If there's anyone who knows how to spread joy year-round, it's comedians Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.
It's hard not to listen to "Las Culturistas," the podcast that they have hosted together for over nine years, without breaking into a smile (or a few full cackles). And they're constantly bringing the laughs in their individual careers, with Yang as a longtime cast member of Saturday Night Live and Rogers appearing in shows like "Overcompensating" and "No Good Deed" and, of course, serving as a repeat co-host on Jenna & Friends.
So there's no one better to ring in the happiest time of year than the iconic duo. To help do that, they teamed up with Marshalls for the holidays. Not only does the brand offer "something premium while also being whimsical and fun," Yang tells us, but the brand is also able to have a "sense of humor" about holiday shopping, making it the perfect partnership for the pair.
Together, they created "It's Giving Gifts!", a completely revamped gift guide with their signature comedic flair, featuring categories like “best gifts for the homebody who loves their sourdough starter more than you and you have accepted that” and “best gifts for me that were so thoughtful I really shouldn’t have.”
"I think that that was one of the great opportunities in the partnership, that we could bring our sensibility to it. And then, in bringing our sensibility to it, what ended up happening was that all of these categories really make you think of a specific character in your life," Rogers says.
Take the gifts for mom category, “[With] ‘best gifts for mom', if you were to end it there, it really doesn’t give you very much," Rogers says. But with "best gifts for mom, whose idea of a sensible walking shoe is a stiletto," you know exactly who you're shopping for. "If it’s not my mother, maybe it’s my aunt, maybe it’s one of my mom’s friends, maybe it’s one of my friends who’s become a mom, maybe it’s someone who’s not a mom at all but who I think of.”
On their podcast, the duo has a recurring segment called "I don't think so, honey," where the hosts and their guest each take one minute to rant on something in culture. So, of course, we had to know what their takes were for holiday gifting.
And Yang took it as an opportunity to remove the "gift card stigma" that has become all too present around the holidays. "Sometimes it is the most flexible thing. It is the thing that, while not the most personal, sure — we will allow that — it still has literal value. It is someone giving you something and giving you the reins and the flexibility to choose something for yourself. Marshalls has a great gift card. I will happily accept a gift card for anywhere, because then that also motivates the way that I will shop for myself at a specific place. If you remind me that this place has great things to buy, I will go. Of course, I will eat out at a Chili’s tonight because I’ve gotten a gift card."
As for Rogers, he has two things he wants to call out. To start, he shares, "A broad thing is, 'I don't think so, honey,' that holiday gift giving has to be stressful! It can be fun. Whenever I’m approaching anything stressful and I get a little anxious, I’m trying to [ask] myself about everything in my life: 'What if it was fun?' Just that question ... and that can change a lot."
The second is more specific to his gifting experience. "'I don’t think so, honey,' just because your friend is gay, he wants a scoop neck sweater. I have received too many."
Below, we asked Rogers and Yang about some of the best gifts they've received and the ones that they're hoping to get this year. Plus, they walked us through some of the categories from the gift guide and we chose some standout products from the areas on Marshalls list. (If you want to see all the categories and products, you'll want to head to Marshalls site to check out the guide.)
Gift guide: Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
When it comes to shopping for each other for the holidays, unsurprisingly, each says that the other one is harder to buy gifts for. So Rogers says he’s often “thinking outside the box” when it comes to what to get for his friend.
“I believe he has better taste than I do,” Rogers says about Yang. “And so I don’t know that I could get him a piece of clothing that he’s going to be like, ‘oh my God, I can’t believe I have this now!' He probably already has that or would get it somewhere else. So for me, I try to be fun with the gifts that I give, I try to be functional with the gifts I give, I try to make it specific.” One of his “best years of gift giving” was when he bought coasters with different music artists on them, like Dolly Parton. "That's an idea for something functional, but also is a little bit of fun."
While he didn't share where he got them, we found these coasters on Etsy, which can be customized with your loved one's favorite album covers and artists.
As for the top gift on Yang's list this year, it's something simple. "A book of Monday crossword puzzles," he shares. "I want ease. I bought mediums, and I’m too dumb. I got Wednesday, Thursday crosswords and I just want an easy one."
As for the best gift he's ever received, Yang says it came from one of their friends who is a "top gift giver." "Last year, he bought me this vintage photo book, from I want to say, the '50s at the latest of Rockefeller Center. He gave it to me when he came to SNL, and I was just like, 'Oh my God, I can’t believe you found this.' And he thought of me, and it’s just such a special encapsulation of a place that obviously means a lot to me. And Matt — Matt has a whole dang song about it!" ('RockaFellaCenta' is a song from Rogers' 2023 'Have You Heard of Christmas?' album.)
While it may be hard to find the same vintage book, you can get someone in your life a coffee table book about a city or place that has special meaning to them.
For Rogers, his all-time favorite gift was an experience. "When I was 10 years old, my parents got me tickets to my very first concert ever, which was Mariah Carey at Madison Square Garden." Not only was that the best gift he's received, but he says it's also "the culture that made me say culture was for me" (something that they ask every guest about on their podcast).
"I absolutely freaked the hell out when I got those tickets. I might as well have just come out of the closet right there when I was 10. That was a hugely meaningful and exciting gift for me to get at a really formative age."
While you can grab someone tickets to see an artist or show you know they'll love, if you want to give them the power to choose, you can also get them a gift card to a ticketing site.
Marshalls "It's Giving Gifts" list
Best gifts for the little ones who are so sticky and yet so sweet you have no choice but to love them:
In the kids category, Yang says that there are "a lot of car toys, games, blocks, microphone sets for the future Matt Rogers in their lives."
Melissa & Doug is always a classic toy to gift for the holidays and this set is perfect for the littlest members of your family, aged 12 months to two years.
Best gifts for the host who insists you bring nothing but nothing is code for “bring something good, or else…”:
This season always brings plenty of holiday parties, and we all know someone who tells you it's OK to show up empty-handed, but ends up disappointed if you do. In those cases, you can't go wrong with a sensible kitchen tool like this one, which is perfect for the host who makes a mean cheese platter.
Best gifts for the mom whose idea of a sensible walking shoe is a stiletto:
For the mom who is a little luxurious, a nice perfume is always a good choice. This one from Dolce & Gabbana is designed to be "timeless," combining floral notes with amber, vanilla and musk.
Best gifts for the dad who takes the worst pictures of you you've ever seen, but you love him anyway:
Your dad may not be up to date on all the latest tech, but that doesn't mean he won't appreciate some of the trendiest fashions. This classic beanie is a fan favorite winter staple that will make the perfect gift for Him.
Best gifts for the person who lives to tell you “the book was better than the movie”:
When it comes to what to get this person in your life, Rogers has some ideas. "[They're] going to need bookends, lamps, reading glasses, display trays for coffee tables, throw blankets." He adds, "You start to think this person likes to be cozy when they read, maybe they’re drinking coffee," so a mug may be a good choice. But you also can't go wrong with a set of classic books, like this one with some of Jane Austen's most beloved works.
