How Did This Get Made?

Last Looks: My Secret Santa

January 9, 2026

Key Takeaways Copied to clipboard!

  • The 'Last Looks' segment of *How Did This Get Made?* focused on listener feedback for the movie *My Secret Santa*, including praise for a suggested tagline: "it's not you, it's me." 
  • Paul Scheer promoted his short documentary *Swiftie Dads*, which explores the deeper meaning behind fathers waiting for their daughters at Taylor Swift concerts. 
  • The episode featured an excerpt from Jason Manzukas's appearance on Ted Danson's podcast, *Where Everybody Knows Your Name*, discussing their work on *A Man on the Inside* and *The Good Place*. 

Segments

Podcast Opening and Ads
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(00:00:00)
  • Key Takeaway: The episode opens with advertisements for LinkedIn Jobs, Mazda, and Birch Lane.
  • Summary: LinkedIn Jobs claims employees hired through their platform are 30% more likely to stay over a year. Mazda is promoting its CX-50 hybrid and CX-90 models during its ‘More to Movie Sales event.’ Birch Lane offers timeless furniture and decor with free delivery in days.
Theme Song and Intro
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(00:01:32)
  • Key Takeaway: The ‘Last Looks’ theme song was performed by Latex Drool, filling in for the Screaming Kittens.
  • Summary: The theme song segment featured a jab at the fictional band Screaming Kittens for their alleged lack of commitment. Listeners are directed to hdtgm.com to submit new theme songs, ideally 15 to 20 seconds long.
Host Introduction and Listener Mail
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(00:02:11)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Scheer introduced the segment by reading a listener-submitted tagline for My Secret Santa: “it’s not you, it’s me.”
  • Summary: Paul Scheer, using the pseudonym Hugh Mann, welcomed listeners to the Corrections & Omissions section for My Secret Santa. He praised a Discord user named Dove for the suggested tagline, noting its effectiveness. Scheer also briefly recommended the book Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Paul’s Reading Goals and Shoutouts
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(00:03:54)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Scheer set a personal goal to read five books in the new year to avoid end-of-year disappointment.
  • Summary: Scheer shared his theory on achieving reading goals by front-loading the effort early in the year. He gave a shoutout to Latex Drool for the opening theme song, criticizing the fictional Screaming Kittens for their perceived lack of dedication. Listeners can submit corrections or songs via Discord or the website.
Upcoming Segments Preview
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(00:05:24)
  • Key Takeaway: Upcoming segments include listener corrections on My Secret Santa, an interview clip with Ted Danson, and the announcement of next week’s movie.
  • Summary: The lead actress from My Secret Santa commented on a social media post, offering explanations for her character’s choices. The show will feature an excerpt from Jason’s appearance on Ted Danson’s podcast, Where Everybody Knows Your Name. The segment concludes by previewing the reveal of the next movie selection.
Corrections and Omissions: Movie Logic
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(00:10:00)
  • Key Takeaway: Listeners suggested logical fixes for My Secret Santa, such as setting the opening firing scene at the resort kitchen to tie into the employee discount plot.
  • Summary: A listener named Nixd proposed that having Taylor fired from the resort kitchen would clean up logic issues regarding her need for an employee discount disguise. Another listener questioned Tia Maori’s insistence on unmasking Santa publicly, noting the potential negative publicity for the hotel owner’s son’s promotion.
Corrections and Omissions: Wacky Names and Eggold Dad
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(00:12:02)
  • Key Takeaway: The pseudonym ‘Hugh Mann’ was critiqued as a weak choice for a woman pretending to be a man, with better alternatives suggested like ‘Man Lee’ or ‘Harry Chest’.
  • Summary: Johnny Unusual compared the name ‘Hugh Mann’ to a similar gag in Futurama, arguing it doesn’t fit a female character disguising herself as a man. Another caller confirmed that the actor Eggold’s positive IMDb review was written by his father, James Eggold.
Corrections and Omissions: Common Sense Media
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(00:13:42)
  • Key Takeaway: Paul Scheer was corrected for labeling Common Sense Media as a conservative website; a reviewer confirmed it is progressive and actively audits for DEI content.
  • Summary: Meredith, who works for Common Sense Media, clarified that the organization is liberal and focuses on progressive DEI representation, auditing reviews for positive queer, Black, and disability representation. Mark Kaiserman further clarified that a ‘10+’ rating on the site signifies age suitability, not a quality rating.
Corrections and Omissions: Matthew’s Freaky Behavior
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(00:16:27)
  • Key Takeaway: A continuity error was pointed out regarding Matthew being naked in the locker room immediately after meeting Hugh Mann in the lobby.
  • Summary: A listener questioned why Matthew was already undressing in the locker room after just meeting Hugh Mann moments before in the lobby. Paul Scheer agreed, labeling Matthew a “freaky motherfucker” for the immediate display of his body.
Howdy Awards Relaunch and Canadian Guest
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(00:17:13)
  • Key Takeaway: The podcast announced the relaunch of the ‘Howdy Awards’ for notable moments, prompting a listener to question why Seth Rogen was not categorized as an international guest.
  • Summary: Listeners are encouraged to submit nominations for ‘Howdy Moments’ with time codes for easier year-end compilation. An anonymous caller questioned if omitting Seth Rogen from the international guest category signaled support for Canada becoming the 51st state, which Paul Scheer firmly denied, affirming his respect for Canada.
Anatomy of the Butt
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(00:19:18)
  • Key Takeaway: A doctor caller defined the anatomical start of the butt as the anus, separated from genitalia by the perineum (or taint).
  • Summary: Liz, a doctor, provided a technical answer regarding where the butt begins, identifying the perineum as the tissue strip between genitalia and the anus. She noted that the gluteal muscles originate from the ilium’s iliac crest. She concluded that the ‘butt region’ holistically includes the cheeks, crack, and anus.
Ted Danson Interview Clip
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(00:26:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Ted Danson praised Jason Manzukas’s improvisational style for adding ‘sprinkles of weirdness’ that flow naturally from the scene’s context, contrasting it with actors chasing a ‘big button’ joke.
  • Summary: The clip featured Danson and Manzukas discussing their on-set dynamic, particularly Manzukas’s tendency to call out the action happening in the scene. Manzukas admitted he is more comfortable improvising than being word-perfect, contrasting his style with actors who prepare large jokes in advance. They also discussed the challenge of playing characters with secrets, like Manzukas’s character in The Good Place being the Devil.
Next Movie Announcement
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(00:41:42)
  • Key Takeaway: The next movie for How Did This Get Made? will be the 2001 comic fantasy Monkey Bone, starring Brendan Fraser and directed by the director of The Nightmare Before Christmas.
  • Summary: The next film is Monkey Bone (2001), described by Paul Scheer as a movie about a man’s boner keeping him down. The film has a 21% score on Rotten Tomatoes and features a large supporting cast including Whoopi Goldberg and Bob Odenkirk. The trailer suggests the plot involves a cartoonist trapped in his own creation.