“When They Fly, I Cry” (w/ Jeff Hiller)

and then all announce something else. Well, I guess the big announcement and the big thing that's going on in our immediate future is we'll be touching down in Orlando in only a thirteen days, and we will be beginning a journey of a lifetime. And I saw recently a commercial. I saw commercial. Was it the one with all the kids being like, you taught me how to sore, you taught me how to fly? Now it's it's basically like

all their kids. The idea of the commercials, it's the kids talking to their parents saying thank you for like putting me on this earth. Now let's have an adventure. It was very, very, very kind of strange marketing. But that's intense. They but I'm here, we are going for an adventure. So um my, my add experience was very targeted to me. It was just like a sexy young couple just going on rides, and really it was very aspirational. I wanted to be them. Yeah, okay, I get that.

That seems to me more cut and dry when it comes to marketing, like you think you're going to get that, not like this like mine funk about like growing up, about being thankful for your upbringing. It's like, I'm coming, I'm coming. Just chill. One quick thing I want to announce for the listeners. UM, Matt and I are jointly recapping on Vulture, not one, but two reality shows. One we're we're three weeks into our America's Next Top Model.

Recaps are so much fun to write, and those are you know, we're we're taking a very didionesque tone to those, and it's fun because you know, it's such a frivolous show and um, but it actually deserves a didionesque critique. But we're also recapping and this will come out the Thursday of this week. Um Repasse Drag Race All Stars three, and that one we write more like the trash that we are. We don't use a voice, so it's not our on and that one we write as us well,

they're both our voices. But but but the drag race voices, the recap voice for drag races, Mark, it's more like, Oh, it's like sugar children, honey children. Yeah, that whole kind of like language. That whole kind of language. You guys know what kind of language we're talking about. So please um check those check those recaps out common if you'd like. I think yeah, drives engagement, that's absolutely, That's something that

those New York magazine people love to engage. They love to engage, but then they'll see, oh, these recaps have comments. That's actually rule number seventeen of culture. People love to engage. Absolutely, So let's introduce our guests. Oh, our guests. I'm very excited. I'm so excited. I've loved our guests um for years and years and years now, but I'll just loved him. I've loved him because he was in love with him. Do you remember that? It gets better? And I'm sorry,

this is like really dating everybody. Oh I remember and with him when you watch I fell in love with everybody in that video and now you're deflecting him. I know. I'm saying I fell in love with our guests and other people polyamorous it was a polyamory. It gets better. Guess it was Chris Kelly. It was you know, keep going, oh, keep naming all the impact, Tony, it gets better. Yeah. So I think Michael Martin was in it too. Beautiful, beautiful, Okay.

So anyway, our guest I've loved since that day and then I've seen him on stage, seen him in movie, seen him on TV, seen him and I will see him on stage very soon. Oh yeah, oh yeah, Oh my god. Why is that? Because he is he is the star taking the Soho play by storm, playoffs by storm, taking some gay icons by storm. Surely one of the biggest gay icons has been taken by storm and swept out to see recently. We'll talk about this, we'll discuss it.

But our guest is the star of the hit show Bright Colors and Bold Patterns at the Soho Playhouse, directed by Michael Jury. It's such a great show and I can't wait to see him in the lead role of Gary. Here we go, Baby, Here we go, Baby. He's about to take Gary by storm and and please help, and it's it's a storm of a show. It's a storm

of a show. Any every emotion. The producers of the show would like us to let you, the listener know, this is really exciting that they are now accepting Bed Bath and Beyond coupons to transmute into a discount for the ticket. Knock some dollars off the top. Absolutely with your Bed Bath and Beyond coupon. Oh my god, everyone has. It's it's like bringing a can of coke to six Flags and you know what, You're never sorry, You never sorry, never say you did Okay. So our guest is resplendent.

I love him so much with it. Please welcome Jeff Hiller. Wow, how do you feel after all that? That was so exciting? I kept wanting to talk and I was like, don't Jesus Christ. It's like a roller coaster that never ups going. I know. I was like, is this going to keep going? And now it broke down. It's rolling down the back and the whole time I was like, Oh, everyone's going to be so disappointed when it's me waiting us. Everyone's

at home crying and screaming with screaming and Jeff. It really as soon because because Drew had announced that he was leaving the show for a while, and I was like, oh, that's too bad. It's sad. I didn't know the show was gonna keep running it then, but then as soon as you were announced, I was like, this makes one. I was like, get Drew out of here. I can't leave soon enough. Then said this hack. I've been thinking about it. You got to get him out of there.

Replaced him with Jeff. Oh my god, I and and and that's when RuPaul decided to go to I was talking to Rue. We were talking to yeah, wait until they replaced him. And even Rue. Oh, I wish I could pull up the tweet because Rue had nothing but amazing superlatives for Jeff, saying he was amazing fantastic. There were several different words used that were very um positive. Okay, so first tell us about the show, and then tell

us about this whole Ruin encounter. If the root my root counter encounter, as I'm sure she would abbreviate the experience an abbreviation, it's simply just herself into it, which I am all for. Love it on the show, and they're like available and yeah, which is what I'm about to do right now? Really, come on, baby, where can we spend our money? It's called bright colors and bold patterns. It's written by Drew Drow who was the actor in

it too. But now I'm just rudely writing his coat tails and just taking his words and being like, I make shausted. I can't write my own show. I'm gonna start in yours. It's also really really good toolf. We saw it Withdrew and it's in all honesty, it's very very good, and you guys have to go. It's just like it's it's just like an all honesty. Why sometimes you have Well, let me tell you something thing. We for a long time. I'm going to come out and

say this. We talked about Warby Parker. I don't need glasses at all, but I had to sell that product, Jeff. That was up to me. I was on the front line. That's capitalist. And you know what, I'm no better than no. But what I mean is this show is so so so amazing. It's so wary Parkers Warkers. These are retro super futures. Yeah, so sorry Warby Parkers. Sorry Warby Um okay, so what we're yes, And I was selling praise on the show, but also I mean sorry, I didn't need to.

I shouldn't have. I'm sorry. The show is great. It's super funny, he wrote, like some hilarious stuff. So it's very good. It's also it's a thinker. I love the aesthetic of it. It happens by the pool in Palm Springs, Palm Springs on the eve of a wedding, on the eve of a gay wedding. Gay wedding, Why does it have to be a gay wed prinsic claim. I don't think it will work without it, or it could, but it would be challenged. It could, but it would it

would be another unusual thing. Yeah, right now, this is an acting challenge and it will be another unusual thing. Would just be another unusual If there were a straight marriage, it would be and it would be another unusual. It would be too much. You know, everyone in comedy it's better to have just one unusual thing to stick with one. It's actually rule number seventy nine of culture in comedy,

it's just one unusual thing. Now, tell us what's okay. So, before we get to the reo counter, the show is great. Everyone knows how great the show is. Everyone knows that how how's working with Michael Ben Have there been any changes to the show. Of course, director of the show, there I mean, I wouldn't say there's changes to the show, but like, um, you know, I'm a different person absolutely,

you know what I mean. Like I don't want to get like I don't want to lay down art on you, but you know when I do, it's a little different than Drew. Also, what's cool about Drew is he's like, this part is loose. I can see that happen. It's scary if if I were to if I were to get get that sort of director from from someone else's work, I would be like, oh, I don't know what I can't That's why. That's why Jeff is the amazing actor

in it. And maybe you have some more credits to build before you get that opportunity, because if you did, you wouldn't be able to make choice. Actually, I just didn't realize that and I just got sweaty pot Yeah no, no, no, Well guess what the crushing weight of this opportunity is now coming down on you. You are the star of bright colors and both patterns. Um no, I'm I'm curious about this. So this this role is an acting challenge.

It's just you from there for a long time. You know that you go through a lot now, speaking of acting challenges, we've seen twenty individuals awarded today by the Academy that's interes motion picture artists. Are you just saying the actors they're the only ones, well, the twenty individuals for acting and we're talking about I'm talking to it. That's been I'm not going to ask you about the cinematographers and me good point. But the first woman ever,

absolutely Rachel Rachel Morrison. I learned her name's great and guess what none of the other cinematogler's names. Just kidding. I know one, Roger Deacon, and he's the one that's supposed to win because he's been nominated seventeen times. Is

he Blade Runner this year? Because Blade Runner got like a shocking amount of nominations and I didn't see blade I didn't either, But I think it looks like you're, you know, watching a I don't know video Miami game right right right, which which sounds fun, which sounds fun.

And you know, I guess an Oscar makes you know, Oscar makes well, it sounds fun and an Oscar makes okay, So so were you going somewhere with with the best I'm just saying, you know, how are you feeling as an actor who can look upon the list and really say, what's what? Whereas we are just two squawking chickens out here who pretend to know that we were any qualification. Because I'm in a show, you are a claimed, you are, you are acclaimed. Stay stay just great and greater the

big and small screen. That's true. And so therefore, as someone who I feel I can truly respect as an actor, let me tell you some some of our guests, some real real hacks. I couldn't give you a line reading can give you one, No, I wouldn't accept it. Um, I'd like get out of here, Rachel Bloom. If this were the Jeff Hiller Awards, who would been the acting? What's going on like when you look at these categories today? Gagged Proctavia Spencer. Oh, you're saying because she didn't see

I already listened to your episode. But she agreed, and I think you said it the most where is that most of her lines were just yeah, it was nuts. I heard that she plays the game. She plays the game. She certainly does, but see we're rewarding her for doing the same thing, which is playing You know this caretaking person in this in a period piece. Well, you know what, that's what she gets. I know, but I just we all know she can do more, she can do better.

But did you like that movie? Because I love them. I liked the movie. You know. I heard you guys being like, I'm just I'm you were like, I'm about it, and I'm about Three Billboards. I can't, I'm less than I'm Actually you're bad, just like Boards. That's like the last one I have to watch. I still haven't watched it. I don't know if I will. You should, I know

I should, but just think we should. It's like, okay, maybe this is the Awards, and I didn't see Three bill Awards, so I'm not like on the Francis McDormand train right now. But she's she does a brilliant performance. I'm just not sure. And I actually don't even mind Martin mcdonnaugh. That's that was some faint praise. I don't mind him, but I don't mind him. But I found this script in particular to be like, I don't think he understands race in America very well. I think he's

a little not a little. He's way too blunt and a lot of these things, and also like there's some contrivances contrivances and that I will not spoil, but I'm like, are you serious? Yeah, And look every single movie up there has those this year, like even um contrivances. Yeah, I mean, well, contrivance things in a movie where I'm like, that's a bad part of the script. Like for example, I think that get Out should win Best Screenplay, but there's a scene towards the end where he is packing

up spoiler alert for get Out. He's packing up to leave their panicking, and he's like, we gotta go now, and he finds the door of the closet open, and he somehow walks over there and goes through a box and sees all the pictures of her with like her black boyfriends and the girlfriend. I was like, what made him just walk over there and go see that? You

know what I mean? Like there's things like little things like that in the script where it should have been because I also say that that's a poor direction choice. But still maybe it's just another eye. Although I do believe the first feature for him though first Feature brilliant, I do believe that Alison's character does sort of go over there and like mets with a couple of things. As they're packing. It feels very you know, some movie

and like you let it, you let it happen. Also, I don't think they were writing it like let's write it really tight because it's going to be under scrutiny, because it's gonna be up an exactly what I mean. It's not like why I get Out released it a year. It was a long time ago January. Also now that I'm looking at like January at a time when you're exactly which is so odd because it's such a gym and you think, but you know what, I bet I bet they thought, well, it doesn't matter how good it is.

People don't see these kinds of movies and mass so put it out here where like it's kniche audience, We'll say it and get on with it. But they thought it was going to be a niece. They thought it was going to be you know, not everybody, but it was everybody. Was everybody. What were you going to say? What was it going to say? Nothing? Well, let's talk about the root counter or you were jumping around. I'm we were on this peg. We're gonna jump back. We're

talking about the root Counter and I'm jumping around. It's really you have to understand, I had a coffee and a half today and so now I'm a killing machine. I'll scullet your Hanston and Lucy. You know what I mean. I could take those glasses right off you and switch it out, just all hips and she was hips, tits and a violent attitude. Yeah for her, um the Rue Counter. So for everyone that doesn't and not be up to a date about this. On Twitter, RuPaul posted a lovely

picture of Jeff and Rue and a glowing review. Now did you get to talk to RuPaul extended period of time? You guys? The Route Counter was everything I wanted it to be. And we keep hearing that it is. Do you know what I mean? You know, like they say, don't meet your heroes and all that business, they do say that RuPaul could not have been more wonderful, beautiful, amazing, go on, explain, So what what happens they bring? They

bring rude to you. Yes, so they told me. They were like they were like, somebody's going to be in the audience and they were like they were like, I normally wouldn't tell you this, but he's requested to sit in the front room. Oh my god, it's like room. Yeah. You had to know you had, yeah, yeah, yeah, And I'm glad they did tell me because there was I actually didn't. I don't look in the front row because

I'm I'm I'm acting. Yeah, of course you're not focused on you're not focused on one on the piece first and foremost exactly, I was servicing the word. I want to honor the text, and um but I did. I said something and I heard that the one that's like on the on the bumpers, on the bumper, the world famous one. Oh my god, it was I was like, crap, I was gonna did it terrify or did it fill your spirit or both? It was like, this is so exciting, don't miss mean voice inside of it? You know what?

I bet you could have reacted to that because guess what, everyone else in that audience heard that laugh too, And then like we all know that Rue Paul is here. You could have been like, it's true, I will say, once I realized where he was sitting, I did notice like a lot of people being like, yeah, watching to the right, you know what I mean, not looking up at this day? Yeah, looking up so Bruse Ruise in the front row. She's in the front row loving it.

Who's rue with his husband, his ranch, her husband. They live in Wyoming. I think Montana Montana sounds better. I don't know if that's really true. You know why Montana sounds right because Montana is right. Yeah, I'm making it sound like I'm way closer. Well, I don't know when we were, let me text. So he's enjoying it, like did he laugh throughout? Yes? But you know, you know, it is that one thing that like, okay, so at one time, there's no way to tell the story without

having a little brag in it. Okay, you've learned it. You know what. It's actually real number one hundred of culture. That's an even hundred. Okay, alright, yeah, that's how special was only seventeen. I was like, that's really high on the list. I thought that was impressive. You'd be shocked, how our cherry y. Anyway, the brag. I one time auditioned for Stephen Sondheim. Oh, and he was looking at me like with such um like just this really nice

gaze or whatever. And then like two weeks later that Sondheim documentary came out on um HBO. Where somebody asked him like, um, you know, when you go to see a show, you must know that people are watching you watch it, And he's like, I don't think about it so much then, but I really think about it. When people audition for me, I just make every single one of them think that they're the best. And I was like, I'm sure it was very good. That doesn't do that

that that that means anything. That means you were either actually great or he just you still got to audition for fucking Stephen Sondheim's So what did you perform? What did you perform in front of him? One of his tunes? Yeah? Which was which one? I'm calm from? A funny thing happened on the way to the Forum. Wow, it's a deep cut. People don't people don't touch a funnything. People don't touch a funny thing. That's real Number four of culture.

People don't touch a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. That's not true. It was just revived in the nineties and it ran for like six years. I mean, they had what's his face? I think and then WHOOPI Goldberger Place. Really didn't they have? Um? She played suitalis like the lead like the Nathan Lane role didn't they didn't have a George K stance at the actor Jason Alexander, and it probably comedy tonight, comedy tonight. Um,

remember Jason, I know it, I know it. But you were gonna say, remember when Jason Alexander was in the Whitney Houston and Brandy Cinderella. Yes, that's what I was gonna He was the father, sure, and he had a to pay, but it was like bad. Yeah, it wasn't like it was like still it was like a bald ing to pay. Yeah, it's impressive that. Like his hair is like did you see that, um that documentary about

Merrily We Roll Along? No, I didn't see. Well he's like in one scene talking to the camera with no to pay on and then in the next scene unexplained different interviews, straight up full to its like like a wig. Yeah, I mean I think I thought it was kind of great. I think it's you know what, Yeah, that's just like that's he's he's he's changing his look. It doesn't matter. It's drag. I just peeked so hard. HPJ threw up. Jason Alexander is a drag. Performer. He is drag. He

has the wigs. He's got plenty of wigs. So Merrily Merrily is a sad show. I need to be better. I'm like a sound teime, like like I know, like into the Woods, Sweetey Todd, you know. But merely we should all we should all revisit because it's in it's the show within a show and ladybird, you know what I'm saying. And it's like it's like kind of deep too,

because yeah, because it's about it's about friends. Who wait am I explained it told backwards, told dockwards so, and it was originally told you've got to see this document. I love it, You'll fall in love, You'll follow swear, I swear everybody goes see this. It's called that. I don't know why I'm poting it. So I felt like maybe this is a thing where we have to eat, t touch in order to really get it. I do feel like I really get it now. Fun, that's so

weird because anyway, why is it weird? Because I just watched ET and I had this like flashback, why you did it? That's why you did it? Was in your heart because you know that you know that the way Elliott and eat connector was do their fingers. It's rule number rule number sixty eight. Filtre the way Elliott through their fingers, and you wanted to well explain it all in the in the book, that's definitely coming um the best worst thing that ever happened. That's what it's called

the best best worst thing that ever happened. Merrily because people should un merrily. Sometimes I don't know that they do. I think they do well. I think it got really bad reviews whenever happened, and then now people have like

a cult um following, you know, which always happens. It's like it's like people who are like, I don't even like Hamilton's, and then you find out like you don't like people like Hamilton's, or like you listen to three songs on the soundtrack and like didn't immediately get it right, Like that's the thing with Hamilton's now, it's people are

just like people that are like Hamilton's anti Hamilton's. They're like that they listen to one thing and they think, oh, this isn't for me, but it would be for you. It's wonderful, you see Hamilton's. No, I can't reform to see Hamilton's I work off Broadway. I know surely you have a connection. That's how, that's how someone can get you in there to see Hamilton's I don't think so.

I think that they can. I believe that they can. Okay, you know what listeners locked to bright colors and bull patterns. Use your bad Bath and Beyond coupon so that Jeff can buy ten you know, California King Bad that he can then sell to buy himself Hamilton's ticket. I mean, yeah, yeah, that's I've heard. There's a role in it for me, Like there's a wonderful role in Like we're in the in the tour, you know, once they've run out of power,

gaze King George. Who's doing it now? I don't know, but Jeff Wild being an amazing King George, you would be so good. Oh my god, what do we think of? Did you see it with Graff? I didn't see it. I saw it with some some guy who was in the Book of Mormon. I do love me some Graff. Rory O'Malley. I saw it with Rory as well. Or

he was wonderful technically. Let okay, um, so let's get back to the Roo the rou counter, Rucy's the show, and then is he does he announce himself backstage to you just give us he enjoys the show, and then you're to wait there. No, I mean I just went to my dressing room and change and then he came to my dressing room. I don't know. This seems to

this seems too simple. I don't believe he so he came and then you guys, you guys are okay, So talk about the encounter because because when you say, when you say that it lived up to everything that you wanted it to be, I find that to be very very difficult to um. You know, it's very difficult to meet that expectation is so hard to meet, especially with someone like Route. Did you guys know what I'm saying. You guys are looking at me like, I mean, look,

it's it's you don't want anything to go wrong. So and I will say that like my two that I want to meet, we're always Route, Paul and and Oprah. You know what I mean. So it's like it's real hard to have it happened. Okay, Paul hugged me and it was like a dirty second hug. You know it wasn't just a quick one. And he said, you need to know you made that audience fall in love with you and that touched me. That touched me. Need to know. And then he told his husband George. He was like,

you didn't say anything. And I was thinking George was going to be like, oh, yeah, it's fine whatever, you know, like I'm being told I have to see that, and he was like, no, it's fine, and he didn't say it was fine. He was like he was like it was good. And then he was like, actually, what I really enjoyed was and he said this like beautiful incisive and not incisive insightful and so I always mix those

two up. Yeah, and I don't know. And then like our producer was like, can we please take a picture? You know? So we went like yeah, that's you know. I would never you couldn't, you know. You don't want to be the jerk who's like picture but of course, like I still desperately want to pure It depends on how it is. He was like, yeah, let me take it. And he was like, oh how about this. We do it through the and he like art directed it and

he was like, let's do it through the mirror. So get the light, but also like and then he was like, okay, I'm gonna tell you when to look up, and you just pretend like you're laughing. Is he taller than you are? Shorter than you? I think you're kind of the same. Sa beautiful, just very tall, very tall, and this would be too tall. All icons meeting face to face and expressing expressing to what did you say to Ru? Did

you express anything to Rue? I said, I saw that Opra interview you did, and then I did this with my fingers to to, you know, insinuate that you have clawed at your face, that you had tried to get to your own. And he was like thanks. He goes, oh, yeah, that's great. I don't know even say yeah my conversation with Oprah sure, Oh my god, oh my god. And then of course you guys parted ways, but not before you exchanged numbers and home addresses. Okay, they opened they

invited you to Montana. Yeah right, somebody did text me and they were like, did you go out after? And I don't think Rue goes out, and you know, house doesn't go out. I'm exhausted after the show. After the show, you can time to go home. He came to this Saturday night show that starts at night. Oh my god, and wanted to go to eleven. Not quite, you have a home to go to. How's Neil? Can we talk about Neil on this? Of course he was like, no,

I don't. I don't know Neil, though, has is putting out this great new art project on Instagram where he's writing, He's writing his thoughts on these index Oh my god, he's gonna be so thrilled that you know about I love it. Oh, he's like a big fan of your arts. I love Neil so much. See the thing about you too is um. Now, this is gonna sound like a read, but let me finish. Oh my god, I would love

to be ready. I want to think about something all night. Um. I went back and was listening to podcasts from your old podcast, and I listened to operas because you know, os my new friend and I mean we were we're anyway. It's like on Real Housewives when two of them start to get real close doing that. We're getting really close. You're Erica and Kyle Richard singing. And she was telling she asked you too about your origin story? Yes, and so I heard it. It was really interesting to me.

And here's the thing is that you were like talking about this time in college when you were auditioning for improv and you were like, oh, yeah, you took a class and you took it with Ben Rogers. That was just a throw away. Yeah, but in my timeline, and I'm like, wait, yeah, he was a freshman in college and he took an improv one oh one class with the person who came up years after me, years you know what I mean, Like like I probably taught Ben Rogers.

You know what. Oh my god, that's funny. Yeah that was two nine. I took it right. So here's this is why it's the read. Okay, I moved to l a in like the fall of two thousand and eleven, which I remember, and this was before I even knew you. That was like this mournful thing. It was like Jeff Hiller is no longer. So yeah, I remember when that well, when I remember that, I hadn't heard of you two the read, that's that's the I didn't know you too. I didn't know there it is. It's on the table.

So happy then this queen comes back. You know. Well, I was doing long distance, so I came back a lot. I came back and I was like, I gotta plug into the to the scene. What's happening on the scene exactly, And everybody was talking about Matt Rogers and Bow and Yang. There were no gays when I was around, Okay, I was actually that interesting though, like honestly, like you were

talking about those It Gets Better videos before. I was like, literally they got every gay sort of even sort of gay person at the time to get in that remnant was like sixteen people tops, And like now there's like too many of us. Now we're the man, get at it now, just getting pleased. Don't come for us. We're institutionalized where you were in the institution. But it isn't super hard for me though, because like it is like hard, it's not the right word, but it is like it's

around like mindful. I get it, I get it, I get I do get it. Oh, but you are you are very comfortably established, I think, is it Well, it's not so much like I feel like, oh no, there are but I am like, oh wait, I am the old person who has to re evaluate what is progressive. I used to be the most person in the world and you're saying, oh god, I'm you know like that. Wait that what I just said is probably ye problematic whatever? Yeah,

oh no, yeah, it's it's part of it. As Oprah would say, to quote Pama show drawn, you already have what you need. Wait did you just quote yes via Pema, you have everything you need. There's there's nothing to you know, fix. What he's doing with his hands right now is some sort of like like Middle Eastern dance. Okay, see that's problematic,

you know, but you know what, I don't care. Oh my goodness, Well listen, Jeff, I mean okay, and I think I have you listen to you talk on other podcasts about this, and there's there's one really funny there's one really funny story that you that you tell about UM, you know, being like the only gay person in your improv groups back uh and and just um having to come on having to do a scene with UM where you know, it was about a man wearing a scarf and then you said, yeah, and I played the scarf.

But I feel like, you know, like I just feel like it's always it's always just a little it's it's scary to sort of break that ground, especially in like back back in the day was even more homogenized than it is now. Like I will say this, I think that like for us, because they weren't super a lot of gay you know, improvisers and actors like on the UCB stage that we saw at all, when like I always like imprinted on like you and then like later on like Aaron and you know, Mike Hilton and these

people that kind of just made it look fun. Brandon's got Jones, you know what I mean, like those you guys. For for us, I think it was the first time it was like, oh wow, this can be fun for us too, And I think that everybody can feel like that when they're not on the inside, which is you know, to be white and straight and kind of look the same because I even think it's white, straight, brown haired guys, not a lot of white, straight blonds, like but just

a gut that's like aceptible comes up. Yeah, yeah, yeah. When they when they decided to dress up nice for Helen that you're like I would, and then later you're like, oh, maybe not, I'm gonna go home. I think, you know, it's kind of like that, but um, but seeing yeah, you know whatever, it's true. But here it is unfair,

but you know what, it's true. Um, the thing is like now that we kind of like are performing right really and people can see us, that's nice to think about, you know what I mean, Like it is kind of nice and I like to remind myself of that. And you are doing your own thing, you know, like that's that's also like I feel like putting the gay thing aside, just like people in two thousand three and two thousand four, we didn't. We thought we just had to be on

a herald team. And now people are like, now you have that podcast, what is your podcast exactly? You need a podcast has to ask you about it exactly and it has to be just you acting like yourself. Yeah. But the thing is, it's crazy because so stupid and true, Like people think that's what like or they think it's that easy, and then some people do tell them that's what they need to do and they think it's good.

But I'm not trying to crap on that because I do love that people are creating their and I wish I had I wish I had This is so embarrassing, but I wish I had thought of that, like known to do that. But also like deeply, deeply, Like for us, it's like, I'm imagine being talented enough to just something and like start to work like you are, legitimately imagine imagine actually succeeding in the traditional ways exactly. I saw Gravit Water and you were the actor, not the improviser.

I was like, that's how you know a bit can take a script to make a choice. Yes, Oh my god, I saw you do Gravi and Water with Tammy at DUM last year and it was a delighte of course

it was Gravit Water. For those of you guys out there who don't know, is a long running show at UCB that you should check out UM where one improviser who doesn't know what's about to happen, obviously, is paired with an actor who's prepared a scene from the published text like a play, and the actor just does the scene and the improviser has to just react to it and go along. The actor never strays from any dialogue in the scene, so it's very fun. It's really funny.

Jeff regular scripted regular at it, but has transitioned over to the scripted side. Oh yes, actually started at the scripted side, really, and then I was like, I can't remember in those lines anymore? Can you just let me improvise? And are you good at I mean, obviously you have to be pretty good at it, But it was learning lines something that like you have to think about, like

or there's something something that comes not normally. It's nothing I have to think about, like when I even I did Shakespeare this past summer and I didn't even have to worry, but I just like learned it in the room, you know what I mean. But then you get this and it's literally twenty seven pages, you know, like like a term paper written. You know, it's not like in final draft wins. It's like just like a word document

twenty seven pages long. Every single space yet every single line tiny fun in six aerial funds so small to get out of microscope and learn those lines like they did in Shakespeare. Wait, we didn't talk about the We didn't talk about you experience the park was I just I haven't even talked to you off the air about this casually? How was that it was great? How was the park? The park? The park was streaming for you? You know, I can't think of a better place to

do midsummer than the Park, New York City. The weather in New York is bad. That's what I've decided. Like there's three months of the year cumulately that it's like kind of okay, and the rest of it is bad. You're uncomfortable, yeah, I will say. I will say like when you're okay. I've done it three times in the park. And the first summer I did it, loves Livers Lost we it was the hottest week on record, and I was like, this is not okay. Yeah, this is unlivable

or whatever, you know what I mean. But then this last year I did it, it it wasn't so bad. And when you're in there at night once your past tech this like a nice breeze, the beautiful breeze, and if you see like somebody's wig blow in it and it makes you want to cry. The wig and the winds. That's the title of this episode. Felicia had this, oh yeah, and it would blow and she looked like this earth yes, And you know it was nothing to her. No, you dropping the bucket and no, I bet she brought her

own stuffing, my own costumes to this production. That is such an ancient Felicia, I shall bring my own yeah, to me, she's a thousand years old and always has been it always will be. She has the wisdom of a of an ancient As I've said many times, the greatest of all time. Felicia rashod performance is at the Dinosaur, the Dinosaur Attraction and Animal Kingdom at didn't Disney World. She portrays the head of the Dino Institute and she's like, welcome, Welcome,

and there's something she says after that. But that's weird because she wasn't even on a Disney property. No. I think they just scooped her up. She was she was a free agent. Yeah, they saw her and raising in the sun and they were like, I wonder if they do a lot of research where they're like where they're like, oh, she appeals to every children, you know. But yeah, but then also she appeals to like, you know, all the gays that comes. I mean, I think I literally sneeled

and I was like a twelve year old kid. It wasn't like me. Now, I wasn't like, oh yes, Felicia. It was like me as a twelve year old, like, oh mom, Felicia. She's like, oh my god, this kid's gay. Cooler, shut up, we're in Florida. Train is a big At one time, we were at a funeral my mother, um mother, and I called her my mother was taken. Has gotten the piss taken out of her on this podcast, and

I don't like it. You have called her a bigot. Henry, my my ex boyfriend, came on this podcast and he blasted my mother with an I don't think so, honey, for teaching how to recycle. It's just ridiculous. This woman is a goddess and so now I'm going to blast her on the pod. So we were at a funeral one time. It was like, um, her best friend's mother had passed a wife. So we were sitting towards the back. I'm with her and she goes, they were doing a

Body of Christ, you know, Thechris. She's like, I don't think I'm going to go receive the U Chris because I don't go to church regularly. You know. She kind of whispers it to me and I was like, I mean, I'm definitely not going, and she goes, I mean if you go up there, this place is going to burn to the ground. And then we laughed a lot, and somebody turned it around like really crying. I was like like, I looked at us like why are you loving? And

we were just like, sorry, we're joking about honey. Think so okay. I don't think so, honey. People crying during a funeral shut up. I just think, if you can't tolerate a little laughter in the funeral, what is the point of living? Honey? Guess what that is? What it's about? Everyone ars if you're not laughing. Honey, my my funeral better be a HBO comedy special. At Williams, Yes, well will outlive you. I want him to say the final words. Wow,

that's gorgeous. Who would you have performed stand up at your funeral? I would say this is real because we will hold YouTube. This is binding. Who would perform stand up at my funeral? Yeah? I'm blanking. I'm gonna say, um, Angela Johnston, the racially problem man TV Cathy and she could do her that's good, which is actually she does it so well. She certainly does she does it well. She does it. Um, what about you? Who would your

stand up at your funeral? Like Jacqueline Nova beautiful, She's kind of like she's she mixes the absolutely I love that expository sort of you know, writing aspect of it, the humor. Yeah, and she would like notice things that were happening within. I was about to say church, but it's probably going to be like under a tree or right right, right, right right, doing bits about like the twigs and stuff. Look at this twig. Yeah exactly. Um Mine would be Kathie Griffin. I was gonna say, Kathy,

Kathy Griffin doing only clay and bits. That's fine, So let me tell you about clay. That's that's gorgeous. Does feel right for it? Does feel right for both of you? Caddy over Caddy for both of us. Yes, yeah, Well at our joint funeral, I always say I'll be the last thing, but one ever sees. Yes. Okay, now let's ask Jeff the question. Yes, this is the question that we ask every single guest that quote unquote rolls through.

Is what the kids say our studio to record the pod. Uh. This question is as follows, what was the culture that influenced you growing up? This is UH, when did you decide culture is for you? This is your moment to answer that question. When did you decide? You opened the closet door and there it was, hanging perfectly next to your favorite scarf was culture, culture, and you took it culture and wrapped that around your neck instead of the scarf, and you kept it on forever. What was that culture

for you? First? Shut up? I wrapped it with the scarf because I love to accessorize an accessory. Thick um. Okay. So, and I know this is going to be hard to believe, but I was a bit of a flamboyant child. I am. You seem scrappy to me. I guess, like, you know, like like you'd be a kid who did play a sport and was very good at it to fly under the radar, but also gay. No, you're absolutely wrong, like so profoundly wrong, like not even like even slightly right.

Speak on. I was forced to play sports sometimes they would say. I remember they were like, we're gonna give you cents if you win a game, and then they were like we're gonna give you if you make a basket, and then they were like we'll give you cents if you rebound, and then they were like we'll give you five dollars if you go. Oh my god, what was that? What do they make you? Basketball? Basketball's physical. It's not like you said, I'm tall. I was always tall. I

bet they really did you to be good. And my dad, like is not someone who gets angry at all, but he would always be like, just hold your hands up, Just hold up your hands and make sure they don't throw the basket bold into the basket. And I was like, I'm so tired, but my hands are so gay. That was in birth season. His mind's got some gay hands or something. It's so gay, except for he doesn't say

the word game. Um, but what does he say? He's nice, but yeah, but he's just he's not one to talk really about anything, right, you know, it's not his business quote unquote Yeah, I don't even think it's that political. I think like he doesn't ask my sister about he he doesn't fucking care, which in some ways is some God. Y'all came for Katrina and now Ramond. Don't worry. Allen's parents will be roasted soon. They won't be They will

be alright. So, So what I was gonna say is so because I was so gay, I didn't have a lot of friends. I didn't really have friends. And where was this San Antonio, Texas, you know, bastion of liberalism. They love all people the Alamo was the site of the biggest circuit party the world, orgy in the world. Okay, um, it was stupid joke, no no, no, no, but can you imagine to be poorly thought? Poorly because it would

also be a protest by nature, which I love. We know there's no basement in the Alamos, so you know they couldn't be a sling hanging. It absolutely ground. I think it's I think it's legal in Texas. It actually gets Oh are there many basements where sex parties happen or is that just something of myth? I think it's just there's no you don't have any windows, you know, the plane and black I didn't know about the Aparently there's a sex party that happens under in park slow

under the co op, under the co op. Yeah yeah, yeah, crazy huh. Like on the produce on the product right there about the produce where I do the orgy, It starts about do it right on the back joy. I love about Choy orgy as long as it's nut baby about choy. Problem. That's sick, that's sick, sick goes so anyway, Sorry. So I used to come home and I would watch TV from three pm until my bedtime at ten pm. Seven hours. Yeah, and my mom would sometimes be like

only one hour a day. How did you get to seven? She wasn't very strict. Well, she was going to college. There was a lot happening. She was getting hers. Yeah, she was getting hers. So um. Anyway, I can tell you every like I know all sitcoms from like nineteen, because you know we did watch it in syndication eight to two. I can tell you I'm a encyclopedic knowledge of American sitcom. Yeah. Do you want it to be? Well, so I guess I guess Cosby was big for you.

It was. It was changed for me to actually, oh my god, there's company. Wow you I mean, I don't get me wrong. I watched you could quiz me about Trivia three company, I'll get it. But you know what, and I know this is controversial. Yeah, it wasn't it a John Ritter? Okay? You know his son is very cute. I know I worked with which one the one who? Oh? Yeah, I worked with the other side. Oh, I didn't know there was like a more handsome Ritter. Besides, we did

that with the little little lips utter. No, no, we did that show where I played Oh my god, wait, I don't remember this. That Cold schoola Aaron Jackson show you play that was the character was named Thelma. It was oh my god, oh my god. Jeff, Jeff was Jeff. Okay, so this is a show that Cold School and Aaron Jackson Roe called Thicker than Water. It was all about Eve meets Blackfish. Just incredible and then was so good. It was so good, and Aaron Markey was incredible, and

you were incredible. I mean I was just playing bit parts here and there. But Jeff, I got it. Jeff's extremely, extremely talented. Actually, you guys have to go see Jeff. So anyway, Um, but no, Sieges, we were talking about we're talking about Time at three his company. Yeah. Well now, and now that I know he's an encyclopedia of sitcoms of that era. What was your favorite? Yeah, all time, Pave.

You have Facts of Life kind of bitch. Well, I love Facts of Life, but you know what it's really into And it sounds like a cliche, but you're super into golden girls, like oh yeah, hardcore and like early adopter. I'm not talking about the lifetime you know. Sure, also into the nanny physically female leads it comes to designing women. Women is one I don't have because you know why it's not in syndication. That's much. Yeah, it didn't plan

Nickot Knight. That's where I saw everything was Nicko Knights. Remember when what's her name Dixie was on Desperate House? Dixie Dixie Carter was a guest on Desperate She played Kyle McLaughlin's and it was big. My choir teacher was freaking out. I was like, this woman is important apparently. Yeah, there was a lot of addresses like that, like um, Leslie and Warren was Susan's mother. Yeah, yah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah. That's like her whole career now is like

playing mothers on fun moms on TV shows. Yeah, she's on Will and Grace she was. I think all they all had famous mothers come through. They did the House, but Leslie and Warren was really robbed of like a much fuller, richer career. I think. Do we agree? I think probably? Yeah. And you watch Clue and you're like,

who that person? I know because you think like, oh, she's just got this stick, you know, like she doesn't pick the Victoria with like you know, but then you see her in clue and you're like, oh, you're playing this like saucy lady, who's like, I know what it is. I know what I'm doing. I'm owning my sexuality. Yeah. I totally forgot about her being a victory Victoria, but she was playing this like Maryland type nominated for an Oscar she did. She was incredible in that. I said,

I think I knew, so are you? And Oscar is kind of listen to that Little Goldmen podcast. Oh no, I'll put that sounds right up a alley. I don't know why I'm plugging it. It doesn't need me plugs. But wait, no, this is a question because this is topical fish. Um do do you like the topical fish? Do you like the nominations this year? Well, I was really thrilled the Jordan Peele got nominated as director. I was super thrilled the Great grew It got nominated. Um,

I I think it's cool. I think I think what's like. The reason I have been like seeking out on like reading all this stuff and listening to podcasts about the Oscar and stuff is because it is such a weirdoh year, It's a weird year, and I like that. I remember that year when it was like it was like everybody has a lesiavia Candid is gonna win, but they tell you exactly who's gonna win, and you're like, well, why

do I watch right right? And you think they would want it to be suspenseful because it has people watching more, you know what I mean that. I remember that one year, the one year I really checked out of it, I think was your slum Dog Millionaire one. Everything. I was just like, oh and I feel like that happened and happened.

It happened and happened, and it's just like this year is the first year where it's like, oh, okay, well these movies have been being talked about for a while and there's a lot of them, so I'm gonna see a lot of them. Are you only um an Oscars person or do you like all the one? I like them all. Here's the here's my question for you, because I think this is interesting. I found that I'm not as much into the Emmys anymore because like, I literally

know half of the nominees. Yeah, it's weird. I have to say this, like, and you think it would be thrilling, but instead it's just like it's too close. That's that's my former student. And I was sitting at popcorn. Who was the weirdest one for you to see? You get up there? Donald Donald was weird, Rachel Ellie Kemper, and I'm like, that's weird. It's yeah, it's crazy, I will say. For me, it's like when it feels like it's not

too far away, it's harder to engage with it. Like literally, like a lot of the writing for Late Night, like there's almost whole staffs of that where I'm like, oh, that's like my peer, you know what I mean That that makes it feel kind of like so now it

feels like the Emmys are something else. Like when I was in high school, I used to find out what tapes they submitted and I would like watch them all and I would like say, well, you know, so Marcia Cross submitted this tape and that's more competitive than what Felicity Hufman show, because she submitted the pilot of Desperate

Housewives and she ended up winning. It was just like all these things I loved that I loved, like when it felt like strategic in a game and not about me and about these like iconic women, because that's really

I only care about the actresses. But now it's funny because it's like several of my peers and people that I can even call friends have literally won these things in the past few years, and it's like, that's weird, and it makes it kind of it's kind of a mind funk because you're like, this thing that used to be something that was aspirational to me is now like the ether, you know. But it's still fun still and we'll always be and I love the dress, and you know,

the Emmys are super fun. The Emmys are super fun. Obviously, the Golden Globes are incredibly frustrating and I don't care. But I think the Emmys are great, and I think the Oscars are great. The Grammys, I think are a little bit stupid because it's not about the awards. It's about the performances for the Grammys, I think, and it's about just records. And now it's gotten so weird where you know that you have to put on some sort of iconic performance that people are like doing these weird

things where it's like what are you doing? Why you know why whatever, like writing from a fan or whatever. Just I just don't believe that anything in music aside from a few things are really worth extraordinary mentioned right now, Like I don't like and it's just because it's just because everything is so just vast and like democrats. Well now music is so specific and so like niche and so kids. You can have Spotify where you can listen to whatever you want, and so it's like the idea

that we're all on board for this one album unlikely. Yeah, yeah, And I think you're right, it is because there's so much music, whereas like on television, it's like you can still kind of like play this game because there's only so many things on television and that's why the movies are even better. But exactly, they really narrow it down

for you. Yeah, yeah, I mean it is so weird, like when you find out like where you're like that could totally be a year that Ladybird would have just been completely unnoticed, but many years yeah and get out. But it's such a weirdo year like post Weinstein, Like no one really knows what this aftermath is. I woke up this morning and actually watched them at eight thirty. I just had my alarm. I got rolled over and

watched them and then went back to bed. I was disappointed when they were coming out because I think I'm I was. I got used to a world in which get Out and Ladybird we're gonna get nominated, and I got used to a world where the two of them could be directing nominees. And I was a little bored with the nominations because there was no big fun shake up nominee like Tiffany Hattish or something like. I wanted

something crazy like that. But then I was thinking about it later and I'm like, you know, I was like, I'm certainly not going to be disappointed in an Oscar year where movies like get Out and Ladybird are for Best Picture, Like that's pretty fucking cool. And I'm the n to the point where you were just expecting to be mad if they weren't nominally exactly, I was just kind of like, I really want, I really want just like that. I don't know that it's like you're never

gonna get what you need. You're even on Oscar and Night people are gonna win, and it's gonna be working over, you know what I mean. But I think is what you're saying that there's such a low threshold for um for like a rate or such a high threshold for like a great Oscars nominee. Well, yeah, I mean you're like,

you're're gonna be disappined no matter what. You're going to be disappointed because there's literally only so many possibilities and you've been told them all and seen every possibility rollout, So you're never going to be surprised and blown away because that's just not how this works. Yeah, And I think what I'm saying is I'm not able to enjoy what a special year it is because I'm so used to talking about this and even reading and listening and all.

Ye like. So the fact that get Out got nominated for Best Picture, which literally six months ago would have been the gag of the year. We just got used to it, and now it's happened and we're like cool, But it's it's very cool. It's I mean, Jordan pil being nominated, Gretta Grewig being nominated, them both being nominated, the fact that they pushed out, you know, two other old white dudes, you know what I mean, Like, that's cool. Things are changing, it's happening. There is uproar about it,

is demand for it. I was gonna say I don't know if you agree with me. Um. I think that year that things like the sea change for me for Oscars was when hurt Locker wanted our avatar. That was when it was oh now it's like, actually it's exciting again. Yeah. It was like, oh, people hope for the best thing. Yeah. Yeah. And like last year with the Moonlight personally, actually this is a little controversial, but I did like lao Land

more than Moonlight. I just liked it more. Um. But the fact that so many people were passionate about Moonlight and then it won, I was like, there you go. That just goes to show this can happen. You don't wait a minute, you were more into Lola Land than Moonlight. But you don't know a lot about some time. No, I do know a lot about some time. I think in terms of uh, your average person. But I'm just saying I don't know Merrily, you know what I mean?

I know every word to Sweeney Todd and Into the Woods and all the bigger ones and like, you know, a little Mike music and things like that, but I just don't know, like Merrily right right, Yeah, it's good, it's a good one. Okay. You don't know, um, anyone can whistle. I know that. I saw I saw a Sutton one time performed anyone was and she was like I didn't think it, what's that? And I was just like, this woman is a freak. She's a freak. You've seen

her perform live. Oh boy, you don't like she's amazing? No, I literally I saw her. Do I think? Yeah? Sometimes honestly, like, but she's she's really incredible. Um. I will say like I think I've said this before in the podcast, Um, but I saw The Drowsy Chaperone when it was in previews. Like my family went to the city and we were like, let's say this. Like my mom was like, you know, I heard that Sutton Foster is very good. This is like she didn't won a Tony for I think thoroughly model.

And she was opening this new show and no one had talked about it, and it was like the cheap one on t KTS. And we went and saw this show in perfect seats, like was unbelievable and you would have just left that theater thinking, well, that was really good. Too bad no one's talking about it. But then it was so big at the Tony's. People love it it's like this she did that number that was kind of star Oh unreal. I mean seeing that live. I think I even said at the time, I'm like, I think

this is the most talented person in the world. I was like, this is it was a real performer in hell of a costume designer, so I may tell you. So she made her own stool, brought her own wig and set, and brought her own dresses. She's like, and I thought I'd bring my own things. Um. I heard that she was a teacher at m y U. Yeah. I remember the people who were in her class, like, we're just insufferable time. It's true. Yeah she was, Yeah she was. It was right after anything goes and she

was like established at this point. Yeah, for sure. Like, but this is I guess two thousands some of our some of our friends were acqua, did you graduate from m YU? We get help big, it's been a while, so we um we knew some people that audition, well, everyone auditioned for her cabaret. She was coming to n y U to teach a cabaret and at the end of the semester it would be performed at Joe's Pub. So it was big. It was a really cool opportunity to be directed by Sutton. There was a very cool

musical director as well. It was it was all to Rogers and heart music. She was doing it. I see, this is why you go to m I U because yeah, when you know, we all get excited abou dumb stuff in college, but your's actually the stakes were pretty big. Well, I mean it was pretty cool. Like ten people got this, got this opportunity, and a few of them were are good friends and um they said that like she sometimes.

I think it was like in the beginning and when she was directing things, because he'd be frustrating because they'd be like, oh, I'm really having trouble connecting to this material, and she would. Her advice would always just be like open your eyes extra big and listen with your heart. And it was just like, I'm trying. I don't know what this word means, Like it's not about my heart. I don't think she's like try it your eyes. That's someone who's just a natural talent and who doesn't know

how to get me. Just do it. You have talent and make the talent show. Hold on, let me do a backflip. Like the best is when you open your eyes and open your eyes into a seven minute tapped. I was just insane, Sorry, Joe, um so wait. But then the best, though, the best, most revealing Tony Awards. But when I've ever seen where I was like that bitch was centers Tony's. Of course, there have been so many of those moments at the Kennedy Center Honors, but

specifically this is the Tony Awards. Audrew McDonald was performing a number um from One Tent in the Shade and she doesn't aerial flip. She does Audre Audre McDonald's who you would think just stands and delivers, honey did flip on stage. Go look it up on YouTube. That is insane and delicious. You think fancy, fancy. She was struggle along and she did that tap dance. I was like

a secret piece. Yeah that's really like it wasn't like a you know, like no no shade, but like you know David Hypierce dances and you're like, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, he's moving. He did it. She was like dancing in the pocket. Yeah, in the pocket. No. I mean also not talking about Jonathan Golf again, but he did like a tribute to Sutton and did the whole anything goes number and he also could dance the whole thing. I'm like, how can you be this good at all things? Yeah,

they're probably not good at something. What do you think they're not good at? What's the thing you think Audre? Is sheety at Algebradra math? Straight tone? I know? I think that is the one thing is that? Is that like a fair criticism A good level at Audre is that like she doesn't straight? Can you just put it in the mask, Jack, you just put it in the mass? Oh my god? Wait, I'll tell you what's a real

gag to have you heard? On Spotify? They have this It's the concert version of dream Girls with Lilia's white. That's funny that you're like, it's on Spotify. Yeah, I had the bootleg baby okay, mama. Heather Headley though Heather Headley as Laurel, she's so good, but that wasn't a part for I mean, it also wasn't a part for Audre.

Like she looks sooner. Luck dude on Jude's just like this is seen where lilias white as E's like she can't sing like I can, and I'll just like, she's right, I can't and the audience laughs like that we all go. That's why it was well, I meant was a great team. Was a great team because in comparison to Jennifer Hudson, like just the volume of her voice, it felt smaller. I think she made herself smaller. But then it's so funny how she couldn't help herself on listen. It was like, oh,

all of a sudden, she's a lion. Yeah. I think she probably like rationalized at being like, well, this is inside Tina's head feelings that she's actually she's actually amazing now, like if you heard it on this record, it would not sound as good, but in her heart she could sing f sharp. But also, aren't you just like I want I want listen? Yeah, I think I should slay a full belted sea. Yeah, I mean I think she

didn't bring out like a really fierce dance. It was just like became the club and then Jennifer Hudson comes back and you're like, we don't need it. That really has always been just notably harsh on Jennifer Hudson. It's because I lift her up the highest eyes. She's got some serious dead eyes. She's been through a lot. This is prior to her having been through a lot. Even prior to that, she's been through even before American Idol, She's been through a lot. That was her whole, That

was her little arc. Yeah, I will say that in that Sex in the City movie, it's like, put this poor woman out of her litera and put it over here. It was awful. It was not even passively good. It was like they should have just burnt the burnt the whole film. Her her arc was, yeah, that she literally got a bag Louise from St. Louis. Louise from St. Louis. Oh my god, God, but I will give give him this. They had Jennifer Slay that number, all dressed up in love,

dressed up cool in the winter. I remember the trailer for that movie was the first time I heard that jay Z song, you know, like where Alicia Keys is like sex and I was like, where they leave New York. I was in l A and I was listening to that song, and I was like, beautiful, please, we were back there probably like literally fighting a rat in the street. It's true. It's true. Now that I'm back, I'm like, it's not beautiful at all. No, it's the worst to put toner on at night and it comes off like

just a dark gray cloud. Do you do a face mask? Yeah? I have a face mask. I've never done one, but last night I put some cream under my eyes. You know what I'm gonna do after we that's what you did? You put some cream? What was it like? Half in hand? It was body butter? Am I using it wrong? Did you use blue on your face? Yeah? I put some k y in my eyes. Body butter on your face. It's the perfumet start too much better like on your feet. I feel Oh that sounds good too. That sounds really good. No,

this is what I do. And it's a little like maybe like the way I'm going to describe it is going to make you feel like just like a little bit of a heave and you tell me I love it. I like before I put on the sock, especially a wool sock, like for the day, I just lather on the thickest layer of vassilina on my feet for what purpose? Because I like how dowey and and and soft my feet. But I'll tell you this, they can't smell good on this show. And they said they smell great great in

the show wearing sandals. Well, no, I I mean in barefoot at the very end, and I'm so nervous that someone will see a cracked heel. Oh my goodness, Jeff, No one's paying attention, but they absolutely are. Are you telling me some people look at if somebody was up on stage and you saw, like, don't you always pay attention, even even like if the show is great? Aren't you like, I'm not fixated on aren't you like, oh, when they lifted up their shirt you can kind of see their

belly or whatever. You're always doing that. I will tell you this, I never look at feet. I never noticed shoes. I I do. I'm guilty of this. When someone's performing on stage, I am very conscious of their butt. I'm always looking like what they're about doing? What's male? Female? I always? I just I mean, you want to see if it's rattling anything out. I was like, what's the butt situation on this performer? Isn't it just amazed? Anything?

Like of Audra McDonald farting like mid I literally never thought about her farting before in my life, and now I just thought of in college, when somebody's like Jesus masturbated and You're like, you know, oh my god, imagine like having that argument whether Jesus masturbated or not. That's like a very Christian camp argument. Oh sorry, I went to Christian. Okay, So did you have that argument? And what was the who wants? So? What are what are

the what's the evidence behind this? Well, it's just that you know, he is both human and divine, so the idea that if you are human you would have sexual desires and blah blah blah, and also like is it a sin to masturbate? Doesn't it's sacred masturbation? Yeah, she said that in her Diane saw Your interview. She was like, I feel like it's kind of sacred. And Diane Sawyer said, what was Actually I'm Confusedly, it's actually literally what happened?

She wait, hold on, I don't think I meant to say that was that when she was saying like I'm a virgin and stuff. Remember that interview where her eyelash fell off? No, no, no, wait it wasn't. It wasn't. It was after justin Timberlake had told the world that he sucked her And Diane was like, so we heard actually maybe not so true. It was like very slight. Was this the interview where she like burnt down and cried. No,

that was with Matt Lauer. Oh, that's where her eyelash that she was not in a good place and that baby. But I also was like, who put her eyelashes on? That they fell off from a blake. I'm Louisiana makeup. Are you a Britney fan? Um? Yes, but not like um yeah, I'm not a super fan. Right, So do you follow? Do you follow on Instagram? No, it's it's

it's just told me you should follow. Katherine's aid to Jones and my friend Jen like she's she'll like post a thing where it's like a refrigerator just completely full of ice cream, and she'd be like, my friends, bud me ice cream. Oh my god, I need to see that. Oh my god, that poor thing? Is she? Okay? Yeah?

So Matt and Matt and mar friend Dave have have this joke in one of their shows about how, like, you know, to conjure Katherine's Aida Jones essence, you would just need clon up in a black cat a courtroom, clon up in h and A and a solid dark a dark smoky eye. And then if you put that in the college. When you get Katherine's don't know what, that's someone else who's been through a lot as Katherine's ada. So yeah, absolutely, Look, they've all been through a lot,

I know. And she's not open about how she has uh bi polar. She definitely is and proud about I'm proud, but she's she's taken away to come forward about being bipolar, and yeah, it's important. And she was also I think she's rather friendly with Michael Douglas because she was on stage with Kirk Douglas at the still technically married? Are

they married? I can't follow that ship. But yeah, apparently on interview to get in front of some inappropriate right of course, well another one bites the goddamn dust, the goddamn test. She looked well at that award, she did. She was wearing some nice sea through black, I gotta tell you. In Chicago, she said at the best. Yes, I watched that movie so many times just for that, um but I can't do it. She made it as good as it was. I think, just when she just

walks up that oh my god, my god. And you know what I think. I think my first public performance of queerness was to other my my eighth grade friends in my living room and performed the Hot Honey Rag for them as as the movie was playing. The back to talk about a deep cut. I love that hot Honey rag. That was. That was when I knew my dad wouldn't stop talking about John c Riley in that movie. After we saw it, he was like he was unbelievable. I was like, Okay, wow, this is what you grabbed

from this movie. They could have cast a better I know, but that's a rising tide lifts a boats situation. I think I thought they could off. It was just like fine, they could have cast a better MS. I think so I was Queen Latifa. It's like, you know she was the fourth choice. She was. You think they actually did say they would try to get Bett Middler. They would have been amazing. They were doing the movie of Chicago.

They tried to get somebody, big and body. Although you got Roxy, you got Velma, you got Billy, those are the big three, and then they nailed it for all. You know, remember when Renelgo was huge. I loved her still do. Look, oh, I made this comment. I loved I really appreciated Lucy Lose cameo in Chicago. Because it is completely implausible for an Asian woman in the twenties to be like that wealthy and assimilated and that speak speak And yeah, they also wouldn't have a jail cell

in the twenties that would be interracially mixed. Either one was there too, Yes I do. I'm just saying I loved that the touches of I loved witch she was wearing. It was like it was so gorgeous, it was all diamonds. It was Rob Marshall had his chance to be Ryan Murphy, and I don't think, yeah, he really did nail it. What was what was his big misstep? After Chicago did Memoirs of h But then didn't you direct something nine

as well? Which I actually enjoy? Yeah, like Penelope CRUs Yeah, but you know I saw m the Revival on Broadway, and um, Jane, miss Jane, she came down. I cry. You know what. I cried? When people fly? I cry when um, when people fly, I cry. That's gonna be the little quote, right when people fly when the Annie Potts would be I'm saying any it was Andrew Martin, but I didn't see the original cast in Pippen, And you know she goes up, which, by the way, I

hate that Grandma number. I'm always because you know I saw it was like Loona exactly, so Phiola is dying as she sings it. I'm talking about in Pippen when they made Annie Potts fly. Andrew Martin did it first, but I started weeping. I could not stop crying. It was so gorgeous. It's like when it's like when Beyonce grabs the hook and then fly over to the beast. Yes, thee Yeah, that's what it's called. The stage, a stage and the beast. She's like, hey, look it's it's breathtaking.

She's a breathtaking performer. I want nothing. And they were like, you're gonna have to be We're going to fly you in the script is all about flying and stuff. And they were like, you know, we'll go to Broadway and so it'll be better on Broadway than when we do it in the regional thing. And then they were like, so okay, actually we're not gonna fly, You're just gonna hang you. And then they were like, okay, you just

need to be rolled on in this cage. It was so disappointing how it felt what they thought their budget might be compared to the reality of staggering there. You don't get theater. I don't. I don't understand the money, Like, how does it happen? It's got to be crazy? But do you do you want? You never wanted to do theater? You were always a TV filming person. No, yeah, I mean we we both kind of like, well, I don't know his journeys different them, and I got involved in

like comedy, they're doing sketch at in college show. It was never about like we performed, I performed live in life, my life perform, but it was never about theater. For me was a comedy. But um, I just think theater is the most is the most um risk inviting thing of all of of all of the mediums, right. I don't know. When Paul came, I realized I had skipped an entire like ten minute chunk, and I was like, oh my god, I skipped the whole thing about way,

what did you do? What did you do? I was like, RuPaul, is here you need that? You need that piece of information for later, So I just put it in. I knew there was a non sequitor moment, and so I just put in that and then I went to the non sequitor again and I almost shipped my pants. That's very frazy. Dang, So is that is that one of the like top moments of like line forgetting you can you've ever had? Like yeah, because, like I said, every other player I've done, I've had like six lines, so

like if you know this is what this is just you. Yeah, but it was really stressed. Although one time I did, I was in that same show where I'm supposed to fly. I, um my mustache fell off in the middle of my song, and um so I made a joke about how my mustache. You know, I improvised. It's a gift and the really hard to get good at it too, right, thank you just have one out there. Yeah, you're just something You're

not the sudden foster. Know. I listened to that improv in my heart and I said a joke about the mustache and anyway, because they all laughed and I was like writing so high off of my improvisation, I completely forgot my lyrics. That was probably worse. Sometimes sometimes you serve as a joke over the music over the lyrics. Sometimes sometimes each time, each time, Mama, each time, Um okay, So I think it might be time to move on to I don't think so, honey, So so listen, and

actually you must do our next live show. You will. I want to. We want you to too. So I'm happy with that table. Just so everyone knows, we've reached out to Jeff multiple times twice times. Couldn't do it because he's been doing Shakespeare in the Park and some such. You know, I love nonsense they are. He just took off the shoe and it smelled reeks of vassiline. Um, well, they're very cute, bru Romari. Yeah, you know where I

got these babies? Um, Nordstrom rap hashtag resist um. So, speaking of resisting, this is I don't think so, honey, where we um step forward to resist something in culture, if you will, that's bothering us, um entirely. So this is where we take one minute to get on the clock and just really pick something apart in pop culture. Um, would you like to go first? I think could probably go first because something has consumed my life and I'll explain. I know what this is gonna be. This is Matt

Rodgers is I don't think so, honey. His time starts now. I don't think so. Honey, to all my friends who watched Real Housewives and didn't tell me how good it was, because now I have to look like an idiot getting involved in Real Housewives. Literally a decade late. This just happening me. With Project Runway. I'm literally ten years late on trends, and I don't think so, honey. The fact

that it's also blending into my clothing. I've just now discovered unbutton ng button ing a flannel all the way up to the top. Apparently that was a trend like a while ago. Listen, all I know is I'm literally obsessed with Real Hashwives of Beverly Hills. I'm gonna specifically call out Sudie Green, who I always thought the one classy thing about me over her was that she likes trash reality TV, and meanwhile, here I am, I love trash reality TV. Now you people should have just gotten

me involved in it before. As my friends, you are cultural influences to me, and to fail me in this, I feel is damn it. It's damning So I think that I don't think so, honey, all of you who kept me from Erica Jane. I literally can't stop watching the expensive music video and that's one minute. Have you seen the video expensive by Erica Jane. I can't believe how long have you known about it? Years? It came out like a year ago. Yeah, it's taken too long.

She hasn't been on that long, right, and relatively to like third season, I think our fourth season, but she popped. Oh my god, y love Eric. So I just I just recently got into it. I watched like the last two seasons of New York and then I wanted to watch Beverly Hills because I'm so fascinated with Erica Jane. So I started with season six when she started. But now there's a lot of flashbacks to this crazy ass Brandy Glanville character, who I must know what that's about.

She was married to somebody, Eddie Brian, and then he cheated on her with miss goddamn Leanne Rhymes, which is the gag of the year, Leanne that Leanne rhymes because they were in movie together. Yes, they were my fell in love, not on like Ms brad Pitt and Mr Angelia. So I'm starting which I did on accident, but now I don't want to change um. At Matt's recommendation, I'm starting with season six, I believe of Beverly Hills and

it's not, it's not hasn't stuck with me? To stee at, I'm still in that first episode doesn't stick with you, it becomes a part of your life because while it's on and you're doing dishes and things around the house, like you realize you know these women, and all of a sudden, you start, like you know how when you're doing things in your life and you picture yourself as someone else, like like you know that thing of like when you just see a movie or something, and then

the lead character that movie you like, and so you picture yourself as them in your mind's eye. Does that ever happen to you? Okay, well, I'm I'm Kyle Richards and I've been Kyle Richards for a few days now, and I'm also it's so sad, I'm Lisa Anna. I'm Lisa Rinna and Lisa all right. I don't like the conflict. There's too much conflict for me. I'm a real people pleaser, so it's really awkward. So what do you watch? People

sitting by the beach or something. I know, I don't like the conflict because it's it's real, like manufactured, it's completely produced, it's completely as. The things about it are like so deep. It's like him, I'm so sorry, but did you tell everyone in this city that I have an eating disorder? It's like never small, it's always like you told different one I have a Munchhausen syndrome, a disease in which you make up having a disease to get attention. I really have lime disease. It's like so

specific and insane. So apparently what they do is, um, they they'll just like have to housewives, like you know, catch up over drinks, and they'll have them just sit there for hours and talk about everything, every possible topic, and then the team of producers will just be watching and then they'll write down a little note cards like the topics that they'll have talked about, put them on a on a corkboard and be like, um, actually, can I have that for this episode when they when when

this happened, so that they connect these are I mean, it's like this genius. It's genius. It's so engineered and it's it's it's wild, and I just it is just sort of architect in this way that just makes me feel uneasy. What what bothers me is when like, in order to get a plat point starting started, one of them will just say I received a text with a picture or like someone told me this, and it's like who, and then you realize it's absolutely a producer, totally totally.

They'll just like have like that little part will just be in a d R later and you can absolutely tell that they were like, oh, we need this to edit together, so so, you know, can you say this thing exactly? So she's like in a studio being like, hey, can I talk to you about you know? In reality shows is the most ironic anyway. I really enjoying it. I think I have one. Here we go. This is Bowen Yanks. I don't think so, honey, his time will begin now. I don't think so many magicians who reveal

their secrets. I was working with the magician today on set and he just spilled all the beans, and honestly, it felt like the last nail and the coffin of my innocence. I it really broke the illusion completely, and I had no respect for this man. He was wonderful, he's a very talented magician, but he just had no hesitation about telling telling me all about the card tricks, all about the coin stuff, all about this one trick where he turns a bubble into a glass or but

it was he's an incredibly talented magician. Um. I won't say his name, but he just I think he just felt like there was, you know, a rapport connection, and so he just let me know. And you what, you have killed the child inside of me, and I just had I'm I'm a new uncle and just to just to have to have that inner child murdered just as my niece is born is factually tragic, and I don't think so, Honey, Magic the Magician, that's his name. Magic is very talented. His name is Magic the Magician. I

think it's it's an alias, of course. And he murdered your inner child just as your niece is born, just as my niece. That's the beginning of the movie about this. He's born today. My niece was born today. I know she was born on Thursday's Beautiful young girl, Elie Wiss, I'm gonna get her a onesie that says, miss Weiss, excuse me, miss Weiss. I love, I love referring to the basics, Miss Weiss, Like when she starts crawling. Just be like, Okay, miss Weisse, crawl, you better crawl, miss Wise,

you better learn to chew. I see him as Weiss. But yeah, I'm one of those people that who posts baby pictures and it's my baby. It's it's wild. I hope I don't fully slip into that. My two best friends now have nieces and I feel that I must care about children now and it's exhausting. It's a lot. Okay, Jeff, you don't what what were you going to say? Well? Then I was like, well, should I make that my

think because whatever you'd like? Okay, I don't know. I feel like I'm I feel like I should try and make my something about like promoting the show. But okay, okay, okay, okay, alright, let the show drop away, just forget okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, all right, you know what I'm just gonna say it. Then this is gonna be mine. Alright, alright, this is it. This is Jeff Hillers. I don't think so, honey, a

time starts. I'm so excited his time starts now. Okay, I don't think so honey, Because like, if you see a baby in your Instagram feed. All you have to do is move your finger like this up. Okay, it's not that big of a deal. If you see a freaking baby or a freaking dog or a freaking chaot, they're adorable and they're lovely, and I choose to follow all of them because there's something that's inside of me that's a little bit dead, and that warp warms it up. Okay.

I happen to have a cat on Instagram daily Underscore Beverly follower for a really cute cat picks okay, and I don't think so, honey, bright colors and bold patterns at the Soho Playhouses, playing four times a week, starring me Jeff Hiller replacing Drew Drow. And also, you know what, if the people like to show pictures of their animals or their babies, it's because that is the external portion of their love of their body, and so they have to bring it up to everyone else. And for God's sake,

come see the show. It's not only serious, it's also hilarious. A second, Oh you know what else? I think just double tap things. It's not hard, you move your fingers. I agree. I think that people should just like people should just like worswipe. What's it? What's your problem? You don't want to hear about it? Oh well, I have to say I manufactured a little bit of my anger, But I do I do think what's the problem? Scrolling

a little fast? Or just honey? Exactly exactly? Like I love hearing that you love your niece, Like that's so nice. I think that that teaches me so much more about you than some sort of like framed um you know, like you know, like deciding like this is how I'm going to project my life. It's like, you know, Paul came to see me. You know, that's beautiful. But op posting your baby pick is the most earnest thing you can do on social media, just short of posting, you know,

a meal culture number number. The most earnest thing you can do on social media is supposed to picture. Come on. The most earnest you can do social media is supposed to I really love that I shoehorned you into having to say, you know, here's the thing. It's it's not that I don't like the babies. I'm sure if I saw them they'd be wonderful. But the other day someone handed me a photo of their baby, and the baby was in different costumes and I was like, I gotta

tell you, it's the same baby. I just on the other cross them. That's so funny because I love a good and I especially love a baby in a wig. I love a good I love it. I love a baby in a costume in person, yes, all right, But I love a three dimensional baby. Three D baby that is.

That's so weird because I went to a birthday party last night and we put the birthday board in a lift and he was he was like, something's under my seat and just this humongous cardboard got out of a baby face and he just put it on the window and drop away with this huge cardboard baby. That's what I'm saying. They're they're horrifying one pictured. Yeah, it was, I guess you what. It was a little time, right.

It was disturbing. I saw someone that I only knew on social media exclusively the other day and they described me as so much more three dimensional. I was like, honey, you have no idea. I didn't say I r L Yeah, ironically say I r L l L. I do say bt w um, that's very sorry. I say, wait, you say bt w like by the way, Yeah, yeah, what's the one I say recently that I was like ll Sometimes I'll say L O L, but I think it's a joke. Yeah, yeah, I think I say BT dubs dubs.

It's one. Bus is fun. Everyone will know what you mean. It's not G two G. That's horrible. Can I say b r B br B? I say br B tow rb b r B. I'm gonna go pee. Oh that's good. That's good. Yeah, because you know it's horrible to have to share that you're shipping. You know what, Jeff, Jeff did something historic and as I don't think Sony, I just want to point out he really just if if anyone shorned anything, it was Jeff. Oh you know what,

I really respect that. I respects too as two people who are coming up and trying to find new and and and in innovative ways to self promote, to self promote. Thank you, thank you. Yeah. That was for Mama Rue. That was for Mama Rue because from Mama to Guru. Wow, that is beautiful. Well, this has been a fantastic episode. It's been a fantastic episode. And I have to say, Jeff,

when you fly, we cry. I think that inspires a song. Um, first, I want to say bright colors and bold patterns, four nights a week at the SOHO Playoffs Playoffs, bring your bed, Bath and beyond tickets or I'm sorry, bed bath and beyond coupons. Any last words for the people listening to this podcast, because you've given a lot of knowledge, So just leave us with something beautiful and then we'll sing

us out. Okay, Um, if you uh, you should get this little tool and if you ever get a white hind, you can scrape it off and it won't get infected. And I didn't do that this week. You got a scrape that ship off your face, Scrape that ship of off your face, scrape that ship right off your face. Today Today, Today, you're supposed to join me on a harmony. I was I was looking at the peaks. Why are you looking at the peak because that's for HPJ to

deal with. Well, all right, you know what, this has been a fucking disaster When people fly right, you're welcome. Oh we sounded like a um what's a three person trio? What's it a quartet? That's because we put it in the mask Audra Dog. This has been a Forever Dog production. Executive produced by Brett Bahum, Joe Silio, and Alex Ramsey. For more original podcasts, please visit Forever Dog Podcasts dot com and subscribe to our shows on Apple Podcasts, Spotify,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Keep up with the latest Forever Dog news by following us on Twitter and Instagram at Forever Dog Team, and liking our page on Facebook.