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Kyle Mooney has given us a new episode of his podcast ‘What’s Our Podcast,’ in which he has invited the guest Skyler Gisondo. The two will explore an extremely weird and embarrassing restaurant hypothetical. The stand-up comedian was so moved by the exchange that he could not resist sharing a part of their talk that immediately caught people’s interests for the absurd and graphic nature.
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On YouTube, the clip shows Mooney and Gisondo deeply engrossed in a very strange conversation. Mooney appears to be very irritated when the other man is telling him about a restaurant where the staff, in Mooney’s words, “jerking it on the food” and afterward serving it to the customers. His facial expressions shift from terror to incredulity as he recounts this imaginary case, while Gisondo is sitting there with a mix of joy and astonishment. The dialogue is filled with surprises, and Mooney wants to know how anyone could possibly be that person who finds the whole thing bearable and at the same time pretends to be enjoying the unpleasantness to avoid conflict.
Mooney, who was the awkward comedian during the Saturday Night Live era, has always been good at bringing out the uncomfortable side of social situations. This latest edition of his podcast is no exception; in fact, it has pushed the limits of the already existing somewhat further. The video wraps up with Mooney appearing quite bewildered and exclaiming, “What are you doing to me?” as if he were really traumatized by just picture that kind of scenario in a restaurant.
Comments started to pop up in the comment section right away, filling it with a wide range of reactions from horror to hysteria. “The way this has immediately become my favorite podcast,” one user declared, pointing out that there is indeed a perfect audience for such an outrageous humor. Another user, in a way, reaffirmed it by commenting, “You guys have the best guests. Gotta have Skyler back for another one,” suggesting how well Mooney and his guest connect.
Some of the responses to the highly absurd scenario were very creative. One of the users who was in the group asked the situation by saying, “So wait are three of my fav dudes coming on the food?” Another user was equally funny as he just asked the faux pas concept from an Italian restaurant POV saying, “Don’t you mean cacio e peepee?” The humor was indeed infectious as one of the commentators said, “Every single cinnamon roll smfh,” They apparently are never going to be able to enjoy cinnamon rolls the same way again.
A comment was made about the conversation getting even weirder when a user spoke of Mooney’s “secret ingredient” of his Chex Mix recipe tying it up with Charlie Brown products and Korn’s members in an incoherent but rather creative post. This kind of engaging, if somewhat messy, response is indicative of the popularity of Mooney’s particular style of humor.
There were also some reactions that indicated discomfort with the subject matter. One of the users said “I can’t even imagine that!” while another person bluntly stated “Tried it once. NOT A FAN!” – It is not clear whether they were just kidding or being serious in the context of such outrageousness. One comment that stood out most is that someone said, “You usually have to pay extra for that here in Vegas, so I do a DIY on my meals,” which is taking the joke to its logical, albeit disturbing, conclusion.
The latest episode seems to be part of Mooney’s journey towards the revelation of his SNL persona and moving to bigger and better things. He has been working on his distinctive comedic voice through various projects and podcasts, in particular being the most where he shares his socially awkward, boundary-pushing sense of humor. He had also invited guests like Skyler Gisondo, who has been in the shows like “The Righteous Gemstones,” that already had been a fount of comedy.
What makes the conversation so lively is the real interaction between Mooney and Gisondo. Both of them have been completely devoted to the intentional absurdity and treating it as a real philosophical discussion while at the same time being very sarcastically aware of how ridiculous the concept and everything about it is. This blend of sincerity and nonsense has become Mooney’s signature style, and the podcast clip is great at showcasing it.
The feedback from this particular episode is a clear sign that there is still a market for audacious comedy that deals with social taboos. The subject matter certainly won’t be to everyone’s taste, but that is exactly what is indicated in the comments – Mooney has found his people – those who appreciate at once the cringe-worthy and the laughable humor.
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To quote one commenter, “Felt like an extended Kurtis bit,” which is an allusion to the awkward humor that has been gaining more acceptance lately. Mooney’s unique talent for drawing from this particular vein of humor while still being himself is what makes his work with Beck Bennett so memorable. This new project follows his earlier work, including the Headgum podcast he launched.