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00:03From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central, it's America's only source for news.
00:10This is The Daily Show with your host, Ronnie Tick.
00:27Welcome to The Daily Show.
00:29I'm Roy Chek.
00:30We've got so much to talk about tonight.
00:32Iran has been enriching weapons-grade memes.
00:35Pete Hegseth can't take a bad review.
00:38And good news, your phone is making you ugly.
00:40Oh, wait, sorry, that's bad news.
00:43Sorry, my bad.
00:43But first, let's get into the latest on the war in Iran.
00:50Nothing bad can happen.
00:51It can only good happen.
00:55Let's start with the Strait of Hormuz.
00:57Much like clavicular, we all found out it exists two months ago, and now people won't shut the f**k up
01:02about it.
01:04Well, we have an update.
01:05It's still closed.
01:07No one can get oil.
01:09Because turns out this thing we never heard of was the choke point for the entire f**king planet.
01:15Whoops.
01:16There are long lineups for fuel from Pakistan to Cambodia to Vietnam.
01:22Sri Lanka shortened work weeks to save electricity.
01:25In Bangladesh, the energy crisis has forced universities to close.
01:29In South Korea, people are being asked to take shorter showers.
01:33Okay, not cool, South Korea.
01:38Times of global unrest are when people need to jerk off in the shower the most.
01:44And the war's not just making it harder to get clean, it's making it harder to be dead.
01:50In Thailand, the strict measures have prevented this temple from refilling its tanks,
01:54meaning they would have to suspend cremations.
01:59Are you telling me Thailand is filling up with dead bodies?
02:02Well, nobody tell RFK Jr.
02:06Did anyone call dibs on these?
02:12And while Thailand can't set fire to its dead people, it also can't cool down its living ones.
02:18The Thai government has ordered government employees to lower office air conditioning to save energy.
02:24During a morning show segment, Thai TV news anchors ditch their suit jackets on air.
02:30Let's just take it off so we can set an example of how to save energy, too.
02:34By wearing less clothing, it can help with our moods and the coping with the weather.
02:42Yeah, yeah, it's kind of hot in here.
02:44Let's take off our jackets, Betty.
02:53Oh, oh, what's that?
02:55Breaking news, looks like we have to shower together, too.
03:00Just to save water, curse this war.
03:05Actually, oh my God, I just realized this whole oil crisis is going to end with me seeing Wolf Blitzer's
03:10dick.
03:13This shows you what life is like for other countries in a world dominated by America.
03:18We start a war and now everyone else has to have swamp ass.
03:23But hey, if there's any solace to the rest of the world, I'm sure the American economy is suffering just
03:28as much.
03:29The American stock market just hit a record high.
03:33Isn't that something?
03:35That's right.
03:37The American stock market is as high as ever thanks to the investment strategy of everything's fine.
03:44Money, money, money, money.
03:47The stock market is like America's Instagram.
03:50No matter what's really going on in your life, always looks good on the stock market.
03:55Hey, happy anniversary, baby.
03:57Our marriage is perfect and we definitely are sleeping in the same room.
04:02For most of the world, this war cannot end soon enough.
04:05And today we got an update from Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Defense and worst part of every Hooters waitress's day.
04:13He came out.
04:17He came out at a press conference this morning and you can tell he's laser focused on defeating Iran.
04:28A note to the press, to the press corps, to the American media.
04:33As I just can't help but notice the endless stream of garbage.
04:39The relentlessly negative coverage.
04:42Okay, right.
04:44Well, no, obviously he has to defeat the American media first, but then Iran.
04:51In the press, you only seek the negative.
04:54Earning each and every day the fake news label.
04:58Okay, okay, I get it.
05:00We suck, we suck, fine, okay.
05:02But what about the Hormuz?
05:04Sometimes it's hard to figure out what side some of you are actually on.
05:08It's incredibly unpatriotic.
05:11Where's the coverage of the new spirit in the country?
05:14Yeah.
05:15Yeah, you stupid fake news media.
05:18Show some headlines about spirit in America.
05:21Like how about spirit airlines may have to liquidate due to rising fuel prices.
05:28Okay, well...
05:29All right.
05:35You guys are so happy that spirit is liquidate.
05:42You know what I mean.
05:43Okay.
05:44Stop with all the crybaby anti-Trump questions.
05:47Like, why haven't we achieved any of the goals in the war?
05:51Just f***ing babies.
05:53Only good Christian patriotic questions from now on.
05:57Okay, go.
05:58Iranian embassy accounts are sharing an AI video of Jesus Christ kind of bloodily killing
06:03President Donald Trump.
06:05Does the Pentagon have a response to this, including the fact that this AI Jesus is casting Trump
06:11into hell?
06:15Now...
06:20Now there's a question.
06:23What does...
06:24I quote,
06:25What does the Pentagon think of Iran's AI video where Jesus kills Trump and tosses him into hell?
06:32Which, by the way, is too graphic to even show on TV.
06:37And as you all know, there's no other place besides TV to watch videos,
06:40so I guess you'll never see it.
06:41But, um...
06:43What say you, Secretary Hexeth?
06:45Are you pro or con this video of Trump being sent to the fires of hell by AI Jesus?
06:50As far as a video like that, of course, that's disgusting and detached from reality.
06:57Yeah, okay.
07:02Uh...
07:02Thank you for clarifying that Jesus punching Trump straight into hell was not reality.
07:09Uh...
07:11I don't think there were a ton of people going,
07:13Uh, so are they gonna arrest Jesus for this or what?
07:16Right?
07:18I mean, I was all set to go to my nearest church, find a priest, and be like,
07:21What the f***, man?
07:22Get control of your boy.
07:25But this leads...
07:29This leads to an important point about the Iran war.
07:32Memes are weapons now.
07:33War with Iran isn't just playing out on the ground.
07:36It's exploding online.
07:38Iranian embassies and pro-Iran groups are flooding social media with AI-generated memes,
07:45many mocking President Trump and U.S. policy.
07:49Uh, mocking President Trump.
07:52No one's ever thought of that.
07:56Big deal.
07:57Look, no offense, Iran, but you're not exactly known as a cultural powerhouse, okay?
08:02So good luck impressing Americans with your little videos.
08:06The secrets are leaking
08:09The pressure is rising
08:12We locked on the target
08:13And now you are hiding
08:16L-O-S-E
08:17Yeah, we spellin' at your name
08:19Send them to the slaughter, you the only one to blame
08:23Holy s***!
08:25Did, did I...
08:27What was going on there?
08:32Is there a sequel to a Lego movie I don't know about?
08:36Did I just see Iran fire a loser rocket at Lego Trump?
08:41I mean, look, do I support Iran propaganda?
08:44No.
08:45Could it end up on my Spotify wrapped?
08:48Absolutely.
08:50I mean, I kind of can't wait for Iran to headline Coachella next year.
08:56But if an Ayatollah can do that, you know what?
08:58I bet Donald Trump and his virgin-maxing meme lords can go even harder.
09:02All right?
09:02Show him what you got, Trump.
09:06You wanna see me do it again?
09:10You wanna see me do it again?
09:16What the f*** was that?
09:18That was the shittiest meme ever!
09:21How is Trump bad at this?
09:23What was the point of electing a cyberbully if he sucks at cyberbullying?
09:27I was worried we might be the bad guys in this war,
09:30but after seeing this diss track, I'm realizing it's much worse.
09:35We're Drake.
09:39For more on the meme war and who is winning it,
09:42let's go live to Michael Kosta.
09:49Michael.
09:51Michael.
09:53Uh...
09:55Okay.
09:55Hey, Michael, it doesn't seem like America is winning the meme war.
09:59Well, up to now, no, Ronnie.
10:01But things are about to change.
10:03Because President Trump is calling on all Americans to do our part
10:08and help make memes for the war effort.
10:11Wait, he wants us to make memes?
10:14Ronnie, in World War II, Americans planted victory gardens
10:17so the soldiers could have vegetables.
10:19Well, Americans don't eat vegetables anymore,
10:21so that s***'s not gonna help.
10:23Instead, Trump needs able-bodied Americans
10:26memeing as much as possible.
10:28I'm doing my part right here.
10:30Check out this meme.
10:31Ha, ha, ha.
10:33Boom.
10:34Got him, Iran.
10:35Suck it.
10:37U-S-A!
10:38U-S-A!
10:40U-S-A!
10:41U-S-A!
10:42What the f*** am I looking at?
10:46It's the I can't-has-cheeseburger cat.
10:48But instead, he's saying I can't-has-straight-of-hormuz.
10:51It's classic.
10:53Yeah, I know the meme, dumbass.
10:56I-I just don't know how America is gonna win
10:58by posting 20-year-old cringe.
11:02All right, well, I'm trying, okay?
11:04War is hell.
11:06But if you want something a bit more updated,
11:08check out my latest creation.
11:09Imagine you're the Ayatollah,
11:11sitting all gay at your computer.
11:13When-when we drop this, boom!
11:16We accept your surrender, Iran.
11:22No, stop.
11:23Yep.
11:24What are you applauding?
11:26I don't-I don't get this.
11:28What is this?
11:29Okay, look, you see the guy in the middle?
11:31That's the straight of Hormuz.
11:32And he's supposed to be focused on this girl, Iran.
11:35But instead, he's focused on this girl, USA.
11:38And the straight is like,
11:39damn, America, you got a great ass!
11:41But his girlfriend, Iran, is like,
11:44oh, no, you didn't.
11:44And the straight is like, yes, I did.
11:46And then everyone-
11:47Okay, Kosta, Kosta, your meme is making no sense, okay?
11:50I don't understand what any of this means.
11:52It makes total sense.
11:53This meme is about how America is a country with a great ass!
11:57Okay.
11:57That's what I'm talking about!
11:59Stop.
12:01The meme is not about asses.
12:03Look, trust me, the internet is gonna go crazy over this.
12:06Speaking of which, how do I get this on the internet?
12:08Is there-is there a P.O. box I mail it to?
12:11Okay.
12:11Kosta, no one in Iran will care about your super shitty memes.
12:14Hey, man, at least I'm doing something, all right?
12:17What are you doing?
12:18Sitting there at your cozy desk while I'm knee-deep in the shit out here,
12:22risking my life for this country?
12:24I spent all week on these memes.
12:26Look at this one!
12:27Check this out, Iran!
12:30Michael Jordan crying his eyes out!
12:33What?
12:36Why does the text say Michael Jordan?
12:38I mean, isn't-shouldn't it say, like, Iran?
12:43It's not Iran.
12:44It's a picture of Michael Jordan.
12:45Have you ever seen this meme before?
12:47F***.
12:47Oh, wait, hang on.
12:49Hang on.
12:49Hang on, Michael.
12:50I'm getting word that Iran has seen your memes,
12:53and they've actually posted a meme in response to your memes.
12:57I'd like to see them.
12:58Try.
12:58Okay, yep, here it is.
12:59We can show you.
13:00It's breaking news right now.
13:04Just-it just came in.
13:07It's a-it's a picture of you.
13:10And it says,
13:11bad at memes, great at micropenis.
13:14What the hell?
13:15How did they mail that to the Internet so fast?
13:19They really do have advanced tech over there.
13:21But you know what, Ronnie?
13:21Okay?
13:22I'm willing to sacrifice.
13:24They can make fun of my micropenis
13:25if it helps us win this war.
13:27How would that help us win the war?
13:31Think about it, Ronnie.
13:33We get Iran totally focused on fighting with memes,
13:36owning us, clowning us.
13:38And while they're all glued to their phones laughing,
13:40we sneak our ships through the straighter her moose.
13:44Costa, that...
13:47That, okay, that actually is kind of smart.
13:49Exactly.
13:50I know, Ronnie.
13:51In fact, it's genius.
13:52It's so genius that I made a meme of it.
13:56Michael, that's-that's too much text.
13:59I can't even see the guy behind it.
14:01Well, that's Michael Jordan, obviously.
14:03Okay, that's...
14:04Michael Costa, everybody.
14:05When we come back,
14:07Grace will teach us the latest tech news,
14:09so don't go away.
14:27Welcome back to The Daily Show.
14:29Technology will one day kill us all.
14:32But until then, it's pretty cool.
14:34To find out more,
14:35we turn to Grace Koolensmith
14:36in our ongoing segment,
14:38Tech Yeah!
14:49What's up, all my home keys and 5Gs?
14:52I'm Grace Koolensmith,
14:54but some people call me Grok Koolensmith
14:56because you can ask me anything.
14:58And I love picturing people naked.
15:02Mmm, Judi Dench.
15:06And this is Tech Yeah!,
15:08where I tell CPU all about the biggest stories in tech.
15:12Let's start with a story about the spine,
15:15which is the HDMI cord
15:16that goes from your mainframe to your printer.
15:20Trust me, this thing never runs out of ink.
15:24But turns out, tech is warping our necks,
15:27our backs, our shoulders, and our traps.
15:30Increased smartphone use
15:32can lead to what's being called tech neck,
15:35it's when you lower your head just so
15:37while scrolling
15:38so that little lines form on your neck.
15:4160% report spending at least five hours a day
15:44looking at their screens,
15:46which causes pain, stiffness, headaches.
15:50Okay, if tech neck is a thing,
15:53then call me the throat goat.
15:56I love it!
15:58Now when I breathe,
15:59I sound like a pug.
16:00It's so cool!
16:02And not to mention, tech neck is a badge of honor,
16:06like a boxer's cauliflower ear
16:08or a twink's blown-out back.
16:11It shows you've put in the work.
16:14And for all we know,
16:16this is the next stage of evolution.
16:17First, man evolved to walk upright.
16:20Now we've evolved to walk around hunched over,
16:23re-watching that video of Lenny Kravitz
16:25splitting his pants.
16:27But if for some weird reason
16:29you don't love your hot-ass hump,
16:31there's a simple cure.
16:33Could the solution to all of our tech neck woes
16:36be as simple as getting some tummy time?
16:39That classic technique that babies use
16:42to strengthen their own necks and backs
16:44is now catching on with adults.
16:46Not appropriate to do, like, at the office,
16:49but you can work this in at home, guys.
16:52Oh, come on.
16:53I can't do it at work?
16:55My co-workers love when I act like a baby.
16:58Hey, Ronnie.
16:59Coo-coo-coo-coo-coo-coo.
17:03See? He loves it.
17:06I have to admit,
17:07when I first heard the cure for tech neck
17:10is tummy time,
17:11I was like, hang on.
17:12I'm saving that for my wedding night.
17:15Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.
17:19I'm kidding.
17:20I haven't been a virgin for weeks.
17:23Technology might be ruining our bodies,
17:26but don't worry.
17:27Robot bodies are stronger than ever.
17:30In China this week,
17:32dozens of humanoid robots
17:34will be racing against humans
17:35in a half-marathon.
17:37It's going to feature more than 100 robots,
17:38some fully autonomous,
17:40others remote-controlled.
17:41Last year, a human took home first place.
17:44This year, the teams are pushing
17:46their technology to see
17:47if the robots are going to take it all out.
17:50Wow.
17:51They invented a Kenyan robot.
17:54This is a huge, huge help
17:57for sanitation workers
17:58because robot marathoners
18:00can't shit their pants.
18:02Yet.
18:03Trust me when I say
18:04there's absolutely no downside
18:06to teaching robots
18:07how to chase us down.
18:08Think how early I'll be to everything
18:11if I'm running for my life.
18:13Plus, this is so awesome
18:15as a lady who loves playing tag
18:17but doesn't have any children.
18:19I'm so sick of going to the playground
18:22and asking little boys
18:23if they want to be it.
18:25I get it, moms.
18:26You don't want me talking to your kids
18:28because they're slow as f***.
18:31But jocks aren't the only ones getting digital.
18:35Nerds are, too.
18:36Including the King Nerd himself.
18:39Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg
18:40is reportedly training an AI clone
18:42with his image and voice
18:44along with his mannerisms, tone,
18:46and public statements.
18:47Meta may start allowing creators
18:48to make their own avatars
18:50if the Zuckerberg experiment goes well.
18:53Un-freaking-believable!
18:56After decades of technological advancements,
18:59we've finally invented a way
19:01to make Mark Zuckerberg seem lifelike.
19:03And it captures all of his signature
19:07facial expressions,
19:08like angry, happy, scared,
19:12and, of course, sunscreen.
19:16I was lucky enough
19:18to get a sneak peek at AI Zuck,
19:21and it did not disappoint.
19:23In our short conversation,
19:25I learned so much,
19:26mainly that men aren't for me.
19:30But unfortunately,
19:32when Daddy Zuck opens an AI door,
19:34he closes an AI window
19:36because he just announced
19:37they're shutting down
19:38a huge part of the metaverse.
19:40Sorry, I'm getting a little emotional.
19:44I'm gonna miss the metaverse.
19:45There's so much to do in there.
19:47Like this.
19:51Wow, this is so cool.
19:55Hello?
19:57Anyone want to do tummy time?
19:59Well, that's all
20:00for this edition of Tech Yeah.
20:02Tune in next time
20:03when I show you
20:03how to turn off ad blocker.
20:07Back to you, Ronnie.
20:17Hey, Lisa and Jing will be joining me
20:18on the show,
20:18so don't go away.
20:31Hey, welcome back to The Daily Show.
20:33I guess now he's award-winning writer,
20:35director, and creator
20:36of the Netflix series B.
20:38Do you know why they pay
20:39so much to come here?
20:42Um,
20:44the golf?
20:46Yeah.
20:47The golf.
20:48The courts.
20:50The exclusivity.
20:52The discretion.
20:54Okay.
20:56People need a place
20:57where they can feel safe.
20:59Where they can pretend
21:00everything is okay.
21:02It's the land of make-believe.
21:05Do you follow?
21:07Oh, my God.
21:08Please welcome
21:08Mr. Lisa and Jing.
21:25Thanks for coming on.
21:26Thanks for having me.
21:27Thanks for coming on, man.
21:28Thanks for having me.
21:29Yeah, you wrote
21:29Created Beef,
21:31season one.
21:31What a triumph.
21:32Yeah, thank you.
21:33It's a triumph, yeah.
21:34It's a, it's a,
21:36it's genuinely a rare triumph
21:39of original IP in America.
21:44Yeah, how did you,
21:45how did you put it together?
21:47Uh, it's just, uh,
21:49just a lot of, uh,
21:52sleepless nights and, uh...
21:53Okay, no, no,
21:54more specific question is,
21:55like, how did you convince them
21:56to back original stories?
21:59Uh, you know,
22:00it actually started with PowerPoint.
22:02Um, I, uh...
22:05I was, like,
22:06an econ major,
22:07and so all my pitches
22:08to networks are, like,
22:09very involved PowerPoints.
22:11Like, I get, like,
22:12the macros and animation
22:14and everything going.
22:15Right.
22:15And, uh,
22:16and Bella Bajaria
22:17and Ginny Howe at Netflix,
22:19they saw that PowerPoint,
22:20and they were like,
22:21yes.
22:27Right, but...
22:29It must have been
22:30one hell of a PowerPoint
22:32because they not only,
22:34not only did they let you
22:35write and make the show,
22:36they let you direct it as well.
22:38I think that was your
22:39directorial debut,
22:40the season one?
22:40Uh, yeah,
22:41the season one finale was.
22:42Uh, that was less PowerPoint
22:43and more, like,
22:44running out of time.
22:46Yeah.
22:47Yeah, we were just, like,
22:48really behind,
22:49and they were like,
22:49uh, you do it.
22:51Really?
22:51That's the big...
22:52No, you're being modest.
22:53That was your big break?
22:54Uh, yeah.
22:55We're running late,
22:55so you f***ing do it?
22:59Yeah, that's the trick,
23:00you know?
23:01You have to time everything
23:03to where they don't...
23:04Yeah.
23:04Oh, my God.
23:04Just make it, like,
23:05so chaotic
23:06that they don't have time
23:07to process their decision-making.
23:10I was gonna ask you
23:11to give tips to the kids.
23:13Yeah, that's number one.
23:14Yeah, be late.
23:14Yeah.
23:15Be late.
23:15Make everything super late
23:16so they have no choice
23:17but to put you in charge of it.
23:18Yes, exactly.
23:19But it obviously paid out.
23:21I mean,
23:21and when you're directing
23:22the first season,
23:23I don't know,
23:24I just...
23:24It's so...
23:25You know, I...
23:26I just feel like
23:27I'm blowing smoke up your ass,
23:28but, like, I'm not.
23:31Season one just felt so inspired,
23:33you know?
23:33I don't know why.
23:33Oh, thank you.
23:34Yeah, people here watch it.
23:35Yeah, it's very inspired.
23:36There's something in it.
23:39And I keep saying this,
23:40but it's very rare.
23:41You know,
23:41we got so much s***ing s***
23:43on the internet right now
23:44to watch,
23:45and you're competing
23:45with so many things,
23:46and to make a show
23:47that breaks through,
23:48you know,
23:48this real triumph of writing
23:50and acting
23:51and directing
23:52and marketing even.
23:54Like, for this to come together,
23:55I don't know.
23:55It's just...
23:56I don't know.
23:57How the f*** did you do it?
24:01It's honestly, like,
24:02the collaborators.
24:03Like, I'm just good at,
24:05I guess, like,
24:06assembling Avengers,
24:07you know?
24:07And it's just a lot
24:10of very honest conversations.
24:13Like, even with, like,
24:14you know,
24:14like you say,
24:15the marketing.
24:15Like, a lot of times
24:17you just hand off
24:18the marketing,
24:18but then we, like,
24:19have a two-way conversation
24:21about it,
24:22and we're like,
24:23you know,
24:23like, season one,
24:23it was the middle finger,
24:25you know?
24:25Oh, that was you?
24:26Well, it was actually
24:28a conversation
24:29amongst many people.
24:30So people don't know,
24:31the season one,
24:32like, the billboard
24:33was like, yeah.
24:34You invented the middle finger.
24:36No, no.
24:37And so season two,
24:39you know,
24:39we were, like,
24:40running out of ideas,
24:41and then someone, like,
24:43flipped the middle finger over
24:44and, like, squashed the ant,
24:45and we're like,
24:46that works.
24:47And so it's just a lot
24:49of back and forth.
24:51Like, it's certainly
24:52not born of one person.
24:54I think the joy
24:55of what we do
24:56is the alchemy
24:57of when, like,
24:57a bunch of people
24:58come together
24:59and you achieve something,
25:00like, bigger than yourself.
25:02I tell everyone
25:02to shut up
25:03and just do that.
25:05No, collaboration
25:05is obviously
25:06one of the joys of it.
25:08And you,
25:08but, I mean, you,
25:10when you went into it,
25:11again, I say that
25:12it just felt very inspired,
25:14this first,
25:15the first season,
25:16and the second season,
25:17for that matter,
25:17but the first season.
25:18And I'm wondering, like,
25:19did you see,
25:20did you have the vision
25:21for it all in your head?
25:23Or how much of it
25:24was you discovering
25:25as you were making it?
25:26A lot of it
25:27is discovery, you know.
25:29I have a pretty
25:30limited imagination,
25:31so I kind of depend,
25:33I depend on the real world
25:35just showing me things.
25:36So season one
25:38was based on, like,
25:39a real-life
25:40road rage incident
25:41that I was involved
25:43in, very loosely based,
25:44or I wouldn't be here today.
25:47And season two, again,
25:49you know, I was,
25:50I didn't have any idea,
25:51well, I had a lot of ideas,
25:52Netflix just kept saying no.
25:55Yeah, yeah,
25:56we were, like,
25:56sweeping awards,
25:57and, you know,
25:59I was, like,
25:59pitching them all ideas,
26:00and they were like,
26:01uh, no thanks.
26:02Really?
26:03Yeah, I'm like,
26:03what's a guy gotta do
26:04to get a pickup around me?
26:05Yeah, yeah.
26:06You think you make beef,
26:07and you guys would
26:08shut the f*** up
26:09and let me make
26:09what I want?
26:10You guys never know.
26:11But, uh,
26:12it wasn't until
26:12I was walking
26:13in my neighborhood,
26:14and, you know,
26:15I'll speak very vaguely
26:16because I still live
26:17in said neighborhood,
26:18but, uh,
26:19I heard a very, like,
26:20let's call it a heated argument
26:21coming from a couple's home.
26:23What race?
26:23What race?
26:26No, it doesn't matter,
26:28but it kind of does.
26:30Yeah.
26:31You know,
26:31no cops came,
26:32so I think you know.
26:33Okay.
26:40Um, but, uh,
26:43you know,
26:44for me,
26:45it was actually
26:45when I was retelling
26:46the story to friends
26:47where inspiration struck
26:48because when I told
26:49my Gen Z peers,
26:51they were all, like,
26:52aghast, you know,
26:53like, did you call 911?
26:55Did you follow up?
26:56And then when I told,
26:57you know,
26:58my peers my age and older,
26:59they were just kind of like,
27:01I mean...
27:05Yeah.
27:06Who amongst us hasn't?
27:08Uh, so I thought
27:10that dichotomy
27:11was really interesting,
27:11so, uh, you know,
27:13luckily Netflix agreed.
27:15Right.
27:15And, uh,
27:16that actually
27:17brings up a good point
27:18is that one thing
27:18you've done
27:19with season two of Beef,
27:20which we'll get into
27:21about how it's an anthology
27:23in a second,
27:23but, like, season two
27:24of Beef is really...
27:25I feel like you really
27:26did capture that, um,
27:29very authentic representation
27:31of elder millennials
27:34now in 2026.
27:36Yeah.
27:36And I feel like
27:37this is the first show
27:38to do that,
27:39because we've captured
27:39millennials before,
27:40but it was always,
27:42you know,
27:42it's from 10 years ago,
27:43that's the impression
27:44of millennials in pop culture
27:45that we haven't really
27:46solidified in the blockchain,
27:48and it's...
27:49It was...
27:50It was like a caricature
27:51of millennials
27:52by boomers,
27:53or Gen X.
27:54Yeah.
27:54But you,
27:55as a millennial yourself,
27:56this show,
27:57you know,
27:58one of the themes
27:58of second season
27:59is this generational thing
28:00which you just described,
28:01and you really,
28:03really dialed in the...
28:05It was, like, spot on,
28:07how it feels
28:07to be a millennial right now,
28:08and then you also managed
28:09to get Gen Z in there, too.
28:10Yeah.
28:10So, I mean,
28:11how do you manage
28:12to capture those guys?
28:13Those guys are...
28:14Those total millennials.
28:16Have you seen them?
28:17They're crazy.
28:18Yeah.
28:19They're, like,
28:20breaking bones
28:20in their faces.
28:21They're, like,
28:22I don't...
28:22Yeah.
28:22I feel like this is
28:23a trap for me,
28:25so...
28:26No, you can't shit with that.
28:27It's okay.
28:28Well, I think...
28:29It's okay.
28:29It's a God-given right.
28:30Every generation
28:30can shit on the next generation.
28:33You know how much shit
28:33I took from baby boomers
28:35for, like, 20 years?
28:36Yeah, 20 years of shitting.
28:38What the hell
28:38did millennials ever do?
28:39We didn't even do anything.
28:41No, we just...
28:41All we did was eat avocado.
28:44They made it sound
28:45like we were Nazis.
28:46All we did was
28:47f***ing avocados
28:49shitting on us
28:49for, like, over a decade.
28:50Shut up, boomers.
28:51Shut the f*** up.
28:53I shoot on both sides.
28:55Yeah.
28:56No, that...
29:00Yeah.
29:00That rant was just, like,
29:02literally season two.
29:03It's just, like...
29:05That should be
29:06our promo video.
29:07It was a promo video.
29:10No, I mean,
29:10I think our take
29:12on Elder Millennial
29:13was just, like,
29:14leaning into
29:15the elder part of it.
29:16You know, I think...
29:17That's what's new
29:18is that millennials
29:19are all like,
29:19oh, no, we're old now.
29:21You know?
29:23And I think with Gen Z,
29:25you know,
29:26I tried to self-reflect
29:28and think about
29:29when I was in my 20s
29:30and I was on writing staffs,
29:31you know,
29:32and I would judge
29:33the older writers so hard.
29:36They were, like, 37,
29:36you know?
29:39And I'd be like,
29:40oh, my God,
29:41we're staying
29:41till 7.05 p.m.
29:43they must hate
29:43their families,
29:44you know?
29:45And here I am,
29:4744,
29:47and I'm, like,
29:48routinely at work
29:49till, like, 11 p.m.
29:51I also like to think
29:51that we will be
29:52more gracious
29:53with letting Gen Z
29:58giving them space
29:59to work
29:59versus how these
30:01boomers were
30:02when I was working.
30:03They were awful.
30:04I came in,
30:05they were entrenched
30:06and just boxing
30:07everyone out.
30:07You couldn't do anything.
30:08They couldn't get fired
30:09because they were
30:10just too entrenched
30:11in the system, man.
30:12These boomers.
30:15Well, that's actually
30:16a big reason
30:16why we set the season
30:17in a country club.
30:18Right.
30:19Because from my observation,
30:21most members
30:21are boomer
30:22or silent gen.
30:23And in my mind,
30:25no matter how hard
30:26those employees work,
30:27they'll never get
30:27to be members.
30:28And I think that's,
30:30like, a perfect microcosm
30:31of what's happening
30:32today in 2026.
30:34Like, everyone feels like,
30:35you know,
30:36everyone before us
30:37grabbed the bag
30:38before we could.
30:39So we're just going
30:39to be employees
30:40for the rest of our lives.
30:42And so, yeah,
30:43we took that metaphor
30:44and tried to make
30:45a somewhat comedic show.
30:47I hear a lot of,
30:48ooh, so...
30:50There's, like,
30:51boomers in this audience
30:52who were, like,
30:55there's an audible,
30:56like, ooh.
30:58You got it.
30:59Yeah.
30:59So, I mean,
31:00yeah, it's cool.
31:01And the other thing
31:01you kind of nailed
31:02in Beef Season 1,
31:05and I don't want to give away
31:06what happens in 2,
31:07but, like,
31:08this idea of, uh,
31:09you really managed
31:10to bring in, like,
31:11this authentic, uh,
31:14integration of Asian culture
31:15into these storytellings,
31:16which doesn't feel like
31:17tokenism or
31:18it doesn't feel shoehorned.
31:20You know,
31:20everything feels really just,
31:22um,
31:23you're trying to tell a story,
31:24happens to use Asian culture,
31:26but you weren't trying
31:26to, like, tick a box
31:27or anything,
31:28which I thought
31:28was very cool.
31:29Oh, thanks.
31:29Like, in Season 1
31:30when, um,
31:31Steven Yeun's character
31:32tries to kill himself
31:33with a hibachi grill.
31:36Like, I wasn't like,
31:37oh, they just did that
31:38for DEI.
31:41I was like,
31:42no, this makes sense
31:43in the story.
31:44Like, yeah.
31:45Well, that, uh,
31:46not to bring the crowd down,
31:47but that was actually
31:48based on my real,
31:50real personal life.
31:50Okay, yeah.
31:53Yeah.
31:53But, you know,
31:54obviously I didn't do it
31:55or else, uh, you know.
31:57But, you know,
31:58just write what you know.
31:59No, that kind of...
32:02Yeah, it's that kind
32:03of authenticity.
32:07And, I mean,
32:08I gotta give my flowers
32:09to Koreans right now,
32:11I guess.
32:11For those who don't know,
32:12he's Korean.
32:13Um, uh, not that it matters,
32:15but I'm just,
32:16I'm just saying...
32:17Two woos.
32:18Two woos.
32:18Yeah.
32:19Um, but, uh,
32:20I'm just saying that
32:21it just feels like
32:22in this moment, like,
32:23what is it about
32:24Korean culture that's,
32:26they're doing such a great job
32:27of commenting on
32:28American capitalism.
32:30Like, what is that?
32:30Why is that?
32:31Why are they just nailing it?
32:33Uh, maybe, like,
32:35it takes one to know one,
32:36perhaps.
32:40Like...
32:42Yeah, I...
32:43I think, like,
32:44Korea is, like,
32:45capitalism, like,
32:46on steroids, you know?
32:47Uh, we're just, like,
32:48very, very good at it.
32:49Like, K-pop is just, like,
32:51music plus capitalism,
32:53you know?
32:54And I say that
32:55with great reverence,
32:57as I know the K-pop fans
32:58are very fervent online.
33:02There's no overlap
33:03with this YouTube video.
33:07They don't come
33:07to this part of the internet,
33:08as you know.
33:11But, yeah, I mean,
33:12you, you know,
33:13you say it's on steroids,
33:14but, I mean,
33:14this is the capital
33:15of capitalism.
33:16But somehow these Koreans
33:16are just...
33:17Like, you filmed some of this
33:18season two in Korea, right?
33:20Uh, yeah, we did.
33:21Uh, we shot
33:22for a month out there.
33:24Uh, that was probably
33:25the peak of my career,
33:26like, honestly,
33:27to go back.
33:28I hadn't been back
33:29in, you know,
33:30like, 20 years, probably.
33:32Uh, I went to
33:32elementary school there.
33:33And, uh, I was shooting
33:36the scene with
33:37the great Yoon Yo-jung,
33:38uh, who won
33:38an Academy Award
33:39for Minari.
33:40And, uh, yeah.
33:42And, uh...
33:45And it was the, uh...
33:47That guy was not Korean.
33:48The guy was...
33:50So shout-out for,
33:51you know,
33:51Minari for crossing coaches.
33:53And, uh,
33:54she was shooting
33:55her first ever scene
33:56in Korean history
33:57with, uh,
33:58the great Song Gang-ho,
33:59the dad from Parasite,
34:00uh, who's one of my
34:01favorite actors of all time.
34:02And we were shooting
34:03at this beautiful building,
34:05a more Pacific,
34:06that no one ever
34:06gets to shoot at.
34:07And in the middle
34:08of shooting,
34:09uh, director Bang Jun-ho
34:10showed up on set
34:11and surprised us.
34:13And, uh,
34:13he kind of, like,
34:14went up to the monitor
34:15and elbowed me,
34:16and he jokingly said,
34:17uh, are you sure
34:17you want to frame it?
34:18I don't like that.
34:20It's like,
34:21I'll frame it
34:21however you want,
34:22director Bang.
34:24And that was, like,
34:25peak for me.
34:25Right.
34:26Yeah, that's really cool.
34:27That's really cool
34:28that you got to go back
34:28to Korea and, um,
34:30and see that
34:31and get your flowers
34:31from Koreans,
34:32as you should.
34:33Uh, thanks.
34:33Yeah, that's, uh,
34:34I mean, my parents
34:35really didn't, like,
34:36take anything I did
34:37seriously until that moment.
34:38So...
34:39And, I mean,
34:40I just kind of,
34:41I just kind of want
34:41to end the interview
34:42with a bit of a,
34:43you know,
34:43with your success
34:44and how you managed
34:45to navigate the industry.
34:47Your information
34:48college-based right now
34:49is very current.
34:50So I'm wondering
34:50if you could share
34:51something to the kids
34:53watching this.
34:54But we don't,
34:54first of all,
34:55the kids won't ever
34:55make it to the end
34:56of this video
34:56because they...
34:56No, no.
34:58These Gen Zs
34:59have the attention span
34:59of goddamn goldfish.
35:01But, um,
35:02you should reward
35:03the ones who do make it
35:04to the end of this video.
35:05Yes.
35:05And you should kind of
35:06give them,
35:07if you could,
35:07if you don't mind,
35:08like, kind of give them,
35:09I mean, how,
35:09how would you see
35:11if you were to advise
35:12someone right now
35:13who has a story in them,
35:15who's, you know,
35:16uh, believes it can be
35:17the equal of your show?
35:18How would,
35:19how should they navigate it?
35:20Uh, I think it's probably
35:23maybe, like, two things.
35:24Like, one,
35:26just get really good
35:27at your craft.
35:28You know, like,
35:28put in the 10,000 hours.
35:30I think that's one good thing
35:31from us coming up
35:32with Boomers above us.
35:34You know?
35:34Like, it wasn't,
35:35like, handed to us.
35:36We had to put in
35:37a lot of hours.
35:38And then I think
35:40while doing that,
35:41the most important thing
35:42is to just, like,
35:43be yourself.
35:44You know?
35:44I think, uh,
35:45everyone in this room,
35:47you're, like,
35:47one in eight billion people.
35:48And that's, like,
35:49the most unique thing.
35:50That's, like,
35:51the thing that, like,
35:52clawed AI has very difficult
35:54to task and trying
35:55to replicate.
35:56And so, uh,
35:57I think that's priceless.
35:58So you, like,
35:59you know,
36:00try to do those two things
36:01at the same time
36:02and, and, I don't know,
36:03maybe get, like,
36:04really good at PowerPoint
36:05or something.
36:06All right.
36:07That's all you want,
36:08man.
36:09Hey, all new episodes.
36:12All episodes
36:13of a new season of Beef
36:14are streaming on Netflix
36:15right now.
36:16Hey, it's Lee Shin Jin,
36:17everybody.
36:18Hey, it's Lee Janet.
36:20We're going to take
36:20a quick break,
36:21but we'll be right back
36:21after this.
36:22Hey, that's awesome, man.
36:24You can't.
36:31Hey, that's our show
36:32for tonight.
36:33Now, here it is,
36:34your moment of zen.
36:35He's done a fantastic job.
36:37He's got a very difficult job.
36:38Pope's got a tough job,
36:39you know,
36:40got issues in the church,
36:41but Donald Trump
36:42has a very, very difficult job
36:43to do,
36:44the toughest job in the world.
36:45I believe that Donald Trump
36:46is, uh,
36:47is, uh,
36:48better than sliced bread.
36:49I think he's,
36:50he's, he's almost
36:51a second coming,
36:52in my humble opinion.
36:54Sorry.
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