Listen to This: Closed Mouths Don’t Get Gifts (with Paul Scheer)
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The team behind I’m Sorry is so excited to share Add to Cart, hosted by Kulap Vilaysack and SuChin Pak. In this episode, Ku and Su catch up on life with baby Emerald, who arrived during her mother’s peak szn (a.k.a the holidays). That also means it’s time to check in with the gift-giving master Paul Scheer. Santa Scheer is back with gift guide 3.0, nerdy edition, which includes everything from collectible Blu-Ray movies to banana-dressing board games. Plus, he’s got a hot tip on how to prepare for the unexpected gift scenario.
Join the hosts of Add to Cart, comedian-writer-director Kulap Vilaysack and veteran journalist SuChin Pak, in a subversive take on consumerism. Each week, they have honest, revealing (sometimes TMI) conversations about all the big and little things they’re adding to, or removing from, their carts. They decide what’s worth the monetary/emotional investment, and what’s not. From beauty products and health trends, to celebrities and philosophies they’re passionate about, our hosts dig into anything we buy into and what it says about who we are.
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Transcript
SPEAKERS
Paul Scheer, Kulap Vilaysack, SuChin Pak
SuChin Pak 00:10
All right, everyone. Wow. Wow, we are brimming with joy for so many reasons because the one the only Kulap, mama Kuku is back. Welcome to add to cart. This is a show about shopping. This is a show about all this stuff we get into and what it says about who we are. Blah blah blah. Kulap, thank God you’re back. Let’s not waste any more time. I’m
Kulap Vilaysack 00:35
so happy to be back. I know. I know. It’s so confusing for our listeners because I banked, we banked a lot of episodes. Knowing that Emerald Birdie Ackerman was on her way and she is here. She’s been at the time this recording. Baby girl six weeks old.
SuChin Pak 00:52
Six weeks fresh. And we’ve been here just one paddle canoeing in circles. We just treading water.
Kulap Vilaysack 01:05
You’re holding it down, you got Dr. MD back.
SuChin Pak 01:11
I’m so glad you’re back. But I mean, how’s it been? You and I, we had one FaceTime? Yeah. And I had suggested and I realized that..
Kulap Vilaysack 01:22
She wanted much like a zoo cam. Or like a you know what? She wanted me just to be under surveillance at all times. And that’s not something that I’m interested in.
SuChin Pak 01:37
Yeah, well, that’s, that’s a sharp corner.
Kulap Vilaysack 01:39
It’s so hard because guys, this is you know, like new mom who does? It’s my mommy era. What is to come? You know, she’s still evolving. She’s still unfolding. So much is still to be seen.
SuChin Pak 01:53
Okay. Now, just two quick questions. Six weeks in, you know, it’s because it’s going to change. It’s going to change. You know, what kind of a mom personality are you? And what is her personality like?
Kulap Vilaysack 02:06
My personality remains the same. I mean, I like it. I’m enjoying it. I think I literally think she’s perfect. The sun sets and rises upon her perfect face. Of course, it’s tough. There are times that I’m challenged, sometimes things that work with her one moment and will not work the next moment. You know, and she keeps me on my toes. I think let’s dig and she’s like, let’s zag. But I am not bothered by her crying. I’m like you’re expressing yourself. You have strong lungs. Like I’m literally, you know, in heaven. I got a fucking love it. Like this is what I wanted for years and years. And she is so beautiful. And I think funny. People are like, oh, they don’t have personalities. They’re just blobs. She has complaints and I have to hear them out.
SuChin Pak 03:13
Give me just one couple. I just want to see this is what I’m saying. I just, I can’t complain.
Kulap Vilaysack 03:17
I’m hungry now bitch. I told you I was hungry.
SuChin Pak 03:30
You know, listen, I’ve seen pictures. I saw it in her eyes. But I wasn’t sure you know what I mean. And the coma I because I have a coma child. Yeah, because my child had a coma child from day one. And I was just wondering if because I can recognize sometimes I’m pretty good at sussing out when I see another coma child and I and she’s there’s a coma in her eyes.
Kulap Vilaysack 03:52
She’s a strong spirit and will and I fucking love it because I am not, I don’t care about timid girls or timid boys like I you know I love an assertive being right and you know what? Closed mouths don’t get fed.
SuChin Pak 04:12
Closed mouths don’t get fed, guys, that’s the theme today.
Kulap Vilaysack 04:18
Look, I here’s some things to factor in. And I told you guys before cuckoo got a night nurse and oh boy, game changer. I’m 42 I need my sleep. I’m a Taurus. And then I’m bright and bushy tailed for her during the day. And my partner Scott David Ackerman, who’s watching her now he is, I had to go to a branch for like four hours who’s watching her then he is, this man holds it down. So things are great. Prior to her ever changed a diaper ever had to deal with buttons and be bops and all these things You know, no. =
SuChin Pak 05:02
It’s the baby clothing. It’s the baby clothing. It’s hard. You know, it’s hard if you haven’t dealt with the bumps and buttons and tiny snaps and little zippers and Velcro’s and fuzzy things. Yeah. But he’s got to get his big, his big mitts around all the little doodads, you know? Yeah. And
Kulap Vilaysack 05:23
I gotta say, I’m really impressed. And pressing. One of my girlfriends said something that I’ve thought about and I keep that in mind. She’s like, dads do it different. Because is it my instinct to correct? Is it my instinct to say do it this way? Of course it is. So we are positive. We are doing our best to say things kindly. We say you know what work for me?
SuChin Pak 05:58
And he appreciates it?
Kulap Vilaysack 06:00
Yeah, so far. We had desktops. We’ve been together for 20 years. I’m 42, he’s 52 This is very different. And when she smiles. When she smiles when she laughs like it’s the best. And totally worth it. And now we are in you know, we’re in we’re in my season. She was born in October, which slides right into my season. I love Thanksgiving but you know what I love even more is Christmas. Christmas and now we got trees. I you know of course, was I little behind because I had a child?
SuChin Pak 06:53
Not too behind. Not too far away. One week when I noticed the big giant ornaments askew came not too far behind from last years’ time. How many trees are currently up in the house?
Kulap Vilaysack 07:11
Three and a tiny one in Emerald’s room so far. It’s tiny because she’s tiny. Who’s forthcoming. He of course is an actor, comedian, a writer, producer director. What? He’s a renaissance man. He plays pickleball he has really cool pickleball outfits. He is near and dear and full of holiday cheer. Please welcome back, Paul Scheer.
Paul Scheer 07:55
My goodness, I’m so happy to be here. I’m upset that you didn’t acknowledge me as Wheel of Fortune champion Paul Scheer. You know, and look it’s okay it’s, you know, I don’t want to intimidate your audience right when I get out of the.
Kulap Vilaysack 08:11
I haven’t watched it yet. It’s on my recorder.
Paul Scheer 08:14
Don’t worry about it. It’s not a big deal. My wife and I are both Wheel of Fortune. Celebrity Wheel of Fortune, which some people say is easier. Although I would argue it’s harder. Wheel fortune champions.
Kulap Vilaysack 08:31
How much? How much did you win for your charity?
Paul Scheer 08:34
I want a little less than $80,000 for SILA which is an organization here in Los Angeles that is a homeless advocacy organization that like kind of works for homeless people on the ground but also in government. It’s a pretty amazing organization. I truly love them.
Kulap Vilaysack 08:50
Well Paul, I guess I have to start off by apologizing for offending you.
Paul Scheer 08:54
You know, and I just I want to carry that with me that I am a celebrity WOF champ, I gotta tell you a coup ensue tell me I was very nervous to come on this podcast I don’t understand too much too much pressure too much pressure and I’m are and I have to say because I’m like, will I be able to give you enough stuff? Because I think the first two times almost were very organic and now you got me thinking about this shit in October and I’m feeling stressed in October about holidays I’m already feeling the burn I’m like I’m already in it, I’m feeling like Christmas Eve is coming tomorrow and I’m not ready.
Kulap Vilaysack 09:36
Yeah, we’re look Paul I’ve said this to you multiple times various text chains, we’re all late. We’re all behind.
Paul Scheer 09:46
And you know look I want to say and Susan you don’t know about this but cool up did finally add me to a text chain that was about Christmas. We had our own private one but I guess I was finally allowed into the main one I felt like that was a big deal. I don’t know if you facilitated it, or you or you definitely had to okay it, but I appreciated. You know, my wife is getting all these Christmas texts and I’m like, she’s buying that stuff. I’m buying all that stuff. When Kulap said to me like stuff about certain plates. I’m getting those plates and getting that treat. I’m getting those plates.
Kulap Vilaysack 10:20
It was tough for me because I had a I had a text chain with you and Casey, and I had another, me and Casey, me, and June. And then there was another text chain with me, Casey and Paul. It was like the Scheer reveal house divided. And finally, we’re coming together as Christmas brings people together.
Paul Scheer 10:46
And I’m being respectful on that chain. I’m not doing bits on that chain. I’m coming to play with real. You know, sometimes they’re funny suggestions. But whatever. You know, I mean, it’s at least it’s a, it’s a suggestion. Nonetheless, we have to laugh at the holidays as well.
Kulap Vilaysack 11:01
Of course we do. Of course, Paul
SuChin Pak 11:04
Paul, you tiptoe lightly into that texting because you know, you know, you miss a step there and you’re out.
Paul Scheer 11:15
No, I don’t want to you know, look, I understand. I’m going to post I’m going to post effectively; I’m going to post pictures. I’m going to get in there. And I’m going to ask what is expected of me, you know, I’m not, you know, look, I’m full of nerves. I’m full of nerves coming in here. I’m trying to look on the text chain right now to see like what I last added, you know, but it is it’s an intense chain. It’s an intense chain full of great ideas. And here’s the thing, you are both strong, you’re fierce, you’re smart. You know what you want, and you can’t come half assed. I mean, I know this being married to my wife, that I have to come. And it’s hard to be that 24/7, do I get it all the time now? I’m aiming for about 85%. But ah, you know, I’m trying. I’m aiming.
Kulap Vilaysack 12:05
Good June and I want you both to just come at your best. Is that so wrong?
Paul Scheer 12:13
I do appreciate. I appreciate a little bit of guidelines, because all we are looking for is guidelines in life, I think like it helps. It’s like, at one point Jen mentioned a very famous designer that I thought was a great place to get a gift for her. And she’s like, I’m past that shit. And I was like, amen. mental note. Didn’t come on the heels of the gift. But it was, I took it.
Kulap Vilaysack 12:36
Everybody close mouths don’t get fed. Okay? If we don’t say what we need, we don’t get what we need. Paul, let’s see how you did
Paul Scheer 12:49
By the way, I was gonna say the best example of closed mouth don’t get fed is Santa Claus. Right? We write him a letter. We tell him what we want, like fenders are coming in here and guessing. You write them a list, to take that list.
Paul Scheer 13:07
Closed mouths don’t get gifts. That’s a sentence that says it right on the door. The North Pole.
Kulap Vilaysack 13:16
Okay, right away. Very excited. Tell me about this diehard advent calendar.
Paul Scheer 13:21
Okay, this is what I’m very excited about right now because it is an advent calendar made out of wood that is in the style of the Nakatomi Plaza from the diehard film the first one. And little Hans Gruber falls a one flight every day until Christmas. So he start off, you know, so when he dies and hits the ground, it’s Christmas. That’s how we celebrate. That’s the 24th when diehard took place, and it’s a great gift. Now here’s what I’ll tell you. When I found this, I found it online for about 60 bucks. Then I went on Amazon, I found it for 8 bucks. So I’m gonna say to everybody be do your shopping, do your shopping around because sometimes you’ll find certain things in different spots and I thought it’s a great gift that you can get within a day and you can start your advent calendar and a fun way also fun for that person in your life who loves diehard wants put that in the office. It’s good talking piece great gift.
SuChin Pak 14:19
And it looks, you guys, it looks quality. It looks handmade. It does our artistic it’s not like some laminated, you know piece of plastic where you stick a sticker, it’s number one.
Paul Scheer 14:34
That’s what I was worried about. But when I looked at the construction of it, I felt good and here’s the thing for $8.99, I’m not going to worry if it comes in it’s not exactly what I want. But it’s I still think I bought two when I bought this because it’s like you know what? I’m gonna get one of these as a gift. I didn’t know what to whom, but it’s too good just to get one of I was like that that will be a gift.
Kulap Vilaysack 14:55
That’s ready to go. That’s a hot Paul Scheer tip right there.
Paul Scheer 15:01
Yeah, I do that a lot. I get a lot of extra gifts, especially in the world of games, because I’m like, oh, this is a good game that people might play. I’m gonna put this on the side. You never know when someone might come to your house with a gift for you get that wrapped. Bring it right upstairs. That’s for you. Right there it is for you. Like you got to have some extra gifts on deck at all. I wrap them and keep them under the tree in a pile. And I know the shapes of them. So when people come over, it seems even more thought out. It’s like, oh, and I got something for you.
SuChin Pak 15:35
Do the hearts of my eyes. Is it visible on the Zoom? Like just my pupils have changed into cartoon heart. When I say, Paul, you’re a taken man. And I’m glad you’re tooken because I also love who took you, but that’s my love language.
Paul Scheer 16:00
Same here, same here like and it’s, it’s just about keeping the holiday spirit light and fun. And you never have that stress. We don’t need that stress. We don’t need to walk into that world. We don’t need to be keeping a tally of what we didn’t get or we just keep them on the side. Keep some presence on the side.
Kulap Vilaysack 16:15
Look, Paul is doing what we love to say here at add to cart which is you don’t have to get ready if you stay ready.
Paul Scheer 16:28
By the way, you got me ready to go. I already I mean, look. Did I organize my house lighting people in September? Yeah. Did I organize my food for Christmas Eve November 1st? Yes, I did. I already ordered my stuff from gold belly. Absolutely. Come on, people. Don’t make me, don’t make me embarrassed. Don’t make me get in that December mess when I’m paying all this extra money.
Kulap Vilaysack 16:54
Alright, let’s talk about books. You’ve got three picks for books. Let’s start with Paul Newman memoir.
Paul Scheer 17:00
Alright, this is actually really great. I love this book. And again, you never know who people know, right. But Paul Newman seems like a great, interesting guy. And this biography is kind of interesting, because it was written in a way where Paul Newman had people that he loved speak about him in a in a way that was unfiltered. So it’s a very unfiltered biography of Paul Newman, where he reveals a lot of different things that I don’t know if it was ever meant to be published. And it’s in that world of like, are we supposed to see this, but he was doing this for himself. And I’m only a little bit into it. But it’s a really fascinating journey of this book, one of the biggest icons ever. And I think if you don’t even know Paul Newman is it just kind of captures like that era of like the 50s and 60s and like his own sexuality and growth into like, what it was like to be like a sex symbol, and also just a great actor, like in wrestling with all these different things. It’s a great, good book, I would say that that’s probably for the older people in your life. They might really like that. That’s where I wanted to kind of diversify gifts here a little bit.
Kulap Vilaysack 18:07
Yeah, because I’m looking a little ahead. And I guess the counterpoint would be I’m glad my mom died.
Paul Scheer 18:13
Love this book, Jennette McCurdy, who was a, I believe on iCarly really talks about this amazing journey that she was on. And none of it is gonna sound funny. It was basically about how her mom made her have an eating disorder forced her into acting. And she became the star of this giant Nickelodeon show and dealing with this thing of being the number one provider for her family, and living in this very traditional world that her mom and her family kind of created around her. And it’s a harrowing, but also like, beautiful story really funny, incredibly well told. I mean, it’s dark. But it’s like every chapter like, whoa, whoa, whoa, yeah. And it really gets into and she doesn’t name him. But that guy, Dan Schneider, and he has been suspended, because he’s really kind of gross with people like really gross. And this book kind of touches on that without ever naming him and it’s really disgusting. But again, fun, fun read. I give you a lot of things that are harsh, but it’s a great read. And if you haven’t read it I everybody I’ve talked to who’s read it has been like this is one of my favorite books of the year.
Kulap Vilaysack 19:35
All right, how about Heat 2: A Novel.
Paul Scheer 19:40
I’m then going all over the board. Again, Heat 2, Michael Mann wrote a book, a full on novel with Meg Gardiner, and it is a sequel to heat a sequel to heat that will never get because you can’t it’s like 25 years later, those actors can’t do it in this movie, or this book. takes place, right literally right after the movie ends and then jumps around some years. And here’s a real tip. If you’re an audiobook person, get the audiobook because the guy who reads it not only does a spot on Al Pacino, but he also basically reads the entire eight hour novel. Like he’s voicing a movie trailer. It is so fun. It had me crying in the car. Because of the end. I just finished it a couple days ago. It’s a big, epic, it reads a book incredibly well. But I switched over for the last 200 pages to the audiobook. And whoa, what arrived the audio book is great. Yeah. And if you like Heat, I mean, I just recently watched Heat and then started reading this book. It’s like, oh, it brings you right back there. It feels alive. It’s like, it’s not. In many ways. It’s like what we want. We want a sequel, but we those actors aren’t going to be good anymore. Like you’re they can’t do what they were gonna do. No, no. And look, and really the true main character of this book is Val Kilmer, Chris. So it really is because he’s the one who is left, wounded, but alive at the end of Heat. So it really is his journey. Circling back into a lot of other stuff, but great, great book.
SuChin Pak 21:21
Yeah, I don’t know of another movie. Whose sequel was a book is that a common thing?
Paul Scheer 21:29
I think that Michael Mann besides JK Rowling who wrote the play, like follow up, but those were books before and that was a play this I really believe like Michael Mann did such research. I got into like a heat wormhole did such research on these characters and had all these stories that he was just like, itching to tell the story. So this book is it goes back in the past, it goes into the future. And it’s like so he’s got so much there.
Kulap Vilaysack 22:15
Let’s talk about this backbone, one gaming controller for iPhone.
Paul Scheer 22:19
Okay, so this is something that I had for a couple years. And I really like it because it makes your iPhone into your PlayStation essentially, like you can take your PlayStation with you. There’s a thing on your PlayStation five. I know it’s definitely on the five where you put Remote Play. So you’re broadcasting to your iPhone. So you could be in your bed, playing your favorite PlayStation game, right on your phone, you put your phone right in the center of it. It’s amazing, because I think for me as I get to be more of an adult, that there are times when we be sitting in front of a television screen playing video games. But if I’m in a trailer, if I’m, you know, up in bed and June’s asleep, I could play a little I’m still in bed. I’m still there. But I also play a little PlayStation. It looks great. It looks. It’s the backbone is awesome. It’s great. It’s basically portable gaming with your system, like so it takes your system with you. You don’t have to worry about like, Oh, this is like a thing that is not my other thing.
Kulap Vilaysack 23:21
This to me is a classic Paul shear tip.
Paul Scheer 23:24
I was trying to find a good little piece of tech. That’s a little different.
Kulap Vilaysack 23:27
Yeah. Yeah. Like I have never heard of this. He’s been doing this for like 10 years.
Paul Scheer 23:33
I’ve been on backbone for like, for a little bit of time. And it really is. It’s great. It’s just a by the way they have one I believe for PlayStation One for Xbox. If you have anybody who plays video games, it’s a great way to travel with your video game system.
Kulap Vilaysack 23:48
Speaking of playing games, I mentioned this earlier. You’ve gotten into pickleball.
Paul Scheer 23:53
The whole family. Yes. So the whole family is into pickleball. We Yes. Did we compete? You know, for to our event on CBS. Absolutely. We did. Jen and I were partners against you know, many of Hollywood’s favorite celebrities.
Kulap Vilaysack 24:11
Another celebrity game show now if we’re keeping a score, that’s two.
Paul Scheer 24:17
I mean, yeah, we’ve been there and a lot of people have like reached out to me to be like, hey, can you play with my racket? And that’s not a joke, not a joke, which is hilarious.
Kulap Vilaysack 24:29
I’m beaming with pride. This is what we’ve been working for. This is what we’re up to.
Paul Scheer 24:37
This is you know what, I was so excited to get these different rackets and I won’t even tell you all the rackets that I’ve gotten, but I will tell you that this I really like this diadem racket. Diadem is a just a brand. They make a great racket, a great paddle. I like it because it’s thick, but not heavy. And so we have a few Have these paddles that were given out to me and we brought them out and everyone who comes and plays pickleball at our house is like, oh, I love this paddle. I love this paddle. And so I’m bringing it to you saying this is the people’s choice, right now it’s my personal choice too. I can always be swayed send me more paddles, but right now, right now.
Kulap Vilaysack 25:21
No, Paul, you’re standing game at your house. Is it once a week? Or is it multiple times a week?
Paul Scheer 25:26
It’s once a week, but the court is open by court. I mean, our driveway, sometimes I’ll come downstairs and see people in my driveway, you know, practicing and God bless you know, it’s open for everybody.
Kulap Vilaysack 25:37
I mean, and the reason why Su, I forgot to bring this up. Yeah, is that we three together our award winners, Paul Scheer wrote an ad that Su and I were in.
Paul Scheer 25:51
Yes, we are Clio award winning trio. Yeah, I mean, yeah, we, by the way, I was gonna recommend can for the holidays, as well. Because it’s a whether or not you want to stock your fridge full of it. And you have guests coming over and you want to take a little bit of that edge off. The can is like a THC infused beverage that will not knock your socks off. But we’ll just kind of be like, like maybe two glasses of wine. but way less.
Kulap Vilaysack 26:21
Like maybe some in laws or other guests who might have a rougher texture.
Paul Scheer 26:26
Yes. And by the way, it also is something that I’ve found that a guest who might be curious but never have tried something like this will take a chance on and then feel emboldened by so it’s, that’s a riskier proposition. But I remember back in the day, whenever you get any kind of THC beverage, you drink, and you come back to them and say, I’m gonna jump off the planet like, this is a very, it’s all metered out, it’s fine. You are, you’re going to be in good shape. But I think especially if you’re hosting, it might be good to have one of these things and you pour it in a wineglass. No one knows the difference.
Kulap Vilaysack 27:01
Very civilized. Now, Paul, I’m angry with you, I’m looking that you’re bringing to us blu rays, 4k blu rays. Now, you know that my husband, Scott, David Ackerman, he, I guess along with you, continues to collect.
Paul Scheer 27:21
Kulap, I thought I was out. I thought I was out and then got back in. And I gotta tell you why I got to tell you why don’t want to be this person. I want to be the blu ray person. I don’t want to be the 4k blu ray person. But I gotta tell you, there are some reasons to be a 4k Blu ray person. And the reason is, first of all, I don’t know if you’ve seen all this stuff going on in the in the streaming world. Obviously, we all know about it, because we’re that’s our business. But the idea like things are leaving, things are getting out of there.
Kulap Vilaysack 27:53
Yeah, they’re not as readily available anymore.
Paul Scheer 27:56
So I’m popping on British Amazon. I have a 4k player that is region free. That I can pop in things that I can’t get other places. And sometimes it’s just even going back and getting a classic movie like the Heartbreak Kid with Charles Grodin and Sybil Shepherd directed by Alene Mae. That is basically the Heartbreak Kid was owned by a pharmaceutical company that wanted to get into the movie business. And then when that didn’t work, they just don’t let anyone have the rights to the Heartbreak Kid, so you can’t find it anymore. So like, there’s a reason to kind of go and find these. So a lot of the things that I’ve been getting on for K are either imports of things that I can’t really find, although I did suggest a couple of things because I was like when I look at this 4k blu ray, I gotta, I gotta I gotta try out Top Gun Maverick on it. And is there a difference between Apple TV and that for cable? It’s a pretty shocking, it’s a pretty shocking difference. Now, I don’t believe that everything that everything needs.
SuChin Pak 28:59
Look at the stain on Paul’s face. You guys can’t see it.
Paul Scheer 29:06
There’s something and the thing I recommended on this 4k Blu Ray and I didn’t go crazy. But there’s a thing called […]. Which is this. Basically, it’s Hong Kong cinema. Yeah, right. And it’s these the Shaw Brothers studio. So it’s basically some of the best martial arts movies completely restored. And it just looks amazing in this is something where you can’t get this in a streaming way. You can’t get these features. You can’t get this look. And for me, I’m not even like a big Hong Kong martial arts person. But when you watch it, you’re like, Oh, I can’t believe I’ve never seen this. It’s like it’s kind of mind blowing. It’s like, there are certain things I’ve never been exposed to. This might be a gift that you give to somebody and they’re like, oh, I don’t know what this is. And then like two months later, they’ll come back. That was awesome. Like I have no favorite films.
Kulap Vilaysack 30:02
We have this and I do enjoy it. All right. Well, let’s talk about some games.
Paul Scheer 30:08
Okay, so this is a game that I love. Cinephile is like a Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game. But you don’t have to. You don’t have to write it down on sheets of paper, I guess. Like you’re just connect, you’re connecting to random. Two random people together, right? So you have these cards. It’s like, it’s like a deck of playing cards. So it’s just beautifully. It’s beautifully done. They have three levels, which is like a movie geek, a film nerd and a cinephile. And you basically draw one card from the deck, you read the name of the actor on the end the film, and then each player goes around naming another film in which that actor appeared. So it’s a good like a little bit of a party game. It’s not super hard. So that like, again, I think about part of my game buying at the holidays, is what can you open and immediately play without a tremendous amount of explanation. And we are we’re having fun. We’re doing something. Yeah, it’s nice. There’s like ways to do with two just two people. But yeah, that’s and by the way, what I like about it is it’s beautifully art designed, and they also have like these little books, like their whole site this cinephile game site, they have like my first movie, and they have books and you know, look for those of us with, you know, babies, they have these new books, like my first horror book, my first French New Wave book, and they’re like children’s books that are like that. Celebrate classic movies, but done in the old Golden Book ways.
Kulap Vilaysack 31:38
Okay. All right. Okay, love it. I really do. Yeah.
Paul Scheer 31:43
Now, look, if you have kids, I’m going to bring up this other game that we’ve been I didn’t put this on the list. It’s called Best Dressed banana. Best Dressed banana is a game where everyone has a banana naked banana. And then you get to put an outfit on the banana. And now the way that we’ve redone this game is we have three people dressing bananas, one person leaves the room. And then the guesser comes in, and as to guess, who dressed the banana, that way, so we’ve upgraded the kid game. And now our kids love playing it too. So it’s like you’re trying to read the people that you’re playing against, it’s like poker with dressing bananas.
SuChin Pak 32:27
I mean, like you’ve improved upon their idea. Get them on the horn.
Paul Scheer 32:34
It’s a game that now went from a kid’s game that people are like, oh, I’ll play with you, to my youngest to now being like, I can’t wait to get in there and show everybody because when you’re guessing everybody, you’re reading everybody, you’re going, oh, what are they trying to do to trick me? What is a June thing? What is a thing? You know, like, it’s fun.
SuChin Pak 32:49
I mean, that is the beauty of a game, right? Especially a kids game is that like, when my kids pull out Chutes and Ladders, my skin crawls. You know, like, I don’t want to play a game where I’m bargain counting numbers and just going up a ladder. We just recently got into clue as a family. And wow, I’m like, wow, this is really fun. We have moved on from these games where it’s like they pull it out. And I’m like, oh boy here I’m gonna have to, a timer, or pain. Well, now I can enjoy it.
Paul Scheer 33:26
Well, look, in look, it’s tricky, because there’s a certain level where the kids need to like read or do something. Like you got to find this middle ground of like, because there’s certain people who like play a game once a year and then there are people who like I like to play games. You got to find that audience because you know.
Paul Scheer 33:42
To collect a good time. You have to find out.
Paul Scheer 33:44
I don’t want you to be stressed out about you don’t know the rules. And I’m going to teach you the rules. Like let’s just get it out. Break it out. I can explain it in two seconds. You can catch on and we’re going yeah, let’s play.
Kulap Vilaysack 33:58
If you like me are going to be shopping for gifts this holiday season. We want to tell you about a little secret or not so secret because we talk about them all the time. It’s Rakuten. It helps you earn cashback while you shop. I am constantly texting Su. Screen grabbing my cash back.
SuChin Pak 34:22
I just got an alert from my PayPal account. Rakuten has sent you a big fat check. That’s the subject line, big fat check payment for Rakuten who doesn’t want that stop there. But listen for all the details. Right?
Kulap Vilaysack 34:40
We and there was so much so much time where we didn’t know.
Kulap Vilaysack 34:47
The shopping on our own that we could be receiving money in return?
SuChin Pak 34:54
That’s right. And hello Black Friday is around the corner. And so we’re not amateurs. We’re not driving. We’re not lining up.
Kulap Vilaysack 35:12
That’s auntie behavior. Not these aunties. We have tabs open. I have carts filled.
SuChin Pak 35:24
And we’re not leaving the house. You know, we’re getting all this done. We’re getting all the savings. In our full undies, in our half undies, whatever on the shape that you’re in. But that’s what we’re doing.
Kulap Vilaysack 35:38
It’s crazy. It’s abstracted my house right now I have a new baby. I don’t know what’s up and down. But I do remember the pivotal life changing bring us into the future Instagram comment exchange we had with a listener who recommended it to us, little did we know. Our shopping was about to experience a revolution.
SuChin Pak 36:00
This listener had been getting consistent cashback on online purchases for months years. Who knows?
Kulap Vilaysack 36:09
Let’s not live in the past. Okay, there’s probably never a better time to start using Rakuten right now. There are actually a bunch of unique deals coming up on Black Friday, where you can get up to 12% cashback.
SuChin Pak 36:20
Double digits guys, double digit.
Kulap Vilaysack 36:26
At stores you’re already shopping at your Macy’s, your KitchenAid, Mejuri, for jewelry.
SuChin Pak 36:32
You don’t have to go to little specialty websites. These are probably shopping sites that you’re already at. This is this is the beauty of it. And the convenience of it. I know this sounds too good to be true. And who’s not going to think that.
Kulap Vilaysack 36:46
Literally what you said when I told you about it. You’re like, is this a scam? I was like, I don’t know. But smarter people did the research and it’s not.
SuChin Pak 36:56
And now that we’re months into it, we can tell you I have I’ve held that cash in my hand. I have used that cash in my hand. So no, it’s not a scam. So for Black Friday, for example, they have all these lists that you can shop at places not only get cash back, but get more cash back than normal. So take advantage of these lists, especially during Black Friday.
Kulap Vilaysack 37:23
Yeah, cuz there’s over like 3500 stores. So there’s no way like truly like Target. Target does it.
SuChin Pak 37:32
It’s a free browser extension. It’s so simple. It simplifies the whole process for you. They’ve also got an app. They send you personalized notifications based on the brands you shop most often. And you get exclusive deals that are only available in the app. Membership is how much? Free. Sign up instantly.
Kulap Vilaysack 37:54
This is the way to do Black Friday, y’all. This is the way to just shop up period. No way. I’m barely wearing the bra. I’m not going outside of this house.
SuChin Pak 38:08
Anyway, sign up for Rakuten online at record ten.com or download the app today. Tell us what you’re getting on Black Friday. Let us know, we get so much joy out of the deals that you’re getting. That’s your Christmas present to the aunties.
Kulap Vilaysack 38:32
So this is a Ghostbusters incense holder.
Paul Scheer 38:36
Yeah, this is definitely nerdy. And I wanted to put something that really was a lot nerdier I know I went a lot like but this is a Ghostbuster trap. It’s official Ghostbusters. And so it looks it’s a recreation of the Ghostbuster trap and you put incense in it and steams. Well, the smoke comes out of the incense does just like it does in the movie. So I mean, if you’re an incense person even better, but it is like, you know, this is like I think you got to be a certain level of Ghostbuster fan you also have to live in a house that probably does not have like this would not be allowed in my house, you know?
SuChin Pak 39:10
Because of the smell or the look?
Paul Scheer 39:12
The look. You know, look they are very nice things.
Kulap Vilaysack 39:18
You described when you were mentioning the backbone. And yeah, while June like must be asleep. June was a wake.
Paul Scheer 39:28
Yeah, no, no, no, no. Yeah, no, no, I tried to hide that. We even have video game systems now. Although it’s great to have her play Mario Party and she gets super competitive. So it’s great. But this is like a fun look. The elevated version of this and I mean, very elevated. Is houseplant, like houseplant has that Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg company, they have a lot of gorgeous, gorgeous stuff for the smokers in your life. Incense is a tricky thing across the board, but I feel like if you’re burning incense, you might be open to having a Ghostbuster incense all right, again, very niche very niche.
Kulap Vilaysack 40:05
Paul, so an old dirty bastard statue?
Paul Scheer 40:11
This is my favorite thing of all time. I love this thing. So, again, I wasn’t really nerdy this year, but I don’t care. I’m not gonna apologize.
Kulap Vilaysack 40:20
No apologize metaphor I seen, sir.
Paul Scheer 40:22
All right. So Sideshow makes these incredibly realistic versions of your favorite characters from movies, and it could be shows, movies, figurines, and they are high class. They are expensive. It’s everything from, you know, literally, Christopher Reeves outfit from Superman. They’ve sourced they went back, they found fabric swatches, they create it the exact same way like it is not done. It is done with the utmost care. I’ve been to their facility. It’s awesome. Again, this is something I can’t have in my house. But I look at them and I’m in awe of them.
SuChin Pak 41:00
That needsmy follow up question. Where are you keeping all this stuff?
Paul Scheer 41:04
No, I have one prominently displayed in my office. And it is this ODB this old dirty bastard one. And it’s ODB coming up out of the subway. And as he’s coming up out of the subway, like he’s like breaking the subway, like his timberland boot is breaking the ground. He’s like, twisted the middle of the subway. Great. I love it. This Devon ODB statuette that is like it is. I love it. I just love it. And that one I feel like does live in a world where I don’t think I could put that up prominently in the house. But I have that I’m not at all embarrassed about it. I’m like, fuck yeah, that’s my ODB.
Kulap Vilaysack 41:46
I think that’s awesome.
SuChin Pak 41:49
I really did not. I did not see that one coming.
Paul Scheer 41:53
I’m on board. I’m all over the board.
SuChin Pak 41:55
I didn’t see that coming. And you continue to surprise and delight at every turn I love it.
Paul Scheer 42:01
You know, I’m just trying to I was trying to you know, put this together and think about different things. Yeah.
Kulap Vilaysack 42:08
Paul, you want to talk about some eBay?
Paul Scheer 42:12
Okay, so, yes. Okay. So these are two things that I want to just get out there. So if people in your life that love vinyl, right, want to have an album, eBay is the spot and this is a perfect thing for fun things that look like you spent a lot of time trying to find like, for me. I found this. Telly Savalas record on eBay for $4. It’s Telly Savalas singing. And on the back. It’s like, why did I make an album they paid me? Like, literally, it says that. And it’s clear that he never wanted to sing. But they got him on this album. And for four bucks, you wrap that up, you give that to somebody who has a vinyl collection, it’s going to be like, oh, this is awesome. How did I find this thing? Same thing I talked earlier about the Heartbreak Kid, the only way I could find that was on eBay. Like finding like you could find like eBay is a great source for gifts that are not easily found, but are unique and interesting. Like so they’re just something fun. I think it’s a cheaper gift under the tree that looks like you’ve spent a lot of time and energy and effort into it. And so that has great DVDs, things you can’t find albums, and then fanatics. I want to talk about this more general thing if you haven’t been in your life fanatics is a basically a repository for every type of sport from soccer, baseball, football, basketball, everything is organized in this one spot. And I’m a big NBA fan. And right now the NBA just came out with their city editions. So they are fun, different logos and things for your favorite teams. So that may be a great thing to get for your significant other who maybe likes or anybody in your family like sports. They may not have this thing because it’s not like the regular jersey or the regular hat. It’s the city editions. Now I’ve seen in the in the gay community that Charlotte really has taken off by storm because their hats and jerseys, it looks like an excuse me, you can bleep me if this is too gross, but I have to say it. It looks like it says clit, it’s CLT and so many I’ve seen many people very excited about Charlotte Hornets City Edition okay, because it looks like.
Kulap Vilaysack 44:29
I love everyone’s doing the work that they’re putting in.
Paul Scheer 44:32
I’ve seen that now multiple times being allotted by a lot of people like that that is that they are embracing Charlotte City Edition but like there are some really unique city edition where and you can get that that’s an NBA specific thing though.
Kulap Vilaysack 44:49
Okay, but that’s to me that that helps me with my brother in law Paul and then also my nephew Kai. So we are really back in my list. Very happy about this.
Paul Scheer 45:03
CLT is just an is just the, like the airport extension for Charlotte. It’s not It’s, I think when they just put it on their hat and the jersey when you look at, it’s hard to not see it. Like when you see it, you’re like, Whoa, it’s like they’re I think Milwaukee Bucks did one that that appeared to be. It just looked. It looked very sexual. They don’t they don’t know it when it’s on a body. It’s like wow.
SuChin Pak 45:35
And that’s our that’s our gift. You know, I mean that exactly.
Kulap Vilaysack 45:40
And then you also have these dashboard stickers.
Paul Scheer 45:42
Oh, yes, you’re right. If you’re a big Mario Kart fan, Etsy does have these stickers that you can put on your steering wheel that like look like the Mario Kart button. So you can be like, you know, tortoise shell, oil slick. So if you want to do that, if you have a car and you want to like, swap out some things, you want to mod your car. It’s a fun way to do it. Like if you have a literal Junker, you know, I least I can’t do that. But you know.
Kulap Vilaysack 46:12
She’s silentlylaughing.
SuChin Pak 46:20
I keep thinking about is how you got there, and we don’t have enough time.
Paul Scheer 46:30
I have to cme up with I have to come complete, I’m trying.
SuChin Pak 46:33
I know this is not just for us.
Paul Scheer 46:41
All for you. Some of these things I’ve gotten used before but I mean, all for you. When I put this together last night, I sat down with an empty email. And I started, I didn’t know.
SuChin Pak 47:00
He just channeling, yesterday, he lit up his Ghostbuster incense.
Paul Scheer 47:05
as ready to go. I was like, let’s get in here and figure this stuff out. Now look, what did I buy off Etsy that I love that no one gets and I think it’s the best thing I bought all year. I love this movie hustle with Adam Sandler. And he wears a federal donuts sweatshirt, a red federal donut sweatshirt. Bought that on Etsy looks great. No one even knows it’s a thing from a movie. I’m doing cosplays Adam Sandler. Not even appreciate it.
Kulap Vilaysack 47:29
Low key. Okay, so your last two items. I feel like the other ones were started kind of like specific. Now these two items I feel like is for anybody. Let’s talk about field notes.
Paul Scheer 47:44
I love field notes. Field Notes. You’ve probably seen them before. They’re these really artisan notebooks. They have like reporter ones they have sternos great stocking stuffer because they’re beautifully done. You buy a pack of five, drop one in each. And each thing, and it’s like no one’s mad about that. It’s a nice little notebook. It looks cute. You put in your back pocket. It’s way to go. You put a pen with that they have some gift boxes at field notes that I’ve gotten them in the past twice. And I feel so seen, how could I be mad about this? It’s a bunch of like nice looking notepads and a pen and it’s like great good on you, like this feels perfect. It’s like a nice like I don’t really know you but it’s better than I got you something jokey.
Kulap Vilaysack 48:35
I’m looking at like the field notes desk kit, it even includes this pen.
Paul Scheer 48:42
That’s what I’ve gotten. But the field notes are and again, I think that like my issue with the stocking is quantity. Like the more little fun things in a stocking. It’s more fun. I don’t need to be shoving a big thing in there and that’s your thing. It’s like no let me give you a bunch of little fundraisers because ultimately we all know as we get to be adults that you get less and less gifts so why don’t make the stocking full, oh fun, you know that’s what I want.
Kulap Vilaysack 49:09
Yeah, yeah, cuz you’re not gonna stuff Yeti.
Paul Scheer 49:15
Look Yeti could be you know, Yeti. I’ve really come like out of nowhere with Yeti, June and I went on vacation and we got these Yeti water bottles. I have it right here. It keeps drinks colder than I’ve ever expect. Like I literally put ice in a in a one of these last night. I went upstairs to bed I forgot they left in the kitchen. I came down this morning. I grabbed it. It was still ice cold and the top wasn’t even screwed on to it. And I’m like this thing is the best I haven’t now from another one from a coffee right here. I keep my iced coffee in that guy. I keep my water in this guy. I’m carrying around two yetis now here’s the thing. This is a gift that people might feel. Go fuck yourself.
Kulap Vilaysack 50:03
Look, Paul has two.
Paul Scheer 50:04
I’m gonna tell you something. They may feel that way. But when they look at the website and see how much these fuckers cost, they’ll be like, Oh, wow, okay, you actually did something like Yeti is no joke Yeti makes expensive stuff, but it’s worth it. And here’s where I think it could even be better. They can monogram it for you. And so if you do have somebody in your life that likes to stay hydrated and who doesn’t? It is a nice thing to have like a like, because that’s the other thing too. Did it leave my water bottle there did you have put your name on it? But it is like a little again. Might be a good office gift. Yeah, but I mean everyone who loves Yeti like people used to talk about Yeti to me, they still do. Oh, Yeti, Yeti, Yeti, Yeti. And I’m like whether it’s a cooler what is the big deal and right now I’m like Yeti, Yeti, Yeti, I’m like, I get it. It’s a it’s no, it’s like, it’s to leave an ice coffee in my car and come back to it two hours later, and the ice is still like, rockin in there and not melted. I’m like, come on. Come on. This has been amazing talking to you. I hope that I tried to cover a lot of different areas. This is a pleasure as always. Thank you, Paul. I can’t wait to hear the rest of how this holiday season is shaping up for the both of you.
Kulap Vilaysack 51:22
Thank you, Paul Scheer.
SuChin Pak 51:30
Well, that oes it for our annual edition of Paul Scheer’s gift Guide. We hope you’ve been inspired, informed, changed, and delighted. Make sure to check out all of the links, all the things all the pictures on our Instagram.
Kulap Vilaysack 51:46
At @AddToCartPod. And it’s always such a pleasure to have our dear friend Paul on and I get tons of great ideas from him.
SuChin Pak 51:53
And wait, sorry, there’s a puppy screaming to death. It’s going to be on this recording. Give me one second.
Kulap Vilaysack 51:59
Well, you’re probably going to hear an opposite puppy. That was snoring the entire time. So as you can hear Su and I both have doggies now. And yes, they interrupt our recordings, and you can hear them snoring on the mic, but we love them. And as dog lovers, we want to do everything we can to make sure our dogs lead long, happy, healthy lives, which is why we want to take a moment to talk to you about a company called them Bark.
SuChin Pak 52:32
That’s right. Yes, I joke. This little guy gets on my nerves, especially when I’m trying to record but all his fluffy little face has melted my heart. And it’s been a reluctant journey. For me, you know, I haven’t been shy about telling I’ve been very honest about it. And as you know, my daughter, Zoey, started a letter writing campaign, and a what I call a high pitch whining campaign that moved into this year, and that really broke me. And so Cosmo is here. So he’s part of our family. I am new to this dog family world; I want to make sure that this puppy is taken care of. And so something like embark is great because it sort of demystifies a lot of questions I have about dogs.
Kulap Vilaysack 53:22
Yes. And bark is an incredible tool for dog owners and screens for more than 215 genetic health risks across 350 breeds. And that’s more breeds tested than any other dog DNA test.
SuChin Pak 53:35
And you can tailor so much to fit the exact biology of your pet. Right? So they’re saying that 61% of pet owners plan to adjust their dog’s routine or feel more prepared to be a good pet parent after testing with Embark. So Ku, you could test your dog.
Kulap Vilaysack 53:53
Yes, I tested my dogs because they’re both rescues. And we kind of had sort of like an idea of like, what makes a Molly and what makes a Georgia, but I can’t tell you how fun it was to get the results. So Georgia when we got her. She was six months. She was born in 2016. And she had a bunch of littermates. And they did testing and so I had always people would always be like, oh you know oh yeah, she’s part Chihuahua. And I was like no, she’s not. No, she’s not. And of course I get my results back and that’s she’s mostly Chihuahua. She’s 24% Chihuahua.
SuChin Pak 54:34
I think you were gonna say you were right, but you were wrong.
Kulap Vilaysack 54:37
I was so wrong. Yeah, people saw. People saw the truth. She is 24% Chihuahua 22% American Bully 20% American pitbull terrier, 8% boxer, 6.5% Pekinese, 5.3% shitzu, 5.2% Poodle small, and 9% Super mutt, She is truly a Supermutt.
SuChin Pak 54:59
That. That is that is someone that has traveled the globe to sit in your lap and snore away.
SuChin Pak 55:07
It is the perfect gift for any dog lover in your life. Anyone that’s obsessed with their pet.
Kulap Vilaysack 55:07
Well the Snore is Molly and Molly. When we got her from the rescue, they’re like, I think she’s like 100% Pekinese. I was like, No, she’s not like she’s not. And then I just sort of kind of, cuz she was found, you know, in a hoarding situation. So I’d like no details about her. And I thought, oh, maybe she’s part shitzu so that’s what I thought in my head. And was so surprised and delighted that she’s actually 55.9% pug, 29.8% Pekinese, 14.3% shitzu. So she’s interesting mainly pug and it’s like, all the snoring the snoring like all of a sudden that will make sense. Obviously, you’re a pug. And Sue This is the best part is that they also like find like family matches and stuff. And so Molly, who’s like more of a mystery, we don’t have a birthday for her. Like there is another dog in LA that’s possibly a sibling or somehow closely related. I’m like Molly could have her own origin story documentary.
Kulap Vilaysack 56:31
Of course CeCe got us that code baby, the code fairy she really embark has a limited time offer on their breed and health kit and purebred kit for Add to Cart listeners. Go to embarkvet.com to get free shipping and save $65 with promo code Add to Cart, visit embarkvet.com and use promo code add to cart to save $65 today.
SuChin Pak 57:02
Alright, that’s it. I mean monster episode but listen, it’s a monster season. So thank you all the info on Paul stuff, Rakuten EMBARC, all of our pictures and our links are up on our Instagram at @AddToCartPod.
Kulap Vilaysack 57:22
There’s more ADD TO CART with Lemonada Premium. And right now there’s a limited time discount on our annual subscription between now and Monday, November 28th. It’s just $29.49. That’s nearly half off. You’ll get access to all of Lemonada’s premium content, including our premium episode from last week where we discussed the Reddit thread. Am I the asshole? Subscribe now in Apple podcast right where you listen to this show and do it before November 28th.
CREDITS
ADD TO CART is a production of Lemonada Media. Our producer is Claire Jones and our mix is by Ivan Kuraev and Veronica Rodriguez. The music is by Wasahhbii and produced by La Made It and Oh So Familiar with additional music by APM music. Executive producers are Kulap Vilaysack, SuChin Pak, Jessica Cordova Kramer and Stephanie Wittels Wachs. Be sure to check out all the items we mentioned today on our Instagram at @AddToCartPod. Also, please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcast.