Can I find a new best friend? Let’s talk about that. Good Mythical Morning. Rhett and I have been best friends since first grade. You probably already know that because we say that a lot. But the thing that we don’t say is that I have this feeling that, because I’ve always had the same best friend, that I really never got to play the best friend field. I don’t know what else could’ve been out there for me. Okay, that’s fair. I guess the time has come for Link to find out what other kinds of best friends might be out there. And don’t worry, we’re not breaking up, okay? If you’re okay with that. We’re not breaking up. We’re just giving him some more options in case I get busy. You know, I get busy, I got lots of interests. Or die. And if this goes well, maybe I could play the field next. Yeah. I’m ready to get friendly. It’s time for “To Have & To Hold: Link’s New Friend Edition”. Live taped from Burbank, California, he’s a husband, a father, a presenter at the 2023 Creative Arts Emmys where he definitely delivered his lines flawlessly, and most importantly, he’s a best friend: Your host, Rhett McLaughlin! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh, thank you, thank you! Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay, that’s… Thank you, okay, that’s enough. They finished. Okay, alright! Okay, I know, I’m appreciated, I’m loved. It’s been over for a while. Okay, it’s alright! Okay, please stop! No one is clapping. Okay, thank you! They already did. This is “To Have & To Hold”, and please welcome our guest of honor. He’s a husband, a father, a presenter at the 2023 Creative Arts Emmys Awards where he made fun of his best friend when he said “Welcome to the seventy-fithe Emmys.” And most importantly, he’s my best friend… for now. It’s Link Neal! Does this look like I’m doing something I shouldn’t do? Throwing salt over your shoulder… Okay, good. …For good luck? How do you feel? Very hopeful, very excited. Well, don’t seem too excited. Can’t help it. Sorry. Alright, Link, on the other side of this curtain, there are four eligible friend bachelors and bachelorettes, but only one can walk away as a potential… Yeah, you can have platonic friendships with women. Okay. You don’t think you can handle that? I’m the one who’s gonna ask the questions. Okay. But only one can walk away as a potential new bestie. Let’s get to know our contestants. Contestant number one is a radio host with a face for TV. He enjoys pickleball, playing different instruments, and getting mani-pedis and margaritas! Please welcome Brian. Contestant number two is a retired therapist, but tired is the last thing she is. Whether she’s traveling the world on spontaneous trips with her wife… Yes, she’s a lesbian! Okay. …Or taking a walk with new friends, there’s no stopping her. Give it up for Beth! Contestant number three is a voice and dialect coach by day, and a plant lover by night. In his free time, you can find him gardening, hanging at the beach, or accompanying friends on their errands around town. Please welcome Nick! And finally, contestant number four is a substitute elementary school teacher, but he can teach you a thing or two about friendship. He enjoys a nice hike in nature and making creatures out of recycled materials. Give it up for Tom! Thank you, thank you. Okay. How you feeling right now, just with those introductions? I’m not giving it up yet until I make my decision. Okay. It’s time to get to know your new BFF-hopefuls. Please ask each contestant a question. Contestant number one? Yeah, good place to start. Yes. Can you make one noise that best represents you? Ca-caw, ca-caw! ‘Cause I fly high. “Ca-caw, ca-caw…” Came with a little qualifier there. “‘Cause I fly high.” Mm-hmm. Sounds like fun! It is. Contestant number two… Yes. That’s the woman. That’s the lesbian… It’s the lesbian therapist? Yeah. Yes. The lesbian therapist. Do you believe in ghosts, angels, aliens, or pirates? I believe in pirates. I don’t believe in ghosts. I believe in angels. But I believe in pirates for sure. Aliens? Eh, I don’t think so. Okay. I’m told there’s a hole here. Yep. There’s a hole in the curtain. Contestant number three, can you acknowledge me through this hole? They can’t look at you. With your hand. Okay. Like, if we were across the room at a party and we were friends, I need to see how you would acknowledge me physically from across the room through this hole. Gotcha. With only your hand. Okay. Whoa. It’s flat… He seemed tall. Do you want a different one for a different context? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you want to name the context? No. No, how about you? No? Hold on. Contestant number other person, stay out of this. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No cross-talk! Okay. Alright, let’s say we see each other so you don’t have to, like, get my attention. Okay. We’ve locked eyes across the room at a soiree, and then you’re gonna… There’s the hand, yep. And then you’re gonna acknowledge me with that hand. Okay. Oh. Hey, pretty smooth. That was better. Alright. Pretty smooth. Is there a fourth person over there? Yes, there is. Okay, is that your real voice? Yeah. No, it’s a fake voice. Okay, I like that. Which voice do you want? I like this one. Okay. Okay, it did change, though. It’s changing a little bit. It got low. Just a little bit. What’s your philosophy of fatherhood? And this is really just a veiled question to find out if you have any young children. I have no young children because they have grown up. It happens all the time to people and fathers have to cope. But I would say I’m a father who’s not into my children’s business when they got older, but when they were younger, I spent a lot of time playing with them. They don’t like that so much now, so I don’t do it. But I do talk to them and text them and I sometimes argue with them for fun. Would you envision talking to me about them a lot? Yes. I could talk to you about my children a lot because there is never a dull moment in our lives because they are always doing something or thinking something, and it’s exciting. It truly is. Okay. You watch your kids grow up and it’s amazing. That’s great. It’s great. It’s great, that’s great for you. Okay, Link, you are going to have to eliminate one contestant. Already? Already. So, a grandma therapist lesbian? Yes… That would be new territory for me. So I don’t want eliminate her to her so quickly. You don’t want to eliminate me. I think I gotta eliminate “flying high.” Sorry, number one. It’s alright. Dude! You’re too good-looking anyway! Thank you, Brian. Sorry. Fly on back to the greenroom. I don’t want no silver fox competition, you know? That would’ve never have worked! Okay, let’s keep things moving. I think it’s time we dig a little deeper to see who’s friendship material. Okay. Okay? Ask a few more questions that get maybe more intimate. Okay, alright, yeah. I got some more intimate questions. I’m sweating! Yep, good. I’m in the hot seat over here. Okay. Contestant number three. Yep. Do you blow dry your body after you get out of the shower, and if not, why not? I don’t have all of the hair on my head, and so I kind of take that as a reason not to own a blow dryer. But I do kind of pat myself down and, you know… I think the human equivalent of a dog shake. You don’t use a towel, you just shake? No, no, no, no. I of course use a towel, but the first step, you know how when you take a shower and there’s water droplets on the glass, if you are one of those people who squeegees the water down, I kinda do that with my hands on my… Oh, he’s a hand-squeegee-er! Hush, hush, hush, hush! Hand-squeegee-er. Go on. What? Pick up from there, you were telling me about the squeegee. You squeegee your body. Yeah, just, you know, you kinda help release the droplets and then, once you’re dry, then you step out and then you dry with a towel. That’s what I do. Yes. Do you really want two people that think that way to be together? That’s a good point. We’re not gonna share a shower. It also works in the context of going swimming or going to the beach, you know? You don’t want to be wet when you walk back to your towel… Exactly. So you kinda have to… You don’t wanna bring the mess back with you. I mean, well, I’m okay with it. But it’s fine. I didn’t even ask about the squeegee thing and he talked about it. Contestant number two. Yes. If I ask you to join me in peeing in my side yard, would you? Would I? Of course I would. We’d have a conversation at the same time. Okay. Eye contact? If you want. Okay. This sounds like something that you do already. Many times. Many times. Really? Specifically side yard? Side yard, median strip, you know? When you gotta go, you gotta go. Man, we’re gettin’ some good answers now. Contestant number four. Yes. If my ex best friend saw us on a hike, what would you do to make him jealous? I would hold your hand. And then after I held your hand… You’d hold my head? Hand. I would probably walk fast and have you walk fast with me to go past your ex because your ex is in the past and we’ll make sure that’s the situation. Okay. Getting very symbolic. Oh, yeah, I have this tendency to have loyalty and, you know, if there was a bear on the trail, I would probably give up my life to save yours, so… That’s how deep it goes. Okay. You know, I gave you a hard time in the last round, but I have to say, it sounds like you don’t have any friends. I have bears as friends. Okay. So I position them on the trails. You just seem very motivated to have me as a friend. I am so motivated to have you as a friend. If you don’t choose me, I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself. I’ll probably take a shower and pat off water and probably go in the side yard and make a stream. Or maybe at the same time, I’ll pat myself off in the shower and make a stream in the shower. I just don’t know. I think our relationship needs a reset. Already? Yeah, I think there’s things we both need to apologize for. I’m sorry for just being mean to you. What would you like to apologize for? I don’t have anything to apologize for. ♪ I’ve got to be me, I’ve got to be me ♪ And that’s how it be. So take it or leave it. And if you eliminate me, just know that you are gonna feel so sad because you’re gonna see me in that greenroom in the back of your mind, I’m going to be crying my little eyes out. See, I’m starting already. I’m trying to. Stiff upper lip. I’m good now, and my voice is back. This is… This is… This is lunacy. Yes, if you want a crazy dude, you got one right here. Okay, okay. Somethin’ else. Okay. I don’t know about you, but… I don’t know if you should get rid of him. Right on! Contestant number one. Oh, he’s gone. Oh, you wanna bring him back? Please come back! Okay. I think I’m good this round. Okay, alright. Who you gonna eliminate? It’s a tough one. It’s a really, really tough one. I’m torn. It might… I’m thinking about maybe number three, but just barely, I’m deciding on number four. But just barely! He almost made it. Okay, contestant number four. Please come and meet Link. Was that an almost? It was. No, it was a… Yeah, I eliminated you, four. Are you sure? Yes. Yes. Oh, dude! Okay. How you doing? Okay. I know, I’m out of here. Yep, yep. I have three kids. I’ll see you in the green room. Oh, yes, okay! You’ll be the one weeping. I think I’ll be the one weeping, and your ex, if it’s there, bear is there too. He’s a tall guy. You already got one of those, you already got one of those. Okay, we’re down to our final two. But first, we wanna let you know that Link and I recently took a trip to New York City! We took a best friends trip. Yes, we did, and we filmed ourselves as we went around doing things that we wanted to do. He went record shopping. I went pen shopping. We went to an island in the Hudson. Yeah. We filmed it all on our phones. It’s intimate. It’s fun. It breathed new life into our friendship that is being erased today. Yes. You can see it all at mythicalsociety.com. And you want to. Okay, Link. Last round. This is what it all comes down to. You got two people. Yes. You’re trying to figure out which one is gonna be your new best friend. Alright. Contestant number… The guy. I just can’t remember the numbers anymore. How are you with numbers? You know, I’m not… I can add them, I could use them, I can pay attention to them, but I’m not really all that fussed by trying to achieve good ones, I guess. I don’t know. I get it. I guess what’s the… I get it. You’re not trying to achieve good ones. Yeah. Yeah, I mean, I’m not all that bothered. Man, it’s kinda like I’m talking to myself. Yeah, he’s squeegeeing in the shower. Yes. He’s not trying for good numbers. And I actually remembered something. When I’m in a hotel room and there is a hair dryer, I do dry, I dry my legs, I dry my back. Are you serious? I do. I just, you know, it’s whenever I’m in a hotel, but that wasn’t the first thing that came to mind. And nobody ever told you to do that? No. It was just a quick fix. What? Alright, dude. Sing me a song that just embodies how you envision our friendship. Can it be spoken word? No. Oh no! He’s a very demanding friend. I just am not in tune. It doesn’t have to be in tune. But it needs to be an attempt at a tune. You know, just… Just try hard. ♪ When roots delve deep ♪ ♪ And grow a stalk ♪ ♪ Friendship blossoms on a walk ♪ ♪ The link between two friends, forever strong ♪ ♪ A bond forever long ♪ Good job. Wow. Good job! Hey, man, you carried that tune. I’m not too embarrassed about that one. No, that was great. It was excellent, it was excellent. That was really great. Mm-hmm. Gee. And it was in your favorite genre. Yeah, hiphop. Contestant number retired-lesbian-therapist. Number two, yes. Okay, yes. Who’s your favorite rapper? My favorite rapper? Or producer. It could be a hiphop producer. Yeah, there you go. Who’s the guy that hangs out with Charlie Pugh? Charlie Pugh? Pugh? Pugh? Pugh? The T-H is silent? P-U-G-H. Okay. Khalifa. Khalifa. Wiz Khalifa? Wiz Khalifa! Yes, yes! Weez Khalifa? Wiz Khalifa. He’s my favorite. Wiz… I like Wiz Khalifa. Yeah, yeah, yeah. He’s not my favorite, but… He’s a nice guy, I met him. He’s a really nice guy. You met him? I did. Yeah. Could you introduce me to him? Sure. Yeah, I have his number. You have his number? You’re not supposed to share numbers of clients, you know? That’s right, yeah. That’s a violation. He gave it to me. Last question. Contestant number two, can you share a secret with me that you’ve never shared with anyone while we pinky promise? Sure. Is that your pinky? Yeah. Oh. Is it bigger or smaller than you thought? It’s a little… Maybe it’s the wrong hand. Use your other pinky. Okay, there we go. Now that feels like a pinky promise! Yes, tell me a secret. I think I’m the one for you. You need me. I could tell. I could tell by your hand you, need me. You need a wing man. You need a front woman. You don’t need competition. Seat number three, he is really handsome. Really handsome! Okay. Okay, none of that sounded like a secret, but I’ll take it. I’ve never told anyone that. That’s right. Never told anyone that. She is funny. First time. And the pinky grip was really strong. You need that. You know? You need that. You need strong hands. A grandma with a strong pinky? Yeah. Uh-huh. So, now I, what, need to eliminate somebody? You gotta eliminate somebody, Link. Okay. Hmm. One of these, it would be like a mirror experience, which I feel like I’ve always wanted. Like, I’ve always been frustrated by just the shade and criticism that comes from the reactions to me just being me. Mm-hmm. I could use a little more, “Yeah, man, I’m with you on that. Let’s blow dry ourselves together,” kind of a thing. You really think that would be a great experience? But everybody knows I love lesbians. And, I mean, variety is the spice of life, and just having different experiences… I don’t know. I think I need, like, going in a totally different direction with this new best friend. It’s a tossup for me. I am gonna eliminate contestant number three. Real pleasure. Well, we don’t look exactly the same. No, no, not at all. But I do have a shirt just like that. And I that. Listen, we’re too much for each other, man. It’s alright. It would never work out. It’s okay. We wouldn’t be contest though, ’cause we’re not competing for the same people. You’re married and I’m gay. Oh, you should have asked. Always ask people’s orientation, you know that! Could’ve been a different experience. That’s the first thing you ask when you meet somebody! Alright, Link. I feel horrible now. That means, by process of elimination and maybe an active choice, you have chosen contestant number two. Contestant number two, get to know Link! Hey! Hey! So nice to meet you! Okay, Beth. We’re gonna hug. Okay. Look at… Did you…? Look at us! You’re handsome. You’re beautiful. Thank you. You’re a beautiful person. Thank you. And what are we gonna do now, have a friendship date? Yeah. Okay, here, pull up a chair. Thank you. Pull up a chair. So, therapist, huh? Uh-huh. Mm-hmm. But you don’t do that anymore? You know what, once you’re a therapist, you’re always a therapist. Mm-hmm. It’s true. I need that. I knew that. I already have one. You need another. I need another that I don’t pay for. There you go. There you go. Just a beer? Beer wins. Here we go. A beer and pretzels? You get an hour. You like to mountain bike? I do. I haven’t done it for a bit, but I do. Do you? Oh, yeah. Do you surf? I could, yeah. I stand-up paddle board. Yep. Yep, so I use the stick. Are you judging me? You do? No, not at all. You surf? I have, yep. I don’t wanna be presumptuous, but it can be an e-bike. Our mountain bikes. An e-bike for a mountain bike? Yeah. No. Oh, you’re against that? Oh, no, you gotta use your body. Use those legs. Well, you still use them, but not as much. I already have one. He’s already got one. Oh, jeepers. Jeepers for real. Are you not a man’s man? You’re a man’s man, right? Well, hold on, that feels like judgment. I mean, you… I can therapize you too now. You can. Hold on, this is falling apart, let’s end it. Let’s end it before it falls apart. I wouldn’t say I’m a man’s man. It started so beautiful. Maybe they can work, you know, towards a beautiful friendship. I believe in you. Beth, thank you for joining us. Thank you. You got a wonderful tan, too. Do you have a house… Do you have a vacation home? No, I don’t. Okay, at first I asked, “Do you have a house?” So let’s go back to that. I didn’t mean to ask that. Do you have a house? I do. Alright, can I hang out in it? Yes, you can. Okay, cool. You sure can. You got a pool? Yes, I do. Nice. It’s even heated. Bam! Eat that, McLaughlin! I’ve got one of those too. Thanks for commenting and sharing this video. Now we say, “You know what time it is!” Great. Perfect. Hi, I am Alyssa. And I’m Rachel. And we’re best friends and we’re currently at Chicken Salad Chick in North Carolina, and it’s time to spin the Wheel of Mythicality! Dink it and sink it. Chicken Salad Chick? We never heard of it. We gotta check out that Chicken Salad Chick. Next time we go to North Caco-laki. Okay, we’re going to embarrass you. Make sure you’ve got this turned up really, really loud if you’re in public. We just love ourselves some granddad tickles! And we love that you love granddad tickles too! Click the top link to watch us discover words other languages have but we don’t in “Good Mythical More”. We went to New York City! Watch the “Rhett & Link go to New York City” vlog series now at mythicalsociety.com