A bear-filled weekend turns into a culture run that asks bigger questions about power, safety, and the price of attention. We kick off with Taylor Swift’s reported standoff over Super Bowl halftime rights—why ownership and promotion matter when the stage is the most-watched live event in America—and why the NFL won’t budge on a system built for scale. From there, we dive into Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and rapid return, where billions in market reaction, a ratings surge, and a razor‑sharp monologue reframed the debate around free speech, standards, and what audiences will actually tolerate.
Our conversation gets personal with a Bay Area billboard campaign to find a husband. Bold? Absolutely. But we unpack the real tradeoffs: safety, vetting, and smarter ways to meet someone—concierge matchmaking, trusted referrals, and widening your geographic pool instead of gambling on freeway impressions. The tone shifts again as we confront the deadly social media car stunt trend. We talk parental guardrails, platform responsibility, and how to channel risk into structured outlets before curiosity turns catastrophic.
We lighten the mood without losing the thread: the strange chaos of a “poop spray” prank that shut down a school, the nostalgic return of Hamburger Helper in a tight economy (with our favorite healthier riffs), and the viral UN escalator stop that turned mechanical engineers into primetime explainers. Across it all, one theme keeps surfacing: visibility is power—whether it’s a halftime stage, a viral clip, or a box on a grocery shelf—and power needs better design, clearer ownership, and common sense.
If you enjoy smart takes with humor and heart, tap follow, share the show with a friend, and leave a quick review. What story had you yelling at your phone this week—and where do you draw the line between exposure and excess?
Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.
Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.
Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.
Hello, and thank you for listening to Thirsty Topics podcast! I'm Lawrence Elrod, and every week Meryl Klemow and I dive deep into the stories that matter, the conversations that shape our world."
Please help support our show by following us and telling others about our show. New podcasts weekly.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPE (01:12):
SPEAKER_01
Welcome to this week's episodeof Thirsty Topics.
I'm Lauren Sellerati.
SPEAKER_00 (01:18):
And I'm Meryl Klima.
SPEAKER_01 (01:19):
Hey Meryl, how are you doing today?
SPEAKER_00 (01:21):
I'm doing awesome.
How are you doing?
S (01:24):
SPEAKER_01
I am blessed.
SPEAKER_00 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
SPEAKE (01:28):
SPEAKER_01
SPE (01:30):
SPEAKER_00
I forgot what we did.
It was a oh, we went to your uma national park called Yosemite.
SPEAKER_0 (01:36):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (01:36):
It's very beautiful.
If anyone is in the area and youhaven't gone yet, I feel like it
should be mandatory for likeCalifornians to go, at least
like once you renew yourdriver's license, like once once
every eight years or something.
And we we actually saw a blackbear.
SPEAKE (01:51):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (01:52):
SPEAKER_00
We were hiking and we saw somedeer, and then there was a
giant, or not giant, it was amedium-sized black bear, but uh
it was big enough where I waslike, okay, I don't think I
could take this.
SP (02:04):
SPEAKER_01
eventful.
Um it was rough, but my ChicagoBears pulled it out.
SPEAKER_00
S (02:15):
SPEAKER_01
field goal uh by the Raiders.
So people say that yeah, it wasa rough game, but hey, a win is
a win.
SPEA (02:26):
SPEAKER_00
like maybe I have some Bearsfans living by me.
SPE (02:33):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (02:34):
Yeah, yep, yep, yep.
SPEAKER_01 (02:36):
I heard like people like m screaming, ah you know
what's crazy is when I waswatching a game, I was surprised
at how many Bears fans were atthe stadium.
It was half and half.
I was very surprised.
SP (02:47):
SPEAKER_00
I'm happy for you.
SPEAKER_01
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (02:52):
Well, maybe should I start this out since I have some
football news?
SPEAKER (02:55):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00
I thought this one wasinteresting.
Um, Taylor Swift is out for theSuper Bowl halftime show.
So all the Swifties, includingmaybe myself, that was hoping it
would happen.
It ain't gonna happen because uhthe NFL quote unquote flatly
refused to demeet her meet herdemands, which pretty much
demands she was asking forretaining um the right, you
(03:17):
know, the rights and theeverything's of the actual
performance itself and specialplacements of her own promotion
like within the FNS the NFL.
And honestly, if you ask me,like she already is all over the
NFL with Travis.
I feel like every day is a SuperBowl for her, like she gets
shown no matter what.
So in my mind, if if she wantsto promote something, she could
(03:37):
just show up with it like on at-shirt, and then it pretty much
is there, you know, she getsmillions of views anyway.
Um, now the NFL wasn'tdisrespectful in any way, like
out, you know, to the public.
The executives we understandthat Taylor is huge and we need
her more than she needs us.
So, like, in no way were theycompeting with her.
They just said we can't justpick and choose like who we pay
(03:59):
and who we don't pay.
So they kind of said this is youknow, unfortunately, this is how
it goes.
If it can't be met, then youknow, too bad.
And then now I think Bad Bunnyis the Super Bowl person, which
I feel like makes lots of peoplehappy.
Like, I don't really care aboutit, but um, you know, it is what
it is.
SPEAKER_01 (04:16):
It'll be interesting to see who they announced
because I saw something thatPatty LaBelle was doing a super
bowl.
SPEAKER_00 (04:22):
SPEAKER_00
S (04:24):
SPEAKER_01
bring her out or something.
I don't know.
SPEAK (04:31):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
I I get where what Taylor's was coming from, but
the thing that that people haveto understand is if they allow
her to get her demands, theyopen the floodgates for other
big entertainers, right?
SPEAKER_00 (04:46):
SPEAKER_00
And like I wonder, I mean, Iunderstand it seems weird to me
that um that performers can'tretain ownership of their
performance, you know what Imean?
Like that seems weird.
Because yeah, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (05:00):
I I think the Super Bowl is a unique situation just
because it is amulti-multi-billion dollar
industry to begin with.
You know, a lot of people don'tknow this, but um, when you
perform at the Super Bowl, evenwhat you're going to play, you
know, what songs you're gonnasing have to be approved by the
Super Bowl.
You can't you can't just tellher so there's a lot of controls
(05:24):
in place.
So, yeah, she's a big timesuperstar, but I do understand
why they have to tell her no onher demands.
SPEAKER_00 (05:32):
SPEAKER_00
But the fact that they own allthe Super Bowl performances,
like what else besides juststreaming or what what do they
do with them?
Like they're not gonna put out aCD of them or anything, you
know.
Like I wonder, I wonder whatthey when they say like retain
ownership, I wonder what thatmeans down the road for like
Lady Kaga's performance or KatyPerry or you know.
SPEAKER_01 (05:52):
Yeah, I mean they're probably gonna use it as
promotion in the future.
SPEAKER_00 (05:55):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (05:56):
And the thing is, is that by them retaining
ownership, they don't have topay royalties when they reuse
it.
SP (06:02):
SPEAKER_00
That's true.
And then it said that she alsowanted to secure slots promoting
her own projects.
But like I said, if I was her, Iwould just walk in with a
sweatshirt that has my newalbum.
Or like I'd have Travis Kelseylike put something on his helmet
that just says, like, buy mygirlfriend, my fiance's new
album.
SPEAKER (06:20):
SPEAKER_01
But I don't think that's gonnahurt Taylor Swift.
SPE (06:26):
SPEAKER_00
She'll still be there andcheering and everything.
So yeah, if anything, it's justa bummer that everyone was so
excited.
But um, you know, whatever.
SP (06:35):
SPEAKER_01
Um, here's a real twist JimmyKimmel is back on the air.
S (06:42):
SPEAKER_00
last week.
That was so funny.
SPEAKER_01 (06:47):
It was so much that happened last week.
Um let me read this statementhere that I pulled up.
Okay.
It says, yes, Jimmy Kimmel isback on the air.
Sinclair Broadcasting andNextstar Media Group, which own
a significant portion of ABCaffiliates, announced on Friday,
September 26th that they wouldbegin airing Jimmy Kimmel live
(07:10):
again following ABC's decisionto bring the show back Tuesday,
September 23rd, after aweek-long suspension.
The suspension of the showstemmed from Kimmel's comments
about conservative activistCharlie Kirk's death.
Now, there's some interestingthings about this that I want to
(07:30):
just highlight.
I know they wanted him to donatea significant amount to Charlie
Kirk's um um, I guess, nonprofitor whatever he has, and then an
apology.
Neither one did he do.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (07:48):
What I always say is consumers have more power than
you think.
SPEAKER_00 (07:53):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
Because in a matter of days, Disney lost over three
billion dollars.
S (08:01):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01
dollars.
And ABC brought them on, andthen all of a sudden, you know,
the other two broadcasters thatwe just talked about, they
weren't gonna bring them back,but in a matter of a day or two,
they changed their mind.
(08:22):
And I don't think it was becausethey felt sorry or this or that.
It turns down to the dollar.
They did not expect people tocome out as strong as they did.
But what do you think aboutthat?
SP (08:33):
SPEAKER_00
I think what like we talkedabout last week, this was
definitely in the recent historythat I can remember, this is the
most I've seen people likevoting and showing with their
dollar that has actually made animpact because, like we talked
about, like Target and Starbucksand all these things that are
kind of canceled, pretendcanceled, whatever, like you
still see them going and itdoesn't really make an impact.
Um, and now I think this it andI think people in the industry
(08:57):
speaking up and people saying,Okay, you don't want to do this
like for one person because thenit's gonna happen to the whole
industry and it's just gonnacascade bad.
So I think I think they wereprobably shocked at how many
people canceled.
SPEAKER_01 (09:10):
SPEAKER_01
Mm-hmm.
S (09:11):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (09:13):
Oh no, no, go ahead.
SPEAKER_00 (09:14):
I was just gonna say two people with projects
probably also on, like Marveland Disney and Hulu and all
those types of things probablywere not very happy to because
you're like affecting so so somany people.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Oh, yeah, exactly.
And I I think the bigger thing,as polarized as this country is,
you know, the First Amendment,um, the right to free speech is
something that it doesn't matterwhat side of the political fence
you are.
That's something that means alot to America.
Big time.
(09:46):
And you know, a lot of people,that's kind of where they drew
the lines.
Whether it's Republican,Democrat, it doesn't matter.
It's like they drew the linethere saying, no, this is just
too much.
This is too far.
SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
Yeah, and and I do think um I watched Jimmy's like,
I don't know if you saw his I Iloved it, I thought it was
perfect.
I think he did like absolutelyyou could tell he really was
genuine and authentic, and itwas so funny.
I thought like everything aboutit was he just nailed it.
SP (10:13):
SPEAKER_01
happened, and I'm notexaggerating, I literally played
back that segment multipletimes, and I'm sitting there
like, what am I missing?
Is something wrong with me?
Exactly.
It's so horrible to pull him offthe air, you know.
Am I just missing something?
SPEAKER_00 (10:29):
You know, no, he was just stating pretty much like
the truth, like what really washappening, you know what I mean?
Like like it didn't even havelike a slant to it, it just was
kind of like what the truth was.
SPEAKER_01 (10:39):
And never once did he disrespect Charlie Kirk.
SPEAKER_00 (10:41):
Never no, in fact, he tweeted out a few times that
he felt bad for his family andthat, like, yeah, I don't think
he's being disrespectful at all.
SPEAKER_01 (10:48):
Yeah, and you know, the thing is, you can't have a
situation where you can slam,you know, this side of the
political party, but if they saysomething about your side, you
want to take them off the air.
You can't have that.
S (11:01):
SPEAKER_00
did and him did such a great jobfor like if you find out on a
Friday that you're losing yourjob, and then then it's like,
just kidding, we're back on thejob, and you have to write like
the funniest thing that millionsof people are gonna see.
I like the part where he waslike, we don't we might not get
good ratings, but like nottonight, you know, people are
watching tonight.
SPEAKER_01 (11:21):
Oh yeah, I mean, I want to say, what was this?
I want to say, what was it, sixpoint something million viewers
tuned in.
Wow, and then what was much moreinteresting is that um I want to
say on YouTube it was over 60million, six zero million
(11:43):
streams.
Wow, wow, and what was so funnywas the writers did an excellent
job, excellent job because notonly did he not apologize, which
I don't think he should havebecause he didn't go there, but
the other thing that'sinteresting too is he went in
hard on Trump as usual, but alsoon the head of the FCC.
(13:03):
I mean, it was kind of almostlike a middle finger, you know
what I mean?
SPEAKER_00 (13:06):
SPEAKER_00
And he a few times he named himover and over and over.
He almost focused more on himthan he did on Trump.
S (13:14):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (13:15):
So I forget who it was if it was like John Oliver
or John Stewart.
Someone had a really funny linewhere they were like, Oh, thank
god, now we all get to like stoppretending like we canceled
Disney.
I think that's so funny.
And it was ridiculous.
I saw a few people posting thatnow when you were signing up,
Disney actually made it likemore expensive.
SPEAKE (13:37):
SPEAKER_01
SPE (13:38):
SPEAKER_00
back.
We just want to tell you thatnow the price is like$11 or
something, which I mean I don'tknow if that's true or not, but
that would be crazy.
SPEAKER_01
Wow.
Interesting, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (13:50):
So what do you so do you think they're gonna continue
to mess with him and like theview, or do you think this this
will show them all together?
SPEAKER_01 (13:59):
Well, I I think that they're never gonna like them,
but I think that because of theratings and the money situation,
I don't think they're gonna messwith the view.
They're gonna be watching themreal close, waiting for them to
mess up.
But yeah, but no, they're notgonna mess with the view.
SPE (14:17):
SPEAKER_00
I think you're right.
Wow.
Well, I think that's veryinteresting.
And I'm happy, I'm happy thatdidn't last like month upon
month.
And if you if you're I wastalking about this with my
boyfriend too, and if you'relike living in LA and a writer,
and especially if you don't havelike a spouse or a partner or
someone that is sustaining you,if you find out that you're
losing your job, like you don'thave much time before I'm sure
(14:38):
some of those people werealready considering like, oh my
god, do I need to move somewhereimmediately or you know, like
try to find another job becauseyou really only have like I
mean, everyone's financialsituation is different, but most
people I know working in theindustry that aren't like the
main main celebrity don't havelike a month and months worth of
like savings and everything.
SP (14:57):
SPEAKER_01
point, Merle.
A lot of people don't realizethat okay, yes, the main people
like Jimmy, um, even Guillermo,you know, he gets a decent
salary.
Most of the people on his staffdon't make that kind of money.
SPEAKER_00 (15:12):
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
unknown (15:13):
unknown
SPEAKER_00 (15:13):
And if you're like, we need to think immediately
about what's happening, and thenyou find out two days later,
you're back on.
I love it.
I I like I feel like, you know,in all of the very heavy and
ridiculous news lately, likethis kind of stuff does sustain
me with everything.
And also, shout out to one of myfavorite friends is um a fellow
(15:36):
comedian and wonderful woman, uhnamed Alyssa Phillips, who she's
awesome.
She's part of SAG andeverything.
And her picture, she wasprotesting outside of Burbank
with the sign.
And so she was she made it intolike a lot of the cover photos
about people protesting.
And it's so funny to like seeone of the people that you
really like up there becauseshe's amazing, and she was like
holding all these funny signs,and they were holding a Disney
(15:57):
hand with like the middle fingerout.
So at the end of the day, atleast one person's winning from
it.
She'll have some good pictures,so um, well, I think this is the
next the next thing we shouldall get taken up with as a
society.
Now, a 42-year-old woman namedLisa Catalano put up Marry Me
(16:18):
Billboards in the Bay Area inlast ditch effort to find a
mate.
And so she said she wants tofall in love.
Um, like I said, she's a BayArea singleton and she's
spending a lot of cash to rent adozen digital billboards along
California's Highway 101,putting herself out there and
seeing uh just asking for peoplelike, would you date me?
(16:39):
Would you marry me?
And so far, she said she's gotshe hasn't found her person, but
she's gotten some like someinterest, some people trying to
hook her up.
Um, she's very cute.
You know, they posted a pictureof her.
She's a very funny thing.
And she says, this is not ajoke, it's not a gimmick, this
is a self serious, self-fundedendeavor.
I just want to find my husband.
Um, her ad campaign spans 45miles, and her personal dating
(17:04):
website, if anyone isinterested, is MaryLisa.com.
SPEAKER_01 (17:08):
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
SP (17:09):
SPEAKER_00
Like, I probably shouldn't.
I would feel the same way if itwas a man.
I asked myself this questiontoo.
I really would feel the sameway.
I don't want to say it's likeit's not desperate.
It is a little much.
Like, you know what I mean?
It's a little, I don't think Iwould want to find my husband
like that way.
I'm just someone like plasteringthemselves all over.
It shouldn't seem desperate,like in our society, but
(17:31):
unfortunately to me, it does alittle bit read that way.
Like, I know you're almostsupposed to be like too cool and
you know, seem wanted.
But if you're 42, she probablyhas like a lot of money from
her, you know, she's probablymaking a nice salary, and it's
like half funny and halfinteresting.
So, what is the differencebetween that and like putting
yourself on a dating website, oryou know, if anything, this just
(17:53):
reaches more people?
SPEAKER_01 (17:55):
Yeah, but you know, the interesting thing is it does
strike me as being a little onthe desperate side, to be
honest.
SPE (18:01):
SPEAKER_00
I wish it didn't.
SPEAKER_01 (18:04):
Even though dating sites do the best they can, at
least they at least make anattempt to try and screen
people.
When you advertise that you wantto get married, you're literally
inviting every yeah.
Now, don't get me wrong, thereare probably gonna be some
really good solid guys that thattry to apply, but there are also
gonna be some freaks and youknow really creepy kind of guys
(18:27):
that's reaching out as well,too.
SPE (18:29):
SPEAKER_00
And it is funny though, becauseif I do think on the opposite
end, if like a nice lookingbusinessman who is 42 in San
Francisco put himself on a on aas a thing on a bachelor, like
that would be millions of womenwould be like, Yes, please, yes,
please, you know, but it there'sI don't know what it is, there's
just something about like awoman doing it, which is so sad,
(18:50):
and that is like such a problemwith myself and society and like
internalized misogyny and youknow, all that kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_01 (18:57):
I can tell you if I saw a man advertise for a woman,
I would still say the samething.
It's kind of dancing.
SPE (19:03):
SPEAKER_00
would probably be like, okay,he's probably messaging, he's
probably like a not a jiggalo,but like a you know, like a guy
that's like all about town, likethe same way that I do about the
bachelors.
Like I think of them as justkind of like they're man cats,
pretty much, but like, but withthis woman, I just feel like
it's something like my mom woulddo for me when I was single.
(19:24):
Something.
So I mean, I wish her the bestof luck, but it definitely seems
like uh it says that she'd oh,another woman, another woman,
that's right.
She's she's part of a growingnumber of romantics who have
thrown money at theirrelationship things.
Um, in LA, there was a woman whowas a lawyer who said that she'd
pay a five thousand dollarreferral fee to anyone to help
(19:47):
her find the one.
Now, like I find that almostbetter because then how much?
SPEAKER_01 (19:53):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER (19:54):
SPEAKER_00
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (19:55):
Kim may have to talk to you after we get off here,
but I exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (19:59):
And if you know any good men, like so, so yeah, like
I think that's not bad becausehey, you're a lawyer in almost
the same way that you'reoutsourcing, like, hey, I need a
personal trainer, I need youknow, I'm gonna I need a good
stylist.
Like, if anyone can help me, I'mI'll give you like a kickback or
something.
I I don't think it's that faroff, but there's just something
about like creating a websitecalled Mary Lisa that I'm just
(20:22):
like, oh, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (20:24):
But you know what's interesting, Meryl, is that
obviously whatever she does fora living, um she obviously has
funds that to do this becausethis isn't cheap.
To me, why not just go ahead andget to a professional dating um
company?
Because there are companies outthere that are like a concierge
(20:47):
service where you're not reallyjust going to you know an app or
anything, you're actuallydealing with people that's very
true.
They interview other people.
So yeah, when they set you upwith people, these are real
people that they vetted.
If you have those kind of funds,why not just do that?
S (21:05):
SPEAKER_00
And if I was like really, reallylooking for a partner too, I
wouldn't really focus on just myhometown because especially the
Bay Area, it I would like takeit worldwide and be like, okay,
who in Canada haven't I met yet?
Or like maybe my husband is inthe south of France, or you
know, you don't know.
So I I you're right.
I would probably spend moremoney on matchmakers that like
broaden my search rather thanjust like freeways on the 101.
(21:30):
Because like the Bay Area isnotoriously hard to date because
it's just a lot of like, I mean,it is a lot of tech people, but
it's also a lot of people thatare just kind of never growing
up the same way as like SouthernCalifornia.
So I feel like I would almostfocus on more places like Canada
or Chicago, or you know, wherelike normal men are.
SPEAKER_01
That's true.
I mean, I I wish her the best,but I just hope she stays safe
(21:53):
too and just be careful.
SPEAKER_00 (21:54):
I know that's very true.
That's very, very, very true.
Because a lot of men driving onthe highway are gonna get the
wrong idea.
SPEAKER_01 (22:00):
SPEAKER_01
Talk about being safe.
I even can't believe that we'reabout to talk about this, but uh
on social media it's trendingnow about uh it's called media
uh uh car stunt challenge.
So in these challenges, um onesituation is one person is
(22:23):
driving a car, they got a stringtied to the back of the vehicle,
they're on some kind of sled orwhatever it is, something, and
he drives real fast into thisparking lot just doing donuts,
spinning around, driving real,real fast.
Okay.
Another person driving their carwhile their friend is standing
up in their trunk while they'redriving very, very fast.
(22:45):
Wow.
Now, don't get me wrong.
When I was a kid, you know,young teenager, we did some
stupid stuff, we all do.
None of this stuff ever crossedmy mind.
S (22:56):
SPEAKER_00
When it when it came, I like Idid take the car stuff very
seriously.
Like any of any of our prankswould be phone related or you
know what I mean, like prankcalling any someone.
It wasn't like standing up in acar or anything, anything that
involved machinery.
SPEAKER_0 (23:11):
SPEAKER_01
In fact, um it says here twoteens accused of driving
recklessly while attemptingdangerous social media
challenges have been charged instunts that left one dead and
another with permanent braindamage, prosecutor said.
SPEAKER_00 (23:28):
Oh my gosh, it's so sad.
SPEAKER_01 (23:31):
And what's amazing to me, Merle, is is that I mean,
there's only one way to say it.
It's like common sense has justgone out the window now.
SPEA (23:39):
SPEAKER_00
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (23:42):
I mean, does someone really have to say how stupid
and dangerous this really is?
I'm just saying, you know, am Ilooking at this wrong?
SPEAKER_00 (23:50):
No, I mean, I think I was just at a CVS, and the
fact that they had to have tidepods locked up because people
will eat them.
It's like I I do feel like onepart of a large chunk of society
is like floating away like how aglacier would, where they just
have completely lost theirminds, and you know, and so and
and it's like everyone wants todo stupid stuff to you know to
(24:12):
be famous, no matter howdangerous or crazy it is.
SPEAKER_01 (24:15):
Yeah, everyone wants that 15 minutes of fame no
matter the cost.
That's what's scary.
SPEAKER_00 (24:20):
Yeah, yep, and and then if you're a parent, you
know, just hoping your kidlistens to you and doesn't see
any of these behaviors and getlike swept up into them too.
Um, yeah, it's really sad.
And then you hope not that it'shorrible that this even
happened, but then you wouldhope that anyone that was
pre-acting like this would thensee that example and be like,
okay, maybe we should reel itin, but I don't know.
S (24:43):
SPEAKER_01
your child was killed doingsomething this stupid.
SPEAKER_00 (24:49):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAK (24:50):
SPEAKER_01
would feel.
SPEAKE (24:54):
SPEAKER_00
Yep.
That's why I think there needsto be like parents need to
really talk to their kidsnowadays about like the safety
of online and driving and whatyou should almost like to really
hammer it home and just be like,okay, I think you would know
this, but I want to make sureyou, you know, you I tell you
everything like 10 times over.
SPEAK (25:15):
SPEAKER_01
I agree.
So we'll be watching.
SPEA (25:21):
SPEAKER_00
Well, another ridiculous thingalso happening, but this time
it's a teacher assistant.
Um not the classiest, but poopspray caused$55,000 in damage at
a South Carolina school.
A teaching assistant wasarrested and charged.
Students at the West FlorenceHigh School also had to seek
(25:41):
medical attention forrespiratory issues due to the
spray, quote unquote, designedto imitate it fecal odor, the
sheriff's office said.
So a South Carolina teachingassistant was arrested and
charged with using poop spray incharge.
Um, he was charged withdisturbing schools and malicious
injury to property, and he wasspraying multiple times all over
(26:02):
the high school.
This like, you know, poop spray.
The videos have gone viral onTikTok and social media showing
people spraying the odor intheir cars, homes, and
elevators.
And so obviously, this caused abig disruption.
Um, but now he's facing charges,and that's just I mean, I don't
know how he wasn't getting sickfrom it, too.
S (26:22):
SPEAKER_01
SP (26:25):
SPEAKER_00
like glade air freshener.
I feel like once again, do wethe fact that we need to tell
people this is crazy, but thechemicals used to mask the very
foul odors are so strong thatit's like you don't want to be
spraying that inside your car orhouse or school.
SPE (26:42):
SPEAKER_01
I am shocked they still make it.
SPEAKER_00 (26:46):
SPEAKER_00
We didn't have it, we didn'thave it growing up.
Now we use we have like a TraderJoe's kind, and now they've made
it into like gift bags, youknow, like I feel like it's
there's like expensive kinds.
I there's this one brand that Isee that's like bougie and kind
of expensive, so it's so funnythat it's now become like a
luxury item.
SPEAK (27:05):
SPEAKER_01
It it it amazes me when I seeteachers do stupid stuff that
you would expect the students todo.
SPEAKER_00
It makes you wonder are theytrying to fit in or trying to
show that they're I know and andand sadly being charged$55,000,
it's like a lot of teachersdon't that's like their way more
(27:29):
than their annual salary, evenyou know.
SPEAKER (27:31):
SPEAKER_01
free the whole year, is thatwhat you're down the toilet,
literally, yeah.
Yes, yes.
Oh my goodness.
Well, speaking of down thetoilet, no, I'm just kidding.
Um there's a big return of thehamburger helper.
SPEAKER_00
(27:52):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (27:54):
Still do, definitely did.
Where I anything with sodium,including like that ramen
packets, I love, and I actuallylove it so much.
I I think it's really good.
I'm addicted.
SPEAKER_01 (28:05):
Yes, I know what you mean.
I never had hamburger helper,believe it or not.
S (28:09):
SPEAKER_00
It's like it's good in like anMSG, not good for you kind of
way.
SPEAKER_01 (28:14):
Yeah, I used to eat uh spam growing up, spam with
eggs and rice.
Um excuse me, that's until Ibecame an adult and go, oh my
god, chill me here.
SPEAKER_00 (28:25):
Uh I still I'm very much someone said that I have
like divorced dad meal taste,which I think is so funny.
Like I eat like a sad divorcedad.
SPEAK (28:34):
SPEAKER_01
Well, hamburger helper is seeinga resurgence in sales due to its
affordability and convenience,mirroring the economic
conditions of the 1970s when itwas first introduced.
The brand was acquired by EagleFoods in 2022 and relaunched
with an updated look.
New flavors, reduced cookingtimes, and a return of its
(28:57):
talking glove mascot.
SPEAKER_ (29:00):
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, I don't even want to know.
I mean, the box does have like800 ingredients on it, but it
still tastes really good.
SPEAKER_01 (29:20):
That's when you want the taste, but you really don't
want to read the label.
SPEAKER_00 (29:23):
SPEAKER_00
And because I have, I have, oh,actually, you know what?
This was more for beeferoni, butI have looked up on TikTok like
uh uh healthier versions ofthese types of things because
people really do try to likecreate dupes of them.
Because I like you know,beeferoni and ramen and all
these things.
It's like there are some reallygood recipes to still get that
like feeling of the sloppy doughsituation, but then to not have
(29:46):
it be like so so so sodiumfilled.
SPEAKE (29:49):
SPEAKER_01
That's true.
I mean, it's uh it's kind of oneof those things where it's like
uh over on Canal Street over inChicago, they have the polo
sausages, um, you know, grilledonions, Maxwell Street polo
sauce with the grilled onions,the fries, and stuff like that.
Love that stuff.
You don't want to eat it everyday because you will take some
(30:10):
years off.
Exactly, you know, as a littletreat every so often.
SPEAKER_00 (30:14):
SPEAKER_00
The problem is I do want itevery day, and then it's like
then a bologna sandwich, thenramen.
Then just like the thought ofeating a plum is so sad, but I
don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (30:25):
I hear you, I hear you.
I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (30:26):
I'm happy it's back.
SPEAKER_0 (30:28):
SPEAKER_01
Who knows?
Maybe I'll venture I'll try it.
SPEAKER_00 (30:31):
I'll absolutely try it, especially with your cooking
stuff.
You should like maybe you coulddo like the Lawrence spin on it
or something.
SPEA (30:37):
SPEAKER_01
I'm gonna do that.
It's gonna be insane.
SPEAKER_00 (30:40):
It's so funny what to hear like it's back when I'm
like, I've been eating it thewhole time.
Um well, my last one for todayis something I thought really
was really funny.
Like, this has been a few daysago.
Uh by some people hear this,this it this was kind of like
last week's news, but um, anescalator mishap happened at the
(31:01):
UN where like uh Trump andMillennia Trump were writing it,
and then they the elevatorstopped, and then they got
frozen on it, and then thenpeople said it it wasn't like a
sabotage behavior, it was justbecause Trump's videographer
stopped it by accident.
And so the whole thing wasreally funny.
The part that I wanted to bringup that I think is hilarious was
that escalator experts are nowreacting to this and weighing in
(31:24):
like scientists about escalatorsand like the the technicality of
escalators, and I just thinkthat's so funny because this is
probably like a shining momentif you're an escalator expert,
because what other times are youlike weighing in on the media,
you know?
So I I just thought that was sofunny that now all these like
escalator people are weighingin.
SPEAKER_01 (31:43):
Oh, yeah, everybody wants to get that 15 minutes of
fame.
Now, I did see the video whenthey got on the elevator and the
stop, on the escalator and thestop.
SPE (31:51):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAK (31:53):
SPEAKER_01
S (31:54):
SPEAKER_00
not knowing what to do.
SPE (31:57):
SPEAKER_01
You know, Melania, you know, shejust went on here and walked up,
no big deal.
Yeah, and you could tell, evenwhen I see his face, Trump was
not happy.
He probably walked up, but youcould tell by his body language,
he was not happy.
SPEAKER_0 (32:12):
SPEAKER_00
Exactly.
And I and I totally do get thesecurity concerns, especially
like I know the UN is verysecure, but especially with all
those leaders there and stuff,like that is you don't want to
be just standing thereunprotected.
I get that.
But to say that it was like aninside job when people are like,
actually, your videographerstepped on it the wrong way and
(32:33):
stopped it.
SPEAKER_01 (32:36):
And yes, the crazy part about it was they kind of
showed him, you know, the videotop videographer, and you know,
there's a um uh an emergencystop button.
So basically what they're sayingis it was literally just an act,
he accidentally bumped thatbutton and stopped it.
Yeah.
So it wasn't malicious oranything like that, or but it
(32:58):
was kind of hilarious though.
SPEAKER_00 (32:59):
It was, and I just picture like someone as an
escalator expert, just likesitting at home bored, waiting
for their moment, then all of asudden this is it.
SPEA (33:06):
SPEAKER_01
now.
SPEAKER_00 (33:10):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (33:13):
Talk about moments.
Merle, what do you have comingup?
SPEAKER_00 (33:17):
SPEAKER_00
Well, if anyone is in the NewYork area, I will be um at the
the or Pennsylvania, I'll be atthe Nipa Comedy Festival, which
is northeast Pennsylvania, on umOctober 4th and 5th.
And so yeah, just look at myInstagram.
I'll be on the East Coast for afew days, which I'm very excited
about.
(33:37):
And I have a New York show.
I forget where it is now, butI'll be posting about it for
sure.
SPEAKER (33:42):
SPEAKER_01
Sounds like a fun show.
S (33:45):
SPEAKER_00
I'm we're gonna see a lot of myfriends too.
So I'm super excited for that.
SPE (33:50):
SPEAKER_01
Wow, this time went by veryfast.
SPEAKER_ (33:55):
SPEAKER_00
Time flies when you're stuck onan escalator.
SPEAK (33:58):
SPEAKER_01
Well, everyone, thank you forwatching us.
Thank you for always supportingus.
Continue watching us, listeningto us, and also sharing.
Um, I'm Lawrence Elrod.
SPEAKER_00 (34:10):
I'm Merrill Climo.
S (34:11):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (34:13):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01
Welcome to this week's episodeof Thirsty Topics.
I'm Lauren Sellerati.
SPEAKER_00 (01:18):
And I'm Meryl Klima.
SPEAKER_01 (01:19):
Hey Meryl, how are you doing today?
SPEAKER_00 (01:21):
I'm doing awesome.
How are you doing?
S (01:24):
SPEAKER_01
I am blessed.
SPEAKER_00 (01:26):
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
SPEAKE (01:28):
SPEAKER_01
SPE (01:30):
SPEAKER_00
I forgot what we did.
It was a oh, we went to your uma national park called Yosemite.
SPEAKER_0 (01:36):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (01:36):
It's very beautiful.
If anyone is in the area and youhaven't gone yet, I feel like it
should be mandatory for likeCalifornians to go, at least
like once you renew yourdriver's license, like once once
every eight years or something.
And we we actually saw a blackbear.
SPEAKE (01:51):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (01:52):
SPEAKER_00
We were hiking and we saw somedeer, and then there was a
giant, or not giant, it was amedium-sized black bear, but uh
it was big enough where I waslike, okay, I don't think I
could take this.
SP (02:04):
SPEAKER_01
eventful.
Um it was rough, but my ChicagoBears pulled it out.
SPEAKER_00
S (02:15):
SPEAKER_01
field goal uh by the Raiders.
So people say that yeah, it wasa rough game, but hey, a win is
a win.
SPEA (02:26):
SPEAKER_00
like maybe I have some Bearsfans living by me.
SPE (02:33):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (02:34):
Yeah, yep, yep, yep.
SPEAKER_01 (02:36):
I heard like people like m screaming, ah you know
what's crazy is when I waswatching a game, I was surprised
at how many Bears fans were atthe stadium.
It was half and half.
I was very surprised.
SP (02:47):
SPEAKER_00
I'm happy for you.
SPEAKER_01
Thank you.
SPEAKER_00 (02:52):
Well, maybe should I start this out since I have some
football news?
SPEAKER (02:55):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00
I thought this one wasinteresting.
Um, Taylor Swift is out for theSuper Bowl halftime show.
So all the Swifties, includingmaybe myself, that was hoping it
would happen.
It ain't gonna happen because uhthe NFL quote unquote flatly
refused to demeet her meet herdemands, which pretty much
demands she was asking forretaining um the right, you
(03:17):
know, the rights and theeverything's of the actual
performance itself and specialplacements of her own promotion
like within the FNS the NFL.
And honestly, if you ask me,like she already is all over the
NFL with Travis.
I feel like every day is a SuperBowl for her, like she gets
shown no matter what.
So in my mind, if if she wantsto promote something, she could
(03:37):
just show up with it like on at-shirt, and then it pretty much
is there, you know, she getsmillions of views anyway.
Um, now the NFL wasn'tdisrespectful in any way, like
out, you know, to the public.
The executives we understandthat Taylor is huge and we need
her more than she needs us.
So, like, in no way were theycompeting with her.
They just said we can't justpick and choose like who we pay
(03:59):
and who we don't pay.
So they kind of said this is youknow, unfortunately, this is how
it goes.
If it can't be met, then youknow, too bad.
And then now I think Bad Bunnyis the Super Bowl person, which
I feel like makes lots of peoplehappy.
Like, I don't really care aboutit, but um, you know, it is what
it is.
SPEAKER_01 (04:16):
It'll be interesting to see who they announced
because I saw something thatPatty LaBelle was doing a super
bowl.
SPEAKER_00 (04:22):
SPEAKER_00
S (04:24):
SPEAKER_01
bring her out or something.
I don't know.
SPEAK (04:31):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (04:32):
I I get where what Taylor's was coming from, but
the thing that that people haveto understand is if they allow
her to get her demands, theyopen the floodgates for other
big entertainers, right?
SPEAKER_00 (04:46):
SPEAKER_00
And like I wonder, I mean, Iunderstand it seems weird to me
that um that performers can'tretain ownership of their
performance, you know what Imean?
Like that seems weird.
Because yeah, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (05:00):
I I think the Super Bowl is a unique situation just
because it is amulti-multi-billion dollar
industry to begin with.
You know, a lot of people don'tknow this, but um, when you
perform at the Super Bowl, evenwhat you're going to play, you
know, what songs you're gonnasing have to be approved by the
Super Bowl.
You can't you can't just tellher so there's a lot of controls
(05:24):
in place.
So, yeah, she's a big timesuperstar, but I do understand
why they have to tell her no onher demands.
SPEAKER_00 (05:32):
SPEAKER_00
But the fact that they own allthe Super Bowl performances,
like what else besides juststreaming or what what do they
do with them?
Like they're not gonna put out aCD of them or anything, you
know.
Like I wonder, I wonder whatthey when they say like retain
ownership, I wonder what thatmeans down the road for like
Lady Kaga's performance or KatyPerry or you know.
SPEAKER_01 (05:52):
Yeah, I mean they're probably gonna use it as
promotion in the future.
SPEAKER_00 (05:55):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (05:56):
And the thing is, is that by them retaining
ownership, they don't have topay royalties when they reuse
it.
SP (06:02):
SPEAKER_00
That's true.
And then it said that she alsowanted to secure slots promoting
her own projects.
But like I said, if I was her, Iwould just walk in with a
sweatshirt that has my newalbum.
Or like I'd have Travis Kelseylike put something on his helmet
that just says, like, buy mygirlfriend, my fiance's new
album.
SPEAKER (06:20):
SPEAKER_01
But I don't think that's gonnahurt Taylor Swift.
SPE (06:26):
SPEAKER_00
She'll still be there andcheering and everything.
So yeah, if anything, it's justa bummer that everyone was so
excited.
But um, you know, whatever.
SP (06:35):
SPEAKER_01
Um, here's a real twist JimmyKimmel is back on the air.
S (06:42):
SPEAKER_00
last week.
That was so funny.
SPEAKER_01 (06:47):
It was so much that happened last week.
Um let me read this statementhere that I pulled up.
Okay.
It says, yes, Jimmy Kimmel isback on the air.
Sinclair Broadcasting andNextstar Media Group, which own
a significant portion of ABCaffiliates, announced on Friday,
September 26th that they wouldbegin airing Jimmy Kimmel live
(07:10):
again following ABC's decisionto bring the show back Tuesday,
September 23rd, after aweek-long suspension.
The suspension of the showstemmed from Kimmel's comments
about conservative activistCharlie Kirk's death.
Now, there's some interestingthings about this that I want to
(07:30):
just highlight.
I know they wanted him to donatea significant amount to Charlie
Kirk's um um, I guess, nonprofitor whatever he has, and then an
apology.
Neither one did he do.
Okay.
SPEAKER_00 (07:47):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (07:48):
What I always say is consumers have more power than
you think.
SPEAKER_00 (07:53):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (07:54):
Because in a matter of days, Disney lost over three
billion dollars.
S (08:01):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01
dollars.
And ABC brought them on, andthen all of a sudden, you know,
the other two broadcasters thatwe just talked about, they
weren't gonna bring them back,but in a matter of a day or two,
they changed their mind.
(08:22):
And I don't think it was becausethey felt sorry or this or that.
It turns down to the dollar.
They did not expect people tocome out as strong as they did.
But what do you think aboutthat?
SP (08:33):
SPEAKER_00
I think what like we talkedabout last week, this was
definitely in the recent historythat I can remember, this is the
most I've seen people likevoting and showing with their
dollar that has actually made animpact because, like we talked
about, like Target and Starbucksand all these things that are
kind of canceled, pretendcanceled, whatever, like you
still see them going and itdoesn't really make an impact.
Um, and now I think this it andI think people in the industry
(08:57):
speaking up and people saying,Okay, you don't want to do this
like for one person because thenit's gonna happen to the whole
industry and it's just gonnacascade bad.
So I think I think they wereprobably shocked at how many
people canceled.
SPEAKER_01 (09:10):
SPEAKER_01
Mm-hmm.
S (09:11):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (09:13):
Oh no, no, go ahead.
SPEAKER_00 (09:14):
I was just gonna say two people with projects
probably also on, like Marveland Disney and Hulu and all
those types of things probablywere not very happy to because
you're like affecting so so somany people.
SPEAKER_01 (09:26):
Oh, yeah, exactly.
And I I think the bigger thing,as polarized as this country is,
you know, the First Amendment,um, the right to free speech is
something that it doesn't matterwhat side of the political fence
you are.
That's something that means alot to America.
Big time.
(09:46):
And you know, a lot of people,that's kind of where they drew
the lines.
Whether it's Republican,Democrat, it doesn't matter.
It's like they drew the linethere saying, no, this is just
too much.
This is too far.
SPEAKER_00 (09:58):
Yeah, and and I do think um I watched Jimmy's like,
I don't know if you saw his I Iloved it, I thought it was
perfect.
I think he did like absolutelyyou could tell he really was
genuine and authentic, and itwas so funny.
I thought like everything aboutit was he just nailed it.
SP (10:13):
SPEAKER_01
happened, and I'm notexaggerating, I literally played
back that segment multipletimes, and I'm sitting there
like, what am I missing?
Is something wrong with me?
Exactly.
It's so horrible to pull him offthe air, you know.
Am I just missing something?
SPEAKER_00 (10:29):
You know, no, he was just stating pretty much like
the truth, like what really washappening, you know what I mean?
Like like it didn't even havelike a slant to it, it just was
kind of like what the truth was.
SPEAKER_01 (10:39):
And never once did he disrespect Charlie Kirk.
SPEAKER_00 (10:41):
Never no, in fact, he tweeted out a few times that
he felt bad for his family andthat, like, yeah, I don't think
he's being disrespectful at all.
SPEAKER_01 (10:48):
Yeah, and you know, the thing is, you can't have a
situation where you can slam,you know, this side of the
political party, but if they saysomething about your side, you
want to take them off the air.
You can't have that.
S (11:01):
SPEAKER_00
did and him did such a great jobfor like if you find out on a
Friday that you're losing yourjob, and then then it's like,
just kidding, we're back on thejob, and you have to write like
the funniest thing that millionsof people are gonna see.
I like the part where he waslike, we don't we might not get
good ratings, but like nottonight, you know, people are
watching tonight.
SPEAKER_01 (11:21):
Oh yeah, I mean, I want to say, what was this?
I want to say, what was it, sixpoint something million viewers
tuned in.
Wow, and then what was much moreinteresting is that um I want to
say on YouTube it was over 60million, six zero million
(11:43):
streams.
Wow, wow, and what was so funnywas the writers did an excellent
job, excellent job because notonly did he not apologize, which
I don't think he should havebecause he didn't go there, but
the other thing that'sinteresting too is he went in
hard on Trump as usual, but alsoon the head of the FCC.
(13:03):
I mean, it was kind of almostlike a middle finger, you know
what I mean?
SPEAKER_00 (13:06):
SPEAKER_00
And he a few times he named himover and over and over.
He almost focused more on himthan he did on Trump.
S (13:14):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (13:15):
So I forget who it was if it was like John Oliver
or John Stewart.
Someone had a really funny linewhere they were like, Oh, thank
god, now we all get to like stoppretending like we canceled
Disney.
I think that's so funny.
And it was ridiculous.
I saw a few people posting thatnow when you were signing up,
Disney actually made it likemore expensive.
SPEAKE (13:37):
SPEAKER_01
SPE (13:38):
SPEAKER_00
back.
We just want to tell you thatnow the price is like$11 or
something, which I mean I don'tknow if that's true or not, but
that would be crazy.
SPEAKER_01
Wow.
Interesting, yeah.
SPEAKER_00 (13:50):
So what do you so do you think they're gonna continue
to mess with him and like theview, or do you think this this
will show them all together?
SPEAKER_01 (13:59):
Well, I I think that they're never gonna like them,
but I think that because of theratings and the money situation,
I don't think they're gonna messwith the view.
They're gonna be watching themreal close, waiting for them to
mess up.
But yeah, but no, they're notgonna mess with the view.
SPE (14:17):
SPEAKER_00
I think you're right.
Wow.
Well, I think that's veryinteresting.
And I'm happy, I'm happy thatdidn't last like month upon
month.
And if you if you're I wastalking about this with my
boyfriend too, and if you'relike living in LA and a writer,
and especially if you don't havelike a spouse or a partner or
someone that is sustaining you,if you find out that you're
losing your job, like you don'thave much time before I'm sure
(14:38):
some of those people werealready considering like, oh my
god, do I need to move somewhereimmediately or you know, like
try to find another job becauseyou really only have like I
mean, everyone's financialsituation is different, but most
people I know working in theindustry that aren't like the
main main celebrity don't havelike a month and months worth of
like savings and everything.
SP (14:57):
SPEAKER_01
point, Merle.
A lot of people don't realizethat okay, yes, the main people
like Jimmy, um, even Guillermo,you know, he gets a decent
salary.
Most of the people on his staffdon't make that kind of money.
SPEAKER_00 (15:12):
SPEAKER_00
Yeah.
unknown (15:13):
unknown
SPEAKER_00 (15:13):
And if you're like, we need to think immediately
about what's happening, and thenyou find out two days later,
you're back on.
I love it.
I I like I feel like, you know,in all of the very heavy and
ridiculous news lately, likethis kind of stuff does sustain
me with everything.
And also, shout out to one of myfavorite friends is um a fellow
(15:36):
comedian and wonderful woman, uhnamed Alyssa Phillips, who she's
awesome.
She's part of SAG andeverything.
And her picture, she wasprotesting outside of Burbank
with the sign.
And so she was she made it intolike a lot of the cover photos
about people protesting.
And it's so funny to like seeone of the people that you
really like up there becauseshe's amazing, and she was like
holding all these funny signs,and they were holding a Disney
(15:57):
hand with like the middle fingerout.
So at the end of the day, atleast one person's winning from
it.
She'll have some good pictures,so um, well, I think this is the
next the next thing we shouldall get taken up with as a
society.
Now, a 42-year-old woman namedLisa Catalano put up Marry Me
(16:18):
Billboards in the Bay Area inlast ditch effort to find a
mate.
And so she said she wants tofall in love.
Um, like I said, she's a BayArea singleton and she's
spending a lot of cash to rent adozen digital billboards along
California's Highway 101,putting herself out there and
seeing uh just asking for peoplelike, would you date me?
(16:39):
Would you marry me?
And so far, she said she's gotshe hasn't found her person, but
she's gotten some like someinterest, some people trying to
hook her up.
Um, she's very cute.
You know, they posted a pictureof her.
She's a very funny thing.
And she says, this is not ajoke, it's not a gimmick, this
is a self serious, self-fundedendeavor.
I just want to find my husband.
Um, her ad campaign spans 45miles, and her personal dating
(17:04):
website, if anyone isinterested, is MaryLisa.com.
SPEAKER_01 (17:08):
SPEAKER_01
Okay.
SP (17:09):
SPEAKER_00
Like, I probably shouldn't.
I would feel the same way if itwas a man.
I asked myself this questiontoo.
I really would feel the sameway.
I don't want to say it's likeit's not desperate.
It is a little much.
Like, you know what I mean?
It's a little, I don't think Iwould want to find my husband
like that way.
I'm just someone like plasteringthemselves all over.
It shouldn't seem desperate,like in our society, but
(17:31):
unfortunately to me, it does alittle bit read that way.
Like, I know you're almostsupposed to be like too cool and
you know, seem wanted.
But if you're 42, she probablyhas like a lot of money from
her, you know, she's probablymaking a nice salary, and it's
like half funny and halfinteresting.
So, what is the differencebetween that and like putting
yourself on a dating website, oryou know, if anything, this just
(17:53):
reaches more people?
SPEAKER_01 (17:55):
Yeah, but you know, the interesting thing is it does
strike me as being a little onthe desperate side, to be
honest.
SPE (18:01):
SPEAKER_00
I wish it didn't.
SPEAKER_01 (18:04):
Even though dating sites do the best they can, at
least they at least make anattempt to try and screen
people.
When you advertise that you wantto get married, you're literally
inviting every yeah.
Now, don't get me wrong, thereare probably gonna be some
really good solid guys that thattry to apply, but there are also
gonna be some freaks and youknow really creepy kind of guys
(18:27):
that's reaching out as well,too.
SPE (18:29):
SPEAKER_00
And it is funny though, becauseif I do think on the opposite
end, if like a nice lookingbusinessman who is 42 in San
Francisco put himself on a on aas a thing on a bachelor, like
that would be millions of womenwould be like, Yes, please, yes,
please, you know, but it there'sI don't know what it is, there's
just something about like awoman doing it, which is so sad,
(18:50):
and that is like such a problemwith myself and society and like
internalized misogyny and youknow, all that kind of stuff.
SPEAKER_01 (18:57):
I can tell you if I saw a man advertise for a woman,
I would still say the samething.
It's kind of dancing.
SPE (19:03):
SPEAKER_00
would probably be like, okay,he's probably messaging, he's
probably like a not a jiggalo,but like a you know, like a guy
that's like all about town, likethe same way that I do about the
bachelors.
Like I think of them as justkind of like they're man cats,
pretty much, but like, but withthis woman, I just feel like
it's something like my mom woulddo for me when I was single.
(19:24):
Something.
So I mean, I wish her the bestof luck, but it definitely seems
like uh it says that she'd oh,another woman, another woman,
that's right.
She's she's part of a growingnumber of romantics who have
thrown money at theirrelationship things.
Um, in LA, there was a woman whowas a lawyer who said that she'd
pay a five thousand dollarreferral fee to anyone to help
(19:47):
her find the one.
Now, like I find that almostbetter because then how much?
SPEAKER_01 (19:53):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER (19:54):
SPEAKER_00
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (19:55):
Kim may have to talk to you after we get off here,
but I exactly.
SPEAKER_00 (19:59):
And if you know any good men, like so, so yeah, like
I think that's not bad becausehey, you're a lawyer in almost
the same way that you'reoutsourcing, like, hey, I need a
personal trainer, I need youknow, I'm gonna I need a good
stylist.
Like, if anyone can help me, I'mI'll give you like a kickback or
something.
I I don't think it's that faroff, but there's just something
about like creating a websitecalled Mary Lisa that I'm just
(20:22):
like, oh, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (20:24):
But you know what's interesting, Meryl, is that
obviously whatever she does fora living, um she obviously has
funds that to do this becausethis isn't cheap.
To me, why not just go ahead andget to a professional dating um
company?
Because there are companies outthere that are like a concierge
(20:47):
service where you're not reallyjust going to you know an app or
anything, you're actuallydealing with people that's very
true.
They interview other people.
So yeah, when they set you upwith people, these are real
people that they vetted.
If you have those kind of funds,why not just do that?
S (21:05):
SPEAKER_00
And if I was like really, reallylooking for a partner too, I
wouldn't really focus on just myhometown because especially the
Bay Area, it I would like takeit worldwide and be like, okay,
who in Canada haven't I met yet?
Or like maybe my husband is inthe south of France, or you
know, you don't know.
So I I you're right.
I would probably spend moremoney on matchmakers that like
broaden my search rather thanjust like freeways on the 101.
(21:30):
Because like the Bay Area isnotoriously hard to date because
it's just a lot of like, I mean,it is a lot of tech people, but
it's also a lot of people thatare just kind of never growing
up the same way as like SouthernCalifornia.
So I feel like I would almostfocus on more places like Canada
or Chicago, or you know, wherelike normal men are.
SPEAKER_01
That's true.
I mean, I I wish her the best,but I just hope she stays safe
(21:53):
too and just be careful.
SPEAKER_00 (21:54):
I know that's very true.
That's very, very, very true.
Because a lot of men driving onthe highway are gonna get the
wrong idea.
SPEAKER_01 (22:00):
SPEAKER_01
Talk about being safe.
I even can't believe that we'reabout to talk about this, but uh
on social media it's trendingnow about uh it's called media
uh uh car stunt challenge.
So in these challenges, um onesituation is one person is
(22:23):
driving a car, they got a stringtied to the back of the vehicle,
they're on some kind of sled orwhatever it is, something, and
he drives real fast into thisparking lot just doing donuts,
spinning around, driving real,real fast.
Okay.
Another person driving their carwhile their friend is standing
up in their trunk while they'redriving very, very fast.
(22:45):
Wow.
Now, don't get me wrong.
When I was a kid, you know,young teenager, we did some
stupid stuff, we all do.
None of this stuff ever crossedmy mind.
S (22:56):
SPEAKER_00
When it when it came, I like Idid take the car stuff very
seriously.
Like any of any of our prankswould be phone related or you
know what I mean, like prankcalling any someone.
It wasn't like standing up in acar or anything, anything that
involved machinery.
SPEAKER_0 (23:11):
SPEAKER_01
In fact, um it says here twoteens accused of driving
recklessly while attemptingdangerous social media
challenges have been charged instunts that left one dead and
another with permanent braindamage, prosecutor said.
SPEAKER_00 (23:28):
Oh my gosh, it's so sad.
SPEAKER_01 (23:31):
And what's amazing to me, Merle, is is that I mean,
there's only one way to say it.
It's like common sense has justgone out the window now.
SPEA (23:39):
SPEAKER_00
Yep.
SPEAKER_01 (23:42):
I mean, does someone really have to say how stupid
and dangerous this really is?
I'm just saying, you know, am Ilooking at this wrong?
SPEAKER_00 (23:50):
No, I mean, I think I was just at a CVS, and the
fact that they had to have tidepods locked up because people
will eat them.
It's like I I do feel like onepart of a large chunk of society
is like floating away like how aglacier would, where they just
have completely lost theirminds, and you know, and so and
and it's like everyone wants todo stupid stuff to you know to
(24:12):
be famous, no matter howdangerous or crazy it is.
SPEAKER_01 (24:15):
Yeah, everyone wants that 15 minutes of fame no
matter the cost.
That's what's scary.
SPEAKER_00 (24:20):
Yeah, yep, and and then if you're a parent, you
know, just hoping your kidlistens to you and doesn't see
any of these behaviors and getlike swept up into them too.
Um, yeah, it's really sad.
And then you hope not that it'shorrible that this even
happened, but then you wouldhope that anyone that was
pre-acting like this would thensee that example and be like,
okay, maybe we should reel itin, but I don't know.
S (24:43):
SPEAKER_01
your child was killed doingsomething this stupid.
SPEAKER_00 (24:49):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAK (24:50):
SPEAKER_01
would feel.
SPEAKE (24:54):
SPEAKER_00
Yep.
That's why I think there needsto be like parents need to
really talk to their kidsnowadays about like the safety
of online and driving and whatyou should almost like to really
hammer it home and just be like,okay, I think you would know
this, but I want to make sureyou, you know, you I tell you
everything like 10 times over.
SPEAK (25:15):
SPEAKER_01
I agree.
So we'll be watching.
SPEA (25:21):
SPEAKER_00
Well, another ridiculous thingalso happening, but this time
it's a teacher assistant.
Um not the classiest, but poopspray caused$55,000 in damage at
a South Carolina school.
A teaching assistant wasarrested and charged.
Students at the West FlorenceHigh School also had to seek
(25:41):
medical attention forrespiratory issues due to the
spray, quote unquote, designedto imitate it fecal odor, the
sheriff's office said.
So a South Carolina teachingassistant was arrested and
charged with using poop spray incharge.
Um, he was charged withdisturbing schools and malicious
injury to property, and he wasspraying multiple times all over
(26:02):
the high school.
This like, you know, poop spray.
The videos have gone viral onTikTok and social media showing
people spraying the odor intheir cars, homes, and
elevators.
And so obviously, this caused abig disruption.
Um, but now he's facing charges,and that's just I mean, I don't
know how he wasn't getting sickfrom it, too.
S (26:22):
SPEAKER_01
SP (26:25):
SPEAKER_00
like glade air freshener.
I feel like once again, do wethe fact that we need to tell
people this is crazy, but thechemicals used to mask the very
foul odors are so strong thatit's like you don't want to be
spraying that inside your car orhouse or school.
SPE (26:42):
SPEAKER_01
I am shocked they still make it.
SPEAKER_00 (26:46):
SPEAKER_00
We didn't have it, we didn'thave it growing up.
Now we use we have like a TraderJoe's kind, and now they've made
it into like gift bags, youknow, like I feel like it's
there's like expensive kinds.
I there's this one brand that Isee that's like bougie and kind
of expensive, so it's so funnythat it's now become like a
luxury item.
SPEAK (27:05):
SPEAKER_01
It it it amazes me when I seeteachers do stupid stuff that
you would expect the students todo.
SPEAKER_00
It makes you wonder are theytrying to fit in or trying to
show that they're I know and andand sadly being charged$55,000,
it's like a lot of teachersdon't that's like their way more
(27:29):
than their annual salary, evenyou know.
SPEAKER (27:31):
SPEAKER_01
free the whole year, is thatwhat you're down the toilet,
literally, yeah.
Yes, yes.
Oh my goodness.
Well, speaking of down thetoilet, no, I'm just kidding.
Um there's a big return of thehamburger helper.
SPEAKER_00
(27:52):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (27:54):
Still do, definitely did.
Where I anything with sodium,including like that ramen
packets, I love, and I actuallylove it so much.
I I think it's really good.
I'm addicted.
SPEAKER_01 (28:05):
Yes, I know what you mean.
I never had hamburger helper,believe it or not.
S (28:09):
SPEAKER_00
It's like it's good in like anMSG, not good for you kind of
way.
SPEAKER_01 (28:14):
Yeah, I used to eat uh spam growing up, spam with
eggs and rice.
Um excuse me, that's until Ibecame an adult and go, oh my
god, chill me here.
SPEAKER_00 (28:25):
Uh I still I'm very much someone said that I have
like divorced dad meal taste,which I think is so funny.
Like I eat like a sad divorcedad.
SPEAK (28:34):
SPEAKER_01
Well, hamburger helper is seeinga resurgence in sales due to its
affordability and convenience,mirroring the economic
conditions of the 1970s when itwas first introduced.
The brand was acquired by EagleFoods in 2022 and relaunched
with an updated look.
New flavors, reduced cookingtimes, and a return of its
(28:57):
talking glove mascot.
SPEAKER_ (29:00):
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, I don't even want to know.
I mean, the box does have like800 ingredients on it, but it
still tastes really good.
SPEAKER_01 (29:20):
That's when you want the taste, but you really don't
want to read the label.
SPEAKER_00 (29:23):
SPEAKER_00
And because I have, I have, oh,actually, you know what?
This was more for beeferoni, butI have looked up on TikTok like
uh uh healthier versions ofthese types of things because
people really do try to likecreate dupes of them.
Because I like you know,beeferoni and ramen and all
these things.
It's like there are some reallygood recipes to still get that
like feeling of the sloppy doughsituation, but then to not have
(29:46):
it be like so so so sodiumfilled.
SPEAKE (29:49):
SPEAKER_01
That's true.
I mean, it's uh it's kind of oneof those things where it's like
uh over on Canal Street over inChicago, they have the polo
sausages, um, you know, grilledonions, Maxwell Street polo
sauce with the grilled onions,the fries, and stuff like that.
Love that stuff.
You don't want to eat it everyday because you will take some
(30:10):
years off.
Exactly, you know, as a littletreat every so often.
SPEAKER_00 (30:14):
SPEAKER_00
The problem is I do want itevery day, and then it's like
then a bologna sandwich, thenramen.
Then just like the thought ofeating a plum is so sad, but I
don't know.
SPEAKER_01 (30:25):
I hear you, I hear you.
I love it.
SPEAKER_00 (30:26):
I'm happy it's back.
SPEAKER_0 (30:28):
SPEAKER_01
Who knows?
Maybe I'll venture I'll try it.
SPEAKER_00 (30:31):
I'll absolutely try it, especially with your cooking
stuff.
You should like maybe you coulddo like the Lawrence spin on it
or something.
SPEA (30:37):
SPEAKER_01
I'm gonna do that.
It's gonna be insane.
SPEAKER_00 (30:40):
It's so funny what to hear like it's back when I'm
like, I've been eating it thewhole time.
Um well, my last one for todayis something I thought really
was really funny.
Like, this has been a few daysago.
Uh by some people hear this,this it this was kind of like
last week's news, but um, anescalator mishap happened at the
(31:01):
UN where like uh Trump andMillennia Trump were writing it,
and then they the elevatorstopped, and then they got
frozen on it, and then thenpeople said it it wasn't like a
sabotage behavior, it was justbecause Trump's videographer
stopped it by accident.
And so the whole thing wasreally funny.
The part that I wanted to bringup that I think is hilarious was
that escalator experts are nowreacting to this and weighing in
(31:24):
like scientists about escalatorsand like the the technicality of
escalators, and I just thinkthat's so funny because this is
probably like a shining momentif you're an escalator expert,
because what other times are youlike weighing in on the media,
you know?
So I I just thought that was sofunny that now all these like
escalator people are weighingin.
SPEAKER_01 (31:43):
Oh, yeah, everybody wants to get that 15 minutes of
fame.
Now, I did see the video whenthey got on the elevator and the
stop, on the escalator and thestop.
SPE (31:51):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAK (31:53):
SPEAKER_01
S (31:54):
SPEAKER_00
not knowing what to do.
SPE (31:57):
SPEAKER_01
You know, Melania, you know, shejust went on here and walked up,
no big deal.
Yeah, and you could tell, evenwhen I see his face, Trump was
not happy.
He probably walked up, but youcould tell by his body language,
he was not happy.
SPEAKER_0 (32:12):
SPEAKER_00
Exactly.
And I and I totally do get thesecurity concerns, especially
like I know the UN is verysecure, but especially with all
those leaders there and stuff,like that is you don't want to
be just standing thereunprotected.
I get that.
But to say that it was like aninside job when people are like,
actually, your videographerstepped on it the wrong way and
(32:33):
stopped it.
SPEAKER_01 (32:36):
And yes, the crazy part about it was they kind of
showed him, you know, the videotop videographer, and you know,
there's a um uh an emergencystop button.
So basically what they're sayingis it was literally just an act,
he accidentally bumped thatbutton and stopped it.
Yeah.
So it wasn't malicious oranything like that, or but it
(32:58):
was kind of hilarious though.
SPEAKER_00 (32:59):
It was, and I just picture like someone as an
escalator expert, just likesitting at home bored, waiting
for their moment, then all of asudden this is it.
SPEA (33:06):
SPEAKER_01
now.
SPEAKER_00 (33:10):
SPEAKER_00
SPEAKER_01 (33:13):
Talk about moments.
Merle, what do you have comingup?
SPEAKER_00 (33:17):
SPEAKER_00
Well, if anyone is in the NewYork area, I will be um at the
the or Pennsylvania, I'll be atthe Nipa Comedy Festival, which
is northeast Pennsylvania, on umOctober 4th and 5th.
And so yeah, just look at myInstagram.
I'll be on the East Coast for afew days, which I'm very excited
about.
(33:37):
And I have a New York show.
I forget where it is now, butI'll be posting about it for
sure.
SPEAKER (33:42):
SPEAKER_01
Sounds like a fun show.
S (33:45):
SPEAKER_00
I'm we're gonna see a lot of myfriends too.
So I'm super excited for that.
SPE (33:50):
SPEAKER_01
Wow, this time went by veryfast.
SPEAKER_ (33:55):
SPEAKER_00
Time flies when you're stuck onan escalator.
SPEAK (33:58):
SPEAKER_01
Well, everyone, thank you forwatching us.
Thank you for always supportingus.
Continue watching us, listeningto us, and also sharing.
Um, I'm Lawrence Elrod.
SPEAKER_00 (34:10):
I'm Merrill Climo.
S (34:11):
SPEAKER_01
SPEAKER_00 (34:13):
SPEAKER_00
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