BJ Novak on Vegas, Catalina, Membership Clubs, Cereal, and Chain's New Mall Food Court

Jordan Okun (0:00)

I don't know that we have intro music.

Max Shapiro (0:01)

Is it like non-copyright music?

Jordan Okun (0:04)

That's right, there's a lot of free music on.

BJ Novak (0:06)

You never listen to, it's been in my head the whole drive over.

Jordan Okun (0:09)

Only two shows a week since January.

Max Shapiro (0:13)

I don't like listening to myself.

Jordan Okun (0:14)

That's good.

BJ Novak (0:15)

You know what, it's just such a jazzy way into your world.

Jordan Okun (0:18)

I feel like. How did you pick it? So you like it?

BJ Novak (0:21)

I love it, and music was such a big component of the first show. So there was a lot of pressure on you to choose good music because you don't do songs.

Jordan Okun (0:31)

Should we be saving this? Honestly, it was such a lazy choice.

BJ Novak (0:36)

So was the office theme in reality. Last second.

Jordan Okun (0:40)

Is that right?

BJ Novak (0:40)

This one, yeah. As far as I know, as far as I remember, I didn't pick it personally, but that is a lazy jingle.

Well, I don't know there was lazy composition, but it should be recorded now. We're recording now.

Jordan Okun (0:54)

Yeah, it's we're going.

BJ Novak (0:55)

Yeah.

Max Shapiro (0:55)

OK. Yeah.

BJ Novak (0:57)

You think I'm this off the cuff? I got an eye on your show. I'm producing us.

Max Shapiro (1:02)

OK.

Jordan Okun (1:03)

There was a moment, you may remember, where we talked about having to get rid of me just using all sorts of unlicensed music that I love. And we played around with, you know, we're early AI adopters in the in the creator field.

BJ Novak (1:19)

I have I have I have opinions.

Max Shapiro (1:21)

And we were we had a great AI rap song.

Jordan Okun (1:23)

We were playing around with some AI theme songs, but didn't go with any of them. Honestly, not having the pressure of picking different songs every episode is lovely.

I'm glad you like that. There's a lot of really bad.

BJ Novak (1:43)

Uncopyrighted music out there for the taking, but I felt like that was it was a surprising choice because it was not in line with the Air Jordan Greatest Hits that I have the Spotify playlist of. Right.

Jordan Okun (1:55)

I had no idea.

BJ Novak (1:56)

It is very, it zags where you think it would zig.

Jordan Okun (2:01)

Okay.

BJ Novak (2:01)

It's cool.

Jordan Okun (2:02)

You know what?

BJ Novak (2:03)

And it invites you into a world.

Jordan Okun (2:06)

Yes.

BJ Novak (2:06)

You know, that's it. Now, end of sentence, it invites you into a world.

Max Shapiro (2:10)

Here I am thinking that we went straight into the intro. No music.

Jordan Okun (2:14)

You know, I think it was the last episode or maybe the last Q&A, we talked about wanting to please BJ and being very into pleasing him. When you asked a question that we really didn't have the answer for, but, and usually I would not include a question in the Q&A that we don't have an answer for, but because it was you, we wanted to use it and please you. And we talked about wanting to please you, but being able, unable to please you there. But I'm so glad.

BJ Novak (2:41)

What was the question?

Jordan Okun (2:44)

Thoughts on menus at membership clubs.

BJ Novak (2:47)

That's right. Right.

Jordan Okun (2:49)

And we just don't have that knowledge.

BJ Novak (2:54)

I have limited knowledge.

Jordan Okun (2:55)

A couple of visits to San Vicente. I bet Max has some knowledge.

Max Shapiro (2:59)

No, I have a little, like barely any so-and-so.

BJ Novak (3:01)

I mean, he took me to the Poodle Room in Las Vegas.

Jordan Okun (3:04)

I've been to Bird Street.

Max Shapiro (3:06)

I'm a member of Petite Hermitage.

BJ Novak (3:08)

There we go.

Jordan Okun (3:10)

Right, but.

BJ Novak (3:11)

Bird Street, I'm not a member there. Poodle Room. You guys. I'm trying to synthesize. I'm not saying you're supposed to be a member of all these places. Synthesize what's the word on the street.

There's all this craze for the private clubs. How's the food?

Jordan Okun (3:24)

Speaking of the of our intro music, let's get to it and then the episode. Okay. Okay.

All right, Mad Food. I'm Jordan. Max is here. And so is BJ Novak, who when he is not hanging out in yurts all across Las Vegas, is in Los Angeles doing all sorts of Hollywood things and also, and maybe more importantly, is continuing to bring his Ode to Chain restaurants concept chain to life. We had to have him back on as Chain has launched at Topanga Westfield. Welcome back, BJ.