"Die Zauberflöte (He Makes Us Sing)" (w/ Henry Koperski)

of you know, spread out throughout the weeks ahead. We took to Gmail and scheduled three dates. Okay, yes, three dates. We're gonna condense the recordings, but we're going to sprout the releases. But this is the thing, man, And I don't know how you feel about this. What if by the time and episode comes out that's been really corded, pre you know, prerecorded, will that lose any sort of relevance unless we explicitly state in the episode this was recorded on this state you know what. I feel like

we're actually okay. I feel like that it's not going to be too too far apart. I mean, I understand you're you're concerned to want to be as prescient. No, I'm just saying, like the culture we live in now, culture, it's rapidly changing. Exactly. If you think two days ago was a huge news day and now we feel I feel so far removed from it, you know what I'm saying. Yes, absolutely, Well, you know what on culture, so we keep it, We keep it, um a little bit time, so we keep it.

But it's also timelessly. Every episode truly exists as its own um, as its own peace. Yeah, And I think that's what's so great about it. I think whenever I talk to somebody that's listening Lost Culture, so they say, I really enjoyed this piece, someone says, um, someone said to me once that episode of Lost Culture Stas could have been recorded in Yeah, exactly. Guys. Oh, we have such an incredible guest with us today. Really I think, um,

maybe I'm biased, but my favorite guest. Oh, you know what, you might be biased, but I might be biased in saying he's one of the one of my favorite people in my life. Absolutely, I would agree. Yes. And the credits. Oh, come on first, let us say a little night music at u c B East is coming up. The date is January January, Girl, the day of all days. But girl, you and I have done this show before. It's a fantastic show, so fun, and I really think that it's one of the best shows at the BAT. I just

think it's so fun. You get to see U c B comedians singing and expressing themselves through music, and it's music heightens every emotion, and music heightens every emotion. As they say, oh, he's he played. He plays piano and companies musically for so many shows in the city. Um, I've seen him just off the top of my head, play for three BASI divers at Carnegie Hall to play for Patti har Senate Ours Nova um, to play for

so many shows. He is just such a fixture, such an important figure in the community everywhere, and by everywhere, I also mean you might have recognized him from Live from Everywhere, which was a show hosted by Arthur Meyer aired on Facebook Live. It was amazing. I thought it was one of the coolest things I've ever seen, very very cool. Um. He considers his number one achievement to be meeting Julie Andrews, which is very interesting in light

of recently. Yes, and who knows where this new milestone will stack up to the rest, but Internet fame viralty, yes squirrel, yes, god, I agree. Guys, please welcome our guest Henry. Yes. Yeah, well we've had many years to practice. In fact, sometimes we don't even mean to be in unison exactly. I just whenever I'm around Matt, I pitch up to my tambour just matches his. I always know something's going to end in a high in a high place. Yeah, that's kind, that is your thing. Yeah, how are you?

I'm great and I'm really truly so happy to be here. This is one of my favorite podcasts, Like I would say top three why and I know that I love both of you. I r L a lot, but I I it doesn't like have to take part in why I love this podcast? But how how many podcasts do you listen to? At least like six regularly, like maybe ten, like semi regularly. See Matt is really behind the curb

on podcast. I don't listen to them because I feel as if and actually, whenever anyone says that they listen to this one, I'm always like, Geez Louise, like I love you to death, because like it is a sit to listen to a podcast. Absolutely, yeah, but you know, when you're cooking your kitchen or writing the subway or I need to get more into writing listening to them

on the subway. Yeah. Whenever someone references something that happened that I know happened the very end of the Lost Cultures this episode, I'm like, that means you sat through the entire episode wild and remembered something enough to refer it to like regurgitate it to me. It's it's why I truly think they're all thrilling start to finish, And you really have like guests that I didn't know or like are not on my radar at all, and and

I'm fans of everyone that's been on the show. Those are some of his favorite episodes, he tells me, which was that he didn't know. He really enjoyed the one with Nicole Conlin. Nicole, Yeah, I've never met her. Um, and I loved it was about sports. I hate sports. We hate sports. We hated Yeah. Um, oh my god, that's that's so. That's so wonderful to hear. Um what was I gonna say? Well, I just want to say

we scooped the scoop. We scoop the scoop because we are the first to interview Henry Kaperski after he met Michelle Obama on TV. Just, I mean, we're filming this on Thursday. It was yesterday, but when you guys listened to it, it it will be two days ago he met Michelle Obama. You met Michelle? Henry described this to the listeners what happened? Like, how, how are you contacted? What was the day? Like? If you're allowed to divulge this,

I think so. My friend Arthur, who I did the Many Central pilot with, he is like a writer at Jimmy Fallon Tonight Show. It's never been said that way before Jimmy Fallon Tonight Show. I think he's like the writing supervisor. He's been with him for a long time. He's an amazing person that I love dearly and has given me some awesome opportunities and as yet just so so nice. And he texted me the day before the show and it was like you like Michelle Obama, right?

And I was like, yeah, I love her. And I sent him like screenshots of like things I've said about her and social media and stuff, and he was like, are you free tomorrow morning to film this silly segment where you just like talked to a portrait of her and thank her, and then we're gonna show the footage to her later on the show and she'll get choked up, hopefully.

And I was like, oh yeah, of course. And I wrote a message that night after watching Obama's incredible farewell speech, which the motion most emotional part was when he pelle waterworks, Um, and uh lost my train of thought. Oh yeah, I wrote a message and I got to the studio and I met Um. There was twelve of us that got this opportunity, and I was talking to other people and I felt like the message I wrote wasn't like specific enough to me. It was like two generals, just like

saying how great she is. And I was like, I gotta write something else. And minutes before I went in, I got inspired. I was like, truly, like what does Michelle mean to me? Really? And I just like spit it out on my iPod or iPhone and then like set it to myself a bunch of my head. And I walked in the room and dear Arthur was there standing and he directed me to the portrait and I nailed it. I said it so perfectly, and I really was so happy with my delivery. Because I usually stumble

in live performances, trying to get better about that. In two thousands seventeen, yes, and so I was just like happy that I actually ruled number eighteen of culture do not performance culture. Um, so anyway, you nailed it. I nailed it, and I just felt so good and was ready to turn around, like kay, got it. And then she walks out from behind the curtain and I truly started hyperventilating. You didn't think there was any chance that

she was there? No, I mean, and like the back of my head, I was like, wouldn't be crazy if there, if she's actually gonna be there, And we had to go through the secret Service to get into dirty rock and stuff, so I was like, but they're probably just there all day. When like the first lady comes, um, so I just put it out of my mind because I was like, this is just an incredible opportunity. Anyway, Um, yeah, she walked here and I started hyperventilating. And I can't

even remember until I saw the show air. I couldn't even remember what she was wearing because all I saw was her face and like beams of light coming, Oh my god, Like she was like the virgin Mary just like I'm making hand mootions that you can't see, like you know, like a halo kind of. Yes, an angel on this earth. Yeah, she truly is an angel. And she has this presence. Okay, I've said this before out loud to people. When I saw A Little Night Music

the Sandheim Musical with Bernadette and Elaine Stretch. When Bernada enter is the makes her first entrance, the air gets sucked out of the room, like she has that special presence. We're just like, oh my god, you truly are. And that same thing with Michelle Obama, Like and you know, I was the third person to go, and I even the camera people you could tell every time she walks, and I bet they were all just like because she's

that incredible. She's so her heart is so golden and pure and I truly believe like she's not like putting on a show at all, Like that is her down to her core. And I, oh my god, it was so and I can't even remember. She was saying to me, it's all blur. The main question people are asking me is what did she smell? Like I I can't remember at all, Like I have no idea. Um, I mean

watching you react to it. I have. I have got to be honest, I have cried for many reasons over the past twenty four hours from from many times and but like every single time I watch it, Like today he came in the door from wherever you were coming from, and I was like truly crying because I watched it again, and I was like, this is such a special moment.

And I have to say it is very bitter, oh absolutely, but that moment I just have to say, like, yes, there there's something about the sentiment that's being expressed by all these people. It's real and and just her presence. And so I watched again this morning with Doug, our friend Doug um and and he hadn't watched it up until that moment, and he was just like he started laughing uncontrollaby about how amazing this one. And I was like,

isn't this Isn't this incredible? It's insane, Like no, like, I can't think of a public figure that has that effect on and to meet her this week, you know what I mean? That was such It was such a good I mean, kudos to the tonight show for this like it was it would have healed my soul, even if Henry wasn't in it, but the fact that like

you were, that was just such a special gift. I want to say, Like the other people that got that opportunity were such incredible people, Like many of them were like women that had started their own company who said they were inspired by Michelle, like we all like talked beforehand, or one like started this scholarship that helps young women of color, like uh find the right college, and so like there was a dad that was really sweet. Yeah yeah, and I felt so. I truly, I'm so grateful that

I happened. But I don't think I deserved and I'm not and I'm not looking for that reaction either. I'm not looking for that reaction. I really like, like I didn't did not know I was going to meet here, and I thought it was just gonna be a fun thing. If I did, I would I maybe would have recommended a friend of me. There's like people I think so often doesn't realize how special he is Iselle very Michelle Obama like of him to do and it's it's very

humble of you to do this. But I have to say this was chicken soup for the soul for everybody that knows it was because because we're so happy that it was you, because you make every space that you're in so much better and so much warmer. And what I always say about Henry attetional, he really he makes everybody thing. Yes, yes, that is so beautiful, just to see everyone in these new spaces, Like I just think

you are such a gift to this community. I really do like over the past you know, two years that I think you've really been involved in it. You really have. Just you've changed, You've changed people game. And that's what another reason why I really want everybody to support a Little Night Music, because this is it puts these really kind of figures at UCB and comedic figures that we kind of look up to, and it puts them in

a vulnerable place. And I think that's why um Shannon O'Neil is so behind the show, and I think that's why the show keeps going because you allow people a new experience and what we don't realize as artists that we crave that and you provide that for everybody. And I think that's such a special, unique thing that you do, and you are so special and you deserve this opportunity more than anybody that I know. I count myself so lucky to obviously share what we have together, but you

just I couldn't think of a better person. Well, and everybody agrees, everybody, everybody. We're not the first people to say this, people said this on social media. It just the minute you came I watched this live at home. I was like, I'm not missing this. I want to see this as it happens. I was just lying on my couch just watching me, and I was like, don't

Jimmy Founds on TV? Okay, cool um? And then this happened in the minute you came on screen, Henry, I just chills and I texted you afterwards like I'm shaking him shaking. It just you just brought pure joy to that to that moment, and you're genuine appreciation and joy, and that is something that I think that we're going to have to really, Oh my god, as I start crying, really remember over the next however long this continues to go on, because that is something that is like really missing.

And I just think that we really could learn something from people like Henry, who you know, like find a way to keep going and keep bringing joy to the world, and I really just want everyone to remember that, you know, like with social media and you know, I get that everyone's very fired up and very upset, Like just remember that, like there's still a lot of good in the world.

There's still a lot of reasons to be happy, and there's it's not over until we until we give up, you know, And let's just not give up, and let's keep filling the world with positivity because at the end of the day, like that's all we have because it could it could be bleak. It's not only just positivity, it's humanity and that's it's it's and that's what Ay, we will have to like struggle harder and harder to access and be is what Like Michelle and Henry and

just Zoo, I definitely do not deserve to be. Yes, definitely definitely, and we're blessed. Just you go ahead and use the word bless Why the funk not come for me, come for me, people who don't want me to say

Judeo Christian language, I don't approve. I'm coming pretty later on. Yes, come for me, um, But you know what, I just think, let's let's just like let's give a shot just like, um just putting something like when when you when you step out into the world, just like, do something that's gonna be nice for someone else, do something that's gonna be positive for someone else, because it really makes a huge difference. Okay, this is huge, Matt, Thank you for

saying that, because my in my bullet journal this year. Everyone, if you're if you're if you're journaling a new trend, if you're on the bullet journal craze, let me know. I'm loving it. I really nothing is stuck with me like this in a while. So hopefully I encourage you all to just google bullet journaling. Don't blame bullet journaling. So oh my god flowed away from honey, I don't

even know what it is. Here we go. So about last year, this this uh just like a douche bag of a man, but actually he's he's a good person. He released this video called bullet like how how to bullet journal? Is it? Tim Farris ears Tim first, but he's like also, yeah, like say kind of person but

means well it's like chaotic good. So anyway, um, so this guy puts out this video about how to bullet journal, which is just basically a system of a planning b like logging your day, see like planning already said planning, but like see like um, just sort of organizing your thoughts because I used to just write notebooks and like scribble nonsense, and I would never refer back to it, would never flip back through my pages and be like

what did I write this day? Like never had to refer back to because I never wanted to because it was never built into that system of just it's a way to organize your drib So it's just like a non linear way. It's so it's like you set up you have to number every page of a blank notebook as you go not like you sit down one day and just number every single blank page. But as you

keep going forward, you number every page. But there's a table of contents that you refer back to, and as it's like as you're going through this, you basically like just go back to like let's say, like I'm playing, I have a page that has all my days on it, and like on a daily log of what I'm trying to do, like oh like pick up, you know, dry cleaning, or do do all this stuff. But then on the next page, and like all of a sudden, I want to write about um, like books, I want to read

a list of books I want to read. I'll just go to the next page, write a list. Look at the number page that is. Go back to my table contents right down in there. I want to page twelve. So it's actually it's built in for you to refer back to this and like refer back to what you write,

which is brilliant. But the lifestyle blog community Pinterest, like Washy Tape vlogger funk Fest of the Internet has caught wind of this and totally bastardized it with like their calligraphy and they're like colorful pants on and like, not to diss that, but it's like if you if you're into that, great, But the system was just done in design to be super simple and minimalistic. Anyway, Matt was just talking about putting positivity into the world, as inspired

by this video of Henry meeting Michelle Obama. In my bullet journal, I have a habit tracker where every day I wrote that, like it's like every day, like drink this much water, like uh, you know, wake up by this time of day. I call my parents. But then one of my line items was resist, which was like call my senators or like sign a petition, or like

do something activisty. But then I think with the missing piece of the thing that has to balance that out, Like I felt good doing that, and I really am on this high of like being sort of a polite asshole to my senators and my time as people. But the thing to balance that out has to be like doing something good for like a random person, you know, you know what that makes something good for a random person? Doing something nice for yourself thing, just like don't forget

to take care of yourself. I think a lot of us are in shock right now. I think a lot of people are dealing with it in all sorts of different ways. And who's to say what the right way to deal with this is, because I think we are right now. I think a lot of us are feeling a sort of grief, um, a sort of embarrassment. Some of us, I think are feeling a sort of like nostalgia. I remember I thought I thought about myself at eighteen

years old dancing around a union square. Um, yes we canning um, And I felt sad and that just that shouldn't have to be a sad memory, you know what I mean. Like, man, it's just so hard. So I think, like, yeah, it's okay, it's okay to like angry, be angry, but also just remember like there's what there's things you can do to make a self happy, make yourself a t you know, like go for a run, like it made me feel real, it's making me really feel good. We

just moved to a new apartment. It's making me feel really good to keep it super clean like that. Like just I think like you can you can take actually and also take that second, like take care of yourself, because I know I'm right on the edge of going insane. I yet last night I had to did it with my parents and I cried to them because I think I'm going to delete my Facebook because I just can't do it anymore. Do whatever you need. I think I might have to delete it. Come on, I'll support you

because it's making me crazy. Yeah, I feel a little new. You guys feel like yes, what do you instantly? I yeah, I think it's both the good things about Facebook and the bad things about Facebook are stuff you don't need, Like even when there are positive things happening, you can find even better versions of that in real life, or or good things that are also productive. And I don't know, I'm thinking about it a lot too. I just my main I can't get rid of because I just think

about like promotion things. But you know what, And I spoke to a friend last night that, um, I was texting with a friend that dropped Facebook and isn't on it, and she was telling me, you know, you use Twitter and Instagram for those things. You don't have to not use social media, or you could just kind of like, um, you know, you could just um, you could just kind of you know, get everyone's emails and send those emails things that everyone does. Also just make an honest effort

to see people outside of social media. What kills me, What kills me is when people that I met and fell in love with for their talent and for the who for who they were as human beings now just become a little square to me and and and a scary um Facebook persona or like a weak Facebook persona or a funny, non serious Facebook persona, and we're branding each other, you know what I mean. And it's not natural.

You don't need this thing to survive, and think about it you think about like, oh, you know, like I use it my way whatever, Like I'm not beholden to anything. I don't know anyone anything. We all everyday log onto the same website. That there's something weird about that, and I don't know. It's just it's gotten to a place now where I feel like you must question it, or at least if you're feeling like I am, or you're

feeling a little insane, you must question it. And I do think a lot of this has to do with the fact that I will We'll go ahead and totally admit that I have an addiction to it. I am addicted to Facebook, and uh, it's making me crazy. I mean, I had to fight the urge today to go on at several times so I could write the script that I've been talking about writing for months and I'm almost done with it. But the thing is, like I had to actively break down. I had, I had, I had.

Actually it's the noble where I was in tears yesterday, like you know, it's just and I know that it's not my fault. I mean were We had our friend Zach Grander Harris over last night to watch Henry on Tonight Show and he said, you know, this isn't your fault.

I mean, like it's it's not your fault that like everyone in the world uses this thing, and it's like this resource that's that's there and you're expected to use and especially when you're everyone wants to because they're constantly taking your data and using it for or against you. And you know what it's it's designed to be a part of your life, and it's designed to be ingreened in your life. But the fact of the matter is

it is not food. It is not water, it is not oxygen, it is not sheltered you not not needed to survive. And I would almost challenge people to get off of it, because I really might. I'm still wrestling with myself because then today it was an easier day, so I was on it and like I loved seeing everyone sharing the video of you and it was such a positive moment. I was like, yes, like maybe it

can be the us again. And I also don't want people to think that I'm running scared from like reality or like information, that it just might not be mentally healthy for me. Right, So, um, you're mentioning how Facebook is not food or water. Um, I only eat if I blog onto Facebook a certain number of times a day. Um, and that's how, that's how, that's how my body is it. It has to happen that way, Um, Matt, I think no,

you know what, You're absolutely right, Henry, are you? Because okay, I think the three of us have just use Facebook for similar reasons, which is, but you know what, Henry, that's the same thing I think about. The number one thing I think about when I think about quitting Facebook is saying, oh, you know what I would miss is yeah, and not only for your own shows. Like one of my two thousand seventeen goals is to go see other

people's shows more. And so I've been making a point every time one of our friends says my show is this day, I put it in my calendar right away, and if I'm free that night, I'm gonna go. Like Christie Shackelford, Yeah, one of her final shows on Friday Friday, I believe it's Friday Friday tomorrow. Yeah, as in tomorrow. Yes, yes, you're posted about it today. Well, you know what, continue talking. I'm gonna make sure I get the right next week. Um. Is Asian pop, which is like Maya and Iliana and

the Small People. I don't know show new show, first show Halle has like and I wouldn't know about them because I didn't get an email from them, and and it's not like they need to start an email change just for the people get on Facebook. It's hard to know. Like that's just as important. Yeah, like I want to be promoted to from certain people at least totally. Yeah, it is the thirteenth Chrissie's show is Okay, Diane Trianguarila at ucb Janu. She will be our next guest Another

Light in the World, True Light, my pal. Well, but see that's the thing. It's like, Oh, I guess technically what Matt saying is that you could like go on Instagram and it's cross promoted in some cases. But if we all decided to use Instagram that way, which I know that's not the way you use Instagram. And I'm also I'm not advocating for this revolution away from Facebook.

I'm just saying if you're feeling like me, and you're feeling a little overwhelmed by everything and a little watched and a little bit like crazy, um, you can take a break. And I spoke to a couple of people and that have taken a break and it's been really good for them. And I actually everyone that I've spoken to that that stopped using it, Um, they said it was good for them. Actually raved about not being Yeah, I believe Anthony King he used to artistic direct ucb

here wrote this. I think it was probably like some self publishic medium article about how he just is basically off Twitter just just because of the news aspect of it. He does not want to feel constantly angry. It's because you guys aren't journalists, you know what I mean? Like I think, I think, Um, it's what do you mean? You guys are journaling like all y'all on Facebook. You're

not journalists. And I understand. I think that, Um, when it's on Facebook, it is filtered because it's in your voice. And when you do go on Facebook, you are seeing a feed of people that you selected to give you information, and that is a filtered thing. So I would also be interested to see what it was, what it would be like if I just got my news from the news, you know what I mean, Because that's not how I've existed in this world. I don't know about like our

listeners and out there. I don't know about you guys, but the way I've gotten news, in the way I've heard about things is the View, but also Facebook, but no lines. During the O eight election, I watched the View every day. I watched the View every day, and Henry hates the View. I don't hate it. I just I'm so happy we're talking about the View? Can we

talking about the View? I just we've We've mentioned this so many times in the show before, but truly, there will never be a moment on TV again ever, like Sherry Shepherd thinking the world is flat or not being sure if the world is flat? Isn't that why we why we should hoist them? Let me let me just not anymore because the people in the View now suck. I want to finish my thought about this news thing

because I don't want to just leave it technic. I'm just, I'm just I'm interested in the idea of not hearing about uh, the Russian interference by hearing about golden showers, you know what I mean? Hashtag gold showers on Facebook. I'm interested in and maybe watching Rachel Maddow and you know what, and not and not hearing about what you have to say about Rachel Maddow. While I love, while I love hearing that, I would also love to watch what she says. You know, we have cable now, I

can watch television. I can source things out myself. Maybe the Facebook won't be the first website I go to from now on, Maybe it will be a news source that I trust. Yeah, we stop talking about Facebook. It's really making me anxious. And you've been talking about it so much. Like yeah, I don't know if because like interjected like this, but that's okay, We're not talking my Facebook. I will say one more thing re Rachel Maddow. I've never been talking about the View, Okay, I have no

opinions on the view. Also just saying that too, I do have opinions on Rachel Maddow, which is this. I've had people tell me that like me not shutting the funk up about Rachel Maadow has has helped them listen to Rachel Mandow has every day, definitely. But I think I'm gonna I'm rolling that back. And even today over the phone with something with someone, uh like I was talking to someone and they were like, oh, yeah, well, I'm just trying to enjoy this last week of Obama

being president, and I was like, yep, yep, yep, it's tough. Uh. And then I was telling them about how like much of a jerk I've been over the phone to my representatives, and he was like, oh, yeah, I saw on Facebook. And then for some reason he got very self conscious,

like I was being too seen. And it's that it's that like brand persona thing where it's like, oh wait, and then I immediately sort of like, yeah, just defending myself got defense and I was like, oh, you know what, I think I've I need to roll it back because I've been a little too militant anyway. Um, but it's interesting to hear that you don't want to you don't necessarily want to listen to me talk about Rachel, but you want to watch Rachel Nado. Right, That's what I'm saying.

I just I just want I want my information like from the source a little bit more as much as as much as you can get that nowadays. But to be like, oh, look, Bowen's talking about this thing that I also listened to, and it is sharing with other people. That is, yeah, if I had listened to it. But what I'm saying is I'm getting the majority of my news from this website, and I don't want to do this. This isn't even this isn't even bigger zoom out from

like red feet, blue feet. It's like meta information. Okay, let's not talk about Facebook anymore. Um the view, Oh my god, Henry doesn't like it. It drives some nuts, but I also understand why it drives. It's just like watching people argue, you know, when like none of them are experts on it. No. Do you know what really made me feel shitty was when they were talking about Maria the year. Come on, It's like, none of you were singer. It's nothing, you know what. It's like, Oh wait,

let's talk about that. So this is our first episode of the New Year. The three of us, I think, are all on the same page about Maria and what happened on New Year's all the way and look what if? What a good sport she was by just going out there and being like, wow, I can't do anything about this fucking thing. So kind of like people are saying she was like being sassy or unappreciative. When you're at that level of stardom, it would be like embarrassing for

her to like be really shy and embarrassed. It was like she owned it and was like things are falling apart, and it's kind of funny, Like I thought she handled it perfectly to me too, Oh my god. And to end that whole fucking thing with the line doesn't get any better than this is. So I'm fucking good. And do the left, I mean do the lift just for laughs. And I am not a Mariah fan. I've like really rarely cared. It's not that I don't like her, I just don't care. Music has never really gotten to me.

Maybe a few key tracks right, but overall, like I can name three songs tops like I don't stand that's why you don't love Mariah. But but that's I'm saying, that's why it's big that for this New Year's Eve thing, I was like, wait, no, she's fine, it's fine. Yeah, yeah, oh my god. Henry had never heard the song. By all, look, I will I will admit that I never really grew up with Mariah in the same way that a lot

of other people did for me. Like that, It's interesting, isn't it that the Mariah shaped hole was filled for me by Selene? Like I was like I don't care for other people. That's what happened, which I just like a very childish thing to think. But now, what's interesting, Even as a young gay, I felt the need to stand behind just one of them, right, did you? Because you you? Who did you love as a child? As a child, was there a pop tva that you love?

I got really into Janet Jackson. I didn't know that about you. That's cool. And I wasn't in the pop music all because I was very sheltered, Like I listened to like classical music and jazz and like music theater. That's it. Um. And then I got to sixth grade and there's this kid named josh Oh I won't say his last name who I he is obsessed was obsessed to Janet Jackson, and he like introduced me to her

like we were. I think he's probably gay. I haven't seen him like since eighth grade, but I think he's probably gay NOWT and I think we were bonding exactly. I think we're We became like pretty good friends whose were both gay, and he like changed my world, like he would make me listen to stuff, he would make me watch music videos and I didn't know she went like I know who Michael Jackson is because like you can't avoid that. Um and yeah, for a good reason.

He's amazing. Um. But yeah, like it was so different than anything I had been exposed to, and I was like, yes, I love Janet Jackson now and like became really into it. Which Janet was that this is like all for you, doesn't really matter. Um, like yeah, so this would have been who I was in sixth grade? Interesting yeah, um yeah she was huge at that point, it was, and

it was like a revival. Yeah. And I wasn't allowed to watch PG thirteen movie until I was thirteen, but my friend Josh showed me The Nutty Professor and stuff amazing and which was like I had never seen a comedy like that. I hadn't see a comedy that wasn't like Disney or something, and and it was like it was insane to see. And I didn't know who Eddie Murphy was. Like I was very sheltered as a kid.

Would you bring up because because it's because of January it's your first PG thirteen movie that you saw, No, but yeah, okay, oh really is she? Even in the movie she's the love interest of the Clumps, which I can't say the word the clumps with that laughing, and I never the way the reason I saw the clumps, it's because one day I was just let me the title of this episode. No no, no, no no, we'll figure it out. It's not worthy of our guest. But the title of the episode is he makes us um Okay.

But the reason I saw the clumps is because one day I was just like sitting in my house and my dad was like, hey, get in the car. I was like okay. He's like, we're going to go see the clumps, like okay, And my dad had never done this, never. But one thing about my dad that actually I'm remembering now is he actually is a huge Eddie Murphy fan. First album was Eddie Murphy's comedy album. So he's like

an Eddie Murphy fan going all the way back. I don't think he's seen like Norbit, but like Which is a great movie. It's fantastically any any movie where the character named rest, I mean that's for me, but anyway, uh, anyway, so he I think loves Eddie Murphy and just put me in the car and we want to go see it. And then there's that one scene where like the the like one of the weird white guys gets like asked by that hamster, I've never seen it. Oh, you need

to see the clubs now. It is a comedic to force I want to go home, smokable and just watch nor again. Can we do that? Like tonight? My god? We should no, wait, not nor but though we should find a way to get the clumps? No, I no, I don't want. I don't I've actually never seen Norbit and I kind of refused. I've never seen Okay, how can you expect me to watch the clumps but you refused to watch the clumps? Is actual quality? Because Norbit is actual quality? Okay, this is guy listeners, help us

weigh in on this. Please Norbitt versus not any professor to the clumps? Which is better? Okay, let's keep going. You know what else is in that I liked at the time when I saw it is why did they get married? Too? By Tyler Perry, which also has Jill Scott, who is my current favorite. Yeah, that's who Henry loves is my number one. I would have the same reaction to meeting her as Michelle explain why, because Henry has a very interesting taste yes, yes. When you listen to

Jill Scott's music, it is all her. She writes every word, she writes every note. She's a fantastic musician. Um. She started out as an English teacher in Philly and was teaching poetry, and she started writing her own and she started going to jams and stuff, and she'd always been a talented vocalist and stuff. And then I can't remember who discovered her. I think Erica Bad discovered her. They're really good friends. And um, you also love Eric and I love Eric. Oh my god. Yeah, I've seen Erica

four times live. I've seen Jill once because she rarely comes to New York. Um. She did New Year's Eve at Radio City and it was I was poor at the time and couldn't go, but I'm she's the best. When I did see her, I just cried the whole time. Like, and her albums don't do like I think they're really good, like easy listening, like they're really relaxing and just the most amazing beats and stuff. But she doesn't like go in with the vocals. When you see her live, she

is one of the best vocalists I've ever heard. She has like the range of an opera singer, but like the soul of you know, a soul singer rum and then she like takes from all types of genres and puts them. She is so when I see her live, the one time I saw our live, it was life changing. Um did you really watch her show on HBO? It was called Number one Ladies at Text. Yes, it was, like I think, beloved by critics, but it did only last one season and Nika Noni Rose was on it.

And who's also incredible. Come forth, come forth, come forth? That is in the front the front runner for the title of this epod. We've said this before, we come forth. We said, you know who else you've said come forth about on what it's called ristas Katherine Keener. We said, come forth Katherine Keener. Anyway, Um, yeah, I I we I listened. We listened to a little bit of Jill Scott here and there, um, and I like her. I don't really get her track on the Hamilton mixtape. She

just does. Can't say no to this, but she thinks perspective of yeah, I liked to listen. No, wait, is this true? Though? She does she range her own stuff too. I believe she does a lot of that here. She has people she works with, but she like it's her ideas and stuff, and um, I've listened to tons of live recordings and she always is really unique. I've never like one of her most famous songs, and my favorite song is Golden And every live performance is totally different,

not even different like tempo, like different genres. She has like one where she does as like a samba, or she has one where she's like an insanely slow like jazz ballot, and then she'll like or it's so cool, She's so amazing, and she gets the best musicians, like incredible. They're all jazz musicians playing like R and B and stuff, which is like the best package jazz musicians playing R and B and Oh it's so good. And you know who else is amazing live? Lauren Hill. I've seen her.

I've seen her three times, and one time I saw her, she was singing I think everything what is that one? Everything is everything? Everything is everything? Yeah, and she like had her backup singers like keep singing this like um, Austin, not Sonana, but like this repetitive phrase and slowly she made each person in the band drop out. She like pointed the drummer and like do like the like kill herself signed and then stopped, and so it's just the

backup singers. And then she took the backup singers like she put her finger to her ear and then like gesture to one of them and singing and be like saying this, no, no, saying this, and she would change the chords they were singing and like make weird modulations happen, and it morphed into like just this weird like avant garde like soul music thing, just her and her three backup singers, and then slowly she would sneak in the other instruments again and it would like be a different song.

It was sounds amazing. Just you hearing you describe that is incredible. She's so good and her band is incredible. Didn't you meet her keyboardists recently? I met someone that plays keys for her yet where I worked with them at the ride. Oh wow, yeah, I got real super cool guy Tom. I probably saw for Lauren and that she's amazing and also getting out of jail soon and that she's gonna hopefully begin creating music again hopefully. Also u CEB Comedies Matt Rubano is the bass player on

Miseducation of Lauren Hill. Phenomenal. It's not nuts. That's my favorite thing about him. He's a great guy. But like that's like, yeah, that's like one of his She said the second thing, what's your second favorite thing about him? His stage president, musician. He's a very talented like actor, comedy guy. He is. M Oh, my god, so I guess,

but maybe we can go into this thing. You know what, though, I think this is a good opportunity to ask Henry about I was going to say beginning that, Henry, this is the question we ask all of our guests. I'm sure you know what culture did you grow up with and what were some of the cultural relics that made you say culture is for me? Um My mother was like my culture curator. To a guy come out, I

was like very sheltered. Again, like I didn't know, like about the Spice Girls until like five years after they were a thing. You know. Oh my mom is a color tour soprano and she travels all over the country. She's international tours and stuff as a classical solo as she's sung with major symphonies around the world. I'm so proud of her. She's amazing and what's her name, what's her first name, Diane her stage and she's so amazing,

and I'm so proud of her. And sometimes I get I've like cried before because I feel guilty that she had me and my brothers, because it prevented her from becoming like a household. Like I think she's about my mom. I think my mom could have been like Laura Osmes my mom all of my mom's I'm sorry, just just all of my mom's college friends friends from med school say that if my mom had stayed in China, she would have been the surgeon general, like that, the equivalent

of this. She was the best student and at the best medical school in all of China, and then she moved to America, Like I would not have been born in China, sure with the one child only policy because I'm the second. Oh wow, So I just get I get a weird existential thing where it's like, like I exist at the expense of my mom's career. But it's okay's interesting that you feel this way. Yeah, I wish my mom had moved to New York. I kind of auditioned for Broadwa because she's that good and she's a

great actress to like she would do community theater. When I was a little kid, she was in the music Man, which is a huge cultural thing. I knew every word every song Man. When I was three, she was marrying and she was also an Annie and I think she played grace. Um. That's when I was really young. But I still like, my favorite song of all time is maybe from Annie. It's because like it's one of the

first songs I learned. Your favorite musical too, um, And Annie's my favorite musical because it's the first like music I was introduced to because I would hear my mom practicing it or I don't know. Um. Yeah, she's amazing and I wish and she's still working, like she tours still, and she has an amazing new musical partner that is doing some like jazz stuff where like she's so good. I love my mother. I I saw a video of Henry and and Diane playing on the piano together and oh,

beautiful video one. But Henry will say that that that he was terrible or something. I no, no, no, I mean, yeah, I mess up a lot, but it's fine. Like she I will also say, is such a good pianist, and I'm so proud of that because she's not known for it all. When I was a little kid, she taught piano lessons all the time and she would this is like early culture stuff, Like she would play like Beethoven Sinatis for me and like point out stuff. I would sit next to her on the bench and she'd be like,

isn't this part cool? How it does this and stuff like that, and it like totally just like gave me Like I'm obsessed with class music still, and um, even though like I don't perform it at all because you have to commit to me, a classmal musician need to practice like five hours a day and stuff, um, which I could never do. But I still have appreciation because of her and um. And even before the first like

movie I would watch consistently is Mozart. It's the Magic Flute in German and because she would put on before I could even speak English, and and I it's you know Mozart, so it's incredible. It's this isn't good for your listeners. If you want to get into opera a good like Gateway opera, is am I using that word correctly, is the magic flute? It's like a comedy, but it's also like very like fantastic as in like fantasy like dreamy and saying there's dragons and kings and queens and um.

But it's also really oh my god, well it's at the this month actually um for but the like lead is like this famous Russian guy, so it's like a thousand dollars will take out, which is like why opera is dying because who can do that? Um? But the Magic Flute disaber flauta or something in German is uh an amazing opera. That's the that's I'm sorry, that's the title.

But for pointing out my producer Alex, let's please translate that and Google translate German for the Magic Free Okay, yeah, it's um and it's also one of the only or not only, but like most operas were written in Italian no matter what the composer was, but Mozart wrote it in German, which is kind of like huge as well because he was awesome. I have to interact and site. I had an idiot music teacher in seventh grade that told me every opera was was in English. He's like,

you know, every opera is in English. The reason you can't understand the words, just because they're singing it so classically, and and we all went for it. I don't know if he was working with us, he seemed genuine. I don't think there were any English this was maybe totally wrong, any English operas to like the nineteen hundreds Benjamin Brand, not according to Mr or whatever the fun wow, but

he legitimately told us that. And as you're saying that, shaking my head thinking about like how there was literally robbed of an an opera. You know, it's just fascinating to me because like it's like with anything, like you have had an exposure to that kind of thing, like

you know what I mean. But like for me where I grew up, it was all about sports and then other communities, you know, Like I had a friend um who in college who was She went to a high school in Texas and obviously they're all about sports there as well, But the budget for the theater program was like over the top, like pictures of her in the scarlet pimpernel with like a floor length gown, like obviously

the budget through the roof. And it's like it really matters what you're exposed to as a child, like those instincts can can either flourish or just never gets tapped into based on like what you're exposed to as a child. That's why it's so important that we have like arts and schools. And that takes me panic because I hope we're headed in a good direction with that, but who knows. I mean we need that, like because thank God that you know all that ship like how you're able to

make a living now. Yeah, And it wasn't just my mom, Like I had my elementary school music teacher, Mrs Vandessa

Kathleen Vandessa, I think that's her first name. She was so excellent, Like she would expose this to like she would like take class with music and like paint a picture for us kind of in our heads, be like doesn't this sound like a like a river with salmon jumping in or something like that, And I would like I knew I had this like deep knowledge of like class of music when I was like in second grade.

I knew like all these composers and I could like identify like Beethoven symphonies and stuff, which I can't even do anymore, um, but I loved that I could do that and one lesson I can remember, like sitting in the room. There's this composer in French, composer Na Camille. I always mispronounced the second name, last name, say saw it's it looks like yeah him. He wrote this piece of music called Carnival of the Animals and each piece

is supposed to sound like an animal. You might see it this zoo, like a lion, or um an elephant, stuff like that, and that lesson, like I asked my mom if we could buy it. It was the first CD I ever owned. The first time I ever bought was Charlie Brown Christmas, which is the best, But first album I ever owned was Carnival the Animals by like the Philadelphia Philharmonic, I think um led by Marvin Hamlesh or that's Pittsburgh, No, Pittsburgh and he was the pops conductor,

so never mind, but um, yeah, Carnival the Animals. Also there's one piece from it called the Aquarium, which is supposed sounds like fish and Allan mankin Um totally was inspired by that for the Beauty and the Beast score, you know the da you know that piece like when the roses like yes, yes, yes, like listen to the Aquarium from Cardi of the animals, they're almost exactly the same. And I'm not like shaming Alan. I think it's like awesome that he was is a thief. Alan Macon is

my other favorite, like cheese. Alan Macon is the other part of my childhood. Like I would watch Exposure Disney, yes, because I'm thinking to myself, like I feel like I understand what you're saying at that, but I don't understand how you could be a child or alive exposed to the world and not know who the Spice Girls were because you'd go went to school and everyone will be

talking about like I remember the day Britney Spears like hit. However, one day there was nothing and then the next day there was Britney Spears and everyone was talking about it was the honey, this is not like I'm not shaming you for this. I think you were a popular kid. I was not a popular kid. I was a nerdy kid. I was only friends with like nerdy Christian girls, like we didn't they weren't listening to Spice Girls or something

like that. Good point what you're exposed to, Like you just said, well, I guess just like well, I mean I don't think it had to do with anything with popularity. I think like if I was obviously grew up in like a Long Island community that was like very influenced by the media, I think I mean, like because when I went into school, it didn't matter who the funk you were. I mean, everyone knew who Britney Spears was.

It just was not as capable. Um. But if you are in a part of the country that like has the option to turn away from that for whatever reason, that I think that choice could get made and then

those things wouldn't be a part of your childhood. It's just interesting, like the differences, sure, the differences in like upbringing, because I would have remember years ago, I went on a date with a guy years ago, it's like five years ago, and I he asked what pop Roulette did our sketch group, and I was like, yeah, we write songs about pop culture, Like we just did a sketch about Tylor Swift And he was like, who is that?

And this is like when like speak Now had been out, Fearless had been out, Like she was huge, she was one of the biggest everyone. I was like, you don't know who Taylor Swift as I thought it was a joke, but like, I guess that is possible. Yeah, yeah, it's possible. After r I p carry Fisher passed away, I saw this guy that I know post like I don't know who Debbie Reynolds are carry Fisher is? Why is everyone

so sad? A gay guy? And I was like, wait, how like even like I mean even like straight people like Star Wars, how can you not know these two women? I want to say something that I because the mission statement of this podcast, bitch, because Matt and I were watching Hair Spray Live and then we were texting our friend Joel, and Joel was our other friend Adam's place, watching this and Joel would not stop texting me about this jerk there who was the gay gay guy? Who

was like like, who are these people? Who's Queen Latifa? I'm sorry Jennifer Hudson, I was confusing her for the movie up. Who's Who's Who's Jennifer Hudson, Who's Who's Arianagrad? Like just what was kind of it seemed like he was like aware of he was just very deliberate and how like pop culture reverse he was. And he kept making that a political thing where he was like, well, I don't follow pop culture, so there how cool. So the mission statement of ours cultural ristas is too is

to spread the gospel of culture. Yeah, and you know what I think when I was like in middle school, I was kind of like that guy. I was like, I don't like pop houlso I don't know who Janet Jackson is. And then this friend John Josh, I think he might be married, which is why I'm not saying his last name, because, um, he like exposed me to Janet Jackson. He was like the beginning of my like pop culture world journey. Yeah, you know what Josh was. Josh was a big part of Henry knowing when culture

was for him. Absolutely. Yeah. Aside from like because I'm so happy like that I did grow up with like all these musicals and like West Side Story was like a life changing moment for me. Um, like when I first saw that movie. My favorite musical me too. Even my dad likes and he's not like a musical theater guy. Um, it's the most incredible music I think in the who ever written who's the most popular musician that you like?

Musician well, like instrumentalists. Know what I mean? Is like if if there's is there someone that you go to bed four in terms of like the diva's the girls? Oh of like people that are like in the Arianna ground, not like Jill Scott who's kind of like no, she's not like she's like like the way the gays get behind one, who do you get? No? Actually, I know what he's gonna say, my favorite, Well, I think Beyonce is better, but my favorite is Rihanna. I love is

Like you knew I was gonna say that, right. Well, I'm surprised that you said you think Beyonce is better because you've said otherwise is a I've said that Rihanna is better than I'm more captivated by Rihanna than I am Beyonce. You are crucifying your own boyfriend. I'm a truth teller, Okay, I'm a seer. Okay, I dragged it out.

I don't care who gets dragged up from bringing to the way Beyonce and I think it's because of like how they act outside of like their music career, Like Beyonce is so secretive and stuff, which is cool, but like Rihanna is funny. Rihanna is funny, and when she's singing, I feel like she's not like Beyonce is so rehearsed, which is amazing, Like she works so hard to get

everything perfect. Rihanna. I feel like when you're watching her live, you're like something might defend um, but not in like a bad way, Like you've really feel like she's there in the moment performing. And I think that her voice is incredible. It's so rich and deep. And she used to not be good, especially in the last album cycle, especially with four or five Seconds. Yes, I thought she sounds amazing that and then in higher Um and in her album Auntie. But yeah, I know, I agree with you.

That's not a bad answer. I hate that Kelvin Harris song.

Did she Really? I feel like he did everything I like about Rihanna, he sucked out of it and just like character because it makes me sad like he collaborated with Taylor Swift on it, and Taylor Swift writes those things where you don't really need a voice to sing them, you just literally yeah, you're right, Like it's just like it's just it's just just tones, you know, It's just like we found love is another culture stopper in my opinion, and uh, so good and so I was excited when

I saw that she was collaborating with him again, and it was such a disappointment. But that's because, Okay, here's the difference between we found love and this is what you came for, This is what you came for. Us trying to is trying to have character where this is we found love is deliberately like but but but but but but It's like very it feels like Rihanna, this is what you came for. It doesn't feel like we found love. And also the video where we found amazing,

it's so good because it feels like Rihanna. It feels dirty, it feels raw, it feels like it feels like it just got fucked, you know what I mean? Like, whereas this is what you came for, it feels like, oh yeah, this is Rihanna playing laying this down in fifteen minutes after hearing a probably vocal demo by Taylor Swift. Um one song that I think is very underrated that I really shop on at the time it came out, um

is oh how does it go? We we would uh pour it up man I when I got super drunk, and then when we were walking home or something, we hated it at the we hated We just made fun of it. We just kept singing out, yeah, we were I remember and then someone that someone's in a car coming by and they were like that. That's the other best part of our Rihanna is her melismas because they're

so sloppy and just like they're like fat. Her voice is like fat in them, Like you know, my favorite voice, your voice at the end of the bridge on Rude Boy, which is ah, it's like the most magical musical moment of pop music in the last time years a flat circle. Let's quickly before before we jump into I don't think someone, let's quickly talk about this culture stoppers list that Henry creative.

Now stop the world, world stop on Facebook with this culture stoppers um pop music kind of uh poll he did, so bunch of votes came in. I find the pulled to be a little problematic because I think that a lot of songs that are more classic snuck in there, like pull up the list. Okay, well here, let's just

give the outline. So choose as many songs as you like, but please be selective as you decide if it is a timeless culture stopper, from compare it to I Will Always Love You, Will your grandkids know the words to the chorus of Hips don't lie the way that we know the words to My Girl by the Temptations. The survey is not to decide if it is uh, if it is a culture stopper. I think we decided these are culture stoppers. I think we already decided these are

culture stoppers. But it is a timeless culture stopper. Again, timeless culture stopper. Give the top five from five? Okay, top five and this is okay, So with the number, I'll also give you the number of votes. A lot of people voted in this um number one, Uh. From is let's say it together well, number one? Or if are you going from five to one? Oh, let's go from five to I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. From five to one? Number five, we have baby got back, sir.

Mix a lot with sixty seven, which I shouldn't have included because it's from That's what I'm saying, which is why it's truly I think huge that like that felt so current when I was in eighth grade at the school dance and it's playing and it was everyone knew everywhere, like it felt like it. That's because it was already a classic song. It really doesn't it should be on. So yeah, people have gotten not upset, but like sure, I don't know what to do about it. Let's just

qualify that, and then I guess within those rules. Number six, which might you could consider his number five is My Heart Will Go On by Celindion, which classic. Um okay, I feel like one of the last great movie songs same, you know, not from an animated movie, not from a back back when they mattered, right right, right, um okay. Number four is with sixty nine votes, is want to Be by Ice Girls, which I'm surprised, which I don't know if. Oh I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. Oh

my god, I just butchered this. I'm sorry. Number four Time by Britney Spears is the next one. Okay. Matt and I were at a club in Chicago called Scarlett when my favorite club in the whole world. Matt I kept hyping this up to Matt and I was like, I don't know, We'll see it was good, it was great, Right do you put on him me? Maybe one more time? After a string of like modern hits, but as soon as they may maybe one more time came on. I

was killed it. This song is the me every day melted. Yeah, yeah, I think that deserves to be on there. Ye right, done that? Yeah? Um that's with sixty eight votes and I'm so sorry I spoiled this early want to be votes. Well, our grandkids remember the lyrics. I think that they will. I think that they will. I feel like it's going to develop that same sort of eighties cheese. Yeah yeah, I get that. I just think I think it's it's fun.

It wouldn't be on there if it wasn't deserving. Sure, and yeah, as I think eighties cheese is exactly right. I think it's going to be kind of like the time of your life, Like you know that song. It's like so corny and and you wouldn't think it'd be a culture stopper, but somehow it is. I think it's a culture stopper in part because its lyrics are so fucking bizarre like and also their energy performing it is so uh individual and like crazy. I think it really

captured a feeling. Let's be real, though, Let's be real, little girls. When this song comes on at like a wedding or a party, like it's lit like everyone. Yeah, so it's fun. It's a crowd pleaser. Okay. Next, I think this is controversial, yeah, number number two because one of he was number three. Number two is with I Want to Be and let Go. We're both type for number two, so oh let it go. Now. I think that we are fresh off this being fucking inescapable, crazy,

crazy crazy. But I think in ten years it doesn't have as many votes as hit Me. Maybe one more time, I would I would argue against that. Think about all like I've watched I don't know a hundred videos of toddlers singing like they're going to carry that with them. This song, I would say, is the reason Frozen is the highest grossing animated film of all time, isn't that crazy? Let me ask you? Is the song that good? I A lot of people talk about why it's bad, and

I don't know. I like it. And I think that if you there's a song and you just like it, that there's something good and maybe you don't need to put it into words. There's obviously something good about the song,

like it's it's obviously good. Yeah, and how much of it doesn't have to do with adina um yeah, could someone else sing it, like even like an amazing vocalst like Jennifer Hudson, Like I I think Idina had that that musical theater flair mixed with like the I don't know she has the right combo even though she can't sing alive. I've never heard her sing alive. Well, well, she's been a part of three cultural phenomenons like that's there's something wait what Wicked, Rent and Frozen like those

are huge and enchanted, don't forget enchanted. She's been enchanted. Yeah, Patrick Dempsey's like a girlfriend and chances of the ones with Amy Adams, Yeah, she's in that. At the end of the movie, Adam's like gets sucked into the cartoon world and no one bats an eye. We were await Man and I had a bit about this. We were like, oh yeah, like like there must have been a missing person's report, no word on what happened to this woman

who have magically disappeared. Althose sources say she may have disappeared into a comic book world and she fell into a seward and we're sure she's happy moving on and we accept this new person. That's crazy. That's a movie I have questions about the logic job anyway, number one on this list, which I think is deserved, and also it shows up in the results because with eighty nine votes, come on Girls, Single Ladies, Ladies. Single Ladies is a song that doesn't musically get me going in any way,

but I do admit it. It's it just makes you happy when it comes on. Have you heard it live? Yes? Yes, twice. Yeah, everyone every it's it's about. I remember the moment I watched Single Ladies. I was walking down St. Mark's. This is freshman yeard and my you for us walking down St. Mark's and just watching it and girl changed my life. That was another thing. It was like before there was it was a moment before Single Ladies and after and now it's time to stop. I want to talk about

sing Ladies a little more. I remember like when it happened. I love the video and like, yeah, all my gay friends and college we're talking about it. And then I went to a party with my straight friends and the right when we got in the car, they're like, we gotta play that new Beyonce song single Ladies. That's what I like. My straight friends they were jazz Musicis I only hung with like the straight jazz guys and they were like, we gotta listen to single ladies. Wow. Yeah,

I think everyone loves Beyoncepublicans whatever, which who needs them anyway? Um, okay, it's time to stop, it's time to do. Wait, I just say one more thing. I'm still I know, I know I have to go. But West Side Story huge culture thing for me. The other big like life changing musical that I saw. I saw my community theater do it, the Grand Rapidsific Theater. Sweeney Todd changed my Sondheim at

an early age. Now that you said that, this is I want to shout out my favorite teacher, because you shouted out a teacher Jane McGinnis in a p lit in twelfth grade. She exposed us to Sweeney Todd and Stephen Sondheim. And I will never forget something just turned on. I was just like, oh my god, unbelievable. It's the best work, I will say, and we can move on. I envy early exposure to Sondheim. I wouldn't count. West Side Story is like actual, like fully fledged songs. I

feel like that. And this is another thing about Henry. There's another thing about Henry just making people singing, and like, I didn't get into Sondheim full fledged son time until very recently. This is because Henry's Duplux nights, people will go up and just sing them and I'd be like, God, this is just beautiful, complex music, and I want to know more about this so than I Just after the New Year, I watched all of Sunday in the Park

with George. It's all on YouTube, Manny Ptakan and Bernardett Peter's and then there's all of Company and there's all of like all these great time Anyway, so you guys were there when that guy Larry Owens es Larry I hope leave the piano bar at the Duplex every now and then, and this guy named Larry Owens who I had never met, came in and saying Sunday in the Park with George, which you wouldn't think the opening number,

which you wouldn't think. Ish. Yeah, everyone leapt out of their season like he's an amazing to look out for, Larry and new friend. I mean, we we connected, we've been from I think he's he's sort of like perfectly like I mean, now he's gonna be even more in the community because he's he's he's getting into the comedy gig. Now we have to move on. We're gonna move on to your favorite segment. I'm talking about you, the listener.

I don't think so, honey. This will we take one minute to rail against something in culture, anything at all, anything that's grinding our gears right now, all the takes in tax of culture. We're getting into a honey, all the juda day. So, uh, Bone, would you like to start or should I? Um? I can start? Okay, we have one bit on the clock for Bone young. I don't think so, honey. His time starts now. I don't think so, honey. Trader Joe's locations in New York City.

I was in Chicago last week and I went to the Trader Joe's on the Diversity and girl, it was a spacious, empty, fully stocked Trader Joe's. Could you imagine? I don't think so, honey. Trader Jos in York with the line goes around the fucking shelves. I don't think so, honey. Trader Jos that don't have the ready to big chicken pot pies that I love. They're my favorite thing of all time at Trader Joe's, honey, and I never get them. I only get them once in a blue moon, when

when the Trader Jos aren't packed like sardines. But I go to Chicago, everything every shelf is fully stocked, and it's a bounty. It is a plenty, honey, and the lines were short. Every worker, I mean, Trader Joe's workers in New York are very nice people, but then were the ones in Chicago are just just They don't have to have to do with the stress. So I don't think so, honey, Trader just New York's. All of the New York locations the Union Square one forget it or

get it. I used to think that was normal and I that was acceptable, but I do not accept it anymore. I only go to the one that is on Court Street in Brooklyn. I don't think so, honey. He comes against the chain that has traded. Joseph gives us ally SA good location for me because it's the first time I ever bought wine by myself. Sure, I mean like I will never I will always think you'd be grateful for that because likewise, but no, not anymore, Okay, okay,

great Matt Rodgers. I don't think so, honey, time starts now. I don't think so, honey. The Golden Globes giving Damien Shaws l a Screenplay Award for La La Lad. Now, look, bitch, I think La La Land is good for many many reasons. I think Emma Stone gagged me to death, and you

know what I'll come for you, anyone. I don't think so, honey, say that Emma Stone wasn't right here in this part, because guess what, when you put a camera in your face, you better be able to act in honey, I don't want to see Laura Ostens on screen with the camera in her face. You know what, You'll be gagged when it goes to Broadway and you can see here's the fool's who dreams sung in that beautiful voice. Well, guess what this is on film, girl friends, and you need

a different flavor. That said, her acting and the acting of the other people in the movie, and the direction of Damian very good director almost almost almost doesn't even matter because the script is bad. Bitch. Okay twice in the movie, Oh No, I forgot I had this thing is a huge plot point. No screenplane, no might be if I lit on fire in that moment that it was handed that golden globe. Also, the fight they have is the most infuriating fight ever. You're deliberately not saying

what you want. It was like watching a car wrect happen on purpose, La, and you don't deserve the best screenplay, Oscar. Don't even think about it, Oscar. Oh, and that I don't think so many. That's for the longest. I don't think so many. That's been a record a minute in five seconds. Well, I had a lot to say, and can you believe I have more to say about it? Maybe maybe another episode, another episode will follow up. We'll

do it. Shouldn't be winning scripting awards. Girlfriend, you guys have to have another episode with another music theater person and talk about sometime because there's so much. There's so much there and or but I know there are people that know a lot more about them than me, and I want to hear that person. We want to know. We want to know what you think right now and I don't think so okay, can't wait? Can I? Can?

I do? You've done this for where I had three seconds or seconds gonna switch to almost did that and then we decided not to it. But we'll do it for you. We'll do it for you. But I'm saying it's it's gonna be it's gonna be tough. It's maybe I'll ignore it and just keep going on the same, all right, rights, I don't think is an iconic moment. It starts right now. I don't think so, honey, Jim class,

it is the worst class. It has been made fun like it's in movies for the past four decades of like nerdy kids just hating gym class because there's evil jocks and bullies or like bitchy girls that are awful bitchy boys to pitchy is for everyone, and uh and it is not physical education. It is competitive sports education. And I hate a gym class so much that I stopped. I avoided physical activity all for everything because it was like such a tormenting thing in my life. And I thought, Okay,

I'm gonna keep going. And uh, oh my god, oh my god, I hate Jim class so much. You should be teaching kids how to be healthy. Teach them why the way they move makes them healthy, Teach them about eating healthy, teach them how like calories work. Don't make us play basketball with jocks and I don't think so, honey.

Like some kids are nerdy and they can't handle and and also our society like lifts sports up so much so the kids that are good in gym class are revered, and the kids that are bad, even if you're really good at music or something, you are just like vilified and like made fun of. Jim. Class needs to change. And Okay, sorry, I don't think so, honey, gym classes and as there was real passion behind that. I feel

like both Henry and my father's are physical education. But and I have talked to my dad about this, and my dad, I know he puts effort into like making sure the kids that aren't into it, like are having a good time and not being mocked. Also, like locker rooms need to be supervised. The ship that happens in rooms is just scarlet terrible, traumatic sexual harassment, bullying. The way that seventh grade boys will talk about girls talk

about just disgusting. That's where it starts. That's whip it in a but you need to have a supervisor in there. It's bad. It look really bad. This gym class talk that Jim class, I don't think so many first of all, iconic, Second, of all coming from the picture of health Henry Koperski. Truly,

you get somebody to eat kale, you cannot. So if Henry is telling you that he hated fitness as a child or the idea the trimmings that come with fitness as a child, and it had to he had to undo years of that to get to where he is today, that is real, Mama. That is culture. I think it's definitely problematic. I think it's all about like this kind

of like traditional toxic masculine masculinity. And there's still gym teachers who will have like captains choose their team like it's RuPaul's Dragons with kids, and then there's like poor kids that are chosen last and that scars them for like it's really like terrible and it happens every day. You know what. Some of the gym teachers get off on it. I'm sure they should. They should be not fired,

but demerited. And I know that for some kids that's the only place they shine is the gymnasi shore, which is so that's good for them, but you need to make it work for everyone. And we also need to help those kids that shine in gym, like find love for like academics too, and I don't know. It's I agree also because like so what you were great as you were great at sports in high school. That doesn't take you very far. I mean unless it does which unless it does which good for you. You're in the

less than one percent. It's just two prioritized. UM. I say that with love for um the act of running, jumping and leaping. UM, I have to say, this has to be we have to come to an end. Henry has a show to go to. He's going to go perform in Ha ha Wow from Our Doctor's hosted by Nicole Silverberg. It's a great lineup tonight. You should always go to see this show. Um. Sunday night, I do want to say, I want to pug this show. Nicole Silverberg is hosting a charity show for Fountain House at

Union Hall. Check that out. I think this is a really good charity and I want people to go to it. It's it's just a really good thing. It's it's a good example of putting positivity and and wellness in the world. And I really want to shout that out. And when last plug for me and Matt Um we have the final final truly final performance of our popuar lecture that's been running an ECB called Amazing Earth. It's on January, same night as a Little Night Music. Henry still make

it a UCB night. You come see us earlier in the night. Then you hop on over to see amazing talent um singing and doing their thing and having a great time. And thank Henry, You're the best. I love I love both of you so much. It's awesome to be on here. Yes, buffle, but I am only a platonic And I'm so excited for Chrissie Shackelford. I've been waiting for this episode. Tell the time. When is Chrissy gonna be on next episode? Honey, It'll be historic. It's

gonna become reality. Alright, Bye, guys, everyone kissing to the mic. Guess we go out? This has been a Forever Dog production executive produced by Joe Cilio, Alex Ramsay, and Brett Bohm. For more podcasts, please visit Forever Dog Productions dot com, M Dog h