An Irishman Explains All Those Matt LeBlanc 'Friends' Reunion Memes
The HBOMax Friends reunion has us here in America feeling all kinds of ways, but in Ireland, it has landed in a way we did not see coming. Seems Matt LeBlanc’s wardrobe, posture, and just overall thing remind Irish viewers of the middle-aged Irish Uncle, and as with all good cultural moments, it became a meme with the quickness. We don’t really have that character type in the States, and we hate things we don’t understand. So we’ve enlisted the help of Irish filmmaker John Butler– the man behind Handsome Devil (one of Esquire’s 50 Best Gay Movies!) and currently a director of the upcoming Stephen Merchant Amazon Video show The Offenders– to contextualize it for us. And also, because it is Pride Month, we will slightly objectify sweet Uncle Matt. Slainte!
John Butler, thank you for being Esquire’s resident Irish Uncle expert.
I’m born for the job. I feel like my whole life has been prologue to this, and I’ve always in some way been preparing for it psychologically.
I don’t know that American culture has this archetype.
No, I don’t think it does.
What is it? Who is he?
He’s one of the lads. He’s a bit of a funnyman and he likes a drink, but he’s not really that comfortable around people who aren’t exactly like him. He’s…harmless is the word, I suppose. There’s nothing edgy or dangerous about him, but he thinks he’s the funniest man in the room and...he isn’t, is the bottom line.
Do you have one of these uncles in your family?
I do not. Although I worry that it might be like the way they say about poker, that if you can’t tell the sucker after five minutes at the table, you’re the sucker? I may be that uncle.
Oh, John.
Yeah. Because there must be gay ones as well, but this one is quite straight. He used to play county football or play hurling for his school, or played rugby. And then the drink got to him, and the late-night eating got to him, and all his ambitions got parked. So now he’s a world-beater at making smart remarks.
Did you have one of these people in your life, then?
They’re everywhere, these guys. They’re at every funeral I’ve ever gone to.
We will not name and shame them.
No. But they’re always the ones at the back, just slightly snickering at something they’ve seen. But I just thought that meme was so funny, and Irish Twitter just leapt on it. I mean, I did watch the Friends reunion, and it was fascinating to see Matt LeBlanc dressed that way. It really was like he had dressed like that as an in-joke for the Irish, he was dressed exactly like your Irish Uncle.
What’s the dress code for the Irish Uncle?
It’s that stripey kind of shirt.
The going-out shirt.
Right. The wet-look hair, like Matt had, with the little fin in front. They love a wet fin. You’ll see a boot-cut jean, with those tan shoes that kind of slightly go up at the toe. Because it does get to that thing of, how do you dress after a certain point in your life, if you work in an office, and you’re not comfortable with ambiguity, and you’re a straight man? There’s not a million options for how to dress.
There are two: Jimmy Buffett and Criss Angel.
Exactly. You can’t have any flourishes. You can’t say anything. So he's just sitting back with the arms folded, that kind of relaxed-stroke-defensive position. (Ed. Note: “stroke” is Irish for “slash.”) It’s usually at funerals where these guys come into their own. You know those guys? Always having slightly too much fun at the funeral?
I actually do not know those guys, no. I don’t know that we have that here.
Well, maybe not when it’s someone near and dear to them, but these guys always go to more funerals than they should, because it’s a bit of craic and free booze and nice sandwiches and some nice young girls that they can look at. (Ed. Note: “craic” is Irish for “fun.”) I wonder if there’s an equivalent in the New Jersey Italian community. Because there is a slight bit of dressing like The Sopranos in it.
Help me understand the captions here. What sorts of things does the Irish Uncle talk about?
Oh, he’s really uncomfortable around difference of any sort, so the one that absolutely slayed me was the one where he said…
That epitomizes the Irish Uncle. And then of course he says, “Ah sure I’m only joking.” But just anything from outside the parish is going to make him a bit uncomfortable. There’s an element of that guy who’s never left Ireland, as well. Just holding the pool table at the local pub every Friday for thirty years and never going anywhere. It’s all to do with fearing anything foreign or exotic or different in any way, whether it be bisexuality or Belgium or jeans with holes in them or exotic foodstuffs.
How do you feel about Matt LeBlanc moving into this new casting opportunity?
I think he looks hotter than ever. Is that what you’re asking? Because that’s what I’m saying.
It’s not not what I’m asking.
I mean, he was hot when he was young, but this is a fascinating new period for him. Becoming an object of desire in this way, it’s a very interesting move. My mum, who’s 74, is in love with him. (Ed. Note: “mum” is Irish for “mom.”) She always loved him. That’s a mother’s delight, that kind of character. Lovable, inoffensive. She’s just always thought he was great craic. “Craic” being “fun” in Ireland.
John, I know.
And that’s who Great Craic Guy becomes. Irish Uncle.
Why so much “C’mere?”
“C’mere, I’ll let you go,” is how these guys get off the phone. C’mere is at the start of every sentence. Or Lookit.
Have there been any other culturally significant Irish Uncles?
Literally not one outside of Ireland, ever.
So Matt is a trailblazer in this way!
The genius of Irish Twitter is to recognize the type at the instant of its inception in the culture.
That’s another revelation here: I guess I didn’t know there was such a thing as Irish Twitter.
Oh yeah, @daraobriain is brilliant. There are great Irish Instagram accounts as well: @shanedanbyrne, @bigdirtyfry.
In case he’s reading, do you have anything to say to Matt LeBlanc?
I mean, are you interested in marrying an Irishman?
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