Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer

Episode: THE LOST EPISODE (w/ Bobby Moynihan) — February 7, 2025

Episode Overview

Comedian Nicole Byer sits down with her friend, SNL alum Bobby Moynihan, for a raucous, unfiltered conversation about love, marriage, sour candy-induced head sweats, the deranged glory of the TV show Lost, and the mysteries of adult friendship. The episode is as much about playful friendship as it is about relationships, meandering through hilarious anecdotes, warm confessions, and some truly unhinged tangents (notably, shots of vodka in the middle of the day). The irreverent chemistry between Nicole and Bobby drives the episode, making it feel like a shared fever dream and a celebration of loving connection in all forms.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Opening Banter & Food/Fitness Confessions

(Timestamp: 02:23–06:51)

• Sour Candy Oddities:
  Bobby explains his head sweating when eating sour Skittles, calling it “damp, hot.”

  “It just gets gradually more and more hot the more sour candy I eat.” — Bobby (03:56)

• Food and Diabetes:
  Nicole talks about her favorite, but regrettable, treats like Welch’s fruit snacks and managing Type 2 diabetes.

• Joking about “healthy” habits:
  Both admit to “eating things I’m not supposed to eat all day long.”

• High School Cool Factor:
  Bobby regales Nicole with stories about being on the hockey team while also tap dancing after school.

  “I went to hockey practice in the morning and then tap dance in theater after school.” — Bobby (06:32)

The Tap Dance Connection & Holly Hunter Stories

(Timestamp: 06:51–08:07)

• Bobby recalls the joy of discovering co-star Holly Hunter took tap lessons, and getting invited. Sadly, the show got canceled.
• The two share mutual excitement for tap dancing and reminisce on theater and dance experiences.

Meeting the Wife & Early Love Story

(Timestamp: 08:07–11:38)

• How They Met:
  Bobby admits he was his wife’s Improv 101 teacher at UCB, but waited until after the class ended before anything happened:

  “I fell in love with you the second you walked in the door. But...I need this money, so gotta be on my best behavior.” — Bobby (08:35)

• First Date Confusion:
  While he has specific memories, he’s not sure what actually qualified as their first “real” date.

The Role of ‘Lost’ in Their Relationship

(Timestamp: 10:24–15:25)

• The first date included running into “Ben” from Lost (Michael Emerson) — Bobby totally fangirled, and Lost became a couple touchstone.
• Their honeymoon was in Hawaii, partially inspired by Lost.
• Bobby tries in vain to explain Lost and its wild mythology to Nicole, covering tailies, smoke monsters, time travel, and sideways flashes:

  “Are you about to start a podcast?” — Bobby, joking about pitching Nicole a Lost recap show (12:36) “This show is truly unhinged.” — Nicole (15:19)

Vodka Shots & Podcast Hijinks

(Timestamp: 13:13–18:29)

• Nicole and Bobby break the afternoon monotony with on-air vodka shots, in honor of their friendship and general chaos.
• Conversation devolves into gleeful giggling, wild name-dropping, and marveling at their choices.

  “It’s 3:20, I gotta go pick up my kids from school.” — Bobby (13:19) “Are we about to do another? Get wrecked?” — Nicole (18:48)

Wedding Proposals & Romance Details

(Timestamp: 19:00–24:50)

• Proposal Story:
  Bobby proposed on a “Lost numbers” day as a quirky couple milestone (4, 8, 15, 16, 23, 42).

  “It was all Lost numbers...I was like, we’ll remember this.” — Bobby (19:06)

• The inside of his wedding ring is engraved with a Lost quote referencing “the constant” — two lovers finding each other across timelines.

Parenting, Trick-or-Treating, and Biden's Dog

(Timestamp: 28:38–32:14)

• Bobby is now a dad to two kids (ages 7 and 1).
• The duo jokes about trick-or-treating in February, time loops, and not knowing who the president will be when the episode airs.
• They riff on President Biden’s dog Major’s biting scandal and McRibs:

  “Let him eat a couple kids at this point.” — Bobby (31:05)

Fast Food & Ice Cream Tangents

(Timestamp: 32:14–34:27)

• Nicole and Bobby share fast food dessert stories, including McDonald’s cones and Wienerschnitzel’s soft serve.
• Nicole talks about her boyfriend (prompting playful teasing from Bobby).

Resolutions, Air Fryers, and Tiny Fridges

(Timestamp: 35:37–41:37)

• Nicole’s plan for Valentine’s is dinner and flowers; Bobby is clueless but “terrified.”
• Nicole bought a “portable air fryer”—which she has yet to use—and Bobby shares his love for a tiny four-bottle refrigerator kept upstairs for convenience:

  “Nobody needs a journey.” — Nicole (41:14)

Romance, Improv, and UCB Memories

(Timestamp: 41:44–43:54)

• “What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?” spirals into a meta-chat about smart/life-changing decisions—both agree that joining improv transformed their lives:

  “Starting to do improv because I’ve met the closest people in my life...and I’ve gotten to do so many things other people haven’t.” — Nicole (42:46)

Soulmates, Magic, & Whimsy

(Timestamp: 43:55–46:39)

• Bobby shares a charming story about meant-to-be romances and serendipity (“life is like a movie”).
• Nicole describes her view on soulmates, lessons from heartbreak, and whimsical creative energy.

The Muppets, Weddings, and Performing at Receptions

(Timestamp: 48:02–51:51)

• Bobby almost had the Muppets sing at his wedding, but costs were prohibitive; instead, his Broadway-singer wife sang “Love on Top.”
• They discuss the awkwardness of doing improv at weddings, agreeing it should never happen.

SNL, Dating Fame, and Mistaken Identity

(Timestamp: 54:48–58:50)

• Bobby recounts a story about being mistaken for Artie Lange by a woman—she was only interested if he was “Howard’s” friend, not Bobby himself.

  “She went, who are you? I was like, my name’s Bobby Moynihan… I think I need to go.” — Bobby (56:51)

• Nicole shares her own experience with being mistaken for Gabourey Sidibe at a studio security gate.

Beard Identity & SNL Years

(Timestamp: 58:50–60:12)

• Bobby reveals he wasn’t allowed to have a beard for all nine years at SNL, showing Nicole photo evidence.
• Both crack up about how different he looks without facial hair.

Dating Advice

(Timestamp: 60:15–61:19)

• Bobby offers advice to singles:

  “For single young people...take your time. For single old people...your time’s running out. Don’t go after the young ones. Stick with your own kind. I mean old.” — Bobby (60:41)

• They denounce the phenomenon of much older adults pursuing the youngest possible partners.

Reflections on Fame and Child Stars

(Timestamp: 61:19–62:25)

• The duo comments on the troubling ways child celebrities like Britney Spears and Winona Ryder were treated, especially youths being sexualized.

Worst Dates & Rejected Affections

(Timestamp: 62:45–64:33)

• Bobby and Nicole share tales of realizing during a date when the other person lost interest:

  “I saw the moment when the person went, ‘oh, okay, yeah, no,’ and I was in—but right now I’m not.” — Bobby (63:54) “I'm going to try so hard to make you into me… It never works.” — Nicole (64:07)

The Cookie Monster, Wedding Details & Last Laughs

(Timestamp: 65:00–67:40)

• The conversation turns to favorite cartoon and Sesame Street characters; Bobby once met Cookie Monster and Elmo, and promises Nicole a Cookie Monster message.
• Nicole pitches a Ghost/Sister Act crossover film as the episode descends into joyful, silly chaos.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “This show is truly unhinged.” — Nicole (15:19)
• “When I eat sour Skittles, this part of my body, the crown, just gets super hot.” — Bobby (03:13)
• “You know what else I love? That you’re married, correct?” — Nicole (08:07)
• “I love my wife with all my farts.” — Bobby (09:44)
• “Lost has been a weird, big thing in our lives.” — Bobby (11:40)
• “Are we about to do another? Get wrecked?” — Nicole (18:48)
• “On the inside of my wedding ring, there’s a Lost quote.” — Bobby (23:39)
• “You bring four raw wings over to the couch…” — Bobby (40:17)
• “What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done? Probably this podcast.” — Bobby (42:03)
• “For single young people...take your time. For single old people...stick with your own kind. I mean old.” — Bobby (60:41)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Sour Skittles Sweat: 02:56–04:18
• How Bobby Met His Wife: 08:33–09:13
• First Date with ‘Lost’ Star Encounter: 10:24–11:38
• Lost Explanations/Tangents: 12:07–15:25
• On-Air Vodka Shots: 13:13–16:38
• Proposal & Wedding Ring Quote: 19:00–24:50
• Best Part of Having Kids: 29:15–30:05
• McDonald’s Cone Story: 33:10–34:27
• Improv at Weddings: 50:13–51:51
• Mistaken for Other Celebrities: 57:02–58:43
• Unsolicited Dating Advice: 60:41–61:19
• Worst Date Realizations: 63:54–64:33

The Episode in a Nutshell

Bursting with warmth, mischief, and years of shared history, Nicole Byer and Bobby Moynihan weave in and out of life stories, philosophical asides, and world-class oddball banter. Whether reminiscing about impromptu shots, the weirdness of fame, or the enduring silliness of pop culture obsessions, this “lost” episode is a love letter—to friendship, to improv, and to never taking life (or love) too seriously.