We’d wager that a good number of our Looters are fans of Good Mythical Morning and its magnanimous hosts Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal. However, if you haven’t heard of them, now is the time to discover!…
The pair co-host GMM, the hugely popular streaming comedy/talk show, weekday mornings on YouTube. They have written Book of Mythicality and are taking their book and show on the road for the Tour of Mythicality! Dive into this interview and learn even more before their book hits shelves… And while much of the tour is sold out, we are giving five folks a chance to WIN tickets! Check out the entry form below after you’re finished reading!
Candice Shane: We’re so excited about the upcoming Book of Mythicality that you’re taking on the road! Tell our Looters what they can expect from your upcoming Tour of Mythicality?
Rhett & Link: The original idea was a simple book tour consisting of book signings and meet and greets, but proving that we could write our names and hug in a non-creepy way seemed a little uninteresting. So, we’re putting together a legitimate show for people to enjoy by bringing some of our favorite parts of the Book of Mythicality to life on stage, which will include some musical performances, audience interaction, and even some reenactments from our past.
CS: I started watching your show with my kid and it was your playful yet ultimately pretty tame language and games that made it so easy. Is being comfortable for the whole family a goal when you film your shows?
R&L: Ultimately, we’re always trying to create entertainment that we enjoy personally, but we like the idea of our kids being able to watch it without getting too embarrassed or having to ask too many uncomfortable questions. As a result, we’ve had a tendency to make shows that are enjoyed by the whole family. Often, when we meet people who watch our stuff, it’s hard to tell who’s a bigger fan between the kids and the parents.
CS: Speaking of kids, do yours tend to shrug off the silliness of your shows? I know it was mentioned that your kids tend to lean into other YouTubers, but how do they ultimately respond to what you two get up to?
R&L: Our kids have lost any real sense of what normal parental behavior is. They are incapable of being surprised by us. That may or may not be healthy, and there’s really no way to tell until they grow up. We’re hoping for the best.
Rhett and Link are the quintessential ‘goals’ and showcase that every day on Good Mythical Morning. Trust me, we rarely see their faces THIS serious.
CS: About your show Buddy System on YouTube, for our Looters who may be new, is that based on shenanigans that you two had when you were younger?
R&L: While Good Mythical Morning is the place where we have a good time just reacting in the moment, Buddy System is our outlet for absurdist humor that comes from a more structured and intentional writing process. It’s the place where we experiment with ridiculous ideas that we haven’t seen on television before. In Season 1, we played ourselves, and in Season 2 we pushed things further by playing versions of ourselves that might exist in a parallel universe. And, there might also be sentient robots and an episode that takes place in the 1800s.
CS: Are there any specific food items that you absolutely have told the Mythical Crew that you will refuse to partake in?
R&L: We refuse to eat human. That is the only line currently drawn.
CS: I feel like Ear Biscuits is one of the better podcasts/video podcasts on YouTube, because it fills in a lot of gaps that Good Mythical Morning and Good Mythical More (the aftershow) can’t cover within the time. Are there bits of those stories in Book of Mythicality?
R&L: The Book of Mythicality is filled with a bunch of stories that we’ve never told anywhere, as well as new background, details, and pictures for a number of older stories. In the same way that Ear Biscuits is a more unfiltered experience, the book is a chance to get more into the thought process and philosophy that embodies everything we create. Anyone who thinks that Good Mythical Morning or Good Mythical More doesn’t get personal enough will want to read the book. We even let our wives write a chapter with their honest opinions about the time when they were first getting to know us. We may come to regret this decision.
CS: What are your hobbies that you squirrel away time for when not filming? We know Rhett is quite into his survival-preparedness but what do you find yourself investing time in for fun off-set?
R&L: Our two hobbies are surfing and off-roading, but honestly, it’s been months since we did either one because we’ve had very little time during this incredibly busy year. When we’re not working, we’re with family. However, Link has a rock tumbler and a few yo-yos. Those seem a little more practical at this point.
CS: What do you think is your favorite chapter in Book of Mythicality?
R&L: Of course, we’re obligated to say that the chapter our wives wrote is our favorite. Other than that one, we’d say the chapter written from the year 2075 is a favorite. It took a lot of work and we potentially broke several laws that aren’t yet enforceable, but it was worth it. And, we really enjoyed writing the chapter where we talked about the period of time before we became best friends in first grade. We each learned a few things about each other we had never disclosed.
CS: During the Tour of Mythicality, what can the audience expect that gives them a peek into the book? Will there be a Q&A style sit-down? Maybe some live readings?
R&L: Yes, in addition to the more produced show experience, we’re going to have a laid back Q&A. We’re looking forward to that because we love connecting with Mythical Beasts (our fans) everywhere. However, we must say that we will NOT be reading any fanfic, even if politely asked.
CS: I watched Looking for Ms. Locklear and it felt so absolutely honest and true to who you two are and what kind of world you came from. (for our Looters who haven’t seen it, it covers Rhett and Link going back to their roots to find their first grade teacher, Ms. Locklear. In it, they don’t use a single modern convenience and locate the woman who brought the two buddies together without realizing it. ) Do you think you have any ideas on another documentary type series that will draw more people into your background?
R&L: We’ve always been fans of docs, and we have every intention of making another film in a similar spirit and tone at some point in the future. That may be a while from now, unless the scientists come up with a reliable way to clone humans. If we had clones, we’d task them with making a yearly documentary. We haven’t adequately weighed the moral consequences of issuing mandates to clones, but we’ll cross that bridge when we get there.
CS: I have to know — how long does it take for the Mythical Crew to go fetch all of the foods you test and how cold are they by the time they get to you?
R&L: The crew has less than a week to pull everything together. Sometimes this involves meeting shady characters with cases of mystery meats on the tarmac at the airport, but it usually just means going to a specialty market somewhere in town. And, let’s put it this way: we’ve most definitely never burned our mouths on any Good Mythical Morning food.
CS: What stops are you very excited to make for Tour of Mythicality?
R&L: We’re excited about the tour in general, because we’ve never taken a show on the road before. While there’s definitely a digital connection with Mythical Beasts all around the world through the Internet, seeing and putting on a show for them in person is going to be a totally different experience. If we had to narrow it down, we’d say we’re especially excited about our Portland/Seattle trip, because that’s pretty much the only part of the country we’ve never been to.
Thanks so much to Rhett and Link for sitting with us and sharing their Mythical lives with us! Pre-order Book of Mythicality here and remember, much like Rhett and Link say: Be your Mythical best!
