Look man, oh, I see you my old line and look over there. How is that culture? Yees? Goodness ding dong. Last Culturalista's calling he Oscar weekend. It just happened. It kind of came and went, didn't it. I feel it's been so long every year when the oscars are over, I'm like, well that was long, like even last night. Well we'll get into it. But the result was very positive. I feel for this podcast at least I agree. I agree, very happy with the result. But I must confess that I did not watch the ceremony transit. I was in transit. I was asleep. You know, it's tough. I didn't realize that people east of America have it a little bit tough, just past the Atlantic Ocean. It's the time zones are tough for live television. Oh yeah, it's so hard. Well, LA really makes it all about them, you know, would you use LA live shows? They say we're getting in at five on the dot, we're getting out by eight thirty. And so the length of the oscars really doesn't perturb anyone. But then if you are New Yorker or eastward, you are up until the wee hours watching this very long ceremony and what I would call a very long season of campaigning, the length of it all. The Oscars truly are a marathon. Yes, that's a rule of culture number fifty seven. Yes, the Oscars a marathon. I did watch. I watched with a large group of people, and I will say that it was extremely loud at the party I was at. I could not hear a lot of what was happening, but certainly we stopped for some select speeches. We basked in Michelle Yoe's glory Friend of the Pod. It's incredible to say Michelle yo has won an Academy Award, making history and rightfully so I mean, come on, come on, let me just quickly backtrack. You said you were an allowed Oscars party. Yeah, this is actually gonna be a requirement for me in future years. No more than four people, Yeah, no more than four people on Oscar Sunday because I need to be watching because what happened last year at the Oscars. I was at a big party, really hated it, could not hear what was going on. Yeah, God, I was home alone when the slap happened because I could just experience the shock for myself. If I had been in that room, it would have been chaos and I would not have been able to process. Yeah, here we are, we're all trying to sit and bask in the glory. I mean, look, was everyone like we have to have to have to hear what Jimmy Kimmel has to say. No, but I want to hear what Jimmy Kimmel has to say. Absolutely, I want to see how he approaches hosting duties. In this very opportune year for that show. It feels like a year to really go back to basics, go back to tradition, embrace tradition even and reject modernity, which it seemed like people really liked. Again. I say this as someone who did not watch the actual show, but I watched the monologue. Yea perfectly fine monologue, and perfectly fine is maybe what we need. Yeah, you do just miss the days though, when you had someone like a Billy Crystal, like a Whippie Goldberg, really holding it down like it was the reason I tuned in even as a kid. I guess it's different now as like a movie ticket paying adults. Yeah, yeah, I mean I think that they were just so nervous after last year. They had to keep it completely like this is going to be by the book even like it just didn't feel like there was any And I say this, I don't say this as a pejorative, but there was no edge to the monologue, which probably was good. We needed a light atmosphere, and I was curious how they were going to discuss the slap. I thought the slap part of the monologue was probably the strongest part. I loved the panning around to the crowd, you know, everyone was involved, etc. And the jokes did work. I mean, there were very few jokes that I thought didn't work. I mean I think he kind of bailed on that joke about the women directors as he was saying yeah, yeah, kind of like his heart wasn't in it. But overall, I thought, like, yeah, absolutely, like we got off to the start. You know what I'm saying. Mmm, I have to say, I am going to be very honest. I feel like I am in a takeless state of being right now. I have nothing to really offer. I am not really consuming much of the culture, I am not really forming opinions about much of the culture, and this is not fun topic of conversation. I'm like, really, really, really spent and it's not fun to talk about, Like it's not interesting for me to talk about being tired. It's the least interesting thing for anyone to say. But this is like reaching a new level. And I'm sorry that I'm bringing this into the chat. I wish I had like a fun and excitement to bring during a time like this when it's like a great Oscars that like celebrated a lot of very populous movies and we had so many people to root for, and that things kind of came out in a very nice deserving way in the end. But yeah, I am like empty mind, Well looking for you. I've had nothing but time, and I have experienced much culture. So maybe this episode is me saying things and you're reacting at any energy level you want to give by because I have tons to say. Okay, So the Academy awards everything everywhere all at once, pretty much swept history, making the most Oscars above the line that we've had in the ninety five year history of this ceremony were one by one film, everything everywhere, all at once. And would you say that this is a historic time for people using the term above the line, I would say never before, and certainly in the last twenty four hours. The words above the line have been used so many times. Some people even know what they're talking about when they're using the words above the line. Usually they don't. And I've heard above the line said so many times in the last twenty four hours as well. Yes, well, above the line oscars meaning you know your best picture, your acting categories, you're directing, you know your screenplay categories. So we had everything everywhere, all at once, win Best Picture, Best Director for Daniels, Best Actress Michelleo, Best Supporting Actor Keyway Kwan, Best Supporting Actress Jamie Lee Curtis in a race that really upsets some people, and I'm gonna get into it, Best Original Screenplay in what was also a tight race, and just on down the line, everything everywe all at once, a film that we absolutely love, that's right, and Champions that's right, took it simply all the way home, took it simply all the way home. And it feels like everyone was really on board for all of its wins except for Best Supporting Actress. Yes, I found it so interesting the first time ever in Oscar's history that one single studio dominated won all the again above the line Awards. So with Brendan Fraser winning for The Whale, that means that a twenty four, for the first time in Oscar's history, swept above the encounter. Now, let's talk about this Jamie Lee Curtis thing. Well, before we get to Jamie Lee Curtis, I just want to say, if you put a gun to my head and said I had to watch the Whale, I'd say pull the trigger. I won't do it. You cannot get me to watch the Whale. Whenever I see even a clip from The Whale, I am so deeply hurt, distressed, and offended by everything about it. And I'm not even just talking about like the absolutely just McCobb like performance of like of Sadie's sank, Yeah, of Sadie's sink exactly. It really hurts me. It hurts my heart and my spirit. The score that plays during every clip that they show that movie looks so wild to me. And even though it is an Academy Award winning film. With a gun to my head, if you said watch the Whale, I'd say, Mama, here, let me help you and we pull the trigger together. I will not watch it. I can't believe that's an Oscar winning movie. More than once. You can read many pieces by Roxanne Gay Guy Brand, like many people have much more eloquent things than me to say about this, but just no, I stand with everyone who is like, absolutely fucked that film. Never in my life, not even with a gun to my head. Please pull the trigger. So that's what I have to say about the Whale. Did you see the whale? I did not see the way I share your sentiments, and so we can just sort of move on from the whale, which is something I'm happy to do talking about this Jamie Lee Curtis of it all. Now, when you watch everything everywhere, all at once, did you think, Jamie Lee Curtis, this is an Oscar contender in your honest opinion, In my honest opinion, I will say, if you were to ask me after I saw the movie, or at any point after I saw the movie, between Jamie Lee Curtis and Stephanie's shoe, who is the bigger Oscar contender, I think there was a very obvious answer there. And then even throw Kerrie Connan in the mix, and I would be like, oh, you know what, maybe still Stephanie and bias aside still Stephanie. That's all sad. I would agree, But it's not a new phenomenon to give actors a career Oscar for, you know, a film where they do a serviceable job. Jamie, she's wonderful in the movie. Yeah. I would actually go as far as to say Jamie Lee Curtis is extremely good in the movie. What I think is annoying about like this weird backlash to Jamie Lee Curtis's win, which, by the way, if anyone's upset for Stephanie Shoe, do not be. She is absolutely overjoyed and overwhelmed with gratitude, and that I can guarantee you that was exactly the outcome that she wanted. She wants nothing more than for Key, Michelle and Jamie to get their flowers and for that movie and the Daniels to get their flowers. Like, do not cry for Stephanie Shoe. She is a way onto the best time of her life. But the thing about the Jamie League Curtis of it all is it's like to pretend this was the worst career Oscar that they've ever given. Is so crazy to me when that Laura durn marriage story win is in recent memory yes, when fucking like, I'm sorry, even like Meryl Streep Iron Lady, I'm like, why are we like we're gonna an oscar for that, you know, like that kind of thing. This is totally fine. It's completely fine. Like, first of all, Jamie Lee Curtis as a function in the movie, Everything, everywhere, all at once is hilarious. She is the villain. She works perfectly within the tone of that movie, and they fucking love the movie. So we should have seen this coming after she won SAG. Either way, this was probably going to be a career oscar given because like Angela Bassett and Black Panther Wakonda Forever like is also amazing. She's fantastic in the movie, but no one left that movie thinking, and wow, that's Angela Bassett's Oscar. Either way, it was going to be sure one of these two iconic actresses was getting a career Oscar. They just happened to go with Jamie Lee because they were obsessed with that movie this year, rightfully so, And you know, I understand the disappointment for Angela, but the thing is, like I just don't get like a hatred and vitriol for Jamie Lee. Curtis when there are way worse career oscars that have been given. Laura durn essentially walked onto that marriage story set and did Renata at a six and won an oscar. Yeah, and I should say that I feel stupid and silly for bringing up Iron Lady because it was not in that category. But it's not. It's all the same idea. Like it's the same idea, right, um, completely agree with you. I feel like there was such a clear fret runner going into that night. Yeah, that it was hard to pick villains. I mean she was. I mean Jamie Lee was sort of the most ready made villain narrative to like for people to sort of latch onto, I think, and I don't think it's a coincidence bow that in the year of the chic wind chimes on Beverly Hills Housewives. I mean that was a campaign move when when Jamie Lee Curtis the Beverly Hills and absolutely Blue doret Away. You have to remember these women they have, they have that was fyc when she brought in her my hand, in yours, my pot, in yours, her incredible product line to the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. That was the beginning of the campaign, and we should have known that Oscar was stamped with Jamie Lee Curtis's name from the beginning. When she walked into Kyl Richards's home and Doret said the word chic, the race was over. When Kensley says, so chic, you're on the ballot, honey, it's actually La Culture Number ninety says, so you're on the ballot, honey. Honestly, it's just bizarre, like and I get it, Like, Jamie Lee Curtis is such a she's such a meme. She's such a because of the trauma. This film is about trauma. This film is about trauma. But the fact is, like she's out there busting her ass, working hard. And I'll tell you what I really respect that they never do is they never, ever, ever, ever, ever give awards for performances that are purely comedic, purely genre. And therefore, in terms of a career Oscar, I think this is a really fitting one for Jamie Lee Curtis because it was a genre performance. She has been one of the most iconic actresses in genre films for decades and don't fucking talk to me about Jamie Lee Curtis winning this Oscar when you were rooting for Laura during the other day, like, I mean the other day the other year, Like is it like yeah, the other day and everyone was doing it the other day and literally, like I feel like I have this discussion so much with other gay men, like about the Oscars. Then I'm like, make it consistent. You know what I'm saying, one per one thousand percent. I think it's pretty cool that a sci fi film swept all these awards. I mean that very shadow assessment. Oh, but on the Trauma, it's a movie about trauma. Note like this cast like give it up for the campaign though on this like I think you haven't been ten million dollars for the campaign, a lot of money more than they've ever spent. But this group of people, between the Daniels and this cast and everybody involved, was able to find ways to talk about this movie as if it was their first time talking about it for like, yeah, pretty much a year, like a full calendar year. Oh yeah. We had Michelle on the show like pretty much right after the movie came out, and then we had Stephanie on months later. And that was honestly before Stephanie was like actually on the real radar for Best Supporting Actress. Like I remember thinking like, oh, and that would be so cool if she got nominated, And then she started to getting nominated for things, and I was like, wait, like this is a really big thing. It felt like the momentum kept picking up for not just the movie, but for then the entire cast extended, so honestly one of the better OSCAR campaigns I've seen. And also remember this movie premiered literally almost to the day, a year before the Oscars at south By Southwest, which I also think put south By Southwest really on the map as a place where you can debut your film and it can go on to literally the highest heights. So there's something too these festivals really early in the year, word of mouth studios investing in quality and in yeah, sure, niche films, but you know, investing in filmmakers and investing in vision and investing in talent that is very singular to these types of projects, because this is one of those like once in a lifetime, once in a blue moon movies that only comes together with all these different singular talents. And then the campaign was run really fucking well, and there's no other Best Picture winner like it Yeah, it's true and so funny. There was some write up about the Governor's Ball after the show, and they were keeping people anonymous, but they were getting a lot of quotes of people you know, I roll but going like, yeah, yeah, there just wasn't any surprise to like that movie Sweeping and it is just kind of And then some fucking exact they didn't SESTI by in by name, but some person was like, it's just kind of disappointing to see a year where so many huge blockbusters were nominated, like Avatar and Top Gun and them not take home any big prizes. And it's like, well, even if you take everything every roll at once out of the running, there's still no like clinched front runner in that, you know, like thank goodness for everything ever ever all at once being in the race this year. Yeah, I also think like, yeah, there's no surprise because the Oscar campaign, the Oscar season continues for so long, and everything everywhere all at once had such a campaign and such a strong hold on voters minds and the public's minds that it felt like a blockbuster, like you know, big juggernaut at the Oscars. But also not for nothing. But had you said a year ago that the Oscars would have been owned by everything everywhere, all at once, that would have been a huge shock. So it's just like, yeah, maybe on the night it didn't feel like big surprises were happening and you were not entertained or whatever you wanted to feel during that three and a half hour show because you felt like you saw it coming. But to step back from it in a macro sense, like it is a huge anomaly. That's something like everything everywhere, all at once wins not only Best Picture, but that many Oscars and is this historic of a moment. So that's just to me saying just how kind of lame people can be about like kicking my feet, about me not having a fun night, and less about like whether or not what should have happened happened. That is ridiculous. And it's a different kind of shrug than Coda winning Best Picture last year. Right, we were like wait, what okay, Like this is more of a m interesting peculiar like minimizing this crazy triumph, which I get that. It's like it's at a certain point this a movie like this becomes easy to dunk on. I think and easy. It's easy to dunk on it. Yeah, it is not like the intellectually interesting thing to do, I promise, right, Not that I'm an intellectual, but I'm like, I really think that. It's just like the reason it sustained this sort of importance throughout the campaign without growing stale at any point was because it was a legitimately great movie that got people to the theater to see it, that told a story about ordinariness being credibly powerful and meaningful and beautiful, a thing that everyone can resonate with, a thing that like gets my immigrant mom to go see the Speaking movie and cry like it's I think it's pretty major. Whatever you want to know what, there's so many narratives that are such winning, like feel good narratives about this, like obviously, like the history it makes for Michelle Yo who again, like my rubric as always, I've said it a million times, like could anyone else have done it? This? Literally no one else could have done it, no one else would have done it, and that so for that, the family narrative, the queer narrative, which often gets lost in the discussion, you know, just across the board, like this is a huge victory for I think creatives and I think for the Oscars themselves, because even though these exacts are saying whatever the fuck they're saying, like this is an extremely cool movie to win Best Picture, it's not stodge, it doesn't feel like everything else. It totally breaks open what studios may invest in as a quote unquote Oscar film. You know what I mean. It's not like a biopic, it's not. It's never boring. In fact, if people have a complaint about it is it's that it's completely overwhelming, over stimulating. Yeah, yeah, and overstimulating, which is like I mean, for a maximalist like me, like I fucking love And to say nothing of the fact that it absolutely catapults our dear friend Stephanie, who now everyone in town knows who she is, and she looked absolutely beautiful too, God truly, I mean, just a radiant and beautiful person in her whole life. But it's like you said earlier, nobody worry about her. She is someone who I don't know anyone who has a healthier relationship to the artifice and the weird, bizarre aspects of that business. She just sees it for what it is in such a fun yea of a better word, like kooky way, Like she's riding high on this and it's perfect. It couldn't have happened to a better person. What I always like to do is I like to watch the announcement of the winners in the five boxes, Like, you know what I'm saying, That moment of euphoria that's Steph like displayed when Jamie Lee one was one hundred and fifty percent authentic. I will say, if one thing bummed me out, it's that Angela was clearly hurt, you know what I mean? She clearly thought maybe that was going to be her moment. And the thing is it would have felt incredible had it been her moment. And I completely understand disappointment. But the fact is, like, so she doesn't win an Academy Award for a Black Panther or Wakonda forever, you know what I mean, Like it wasn't the best performance of her career, Like it was an amazing performance. It would have been incredible to see her win. But I genuinely do believe Angela Bassett's moment is coming. I really do. I don't know that Jamie Lee gets another like huge opportunity like that in such a weird specific thing that feels again very Jamie Lee Curtis in a way, whereas, like you know, with Angela, like she was able to deliver like that extremely regal, poignant, there's like a leadership quality and obviously in her performance as the Queen and Black Panther were Konda Forever that I think is intrinsic in her. There's so many things about that role that feel very Angela Bassett, but there's also so much more that she can and will do. And I think, especially now, so many people are going to be like, we have to write Angela Bassett's Oscar role, like watching her sit there and not get it was a tough one, but I just don't believe that she will go with that one. I really do think her moment is coming, but I get I get the frustration about that. I really do. Totally totally Gaga Gaga. She needed no introduction, got the makeup off, serious, said, give me the cleansing bomb. I'm doing double cleanse before I go on stage. Give me the my cellar water, she said, house Labs makeup removers. Gave me the house Labs, and then she went on that stage in torn jeans, and a big gray T shirt and look she delivered. At first, I was like, oh, what what is this? It was scary, you know what, it was giving? It was giving. She's deep and I think she is, and I think she is. You could see in her eyes. I was like, there is something fucked up going on on the set of Joker. There is something deeply dark going on. Because first of all her first words being I wrote this song with my friend blood Pop. I was just like, can you imagine not knowing who blood Pop was and being in the audience and like the I'm recording to Lady Gaga, whose seconds before was in a full garment and makeup now is looking wrecked on stage with her like a few members of a band, like John Williams is sitting third row hearing the name BloodPop going who John Williams is there and he has to know about BloodPop. Engineer Doug says, looked great and killed it. I agreed, Doug, honestly too. Like I was also nervous in the beginning of the performance because she kept it in the basement for a long time, like that was not right, that's a whole my hand. But then she got up, she went upstairs. By the end, Oh yeah, she got up, really did. And then did you notice when Kimmel in the monologue like through to her at some point. I mean, I think they're friends, Like she's been on Kimmel a bunch of times, and like, yeah, I think they liked each other a lot. But there was a moment where like she like turned on in a way that kind of overcorrected. I think she was being very present, just have the kind of Gaga mindfulness that she's been in for her whole life. Yep, but like there's something different about this, about it being you know, joker mode literally, and then she kind of just like, hey, you're gonna see like it's like something kind of she's a laughaway from a tear right now. She's a laughaway from a tear right now. And it's very interesting. I hope she's taking care of herself. We obviously there are no two people who love her more in the world than us. You know, she's not taking care of herself though, you know she's not. I thought Chromatica was going to change things. I thought it would be Gaga by but two and Chromatica we're going to be like the sort of blood letting moments where she was going to be on the path to like healing. And I do think she has done a lot of healing. I just think she takes on these projects where she has to fucking self immolate. You know, she has to like really fucking like suffer. And you know that Joaquin is not the best influence either, because he also goes all the way hard in and so to think of the two of them doing Joker, and then even just the drama of her being like, I'm not performing and then the next day or two days later it being like, no, just kidding, she is, and we had been told she doesn't feel she can get it together for the performance, and then then being like okay, never mind, she is, and then the camera panding over to her looking the way she looked. I wrote this song with my friend blood Pop and even if you're broken inside, you can be her own hero. I was like, is she about to crack? You're like the alarms are sounding. I think it was a very smart move of her to really, you know, she like it would have been weird if she had any production element to it, And so for her to be like, let's go all the way to the the other direction. I'm gonna be in a T shirt and jeans. I'm gonna be basically sitting kneeling in a squat whatever, and then I'm gonna like stand up at the end. That is the most action that's going to happen on stage. That's the most blocking, great move, great idea, truly, very very very smart, and I'm proud of our girl. Yeah, I'm proud of her. I mean, she ripped it up. I will say, it's just so funny that, like when she was initially nominated for Holding My Hand for Top Gun Maverick, It's such a big fucking movie and such a huge song that we were always like, oh, it's gonna be fighter jets, it's gonna be parachutes, it's gonna be wind machines. And she came out there looking like tiny Tim and she came out there barely able to stand and gave that performance that we were not positive she was going to make it through, and it still was a highlight. And she never flops on that stage. She absolutely she crushed sound of music Till It Happens to You was a fucking moment, like Shallow, that was a moment in culture and this whole my hand performance was unforgettable. She is four for four on delivering like and I love it. I mean, like my friend was saying, like, what a thrilling career pivot like for her to go from the pop star that she is to like essentially like this fixture at the Academy Awards. And you know, you simply know that if Joker Foliad is good, she'll be there again. She'll be there again. She'll perform a number from it, which I'm sure she'll contribute something to the soundtrack. It is a musical, perhaps even nominated for Best Actress or Best Supporting Actress. I don't know how big her role will be, but they fucking love her. We love watching her on the show. Lady Gaga. Is the Oscars a couple of things. I mean, remember that first time she did the Oscars doing sound up music. It was this like, oh she's there, and it was it was in this rough patch in her career post art pop, I think, pre Joe An. It didn't seem right. Yeah, there was not a lot of certainty. You weren't sure where it was going next, right yep. And then that was when like your grandpa was like, I actually like that Lady she's got she can really sing, yes, and then from there just like built and builds and builds. And the second thing is with the Joker Folia to being a musical thing. Um, Josh Sharpe is this great joke where he's told you right where it's a it's a jukebox musical, and he's like, I think it would be actually so incredible if she and Joaquins sing shallow, sang shallow and Joker, wouldn't that be a maz I honestly can feel. I mean, we've heard Joaquins sing and walk the line that obviously sits right in his register. I really want to hear not just Lady Gaga, but Harley Quinn sing as Ali. Yeah. I mean this is meta on meta on meta, and it's film greatness. Doug Engineered. Doug says her performance was a very rock and roll moment. Yes, strip it all back. The danger was present, no glitz, no glam, no maximalism, not even for top Gun Maverick. The winner of Best Sound. Yes, she just gave it to you. That not too Nato performance was amazing, electrifying. Yeah, congrats, I mean I have not but I really want to. I've I've been meaning to, and that fucking if that performance was not Oh no, wait, what's Hans saying? Oh, Hans said, not a single South Asian on stage for NATO. Okay, Hans, explain more. You can't just drop this what Hans Hans wants to? Come on, Come on, Hans, because we're not able to speak to this. Hi folks, Hi, Hi, okay, so explain what what's going on? Yeah? Sorry, I didn't want to derail the Loves because it's an incredible song, a deserving award winner. But I have seen and obviously the people in the crowd and the audience were like electrified, enthused and loved that performance. But I gotta say, my wife and I, who are South Asian dancers from back in college and have like plenty of South Asian dancer friends, we just sat there like kind of confused the whole time, looking at these faces who appeared to be some form of people of color. But we're like, are these people South Asian? Did they just outsourced this to like a local Los Angeles dance company to just like recreate the dance from the movie. And I don't know for a fact that there were no South Asians on stage, but reading a little bit about it afterwards and just sitting there confused, where we're just like, how could they do this? But of course the oscars of any body would do something like that. It does appear that they hired Napoleon and Tabitha, who I know from So you think you can dance to yes, I guess for are you're off the performance? I don't know, but it was. It was literally just like the dance from the movie, which is an amazing day. And I should add it's not just that I like, I am a South Asian person who wanted to see people who look like me doing a dance, although that's important, but it betrays the entire point of the song in the movie, which is that there's these two Indian guys at an all white party who are being like teased and ridiculed for being different and for not knowing how to dance, and these white guys or what do you know how to dance? Also do you know how to dance? Flamenco? And they're like, no, but here's how we can outdance all of you, and then they bust out. It's like the most incredible dancing you've ever seen. It's uniquely Indian dancing performed by two Indian guys to put all these white people to shame. So when you fail to cast South Asian people on stage, you like missing the entire point of the movie in the performance on the song. So it's just kind of ridiculous. Yeah, this this Indie WI article that you've sent us as a representative for the Academy in mos In Picture Art and Sciences. When asked about the background of the performances, dancers told Indie Wire that it was quote incorrect that there were few, if any South Asian artists and the performance, though they did not provide further information when asked for clarification. And I gotta say, like just the dancing on stage, that is an impossible dance to do in one take. Like when you watch the movie, it's incredible. It's highly edited, and I think I had seen an interview with SS Roger Malory was like, yeah, there's like there's just no way that dance is so high energy, there's no way you can put But I think that like the framing of that performances, let's try to do the impossible, was probably never the right way to handle it and it was just a bummer. I think that, like every other song performance had some level of production, like everything everywhere all at one song incredibly staged and performed Rihanna like lifted into the sky and then not to Nato was like they just put a picture of that palace in the background on the screens and then they have like people dance. So anyway, not to just trouble lovest love the song, yeah, love the choreography. I think salth Asian dance is just like so good that even a mediocre version of it is really impressive, especially to like, you know, not in any people who've never seen something like that before, and they weren't like bad, they just didn't hold a candle to what it could have been, right, So I think the people are like rightfully blown away, but couldn't on this platform, of all platforms, you know, not at least talk about. Of course, of course, thank you for letting us know. No, I'm happy that you did, because honestly, I would never have known that. I don't feel like it's that sinister and insidious of like the audience is too dumb to notice. To me, it just feels like one I'm sure there's not a South Asian person involved in the production of the songs specifically, or somebody who was in a position to say, like, hey, maybe we should consider this. I think they probably thought they hired great choreographers Nabby Tabs like legitimately are incredible, like some of the best in the biz. They're just not the right ones for that. And I think that when you're in a machine that moves as fast as the oscars does, there's probably just not somebody to say, hey, hold up, let's like rethink this part of it. And I should say, like testament to how incredible the song and the dancing is that even an underwhelming version of it elicits the response that it did, like the first standing ovation, I think like people just out of their seats, enthused, electrified, like there was nothing fake about that. No, I mean, watching watching at home, I was like, that was an unbelievable performance. I mean, like, I you never I would never have thought anything. And I have not seen that movie yet, but everyone that has seen it was simply like, even with all the stars ours that they had nominated in that category. And it's not always in a situation where best Original Song has Rihanna and Lady Gaga both nominated, and they have the opportunity to have one of those women on stage accepting an oscar, which is a moment in and of itself and a reason to bring in people watching. It seemed like it was unanimous amongst everyone predicting it and voting for it, that not To not To was the deserving winner. And so yeah, that is disappointed for them to have not like come through exactly on the performance. But I will say as a viewer, I enjoyed it thoroughly and made me very excited to see the movie, which you have every right too. And that's honestly what it's all about. It's like, does it make you fall in love? Doesn't make you want to go? Appreciate this movie. So thank you guys for giving me the chance to talk about it. Of course, thank you for talking, thank you for coming on, and we celebrate you. And this is we've always said, more of a Howard Stern esque podcasts than anyone knows, and that we have people come in and sort of pop in, not in that we have like you know, naked women coming in and like seeing who can get tickled the longest, which one of us is the Robin, then I'm the Robin one thousand percent. Now, No, no, I'm not. I am not. I have not for the past two years been giving any energy besides Robin. Matt says something amazing funny every other breath, and wow, yeah, I'm going really I'm I'm Robin. I'm sorry. This is it's so boring for me to complain about how tired I am. And it's not fun to like route for me and be like hang in there bow, but like it is tough. It is tough right now for your old friends. Well, you are tiring. You are tired for really good I'm tiring and I am tiring. You are both tiring and tired for really good reasons. I'll say that. I was also going to say Rihanna performed her and her um pregn see, hormones were very, very very present so she could deliver the vocals. Yes, yes, absolutely, I'm bad Navy. I did not watch. Oh yeah, well here's the thing about it. It's about one quarter of a song, and so I think it's fine that you didn't. I said, if that song was any better at all, if Lift Me Up was any more of a song than it is. She would have walked away with that award. But the thing is it really is I mean, and she admitted it's a lullaby. Sure, I guess I didn't know that. The whole Malala moment happened while they were setting up. Yes, the set for left me up, and I guess Jimmy caught a little bit of flack for that. I thought she handled it great. I thought she looked amazing. She looked stunned. Malala may have been best dressed at the Academy Awards, and sometimes that just happens. Sometimes Malala shows up at the function and she is best dressed. Yes, you always always always run that risk, right. I saw so much Broadway. I'm so happy to hear more. Yes, I need to hear all your opinions about Broadway. I have to say. I saw was it one, two, three, four? Yeah? Okay, so get this after Sizza, which was incredible. I then saw Jessica Chastain in Adalla's house the day we recorded last week's episode. And then, by the way, it was an amazing moment when Jessica Chastain and Halle Berry handed Michelle Yoe the oscar, and then the three of them arm in arm left the stage, and that image was like, wow, gorgeous, stunning. It's not necessarily representative of the best actress winners of all time, but it was representative of I hope what the future can look like. And I thought that was a beautiful image to three of them arm in arm walking off, I thought that was wonderful. But I just wanted to say that I saw Jessica Chastain in a Doll's House on Broadway, and I have thoughts and a review. I really I've never seen a dollhouse performed live. This was very minimalist. It's literally just the actors in navy blue clothing on stage and rotating chairs that move about the stage. That's really the only like stunt that the show does until the end, which I won't spoil, but it's really just like a genuine showcase for Jessica Chastains acting. There's no props, there's no sets. She is absolutely unreal. If this isn't a Tony win, then I don't know anything, because this is like she's literally faced out to the audience pretty much the entire time, Like even when she's speaking with the other actors, she's rarely facing the other actors. She's really giving it out and just to watch her shifts, her control, her focus. It's really and by the way, no audience has ever coughed more during a productions house that I was at. I don't know what it is about. It was just like everyone who was sick in the world was at this theater. And I really have to commend all the actors, but especially Jessica who holds the center. It didn't deter her at all. Also, seconds into the like not seconds mids into the performance I was at, someone from the audience had to scream for help for a doctor and there was a huge problem and someone was escorted out. It was like a really intense moment and they started from the top and they did the whole thing again and Jessica was just perfect. I mean, I just have to say, like I saw this in the final week of her reign as Best Actress, and I think it's so cool that what she decided to do in her year. Yeah, you know, when she has pretty much any choice in the world, huge, huge, huge actress and you know, in her Best Actress moment, decided to do this type of production of a doll's house. It just was such a flex And yeah, if you can go see just like a chest stain in a Doll's house, you really should. If you're a theater person like and SIPs the dells them before you go in. Try not to cough, please, it's really giving cough drops necessary, or just wait till you feel better to go, because I'm telling you bowen every five seconds. No, no, no, like that happened to me in a Chicago everyone's coughing and Broadway Now it's a lot. It's not a COVID thing for me necessarily. It's just like stop that. Maybe just bring in like a water bottle or something. And here's the thing too, this actually is true. Usually if you feel like you need to cough, you can just take a sip of water. Usually, yes, rule of culture, what rules the number is that one thousand? It's really culture number one thousand. Usually if you need to cough, you water. Okay. So at Doll's house, that was fabulous. At Doll's House, I give a nine out of ten. And there's a stunt that happens at the end that I won't ruin, which made the audience gasp, Oh my god. Then on Tuesday, I went to go see Sweeney Todd on Broadway with Annalie Ashford and Josh Groban. Now, this show is still in previews, and I think what I saw felt like a preview. So I am going to be withholding my review of Sweeney Todd until I see it again. And I have already bought my tickets for April. I don't want to ring off any alarm bells about Sweeney Todd. I think that this production is going to get there. But I'm going to go again in April so that I can be I think very sure about what I say. That's what I'll say about that. But there's a lot to like. And you did say something in the Marlon Mandel episode, What did I say? You heard her that it was Honorie Ashford's show, that it's her show and she is fucking hilarious. I'll say that like she you know what, it's giving the choice, it's kind of giving like Goldie Hawn as Missus Lovett. I didn't know based one when it started how much I would like that choice, and I think it was the right choice for her. Okay, there's just things about the production that I think still need to like. I think they're still working out sound and stuff, and so like, I'm just waiting until I got to take it. That's a little bit closer to the stage, until I can really like soak in it because it's Sweeney Todd is my favorite show of all time, and I just want to make sure that I've seen what the production truly is before I give a review. So I'm being I'm withholding on that. Yeah, but stay tuned, stay tuned. Yeah, Okay, review and coming Wednesday. I saw Ben Platt in Parade. This was a ten out of ten. Wow. He is like a weapon in terms of like musical theater performance. He is such an incredibly gifted actor. And I actually had never seen Ben Platt perform live, weirdly enough, even though he's a friend of ours and there were ample chances to see him and dear Evan Hansen back in the day, I just never never low key had the money to go and it was always sold out. I never could go, So being able to see him live was incredible. Parade. If you all don't know out there is a musical. It's a Jason Robert Brown musical about the trial, conviction, and hanging of Leo Frank who many historians believe was incorrectly an unjustly tried for and hung for the crime of murdering a thirteen year old factory girl in Atlanta. It's deals with issues of anti Semitism, it deals with issues of race. The music is absolutely beautiful. It's just a really stirring show that I cannot recommend enough. MICHAELA. Diamond, who plays Leo Frank's wife Lucille, is also fantastic. It's just you gotta go see this one. It's really good. I think a contender for Best Revival, and Ben should absolutely be up there for Best Actor in a Musical. I mean, his voice is fucking crazy Bowen. It's like, we all know he can sing and belt to fucking high hell, but there's moments where he goes into his lower register that I was looking over at, like I saw it with George Severs, Steve Mazoni, and Patrick Rogers and we were looking at each other like how it's just like some people just are able to do things vocally that others are just not. Yeah, it's wild happy for him. And then finally I saw Camelot on Friday. It was I think the second performance of Camelot at the Vivian Beaumont. I'm Lincoln Center and it was a set. Hipposuit is incredible, Taylor Trench is incredible. This show needs to cut time out of it, we need it just is too long. Act one was an hour and forty five minutes. Yeah, the show started at eight. I did look down at my watch at the end of Act one and it was ninety six. So again, they're also in previews, and I think some attention should be focused on getting it trimmed up, you know what I mean, like just getting it to move, just because it really is long. It's a new book by Aaron Sorkin, which may have something to do with that. I certainly was laughing at a lot of it, but I wonder if we could be getting through it quicker. Sure. And then I saw Betty Who on Saturday Night and she fucking ate it up at Hammerstein Ballroom. Incredible performers, dancing choreo the whole time, vocal sounded amazing. We love you, Betty. We had an amazing time. And then I want to go see my sister at Saturday Night Live. So what a week for me? I think I'm so so happy that you had this rich week, truly, and it was exactly what what? What? No? I know I can tell union some culture, it's really bad. It's really bad right now, it's dark. If I think too long about it, I start to really go to a bad place and we will not get into it any further. But I really do think that this is exactly what the doctor ordered for my sister. You have a lot of life to think about. You have a lot of the world and history to think about. You have music to think about, so many things stimulating you, and you are someone who takes that in and processes it in the best way. It comes out as something very cogent and thoughtful, and I always love hearing you talk about it. I know the readers feel the same way. Well, it's been medicine, yes, let's just say that. But don't don't worry about because I'm taking you to Disney World. Oh my god, I'm so excited. I'm so excited. I need it so badly. I can't believe that I'm going to get to be there when you do Rides of the Resistance and This Guardian's roller coaster for the first time, and that you and I are both going to do Tron. I'm gonna be there when you do Tron for the first time since I've done it already. Oh yeah, you've done it in China. I've done it in Shanghai. I remember it like it was yesterday. Yang and I waiting at the gates of Shanghai Disney before opening. As soon as it opens, a bum rush of hundreds of people running to the Tron ride. I've never run faster in my life. Yang and I bullet to Tron and we were one of the first people to make it there, and it was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life. A perfect coaster. I am so beyond excited because to think about riding this roller coaster like a damn Tron motorcycle face first, to have the thing fasten you and press down on you from the back, hit it from the back, why don't I Literally, here's the thing. I know it's the Magic Kingdom, but I'm gonna feel very sexual on the ride. Your back is going to be arched, cocks out, you are going to be primeed. It's gonna be sniffies up in here. We're gonna be ass up, like yeah, the visuals go inside and outside. Don't forget outside of trunk because guess what you're going outside for a little bit. It's so gaging, it's giving. You are going to absolutely gag for guardians too and rise to the resistance. Forget it bowing. Oh my god. The way we're about to get captured and taken to another planet, and then the way we're about to escape, it's honey, packed the edibles. Honey, Kylo Wren. I know that one. I know that girl. I've stared that girl in the face. Literally, Well, she's coming for you. She's coming. Well guess what I was cut out of white noise fun fact. Yeah, And mister driver himself was catching up with me about life, and I was like, that's Kylo Wren over there. I'm not scared of him, really, is Kylo? I'm not scared of him. You know. One of the great phenomenons of twenty twenty three so far has been everyone rewatching girls, and I am, oh my god. Literally, it's so crazy now to think of Adam from Girls as being Kylo rem like to understand that that was his introduction debut. What catapult to him into the stratosphere was as the weirdest fuck boy in Greenpoint and now he's Kylo Ren. The pilot really does hold up so incredibly well. It does for Hannis lur first lines to be I'm a growing girl. Perfect. I know it's like on the nose maybe, but like actually works perfectly. Actual's stuffing her mouth, eating with her parents. I'm a growing girl. You eat it like they're going to take it away from you. Perfect first lines of that show. And then oh my god, the Beach House episode Beach House, Yeah, I mean there's a line in that episode that has often overlooked. It's where um Andrew Reynolds's boyfriend talking to talking to Hannah yes yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes yes, the writer, the writer. But he's like, but they're they're having a good time. And then he goes, oh, you remind me so much of my friend Kayla. She's such a dilettante. I think that's such a funny line. She is such a like she's so wild, she is such a dilettante. And then Hannah's reacted Lena giving perfect perfect response to it, which is like, oh that's so funny, or like something to that effect, like it's so good, just that little I mean she could write a fucking TV show or movie whatever. Yeah. Unfortunately for haters, the show was actually better now than it was then. Great like it is because now now it's this weird like period piece, you know what I mean. Now it's this weird like time capsule of the twenty tens, and especially like you know, now being in your thirties watching it, watching people in their you know, early to mid twenties, and like the things that really frustrated me and annoyed me at the time, Now I watch and I'm like, yep, because you recognize yourself you would say that for attention, you would do that, you would get into this fight, you would not be able to stop yourself from doing this. Like it's just really for someone who was just barely older than that age, she was able to capture what it means to be that age from like an all seeing perspective. That is to be applauded. I mean, it is a really worthy rewatch, especially if, like you know, you're someone who's from New York or was living in New York at that time, or understands the idiosyncrasies of like Brooklyn and Manhattan. It's just so Yeah, even the stuff about like Liberal Arts College, you know what I mean, like all of it. It's just completely when you get on that attraction in wallet Disney World and see just how far Adam Driver has come to being an audio animatronic villain in many scenes of an attraction that is groundbreaking. Bowen, I'm excited for you. I'm very excited in this when I'm most excited to do Expedition at First again, It's been many years since I've done that, really good one of my favorite rides of all time. Truly, when you see Miss Thing, it is a gag. When you see Miss Thing, it is really it is a hairy gag. It's a hairy, scary gag. And that is a contrary guy, if you thought you were going to have a bad time. And the drinks at Nepal, the drinks in and the Animal Kingdom in that section, delicious drinks, delicious cocktail, Yeah, they turn all the way up. Honestly, I'm so excited to go just indulge with my sister. And also I'm gonna get you on the Velocity Coaster starring b D starring b D. Bradley Darryl. Oh my god, I'm so excited though, and you're gonna get your life on that. I've said this before, I'll say it again. I need this cannot come soon enough. That is the only thing that is giving me hope. Otherwise I have been in a state of learned hopelessness, as therapist calls us learn hopelessness. Yeah, that is. It's a very severe term. It's I guess a term that's like more applied to like people in like really shitty situations. Yes, like an abusive relationship. It's not quite that. But I am sort of like completely distorted by work and can only identify through work. And I know it's like a rom COMI cliche to be like I'm a workaholic, but I hate it. You saw me, You saw me on Saturday. The symbolic thing in this is that like I can't even have a therapy session without it being interrupted by something work related. Like my last five therapy sessions have either been canceled because of a work emergency or during the session something's come up where it's like, hey, we need you now, And I'm like, this is indicative of the whole thing, Like designated protected time where I'm supposed to like examine things. Yeah, are not respected and feels like it's getting bucked. Yeah. Yeah, So like I just constantly feel like I have to like sign and it's you know what, Bowen, I think you have to like And something I've done is like i've actually and I'm not saying you haven't done this or that it's not a lot more difficult for you, but I draw a hard boundary now, Like I keep my therapy appointments and I keep them and if something pops up and they're like, oh, could you potentially do it now, I just say I have therapy at that time. No, I cannot move it. And I understand that that might be more difficult for you because you are a while an extremely crucial and important part of a machine. You are a cognitive machine, and I understand that sometimes it feels like that and it feels like you're being handed a decision instead of being consulted on a decision. But your time for your like literal mental workout and your emotional work out is really fucking important, really fucking important. And I know that you say that, but I wonder if you know that and if you could draw a harder boundary. And I don't say that as like a instructive. I just I just think it's that important. Yeah. Can I share the one thing in culture that I am actually enthused about because I was able to consume it. Yes, was Kunk on Earth. It is Kunk on Earth. It is Oh, yes, you were talking about this perfect viewing experience. Here's why only five episodes, every episode under thirty minutes. You can watch it in a day. Yes, and it is. Every joke is landing, every every joke is the stupidest joke you've ever heard in your life, delivered by Diane Morgan, who is truly giving you a tort a force in comedy and in commitment, and in just parodying all these conventions. In mocumentaries, in series about human history, civilization, anthropology, whatever, Matt, you will be obsessed. You have to watch this Kunk on Earth. How do I watch it? How do the readers watch? The readers can watch it on Netflix. If you're in the UK, it's on BBC. You might already know there's there was a series called Kunk on Britain. This woman named Philomina Kunk, who is a fictional character played by Diane Morgan, interviews professors experts, asks them of the stupidest questions you can possibly she doesn't want like an American history. There's an episode on like American history after the Industrial Revolution, and she talks about the Civil War in America, and then she talks about Lincoln, and then she like sets up like Lincoln's assassination as let me try to quote it. She goes. Unfortunately for Abraham Lincoln, only five days after the North declared victory, he suffered a terrible tragedy by being forced to go to the theater to watch a play. A kindly gunman put him out of his misery, but cruelly not until the third act. So stupid, like she she's delivering it and like I'm not doing it justice, but she is. Every the way she's delivering all these things is perfect. You will love it all, readers. I'm sure readers are already ahead of beyond this, but Kunk on Earth is wonderful, wonderful, wonderful viewing, healing you. I'm gonna watch it and by the next episode I'll have Kunk on our thoughts because I immediately respond to the name Philamina Kunk like that. It's It's perfect. It's just the kind of comedy that like you miss you know, um, maybe a fun companion piece to like History of the World Part two, which I'm also excited to watch. Yes, yes, I'm excited too. I'm in it. Blink and you miss it, really blink and you truly miss it. I'm in it. I'm in History of the World Part two. Oh my god, I love that. I'm in a scene with Adam Palely. Oh I love I had a line and I heard that they cut it. But that's okay. I don't think so, honey, MiLB Brooks, speaking of I don't think so, honey. I think it's time to transition into that segment which Bowen does. You and I both know is our sixty second segment where we rant on something in culture that absolutely needs a pulling down from the perch on which it rests. And I have something. It is Oscars related, this sort of being the Oscars episode of Last Coat twenty twenty three. Okay, this is Matt Rodgers. I don't think so many as time starts now, I don't think so, honey. James Cameron and Tom Cruise not attending the Oscars because they didn't receive individual nominations for their films they produced that were nominated for Best Picture. I completely agree with Jimmy Kimmel. I don't think so, honey, this idea that you're like, go to the theater, go to the theater, go to the theater, and then on the one night of the year where it's the biggest night in Hollywood and you're supposed to celebrate theater, you don't show up because your ego is butt hurt that you didn't get a nomination. Fucking God, for a bid, you don't make a top I've list Tom Cruise for your performance as Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Maverick, What exactly did you do to marry it a nomination over someone like Paul mescal who's fucking moving and brilliant and also not for nothing but a new movie star. Doesn't this help the cause? I guess not, because nothing matters but you, James Cameron. I believe in the way of Water, and I believe in the seed Bearer, but I don't believe in your lack of attendance at the Academy Awards. It's hypocritical and I don't think so, honey. And that's one minute, like it's stupid, And the thing is, you are nominated. James Cameron, you are a producer on Avatar The Way of Water, so you're nominated show up. It's just so transparent. And Tom Cruise as well, a producer of Top Gun Maverick. You did get a nomination, Like that is how sensitive you are? You? The night is about showing up, literally at the night is about being there. Yeah, and you're not there and everyone else is showing up, like tons of people were there that were snubbed, Like not everyone is gonna win, like angel La Baskett lost her category. She didn't leave right afterwards. She could have, you know what I mean, like give me a fucking break. As also as if you haven't been like lauded enough, come on, it's just stupid. Yeah, I agree. I agree. And in a world where it is even a little bit fixed, like you don't think that your lack of attendance isn't also hurting the movie. Like I don't know, maybe if Tom Cruise fucking shows up at the Oscars, maybe like in a world where like the whole thing is fake, Top Gon Maverick does win Best Picture, but you wouldn't know and it didn't happen because you didn't come. But luckily Nicole Kimmen was there giving the performance of a lifetime on the Red carpet. There's just some sometimes people do certain things and you're like, oh, that's how a movie start. Acts like a little bit crazy. I'm gonna send you right after this, someone dubbed the sounds they thought she may have been making on the Red carpet, and it's a lot of this m oh oh, I love. It's just so funny because what she's doing is so insane. Anyway, it's about showing up. You're right, we can't blame them. We can't blame these people for looking a little weird, behaving a little weirdly when there are like a million cameras pointing at them. But I totally, But I love kind of laughing at people acting weirdly in any situation. I love laughing at people acting weirdly. And but here's the thing. It's not in a coal that is funny. It's a situation that is funny. And it's her galvanization and her sense of at homeness on the Red Carpet, which to me is like, oh yeah, that's what makes a movie star, that little part of you that's insane that knows how to do that on a red carpet and confidently can do that thing where you turn around and look over your shoulder and find the cameras, like on a place where you are not performing necessarily but posing. It is that meeting of model and movie star and like award show opportunist that is perfectly combined in that moment, like you know who else does it? Fucking Zendeia. Zendia hits the carpet and it's like a performance on the red car performances and she steps away and then is Zendeia a human? But she transcends being a human in that moment. And only so many people can leave their body enough to not just dissociate on a red carpet, which I know what it's like to do, and I feel like I've seen you do, and I've definitely seen like Joel Kim do that moment where you get on the red carpet and you sort of leave your body to be there for a photo. These people are like actively being photographed, yeah yeah, and they are kind of going the opposite way and be and they are a kind of extra present as in like yeah, hyper present. Yeah, yes, Bowen Yang do you have an I don't think so, honey. Okay, here is Bowen Yang's I don't think so, Honeyest time starts now, I don't think so, honey. The tap water not be and cold. I need the tap water to be cold as ice if it's going to go in my water bottle. If the tap water is tepid, I'm not drinking it. If the tap water is warm, honey, make it a little hotter so I can drink some tea. But the only water that it's going down my gullet is ice cold water. And that is a preference of mine that I think has done me right, has done me well, has not done any wrong. Yeah, I think I think the whole world could benefit from drinking ice cold tap water. Fifteen. And I gotta tell you the UK, or at least the standard hotel in the UK in London at King's Cross does not have acceptably cold tap water. And it means I have to ask room service to send me ice so that I can put still water in it. And that's one minute. And you know what, at least there's a fix which is ice, which is easy to get worldwide. But the thing is when the tap water is a little too warm. And here's the thing. I know you metabolize it quicker, and therefore you hydrate quicker, don't. I just prefer cold. I prefer cold, Bow. I prefer cold. I need to feel refreshed. And the only way I can feel refreshed on a somatic psychosomatic level, my mind thinks I feel refreshed if it's cold, if my body registers it as Wow, this is a cold drink that you would have at any restaurant. I think we need to take this out. I'm a high note literally, and we do finish every episode with a song. Bow, and I'm reaching out to you, and I know what you see. I'm reaching out to you with And we end every episode with a song. Oh my head, okay, heavens, I was happy holding me me up. But you didn't think it was a meal. O my god? Whoa mid dwn? Do you even know the song? Ke me safe one time? One time? Sie fans fuck me in the highest place, making up words, slay me when you go off king live me up. I'm looking at my sister Boo Yang, amazing, thank you. I dedicated that one to you. Thank you, girl, I love you, Love you