The Era of Sarah with Sarah Rachel Lazarus
Join Sarah Rachel Lazarus as she discusses all of her favorite with all of her favorite people... Everything ranging from but not limited to pop culture, dating, politics, sexy Pixar characters, Ru Paul's Drag Race, that dog who looks like your cousin, trying to convince Jennifer Coolidge to let her be her unpaid intern and much more.
The Era of Sarah with Sarah Rachel Lazarus
Wish We Could Get Our Pink Shirt Back (W/Daniel Franzese)
This week, we dish about the the morality of Publix subs, Nicole Kidman’s toenail clippings, showing a fake id to get a covid test and much more. We are joined by the iconic and hilarious, Daniel Franzese. He is an actor, writer, and comedian best known for his portrayal as Damian in Tina Fey's 'Mean Girls,' roles in Larry Clark's 'Bully,' 'HBO'S 'Looking' and for his viral youtube character 'SHIT ITALIAN MOMS SAY.' In this episode, he spills all of the tea about his time on the set of 'Mean Girls,' conversion therapy, all of the shit Italian moms say and much more. You can follow him on social media @whatsupdanny and listen to his podcast 'Yass ,Jesus!' on most podcast platforms.
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Hello, hello everyone welcome to wish you were weird.
Vinny:The show where we talk about everything you've always wanted to know more about,
Sarah Lazarus:including but not limited to drag dating, politics
Vinny:fuck Adobe Flash Player
Sarah Lazarus:The best way to cyber bully Ellen Degeneres successfully
Vinny:getting made fun of by nail technicians for your stubby little fingers
Sarah Lazarus:showing a fake ID to get a COVID test
Vinny:having nightmares about Britta filter criticizing your social distancing procedures,
Sarah Lazarus:being asked to Roll in jello 20 times for an America's Got Talent self tape.
Vinny:I'm the professional ankle bracelet bedazzler Vincent
Sarah Lazarus:and I'm the girl who only eats appetizers Sarah, why did I say my name like that? I just said my own name like someone from New Jersey or New York. sarrah, I did that with my own name. That's like having an identity crisis.
Vinny:Sarah, um, isn't your you're rolling in jello thing? a true story?
Sarah Lazarus:Yes, it is. Someone from America's Got Talent asked me to roll in jello a million times. That's that's pretty much and they were like, you can interpret this in any way. And she sent me like 20 links and was like, yeah, rolling jello, and do it to Adele. And so I just did like a sort of poetic version of that. Which was not at all Rolling in jello.
Vinny:But what was that concept? What was the producers name was? Um,
Sarah Lazarus:that's none of your fucking the producers name was a Harvey Weinstein. No, I'm just kidding. Harvey I did perform in front of Harvey Weinstein, though. That was Uh,
Vinny:oh my god,
Sarah Lazarus:Unknowingly performed in front of him that like controversial event was last year I think actually, like it was asked to do some event at this like, bar, like perform a comedy set. And I thought it was like an audition to perform at the house of Yes. And initially was and so I went and it was like, packed with all these like Wall Street Bros. And I was like, Okay, I mean, sure. I guess this is my, my audience. And yeah, I went up and performed and decided well, and then I saw this girl go up and perform. And she was like, talking about the elephant in the room and a rapist. And I was like, Oh my god, this is serious. I don't know what's happening, but I'm just gonna drink this Rose. And I was like, I was like, in my own thing, because I was really nervous about performing. And I did not even realize what was happening around me. I was like, talking to the people next to me. I was drinking wine. I was drunk for sure. And then I heard people screaming in the back and I was like, oh, someone's in a fight in the back of the bar. And like I was there the whole night and was like drinking and like having a good time. And then the next day somebody sent me an article they were like Harvey Weinstein makes first public public appearance since the like, the start of his allegations and I was like,
Vinny:what a terrible first choice for a first public What? appearance. A fucking like comedy show of aspiring women.
Sarah Lazarus:Well, here's the thing the whole event was like supposed to be a safe space for performers and and like it just it was the opposite and I don't even know what the whole deal was. But I guess yeah, he was there the whole time. And the girl of course who this girl literally performed right after me and then she was on fucking Samantha Bee and like, not that not that I want the clout but I mean I kind of want the clout If I had known he, he was there I would have like second I would have
Vinny:I've seen you make a bouncer want to quit his job. I can only imagine what you would have done. said in that situation.
Sarah Lazarus:Yeah, you know what? It's fine. I moved on. Yeah, no, I would not. I'm honestly glad I probably would have been arrested if I knew he was there.
Vinny:Yeah, right.
Sarah Lazarus:Yeah, Vinnie knows my aggression towards annoying fucking bullshit man.
Vinny:Do you mean just authority? we're referencing a time I watched her get physically removed from an establishment in the Lower East Side.
Sarah Lazarus:You know, and they're probably fucking close now s
Vinny:Oh my god. Karma is a bitch. It's terrible. Our next section we will be playing two truths and a lie iconic bitch edition. Me and Sarah have both brought three facts to the table. Two of them are true one is a lie.
Sarah Lazarus:Okay, so here's my first fact Rose McGowan said that Judy Greer was much more of a violet than a Fern male behind the scenes. Megan Fox was a cheerleader back in high school. Just like her character Jennifer Check in the film Jennifer's body, Scarlett Johansen tested for the role of cool Asian in Mean Girls.
Vinny:Oh no. It's not even a contest. You just wanted to shit on Scarlett Johansson. you know what I feel like we both come up this game with such like, I come at the game to truly stump you and you come at the game to just say the most insane shit.
Sarah Lazarus:Look, you know what I like to bring? I like to bring the shit to the table. And you know what? That's how that's my game is just to, you know, make you make you question yourself be turned on simultaneously. And I'm just kidding.
Vinny:It's okay. I wasn't listening anyway.
Sarah Lazarus:I could tell which is why I stopped. But no Scarlett Johansen did not test for the role of quote unquote cool Asian in Mean Girls, although
Vinny:maybe she did you know
Sarah Lazarus:maybe she did. Because you know what? Apparently she can play any role that she wants anything. I'm just quoting her when I say that.
Vinny:Oh, wow, I forgot she said that. That's really awful.
Sarah Lazarus:Yeah, yeah, she's kind of a piece of shit. I would I it's so annoying because she is talented. And it's like, I hate that I really do. It's like bitch, check yourself at the fucking door. You know, you're not immune to humanity because you're fucking famous.
Vinny:Well, time for mine. So my three facts number one. In Heather's the bedrooms of heather McNamara and Veronica were sets built in the gym of the school they used to film Fact number two Legally Blondes was sued for $5 million. Because of the strobe effects in the movie were considered to be too dangerous for theatres. Three legally blondes was the film debut and last film of twin sisters and actresses Becky and Milly Rosso.
Sarah Lazarus:I'm going to say that one is that one's false.
Vinny:No, that's true.
Sarah Lazarus:Oh, no. They definitely like thought they were gonna be much bigger than they were.
Vinny:I did too! remember they were on sweet life Zack and Cody, right?
Sarah Lazarus:That's the only thing I know them from I have not even seen legally blondes
Vinny:after legally blondes they Were like, you know what? Let's be Instagram models.
Sarah Lazarus:I bet you they were like, do you know that? What's her name Debbie Ryan video or she's like, and I went to the head of Disney Channel and I said, this is like, Oh wait, wait, she said so I went there and I said I'm gonna make history that's what this is. That was like them with these girls. They like definitely walked into the head of Disney and they were like, these are gonna be your next stars and
Vinny:and for a brief shining moment.
Sarah Lazarus:They were
Vinny:that moment being the night before the Legally Blonde premiered in theaters.
Sarah Lazarus:As you all know, there is a senate run off race happening in Georgia currently in January. And they need all the help that you can get. So you should definitely donate to Jon ossoff and Raphael Warnock's campaign, you can find that on act blue, you just go in Also, you can just search on Google to donate to the Georgia Senate race and we donated and we think that you should donate to this is super important. If Biden turns and flips the senate then we can get shit done in this country. And it won't be you know, another Obama era with a lot of things and promises not being able to be met and he'll be able to make change in this country for in a positive way. So donate love, but
Vinny:should I get a facelift?
Sarah Lazarus:Yeah, so our next guest is an actor, writer, director, comedian and activist.
Vinny:He is best known for his roles, and Larry Clark's bully, and does Damien and Tina Fey's Mean Girls,
Sarah Lazarus:he has a podcast called Yes, Jesus. It is a faith and sexually affirming podcast that believes you don't have to pick between being gay and God. Please welcome
Vinny:Daniel Franzese
Daniel Franzese:I feel welcome.
Vinny:Yes,
Sarah Lazarus:I'm mean Vinnie just obliterated the bio I think that's my worst time
Vinny:ever doing that?
Daniel Franzese:Well, good. The good news is you could rerecord
Sarah Lazarus:the magic although you know what that was? That was really good. I love the footage. Honestly, I feel like that'll be we want to see the mistakes. We want to There we go. I'm so we're so excited to have you here like you're such an icon like I feel like I'm sure Vinny can attest to this as well, like Mean Girls is that is ingrained. I feel like an American pop culture in so many different ways. So
Vinny:it's really cool.
Daniel Franzese:It's I'm very fortunate to have been in that movie. Yes.
Sarah Lazarus:Yes. And you are originally from Florida, which we discussed before this podcast, which I feel like just adds to, you know, coming from a warzone.
Daniel Franzese:I'll accept that. I mean, I
Sarah Lazarus:I feel like that, too. I didn't realize that since I'm 42. I didn't realize that until like, I left the state and talk to other people. And people were like, Oh, my God, are you okay? You'd be like, yeah, I'm from Florida. Like, do people eat each other's faces off and like, sometimes, but public subs are great.
Daniel Franzese:True, both are true.
Sarah Lazarus:So where were you born in Florida or you weren't born in Florida? You? Okay? I'm
Daniel Franzese:Italian from Brooklyn. My grandparents are from Italy. My dad grew up in Little Italy on Mulberry Street. And then he moved to Brooklyn, and I was born there. I moved to the suburbs of Fort Lauderdale. When I was like in second grade,
Sarah Lazarus:where we're in Fort Lauderdale because I will know
Daniel Franzese:sunrise, sunrise, West Broward baby pointed. You know, it's a banyan elementary bear, middle and Piper high.
Sarah Lazarus:When did you discover performing?
Daniel Franzese:Um, just, you know, I had a lot of teenage angst. I was like, kind of like a, I was queer, but I didn't know it. Yeah. And like, or didn't want to know it. I didn't want to be queer because I didn't think that that was okay yet. And like, I didn't, I just had all these good feelings. So when I got into theater, because it's a great place to go to not be gay. I, it was great because I could like not be home, you know, I needed like, an escape. I needed like a safe place. And so like I would, you know, be at rehearsal all night. And so, like, it gave me a place to be with just like a select group of people and feel like I belong.
Sarah Lazarus:Did you do like Florida Thespians to?
Daniel Franzese:I did? Yeah. I did do that.
Sarah Lazarus:To tell anyone else who doesn't know what Florida Thespians is it's basically like for high school and middle schoolers. The entire state of Florida does these like intense competitions, where you do categories and like, musical numbers and acting and it's, it's kind of crazy. I feel like it's what you see in those movies. Like, I don't know, Pitch Perfect. It's sort of like children being Uber competitive. And it's so it's so funny to think about now. But it's like a big deal.
Daniel Franzese:Like an Oscar of like, high school is getting like a Critics Choice. Yeah. The ultimate which I never got. I was like, Oh,
Sarah Lazarus:you know what, but where are those kids now? Where are they now?
Vinny:So what around like what point in your life were you at when mean girls came around?
Daniel Franzese:Um, I had done a lot of theater, I'd become equity in sag I had made about I'd made three movies and shot a pilot, and then I got girls.
Vinny:Oh, cool. So there was like a lot of stuff before that. Tell me about like, like some of that some of those movies before me girls.
Daniel Franzese:I did a lot of theater mostly at first. Because I was like, I thought I was gonna do musical theater my whole life. I thought that was my path. I still want it to be my path. I never quite got back around to that totally all the way. But, uh, I did a bunch of musicals and stuff and then I did a Broadway tour. And then I did done I'm officially moved to New York and got to play in Florida. After and then like, from there, I got my first movie bully. They were casting and I had an agent out in Florida and I was trying to do I was doing some commercials and stuff out of like Fort Lauderdale while I was like earning my union card and stuff. And I auditioned for a movie and I got it. Oh, really?
Sarah Lazarus:Yeah, Billy is I feel like those movies bully and kids were like the prerequisites now to the a 24 D like those teenage movies I feel like those Rams so a 24 movies could walk now I feel like those were like the foundation of what a lot of teen like anx movies are and Billy is such like such an interesting movie actually, literally happen. The real story where I live.
Vinny:It's like,
Daniel Franzese:yeah, like Weston was where the murder happened because that's when they were doing all the developing over there. It's a true story about seven kids who murder this kid that believed them. It was made by Larry Clark, who's a very prolific photographer, photographer and became an influential filmmaker. He did the movie kids Previous to that. And I was such a huge fan of the movie kids. I had an opportunity for to be a part of this movie. I was the only person in the whole place costume wasn't like a Hollywood kid, like, it was difficult to navigate that, but I just really love what I do. And I really got a chance to do something. And it was a great movie to be my first movie because it was gritty and got a lot of attention. And like the cool kids thought it was cool as opposed to me doing something big and mega that let you know. It was nice to do something small and, and intimate that people cared about, um, it would have been a bigger story in the media, but it happened the same time as oj so it kind of got like, washed out. But in South Florida when it happened, it was there. It was on the news all the time.
Sarah Lazarus:My parents were living here when that happened. So they can attest to that, for sure it happened. I think, well, isn't it worse Cypress Bay High School is right now.
Daniel Franzese:Um, I think I had to do at Pembroke Pines High School area. I don't know there were a lot of them were dropouts. They weren't really like doing too. Well. You know, I mean, like the Pete, the kids that were involved in that time, or whatever. But one of the crazy things about that movie bully is that it's shot in all their real locations, their real homes, the real, the real Pizza Hut, they were at, like the real comic book shop, like they just shot it all the real places. And like the real comic book shop didn't exist anymore. It was like a subway or something. But they, they changed the outside to look like it and it was the real place. And then we did the inside of the natural comic book shop, but like Tate's comments in sunrise, but they do like, it's a lot of the real stuff. And then it's the real judge, the real bailiff, and the real Sheriff played himself in the film.
Sarah Lazarus:So did they How did they get permission to shoot? I mean, they just got permission, I guess from the people to shoot the most
Daniel Franzese:of the people who were involved with didn't live in those places anymore. So they just like went to the people's houses and like, ask the people that live there. I think the only thing that wasn't exactly the right apartment was my apartment, my character's apartment, but it was in the same complex
Sarah Lazarus:and what was it was your experience just shooting that and working with the different people?
Daniel Franzese:You know, I've, I consider myself a pretty humble person, because I've always like have to be humbled like, and this was like, one of those times I was like, really poor. I was like working at Whole Foods in Coral Springs. I like you know, ran out of gas on when I made it to set like on my first day, like I just like, and they had have sent a PA to go get gas for my car, like, I mean, I just like I was just doing it getting it done. I mean, so I was nervous and stressed. It was a volatile set. Brad Renfro who, as most people who know his work know that he passed away of an overdose years later, but at the time was sort of dealing with all of that stuff. And like he robbed he tried to steal a boat the night before we started shooting and, and got arrested. So there's all this stuff going on all the time. And it was really, it was just a stressful time. But I made it through and there were good people there that I could like latch on to including the casting director and one of the producers Jackie Morgan, who took me on to his next film. And so I went straight from there and right into another movie with Kelly Gardner from Bali and we bolted this other movie with Lacey shoe bear is the lead of this movie called like hometown legends. Go football, football, family film, and then like the later on years later, when I got cast on HBO looking it was the same casting director that discovered me for Bali.
Sarah Lazarus:Oh, wow. That's like, I mean, that's the industry which is like a cool thing about it is like, you know, you've made a good impression. Those people want to keep working with you, which is really good. But if you don't you know, that's
Daniel Franzese:it's true. It's true. It was a long time before we ended up working together again. But yeah, I mean, this true.
Sarah Lazarus:That's amazing. Okay, so then, okay, you did bully and then Mean Girls. So what was you booked me and girls after that, and it's a very indie film, and a lot of people have heard of me and girls, you know, it's it was a short, I'm just kidding. What? So when you were doing this film, did you know how impactful was going to be when you did it,
Daniel Franzese:I was still in the closet. So I was definitely nervous about playing gay in any capacity. But when I read the script, not only was it like hysterical, but Damien was written so comfortable, right? And he was more comfortable than I was. And I think like putting on that kind of costume, or that kind of like skin like was something I wanted to feel and to be amongst all these people who were my heroes, like on a gasteiner and Tim Meadows and like, you know, people from SNL, which was like, is like the ultimate growing up for me, you know, I think it was like a no, a no brainer to try to do it and lead to it. And the challenge was to not to try to do it in a way that kept him not a stereotype and inclusive and other things like, you know, even the director and Mark Waters, and Tina had conversations with me about like, Damian hasn't had his first kiss yet. Like, he's in that little sweet spot where he's kind of figuring out who he is and doesn't want to try it. Yeah, like, you know, and I think that that was sort of like a very comfortable place to play. It's a very unique place to play. It's, um, although now I really love When queer people are sexualized, unable to be full breathing human beings on screen at the time, it was nice for them not to be because it was like, not it was a nice gentle moment. And it's a movie that wouldn't make a hater crinch. And it was a necessary thing in order to make do a lot of bridge and diversity. I mean, I don't know, another teen queer of size that was comfortable and not picked on, like in a movie ever before Damien. So it was in a way at that time, they didn't exist. So after Damien after had done that movie, it was hard to choose another project. I didn't work on a lot of things for a lot of years. Because all the gay roles that were being offered or being put on my table at that time, were all stereotypical and kind of like making fun of gay people.
Sarah Lazarus:So was any of I'm just curious for any of Damien's lines improvised or was Tina Fey like we're sticking by the book? And
Daniel Franzese:no, I gotta cheat. I got to like, put my stamp on some things like, you know, I think I changed it to Nana, like, because my Nana takes her wig off when she's drunk, because I have a Nana. And my name is in Bali. And she's into other films of mine. She's in hometown legend. And she's, I mentioned her in almost all my projects. Oh, she's,
Vinny:yes.
Daniel Franzese:But like hiding out from the COVID. But like she, she's doing well. And, you know, I always mentioned her and stuff, because she really was a big supporter of mine. She helped pay for my schooling, her and my Papi. And they were like, really great grandparents, that like stepped in when my parents couldn't give me the things that I needed to go where I got to go. And so I always mentioned her. So I think it was Grammy or something. And I changed it to Nana, there were little things like that, that I got to mix around with. But my big contribution I would say, was I want my pink shirt back. I got to say that and make that up. So
Vinny:oh my gosh, wow.
Daniel Franzese:That was such a funny callback. Like, you know, like, my pink shirt. So, I mean, that's like an actor's note right there for actors, like I just would like write down things. Like, oh, this is she has my shirt, just like facts about like, what my characters doing and like, what their relationships are. You know, it's a lot of Stanislavski a lot, a little bit of this, a little bit of that. But I would write down, like everything that my character said about me that my friends in the movie said about me and everything that I say about myself and try to like, compile a real person out of all that information. And one of the things I had was that I had a pink shirt that I had lent her and you know, and I don't ever remember getting it returned. So something that was, you know, that I was thinking about and was able to kind of create a joke out of because I had gathered that information from Tina's work. That's
Sarah Lazarus:incredible. So wait, well, so would you you would go to Tina beforehand and do it or would they just be okay with you when they were filming? Did it just keep rolling? And you would just keep going?
Daniel Franzese:I got shocked down a lot. There's a couple things I wanted to do and say like I remember when, like something I got shot down. It's not it's not a big deal. But like, yeah, we were like, I'm sitting outside. And when we go out to the back building or something, and there's a part where I think Genesis something like why were your friends? Why would we steer you wrong? And like I smile or whatever. And I want it to be like BFFs and nobody unsetting you with a BFF was? I was like it means best friends forever. I'm like, everybody knows what that means? Do you ever hear it? No, you ever hear it? No, it was kind of like a new term, I guess in 2014. I like nobody knew what BFF was. And I was like, let me say it and they were like, no, no one's gonna get it. And I remember that being like, no one's gonna get BFF like,
Vinny:Hey, you know, I
Unknown:couldn't finish.
Daniel Franzese:Um, there's a couple other things I think I wanted to do. And they were like, No, I was thing like, also, like, when I say she doesn't even go here in a high pitch voice. They wanted me to kind of do to my own voice because they didn't think people would realize it's me. But I'm supposed to be a junior girl. Like, the whole Funny thing is I'm hiding out to look like a girl. Why would I use my real voice? You know, like, and so I just kept doing it my way eventually. I you know, I learned one thing that you don't really, if you don't if you want it one way, just do it that way and then they can't get anything else out of you. If you give them one take the way they want it. That's the one they're gonna use. So I in the beginning of my acting career, I would try to like give them a take where it wasn't as good like however they want it. I'd be like and then the way I wanted like, yeah. But then like I feel then all of a sudden I watched the project and I'm like Moon Man like the whole project and I'm like damn, like they got it just don't do it if you don't want it in the movie. Yeah. The other one was like the Santa when I'm like you go go and Coco kind of thing. Like they wanted me to do my own voice and I'm like, but I'm doing a Santa voice. Like I think it's some of those things that kind of make it as fun as it is and you know That's collaboration you just give and take, you know, there's things that you know, you say, No, I'm gonna put my foot down and then there's things you go Okay, I'll do it your way. So I think that's interesting.
Sarah Lazarus:So what were those actors like in the room? Because a lot of them were relatively unknown at the time. Like, I mean, Amanda cipher, he was supposed to go to my acting program but decided to do Mean Girls instead. You know, manda Seifried. Like had not done anything before. And Rachel McAdams hadn't really done a lot before. And well, I mean, those they were like fresh, which is just so interesting, because it became so iconic. Well, we're a lot of those actors like Lindsay Lohan, obviously, all the people you worked with
Daniel Franzese:Rachel McAdams had made the hot chick and I thought that that was a really funny movie. Really great in that movie. And she had finished the notebook, but it didn't come out yet. Okay. Um, so like, I just love her as a person, you know, and the hot chick was really funny. So I was like, oh, we're in good hands. You know, with her as that Lindsay was a bona fide star. I didn't really know a lot about her because I was 26 when I made being girls, and Lindsay was like, 1516. So like, it's like a big difference, you know? So it's like, she kind of like did her own, you know, like, I didn't really know her and I wasn't on that like, level, you know?
Sarah Lazarus:Have you been invited to her beach club? Question.
Daniel Franzese:Good now? Yeah. When we were young, when it was then it was like, Okay, this girl's like, whatever. But now that she's like an adult, like we get along great and like, um, you know, I've been invited to all of it. So,
Vinny:yes.
Sarah Lazarus:Who is your favorite person to work on set? I'm
Daniel Franzese:just curious on on the mean, girl, so
Sarah Lazarus:yeah, like actor or actress.
Daniel Franzese:I had the best time with Lizzy Caplan. But I really loved anything. Anytime I was near Amy Poehler. Like, we didn't really get a lot to do together, unfortunately, in the movie, but, uh, uh, I just loved being around her, you know? Um, if every time I made her laugh, it was like, God smiling upon me.
Sarah Lazarus:I mean, Lizzy Caplan, and you had like, such an amazing chemistry on set. I mean, I don't, it's like, the most iconic do will ever have you both stayed in touch and ever done like a reunion with the characters.
Daniel Franzese:Um, you know, we used to be really, really, really close, but like, just time and work and distance kind of grew us apart. I don't really see much of her anymore, but I adore her. Yeah, totally. You know,
Sarah Lazarus:I'd love to see like a reunion of YouTube doing like some Damian and Janice, like 20 years later, you know?
Daniel Franzese:Right.
Vinny:I Well, I would, Oh, my gosh. We also wanted to ask about your stand up and your stand up comedy and how you got into that.
Daniel Franzese:I was on this TV show conviction on ABC. It shot in Toronto, I was living there for like nine months. And I knew that I had like, every Sunday off. And I was like, I'm in Toronto, I should do something on Sundays that I can't do anywhere else. So I took stand up class at second city, Toronto, while I was shooting, and then I was like, Oh my god, I love this. And then I kept I've always wanted to do it, but I hadn't really come out. And like when I came out, I just got really busy working. I was like, I don't think the two are related, but it didn't hurt it, you know, like, I did like looking and then it did this other TV show on free form called recovery road. And then I was on conviction. And they were all back to back like almost overlapping and so I finally had some, like a moment that I was like, Oh, I can do something and I started doing stand up and then when my show got canceled I just was like I'm gonna do stand up for a little bit and it just took off like I didn't expect it I mean be so successful, but like I have played like over 56 colleges in the past few years and all over the world. I sold out in Scotland and and London and just been doing like such fun things traveling and, you know, cruise ships and whatever. And like, I didn't know that that was there for me. And unfortunately, COVID took it all away. But it'll come back. Speaking
Vinny:of things taking off, I had to ask about because I'm a resident of New Jersey, and one of the most important pieces of media to hit New Jersey in the last decade is shit Italian mom say, Oh my God. I think everyone in that state of New Jersey has seen Italian moms like at least 10 times.
Daniel Franzese:I it's actually one of my favorite things I've ever done because I can watch it and laugh at it as if it wasn't me because it almost feels like a prank video on my mom. Like more like more than it feels like any kind of acting like I always feel like I got her with that one. You know, I was just talking to my mom this morning and she's like, I got one for you. Here's what you got to do. I got in a fight with the landlord and I want you to use this and she gave me like a whole speech and like character like how she wants me to do it. It was just hysterical to me. I don't think I'll ever not do something that has to do with that. Like when we are done with this podcast. I have to go put on a wig. Do cameos as Italian mom for like mom's Christmas presents in Jersey.
Vinny:Oh my god. Yeah, he was at the Italian Mom,
Daniel Franzese:what's that?
Vinny:You do cameos as the Italian mom?
Daniel Franzese:i do cameos as a time mom I've been doing Italian mom all quarantine actually on my Tick Tock. I have been like doing all new Italian mom content like all year, and it's been like really going well. And there's been such funny things I even did like an Italian mom wish commercial wish app commercial. It's just funny to be able to do things like with that character. And you know, I'm really excited. I'm, you know, I have 2 quarantine groups. So I have my la quarantine group and my Florida quarantine group. And there's like, they're the only people that I've seen all year, like, and so when I go back in between, like I quarantine by myself, and then take like two or three tests. And then I'm able to see all the people right? Well, I'm gonna go back for a month to South Florida. So I'm really looking forward to spending some time with my mom so I can mine her for more material.
Vinny:Yes, I cannot wait, I cannot wait.
Daniel Franzese:If you look at my tic tock, we have all these videos of her on there. And then like, Oh, we used to have our own show and world of Wonder together like so she's done a whole bunch of stuff. She's really she's Star on camera.
Sarah Lazarus:She's a star. I've seen her. I've seen the videos of you too. And you clearly capture her so accurately. It's amazing. She's like, iconic to watch.
Daniel Franzese:You know, she was at the beach. She was at Fort Lauderdale beach. And she was yelling at my sister. She was like dad, give me the towel, bah bah, bah. Excuse me. I don't know you. But I just need to tell you. You remind me so much of the time I'm saying Have you ever seen it? She's like, that's my son, and showed her ID to prove it.
Sarah Lazarus:She was like I am shit Italian mom said
Daniel Franzese:to me, she said her identity is the real Italian mom that's like her identity.
Vinny:Gosh, is your show I have the world of Wonder presents plus app on my phone. So I need to know what your show is called. So I can like binge it. And
Daniel Franzese:it's actually on their YouTube page. But it's called because there's before they have the app, but it's called Daniel Franzese. Daniel Franzese's Italian Mom. Perfect.
Sarah Lazarus:So you currently have a podcast called Yass, Jesus. How did it start? And tell us a little bit about it?
Daniel Franzese:Well, um, you know, as you know, being from Florida, there's still a lot of issues with LGBTQ rights around our country. There's a lot of old school stigma, a lot of antiquated laws and situations like that. And growing up in that environment before it's my first movie, like that little sweet spot, I went to Florida School of the Arts for college. And then after that, I had a couple years where I did theater. And in that couple of years, I put myself into conversion therapy in Florida, where currently it's the legal I always had this battle between like, being a Christian and being somebody who is queer and like what that means. And I think that there is an intersectionality between spirituality and sexuality, you know, sex can be holy. And I think that there's something about that, that people have so much stigma about sin that's wrapped around them. The Bible is meant to be looked at as a reflective text, not for someone to look at it and point and I think that that's a big issue that people have here. You know, nobody is going to talk to you about me on Judgement Day. So like, I think the big of the big thing that I have for this podcast is my co host, Ezra Southworth, he was a dj on a reality show on the Trinity Broadcasting Network TBN, the Christian network, and it was called remix. And he would like tour and like, like, with all the different Christian bands, and when they found out he was gay, they fired him too. So he likes sort of like he's reclaiming his pride. And like the two of us, when we became friends, we would get together and smoke weed and talk about like, you know, God and stuff. And then like, we were just like, man, people should be listening to this. And people need to hear this. And there's nobody saying this kind of stuff. And so we took the initiative to start this podcast, and we're kind of like, it's amazing. We've we've we started at the beginning of quarantine, like oddity, which is our producers, we have a studio, we had all this stuff happening. And then COVID hit and it's been in my living room. But despite it being in my living room, we've reached Munich and Paris and Tokyo and Chile, and I have just gotten like, amazing letters from people all around the world who have needed to hear this message and have these conversations. I think that you know, organized religion right now is super hypocritical and puritanical. You know, they act like one way from Monday to Saturday, and then they put on a suit on Sunday, and they think they're hot shit. Like, it doesn't work like that, like God's with you every day. And why can't we say I have sex? You know, we like to say you could love Jesus and get your booty hole licked, like, they're not mutually exclusive. And I think that that's a message that is so funny, but like, and maybe even a little shocking for some people, but it's so needed for others, like and that's who we're talking to, you know, like the sinners and the saints. And I don't know if I is are I like I say on my show. It's like whatever it is, like everything in between. Like there's people there who just need to say it. Had this come to Jesus moment where I was in conversion therapy. And my conversion therapist got so mad at me one time over just my frustrations. And he like, yelled, and he basically said, you could be sucking a dick, and love it. But as long as you love the Lord, you're going to go to heaven. And that is something that like we put out right away. And people were like, How could you say this, but it was a quote from my conversion therapist, like, I think a message like that freed me a little bit to kind of be like, what are we really talking about here? Like, what what am I up against, you know, and then finding out, there's a little bit of like, an expose a thing going on, too, because we're just discovering all these mistranslations now that are in the Bible, and and there's people who are like the word homosexual wasn't added to the Bible until 1946. And like, and it was only added to one text, and now it appears six times in places it doesn't belong in the Bible. And you know, we're like, there's a movie called 1946 coming out that we just highlighted on our show, and we're talking to theologians who discuss both sides. And we're talking to people who are into s&m, but still they're Christian, and people who are into polyamory. And there's a place for everybody. And I think that people need to just hear that and and then they could decide what they want and what they don't want to do. But I feel like one of the biggest traps for queer people is telling us that we can't have God always forces us to worship some false idol, whether it be a body or whether it be Lady Gaga, or whether it be like Alexander McQueen, like or, or, or Harry Styles, it doesn't ev n matter. It's like we're f r we're told that were wrong. A d we're saying we're n abomination. Yet being gay isn t something that's in the 0 commandments, right? But li e worshipping false idols is, o they're like deceiving que r people into thinking that th y can't have God and forcing th m into doing something th t actually is not meant to happe
Sarah Lazarus:I had no idea you went to conversion therapy, I don't want to bring up any like past trauma, if you don't feel comfortable.
Daniel Franzese:I'm actually I'm not very triggered about it. I talk about it all the time. I mean, if I really got into it, I could get triggered about it. But like I talked about it on the first episode of the podcast, it's out there, you know, one of the amazing things has happened with all my heart, like to string all this together, like I used to, like, I'm also sort of like this, considered like a thought leader on body acceptance, and body positivity. And I I'm currently nominated for Outstanding thirst traps from World of wonder, which I'm very proud of. It's an honor just to be nominated. I used to be I was the kind of kid who in especially in Florida, you know what I'm talking about, I used to wear like my T shirt in the pool, like that chubby kid with his t shirt on when he doesn't need to have it at the waterpark or at the pool, and claiming that I get bad sunburn. You know, when I'm Sicilian. And the rest of me is like brown. You know, I think one time I cried and told the camp counselor that I had an appendix scar, you know, like, I just made up things because I felt like my body was wrong. And it's one of the reasons why I can almost at the tip of the iceberg understand the trans experience because I felt like I was in the wrong body. And I had the wrong sexuality. And I didn't understand. And then when I was in bully, my character has to take his shirt off. And I did and millions of people saw it. And then I never cared about taking my shirt off again. And then it was like after like, slowly like that. Anytime I had something that I felt was painful, or I had to work through I would just put it into my art and channel it and throw it in there. So like while it was triggered by my sexuality and by like things like conversion therapy, me putting them on the podcast and talking to people about it. And discussing it is the thing that actually makes me okay with it.
Sarah Lazarus:That's, that's amazing that you can do that for everyone. But I'm just curious, how did you I mean, what what made you decide to go to conversion therapy? I mean, I'm sure with so many I mean that all the negative.
Daniel Franzese:My parents were kind of my parents were cool. Like, my like, I just didn't want to be gay. I didn't want to be gay. And I didn't. This is part of the reason why representation matters and inclusion and diversity is so important in media because I didn't see anyone that wasn't a Damian yet. There was no one liked me, right? I was how can I be me and be like, everything that I am, I have no hang ups about toxic masculinity or any of that anymore. I used to have a bunch of that stuff. You know, like, I just lean sort of naturally, even though I could, I'm a, honey please, I'll vote down the house down. You know, but like, I lean towards a naturally masculine exterior, like people wouldn't always know like, if I was like out in public, like if I were gay or not. And it's almost like white privilege. Like there's there's like a code switching straight privilege thing that I'm that I if I if I'm possible illustrate that I could live in a semi normal life. So I was doing everything I could to support all of those values, like everything I could to support myself as straight and everything else. Because when I saw queer people, the only visible ones were the ones who couldn't hide it. And you know, and and they didn't represent who I was. And even though I totally see them as heroes and for being unabashedly them in a time when they could literally get bashed for it. Like I feel like I wasn't ready like to it Except that, like, I went to a musical theater school, okay, and we have only one out kid, um, who's still my friend, but he had a pride flag canopy over his bed. And it just was like too much it was like, I can't go all the way there. I don't feel that energy yet for them that for him, he was here and he had, like, dealt with him and had resolutions with a sexuality to be able to do that, you know, but I didn't feel that energy, I still just wanted to, like, kiss someone, you know, like, just see what it was like, which is why I thought that sweet spot with Damien was such a good place, and such an important place to show. And so without that representation in media, I felt like an anomaly. Every place that will tell you that it's gay will also say you could have sexual thoughts about a man and not be gay. It was confusing. It was countering everything that I was trying to research. So I was like, well, what's the answer? Am I or am I not? Do you know, anyone that I met? That was gay wasn't somebody that seemed like they wanted to fall in love with me, that's still a problem. But But, you know, like, so I got to the gay community, like, Why can I find a boyfriend or fall in love? Like, if I'm gay, and I'm doing musical theater, like, some course boy is gonna like, you know, see me off my feet. But I wasn't. I was in. I was like, a self hating, closeted queer. No one wants that. And it wasn't until I really realized, like, who I was, and was able to flourish and, and like, be who I was, you know, to be able to help me get to a point like that. But it takes something like Damien to do that for people. Like, I didn't come out when I did Jamie and I brought a girl to the premiere of Mean Girls and kissed her on the red carpet. My friend Agnes, like, if you like, look through, like the history, like when the 10 year anniversary of mean girls came around, I got a letter from one of my fans, and he was like, I don't know if you're gay or not, and it doesn't matter. And I was like, No, bro, it totally matters. Because at this point, I was in a relationship. And I was, you know, getting very frustrated about I've been in relationships, and I was very frustrated about marriage equality, and all this other stuff. And he was like, but when I was in eighth grade, I was tortured for being a sissy and beat up for being chubby. And then your movie came out, and I get to ninth grade. And my first day of my freshman year, the popular senior girls were like, you're like, Damien, come sit with us. And you made me popular for four years of high school. And I know that it was because of you because I had something to look to, to say, that's what I'm like, so I can have the confidence to be myself. And that was so powerful. That made me come out the closet, I was like, maybe coming out of the closet will help other actors. I knew Jonathan Bennett was gay, I knew he was gay. And I couldn't come out and they weren't out. And I was like, maybe if I come out, and they see how well I'm received, like, I'll have other friends and I have other friends who still haven't even been able to make that leap. It was nice to see, you know, like, it's that's why Jonathan Bennett just got engaged. And I'm like, so happy to see that happen for him. Because I remember when we were both struggling, I remember him crying me on the phone, when I cannot say he couldn't. And you know, like, look where we are today that like it just you know that that it took so much time to heal wounds. Imagine that I had had a different mother who didn't accept me the way I did, or I had a different if I had a different experience, or had a conversion therapist that didn't say those magic words that I was allowed to suck dick or whatever, whatever the situation was, I could have been suicidal, or I could have ended it too soon and not been here for this amazing time and not been here for. And who knows how many people have helped, and I plan on helping as many as I can the rest of my life, you know, by sharing my story and telling stories in media. I don't work a lot. You don't see me in movies every like year or whatever. And it's not that I don't like to work, but I just feel like, I have to wait for the right things because they last forever. And I need things to be like impactful. And I'd rather be a stand up and say my own script. And I'd rather do my own podcast and do my own things until the right things come along. Because it's too important. Anything I do, like on screen, being like a big, queer, bearded, Italian, I'm always representing all these different margins. And I feel like it's a win for anybody different when they're on screen. Yes, yes.
Sarah Lazarus:This is Yeah. amazing to hear. And I Damien is such a genuine character. And it's so interesting to hear you. You're just like, you're a theatre actor with training. So it's interesting to hear you talk about such like a like comedy piece with such, you know, conviction.
Daniel Franzese:Here's the thing. Let me tell you the best comedy lesson I ever got. The Best Comedy lesson I ever got, was from Drew Droege. He's an amazing comedian, friend of mine and Groundlings teacher, but he was directing I wrote a musical a COVID of musical cultures. He shorts a girl frickin rock opera. And we were playing like the Jersey Shore cast and we were being reviewed by the New York Times and nightline and all these amazing things in the New York Fringe Festival, and his note was, I want you to act angry if the audience is laughing at you. Like I know that you're playing like snooki and and and Sandy sweetheart and all these like like kind of like characters j-woww was Willam from drag race like and he was like I know that you guys are all playing these like funny goofy people. He was like, but it's serious to you. So yeah, light, funny comedy, but like, that's dead serious to the people that are in that and the more serious you take comedy. The funnier it is. Because you can be like, all goofy and try to play for laughs and it'll be funny, but it's not gonna hit as hard as when Oh my god, you really have pie in your face and it's really bothering you. That's why we enjoy tic tocs so much and because we see all these little real moments kind of thing, or you know, mostly real, but like, we see, you know, we see these little things and it's like catching it's like, it's it's such that we get serotonin from that. And I think that the best comedy is played real.
Sarah Lazarus:Speaking of theater, I want to know, what is your opinion on the Mean Girls musical? Because I, I loved it. And I saw it a couple times. But I want to know what your opinion is on it.
Daniel Franzese:I liked it a lot. I mean, it was a little weird for me at first, but right, like, a lot. And I actually thought that it was amazing having that conversation early on with Tina about how Damien was like, in his sweet spot before his kiss. And then this version of Damien, being sexualized and having it like, had like an affair. I'd like summer stock. And yeah, this kind of information that I was like, look like 2004 might have not been ready for a gay teen to kind of sweep the lead. But like when gray Henson play that he got the Tony nomination, and he's and he kind of drives the show and a lot of ways, and that to me was a big honor. Because it was an it showed the importance of my character in the movie, I had a tweet the other day where I said, if an agent ever tells you, you're too type specific, it means you're special and fucking hang in there. Because you really like those kinds of things. I tell students all the time, like every fucking thing I got made fun of in my life is a reason I cashed a check. Like someone when I was like a 12 year old so it'd be like, hey, big guy, and I'd be like, why does he have to call me big? Now if it's like obese slob that never leaves the house, and like why did I audition for that?
Sarah Lazarus:And that is my least favorite thing is when somebody says you're too You know what, you're just too specific. That's the like wars.
Daniel Franzese:take it as a jewel in your crown. Because Sure, it really means that you're an original.
Sarah Lazarus:Yes, a Mona Lisa.
Daniel Franzese:Like, every time you hear that, just know it, just know that you're an original, you know, they wanted a chubby kid like me to play Damian, they weren't going to cast a skinny kid. Right. And so I needed to be type specific to, for them to search the world to get a character for that. My role in bully, I look exactly like the real guy when I was at age. So they were looking for someone that type specific, all my roles I got because I was type specific. So if I have to sit around and wait for someone to write one or create my own content, I'll do that. But I'm not going to mean or I'll sometimes I'll convince someone to put a square peg in a round hole and be like, Yo, I know this guy supposed to be like, skinny in country, but maybe make them New York and chubby or whatever carving your own space in this world is the best thing you could do as a performer.
Sarah Lazarus:We're gonna move on to our little game section. We have some fun games for you today. Vinny, do you want to enjoy this?
Vinny:Yeah, so our first game is a Madlib we will tell you what it is a Madlib of once you have given us all of our required words. So if you would like to begin, I need to start with an adjective.
Daniel Franzese:Hairy. And now I need to plural nouns
Vinny:peanut butter jars and candle flavors. Now another adjective now to plural noun
Daniel Franzese:training wheels I don't know why training wheels training wheels and training bras
Vinny:and then finally, a food
Daniel Franzese:boba tea.
Vinny:Amazing. This ad lib is an ad lib to the chorus of You are beautiful by Christina Aguilera because we love that scene. Or you sing great sing it um
Sarah Lazarus:we'd love for you to recite it if you would love
Unknown:no, you're singing it
Vinny:with Vinnie singing
Daniel Franzese:not me. Vinnie. You're singing a match let's go baby put
Vinny:on the spot. I didn't want mee mee mee mee mee okay
Daniel Franzese:we're ready. We're ready. dum dum dum it's Vinnie. Bitch done.
Sarah Lazarus:Every time I
Daniel Franzese:hear Don't forget that don't look at me. Oh yeah.
Sarah Lazarus:Wait, can you just say that for us? Can you say that for us please
Daniel Franzese:don't look at me.
Vinny:Okay, without further ado, here it is. You are hairy. No matter what they say? Sure. You know butter jars kept bringing you candle flavors. Oh no. You are silky. No matter what. in every single way. No training wheels camping you don't need boba tea today.
Daniel Franzese:Can I have a noun Sarah
Sarah Lazarus:water
Daniel Franzese:I almost threw a water at you.
Sarah Lazarus:Oh my gosh, that was those you know, incredible work. Okay, we have another another game. It's called fetch or never gonna happen and you have to say if it's fetch,
Vinny:or is it never gonna happen?
Sarah Lazarus:murdering your friend in the Everglades, but you're wearing a juicy tracksuit
Daniel Franzese:never gonna happen.
Vinny:Next up is Martin Luther his 95 theses
Daniel Franzese:what?
Vinny:Martin Luther is 95 theses that's okay. It was the birth of Protestantism. I thought we're gonna go for a Catholic Christian. Oh,
Daniel Franzese:fetch.
Sarah Lazarus:I'm Jewish I have no cards in this.
Vinny:It was pretty fetch for its time. I will say
Sarah Lazarus:Lindsay Lohan's beach club but it's snowing.
Daniel Franzese:Never gonna happen. Although she could have like like Lindsay Lohan, Aspen club I'll be I could see that happen. Yes.
Vinny:Finally we have Gia Gunn being the CEO of RuPaul's fracking ranch.
Daniel Franzese:I'm gonna say never gonna happen.
Sarah Lazarus:Another game. She doesn't even go here. One of these things is not like the other fracking ranch rupal or ranch dressing.
Daniel Franzese:ranch dressing. Yes,
Sarah Lazarus:yes, you're correct. It's a big hot topic of conversation with us.
Daniel Franzese:Everybody loves this RuPaul fracking punch line. I just think the word fracking is funny. So
Sarah Lazarus:it's just it's preposterous like it's camp like the fact that he owns a fracking ranch like
Daniel Franzese:actual Do you know that's not what's going on there. I don't know the whole story. But wait, do you have any tea is happening there? I may be wrong and I should even comment on it at all, but I feel like I feel like ruins land that he rents out to somebody that they could do whatever they want with and those people Frak
Vinny:yes
Sarah Lazarus:my god I didn't know this Vinnie. You knew this the whole time. I just like imagine him like standing with like a cowboy hat like, oh, ordering a bunch of people that
Vinny:rupal is not standing in a field going drill it over their oil in them hills. That is what is happening.
Daniel Franzese:I don't really know. I think it's like, um, second hand fracking.
Vinny:Second hand fracking. Oh my God, that's hilarious.
Sarah Lazarus:This is sort of killing my fantasy anyway.
Daniel Franzese:Okay, but you can definitely catch root and a nice Southwestern number she like loves her cowboy hats and her boots girl.
Sarah Lazarus:Yes, yes.
Daniel Franzese:If you see her out in the wild, she's gonna look at your cow girl.
Sarah Lazarus:I'm just
Vinny:oh my gosh, I love she comes to Florida. She wears Gator. You know, skin. And
Daniel Franzese:you know what? I actually love RuPaul like the house boots down forever? Well, people have mixed feelings about everybody that is on top. Right? And, and I don't and I know that there's a lot of Queens that are like this or that, but they have to remember that they're also on a game show. And ru is their Simon Cowell sometimes, right, like, and so they're gonna have feelings or whatever. But there's been nothing but nice to me. And just so much to put like joy and like good vibes out in the world. Oh, wow. Like awesome. ru could do anything she wants to do with her content. And her content is always uplifting and always moving and oh is wonderful. And not just Ru. But the entire team of people behind the world of wonder. I love those people. That's my Hollywood fam. Yeah, so I ride for everybody at World of Wonder
Sarah Lazarus:That is true. Bob Bob, the drag queen talked a lot about how like the editing team there is incredible and how they like do it. But
Daniel Franzese:I'll tell you a lot. Don't be the person say they don't pay a lot. But like I've done a party monster with them. I've done all these things with that. I don't make money with them. I make art with them. And I love it. Like you didn't mean like, well for 100 bucks in a dream and I've been a bag of glitter will like do something you know, I'm saying. And I think that's what I always really loved about them that they're always trying to think of something like I was a curator at their gallery. And like I did a lot of things with them over the years outside like events and things like that. And they're always just like before 2008 like crash of money and everything. Like they used to throw the biggest most lavish Christmas parties they still give Christmas presents to everybody every year there. They're just the kindest people and so I'm really happy with all their success. All the producers of that show.
Vinny:But what Drag Race has done for like just queer visibility especially like growing up with that
Daniel Franzese:God, I was just thinking about it the other day, and I was saying, like, you know, when it finally jumps the shark, like when it's because there's casting season 14 now, but watch, they're gonna do exactly they're following the model of like America's Next Top Model I feel like before drag race is over and one day it will be that's gonna be super sad. It's gonna be like the end of an era, right? But when that happens, they'll have drag kings on there and bio queens and they'll do it all, but they're not there yet. Right? All of those ideals are going to grow with that. And I think that when they get to the point of like the end of it all, like the final two seasons are going to be so wild. It'll be like dragula. Oh,
Vinny:my God. I was just about to say I was like, if you want like gender fuckery representation, Dragula is the spot.
Daniel Franzese:I have to say. I like a lot of the Queens on dragula I'm friends with them. I think that was a cool show. I can't watch it. I think it's gross. Like I don't like like bugs and blood and I mean, I make horror movies and shit. But I think that that's like a two hour story. I can't go through like a whole journey of like, eat this. Like I know that season. Morgan McMichaels had to eat like a cow eyeball or something crazy her season. They don't do that anymore. I don't like that fear factor. Bullshit. I could never watch a full episode of fear factor you will never get me to do that.
Vinny:Oh, I'm okay. So she doesn't even go here. We've got Bad Moms, Nicole Kidman, toenail clippings, and Regina George plummeting into the Grand Canyon.
Daniel Franzese:What? Bad mom's the movie?
Vinny:Yes.
Unknown:Okay. And the second one is who's toenail clipping
Vinny:Nicole Kidman?
Daniel Franzese:Is that a thing? Are you just making it up?
Vinny:No. It's not a thing. I mean, I'm sure they exist, but.
Daniel Franzese:Okay. And then Regina George falling into the Grand Canyon.
Vinny:Yes. All right. I
Daniel Franzese:i don't wanna see anybody die. Am I supposed to pick one?
Vinny:Yeah, one of them. One of them is not like the other for some reason.
Daniel Franzese:Oh, I see what you're saying. I'm there. None of your game is she doesn't even go here.
Vinny:That is true. That is true.
Daniel Franzese:Although I've dropped the most valuable thing is probably like the Pokemons toenails. You can get a pretty penny on eBay for that.
Sarah Lazarus:Yes. I didn't think about that. We've got publix subs, the NRA and Johnny Depp.
Daniel Franzese:The NRA.
Vinny:The NRA does not belong.
Daniel Franzese:Yeah. Publix subs. How dare you? I'm there. Everything. I love that. Publix please.
Sarah Lazarus:I do correct you. The NRA, publix is involved with the NRA.
Daniel Franzese:look money's involved with money. I mean, like that's like you get me that rich and I'll be like on a rifle ranch. Like everybody relax, and I'll take that money and give it to lesbians to have babies. Let me do what I want to do with my money. But I'll tell you right now, NRA is piece of shit. Yes, publix subs can do no wrong. The sub didn't do nothing. The sub didn't donate to the NRA. Don't blame the sub. And the last one was what?
Vinny:Johnny Depp?
Daniel Franzese:Yeah, you know, I think that that whole thing's a fucking they're both a mess in that situation.
Sarah Lazarus:Johnny Depp is from Florida though. He is he's a Florida
Daniel Franzese:i like Johnny Depp's movies a lot. He's like has to have the most diverse weirdest career of anybody in Hollywood.
Sarah Lazarus:That is so true. Honestly.
Vinny:It is Fuck, marry kill. And here is the first one so we've got the Florida project on blu ray DVD. a push up bra full of coleslaw and pushing out a shit as fast as you possibly can in the movie theater bathroom because you don't want to miss any of the movie.
Daniel Franzese:Wow, you even got a shit jokin before the time was up, that's great
Vinny:Okay, we've got the Florida project on blu ray DVD.
Daniel Franzese:Okay slow down the Florida project on blu ray and DVD. I will fuck that because that movie sucks. It's a great movie. Yes,
Vinny:yes.
Daniel Franzese:Um, the push up bra full of coleslaw. I will marry that because it just seems warm and cozy and kind of nutritious if it's if they don't make the cole slaw with a lot of sugar and then shooting in the bathroom because you don't want to miss a movie. Like I'd like to kill that situation. not let it happen at all. So there we go. Great choice.
Sarah Lazarus:Okay, this one Rachel McAdams learning how to swim Rao's marinara sauce all over your body and the cure to being a basic bitch.
Daniel Franzese:I kind of feel like this happened, like might have been covered in marinara sauce and taught Rachel how to swim. And that's what made me so cool. I mean, it's not too far off from a couple of crazy parties. I've been to
Sarah Lazarus:We Are you serious? Oh,
Daniel Franzese:Are you serious?
Vinny:Tell me stories?
Daniel Franzese:Are you serious? I don't see any of your business.
Sarah Lazarus:Oh, look, okay, we're both from Florida so we we have a connection with being through a lot. So we need I need to know I need to know this.
Daniel Franzese:Okay, we're moving on. Okay. Fine, I'll edit it for you. We're moving on. Okay.
Sarah Lazarus:Okay, our last one and we're gonna let you go. We have is I have to throw this in. Wannado city, the 27 Club for retired pop patrol, live performers. And farts that smell like awkwafina the woman
Daniel Franzese:I would marry farts that anything that came out of awkwafina's body? What was the other things
Sarah Lazarus:Wannado city? Wait,
Daniel Franzese:Wannado city?
Sarah Lazarus:Yeah. Um, do you know what this is? Do you know you
Daniel Franzese:no, Because I have nieces and nephews. I'll take it back. I'm gonna marry wannado city.
Sarah Lazarus:Okay.
Daniel Franzese:I'm gonna I'm gonna fuck up Venus Park and I'm going to kill the other thing. Whatever it is.
Sarah Lazarus:Okay, we have we have an end quote to leave you with we leave all of our guests with a quote. It's not relevant. Anything. We just like it, Vinny.
Vinny:I'm not an amazing cook. But I can follow a recipe. Rachel McAdams
Sarah Lazarus:you can follow Danny on all social media platforms at what's up Danny
Vinny:Follow us on Twitter at wish you were weird one that is the letter U not the word you and if you come across that vigeous Twitter that has wish u were weird report them
Sarah Lazarus:this episode of wish you were weird was sponsored by nobody. Please sponsor us. Thanks.