Handsome - Pretty Little Episode #93

Episode Date: May 29, 2026

Mae and Tig speculate about science and name their favorite sitcom characters on a Pretty Little Episode that will make you APPLAUD and LAUGH!Handsome is hosted by Tig Notaro, Mae Martin, and Fortune FeimsterSubmit your questions to speakpipe.com/handsomepodFollow us on social media @handsomepodMerch at handsomepod.comWatch Handsome on YouTubeThis is a Headgum podcast. Follow Headgum on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Advertise on Handsome via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Pretty little episode. Hey. It's your friend Till. Who is it? That's May. Is that May Martin over there? That's me, May over here. May, it's me, Tigg.

How are you? I'm, wow. I look like Grandpa Joe in bed here. Yeah, you do. Yeah. And I look like Grandpa Joe just with my face. Right. I did forget that we were recording until about six.

That's not like you. It's about six minutes ago. And I'm so relieved that I got it together just about. Yeah. And how did you get it together? Like, because it doesn't look like you got it together from where I am because you're in bed. I'm in. Well,

I'm in Venice in L.A. Italy? No, I wish. I'm in Venice at Parv's and I complete. So I've been scrambling. I have to borrow a laptop. And then the only room that doesn't have like children and busyness in it is this is the bedroom. Yeah.

So do you like Venice? Yeah. It's definitely a different town than when I was there. It had a little more of a, I mean, a fully indie vibe. Oh, really? And yeah, on Abbott Kinney. I lived right around. Yeah, yeah.

Very indie. It was just like independent coffee shops, bookstores, little restaurants, and that there was nothing like what it is now. I can imagine that. Yeah, now it's like sort of yuppie and then mixed with really sketchy. Yeah, well, I mean, Abbott Kinney is just like every big, store is on there now. It's wild. It's really wild. But I still enjoy it. You know, it's just different. It's kind of similar to aspects of Austin. Like I lived there when it had way more of like the

Keep Austin weird vibe. Yeah. That, uh, that they're famous for. And now there's like some weird pockets, but it's mostly like really high-end cool. Same with Denver. I mean, so many places that are just like, wow, this is, this is different. So like, where does that end? Like, where are we headed? Is it, will it be cyclical? Yeah, I don't know.

I mean, everything, there's such a leaning into like corporate. Yeah. Yeah. And it's just, it's wild. But then I'm sure that'll be rejected and then, you know. I hope it's, we need a rebellion against, like you going off Instagram, I hope that Gen Z eventually is like, we don't want any of this. Well, my kids, like, if I take a picture or video of them, they are, like, disgusted.

Really? They're like, remember it with your mind. Yeah, they're just like, stop taking pictures and videos of us. Oh, I love that. I'm so sorry. But you're right. What am I doing? But it's like I wake up and I walk into their room and they're just like snuggled together watching, independently watching their own.

They have their iPad time in the morning. And they sit next to each other with their own shows like Finns watching baseball replays. Max is watching The Simpsons. But they also watch each other's screens and then they'll reach over and pause each other's screens and rewind it without. ask. It's like, it's like just one being. You know what I mean? And it's so cute. Yeah, that's pretty cute. And it's hard to just peek in and be like, good morning, guys. And then not just stand there going, this is the cutest thing. Yes. What's that quote? Like the Revolution will not be televised. I can't remember what it's from, but I do feel like that's the next, the next wave. It'll be live.

should performance, it'll be like an underground thing. I don't know, I hope so. Oh, I think it's inevitable. It's got to be, right? I think people are going to look back and go, I can't believe that we let people use the internet. It's so bad and addictive. I think they're going to be like,

that was crazy that we even let people near it. Yeah, yeah. I mean, I'm three weeks. Three weeks sober off Instagram. I'm three weeks off of Instagram. It is completely fine. Like I'm just like there was nothing I was missing. There's not.

It's just like I, there's things where it's like, as I've mentioned on that one episode where it's like, oh, it's fun to kind of like, I guess brag that like, oh, I'm on this project coming out or, oh, I did this. But it's also like people will see it. Like I don't need to make the announcement. It's fine.

You know? I wonder, I feel like weed was so linked to counterculture in the past. And not that, I mean, I got into so much trouble getting in cars with strangers and stuff trying to find weed as a teenager. I don't want that for young people. But now that it's so, it's like a weed store is like an apple store. Like, where does that counterculture come from? I don't know. Yeah.

Well, it's even just in gay culture that like it used to be. And now it's not at all, really. Yeah. I mean, of course there is different. I just mean specifically gay. I'm not talking about like trans or non-binary, but like being gay is borderline almost mainstream in ways, you know? Well, in some places, but...

Well, that's what I'm saying is like borderline because in some place, like it is not, I am obviously not talking about places where this doesn't apply. I'm just talking about how in like, like, L.A. TV shows and, yeah, yeah, just there's like a gay character. That's what I mean, like, mainstream. Like, oh, yeah, of course, there's a gay character. Yeah. No, it was so recent.

Mm-hmm. Very, very, very. And even coming out, like, there's. So many stories of young people feeling like coming out is lame. You just don't even come out. You just are. Yeah, I hope that spreads. Yeah, and you just let the world catch up with what you're doing.

And again, I'm not saying that's everywhere with everyone. But it's there's that borderline of it. It's different. Yeah, I hope, I hope, I mean, that pride is a protest. slogan. I hope that I wonder this year, I hope that it feels like that again. Anyways, how are you doing? I'm doing well. I slept last night. I've had the most insane 10 days, 11 days. And just one of those crazy back-to-back travel every day land someplace, have meetings and things and then no sleep, travel. I went to sleep.

And I got my best night of sleep in years last night. It is wild. I was startled when I woke up like, what happened? Oh my God. Did I sleep? I slept. Oh, my God. Yeah.

What do you dream about? There were no dreams. Oh, good. That's good. So then you're, yeah. No. If you dream, that means you're in a deeper sleep. Oh, really?

Okay. Yeah. Sometimes though I wake up exhausted from, from dreaming. nightmarish things. Like last night I dreamed I was stabbed by a haunted blade that cursed me. And when it stabbed me, I started speaking with a British accent. That was the dream. And I woke up like this. I was making this weird noise. Are you still recording your night noises? No, I've taken a break and I need to get back into it. Yeah, because I would love to have heard of. Oh, blah, blah, blah, blah. Yeah. Should we listen to some questions? I would love.

that. That's why we're here. Yeah. It's why we're queer. Get used to it. Get used to it. Hi, handsome. My name is Sarah, and I'm in Portland, Oregon. I have a question for you about research and science and nature. I'm wondering if you had access to any amount of money and all the knowledge in the world. And there was a question about nature that you wanted answered, whether that be something botanical, biological, ecological, Yeah, you get it. Yeah, what would it be? What would you research and why? Okay, Sarah's smart.

I mean, what did? Yeah, she knew all of the Iql words. Yeah. Micological? Whoa. Yeah. Well, mine would be cosmological. It's just that, like, I need some answers to things like black holes and.

Oh, talk to Max. Yeah, I would like to. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it's just the big questions about, yeah, whether the laws of physics apply everywhere in the universe, whether quantum entanglement is real. Blackholgical. Blackhological. Blackhulgical.

Yes. Blackhulgical. And yeah, it's about the fabric of our universe. That's what I want to know. Like on the smallest, most quantum level. Because they're so, it's so mysterious. Like, there's so much that we just go, wow, yeah, that's crazy. We just accept it.

And it all kind of make, like, it all feeds into itself and works together. And it's like, wow, it just does that, I guess. Yeah, like particles can be in two places at once. And we just go, wow, okay. Yeah, okay. I think we know nothing. So, yeah, I think it would be about that dimensions and things. Yeah.

What about you? Dimensionological. Dimensionological. Checking Allstate First could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking for vegan restaurants when I'm in a new town. Missed Opportunity. Yesterday was my last day in town, and I just learned there's an amazing vegan poboy restaurant.

I didn't get a chance to visit. Yeah. Checking first is. handsome. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings varies, subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois. I don't know if mine is quite right, but I think I'm just, I'm curious what, and I really am scared of and intrigued by simultaneously the discussions around AI.

But I wonder as destructive as it is, will it potentially be helpful in ways with nature and the planet and climate change? Or is that just insane? I mean, I... It's really hard when there's, like, experts saying both things about... Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So you're saying, like, could it actually escalate a big awakening for us, maybe?

Like, it... Or find ways to, yeah, fix or inform us. Yeah. In ways to, like, there's a hurricane coming or an earthquake. You know, could AI... wildfires. Yeah, why are we not seeing that yet? Like my, my big conspiracy theory is that something's going on in the oceans, like orc are planning things or aliens live down there, something's happening because I'm like, why have we not, by now, fed in whale sounds to AI,

decoded what they're saying, and we're communicating with whales? That seems so easy. Well, let's get started. Let's get on that, you know? Let's get down there and record those guys. I want to hear what they're talking about. And there's some shady stuff going on. Like the government just came out and said it's illegal to talk to dolphins. And it's like, why did you make that law suddenly? What are you afraid of them telling us? Wait, where did you see this?

Thomas, is that real? Also, You can't be real. Two guys recently have claimed that they were kidnapped by dolphins to build underwater cities. They were Florida guys. I don't know. Are you sure that you're getting actual information? I don't know.

Another reason I had to get off Instagram. Yeah, seriously. Like, I'm like, is this a real cute baby squirrel I'm looking at? Yeah. Is this a real news story? And then I was like, bleh. So there is something called the Marine Mammal Protection Act. And it makes it illegal to try to interact with dolphins

because you could, you know, mess up their vibe. You know, let's see, I'm just trying to read. For example, when adult dolphins become accustomed to getting food from people, their young may not learn to forage. Okay, yeah. But does it say you can't talk to them? Yeah. I'm not seeing anything about talking. Okay.

Is it illegal to talk to dolphins? Is it illegal to wave to dolphins? Oh, it says that it's, no, yeah, you're right. Yeah. Oh, should we hear Sarah's answer? Well, also, can I say that it is wild, but so many of the people who created AI and the CEOs of these companies have quit and are saying this will destroy us and we cannot be using this. And we're all just like, ah, anyway. And they made it, they created it.

Yeah. Yeah, let's see what Sarah has to say. I think for me, a long time ago I read about a study about a scientist who had recorded, like, radio frequencies or something of plants and how they changed when things in the environment changed or a human walked by. And it was how like plants communicate with each other. So I'd want to know what plants were saying about us and about each other. Thank you so much for all the joy you've brought to me. I've listened to every single podcast, every one. Thanks, Sarah.

Does she mean every podcast ever made? Or ours? Not just ours, yeah. Thank you, Sarah. But also that is very juicy, thinking about the trees communication networks, their roots and things. Yeah, yeah. And there's something like you were talking to the jar. It wasn't a plant.

But you were talking to some things and rice, right? Yeah. Which is basically, you know, a plant. Yeah, you're right. And it was molding and mold is living, isn't it? Yes. It is. See, we know this stuff. We don't need high school education. Yeah, we're scientists. No, I don't need any more information. My dearest hansoms, this is Mark in Bristol in the UK. I'm a huge sitcom fan. They've got me through some very difficult times. And I'd like to know, who is your favorite sitcom character of all time and why? Oh, wow. That has, I got a little shiver of excitement there.

this question. I know exactly who mine is. Do you? Yeah, I do. I wonder if I know you well enough to guess, but I... Oh, let's hear. Is it someone from, like, a wagon train or something? From the Walton's. From the Waltons, yeah. No, that wasn't a sitcom. I think I've talked about one of my favorite sitcoms of all time was Good Times. Good Times. Good Times. It was, yeah, it was just such an incredible balance of comedy and intense drama and all in a half hour and whatever, 22 minutes. Wow. I mean, I loved everyone, but I really loved the dad. In fact, he died in the past year or two.

His name was John Amos. And he was like, just, I don't know. know like there was something about him his like the love for his kids and his wife and was so intense you know and um and it was all it was you know the seven did i already say that it was the seven days uh oh okay and it was this um this black family in um you know they were uh they were a struggling family but there was like that they were a family i love you know like broke and like trying to make their way and like having some real issues but man was the comedy there um and uh i that's who comes to mind right away is john amos i wonder if you unconsciously because you feel that passionately about your

family unit. You kind of have that quality of like, these are my, I ride or die for these people. Yeah. Yeah. This is my little crew. This is our team. You know? Yeah, I love that. He was like, he would get real mad, though, like, whereas, um, all the, you know, every, every version of, or every, um, uh, what am I trying to say? I iteration. Every end of the spectrum, you know, like, uh, fun, funny, angry, intense, sad, all of those things. Whereas I, you know, when Max and Finn act up,

I'm like, do I tell you how I correct them? Oh, yeah, you go, uh-uh. Yeah, I go, guys, uh-uh. I love that, the power. It's so cool. So, yeah, I like that you didn't go for like a wacky character. You went for the, yeah, the main guy. You got to see the good times.

I got to see good times. I haven't seen it in years, but I think it holds up. I would imagine it holds up. I'm going to say, I have two favorites that come to mind. Both of them, I think, are like crushes, really. One is Karen on Will and Grace, Megan Malali. I just, her voice. Do you know Megan? I met her once, and I'm such a big fan. And the voice and the, her timing is so good. She's just really effortless. And then I got to go Elaine Bennis. I was a Seinfeld fan growing up, but not massively, but I was an Elaine fan because she's the heart of the show. And without Elaine, it would have been all just sardonic and kind of, but she really, she's such an amazing actor

that you really buy it, even in these insane situations. And yeah, it just made the show what it was. Yeah, deep Elaine fan. Yeah, those are my answers. Should we hear what Mark says? I wonder if they'll be British ones, like the Royal Family is a British sitcom that everyone loved. And my favorite is got to be Megan Melale's Karen from Will & Grace. I could just watch clips of Karen over and over again all day. I think she's comic genius. But I would love to see the three of you in a three-hander sitcom together. I think, yeah, you've got to make that happen.

Okay, love you guys. Thank you, Mark. Yeah, three's come. We'll remake Three's Company. Yeah, perfect. Never seen it. But yeah, imagine the three of us. Do you think you would be, I feel like you would be the kind of, like fortune would be the wackiest character, don't you think? Well, yeah, of course. Yeah, fortune would be kind of coming in every morning like a ball of energy. Mm-hmm. Singing, of course.

I'd be in a crisis always and you'd be kind of dryly receiving it all and commenting on it. It works, you know. Yeah, who wants to make this? Yeah. Well, that was a delight. Yeah. Absolutely. Always is.

Always will be. Always will be. I'm going to be in Albany, New York. Come on out and see me in Peakskill, New York, and Clayton, New York, and Spokane, Washington, Eugene, Oregon, L.A., I have some dates. Rochester, New York, Colorado Springs. Go to tignotaro.com for all show information. Eugene Oregon, there's Jerry Garcia's widow has a weed farm up there and his daughter in Eugene Oregon. He's got a deep connection to Eugene.

Well, none of what you just said is surprising. Yeah. I am on June 10th at Largo in L.A. And that's kind of it for live shows. Oh, I'm in Guelph and Yellowknife in mid-July kind of doing music festivals. but check out maymartin.net. And also please keep submitting your questions to us and your advice request to speakpipe.com slash handsomepod.

We love hearing it. We sure do. And until next time, keep it pretty handsome. Handsome is hosted by me, Fortune Feemster, Tignitaro, and May Martin. The show is produced, recorded, and edited by Thomas Wulet. Email us at handsomepod at gmail.com. and follow us on social media at HandsomePod. What a podcast.

What a podcast. That was a hate gum podcast. Checking Allstate First could save you hundreds on car insurance. Not checking if I'm supposed to prepare a toast for my friend's birthday party? Uh-oh. Turns out she was expecting some thoughtful words before cutting the cake. And now I'm on the spot. Good thing.

I'm a professional. funny talker. Yeah, checking first is handsome. So check Allstate first for an auto quote. It could save you hundreds. You're in good hands with Allstate. Potential savings varies subject to terms, conditions, and availability. Allstate North American Insurance Company and Affiliates, Northbrook, Illinois.