Hold Up with Dulcé Sloan & Josh Johnson from The Daily Show · Comedy Central

Boneless vs. Bone-in Chicken Wings

March 23, 2023·40 min·3 clips

Dulcé reveals a friend found blood on napkins from a restaurant, turning wings into a nightmare.

Dulcé Sloan and Josh Johnson, hosts of The Daily Show's "Hold Up," debate the merits of boneless versus bone-in chicken wings. The episode was prompted by a viewer suggestion from YouTube commenter Libra Girl. Josh immediately adopts a combative stance, framing the debate as a serious conflict. Josh Johnson passionately advocates for bone-in wings, arguing that the work required to get the meat off the bone is part of the delicious experience. He criticizes boneless wings as having an unnatural "audacity" and compares them to mere chicken nuggets. Dulcé Sloan reveals she is not a fan of chicken nuggets, calling them "too processed," and extends this critique to some Chinese food dishes. Josh details a personal aversion to white meat chicken, specifically the breast, which he finds dry and unappealing regardless of how it's cooked. Dulcé shares a graphic story about a friend who received blood-stained napkins with a food order, highlighting her concerns about food safety. Josh recounts a socially awkward barbecue where he was served undercooked chicken, after which the host pretended not to know him. Despite these harrowing anecdotes, Josh insists the superior flavor and juiciness of bone-in wings are worth the risk. Dulcé counters that boneless wings are safer, as she has never encountered an undercooked one, and are more convenient to eat. The conversation shifts to pet safety, with both hosts warning against feeding cooked chicken bones to dogs and cats due to splintering hazards. Dulcé explains her initial skepticism about boneless wings but now finds them "cute" and practical. Josh delivers an extended, mock-serious monologue directed at "the fellas," arguing that eating bone-in wings and collecting the bones is a proof of masculine prowess. Dulcé sarcastically praises his "dedication to this fucking nonsense" and later outlines a domestic quid pro quo where cooking whole wings entitles her to have chores done and "then dicking me down." A surprising revelation occurs when Josh states that boneless wings are typically made from breast meat, which contradicts Dulcé's stated dislike for white meat. The hosts speculate that preparation method or the possibility of thigh meat might explain why she enjoys them. They conclude by asking listeners to weigh in on which style they prefer and which allows them to eat more. The tone is highly conversational, comedic, and filled with playful antagonism, exaggerated storytelling, and improvised banter. Listeners who enjoy lighthearted, food-related debates and the hosts' dynamic chemistry will love this episode. Those seeking a serious culinary discussion or who are squeamish about stories of undercooked food might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A wing order becomes a debate about anatomy, pets, and boneless loyalty.

This episode turns boneless versus bone-in wings into a brisk, oddly satisfying debate about chickens, bones, and the uneasy sight of a naked bird going into the pan.

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Why you'd press play

If wing math can turn into a schism, you are in the right place.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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