"Name Another Legend" (w/ Jess Rona)

When you said the way you said several weeks ago that there was always something about Katherine McPhee you couldn't put your finger on oh babe, the way you said that we should be calling miss Katherine McPhee. Hey, clown, Jess, could you've done it again? When we saw her damn five hundred dollar donation to the Republican Party as of June, I had to stop and really think about that, and I had to think, but does it surprise you? Does it surprise you? The women? The woman is married to

David Foster. I heard on the set of Smash she would often act conservative wow, and conservative behavior aligns with conservative values. Wait, hold on, I have to say that showed me when I found out, and so much has shaken me over the past several weeks. But why would it shake you? Why would it shake you? Matt that like this like white woman like is not like politically like aligned with you with your interests. Like I don't like hearing it. I don't like hearing it about any

boco Alum. I don't like hearing it ultimately about Boko Alum. I don't like hearing that any boco Alum has been donating to the Republican Party. Wait. I was really like shocked by this because I guess what it is is it's like she's an idiot. We should just first of all say that she's always been stupid. She's a dumb person to now. But now to me, it's like, obviously that was something I want to know. Did the gay who does her Twitter? Did he quit? Because he's got

to go, well wait, what what? What? Why does that matter? Because he can't be associated whoever this gay is that runs her Twitter? And there's a gay who runs her Twitter, and it has to be because she sometimes does like come through with some tweets that I'm like, all right, and whoever she's employing to do that, I hope puts in their two weeks. Notice if if that two week's notice is not accepted. I hope they walked right out. There was just the joke of him a little log

cabin Republican. I love that, Hi, my gay boys. And now that I think that she said, how Hi, my gay boys, I'm like, get, don't ever speak to us again. Nothing has ever made sense with her, do you know what I mean? It's like something's off, something's off. I mean, this just means that you gotta be You gotta be a Megan Hilty person at this point. From this point on, Oh, if you're not Megan Hilty hive then we can't talk.

We can't talk. If you were still waffling between Team Karen and Team Ivey, you gotta take a serious long walk. And that's actually real culture number ninety four. If you are still waffling between Team Hi and Team Karen, you need to take a long walk. It's right there in the name Team Karen. Now I really want to sort of switch gears and I I am Oh my god, her name was Karen. It all makes sense. Jester, you have done it again. Jester, you've done it again. I

want to such gears real fast. Speaking of jesters, I'm finally on your side on Team Matt with the whole vow discourse, because I can't believe we're still We're on episode five. We've we've only crested the hill. There's four more episodes left. And I was talking to our friend Joe Firestone about this over text. Too many shots of people thinking and standing and putting their hands to their mouths, too many shots of people thinking, girl, this is not a game show. Okay, I don't want to see people

think it's full of jesters. It's gestures that are making the vow. I'm really on my ad jester grind today. I feel that I feel the nation as full of jesters and I'm not. Yeah, let's just say this. I am a hundred percent and agree with you about a vow. And I actually haven't even seen the episode this week because it got such any reviews that I was just like, you know, a girl, I'm actually going to take a little bit of a break and maybe binge it later.

But that actually sounds like a bad plan because it's so boring. It just has these like long stretches of tension, but the rest of it is just like you're watching people like flip through photo albums and like talk about how they're rich mothers talking about their daughters being like part of this. It's like I cannot sympathize with the wealthy at this time in the culture. I'm sorry. I

totally agree. And right now I feel like we have been because we've been topical because of the COVID nineteen pandemic. We've been sort of following the VOWE and we've also been following The Real Housewives of Potomac, which this week was really on fire, really great. It really was on fire, and we saw the beginning, we saw the actual beginning

of the physical altercation that was Candace and Monique. And I think we can reveal at this time that Bowen Yang will be on watched What Happens Live with Miss Monique Samuels, and this is much for me. It's Watching Happens Live is my favorite show. It's my favorite show. I'm very excited. October four, Oh, Han, it's it's going to be with Wait did you say who I was going to be with? I said, I said it was with Monique. Monique, Monique Samuels, the villain of the season.

Sympathetic though in a lot of ways, I'm actually still team Monique. It's storylines that sort of go back to season four. I would say, you know, like the Monique the Monique Candice conflict has been sort of brewing. I'm still team Monique, I'm still you know, but I can I can sort of see where Candice is coming from too. So Candice last night on Watch What Happens Lives on Watch What Happens Live was paired with Michael Rappaport, which that was very funny. But Michael knew the ins and

out of all of Potomac, all of Beverly Hills. He's like he's the number one Bravo fan in all of the country. Yes, um, so, you know, And I gotta say, like Candice, the reason why Potomac is my favorite franchise is because I truly am rooting genuinely for all seventy of these women. I love of all seven of these women so much. It's not like New York, where I'm just like God, I want to push Ramona into a sewer. I want to. I want to take away her, her her her things. I want to I want to watch

her suffer. But with Potomac, it's like, oh, I love all of these women. I know it's hard to watch them fight. And also we haven't even discussed the fact that the of the Michael and Ashley of it all, that that scene was too much for me to take him out. We don't need to see him, we don't need to see his blotchy ass face. I'm gonna revisit this later and I don't think so, honey, And that's

that on that right now. But um, we will talk more about that when when I don't think so Honey rolls the damn around like it always does on an episode of Last Culture Access. And you know what also always happens on Lost Culture as this what's that? Well, it's actually not true. But what I was gonna say is we always have a guest and this episode is no different. You've done it again, Jester, I have done

it again. And speaking of Jester. Interesting, Um, this episode we have today, this is an episode that's close to my heart because very rarely actually become I feel like so close with someone so quickly. And I actually haven't seen our guests since we wrapped filming the show that we have coming out this week, or I should really more say that she has coming out this week because the show was inspired, well, I'm hosting, I'm presenting the program and this show. She's the torres to urtical buyer

in many ways, in many ways. And then Robin did is there being Robin dead and killing it? By the way, let's stop everything right now. We have to stop everything right now and say, Robin Poe, that was one of the best Emmy looks I have ever the best waymon and Micah dressed that young woman, and I have to say something. They also styled us for our show call oh my God, hot dog now dog. Guess I've alluded

to on the podcast is coming out this week. It's coming out on septembery, which is truly tomorrow or actually honestly midnight tonight. I can't wait. I cannot wait to watch that. Can you even believe I have been I would say, just as excited as you for this. Wow, that's huge. I've been pretty excited. I've been pretty excited. I've brought it up sort of casually in our conversations. I'm like, I can't wait to watch the Stamp show.

I think that you'll really enjoy it. Even if I wasn't in it, I think that you would like love it. So we actually just and I got to watch the first episode today and it is really fun and it's

really watchable. It's going to be super binge able, and you'll be able to binge it when six episodes are released at midnight tonight a septemb Um Thursday, for people who have decided they were going to sleep tonight and wait and wake up in the morning and watch it before they, um, you know, get on their zooms for work. And it also will be available at night if you'd like to do your zoom work first and then start to binge the show. So there's so many ways you

can go about watching Hot Dog on September twenty this week. Um. But what it is is it's a dog grooming competition show. And that is apt because our guest today is a legend in the dog grooming industry. And I actually was privy to all the contestants on the show, sort of gagging over our guest here today, who is the head judge. She's like the the grooming expert, and Robin Deady is the hot expert, like she's judging based on trends and

fashion and all that. But not only is our and I'm the host and I'm like sort of like gay and squawking and walking around and so this is so fun and I can't wait for you guys to watch six episodes that come out this week. And in addition to all that, our guest is an author you can get Jeff Roona's groomed. It will look perfect on your coffee table reader, I know, and a powerful Instagram influencer. Okay, she actually revolutionized something called giving dogs there Beyonce moment.

Have you seen the wind machine? The wind machine in the music Essential and making the dogs look like true dolls. She's an artist, She's a true artist. Phenomenon icon and our guests today and I want you all to welcome into your ears at this time, my friend, do you wonderful? Just Rona, come on in, woman, Wow, are you giving yourself your own applause? I've always wanted to do that. Honestly, you're actually giving me always wanted to do that. That's

a really good idea for us. Maybe we should put in a little sound effect every time we have a guest. Yes, we should. We should have a sounding board. We should have a thing we've always wanted, always wanted to do that? Am I inspiring? You guys, Yes, look at this fount of creativity that you have been already what I was saying, I was saying, she's a found, she's found. Wait, I have to tell you something. What you guys not ruined, but you inspired me to not love the vow either.

What do you mean? Were you were you like very much into it and then you heard us kind of like be dour And I wasn't ever very much into it, but I felt like maybe there was something missing or just it was so slow. I was enjoying it and

looking forward to each episode. But after the third episode I listened to your episode where you guys started talking about it, and I was like, holy sh it, they are right, Like it's it's like boring and slow and and it's like I want I like, but I like when Matt was like, I love how it's like the voiceover over that visual which was really cool and it's not like a percent bad. But yeah, I'm just kind of like, I'm disappointed in it because I totally listened

to the Uncovered Nexum podcast. Did you guys listen to that? I didn't. I don't think Matt either, But you so you're getting the full like compar already knew the story. This is a new spin on the story. But yeah, I'm with you, guys. Yeah, I have to say like it just it doesn't take a lot for me to be like I stand this show about not being an a cult. Like I watched a lot of Scientology in the aftermath because I but the thing is but that's because you and I'm telling you it needs a Leah.

It needs it does because Leah is so upset and she just cares about these people. Did you guys see the Paris Hilton doc? No? Oh my god? Wait did you watch it? Can you talk about it? Waitoen? Did you watch it? I just before this recording watched an interview of Paris Hilton on The Drew Barrymore Show, and it was just like, show, I have to I want to see that. It's it's surreal, it's it's it sort of harkens back to like Tyra Banks's daytime sort of intent.

But so wait, Jess, did you watch it? Yes? Um, I watched. Well, I can see where you would think it would be like a victim thing, but it's sort of something where she's like, I've become a character. This isn't me um, and I don't want to be this anymore.

I think she could have leaned into that a little bit more, but it is I just my heart goes out to her because, um, she has these horrible, NonStop nightmares of being dragged out of her room, um and taken to boarding school, and I think I think that actually happened, and her parents were just standing there and they didn't do anything, and they dragged her out of her room. She was like, help me, and they didn't

do anything. And she went to this boarding school where the people who were in this boarding school are now calling themselves survivors of it because it was so they were abused sexually, physically, emotionally in front of everyone. It's they keep using the word traumatized and it sounds horrible. And also, you know, she talks about how the sex tape came out when she was eighteen. She did not consent to it, and she's like, it seems it feels like I was raped, like it was like a cyber rape.

She's like, it seems like I was raped like this, and can you imagine? And she's like, I can't trust my parents. I can't trust my family. I can't trust anybody anymore. And it's like just imagine, yes, of course she created her reality and all that, but you know, she's just I just feel my heart really goes out to her and she seems like such a good person.

Like I recommend watching this. I have heard that, Um, she comes off as someone who is who makes a lot more sense after after someone would watch it, because exactly what you're saying is true. I mean, that is a sexual assault. I mean when someone's when someone's nudes leak, and like we're just so desensitized to it, like the whole sex tape of it all, and like there's so much questioning about how those things get out there and like what the intentions are of the person in them

or did they release them whatever. And I feel like because they quote unquote gains so much from those releases in the eyes of the public, because we think fame is everything. Um, we're not actually thinking about and considering like the trauma that that is. And I think that you know, it was only when Jennifer Lawrence's nude photos leaked that someone that was in that that it was happening to use the words sexual assault and that they felt like they were being raped and that makes perfect

sense to me. And I've heard that Kathy Hilton comes off really bad. She really does. She just doesn't ever apologize, and maybe she did in the interview, but they don't put it in the edit, so I don't know. But she just wasn't like, listen to me, I love you, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm in so much pain because I know that I caused this and

she should have. You know, as an audience member, I was wishing that she would say something like that, but um, you know, and it's yeah, it's just really sad because she was an eighteen year old girl and when the sex tape came out, it was, oh, look at what a slut she is, and never talked about this older man who did this to her, and he never really was held accountable. Sorry, did this just totally take a turn?

This is great? This is great. This is great because well, because she was saying in this interview Andrew Barrymore that the original sort of intention for this dock was just to show her as this businesswoman, which which is this other thing that she has that she has had to sort of like correct for because people have just thought of her as this frivolous person um. But that was

like the original sort of way in. But then she and the director got so close that the director was able to sort of have pairs O put up to her about this really traumatizing experience in a school. Um. So yeah, I mean, I just like that it's sort of organically came out of this um baseline foundational sort of premise that like makes sense and like wouldn't be too compelling necessarily, but like, but wow, I mean yeah, I mean she she mean Matt and I. Matt and

I sort of met her. She We didn't sort of meet her. We literally met her at a Tribeca Film

Festival for Vulture. Yeah, we were. We were working for Vulture was the Tribeca Film Festival and she was um promoting the other documentary it was The American Yes, and she was like a big part of that, and she really wanted people to see it because I do think it's important to her at this stage that people don't see her as you know, what she created in the wake of her very sudden and intense fame, and I think that, you know, we should also say it's a

very complicated figure, like she she definitely did come out and say that she was like, she was definitely a Trump apologist, and she may very well be a Trump voter. Um, we don't know, but she definitely said some weird ship about him. So that's tough. But at the end of the day, it's like something that I don't think we as a society really ever grapple with. And I think now we're all like hashtag free Brittany, come on, please, we don't ever take accountability for the way we treated

those women at that time. And I'm specifically talking about Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, who these women are now shells of what they were, and Harris is like still standing and still doing her thing. But you see now that it was not like this rose colored glasses world like it was tough, Like they went through serious stuff.

And I think the paparazzi moment that was like that those years of like two thousand and five, two dozen ten, like that was like a really dark period for young Hollywood. You know, I totally agree, but that that culture is dying now. Yeah, I'm surprised that there are papa razzi now anyway, are they do they still exist. Well. Now, like the common conception around paparazzi is that like anytime your photos go on Us Weekly, it's that you called

them yourselves, which happens I think. I mean that was like a whole plot on Selling Sunset was Christine was like like leveraging against the other women, being like, well, you know, don't just show up, yeah, which I love. Yeah, but I love that. I love that that that can be a thing. But I love that Christina is domystifying like paparazzi culture to the audience. Anyway, Now we want to Now we have to watch this. I really want

to watch it. You do recommend it. Shocked that I know something that I've watched something that you guys haven't. I was so scared coming on this podcast because you guys are so I mean, you're just tapped into the pulse. Are you saying we're literate? Are you calling us literate? Are culturally literate? And I am culturally illiterate, media diet illiterate, But like, yeah, no, you guys. I was like, they're going to talk about so many things I have no

clue about. No, no, no, no, We've we've been spinning our Wheels and talking about the vow in Potomac for like four weeks ago. Oh, I started watching Potomac because it's yeah, I think I did, didn't I tell you? What was the Crown Jewel? Yeah? I started watching it and then I got really into Succession. Have you guys seen Succession? I'm on season two, so I'm gonna start at this. So you're on season two. I was like, I'm I'm Cherry Jones. We have Cherry. But honestly, like,

I was watching the Emmy's. Let's did you watch the Emmys? Did you both of you watch the Emmys? No? But I saw who won and who did it for them? All right? So I have some thoughts about this too, because Succession I actually hadn't seen and I have been really wanted to see it, and obviously now I really really want to see it. Not that I needed it to win Emmys to want to, but um, it's like,

here's my thing with the Emmy's. It feels like Succession was like what won the Drama Awards, Watchman is like what won the Limited Series Awards, and then obviously is

the only show that won a Comedy Award. So it's just like interesting, to me like whenever the Emmy's come around, and I sort of vocalized this on Twitter went during the show, and people wanted to kill me because the white gays Ships Creek are out for blood and I really weren't even being even I'm not coming for Ship's Creek, and I actually, if people people want to know, I think Katherine O'Hara and Eugene Levy are legends. I think

Annie Murphy is a star. And I am the utmost respect for Dan Levy for creating that and using his privilege and the nepotism that he very much has, because let's be real, like he has it, and he actually created something that people really connect to instead of garbage or instead of doing nothing, you know what I mean.

Like it's not like he used his massive privilege and and like the nepotism that he got from being able to run a room while never having a single day of experience doing that, which is unheard of, and he used that to create something that people fucking love. And I respect that. My perspective on it is one thing shouldn't win everything exactly with so much with the glut of good TV that's out there, and this applies to succession and Watchmen and UM and should create like one

thing shouldn't sweep every single category. It's just not possible, you know. It's it's that you can't tell me. You cannot tell me that one thing in every single aspect was the best thing across the board. But the media takeaways, but the ways that the Emmys are like promotional arms for the TV industry, Like the takeaways for every year are Fleabag crush or Ship's Creep or Deep Masal crush year. It seems like, you know, so this is just part of like the this is part of the narrative of

the Emmys, which is that show did great. And it's not like the Oscars, where it's like, you know, every movie that win an Oscar gets like eight sequels. It's like it's like there's there's there's it's just incentivizing people to watch these shows as they film more episodes. That's just like that's kind of built into the Emmys in a way that UM is unique to them, as this Awards show. Do you watch Ship's Creek, Jess? Yes? Do you love it? I love it? I do think it's

not a perfect shell. Sometimes I get I'm uninterested in storylines or uninterested in characters, but like you said, Annie Murphy, I mean she is Trusseau fucking amazing. I cannot and like the four, the core four are incredible. The ancillary characters I don't love as much. Yeah, for me, it just started really slow, so it was hard for me to get into it, and that's why I haven't. I think it obviously hit a stride um at some point because people love it so much and I am interested

to get into it. My thing is just like it won all four acting awards and series and writing and directing, and that to me is just like wild. And you also can't use the excuse to me where it's like, well they didn't win anything for the first four or five years or whatever, because it's like Keenan is there and he hasn't one ship for sixteen years. Okay, Betty has not been recognized for Glow and Darcy Cardon literally

had no nominations until this year. So don't use the whole thing of but they've never gotten anything with me because that it doesn't hold any water. But Matt, you haven't watched any of these like sweepy shows, this, this year. You haven't even seen watch when you haven't seen Succession? Is that correct? Why are you doing this to me? I haven't seen watched either. You're not alone. I'm just

staying like, does I mean this? No? This probably gives you some perspective on this, where you're like, as someone who doesn't watch these shows and as someone who consumes a lot of TV, I haven't watched these shows, and so these awards don't speak to me as a viewer, to my viewing habit. Well, you know, I guess it's just I'm not I'm not I'm not like, I'm not like discrediting you and I are doing this. I just

want to know why you're doing this to me. First of all, my one question my back he was number one. Why are you doing this? Why are you doing Second of all is literally this, there is so much stuff and this, this is the real truth. Over the past like months of quarantine, I have not wanted to watch anything substantial. I've only wanted to watch the most trash thing I can put in front of me, seriously, and so stuff that goes down it's not trash, it's just

stuff that goes down easy. Yes, you're right, it's not trash, and it's actually important to say reality TV is not trash and it's real culture. Number three TV is not trash. What a hot tape? I actually, I'm so hot. I'm so hot on this take. But I I here's the thing, Like Watchman, everyone, everyone that's obsessed with it is so will love it. It's one of it's one of the best things I've ever seen. The same thing with Succession and Ship's Creek. People are fanatical about it, which means

it's got to be doing something right. I just feel like it's crazy when one thing dominates everything. And I'm on the record with this about the Grammys too, because the Grammys is really bad with it where it's like it feels like one artist comes in and they win everything, and it's like, you know, it's it's just weird. And I also understand that, you know the nature of the way the Television Academy votes. It's not like you get

a ballot and you fail out everything. You know, actors will for actors, writers will for writers, producers vote for shows that, um the top line shows or whatever. So I get that it's not like that. It's just always seems to shake out a certain way, and I'm like, you know, this can't possibly be true, but I get that people love what they love and I'm not coming for ships creak. The way that people reacted to Go Away, the white gaze and it is us. They were eating

their own. Can I say something about Succession? Please? You can say whatever you want whatever, this is your episode. Well, I just want to let you know, Matt, that it took me three episodes to really get into Succession. The beginning was kind of slow for me, and I probably watched those three episodes within like a two month period, Like I just was not looking for it, and I was like, and my friend Sammy was just like, you

gotta watch it. It's so so good. And then finally I was like, okay, fine, I'm just gonna sit down and really watch this. And then episode four or five, and then I was like totally Yeah. By the end of season one, you're like, yeah, you're in. And and Matt, you will be obsessed with HIV. The character of HIV you will love. I just first of all, doesn't she look like a pin up character from or a pin up girl from the forties. It's just that's what I

think of and you know she's Australian. Yeah. And um, and the the husband wait Tom Tom Tom Tom Tom is British. He is. Yeah. Let me just tell you the acting. It's the best acted show I've ever seen. Yes, very good acting. I mean you're talking to someone whose favorite show of all time is mad Men, So I don't mind sitting with amazing show. I just think it was so welcome. Accession is like mad Men. There's there's tons of mad Men, but it's also so funny. It's

like here and Colkin is so good. He's so good, is such a good character. I mean, there's there's so much to like about the show. There are really there are funny moments where you're not expecting it. Yeah, I'm excited. I'm really excited to start watching it because I do think I will love it. Um. And then we should just also say the biggest shout out to missus zendayah One. She deserves it. She that role she played, Holy shit,

she was so good in that. It's one of those it's it's this Matt Rodgers criterion where no other actor could have done that. I always say, like the award should go to someone who it feels like, no one else could have done that part, you know what I mean.

And I actually rewatched the scene where she goes to It was episode three of Euphoria, and it's a scene where she goes to get drugs from her dealer and he says to her for the first time, I'm not giving them to you, and then she like freaks out at the door and she basically has a panic attack at the door. I was like, you know, this young girl's India is beyond she is. Not only is she a star in the way that she carries herself, but she is so gifted at acting. She's a great dancer,

she is a fantastic singer. I mean, she's a cat debating she's one. She's like like real crown jewel of her entire generation. And we're gonna be talking about her for years to come. I believe she is so good. Yes, we're gonna take a quick break and then we'll be back with jess Rona. We're back with jess Rona. I want to know something. I want both of you too in tandem. I want both of you to in tandem. Oh, track the beginnings of the meeting. The report you guys

built on set. I want to know every because because Matt, because Jess, Matt was truly singing your praises every single day. So cool. I love you, I adore you. Talk about the process of of of the show and and and how you guys became friends over the course of production. Well, I just want to say, and like, this isn't like what happened at the beginning, but I just will actually know right away. I knew Matt is so easy to talk to, and I'm sure isn't he Like he just

like gets right there. And I think it's part partly because he's a Pisces, but like he'll just like get on your level and just if you're on your knees, he'll get on his knees and just look at like we're in this together, and like let's unpack, you know, let's talk. And I'm an Arieska is very good. I supposed to marrion Arees. Really, I'm supposed to really. Oh, I get along well with Scorpios. I are we both fire signs? No water? Gotcha? I'm water water water water

water yeah, water placement. I just are you water your water? Okay. I knew immediately that we were going to get along. We actually have a mutual friend. And literally, this is so funny because Bowen knows this person too from high school. Liz. Oh my god, Lizz, You want to with Liz? She was my sister's year in high school? Yeah, no way. So Liz is a writer. She writes for She's written for so many things, most recently Special And I know

her because she's very close with Jared Um. But this that was when we first started talking about And I always I stand having a mutual friend with someone. I love it because then you can just talk about that mutual friend for like forty seconds to a minute, and then you're off to the races. You have the rhythm, and then you're oh my god, if you're ever shout out to anyone out there, any reader who's nervous about meeting someone, how and you wanted to go, Well, find

the mutual friends. That's so true. What if they're a mutual friend, what are they to do? You got to service them sexually? Yes, and then you're off to the races and seconds later, rhythm, you're off to the races. Wait, speaking of shoutouts, before this episode is over, I need to make a shout out to one of your and you call your listeners readers, readers. One of your readers is a groomer and he's in Florida. His name is

Jonathan David and he loves you guys. And he's like, oh my god, I was listening to last cultural stas and I just and they just announced that Matt is the host of hot Dog. That's my favorite podcast, and so he's going to flip when I was like, oh, I'm gonna shout out Jonathan. He's a very well known dog groomer and he's Yes, he is just so talented. He's a judge. He's like very fancy in the grooming world. Will he come on the show? Yes, play out compete? Oh I thought you even like as a guest on

this show. I was like, oh my god. Yes. Now here's the thing, Like, I don't think he wants to compete anymore. I think he wants to just be a judge. Like he doesn't want to go back to competing. That's interesting. He's he's he's earned his spot. But okay, so I still want to know more about this um this this friendship betting. But but just talk a little bit to me as a as a as a person who's not versed in this, who's not literate, Um, what what the

what the network of dog groomers? How that sort of what that looks like? What the shape of that is like? Because I feel like you came into it. You came into it the way you came into it with these like these incredible videos, and then did you start to sort of like pick up on this network that was

already sort of in place. I actually, So there are trade shows and conventions throughout the year all over the United States, and it's always the same people at the trade shows, all the same scissor booths, and you know, and Matt loves when I say scissoring spray, scissoring spray. Um. You know, like you see all the same people. Um. And there are grooming competitions at these trade shows, and you see all the same competitors. So it's kind of

like a grooming community. And so I I was, I was competing back in two thousand twelve, and I was just really invested and involved in the grooming world, wanting to get better. There's seminars, classes, It's a whole world

that people don't It's an amazing it really is. And so Jonathan David is sort of like he's he judges grooming competitions and he's just he teaches seminars people asking for advice on haircuts or business and because his business is really successful and so he's sort of like that

type of person in the industry. Um. But yeah, I started making my videos actually when I was kind of in a dark, low place in my life and I was just antsy, and so the videos weren't really like, well, they made me well known in like the real world, but like, um, I didn't get well known in the grooming world until like a few years later. M And so what what was that? Was that just kind of like you built an Instagram presence or were you doing really well on the circuit? Like how did you become?

Because you should see like and you will see like the respect and the reverence that the contestants have for Jess. She truly is like you know them. I'm trying to find a good one to one but like and I don't we love Anne. We love but you know what I'm saying is I'm trying to make a one to one on another reality show. But like what I mean is like she is like the Simon, like like if you go in addition American very Mary, very Mary Barry,

maybe very that very like Tom Collichio that so. And I was just like really observing everyone come in and they see Jess and you know, they look at each other and they're like, oh my god because they're seeing like a celebrity to them, and um, a lot of times you would know those groomers as well that we're coming on and competing because this is the community, right, like you all know each other. I knew a lot of them, not all of them, but out of them.

But like you know when you meet someone and they're just so good at what they do and you're just like it's like magic that I'm like that with groomers too. I'm like, your work is so good that you get a little star struck. And um it's still, uh, you know something I'm not used to when people react to me that way, but um, yeah, that's how it is in the grooming world. It's just a tiny version of like, you know, Hollywood, just how did you get into it?

Like how did you get into dog grooming? Like what? What? Because it's something that you know, you know, what has to happen but you don't think about when you're like growing up, like I'm gonna grow up and be a dog groomer. It's just not what you think. So how did you get into it? Not what I'm thinking? Some people, Yes, yes, well a lot more now after this show comes out. Well, I think so, I hope so I'd love to change

the grooming industry. Um. I stumbled upon it. I just needed a job when I was eighteen, and I started bathing dogs because it was the least nine to five job I could find. Mind, my mom always got cat food at pet Smart, and she dragged me to pet Smart, you know, and she's like, oh, there's a help wanted sign. You need a job, so and then on the application there were all these different jobs that you could do it pet Smart, like work in the aquatic section, or

work as a cashier or whatever. And then I see dog bather and I was just like, Okay, well I don't know anything about dogs. It sounds cute as fuck. It doesn't sound like a regular job. And so I started doing it without ever thinking it would turn into a career. I was always wanting to be an actress. I was class clown. I was like just a ham wanting to be an actress. So I was like, Okay, I'll do this for now. And then over the years,

I started grooming dogs more. I started learning, you know, how to do a snoozer cut and what's a cocker spaniel cut or whatever, and I just started to learn how to do it over the years. So it just kind of happened organically. And then how long after you're doing it do you start competing? Oh my god. So I I was also waiting tables a lot, and then my my dream was to be a waiter or waitress and I could wait tables and then go on auditions during the day and wait tables at night. That was

my big goal. I wanted to do the grind, baby, so I ended up Um. I was waiting tables at night, grooming dogs During the day. I worked at Bukaa Bepo. I worked at the one on CityWalk. Oh my god, incredible, you are really a legend. Thank you so much. I was on the tours of the kitchen, you know, when you would go and people would give tours of the kitchen. I would do that. I waited, I was a food runner. I was just like, my dream was to be a waitress. Oh my god, I was an iconic waitress too. I

was also runner. Yeah, there was a whole summer where I was a food runner and I couldn't touch a plate that was too hot. Give me a plate that's I can handle it. Oh, I bet I can see that. And also we had three flights of stairs, so I would carry and I could still do it if you give me a big gass tray. I bet I can carry three lasagnas on that tray up three flights stairs. I bet I could do it. Afterwards, honestly, name another legend. Name another legend. That's my new thing. I say about

Bowen and now Jess name whatever. Whenever Boone puts out a photo that's fire, I just say, name another legend that's actually a title of that. Name another another legend. I love that. Okay, so jazz. So you're waiting tables and you start to compete. So yeah, So I waited tables and I slowly started actually phasing out grooming, and I moved to New York started doing UCB. I was just like waiting table that also had three flights of stairs,

which was very weird. Um, and so I kind of quit grooming for a little while, and then I realized I don't want to be a waitress anymore. After six years, I was just like, I I remember this skill I had, and I was just like, I want to really get good at grooming. So I came back to l A after living in New York for a few years, and I just dove into grooming dogs and that's where I started competing. That's when I would meet my grooming idols and asked him a million questions, and that's when I

just decided to get really good at it. Wow. But while also keeping this track of acting because because like, because she books and she's doing she's doing things. So I was an intern at UCB at night, and I was like I lived up the street from uc B Franklin and worked across the street at Tailwashers. So I never left that little corner and I was just immersed in dog grooming and improv for so many years. That's literally where I lived, not the not the Scientology Center. Now,

I lived behind Gelson's on Bronson. Oh, so you know that's literally my neighborhood. My my neighbor is the Celebrity Center. Yeah, I know exactly where you live because I have your address. Um but yeah, but so then you are you're like competing, and when does it get to the point where you become like really really good, like like and when did you realize like, oh, this is like I'm not competitive, I'm like, I'm like one of the one of the ones.

I think I started realizing that when I was Um, so I got fired from my job because I kept having to leave for auditions, and honestly, I don't think I'm a good employee to have. I'm very entrepreneurial, and like, I think my boss was right for firing me, because, um, I just had to leave all the time for these dumb commercial auditions that you'd have to go to Santa Monica like at the drop of a hat. And so

I started working. I converted my garage into a grooming studio, and it was that time when I was able to I wasn't very busy. People didn't know what. I just wanted to groom my friend's dog, so I didn't have a ton of clients. So I just really took my time and would take like I would just do one dog at a time and just really work on my craft and getting really good um. And I entered myself in grooming competitions and I placed in every competition. I

didn't win until last year, but I placed. And um, I just I think when you make a decision to do something, it's very powerful in anyone's life. So I just decided, did any kind of endeavor, like mentally committing yourself to something is kind of it sounds simplistic, it sounds reductive, but it's like sometimes that is just very very very powerful in the ways that you follow through on that. That that's that's very cool. And so it went from like you're grooming your friends dogs to you

now groom the dogs of Katie Perry. You know, like I think Ellen Pompeio, like you are now a celebrity. I love Ellen Pompeo. I mean we love ell. I met her. She's a schmoop, she has she is the biggest heart, she loves her dogs. She's the coolest. I mean, you groom some cool. I mean, I can't believe you have a relationship with the Nugget Perry. I know Nuggie, little baby Nugget has a sister. Oh, yes, a human sister. Now has a human sister, Daisy. Yes, Daisy Dugo. What's

the hardest breed of dog? Is it a poodle? I would imagine No, I love poodles. For me, I think it depends on the groomer. For me, the hardest dog is a soft coded wheat and terrier. Give me, well, you would be. This is another Your hairs are long, but they're beautiful dog. This is another really cool thing about the show too, is like I love dogs, but

I didn't know all the breeds. This show has all different kinds of breeds, and every episode it's like they're all getting they'll get a sign like a different kind of small dog. They off to do the same thing too in the mini challenge, and then in the main challenge m any they basically get any dog that they want to do a creative transformation with based on the theme. So there's themes like old Hollywood glamour, there's themes like disco Inferno, there's Western pop pop star. It's probably one

of my favorite episodes. It's amazing. I cannot wait for people to see it. And so what I want everyone to know is that the show. The aesthetic of the show is very much based on Jestice aesthetic, which is like how would you describe it? I would say kitchy seventies glam with a little wink and humor. Yeahs, I mean, I just love her. But you know, it's just I was like, this is very wood paneled, retro like life,

and the wood paneling was just it just happened. Like the garage of the rented house I live in hadwood paneling, and I would just I would go to a thrift store or something and see a portrait of a dog and get it. And it just never really was intentional, but it just sort of organically appeared as my brand. And then I just people were like, oh my god, the wood paneling, like they started reacting to it, and

I was like, oh, this is my thing. But I've always been really like a hippie into seventies and like I've just always been like that anyway, because you're from l A. So it's like seventies but in the l A context where you have these Hollywood elements in it, and like that is such a solid, you know story, just aesthetically. I love that. Well. I can't wait for you to see my new shop. I just moved out of the garage a month. I would love to come.

I mean I just took the aesthetic and like ramped it up and did it the way I want to do it versus just the way it happened to happen. Um. But yeah, I finally after six years, I'm out of my garage. Wow. And the move from the garage to the corner of Larchmont and Melrose is a massive one. And it's I'm so excited for the store to open up, or the shop to open up rather, but I mean, it's open, is it open? Now? It's open? We did a soft opening. Yeah, we've been open for a few weeks.

I never know what's open anymore in there. I'm so can Oh, I'm gonna come. Um. But okay, so I want to know, like because I do know this, But how does it become a television show? Oh? Yeah? Well? Um, okay, so people are fascinated with celebrity. I don't know. I don't expect you guys to understand that, but I'm just kidding. But like, so, I've been approached to do reality shows for years and years and I always said, no, it's

just not what I want to do. And I met Nicole and she has this beautiful red poodle named Doug, And so I met Nicole's husband on set when I was Katie Perry's Dog's Glam Squad. So, Nicole Nicole is the producer of Hot Dog Nicole Yarn And she was like a producer for the voice and and she created making it with Amy Poehler nick Offerman. She's a force, she's a visionary. Um. She is so brilliant, she's based. I think she's a genius. Um. There's very few people

that I've ever met like her, but um. So. So I met her husband on a on set at a Katie Perry commercial thing where I was like Katie's Dog's Glam squad and he's like, if I ever get a dog, you have to groom it. Three weeks later, they got a dog and they're like they called me. And so I met Nicole through Rob, her husband, and she was like, we're making a show, and I was she when we talked about it, it was more of like a competition show.

It was less like a reality show of like cameras following me and more like something elevated and cool and intentional and and so um and so we just over the years we developed the ideas and she would she sat down with me and she's like, Okay, how do you picture the set being draw it out? Like draw the like where would the judge's table be? So like? And she actually sold the show on her own. I mean, she's so connected in this industry. She sold it just

off of the sizzle that we made. And I mean, I mean that's I mean, that's what made me want to do it. They sent me the sizzle and I was like, this looks like the most functional ever. Wow. And so she sizzles like she has a genius editor. And I gave her like tons of like photos for reference and the vibe and the tone, and I just like put together collages of looks and and just visuals. And she put together this amazing sizzle and sold it. And she was like, you know, she just kept calling

me with good news. We sold it, I found out. Then I found out we got picked up for twelve episodes. Like she just kept calling me with good news, good news, And I was crying. I just I was like, I don't I'm not a big crier, but I'm crying because my two worlds are colliding. Who knew the dog grooming would lead me to the other stuff. Yeah, it's amazing. It's awesome, and so Jess and I got to watch

the first episode today and it's so much fun. And you know what really comes across is like me, Jess and Robin thity, like we really do have so much fun. We laugh so much and it's hot. I mean, this is my first time doing this, but I've been told like chemistry like ours is not normal, and it's it's like the three of us just got along. Also, like

we all have mutual friends. Yeah. Yeah, I knew Robin because Robin came and did Game Show and it was so much fun and such a probe and we shared like we were working on the same floor when she was writing a Black Lady Sketch show and I was working on Game Show and so um we knew each

other from that. But it's so funny because the producers were like, and of course you and Jess and Robin will have amazing chemistry and that will happen, and I was just like, you are assuming that, but you can tell, like people behind the scenes are like they're trying to establish this thing of like and of course the chemistry will be amazing, but you can tell that's what they're nervous about and like, so we didn't we weren't able

to meet in person beforehand. Um, and then we just literally arrived on set and luckily, like the three of us started talking and didn't stop. It really was just so fun. And Robin is she's I love her so much. I feel so honored that she's in my life now. I feel like she has the biggest heart. She's such a good person. She's just one of those loyal kind of ride or die type of people that would just like have your back and be there for you. She's

just I just feel really lucky. I think we're really lucky. We got lucky because none of us are like assholes. I just think we got really lucky because it kind of gone the other way for sure. I mean yeah, And also it's it's just like, um, I mean, Robin talked about a hustler, like she really works her fucking ass off, and she's so graceful. I'm a mess when I'm when I'm like my cup is full, I'm overwhelmed.

She was doing so much during the shoot. And yeah, I mean I just really admire her and look up to her. She's the best. We'll talk about, um, what it was like to shoot, because I feel like you guys were one of the like first shows to shoot in l A at least um like during COVID but like you you guys sort of reported this in the press release. No COVID cases at all during the entire course of filming. They were so on top of their testing regimen for you guys, Um, what was what was that? Like?

It was trippy, it was weird. So we we were we basically were like it was like me justin Robin had like the backstage area and we were kind of just like all together the whole time. And then you know, it's weird, like hair makeup was basically on like hazmat suits, like putting putting our makeup on everything. But I will say this, and this is something that um, I want to tell everyone that's you know, nervous about getting back

to work and stuff like that. My takeaway from it was it really I always think like whenever I'm on set and there's a good vibe, it does become like a little family. Like I know, our set was like a family. Is a kind of cliche, I think to say. But one thing that I took from the experience was not only was everyone just so excited to be back at work and working and working on this show because it really is so positive and it's so it's so nice to see like the this profession get its shine

finally because it never has. But also everyone working on set was really taking care of each other, and it was like really like top of mind for everyone in coming to work every day, Like everyone was really taking the quarantining seriously. Everyone was really checking in with each

other in terms of their physical space and everything. So it actually like wasn't even better experience than a good experience is because you came into it with love and care and also came away from it after we had completed it and we had said, wow, we did that. Because I'll say this, like, I don't think I've heard of one other production that has not had one at least one positive case that's shooting right now. We were really lucky that um that happened to their other place.

There are other productions where someone tests positive and they have to they have to like pause or shut down or that person can't work, you know, like and you know it's it's tough because no one knows for sure how you get or don't get this. So people are really trying the hardest, and you know, the tests aren't always accurate, but we were tested every single day, um, and you know, and also like we weren't allowed to eat with everyone. We weren't allowed to even in the morning.

I would really want to just get my coffee, but someone was like, hey, can I get you something? But why don't you go inside and I'll bring it to you. And I'm just like, I mean, it sounds great to be weighted on, but honestly, I just want to get my coffee, you know, like it was. It's just very weird to like not be independent, right, right, but you know,

we we did it. And and Matt's kind of saying that, like the consideration was built into this process being so you know, precautionary and everyone really had to look out for each other on this collective level where you're you're you really are thinking about every single person in that environment, which I mean, it's it's crazy that that wasn't that sort of wasn't the firm case before and then before times where like you wouldn't you wouldn't come into these

situations necessarily being like well that we're a unit. We all have we all have to work together to make sure we can work towards this common goal. UM. To have like you know, this, this, these these protocols in place which are unfortunate and whatever and bizarre, but like to have them kind of like established this tone of well, we're all working towards the same thing is is pretty cool. But how are you feeling about going back? Oh, so

many ways. We don't talk about them. Probably I'm probably not allowed to. Okay, yeah, probably probably gotta keep a lid on it. But little on. But let's take a quick break and then we have to ask Jess the question. Okay, so we'll be right back with Jess room and we're back Matt. You asked the question. Here's the thing. Jess actually texted me yesterday and she was like, I'm nervous

about this part of it. And I was like why and she was like, because there's so many different things I could say and I don't know what to say. And I was like, well, you have to choose the thing that UM in choosing your moment of culture, that was the moment that made you say culture was for you. It's that thing that's that intangible thing. It happened and all of a sudden your life took on a new course and you didn't know why. And she was like, Okay,

I'm still confused. I still think about it. And I was like, that's part of the course. So I am now going to turn to Jess and say, what have you decided on? What was your cult moment of culture that made you say culture was for me? Jess Rhona, it can be multiple things too, if you're torn between stuff, Okay, um, okay, so these this is the These are the three things

that I thought of. Maybe you guys can can weigh in. So. I grew up in l A in the nineties and I was very into ska music, um Gwen Stefani when she was when she was singing songs with Sublime like that o c back in the um. Then I became a raver and electronic music was really influencing me. You. I was a molly doer very I mean this was twenty years ago. I was doing molly and raving like a candy raver. When I was there were kids that

there were kids at school, like seventeen years old. He would go to raves sixteen and like and like and like fucking role yeah, and I was like, those kids are crazy and now it's like my favorite. What's a candy? I love? I love dating myself candy is Is it

like flipping? Are you like changing drugs? Candy flipping is a thing um back in the day when you would do when you were candy flipping, it is my understanding that you were just doing acid and molly acid and you're like we just called the e. Back in the day, it wasn't like I remember when it was yeah, well like the good ship is molly and now it's like you know, prime and powder and it's like a clean high and like that's the end of it. But back then it was like cut with speed and you were

up till six am like a lunatic. Not like I'm a drug addict or anything. I don't do it anymore at all. Um, okay, so Scott into Raver and then and then and then what I will complete the story? Oh just and then like I touched on it before, but like and I told Matt, I'm going to be such a nerd. But improv really changed my whole life because Bo and Yang also did improv as a youngster. Really. Yes, Well I was a late bloomer. I wish I did it when I was younger. I didn't start until I

was in my late twenties. But I was really into it like a crazy person, like from the line at u c B and every time we were all there were all there improv boot camp, like I was like it was a lot. I still think we have not as a community of improvisers or x improvisers x u c B ors whatever. We let's just let's just keep it to UCB, okay, because that's that's like like that's where our circles overlap. What was it about UCB and that culture that made it so like we were all acolytes.

We were all like, oh my god, we have to stay up for all of DC and like, what was it about? God? There's something I mean, I I don't want to like kind of like cheaply like compared to a cult, but there was something like that just demanded your devotion to it and dedication to it. And I'm trying to figure out like what that what like what was the promise and what do you guys? And I

want to know what you guys think. I think that for me when I was in high school, the cool kids were always like that was not really attainable for me because it was just like you had to be like straight in a certain way to look and um, the way that popularity was gauged just never really connected with me. But I always wanted um to be recognized for being good at something, and I feel like I

always had a good sense of humor. And then when I saw when I went to college, and like I saw the sketching improphecy, and then the UCB seems like the macro of that. In New York, it was like everything like if you were pursuing comedy in New York, everyone was like, well, what when's your next UCB class?

That was just what it is. I think that u c B, at least in the way I saw things at the time, seemed to celebrate people for being smart and funny, whereas popularity for me was always based on like looking a certain way or whatever and doing certain things or lifestyle things. Whereas this was like, oh, these people who rise to the top are the quote unquote smartest and funniest. Now looking back, I know that's not true.

It's like kind of like exclusive to certain people. And I can see the exclusivities of uc B now in retrospect, but at the time, I was like God to be able to go up there say the smartest, funniest thing and then become like a star in this arena. And I was always someone that wanted to act and perform, but I didn't take acting classes or anything. And I thought, this is a fun way to get into it. But I don't know what you guys think. Yeah, I'm the opposite.

I mean, not the opposite of that, but I'm the opposite of Like I started off taking acting classes in l A and like having breakthrough in my classes and just scene study classes and taking it so seriously and doing all this dramatic acting. And I went to school called Playhouse West and I went all the way through the advanced program and I was just so into it. But I was never good at homework and I was never good at like preparing, and like, finally I was

like improv. I don't have to break down a scene. I could just show up and play and um. And when I first found improv, I was like, holy sh it, this is where I belong, this is what I want. These are my people. But I think you're totally right. It's like it's magical when it's done well. It's like

unlike anything you've seen when it's done well. And I started UCB in New York and when it's when you see a magical thing like that performed in front of you, and you're just like, I want to do that so bad. I want to be that. I want to be that good. I want to be that smart and funny and quick and all of it. And it's like a drug. And it's also you know, I think improv um attracts a certain kind of person. You know, we might be the

underdogs in our real life in some way. And if you can succeed at this thing, then you're finally valid like validated, you're finally funny, you're finally good, and you won't stop until you're good, and you won't be good until they say you're good, so you keep going. You're competitive every And it's also the culture. You know, everyone's just scrambling to get on a Herald team or a mod team and it's just you know, a frenzy. God.

I don't miss it um, but I do. I mean, I miss performing improv, but I don't miss feeling like shit so much. I just felt like I wasn't good, I wasn't funny, You're not talented unless you're on a

Herald team. But that was the common valuation. That was the common evaluation, like that you would that everyone would sort of buy into, which was, Oh my god, that Lloyd team audition was so awful and they were just like they just didn't really laugh and it was just so awkward and uh and god my my, this indie, this indie team show is just it's like everyone was in this constant as at this constant frequency of like discomfort, which is one thing that I'm like that I I

still don't think we've like fully like I think I think there's just time with more time has to pass before we like realize why we were really all just like so like uneasy because it's so interesting. Well because I put I put the weight of the world on it. If I got on a team, it means I got reps, I can book things, I could be a series regular on a TV show. That's how big it was to me. If I got on a Herald team, it means I will get on a TV show. That's and that's all

I wanted. It was like my way out. It was like it's a clear path with like steps in front of you, where it's like here you go, just get to this door, and once you open the door, all of Hollywood is going to cast you and everything and you'll have reps and people will believe in you and you'll be the cool thing. But that was only that was only true for like maybe a year and a half.

Oh my god, all these people. I mean, look, it's been so so many years since this happened for me, and I'm sure for most people it's just like you now that we're out of it, you know, It's just it was a little toxic, and it's sad because really talented people thought that they were bad. I thought that they were not funny talented. You know what, though, I'm sorry really quick, everybody like not like so many people have the same story. And now I'm thinking, oh, it

wasn't just me that felt like this. Sorry, what are you going to say? No, I was just gonna say I'm realizing now specifically why I fell into the UCB thing. And I do think it's this. This is the case for a lot of people, and this is gonna sound insane for me to say here, but I remember being so depressed when I was eighteen years old that I like got back to my room in college. I was closeted, I was like crying. I just was like not it

was not happening for me in college. And I wanted so desperately as like a um, you know kid who grew up on Long Island, Like, I wanted to succeed in the entertainment industry so badly, and I thought my skills aligned with Saturday Night Live. And so I remember I googled Amy Poehler in my lowest moment, and I saw everything she had done, and I was like, I'm gonna do exactly everything that she did to get to

where she's at. And I got on my sketch team at college because she was on her improv team at at Boston College. And I saw that she had a thing called UCB and that's when I signed up for UCB classes because I thought, legitimately, I thought this is a pathway to get to Saturday Night Live. And I think that that's a lot of the way a lot of people think. And then once you get into the UCB community, there's different check marks that pop up because

you're already headed toward a check mark. You know, when you're in your classes, everyone wants the same thing and we're all just trying to get on that house team, and so like you become competitive with people and it's like we started at the same time and now they're on a team and I'm not, or like, there's just like a lot, you know, and so I'm it was just yeah, it was I think it was that consistent discomfort,

but it's like, why are we doing to reach to ourselves? Well, it's also kind of there's something fun about it though, And yeah, I had we all we all and run into each other and die, Oh my god, I would I would love god. I never experienced like an all team at it where everyone's well that I have like a DCM bit where it's just ending the whole time.

It sounds like a show. But but there was a time I used to see sets that like ended Sometimes they just ended so perfectly that everyone would jump off the back line and I was like, oh, that has to feel so good. And I never like it's chasing that high. Yeah, I never. I never succeeded in improv I was more sketched. That was more my thing. But I remember like whenever the improv show would end and they'd all go backstage, I would always be like, I

wonder what they're talking about. I wonder they're going to you know, because it's such a rare. It's a high when you have a great show and when you fucking crush it. You know you're crushing it, you just know it. It's everything's working and you just it's a high and there's just nothing like it. And I think that's another thing that kept people there, is chasing that high of of doing well and you just never knew if the stars were aligned that night. Sure, but perhaps one of

those things where it just slipped. It's it's disposable whatever, but like those those those moments of glories just sort of slipped through your fingers and there's no actual sort of stuff like we're just or just actual like physical substance to them, um, because because how we're gonna like how are you gonna use this? But like where it's like it's like let's stay with like writing or with

like you know, dog grooming. It's like, oh, like there are ways that you can develop these skills and track them very concretely, whereas improv was just a little was was so arbitrary, and then it just put you in it's it's it's this thing that puts you in your head the most I think Skid of any other I'll never forget watching I had met Bowen like my freshman

year UM. But then I went to UM an improv show that Bone was doing in college, and I didn't really know Bowen super well like we had met like we did. We had went with mutual friends to one comedy show and then I remember I want to go see his improv team, Danger Box, and he came off the back line and he had she had a scene with in a future world the robots are the queens. And I was just like, so stupid, and I was just like I was. I was just like, this is

like ter terrible improvment. But I was in the audience and I was screaming because he had such star energy. He was you are you are, you are, you are? But but Bowen like he just exploded off the stage and I was like, oh my god, And I do I do think that there is something to that too. It's like when you see people that are so amazing. It makes you want to be involved in it too. And that's talk about this. We can't talk about that.

Well I I will talk about it, um wait I do before we move on, I do want to talk a little bit more about scatter and revisor. Okay, um no, wait. Summarize these summarizes as the connective tissue as best as you can, Like how did one go? Thank God, I've never even thought about its set, Like, yeah I did, I did. I had the Betty Page haircut, I wore coppers, Oh my god. I would just go to all the

underground SKA shows and see these like bands. There used to be a club called the Alligator Lounge and it's like where the NewYork Theater is, like on Santa Monica off the four oh five. Like I would drive there, um but yeah, I would just I was just very I would go to all the show every weekend, um, you know, and just see all these little bands, date the guys. Um just be the groupies of the bands. I still would. Like there's a band called Hepcat and

they were my favorite SKA band, like a hepatitis cut. Yes, but no, but if you if you ever are like in the mood for something fun and different. Checkout Hepcat. Um. Yeah they were a great band. And um, I don't so, I man, I don't even know what the threat is between SKA and being a raver. It seems like all three of these things are built on community, right. Yeah, it's like you you're finding people who and like you're talking about like what you're seeing on stage or you know,

it's like you're talking about some shared experience. It's so true. It's always like with a community. There's a community of ravers in a community of SKA people and improvisers. And it's not the thing. It's not the thing where you went from SCA into like solo archery or whatever. It was like a very like solitude thing. It was like you you went from like group to group and like I don't know, Like, yeah, that's true. I need a family, Okay, I need I have. It's it's very clear to me.

She wants to be in a community, she wants to move, and she wants to sweat, so you know what I mean. So,

so basically all these things are connected. When you're involved in the scot community, not involved in the SCA community, you are involved in this community, and I actually, I actually, when I was in high school, I attended one ska thing at a bowling alley and I skanked with the best of them, and I remember being so sweaty in my white T shirt and black jeans and I was just like really killing it and like I did not belong there at all, but I was like, this was

so fun because it was like dancing, but it wasn't like bumping grind, like I didn't have to be sexual. It was just like kind of like we're all kind of freaking out and doing our weird old thing. And then with a rave culture, it's like that's sort of there's sort of a progression there, you know. It was it like real big fish or was it like it was like real big fish? It was it was like it was like you know, commercial Scott. It was sort

of like commercial Yeah. Yeah. I was like very into like the old Jamaican ska and like authentic Desmond Decker and yeah, Phyllis Dillon and the Toots and the may Tolls like that kind of yeah, oh yeah, but that's okay. But that's like that's where I became a ska music nerd, where I would just really get into like the old traditional ska music and then like do you guys know

the bands like the Specials and Madness from the eighties. Okay, so like yeah, I was just There's and then became like real big fish and like those big less than Jake and Mighty Much tones. Gwen Stefani would perform. She did songs with Sublime back in the day. There, you know, No doubt really started off as like one of these smaller bands that came up when I was into ska. Then now like you know, she's a pop star. But right, so, um, what do you feel about Gwen Stefani? Now, I mean,

I don't I like her. I don't. I don't know. I don't listen to a ton of her music, but I love you know, she's an icon. I don't know, She's definitely an icon. Is what I mean to say, is like, well, no, no, not that it's okay. What it's like her her and Blake Shelton like hanging out with like Paul Ryan at Ski launches and it's like that thing where's like, oh, she's like she's horseshoe theory herself from being very punk aesthetic into being like this

conservative woman yeah. Yeah, I mean I don't know, you know, it seems like she's devolving and it's her journey love and light to Gwen, she's doing a thing. Yeah, she certainly is. Yes, she certainly is. Talk about very briefly your experience at the dc M party space, if that

were you, I was a ho. Yes, I wanted to be drunk as fuck, stoned as fuck, getting disgusting in that basement hallway under Gustid's just just like hooking up with the grossest, sweatiest improvisers, dancing in midnight shows on stage, taking off my clothes, just being a loon. The things that I did in that space. I once ate a carrot that had been in John Gemberling's ass, No, my god,

what I ate it off the ground. So basically he had done a disgusting Yeah, he had like put a carrot in his in his underwear, and then like I guess, the carrot came out and I was so wasted in the improv scene after that, I came out and like I was doing it, and then I was like dancing and the crowd was like screaming and they were like, eat the carrot, eat the carrol, and I was just like, you want to eat this carrot and they're like, yes, slut,

and I was like, I'm gonna eat it. And I ate the carrot off the ground and I thought and they were screaming. They were screaming, and they were like they were like, oh my god. And I thought, Oh, they're really freaking out that I eat this carrot off the ground. And I'll never forget James asshole floor. James Twire looked me in the eyes afterwards and he goes, Dude, that carrot was in Gemberling's ass and I was like, uh what, And I remember I just like could feel

the carrot in my stomach. No, I didn't, and I just moved on. I moved on from that. I like went on and you know, did a new drug probably, But then years later he would be the star of broad City. Should we tell the readers what DCM is. Dell close. It's like a huge We've talked about it before in the past, but you don't know. If you don't know, now you know, it's like Douchlas Marathon is like essentially Woodstock for improvisers every year, or at least

it was twenty four hours for three days straight. Five AM shows shows every fifteen minutes and you don't sleep and you're disgusting and it's horrible. But the biggest comedians and that are like related to improv in the world come and do it. I mean Del Close was like essentially the sentence of improv and he was like that.

He was like a godlike figure and improv which is problematic, but you know he he in his image was Delas Marathon was created and it was essentially like a festival for three days, and I remember it always fell on Pride weekend in New York. Yeah, it was bad, which was a nightmare right China Cross Town during Pride in New York. Forget it, forget it. But just like for gay improvisers, that was like there was too much. There's

too much stuff. Yeah, um but yeah, I mean some some great horrible memories from I mean like those bit shows were a wild You had diaper Baby where everyone would come out and these men would come out in diapers. Um you, I mean there was just so much. I remember there was one where I think Matt and I un I did something where people had to drink milk,

Like every scene it was milk and peppers. Peers. It was you had to you had to eat a hot pepper and while you were doing a scene, and the peppers were so hot, and then you there was milk there to like stop the spice, and you had to do this scene without drinking the milk. That was the whole thing. Milk and peppers. Milk and peppers. And we also did we we did. I don't know if you were in this one, but me and Josh and Aaron and Pat and a bunch of people and Brian Foston.

It was like it was all gays and we were all pretending we were from Boston and calling each other faggot. It was just fifteen minutes of Boston gays calling each other faggot. And that was it, And that was that was a show. It was all gayt being like yeah, just like and it was just like comedy people. Some readers will not like that, but I don't know, I don't know what to tell you. It's a part of

comedy history. Um. The things that I ended up doing during DCM, I got my dick sucked on the Street's not the first time, I know, the first and only time on Eighth Avenue at like two in the morning, I off grinder, I like looked up with the sky on the street traffic, like, did you tell in front of God and gristus? Wow, I'm not kidding. It was dark. But anyway, I don't think so honey, it's time for it now. I don't think so honey. What is it?

I don't think so honey. Is our segment where we each take one minute to really get angry about something in culture. Wouldn't you say? I would say it starts take one minute to rail something, get so mad we rail it like like you're on eighth Avenue. A U. Okay, So I have something that I alluded to before. Kay, that's right, and I can't wait to hear it. Right, So we'll go with We'll go Matt and me and then we'll do Jess. Yeah. Perfect, this is Matt Rodgers.

I don't think so many as time starts now, I don't think so honey. The marriage of Michael Darby and Ashley Darby. This has to end, Ashley. No, And honestly, I think I get what you're going for here, which is you wanted to get pregnant again so that you're your daughter could have a sibling because your sibling is important to you. I understand that, But Babe, the husband's gotta go. Now that you have, you have your family, your daughter has like gonna have their sibling. You gotta go, girl,

because he is bad. Nu. I don't think so, honey, Michael Darby. I don't believe the thing that you say about not sleeping with these women. You grabbed and you grabbed the asses and assaulted member of the Potoma cruise, something that's for some reason does not get discussed anymore. I don't think so, honey. Him. I don't think so, honey, Ashley, Now that you know better, because foolmy once, shame on you,

fool me twice, shame on me. Honey. You need to know this phrase because you're about to get full to the third time. And I know that you keep saying you're not afraid to leave. Michael, it seems like you are. I don't think so, honey. You need to buck up. And that's one minute. Now. Your husband is bad for Ashley. It's foolmy once, shame on you, fool me twice, still

shame on you. She clearly does not know she doesn't know the phrase, because if she didn't know the phrase, she would know that she is getting rode hard and put away wet by her husband publicly. And I can't believe the scene in Potomac, which was them at dinner discussing their business and then he was like, we're done, We're done, and the producer came over and the fourth wall was broken yet again on a real housewife show, and she was just like, obviously through with it. And

I think that she doesn't. She doesn't want to be in this marriage at all. I think I think she wanted her kid to have a sibling because it's I think she feels it's important, but she needs to get out of that marriage. She loves her half sister, and I don't I don't. I don't necessarily think that she feels that like it's a more legitimate siblinghood for these kids to have the same parents. I think that it's

so clearly, clearly fucked up. Michael's answering the phone as if she's a nuisance, even though he's only ever been in the wrong. It's like, this guy is one of the most vile human beings. Oh, he's one of the worst people on television. And it's it's it's really getting to the point now where not as good as Ramona Singer. He's unfortunately Remona singer still takes the cake. I want her to die alone. As I said, well she, I'm gonna go ahead and say I'm if it's team Michael

versus Team Ramona, I'm team Ramona. I I don't think Michael Darby is permissible. I Ramon Ramona is maybe a white supremacist. She keeps tiki torches in her garage. I hope Andy asked you a about all your claims against Ramona and I actually I would love to pop off of that. Ramona. I would love to disappointed that you're not on an episode of Watch What Happens Live with Ramona because I think I would love to be. I would love to be in the future. I would love

to be on an episode with ms Ramona Singer. Would your business? Yes? Really? Oh God? Okay? So basically the three is Me, Bowen and Joel, and Joel was on Watch What Happens Live with Miss Kenya Moore herself. Bowen is about to be on with Monique Samuel's and I am putting into the universe that one day when I get booked on Watch What Happens Live. God willing, I don't care. I just want to be with a housewife. I want to be with a housewife. It's gonna happen. Well,

I want to be It's my favorite show. When Bowen said he was gonna be honest, I immediately was like I was popping off. I was like, Okay, well it might be Robin because she hasn't been on yet, and well you know Candice, she's coming on. And so I watched it every night. I love watching Happens Live. I'm such a Brava holic. You're a Brava holic. I was I was gonna be happy with any of the Potomac women,

and I said that in my response back. I was like, I'd love to do it, especially if it was if it's with the Potomac Housewife and so out of you that you got booked on it, thank you girl, but Matt. But Matt was like, it's either gonna be, it's gonna be. The options are Wendy, Uh, Monique, or Robin Queen. And I was like, any of them might be so happy. I'm kind of disappointed that you're not on with Wendy because I think that become friends, me and Wendy, we

can talk about like our immigrant parents. You know, I was thinking of during this episode. I was like, there's so many similarities. I know. I love Wendy a sef of a lot. Anyway, so we're we're talking a lot of potomac I have I haven't. I don't think so honey. Okay, So traditionally, after I do my I don't think so honey, bow and Yang will do his. I don't think so honey, And that tradition is upheld tonight because it is time

for Bowen Yang's. I don't think so honey. On this the episode of Just Rhona on Losrestas, as I get my camera, all right, here we go, you're I don't think, so honey. Time starts from now. I don't think so honey. Cooking it's messy, it's hard, it's inconvenient, it's we we all sort of accepted as part of our lives, even

with restaurants, even with ordering delivery. Cooking. I can't believe that it's a necessary part of our There should be readily edible food growing off trees in the parks, in the grass, stuff that's not just bananas and fruits and vegetables, meals. Meals should be kind of coming from the dirty. Capitalism has driven us to a place of disgusting surplus. Why are we not abolishing cooking? We should have ready made

food available to us at all times on demand. Cooking today I made a baked zita was so difficult, and the process of collecting ingredients. Make sure the dishes were washed before you cook. Then after you took you get dirty dishes and you gotta clean those dishes all over again. It's a Sissyphian task to cook because guess what, you're going to have to do it again because you got to eat. And that's one minute. That was a gorgeous dressing down and also explanation of cooking for all. Yes,

the applause is loud and raucous. Um disagreed with. And I don't think there's anymore. All of a sudden, Hans team met. It's probably because I called him hot earlier in the chat. He looked really hot today. Um, but listen, I identify with you girl. You know I'm not a fan of the stuff. No, you don't like to cook, my we're two sisters. We don't like to cook. We're two sisters. Who don't like to cook. It's really cook A number thirty two were two sisters who don't like

to cook. I love watching cooking videos. I love food culture. I love watching other people cook. I don't like doing it. A sense Podma is not gonna like this, Well, no, I would. I love watching Podma cook in her kitchen. I like watching her make a dose. Though I love watching her do anything I do. I don't like looking for me when we have Podma again. I would like the podcast episode to be us cooking with Podma. I want to figure out how we can do that. We

can do it. We can in the ingredients list, in the Great After when COVID is less of a concern. Okay, so Hans says she's gonna send he's gonna send her that clip. Well, I think we can make it happen. Podma is down to clown Jess thoughts on cooking. I really see your argument, because you know, you have to clean the dishes, and then you got and then you cook and then guess what, you got to clean the

dishes again. So it's hard, and and you know what a big z D that's that's really it's an advanced dish. So um, but I'm I'm totally with you. Fuck it. You know what, Get take out cooking is a vicious cycle. It's actually cycle. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's cycle. And I'm really grateful that you two are are receiving this and hearing me and giving me. I receive and I hear. Um. I can't wait for this. I don't think so honey, you're ready because this one. I know

this one. I fucking know this one. I know so, she said. Out of the two segments, the cultural moment that was for me she was uneasy about. But I don't think so honey. She was because it's really the only thing that means anything to me. Okay, yes, okay, this is Jess rohnas I don't think so honey, and her time starts now. Okay, I don't think so honey. Walking your dog on hot asphalt Okay. People don't realize that when you go to a flea market, if you

go to a farmer's market, guess what. It's on the street. It's in a parking lot and your dog is lowered to the ground, which means your dog is hot. I'm a groomer, so I've seen dogs with burned pads because people don't not that bad. But people don't realize that just because it's like maybe sevre, it's it's breeze, it doesn't mean that your dog is not panting its ass off overheating. I almost can't go to a farmer's market or flea market because I get so upset when I

see people walking their dogs on asphalt. Stay in the shade, keep your dog home if it's more than seventy five degrees outside, don't take your dog to the flea market or the farmer's market or anywhere on the hot asphalt. Listen to your dog, watch your dog, don't do it. You know what. And she truly, Jess truly will get on the It's amazing and I can't reorme for people to see it in the show, but she will get on the level of the dog and the dogs. The

dogs will immediately settle. It's so I've watched videos of Jess with with these doodle mixes, with these and these doodles like and she she is very attuned to how they're feeling. She's like, I'm gonna i' we're gonna, We're gonna give the facial and they're not gonna understand what's happening, but you gotta let them sort of like you know that it's okay. And I'm just like, oh my god, this woman knows how dogs think. Can you do a

little bit about how do you communicate with dogs? Yeah, of course I communicate well, you mean, like just in general, how anyone can do it, or just me particularly So for me, I look for opportunities from the dog to respond to. So what I do is I'm just extremely focused on any nuance in their behavior, and it's something

that's become second nature to me. So if a dog shies away from something, I know that that they're unsure of me or they're not trusting in in like if I want to Usually it's when dogs um when I comb up on their paws, because if they have any tangles in between their toes, that's a painful spot. Some spots are more painful. So for me, I communicate with them by looking for moments opportunities to respond by being gentle and so I can show them I see you,

I know you don't like this. Watch how I've got your back watch. I'm gonna go really slow and gentle and show you that I see you. And once a dog or human feels like they're seen and heard, they're calm m. It's just for anybody. So if you can just and find any way to show someone that you see them and that they are understood, it's it's that's that's the approach of communication with dogs. And it's taken me twenty years to get to that point. That is amazing.

And I will say, like it's true like every because the dogs come in and you know, it's a big set, is a lot of people around, and also many dogs are not always comfortable being groomed. Like every dog has

a different relationship to that process. You know, not every dog has been groomed since they were a baby or like you know, so and there was kind of a mixed back with the dogs that came into the show, And so that was something that you kept saying to the groomers, was you know, even though it's high stakes in it's the competition, like you always did put the emphasis on listening to the dog, giving the dog what they want, you know what I mean, which I was

so impressed by and I had never thought like and also what can happen when you raise your voice around or at a dog like that is not the way to always discipline or get its attention. Yeah, totally for sure. I'm just like beautiful. I was very selfishly as a grimmer. If my dog is happy, my job is easier. So I've done everything I can to learn how to call the dog so that I can have a nicer day and not have to fight or you know. Look, dogs are avoidant. That that's what they do. They just avoid us.

They don't want to, you know, their nails trimmed or whatever. So if I can work with a dog that is avoidant, then I can have an easier time, an easier day. Wait till you see these dogs in the Happy Hoodies, which are these little hoodies that they that the dog. They put around the dog's head so that when the blow dryer as loud, it's not as loud. They are really really cute. You're gonna love this show. I can't wait. I'm telling you. Like and people flip for dogs, like

even for people who aren't dog people. It's like no, Like dogs like are are powerful sort of like media like like like sort of teasers, like they they'll they'll draw you into something. I was telling Matt this Like I used to work on this at the e commerce site, and like any time there would be options where there would be a photo with a dog or not a dog, every single time they would be like you have to have to have to include the dog because it drives

up like engagement by really just love dogs. And so I think this will be a hit. I think it's gonna be I cannot I'm gonna watch every single episode in one setting. I cannot wait, and I'm gonna watch I'm gonna rewatch them because I think it's it'll be

that kind of show. I'm really excited. And like I said today, like um, we did get to watch the first episode and it so much fun, and the show is I would say, if I had to break it down into third it's like a third comedy with the panel, it's a third dog grooming process and learning about that, and it's a third narratives about these amazing contestants who are really great and we have such an amazing diverse

group of groomers. And I was actually wanted to say, like it was so fun to see there was not one groomer that I felt like was duplicated, you know what I mean, we didn't have so different. Yeah, and the the the dog grooming community is so diverse and different and dynamic, and I love this. I love this. Before we end, I just want to know, like, how involved were you and picking the contestants? Not I wasn't really in charge of casting. I would just send casting

my friends or groomers that I think are good. But I every um every episode I would be I would I was handed some cards and that's the first time I would see who was on the show. So I didn't know who was on the show until we shot. And some people I knew and I was so excited to see them, and then some people I didn't know.

And I was really surprised at the skill and the different techniques and the innovation that the like the the inventions that they would come up with because they all had to deal with a theme, and like how would they embrace that theme? That was really fun. And the accessories, that's that was more of Robbin's whole thing, where she either loved or hate the accessories. And you know, we

never knew what we were going to get with Robin. Well, Robin loves the tales and she loves to talk about the tales and she always loves to, you know, talk about the worthiness of different accessories that are on the animal and the colors and because that's that's another thing is a lot of the dogs like they get colored. And so this is something that I don't think a lot of people know, is that I certainly didn't know that, and I was like, I didn't. But it's really, really

really amazing to see what these people do. They're really artists and they're some people that are coming and they really represented themselves amazingly on the show, and so I'm super excited about it. I'm so excited to watch. I really, I'm over here just like I wanted to be Thursday. I cannot wait. Wow, name another legend, name another letter, name another legend. Jess, thank you so much for coming on. I mean I knew the second I met you. I was like, I couldn't wait to have you on, and

I couldn't. I could not say enough about how lovely I think you are and how talented I think you are, and how much I appreciate you putting your whole spirit and just like your good vibe into this show because I do think that it's going to make people really happy, and I think that that's like, you know, it's an opportunity for me, yes, but I think for like everyone to just like take a break and watch this thing, because I think one thing that everyone in this world

hasn't comeon is like, you know, that feeling of seeing a happy little dog like you know, do its thing. I just think it's going to make people feel really good right now when people really want to feel really good. And so that's because of you and because of well who. The show wouldn't exist without your without you doing what

you do. So I want to thank you, and um, I want everyone to watch Hot Dog, which is premiering with six episodes tonight at midnight a K eight tomorrow UM September, and there will be six more episodes before the end of the year TBD. But yes, this is a twelve episode first season and we are so excited

to show him. So that's episode with the song that's kidding Well, that's actually a good live We didn't even talk about gods new video and to hear the rest of that, you can listen to a Lady Guy Guys Underrated now hard Pop, Fine,