do you say, no, that's not the way.
- [36:06]
Michelle Buteau
A little bit of Both. And that's what comedy's for.
- [36:08]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [36:08]
Michelle Buteau
It's like, that's your question. You could have done better, but that's okay. Did you go to AOL for these questions? Because that's crazy. Did you go to AI?
- [36:15]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [36:16]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. And so that's the great thing about comedy. You can, like, say the thing without saying the thing, and they'll, like, smile while you're making fun of them, which is great.
- [36:22]
Mike Peska
Have you ever been interviewed on a red carpet where you said, you know, I know what your job is, and that was great. That was great. You're great at your job. No, no. Is anyone great at their job on a red carpet?
- [36:33]
Michelle Buteau
As long as you're having fun, you're great at your job. As long as you're not an asshole, you're great at your job.
- [36:37]
Mike Peska
Do you think red carpets should over or revamp? Overhaul the what are you wearing question?
- [36:43]
Michelle Buteau
No, I love Joan, so let's keep that going. Although, did you see that? You probably saw that video then. Probably. I don't know, because I feel like you've watched everything, but I was hosting something, and a girl asked me, what are you wearing? And I just said, hope for the future.
- [36:55]
Mike Peska
That's great.
- [36:55]
Michelle Buteau
And she was, like, kind of mad about it, but I was like, bitch, I don't know. This is the dress that zipped. What do you want from me?
- [37:00]
Mike Peska
Well, speaking of aoc, she literally wore a dress that said tax the rich at the Met Gala. I think your, you know, conceptual wearing was much better. Much better. Plus, you don't have to walk around literally with that message all day.
- [37:12]
Michelle Buteau
Sometimes you do. Sometimes you gotta let them know. You know, it's really interesting because once you have a platform, you know, you're just like, well, then I have to. Sometimes, you know, you just have to.
- [37:23]
Mike Peska
Is that. Was that some of the impetus behind the bit in your latest special where you talk about Chappelle's jokes about trans people?
- [37:32]
Michelle Buteau
I don't think we'll ever run into Dave, though, because he is the goat, and he is the goat. If that means going off about trans people, Dave, it's not funny. It's dangerous. Make it funny. That's all. I can't believe somebody would make millions and millions of dollars for making people feel unsafe. That is so wild to me. Like, truly, I'm manifesting this shit tonight. This is a Radio City Music hall takeover, and I'm gonna tell everybody I want to make millions and millions of dollars for making people feel safe, seen, secure, heard, and entertained. Entertained. Entertainment I mean, I'm always gonna be that person. I'm always gonna stick up for what I think is right. Humanity, essentially. You know, we're just people at the end of the day who want to be loved and feel loved and feel safe. You know, we're all someone's child. And so, yeah, it's, it is not just trans and non binary people. It's, it's, it's everyone in general, like, why are we punching down? This is like crazy. Why are we getting paid less? Why are we not feeling safe? Why are the schools not good enough for our children? It really is fucking everything.
- [39:00]
Mike Peska
So. So in that joke, you said one thing I definitely agree with, it's subjective. And one thing I want to ask you about the agree with is you can do anything you say, anything, but be funny. And I agree with you that the portions of his many shows where he talks about trans people are often the least funny in kind of a shocking way. And I know Chappelle does. He loves doing 10 minutes where he doesn't even try to elicit a laugh. And he can, and he likes holding the audience in rapture. But you would hope that the point would be something better than essentially questioning or mocking of trans people. On the other hand, you did use a phrase and you said, it's dangerous. And so here's my question about that. It's not to debate it, but if we hold the idea that comedy making fun of even a marginalized group can be dangerous, doesn't that open the door for lodging that complaint in all sorts of circumstances? And then you can get hit with that complaint. It's dangerous when you make jokes, it's, you know, to me. Well, I don't know if I want to say to me, but I think a good case could be made is that there is jokes in the spirit of humor, and then there is real danger. But what do you think of that? I really brought you up with that one, didn't I?
- [40:14]
Michelle Buteau
You did, yeah.
- [40:15]
Mike Peska
There goes the mood.
- [40:17]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. I want to be careful here because I'm realizing that everybody wants to sort of copy and paste what I say and then turn it into something else for clickbait. What I will say is, yes, comedy is subjective. Yes, words have power. Yes, we shouldn't punch down. Yes, we can be funny and inclusive. But the bigger picture and the bigger problem here is why is it okay for very talented, powerful people to say what they want to say, but somehow it's not okay for other people to say, I don't agree with that, or can we do better? So you can say what you want to say, but a lot of us have to be quiet. So comedy is meant to be a hilarious, dark conversation, essentially. And so, you know, I'm calling on everybody who doesn't understand people that don't look like them or are them. I'm calling on everybody to just take five minutes to try.
- [42:17]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [42:18]
Michelle Buteau
And understand them.
- [42:19]
Mike Peska
Yeah, yeah.
- [42:20]
Michelle Buteau
And I don't want to make this about, like, this joke and that joke and make it funny. I think the bigger picture is humanity.
- [42:29]
Mike Peska
Well, okay. I'll just say one thing, which is that, okay, I think I have an ethic of free speech. I don't channel Dave Chappelle at all. And I do take your point that he pulls the plug on funniness at times to talk about this one community, and I wonder about it and makes me wonder about his whole every. Everything that else that he's doing. But like I say, I do also have the ethic of free speech, and I worry about certain verboten topics being verboten. I think it's better if comedy is allowed to talk about everything, which obviously includes you saying what you did.
- [43:05]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, I think, you know, the needle is moving. I remember my mom coming home and having to ask my dad's permission to sign a document to open a Bamberger's.
- [43:18]
Mike Peska
Credit card, which is locked in a certain time period based on a couple things. Bam Burgers.
- [43:24]
Michelle Buteau
Yes. Which is now amazing. Macy's bought out Bamber, but, like, yeah, so there was a time where, you know, black people weren't allowed to read, women weren't allowed to read, women weren't allowed to vote. There's, you know, and, yeah, I mean, my perfect. My perfect world is that we take the time to roast each other in a way that emboldens us and educates. Educates us and makes us feel better. Do.
- [43:52]
Mike Peska
Do you think your audience specifically enjoys peaks behind the curtain of your profession? When you talk about being in movies with JLo, when you talk about doing soup commercials, are these the sort of things that your audience not only likes because it's funny, but they get to connect through your experience? It's visceral.
- [44:11]
Michelle Buteau
I mean, that's a great question. I don't really know what my. What. I know what I like, and I know what I want to share. And so that's why I called it Beautopia, because it really is, like, the world of my crazy, sassy ass. So, yeah, you know, I want comedy, my comedy at least to feel like we're at a boozy brunch together, but then we all get to go home.
- [44:34]
Mike Peska
Was the. The amount of. You talk about a soup company where you didn't quite name the soup company. I think you call it.
- [44:42]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, I'm trying not to name names.
- [44:44]
Mike Peska
Tambel's Coupe. What was it?
- [44:46]
Michelle Buteau
The loop. Loop scare cooking before it scares you.
- [44:59]
Mike Peska
I would think that a Fortune 500 company would say, well, the best thing that can happen is she does this great endorsement, but maybe the second or maybe even better is it just blows up and then she talks about it in our next special.
- [45:11]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, I don't. You know, obviously I want people to feel safe around me. I'm not gonna make a bit. Every time you know, we meet each other, she's the comedian you hire, and.
- [45:21]
Mike Peska
Then she shits all over your place product.
- [45:23]
Michelle Buteau
No, I'm not. Yeah, I'm not shitting all over anybody's product. I'm just like, this is. And this happened. I think that video came out, like, I think it was like four years ago or five years. Like, it came out a long time ago. So, like, sometimes you just need time to process and get over that hill emotionally.
- [45:39]
Mike Peska
Have you done specials? There's a special in between that video coming out and this one.
- [45:43]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [45:44]
Mike Peska
Oh, and you didn't even talk about it in the last special.
- [45:46]
Michelle Buteau
Things don't happen. And all of a sudden I'm like, haha, I'm living life for content. No, I'm like, out here living life, Right? Yeah.
- [45:53]
Mike Peska
Were you at any point, I don't know, worried about the blowback or what had happened with that commercial? Like a real worry?
- [46:00]
Michelle Buteau
Um, I mean, it's weird, like, peripherally, like, yes. I really was just like, oh, my God, I will not be invited to fests. And I love Essence Fest. You know what I mean? But on the other hand, I was like, wow, we really can't take life too seriously because we're making up. This is all made up, you know, like campaigns and this and that. This is all like, cancel cult. Like, all these things, all these terms, they're like, this is all made up. At the end of the day, it's just like, are you okay? Are you a good person? Are you drinking enough water? Do you have a neurovirus? Let's move on.
- [46:37]
Mike Peska
Water is real. Like, that is true for all the constructs. You can't get away from water.
- [46:43]
Michelle Buteau
Oh, no, you need it. When people are like, I don't like water, I'm like, there's something that your inner child needs to Tell me right now. I don't understand what that means.
- [46:51]
Mike Peska
Is there anything in the kind of self care sphere that you strenuously object to that you think is bullshit?
- [46:59]
Michelle Buteau
I've never really understood Pilates. Huh.
- [47:02]
Mike Peska
What about stretching in general?
- [47:03]
Michelle Buteau
Love it.
- [47:04]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [47:05]
Michelle Buteau
Do it all the time.
- [47:06]
Mike Peska
Yeah, yeah.
- [47:07]
Michelle Buteau
Stretch.
- [47:08]
Mike Peska
Consciously or just as a part of life?
- [47:11]
Michelle Buteau
Both.
- [47:11]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [47:11]
Michelle Buteau
Sometimes I don't even know I'm doing it. Yeah, Yeah. I. I don't know. I'm trying to think of something.
- [47:16]
Mike Peska
What about manifesting? Where are you with that?
- [47:18]
Michelle Buteau
That, yeah, you believe.
- [47:21]
Mike Peska
You believe in something and then it happens.
- [47:23]
Michelle Buteau
I mean, I believe in myself and then it happens.
- [47:24]
Mike Peska
Okay.
- [47:25]
Michelle Buteau
You know what I mean? So I don't know that I would like light a candle and look at that candle every day and be like, do this. But I do feel like, again, words have power and also, also like thoughts for yourself. And so. Yeah, work on that.
- [47:39]
Mike Peska
Yeah. I just sometimes hear, I think sometimes manifesting that idea can be wielded or used by charlatans.
- [47:46]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [47:47]
Mike Peska
Like convince you not to do or a person not to do the work.
- [47:49]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. Not buying like a. A golden bowl to like make sounds to like make. You know what I mean? But like. Yeah. And I think, you know, manifesting is sort of like a word that gets lost too, because it's like it, it. Manifesting is also work, you know, and like marriage is work. And so while I want to manifest a great life for my husband and I, it's like communication, openness, patience, planning, like all that stuff. It takes work. So, like, do the work.
- [48:22]
Mike Peska
Yeah, yeah, yeah. And. And your kids, that didn't just happen, right?
- [48:27]
Michelle Buteau
No, not at all.
- [48:28]
Mike Peska
That was the most important thing.
- [48:29]
Michelle Buteau
Oh my God, that was so. That was like one of the hardest things I've ever done, you know? So. Yeah, I worked really. I worked really hard. And I remember Jordan, Carlos, his wife, him and his wife once told me. Well, she told me you're a crazy ass bitch, so I know you'll be a mom. And I was like, that is actually very helpful, thank you. And then Jordan told me, sometimes you can have a happy ending, you know?
- [48:51]
Mike Peska
You didn't think so before.
- [48:52]
Michelle Buteau
Well, when you're in such a dark time, you know, like four miscarriages over five years, traveling the country with weird needles that you have to like present at TSA for ivf, paying out of pocket, doing gigs you'd never normally do because nothing's covered by insurance, people telling you you should lose weight or not work so much, who don't have any degrees on their wall to be a doctor or even work in I is like, fucking insane. And then, like, everyone's sort of blaming you. You're too old. You know, you waited too long. And so, like, yeah, it was dark. But also, like, that's the great thing about comedy. It's like, it's nice to have this time on stage with people that want to have a good time because it makes you, like, want to show up for yourself, too. And so, yeah, I think recognizing the dark parts is like, really how you only appreciate when you're out of them.
- [49:40]
Mike Peska
I would imagine that you couldn't love your kids more. And no matter how you came by your kids, but going haven't gone through the journey, you came by your kids having gone through the journey. There's this extra appreciation. But do you. They're young, so you could just love them or get the boogers out of their nose. But have you thought to yourself, I'm not going to put all of that on them at some point that they're. Put one on them, the magical children who were the outcome of so much work?
- [50:10]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, I mean, I think that also is like, just even saying that sentence is like, how the majority of people see the word manifest. You know, it's like, oh, you must. You must have a vision board, like, over your bed, and you just, like, look at pictures of things and hope they happen. That's not really it either. I mean, I can't speak for everyone. I can speak for myself. Like, you know, the days are long and they're real. And, you know, you appreciate even the hard moments. Because then, like, it's a privilege and an honor to be this fucking tired with you right now, you know, because I could be tired with someone else and do something else, but no, I get to be this for you. And then you show up for yourself in ways that you never thought you'd show up for your own self. And, you know, you think back on how you were raised and how you might do something differently when you're presented with the same situation. And then also, it's not the same situation because we're living in a different world. And so. But also, you know, you know, DNA is real. And so it's really. It's really not me being sort of like this Nona, you know, in some sort of like my fat Greek wedding where, like, my kids could do nothing no wrong, and, oh, my God, you're the savior, where it's like, holy shit, man, I'm in. I'm in this. I'm in this world with you guys and now you're in the world with me and I do this crazy thing and I want to let you know that you could do whatever the fuck you want to do too.
- [51:48]
Mike Peska
Well, you've said a couple things. There's a strain of wisdom that. Let me. Let me reflect it back to you. Who knows what reality is? And our perceptions are always changing. It's very hard to latch onto anything. But you know what? Water is real. Real. And you know what? DNA is real.
- [52:04]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [52:05]
Mike Peska
And there are a couple of. And maybe let's take something that can't be broken down into its elemental parts. Like the love of a children is real.
- [52:14]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [52:14]
Mike Peska
So maybe. And I don't know how this interacts with comedy or just your worldview.
- [52:19]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [52:19]
Mike Peska
But among this morass and on. On this chaos, think about, latch on to recognize the things that are real.
- [52:26]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah.
- [52:27]
Mike Peska
And from there you get insight, direction, pleasure, maybe comedy. I don't know.
- [52:32]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, something like that. But also it's such a. I can't speak for everybody, but it's such a weird, careful balance of recognizing what's real, but also like letting yourself dream a little bit.
- [52:49]
Mike Peska
The name of the special is A Beautiful Mind. I want to pronounce it correctly.
- [52:56]
Michelle Buteau
There's no question mark on the end of that.
- [52:57]
Mike Peska
No, I meant the question mark is how to pronounce it correctly.
- [53:00]
Michelle Buteau
Well, just do it. Even if you do it wrong, just do it.
- [53:02]
Mike Peska
Because beautiful's an easy word and beutel is an easy word. But somehow when they mash together, I'm having a little trouble with it.
- [53:09]
Michelle Buteau
But you know.
- [53:09]
Mike Peska
Beautiful mind.
- [53:11]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah, Beautiful mind.
- [53:12]
Mike Peska
Beautiful mind.
- [53:13]
Michelle Buteau
No. Beautiful mind.
- [53:15]
Mike Peska
Does that count as a pun?
- [53:18]
Michelle Buteau
Yes, you have.
- [53:19]
Mike Peska
I think you have one pun in the special. I like puns. Do you know what the pun is?
- [53:23]
Michelle Buteau
No.
- [53:23]
Mike Peska
It's about. There's a lot of holes in that argument, but not in the bubble.
- [53:27]
Michelle Buteau
Oh God, John Travolta.
- [53:30]
Mike Peska
But I think that counts as a pun.
- [53:32]
Michelle Buteau
Love. I think so too. I don't even. I think it's pretty punny, but who knows?
- [53:36]
Mike Peska
Don't. Don't run away from the puns. I say.
- [53:38]
Michelle Buteau
Oh, I love a pun.
- [53:39]
Mike Peska
Yeah.
- [53:40]
Michelle Buteau
Yeah. It's tried and true. It's why kids love Knock knock jokes. It's just like it does something to your brain. It's like the baby shark of jokes.
- [53:48]
Mike Peska
Michelle Buteau's new special.
- [53:51]
Michelle Buteau
Lol.
- [53:53]
Mike Peska
A Beautiful Mind exclamation.
- [53:56]
Michelle Buteau
Yes, that's it.
- [53:57]
Mike Peska
Am I really selling the hell out of this? I hope I get people to watch it.
- [54:00]
Michelle Buteau
You are not. But I do appreciate it.
- [54:01]
Mike Peska
To my saying the words. Watch the words. Thank you, Michelle.
- [54:04]
Michelle Buteau
You're welcome. I gotta go pick my kids up.
- [54:06]
Mike Peska
Do it.
- [54:07]
Michelle Buteau
Bye.
- [54:12]
Mike Peska
And that's it for today's show. The Gist is produced by Corey Wara, CBSO of Peach Fish Productions. Michelle Pesca, the doyen of the Gist list is Kathleen Sykes. And Leo Baum has been hitting the archives hard and helping us out. So thank you to our intern, Leo Baum, Astrid Greens, our social media director, and thanks for listening.