I'd like to throw my two cents into the Lemonada Fail Better discourse.
The latest episodes aren't bad. Really. In fact, to someone largely tapped out of celebrity culture, it's been nice to listen in and passively catch up.
The problem seems to be that the latest guests haven't been engaging with the show's premise (read: failure) as vigorously as previous ones. DD seems just as willing to dive into his own struggles as he's always been-- volunteering an opening during Justine Bateman's episode with a candid anecdote about his father, for example-- but isn't being met with the same reciprocity: namely, Maureen Dowd's there-and-gone anecdote about her struggles, Jonathan Roumie's shortened call just as they were getting somewhere, Chris Evert's dodging of the cancer topic, Jaleel White's rushed discussion of the struggles he faced, etc. And yes, some of these can be traced to David's beginner mistakes-- sometimes he wants to get to know people, and banter, more than he wants to interrogate them (i.e. Steve Lukather, Graydon Carter, Bree Sharp.) But not all of the interviews; and not without offering a tidbit about himself that could steer the guest into more open vulnerability, if they so choose.
The choosing-- aye, there's the rub.
In my opinion, Fail Better's best guests were long-time friends or those passionate about the message they want to share (be it politics, philosophy, or deeply personal memoirs.)
If I were to give him any advice (which he won't see, because I'm pretty sure he doesn't read comments), I'd say: "I see the vision, and I see the drawbacks: your intent versus your hesitancy to prod. A happy medium would be to bring on guests you can be open and honest with; and guests with one focus-- world peace, bug meat, whatever you agree with-- that you can drill down on single-mindedly (via their dawning awareness, their up-and-coming struggles, and the failures they anticipate in the future.)"
Will these opinions impact who DD brings on in future? No-- he reads a book and wants to meet the author; he knocks shoulders with an enterprising new voice and platforms them; he reminisces with old friends who should've (he believes) had better shakes. And he fills in the gaps of the podcast in his premium content (the latest being his fraught actor-mentor then father-son then equal-equal relationship with Chris Carter.)
And that's all I have to say about that. :D
