Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang - "Rode Hard And Put Away Wet" (w/ Will Ferrell & Harper Steele)

Episode Date: September 25, 2024

Matt & Bowen are thrilled to welcome Will Ferrell and Harper Steele from the new Netflix documentary Will & Harper to Las Cultch! The two chat about their SNL beginnings (including Will's litt...le known performance as Lisa's brother Chip Kudrow), navigating familiar spaces as a trans woman, the importance of allyship and using the road trip depicted in the doc as a way to "come out more". Also, Kristen Wiig's original song for Will & Harper, emotions surrounding being embraced by the queer community, vulnerability as strength and making weird shit with your friend. All this, how The Rocky Horror Picture Show impacted Harper, Natty Light, stew, carrots, Molly Shannon, and how it's none of our BUSINESS what you think of us!!! Stream Will & Harper on Netflix on September 27th!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 The Real Housewives of New York City are back for another bite of the Big Apple. Look who it is. Joined by elite new friends. Rebecca Minkoff. Have you ever heard of her? But things could change in a New York Minute. She had this wild night and ended up getting pregnant by some other guy. What?
Starting point is 00:00:19 You told her? Not today, Satan. Not today. The Real Housewives of New York City. All new Tuesdays at 9 on Bravo or stream it on City TV+. Hey everybody, it's me, Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale now to see me on tour. The Prince of Christmas tour, that is. I'm doing my whole album, Have You Heard of Christmas, plus a lot more with the whole band all throughout December.
Starting point is 00:00:43 Go to www.mattrogersofficial.com to see me in a city near you. And now, Las Colch Drums. Look, Matt. Oh, I see. Wow. Bowen, look over there. Is that culture?
Starting point is 00:00:59 Yes. Oh, my goodness. Wow. Las Colchoristas. Ding dong, Las Las Culturistas calling I just whipped out an expression You love this expression I do, I say it often I was rode hard and put away wet And I kind of used it in this way to say
Starting point is 00:01:16 Like we're old dogs When it comes to this podcast You know what I'm saying We're withered and weathered Withered and weathered. Withered, weathered, rowed hard, and put away wet. A front runner for a title event. I know we'll come up with something better.
Starting point is 00:01:34 Did you want to ask about my sports pageantry? Yeah, you're wearing, now people don't know about this, but Matt Rogers, being the Long Island king he is, is a huge fan of the New York Mets. Major. Major, so you're wearing a Mets t-shirt, and is that a baseball cap? A Mets baseball cap? I'm flipping it around to reveal it is actually a Pride-themed Mets cap that I got when I threw out the first pitch.
Starting point is 00:01:56 I threw out the first pitch last year at the Mets Pride game, and I got to tell you, it was a strike. Wow! And I threw it from the mound. You knew this. I did. You went from the And I threw it from the mound. You knew this. You went from the mound? I went from the mound. Because you have to understand, my dad is a sports dad. That's right. He's a baseball coach.
Starting point is 00:02:12 He was a crazy man. He was a rainbow ball they used for the day. They really should have gone the extra mile there. But it was a match with a streamer. Yeah, I know. So they could be extra elegant and queer. Katniss Everdeen. Yes, exactly. What Katniss Everdeen. Yes, exactly. What Katniss was famous for doing.
Starting point is 00:02:28 Throwing the rainbow balls. Wow, already off the races. But anyway, so it's a huge week for the New York Mets. Explain. So I really can't, but I know that it's a big week. In fact, I texted my father to explain. They went to the Mets game last night, and I said, can you explain what's happening with the Mets this week because I know it's a big week. And he
Starting point is 00:02:48 said all these words. And I so I know that they're playing the Braves the Atlanta Braves. And they have to do well this week in order to stay in contention for the playoffs. Playoff implications. Oh there's major playoff implications. Another front runner for title of app. We're really rolling at it today.
Starting point is 00:03:04 But this is a major week so I'm wearing my sort of geish. And I pray for them. I pray for them. Now, this is something that I want to come back to, which is this idea of you don't have to understand something in order to appreciate and show love. Thank you so much. You're welcome. You know what? I don't know how to do make clothes.
Starting point is 00:03:20 And we're wearing them. And we're wearing them. Wow. By the way, I love this. Thank you. Bowen, would you want to describe what you're wearing? It And we're wearing them. Wow. By the way, I love this. Thank you. Bowen, would you want to describe what you're wearing? It's a little cable knit cardigan. It is the second day of fall at the time of recording.
Starting point is 00:03:33 We did it. We beat it. I have to say. We beat summer. It feels even better than the end of Labor Day weekend, which I famously said was the end of summer. But you were corrected summarily. It was controversy.
Starting point is 00:03:44 Yes. And we caught a lot of controversy on this podcast. Oh, yes. And now no one can say anything to me. It's fucking over. Stew season. Stoop season. What is the stew you're going to make this week? I'm going to make a
Starting point is 00:03:57 bo ko, which is a Vietnamese beef stew. Lemongrass. Down, bitch. Oh my God. I'm doing it on Sunday. We're back at work. You know, the top really jumps out when you talk about stew. Lemongrass down, bitch. Oh my god. I'm doing it on Sunday. We're back at work. You know, the top really jumps out when you talk about stew. The top? Yeah. I've really been looking forward to this episode. I saw
Starting point is 00:04:14 one of our guests at Seth Meyers. I had the privilege and honor of doing Second Chance Theater. Our guest remounted his legendary sketch called Mr. Cotter, where he plays someone who has basically just rearranged his life to look like his favorite actor, Gabe Kaplan,
Starting point is 00:04:33 from the sitcom Welcome Back, Cotter. No one knows what you're talking about. This is big mainstream stuff. People love John Travolta on this pod. We love Travolta. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He's been on six times. He's been on six times.
Starting point is 00:04:48 Hilarious. We gave him a jacket. Hilarious. And I stopped our guest. I said, you and Harper have to come on when the doc comes out. Rave reviews at Sundance. I mean, come on. You know 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Starting point is 00:05:03 That's all the percents. That's literally every percent you could get. And not for nothing, but you watch it and it works on every level. I mean, it's an incredible story of friendship, of resilience. I mean, you'll learn, you will laugh. It's just got all the greats in it. And I really feel like I had so many emotions watching it. It's one of those like true feats of documentary film in that it captures so much.
Starting point is 00:05:29 I mean, like it's just fucking great. Yeah. Yeah. It's incredible. Will and Harper. It's on Netflix September 27th. You simply must watch. We're simply so happy that our guests are here.
Starting point is 00:05:44 Give it up. Alphabetical. Alphabetical. Alphabetical. Last name. Ready? Here we go. Welcome into your ears. Will Ferrell and Harper Steele!
Starting point is 00:05:52 Now, welcome to the show. Did you drive here? Yeah. Yeah. Did you? Did you guys drive here? I love driving in New York. Oh, my God.
Starting point is 00:06:02 It was so easy today, too. Today. There's some events going on, and I don't think it's Mariah Carey. It's Mariah Carey. She's performing at the UN General Assembly, which is also in town. Oh, okay. That's going to be. I always come to Manhattan during the UN General Assembly, and I stay in midtown, in the UN area.
Starting point is 00:06:20 Oh, yeah. Do you ever try to get in? I've tried a couple times as a foreign diplomat, and I'm tackled to the ground. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you ever try to get in? I've tried a couple times as a foreign diplomat. And I'm tackled to the ground. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I was surprised they didn't let y'all into the White House. Because I feel like, when you pointed to your face and said, this is how we're getting in to see
Starting point is 00:06:35 Big Joe, I thought, this might work. No. No? No. I feel like you're going to get pushback, Will, because I think that one of the first things that's said in the film is you say, hi, I'm Will Ferrell, one of the greatest actors of all time. And then Matt and I were like, well, yeah, truly. You made it a joke and we think it's true.
Starting point is 00:06:55 I don't like hearing this. Are you listening to this? I'm not. My mic's off. I can't hear anything. No. Thank you. I so appreciate that.
Starting point is 00:07:04 Is this a matter of dispute between the two of you well it's been a little bit of a that's a point of yeah contention what is your greatest role thank you god i love this this is the greatest podcast ever i'm gonna say what is my greatest role i'm gonna say probably human being human being human being. Human being. Human being, like the way you occupy space every day. The way, yeah. I think people do think you're great, and I think people need to know that there's work.
Starting point is 00:07:36 There's just work to be done. We can improve every day. Of course. Work in progress. I'm a work in progress. Yeah, sure. Aren't we all? Yeah, absolutely. I feel I'm progressing.
Starting point is 00:07:44 Yeah. You're progressing? Every day. I'm a work in progress. Yeah, sure. Aren't we all? Yeah, absolutely. I feel I'm progressing. Yeah. You're progressing? Every day. I'm almost there. Complete. Oh, you feel pretty good. Like you're, yeah. I think so.
Starting point is 00:07:55 Okay. What is your greatest role? What is my greatest role? Human being. I start sobbing. I say best friend. Oh, my God. This becomes emotional immediately. human being I start sobbing because I say I say best friend I start crying this becomes
Starting point is 00:08:06 emotional immediately I did want I did want to ask about so in the beginning of the documentary you talk about your beginnings at SNL you really felt
Starting point is 00:08:14 you were a flop you didn't think people were getting it at first well I kind of have to warm up to the room
Starting point is 00:08:21 a little bit yeah I'm not a guns a blazing at least back, like, Sherry O'Terry was the only person. But you were confident. Yeah, I was like, I wasn't. But you were a very subdued human being.
Starting point is 00:08:31 Yeah, I was just more like feeling it out. At first. There were already cliques that had formed. People were way more, like, just really felt like they had been there the whole time. I'm like, wow. It just was overwhelming. Sure. Yeah, but it's funny to hear.
Starting point is 00:08:47 It was funny to hear after a couple of rides, we're like, yeah, everyone just thought you were like, you seem nice, but he's not that funny. I don't know what he's going to do on the show. It's like, who is that guy? Why is he here? Even though it was the same start week for both of you. Yeah, we both started.
Starting point is 00:09:06 But I had kind of come in with the Jon Stewart show. So I had a little clique, a little group of my own. And so I wasn't. And then Steve had already sort of gotten good in with the Second City people because of Cindy Campanera. They were best friends. So I kind of had a little bit in. And then I just would get asked every once in a while. We were all sort of sizing up the talent. And I was also on the other side.
Starting point is 00:09:32 My office was behind the page. Oh, yeah. The desk there on that side. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wasn't part of the— No man's land. No man's land. And I'd walk over to the writer's room table side, and it was gales of laughter down the gale gales
Starting point is 00:09:46 bits galore bits everyone doing bits and i was late on the bit i didn't already understand the inside joke and i go back to my quiet side yeah not a good feeling to be outside of the bit no i'm just like well also he just wasn't up for like bidding for no reason i do some long distance phone calls yeah on my phone doing phone? That's a good bet. Doing your own bit. And then I was like, oh, I guess I'll go to Ikea and furnish my apartment. I don't know what else to do. They brought us in so early, too.
Starting point is 00:10:14 Like a month. Yeah, like really early, early, like into August. Oh, wow. Yeah. That seems a little cool. It was fun, though, because there's no pressure at that point. So the show's not happening for a long time, and you're like, I can't wait for the show to start,
Starting point is 00:10:27 which obviously we know that's not really fun. It's the gales of bits. It's the gales of bits. Gales of bits. Well, you two came, I think, and it's documented in the documentary. You two came on a read-through day, I remember, and you both came down to say hi to everybody. It was so lovely.
Starting point is 00:10:44 We'd heard the scuttlebutt that the doc was starting. Wasn't Travis Kelsey the host? It was Travis Kelsey. That was the week. Yeah. We were so, we were once again, overwhelmed because that was,
Starting point is 00:10:55 not read through. Read through in the studio is so foreign to us. Totally. It was a little, yeah. Oh, you know what? We're recording this right before the first week back.
Starting point is 00:11:04 And by the time this comes out, I'll know whether or not we're back on 17. I think Lorne, that's the mission Lorne wants. It's such an intimate, such a better, well, I mean, we can't, I can't compare it because I didn't sit through or read through on this, but what I saw, it looked sort of hollow.
Starting point is 00:11:20 And when you get up there on 17, it's intimate and there's lots of, yeah, the laughter you can hear. Or when I wrote sketches, often you couldn't hear the laughter. Acoustically, it's better up in 17. But by the time, when did the bit start of you walking around? And was it that you were Lisa Kudrow's brother? Like you were playing someone's brother. I was Chip Kudrow.
Starting point is 00:11:45 Lisa Kudrow's brother. There were like in character. I was Chip Kudrow. Chip Kudrow. Lisa Kudrow's brother. There was no character, by the way. No character. You had glasses on. I had the same vocal intonation. Most grounded character of all. Yeah, I wore a fake. Your greatest role.
Starting point is 00:11:56 Fake. You're not human. Human. You kind of, and Lisa, I think is fine with this, but you kind of dumbed Chip down a little bit. Chip Kudrow said really one line. He would sit at read-through, and we would all be going over the sketch,
Starting point is 00:12:09 and Chip would just go, I would invert that. That's all he said. Chip would be at the rewrite table. He's super affable. Yeah, I loved him. Oh, good. Always showed up late.
Starting point is 00:12:22 Always showed up late. Sure. That was a Chip thing, not a Will thing. Chip would just sit there smiling and giving thumbs. And then someone, Higgins or someone would go, Chip, do you have any notes? I'm like, I would invert it. I would do the funny part at the beginning.
Starting point is 00:12:37 Exactly. And then end on the- That was his one note. Wait, well, so then what would happen? Where would Chip be? Like where would Will be when Chip was kind of just holding, just being in the room? It's like Superman and Clark Kent. You can never find Will.
Starting point is 00:12:50 And there was no distinguishing physical thing either. That's what made it even better than the whole Clark Kent bullshit. But at what point was there the comfort to broach Chip? Because I consider that a huge bit. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was at least it was not the first year no that was a year
Starting point is 00:13:07 it was probably second or third year yeah it's not bad yeah sometimes it takes people a couple seasons to show themselves
Starting point is 00:13:14 but that's the other place Harper and I bonded just constantly reminding ourselves and everyone else at the show that like
Starting point is 00:13:22 we're doing comedy right let's not take it too seriously. We're going to fail. We know that. Failing is kind of. Yeah. Liberating, right?
Starting point is 00:13:32 I mean, if you don't get all. Gabe Kaplan. Gabe Kaplan. But that ended up being such a triumph by the end. Well, but sure. It took 20 years. It took 20 years to get laughs. But you know, all it needed was someone to show a picture
Starting point is 00:13:44 of what Gabe Kaplan looked like. And then when the reveal is that you look like him, it's funny. Can I bring up, or you should talk about Box of Shit. Now talk about Box of Shit. Oh, I don't know. Okay, yeah. No, no, no. I'm very proud of Box of Shit.
Starting point is 00:13:58 Yeah. The first few seasons. That's a rule of culture number 80. I'm really proud of Box of Shit. The first few seasons of SNL, I would compile a viewing party called the Box of Shit. It was the worst sketches of the year. Good. And you have to include one of your own because you can't piss on people.
Starting point is 00:14:16 I imagine you didn't. We all had shitty sketches. Some people weren't invited to the Box of Shit viewing party because they didn't have the same attitude. Oh, of course. Yeah, so you have to be careful there. But if you're thinking, was I on the Box of Shit? Yes, you were. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:14:32 You have to be able to roll on the Box of Shit. Yeah. But it became a point of pride. Of course. To get selected for the Box of Shit. Yeah. And we had this one sketch, and I'm not going to name whose it was. It was a commercial parody.
Starting point is 00:14:43 But there was a laugh on it that was from maybe 42nd Street. It was the only laugh. It was so far away from the building, and so... And we just analyzed it over and over again. Was it a laugh? Where did it come from? But it was silent. A commercial
Starting point is 00:14:59 parody that was silent. Yeah. And the phantom laugh is just a fuzz of static. It was like, it was like, eh. 40 seconds.
Starting point is 00:15:10 And we're like, oh, that's just someone out on 40 seconds. Wow. Wait, can you do that again? Like,
Starting point is 00:15:16 eh. That's very ASMR. All you sound people, get out your equipment. Yeah, no, they're going to do what they're going to do what they're going to do.
Starting point is 00:15:25 They're going to do it. Yeah, they're good at that whole thing. Open up the pods. Yes. Is that the right terminology? Not really. Okay.
Starting point is 00:15:31 Open up the pods. Let's open up the pods. You always think whenever you go into like a studio or something that there's going to be knobs like this everywhere. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:40 Nowadays, very few knobs. Nope. I like the knobs. I like the knobs too. Like, turn that up. Yeah, yeah, exactly. You know, and I'm doing this, too, as if there's, like, one ear.
Starting point is 00:15:50 The glamour of recording is one pod. This is hanging off your ear, the other side. And you sort of slide the knob and go, yeah, that's it. Turn the gains up. I don't know what a single one of the words or actions means. You sounded so professional. Thank you. I have some experience. I'm near some what a single one of the words or actions means. You sounded so professional. Thank you. I have some experience.
Starting point is 00:16:06 I'm near some knobs now. This is very antiquated. You need to email somebody. Face the screen, Bahid. Yeah. That's not where you should be facing. That having been said, what if I touch this?
Starting point is 00:16:18 Would it do nothing if he touched that? Would it do nothing? It would do something. Okay. Don't do it. Okay, I'm not. You produced this podcast. Do you want us to go down in flames it's the only good thing we have i saw the thing about the joy of producing well can i say something because i don't think will knows how much involved he is producing the project
Starting point is 00:16:39 he was under yeah the table here working wires this morning. Oh my God. I got in here at, oh, what was, I was a little bit late. So I got in here at 6.30. I'm usually here at 5.30. Yeah. And I was, yeah, I was making sure
Starting point is 00:16:54 the board was hooked up. Yeah, totally. I got the Sony. Yeah, that's the Sony. Sony full frame. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I lined these up and I made sure
Starting point is 00:17:03 the copy machine was working. Did you get this really cold coffee for every coffee it was cold you're kidding yeah Harper you're not a fan
Starting point is 00:17:13 of cold coffees you wanted hot I wanted a hot coffee but it wasn't gonna happen so it can't always happen because the thing about hot coffee
Starting point is 00:17:20 is it can become cold whereas cold coffee well it can become warm but it can't ever become hot you're right the thermal should have been thinking cold yeah of course of right yeah yeah well you know if you don't expect anything you're not ever disappointed yeah pull out a paperback novel right I think that one of my favorite parts of the doc was seeing you guys all interact with, you know, Tina and Seth and Colin and everyone together.
Starting point is 00:17:48 And I wonder, like, what is that like to go into the room with all those people? And of course, there's going to be the bits, but there is this very real thing of this transformation and this change. Yeah. What were those emotions that were going through your mind? Well, very family like because. Yeah. And I know, Bowen, you're there now. You probably hate everyone there.
Starting point is 00:18:08 Of course you do. He'll never say the truth, but I will. But I guarantee you in 10 years, that's your high school. You will love those people so much. So when I came out, the email got out to these various people that I worked with at Saturday Night Live. They were so supportive, so sweet. So walking into that room was just really sweet, and yeah, it felt like a family. I mean,
Starting point is 00:18:31 I just was so happy to see every one of them, except for Colin Jones. Except for Colin. And Tim, who thought it was a bit. No one wants to see Colin. No one wants to see Tim. I'm so tired of Colin Jones. Did Tim actually respond thinking it was a bit, or was that a bit? He didn't respond that aggressively that it was a bit.
Starting point is 00:18:49 I think, yeah, he got the news from an old friend of ours, Marcy Klein, and I think it came to Tim. There's a way to tell someone that they've transitioned, and then there's a way maybe not to. But I hope you don't feel that your way was not the right way because it was completely personal. Oh yeah, yeah, no. And I, no, I mean it was
Starting point is 00:19:09 again, everyone which to me is the laughable thing. We have a friend who came out on the Ellen show but they were working at Ellen for like 10 years before they had the courage to come out and escape. And you're like, how is that possible?
Starting point is 00:19:26 And I have that feeling like, why was I so afraid in the world of entertainment? It's ridiculous. I feel like that's sort of outside of it. One thing that doesn't really come up in the documentary, but that I was thinking about is I was thinking back to that time. And even when we were really coming up in comedy like it's funny the other day there was a piece on Bowen and we talk about the sketch that we wrote many years ago was that first
Starting point is 00:19:51 sketch that Bowen ever performed you can say it I read it it was called it was about Joan from Mad Men and I wrote it and we were talking about it and I was like kind of reminiscing and then I went back to those sketches and I was like looking in 2013 at some of the sketches and I was like kind of reminiscing and then I went back to those sketches and I was like looking in 2013 at some of the sketches and I opened one up yeah and in the very first line there's a transphobic joke yeah and we were queer yeah we felt very progressive and I actually had to sit back in my chair and I was like wow it flew out in the first line and then I really thought to myself about how prevalent, not only just casual racism, casual misogyny,
Starting point is 00:20:29 but transphobia was- In the comedy world, especially. Absolutely. And so when we talk about the entertainment world, you were in the comedy world. Of course, there was some. Oh, yeah. And I just wanted to ask, like, to speak to that. Like, I'm certain that if we went back to SNL sketches
Starting point is 00:20:43 from your tenure, tenure there were things oh definitely things I've not would not write again at all right of course yeah no to know that you were dealing with this yeah in the midst of that was that a rub or did you find yourself participating in that type of comedy writing because that's just kind of what you did I think I got so good at disassociating that it just was, and not paying attention to how anxious or how miserable I was, not paying attention to that side, just letting this thing keep going and just making sure that the train stayed on the track always. Doing the job. Just constantly, just, and I love the job and I love the people. So it's like one of these
Starting point is 00:21:21 kind of impossible things to explain. You're just living this experience that seems in every way beautiful. And it was in a lot of ways. And then there's just this other side that's falling apart. Do you think that disassociation led to, I mean, you're a funny person, but do you think comedy was a way to not? Oh, without a doubt. No, I mean, especially when I was a kid. Yeah, exactly.
Starting point is 00:21:43 I mean, I became a class clown for a reason. You I had to distract you flourish but also hide yeah of course of course yeah you know I think a lot of comedians it's not about being trans or being queer or anything there's a lot of things people are hiding in a comedy room and yeah I think I you know it's just a very disassociative kind of world really yeah I, there's a moment in the doc that's really beautiful where it's you two with Forte on a hot air balloon. I love that man. I love that man. What a beautiful man.
Starting point is 00:22:12 To get to that shoot, Will Forte went through 30 different trains and planes and probably another hot air balloon. He interrupted like a ski vacation or something to meet us on, because we knew we were hitting Albuquerque at a certain date. And like most people, I'm busy. I can't, no. Had to be there. There's a thing that Harper says where you say,
Starting point is 00:22:39 you know, sometimes I wish I had come out sooner, but if I had, then I might not have met you guys and I might not have had a comedy job. And I wanted to ask about this, what you feel about this like temporal aspect to being a trans person. You've always been a trans person, but then the moment of coming out or of transition,
Starting point is 00:22:58 which are also two separate things that are chronologically on different loci, let's say, how do we like reconcile those things, though, of like you've always been this person. Yeah. And yet the moment of coming out is incredibly consequential. Yeah, because I try to kind of reconcile it with the sort of transness of my whole life. Yeah. So like a lot of the transness seeped through in so many great ways. And that's just that thing inside me fighting me the whole time and finally winning. And that's a really joyous thing to think about. Like I fought it so hard for so long, or when I say I, this is all complicated, but yes, I tried to keep this thing
Starting point is 00:23:37 down and it just kept fighting back. So yes, on the other side of it, it's like to come out in 1979, I mean, which I wish I could have done. I wish I could have come out in 1979. I would wonderful. I just don't know if the world would have been the same and to get to Lorne Michaels wouldn't have hired a trans woman in 1996. I mean, I'm sure Lorne, oh no, of course I would have. No, he's not doing that. I mean, I could have had a wonderful life. I don't know what that life is. I'm not saying it was going to be misery or anything, but yeah, I just, I also value all the friends and people I made sort of just being half myself, you know. All that aside, though, like it is, I think, pretty incredible that SNL like has already had a trans head writer. Oh, I love it. I love it.
Starting point is 00:24:35 I'm looking at the cast and the crew and the writers now. And it's just like, yes, thank you. But I'm talking about I'm talking about you. Like any time you ask me like, oh, what's it like with this? You know. Oh, of course. Your sensibility that's broken. And I'm like ask me, like, oh, what's it like with this, you know, queer sensibility that's broken in? I'm like, well, I don't think it's broken. I think it's always been there.
Starting point is 00:24:49 Yeah, second female head writer. I mean, Tina did beat me, so. Goddamn trailblazer. I know, exactly. Girl boss. You don't have enough. I don't care about that. You didn't need to lean in that much.
Starting point is 00:25:00 No, no way. When is it enough? When is it enough? Gorgeous, talented. Could you not way. When is it enough? When is it enough? Tina, stop. Gorgeous, talented. Could you not see that I was a woman? You should have seen that. This is Tina's fault.
Starting point is 00:25:13 Yeah. Tina repressed me to get ahead. That's a full quote. Oh, honestly, People Magazine's coming for you. One thing that like really blew me away is, and it always blows me away, is when someone has a passion for solo road trips through the middle of the country. And one thing that this is part of the ride that I was on in watching the documentary was how I was checking in with my body.
Starting point is 00:25:49 Like when you guys go into those bars, those hole in the wall bars, I had like a response to it. And one thing that I think was my pull from this was not only how beautiful your story was and how beautiful your friendship is, but how afraid I really am of those spaces and how I feel like whether it's I've been conditioned or I've learned a need to unlearn, but I myself have a phobia of a type of person I think that is learned because whether it's a trauma response or something,
Starting point is 00:26:25 me being defensive, like, and I know that I can code switch in those spaces if I really wanted to. In fact, I did it many years to survive in my own right. You're code switching today with your mask. Like this, I mean,
Starting point is 00:26:35 but, but like anything, the reason I even own this shirt is because I had it a long time ago, but just the ability to go into those spaces is now one that you have to think about in a different way. And I think, were you actively nervous those whole times? Did you feel protected by the cameras and by Will's presence? And so was that, yeah, I mean, I guess. Yeah. I mean, I wasn't as nervous. I mean, that bar going in by myself was a weird experience. I mean, I'm looking around at people I grew up with. I knew that world a little bit.
Starting point is 00:27:06 That felt weird, but I also had a camera crew and my buddy Will was outside and I knew he was gonna come in. So whenever I was traveling with Will, I didn't have a sort of typical trans experience, honestly. But no, I've been back and forth twice now. And I still, like you, I'm not sure I'm gonna go back into that kind of bar at night.
Starting point is 00:27:26 I will go into truck stops and the places that I love and I have, and I feel way more confident, but no, I mean, and code switching is such a funny thing. There's this thing in this documentary. It just bothers me every time I see it, we're in that Oklahoma bar and I'm talking to people and I go, y'all. And it's fear-based, you know, and it's not a bad thing to be fearful. It's safety, right? And I grew up in Iowa and I know what y'all means and I've said it. But every time I see it now, I'm like, aren't you proud to be out Harper's steel? Well, you don't need to say y'all. Well, I still do a little bit. Oh, what do you mean? What's scary about y'all, you don't need to say y'all. Y'all, well, I still do a little bit. Oh, what do you mean? What's scary about y'all?
Starting point is 00:28:06 I'm just trying to connect with these people in a way. I am code switching. I'm trying to connect with them and like, don't hurt me, basically. Totally. But I think there's, I don't know where, how this nests together, but I feel like there's code switching. And then there's also like, I would consider the y'all a signal. Just like a pretty neutral signal.
Starting point is 00:28:25 I take that back. You're right. Code switching has become a kind of a dirty word. And it's actually just a way to communicate sometimes with people. And I'm hard on myself. But Owen, you do a great bro. What do you mean? I've seen, I've heard your bro.
Starting point is 00:28:40 Oh. You do a really good bro. He's a very powerful masculine. So I've heard your bro. I'm like, baby. Whoa. Yeah, yeah. a really good. He's a very powerful masculine. So I heard your mind like, hey man. Yeah. So, so yeah. So believe me, you can code switch. Wow.
Starting point is 00:28:54 Interesting. I mean, you haven't seen this guy do his bro. Oh really? Look at him. I mean, whatever. I don't like attention. This is the thing. This is the thing about like, when straight guys can like, you know,
Starting point is 00:29:08 wink at each other and be a little bit whatever. I will say this. I went to a straight wedding recently. I went to a straight wedding recently. But I don't know. God, I'm just thinking. No, so you get away with it.
Starting point is 00:29:19 But it feels so weird. I wouldn't think anything either way. I would never do. Anyway. But here's the thing. I went to a straight wedding recently and the straight men who are so comfortable with themselves
Starting point is 00:29:28 they are all over me I think that they wanted it more than any gay man ever has because gay men are so aloof and they're so like everyone wants to be like the one whereas these straight guys are like whether they're going to go there because it's something
Starting point is 00:29:44 intrinsic that they don't know about or like whatever. I feel vibes with them. And I am, I know vibes. I know vibes. If I know anything, I think it's because of the code switch.
Starting point is 00:29:57 Oh, okay. I know what it means to be repressed, repressed, repressed. And then when something feels open, like it's like a certain openness. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:30:04 They're interested. Like, I don't know what it is. And like it's like a certain openness. Yeah. They're interested. Like, I don't know what it is. And it's the married guys. Yeah. Yeah. So I'm just saying there's, there's no,
Starting point is 00:30:10 but this is a person who's very comfortable in his skin. Yeah. And I envy, I always envied that. Right. And people, you know, it was so nice.
Starting point is 00:30:20 That was a lovely compliment. Did you write Mark Spitz? I did not write the Mark Spitz. Okay, but that was a lovely moment in the doc. But also, Sudi was telling me last night, was Robert Goulet, that was your last season? Was that all in the last season? No, I did it a few seasons probably.
Starting point is 00:30:36 Okay, okay. But it was like, it was after. Towards the end, yeah. Towards the end. Yeah. I feel like, Harper, your tenure on the show is pretty expansive. Like, you were obviously there when Will was there.
Starting point is 00:30:45 I was there with Dylan Allen and Tina and Amy and all these really wonderful, great... Not to mention really fostered so many voices at Funny or Die. Harper was like the go-to office... Creative director. Yeah, and you'd stop by her office to get an idea or get a note and she would, she was like, I mean,
Starting point is 00:31:08 I'm kind of a genius. Well, not kind of. Genius. You threw it away, but it's true. Oops, I crapped my pants.
Starting point is 00:31:16 When you came out with that shirt, I flashed all the way back. That was one of the, like, I think I downloaded, like, that sketch. I'm like,
Starting point is 00:31:23 I was going to say, like Napster, but not, you I was going to say Kazaa. Yeah. Like Napster, but not, you weren't going to go to prison for it. Albert Einstein didn't speak until he was six years old. When did you first speak? No. I spoke as soon as I came out.
Starting point is 00:31:38 Oh. You're like, hey, how are you guys? You're not so much of a genius. Don't talk with my sexuality. And then they did. And then they did. And then they did. Is there a unicycle nearby? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:31:49 So that unicycle moment, that was completely random. That was not. Oh, no, no. There's nothing written or composed for this documentary. And that was very strange. And the therapist at the Grand Canyon, who was like trying to make amends for. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:32:06 So for those who haven't seen it yet because it hasn't come out yet there are a couple moments in here where you're talking about how you would unicycle around your neighborhood at your child
Starting point is 00:32:12 in front of your childhood home yeah and then a unicyclist just rides on by it was the universe it was the universe and you get on the unicycle and
Starting point is 00:32:21 in heels in heels in heels I was gonna say I mean that was which bad form I'm gonna say for all unicyclists nail dips. In heels. In heels. I was going to say, I mean, that was... Bad form, I'm going to say, for all unicyclists out there. For the unicyclist press
Starting point is 00:32:30 that's going to do, like, the review of the new people mag. They're going to rip you a new one. They're going to rip you the shreds. The way you went up that hill, too, you had to maneuver some terrain. Yeah. The core strength.
Starting point is 00:32:40 Yeah, the core strength. It was impressive. That's gotten, every screening, that's gotten an applause break. Deservedly so. When she gets on the... It's the don't rain on my parade of the year. And there's always one every year. There's always to be one.
Starting point is 00:32:58 Let's start, 1910. 1910. You know what? I mean, I think there is some buzz starting about, I mean, obviously the- A unicycle parade? The unicycle parade. That's starting up a unicycle parade.
Starting point is 00:33:10 I think Harper's gonna be the great marshal. Please don't make me go in the unicycle parade. I think Bowen is hinting at buzz for the doc. Buzz for the doc, but also buzz for, and this is a little bit of a spoiler. Start it though. Kristen has a song. Kristen Wiig writes, so the running bit of a spoiler. Start it, though. Kristen has a song.
Starting point is 00:33:25 Kristen Wiig writes. So the running bit of, like, the Chekhov's gun in the beginning of, like, write us a song. And then you almost think it's not going to happen, and then it happens. And when it happens, it is, like, the final release for me emotionally. I just. Isn't it wonderful? She's just like, and that was a surprise to us. We didn't know that it was happening.
Starting point is 00:33:43 We did the bit. And we just called her. And it's like. We actually hadn't heard anything. We just thought thought it's not gonna happen i would check in with josh well did she write anything and and the director yeah josh and josh so josh josh brings us in he's like josh is like why don't you guys come i made a few more little edits or i'd like you guys to just watch the movie one more time. I'm like, okay, sure. We come in and then he revealed at the end. Wow. And Josh did Barb and Star.
Starting point is 00:34:11 Yes, yes. So he knew Kristen and was able to go and cajole her into writing a song. But, oh, my God. I love her to death. She's so brilliant. And also the song is not only beautiful, but also funny in the, the Jack, I mean,
Starting point is 00:34:28 you know, it goes places musically. We gave her some interesting notes. Yes. Yes. As part of the bit. And yet she kind of makes, yeah.
Starting point is 00:34:37 Except did she pull off the country? No. Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:42 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:42 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:42 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:43 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:43 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:43 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh,
Starting point is 00:34:43 Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, Oh, oh oh oh I think it was in there Kristen I think it lived in there a little bit let me take it back what drivel what terrible terrible songwriting
Starting point is 00:34:51 awful I think we should ask Harper the question okay oh boy shit we're gonna ask you the question we ask all of our guests
Starting point is 00:34:58 which is Harper Steele what was the culture that made you say culture was for me I hope this is a good answer because i really don't know what you guys mean by that that's actually by design um but i'm going to tell you
Starting point is 00:35:12 so rocky or a picture show um it wasn't the movie i was in chicago i saw it with friends afterwards it was at the biograph theater afterwards we went to a diner i'm sitting with my broey friends and in comes four queens yeah and they're over here and i'm over here i'm watching this group over here and if i could have split my body in half at that point i would have gone over to that table but But something kept me over on this side. And it was intense. I could feel it like, oh, there it is over there. You can reach it. Nope, can't have it.
Starting point is 00:35:53 So this was after you had seen it? So I was like, I was 1981, maybe. I was 20 years old. Yeah. And so you, just to be clear, you went to see- I went to see Rock Your Picture Show. The whole night was magical. People up on stage doing Frankenfurter or whatever, but it was really just being in that neighborhood, sort of Chicago-y neighborhood. I can't remember what it
Starting point is 00:36:14 is, but, uh, Lincoln Park. Gosh, thank you. Sears Tower. You have the fairgrounds. Southside. I'm so happy that you're here. Obama's house. No, this is my hype band. Wiener Circle. I need this. Wiener Park. But anyway, yeah, it was in this neighborhood, and there obviously queer people went and saw the movie, and I'm sitting there looking.
Starting point is 00:36:38 And I don't know what their gender was or anything. It was just like, oh, this is fun over there. Were there remarks from the bros at the table? No, no, no one was really, in fact, there was another person who came out later at the table. I was just going to say, are you in touch with any of those bros? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. No, no. Of course, some of those bros you know. Oh, okay. Yeah, yeah. I was hanging out with Lorne Michaels and we were just like,
Starting point is 00:37:06 hey, the Cubs are playing tomorrow. I've got an idea for this show. It's 19 years. Right Night Live. Yeah. I'm thinking of going back.
Starting point is 00:37:15 Yeah, yeah. I'm thinking of going back. Well, you should. It's going to be, I told him, I said, go back. You have to go back, Lorne. I think it's going to work.
Starting point is 00:37:24 It needs you. Yeah. But anyway, that was my culture Lauren. I think it's going to work. It needs you. Yeah. But anyway, that was my culture moment. I don't know if that's... Oh, no, it's a perfect answer. In fact, I actually feel a little seen by the answer because when we were 18, one of the Welcome Week activities that I did,
Starting point is 00:37:39 I don't know if you remember this, but they had the Rocky Horror Picture Show at NYU and they were showing the movie and it was interactive. And it was one of those things I had never... I think I was aware of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at NYU and they were showing the movie and it was interactive and it was one of those things I had never, I didn't, I think I was aware of what Rocky Horror was. I think I just thought it was a movie with Susan Sarandon. As I want to think.
Starting point is 00:37:54 But then in seeing what it was and seeing that it was a place for people to truly let their, I guess, freak flag fly and access this part of yourself that was like the animal. And then, you know, what's funny is a couple months later, Lady Gaga would sort of take over New York and the little monster thing would happen.
Starting point is 00:38:10 And it almost felt like something was speaking to me on high to like see these things and feel these things. And I remember they had a moment in the thing where they stopped it and they said, we're going to come out into the audience and we're going to pick people out of the crowd and you're going to come up and everyone's going to do a fake orgasm.
Starting point is 00:38:26 Wow. Oh, my gosh. For some reason. I wouldn't have been able to do it at all. No way. I don't know why, but I raised my hand. And I went up there, and I did a terrible fake orgasm. Like, horrible.
Starting point is 00:38:39 And I got booed. One at a time. We went down the line. By the way, do you still get booed? They lined everyone up they lined us all up and there were these people in like fishnets
Starting point is 00:38:48 and corsets and like crazy makeup and like they got to me and I did this horrible thing I think I was wearing American Eagle you know what I mean like it was like
Starting point is 00:38:56 I was in my like Long Island drag very much like this and I did a terrible one and they booed me and I went to sit in my seat and I was like wow I am so far away
Starting point is 00:39:03 from being the person I want to be because you seat and I was like, wow, I am so far away from being the person I want to be. Oh yeah. Because you have so many checkpoints. Oh yeah. And it wasn't going to happen. It just wasn't going to happen. I could just,
Starting point is 00:39:11 yeah. I've never seen Rocky horror. Will Ferrell. Can I tell you something? If you see, if we'll, I haven't either. Oh,
Starting point is 00:39:18 okay. Oh, okay. Cause I was about to say when we'll see that he will come out. Probably. Probably. There's like a 70% chance. It will free you. It's pretty high.
Starting point is 00:39:31 Wow, wait. I can't believe you've never seen it either. But I remember it's not necessary, really. It was at a certain point, but I'm loving that. That's the same story, right? It came at a time when I was like, you want to know what it was? The way you felt compelled to go over there.
Starting point is 00:39:49 I was compelled to get up on the stage. And I didn't ever have any. Sort of out of body. It was like a tractor beam. It was like, I'm raising my hand. And I went up there and had a bad experience. But it ended up being memorable. And it ended up being really formative because I remember looking around and seeing people who didn't seem to care about anyone thinking about them and looking, oh,
Starting point is 00:40:11 they look gay or they look weird or they look dark or they look fucked or they look ugly or they look really fucking hot. You know, it was just everyone being all those things all at once and the screaming and the lack of decorum being a sign. There was something about it that made me, and I think a few years later we would discover like, you know, it's weird now because it's such a mainstream part of culture, but RuPaul's Drag Race. At the time when it started was like, whoa, drag. RuPaul saying you're all born naked and the rest is drag. You don't have to be in these boxes. That was like a revolution at the time for a young person. People coming out as trans on the show. Yes. You don't have to be in these boxes. That was like a revolution at the time
Starting point is 00:40:45 for a young person. People coming out as trans on the show. Yes. And not giving a vocabulary to people. Yeah, over time, yeah. But it's interesting you say that. But I feel like, see, you're still holding on to some of those.
Starting point is 00:40:55 There's still some residue from that time, like the Mets shirt, let's say, right? And like the American Eagle sort of like aesthetic. And I feel like what I also really enjoyed about the documentary and Harper's story is that like there's this identity
Starting point is 00:41:09 with the road tripping and like knowing where all the record the best record stores are and drinking shitty beer yeah I'm not gonna lose that I mean that's I consider that Harper
Starting point is 00:41:18 you know what I mean yeah and like knowing like I think Seth makes a joke of like oh god yeah the list of the best dumpster. Yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 00:41:25 Dumpsters for used furniture. No one wants my list of places to go in the country. I think it's my favorite line. Dumpsters filled with unused furniture. Unused furniture. I love that. Oh, it's my favorite line. Yeah, I love that line.
Starting point is 00:41:35 I mean, I feel like there's this really beautiful connection to like beautiful ruin or something. Oh, absolutely. Yeah, no. I mean, yeah, there's a there's the bad side where I felt like a monster. And then there's the good side where I see beauty and monsters. So there are there are this sort of back and forth fighting each other, I think. Yeah. Have you developed like a queer community? Do you feel like, you know, there's queer people that are now? It's slow developing. It's slow developing. I have some trans friends.
Starting point is 00:42:06 It's slow developing. It's one of those things that I just am looking for. The queer community, that's the community I was most afraid of for this doc. I don't, there's so many, the trans community can get a little snipey too. And I was really afraid. And then I did some screening just for queer audiences. And it was, it was incredible. I mean. You said it was super emotional. Oh, no, I'm crying. I'm queer audiences, and it was incredible. You said it was super emotional.
Starting point is 00:42:27 Oh, no, I'm crying. I'm on the cover of The Advocate. This is, like, huge. Like, I just, it's like. Not to mention, if I can toot her horn, she was at Toronto Film Festival, was on a panel of queer trans filmmakers, and it was just, you were, were like the star of the panel
Starting point is 00:42:45 oh I was not they're amazing people but you were so hilarious and Harper well that I am and then a big group came to our screening that night and Harper was holding court with all these young trans it feels really good
Starting point is 00:43:01 but it's a slow process for me because I've been so resistant I feel like you are so invite me to your next party It feels really good. I mean, but it's a slow process for me because I've been so resistant. So, you know. I feel like you are. So invite me to your next party. Of course. You're invited. Both of you.
Starting point is 00:43:12 I feel like. Well, no, not Will. Yeah. I don't have to. I mean, I'd love to. You're busy. I feel super uncomfortable around you. I make a great stew.
Starting point is 00:43:20 I make a great stew. There you go for tops. You guys should do a stew party and watch Rocky Horror for the first time and we'll do something else. Yeah. I know, we have to break the seal on Rocky Horror.
Starting point is 00:43:38 This fall on Bravo. It's time to turn up. Think you've seen it all? I don't think you've been a good friend to me lately. We're friends like that. Who needs enemies? You ain't seen nothing yet. Cheers to being Germanic.
Starting point is 00:43:46 With the Real Housewives of Potomac. Oh my gosh, can I take this in? It's gonna be amazing. New York City. Everyone is a gossip. No one gets a happier life. Salt Lake City. We don't wear costumes, we wear fashion.
Starting point is 00:43:57 And below deck sailing. You broke the rules and now you're here getting upset. Watch all new seasons on Bravo or stream it on City TV+. Let's have a real fun time. You're talking about this fight, you know,
Starting point is 00:44:13 between your body and your mind your whole life and then I think you were telling your kids before you set off on the trip that this was
Starting point is 00:44:19 a way for you to come out more. Oh yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's an altruistic reason. There's trans legislation being passed across the country that's been very violent and very...
Starting point is 00:44:31 You guys know the political landscape out there for trans people and for queer people in general. So that was a reason to do it in terms of like, oh, this will have maybe some use. But also, Will and I like to make weird things. We do a lot of weird projects. They've all been weird. I mean, we're here to promote girl visions.
Starting point is 00:44:52 Yeah, yeah. So when Will sort of like said. Lifetime movie. Yeah. Movie all in Spanish. Yeah, yeah. Love that, though. We're the same.
Starting point is 00:44:59 Milwaukee Camp. Yeah. So it was like the opportunity to do this sort of strange thing. Also, I jumped at it. And then, yes, of course, anything that's helped me because you come out, you know, and I don't know if this is true of all trans people. My experience is I came out and every day is just more confidence. So it's like there's a thing that just you just kind of keep moving forward. And I just thought, oh, well, this is going to really just make me just, I'm done, you know,
Starting point is 00:45:25 and that's, and it did, it was really wonderful experience. And I did go back across the country again in both ways and yeah, it was just easier. What I love about working on stuff with Harper is that we don't necessarily know that it's going to work or connect with a big part of the audience, but we know it will definitely connect with a specific part of the audience. It's genuine, and we will always feel proud of it. Even though that's sometimes
Starting point is 00:45:56 hard in Hollywood to push that through the committee, but if you give us a couple swings, we'll make something original. I think what you're getting at is this thing that I was saying earlier, which is like you don't have to understand something or someone in order to appreciate it. And I feel like that is kind of the beautiful thing about this documentary is that, like, Will, you are being such a wonderful – and I think this is a perfect example.
Starting point is 00:46:21 Sudi was talking about this last night. Like you set this perfect example of someone is really opening up to you and peeling back the layers and you are just there to listen and say, and not, and not be like, no, you're, you're amazing.
Starting point is 00:46:33 Why would you feel this way? You're just there to nod and listen and walk alongside someone. I think that is such a good model that isn't really common in terms of friendship. But I feel like even with Harper going into these bars and these spaces that are maybe potentially hostile, like,
Starting point is 00:46:51 there are people who, like, upon meeting a trans person kind of, like, put their shields down and then there's connection that happens and that is this thing that, like, you don't have to understand everything a trans person goes through in order to see them as a human being. Yeah. Another thing too, in addition to all of that, it's just like the allyship. And you know,
Starting point is 00:47:11 it feels like we say it so much that it sort of loses its meaning. It's sort of like when you say like representation matters, like it feels like a press thing now or something, but it really is important. Like the allyship, like if there needs to be a new way to say it for it to have impact in a different way, it's just like the whole time I was thinking like this allyship is giving comfort. And when there is comfort, there is the opportunity for dialogue. to be able to communicate about these things because it's only when we communicate that like i don't know maybe someone watching who sees you walk into that bar shoulders aren't going to be up here you know what i mean because i did drop my shoulders there when you started to see the dialogue that young man and his girlfriend coming over to you and you know even after he misgenders you yeah there is the dialogue there is not the thing of there was a misgendering and then the conversation is over. And he was receptive to the correction.
Starting point is 00:48:11 Right. Receptive to the correction. Not defensive. Not defensive. And also then there was an opportunity to share and to learn and to feel good about it. Oh, yeah. And I also think as comedians sometimes, and probably I think this is something
Starting point is 00:48:28 we can all identify with, but we're scared of vulnerability. Oh, yeah. We're scared of being genuine. Oh, yeah. Because then that would mean, because you want to know what?
Starting point is 00:48:36 The boys are not vulnerable. They have always thought of it as, and you talk about this, like I want to get to the point where I can see my vulnerabilities as a strength. And that is something I think is really important to, as comedians, like call out. It's like we're scared of vulnerability. And then just I can say from listening to our fans, like they respond to that.
Starting point is 00:49:01 They learn from that. And we're learning from it from the documentary. That's the greatest thing I've gotten out And we're learning from it from the documentary. The greatest thing I've gotten out of this is learning that vulnerability is a superpower. It's like to be vulnerable. Because I'm just getting into so much deeper conversations with people around me because they see vulnerability and I express it. I have no problem with it.
Starting point is 00:49:18 So that's been just a crazy result of all of this. That's the thing, I think, is it's just, it was that era too. Like that sort of late 90s, early aughts, through the aughts thing. Like whoever was saying how they really felt. You know what I mean? Like there was no emotional comedy out there. Like it was not like that. It was, then you learn, like it becomes a core belief that if you're like crying, you're weak.
Starting point is 00:49:46 But now there's this weird pushback. Yeah. To like this new form of masculinity. Like it's so crazy that. What do you mean? No, just I feel like politically speaking. Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Starting point is 00:50:00 We're getting two kinds of comedy. We are getting a kind of vulnerable comedy. And then we are also getting the other side, which there's room for all of it. Who cares? But, you know, you can feel like people are like, Hey, let's, let's get away from vulnerability. Let's get away from it. You can feel that. And, you know, I felt it in a Texas steakhouse. So you can feel it, you know, as a queer person, I'm sure you guys have that spider sense. And I, yeah, and I can feel it with this kind of kind of comic. I'm not against free speech or whatever people want to do with their comedy.
Starting point is 00:50:35 But, yeah, I can feel that sort of backlash that's happening. Sure. But I feel like also we had a whole like we were on Fire Island, funnily enough, in August. And we had we ended up watching Zoolander and Step Brothers. Because Catherine was here last week. Okay. Catherine was here last week. And so we watched those movies and we were just like, you know, this is the these are perfect examples.
Starting point is 00:50:57 And like everything you guys you've done together is like are these examples of a comedy that is a sensibility maybe of like around masculinity, but it is not like for a specific audience. It is general in that way. Oh, for sure. And like it can happen. It exists. There doesn't have to be this like division among who it's for, who it's by.
Starting point is 00:51:18 Right, right, right. Whose idea was Eurovision? Oh, Will's for sure. Will's grown up in Sweden. I went there. My wife and I went to Sweden in 1998. Yeah. The first time.
Starting point is 00:51:35 And it just coincided with Eurovision being on. And we were visiting her cousin way out in the country in this little cabin. And that evening she's like, shall we watch Eurovision? The Eurovision Song Contest. And I said, of course. What? And I sat there for the next three hours. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:51:51 Transfixed. It was the final. I'm like, what is going on? What is this thing? And this is spectacular. And I was like, this would make an amazing movie
Starting point is 00:52:01 and I'm sure someone will do it. Yeah. At some point. No one wanted to do it. Yeah, at some point. No one wanted to do it. No one would touch it for 20 years. And finally, I don't know, there was just a gap in... You told me to watch it, and I also, I really vibed to it. It was almost like the situation with what I was saying about...
Starting point is 00:52:22 Rocky Horror? Yeah, it was almost like that. And I'm like, oh, okay. Yeah. That's over there. Seeing myself in this. Yeah. This is amazing.
Starting point is 00:52:29 And then we actually went to one just to kind of like do research. We went to Copenhagen. We went to Copenhagen. And that year, I don't know if you're Eurovision fans, but it was, and I think that this person did a fight. Conchita. Conchita. Conchita verse one with the dress
Starting point is 00:52:45 the beautiful dress and who we met later who's wonderful yeah got her in yeah yeah she's in Eurovision
Starting point is 00:52:53 that number yeah oh my god so yeah that was such a that just walking around Eurovision all these queer people
Starting point is 00:53:01 yeah it was the most amazing thing of course that that initially went way over my head I didn't even I was like oh interesting performance
Starting point is 00:53:09 no and I'm sure I was like for you at that early part I was like it's so queer but like there has to be like some sort of spider sense
Starting point is 00:53:17 that goes off in your head that Will is going to be a safe person when he brings you Eurovision as a thing and it's like it's my dream to do this
Starting point is 00:53:24 not safe enough to come out because I really wanted to come I really wanted to transition 7, 8, 9 years ago. Right. And like I don't know what stopped me then you know. Was the pandemic a pusher in that direction because it feels like that was when people made big decisions. Absolutely. A lot of people
Starting point is 00:53:39 a lot of people because I didn't have to go into an office every day and face people you know. That day wasn't going to be there where it's like, oh, I'm wearing a dress now. Right. That horrifying. That's when I decided
Starting point is 00:53:51 to go gluten free. Yeah. Huge, huge decision. Because you realize life is too short. Isn't that the same kind of decision? No. We are talking about
Starting point is 00:53:59 huge life changing moments. It wasn't good that you did that. Okay. Well, do you want to cry? We're going to cut that out. It wasn't good that you did that. Okay, well, do you want to cry? We're going to cut that out. We're going to protect you from the joke you made. When I went gluten-free.
Starting point is 00:54:15 Oh, my God. We have such a long way to go. There is a documentary about his gluten-free trip. Yes. Coming out. But it's on Roku. It's on Roku. On Roku. September out. But it's on Roku. It's on Roku. On Roku.
Starting point is 00:54:26 September 28th. It's on Roku Plus Plus. It's a Saturday release. It's not getting the same press. I'm fighting with Roku right now. They're like, we don't know if we can show this. It's about your gluten-free journey.
Starting point is 00:54:40 You and Elizabeth Hochulbeck. And every time we've done it, he's constantly trying to piggyback it. And Netflix is like stop I keep bringing it up in the interviews they're spending dollars on press for you
Starting point is 00:54:50 yes exactly okay it may be time to head into the segment I don't think so honey it is so this is don't be yikesing. Because you're going to soar and succeed. You've got to give one to Will, right?
Starting point is 00:55:10 Oh, no, I've already done this. You do it again. You do it again. We're going to do it again. So basically what's about to happen is we're going to take 60 seconds each to tear something up. 60 seconds? It's not that long. How do you guys do it?
Starting point is 00:55:21 We do it. I can't do it. This is how you guys do it. I don't want to hear about Tan. I'm going to read off my phone. That's fine. That's beautiful. Because I got so scared.
Starting point is 00:55:30 Here we go. I have something. You have something? Yes. This is Matt Rogers. I don't think so many times starts now. I don't think so, honey. Natty Light, you crazy bitch.
Starting point is 00:55:37 What are you talking about, Natty Light? Love yourself. You're on this journey. Keep going. Let me tell you something. Pores light tastes like lemonade compared to this shit. Oh, my God. I'm talking to you as a Long Island bitch, okay?
Starting point is 00:55:52 I drank a lot of Natty Light by... I had to. In fact, I would put Natty Light in a funnel, take three beers at once to the chest. I'm telling you, don't continue down this road. Bud Light, please. Just Coors Light, anything. Heineken Light, Amstel Light.
Starting point is 00:56:12 Get some culture. Get some culture in drinking Amstel Light. Natty Light, if you don't drink it and totally drink it within the first five seconds, it turns to devil's piss. This is bad. I will not stand. You will not leave this room
Starting point is 00:56:27 still being a Natty Light fan. Also, nothing that goes from natural light to Natty Light is moving forward in the right direction. I don't think so, honey. And that's one minute
Starting point is 00:56:36 of Harper response. No more of this. Holy shit. Holy. That's like a blast furnace. I couldn't believe my eyes, ears, and more. Oh, that was so good. Can you explain what you like so much about Natty Light?
Starting point is 00:56:49 It's water. It's not beer. It's water. That's the appeal. Drink water then. At least when I drink you, Natty Light is just a road to hell. It's water, and if you drink 12, you get drunk. She is starting to drink more wine.
Starting point is 00:57:02 I know. That's true. I can't help it. It's the estrogen. What type of girl are you? Red I know. Yeah. That's true. I can't help it. It's the estrogen. What type of girl are you? Like red? Red. Yeah, I love red.
Starting point is 00:57:10 She likes a good red. Red gets you there. Do we believe that it's genuinely good for you? Red wine? They say like a pregnant woman can drink a glass and a half and the baby will be strong. No, in France, they all drink red wine when they're pregnant. They don't care. They don't care.
Starting point is 00:57:23 And then those kids, all of them grow up to be idiots. No, it's true. Yeah. Have you been to France? Yeah, don't. We have. You know, the thing about. Deteriorating the whole country.
Starting point is 00:57:32 Yeah. The thing about Parisians being rude. It's true. Oh, yeah, it's true. It's true. And it's because of the wine. Yeah. But I also then say, like, it could be because we're like, I'm like so American walking in
Starting point is 00:57:44 there being like, y'all have ketchup? Yeah. And then they're like, oh my God. It is true. When we're in Sweden, you see the Americans a mile away. Now the Swedes are so like super emotionless. I drank out of a carafe one time at a Parisian restaurant. They had a carafe and glasses. Rim to mouth.
Starting point is 00:58:05 No. You took the carafe to the face? The waitress came over. She didn't say anything. She just grabbed that carafe out of my hand, took it away. I was in a grocery store once, and I wanted to buy some carrots. And I took two carrots out of the bundle of carrots, and I brought them
Starting point is 00:58:26 to the checkout and she went just threw it down on the ground. And I just started laughing. She wouldn't because I wrecked the bundle of carrots. You know what? You got to laugh.
Starting point is 00:58:36 Yeah. But sometimes the... Oh, you know what? You know what? This is... You're crying. No, I have my own thing. Thanks so much.
Starting point is 00:58:41 Thank you so much for this because you're giving me fodder. Oh, okay. Do you mind? No, no, no. Please, take it. You mind so much for this because you're giving me fodder. Okay. Do you mind giving fodder? I can't follow any of this. Oh, my God. I'm fodder. Our fodder.
Starting point is 00:58:52 Our fodder. Hello, mudder. Hello, fodder. That was beautiful. We had something happening there. We did there. There was maybe a boy band. Are we?
Starting point is 00:59:03 90 degrees? Turn up the turn up the pod can someone turn that up my favorite Kamala meme can someone turn that up by the way my dad texted me today
Starting point is 00:59:11 143 he says he knows the lingo 143 the new Katy Perry album Katy Perry's new album oh okay and it's shorthand for
Starting point is 00:59:18 I love you apparently like I one letter four letters three letters it's an old pager thing. A one, four, three.
Starting point is 00:59:26 But now Katy Perry has sort of brought it back. Remember when I had my ham radio operation? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's right. You had a ham radio operation? No, no, I'm not.
Starting point is 00:59:33 Oh. But Harper didn't. It sounds like Harper. Harper brought her CB radio. Yeah, on the trip. It was all cut out of the dock because we could never get it to work.
Starting point is 00:59:42 There's a lot on the kind of room for you because in the credits you see all these other places. Oh, yeah, yeah. You were only on the entire time? 250 hours of footage. never get it to work. There's a lot in the kind of room because in the credits you see all these other places. 250 hours of footage. That's crazy to me. The editors deserve Nobel Peace Prize. That's almost all the hours in the days.
Starting point is 00:59:54 So many hours. Okay, this is Bowen Yang's I Don't Think So Honey. His time starts now. I Don't Think So Honey the current state of vegetables and produce at the grocery stores of America. Why did this person throw out the carrots? Sometimes I don't need seven fucking carrots.
Starting point is 01:00:12 I'm making one stew, not seven stews. The recipe calls for one carrot. Now I'm supposed to come up with other recipes that are carrot forward for the rest of my fucking week? Who do you think I am? I'm a single, childless, gay man. I'm cooking for one, and I like it that way. And I don't want... Why is society constantly...
Starting point is 01:00:30 30 seconds. ...constantly pushing us towards partnership, towards domesticity with other people? That's a beautiful thing. That's a beautiful ideal to aspire to. But why am I on planes? It's the responsibility on me to change my seat with you because you want to sit next to your partner.
Starting point is 01:00:42 Yes. Make it about more. Make it about more. This is writ small, a larger thing about society that is illing us. Is that a verb? I'm all over the place to play words today, but listen, here's the deal. I don't want to buy one head of broccoli
Starting point is 01:00:57 when I just need two small florets for my soup. That's one minute. Thank you. Cut things off. I don't need all of that. Can I tell you the whole thing of bananas? No. Guess That's one minute. Thank you. Cut things up for us. I don't need all of that. Can I tell you the whole thing of bananas? No. Guess what's going wrong?
Starting point is 01:01:09 Four of them. Four of them. And there are so many people that could have benefited from if you take, if they should have taken the banana apart. I'll buy two,
Starting point is 01:01:17 not five. Because we're throwing so much food away anyway. It's ridiculous. And these carrots are going to waste and they go bad way quicker than you think.
Starting point is 01:01:25 Cucumbers? Forget it. No, that's a scribbled up piece of pickle. It is ridiculous. And these carrots are going to waste and they go bad way quicker than you think. Cucumbers? Forget about it. No, that's a scribbled up piece of pickle. It is ruined. No, but cucumbers can be so beautiful if you use them immediately. Thank you. Cabbage, forget about it.
Starting point is 01:01:35 Rhubarb? Keep going. Keep going. Will can name like 30. Say her name. Cilantro. Cilantro. You will not believe what he can do. He her name. Cilantro. Cilantro. You will not believe
Starting point is 01:01:45 what he can do. He can name seriously like five seconds in between each one. And wait. With only five seconds between each one.
Starting point is 01:01:55 This man can list a lot. List a lot of vegetables. Wow. Incredible. You know what's flashing in my head? You guys having your pedicure with Molly Shannon.
Starting point is 01:02:04 Oh. I want to do a pedicure with Molly. Oh, God. If you're going to do a pedicure, do it with Molly Shannon. Yeah. I love. We both worked with Molly. I love the way she engages.
Starting point is 01:02:14 The greatest listener of all time. Oh, my God. Isn't that funny? Yeah. That's so funny. So when you. Wait. When you.
Starting point is 01:02:22 Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait.
Starting point is 01:02:24 Matt, hold on. Yeah. So your dad. Right. Took, wait, wait, Matt. Hold on. Yeah. So your dad took you to the baseball game. Yes. Isn't that funny? And left you in the parking lot? And I thought that was so funny of him to do. You know, I thought, you know, baseball, it's like you could be at the game.
Starting point is 01:02:39 You could be in the parking lot. It's just so funny how you can be in so many places at once. Isn't that funny? You're seeing Will and Harper today? Oh, they're so great. Tell them I said hi. Tell them I said hello and tell them again. It's just so funny how you can be in so many places at once. Isn't that funny? You're seeing Will and Harper today? Oh, they're so great. Tell them I said hello and tell them again. Tell them I said hello and tell them again. Molly Shannon is, who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Starting point is 01:02:53 She scares the hell out of me because I used to have coffee with her. And in my journals, I'm writing, I think I need to be a woman. And I'd go have coffee with Molly and she'd be like, my father came out later in life. She's looking straight at me with those eyes, like piercing. She's always present. Maybe or maybe not. And it's scary.
Starting point is 01:03:16 She's scary. Good. Yeah. Yeah. There's a perceptiveness. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:03:21 She's, she's well, well, I think you should go next. I think Harper should close this out oh jeez this is gonna be so hard I can't follow either one
Starting point is 01:03:28 of course you can of course you can oh you do it for a living it's true I know you we do earn a living doing this you guys do this eight times a week
Starting point is 01:03:36 like a Broadway show like a Broadway show oh my god we have swings I only just realized how hard it is to do eight times a week thinking about doing this eight times a week.
Starting point is 01:03:46 Now I really respect Broadway. Yeah, no kidding. Yeah. Hey, Patti LuPone. Yeah. Hats off, ma'am. You are a talent. And Mina Farrow, don't forget.
Starting point is 01:03:57 Of course. I happen to be listening to the podcast. This is Patti. I so appreciate that. I wanted to say. Okay, here we go. Turn your appreciate that. I wanted to say. Okay, here we go. Turn your phone off. My phone is on in order to log the time.
Starting point is 01:04:12 This is Will Ferrell's I Don't Think So, Honey. And your time starts now. I don't think so, honey. Here's the thing. Tell us the thing. I don't think so, honey. I don't. It's not the thing. Okay. Tell us the thing. I don't think so, honey. I don't... It's not my business.
Starting point is 01:04:28 Okay. Here's a book. You're onto something. Here's a book. This ties into the documentary. Here comes the tie-in. Here's a book that my mom literally had, a self-help book on her shelf.
Starting point is 01:04:41 All right. Called It's None of My Business What You Think of Me. 30 seconds. We got there. And even as a little kid, that was my mantra. If I walked in the room and I got dirty looks,
Starting point is 01:04:52 none of my business what you think of me. None of my business. And as we went through America, 15 seconds. America, the heartland, the rhythm,
Starting point is 01:05:03 the flag, the, it was none of Harper's business what you think of her. America. The heartland. The rhythm. The flag. The... It was none of Harper's business what you think of her. Five seconds. She goes through this world loved and herself finally and...
Starting point is 01:05:18 Oh, I got a good one! I got a good one! I can start over. Slay down boots. Slay down boots! Slay down boots. Slay down boots Slay down boots Slay down boots Thank you Ultimately slay down boots
Starting point is 01:05:32 Just strike that from the record We can't do that The point you're making is important Yeah By the way I didn't know there was a Kay Farrell There was a Kay Farrell The Kay Farrell connection to your openness. There really was.
Starting point is 01:05:47 To other human beings. There really was. She taught me this. I mean, she's a beautiful person. She is. She made you a beautiful person. You know what? I think RuPaul says that too.
Starting point is 01:05:55 Other people's opinion of me is not of my business. And if you know yourself and like yourself to a certain degree, that's on the other person. And if you don't like that, that's on you to figure out what to do with me. But you don't have to be the one to carry it. That's it. You know what's interesting? And I'm okay with how bad that I don't think so, honey, was.
Starting point is 01:06:16 Because I don't care what you think of me. There you go. But you know what? That's success. I care what you think of me. How was the audio? It was great. No idea.
Starting point is 01:06:24 Audio was a little spotty during that. I feel like there's so many times actually, it's like what you said about touching the hot stove. It's like reading comments
Starting point is 01:06:32 about you online is like you wouldn't touch a hot stove. Every single time I go to the internet It's a hot stove. to gauge whether or not I'm doing well
Starting point is 01:06:41 or people like me, it always is worse than when I wake up in the morning and baseline feel pretty good. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Right me, it always is worse than when I wake up in the morning and baseline feel pretty good. It's always going to be a hot stove, and why would you touch it? Okay, these people have got to go.
Starting point is 01:06:51 Oh, oh, oh. It's on my phone, so I apologize. It sounds like... You shouldn't have said that. Well, no, they got it on camera. Authenticity is beautiful. That's what people connect to. I'm a writer.
Starting point is 01:07:07 I'm not a professor. I'm a writer. You guys perform. I made sure they weren't on. Okay. They just have a red light. God damn it. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:07:13 Sabotage from boss. Give me a countdown. Wait, wait, wait. Oh, by the way, before we're done. I don't think so, honey. Okay. Before we're done today, I have to go through some HR stuff with you. Okay.
Starting point is 01:07:22 No problem. What do we do now? I just got to get your W-2s. Is that HR? Accounting. You do it all. There's cutbacks. There's cutbacks? Are one of us getting cut? No, no, no. You guys are safe.
Starting point is 01:07:36 Can I tell you something? I know. This is fucking huge. Okay, Harper's ready. Harper's deal. This is your I Don't Think So Honey. Your time starts now. J.K. Rowling. Yes. This is an hateful attack on Olympic boxer Iman Khalif.
Starting point is 01:07:54 Yes. Demonstrates the very core of why some people hate trans women. Khalif is not trans. No. She's a woman. Yes. But because she does not conform to JK's limited and frankly racist ideas of what makes a woman, she repeatedly called her trans and referred to her as a man. 30 seconds.
Starting point is 01:08:19 Halfway point. I don't think so, honey. No, no, no. And I should have said, oh, and I don't think so, honey. No, no, no. I should have said, oh, I don't think so, honey. Women can be beautiful in so many ways. JK is not one of those women because when you are hateful and bigoted in your heart, you are ugly. I don't even think she's a honey. Oh, my God. That's one minute. We don't even think she's a honey. Oh my God!
Starting point is 01:08:46 That's one minute. We don't even think you're a honey and you haven't been a honey for a very long time. She's dark sided. Disgusting. Although Monique Leif was at the Bottega Veneta show in Paris for fashion week. She looked amazing.
Starting point is 01:09:00 Incredible. Wore a gorgeous suit. What are you laughing at? Just the level of detail. Yes. She wore a gorgeous suit. What are you laughing at? Just the level of detail. Yes. She wore a gorgeous suit. That was so detailed. A suit is detailed.
Starting point is 01:09:11 No, and then, have you seen all these things about like the mold in her house? The black mold? The black mold. No, I try to keep away from her tweets because they're dangerous and hurtful. However, Khalifa is suing her.
Starting point is 01:09:22 Yes, and I hope she gets every cent. And the libel laws in England are better. The libel laws in France are better. and I hope she gets every cent and the libel laws in England are better the libel laws in France are better I just hope she gets a fucking of course
Starting point is 01:09:29 JK is a dementor and you know who's also like on this fucking tour not to bring other people into this but Martina Navratilova is also being
Starting point is 01:09:39 not good well that's just her right people will just she's being a stinker she is out of the trans women in sports situation.
Starting point is 01:09:47 In that whole conversation, it's like, all right, everybody, just calm down. Calm down or just even keep it to yourself. I don't know. It's just silly. Let's end on a happier note than that, though. We will. Well, we will. And I will say to end on a happy note, because I know you guys have to go.
Starting point is 01:10:03 This is just. We don't really. We can work. So what did you do? Why didn't you tell us that? So what? If it was not going well, you could just get out of here?
Starting point is 01:10:10 There was a little bit of that, yeah. We just had a plan B. Yeah, well, guess what? You have to do your own pickups then. No, because you have to do pickups for your show, and so now you have no excuse. Oh, no. Butter, no.
Starting point is 01:10:22 Butter's dead. On a serious note, thank you so much for this just gift like it really is and I I think that
Starting point is 01:10:30 everyone is gonna benefit from watching this and in a major way and I'm sure you feel both of you feel
Starting point is 01:10:38 like you've benefited from doing it that's what art is all about it's about the sharing and it's about the education and the
Starting point is 01:10:44 you know you do it in such a light and beautiful way and the heavy moments are, they really land and I just, I can't say enough about how inspired and how much I look up to you both. Thank you. It's so cool meeting both of you. It means a lot. It's our honor. Heroic, both of you.
Starting point is 01:11:00 It's very, very, very lucky that you're here. Thank you for coming. And we end every episode with a song can I get my parking validated yeah oh you did drive here do you guys do a little wrap up at the end it's like those two were really terrible yeah we have a Howard Stern
Starting point is 01:11:15 after show yeah he does an amazing job oh he's here he does an amazing job he's really good he's a huge fan of the show he's wearing a Yankee shirt careful man
Starting point is 01:11:26 careful God that's quick what's our song going to be to end it heartburn will go west not prospect didn't forget are you a book
Starting point is 01:11:37 on the song I saw it twice and so I'm like and then I texted Crystal I was like you're getting an Oscar nomination
Starting point is 01:11:42 and also I love the jazzy part. This is the jazzy part. I'll be off the hook on it by the time February or March rolls around. Anyway, bye!
Starting point is 01:11:56 What was that? Yes! Lost Culture Recess is a production by Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and iHeartRadio Podcasts. Created and hosted by Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.
Starting point is 01:12:07 Executive produced by Anna Hosnier and Hans Sani. Produced by Becca Ramos. Edited and mixed by Doug Bame and Monique Laborde. And our music is by Henry Kaburski. Hey everybody, it's me, Matt Rogers, letting you know tickets are on sale now to see me on tour. The Prince of Christmas tour, that is. I'm doing my whole album, Have You Heard of Christmas, plus a lot more with the whole band all throughout December. Go to www.mattrogersofficial.com to see me in a city near you. On Thanksgiving Day, 1999, five-year-old Cuban boy Elian Gonzalez was found off the coast of Florida.
Starting point is 01:12:51 And the question was, should the boy go back to his father in Cuba? Mr. Gonzalez wanted to go home and he wanted to take his son with him. Or stay with his relatives in Miami. Imagine that your mother died trying to get you to freedom. Listen to Chess Peace, the Elian Gonzalez story, on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

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