Netflix Refund Ruling And The Real Cost Of Convenience for 4/16/26

We jump from streaming sticker shock to real-life stories where distraction and anger have consequences. Along the way, we argue about when it’s worth canceling, why people act out for attention, and how gratitude can be the strongest response to online cruelty. 

 “Fans of today’s most talked-about podcasts will feel right at home with Thirsty Topics—bringing you unfiltered conversations on culture, social media, and what’s trending now.” 

• Italian court ruling on Netflix price increases and what it could mean for consumers 
• How much Netflix is worth before it becomes a cancel and rent situation 
• Parents charged after toddler enters a wolf enclosure and why phone distraction matters 
• Warehouse arson tied to wage anger and why “revenge” never pays 
• Alex Cooper calling out Alex Earle and whether influencer feuds are real or marketing 
• Delivery robots getting attacked and what it says about public behavior 
• Mark McGrath defending Sugar Ray with gratitude and why it disarms trolls 

Meryl’s upcoming show Wednesday April 22nd at the West Side Comedy Club in Santa Monica, CA.

I would love for people to go on our social media and let us know how much you would spend, what is the most you would spend for Netflix or any of your other favorite streaming networks. 
Please continue to watch us, please continue to listen to us and let people know who we are. 

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Tired of surface-level inspiration? This raw, transformative documentary digs deep into turning pain into purpose. Mainstream platforms wouldn't touch these powerful stories of resilience, but you can access them now on elrodvnetwork.com.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:15

Hello everyone. Welcome to this week's episode of Thirsty Topics. Hey, Meryl. Hey, hey, hey. How are you doing today?

SPEAKER_00 0:25

I'm very good. I'm very, very, very good. How about yourself?

SPEAKER_01 0:29

Doing fantastic. Just enjoying this crazy weather. You know, one day it's 40, next minute it's 80. One day there's flurries, next day it's clear. So, you know.

SPEAKER_00 0:44

I know. And I'll I'll make I'll make plans with people when it's really sunny out. And like I'll tell them my conditions are it has to be sunny. If it's foggy and rainy, like I no longer want to hang out.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

So you want it to be nice out. You know what I mean? You want to be able to enjoy.

SPEAKER_00 1:02

Yeah, yeah. Especially like we'll make plans too to either sit at someone outside or like sit out. And I'm like, I'm sorry, I just don't want to drive to like a picnic if it's rainy or

Hello And Weather Small Talk

SPEAKER_00 1:12

cold or whatever.

SPEAKER_01 1:13

Oh, I don't blame you. I know people say it's supposed to be really nice to dance in the rain. Yeah, and it looks nice on TV, but I don't think that's a lot of fun.

SPEAKER_00 1:23

Yeah, yeah, not so much. I don't want to dance too much.

SPEAKER_01 1:27

Well, we're gonna start off with something very interesting. So, Netflix price hikes have been deemed illegal by European courts. So, an Italian court ruled that Netflix uh unilateral price increases between 2017 and 2024 were illegal, bordering refunds and price rollbacks for millions of users potentially exceeding 2.3 billion in liability. The ruling deemed the hikes uh uh vexatious and lacking valid justification, with similar legal challenges emerging in Germany, um sorry, Germany, Poland, and Spain. Wow. So this is actually pretty interesting on a number of levels because last

Netflix Price Hikes Ruled Illegal

SPEAKER_01 2:24

page is um Netflix is not cheap.

SPEAKER_00 2:27

No, and I don't even know how much I'm paying now. I'm like, am I paying, is it like 18 or 21? Or I don't even look at how much I'm paying to be honest with Netflix.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

I think it's depending on which one you have, because I know one time we switched over to where you pay one amount if you don't want commercials, and a different amount of commercials. So at a minimum, it's around 18-19 bucks a month. Minimum. So I don't know. This is kind of interesting because um it kind of makes you wonder is that gonna make its way over here to the United States?

SPEAKER_00 3:05

You know, I know, I hope so. I feel like it's already so expensive, and it's just like it's one of those charges. I don't know if about YouTube, but like a charge that I forget about every month, and then it happens. I'm like, no, why?

SPEAKER_01 3:20

That's true, that's true. Well, the court of Rome's 16th civil section deemed Netflix price increases on Italian subscriptions void and null, citing violations of the National Consumer Code. So affected users could receive funds of up to 500 euros, which is 540 American money, for premium plans from 2017 to 2024, while standard subscribers could give back roughly 250 euros, which is 270 dollars. Now, let me stress this enough for people listening and starting to get excited. This is not the United States, right?

SPEAKER_00 4:05

Not yet, exactly. It has not come over to us. Yeah, exactly. Now, what would be the most that you would pay for Netflix? Like uh if you had if you with what for a subscription without commercials, like what would be your top price before you were like, never mind, it's not worth it.

SPEAKER_01 4:28

I mean, right now I could tell you it's like 20-something bucks a month, and I'm like you, you know, it's like I've had it so long, I don't even pay attention anymore. You know, I'll see the price increase, get angry and you know, still keep it.

SPEAKER_00 4:41

Me too, but I I'm feeling like for like more and more I I don't know. I feel like 30 for me might be my tipping point for Netflix in particular, because like you know, besides just having Stranger Things on or a few, I'll I would have to see like what shows we like on it, but I feel like we're not like reaching for Netflix as much as we used to.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

Yeah, I mean, I think if it's in the 20s, people will still keep it to me, just because again, um, there may be certain things they like to watch, but I think I think you're right. I think that $30 tipping point may be the point where people go, Yeah, let me think about this. Is this really exactly exactly, exactly?

SPEAKER_00 5:24

Because it I would rather like pay on demand, you know, if there was like one show on Netflix or something that I liked, you know, instead of just pay, I would just like pay for the $9.99 to like watch the season of Stranger Things or whatever I actually cared about.

SPEAKER_01 5:38

And you know what's interesting, Meryl, is that most people when they uh subscribe to let's say Netflix or let's say the Showtime HBO, whatever, a lot of times they're not really watching a lot of shows, they'll subscribe for like one or two specific things they want to see. Yeah, and absolutely that too. So, you know, I like a certain thing on on Showtime, uh, I'm sorry, on stars, but I really don't watch anything else on there except the one or two programs that I really like. So I I can kind of see where you're right. If it gets about $30 a month, I think most people will be like, I don't know, I I this doesn't seem right. Now, I would love for people to go on our social media and let us know how much you would spend, what is the most you would spend for Netflix or any of your other favorite uh streaming networks. This will be an interesting one.

SPEAKER_00 6:37

Exactly. I remember growing up like HBO, we didn't really have it in our household, and that was a very fancy channel. And so, you know, I'd be like, Oh my god, that's beyond premium. That's like what the very rich people have, and then now the fact that like we're able to have HBO in our sad little lives that that makes me very happy.

SPEAKER_01 6:54

Oh wow, I remember when you probably don't even remember this on TV. What was it? It's called on TV.

SPEAKER_00 7:03

Oh, and I don't I never heard of it.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

Yeah, I know I'm dating myself here. It was like this box, and literally it was just on and off. You switch the box, and no, and the the the stuff you didn't pay for, you get the squiggly lines, so you sit there trying to watch squiggly lines trying to figure out what you want to watch.

SPEAKER_03 7:20

Yeah, that's funny.

SPEAKER_01 7:22

We've come a long way from there on on TV and Spectrum, yeah, yeah, yeah, for real.

SPEAKER_00 7:28

Yeah, I think we just had like regular cable, and I had to beg my parents to even get MTV. So like I think if if I was just like living alone and not and I wasn't living with my part, my boyfriend, I think like to me, I could have HBO and Hulu and like live a fine life, and I'm and everything else, I would just you know rent Netflix for like a day and then cancel it after I saw Stranger Things or something.

SPEAKER_01 7:52

Definitely understand that, and you know, that's really the draw with most streaming channels is they uh they get you in on that specific content that you want to watch and you want to see, and you can't see it anywhere else.

SPEAKER_03 8:04

So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:06

But what's crazy, Merle, is even with the high price of so many subscriptions, and just for the record, lrtvnetwork.com doesn't charge those pieces. Exactly. Um, it's still way cheaper than going out to the movies, way cheaper.

SPEAKER_03 8:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Well, you are with Fur Family. I think you're spending about a hundred bucks just walking in the door.

SPEAKER_00 8:29

True. That's why I do have a I have an AMC membership, $24 a month for unlimited movies. Nice. But then it but then it becomes it's like now it's one of those things to me, like the gym or like anything else where now I watch the months go by and now I don't go to the theaters, and so now it's become a stressful thing where it's like I'm like now it's a pressure where I'm like I have to go at least once a month to make it worth it. It's like every every month I just watch my gym membership and my AMC membership just charge me again, and I'm like frozen in fear. Maybe I should make a day where I do both both. It's like gym and movies afternoon.

SPEAKER_01 9:09

There you go. That's true. That's a good a good plan.

SPEAKER_00 9:12

Yeah, totally. Um, well, something that can also be expensive is going to the zoo, and uh some parents recently found out almost how expensive it was. Uh police were charged after their, or sorry, parents were charged after their toddler got into a wolf enclosure at a Pennsylvania zoo. Um the police charged two parents with endangering the welfare of the child of a child after their 18-month-old son slipped into a gap in a fence at Zoo America in Hershey Park and was injured by a wolf through the enclosure barrier. Authorities said parents were distracted by their cell phones and sitting about 25 to 30 feet away when the kid wandered off. Um, the boy suffered minor injured injuries, and officials said the wolf's behavior appeared investigatory rather than aggressive. So they got very lucky that the wolf did not tear him to shreds. Um and also, fun fact I'm from Pennsylvania and Hershey Park was where

Toddler Slips Into Wolf Enclosure

SPEAKER_00 10:11

I had my first kiss with um a sea lion there. Oh, nice. Like a sea lion show, like almost like a sea world sea lion show. And I got called to the front to like do a trick with it, and then it kissed me on the lips. And I think I was like eight or nine years old, and that was legit like my first kiss. So nice, very nice.

SPEAKER_01 10:30

Did you say the photos of it?

SPEAKER_00 10:35

Do you have a picture of that? Um, I think my parents might actually. And like back then I was so, so, so shy, and it was like a nightmare to me that I got picked. But um now I'm I'm I it's crazy to think that they still have animals here, and like oh I don't remember a wolf enclosure being there, even so this must be a newish thing. But I don't know, as a parent, like what do you think about all this? Like, to me, it's so crazy, and I feel like they just there's too many kids all the time falling into like gorilla exhibits and tiger things.

SPEAKER_01 11:07

You know, I personally think they did right charging them because I I've seen stories over the year, Merle, where I've seen parents go into work, forget their kids in the car, or they'll set them in their in the car seat on top of the car and they forget about them and go into the store or whatever. And I'm sitting there thinking, yeah, I and I get it. There's a lot going on when you have kids. Don't get me. I absolutely get it. How the hell do you forget your kids, though? I'm just saying. Or you're in a zoo with wild animals. Now, yes, they're in an enclosure, and you know, they live there, they're still wild animals. And this is an 18-month-old. This is pretty just like a I don't even say an eight or nine-year-old, but an 18-month-old, come on. I mean, there's a point where it's like, and I've seen people on their phones, Murray, where it's like, wow, this person literally almost walked down to the street just not paying attention.

SPEAKER_00 12:06

Exactly. Yeah, I've seen videos too of like there was just one at another zoo where a dad had the kid on his shoulders, and then like right over the bridge was like a crocodile or an alligator. So it's like, why are you carrying this kid where if he was to slip off or something, he's like directly going to where the alligator is. And I just think in this case, though they got so lucky that the wolf was like curious instead of I mean, like it could have been ended in like four seconds for everyone, you know, if like the wolf was feeling a different way.

SPEAKER_01 12:38

Yeah, I mean, if if the wolf was very aggressive, um, your story would be totally different now.

SPEAKER_00 12:45

I think that's why you get it totally so yeah, I think they should be charged. Obviously, like we don't want a young kid being taken away from both of his parents because he's not needing like you know, like to me, they need a strong warning and they need some maybe they get a fine or something, but I also don't think the kid should like go into like adoption hour, you know what I mean? Like like it's still a young kid, so it needs its parents, but I definitely think they should like not be allowed in a zoo again for a couple years.

SPEAKER_01 13:14

Yeah, I think I think personally, um this is going to be a wake-up call, not only to them, but other parents too, that find themselves constantly on their phone, constantly being distracted. And it's like, hey, pay attention to your kids when they're with you, especially young kids. So hopefully, um, hopefully, this is a wake-up call to a lot of parents. Definitely. Well, talk about a wake-up call. Um, I know we've all had our points where we were angry at our job and we didn't want to be there. I get that. I get that. A doc worker in Southern California was so angry at his bosses that he started a fire at a warehouse which stored a ton of paper products. Oh my gosh. So on April 7th, 2026, a 20-year 29-year-old employee was arrested and charged with arson after a massive six-alarm fire destroyed 1.2 million square foot of Kimberly Kirk warehouse in Ontario, California. The employee identified as Jamel Abdou Clarim uh allegedly ignited the fire in

Warehouse Arson Over Pay Anger

SPEAKER_01 14:35

the paper goods facility due to anger over compensation. Now, I actually sent this video. I can't believe this knucklehead actually posted this saying all they had to do was pay us a living wage. I'm sitting there like, no, you do realize I'm sitting there as I'm watching this, like, you know, this is evidence, right? Just saying, you know.

SPEAKER_00 14:56

Yeah, yeah. It can't be more clear in court. It's like, is that you? Yes, okay.

SPEAKER_01 15:04

So, yeah, so um Jamel, a 29-year-old resident of Highland, California, who worked uh for a third-party distributor, NFI Industries. So, uh, he allegedly filmed himself on social media. No, that's not allegedly, you you can watch it on social media. Yep, he did it. Setting fire to pallets of toilet paper, uh stating all you have to do is pay us enough to live. And there goes your inventory. So, the warehouse, which contains a high concentration of paper products, tissue, diapers, etc., was completely engulfed in a six-alarm fire that required about 175 firefighters to combat. So, um, the fire caused severe damage with the roof collapsing and the structure declared a total loss. The incident was deemed suspicious immediately due to the rapid spread of the fire, despite sprinkler systems. Really? Y'all really, you know, couldn't have figured out that something was going on. I mean, I'm just saying the posts on social media did tip you off.

SPEAKER_00 16:17

Exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

So, Merrill, have you ever got that anger you want to burn down your your uh your place?

SPEAKER_00 16:24

Never. Actually, like every job I've had, I've I've not wanted to even cause arson or harm. I think the worst I did was when I left one job. I took a few pens, but that was it. That was it. But like I've I've never luckily I've never hated a job that much. Um, also, of course, it makes me think like that's trees, and you're like ruining paper. Like, of course, you know, I can see like the emotional element of like you want to get back at your um uh businesses, but also like they may get insurance money back and it may make them even wealthier than when they first started. And also you're destroying all these paper papers that were once trees, and that's just like so sad that all these trees had to be cut down just to be like burned to the ground, you know, and not used. Um and I just think that shows like no regulation on that person's end. Like, I'm sorry, but get a new job or like find a way to quit and get a new, like it's not really their fault. And I could I understand we all have like we want vendettas against people that have did us wrong, but at a certain point, like if you're an adult, just like yeah, like find a new job.

SPEAKER_01 17:29

Yeah, and you know the thing is I get it, I totally get it. We've all had jobs that we hated at one point in the time. Of course, I totally get it, but I'm not going to prison for nobody and no job.

SPEAKER_00 17:42

No, exactly, and we have to learn to like change the channel in our own mind where it's like, okay, the best thing you can do is just take yourself away from that situation and just forget they exist and move on, you know.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

I mean, because here's the reality they're gonna rebuild that building, okay? They're gonna get insurance money to cover all of those losses. So once they rebuild it and they're back up and running, you're probably still gonna be sitting in a jail cell. Right. When you think about it at the end of the day, what did you really gain? Just saying. I mean, what did you really gain by it?

SPEAKER_00 18:20

Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 18:22

So yeah, so all right, Meryl. So if you get mad, don't burn down my pl don't burn down my office, okay? Just saying. Let's just talk about it.

SPEAKER_00 18:30

Never, never, or some of the equipment that you sent me. Never. I could I would never. If anything, I would donate a million reams of paper to you. I'd plant a tree in your honor.

SPEAKER_01 18:43

Nice.

SPEAKER_00 18:43

Um, well, that's a good one. Uh my my next one. Oh, okay, okay. I'm so excited about this one. Um, my next, my next two are gonna be about like just clapping back on social media and just kind of uh making statements on social media. So the first of my two um is that so today when we record, I'm sure more will unfold about this, but at the time of our recording, Alex Cooper, who uh we we won't need to go into all the lore, but basically, if people don't know her, she's a podcaster. She was with Barstool Sports, um, and she had a really popular podcast called Call Her Daddy, and then she broke off from that network, and then now she has her own network called the Unwell Network. And so anyway, she's like, you know, in her 30s and very popular, blonde. She just interviewed Miley Cyrus for Hannah Montana, and um, she's not, she's definitely known for drama. Like she had a lot of drama with her past co-hosts, and um,

Alex Vs Alex Influencer Callout

SPEAKER_00 19:42

she took when she started the Unwell Network, she took on an influencer named Alex Earl. So this is the story about two blonde. I view them as mediocre, but whatever, you know, we'll skip past that part. Two blonde uh influencer hot girls named Alex, who are both very wealthy and very popular, but uh they have had some beef, Alex versus Alex, in the past couple months, and people, and now Alex Earl is no longer with the network. Some people say it's about money, some people say it's about, you know, I don't know, just kind of the weird nitty-gritty like working together in contracts. Today, Alex Cooper went right on TikTok and addressed her feud with Alex Earl directly, saying, like, calling her out and tagging her and just saying, like, hey, Alex, I see that you're sub-tweeting me and you know, posting all these passive aggressive things. And I, you know, I'm kind of done with this. So just call it out to the people. Like, you don't have an NDA against you. So, like, if you want to talk, talk kind of thing, and like let's hear it, you know. Otherwise, stop call stop kind of poking me because like I'm getting all these DMs. So if you have to say something, say something and kind of, you know, gave her the stage. Um, and I just thought, like, I'm not a big fan of her, but I thought that was like a really funny thing to do, just to be like, I'm sick of this shit, you know. If you have something, tell the people. Now, some people were mad at Alex Cooper because they were like, Well, why don't you say it? You know, you're coming online, why don't you immediately say like why you guys have a beef? But she was like, Nope, it's not my job to, I'm not the one still like making this somewhat public. So I know it's a lot for people to take, but basically, what do you think about people like coming online to their socials and just almost like igniting the feud, saying, you know, if you if you got something, let's say it, let's hear it out loud.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

You know, unfortunately, Merle, we we see this all the time, especially in the entertainment industry. Um, and I don't know, sometimes you kind of wonder is it a publicity stunt? Sometimes it's legit. I know. Yeah. There's also times where it's a publicity stunt. And you know, luckily it's not like it used to be, you know, like when they used to have um, you know, uh Beef going back and forth between different rappers, and sometimes it would get potentially violent. Um, you know, luckily it's not got to that point anymore, but yeah, you know, I can I'm kind of suspect because sometimes I think these beefs have a an additional motive to it. And it's not all just beef. And again, I could be wrong. I don't think it's in every situation, but I think a lot of it is you know, either their 15 minutes of fame, um, they're trying to put their name out there, um, they're trying to promote something, and this gives them publicity because some people still believe that any publicity is good publicity. So I think there's a number of reasons why a lot of people do that.

SPEAKER_00 22:48

Okay. I love the fact of just someone, I think it's refreshing in this day and age to like name names because I feel like also there's just so much like passive aggressive, like I see a lot of like influencers being like, This brand did something to me, or I ran into this influencer, and we all have to guess. I just love what maybe it's like my like Leo side or something, but I love when someone's like, hey, Alex Earl, like tell the people what's going on, you know. Like, I love the directness. And I think to me, that's like a good. I mean, you're really poking the honey beer, honey hive, what you know, or basically you're swinging at the hive. And so, like, either two things are gonna happen, and that's gonna kind of scare Alex Earl down to submission, or it's going to like, now you've hit an angry hive, and now she's gonna say, Okay, you want me to tell everything that I don't like? Like, here we go, this, that, the other thing, you know. So you're kind of poking, and um, but if this has been like the best thing to me that Alex Cooper has done. Like, this is the first time I'm like, I like this, so uh I'm invested. It's a it's the Alex versus Alex. I feel like this is like a very online white, annoying, blonde influencer Olympics. This is my this is my uh my American Olympics here.

SPEAKER_01 24:03

There you go. And I think this is another one of those stories where it's probably gonna be more coming coming to this story.

SPEAKER_00 24:10

Oh, definitely. I bet by the time we post this, people will because now everyone, of course, like, and I think it's this is good, like this is how we used to duel out in the world, you know. Now it's online, but before it was like in front of people, like two gladiators, you know, and now Alex Cooper has done a good job by transferring the masses to like her opponent, and now we're all like, well, make a statement, you know. So uh it was definitely like a strong, bitchy woman thing to do, which like uh to me, it's got balls. I would love to hear from people if they just if they feel the opposite, and if they're like, because I a lot of people do, people are like, This is cringy, I have secondhand embarrassment, and a lot of people were saying, if you're gonna call someone out, then like you be the one to say, here's what happened, you know. Uh, but yeah, I would love to hear what people say. Also, it's hilarious. Everyone seems to think they're the same person. Like, everyone's like, I'm so confused. I thought that I thought they were one another.

SPEAKER_01 25:08

Like see that, I can see that.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

So, yeah, we'll have to we'll keep you updated. Or we won't if no one cares.

SPEAKER_01 25:22

Oh, don't worry, it'll be back in the news. Okay, good. Well, talk about in the news again. This must be Angry People's Week, I guess. But my last topic is people are attacking food delivery robots. So, food delivery robots are experiencing frequent attacks, including being kicked, tipped over, and vandalized in cities like Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and across the UK. The incidents often stem from curiosity, frustration with sidewalk congestion, or attempts to create viral social media content. I have seen these videos and it's wow, it's you guys really can't.

SPEAKER_00 26:08

Yeah, I can't see that.

SPEAKER_01 26:11

Um but yeah, what's crazy is that robots have been kicked, sat on, don't know why you would sit on one, and knocked over in high traffic areas. Uh, some of the individuals attempted to break into the locked cargo compartment to steal food. Okay.

Why People Attack Delivery Robots

SPEAKER_01 26:29

But what's crazy about this is that despite the attacks, companies report high completion rates, and the robots uh record video, which can be used to identify culprits. In some cases, bystanders have intervened to defend the robots from vandals. I don't know if I do that. I mean, it's one thing if it was a person, but it's a robot, you know. Uh I don't know if I'm gonna jump in the middle of that. What do you think, Meryl?

SPEAKER_00 27:00

I agree. Oh my gosh. I the food delivery robots, I feel so bad for them. And like, I wouldn't, I mean, I I don't I know I can't feel for them. They're not like a human, but you I don't know, it's like you have to be a special type of crazed lunatic, because to me, like they just look so sweet, and I feel like if anything, it they like seem like I know they don't have like personalities and real you know feelings, but it says a lot about a person to me, how they would treat like a robot and just take I don't know, take liberties to be harmful and be destructive.

SPEAKER_01 27:32

Yeah, that's true. And I mean some of these people were like really was so angry at these robots. It's like I know, I don't get it. There's there's other jobs out there, you know. If you can't be a delivery guy, I'm just saying, you know.

SPEAKER_00 27:45

I know, and like when I see them because they get stuck a lot of times across the street, and it's like it's actually sad watching one uh, you know, try to be stuck like sideways or just be confused or anything. Like, and I think I told you this before too. But one time we saw one, there was a bunch of them lined up and they were getting ready to go into their truck, remember to go like night night. And so I really almost cried because my boyfriend was like, Oh, they're getting ready all to like go to bed, and they were like, they were all going onto the truck like to go to sleep, basically. And I'm like, I can't understand wanting to harm them.

SPEAKER_01 28:19

Yeah, I mean, this is a crazy trend to me. I did not know they had cameras on them, so it's like, okay, so now you're gonna get arrested for attacking a robot. Very smart. There we go.

SPEAKER_00 28:32

Exactly. Which which also makes me feel like now they can see things that are happening on the streets, too.

SPEAKER_01 28:39

Wow, that's a good point. That's a good point. Yeah, something tells me that this is not going to last very long.

SPEAKER_00 28:50

No, be nice to your local robots. Well, my last one um is another one we shouldn't be mean to, and which is singers of bands that were popular in the 90s and early 2000s. And I just think this is such a great story. Um, Mark McGrath clapped back after someone mocked Sugar Ray online. The Sugar Ray frontman Mark McGrath responded online um after commentators made fun of the band for performing at Disney World's Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival. The reaction seemed to have be tied to people treating the event like a punchline. Um, McGrath pushed back by defending both the festival and the band's place in pop nostalgia. So someone said, like, you know, we're um performing in like a parking lot, basically, and you know, how sad this must be for you. And he said the ultimate thing, which is just like, you know what? I'm happy to perform anywhere now in this day and age, and like I'm so grateful to get the ability to perform for

Sugar Ray Clapback And Gratitude

SPEAKER_00 29:54

anyone that will have us. And I'm like, you know, bravo. You can't really shame someone after they show gratitude and humbleness. And I just think that's like the perfect answer. And like, how I don't know, how dare that person just be like take someone down because he's doing what he loves, and like who cares where people are performing or where we see them? Like, this is you know, he's doing what he loves. And I just think that's such a loser mentality to comment and try to like shame someone or bring them down. And I just think like we need more of people saying, you know what, not only am I doing it, but I'm proud of it and I'm grateful to for this opportunity. And also they perform for festivals and like they do big shows too, and you know, so like whatever, but even if they didn't, it's still okay. So I just think you're such a loser if you like bring people down like that.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

Oh, I agree, and I'd be interested to find out. Um, okay, these people that's making all these comments, what are you doing with your life right now?

SPEAKER_00 30:52

Oh, yeah, never anything good, never ever, ever anything good.

SPEAKER_01 30:56

I would love to know that because one thing I've learned people that are doing positive, doing great things, they're not the ones throwing stones, they don't throw stones down. It's the people that think that you know, you're doing things, you know, you're making strides, they're the ones throwing stones up.

SPEAKER_00 31:13

So exactly. And like maybe besides Taylor Swift, or like every artist and every person has to do stuff that it seems quote unquote beneath them, or you know, like even all the bands that we love, they they have to play casinos sometimes, they have to play festivals, and it's like that's not a sad thing. Like, if anything, it's so nice that what we still know these bands and still want to come out and see them. So I don't know. I think I get especially sensitive about this one because a lot of the bands I love are from the 90s and they are playing weird, you know, flower garden type shows. But to me, like as a fan, I'm we're so lucky to be able to see them perform anywhere. So I just think that was such an awesome, classy remark of Mark McGrath, and just so awesome to like come back at him and say, you know, we're so happy to be performing anywhere. And I and that's smart from like a publicity thing because now you have everyone on your side and like backing you up.

SPEAKER_01 32:11

Oh, yeah. And you know, the best way to piss people off that's trying to throw stones at you is to give them a smile and keep moving forward.

SPEAKER_00 32:19

That's the best exactly, and I really do feel like gratitude and having gratitude is like the most like like kryptonite towards anyone else. Cause you're like, oh well, I'm grateful to be performing anywhere I can, and you know, I'm sorry, you don't feel that way, but like I'm happy with it. That's like the best shield you can have.

SPEAKER_01 32:38

Yes, it is, yes, it is, and I would just say keep doing what you're doing, and you know, let the people choke off your success. Exactly. Well, talk about great things. Um, Meryl, what do you have coming up with?

SPEAKER_00 32:55

Well, speaking of flower garden, I'll be I I should be so lucky to perform where Sugar Ray is performing. Um, but yeah, I have a show uh Wednesday, April 22nd at the West Side Comedy Club in Santa Monica, and it should be a very fun one. So that's Wednesday, April 22nd.

SPEAKER_01 33:16

All right now, now mark your calendar. She gave you plenty of time to get the babysitters set up so this way you can sneak out, you know, with the boys, with your girlfriends, or on a gym, whatever you want to do. Exactly. Totally. This was a lot of fun. There's some great it was, you know, and again, if you have a problem with your job, don't burn it down, just leave, just quit.

SPEAKER_00 33:41

Exactly. Yeah, we're learning a lot. It's like be proud of what you're doing, but if you're not proud, don't burn it down.

Upcoming Comedy Show And Farewell

SPEAKER_01 33:48

Exactly. Exactly. Well, everyone, as you can see, we had a lot of fun, covered a lot of great topics today. Uh, we appreciate your support. Uh, please continue to watch us, please continue to listen to us and let people know who we are. I'm Lawrence Elrod.

SPEAKER_00 34:05

And I'm Meryl Climo.

SPEAKER_01 34:07

Take care, everyone.

SPEAKER_00 34:09

Bye bye. Bye bye.