Lovett or Leave It - Iran: Oops! All Ayatollahs

Episode Date: March 14, 2026

The excursion/war continues, and no one can explain why. This week, Paul Feig pours us a stiff one (or three) to talk erotic thrillers, political affairs, and Sydney Sweeney, while Monét X Change hi...ts all the right notes chatting about Traitors, Drag Race, and Survivor. And before we end up under the table, we lay our cards on it, with a candid round of Second Thoughts.For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here. For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 Love it or Leave it is brought to you by Built. It's 2026, and if you're still paying rent without built, it's time for a change. Built is the loyalty program for renters that rewards you for your biggest monthly expense. Rent with Built, every rent payment earns you points that can be used toward flights, hotels, lift rides, Amazon purchases, and much more. And here's something to get excited about. Now, Built members can earn points on mortgage payments for the first time. That means you can get rewarded wherever you live and unlock exclusive benefits from more than 45,000 restaurants, fitness studios, pharmacies, and other neighborhood partners. There's all kinds of great ways you can redeem your point. You can get a credit on your rent. You can take
Starting point is 00:00:30 fitness classes. You can buy things on Amazon. You can get lift rides. There's lots of ways. It's also gift cards. There's lots of great ways. You can redeem the point. It's simple. Paying rent is better with Built. And now owning a home can be better with Built to earn rewards and get something back wherever you live. Join the loyalty program for renters at joinbilt.com slash love it. That's J-O-I-N-B-I-L-T.com slash Love It. Make sure to use our URL so they know we sent you. In moments like these, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and even easier to feel powerless. But we are neither. I'm Stacey Abrams, and on my podcast, Assembly Required,
Starting point is 00:01:04 I take on each executive action, legislative battle, and breaking news moment by asking three questions. What's really happening? What can we do about it? And how do we keep going together? This is a space for clarity, strategy, and hope, rooted in action, not denial. New episodes of Assembly Required,
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Starting point is 00:01:51 What's up, Los Angeles? Welcome to Love It or Leave It Live from Dynasty Typewriter. We've got a great show for you tonight. Paul Figue is here. Monet exchanges here. But first, let's get into it. What a week? That's fair.
Starting point is 00:02:25 Well, you know what that sounds means. The philosopher Isaiah Berlin in a famous essay from 1953 quoted the Greek poet Archilicus, who wrote, The Fox knows many things, but the Hedgehog knows one big thing. And that one big thing, I'm covered in tiny little fucking spikes. Now, because I was once, you know, young, but am now old. I remember how this analogy became part of the debate about the George
Starting point is 00:02:55 W. Bush presidency. Does anyone else remember this debate coming up when George W. Bush was president? It's fine if you don't. Why would you? After 9-11, Bush was imbued with almost mythic leadership qualities. His approval rating soared into the 90s, even though he was still just this inarticulate, unimpressive guy. I call upon all nations to do everything they can to stop these terror. killers. Thank you. Now watch his drive. We really graded this guy in a curve.
Starting point is 00:03:26 Specifically, the curve an airplane makes when it flies into a skyscraper. But we lives just didn't get. Bush was a hedgehog. He knew one thing. The threat terrorism posed to society. Transformational leaders distill the world into simple, moral terms. Churchill understood the coming danger of the Nazis. Gandhi understood the power of nonviolent resistance.
Starting point is 00:03:55 Bill Clinton knew when Hillary Clinton was traveling for work. Of course, Bush's presidency is ultimately defined by the endless wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It turns out a leader who only knows one thing is undone by all the things he didn't know. Anyway, this came to mind this week
Starting point is 00:04:14 as we have a Republican president once again launching another preemptive war in the Middle East, and seeing how this administration has conducted this war, I found myself missing the days when we had a president who at least knew one thing In a phone interview with CBS News, Trump said, I think the war is very complete pretty much, while the Pentagon posted, we've only just begun to fight.
Starting point is 00:04:36 So it's basically over, but we've only just begun to fight. What is this? Every divorce in L.A.? Trump was pressed on the contradiction. Mr. President, you've said the war is, quote, very complete, but your defense secretary says this is just the beginning. So which is it? And how long should Americans be prepared for this war and last for? Trump went on,
Starting point is 00:04:59 If we subscribe to Everett's many world's interpretation of quantum mechanics, then every possible outcome of a quantum event is in fact an actual outcome, another branch in a tree of parallel universes that exist in quantum superposition. Schrodinger's cat is dead and one and alive in another. The war in Iran is over and it has only just begun. So it's a dumb question, you ugly pig bitch. As of this recording, seven Americans are dead and hundreds of Iranians have been killed, including many children at a school that appears to have been hit by an American
Starting point is 00:05:30 cruise missile. As evidence mounted that the school was hit by U.S. strikes, Trump claimed that Iran was responsible. Did the United States bomb a girls' elementary school in southern Iran on the first day of the war and kill 175 people? Based on what I've seen, that was done by Iran. Is that true, Mr. Hexon? It was Iran who did that? We're certainly investigating. They're very inaccurate, as you know, with their munitions. They have no accuracy whatsoever. It was done by Iran. Also, and you're never going to believe this, those girls flew themselves to Epstein's island, bunch of little Amelia Earhart's crazy stuff. Trump was pressed on that claim during a press conference Monday.
Starting point is 00:06:11 You just suggested that Iran somehow got its hands on a tomahawk and bombed its own elementary school on the first day of the war, but you're the only person in your government saying this. Even your defense secretary wouldn't say that when he was asked, standing over your shoulder on your plane on Saturday. Why are you the only person saying this? Because I just don't know enough about it. I think it's something that I was told is under investigation, but tomahawks are used by others, as you know. Numerous other nations have tomahawks. They buy them from us.
Starting point is 00:06:41 But I will certainly, whatever the report shows, I'm willing to live with that report. Of course, when he says live with the report, he means he's going to steal the report and put it in a box in his bathroom at home. It's hard to know if Trump even understands the gravity of what he's done. You just said it is a little excursion and you said it is a war. So which one is it? Well, it's both. It's both. It's a, uh, an excursion that will keep us out of a war.
Starting point is 00:07:11 And the war is going to be, uh, I mean, for them it's a war. For us, it's, uh, turned out to be easier that we thought. Easier than we thought. What, was he worried the school might fire back? How are we supposed to joke about this? The news is so fucking heavy. I don't know how we're supposed to joke about it when the news is so fucking heavy. I need a drink, ideally one made by an acclaimed director.
Starting point is 00:07:38 Oh, hi, Paul Fieg. Cheers to you. Thank you, Paul Figue. You're doing great work. Thanks a lot, Paul Fieg. Fantastic. Ah, is Amanda Seafried in this? Because it's a Paul Figue triumph.
Starting point is 00:07:57 The House Made, now available on demand. I do want this. Hold on. Tough week of news. The reason Trump has begun calling this for an excursion is because he's worried about oil prices. There are reports that Iran has been laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. On Wednesday, three commercial ships were attacked near the strait,
Starting point is 00:08:26 and in his first comments, since becoming Iran's new Supreme leader, Ayatolli Khomeini 2, Death to America Bugaloo, announced to be a statement on state TV that Iran would continue to block the strait as a tool to pressure the enemy. Well, I don't feel any pressure, declared Trump, before asking Marco Rubio to invent and I quote, a flintstone car but real. Iran's new leader is the son of the previous leader who was killed by airstrikes and seems to be a younger version of his father, only more radical and now pretty angry about Trump killing his entire family, but always exciting to see a new generation get involved
Starting point is 00:08:58 in politics. I guess. Meanwhile, according to Fox News, host Brian Kilmead, Trump told him that tankers waiting at the Strait of Hormuz should just simply stop being such pussies. Here's exactly what he said. These ships should go through the Strait of Hormuz and shows. some guts. There's nothing to be afraid of. They have no Navy. We sunk all their ships. Here we have footage of Trump trying to convince oil tankers to go through the straight
Starting point is 00:09:24 of Hormuz. Oil prices have surged. The Energy Department announced that 172 million barrels of oil will be released from its strategic reserve over the next four months, but we use like 20 million barrels of oil per day. I use one on the way here. 172 million barrels is barely a week's worth. If we want that oil to last four months, we're going to need a bigger Hanukkah. But not to worry, the Pentagon has been laser-focused on what matters,
Starting point is 00:10:14 barring press photographers from briefings about the war because they published photos of Hegsef that is staff considered unflattering. This is real. Unfortunately, and I am not proud of this, it's the most relatable Pete Hegsteth has ever seen to me. I also don't believe for a second that it was HECS staff who found those photos unflattering. I know it's a lie because I have a great team here,
Starting point is 00:10:35 and they are smart and they want what's best for me in the show. And at least once a month, they select a thumbnail photo of my face that undoes three years of therapy. Speaking of looking good, the Wall Street Journal reported this week that Trump has been gifting male members of his cabinet matching pairs of his favorite shoes. The loose one pictured on the right belonged to Marco Rubio.
Starting point is 00:10:58 Trump's not even asking for sizes, really. He's just eyeballing it, and you get what you get. Scott Besson had to cut off his big toes. Making your subordinates match you? What kind of loser freak does that? For those at home, that's me, Sarah and Halley, at the ambies and matching suits. I thought we looked pretty good.
Starting point is 00:11:26 That's a good picture. Look at us. Said one female official of Trump's shoes, it's hysterical because everybody's afraid, not to wear them. But it's not a cult. But if he gives you shoes, you have to wear them. At least they get some anonymity in the bathroom.
Starting point is 00:11:43 Who's crying in the next aisle over? Go ahead, peek under the divider. Could be anybody. Anyway, back to the war. In amazing news for everyone physically at this show, the FBI has warned police departments in California that Iran might want to strike the state with drones and retaliation.
Starting point is 00:12:01 A Reuters ipso's poll found that just 20s percent of Americans support the war incredibly low compared to previous conflicts, which is why when Lindsey Graham, aka the gay of Hormuz, said this, we're marching through the world, we're cleaning out the bad guys. This is Ronald Reagan Plus. Our military is the best of all time. Iran is going down and Cuba is next. In response, Megan Kelly said this. No one elected you as our commander in chief. Shut the fuck up. Get off the national scene. You've disgraced yourself and endangered our troops long enough. Megan, we had a Zoom to confer, and you can call Lindsay Graham a fact one time.
Starting point is 00:12:42 You get one freebie. It's our gift to you. Kind of Airbnb with she in, by the way. Well, what's that? Usually she's in some sort of like red, like kind of like heronimus Bosch-red kind of wall behind. You know what the, like the, all of this has contributed to Trump's unpopularity. It's failure to address Americans' chief concerns over prices, and it's put Republicans
Starting point is 00:13:03 on a path to defeat in the midterms, which is why on... Yeah, that's right. Which is why on Monday, Trump told House Republicans that they must pass the Save Act, his election overhaul bill, to require a birth certificate or passport to vote. And I'm not doing it for this reason at all. It'll guarantee the midterms.
Starting point is 00:13:23 It'll guarantee the midterms. If you don't get it, big trouble, my opinion. Why is he being coy about this? He incited a mob to storm the Capitol to overturn an election, and then he pardon the mob. You can say you're doing it for that reason. We know you're doing it for that reason. The cat's out of the bag and pooping on Nancy Pelosi's desk.
Starting point is 00:13:42 Things are looking so bad for Republicans that on Tuesday, White House Deputy Chief of Staff, James Blair, privately urged Republican House members to stop talking about mass deportations. Responded Stephen Miller, then how am I supposed to come? And it is pretty crazy because mass deportations were like the centerpiece of their 2024 platform.
Starting point is 00:14:04 It's like if Joe Biden had to tell Democrats to stop talking about... This week, Votes of America. This week, Votes of America. Is launching Project 218. This is our campaign to take back the House. We need as many people to sign up as possible, and we need you to get your friends and family to sign up, too.
Starting point is 00:14:28 That's our first ask to sign up and get five friends, five coworkers, five members of your family to sign up. This is where we are going to organize. We're going to find the best ways to get involved. in the next six months, spam texts from random candidates and organizations, they don't cut it, it's useless. We will give you the best ways to volunteer and donate and share good information.
Starting point is 00:14:47 So please, please, please, right now, go to Votesaveamerica.com and sign up, pause this podcast and take 30 seconds to sign up now. Do come back. We have worked hard on the next joke. Now it's just us. This is just a moment for us. Hey, I noticed no one's taking out their phones to sign up right now.
Starting point is 00:15:11 Great. So right back in my face. What do you say to Trump when his regime change war backfires and winds up installing someone even worse? I had told you so. We're now going to have a debate in Congress over whether to approve additional funding for the Pentagon to the tune of $50 billion or slightly less than when I'm spending on this fucking wedding. This guy knows what I'm talking about, right? And this is despite your report is that the Pentagon has been struggling to spend the $1 trillion dollars it already has. The Daily Beast
Starting point is 00:15:46 has a story that the Pentagon has been on a spending spree, including an almost $100,000 Steinway Grand Piano for the Air Force Chief of Staff's home, and $21,000 on a handmade Japanese flute. Jesus Christ, how they find such a Jeep flute? Or maybe I'm
Starting point is 00:16:04 getting ripped off by my wedding vendors. Fuck! Anyway, back to the war, the vast majority of Republicans will fall in line and support more funding. The vast majority of Democrats will oppose it. And yet, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries wouldn't commit either way, saying on Sunday, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. No, don't cross the bridge. You don't even have to get to the bridge. You could stop walking right now. Delaware, Senator Chris Coons told
Starting point is 00:16:30 Crooked's own Matt Berg, I would not vote to authorize this war through a supplemental. Okay, but he also said, I am interested in and will listen to arguments about what's necessary to protect our troops. I have to tell you, I feel like I am not smart enough. to understand these complexities. Like, I can't appreciate the nuance. You're all trying to be foxes, but I'm in the market for a hedgehog. There's actually only one thing we need to know.
Starting point is 00:16:56 Trump is an unfit fucking moron. Do not fund his illegal war. Do not enable him. That's it. I know that we are foxes by nature, but it's hedgehog time, bitches. Oh, you fired Nome, so we should fund DHS now? No can do.
Starting point is 00:17:12 I'm covered in tiny little spikes. You want funding for a war Congress didn't approve because a trillion dollars isn't enough? No can do. I'm rolled into a tight ball and covered in tiny little fucking spikes. Isaiah Berlin's conclusion in that essay,
Starting point is 00:17:25 which I know you're all fucking fully horny to get more details about, was that sometimes greatness comes when foxes want to be hedgehogs. Sometimes the world is complicated, but sometimes the answer isn't. And that answer is a second martini from Paul Feek.
Starting point is 00:17:47 Thank you, Paul Feig. Call this one the housemaid, because you just know there's a twist. We'll be right back. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love It or Leave It coming up. Love It or Leave It is brought you by Willie's Remedy. Your favorite. I love Willie's Remedy.
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Starting point is 00:21:36 I said Open tabs. What I say? I said Only tabs? I said Only tabs. It's open tabs. I've already had a martini. My first guest is a phenomenal director. Most recently, you have the housemaid as well.
Starting point is 00:21:53 What the fucking hell is that? As well, oh, what? I don't even understand my own intro. Anyway, he's an amazing director. Please welcome. Paul Feig. Wow. Hi, thanks for being here.
Starting point is 00:22:13 Come on. You nailed it, John. I nailed it. I nailed it. I nailed it. Oh, my God. So first of all, The last time you were always so excited you were here
Starting point is 00:22:22 because the last time you're here you made cocktails. And once again, you're making cocktails because this is your own gym, arting stall gin. Yes. And I'm a gin person, as we discussed. Is there any, are there any trends that you're getting on board with with drinking?
Starting point is 00:22:35 Because for a while they were putting drinks with dry ice. And then there was a lot of science around the drinks. Yeah, I don't, all that kind of molecular mixology. I don't know. I just like a good straight up martini. Cheers. Cheers. There we go.
Starting point is 00:22:49 This is good. This is good. Real thing, too. This is, this is, mm-hmm. We're in business now. We're in business now. If something's great, don't mess with it, I like to say. Here, John, I brought you my book.
Starting point is 00:22:57 Oh, your book. Yes. Oh, thank you. I'm going to, oh, thank you. It's such a nice little signature from you in there. I'm going to look through this because I want to pick out some fun cocktails because I'm going to get married in a couple months. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:23:11 And we get to, and we're going to get, going to, uh, cocktail time. Great advice, embarrassing stories, 125 classic and original. drinks. There you go. I want to make sure I read it. I'm going to find a cool gin drink in there. Because obviously everyone knows a martini and I love a martini. Bill, our producer, said, what kind of gin drink you like? And I said, martini. And he said, okay, what's another ginger you like you like? And I said, a second martini. There you go. There you go. I like it. So the last time you were here, you were promoting another simple favor and you said you were breaking your no sequel rule tonight. I'll do it again because apparently you're
Starting point is 00:23:47 already working on a sequel to The Housemaid. Yeah, we, oh, thank you. Hey. Nice, thanks. Yeah, we are. We're going to start shooting in the fall. And now in the first movie, Amanda Seafried and Sidney do not kiss.
Starting point is 00:24:02 No. They slap. Something to think about. Because in a simple favor, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick do kiss. Yes. And it seems like it's stupid that they didn't kiss in this movie, kiss, kiss, kiss, you know?
Starting point is 00:24:19 People like kissing in the movies. Well, there's a lot of kissing between Sydney and Brandon Sclanar. Oh, yeah, a guy and stuff. Yeah. So, have you thought about making a sequel to Bridesmaids? Because even if it was bad, you'd make so much money. I know, exactly. You should stupid not do to.
Starting point is 00:24:38 Well, I know. That's the problem. Most people do those sequels just to make that money. But I don't know. For some reason, bridesmates to me feels like it's just a singular event. Because, you know, yeah. Well, with that attitude. Like another...
Starting point is 00:24:49 I know. Trust me. Everybody wants us to make one to make a lot of money. But I don't know. When you get away with something and that one we really got away with just because everything kind of worked,
Starting point is 00:25:01 you know, like a sequel would be, what, another crazy wedding? The whole reason that movie works is that Kristen Wiggs' character is going through this terrible time and she's a mess
Starting point is 00:25:08 and then she kind of fixes herself. So you can't do another one where she's a mess again. No, I guess we could spend five minutes thinking about something else. Yeah. You come to the writer's room, John? I felt like you're turning something over.
Starting point is 00:25:22 I think you're finding your way there. I think you're, I think there's a dark forest in front of you. And on the other side is a sequel to Bridesmaids. Cut through it. Oh, nice. I think you just have to enter that forest and get a little lost. There you go. Yeah, they, yes, obviously.
Starting point is 00:25:36 There you go. Everyone thinks of divorce first. Well, you know, this is our 15-year anniversary. Yes. The Oscars on Sunday, the cast is going to reunite on stage. That's so exciting. Yeah. It's so funny.
Starting point is 00:25:48 It's so good. It's still so good. It holds up. It really does. It's so funny. I just had to remaster the whole thing with new sound and we bumped up the quality and everything.
Starting point is 00:25:58 Yeah, you said that now Kristen Wiggs shoots first. Yes, exactly. And then at some point Java comes in but doesn't look like Java. Right, exactly, right. That's cool. I never took you for a Star Wars nerd, my friend.
Starting point is 00:26:12 Why not? Because I am. You are? Yes. But only the first two. It's gotten too wonky for me now. Oh, really? Who's with me on this?
Starting point is 00:26:24 I shouldn't save that for the last. The first two movies? Yeah. You've been out since... Yes, of course. And Empire Strikes Back. But it's pretty funny to be a Star Wars fan that's been out since Return of the Jedi.
Starting point is 00:26:37 It's like, okay. It's been a long time. They've made a lot of stuff. I just re-watch those first two movies over and over again. Because if you're a fan of 5% of something... What are you? But OG. No, believe I'm with you.
Starting point is 00:26:53 Thank you. But Andor, did you watch Andor? No. And I know I should because I know it's very political. And I love politics. But here's the thing. My issue with Star Wars, controversial, is I saw the first Star Wars opening weekend
Starting point is 00:27:06 when I was 13 or 14. That place, that theater, which was packed, every minute, at least there was a giant laugh. That movie was funny. Yes. And then Price Strikes Back was funny. And then it started to get not. funny, they start taking themselves too seriously.
Starting point is 00:27:20 So I want to get, let's go back to the fun Star Wars. Oh, I totally agree. Well, I agree. I think. I'm making a lot of enemies right now, too. No, no, I don't think you're out. The internet already hates me because of Ghostbusters. Now I'm really fucked. I don't think that's true. I don't think you're wrong about that.
Starting point is 00:27:35 I think it's, I like Star, no, I don't think Star Wars. I like Andor in part because it does take itself seriously, but it meets the threshold. It is serious. I don't mind with something serious and make itself seriously. and I don't mind with something silly and doesn't take itself seriously. The problem is when the prequels are silly but act like their high art.
Starting point is 00:27:55 It's like, I don't need that. If you're camp, be camp. I love camp. But Andor's a drama. No, and I do need to watch that because, I mean, that's Tony Gilroy, right? Yeah, it is. He's been on this very show.
Starting point is 00:28:05 Oh, my gosh. Now, the last time you were here, I tried to get you to talk about the drama around Blake Lively, and I won't do that again. Jesus. So did Sidney... Why did I come back? Did Sidney talk at all about what it was like
Starting point is 00:28:19 to be in the Capitol on January 6th? I'm just kidding. That's not fair. I know it's not fair. I know it's not fair. That's why it's a joke. That's what upset you? I said the craziest shit during the model.
Starting point is 00:28:36 Sydney's a sweetheart. She seems great. It was all crazy. I was just joking. My God. That's the only reason he brought me on the show for us. that joke.
Starting point is 00:28:47 No, I wanted to have a martini. So, transition. Cut to? So I wanted to ask you about, because we talked about freaks and geeks last time you were on, and a lot of that flows from,
Starting point is 00:29:04 you wrote a book about it, kick me, right? That kind of gets in some of your childhood experiences as well. And we already resolved that is not based on Long Island where Jed Abbottow is from. It is based on Michigan
Starting point is 00:29:13 where you are from, and I just want to be on the record is saying that that I've learned from the last show and remember that we had a conversation about it. Even though on some level, when I see it, it does take place in my high school. And I can't change that. But it should be universal, though. Yeah, it is universally for me because it's in my high school. Very good.
Starting point is 00:29:30 But you wrote great stories about growing up in the 70s, but a lot of them about discovery. Can you talk about finding your dad's Nazi flag? They were like, what? It sounds worse. No, my father was in World War II, and he came back. He went in, one of the people that went in and took over in Germany, all that stuff. And he and his friends took back all this kind of war paraphernalia. And he had it in a bag in the back of his closet.
Starting point is 00:30:00 I used to sneak into my dad's closet and look through cool stuff. And there was like, you know, knives and all this stuff. It went to the bottom. I was like, oh, what's this red thing? I pull it out. And I unspool it like, wow, hey, this is cool. Look at this flag. And I'm like, eight or nine.
Starting point is 00:30:14 So I go, like, I want to show this off to the neighborhood. So I went and I taped it up in our front window, this giant Nazi flag. And I'm like, this is cool. And then I see my mom's car coming around the corner. I'm like, oh, she's going to be really excited that I have this up. And I see the car all of a sudden to go, roo! And like screech into the driveway. My mother comes running in and like rips it.
Starting point is 00:30:39 I was like, what? I thought dad would think it's really cool to have. this up. She goes, do you know what that is? No. So, I learned about Nazis from my mother. Yeah, it's it is, obviously the context is the most important thing. And I want to be on the record of saying the context is the most important thing. There you go. It's a great design. They really nailed it. I'm sorry,
Starting point is 00:31:02 they did. They fucking nailed it. Well, it was from India, right? It was a, supposed to be like a good luck sign or something. It's in a few place, it was sort of as like, I think it had multiple origin points but it is like a kind of very, like it's, you know, it's like there's a Nike swoosh, the swastika. They both crushed for different reasons. What? I hate them, Nazis.
Starting point is 00:31:23 Nike's great, hate the Nazis. I'm on the record. Well, there was a Lenny Bruce joke about it. He said, oh, we'll do four sevens. It's lucky, you know. So you also wrote about being a virgin until you were 24. And I'm just curious, like, what was,
Starting point is 00:31:41 I'll tell you what I felt when I read that it was like, wow, what's your secret? Being terrified of everything. Yeah, I was just, you know, look, I couldn't get undressed in gym class, you know, so the thought of like exposing yourself that emotionally and physically to any other person was abhorrent to me,
Starting point is 00:32:03 even though, you know, I wished I could. But, you know, it's weird when you're, especially in the, I mean, I guess it's probably this way now, but in the 70s, everybody was so kind of, you know, disco and all this. I was in high school from 76 to 80. And it was all, you know, people going nuts. So all my classmates were having sex clearly. And I remember once I walked out of a, out of my class in this kid, oh, I hated. He was like a bully and stuff. He goes like, hey, yelled to his friend. Like, if she's not going to kiss, she's not going to fuck. And I was just like, God. So I mean,
Starting point is 00:32:32 all these things would happen. You go like, it's so unattractive, everything about this. So I just, I put it off till 24. I mean, do you think there is a connection between what you just described and the fact that you have built a career being a great director of great female comedians? That there's some, like, is that connected to you at all? Yeah, well, I mean, I was an only child who was really close with my mom. My dad wasn't around a lot because he ran a store. And my next-door neighbors were, it was a family of eight kids, six of them were girls. And they were all my best friends.
Starting point is 00:33:08 So I just, I always, you know, it's very much pro, like, if you have boys, make sure they're friends with girls. You know, because I just kind of grew up around, so I, you know, I knew what girls were about as much as, you know, I could. But then seeing, in watching old movies with my mom of like, you know, from the 30s and 40s of Rosal and Russell and Russell and, you know, Catherine Hepburn and all these strong, you know, female characters that were equals with the men. And then being in love with comedy, especially like in the 70s and 80s, when women just started to become props, you know, for guys to be funny against and whatever. And I was like, those aren't, that's not, the women I know aren't like that. The women I know are funny and cool and all this stuff. So it just, it was like I never latched into that sort of male, you know, not necessarily toxic masculinity,
Starting point is 00:33:56 although some of it is, but just that kind of like guys rule and women are props thing. And so I just always wanted to tell all these female stories. That's nice. Oh. Well, speaking of, you have this movie The House Made. And that led us to want to play a game. I love games. Disgusting, depraved, debased.
Starting point is 00:34:17 Yep, political news has been pretty gross recently. In fact, we want to challenge you in a game we're calling sexual Congress or sexual Congress. I don't want to think about Congress with sexual at all. Do you know what I mean? Yeah, it sucks. I'll read you a salacious scenario. You'll tell us if it's from an erotic thriller or actual political news.
Starting point is 00:34:40 Are you ready? First up, a Texas gubernatorial candidate's marriage implodes after he discovers his wife's secret affair with a teenage boy. That's got to be real. It is an erotic thriller. It's from Netflix's The Hunting Lives. Oh, there you go. The Texas Attorney General's marriage implodes after his wife discovers his affair with a Christian influencer who has seven children. Real.
Starting point is 00:35:03 That is real. It's from the news. that's Texas Attorney General Ken Paxson who got served with divorce papers last summer after his wife found out about a secret romance with a Christian influencer. It's a second affair we know about. So, pretty bleak. He's the gift that keeps on giving, Nick.
Starting point is 00:35:18 Pretty bleak. That too bleak. Next up, a glamorous girl boss and her brutish lover travel the globe in their specifically outfitted sex play. That's got to be a... Sex plain, sex plane. Oh, sex plane. that's got to be a movie.
Starting point is 00:35:35 You'd think it was, but is in fact... Oh, what am I talking about? Is Corian? Yes, it's Corey and Christine? No. You got it. The love plane. There they are.
Starting point is 00:35:45 Oh, God. Boy, there it is. Oh, God. You can almost smell it from here, can you? What I think about when I see this plane is like whatever's going on with the sheets. Like, you know when you go to a hotel and they have like the sheets
Starting point is 00:36:00 and there's some kind of like decorative blanket And the first thing I do, I walk into a hotel I was like, get that as far away from the bed as humanly fucking possible. That thing has not been washed since it was put here. The day the hotel opened, like, that blanket is not washable? What is that? Is that the blanket that the pilot got fired for not bringing?
Starting point is 00:36:19 No, it might be. It could be. I would like it if it was that big for Binky. Next up, a man embarks on a dark thrilling journey into the heart of the gay leather BDSM scene. Well, that could be anybody. True. It happens to be the plot of the film Cruising
Starting point is 00:36:40 starring Al Pacino. Oh, Jesus. But I think it could apply to most of Congress. Hey, did you see that in the theater? Cruising? No, actually, no. I actually saw it later. I remember when it came out.
Starting point is 00:36:53 I don't think I was old enough to be able to get in when it came. I'm trying to remember what year would have been... It was 1980. You could have just gone. I was right on the cusp. I had a date once. I wanted to take this girl to see.
Starting point is 00:37:03 the Shining and I was in love with her and she was 19 and I was 16 and they wouldn't let it. They carded me and wouldn't let me in. So we had to go see the get smart movie. The nude bomb and I never went out with me again. So there you go. I don't think like
Starting point is 00:37:19 the Shining is so romantic. Well, I don't know what I needed better for you. She wanted to see it because she thought was cool. I was terrified. I hated scary movies back then. I was really scared. Shiny's pretty good. Shiny's great. You know what's better though, the book. I hate to say.
Starting point is 00:37:33 I like the book. The book. I like the book. The book, the, well, the challenge he had in adapting it is, oh yeah. Is that he becomes a beast. Yeah, exactly. It's really much more, it's more magical, the book.
Starting point is 00:37:46 And I'm like an asshole for being a movie director saying the book is better. No, no, no. I want you know something. If there's any audience that is receptive to the book is better. I know. Exactly. This is the book is better crap. Unless I make a movie about a book, then the movie's better.
Starting point is 00:38:01 Yeah, I want to read Rebecca. Yeah. Because I've never read it, but the Hitchcock movie's great, but I want to read the book. Totally. But that's neither here nor there. Next up, a high-powered woman finds herself wanting more than just safety from her trusted bodyguard. Oh, that's a movie.
Starting point is 00:38:17 It's a movie, but it's also true because it is the plot of 1992's The Bodyguard. It's also a show the bodyguard and... And Kristen Cinema, Kirsten Cinema, Kirsten Cinema, according to a lawsuit filed by somebody the strange wife. Cinema sent him a photo of herself and a towel suggesting he bring MDMA on a work trip and said she could guide him through a psychedelic experience cool. Wow.
Starting point is 00:38:43 Yeah. Like an ayahuasca thing going over there. It's like, ooh. Centrism. I do like her glasses, I will say. Yeah, she has good glasses. She has good glasses. You know, broken con situation. I can say something positive about Christensen. You won the game.
Starting point is 00:38:59 Oh, did I win? That was a good. A nail biter. It was a nail biter. The Housemate is streaming on demand right now. It is. Available for... But they don't kiss in this one. Well, there is kissing. There's kissing. Kissing and sex, yeah.
Starting point is 00:39:14 And there's sex. Yes. Sorry. Then you've got to go to watch another simple favor, then you'll see. And then there's, then there, Blake lively and Anna Kendrick kissing that one. Yes. Yes. Exactly. We'll be right back. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love It or Leave It coming up.
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Starting point is 00:40:18 No. I can't stop eating it myself. Yeah, he has a little bowl next to his desk. Make this switch to Sundays. Go right now to SundaysforDogs.com slash love at 50 and get 50% up your first order. Or you can use code Love at 50% off at $1.50. That's 50% off your first order at SundaysforDogs.com slash love it 50. Sundays for Dogs.com slash love at 50 or use code Love at 50 at 50 at checkout. Love it or leave it is brought to you by Bombas. Spring is here. And while the resolutions of
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Starting point is 00:41:37 That's BOMBAS.com slash love it. Code love it at checkout. And we're back. You know my next guest from Drag Race and Traders and Sibling Rivoli, plus her new stand-up to her high heels, bad knees. Please welcome Monet Exchange. Hi. So good to see.
Starting point is 00:42:03 Thank you for being here. Hello. Hi, Monet. Hi. Also, correction. Sidney's Sweeney was not storm to capital because she was at home trying on her jeans. Yeah, she was. She was trying on those jeans.
Starting point is 00:42:18 Those things are so tight girls. She can't walk upstairs in those things. Can you imagine? I'd like the skinny jeans era and I do miss it. Absolutely not. Really? Skinny jeans? Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:42:28 And they were all low-rise too. Awful. You know, it's funny because everyone would make fun of skinny jeans. And I'd be like, I like them. I like wearing them. Because I'm little, but I'm learning. These pants are not skinny jeans. I've moved.
Starting point is 00:42:44 I'm adapting and growing and changing and trying to stay current with the times. Because you realize that, oh, like, in my mind, dad outfits are what dads wore when I was a kid. But the dad outfit moves through time with us. And then all of a sudden you realize, oh, ask not for whom the dad outfit tolls. It tolls for thee. No, I have a lot of thigh, a lot of ass. I can't be wearing no skinny jeans. It's not a good look on me.
Starting point is 00:43:12 I like oversized baggy. I like looking like I'm going to middle school in my entire life, you know? So Drag Race Season 18 is airing now. Are you watching the current season? I am watching. Bob and I, we do a podcast, Sylving Watchery, where we review episodes of Drag Race.
Starting point is 00:43:25 And it's a good season. It's a good batch of girls. The median age is now, like, in their 30s. So they're more respectable queens. They actually have a point of view. Last season, they were all like 22. I was like, ew. get out of here.
Starting point is 00:43:37 You don't know anything about life. What are you talking about? But you know a lot about life because people in their 30s know a lot about life. Yes, I am now in my late mid-30s and I'm having a good time. It's nice on the side. I'm closer to 40 now than I, you know,
Starting point is 00:43:54 than 30 and it feels good. And I'm, you know, I'm aging decently and I'm not mad at it. Yeah, I think I'm doing good. Although sometimes I see my age and white women like, they gasp. And then I realize, you know, Out of drag, like, you know, in drag, I look like this beautiful goddess. Like, out of drag, when I forget to shave my head
Starting point is 00:44:11 because I'm a balding black man. I'm not bald, I'm balding. And the hairline's giving cul-de-sac, you know what I'm saying? So, I look like all my life I had to fight. Yeah. Well, so I would, I think, like, so this, this, so this ring here, that's from the Hebrew God. But the top here is from a Jewish man in Beverly Hills.
Starting point is 00:44:34 So, which is so in a situation. So like this, organic, this sort of still from the Jews, but like, so like, so like, yeah, you get, you know what I'm saying? So, so, yeah, that's what I did. I simply emotionally couldn't go ball. I respect people who have the confidence to do it. I don't have it. Well, I have a good head.
Starting point is 00:44:55 You have a great, you look great. I have a good head. I give good head. It's all good, you know. Do you think Queens should be playing fictional characters on Snatch game instead? of real celebrities. Wow, this is a point of contention. You know, some people like,
Starting point is 00:45:10 people like, please stop making up characters. Why are you playing Sasquatch? Why are you playing the devil, whatever? And I'm like, guys, we're what? We're now 18 seasons in and also 10 seasons of All-Stars. So just almost 30 seasons of drag race. Like, you're kind of running out of the good celebrities. Like, who are you going to be?
Starting point is 00:45:26 Like, Pat Sejack? Like, I don't. So I. Whig. He did he? Yeah. Really? Pat, Pat, Pat, he ain't going to Turkey.
Starting point is 00:45:34 He's alive. He's alive. He's alive. He's alive. So I don't know. So then he could be litigious. I think he wore a wig. That's based on my recollection.
Starting point is 00:45:41 If it's wrong, I'm sorry. Well, it was great. It was great. And, like, so I'm all about making up a character. I'm like, if you play, if you're like making up like your grandma,
Starting point is 00:45:48 like no. Like, give us like a, because Sasquatch is a celebrity. Jesus is a celebrity. For sure. They're all celebrities. So it has to be something like that. Not your cousin Vinny.
Starting point is 00:45:58 I don't want, I don't know Vinny. You know. What were you going to say, Paul? You have a great head of here, by the way. Oh my God. wanted to be a judge on drag race and they won't let me do it. Why haven't you been?
Starting point is 00:46:09 What? Thank you. I'm, yeah, I would love to. That is crazy. They need to have you on. Can I tell you? When I walked up the back stage and I saw you there, I am a huge fan of yours. Obviously, the amazing movies you've done, all this stuff you've done. You, I know you, and I love you, from Mr. Poole, from Sabrina the Teenage Witch. Yes.
Starting point is 00:46:31 I watch every single episode of Sabrina. I used to walk around my house pointing at the toast So like, you know what I mean? So that's, oh, my goodness. Yes. Thank you. I had to say that. That's a deep cut.
Starting point is 00:46:42 I love it. Thank you. Also in a film called Ski Patrol. Ski Patrol. Oh, my God. Wow. There were two movies. One was called Ski Patrol, and the other was called Ski School.
Starting point is 00:46:53 And I don't remember what, and one of them was kind of a little bit more sexual. No, ski school was raunchy. Yes. Yes. Ski Patrol was family friendly. Yes. Ski School was super raunchy. Ooh.
Starting point is 00:47:03 Yes. What are we doing at ski school? There are like, there are just, there are boobs on the mountain. Oh, wow. Just boobs out on the mountain. There's boobs and an outhouse that turns over on somebody and they get shit all over. Oh, God. We were not going, we were going much class.
Starting point is 00:47:17 Yeah, ski patrol is the thinking man. Yeah, right. Oh, my. Are there any changes you would make to drag race? Oh, yes. Okay, one, I think that Rupal love her. We need to have, we need to have another queen on the dais, right? I think that, like, RuPaul famously
Starting point is 00:47:36 would not have any other queens. It can only be her. Raven has made a brief cameo, but not to really judge. So I think we need to get other queens. Like, there are seasoned queens from the show who have done and gone on to do amazing things. Bring a tricksy back. Bring a Bianca back there.
Starting point is 00:47:49 Bring him on exchange. I don't know. Someone behind there. I think they should do that. And I think we need to mix up the challenges. I think some of them just put them to bed. Like, Snatch game is getting worse and worse every season. I'm like, put it to bed.
Starting point is 00:48:03 Think of something new. There are so many other games you could do that are fun. Yeah, I feel like the, oh, what's a kind of character that's allowed on Snatch game? It's like, is it funny? If it's funny, you can do it. Yeah. It's got to be funny. It's got to have a little game to it.
Starting point is 00:48:15 Yeah, yeah. So now, Paul. Yes. You have a story in your memoir. Wow, you're so classic. About dressing up in your mother's clothes. Yes. Which is, to my mind, drag.
Starting point is 00:48:31 It is. It is. What did you take away from your experience? of doing drag as a child. No, I always rude around him. Clearly, when I found my father's Nazi flag, I used to root around my parents' closet. And I found this, like, blonde wig that I put on once.
Starting point is 00:48:46 And I thought I looked really pretty. And so then I went in my mom's closet, and I found these clothes. I put on this dress, and she had these, like, Nancy Sinatra, like, white, tall boots. I put them on, and so I was, so I kind of went into the living room, I was kind of dancing around,
Starting point is 00:49:01 and all of a sudden, I look up, and all these kids from the neighborhood I know are staring through the window and I'm like, oh, hey, I try to pass it off and they go like, your mom's just been a car accident. So I go, oh my God! So I go, they go, it's over here, so I go running out in this outfit.
Starting point is 00:49:19 Like, Mom, are you okay? And I'm standing there, oh, my God, and they're pulling out of the car and she's okay, but she's shaken. And so I'm like so sad. And then every eye in the neighborhood, like, what the fuck are you wearing? and oh my god
Starting point is 00:49:33 it was just Paul that story took a turn I was not ready for I was not ready for that turn Paul wow so monae coming to a theater near you
Starting point is 00:49:50 so you you appeared in a 36 hour edition of Survivor which is just about half the amount of time I spend the real survivor. Fuck. What was your 36-hour
Starting point is 00:50:08 Survivor experience like? Okay, I had to tell you first. So first, they send this email. And, you know, people send random, you get random emails all the time. Like, fake ones like, hey, come and be on John Lovitz podcast and some fake thing. They said they're going to
Starting point is 00:50:22 pay you $5,000. They're always fake. There's all these all the time. So I get the request for it. I'm like, this is nonsense. But I was like, just in case. Let me just forward it to my agent. just in case. It ended up being real. They wanted to bring eight influencers to Fiji and do the entire experience.
Starting point is 00:50:36 And I was like, okay, they're bringing eight influencers. They're going to take it easy. They're not going to do it. They're going to, like, put the rain on and off for us. You know, they're going to, you know, God is going to do his thing. No, it was the legit thing. And Jeff said it was one of the worst storms they've had in the past 15 years that's doing the show.
Starting point is 00:50:51 When was this? This was in May. This was made something to something. So, y'all, I'm not kidding you. It started raining at 3 p.m. It did not stop raining until 6. 6th.m. the next day. But you don't have your and we had to build our own shelter for real.
Starting point is 00:51:05 They were not taking it easy on us. So we were just sitting, getting rained on for over 12 hours. And I was like, this is going to be my 13th reason. And I am going to unalive myself on this beach. I was so cold. Why am I cold and wet in Fiji? Like, that's not what I want.
Starting point is 00:51:21 You know? But it was fun and I would totally do the real thing. You would do the real thing. I absolutely would. Yeah. I love Survivor. But I, yeah, for me, so I have not, I've last night I went, so Rob has a podcast is a big Survivor podcast. And so last night I went, they did a live show. And it was actually the first time I watched Survivor since I was voted off. Really? Yeah. It was like a big moment for I was like getting back into it. And then I, and like,
Starting point is 00:51:44 I sort of needed to step back from it because, you know, like, you can love the theater. But if you, if you're like, say, they understudy for Hamilton and then they call you up and they say, we'd like you'd like you to be Hamilton and they send you out there. And you're like, I'm not going to miss my shot. And then you shit yourself. Like, you can still love the theater. But you're just. You can still love the theater. but you're probably not going to go see Hamilton for a while. Yeah. So I, like, took a break. So I took a break.
Starting point is 00:52:10 But I would, last night, being with, like, the Rob as a podcast, like, Survivor World, they're all so enthusiastic and there were so many survivors there. I was like, hmm, I got the bug again. I'm going to give Jeff a buzz. Is it like, Jeff? Yeah. I was like, come on. Just one more game.
Starting point is 00:52:23 One more again. Because it's not that I fucked it up. I don't feel like I didn't have a bad, I didn't have a bad experience. I want more. Let it rain. Let it rain. You know what I mean? I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready.
Starting point is 00:52:34 But time is so distorted because you don't have your phone or anything. So you just know the sun is setting and the sun is rising. So the night feels like 29 hours long. Like when is the sun ever going to come again? I know. And then you miss three dinners and you go home. I have an interesting, a interesting survivor thing. When we did the office, the reason the office looks the way it does is Greg Daniels, who show ran the office, got the cameraman from.
Starting point is 00:53:00 survivor to shoot it. So they knew how to shoot documentary style. So that's why it looks so in the moment. That's cool. That's cool. Yeah, it was interesting being there with the way they like capture everything. So I want to talk about traders. You were great on traders. Thank you. What a great experience. Gone too soon. But you know what? You did great. Listen, you were there forever as far as I concerned. So two things. First of all, we still, what happened at the reunion that we didn't see. Is there anything from the reunion that happened that we didn't see? Nothing like of no.
Starting point is 00:53:36 Like it was just like silly questions. I mean, listen, this reunion is run by Andy Cohen who's obsessed with the housewives. So I felt like it did they trimmed it back on it. It felt very housewife heavy. It was like, Jesus Christ, if I had to tell one more thing about a housewife and I'm like they're not even married. It was that.
Starting point is 00:53:52 But so that was really it. I think everything else that they just trimmed the fat. I think the network did a good job of showing like really representing the reunion photo wise. So controversial opinion. Oh, boy. I love housewives.
Starting point is 00:54:08 I love traitors. There's something about the way in which housewife culture feels more powerful than even the rules of the game because it felt like Candice both was not enamored of Rob the way everyone else was, but also brought housewife rules to the trader's game and was more worried about housewife politics than wins. because obviously the game was changing. She doesn't want to vote for Lisa. It feels like she cared more about off-screen future politics than what was happening
Starting point is 00:54:42 on the show. Do you think there's a problem of like kind of like the housewife mafia on on traitors? No, I just think that the housewife players were not strategic and they weren't thinking as a gamer. I think that Rob, even though he's from Love Island, which is not a strategic game, he was thinking of having alliances in and outside of the turret, whereas the housewives only focus on, we're going to protect our crew in the turret,
Starting point is 00:55:07 which was their fatal flaw. Candace did, she made decisions and got rid of her greatest asses. She's like, this would make it as a camera, but after Porsche got banished, me and Candace, we were so broken up about it. We went to the bar room together, and I was like, listen, Candace, I want to talk to you. I was like, I think I know that you are faithful.
Starting point is 00:55:25 I can feel it. I know you are. And I may be wrong, and you don't know what I am, But I'll tell you this. If I am a traitor, I will never say your name in the turret. And if I'm a faithful, I will always defend you at the roundtable. And I'm asking for the same thing for you. She was like, I got you, girl.
Starting point is 00:55:37 And the first time I said Lisa's name, she said it to Lisa. So she got rid of her. I was going to ride with her as far as. So she didn't do a good job of getting allies to keep her through the game. Once Lisa was gone, she lost like her biggest play in the game. Such a good thing for you to say. Yeah. I was like, I don't know what she was.
Starting point is 00:55:54 But I mean, she obviously she knew what I was because she was a traitor. But, you know, I was like, I was like, I was. I'll protect you. I'll be your ally, whatever, whichever way it goes down. Yeah. So I think the houseway needs to think like, they need to think like gamers. You can't think like this is not, you know, you're not turning table with Teresa Judice. You're playing the game of traitors, you know.
Starting point is 00:56:14 So I had Durinda on the show, loved talking to Durinda, had a blast, everything I hope she would be. I'm a huge fan of Ron Funches. He's been on this show. He's incredible. I love Ron. What happened? Here's the thing about Ron. Ron went into this game, this strategy game, but it's also a social game.
Starting point is 00:56:33 And Ron was not trying to play with any of us socially. I would sit down with Ron in the four-year thing, in the kitchen, and try to strike up a conversation. He's just like, yeah. So it's like, so you can't go out and say, oh, no one wanted to talk to me and be friends with me. Like, I felt ostracized. When you ostracize yourself, people try to be friends with Ron and try to, because that's, again, it's a social game also. So you've got to build connections that aren't just about who. who we were voting tonight.
Starting point is 00:56:59 Like, you got to, you got to drop little things so people feel connection to you or else they don't want to play the game with you. So I hear that. But none of that would lead people to think he was a traitor. I guess what I would say is when Ron is kind of repeatedly somebody people want to vote for. Is it because they really thought he might be a traitor or because he hadn't played a good social game so it was sort of cost free to vote for him? I think it was more of the social game was like playing the bad social game was his undoing.
Starting point is 00:57:26 because he effed us all with the Porsche thing. Like, he swayed the entire group. I know. And we could have gotten a traitor out on the first night. We could have been the only group, because they were awful faithfuls, by the way. Because this show was not casting the faithful. They're casting red flags. All of them.
Starting point is 00:57:40 They're awful. And so we ended up, like, he swayed us off Adana. And Portia ended up going home. And so, like, that was really weird for everyone. Everyone was like, why were you so gung-ho about Portia? So it was that and also the social game. People were, like, you know, talking to us. Like, what are you really thinking?
Starting point is 00:57:56 and we thought it was the Donna effect, because Donna was very vocal of her. Zana was talking, talking, talking. After the first night, she got really quiet, really insular. So we were, like, something is off with that. Like, I think the pressures of being a traitor were getting to her already, and that's why she just kind of recoiled.
Starting point is 00:58:10 So we thought that was Ron, too. I'm sympathetic to Ron, because I know what it's like to be... Like, kind of like... To feel... He's an odd guy, but he's so funny, and he's so smart, and he's so talented. And I feel like he didn't find his... groove with the group. That's all.
Starting point is 00:58:28 Also, I will say after the show, I have seen, because I, you know, I didn't know much about Ron going in. After the show, and now the show is then, like, when we do press stuff together, he's very sweet, but in the context of the game, he was so quiet and wouldn't talk to anyone, really. And I wanted him and Dorenda to get into it at the reunion. I wanted to know what.
Starting point is 00:58:44 I was like, Durinda, what the hell did she asked him? What happened between that? Nothing. I don't know. I have no idea. Like, no one knows. No one knows. And Doreinda also would randomly FaceTime you. Yeah, like the other day, I was just in my hotel room, she just FaceTime him. I was like, hey, girl, this feels inappropriate.
Starting point is 00:59:00 And I try to ask her, and she didn't know either. So I'm like, what is this thing Ron knows that he hasn't told anyone? Last question for you. No, I'm engaged. Stop it. Me too. Timitay Salome. Let's show the clip.
Starting point is 00:59:17 Oh, stop. He's fantastic. Shut up. Let's show the clip. I admire people when I've done it myself to go on a talk show and go, hey, we've got to keep movie theaters alive. You know, we got to keep this genre alive. I don't want to be working in ballet or opera or, you know, things where it's like, hey,
Starting point is 00:59:30 keep this thing alive, even though it's like no one cares about this anymore. All respect to the ballet and opera people out there. I just lost 14 cents in viewership. But, um, I'm finding out now that Matthew McConaughey is in this clip. Did you see, though, that the L.A., I think, ballet company made, you can get a 20% discount with the code word, shallomay? I saw that. I saw that.
Starting point is 00:59:55 I was like, well done. You're a trained opera singer. Yeah. What do you think about? What do you think about what Tim said there? I think that people are blowing this clip out of proportion. If you watch the full context of the thing, he's not shitting on opera and sitting on ballet. First of all, his entire family is our ballerinas.
Starting point is 01:00:13 Like his mom, his sister, his cousin, his grandfather, his niece, everyone, they're all doing pirouettes all day long, okay? So he wasn't shit on that. He was just saying like, and as someone from the opera world, opera is completely, is very gatekeeper. and it is only, they think that only rich white people like opera, which is not true. So I think he's speaking of like, it's a dying art form that way. Like people in urban areas and urban communities and inner city people, don't feel that they can go to opera because it's not for them. And opera is dying, y'all.
Starting point is 01:00:41 People like, these companies cannot afford, so many opera houses have closed in the past three years in America, you would gag at how many. So he's not wrong. So he's just saying to the content, like, and he doesn't want that to happen to film, which a lot of us don't. So I think people blew this way out of proportion, and it was not. not what the internet is painting it out to me. I agree with you.
Starting point is 01:00:58 And it's, well, what's interesting about it is to me the backlash gets a kind of part of the problem. Because, like, what he's saying is, hey, if you're part of an art that's like, if you love, if you like support this because it's good for the world. He's saying, no, I want to make stuff that is just profitable because people want to see it. Not because they think they're being good people. Yeah. Right.
Starting point is 01:01:16 And like, that's true in media too. Like, there's a lot of great media. Like, that's one of the things we try to do at Cricket, which is make like kind of worthy content that we do content, fuck. Make worthy shows and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and conversations that are worthwhile that people check out, not because they feel like it makes them good people, but because they just want to. You want to go see something entertaining, like they want to go see what the movie you're making. And that's the thing in our company, in our company is just like, make something undeniable.
Starting point is 01:01:45 My problem sometimes is with movies that get made trying to win awards. I say, like, make a great movie that entertains people and then the awards come. Bridesmaids got nominated for two Oscars. I got people shitting in the sink and in a, you know, the street. Like, that is not, we're not like, oh, we're going to get an Oscar for this. So, like, entertain first and then, you know, then it comes when it comes. Yeah. I think that's right.
Starting point is 01:02:11 Thank you. Last question. And when you do the Pavarotti movie, you can cast me as Pavarotti. Oh, my God, please. I don't look like him, but we can do a lot of makeup and make it look like it. This is my new obsession, by the way. Honestly, that's a good idea. that's just a good idea.
Starting point is 01:02:27 Sometimes you hear a good idea. That's a good idea. So, wait, you have Monet a new, you're doing a stand-up tour. Yes. Bad knees. I just assume, once you're over 30,
Starting point is 01:02:37 when you walk down the stairs, the last bit right before your foot touches the stair, that's luck. That's, that you don't really, you know what I mean? Like, your knee's gonna hurt
Starting point is 01:02:47 a little bit on every stair. And that's just what it is to have knees, don't you think? I do think, I think as I'm old and, as I'm getting older, my body and my joints are just making sounds I did not know that they made, because they say the black
Starting point is 01:02:59 don't crack, but my joints absolutely do. And it's just like, I'm like, Jesus Christ, I'm like, sometimes getting off of my sofa, I'm not kidding, it sounds like there's an active shooter in my home. First of all, I'm 63. Fuck you guys. Paul, you have a head full of hair.
Starting point is 01:03:19 Okay, Paul. Thank you. I wish. Yeah, the top of my head is like 70. Yeah, well, what do you like about getting older so far in your 30s, younger than me and even still younger than Paul? I think, I do like the wisdom I'm getting. And I also love the amount of I don't give a fuck I'm getting to. Like little things, I'm like, you know what?
Starting point is 01:03:43 If you don't like it, that's not my problem. Like, what other thing can be is none of my business? And that has, the older I get, the more I believe that. And I just love being on the side of things. Yeah. In my 20s, I cared so much about. everything. Yeah, totally.
Starting point is 01:03:56 The worst thing in the world is guys who get older who try to stay young. And it's like, what the fuck are you doing? You're not fooling anybody. Like, are you wearing a baseball cap and, like, shorts? Like, in your 50s, you look like a fucking idiot. Like, put on a fucking suit
Starting point is 01:04:12 and be an adult. Adult life is the greatest. Look, we've got martinis. Come on. Who wants to be a kid? I hated being a kid. Cheers. And, you know, I was going to wear a suit tonight. But I couldn't get up to clean his ball. Next time, next time I'm over a single prize.
Starting point is 01:04:30 You look great. You look great, my friend. Yeah, there is the challenge of, I agree with everything you just said. But then there's also the other side of it, which is remaining curious and having a plastic and supple mind. That's a challenge, which is not being young, but it's connected to being young. No, here's a thing. If you start to think old and you start to go like, I hate all this new stuff. I hate, like, how many old? people we know like, oh, the music today is terrible. It's like, no, like, fuck off.
Starting point is 01:04:57 The music today is good. It's just you don't know it. Like, it grow old gracefully. Be, don't try to be like, I'm a hipster, but at the same time, like, kind of go like, no, I'm everything that people are doing now is vital the way that when I was coming up was vital. Don't be old. You know, don't be old in your brain. Hey, don't go anywhere. There's more of Love It or Leave It coming up. Love or Leave It is brought you by Zbiotics. It is a sure far away to wake up feeling fresh after drinks with friends. It's with pre-alcohol. Debiotics, pre-alcohol, probiotic drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by PhD scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Here's that works. When you drink, alcohol gets converted into a toxic byproduct in the gut.
Starting point is 01:05:37 It's built up of this byproduct, not dehydration that's sublame for rough days after drinking. Pre-alcohol produces an enzyme to break this byproduct down. Just remember to make pre-alcohol your first drink of the night. Drink responsibly and you'll feel your best tomorrow. We love zibiotics. Huge mess. Love zibiotics. Trying never to have a drink without it. Yeah, it's always, we have been brought on the road. We were in Australia. Sure did. It was a great. It was a boon. March is a marathon of social events. It is.
Starting point is 01:06:01 Well, maybe for some people. What's wrong with me? From the slopes to the bracket watch parties to Guinness on St. Patrick's Day. Oh, man. I got to figure out a social life, I think. Pre-alcohol is the tool you need to fully enjoy the end of winter. Go to Zbiotics.com slash love it to learn more and get 15% off your first order when you use code. Love it at checkout. Zbiotics is backed with a 100% money-back guarantee.
Starting point is 01:06:23 So if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked. Remember to head to zbiotics.com slash love it and use the code love it at checkout for 15% off. In moments like these, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and even easier to feel powerless. But we are neither. I'm Stacey Abrams, and on my podcast, Assembly Required, I take on each executive action, legislative battle, and breaking news moment by asking three questions. What's really happening? What can we do about it?
Starting point is 01:06:54 And how do we keep going together? This is a space for clarity, strategy, and hope rooted in action, not denial. New episodes of assembly required drop Tuesdays. Tune in wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. The Bell Air Direct app includes crash assist, which detects an accident the moment it happens, and even offers you emergency assistance at the tap of a button. Okay, but what if I don't have an accident? Well, just keep on keeping on.
Starting point is 01:07:24 Bel Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply. So here's the deal that I'm striking, because my fiance is younger than me and younger than Monet. Just to give you a sense. Definitely that young than me. And much younger than Paul. Oh, man. Because I'm younger than Paul, and Monet's younger than me.
Starting point is 01:07:46 But I'm going to try to remain curious and open, but I will just hand them on my phone and just be like, I can't fix Instagram. Can you just do my Instagram? And that's just going to be the deal I made. There's no shame in that. There's no shame in that. And speaking of not having any shame, it's time for a special segment. We're calling, I don't care. I love it. I love it. Here's how it works.
Starting point is 01:08:11 We'll take turns defending the people places things and haircuts that we refuse to feel guilty about loving. A guilty pleasure, as it were. First up, Paul, what's something that you don't care if people don't like that you like? I loved the 2024 campaign with the minute
Starting point is 01:08:31 that Biden dropped out. I'm not anti-Biden. I loved when Kamala came in and he, let me tell you why. Because there was three months of this beautiful moment where our side was going
Starting point is 01:08:45 USA, USA, which I think is the most, when the right does it, it's the most aggressive, jingoistic bullshit. I hate it. But when ours I did it, I was like,
Starting point is 01:08:54 like we all love America. We all, for that three months, we all loved America. And then it went to shit. But like, you know, but like, that was, I thought it was beautiful. I was so happy. I was so proud to be an American during that. Yeah, because it was like, it was like we had, it was like, it was like we had one Ayatollah and was very old.
Starting point is 01:09:18 We got rid of that Ayatollah. And then we had a new generation of Ayatollah with all the same policies. I agree. I'm really sorry. I said that. I have several martinis. But I agree with you. Nationalism is just patriotism for assholes.
Starting point is 01:09:39 And it's nice to have real patriotism. And we should bring it back and we should own patriotism because the flag is our flag. They don't own the flag just because they put it on their back to the trucks. You can make it ugly or you'll make it? I agree with that.
Starting point is 01:09:50 It's a really good point. Monet, what is something you don't care that you love that people don't love. Okay, I love selfie sticks. They had a moment and they were so useful. You know what I think?
Starting point is 01:10:06 We're trying to take a picture in a group and I'm like, my arms aren't long enough. Can you do it? No, bitch, I don't want to do it, okay? I don't want to have my arms with the whole group. A selfie stick takes out all the pressure for everyone.
Starting point is 01:10:15 You put your little phone on a little stick, extend it. I had one that had a little automatic recliner on it. I was repressed my button and go, and we take our picture. It was great. And then somewhere along the line, we all got shame for our selfie sticks.
Starting point is 01:10:30 I had to burn my, like I burned my bra. And it was just the worst. And now people are ashamed to use selfie sticks. I think we should use them again. I think that's a really good point. I genuinely do. I haven't thought about it.
Starting point is 01:10:42 I'm hearing this for the first time. You're right. And I'll tell you something else. I think the reason there was a backlash is because girls like them. Oh, you think? Yeah. Yes.
Starting point is 01:10:51 It's massagia. Yes. Yes. The ugly head of misogyny. pops up its headget again. There you go. With the selfie sticks. With the fucking selfie stick.
Starting point is 01:11:03 Next time we have a woman on the show whenever that is, I'll ask. Someday. All right, listen, here's my pitch. Blind dates, old-fashioned style. Okay? You have two friends? You're like, you know what? You're at a lunch or a dinner or you're seeing an old friend.
Starting point is 01:11:23 You're like, oh, they're single, they're single. I have a friend who's single. They're both very good looking or the same level of good looking. I think they'd be good for each other. No longer. Are we going to say, here's who it is. Go look them up on Instagram.
Starting point is 01:11:35 Here's who they are. Here's a picture that I have from my phone. No, you're going to say to your friends, when are you free? We'll set you up. Bring a red fucking rose with you because you're meeting a stranger. You're going to have no information.
Starting point is 01:11:50 All you'll know is that people that love you think maybe. And you will go through the old-fashioned experience without the algorithm, without the pictures on the internet, learning about a person from square one. If you were meant to be seeing the picture before, wouldn't make it more likely.
Starting point is 01:12:11 And if you're not meant to be, you had an interesting conversation. But I think we should bring the true blind blind date back. Bring it back. That's my pitch. That is a real. way to strike a blow against the machine.
Starting point is 01:12:29 Okay, thank you. Love it. You know what? And don't go for dinner on a first day. That's serious killer shit. Like, you're locking yourself into upwards of $65 and maybe an hour and a half with someone that you are not going to enjoy. Go for coffee. Go for an ice cream. That's max 15, 20 minutes, and then you can leave and then decide what you want to do. So, um, I'll concede that I was single in my
Starting point is 01:12:54 in my 20s, and then I was briefly single again in my 40s, but my move was, if this is a drink, do you mind if I order dinner? Ah! It's time for second thoughts.
Starting point is 01:13:08 This is the part of the show where we kind of figure out if I made a mistake. All right. All right. First up, let's see. Oh, well, they aren't going to know about that. Would you like another martini, John?
Starting point is 01:13:29 Okay, the producer suggests that I should regret saying that the swastika was a quote, great design, end quote. I don't regret that. I don't regret that. How could that go bad? In terms of pure, look, here's the thing. Here's the thing. In terms of earned media, right?
Starting point is 01:13:46 Like, the swastika, they never did a single political ad in the U.S. We all know it. Like, they got that brand out there. They got it out there. And I will say it did belong to someone else. Like, that was true. It did belong to another. And it was stolen and co-opted by these people.
Starting point is 01:14:05 So, honestly, that's the worst thing they ever did. Yeah. As you sniff your martini. Oh, my God. Genuinely, a little bit drunk. All right. It says your quote, The Shining's pretty good.
Starting point is 01:14:20 I don't regret saying that. It is pretty good. Yeah, there you go. Let's see. Paul's intro was a mess. I don't regret it. It was kind of fun. We're going to leave it in, I think. I like it. I like it.
Starting point is 01:14:31 Didn't ask Monet for a little opera. Oh. I wanted to do that, but I didn't want to put you on the spot. Really? Yes. Do you need to stand for this? No, I'll do it sitting. I like sitting opera.
Starting point is 01:14:51 Yeah, a queen likes to sit when she sings. Viraviso or the woggiameni in qui lieti in which sereni see tranquillo the di passai of the first
Starting point is 01:15:19 of the first joventu there we go Beautiful. Come on. Oh, thank you. I have a warm cup. I'm drinking.
Starting point is 01:15:33 Only for Paul and John. Wow. And my final second thought, I took Paul's nice comment about Kamala and brought Ayatollah's into it. And that is our show. Thank you to Paul Feig and Monet Exchange.
Starting point is 01:15:47 Check out Monase. Stand-Up tour. Housemaids is available. Now we'll see you next week at the UCB Theater. Next week we're at the UCB. 233 days until the midterms. Have a great night and have great week.
Starting point is 01:15:58 Yes. If you're already scrolling endlessly, which we know you are, don't forget to follow us at Crooked Media on Instagram, TikTok, and all the other ones for original content, community events, and more. You can also find Love It or Leave It on YouTube for videos of your favorite segments and other YouTube exclusive content. And if you want to type our praises or rip us a new one, consider dropping us to review.
Starting point is 01:16:21 Finally, you can join Crooked's Friends of the Pod subscription community for Ad free, Love It or Leave It and Pod Save America episodes, subscriber exclusive pods, and more, sign up at crooked.com slash friends. Love it or leave it is a crooked media production. It's written and produced by me, John Lovett. Kendra James is our executive producer. Bill McGrath is our producer. Hallie Keeper is our head writer, Sarah Lazarus, is our senior staff writer and Jocelyn
Starting point is 01:16:42 Koffman, Peter Miller, Alan Pierre and Suba Argoal are our writers. Jordan Cantor is our editor. Kyle Seiglin and Charlotte Landis provide audio support. Stephen Cologne is our audio engineer. Our theme song is written and performed by Sure, Sure. Thanks to our designer, Sammy Kudurna Reeves, for creating and running all of our visuals, which you can't see because this is a podcast,
Starting point is 01:16:58 and to our digital producers, David Tolls, Claudia Shang, Mia Kelman, Delon, Villanueva, Jayvanks, Milo Kim, and Rachel Gaieski for filming and editing video each week so that you can. Love it or Leave it is produced by Lee Eisenberg, and our head of production is Matt to Grote. And our production staff is proudly unionized with the Writers Guild of America East.
Starting point is 01:17:21 In moments like these, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and even easier to feel power But we are neither. I'm Stacey Abrams, and on my podcast, Assembly Required, I take on each executive action, legislative battle, and breaking news moment by asking three questions. What's really happening?
Starting point is 01:17:59 What can we do about it? And how do we keep going together? This is a space for clarity, strategy, and hope, rooted in action, not denial. New episodes of Assembly Required, drop Tuesdays. Tune in wherever you get your podcast and on YouTube. The Bell Air Direct app includes crash assist, which detects an accident the moment it happens
Starting point is 01:18:22 and even offers you emergency assistance at the tap of a button. Okay, but what if I don't have an accident? Well, just keep on keeping on. Bell Air Direct, insurance, simplified. Conditions apply.

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