Into It: A Vulture Podcast with Sam Sanders · Vulture & New York Magazine

Are Bed Bugs and Katy Perry Out for Blood?

October 6, 2023·33 min·3 clips

Dylan Adler suggests Drew Barrymore reboot Fever Pitch with Jimmy Fallon to win back public favor.

This episode of Into It features host Sam Sanders with comedian guests Dylan Adler and Sam Oh analyzing recent pop culture controversies. Sanders guides the conversation through a game of "Into It, Not Into It," where the guests react to various headlines. The first topic is Drew Barrymore's decision to resume her daytime show without her original writing staff, Chelsea, Christina, and Liz, following the end of the writers' strike. The group discusses Barrymore's rapid shift from beloved celebrity to a perceived villain in the industry. They speculate on whether public memory of the strike will fade over time and how Barrymore might attempt to rehabilitate her image. The conversation shifts to reports of a bed bug infestation in Paris during Fashion Week, citing sightings on subways, in hotels, and on high-speed trains. The comedians share personal stories of dealing with pests, including rats and fruit flies, and debate the effectiveness of extreme remedies like wrapping luggage in black bags. They express concern about the infestation spreading as travelers return to New York and Los Angeles. The hosts humorously imagine the potential impact on athletes at the upcoming Paris Olympics, questioning which competitors could perform while itchy. The final major story involves Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom's legal dispute with Carl Westcott, founder of 1-800-Flowers, over a $15 million Santa Barbara home. The guests explain Westcott's claim that he was on post-surgical narcotics and of "unsound mind" when agreeing to the sale. They note Perry's countersuit seeks millions in additional damages for rental costs and lost property value. The panel references Perry's prior real estate lawsuit involving nuns and the subsequent proposal for a "Katy Perry Act" to protect elderly homeowners. They also critique a viral video of Perry performing "Harleys in Hawaii" in a public restroom. A surprising claim is that Paris's deputy mayor declared "no one is safe" from the bed bug outbreak. An interesting insight compares the bed bug scare to a plot point in a Batman movie. The group finds irony in the proposed "Katy Perry Act" being an acronym for "Protecting Elder Realty for Retirement." A memorable moment involves Sam Oh passionately defending Katy Perry while acknowledging the singer's recent career challenges. The comedians unanimously agree that 2007-era Hannah Montana would be the ideal performer for Las Vegas's new high-tech venue, The Sphere. The tone is lighthearted, conversational, and filled with comedic banter between the host and guests. The style is informal, relying on personal anecdotes and hyperbolic humor to dissect the week's news. Pop culture enthusiasts who enjoy humorous commentary on celebrity drama and current events would love this episode. Listeners seeking serious, in-depth news analysis or those sensitive to comedic takes on topics like pest infestations might prefer to skip it.

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