The Funny Indian Newsletter, Vol. CLXXXV

February 2022: 5-Ring Circus

Rajiv Satyal

Feb 27, 2022

Welcome

Welcome to the Funny Indian Newsletter + Happy Black History Month!

Yes, this one is heavily #CincinnatiBengals. I may never see such a convergence of my two cities like this ever again.

Click the pics for links.

See

A few upcoming shows… I’m thrilled to host the She-Suite Summit for the 2nd straight year:

03/04: The Nitecap (Burbank, CA)

03/11: The She-Suite Summit (Virtual) (pic)

03/19: Private Event (Los Angeles, CA)

03/27: MB Karaoke Comedy Spectacular (Glendale, CA)

Watch

WHAT DO YOU BRING TO THE TABLE? S2 TRAILER.

Here it is, people! Everyone’s favorite Desi-focused talk show.

A 3-year gap between Seasons 1 and 2? How much could’ve changed in 3 years? A different President… a global pandemic… and a brand new studio right here in Burbank, CA… enjoy! (A lotta fun comments on IG.)

Guests: Actor Karan Brar. Actor Parvesh Cheena. Director Sujata Day. Actor Nik Dodani. Podcaster Misha Euceph. Comedian Zarna Garg. Comedian Pallavi Gunalan. Actor Ritesh Rajan. Actress Lilly Singh. Actor Karan Soni. Actress Avantika Vandanapu. Singer Vidya Vox. Trailer edited by Kerey Viswanathan. Directors: Kabir Chopra & Brandon Salgado.

Watch

Here I am the day before the Super Bowl, near downtown LA, at the official tailgate.

Watch

This is a hodgepodge of short videos I took on Super Bowl Sunday.

Read

I’ve been touched how many of you messaged to tell me you actually read this whole thing! It’s how I went to the Super Bowl, complete with pics.

Read

Honored to be quoted so heavily in this feature.

Listen

Fun pic. Even more fun interview.

Like

These next three sections show the unfolding of the epic Super Bowl Weekend.

Like

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I did it — 7th straight #DryJanuary!

Questions for the drinkers, not the teetotalers:

1. Did you try it?

2. Did you make it?

3. Was it hard or easy?

I think in 2016, I did Dry May but it's still the same idea.

This one was my easiest one yet, but it definitely gets more difficult as the month wears on. I hear eventually it becomes easier once you get over the hump, but I also hear that's more of a matter of months and not days.

I do it every year to prove to myself that I can give up alcohol. It's not for religious or health reasons. At the age of 45, I can go just as hard as when I was 21. My body feels no difference. My mind thinks no clearer. Must be that Punjabi blood. In fact, this is what makes it all the more difficult — because the only purpose is simply to do it.

Of course, the toughest day was Sunday, when both God and the Devil teamed up to allow me to have people over to watch the Cincinnati Bengals win the AFC.

Now I can enjoy Black History Month because I didn't Black Out in January. Can I make that joke? Yeah, I can make that joke.

Cheers to February!

Love

Ask

Click for some great replies on Facebook:

I've been thinking how best to phrase this but here's my best shot:

Pick a year in post-1900 America that serves as the dividing line between the old world and the new.

When did daily life in the United States change the most?

Like, before this year, things were one way and then after that, things were another. It almost makes you go, "Before that happened? Oh, that was a different time, honey*."

Sure, everything's a process; it might've taken longer than one moment or even one year for change to come, but if you had to pick one (or two), what would your answer be? And how did daily life change?

There are no right or wrong answers but I am thinking of a definite answer and a runner-up... and I wanna see if y'all come up with the same.

Laugh

Since this is a FUNNY Indian Newsletter, I present here the 5 funny things that I saw, heard, wrote, or remembered for the last month... otherwise known as FIVE - Funny Indian's V Events.

5. No words.