PostCOVID Game Show

Lisa Something… Kate McKinnon

Derek… Jerrod Carmichael

Jennifer… Sarah Sherman

Victor… Bowen Yang

[Starts with show intro]

Male voice: Now it’s time for your favorite post COVID Game Show.

Collective voice: Is My Brain Okay?

Male voice: With your host, Lisa Something.

[Cut to Lisa in the game show set]

Lisa: Hello, hello, hello. Welcome to the game all of us play every day, Is My Brain Okay? Whether it was the year in isolation, the two years without any semblance of society, or the virus itself physically shrinking our brains. One thing’s for sure, we got stupid. Before we get started, let’s meet our contestants. Derek from Queens. What do you do before COVID?

Derek: I was a Marketing Director for IBM.

Lisa: Um-hmm. And what do you do now?

Derek: Mushrooms?

Lisa: I get it. I took a bunch before the show. Jennifer from Indianapolis, tell us fun fact about yourself.

Jennifer: Good. Thank you. How are you?

Lisa: Oh-oh. And Victor from New Mexico. How are you feeling today?

Victor: Tired for no reason.

Lisa: Terrific. Now, you all know how the game works. Every answer is something you definitely knew before COVID. But does your brain still remember it? Let’s find out. First question. What is this called?

[The screen shows a picture of a wheelbarrow. The contestants are thinking.]

Remember? somebody used to carry things?

Jennifer: Bicycle.

Lisa: No. Let’s see it in a back yard.

Derek: Form bicycle.

Lisa: No. Got a wheel in the front?

Victor: Wheel monkey. Oh, sorry. Sorry. We were looking for wheelbarrow.

Derek: I knew that.

Lisa: You did. You did know that in 2019. Now it’s just a farm bicycle. Okay, next question. What day of the week is it?

Jennifer: That’s easy. Tuesday?

Lisa: Nope. Not even close.

Victor: What is Thursday?

Lisa: And you don’t have to phrase it as a question.

Victor: No, no, I was genuinely asking what is Thursday?

Lisa: Derrick, what day of the week is it?

Derek: Okay. I remember that yesterday was my birthday. And my best friend texted “Birthday on a Friday night dog? What we doing to celebrate?” And I got so anxious I didn’t respond and went to sleep before 5PM. So today must be Saturday.

Lisa: Correct. Yes. And bonus follow up, Derek. What month is it?

Derek: June.

Lisa: Oh, sorry, we would have accepted. February, March, April or May. But let’s put 100 points on the board for Derek. Whoever has the most points at the end, we’ll have that number of stem cells injected into their brain in the hopes of… What’s the word? The thing you do with cars?

Victor: Tyres.

Lisa: No. When the battery’s dead? You gotta like–

Derek: Sell the car.

Lisa: No. What you do with the cable.

Jennifer: Wheelbarrow.

Lisa: No. Jumpstart. The stem cells will jumpstart your brain again. Dammit, what is with me?

Victor: You’re depressed.

Lisa: No, no, no, no, I wasn’t really asking.

Jennifer: You never felt more alone.

Lisa: Stop guessing.

Derek: You want to call your therapist but she blocked your number. [right answer bell]

Lisa: Oh my god. How did you know that?

Derek: You just give off that exact aura.

Lisa: All right, let’s give Derek 100 more points, which means he’s unlocked a bonus question that involves a mystery guest. [Another guy named Derek walks in] Derek, who is this?

Derek: Oh, that’s easy. That’s one of my best friends from college.

Lisa: Uh-huh. And what’s his name?

Derek: He was one of my best friends.

Lisa: You said that. What’s his name?

Derek: I know some regular like, Greg or Steve. Right?

Another Derek: We lived together for three years, man.

Lisa: Sorry, Derek. The correct answer is Derek.

Derek: We got the same name?

Another Derek: That was our whole thing made, D-one D-two.

Derek: Damn. That’s really bad, man. I’m sorry. We should go get a drink sometime. Like catch up.

[Red light’s over the set]

Lisa: Oh-oh! The sound of someone inviting a friend to drinks when they have no intention of ever getting drinks, means we’re out of time. Let’s go to the final question to determine if your brain is okay? Contestants write down your answers please. If you have to talk to a person, what’s a good way to start? And go?

[The contestants are writing. Jennifer is licking the table.]

All right, let’s let’s see your idea of how to start a conversation? Jennifer, I noticed you wrote with your tongue.

Jennifer: Well, there’s still still one variant I haven’t gotten yet.

Lisa: Wow. Jennifer said “Let me be inside you now.” And Jennifer who do you imagine saying that to?

Jennifer: Anyone from strangers to parents.

Lisa: Okay, I’m sorry. That’s incorrect. Your brain not okay. Victor, how would you start a conversation? Let’s see. “Heaven must be missing an angel because when I woke up there was a glowing figure hovering over my bed. I guess it could have been a ghost. I’m worried I’m losing my grip on reality. Ha-ha-ha.”

Victor: I’ve given the ghost a name Blue Bar.

Lisa: Okay, well that’s that’s very incorrect. Your brain is also bad.

Victor: Ha-ha-ha. When you talk, all I picture is the skeleton inside your head.

Lisa: Well, Mama. Okay. Derrick, it’s down to you and you wrote “If you set the clock ahead, you don’t have to be alive as long.” And you know something? You’re right, Derek.

Derek: Oh my god, I won?

Lisa: That’s right. You came up with a great way to minimize the time we’re awake and alive. And you can choose your prize, a two week all inclusive trip to Hawaii or you can go back to your apartment and stay there.

Derek: Apartment.

Lisa: They always say apartment thanks for watching “Is My Brain Okay?” If you got to ask, it’s probably not. Goodnight.

PostCOVID Dating

Kate McKinnon

Guy piano… Andrew Dismukes

Nick Jonas

[Starts with Suzane watching Guy piano playing piano]

Suzane: You play wonderful.

Guy piano: Thank you.

[Suzane pulls out some money from piano collection jar and walks to the bar]

Suzane: Bartender, I’ll take one more if you don’t mind and don’t be stingy with the scotch.

John: [sitting at the bar] Well, hello. I didn’t see you there.

Suzane: You still don’t. You’re looking the wrong way. I’m over here.

John: Oh, I see. There you are. I must have been looking at your reflection in that mirror over there.

Suzane: That’s not a mirror. That’s a painting of a lion with an explorer’s head in it’s mouth.

John: Ah! So it is. You’ll have to forgive me. This is my first time I’ve been out of the house since lockdown.

Suzane: Oh. Same for me. I’m not used to being out in public and I’m definitely not used to flirting with handsome men.

John: Maybe you should give it a try.

Suzane: Alright. How’s this? There are mights in your pillows and if you sleep with your mouth open, I’ll go right in there. That wasn’t good. I’m sorry.

John: No, I thought it was cute.

Suzane: Why don’t you try pickup line on me?

John: Okay. Here’s one. You have beautiful eyes but they’ll look better on my floor.

Suzane: I don’t think you said that right. Um, maybe just try making a flirty face.

John: Like this? [making funny face]

Suzane: Wow. That’s magic. Speaking of magic, would you like to see a little trick as an ice breaker?

John: I insist.

Suzane: Okay. I haven’t done this since before quarantine. So, hope I still can. Now, keep your eye on the cherry stem, alright? [puts the stem in her breasts and pulls out with small flower] I did it.

John: Wow, where did you learn that?

Suzane: Hogwarts. Kidding. Prison. Kidding. Prison. I’ve been to prison a bunch. That’s where I got these tattoos. [showing tattoos on her fists. One hand has “LOVE” and another hand has “HAT”]

John: Ah! Ran out of money before you could get to ‘E’?

Suzane: No, I just love hats. How about you? Do you know any tricks?

John: Oh no. Well, I know one. But it’s dumb.

Suzane: Oh, no, no. Show me. I want to see it. If the trick is anything like you, it must be very handsome.

John: Well, okay. Watch closely. [opens his jacket, and there’s a cat inside] That’s stupid, I didn’t even do it right.

Suzane: Oh, no. I loved it. Bartender, could we get a bowl of milk please?

Bartender: Oh, yes. Right away.

Suzane: Thank you so much. Wow. Great. [Suzane takes the bowl and drinks it herself] I like you

John: I like you. Would you care to dance?

Suzane: I thought you’d never ask.

[Suzane stands and starts dancing]

John: No, I mean with me.

Suzane: Oh. [laughing] I don’t know. It’s been so long since I’ve done anything like that. What song would we dance to?

John: Hey, piano guy!

Guy piano: My name is Guy Piano!

John: Sorry, Mr. Piano. Do you know a good song for dancing with a beautiful stranger?

Guy piano: It’s been a while since I’ve taken request. But how about this? [starts playing piano]

Suzane: Take me up at ball game. Perfect.

John: Shall we?

Suzane: Let’s go slow, okay? [Suzane and John start dancing] I’ve been hurt before. I walked into a sliding glass door.

John: Remember when they would play this at ball games?

Suzane: It’s been so long. I wonder if we remember the words.

John: [singing] Take me out to the ball game

Suzane: Put me out in the snow

Suzane and John: Buy me some peanuts and hacky snacks

John: I wonder what this thing is in on your back

Suzane and John: And it’s one, two, three, four, five, six
and that’s how numbers work

Suzane: Hey, do you think things will go back to normal? Will this beautiful bitch of a city ever be what it once was?

John: It will. I know it will. Do you believe me?

Suzane: I do. And I think I’ve fallen in love with you.

John: And I just realized I don’t even know your name.

Suzane: Ah! Suzane Johnson.

John: Hm. That’s a beautiful name.

Suzane: What’s your’s?

John: John Suzanson.

Suzane: Wow. I guess it’s fate

John: I guess it is.