1 00:00:01,760 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: Al Zoe Media Stay. 2 00:00:24,400 --> 00:00:57,720 Speaker 2: Six Welcome back to sixteenth Minute, the podcast where we 3 00:00:57,760 --> 00:01:00,400 Speaker 2: talk to the Internet's characters of the day and figure 4 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,960 Speaker 2: out how their moment affected them and what it says 5 00:01:03,000 --> 00:01:05,959 Speaker 2: about us and the Internet. And today we are doing 6 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,240 Speaker 2: a little bit of bonus content bibe, a little treat 7 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 2: for my friends, a little cyclical meat for my friends, 8 00:01:14,280 --> 00:01:16,319 Speaker 2: because today I want to share a little bit about 9 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,920 Speaker 2: my time in Las Vegas from last month when I 10 00:01:18,959 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 2: went to go see the Takaro Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut 11 00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: showdown that happened on Labor Day. The event itself was 12 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:31,839 Speaker 2: broadcast live on Netflix. It was called Unfinished Beef. Pretty 13 00:01:31,840 --> 00:01:34,199 Speaker 2: good title, you gotta admit. And it was a part 14 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 2: of this new initiative from Netflix that maybe you've noticed 15 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 2: in the last year there live streaming more things across genres, 16 00:01:42,280 --> 00:01:44,440 Speaker 2: and this appeared to kind of be an experiment to 17 00:01:44,480 --> 00:01:48,760 Speaker 2: see how hotdog eating would play in this format. And 18 00:01:49,480 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 2: to start, I want to be clear about one thing. 19 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,200 Speaker 2: Hot dog eating is sports. And this was the first 20 00:01:56,240 --> 00:02:00,680 Speaker 2: event I had ever been to that unquestionably treated hot 21 00:02:00,680 --> 00:02:03,840 Speaker 2: dog eating like sports. I would not have missed it 22 00:02:03,880 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 2: for the world. I literally flew myself there. I am 23 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,440 Speaker 2: very invested in the rivalry of Kobayashi v. Chestnuts. So 24 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:14,639 Speaker 2: if you want to hear the full story of that rivalry, 25 00:02:14,840 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: both online and off, as well as all of the 26 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:21,440 Speaker 2: intersecting media narratives that followed them over the years, that 27 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:23,840 Speaker 2: is in our episode that came out earlier this week. 28 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 2: But today I am taking you to an event I 29 00:02:26,960 --> 00:02:31,160 Speaker 2: was convinced would never happen the day that Joey and 30 00:02:31,240 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 2: Kobe faced off one last time on September two, twenty 31 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:38,960 Speaker 2: twenty four. As well as a little more from our 32 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:42,760 Speaker 2: guest from our last episode, Nicole Lucas Haymes, who is 33 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:46,600 Speaker 2: both an executive producer on Unfinished Beef on Netflix as 34 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:50,360 Speaker 2: well as the director of the iconic twenty nineteen thirty 35 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:55,120 Speaker 2: for thirty documentary on this rivalry called The Good, The Bad, 36 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,760 Speaker 2: the Hungry. So come with me if you will till 37 00:03:00,040 --> 00:03:06,280 Speaker 2: Las Vegas. It's September in Vegas, and so it's so 38 00:03:06,480 --> 00:03:09,240 Speaker 2: hot I want to die and I'm here to see 39 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 2: who after fifteen years of not competing against each other, 40 00:03:14,000 --> 00:03:17,400 Speaker 2: has come out to see Kobayashi and Chestnut compete live 41 00:03:17,680 --> 00:03:20,720 Speaker 2: at the Hyperax Arena in the middle of Labor Day, 42 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 2: and as my friend and writer at The Ringer Jody 43 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 2: Walker mentions in her wonderful coverage of the event, which 44 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 2: I will link in the description, Labor Day clocks in 45 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,560 Speaker 2: as an American holiday pretty close in jingoism to the 46 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 2: Fourth of July. It's a celebration of the social and 47 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:42,400 Speaker 2: economic achievements of the American worker, or it's supposed to be. 48 00:03:42,720 --> 00:03:46,200 Speaker 2: It began as a celebration of unions and collective efforts 49 00:03:46,240 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 2: to cut down grueling work schedules in favor of more 50 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:53,800 Speaker 2: manageable hours and wages. But like many American holidays, over time, 51 00:03:54,040 --> 00:03:57,040 Speaker 2: Labor Day has become a day to enjoy heavily processed 52 00:03:57,040 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 2: meat with your friends. But this year I am clo 53 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:04,880 Speaker 2: walking in on Labor Day in Vegas, in this blisteringly hot, 54 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,320 Speaker 2: completely mollified American city to hear why the workers of 55 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,960 Speaker 2: America are spending their leisure day watching these guys eat 56 00:04:14,760 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 2: hundreds of hot dogs. And just as Labor Day is 57 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:20,680 Speaker 2: the second best holiday for such an event, Las Vegas 58 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,800 Speaker 2: feels like the second best location to Coney Island, where 59 00:04:24,839 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 2: the Nathan's famous Hot Dog contest happens every fourth of 60 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:31,360 Speaker 2: July since the nineteen seventies and where Joey and Kobe 61 00:04:31,400 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 2: faced off for the better part of the two thousands, 62 00:04:33,920 --> 00:04:36,359 Speaker 2: kicking off this rivalry in the first place. And this 63 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:39,680 Speaker 2: event was happening right on the strip, and I like 64 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,080 Speaker 2: this strip. It's like if the Mall of America got 65 00:04:42,160 --> 00:04:46,800 Speaker 2: drunk and sharded itself. When I arrive at the Hyperrex Arena, 66 00:04:47,000 --> 00:04:50,560 Speaker 2: I am far from alone. There is a lot of 67 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:54,360 Speaker 2: press here and technically I'm not even here as press. 68 00:04:54,880 --> 00:04:58,560 Speaker 2: I am technically here as a guest of Netflix. I 69 00:04:58,600 --> 00:05:00,560 Speaker 2: took a meeting with some of the produce of this 70 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,320 Speaker 2: special while it was still coming together earlier in the summer, 71 00:05:03,720 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 2: and I managed to scam my way into VIP access 72 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:10,640 Speaker 2: instead of mixing among the plebes, which was honestly surprising 73 00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 2: to me because I was fully planning on being one 74 00:05:13,360 --> 00:05:16,599 Speaker 2: of the plebes. I just reserved normal tickets because I 75 00:05:16,640 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 2: assumed I would not be able to con Netflix into 76 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 2: letting me go, but I did. There was a lot 77 00:05:22,240 --> 00:05:25,800 Speaker 2: of press around this event, and it's largely appealing to 78 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:29,719 Speaker 2: the nostalgia of this rivalry that's been going on for 79 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 2: the better part of twenty years. So I wasn't sure 80 00:05:32,320 --> 00:05:35,520 Speaker 2: what to expect, because it seemed like this event came 81 00:05:35,560 --> 00:05:39,080 Speaker 2: together pretty rapidly, and down to the day it happens, 82 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 2: I had a lot of questions about what this event 83 00:05:41,760 --> 00:05:44,919 Speaker 2: was really going to be. What I did know was 84 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:49,839 Speaker 2: that the rematch was the brainchild of director Nicole Lucas Hayms, who, 85 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,599 Speaker 2: as we discussed in the last episode, was the first 86 00:05:52,640 --> 00:05:56,360 Speaker 2: person to really pull in the personal narratives of both 87 00:05:56,440 --> 00:05:59,680 Speaker 2: Joey and Kobe in her thirty for thirty, along with 88 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:04,560 Speaker 2: kN textualizing their relationship with Major League Eating and its 89 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: top brass George Shay. Nicole had been wanting to make 90 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:11,000 Speaker 2: this happen for half a decade, and in summer twenty 91 00:06:11,000 --> 00:06:15,040 Speaker 2: twenty four, everything suddenly came together for the first time. 92 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:19,160 Speaker 2: Joey Chestnut was finally contractually available to do a rematch 93 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,240 Speaker 2: during a year that Netflix happened to be seeking out 94 00:06:22,360 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 2: high profile live stream opportunities, and in the coincidence of 95 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,479 Speaker 2: the century, one of the producers that Nicole had worked 96 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:32,880 Speaker 2: with at ESPN on the thirty for thirty had since 97 00:06:32,920 --> 00:06:35,840 Speaker 2: moved over to Netflix. So I met the hyperex arena 98 00:06:36,000 --> 00:06:40,120 Speaker 2: and the line is winding and buzzing with energy, even 99 00:06:40,120 --> 00:06:42,919 Speaker 2: though it's ten in the morning and everyone seems a 100 00:06:42,960 --> 00:06:45,719 Speaker 2: little bit hungover, and the Paya Day workers that have 101 00:06:45,760 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 2: been hired by Netflix are circling in the crowd and 102 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 2: distributing T shirts for people to wear on the broadcast. 103 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 2: The white T shirts say Team Chestnut, the black T 104 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: shirts say Team Kobe, and yes, I managed to get 105 00:06:59,720 --> 00:07:02,280 Speaker 2: one of each. The event is to be hosted by 106 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: comedian and Daily Wire alumni Rob Wriggle, along with w 107 00:07:07,960 --> 00:07:11,560 Speaker 2: w E wrestling legend Nikki Bella. I am two hours 108 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:15,720 Speaker 2: early and there's already hundreds of people in line, and 109 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 2: I quickly realized the only way to narrow down who 110 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:21,320 Speaker 2: I should be talking to in this line was to 111 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 2: commit to only talking to people who were dressed like 112 00:07:24,080 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 2: hot dogs. What brought you here? Event? 113 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:28,600 Speaker 3: We were and I are dating. 114 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 4: And the first thing that I saw when I went 115 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 4: to El Nathan's hot competition nod. 116 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,680 Speaker 2: Like a first day. I really like the first day, 117 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:39,920 Speaker 2: but my first time. 118 00:07:40,000 --> 00:07:42,880 Speaker 5: They have your family at. 119 00:07:41,960 --> 00:07:45,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, are you rooting for one person? Fore the today 120 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:48,200 Speaker 2: we're writing for kobyash You see how the underdog will 121 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 2: compete with chests out for sure. Nice to meet you, 122 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:56,160 Speaker 2: great outfits were the same at home. Yeah, we're just 123 00:07:56,240 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 2: out here because like it's a great time to hang 124 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,040 Speaker 2: out with friends, like everyone comes together for competitive eating. 125 00:08:01,160 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 2: Like yeah, if you don't see Jillian Kobayashi, Like why 126 00:08:03,840 --> 00:08:05,960 Speaker 2: are you even here? Are you from around here? Oh 127 00:08:06,000 --> 00:08:07,480 Speaker 2: we're from Denver? Oh see? 128 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:09,320 Speaker 1: Yeah? 129 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 2: And then who are you rooting for? 130 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 6: Today? 131 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:16,000 Speaker 4: We were to Kobe but you can't both of them. 132 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:21,600 Speaker 7: Yeah, my name's Carrie, Hi, I shall Anastasia and j Hello. 133 00:08:22,200 --> 00:08:27,600 Speaker 2: What brings you bird today? Yeah? Okay, oh my god, 134 00:08:27,640 --> 00:08:29,800 Speaker 2: you live birthday. 135 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:31,160 Speaker 8: And here I am all on the same day. 136 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 5: And this couldn't have happened at a better time. Part 137 00:08:33,080 --> 00:08:35,640 Speaker 5: time in Vegas has been great, but were we're not 138 00:08:35,679 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 5: here to experience Vegas now here the hand dog when 139 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:39,480 Speaker 5: here for the challenge. 140 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: We're here to see Kobe. 141 00:08:41,559 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 6: Take all. 142 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 2: And he's gonna win. 143 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 9: I'm not. 144 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:52,240 Speaker 2: I'm not he especially the goal he is the goat. Okay, 145 00:08:52,480 --> 00:08:56,680 Speaker 2: what brings you here today? Well, because I've never gone 146 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:00,720 Speaker 2: to a hot sageting competition before, no way, so, and 147 00:09:01,160 --> 00:09:03,720 Speaker 2: I know Joey Chestnut because I've seen him. 148 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 3: In like misteris Vidius. 149 00:09:05,640 --> 00:09:07,600 Speaker 2: So I just really wanted to come and see them. 150 00:09:07,640 --> 00:09:10,600 Speaker 2: So did you have the costume already? Yeah, because I were. 151 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 2: I was a hot dog as for Halloween like two 152 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: years ago. Sides, he's had the costumes all right. 153 00:09:15,240 --> 00:09:19,800 Speaker 10: Well, crazy guys, Plezzy time, Gluzzy Goblin, that's his time. 154 00:09:19,960 --> 00:09:21,240 Speaker 11: Yes, take it out. 155 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: Were you watching as this rivalry was originally playing out, Yes. 156 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:28,480 Speaker 4: Joey Chestnut all day. I think you takes them down. 157 00:09:28,520 --> 00:09:29,520 Speaker 4: I think it's with ease. 158 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,320 Speaker 8: I think Kobeyashi's puking at the animile. 159 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,360 Speaker 10: Joey's taken down his eightieth plesy. 160 00:09:34,520 --> 00:09:35,680 Speaker 12: I would love to see our shirt. 161 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:37,200 Speaker 1: Oh my gosh, there custom made. 162 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:41,079 Speaker 5: Wait, our faces are like, god, wait, that's not us. 163 00:09:41,240 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 7: You can't tell. 164 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:43,199 Speaker 2: Because we're in disguised right now. 165 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:45,840 Speaker 10: That's yes, we brought two extras so we can handle 166 00:09:45,920 --> 00:09:46,960 Speaker 10: Kobayashi and Chesna. 167 00:09:47,240 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 2: So we've been rooting for Chessnut, but it just feels 168 00:09:49,480 --> 00:09:51,120 Speaker 2: wrong to go against the og too. 169 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:52,640 Speaker 12: So that's what I just so thank yiss. 170 00:09:54,280 --> 00:09:54,480 Speaker 9: Time. 171 00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 2: So you can tell a lot of different kinds of 172 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 2: people are here in the people who had dressed up 173 00:10:00,880 --> 00:10:05,160 Speaker 2: as hot dogs alone, and everyone was very very excited 174 00:10:05,160 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 2: to be there, and particularly after I had scammed my 175 00:10:08,200 --> 00:10:11,560 Speaker 2: way into Joey and Kobe t shirts because I don't 176 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:13,680 Speaker 2: take sides when both of my husbands are involved. I 177 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:16,800 Speaker 2: was eager to see how this event was going to 178 00:10:16,840 --> 00:10:20,800 Speaker 2: be approached because the rollout for this event, well, there's 179 00:10:20,840 --> 00:10:24,480 Speaker 2: some lore to the casual fan. A Joey Kobe rematch 180 00:10:24,800 --> 00:10:27,080 Speaker 2: might have seemed like it came out of nowhere. It's 181 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:31,360 Speaker 2: been fifteen years since the very dramatic parting of this rivalry, 182 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,160 Speaker 2: which peaked with Kobe Yashi being publicly arrested on Coney 183 00:10:35,200 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 2: Island while protesting Major League Eating's refusal to let him 184 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:41,040 Speaker 2: participate in the twenty ten contest. You can listen to 185 00:10:41,080 --> 00:10:43,400 Speaker 2: our previous episode to know the full story. But a 186 00:10:43,480 --> 00:10:45,920 Speaker 2: major factor as to why this. 187 00:10:45,840 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 10: Happened Japan's Eating champion has been arrested after a fight 188 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 10: at a hot dog competition in New York. 189 00:10:52,559 --> 00:10:56,960 Speaker 2: Was because of Kobe's contractual issues with Major League Eating 190 00:10:57,720 --> 00:11:02,960 Speaker 2: and xenophobia. But on paper contract issues, Kobeyashi felt his 191 00:11:03,120 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 2: professional potential and ability to take on other sponsorships was 192 00:11:07,120 --> 00:11:11,680 Speaker 2: extremely limited by Major League Eating because it was, but 193 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:14,240 Speaker 2: his pushing back on this did not go over well, 194 00:11:14,440 --> 00:11:18,240 Speaker 2: and ultimately, amongst many other tensions, This was a major 195 00:11:18,280 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 2: factor as to why he walked away from a contract renewal. 196 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:24,640 Speaker 2: But this was in the late two thousands, and it's 197 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:27,440 Speaker 2: interesting to watch why many people choose not to be 198 00:11:27,559 --> 00:11:30,520 Speaker 2: with the mL now. The reason some eaters don't fuck 199 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,800 Speaker 2: with the organization is because you can make more money 200 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:37,280 Speaker 2: as an eating influencer. A great example is an eater 201 00:11:37,400 --> 00:11:40,160 Speaker 2: named Matt Stoney, who has been the only person to 202 00:11:40,200 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 2: defeat Joey Chesnut in the Nathan's Contest after Kobe departed 203 00:11:44,200 --> 00:11:48,760 Speaker 2: in an otherwise uninterrupted seventeen year victory run. 204 00:11:49,120 --> 00:11:55,959 Speaker 11: Now five seconds, what's in the mouthcounts, so they both 205 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 11: are struggling to keep what's in the mouth in the mouth. 206 00:11:59,120 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 11: The competition is now done and it appears that Matt 207 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:04,720 Speaker 11: Stony is our new champion. 208 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 2: God Major League Gating has problems, but the commentary is 209 00:12:09,080 --> 00:12:13,920 Speaker 2: just waw. Matt Stoney is still very much a working eater. 210 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: In fact, he is basically the opening act at this 211 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,840 Speaker 2: Netflix event, but he doesn't compete in the Nathan's Contest anymore. 212 00:12:21,240 --> 00:12:23,600 Speaker 2: He's been more focused on his YouTube channel in the 213 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 2: past five years, where he currently has over sixteen million followers. 214 00:12:29,120 --> 00:12:32,240 Speaker 2: And I don't have figures to certify definitely means more 215 00:12:32,280 --> 00:12:35,280 Speaker 2: money than one would have under an MLA contract. But 216 00:12:35,920 --> 00:12:39,359 Speaker 2: with the exception of the league's top eaters, most professional 217 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:43,079 Speaker 2: eaters have not quit their day jobs. But still, professional 218 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:47,560 Speaker 2: hotdog eating isn't really popular enough to command contract drama 219 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:51,079 Speaker 2: outside of their biggest stars. So really, if anyone was 220 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,000 Speaker 2: going to have enough name recognition to stir the pot 221 00:12:54,040 --> 00:12:56,760 Speaker 2: when it came to renewing their contract, it would have 222 00:12:56,840 --> 00:13:01,280 Speaker 2: to be like Joey Chestnut, And in June twenty twenty four, 223 00:13:02,120 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 2: it was Joey chest Nut. 224 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,560 Speaker 9: It's something that has left fans and competitors alike in shock. 225 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,840 Speaker 9: You might have already heard the buzz, but yes, it's true. 226 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:13,160 Speaker 9: Joey chestnutt, the king of the Nathan's Famous International hot 227 00:13:13,160 --> 00:13:16,839 Speaker 9: Dog Eating Contest, won't be competing this year. This news 228 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:19,360 Speaker 9: has sent ripples through the competitive eating community. 229 00:13:19,920 --> 00:13:21,920 Speaker 2: This was a lot of drama for me. I was 230 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:24,679 Speaker 2: in New York City. Why was I in New York City? 231 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,080 Speaker 2: Of course, to make a speech in front of the 232 00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 2: hot dog in Times Square that ejaculates confetti that you 233 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 2: can listen to the episode about. But this was just 234 00:13:32,679 --> 00:13:36,560 Speaker 2: a very dramatic time in the hot dog community. We 235 00:13:36,679 --> 00:13:38,959 Speaker 2: didn't see it coming. We knew he was going to 236 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:42,360 Speaker 2: retire at some point, but this wasn't a retirement. This 237 00:13:42,600 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: was walking away from the mL. And right away I 238 00:13:45,559 --> 00:13:47,720 Speaker 2: noticed that there were a lot of media narratives that 239 00:13:47,800 --> 00:13:51,880 Speaker 2: were competing with the real truth. It's very possible that 240 00:13:51,920 --> 00:13:54,800 Speaker 2: there is some bad blood between Joey Chestnutt and Major 241 00:13:54,880 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 2: League Eating, but none of that has been formally confirmed. 242 00:13:58,480 --> 00:14:01,400 Speaker 2: What we know is that Joeoe was offered a contract 243 00:14:01,440 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 2: with Impossible Foods that Major League Eating felt violated their 244 00:14:05,800 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 2: long standing relationship with Nathan's Famous hot Dogs, which would 245 00:14:09,760 --> 00:14:13,120 Speaker 2: be a rival brand, and for whatever reason legal, I'm 246 00:14:13,160 --> 00:14:17,440 Speaker 2: assuming the mL forces Joey to choose between staying in 247 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 2: the contest he became famous for, or this new deal 248 00:14:21,520 --> 00:14:25,080 Speaker 2: with Impossible and Joey honestly, like I said in the 249 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,960 Speaker 2: last episode, Joey is more famous than the hot dog 250 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:30,920 Speaker 2: eating contest at this point, so he goes with Impossible, 251 00:14:31,400 --> 00:14:34,760 Speaker 2: and this prompts a number of silly media narratives, including 252 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:38,760 Speaker 2: the idea that Joey went woke and went broke by 253 00:14:38,880 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 2: taking money from Vegan hot Dogs, which isn't even true. 254 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:44,680 Speaker 2: He still eats meat The other narrative I saw a 255 00:14:44,760 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 2: lot was that Joey had been banned permanently from the 256 00:14:48,640 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 2: Nathan's Contest, which is also not technically true. Major League 257 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 2: Eating has said he's welcomed back if he stops working 258 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:59,040 Speaker 2: with competing brands, and a quick side note here, Joey 259 00:14:59,080 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 2: does have other ongoing business partnerships, I guess, just not 260 00:15:02,400 --> 00:15:05,840 Speaker 2: ones that compete with a hot dog brand. I say 261 00:15:05,840 --> 00:15:08,600 Speaker 2: this because I wanted to shout out my favorite Joey 262 00:15:08,640 --> 00:15:14,440 Speaker 2: Chestnut collab, his ongoing partnership with Dudewipes. 263 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:20,320 Speaker 10: Horn seventy six hot dogs ten minutes to make a legends. 264 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 2: But what happens after that's kind of explosive. 265 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:35,040 Speaker 10: To behind the eating with Joey Chestnuts presented by dude wipes. 266 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:43,560 Speaker 2: Sure, dude wipes are a gendered musky butt wipe for men. 267 00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:47,800 Speaker 2: I mean, if you're going to make aggressively gendered man wipes, 268 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:50,680 Speaker 2: I guess Joey Chestnut kind of he is your guy. 269 00:15:50,760 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: He's a dirty boy. 270 00:15:52,120 --> 00:16:06,640 Speaker 3: He needs his boy wipe. 271 00:16:08,720 --> 00:16:13,840 Speaker 2: Anyways, it's the impossible foods partnership that severs the relationship 272 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,200 Speaker 2: between Joey and Major League Eating, and Joey makes a 273 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:21,640 Speaker 2: formal statement on what happened. From his perspective, on June eleventh, 274 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 2: he says, I was gutted to learn from the media 275 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:28,640 Speaker 2: that after nineteen years, I'm banned from the Nathans July 276 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:32,160 Speaker 2: fourth hot Dog eating Contest. I love competing in that event. 277 00:16:32,440 --> 00:16:35,360 Speaker 2: I love celebrating America with my fans all over this 278 00:16:35,400 --> 00:16:38,080 Speaker 2: great country on the fourth, and I have been training 279 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:40,840 Speaker 2: to defend my title. To set the record straight, I 280 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:43,960 Speaker 2: do not have a contract with mL or Nathan's and 281 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,400 Speaker 2: they are looking to change the rules from past years 282 00:16:46,440 --> 00:16:48,680 Speaker 2: as it relates to other partners I can work with. 283 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:51,600 Speaker 2: This is apparently the basis on which I'm being banned, 284 00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:55,320 Speaker 2: and it doesn't impact the July fourth event. Sadly, this 285 00:16:55,400 --> 00:16:57,920 Speaker 2: is the decision Nathan's and Major League Eating or making, 286 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,000 Speaker 2: and it will deprive the great fans of the huh 287 00:17:00,000 --> 00:17:03,920 Speaker 2: Holiday's usual joy and entertainment. To my fans, I love 288 00:17:03,960 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 2: you and appreciate you. Rest assured that you'll see me 289 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:11,639 Speaker 2: eat again soon. All caps stay hungry, and if you're 290 00:17:11,680 --> 00:17:15,520 Speaker 2: a hot dog head, this is just like unbelievably juicy. Now, 291 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:18,239 Speaker 2: the really tricky thing here is that Joey says he 292 00:17:18,280 --> 00:17:22,640 Speaker 2: does not currently have a formalized contract with the mL 293 00:17:23,280 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 2: and part of the reason that is is because he 294 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:30,560 Speaker 2: learned from watching Kobayashi's experience. So there is a lot 295 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:34,439 Speaker 2: of frision between Joey and the organization, right It was 296 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:37,240 Speaker 2: a huge shakeup, and all of the fans, and by fans, 297 00:17:37,280 --> 00:17:39,439 Speaker 2: I mean me, were waiting to find out if this 298 00:17:39,520 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 2: issue was going to be resolved or if Joey was 299 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,600 Speaker 2: going to make the break between himself and the contest permanent. 300 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 2: And we didn't need to wait long to find out, 301 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 2: because the next day, Netflix announced hot dog eating champs 302 00:17:53,320 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 2: Joey Chestnut and toa Karo Kobayashi will go head to 303 00:17:56,359 --> 00:17:59,919 Speaker 2: head in a Netflix special. The contest, titled Chestnut for 304 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:03,880 Speaker 2: Versus Kobayashi Unfinished Beef, will feature the two chowing down 305 00:18:03,920 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 2: on all beef hot dogs, likely in a nod to 306 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,880 Speaker 2: reports that Chestnut's rival brand deal is with Impossible Foods, 307 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:13,080 Speaker 2: which makes plant based hot dogs. Major League Eating, the 308 00:18:13,200 --> 00:18:17,280 Speaker 2: organization that oversees the Nathan's contest announced Tuesday that Chestnuts 309 00:18:17,280 --> 00:18:19,959 Speaker 2: deal was an exclusivity issue, saying that it was his 310 00:18:20,080 --> 00:18:23,000 Speaker 2: decision to step back from the competition he's participated in 311 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,439 Speaker 2: since two thousand and five quote. We love him, the 312 00:18:26,480 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 2: fans love him, said George Shay, a Major League Eating 313 00:18:29,520 --> 00:18:36,840 Speaker 2: event organizer, adding he made the choice, Oh, oh my god, 314 00:18:36,880 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: the boys are fighting. I don't know what scandaval is, 315 00:18:41,080 --> 00:18:43,919 Speaker 2: but whatever it is, this is that for me. And 316 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:47,359 Speaker 2: now Netflix is announcing that not only is Joey not 317 00:18:47,480 --> 00:18:50,320 Speaker 2: returning to the contest, he is taking a check from 318 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:55,040 Speaker 2: Netflix and going up against his greatest former Major League 319 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:59,199 Speaker 2: Eating rifle. And on the day, Netflix releases this sorry, 320 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:03,359 Speaker 2: very ugly AI generated poster, which led me to think 321 00:19:03,560 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 2: this must have come together very quickly, not even enough 322 00:19:07,160 --> 00:19:10,720 Speaker 2: time to hire someone to make a poster quickly. George 323 00:19:10,760 --> 00:19:13,439 Speaker 2: Shay of Major League Eating tries to play off the 324 00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:16,840 Speaker 2: suddenness of this announcement and says that it's going to 325 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,840 Speaker 2: be a pale imitation of the Nathan's Contest, and it's 326 00:19:19,920 --> 00:19:23,240 Speaker 2: unclear if that'll be true or not. Also quick sidebar, 327 00:19:23,640 --> 00:19:27,639 Speaker 2: New York City Mayor Eric Adams bravely weighs in and says, 328 00:19:28,359 --> 00:19:32,280 Speaker 2: stop being such wienies. It would be impossible to have 329 00:19:32,359 --> 00:19:35,680 Speaker 2: this year's Nathan's Famous International Hot Tag Eating Contest without 330 00:19:35,760 --> 00:19:38,399 Speaker 2: Joey Chestnut. Let's find a way to squash this beef 331 00:19:38,480 --> 00:19:41,040 Speaker 2: and bring back the champ for another Fourth of July 332 00:19:41,240 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 2: at Coney Island, and Eric Adams is doing great, I hear. 333 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,479 Speaker 2: So when I spoke with Nicole, I wanted to know 334 00:19:49,080 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 2: did this Netflix thing come together really fast? And the 335 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:56,399 Speaker 2: answer appears to be yes and no. Nicole Lucas Ames 336 00:19:56,440 --> 00:19:58,679 Speaker 2: tells me that she'd been trying to make this happen 337 00:19:58,720 --> 00:20:02,639 Speaker 2: for years and once started moving the Netflix production team 338 00:20:02,840 --> 00:20:05,960 Speaker 2: was amazing. This just happened to be when the stars aligned. 339 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 2: How did this end up coming together? 340 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:16,479 Speaker 6: So Jenna Anthony, who is a very bright and somewhat 341 00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:22,399 Speaker 6: visionary executive, asked me when she was at thirty for 342 00:20:22,560 --> 00:20:27,360 Speaker 6: thirty to come in with the take the Good, the Bad, 343 00:20:27,400 --> 00:20:31,679 Speaker 6: the Hungry. She was part of the process in the 344 00:20:31,720 --> 00:20:36,760 Speaker 6: making of the film, and when I knew that we 345 00:20:36,880 --> 00:20:41,359 Speaker 6: could actually go to market, take this to market, that 346 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 6: the rules had been agreed upon, Jenna was the person 347 00:20:45,960 --> 00:20:52,240 Speaker 6: who I knew I wanted to take it to. And 348 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:58,159 Speaker 6: when we brought it to Jenna, she immediately grasped the possibility. 349 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:02,840 Speaker 6: The Live Division at that moment was evolving its own 350 00:21:03,240 --> 00:21:08,600 Speaker 6: vision for programming, and a few months later she got 351 00:21:08,840 --> 00:21:11,880 Speaker 6: back to us and said, let's keep talking, Let's try 352 00:21:11,920 --> 00:21:15,680 Speaker 6: to get this moving. And there were some bumps along 353 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:19,400 Speaker 6: the way with Joey and Kobe, and she was absolutely 354 00:21:19,640 --> 00:21:25,920 Speaker 6: instrumental in really fighting for this to happen. She was terrific. 355 00:21:26,200 --> 00:21:30,440 Speaker 2: So that June announcement is made and then there's just mystery, 356 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:33,320 Speaker 2: which I can say before because I went to the 357 00:21:33,440 --> 00:21:35,920 Speaker 2: Nathan's famous Hot Talk eating contest on the fourth of 358 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:39,359 Speaker 2: July on Coney Island this year thanks to a friends 359 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:43,040 Speaker 2: and family pass from wonderful hot dog eater Mary Bowers, 360 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:45,639 Speaker 2: and a part of me was sort of like, is 361 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:48,560 Speaker 2: Joey Cha's not going to show up as a surprise? 362 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:52,120 Speaker 2: Is there any chance that this is a pr stunt? No, 363 00:21:52,320 --> 00:21:55,680 Speaker 2: it wasn't. In fact, Joey chesnut kind of pulls from 364 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 2: Kobayashi's playbook. In twenty twenty three, when I went to 365 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:03,040 Speaker 2: the contest, there was this flying overhead plane advertisement from 366 00:22:03,119 --> 00:22:07,440 Speaker 2: Kobe endorsing Heinz Ketchup. And in twenty twenty four, the 367 00:22:07,720 --> 00:22:12,240 Speaker 2: recently ejected Joey had a Pepsi billboard right on Coney 368 00:22:12,320 --> 00:22:15,199 Speaker 2: Island next to the contest. He was missing for the 369 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:19,919 Speaker 2: first time in twenty years. These fellas are petty. I 370 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:22,480 Speaker 2: love them, and so in twenty twenty four, for the 371 00:22:22,520 --> 00:22:26,560 Speaker 2: first time in almost a decade, Joey Chestnut did not 372 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:30,240 Speaker 2: win the Nathan's Hota eating contest because he wasn't there. 373 00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 2: So it does seem that this relationship is indeed severed, 374 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:37,399 Speaker 2: and that at Netflix, Kobe and Joey are going to 375 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 2: be acting completely independently of Major League Eating. And then 376 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:46,119 Speaker 2: things go silent again until August, when the promotional materials 377 00:22:46,160 --> 00:22:49,840 Speaker 2: for the broadcast finally start to roll out. On August 378 00:22:49,880 --> 00:22:52,440 Speaker 2: twenty third, the picture clears up a little bit when 379 00:22:52,560 --> 00:22:55,800 Speaker 2: Robrigel and Nikki Bella are announced as the hosts and 380 00:22:55,960 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 2: not Jamie. Yes, I tried that these hosts actually make 381 00:23:00,680 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 2: a lot of sense based on what it seems like 382 00:23:03,080 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 2: Netflix is trying to synergize, right, They're trying to get 383 00:23:06,520 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 2: into live event streaming. They have just made a huge 384 00:23:09,920 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 2: investment into the WWE, and they're also gearing up to 385 00:23:14,240 --> 00:23:18,200 Speaker 2: stream a lot more sporting events. And so, to my delight, 386 00:23:18,720 --> 00:23:23,120 Speaker 2: Netflix treated hot dog eating like a sport. They brought 387 00:23:23,160 --> 00:23:27,439 Speaker 2: in pro sports commentators Carry Champion and Chris Rose, something 388 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 2: that was never formally done on the Nathan's Contest, even 389 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:34,000 Speaker 2: though it was broadcast on ESPN. Then in late August, 390 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:38,800 Speaker 2: Netflix announces that this contest will have new rules. Previously 391 00:23:38,920 --> 00:23:41,880 Speaker 2: at the Nathan's Contest, the eater with the most hot 392 00:23:41,920 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 2: dogs with buns eaten in ten minutes wins. Water dunking 393 00:23:46,480 --> 00:23:49,560 Speaker 2: is allowed, as are condiments, but most people will pass 394 00:23:49,560 --> 00:23:52,200 Speaker 2: on that you can separate the hot dog from the bun, 395 00:23:52,560 --> 00:23:55,320 Speaker 2: and partial hot dogs eaten will be counted as long 396 00:23:55,400 --> 00:23:58,120 Speaker 2: as they are swallowed. Here are the rules that Rob 397 00:23:58,119 --> 00:24:01,560 Speaker 2: Wriggle presented in a video Netflix posted to YouTube. 398 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:04,720 Speaker 10: Rule number one, each contestant will have ten minutes to 399 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 10: eat as many hot dogs and buns as they can 400 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 10: Brule number two there will be no dogging or soaking 401 00:24:11,160 --> 00:24:14,400 Speaker 10: of hot dogs and or bugs. Rule number three there 402 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,040 Speaker 10: will be no separation of hot dogs from buns. 403 00:24:18,200 --> 00:24:21,520 Speaker 2: Rule okay if you're a fake fan of professional eating. 404 00:24:22,080 --> 00:24:27,320 Speaker 2: These rule changes are significant, particularly no water and no 405 00:24:27,480 --> 00:24:31,520 Speaker 2: bun in hot dog separation. These are big changes in 406 00:24:31,640 --> 00:24:36,159 Speaker 2: terms of how Joey and Kobe approach eating, particularly Joey 407 00:24:36,359 --> 00:24:39,320 Speaker 2: who famously separates the buns from the hot dogs in 408 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:43,080 Speaker 2: his technique. But before you get conspiratorial Nicole tells me 409 00:24:43,200 --> 00:24:45,920 Speaker 2: that these were mutually agreed upon rules between the two 410 00:24:46,359 --> 00:24:49,639 Speaker 2: and both were aiming to push themselves by trying different 411 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:52,440 Speaker 2: rules in the contest. And so I asked her more 412 00:24:52,520 --> 00:24:56,120 Speaker 2: about what it was like to produce this event. What 413 00:24:56,200 --> 00:25:01,439 Speaker 2: was it like having this be a live production like 414 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,600 Speaker 2: it seems it seemed very intense, totally intense. 415 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 8: You know, as a documentarian, right takes you know, a 416 00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:16,199 Speaker 8: long long time to make a film, and every frame 417 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,920 Speaker 8: of a project you sweat over and wanted to be perfect. 418 00:25:21,040 --> 00:25:26,800 Speaker 6: And live is like playing jazz and it's wild and 419 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:32,439 Speaker 6: it's kind of amazing. Though to say that blies the 420 00:25:32,600 --> 00:25:36,359 Speaker 6: amount of prep that goes into it. And that's what 421 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:42,119 Speaker 6: I learned, which I found extraordinary. There was an extraordinary 422 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:47,199 Speaker 6: challenge in food teams overseen by an executive producer by 423 00:25:47,240 --> 00:25:51,359 Speaker 6: the name of Daniel Kalin, and the care and time 424 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:57,240 Speaker 6: that went into making sure that the competition worked according 425 00:25:57,280 --> 00:26:01,920 Speaker 6: to the rules, the writing of the rules, how they 426 00:26:02,680 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 6: did all these practices, the questions that came up in between, 427 00:26:07,240 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 6: like who would know that vomiting You're going to deduct 428 00:26:11,320 --> 00:26:15,600 Speaker 6: some hot dogs? But what happened if you vomit after 429 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,080 Speaker 6: the competition? Is done, and before and it's a tie 430 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,320 Speaker 6: and before start? 431 00:26:21,840 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 5: How long do you have to keep it down kind 432 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:27,920 Speaker 5: of thing down before you if there's a tie, yeah 433 00:26:28,080 --> 00:26:28,639 Speaker 5: you puke? 434 00:26:29,280 --> 00:26:32,679 Speaker 6: Are you deducted? If the first competition has started but 435 00:26:32,800 --> 00:26:37,359 Speaker 6: the second tiebreaker hasn't begun? Like all of the things 436 00:26:37,400 --> 00:26:40,520 Speaker 6: that one would never think about, these guys thought. 437 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:56,880 Speaker 12: About, okay, let's return to Vegas. 438 00:26:59,200 --> 00:27:01,399 Speaker 2: The moment I got into the event, it was clear 439 00:27:01,560 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 2: that this was very much trying to be its own thing. 440 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 2: It didn't resemble the outdoor, jingoistic Nathan's event I was 441 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:11,439 Speaker 2: used to. In fact, I would say it has a 442 00:27:11,440 --> 00:27:14,000 Speaker 2: lot more in common with the aesthetic of the pro 443 00:27:14,119 --> 00:27:17,639 Speaker 2: eating televised events that Kobayashi first became famous for in 444 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:21,199 Speaker 2: Japan in the two thousands. It was very chromatic, it 445 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:25,080 Speaker 2: was intense. It completely lacked the folksy vibe that the 446 00:27:25,160 --> 00:27:28,879 Speaker 2: Nathan's contest puts on, as well as the jokey tone 447 00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:32,520 Speaker 2: that that broadcast often has. They were straight up treating 448 00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:34,800 Speaker 2: this like a sport, and. 449 00:27:34,960 --> 00:27:39,800 Speaker 11: It's getting personal around here. Welcome to Chestnut first Kobyashi 450 00:27:39,880 --> 00:27:40,640 Speaker 11: unfinished speep. 451 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:42,440 Speaker 10: Hello everybody, I'm Rob. 452 00:27:42,280 --> 00:27:45,520 Speaker 2: Wriggle, and I thought this was really cool, and Riggle 453 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:48,080 Speaker 2: and Bella hosted the event well, but it was clear 454 00:27:48,160 --> 00:27:51,000 Speaker 2: that they weren't the main attraction in the way that 455 00:27:51,119 --> 00:27:56,720 Speaker 2: George Shay often was. The main event was Chestnut versus Kobayashi, 456 00:27:56,800 --> 00:27:59,760 Speaker 2: and they were introduced as gods, but not in the 457 00:27:59,800 --> 00:28:02,240 Speaker 2: way I was used to. Here are some clips from 458 00:28:02,320 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 2: the pre tape packages that aired ahead of the contest. 459 00:28:05,920 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 2: If I could talk to my nine year old self 460 00:28:07,680 --> 00:28:09,360 Speaker 2: and tell them that there's gonna be the world. 461 00:28:09,200 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 11: Champion of Bedi Eader and say, oh my god, my 462 00:28:12,440 --> 00:28:15,440 Speaker 11: life is awesome, Joey do not supports them. 463 00:28:16,640 --> 00:28:27,760 Speaker 4: They It's even. 464 00:28:28,119 --> 00:28:31,679 Speaker 2: In Japanese. He's saying, well, this is true of any sport, 465 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:33,840 Speaker 2: but the thing that people most want to see is 466 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:37,240 Speaker 2: who's the best, And personally, I believe I became number 467 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:40,760 Speaker 2: one in the world. This is a pretty significant difference 468 00:28:40,760 --> 00:28:43,680 Speaker 2: from the way that we're used to hearing these guys introduced, 469 00:28:44,080 --> 00:28:47,800 Speaker 2: where the guys are introducing themselves instead of the institution 470 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,280 Speaker 2: doing it for them. Nicole Lucas Haims actually filmed and 471 00:28:51,480 --> 00:28:55,240 Speaker 2: conducted these interviews, and it's really interesting noticing that since 472 00:28:55,280 --> 00:28:59,600 Speaker 2: this rivalry began, the framing of it has changed. In 473 00:28:59,640 --> 00:29:02,880 Speaker 2: the early at the mL Joey and Kobe were talked 474 00:29:02,880 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 2: about in this almost Olympic style rhetoric. It's not Joey 475 00:29:06,960 --> 00:29:11,240 Speaker 2: versus Kobe, it's America versus Japan. And by the time 476 00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 2: they get to Netflix in twenty twenty four, Joey and 477 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:18,960 Speaker 2: Kobe's history is framed as a pretty straightforward sports rivalry, 478 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:22,520 Speaker 2: devoid of the politics and contractual issues that we're now 479 00:29:22,600 --> 00:29:25,120 Speaker 2: aware of, And in days leading up to the contest, 480 00:29:25,360 --> 00:29:27,479 Speaker 2: they both did a fair amount of press to promote 481 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:27,880 Speaker 2: the event. 482 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:32,160 Speaker 11: Dude, Netflix put it together and because Koba, we really 483 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:35,880 Speaker 11: don't communicate me and Kobyashi, which is all right. 484 00:29:36,560 --> 00:29:38,840 Speaker 2: It's kind of been a bumber that we haven't been 485 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:42,720 Speaker 2: able to compete. But thankfully Netflix they reached out and 486 00:29:42,760 --> 00:29:43,840 Speaker 2: they were like, let's let's. 487 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:44,400 Speaker 4: Get this done. 488 00:29:44,760 --> 00:29:48,520 Speaker 2: Kobayashi, this is might be your final event, this final 489 00:29:49,360 --> 00:29:50,600 Speaker 2: face off with Joey. 490 00:29:50,600 --> 00:29:55,160 Speaker 4: What does that mean to you? It means a lot, Talia, 491 00:29:55,480 --> 00:30:01,240 Speaker 4: So I haven't a completed for all five ers. Literally, 492 00:30:01,800 --> 00:30:04,760 Speaker 4: I'm back for a londe one day only. 493 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:05,320 Speaker 3: Yes. 494 00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 2: This also establishes their new dynamic, not as characters or 495 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:15,320 Speaker 2: national representatives, but as athletic rivals, and according to my sources, 496 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:19,920 Speaker 2: the animosity between these guys is still very genuine. By 497 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:22,480 Speaker 2: the time the guys come out on stage, the audience 498 00:30:22,520 --> 00:30:25,000 Speaker 2: has been sorted to one side of the crowd or 499 00:30:25,000 --> 00:30:28,959 Speaker 2: the other, wearing a Team Joey or a Team Kobe shirt, 500 00:30:29,160 --> 00:30:32,320 Speaker 2: and of course the competitors friends and families are put 501 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:34,760 Speaker 2: front and center with a camera on them. And to 502 00:30:34,800 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 2: fill out the hour, Netflix trotted out a couple other 503 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:41,640 Speaker 2: professional eaters who were not contractually barred by Major League 504 00:30:41,640 --> 00:30:46,360 Speaker 2: Eating to participate. There was Matt Stoney, the only other 505 00:30:46,440 --> 00:30:49,440 Speaker 2: guy who's beaten Joey at the Nathan's Contest, who did 506 00:30:49,480 --> 00:30:52,360 Speaker 2: a brief segment where he beat three Olympians in a 507 00:30:52,360 --> 00:30:56,040 Speaker 2: pool side wings eating contest. Great no notes. There was 508 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 2: a section with Australian eater Leah Shutkiver, who broke the 509 00:31:00,280 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 2: world record for watermelon eating live cool. I was glad 510 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 2: to see a woman eater prominently featured. And while it's 511 00:31:08,160 --> 00:31:11,760 Speaker 2: really dynamic, there's never a sense that anyone's making fun 512 00:31:11,800 --> 00:31:15,120 Speaker 2: of anything. Really, the closest we get to levity or 513 00:31:15,120 --> 00:31:18,120 Speaker 2: sketch comedy in this broadcast is a covert ad for 514 00:31:18,160 --> 00:31:22,680 Speaker 2: the WWE, where two wrestlers Ramus Terio and Almos came 515 00:31:22,680 --> 00:31:26,560 Speaker 2: out to declare their allegiance to Joey and Kobe whatever. 516 00:31:26,720 --> 00:31:32,280 Speaker 2: And finally it's time Joey and Kobe come out, and 517 00:31:33,080 --> 00:31:36,560 Speaker 2: I am barely holding it together. I happened to be 518 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:40,160 Speaker 2: standing on Kobe Yashi's side of the crowd, along with 519 00:31:40,200 --> 00:31:43,720 Speaker 2: some TikTok food influencers, and I was very happy to 520 00:31:43,760 --> 00:31:48,720 Speaker 2: be sorted here. Joey has won contest after contest for years, 521 00:31:49,160 --> 00:31:52,480 Speaker 2: but for Kobe, after all this time, and after all 522 00:31:52,480 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 2: he'd been put through by major league eating and being 523 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 2: displaced by Joey, I wanted Kobe to win. And sure enough, 524 00:32:00,200 --> 00:32:03,840 Speaker 2: as the guys start gobbling, and holy shit, if you 525 00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:06,440 Speaker 2: haven't seen how efficient professional eaters are in the way 526 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:09,280 Speaker 2: they do this, I don't even know if I would 527 00:32:09,280 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 2: recommend looking at it, but I think it's incredible. It's athleticism, 528 00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:17,520 Speaker 2: and Joey and Kobe are neck and neck, hot dog 529 00:32:17,600 --> 00:32:20,200 Speaker 2: for hot dog at the top of the contest. But 530 00:32:20,280 --> 00:32:21,240 Speaker 2: as time goes on. 531 00:32:22,120 --> 00:32:25,560 Speaker 11: Kobe Yashi is doubt about three dogs two plus minutes 532 00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:28,280 Speaker 11: into this bad sign or can he make it up? Well, 533 00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,720 Speaker 11: it's not a great sign, but he's not losing more ground, 534 00:32:30,800 --> 00:32:32,080 Speaker 11: so at least he's holding steady. 535 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:36,160 Speaker 2: Now Tobe starts falling behind in numbers, and you can 536 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:40,720 Speaker 2: see the anxiety on his family's face, particularly his wife 537 00:32:40,720 --> 00:32:44,880 Speaker 2: and creative collaborator Maggie. As things began to turn, she 538 00:32:45,080 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 2: was openly crying, something that would really resonate with people 539 00:32:48,960 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 2: who had seen her appearance in the thirty for thirty 540 00:32:52,160 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 2: and so as Kobe starts to fall behind, the feeling 541 00:32:55,400 --> 00:32:59,800 Speaker 2: in the room is nuts. I was screaming because while 542 00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:02,760 Speaker 2: they're there this anxiety on one side of the stage. 543 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:07,719 Speaker 2: Joey was relentless. It was wild. So any concern that 544 00:33:07,760 --> 00:33:11,440 Speaker 2: these new rules would set either competitor behind was a mistake. 545 00:33:11,640 --> 00:33:15,520 Speaker 2: They were both performing better than ever, but by the 546 00:33:15,600 --> 00:33:18,520 Speaker 2: last few minutes, who was going to win? The writing 547 00:33:18,600 --> 00:33:20,120 Speaker 2: seemed to be on the wall. 548 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 11: Christ that's Drue six dogs ahead of his world record 549 00:33:24,360 --> 00:33:27,600 Speaker 11: pass Joey Jessa as he just climbed past seventy with 550 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:29,680 Speaker 11: under two and a half minutes to nose. There is 551 00:33:29,720 --> 00:33:30,800 Speaker 11: limit other this work. 552 00:33:30,840 --> 00:33:33,840 Speaker 2: It's going to fall and in pretty short order, after 553 00:33:33,880 --> 00:33:37,760 Speaker 2: a ten minute contest, both Joey and Kobe broke their 554 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:42,280 Speaker 2: personal best hot dog records. But Joey wins the contest. 555 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:46,400 Speaker 5: Beating Kobe Yashi in an absolutely terrifying eighty three hot 556 00:33:46,440 --> 00:33:53,960 Speaker 5: dogs to Kobe's sixty six, and Kobe fans, myself included, 557 00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:55,400 Speaker 5: are pretty devastated. 558 00:33:55,560 --> 00:33:59,720 Speaker 2: I mean, this loss is significant, particularly after he'd spent 559 00:33:59,800 --> 00:34:02,480 Speaker 2: such a long time out of the mainstream spotlight in 560 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,960 Speaker 2: the US, and considering that Kobayashi was the inspiration for 561 00:34:07,040 --> 00:34:10,800 Speaker 2: Joey Chestnut to even try this career in the first place. 562 00:34:11,239 --> 00:34:15,560 Speaker 2: It was a moment where the mentee had surpassed the mentor. 563 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:19,080 Speaker 2: But that was it. The rivalry was settled, the event 564 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:26,239 Speaker 2: was over. After the Netflix broadcast wraps, the reporters and 565 00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 2: influencers and other people kind of just dispersed. It was 566 00:34:30,640 --> 00:34:33,200 Speaker 2: one in the afternoon, it was a holiday weekend, and 567 00:34:33,239 --> 00:34:35,279 Speaker 2: a lot of them had flown out to Vegas for 568 00:34:35,360 --> 00:34:38,080 Speaker 2: the event and wanted to enjoy the rest of their time. 569 00:34:38,320 --> 00:34:43,400 Speaker 2: But I'm standing there like gutted, not even because Kobyashi 570 00:34:43,440 --> 00:34:46,600 Speaker 2: had lost, but because it was over. And while most 571 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:50,840 Speaker 2: people understandably leave the auditorium and continue their day, it 572 00:34:50,960 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 2: was comforting seeing that there were a few other people 573 00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,960 Speaker 2: there who had sunk hours and days and weeks into 574 00:34:58,000 --> 00:35:01,080 Speaker 2: being a fan of professional eating and really never thinking 575 00:35:01,120 --> 00:35:04,960 Speaker 2: this day would happen, standing in shock at what they'd 576 00:35:05,040 --> 00:35:09,480 Speaker 2: just seen. It sucked watching Kobe Yashi loose. And I 577 00:35:09,560 --> 00:35:12,480 Speaker 2: say that as someone who is in love with Joey Chestnut. 578 00:35:12,680 --> 00:35:14,840 Speaker 2: I saw him break his record back in twenty twenty 579 00:35:14,880 --> 00:35:17,560 Speaker 2: one with seventy six hot dogs and I couldn't eat 580 00:35:17,600 --> 00:35:21,360 Speaker 2: for days. It was incredible. But of course Kobe winning 581 00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:25,080 Speaker 2: is the better story. But maybe that's the ultimate validation 582 00:35:25,280 --> 00:35:28,799 Speaker 2: that this really is a sport. No one knew what 583 00:35:28,840 --> 00:35:32,920 Speaker 2: was gonna happen, and the results were indisputable. So no, 584 00:35:33,200 --> 00:35:37,719 Speaker 2: it didn't have the electric energy of a George Shay introduction. 585 00:35:38,239 --> 00:35:41,440 Speaker 2: You don't have Joey Chestnut coming out to Baba O'Reilly, 586 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:45,080 Speaker 2: you don't have Kobe Yashi being called poetry in motion. 587 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:49,200 Speaker 2: But to Netflix's credit, they did take this seriously. This 588 00:35:49,360 --> 00:35:52,240 Speaker 2: was the most legitimized I'd ever seen hot dog eating, 589 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:55,520 Speaker 2: And for my money, that's a win for both of 590 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:59,680 Speaker 2: the rivals, because in many ways, being taken seriously is 591 00:35:59,800 --> 00:36:02,720 Speaker 2: my much of what they've been asking for. So Joey 592 00:36:02,760 --> 00:36:06,759 Speaker 2: and Kobe, my boys, your sixteenth minute will never end 593 00:36:06,760 --> 00:36:12,440 Speaker 2: in my Heart. Thank you again to Nicole Lucas Hyms 594 00:36:12,480 --> 00:36:15,280 Speaker 2: for her time. You can watch her thirty for thirty 595 00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:18,319 Speaker 2: and Unfinished Beef on Netflix now, and keep your eyes 596 00:36:18,400 --> 00:36:21,360 Speaker 2: peeled for her latest work, which is a documentary about 597 00:36:21,360 --> 00:36:26,520 Speaker 2: policing in America sometime next year. And what do you know, folks, 598 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:28,440 Speaker 2: If you want to hear more about my time at 599 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:31,440 Speaker 2: the Netflix event and about the history of hotdogs overall, 600 00:36:31,640 --> 00:36:34,279 Speaker 2: you can buy my book Raw Dog, The Naked Truth 601 00:36:34,280 --> 00:36:37,440 Speaker 2: about hot Dogs, which will be available in paperback next 602 00:36:37,600 --> 00:36:40,920 Speaker 2: year and is available in hardcover at this very moment. 603 00:36:41,400 --> 00:36:43,520 Speaker 2: We'll see you again next week with an episode about 604 00:36:43,800 --> 00:36:46,440 Speaker 2: Yes you Win. You have been heard. We're talking about 605 00:36:46,480 --> 00:36:52,000 Speaker 2: Moo Dang Bye. 606 00:36:52,120 --> 00:36:56,200 Speaker 7: Sixteenth Minute is a production of Whole Zone Media and Iheartwordtaps. 607 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:59,560 Speaker 7: It is written, posted, and produced by me Jamie Lastus 608 00:37:00,040 --> 00:37:02,840 Speaker 7: executive producers are Sophie Lichterman and Robert Evans. 609 00:37:03,080 --> 00:37:06,160 Speaker 12: The amazing Ian Johnson is our supervising. 610 00:37:05,600 --> 00:37:10,080 Speaker 2: Producer and our editor. Our theme song is by Sad thirteen. 611 00:37:10,640 --> 00:37:14,120 Speaker 2: Voice acting is from Brant Crater and Pet shout outs 612 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:17,080 Speaker 2: to our dog producer Anderson, my Kat's Flee and Casper 613 00:37:17,200 --> 00:37:21,200 Speaker 2: and my pet rock Bird, who will outlive us all Bye.