Vignettes From LA
Diary of a Young Man #50
Hello my sweet reader! I hope you’re having a great day. I hope Pride month has been full of love and fun. Or penance if you’re straight…
I’ve had a very busy Pride month. I taped my debut standup special last Thursday (woohoo!). I’m really excited for you all to see it. We had a great time in the room and it’ll be available for free forever on Youtube later this summer. My good friend and genius Shiv McCarthy directed it (writer/director of She’s The He).
Speaking of, we had to jet set the next morning to get to LA on Friday for the She’s The He LA premier! Its been so fun to share this movie with people and the reception has been incredible. Both NY and LA theatrical runs have been extended and you can pre-order on Apple TV! It’ll be available to rent and buy on June 30.
I stayed in LA a few extra days to act in a short film on Sunday. Its an 80’s period piece and I got to rock this incredible hair.
Before I left for set on Sunday, I stopped by a coffee shop to do some last minute prep work. I stepped onto the sidewalk to meet my uber when a massive pickup truck pulled up onto the sidewalk next to the coffee shop. The dude nearly hit me, so I looked over a little startled. He was parked diagonally and in front of a gate in a way that I figured he must be getting out to open the gate and pull in. He got out of the truck, slammed the door and looked over to me and said something. I genuinely didn’t hear him so I said “sorry, say that again?” and he yells back “tow me!” I laughed. I’m not the cops. I don’t give a fuck where you park. His teen daughter followed him into the coffee shop without looking up from her phone. Happy Father’s Day!
The Uber driver who picked me up from set had his phone rigged to the dash and was playing a World Cup game. Typically I wouldn’t be happy with someone driving distractedly, but if we go down watching Messi score a hat trick, then so be it. The World Cup has been so much fun this year. The soccer is great, the off field stories have found a way to be fun as well despite it all. When you see real people from other nations meeting real people from Kansas, you realize so much of the xenophobic conversation about immigration has been fed to us online. When real people get together, we are much more loving and much more human.
I took a redeye back to New York on Monday night because that was the cheapest option. The TSA Agent who was running the security line was worse than any I’ve ever experienced. I fly all the time, so I’ve seen my fair share of TSA Agents and lines. The whole process is a great metaphor for what its like to live in the US or under capitalism. We’re doing something dumb that we know doesn’t really work or prevent anything, they’re constantly changing the rules, the people running the line are mad at us, we’re mad at them, but none of us in the room have the power to change anything because these decisions come down to us from people who fly private. This guy was barking at us like it was our first day of Marines training camp. You don’t do anything unless you’re told. If you’re not told to take off your belt, don’t take off your belt. If you’re not told to take off your shoes, don’t take off your shoes. Meanwhile, I’m standing there waiting for him to shut the fuck up so I can ask him if I need to take my laptop out or not. Nothing gets me going more than someone speaking to me like a child. I heard an international passenger next to me say to his friend “America” and I wanted to say loudly, no, no he’s just being a dick.
When I got on the plane I passed a row where two children and their father were on my right and then across the aisle on the left was their other father. The dad sitting alone was not happy and leaned over to say to his husband, “you see? That’s my problem. He’s not being that way to everyone. Look how nicely he just asked that lady to put her bag up. No attitude.” They were of course referring to the flight attendant who is also a gay man. Gay on gay crime during Pride! Come on, ya’ll! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, gay men cannot be trusted.
I’m hitting the road this fall with all new material. I hope to see you there!
SONG OF THE WEEK: Oh No by Softee
I love this song it always puts me in a good mood!
NEW MATERIAL TOUR FALL 2026
7/9 - NICO AND FRIENDS IN BROOKLYN
As always, if ticket price is a barrier to entry for you (especially if you are trans) please fill out this form and I will do my best to get you in! Comp tickets are first come first serve and can be limited depending on the venue.
Last but not least, watch BOYS CLUB! All five episodes of season 1 are out now on Youtube and you could watch all five in about 30 minutes. Perfect for your lunch break.
NICO’S JUNE BOOKSHELF:
Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert.
The Candy House by Jennifer Eagan.
NICO’S MAY BOOKSHELF:
This month has been going so fast I don’t even remember which of those books I read in May. IF ANY! Thank you for all the recs, they’re going on my list. I’m recommending a TV show today:
Widow’s Bay on Apple TV - This is a comedy horror its super funny and scary! Really enjoying this. First four are already out and the last two come out tonight 5/27!
NICO’S APRIL BOOKSHELF:
Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert.
Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk.
Let Us Play: Winning the Battle for Gender Diverse Athletes by Harrison Browne and Rachel Browne.
Valencia by Michelle Tea.
NICO’S MARCH BOOKSHELF:
Heart the Lover by Lily King.
The Secret History by Donna Tartt.
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin.
NICO’S FEBRUARY BOOKSHELF:
Blitzed: Drugs in The Third Reich by by Norman Ohler.
The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead.
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters.
NICO’S JANUARY BOOKSHELF:
Town & Country by Brian Schaefer.
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin.
Stoner by John Edward Williams.
LESS by Andrew Sean Greer.
Happy-Go-Lucky by David Sedaris.
Nico, this was helpful to get today. It was great to have you here in MPLS; you brought a lot of good vibes after a terrifying winter.
I just finished my fourth day of partial hospitalization and I'm gonna be the fuck outta here before ya know it. Not how I wanted to do Pride, but I'll send the bastards the bill. 🩷🏳️⚧️