Senses Working Overtime with David Cross - Zach Cherry

Episode Date: March 6, 2025

Zach Cherry (Severance) joins David to talk about baking, dog people, and more. Catch all new episodes every Thursday. Watch video episodes here.Guest: Zach CherrySubscribe and Rate Senses Working Overtime on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and leave us a review to read on a future episode!Follow David on Instagram and Twitter.Follow the show:Instagram: @sensesworkingovertimepodTikTok: @swopodEditor: Kati SkeltonEngineer: Chris OsbornExecutive Producer: Emma FoleyAdvertise on Senses Working Overtime via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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Start listening today when you sign up for a free 30-day trial at audible.com slash wonder ECA. That's audible.com slash wonder ECA. This is a HeadGum Podcast. I think I'm just unsure. It seemed like you were set up over there But I can sit here. Well, I was set up over there because it's a neutral area. Okay. I don't want to you know, I don't want to Give it a little bias to her like if I was sitting there and then I got up to greet you, right? You would say think perhaps without even thinking that you shouldn't sit there and then I got up to greet you right you would say think perhaps Without even thinking that you shouldn't sit there and that's why I sit there. No, you can't because cameras are set up for these two chairs

Okay, that's why that's a neutral zone. Sure. That's the DMZ of the Thank you of the Area cool. I've also been watching Big brother and in Big Brother the red chairs mean you've been nominated for eviction. So I saw that the two red chairs were the only option for me and it made me feel a little sensitive. Well, that's, I mean, that's astute and we do take a lot of, a lot of, I don't want to say we rip off Big Brother, but there's elements to it. And at the end of the episode, one of us will be evicted as well as the other person.

Sure. Yeah. I would say ideally I'd like to leave when we're done. So. Well, then it's worked out. Yeah, I'm happy to. You don't have to stay, well, cause part of it is if you're gonna be a guest on the podcast, you know, you set up camp here and you're here for three and a half, four weeks. Sure.

And there's no communication with the outside world. You won't know what's going on. Yeah, that will be tough. That's gonna be tough for me. Cause You won't know what's going on. Yeah. That's going to be tough for me. Because you wouldn't, in this stage, right now, you wouldn't even know if there's a world to enter three and a half weeks from now. Everything might be on fire.

I mean, the season I just watched of Big Brother, 9-11 happened in the middle of the season. And they had to tell them that it happened. Big Brother goes that far back? Yeah, season two. Holy shit. I went way back. So of all the, so was at some point were you sitting around going,

God damn it, I haven't watched all of Big Brother yet. I need to start watching every episode of Big Brother. And so you're just now on season two? Sort of, I was watching Traders. Right, I heard, I know of it, I haven't seen it. Some of the people on Traders were on Big Brother. And they would be talked about as these like, really good players.

Like mind-fucked players kind of thing? Yeah, and I had never seen Big Brother. Right. Then I started watching Deal or No Deal Island. Now, okay, wait a second. I saw, okay, so I saw a, maybe a Subway ad for it or something. Yeah.

And it seems like a joke, seems like a sketch, like something in 30 Rock or. And they have put even less thought into it than that. So how does it work? I mean, Deal or No Deal on paper could work anywhere. You could do it at the Delta Lounge at the Omaha Airport. You could do it anywhere. Like an island.

So it's just, what does the island bring to the. So they live on an island. And in the world of the show, the banker, are you familiar with the banker? The banker is the unseen person, yeah. Yes, the shadowy figure. The banker owns this island. So it's Jeffrey Epstein. Well-

He's alive. I'm not joking. At the end, they go to the temple, the Bankers Temple, which I believe Epstein had a temple of his own on his island. Yeah, I'll say. So it might be, we don't know. And then, so for the first half of the episodes, they play like island games. They like are on zip lines and like run around.

Okay, wait, wait. And then the last 20 minutes. I'm sorry. So do the games give you an advantage, or are they just like, let's have fun, like it's a carnival cruise, and then they get to the game. That's how they collect money to put in the cases that will later be opened during the game of Deal or No Deal.

So they've gotta earn, basically, the money that they're going to try to win. Yes. And then the last 20 minutes are just an episode of dealer no deal but they are on an island an Epstein Island and tropical island or Arctic tropical. Yeah, if there's beaches so

So then that is what led me to big brother is there were also Big Brother players on that. And I thought finally- They've run out of people who won't debase themselves. So they have to go back to the recycling people who will allow themselves to, you know- And they mix them with, on Deal or No Deal Island, it's some newbies to the world of reality television, and then it's some old pros. And so I was like, let me see how these people made their bones. Let me go back.

But there's no mindfuckery in this one, is there? There is, but it isn't necessary. It has really nothing to do with the show. So, do you think any of those folks are like, what am I busting my ass trying to do this weird archery skill jumping thing to get money for the thing when I could just go on the regular deal or no deal, stay in a hotel, and then get free money basically. Well, I mean, the regular deal or no deal doesn't exist anymore to my knowledge. Oh, okay. The banker has permanently relocated, likely for legal reasons, but they don't say that.

So this is their only option if they want to play that. So it's a tax dodge. They're like, it's the Seychelles or whatever, the Antigua or one of those. The banker is mysterious. And also, just to clarify, the banker in season one is revealed to be Howie Mandel. But then in season two, there's a new banker who's a woman. Oh, on the island. Yeah, on the island. But we don't know who she is yet. And so the person, does the person, do you ever hear the voice of the banker or they

just pick up the phone and they go, hmm, hmm, hmm? Yes. Okay. I see. Okay. No, I didn't know that. Yeah, and like, I don't know, 20, 25, maybe a little later. Yeah, no, no allergies.

No, that I know of. So you have seen the show. I've seen snippets. Cause that is basically what it is. I'm sure I've seen a whole show at some point. It's a lot of- Or most of a show certainly. I'm sorry, you want me to say what?

Yeah. You want me to tell them they did that bad? And then they say, the banker says you discussed them. Really they have that because I know, sorry, here's the thing. I know it's based like half of our programs are based on a British show. So they had a deal or no deal. And I can't imagine a British banker being, on a British show being that harsh. Like it was such a big deal when they had the

missing link, the weakest link. Right. And then the woman would say something, in our culture it'd be like, that's how we talk to each other. And then England, it was like, oh my goodness, what a heredity. Well, she might be the banker. We don't know.

I don't know if she's still alive. The lady from- Well, neither is Jeffrey Epstein and he's- Well, he's alive in spirit, I think. Exactly. So she could be involved. We don't know. Okay. I can't remember that lady's name. It was like, yeah, anyway, it was a conversation point for Brits. I should say the media like to talk about. I wasn't culturally plugged into the British conversations at the time, so I miss that. Did you ever, have you spent any time in the UK? Yeah, actually, I now go there every summer. Oh, nice.

Because I host the American version of the Great British, we call it baking show for legal purposes. Exactly. So you're hosting the Great British Bake Off? I host the Great American Baking Show. And we film it in London. Why? Because that's where the tent is Because that's where the tent is.

That's where the tent is. That is the weakest excuse. And it's, we have the same judges, Paul and crew. The tent is scared of flying. The tent is nervous about flying and it would take too long to ship it. But it is mostly, that's where the tent is. So what is, what is the, or do you think is the creative, the studio head reasoning for

doing an American baking show that's a rip off of a British show, but doing it, even though it's American, doing it in London, even though you're just in a tent. I think it's because there was an American version that they did here. Yeah. And I think it felt, it didn't feel quite like the British version. Like, I think what people like about the British version

is how sort of like low key and pleasant it is. Well, that's Britain for you as opposed to America. And I think the American version was a little more American. Yeah. And so now we go over there and it's the same crew. It's Paul and crew are the same judges. Got it. So it helps us ride the vibe a little bit. Because you couldn't find anybody in America outside of yourself who's a pleasant person to beat. Yeah.

Yeah, I see. Yeah, they did a nationwide search and I was- That's so interesting. How did you become a part of that? Honestly, they just asked if I wanted to do it and I said, yeah, sounds fun. It's been really fun. How long or where do you shoot it? We shoot it at Pinewood Studios and I stay in Windsor right next to the castle. Wow.

Yep. My first summer there was actually- Have you been to the castle? I haven't done the tour, but I've like walked around. No, no, no, no, no. I mean, you gotta, there's a way to break. There's a way to sneak in. I will tell you when this is over.

There is a door, there's a door that I've noticed that if I had to would be where I would start my attempts. You might be on the right track. You got to wear a certain something and you have to get access. You have to get a security card, almost like a chip reader card to get in there. And you do not have to, and I'm not recommending you do this, and you do not have to bring a gun, but you can. Okay. My understanding culturally, and I've only been there for a few summers, is that that's not as cool. No, no, I'll tell you where it is and where to get it. It's tricky, and you'll need a Phillips head screwdriver and a...

For the gun or for the... To gun. For the gun. To get the gun, which will allow you to get the security, clearance, key card to get in. I'll tell you after this thing, because I don't wanna... Yeah, because I would love to get in there.

I hear there's a big doll house in there. It's super cool. And there's oddly enough an escape room, the Windsor Castle escape room. That would be fun. And it's just for the royal family. That would be fun. Yeah. And my understanding is it's less occupied now.

It is. You know who's really good at it? Prince Andrew. He nails it every time. Yeah. And what I would say is don't, not that you would, but don't bring a black light with you. Okay. Yeah. Similarly, culturally, my understanding is that's less cool over there. Yeah, yeah. To have the black light just sort of on you.

Yeah. Well, on the walls, on the sheets, on the carpet, on the anything. Yeah. Yeah, oh, yes. I have one here. You have a black light? I have a black light. Here in the, well look at this. This sorta looks black light-ish.

Yeah. Let's see if there's any cum over here. Let's see, take a look at this. Oh. I sorta asked them to set that up. Chris, there's a if there's any come over here Oh, I sort of credit a lot of here look at this there's so much come on the wall well because I asked them to set up the blacklight and I if You wouldn't even know it was a blacklight if there wasn't come for it to reveal so I wanted to make sure there was Yeah, thank you for I don't know if that was homemade or Where that came from but thank you for it's don't know if that was homemade or where that came from, but thank you for. It's on your writer.

Did you not know that? That's right. Yeah, yeah, that's right. It's on your contract. That's right. I sometimes forget what I put in there. Did you ever do standup? Well, like three times.

Yeah. So no. So it didn't go well? It went fine, I just didn't like it. I didn't like the vibe. I came up doing improv, which is a much more collaborative. Yeah, it's a lesser form of comedy, sure. Sure, sure. I mean, it's freer. It's more real. How is it freer? It's not freer in any way. It's completely freer way. It's completely stand up. You just do what you want to do.

Yeah, but you could see the freest you could possibly be. Well, you're you're you know, you sitting down beforehand and writing it down. No, no, you don't write your. Oh, it's all up here. All of Jay-Z style. Yeah. OK. Well, I didn't actually know that was allowed. So maybe now I'll have to revisit it. Get back into it. But no, I just didn't like the... I went to a few open mics and I remember like... Oh, that vibe can be not great. Yeah. No one was listening. Everyone was talking during the show. But dude, it's tough. The beginning is fucking hard. It is hard. Even if you're really good right out of the gate, it's a hard, not that pleasant several years, but you find your peers pretty quickly. Sure.

And you work with them, you hang out with them, you help each other, and you get a nice little community out of it. What I liked about improv is you sort of shortcut that a little bit. Friends, yeah, sure. Cause you have your group up there with you right away. So, as a huge coward, that was better for me. You're right, I can understand. But you had a desire clearly to perform.

Yeah, yeah, definitely like improv and sketch and comedy was always in the mix for me. Where'd you grow up? New Jersey. Where in New Jersey? Trenton, New Jersey. Ooh. Which is?

The something of the world, the make, what is it? Did Trenton take, Trenton makes? I was just gonna say state capital, but yes. The catchphrase is. Trenton makes the world take. gonna say state capital, but yes. The catchphrase is. Trenton makes the world take. Yes, that's right. Because it was some type of industrial powerhouse at some point.

Yeah, for like a couple months when there was not a whole lot of competition. I think it was more than a couple months because they built a whole bridge with the, they put a lot of effort into. The bridge? Into the bridge and the lettering on it. Trenton makes, the world takes. It sounds very kind of bitchy almost.

It's like the giving tree of cities. It's – yeah. It's like I give and I give and I give, and then now look at me. It's a Jewish city. You know, demographically, I'm not so sure it is, but spiritually maybe. No, it's just the spirit of the city is Jewish. Yeah, I used to have a, well, I had a bit in the standup sense, you don't do them once they're out

there, but there's a product that they sell at Whole Foods There's a product that they sell at Whole Foods. That's all eco-friendly, 100% recyclable, blah, blah, blah. But the name of the brand is If You Care. And so it's the most guilt-inducing, but in a real Jewish way. Sure. There's plastic. It's stuff for the kitchen, you know if you can't there's like, you know plastic It's stuff for the kitchen right basically if you even care. Yeah, well, you know, okay if you care you'll you'll

Purchase it but okay, you don't care. That's now, you know teachers own sure, but you don't care But this is for people who care Yeah, the training about each other they care about the children children, you know, other people's children, but you don't care, so okay, go get the Reynolds wrap, that's fine. Yeah, it's the trend of items. Of products, yeah. So why did I bring up London? I was going to ask, this is going so far back.

Talking about the Queen. Well, we didn't mention her, but her presence was sort of felt. But there's a specific reason. Oh yes, I know what it was. It was about TV programs. Sure. And there are two shows, I spent a bunch of time over the years in London,

and there are two shows that I got pleasantly addicted to that I loved for different reasons. Just two. One is Come Dine With Me, which is one of my all-time favorite shows. And are you familiar with it? No. All right. Well, check it out when you're there. It would be like on... I think it's Channel 4 maybe? I'm not sure.

They've, it's been on for many, many years and they have Come Dine With Me and then Come Dine With Me couples. The premise is really simple. It would never work here. And my wife and other people have gone, you, cause I love it so much and I've seen so many episodes.

And you should try to pitch it and do it in America. I was like, it will not work because of the following reasons. So it's super low budget, right? And the idea is really simple. You go to this town anywhere in the UK and there are four people that participate. And they're literally in apartments or semi-detached house, small places. Sometimes there's somebody who's on an estate occasionally, somebody who's

clearly got some money, but mostly you could be on the eighth floor of an apartment building, right? And in Liverpool, whatever. So, and they go to really small towns too. And they're four contestants. They don't know each other. And each week you host a dinner party where you cook and you give them dinner and then you kind of provide entertainment while

sort of while the dessert's getting ready. And and so for talent. What? Like you do a talent. Well, I mean, everybody's got their own. It's not you just have to sort of you don't have to do that. A lot of people do. Or they just put on a record or something. Yeah, something. And here's some here's whatever.

Here's a board game, whatever. So it's, and then you take in each episode is one, you know, it's 30 minutes and it's the, you meet the people, you know, somebody is a beautician and another person works for a tax firm and another person is a Uber driver, whatever. And they all have different varying personalities and the strangers, they're all strangers. So you go to the first person, they cook,

and then it gets really like caddy, like this is terrible soup. When they go in the kitchen, sometimes it's really good. So, you know, they're trying to watch them try to make it. And usually, I'd say most of the time, people are unduly cocky about their cooking skills. And then they'll, it's kind of part of the show, but then they'll sneak around the house and they'll go, look at this picture and oh, he's a drag queen and da da da, whatever. And then you do that.

And then the person, each person separately as they get a cab home is filmed and they go, I thought Denise, you know, I thought her Coco Van was, it was okay, it was the dough was not very good, I thought she was a wonderful hostess, da da da da, I give her a seven, right? So each, the three people do that, they give their score, and each week you go to the next person's house.

And then they all start to get to know each other at the end, and there's definitely like, you know, right wing, left wing, or feminist, you know, you know, macho guy, whatever the thing is. They sort of intentionally cast for... Yeah, but not like in America where it's blatant and nobody's poking them. There's no editing tricks and it's they're all real legit folks and it's this low stakes thing and sometimes there's a fight,

you know, an argument, which is really fun. And then sometimes somebody just ruins the dinner by accident. And it's really, there's a sweetness to it. Oh, and the other thing that works really well is, I don't know the name of the guy, but there's a kind of narrator. So somebody will say something who's like, well, that certainly won't work.

And you know, things like that. I'll pop in. Is he ever there or he's just... No, no, no, he's never there. It's just in post. He's like, good luck with that, you know, kind of thing. And so they have come dine with me and come dine with me couples. And it's just a really kind of sweet, completely real.

There's nothing bullshit about it. And it's fun. It's fun to watch. That sounds good. Yeah, it's good. And you know, it's a half hour. So you get invested. And by the end of four episodes, you got your winner and you get 500 pounds. Oh, nice. You know, if you win. And it's a really, I'm telling you, check it out. And based on the scores everyone gives you?

Yeah, yeah. So have they, do they ever, because they want to win, do they ever, you know, sort of- No. Depressed that- No. No. See, that's what would happen if you did it here.

Yes. Oh, but it couldn't work here. I give it a zero. But also there's a difference between going to, you know, whatever, Bristol, just outside of Bristol, right? And going to Phoenix. Sure. Like people in, we're such a big country

that you're just not going to have any connection to these people outside of the way Americans are kind of trained to watch reality shows. You'd have to relearn everything. So here's how you do it. Okay. You get a bunch of Americans.

Yeah. And you go shoot it in London. Oh, in a tent. That's what we did. You could do it in a tent. But do you think your magic tent would be available? Yeah, I mean, we shoot ours pretty quick, so. But they have to have four different,

Four tents. Four tents. Or you put up curl means. But are they all magic? Well, it's not magic. Well, Zach, come on, what you're describing, there's clearly a reason to go to that tent and there's got to be something supernatural to it.

I think, well, I don't think it's magic. There is every day at 3 p.m., and I'm not exaggerating, 30 to 50 rabbits come out of the sort of shrubbery around the tent. So that's magical. It's a magical Experience. Yeah, but it's not magic, but I think you just put up a partition like in an apartment like in it, you know You have a one better apartment, but you got three people. I don't think this is gonna work Well, I just don't think that's a I'll make it work and then all right, you can well then we'll pitch it together and You can produce. I'll make it work, and then you can watch it. Well, then we'll pitch it together, and you can produce. And I'll EP. I think if we're going to pitch it together,

it would be helpful for you to not say things like, I don't think it's going to work. Well, I would lead with that. And then I'd tell the people at the studio, and say, no, you convinced me why it's going to work. That's what you do. All right, I actually do. It's called the old slippery do.

Sure. Yep. You come in this way, and then you go that way do. It's called the old slippery do. Sure. Yep. You come in this way and then you go that way and then you come out the other way. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. And there's another show that I urge you to check out. This one is, I think, it's super old. It's like on ITV, I think.

And this is just stuff you've stumbled on while you've been living in Utah. Yeah, and they're just like, you know, kind of their low key programming. There's nothing fancy about it. It's not, you know, it's just, you know, it's like in a corner of the TV world, you know, in the ether out there.

And there's another one that is an old game show that is not nearly as old as you think it is, which is really shocking, because it looks, when you watch it, you're like, when did they shoot this? Like early to mid 70s? And they're like, no, that's from 2008. And you're like, oh my God.

All right. And it's called Bullseye. And it's a, oh, it's so good. It's very, it's the, again, the lowest budget show and it's three pairs. So you can be a couple, you can be married, you can be brother, sister, friends, whatever. You answer some questions

and then you go to a big dart board and you throw darts. It's all about darts. And the prizes are, if you watch an early episode of Let's Make a Deal, and they're like, a brand new phone, and a hi-fi set from Korea, you know, like whatever their weird old 70s products are, like they have that.

Those are the little, and there's like a spinny thing. Is it retro intentionally, or is it just? No, no, it's not retro. It's just, it's like a spinny thing. Is it retro intentionally or no, no, it's not retro. It's just it's like if Have you ever seen Turkish Superman. Oh, it's great if you ever get chance. So it's a it was Superman made in Turkey and You know the original Superman. I don't know what it would translate to today's dollars, but had like a $75 million budget. Sure. Turkish Superman had a $75 budget.

You could tell it's just fun to watch. I imagine I could pick up on some differences there. Yeah. So there's the guy who used to host it died. And there was like all these kind of corny, sexist jokes too. And the audience is like 80, the average age is about 80, and they're all pleasant. That's like, remember in Monty Python when they cut away to the ladies clapping?

It's like that. It's like that. And you just can't, and the guy looks like he's drunk or drinking, I should say, not drunk, but has been drinking. And his assistant, when he leaves, his assistant goes on, they kind of redid the show a little bit, revamped it. And his assistant goes on to host after that. But it's one of those shows where you're like,

oh, when did you film this, 1982? No, 2000, it's from 2000. I will have to seek it out. When I've been over there, the two things I've stumbled on are Gogglebox, which is just people watching other TV shows. It's the most meta, like, oh, of course we came to this. And it's like sometimes it's celebrities, but sometimes it's just a family.

But also those people have become celebrities in their own right. Oh, okay. See, I didn't know that. Yeah, yeah. I didn't even know it was a recurring. So, Gogglebox, to those who don't know, is, as Zach said, it's usually, I don't know, you'll check in on like three, an episode, three. But there's probably nine, 10, 11 different,

there's families, or couples, or husband and wives, but it's just, you're checking in on them reacting to TV shows they're watching. Yeah, to like currently airing popular television. Right, and they make observations, cutting remarks. Hopefully they check out Deal or No Deal Island. Oh, if it gets there, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And some of those people, I know like,

there's an older kind of posh-y type couple, at least they sound posh, they're kind of popular. Whenever I turn it on, it's never, I haven't even noticed that they return to the same people. Oh yeah, yeah, yeah. I assumed it was like, just new every episode. No, no. So I'm not plugged in enough to the goggle.

Goggle box world. Universe, yeah. It's not, it makes me feel weird watching it. Yeah, it's sort of like how people like to watch people play video games now. I don't know if you know. Yeah, but at least you have the video game. You're not seeing the show they're seeing. Right.

You're kind of, the camera's sort of like to the side and behind the TV. Yeah. And they're sitting on the couch. But yeah, it doesn't connect for me. Yeah, it's a, I don't, it's not a good experience. And then I've watched sort of like their version of Cops, but it was like... Bubbies! Yeah, I think it was called Bubbies. And I remember it being just, it was just focused on the lady answering the phone. Like at the-

At dispatch? Yeah. So it was just- That seems boring. It was, it was extremely boring. It was just the lady being like, hello? Yeah, how can we help you? Okay, we'll send someone right over there.

And that was pretty much it. Now that sounds like a bit too. That sounds like a sketch. It was. Like cops, switchboard. It was real. I watched, I only watched about 10 minutes of it. And then I switched over to ITV2. Well, that'll have some of the really dumb,

bad old shows on it. Well, now they basically play Family Guy 24-7. Oh, God. Yeah. So. And have you seen the, what's the one America's, Yeah, well now they basically play Family Guy 24-7. Oh, God. Yeah. And have you seen the, what's the one America, somebody did in America just recently, the naked dating? It's not called naked dating, it's called- Naked and Afraid?

No, no, no. It's where you- Oh my God, yes, I did watch that. It's like eight people in these kind of... And you start by just seeing like their penis. Yeah, and then it... And then it reveals a little more. Yeah, it's like...

I forget what that's called. Or their push or whatever for women. And it's like eight people in almost like a stripper buck kind of lit thing. And then just one contestant, I believe. And then you go and you ask questions and then you, youant, I believe, and then you go and you ask questions and then you, you know, more is revealed. Yes, and this airs on just broadcast over there.

Yeah, well, it's called, you know, past the, what is it, the watershed, so it's after 11. But I have watched it, some of the crew was telling me about that and I couldn't believe that it was real. I've probably seen it four or five times. I've yet to see one attractive woman on that show.

I mean, the episode I remember, it was. Hey, everyone was doing their thing. Yeah, I mean, I mean, there's some fucking cut guys, some really buff guys on there with like, that's a nice dick, but there was not the equivalent. I don't remember anything being particularly nice about what I witnessed. And it seemed just very awful for everyone involved.

It seemed like a nightmare. I don't know, there are some, when the first couple people who go out, you can see they're disappointed in a way that's not just regular disappointment. You know, maybe the, what's going through their mind is like like I can't believe I fucking just showed everything on TV for 60 seconds to be humiliated. Yeah it doesn't seem fun. Yeah. And then even if you last long it's such a I mean I guess it is a it's such a strange way to start. Your date with someone that you've gotten over a lot of the hump of. It's kind of good in a way. I mean, it's it's got the the the maybe one of two or three upsides of social

dating apps where you like, oh, you know, oh, that's what your dick looks like. Yeah, you start there. And, and, you know, maybe that's not the worst thing in the world because when you do, when something is initiated, you're like, well, we don't have to worry about this shit. But it takes away that fun. I can't, I mean, I have a mix of,

I don't wanna say jealousy, but a mix of, I don't want to say jealousy, but a mix of like, a way missed out on that kind of thing and sadness for like a friend of mine, his son told him, his son's in his like early 20s, early mid 20s, and his son told him, they were just talking about stuff. And he's like, oh yeah, I've had, I think I've had sex with 50 different women. He's, let's say he's, I don't know,

when this conversation happened, 24, 25, 23, I don't know. But like, I didn't like to be 24 and have sex with 50 different, just from apps. And then they come over and then they leave. And there's like, oh, there's something very pure about that transaction. But you have, the great thing for me is,

or was, you know, going to a bar, going to somewhere and connecting with somebody and really connecting with them. And there's that chemistry and there's that spark. And then there's the whole rest of the evening. Where's this gonna go? What's gonna happen? Is it gonna, we gonna continue?

And then either, you know, you do fuck or you don't, but maybe you're gonna later, maybe you wanna meet up again, or maybe you're both like, that's what I needed. Thank you, you're great. Sure. Or that was great. Let's reconnect and learn more about them, etc., etc., etc.

You've taken away that very human, that thrilling, and also it's so satisfying. You haven't done anything. You haven't been charming, funny, smart, interesting, curious. You might have had to write a really funny bio. That's true. You might have had to say like, must love, not dogs, because that's not funny. No.

You might have had to say must love hogs. Must love. You mean about your hog maybe? That's not very good. Yeah, I wasn't a big app user, so I didn't really write the bios. But that's what the naked dating, whatever that name is.

It shortcuts that. Yeah, so that's kind of interesting. Yeah, yeah. Oh, there's another one. I forgot about this show. Very British in the world of what we're talking about, where it's a blind date, and it's just a blind date. And there's the same restaurant they always use,

and there's like a bartender there, and you go sit at these specific stools. I mean, there are other people eating. But, and then it's just two people looking for romance and then you go, you basically eavesdrop on their blind date. But there's no gimmick. There's no gimmick, no. Yeah.

Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. For me, you got to put that on an island or something to get- It should be on an island. That's what, when I first saw it, I was like, I like this idea, but I don't even have to see the island, but I would like to know that this restaurant is within an island somewhere. Yeah. Yeah.

Like it could be at the restaurant from the menu. The UK is an island. Done. We did. Boom. So really all of these shows. Yeah, they're all on an island. You could add island to the end of them and you would be earnest. Absolutely. Cop's Island. Yeah.

Bobby's Island. Bobby's Island. Yeah, Bobby's Island. Yeah, all the great British Bake Off Island. Yeah. No Deal Island Island. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Cause if you shoot it there... And the soundtrack can be on Island Records. Island Records Island. Yeah. Well, it would be the soundtrack to No Deal Island Island available on Island Records. Island Records. Yeah. Which is located on Island Records Island. Yes. Obviously.

Yeah. I mean, I assume. I've never been. Now we've gone, let's see, about 40 minutes so far without mentioning that you are on my wife and I's favorite show. The Great American. Great American. Baking show island.

Baking show island. It doesn't seem like the kind of thing you do, but Ben Stiller directs the Great British American Baking Island tent. About half the episodes. Yeah, about half the episodes. But it's such an interesting approach. And your tent is huge, clearly. Yeah, you mostly can't see the tent. Similar to how you were saying you don't need to see the

island, you just need to know it's on an island. It's within a tent. The tent is there, but it's not. Where do you shoot that? Mostly in the Bronx, just like at a stage in the Bronx. But then some exterior stuff in New Jersey, like the building is this place called Bell Works, which is like a, now it's kind of like a weird shopping mall slash office space hybrid thing.

A WeWork meets Etsy. It's like WeWork on the upper floor, but then on the bottom floor, it's like- Annie's Pretzel. Shops and yeah, and like indoor driving range. Like it's a very strange space. And then some of it in upstate New York and, but yeah, mostly the stages are in here in New York. Do you live here?

Yeah. Are you based here? Yeah. Oh, I guess if you were from Trenton, it's not the biggest move. And your family's still back in Trenton? Yep. Okay. Yeah. And what did I mean, I don't want to make you this isn't a, you know, what do you call it?

Quiz. No, no. But when you go on the when you have to do press for a junket. Sure. Yeah. Who do you get paired with on the junkets? Usually with John and Brit, which is great. We have a lot of fun. They're fun crew. Yeah, I went to the screening. Yeah, I saw you there. And there was something else that I was supposed to do that on paper was way more exciting, but it was like, even if I can get a 48 hour advanced sneak

at the first episode, I wanna do it. And whatever the thing was, I was like, I can't go, it was something pretty good. I don't remember what it was, but it was like, I'm gonna go see, I'm gonna go see Severance. And that fucking opening. I'd love to know what it was so we could, so they could feel bad.

That what? I'd love to know what it was so we could so they could feel bad that what I'd love to know what it was So they could feel bad that you didn't It was was it a Saturday or Sunday it was a weekend wasn't it or is it Friday, I think it was a I Think oh might have been a Thursday Thursday, what would it been on a Thursday? It's probably a show. It's probably a show. And probably not music. It's probably, anyway, I don't know, but it was something that was like-

Well, everyone check your calendars and if he bailed on you. That was why. That opening shot was amazing. Of Adam running around. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of Adam running around. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That was really cool. Yeah. And the music and the fucking title sequence is the best title sequence.

And I'm so glad you guys did another for, uh, season two, which has more, uh, interesting clues in it, I guess. Yeah, there's a lot going on in it. Yeah. I hadn't seen that until, I didn't even see it until like when episode two aired or whatever. Yeah. Yeah. And how, and um, how long in between, uh, wrapping season one and shooting season two,

was it? It was a while. It's hard to, it was, I know it was three years between season one airing and season two airing. Yeah, yeah. So it was probably like a good year and a half. Yeah. Or maybe even, yeah, it was probably a good year and a half,

almost two years between wrapping and starting up again. Wow. Yeah. Was there any difficulty in like, hey, can you show me some Dylan? How does he talk? How would he say this? No, I mean, I did refresh myself. I watched the first season again before we started shooting again. But then also once we just got there in the space and with each other, it was pretty easy to click back. God, I love it so much.

And I love, that show is so up my alley. I love stuff like that. And it's almost a perfect example of that type of show. And I urge everybody to watch, to check out Severance if you haven't, it's just so good. It keeps getting better. And I remember watching, because people were telling me like,

you gotta check out the show, you'll love it, blah, blah, blah. And I was so, like I had to watch it again because I was distracted by how good it was and what an amazing job Ben did. And I, you know, I know Ben, we're not close, but I texted him after watching like, dude, that is, I was just like gushing, like, dude, that is, I was just like gushing, like that is like every choice. And I've directed stuff, so I know all the choices. I mean, down to the fucking, you know,

color of a suit, whatever, like it's just, it's really impressive to me. Like, it's really fun to be on and it is fun. I've almost been spoiled by it in the sense of the attention to detail is so high from everyone, from every department that since working on the first season, sometimes I'll work on other things where it's sort of like, oh, who cares, let's just do it. And I'm like, whoa, that would never happen on Sevens. Everything is so thought out that it's, yeah, it has spoiled me a little bit.

Yeah, I can see. I mean, and just, again, the choices and the casting outside of the guy who plays Dylan is just spot on, really interesting. Some faces I haven't seen before. I didn't want to do it either. You get that sense that they didn't want you to do it? Yeah, they didn't really want me and I don't really want to be there, but we're finding our way together. But everybody knows, we're all on the same page. Yeah, as long as you acknowledge it, it's easy to...

It's just such a great, cool show. Well, you know what I was gonna say? We were in a movie together. We were. But not at the same time. Not at the same time. So we're coworkers. We are coworkers, yeah, we never met.

So I just wanted to make sure I said that. Well, we should start the episode. We should start, shoot, start doing it. Yeah, let's start recording. Okay, so we're here with Zach Cherry on Sense of Working Overtime, who stars in the new Dune movie, Dune Walker. You know what you should have on the show? Who? Dr. Smell. Do you know Dr. Smell? No. Are you on Dr. Smell? No. How online are you?

Not at all. So in the last few months, there was a woman who did a PhD thesis on the olfactory ethics. Olfactory ethics? What would that be? It's actually very interesting. Outside of Don't Fart. I'm sure she has thoughts on that but

It's sort of just the way smell is used in writing to other people or to To huh, I don't even really know but she No, no, I'm trying to understand what the ethics of I mean just to Sort like, you know, have you seen parasiteasite? Yes. You know, you know, this scene in Parasite where the rich guys are talking about how poor people smell and, and they have just this smell on that. Like she, she writes about things like that and how that's

represented in media and writing basically in, in English literature. Specifically about class or? Not always, just the ways in which smell is- Is used as a, in a derogatory way or? I think not exclusively, but often. Right, okay. In racist ways, in class differentiating ways. Understood.

Interesting stuff. And she went very viral, but mostly because angry anti-intellectuals were like, how can you waste your time studying this shit? This is irrelevant, no one cares. And then as soon as- But you know what is a great use of time is writing things online. You should do that more. That's what they were hoping for, but she's just an interesting, she's becoming public figure and she writes about smell. So I think she'd be a perfect fit for it. Oh, Dr. Smell.

Yeah, Dr. Smell. Oh, okay. So if we can set that up. Oh, shit. Okay. Not now, but I'd love to listen or. I would love for you to jump in as a co-producer on the show and you set it up. Start setting shit up.

Okay. I'm happy to sort of... Who else, Zach, who else should I have on the show? Well, Sense is... No, no. Well, that was... Sense is Working Overtime was in the initial hook that they demanded. No, I know.

I know. And then... So forget about... it doesn't have to be. It can be. But for me, it's important to keep it. Okay, so Dr. Smell, what about lawyer touch? If I could get in touch with lawyer touch, I think they would be a great fit. Okay.

Do you have any sort of- I have Reverend Listen. Yeah, Reverend Listen. Hi, we got Dr. Smell, Lawyer Touch, and Reverend Listen. Reverend Listen I'm a little worried about, like some of the opinions they have. Right, well, and they also were caught molesting children. Yeah. Right in the ear.

Yeah. Yeah, so that's kind of- That'd be the main reason not to have them on. Right. But there are other reasons. They just wouldn't be a good guest. Oh, kind of boring. They prattle on about the ear canal and how it-

what a tight fit that would be for your, depending on your girth. It just comes off as bragging. It does, it does. It's not a good fit. But Teacher Taste. Teacher Taste? Teacher Taste I think would be good. I have his first album, but I don't,

and I think I got the fourth album when he redid the first album with Philharmonic Symphony. Wasn't that into it? I'll be honest. I thought it was interesting. Yeah, I just think- I thought it was interesting. I think like math rock, backpack rap, that genre,

that mixing, you know, with a guy, with a DJ who does mashups and just, I don't know, teacher taste, not my cup of tea as it were. But it was, it felt new, even though it was just the first album, but with the film, it felt, to me, it felt new. So yeah, I mean, well, that's why I called it new. But it was any you, you know, with umlauts. Right. A new oh, and then he had the other album, a new approach, but it was GNU like the animal. Right. Yeah. It was like me. That's why I like. Right.

It's clever wordplay. Yeah. Right. It's like. You know, he's not phoning it in with the album title. Well, phoning it in is one of the album titles. So in a way, he... But that was commentary. Yeah, but it's still an album title. I know it's meta because then the follow-up single was not phoning it in, which is you could say, well, you phoned that one in, not in a literal sense, but in a figurative sense, but he, because he's true to his art and his ideas, he literally went outside the building, got in an Uber,

went to a bus station, drove down to Durham, North Carolina's 18 hours with a couple stops, got out and then literally phoned the titles in. Because that, for payphones, that was the closest payphone. Yeah. You had to go down to Durham. The last working one, yeah. Right. Durham, North Carolina, the bus depot.

Yeah. So I'm just, I'm into that kind of stuff. And so I think he'd be a great fit for the show. But I'm happy to be the booker if you want. Yeah, that'd be great. I mean, if you've got connections or, I mean, you've, those are, you know, three ideas that are really interesting. Yeah.

And I would also happily be on an episode of the show. I know we haven't really started yet, but I- We're gonna start shortly. Sure, yeah. I think I may reverse the way I normally do the shows and start with a question from my daughter. I have a question. Okay. Who's just turned eight, but was seven

when she came up with it. Do you have kids, do you have family? I have family, but no kids. What does that mean? That means I have. Well, we did, my parents, I know this was before the show started, but my parents still live in Trenton

and I'm married, but no kids. Right. Are you talking about having kids? Not really. We're pretty psyched with our current setup. Sure, sure. Yeah. And where do you all live?

We live in Brooklyn. Nice, we're in Brooklyn. We do have a dog. We have a dog who is a high touch dog, you could say. A high needs dog. You have a dog in Brooklyn. We're in Brooklyn? Yeah, in Bushwick.

Okay, so you have a dog in Brooklyn. Yeah, Bushwick, okay. Bushwick is a lot hipper, chill, cooler area. There are, there is a... I'm in like the quiet part, but yeah. But there's like a prototypical Brooklyn dog owner where I think of

like Kind of like younger youngish Like me but also like couples high maintenance, white, jogging, they belong to a jogging club, a run club. We're starting to get away from me.

No, no, I'm saying you're in Bushwick, but there's like the Park Slope and- Sure, sure, sure. That kind of Brooklyn, Brooklyn Heights. Like the people you find and the dog owners who are really a very specific archetype. Yeah, we don't fit that. We don't fit the mold. It doesn't sound like it.

No. But what kind of dog do you have? A Chihuahua mix. She just has very bad anxiety. Oh, that's tough. Yeah. That is hard. That's very hard. Do you have a dog? I do, yeah. What kind of dog? Because I can't say the actual word that is the common shortcut. I will say she's a Bernie's Mountain Doodle poodle mix.

Is the shortcut a slur? a Bernie's Mountain Doodle poodle mix. Is the shortcut a slur? No. What? What would that be? You're like, I can't say it. What would the slur be? You're like, I can't say it. What do you mean you can't say it?

You can't pronounce it? Oh, no, no, no. You don't like to say it. I don't like to say it. It makes, I feel a bit of shame. I see, I see. We, so I've had dogs, you know, I had dog growing up. I had a dog for 15 years before this dog, that rescue dog.

Sure. Very close with, traveled with, you know, and then had a very, as anybody would at tough time, had to put her down. She really degraded pretty quickly. Lived, lived to be 15. So that's, that's good. But, um, my wife was allergic to the dander

sometimes and, and both myself and my daughter really wanted to get a, another dog. And, um, so we wanted to get another dog. So we had to get a hypoallergenic dog. And so it's a bred dog, which I'm totally opposed to. And it's a Bernadoodle, which is an overly cute name. I don't know if I used to use that word. Yeah, I don't like saying it.

And I was with my sister at the dog park about a month ago. And somebody was like, oh, what kind of dog is that? And I said, oh, it's a mix of Bernie's Mountain Dog and poodle mix. And then my sister went, it's a Bernadoodle. And I was like, I can't say that. I'm not going to say it. I'm not going to say Bernie.

I understand. I understand. Our dog is a Chihuahua blend. Mostly Chihuahua, but then a lot of other. Rescue dog? Yeah, rescue dog. All dogs should be rescue dogs. I appreciate that there's a dog deeply. We wouldn't be able to have one if it wasn't for this dog. She's great. She's big, muppety. She's still not even 15 months old.

She's at least at this point probably 68 pounds, big, super puppy, big fluffy, goofy, really goofy and playful. That's a big New York dog. Yeah, yeah. And she's great. She chews everything up, but she's still in puppy mode, and we're trying. But we're all happy she's there. Sure. And my daughter loves her.

That's great. And she's a really good kind of watchdog. I mean, I don't know what, I don't know. My first dog was a poodle that I didn't have. It was, it was three months old when, or four months old when I was born. So, and I grew up with it. And we had that one till I was nine and a half. At first, I thought you were talking about the dog that was 15 and I was trying to do the math on that. I'm 21. Right, yeah. Yes.

Yeah, so I get to drink now. I'm gonna start drinking and driving. It rules. Not at the same time. No, no, don't do that. But both are fun, but separate. Legal weed. Sure. I can get that too.

All good. Keep them in three separate compartments. Monday's you drive, Tuesday's you drink, Wednesday's for the weed. Well, I would mix it up. Mondays I would drive, just load up on the green weed. You'll go pick up your weed and booze on green weed. To go, you'll go pick up your weed. Yeah, booze on Mondays. Tuesday, I will drink.

And because you drink, you make bad decisions. I get back in the car, trade my weed in for coke. Sure. Do some fat rails, drink the rest of my drink. Right. Drive. Just because I got an itch to do it. Go see Niagara Falls. Then I go, I wish I had weed. Yeah, I wish I had weed. Well, get there and go, why? What? Who wants to be jacked on coke to see? Right. So then I trade the coke and for weed. And are you on the American side? Or are you

crossing to both? I want to do is I park at the American side, do the fucking tight rope get that all laid out get halfway down get one of those little chair hammock swing thing sure do that until I get arrested right all right spend a day in jail there's my food take care of they give you the coke back then they give me on the American side right and then and then You know get my court date. Yeah, and then scoot out of the country. That's a good luck finding me in Costa Rica When I say that we can cut that out, right we don't don't cut that out like the challenge Zach cherry let's get this thing started. This was a absolute pleasure having you on.

I appreciate it. I am a fan and a listener, so it's exciting to be here. Oh, right. You listen to this. Oh, cool. Great. Well, my pleasure to have you on, and I love Severance, I love your work on it. I loved seeing you in my movie. You hurt my feelings. It was really nice that you did that when you came on for my movie. Yeah. I felt the same.

I was like, I'm happy to be in your movie. It would be in your movie. It's It would be kind of fun if I wasn't known for being like Funny silly it'd be it'd be interesting to go When you're doing like a day or a cameo on a fun of film or something to just treat like it's your movie Go around and thank you Thank you so much for doing this. We're so excited to have you. Yeah. Yeah. All right. Where's my question? I might try that. Okay. Zach Cherry from my seven-year-old daughter, your question, and you can answer this in

any way you see fit. Zach Cherry, why do cowboys always wear boots? That's a good question. My guess is that it began as a functional thing, that their work is messy and muddy and cow shitty, dungus, d shitty. Dung. Dungus. Dungarees. Dungarees also are in the mix. But my guess is it started as functional, but now it's almost a cultural signifier of this is my uniform. This is what I put on when I become a cowboy. Because probably now there are better style boots for that work.

Well, to be fair, my daughter, and I usually try not to editorialize, but my daughter said, why do cowboys always wear boots, not cowboy boots? That's true. Well, I'm going to amend my question and say they're always wearing cowboy boots if you really pay attention. So I think you meant to ask. I don't mean to be rude, but I think you meant to ask why are they always wearing cowboy boots.

Now, if you're listening to this and not watching it on the YouTube thing, Zach made a really kind of insulting face when he said that. So you have to condescending. You have to apply that look to what he just said. I think it came across in my tone as well. Yeah, but I'm trying to get the people to visualize, like, really, like, the kind of thing that if you heard somebody talking to your child

like that, you'd be like, excuse me. Yes. Can I help you? That kind of thing that if you heard somebody talking to your child like that you'd be like excuse me Yes, can I help you that kind of sorry? Do you show this to her? Will you show this to her? When she turns 21, okay I'm gonna get on the car get her a car get her a case of Tito's and I'm going to go to the travel agency, pick up some weed and then I got a guy who will get that sorted and then she can sit down and watch everything. Cool. Well, then yeah, then I'm happy with my answer.

Knowing that, I'm happy with what I did. Okay. Well, then so am I. Great. Fine. I'm happy to do as many questions too if you want to knock a few out. You can have me answer a few and use them if anyone doesn't have time or wants to leave early or if anyone gets mad and time or wants to leave early or if

Anyone gets mad and walk. They're not allowed to that's not going to happen. Okay? But I would be happy to answer a few more Well, you can't You know what you can do at home is if you're listening Or in the car wherever you listen to it is if you're listening or in the car, wherever you listen to it, you can stop it right before the person gives the answer and then you out loud give your answer

and it'll almost be like playing along. And if I send those into you, will you put them in? If I send in a few? If we got time, sure. If, that's the big word there, if we got time. Okay, because I'll'll maybe I will go back To some old episodes do it Up we'll put him in and put it in as a like a little bonus. Here's Zach. Here's recordings. Here's Zach cherries

Answer I'm trying to remember I wish I could remember answer. I'm trying to remember. I wish I could remember. Do you remember any of the questions from the old episodes? One of my favorites was why is there always pizza at birthday parties? Oh, okay. That's what kid wants to know that. Why? Why is that? Okay. There's for that. I'd have to say no, no, we're not doing this now dude you go back and do this on your own time I got shit to do sure all right I gotta pick up a trout at the farmers market. If you wanna leave maybe I can stay we can knock out a few of these.

I like that idea absolutely. So do I have an ad read? No. Okay great great. All right so I'm gonna go pick up some trout at the farmers market. Okay. And I was actually gonna go pick up what I walked by I walked through the farmers market on my way here I got my eyes on a Bavarian pretzel. Oh, I know the press. Yeah looked good there's really good some of the prices are crazy, but

I've never I've never you know I've never, I've never, you know, had anything in the years I've been coming to this market and anything that wasn't pretty great. Yeah, that pretzel looked really good. Pretzel looks good. There's a kimchi place that's really good, kimchi stand. And there was a good mushroom tent. Mushroom tent is good.

I've gotten some of those mushrooms. They had all the varieties. The Hudson River, Hudson Valley trout place. I'm not a trout guy. It's so, there's no, barely any, it just takes on whatever your, you don't like the texture? No, I'm just not a trout. You don't like the texture? I'm not a trout.

I love a good trout. Not a trout guy. Oh, all right. So the reason there's pizza at a birthday party. Oh, brother. Right. My guess is it started as functional. It probably started as a functional thing.

You need to feed kids. Sense is Working Over Time is a HeadGum podcast created and hosted by me, David Cross. The show is edited by Katie Skelton and engineered by Nicole Lyons with supervising producer Emma Foley. Thanks to Demi Druchen for our show art and Mark Rivers for our theme song. For more podcasts by Headgum, visit Headgum.com or wherever you listen to your favorite shows. Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts and maybe we'll read it on a future episode. I'm not gonna do that.

Thanks for listening.