Hey guys, it’s Hasan.
I wanna show you guys
a behind-the-scenes look at what I do
to get ready for a taping of Patriot Act.
First thing’s first: wardrobe.
I actually have a lucky undershirt
that I wear for every taping.
It says, “Live, Laugh, Patriot Act.”
Another thing that I do before every show
is I throw a pair of Allbirds directly in the trash.
Allbirds are garbage
and they deserve to be in the garbage.
For those of you guys who don’t know,
I’m a very superstitious person.
I’ve never showed anybody this but,
this is Jon Stewart’s hair.
And when I was at The Daily Show,
I went into his dressing room one time and I said,
“Hey Jon, can I get some of your hair,
some of that salt and pepper?”
And he was like, “Get out of here.”
And so I left his dressing room.
And then when he left to go into the studio,
I went back in.
And every day I would take his comb
and then take an individual piece of hair.
And eventually I got this right here.
And I keep it with me at all times for good luck.
And suffice to say,
I think it’s working.
Thanks, Jon.
He doesn’t know I have this.
Making a connection with the audience is one of the
most important things in the show.
When I come out, I feel that energy.
And landing that first line is really important.
“Thank you! Thank you so much!
Welcome to Patriot Act!
I’m Hasan Minhaj
thank you so much for coming out tonight!”
I actually practice the line over and over again
just to get in the right zone
because you do not wanna fuck that up.
I’ll give you an example —
53 00:01:29,800 --> 00:01:29,600 [clears throat]
“Hey guys, it’s Hasan Minhaj —
welcome to my house!”
...it’s not my house…
“Hey guys, it’s Patriot time, I’m hands—”
...who?
“Hey Patriot activists! It’s Has—”
...that’s not it.
“Hey guys, Minhaj here. And it’s Patriotic Act!
Patriotic Time!
Last Week Today!
Patriot Time with Hasan Minhaj!”
What—
...what is the title of the show?
“Hey guys, it’s Hasan Minhaj, welcome to Patriot Act!”
73 00:01:49,80 --> 00:01:49,720 There you go.
Sometimes you just gotta warm up
before you get into it.
Watching game tape is super important.
I just wanna see: what are my tendencies?
What could I do differently?
See what I could change; see what I could add.
Because this is Netflix.
And this is the big leagues.
One of the things I need to keep my energy up
the entire episode is a protein smoothie.
I don’t have protein powder,
but what I do use is:
a block of ice,
three raisins,
a Slim Jim,
a string cheese,
and just to pull all the flavors together, Tums.
This is my lucky pill caddy,
but instead of pills these are different types of nuts.
And I will have one specific nut per day.
You know how Obama
would have seven almonds every night?
This is like Obama’s regimen,
but way more disciplined.
Today is ‘almond day.’
A lot of people think Patriot Act
is just a one man show —
it’s not.
There is a team of people who are working tirelessly
every single day just so you can see the show.
So, every day I try to go around the office
and just bond with everyone.
And let them know,
“you’re valuable.”
So that when I come into your office,
“Jim—”
And I say, “Hey what’s up?”
“I need you to punch me in my face.”
You know you’re important.
“I’m not hitting you in the face.”
“C’mon,
- we’re taping—” - “No.”
- “No. We’re taping today,” - “No, no, no.”
“Hit me in the face.”
“Jim, punch me in my face,
- I need to get pumped up.” - “I’m not—No, No.”
“No!”
“Jim! Punch me in the face so I can get pumped up!”
“It’s not the Netflix way.”
I am surrounded by people who have sacrificed
so much for me to do what I do.
And I would not be here without them.
So I keep a picture
of the people who are most important to me
and I look at it
every day before I hit that stage.
This is who it’s all for.
So, that’s it. That’s my routine.
I just wanted to give you guys an inside look.
I know it’s kinda boring.
But it’s what I do and it’s my process.
We’ve got new episodes coming out February 10th.
And I can’t wait for you guys to check it out.
And I can’t wait for ‘Cashew Thursdays’.
Because I am very hungry.