This transcript was automatically generated and might contain errors.

[0:00] Eli Tokash: Hello, everyone, and welcome to episode 51 of Take A Bow podcast. Oh my goodness. I'm your host, Eli Tokash. I am so excited to be with you all this week. We have such an exciting episode lined up for us today. We have a bit of a new kind of keeping with this new theme of introducing new fields of the entertainment industry as a whole. We have Bowen Yang, who is currently starring in SNL being a superstar. You may know him. Most recently, like one of the more famous skits that he's done was the iceberg who sunk the Titanic. It was everything that you wanted to be. It was absolutely comic genius. So I can't wait to share everything with you all this week about SNL and kind of more of the TV and film side of the industry while also fangirling over Broadway.

And it's just it's a great interview. And it was going to be the 50th episode. But due to scheduling with everything opening back up, it's getting harder to schedule stuff. So things happen. So speaking of things opening up, let's talk about what is happening. Okay, the tickets for Broadway shows are like available. It's actually like hitting it's happening. And we're gonna we're gonna be blessed with a start from Hamilton, Lion King and Wicked all on the same day, September 14. And then after that, as I kind of expected, I don't know if it was like everything like business wide or anything, but as expected, for me, I'm going to say the other shows are going to be opening at scattered dates.

So there won't be like a full official day of like, oh, Broadway is fully reopening. Let's celebrate. It's all kind of just going to be happening at different times and at everybody's own pace and time for people that need to, you know, do rehearsals and do some tech things and need to do auditions and stuff like that. So really, it's just going to depend on show to show. But thankfully, we have many shows that have announced their return as well of the openings and the dates. So I'm going to read most of them off right now. So as I said, we're going to be blessed with Hamilton, Lion King, Wicked and also Chicago, September 14, which are shows that like have been on Broadway for quite some time, and they're all kind of just like solidified and they're like set.

And honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if Dear Evan Hansen opens up at that date as well. But there has not been an announcement about the date of Dear Evan Hansen's reopening. So stay tuned there. And then following that will be six, which previews will begin on September 17. So they'll start performing September 17. And then after that come from away on September 21, Aladdin September 28, Tina October 8, and Carolina Change October 8. Ain't Too Proud October 16. Jagged Little Pill and Mrs. Doubtfire will be starting performances October 21. Obviously, Jagged Little Pill is already open. Doubtfire is not quite yet. So those will be their start of their previews and they will open December 5.

So interestingly enough, it's going to be about a month and a half of previews, which is kind of rare, but amazing for them. The Phantom of the Opera will be October 22. Diana December 1. Obviously, they had that little Netflix release before then. MJ, the Michael Jackson musical, December 6. Company, December 20. And the Music Man, December 20. So right now that's 18 Broadway shows that have scheduled their opening dates. And obviously, hopefully, we'll have more information of the other shows who have yet to announce all very shortly because you know, things are happening and tickets are already on sale, which by the way, go try and get your tickets now because I mean, granted, Broadway shows will always be pretty expensive.

But right now they're kind of at reasonable prices. They're like face value right now. So it's not like you're going to be going through a seller or anything like that on like StubHub or anything like that. It's just face value. And you can get some pretty good deals. You can get a ticket for what they're actually going for and not someone trying to make money off of them. So that's always a good thing. So go check those out. There's lots of tickets available. I will be getting my tickets very soon. I'm very excited about it. And by the way, I'm so curious to know what everyone's first Broadway show is going to be when it reopens. But I'm also curious to see what mine is because I still haven't made the decision yet.

I was debating between Mrs. Doubtfire and Company. But now that like everyone's kind of announcing their dates of reopening at different times, I feel like I'm just going to see whatever is available at whatever date, like the nearest date as possible. Probably not like Hamilton and Wicked and all of those because those are already sold out and super expensive. So we'll see how it goes. And I'll obviously like keep you updated and I can't wait. So if you already bought your tickets and everything like that, post it on Instagram if you haven't already and tag me. I'm so excited to learn what show everyone is looking forward to when Broadway reopens. So yeah, that is Broadway. But with that being said, there have been off-Broadway shows.

Everyone's talking about, oh, what's going on with that? There hasn't been much talk about that. Well, actually, only three Broadway shows have announced that they're going to be reopening and at what date. And those three shows are Little Shop of Horrors on September 21st, The Play That Goes Wrong on October 15th, and Jersey Boys on November 15th. More are expected to come to be announced soon with either that they are opening or that they will not be. I assume Trevor will be opening for those of you who are like Trevor fans and are interested in seeing that show. They have not released a date yet. So when that does happen, when all of these shows really release dates, I'll obviously keep you all updated on that because it's exciting times.

So get tickets now. And something that you should also be getting now is 20% off your new favorite water bottle with the code ELI20 at owallalife.com. I promise you guys this will be your new favorite water bottle. You will drink more water than you ever have before. And I'm not even trying to be like an ad read about it right now. I'm just like talking about my own personal experience. Get 20% off. And today, when you're listening to this on Thursday, is the last day to enter the giveaway on the Takeabout Instagram, where we are giving away a free Owalla water bottle, as well as some Takeabout merchandise and stickers. So go check that out at the Takeabout Instagram. It's Takeabout Podcast, and it's some great things going on.

And obviously, we post all the great things and episode highlights and all of that. So go follow our Instagram while you're at it. But with this all being said of buying things now and these tickets, while we're looking at tickets, I've been looking at a lot of them. I can't decide like where I want to sit when I do go back to reopening. But I know it's going to be somewhere in the house. What does that mean? Oh my goodness. Let's turn it over to the Drama Dictionary. I'm so cheesy. I'm so sorry. But I loved it. The Drama Dictionary Word of the Week is house. So obviously, it's not like a house, like you're living in a house, if you're listening to this, probably, or an apartment. I don't know.

But like a house, right? So this is the term that theater people use as the audience. So like the section, of course, of the stage is called the stage, where we perform on. But then like the house is where all the audience members sit. So we've talked before, I think, of house right and house left, and stage right and stage left, and how those flop when depending on what side of the theater you are on, or what side you're facing, or whatever it may be. But yes, the house is the entire basically audience section of a theater. So that includes the orchestra, which is the lower level that includes the mezzanine and orchestra as well, which are like the higher levels and everything like that. So it's basically like a house for the audience.

And that's going to be like the little house that we perform to. So if you didn't know that, now you know. So go get a ticket to whatever show that you want to see. Go get a ticket to sit in the house at a Broadway show when Broadway reopens sometime in like September, October, November, December. You're welcome. Love it. House is the word of the week. And enough with this stuff. Enough with the fun and games. Let's turn it over to one of the greatest Takeabout interviews that we've ever had. It's so insightful and hilarious because it's Bo and Yang. And I had a great time. So let's turn it over to Bo and Yang. Bo and Yang, curtain up.

[9:58] Eli Tokash: Okay, everyone. So we have a fierce star on the show this week. This comedy acting and literally just like a legend of everything became the first Chinese American, the third openly gay male, and fourth ever cast member of Asian descent on SNL. He is currently doing double duty, also being a star in Nora from Queens as Edmund. So he's doing all the things and we're so excited to have him this week. So welcome to Takeabout, Bo and Yang.

[10:29] Bowen Yang: Hi, Eli. Thank you for that intro. Oh my god, this is everything that I ever wanted.

[10:35] Eli Tokash: You're so welcome. I'm obsessed with the intros. I love hyping people up and I feel like it's a great time to do that.

[10:40] Bowen Yang: It is. Yeah, it's a great time.

[10:45] Eli Tokash: So let's talk about this whole journey that you've taken and that we're all watching you on. But that you and I have entered. I thought you were gonna say that this journey that you and I have been on because we've worked with each other.

[10:53] Bowen Yang: We have worked with each other and it's in this stupidish show called Johnny Glaser Loves Gear. It's a pretty dumb show, but we love it. It's amazing. It's everything that you want. And especially like with you as like Spurt, which is like a sports expert. And just like it's iconic. So it's amazing and everything that you want.

[11:12] Eli Tokash: Before we get into all of this, let's start at like the beginning. Like what?

[11:16] Bowen Yang: Yeah. Like why are we doing this? Like why are we here? What got you into like comedy, theater, movies, all of that stuff?

[11:21] Bowen Yang: The place it started, I guess, was when I first moved to the US. So I was growing up in Canada, in Montreal, where like the comedy there, the French-Canadian sensibility for comedy is like wacky, wacky. It's like so strange. But like growing up, it was like watching like Mr. Bean with my parents because we didn't have cable. And so like that was like my like exposure. But then like we would like, there's this festival in Montreal called Just for Laughs. And we would go and it like takes over the whole city. And then we would go downtown and just like walk around. And there would be like outdoor stages where there'd be free comedy shows. And I'd always be like, oh my God, that just looks so fun.

But that was like the first like seedling that was planted in my brain that I was like, ooh, is that something I want to do? And then we moved to the US. And then like, I mean, I just went to different schools. I kept like changing schools growing up. But there was something that happened, especially when I moved from, you know, Quebec to Colorado, Aurora, Colorado, New Denver, where like you just had to adapt. And then the way that you ingratiate yourself in like a new environment is just by like trying to like be like a clown or something or just be like, you know, like just, you know, just making people laugh was just like the way that like I like tried to make friends. I don't know like how successful I was.

But it was this identity that people like sort of like kind of threw at me, like by like the first month I was I was in the US, they were like, oh, Bowen, like I had cheered up enough girls who were crying at recess in the fourth grade for people to be like, Bowen, you're funny. And I was like, Oh, okay, I guess I'm funny. And like, I really ran with it. Yes. And then like, really got into like, mad TV, which was this old sketch show back in the day and SNL. And then there'd be this like block like where I would watch like Seinfeld and the Simpsons and like all these like syndicated sitcoms. Right. And and that was sort of like my way in.

[13:18] Bowen Yang: Yeah, yes, period. All the iconic comedy shows of our generation. Well, I guess like, yeah, the Yeah, the Yeah, you know, yeah, like timeless. They're like timeless TV. So like, it's incredible. But like, talk to me like you went to NYU. And like the chemistry department, like, yeah, like, what was that? Like, and then like, how do you go from like doing that? And then being like, Oh, I want to be a performer. I don't want to do this.

[13:38] Bowen Yang: It was all I mean, the chemistry thing was kind of like a ruse. Because I mean, I in high school, I had this teacher who was my calculus teacher, who was also an assistant director at this improv theater downtown in Denver. And he sponsored the improv group. So there was like the drama club in high school. And like all the kids like were hung out in drama club. But then like, if you were like, really funny, and like really cool, you were part of the improv group, which like funneled funnel funneled in from the drama club. And so there was always and of course, you were part of the cool group, right in the improv group. I mean, I was I auditioned my first the first two years, and I didn't get in.

And then finally, my junior and senior year, I got in, of course, but it was like such a fight. And then, but then that's when like, I like, and that's when like, I kind of got obsessed with like, comedic performance. And then like, that was like, my drive to like, go to college, I'd like, I didn't know what I was gonna major in. Then I watched enough Grey's Anatomy to be like, I guess I could be a doctor. That looks fun. I truly like had no like actual concept of like what it meant. But I was like, you know what I'm

[14:52] Bowen Yang: I'm good at science, kind of. And it's something that'll make my parents happy because they're raising an eyebrow at me liking improv this much. Like, I would go like in high school, I would go downtown to perform every now and then and they'd be like, Bowen, like, this is this is kind of like taking up a lot of your time. Like more like you should be, you know, just trying to like focus on like, getting into college or just like doing stuff in college. And I was like, Sure, sure, sure. But then like, when I would visit colleges, I'd like always ask them like, Do you have an improv group here? Do you have like a comedy group here? And then I ended up going to NYU. And then there was there was an improv group there that I really liked that I was like, stalking on the internet on the internet.

And like Facebook days, I would like, I would like stalk them like right before I went to NYU in the spring before I went and then auditioned and then then was on the improv group. But then everyone else was a Tisch kid at NYU. Right? I mean, every every other every other kid in the improv in the sketch group at NYU were like Tisch kids. But I was just, you know, this like, odd person coming in from the chemistry department being like, Hey, I like I like it comedy, comedy too. So yeah, that was, that was it. But then but then the chemistry thing was like, me sort of delaying like kind of like trying to like take cover behind like academics again. And like me being like, I don't actually want to pursue I mean, lying and telling people No, this I think comedy is just a hobby.

And I don't think I want to, you know, go through with it after college. But then I mean, I secretly did. And then I graduated with a secret. Yeah. And then I graduated with this chemistry degree and then didn't really and then and then afterwards was like, Oh, I can't go to I can't go to med school was taking my MCAT, which is which is this exam you're supposed to take. So like help you get into that just like is determines how which med schools you get into. And I took the MCAT for the second time after I graduated college. And then I got to the short answer portion. And then I remember this interview that Steve Carell did, where he was Yeah, like before he like there was a time where after he graduated college, he was thinking about going to law school, because he was kind of struggling as an actor himself.

And then he got to the essay portion of the law school application. And he was like, I can't do that. Right. And then I like had that I like in that that quote, like immediately came to me as I was taking this MCAT. And I was like, I can't do this. Like, like I like Steve Carell, like took over my brain. And I was just like, I can't write follow through. So then I avoided my test score. And then I left and I was like, I think I'm gonna try and I told my parents and they were very confused. But I was like, I think I'm gonna try and do this comedy thing and take classes and, and try to just books book stuff here and there on TV, like little under fives, like, right, get into SAT. And then they'll be like, what are you gonna do about health insurance?

I was like, well, I gotta like, get enough jobs to like, you know, just to get health insurance or whatever. And so that was it. Yeah. Wow, we love that journey for you. What that's so that's so fun. And like, so unique that like, I don't even know, like chemistry, I could not we love a smart actor. I don't know if I'm smart. If you're good at science, I consider you smart.

[18:06] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Oh my god, this is incredible. And of course, Steve Carell, like who's not inspired by Steve Carell. Do you have like, do you have like a favorite like comedian who you like, kind of like as a role model for you?

[18:17] Bowen Yang: I mean, growing up, it was a lot of it was a lot of like, like Margaret Cho, like as a person, I was like, I couldn't believe like, who she was, and like, what kind of jokes she was telling on stage. She's just like stand up comedian who like, had like a big, like a gay audience. And she talked about, you know, she did impressions of her mom, she did impressions of her dad, she would always talk about, you know, like, if she had, if she had a kid, she would want it to be she would want him to be gay and all this stuff. And it was like, at the time, like, this is like, you know, like 15-20 years ago, like, it seems like no one else was kind of talking about things in that way. And it just felt really kind of revolutionary.

And then it was her it was, you know, I mean, my era of SNL when I was growing up was like, Will Ferrell and Tina Fey and Molly Shannon and Maya Rudolph and Anna Gasteyer, Rachel Dratch, Amy Poehler, it was like that era. And like, I really took to that. And then even in high and then in high school was like Bill Hader, Kristen Wiig, Andy Samberg. So like, I grew up with like a really, really crazy stretch of SNL. And I was like, but I never thought to myself, like, I'm gonna be on that show is I was just like, I'm obsessed with this show. And I think I will just be a fan for the rest of my life. Because like, I don't ever see myself like, I don't know that someone like me would ever be on that show or what they would do and like, how they would fit in with the rest of the sensibility of the show.

And then that was like, so it was like, it was like, it was like that era of SNL was like, people I really idolized. And then by the time I got to high school, that was when The Office actually came out. And then I was watching, I was obsessed with The Office. Yeah, and then that was basically that was and then like Sarah Silverman, too, is a state like back back in the day, she was like, really kind of like putting out such good stand up. And she still does. But I mean, that was a time when I was like, wow, like, there's this like, irreverence, and there's this like sexuality and in terms of her, this woman, it's like, you know, woman who was like presenting herself as like a cute Jewish girl, who like was talking about like, all these like crazy, really funny things that were like, a little like, a little outre, a little dirty, a little, you know, controversial. So I mean, all of that, that's like all like, sort of sort of funneled in.

[20:38] Eli Tokash: Right, absolutely. So like, what did you do to like, obviously, you said like, you want to, you made the decision and you were like, Okay, I want to get do this as an comedian and actor and whatever. So like, you didn't like have those, like you, you're not coming from like, the Tisch School of the Arts or anything like that. So like, what did you do to like, get your name out there? And like, you did a lot of live performances and stuff like that. Is that kind of how you got your name out there?

[21:02] Bowen Yang: Yeah, and like, I think that was like, the best experience too, because like, even I, because I was in a sketch group with a lot of kids from Tisch after I graduated. And even for them, it was like, Oh, we're like, this is like, new for us, like, us like, going to like, doing these live shows at these, these comedy theaters in the city. This is like, a new experience, and we're all learning together. It wasn't like anyone had a leg up on anybody. If anything, like I was coming from like, an improv background, where I was kind of used to the idea of just like, being like, playing as part of a team as part of a unit. And like, that was very, like, comfortable for me. But then, but then all of us were kind of like, taking classes out at like, after college.

And at the time, it was UCB, like UCB was kind of like a big dog with the with the curriculum, and just everyone wanted to like, get on the house teams there. And yeah, I kept auditioning, I kept auditioning year after year to be on their house teams, I never got on. Oh, no. Well, it was at the time, it was this thing where it was like, the most important, it was an attainable goal for people, right? It was like, you take enough classes at UCB, and then you're eligible to audition for the house teams, which gets you noticed by, you know, management, like represent, it gets you representation, it gets you booked for stuff, it gets you auditions. So it felt like that was like, a ladder, like a rung on the ladder that was within reach.

And everyone kind of tried to like, zero in on that. And then it was just a lot of people. And it was very competitive. And there just wasn't room for me and or I just didn't really do the auditions that well. And so I ended up just, I kept doing these shows with the sketch group I was in. And then by the time I had like been like rejected enough times from UCB, I was like, let me try and like, there's this like new scene that's happening in Brooklyn. That's like independent shows, like people going up on stage, either they're doing stand up, or they're doing an original characters. And it's just them on stage alone. And like, the basement of a bar or like this, like old, like this, like DIY space, or like all these different like spaces.

And so and so then that's, I kind of like gravitated towards that. And then at that point, I met a lot of people and a lot of them happened to be queer. And I was just like, Oh, there's like, maybe there's like a fun way to like, get all the get all the queers together and like do shows. And then like, I would like, you know, like, my friends and I were just like produce things where everyone would just be part of the same, and the same like lineup and all that. And then that was like, where like community started to like actually be like, built and right, you would see a lot of the same people and you would just become friends and you would check in with each other and you would write together or do all these things.

And then that happened at the same time that I was like, I got like a couple, like one or two managers, and I bounced around between managers, but then they would like book things every now and then. Booked Broad City, booked like High Maintenance, and then I booked and then book John Glazer Loves Gear. And that's where we met. So it was it was very slow, gradual, you know, thing.

[24:05] Eli Tokash: Amazing. So wait, so like, you when you do the stand up shows, like, do you like prefer to kind of just like go in and improvise? Because that's kind of your background? Or do you write it before?

[24:12] Bowen Yang: No, I mean, like, I would write like a strike. I wasn't even that good at stand up. I would normally just do like bits like with like a slideshow or like I would do I would do like some character things I would do. But then I still did my favorite thing to do was still just like group shows where like we would do like, you know, a staged adaptation of an episode of like Sex and the City or something with a bunch of like, gay, gay comedians or like dumb, conceptual, stupid, conceptual things like that. And right. And yeah, and then like my friend Matt Rodgers and I would do a lot of stuff together. He hosts Plus Call Three, and then he and I like would like, do really dumb bits is like, you know, dirty, like sewer rap, like lip lip sync artists or something like that.

And then it was just about like, I always prefer doing something on stage with someone else. Okay, whether it was just one person or like, you know, seven. That was like, that was that was the only difference. That's why I wasn't like, totally going in as like, with like the stand up mentality. Because for a lot of stand ups, for club comics, especially, it's like you're doing like, you know, three shows a night. Every night in the week, you're going to clubs, you're like running around and like doing all that. And like, that just like didn't seem like, super sustainable for me, because I was like working this like long day job, like a nine to five. And then by the end of the day, I was so tired, but I was like, I guess I can rally for one show.

So I would do like, three shows a week at most. And that is not a lot at all. But there's some there's some comedians who will do like, yeah, like 10 shows a week, or I got, you know, it was crazy. So I was just I found my pocket pretty quickly. And then I just kind of stayed there. But then that would but then that was still very, was still a very educational thing where I learned so much even from just from just that kind of place.

[26:01] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Yeah. Oh my God. That's so cool. I love that. We have I mean, like, as an actor, I mean, obviously, like, I'm no comedian by any means. But like, it's so much easier just to have that extra person there and kind of like, off of them, right? Of course, you have you love like this whole, like, team, I guess, aspect of what we do in performing. Yes. So totally understand that. And now you kind of have like one big team at SNL, which by the way, oh my God, I'm obsessed. I think I like heard or read somewhere that like, you were in high school, you were like, I guess, like nominated or like, maybe in the yearbook, likely to be on SNL. And look where we are today. Oh, my God, that's so funny. And and just the fact that like, you were such a huge fan of the show and everything. So so you got to SNL, right? And you started out as like, a writer, right?

[27:00] Bowen Yang: Mm hmm. So yeah, what is like, what is that experience? Like, like, what is it like to be in like, a writing room at SNL? And like, kind of figuring it out? As far as like, which actors do which scene or write everything like that? Like, how does it all work?

[27:19] Bowen Yang: It's, it's really interesting. Like, it kind of wasn't anything that I expected it to be, because you would hear all these legends, like, from like, SNL in the past, or it'd be like, it's so it's such a crazy boys club. And everyone's like, everyone and everyone's doing cocaine. And everyone's like doing all these things. And I'm like, Oh, my God, what am I in for? But you get there. And that's like a lot of like, really, like thoughtful, quiet people who like, you know, are just like trying to figure it's, and it's, and even that was like a team sort of, yeah, there was a team mentality there were like, you know, you find people you collaborate with well, but then after the sketches get picked for dress rehearsal on Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday, you're at rewrite tables for the sketches that are picked.

And you're just kind of sitting there without with some other writers, and you're just, you're just making you're just going through each sketch one by one throughout the entire day. Just trying to figure out line by line, page by page, like, how do you make this better? And then it is like, it's like, everyone like doing like, surgery on the same thing. And everyone kind of like, trying to like, collectively make something as good as possible. And like that kind of that was that was kind of really nice. And like, I think that also like fed into like, appealed to my like, teamwork, sensibility, mentality thing. And so that was really interesting. And then, you know, and then being a writer there, like, even for just a year, I learned so much.

And I wasn't sure because I got I auditioned a few times, and then they and then they hired me as a writer. And then I called one of my friends who was there, who's a writer there already, I was like, do you think I should take the job? And he was like, Yes, because I have already learned so much. And it's already it's opened some doors for me. And I was like, Okay, great. And then yeah, I really did learn so much in that first season to writing there. Because then by the time I got moved to the cast, like I knew how the show worked. I knew where to go who to talk to. Oh, yeah. If an idea, you know, was got picked to go to the show. On Saturday, I was like, I knew what my resources were. And like, if you're it takes a year, no matter what, no matter who you are, whether you're on the cast, or if you're a writer, or if you're in the costume department, or if you're in makeup, it's like it takes a year to just get used to how crazy the show is just in terms of the pace of it and, and and the workload and all that. So yeah, it was it was I'm really

[29:45] Bowen Yang: Grateful that I had that season. So wait, did you mention that like you audition as like a writer? Or you were just like auditioning as a cast member and then you got hired to be a writer? I auditioned as a cast. I auditioned to like hopefully be in the cast but I because I had submitted a writing packet to be a writer in the past and they were all really bad. Oh, I was like, I was like, I'm not gonna do that. And then but then like at one point my manager at the time like four years ago is like hey, do you want to submit a tape for SNL? I was like, yeah, sure. They wouldn't know I was like, I'll do it because they would never but it'll be like as a lark because they'll never hire like a femme gay Asian guy.

Like right. There's no lane for that. Like why would why would they ever do that? And so I was like, let me just have fun with this tape. And so I put together a five-minute tape most of it. I had written completely in a completely most of it was completely new as it wasn't like because normally like for a lot of sketch actors like they're putting together like sketch characters that they've performed on stage and and they know it's good and they know it gets laughs. I was I was starting kind of kind of with the blank slate and I was just like I don't have like stock characters. What am I gonna do? So I just wrote like five minutes of new stuff did it put it on to my submitted it thinking? Okay, whatever.

I'm glad I did that exercise. Like I'm glad I pushed myself. I don't think anything's gonna come of this but let me just send it out and then and then I heard back. Well, they'd now they want you to perform on Live at UCB in front of an audience and my god and producers are gonna be there. I was like, oh, that's funny. Okay, sure. I'll do it. Why not? It'll it'll go over terribly and I did it and then and then that was that was fun and it kind of went over well, and I was like interesting. Yeah, and then at that point they were like you should come and and screen test in front of Lauren and I was like what? Yeah, I kept clearing every stage in a way that I was just like this doesn't make any sense.

And then I this this is 2017. I think this is right around the time I think this is right around the time that I was doing oh, no, no, no, no, no because I did that and then I got to the final meeting with Lauren after the screen test and I think he like complete he like was so checked out because it was the end of the day and I was the last person he saw. Right. It's just like where are you from? I was like, oh I grew up in Denver, but I lived in Montreal and he was like oh, that's interesting. Okay. Bye and like I truly like was it like I don't think I registered to him and so I left being like I didn't get the job. Whatever. It's like I didn't get it. I'm looking I'm licking my wounds from like, you know, October to January.

Yeah of 20s October of 2017 to January of 2018 being like oh god I suck and then at that but then at that point I booked John Glazer. Uh-huh, and then in March because we shot that like in the winter and spring of 2018, right? Yeah. Yeah bizarre, but then but then by March 2018 right as I was right as I was rapping for for John Glazer I got a call be I got new management and I got a call being like they want you to come in and screen test again but like fuck with five minutes of new stuff. Oh my god for SNL and because they might do a midseason hire. Sometimes they do that I was like, oh interesting in it and then at that point me and Matt Matt had also gotten a call to screen test. Oh my god, no way.

I know so the completely separately like they were like, oh we like that Matt Rodgers guy because he had seen him do shows at UCB and he had submitted a tape and it was really funny and so then he and I like auditions like separately but together, you know, like we were in the same day and we were both like, oh my god, like this would be a dream come true if like right, you know two best friends got it together and then we both did it that we both we both did well and then they were like, we're not gonna hire anybody from this round but we're gonna bring you guys back in in August. So there's a new season. I was like, okay great. So then I had a whole summer to like write new stuff and then me and Matt were just like running it running it running it for like over like a month of just like reworking it.

Yeah our audition sets and then we did it end of August early September. We went back into audition and then and then what happened was I got to the last Lauren meeting and this time he remembered me, but Matt didn't move on. And so it's just this weird thing of like, oh my best friend didn't get this right. This is this is so strange. It was it was painful and he you know was happy for me but he was also very disappointed and then that was a crazy time because I got to the Lauren meeting. I think the meeting went well and then I get the call like, you know Bowen's not gonna be an on the cast, but he we do want to hire him as a writer and I was like, you know what sure I'll take oh my god. I just quit my day job.

I was like, I'll take it and I'd wanted you know, I loved SNL for so long and I wanted just any job in comedy. That was like that into the night and so then I wrote there for a season but then Matt but then that was just a period between me and Matt where we really had to like talk out like how we were feeling and right move through it and then now we're on the other side and you know, he's doing great and right we're both we're both like really happy for the other person but it was just it was a really tough period where we were like not sure like what it was gonna be. Right. So yeah, that's basically it that was that was the problem. Wow, that's crazy. This industry is like so bizarre, especially like because all the time you're going up like up against like it's such a bad thing to say but like no you are.

Yeah, like you your friends and it's like that's the one of the hardest things about it and it just like kind of pins you guys against each other in a way, but in a way super supportive and like honestly, like the way I look at it is like if they're not gonna take me they better take my best friend, right? Like sure. Yeah, so that's like I guess it's like oh like a win-win in a way. But yeah this this process man. This is so intense that this everything that you kind of went through and like when when they asked you to be like a writer did you ever think that it would open the possibility of you being a cast member? Maybe but I was like, you know, I just want to do this job well. I want to do the job that they've asked me to do well and I don't and I like it truly throughout the entire season.

I was like, I'm not gonna like I'm not this the job is so stressful that I didn't even have time to think about like, oh gosh, I'm gonna be so wouldn't it be so great if I was on the cast? It was truly just like oh, I'm learning the ropes so quickly and it's so intense and overwhelming that I that wasn't really on my mind. But yeah, I mean like you but like Eli like you like is I feel like it's it's it's not quite as bad as like a Broadway you know audition process too, right? Like oh, yeah sounds like about the same. I mean, I feel like I feel like Broadway auditions are like a whole other beast. Yeah, they really are I mean you it just but it also like depends on like the project like itself or like what what you're doing?

Like if you're going in for like Matilda in Matilda, you're gonna go through like 11 auditions in one round you know, like it's just like madness. But like if you're in like honestly like any role you'll have like a minimum of at least like four auditions. So sure like per time and that's if you like continue, of course, like you know you go through that obviously that first round and then hopefully you'd like continue but yeah it ranges from like four auditions to like you could go to like 24 because they have to do like dance calls and then they have to do like music rehearsal and then they have to do the like the sides and the lines and everything like that and test your acting ability like it's just like all the different so hard.

It's so hard and it's so hard to like go so far to like you let down, you know and like I'm sure like you experience that with like that first set of auditions going all the way to meeting Lauren and then kind of just like oh right. So like it's kind of like it's totally like that a hundred percent but even four times which is like the minimum for Broadway like but like the thing that I still can't believe is like every single time like I screen tested four times total and then there were two auditions quote-unquote to get up to the point of screen testing like each of those stages felt so high stakes. Oh yeah like this is it like I better nail it or else I'm not gonna get it and like it just it really kind of puts you in a crazy making place in your head where you're like I have to get this right and then like I don't know and like people love to make fun of actors all the time right for like how like whatever like we are I don't know cuz it's like they see us it's like it's like you're seen and so it's like easy to make fun of us because it's like we're like in front of them and it's like it's like they're it's like there's someone that they don't they don't know and so it just whatever so anyway, I can go on and on about this ridiculous cancel them but it's like but it's like but it's it's such a demanding thing to like yeah I'm not like saying like woe is us like boohoo or it's so hard to be an actor, but it is like psychologically such a wild thing to put yourself.

Oh my god. I'm currently doing a whole public policy paper for my senior year on mental illness in the or mental health in the entertainment industry because of like everything that like we've mentioned like as far as like going up against your best friends and feeling like, you know, like you you meet these it's like when your career and your personal life meets like it's just like it gets a lot and you know, like at the end of the day, we're just the same people as you and the chemistry major at NYU and and like all of these other places so like I don't know I had never understood like why people just like wanna hurt people but like oh, whatever. That's a whole nother conversation and amazing that you're writing that though.

Yeah, I mean like listen there needs to be something like, you know, you're you just said it like it's hard in this industry to be someone at especially like at your and it's here that you're in because you have even more eyes on you and like you're like it's just like the more eyes on you. It's like the more difficult it becomes and like there's little to no resources for especially that are geared toward people of our like are like the creative the creative minds and everything like that so like it's so it's I don't know it's really depressing that there's like there are resources but like at the end of the day no one really understands I guess unless you're like in the industry and like in this field and going through what another person's going through so it's just like there just needs to be like more more research more education more resources more everything for everyone, but it should just be yeah.

Yeah, specifically specifically people in this industry. It should be a standard as like like being in therapy, let's say right be as standard as like having a headshot. It's like it should be like exactly something on everyone's you know and like I'm still a kid so like I never really like understood the whole like health care system and everything like that like obviously like my parents took care of that but like in doing a lot of research like a lot of the health care systems like they don't like cover the whole therapy and I'm like, you know, what does that like? That's basically the same thing. Like how is that not included? So like that needs to change like all of these things I'm just like writing it down and submitting them to like Congress people and unions and all amazing.

Amazing. I mean, yeah it's I never thought I would be doing this, but it's mandatory in order to graduate and I'm having the time of my life doing it good. Yeah, so it's just what an industry that we're in what what have we done to ourselves? It's like performing and then it comes back and that's what I like that's totally like what I said to like all we're trying to do is like help other people be happy yet other people are gonna tear us down like yeah, where where does that come in to play? like I don't know how that adds up, but whatever we're we're gonna continue to make people laugh and talk about everything like that we're gonna continue to make people's days so talk to us about like you had this iconic scene the couple of weeks ago where you hate the it was literally like my favorite thing.

You played the iceberg she's saying the Titanic first of all the whole like costume and like the makeup in it to get up like everything about it was absolutely genius. So like so like how does this work? like when you I guess were you like told that you were gonna do like a skit about an iceberg who sunk the Titanic or like I think for a week for a week and update pieces um, a lot of the times it's like whoever's whoever's whoever is on. Yeah, it's like their thing. I this this was kind of the case but it was mostly it was it was it was a it was the idea. It was Anna Dresden's idea. She's one of the head writers. She's a genius. Oh my god she's written so many so many incredible things, but she texted me in February.

She was like, you know maybe for the April 10th show because the because the sinking of the Titanic is was a bad I mean she's like maybe for the April 10th show because it'll feel topical because you always you kind of always want to be a little topical when you go on a weekend update. Oh, absolutely, especially when it's a new character you're like maybe if the issue is just so she texted me in February being like maybe for the April 10th show you come on as the iceberg that sank the Titanic and you're wearing like this dumb iceberg costume and you're like and you're really standoffish and you're like, I don't want to talk about that like and I was like, I was like that is the craziest thing I've ever heard but sure, let's revisit it in April we both busy weeks and so and so I let that rest and then the April 10th show comes along and then it's Monday.

It's the Monday of that week. And then I was like, oh, right there was that idea that Anna had and I texted her I was on I was on set for Nora from Queens but then I just I was I was in between setups and I was just like oh, let me text Anna and just be like do you want to do this? And so I text her hey was that iceberg idea you texted me about a couple months ago real like do you do you want to try and do it? She was like, oh my god, I completely forgot about it. Yeah, why the hell not? Let's try it. Let's see. We were both so so people.

[44:38] Bowen Yang: The entire time, both of us were like, this is never going to make it on TV. It's too crazy. Not that it was too crazy, but it was just like, it was like, no one's going to like, what is this going to look like? Like, how is this going to like, like, is there any like, is like, where is this going to go? And so we were both like, okay, let's just, we're like, you know what, let's just have fun with it. Oh, but another thing I should say, too, is that Anna was on my college improv group.

[44:58] Eli Tokash: No way.

[45:01] Bowen Yang: And yeah, and then she, she was like, she was two years above me. And then she graduated, and then she was doing stuff around the city. And we would, we would go to see each other's shows, we would book each other. And she, and then we would, you know, she and I would like be in shows where we would play crazy characters, like she would play like, a robot who like, you know, was a mom, like, like, we would just play, we would just like put on these really terrible costumes and be like, I'm like, I'm an old, an old Hollywood actress who like is, like, it was just like such like, wild, like, because the stakes were so low back then, that we could try anything. And truly, she and I, like, did this iceberg thing.

And by the way, I'll fast forward to the end of the week after we did it on Saturday, she like, we like, met each other in the halls. I was just like, Oh my god, that was so fun. And I was like, thank you for writing that with me for like, coming up with the idea. And she was like, No, like, thank you. Like, it felt like something that I would have done like, you know, 10 years ago, on like, the indie circuit of just like, going to like, little bar, you know, little bar basement shows and like a character that we would have done like, way back in the day, because now it's like, the longer time you spend at SNL, the more like, the more like, the more the value systems of that place kind of like, creep into your brain.

And the more you're like, Oh, we could never do that. Like, that's too out there. That's too crazy. Right? And I think that's, that's, I think we kind of like, succumb to that in the beginning of the week, where we're just like, this is never gonna be good. Like, there's no way like, they're gonna let us do this. So we wrote it. And then all we wrote in the script was he wears a little iceberg costume. And we didn't know what it would look like. And then we, so then we wrote that on Tuesday. And then Wednesday, we did it at the table read. And it went okay. People like people like people, people liked it. And a lot of writers specifically texted us, they were like, that iceberg thing was great. I hope it makes it.

[47:01] Bowen Yang: Yeah, I think there was also like the sense that like, from the people who worked there, they were just like, How is this gonna work? Like, what is this gonna look like? Right. And so then, and so then throughout, so then Thursday and Friday, we don't hear back from the producers. And normally, they let you know at some point in the week, especially Thursday and Friday, like it's gonna go like your weekend update piece is gonna go into the dress rehearsal show. We didn't hear anything at all. So then Friday night. At that point, I was like, okay, it's done, like, it's not gonna be in the show. That's too bad. And so then I texted Anna was like, well, RIP to the iceberg, like, oh, no, let's maybe we try it again next year.

Like, you know, who knows? And like, but anyway, that was a fun time. I was like, I was like, I really loved working on that with you. She was like, me too. Like, it was just a fun, crazy, kooky time. And then we just made each other laugh. And that's always the goal. And then Friday at midnight, Friday at midnight, Lauren, Lauren Michaels does this meeting with like the producers and the head writers. And then at midnight, Colin Jost texts me and he's like, Hey, I think we're gonna try the iceberg thing. Yes. Oh, my God. So I like it. But like the next but normally you have plenty of time to prepare and we had a whole conceptual cost. We don't this whole costume we had to think up. And so me and Anna are texting each other until like 1am.

Oh, Friday night, for the next day to be like, Okay, so let's let's do this for the costume. And we should have a headpiece that looks like like this. And she was like, Do you want to do you want to like a white leather bomber jacket? Or do you want to do you want to like a white leather motorcycle jacket? Or do you want like a blazer? And I was like, I think it should be a blazer. Right? It's more it's more understated. Because if we if we come out in the leather jacket, then you kind of the audience might know that it's already like a pop star or something. And we wanted that to be a reveal. So we made all these little mini decisions. And I was like, I should have like a white face with like blue, like undertones, like blue highlight.

Sure. We were like doing all this stuff, like Friday night, and then we were like, Okay, let's do it. We'll do a rewrite table and during the day with all the writers. So then on Saturday, the day of the show, the day of the show, we're like, we're rewriting it, we're taking pitches. And then we and then me and Anna to dress rehearsals at eight, and they normally we can update needs changes like to the scripts by like, seven. And so me and Anna are just sitting together in a small room like masks on just like going through each page, moving huge chunks, like, completely restructuring it into like 720. Like we were like 20 minutes over the deadline, like 40 minutes before the show, right before that before the dress rehearsal show, just making these huge changes.

And I was running downstairs to the costume department to check on the headpiece and the costume. And then they were like, do you want more sequins? Do you want more, you know, stoning on the blazer? It's like, sure. I mean, it was just like, it was just such a crazy rush. Yeah. And I felt the entire time I was like, this is gonna fail. I was like, this is coming. This is coming together to haphazardly. I was like, I normally need more time than this and time than this. And then when Anna and I were writing the pages down, like right before the show started, we were just like, there were just moments we were both very stressed out. And she had a really stressed out. She had a lot of other sketches that she was working on.

And then we both just looked at each other multiple times, just bursting out laughing, being like, what are we doing? This is crazy. No way is this going to be on TV. Like this is so like thrown together. Like this is so crazy. And it's like 10 pages long. Normally weekend update pieces are like seven. We were like, this is so long. Like there's every reason we're giving this every reason to get cut. And then we did it at dress rehearsal. And then people laughed. We were like, oh, okay, that kind of worked. And then we did it at the air show, the live show. And then it like, it was a hit. And then I was like, I couldn't believe how on board the audience was. Oh my God. Like me, like if you watch that back, like I'm truly like in the back of my mind, like I'm truly surprised that people are like, people get it right.

Because truly like the entire week, we were just like, people aren't going to get it. And I don't know why. I don't know why we underestimated the audience in that way. Like, like a lot of people at the show, like, well, like that's the concern, right? As they tell you, you know, let's make it, let's, let's, let's change it in a way that makes the audience understand it better. And like, that's what you're concerned with all the time. And so then the fact that it like went over the way it did is like such a surprise, like a delight to me. Anyway, it's such a, it's such a long story, but it's everything that I could ever ask for, because honestly, like when you watch the video, like, okay, first of all, anyone who hasn't seen it, like stop listening and like, go watch Bowen Yang is the iceberg who sunk the Titanic because it's iconic and you should watch it.

And it's like comedy gold. But like, also like when I watched it, you totally like, you couldn't, you would not be able to know that like all of this was happening minutes before, like you looked like calm as a cucumber. Not like, yeah, like you totally like pulled it off and it was amazing. And you were totally like confident and that's what like made it. And honestly, I had no clue, but I was totally on the side of the iceberg. First of all, like, like, honestly, like, hello, he was just like kind of chilling.

[52:07] Eli Tokash: I was just sitting there. I was just chilling.

[52:09] Bowen Yang: Yeah. She's just chilling. And like you bumped into me. So there's no need for you, everyone to attack you. And then the fact that you were just like plugging your like music career, like pop off. That's amazing. It was, I'm just there to, I'm working on new projects. Let me talk about the new stuff. Right. There is, things are happening. Okay. Things are happening. And like, I'm famous for other reasons and I'm not just the iceberg who sunk the Titanic. No, it's incredible. It's everything that like you ever wanted. No, seriously. Like it was like, it's just like those ideas that are just like, who thinks of these? Like who is the genius who like just randomly comes up with these and it's Bowen Yang and.

[53:00] Bowen Yang: No, it's Anna, it's Anna Dresden. Anna Dresden too.

[53:03] Eli Tokash: Right. So that's incredible. So is that like usually like what the week of an SNL performer is?

[53:10] Bowen Yang: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, there's this other writer who's one of my best friends, Suti Green, and she sums it up really well. She's like, you know, the goal is, and it doesn't always work. And like people, you know, are, are very vocal about like when something is bad and they're like, that's, that sucked and whatever. But which is great, which is, which is part of the SNL, like, you know, experience, but like she was saying like, you know, it is, um, the end product is hopefully something where we're having a lot of fun where whoever's on screen is having a lot of fun, but the, the, all the lead up to it is just so high pressure for whatever reason. It's like, because you're, you're, you're getting a lot of people sort of, you know, breathing down your necks, telling you like this, this, this won't work unless this happens.

And it's just like, but that's, I mean, that's the great thing about SNL too, is that for most of it, you're given a lot of autonomy and you're given a lot of agency to like do your own thing and people leave you alone, but sometimes, but in the back of your head, you're always thinking, oh, I wonder if this will work in the way that I want it to because of all these limitations. And so it's a lot of pressure in order to create something that makes it look like it's effortless. Does that make sense?

[54:25] Eli Tokash: Absolutely. And it takes a village.

[54:28] Bowen Yang: And it takes a village. Absolutely. But, but, but that's like what all like showbiz is, right? It's like, especially live, especially live shows.

[54:36] Eli Tokash: Yeah, for sure.

[54:38] Bowen Yang: Exactly. Yeah. It's everything, everything changes literally night by night. But like, but like at the same time, like your entire show is changing night by night. So like, I couldn't imagine like SNL and just like being in that.

[54:52] Bowen Yang: Well, there's, there's, there's so much crossover between Broadway and SNL. Like a lot of our dressers, a lot of our dressers are Broadway dressers. A lot of the costume people are, are the work on Broadway. It's like, it's, it's, it's, there's so much crossover. It's great. I love it.

[55:04] Eli Tokash: Yeah. Well, my God, I love that so much. And I had no clue until like, okay, let's get into it. I've been listening to Lost Cultureistas, right? And like, I, I didn't realize like how big of like, like how much you liked theater, like.

[55:20] Bowen Yang: Oh yeah.

[55:21] Eli Tokash: Yeah. In musical theater. Like I was, first of all, your Ben Platt episode, iconic.

[55:26] Bowen Yang: Iconic. He was so good.

[55:28] Eli Tokash: Yes. Wait. So how long have you been doing Lost Cultureistas? Like five years?

[55:33] Bowen Yang: Five years. Yeah. It's been a while.

[55:35] Eli Tokash: Oh my God.

[55:36] Bowen Yang: It's been a long time.

[55:37] Eli Tokash: Every episode is a dream. They have these, the best segments and the, the, you're just like laughing the whole time and like smiling. And it's, they have like the best guests on too.

[55:49] Bowen Yang: Like I said, Ben Platt, Taylor Trench, who was on Take a Bow.

[55:53] Eli Tokash: Oh my God.

[55:54] Bowen Yang: Molly Gordon. Oh my God. Taylor's a dream. All of the, Evan Hansen.

[55:58] Eli Tokash: Molly's, Molly's a dream.

[56:00] Bowen Yang: Yes. Oh my God. They're the best. I love them all so much. I was in like, did you see that like summer camp thing that Ben and Molly did together? They did.

[56:11] Eli Tokash: Yeah.

[56:11] Bowen Yang: Yeah. I was in that like little YouTube video.

[56:14] Eli Tokash: Oh great. Oh my God.

[56:15] Bowen Yang: It's hilarious. They're so funny. They tried to be like, for those who like didn't see it, they tried to be like camp counselors and like teach a bunch of kids like a musical theater camp basically. And just were absolutely like terrible counselors. So like they were making fun of like acting camps basically. And it was amazing and everything that you wanted. But literally these episodes, first of all, how did this whole thing come about? Like what made you like want to start it? The name is amazing. Like what was that?

[56:44] Bowen Yang: Oh my God. We, Matt and I like we're like friends in college. He was on the sketch group. I was on the improv group. And then we were in the sketch group together after college too. And then we were just performing a lot together. And then at one point I, there was a small independent, but now they've really grown and they're wonderful. This network called Forever Dog. And they reached out to me when they were just starting out. They were like, would you want to do a podcast? Do you have any ideas? I was like, sure. Here are the, here are these ideas. But like I said, like I'm always more comfortable with someone on stage next to me. And so I was like, can I do it with my friend, Matt? Right.

Sure. We there's like, sure. We love him. Cause they had seen him perform too. Or they had performed with him because of the people who were in the podcast were also performers anyway. But we, we pitched them all these, all these ideas that were really high concepts, like a choose your own adventure podcast or like like a competition podcast for like, you know like who could be America's next top podcast, like really like dumb, dumb, but very complicated ideas at the same time. And then they were like, no, no, no. Try something more low concept. Sure. And then Matt, Matt was just, it was Matt's idea to just be like, let's just make it like a general pop culture podcast where we talk about anything we want, whether it's, whether it's current, whether it's not current, whatever.

I was like, okay, sure. And then what would it be called? And he was like, last culture East us like fashion East us, but for culture. And I was like, oh, okay. And then, and then they were, and then, and then the, and then the network people got back to us. They were like, do you have any segments? Like we like, we, we kind of want like in the pitch, like segments for people to do. And we were just like, how about one called? I don't think so, honey, where, because there was something that me and Matt said to each other all the time, like as friends, we were like, we're like, I don't think so, honey, like what you're doing right now. Like, I don't think so, honey. It would just be like, it was just this like vernacular that he and I shared.

And so we were just like, let's like make that a segment. And then it became like a one minute thing that we do at the end of the show where it's just a structured rant, nothing complicated. I mean, the whole thing was so simple that I was just like, I don't think this is going to work. Like it's there's, there's not enough here. And then, but I think the reason why it's the reason why we've done it for so long is because it is low concept because there's not that much work that goes into it that we can just sort of like plug in and play every week. And like, I mean, it's, it's very easy, but still like fulfilling thing. And then like, we still get to try out like dumb bits and we still get like, I get to like, hone in on like what like a sensibility is like what I'm bringing to like other places. So it's, it's, it's really great. And I'm really happy that it's just in my life. Yeah. And it's doing amazing. I mean,

[59:31] Bowen Yang: So many, it's like so many people like know about it. Like I was texting my friends about it and I was like, you would love this podcast. And they were like, oh, I've been listening to it. Oh my God. Oh, wow. I was like, I'm late to the game. I'm sorry.

[59:46] Eli Tokash: No, no, not at all. But honestly, like it is so funny and it's out every Wednesday with a new episode. So tomorrow, oh wait, wait. So yesterday, because you guys will be listening to this on a Thursday. So yesterday they just came out with a new episode. So go check that out and it's on all platforms where you find that. But I mentioned, so like I obviously listened to the Ben Platt episode. And of course I went through the Broadway episodes first because I'm obsessed.

[59:55] Bowen Yang: That's your neighborhood.

[59:56] Eli Tokash: That's my hood. So and like just hearing how much like you loved theater and everything like that. Like would you ever consider doing theater or anything like that?

[1:00:06] Bowen Yang: Oh my God. I would I would think about it. It's just but that is its own crazy schedule and sometimes it's even more grueling than SNL. I mean, I just have like nothing but respect for people who do it like on that level. Like, I don't know like the eight shows a week thing or however many it is. Like I'm just so excited that it's coming back and like I will be, I will like wear every layer of PPE as long as I get to sit in the theater and watch theater. I don't care that I have to wear a mask. I'm like, I just want to be there. I just want to like, I just miss watching it so so much. And I mean, I don't know that I would ever, I don't know that I would do it. I'm just so scared.

[1:01:10] Bowen Yang: You know who I was talking to and I don't think she'd be upset if I shared this but like, you know, I don't know like I was, we were blocking a sketch and I was, me and Kate McKinnon were just sort of like standing there and just talking and then theater came up and then I was like, I was like, you have to do theater at some point, right? She was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I was like, what do you mean? She was like, I'm, I'm not as talented. She's like, I don't have like, like truly like all of us think that like Broadway people are like otherworldly and their talent and then their work ethic that we're just like, we could never like even deign to dream to do that. But like, I think, I just agree with Kate.

I think Kate would be amazing. I just think, I just think I have to like, I don't know as much theater as I should is also the thing. I didn't really grow up, see, I didn't grow up watching it that much because my parents just didn't know about it and I wouldn't be taken to see it and stuff. So I'm playing a lot of catch up. I mean, and I also, right, and I mean, I don't, I can't obviously like speak for it, but I can't imagine that there's like as much theater in New York as there is in Quebec and Colorado and stuff like that. Like, is there?

[1:02:26] Eli Tokash: Not, not really. I mean, like in Denver, we would get like some tour, tour shows, but yeah.

[1:02:32] Bowen Yang: So you have a pass.

[1:02:34] Eli Tokash: I do, I do, but they're just, but they're like, I didn't get it. I like, you know, like I was always so jealous of the kids, even who grew up in Denver who would like, would be like, yeah, we're going to New York in the summer and we're going to see all these shows and they'd be like, oh, I want to do that. I mean, one time when Wicked first came out, I was in high school and, and we did a trip to New York to look at colleges for my sister who was two years older than me. And we came to New York and Broadway tickets were too expensive for my parents. They didn't want to, we didn't know what TKTS was, like we didn't, we didn't go that route. And so, and so then, but all I did was I begged, we did two things that I had to do.

We did an NBC studio tour at 30 Rock because they loved SNL so much, and I loved Conan O'Brien, and Conan O'Brien used to have his late, late, late night with Conan O'Brien there. So I saw those, I went to those two studios. They were empty because it was in the summer and no one was there, but that was amazing. And the other thing that I demanded we do was drive to the Gershwin Theater and just so I could stand at the doors of Wicked and be like, this is where they do Wicked. And like, I was so, I was such a, I just, I didn't have like the access to theater that I wish I did, but like just being near it meant something to me. And yeah, that was just like a silly, like teenage Bowen memory that I have still.

[1:04:00] Bowen Yang: Oh my God, stop. I love that so much. The fact that you just like drove to see the outside of the Gershwin Theater.

[1:04:06] Eli Tokash: I know, isn't that so stupid?

[1:04:08] Bowen Yang: Was Wicked your first Broadway show that you saw?

[1:04:10] Eli Tokash: What was, I mean, I didn't end up seeing it. I never, I didn't end up seeing it.

[1:04:12] Bowen Yang: You just wanted to see the theater.

[1:04:13] Eli Tokash: I just wanted to see the theater. But the first Broadway show I saw was when I moved to New York for college. And it was, it's so random. The first Broadway show I saw was Xanadu. It was Carrie Butler and Cheyenne Jackson. But when I went, it was, I forget who was, I forget who was Keira, the lead. And then they had the understudy for Cheyenne. And so, but I got to see Maria Testa and Jackie Hoffman. And I was like, this is so fun. And they made jokes about Gypsy. They made jokes about Gypsy, which was playing next door. And I was like, this is, I was like, this is incredible. But then ever since then, I've like, I'm like, I'm really proud of, like, I'm looking at my Playbills right now. Like, I've got a bunch of them. Like, I really like, I'm late to, I'm late to the, to the Broadway sort of, like, train. But I'm like, I'm on it for life, you know? Like, I just, I just like to love it so much.

[1:05:00] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. It's a dream. You, there's nothing that ever, like, compares to live theater. Like, really.

[1:05:07] Bowen Yang: No, no. And even, like, my friend Sydney Lucas and I, who was the original, like, co-host.

[1:05:13] Eli Tokash: Sydney!

[1:05:14] Bowen Yang: Yes! She co-hosts this with me for, like, the first, like, however many episodes, like, the first, like, 40, I think. And she and I obviously went to see SNL. And that was totally, like, a night at the theater, just without songs.

[1:05:26] Eli Tokash: Yeah, right? Like, it was, like, yeah. And honestly, like, I found that even more, like, fulfilling and thrilling because you see this set being built as you're about to, like, watch something. Like, you're not just, it's not like these effortless things. You see, like, how each thing really works when you go to SNL. And I loved that aspect of it. Like, they really aren't hiding anything from you. And I thought that was, like, the coolest experience.

[1:06:04] Bowen Yang: It is cool. Because I guess for Broadway, for most Broadway shows, they are trying to, like, not make you see the technical mechanical aspects of it.

[1:06:11] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:06:12] Bowen Yang: But they're so important, though. And sometimes I do want to know, like, how does the bubble machine work on Wicked? Like, how does this work? You know, like, all of that.

[1:06:20] Eli Tokash: That's what I'm saying. And, like, listen, like, all of the theaters on Broadway were old movie theaters. Like, all of them. So, like, they're honestly, like, trying to keep that whole, like, movie aspect where it's just, like, an effortless story that's being brought to you. But, like, really chaos is going on backstage, literally. And they just, like, try to, like, keep it, like, super chill and kind of, like, hush-hush. And, like, no one ever, like, thinks of it unless you're, like, in the industry or, like, you notice this, like, stunning part of the show where you're just, like, oh, my God, I want to know how that works.

[1:07:03] Bowen Yang: Right, right. And honestly, like, I feel like that's why people who go to the theater are just kind of, like, oh, my God, I want to do that instead of, oh, my God, I want to help make that, you know?

[1:07:10] Eli Tokash: Sure, totally.

[1:07:11] Bowen Yang: And so, like, that's where, like, SNL, I was, like, oh, my God, I want to help, like, make that in a way. Like, that was just an aspect that's, like, not seen and I love that.

[1:07:16] Eli Tokash: Yeah, you're so right. I wonder if things would have been different if I had seen something, maybe not SNL exactly, but seen something where they did, they were very open about showing you the behind-the-scenes stuff. Because I think that, I mean, like, you know, like, you've been on, like, TV sets, too. It's, like, most of the time you're there, you're spending, like, watching, like, how the cameras are set up and, like, how many people it takes just to, like, make one thing happen. And it's just, like, oh, that is, like, such hard, intense, satisfying work. And, like, if people, like, knew the particulars of this, like, I think it would be, like, a better funnel into, like, someone, like, in their development being, like, oh, I want to do that thing instead. Because that is, I don't have to, like, think about, like, how I'm standing and, like, how I'm saying a line.

[1:08:03] Bowen Yang: Exactly.

[1:08:04] Eli Tokash: It's a different skill set.

[1:08:05] Bowen Yang: Yeah. Yeah. So, what, again, what an industry that we've put ourselves into.

[1:08:15] Eli Tokash: What an industry.

[1:08:16] Bowen Yang: We love this industry, though.

[1:08:18] Eli Tokash: Yes. Well, I mean, listen, I've taken up more than enough of your time.

[1:08:22] Bowen Yang: No, no, no. We're at the hour mark already. We haven't even talked about Nora from Queen.

[1:08:28] Eli Tokash: Okay, let me ask you a Nora from Queen question.

[1:08:30] Bowen Yang: Yes, yes, yes.

[1:08:30] Eli Tokash: And then I'll let you go. Let's see. So, you are currently doing Double Duty.

[1:08:41] Bowen Yang: I mean, well, did you just wrap up doing season?

[1:08:44] Eli Tokash: We just wrapped.

[1:08:45] Bowen Yang: Oh, yeah. We just wrapped season two. Oh my God. I can't imagine. So, like, in a way, you're, like, doing Triple Duty because of, like, the whole podcast thing you have going on, too. You're just, like, an icon in all aspects of the industry. We love it. Like, how do you, okay, first of all, let's talk about Edmund because he's a king and he's absolutely hilarious.

[1:09:06] Bowen Yang: Oh my God. He's Aquafina's cousin.

[1:09:09] Eli Tokash: Oh my God, I can't. And the scene where you, like, see your uncle's something that maybe I shouldn't say.

[1:09:18] Bowen Yang: Oh, wait. No, it's okay. You said it for me. I love it. That is just, like, it was, I was on the floor, like, just running. So, like, first of all, talk about Edmund and talk about the antics of Nora from Queens and also, like, how you keep up with, like, doing all of these amazing projects.

[1:09:38] Bowen Yang: Oh my God. I mean, I, first of all, I love that. That's so, that's so nice, Eli. Edmund is this, like, is, like, the person I would have become if I had, like, denied myself, like, what I wanted to do. To, like, you know, perform and do comedy. But, like, he's someone who's very, like, repressed and is very, like, driven by, like, you know, success and like, a very, like, tech-y, like, capitalist, like, I-want-money way. And he's in constant competition with Nora until they have to, like, come together and, like, figure some stuff out together because, like, they're a team all of a sudden because Nora gives Edmund this great idea for an app. And then it was just really fun to, like, find that character with Nora who, like, at this point is just, like, like, she's a, she's an award-winning actress.

And it's, like, she, she knows what she's doing. And I'm, like, every time I, like, do something with her, I would, like, learn something new. And she's just, like, so, like, patient and generous and, like, is present with you. And so, I mean, I don't know. It's, it's just, it was actually really nice to go from SNL and then on my breaks from SNL, from that pace, go to something that was structured differently, like a scripted sitcom, and just, like, using the skill set and changing it just a little bit. I mean, I'm very, like, I still need to, like, recover a little bit because it's been a lot of work. But, yeah, but it's, it's just so much fun. And, like, she, and then, you know, we wrapped on the season a couple weeks ago in LA and she and I, like, she, she like shared a moment with me.

She was just, like, you know, like, keep doing what you're doing. And, like, it was just, like, a very, like, I mean, it's just, just to, like, get her, like, sort of advice on stuff was just, like, the best. And she's, I mean, it's, it's, it's a fun show. It goes down easy. It's really silly.

[1:11:30] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:11:30] Bowen Yang: It's not, it's not quite as dumb as, as John Glaser Loves Gear, but it's...

[1:11:36] Eli Tokash: Nothing can compare.

[1:11:37] Bowen Yang: Nothing. Nothing can compare. But it's, it's, it's really fun. And, like, I, I just, I'm so lucky that I'm able to, like, do these multiple things at the same time so that I'm learning from both and I'm learning what to appreciate in both. And, like, now I know, like, because, because if you're stuck at one thing for too long, then you kind of think that this is all, this is what the industry is like everywhere. And it's not, it's never the case. You know, every project has its own identity, has its own way of making you work and think and all that stuff.

[1:12:07] Eli Tokash: Right.

[1:12:08] Bowen Yang: And it's a great way to, like, keep things fresh, right? Like, just keep you on your toes and just, like, appreciate each thing that you're doing, you know, in a way. Because doing the same thing over and over again can kind of get dry.

[1:12:19] Eli Tokash: Of course, always.

[1:12:22] Bowen Yang: But it's, but it's always, but like, honestly, like, in this industry at the same time, it's like, you never feel that because it's never the same, you know?

[1:12:31] Eli Tokash: It's never the same.

[1:12:32] Bowen Yang: Yeah. It's just, it's fun. It's great times.

[1:12:34] Eli Tokash: Bowen, you're a great time.

[1:12:38] Bowen Yang: I'm obsessed with this.

[1:12:39] Eli Tokash: You are, Eli.

[1:12:39] Bowen Yang: Oh my God. You're, thank you so much for, like, giving me the time to, like, come on and talk.

[1:12:45] Eli Tokash: Of course. And, like, yeah, it was great to catch up with you, all of the things. I haven't seen you in so long.

[1:12:50] Bowen Yang: I know.

[1:12:50] Eli Tokash: It literally was the last time, the, it was, like, I don't really know. It was, I think it was last year because it was still, like, pandemic, like, when, like, just before we all needed to start wearing masks at SNL. So, like, it was, like, it was pre-pandemic, but, like, at the same time, like, just.

[1:13:09] Bowen Yang: Just getting up.

[1:13:09] Eli Tokash: It was, like, it was, like, it was, like, either, like, December of 2019 or January, February 2020 that you guys, that you and Sydney came.

[1:13:17] Bowen Yang: Yes.

[1:13:18] Eli Tokash: I was, I fangirled out at Sydney. I was, like, oh my god. I was, I didn't, I didn't realize until, like, after she, like, left for me. I was, like, wait, I saw you in Fun Home. And I, I just, she's incredible.

[1:13:28] Bowen Yang: Yes, you totally did. It was the highlight. And it was so funny because she tells the story when she was, like, hosting all the time. We, we tell this story where I was, like, fangirling over Kenan Thompson because I'm obsessed with the original Mighty Ducks.

[1:13:44] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:13:45] Bowen Yang: And so, um, then you, like, came out and you were, like, fangirling over Sydney and everything.

[1:13:51] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:13:52] Bowen Yang: I was showing, I was, like, it was too funny. What a, what a time.

[1:13:55] Eli Tokash: What a amazing.

[1:13:57] Bowen Yang: A fangirl circle.

[1:13:57] Eli Tokash: Yes.

[1:13:58] Bowen Yang: Oh my god. And, of course, Sydney was fangirling over Kate, Kate McKinnon.

[1:14:02] Eli Tokash: Kate, I know.

[1:14:02] Bowen Yang: She's obsessed with her. She's literally, like, that is Sydney's role model. And so, like, literally everyone was just, like, oh my god, I love you.

[1:14:10] Eli Tokash: Yes, it was, it was amazing. It was literally, like, one of the highlights of my life and Sydney's life. We talk about it all the time. You guys have to come back.

[1:14:21] Bowen Yang: Oh my god.

[1:14:23] Eli Tokash: I so want to. I'm so obsessed. I also just like I can't imagine like doing what you're doing and like with the protocols and everything like that. I can't imagine like the stress and like just just like the overall like atmosphere with like the masks and everything like that. Like I couldn't imagine just doing that.

[1:14:47] Bowen Yang: We're figuring it out.

[1:14:48] Eli Tokash: Yeah, it's I mean props to like the whole team at SNL. Like literally cast, crew, everyone, writers. Because it takes it takes everyone. It takes a village. It's like you said.

[1:15:02] Eli Tokash: Bowen, you're a dream. Thank you so much. Have a wonderful week. I can't wait because this Saturday, well first of all, yesterday a new episode of Lost Costa Ricas came out. So go check that out. And of course this Saturday my queen Olivia Rodrigo is coming on SNL with Key and Michael Key who I did Friends from College with. I'm like oh my god.

[1:15:26] Bowen Yang: Yeah, I'm so excited for this week's episode. Amazing.

[1:15:28] Eli Tokash: Oh my god. It's gonna be great. Everything. I can't wait. I'm so excited. I love you. Thank you so much for doing this. I can't wait for more episodes of Lost Costa Ricas. And yeah thanks for doing this.

[1:15:38] Bowen Yang: Of course. Thanks for having me.

[1:15:40] Eli Tokash: Take a bow Bowen Yang. Oh my goodness. Literally one of my all-time favorite interviews on Take a Bow. Bowen truly deserves to take a bow. I mean he's doing triple duty in jobs right now. Thankfully that's easing up since Nora from Queens has officially wrapped up for at least his part of season two. All of these exciting things are happening for Bowen. You literally see him in headlines like every week I feel like on SNL. He's truly becoming one of the stars of the show.

[1:16:09] Eli Tokash: And I think that he really has a future on Weekend Update because he continues to be an amazing show-stopping guest every time he pops up and does like a little skit on Weekend Update. So I know that like Michael Shea and Colin Jost are going to be departing SNL soon I think after this season. And I would love to see him up there as like a news anchor or something like that because he is so funny and just pulls it off man. He can pull anything off.

[1:16:46] Eli Tokash: And just talking about the week of an SNL performer and how skits work and everything like that and how the writers work and just his journey of becoming a comedian and an actor and then kind of falling into the whole writing thing with SNL. It's just really amazing and it just proves like the whole you know you're going to be rejected a lot as he was rejected from UCB and all of these amazing things.

[1:17:10] Eli Tokash: And look at him now like he's starring in SNL. He is doing Nora from Queens. He's doing TV shows. And of course this podcast Las Culturistas. And literally when I say I'm obsessed with the podcast like I'm obsessed with it. It's the only thing I've been consuming for the past like three weeks ever since I knew that like he was going to be coming on. I had listened to it before but like it was kind of just like oh I'll listen depending on the guests and everything like that.

[1:17:32] Eli Tokash: And I feel like I never really like paid attention to like the show itself and ever since I really started doing that I was like this is amazing and I want to listen to all the episodes. He has amazing guests on like I mentioned Ben Platt, Taylor Trench. He has tons and tons and tons of musical theater, Broadway, and like TV actors and performers. So it's amazing. Go check it out. It's a bunch of like entertainment industry people but they're talking about current pop culture things and they kind of talk about like literally all kind of thing cultures but like in a fun way in a very light and funny way.

[1:18:24] Eli Tokash: And it's just super enjoyable and I highly recommend it. So Las Culturistas it's on all platforms that you listen to podcasts and everything like that. This week's episode is with Bianca Del Rio and that was released yesterday so go check it out. It's his newest episode and yeah it's a great time. I honestly I know you all will love it especially if you loved this interview today.

[1:18:52] Eli Tokash: So there are some exciting things happening virtually. I know obviously like all of this is exciting and like Broadway's coming back and everything's happening but we also have like a lot of fun virtual things to look out for until then. So we're gonna start off and just like a friendly little reminder here that High School Musical the Musical the series is going to be having their season two premiere tomorrow Friday May 14th. I'm so excited for it.

[1:19:18] Eli Tokash: You're gonna be able to see Andrew Barth Feldman who was a Take About guest. Joey Serafini who was a Take About guest. Roman Banks who was in Dear Evan Hansen and was the first person of color to play Evan Hansen. So he's gonna be joining this season as well as Andrew Barth Feldman and we're gonna see all of our favorite people. So I'm very excited for that.

[1:19:43] Eli Tokash: We also have something excited to look out for on Friday which is Breathe a new musical and this is literally gonna be like a on-demand like full like performance I guess. Obviously it was filmed so that's hence the on-demand but like it's gonna be out there until July 2nd so you'll have time if you can't do it like this week or this weekend or whatever it may be.

[1:20:14] Eli Tokash: But anyways let's get into what Breathe is and what who is in the cast. The cast is star-studded and Tony winners Kelly O'Hara and Brian Stokes Mitchell, Patti Murin, Danae Benton, Matt Doyle, Max Clayton, all of these amazing performers that we all love to see are going to be performing in this new musical Breathe chronicles COVID-19's impact on five very different relationships with each couple's story told by a different songwriter and a team of directors.

[1:20:42] Eli Tokash: So it's a very fascinating new project that is still very new obviously as they talk about like the current times with COVID and everything like that and it's cool that it's going to be virtual because it's really going to have that COVID impact and just have that background and everything like that. It's going to be really really cool and I'm really looking forward to it so if you can the tickets are $25. It's going to be amazing I swear to God and it starts May 14th this Friday tomorrow and you can watch it until July 2nd so you have time if you don't want to do it yet.

[1:21:23] Eli Tokash: But definitely something to look into and the last very exciting event we have going on this weekend is actually going to be taking place on Sunday May 16th. It's 2021's annual Miscast which is going to be premiering on YouTube and it's a free broadcast that like literally features all of our favorite Broadway stars who we've talked about it before will be performing songs that they normally wouldn't be singing on like a Broadway stage and they can kind of they this allows them to have a space that they're able to perform whatever song that kind of like speaks to them or whatever number speaks to them and something that's not like a stereotype that you would be casted in because Broadway has some type casting going on which is no secret to the industry or the public eye by any means.

[1:22:14] Eli Tokash: So this really gives them a space for that and it's very exciting. I love Miscast. I love to see what people do and how they pull it off. Obviously like we talked about it before with Joshua Cawley. Him, Luca Padovan, and Douglas Baldeo did the Schuyler Sisters and it was amazing. So it's just like things like that. So definitely check that out. It's going to be the second time that it's going to be online because it is an annual event so they want to continue it even through COVID times. So definitely check it out. It's free on YouTube this Sunday.

[1:22:39] Eli Tokash: Let's turn it over to Eli's Entertainment Experience because this week we're going to talk a little bit about something that Bowen and I had talked about but really glanced over. So in this week's Triple E segment we're going to talk about John Glaser Loves Gear. So John Glaser Loves Gear is the TV show that Bowen and I did together a couple years ago. So I was in season one of this show that I literally fell in love with filming because it combined my two loves of sports and doing like acting and telling stories and doing TV and film and being able to perform.

[1:23:10] Eli Tokash: So in this show it's very odd because I am in almost every episode of both season one and season two. However, I'm the kid whose face is blurred out the entire time. It's a very odd storyline especially for my character and it's just like just the goofiest show. It's a lot of improv which is obviously like Bowen's background that we talked a lot about so he enjoyed doing that.

[1:23:49] Eli Tokash: And he came along in season two as the sports expert because his first sports expert who was like this huge jock and like super super strong like his muscles like he was practically like a bodybuilder. And yeah he's just like super strong and like knows very manly I guess you could say. Very masculine and then he kind of like goes away and something happens to him which you'll have to watch to find out.

[1:24:26] Eli Tokash: And then Bowen is introduced in season two as the new sports expert and he's this rather feminine sports expert who like kind of knows what he's talking about but also at the same time it's kind of like John Glazer who the show is about. John Glazer loves gear kind of telling him more about like the sports equipment and all of these fun things that he's interested in that he shared with his spurt but now it's now like an odd relationship.

[1:25:02] Eli Tokash: And I play John's son and so Bowen and I and John we have a ton of scenes together. It's always the best time on set and it's so hard not to like laugh because a lot of it is not scripted and it's kind of just like you know you have lines and you have like this base but really they're trying to get you out of it and kind of doing some new things. So just being on the set and learning. I've never done improv before anything like that so that was another thing that was really cool on top of like the whole sports and everything and like the cool places I got to see and the fun things that I got to do in the show.

[1:25:44] Eli Tokash: But also like being in a being surrounded by a show that does just improv and kind of having fun and just being silly. It was something that was even cooler because improv has always fascinated me because it's really just having a conversation but like like it's really just it's amazing how like fast people work even though like it's just a conversation like all conversations are improvised. So it's really interesting when you really think about it and you like dive deep into it.

[1:26:32] Eli Tokash: But literally Bowen is hilarious on the show. Go check it out if you haven't. It's on TruTV. John Glazer loves gear. It's so funny. It's really bizarre the storyline and you really won't see me even though you'll hear me and like kind of see my and you'll see my body just not my face. So you may not recognize me but you could probably recognize my voice and Bowen's hilarious on it as I mentioned before. John Glazer is also hilarious on it and it's a fabulous show.

[1:27:02] Eli Tokash: It's just makes fun of people that are like obsessed with like sports. So it's it's really fun. Go check it out. I wish we could have had more time on the podcast. We had already went over an hour to really talk about it with Bowen. But yeah so I figured I'd talk a little bit about it in this segment. It's a very bizarre concept, a very bizarre show, a very bizarre role for me. But it was always a blast and that's how Bowen and I met.

[1:27:41] Eli Tokash: So it's only fitting that I share that story. The first day of rehearsal he was kind of like asking me. He was kind of like oh do you know like any of these sports terms? And I was like oh yeah like this one's this and this one's this and he was like oh my god like wow like that's that's crazy and like that's literally like how we met. And then ever since then we you know we've kind of like hit it off and stayed in touch and we had a blast filming this one this week and it was great to see him again.

[1:28:21] Eli Tokash: I was glad I was able to get him on just to not only talk about SNL but get a new side of the entertainment industry, get an actor to his caliber. He's a pretty big name so I'm very excited to have him on the show and I hope you all enjoyed this week's episode. So I'm gonna wrap up this week's episode. Thank you all for listening to episode 51 of Take a Bow.

[1:28:51] Eli Tokash: Episode 52 is coming out next week with the one and only Natalie Weiss and I'm so excited for it. It's going to be another great episode. I will be recording it this week and I'm very excited for it. So stay tuned and I hope to see you all next week. We have another exciting guest on top of this week's and it's going to continue the one year anniversary celebration of Take a Bow podcast.

[1:29:16] Eli Tokash: So thank you all and I hope to see you all next week. Have a good week everyone. For this episode's curtain call I would like to recognize a few people who also deserve to take a bow. This podcast would not be possible without the help from Dory Berenstein, Brittany Bigelow, Katie Rosen, Alan Seales, and the team at the Broadway Podcast Network.

[1:29:40] Eli Tokash: Next in line to take a bow is Tessie Tokash who edits the audio and all the visuals for this podcast. A special thanks to patrons Brian Thompson, Pat McNamara, the listeners at PCC, as well as all the other patrons for their continued support. If you're interested in becoming a patron go to patreon.com slash TAB.