Wicked Psychotherapists

Hubie Halloween-Protecting Salem one Thermos at a Time

Erin Gray and Tanya Dos Santos Season 3 Episode 38

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This week on Wicked Psychotherapists, Erin and Tanya are heading to Salem for a wicked good time with Adam Sandler’s Hubie Halloween 🎃

We break down all the laughs, the heart, and the surprisingly deep psychological layers behind this misunderstood hero. From empathy and bullying to the power of kindness, we explore why Hubie might just be the most emotionally grounded guy in all of Salem.

We also talk about life in New England, Halloween traditions, and answer this week’s question:

🧛‍♀️ Would you rather be a vampire or a werewolf?

(No surprise here — we both went full vampire.)

So grab your pumpkin coffee and your multi-tool thermos, and join us for a mix of humor, insight, and a whole lot of Halloween fun!

👉 Listen, laugh, and get a little therapeutic at linktr.ee/thewickedpsychotherapists

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional therapy or mental health care, and listening does not create a therapist–client relationship.

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You are listening to Wicked Psychotherapists, a podcast where two psychotherapists show you that taking care of and learning about mental health doesn't have to be wicked hat.

Erin:

Hey guys, it's Tanya. And hi, this is Erin and welcome to Wicked Psychotherapists.

Tanya:

Yeah, welcome. We are getting into the spirit of. Halloween, because that is coming up and just fall. this is a time we both really like, we both Like the spooky things. Obviously we're the wicked psychotherapist, and we have a witch cackle in our opening theme song. we decided to continue with Adam Sandler, but also throw in that Halloween vibe with his pretty recent movie of Huey Halloween. it is a really cute movie. There's a lot of elements to it. It's also set in New England, set in Massachusetts. It actually really was filmed there. My husband's cousin was living on the same street where they were filming it in Swamps Gut, But also just seeing like all the, you know, like I recognize all the Eastern Massachusetts houses are very distinct, at least if you live in Western Mass, also the Salem museum and seeing certain parts of Salem was really nice, We see the whole cast, The whole gang is there.

Mm-hmm.

Tanya:

For Adam, including, all his buddies that he has, they're recurring and really funny and charming to us that he continues to have like his kids, his wife. But also like his buddies, like Steve Buscemi and Kevin James. You know Tim Meadows? Colin Quinn, is it?

Erin:

Quinn. yeah. Ben Stiller and Rob Snyder. Yeah. A few of them. And I think we were laughing Before we were starting to record too, that there are so many Easter eggs to all of Adam Sandler's movies or most of them. So it's really fun, especially if you love him like we do. you'll be like, oh, and there's that and that.

Tanya:

Yeah. It's fun to point out and find, he gives Little hints back references to older movies that he did. There's so many great references that if you're an Adam Sandler movie fan, you'll recognize some of those patterns. this is a movie that I'd probably say, we are gonna talk about the entirety of it. It was out in 2020. if you're coming here, you've probably watched it,

Mm-hmm.

Tanya:

I love the opening scene with Ben Stiller as Nurse Hal.

Erin:

Hal, and he even says the same thing he says in. the two movies, you know, it's like ba you know, basic, you know, like he's, it's so funny, like,'cause at first I was like, wait a minute, is that Ben Stiller. And I love that his name was still Hal, because you're in his world now.

Tanya:

I wonder if that's where after he got fired from, taking care of Happy's grandmother, he went and worked there with werewolves and stuff. Yeah, for a little

Erin:

And then in Happy Gilmore too. He was. Running, self-help, like the AA type of thing. So poor Hal just can't keep a job.

Tanya:

His own cult slash aa helping. Well, really it was just his own way of having people. Indentured servants basically. Yeah. so we enjoyed it for. A lot of reasons because mm-hmm. It's Adam Sandler because of all those charming little, set elements that he adds to his movies. we meet Huey, and there's a lot of panning through these New England scenes and Massachusetts and I don't know if it was filmed like in other places for the setting but I did recognize a lot of places out in Eastern Mass. But it's just really nice'cause it was like peak fall and really, really nice to see I like that. And we meet Huey and we get the sense that he's a little different, right? Mm-hmm. Which again, is a recurring pattern and theme in Adam's character. Yes. That he's, has a little, he's

Erin:

a little off in all

Tanya:

of'em. Yeah. Yeah. He's got something that maybe developmentally, maybe he's not, he's not up to par. Right. he's kind of rigid in his thinking. He doesn't really understand. Sarcasm, he sticks to a rigid sense of what's right and wrong. He feels like he needs to report everything that's wrong if somebody, you know, leaves something in the road like a rapper, he is gotta run to the police station and make a million reports. he is just hyper responsible and kind of hyper rigid

Erin:

and that's interesting too because, in a couple of his other movies, he's very. Sheltered from his mother. And in this one his mother's trying to protect him because her ancestors tried to, show everyone what's right and wrong. she tried to help him realize like, okay, well you have to be the voice. And so He made himself the self-proclaimed monitor of Halloween and monitor of Salem.

Tanya:

Yeah. he did kind of make that title for himself. I did like that tie in with him saying, well, my relatives were from, the Salem Witch trials, and they were, you know, because of what they stuck up for, what was right then they were accused of being witches. And that's something very much built into Salem history and that, spooky Halloween factor that's very big here in New England. and that kind of guided his behavior. and his mom is very much in support of her boy. Very protective. Yeah. he's just trying to live his life. He's trying to do the right thing. He Tries to help out wherever he can. Even if it's kind of misguided, it's maybe not the most helpful, He seems to be irritating. Officer Steve a lot. Officer Steve doesn't like him'cause he goes to him to report a lot of things, about people buying extra eggs and toilet paper on mischief night or whatever and officer Steve who's played by Kevin James is like, well, that's that. I think he just relates to that can find a lot of material out of it. That's really funny.

Erin:

Yeah. Well, and also it's stuff that people can relate to people haven't always felt like the coolest or accepted whether it's elementary school, high school, By him really going the other way of being such a dork or having people dislike him. There's something about it that most people can relate to where, you know, maybe not to that extreme, but it's like, oh yeah, I have felt uncomfortable in this situation. Or, yeah, I wasn't the most popular. he's just really making it noticeable.

Tanya:

the townspeople, it seems like he grew up there and everybody not only the generation he grew up with, but their children are taught to relentlessly pick on him, tease him, bully him. Like he's riding down the street in his bike and you know, people are just throwing stuff at him like eggs and shouting. mean things at him and he just takes it in stride. He like catches it With his thermos, his like magical thermos that

Erin:

it's very much like the thermos reminded me very much of like Inspector Gadget Or something. It's like all of a sudden go, go Thermos, become a, you know, like a hook, become a flashlight,

Tanya:

multi-use. Yeah, it was very handy. I kind of wondered how did he do that himself If so, he's definitely got some skills and talents.

Erin:

able,

Tanya:

Who knows if he's descended from quote unquote witches, He's very mocked. He's not taken seriously. Even at his job. He's a butcher, or he works at a meat counter. You know, we see all these characters, even as coworkers are just messing with him. Mm-hmm. They don't take him seriously. Insecure and bullying him because he's ripe for the picking, you know? Mm-hmm. He's got a good heart and he doesn't really see those things, he doesn't do that to other people. So I think he kind of attracts that in bullying and they know that he can't really tell when people are maybe trying to Right. Kind of sneak attack them. it's really weak on their part to do that.

Erin:

Yeah. I mean, it's interesting too because when he's at the beat counter of wherever he's working, stop and shop or whatever it is, you'd think the kid Mike, at first I was thinking like, oh, they're friends. Yeah. And then you're like, oh no, this kid is such a jerk. He's so mean to him.

Tanya:

He's in on the joke with, Ray's character, I can't remember his name, Yeah, that's another classic I was just like, wow, cool. everyone learns that even at the party later on, somebody's like, oh, my grandma gave him his first, I'm not gonna say it, but basically bullied him physically. Yeah. Which would be considered harassment and assault. It is. but it's just a town effort for people to not even question it, just go after him. it's really cruel because he obviously has some issues navigating the world. Mm-hmm. And he's, maybe just kind of. rigid in his approach because he is very anxious or maybe he has some developmental delays, but either way So he just kind of incites these people's need to feel powerful.

Mm-hmm.

Tanya:

that's kind of the core of bullying.

Erin:

Yeah. Something makes him not get disgruntled or really down on himself with all the bullying. And I don't know if it's just the positiveness of his mother or the support because she seems very supportive and just very happy and just, okay, you know, like you go do this. Just be safe, have fun. If you didn't have that support at home, it probably would be really difficult if you were getting bullied all the time.

Tanya:

yeah. And she's always reminding him to, fight back. The grandmother seems feisty herself with her shirts and everything and what we learn about her later on, he's definitely, got something about him, he's got built in support and maybe from his bloodline, he's got that strength.

Mm-hmm.

Tanya:

But yeah, there's a lot of funny things that happen along the way. I mean, he goes to speak at an elementary school, they chuck. Food at him. he wears this sheet that, looks like it's from Water Boy, the pea stained Sheet, which is like one of the Easter eggs. from another movie he wears it as a ghost. the kids just don't like what he's saying and start throwing food at him. a dodge ball

Erin:

And he's like, is that all you got? And then his magic thermos, all of a sudden he has an umbrella.

Tanya:

Like, what doesn't that thing have? It was a loudspeaker. if he threw it, it came right back to him, it's like, yeah, it really is. Inspector Gadget, anything and everything he needed, it became A little blender to mix up the eggs.

Yeah.

Tanya:

Yeah. Gross. That was nasty. He was like, free breakfast. Yeah. And so he, I mean he just, clearly, everywhere he goes, kids. Adults except for there was one person who just finds him to be really, really, you know, I guess like a stud, as she said. Mm-hmm. and she's been in love with him. Violet Valentine, you know, I guess they went to kindergarten together or whatever,

mm-hmm.

Tanya:

he's been in love with her for a while. We don't learn that. She also has been in love with him too, for even longer. He says second grade and she's like, oh, I've been in love with you since

Erin:

first grade or kindergarten or something. it's so funny because she is like most likely to, you know, marry whatever most beautiful, most talented, most, you know, all the sub correlatives and hi his is like most likely to marry his pillow. he is like, I don't know what that means, but, so it's like such, such the unlikely thing and it's something we've mentioned before in other shows. He loves the V like Vicki Valentine or, violet, this, or you know, Lenord and this like, he loves all the V names for his Main characters, friends or love interests.

Tanya:

He definitely has a very almost like a template, but then he kind of mixes up things within the template and it still works.

Erin:

Definitely.

Tanya:

Yeah. a nice thing to see.

Erin:

and Violet too. she's such a caring person. she's fostering three children and she. Just, you know, works at the diner. She's single mother, she's, you know, sounds like she married the police officer because they were dating in high school, but she hated him. she's always longing for. Huey, because he's so kind that's really important for her. It's like, you know, just having someone really sweet and so she sees his awkwardness, his dorkiness, whatever else he's portraying of like, wait a minute, no, he's someone I want to be aligned with, which is really nice.

Tanya:

Even though she was the most popular. Like you said, all the superlatives that you would associate with maybe not being the kindest person or maybe not having that as their primary objective. I'm not saying people aren't, that, but maybe you wouldn't associate it, but she really is, a very kind person herself and they're very well Matched in that.

Erin:

Yeah.

Tanya:

And she has three foster kids. She's very helpful, very devoted to people. And he is always trying to, despite the things he messes up, be helpful. he wants to, help protect people, be the Halloween monitor or speak at schools about safety. He feels this need to protect, And try to serve. it's almost like had the qualities of being a police officer, but maybe he couldn't handle, the responsibilities of that. Or maybe he didn't like, the job requirements but he still has a lot of the qualities I think that you would see in like a, A police officer, like a soldier kind of thing, like protectiveness and, mm-hmm. Yeah, so I think we come to learn in the story that there's some sort of monster starting to pick people off or make them disappear Huey's, on it immediately, and he thinks it's maybe Steve Buscemi, the weird neighbor that's a werewolf that's just kind of open in the cellar They then realized that. it's someone at his house, this is right around the time when he and Violet confess their feelings for each other. So he is gotta leave that like complete romantic moment of like just being able to kiss the girl and be like, no, mama, mama. Like, he's just so awkwardly run because he is, you know, he's working quote unquote undercover then he goes to his house and what does he discover?

Erin:

Oh yeah, it's his mom, which is hard too, Then he wants to save all the people, and then they're still bullying him while he saved, trying to save them.

Tanya:

That part was just like, oh my God, seriously?

Erin:

Still calling hu Huby Doy or whatever, and just like, or like huy. Yeah, he is Mom notices. She's like, you can't even not bully him right now.

Tanya:

Yeah. And then they kind of break down. The bullies are like, well, it's'cause I, feel insecure. I feel like I need to be the coolest. And the couple has their own issues going on between each other, so they're taking it out on him and

mm-hmm.

Tanya:

Liotta is like, I don't remember. He said like, he just has never. Felt lost for his father. His father died and he just kind of, there's all these psychological reasons in therapy you work on those to uncover why somebody may be bullying or self-sabotaging or whatever it is. But in their case, they were definitely bullying and taking that out on him, I thought it was really nice of him to, like, that's his instinct is to save people no matter what, even though these people have battered him and he's like, no. even that day, the couple, Tim Meadows and, Maya Rudolph had just, played this huge prank on him driver costume, like coming towards him and trying to kill him. it scared the crap outta him and he was like, oh no, you can't, his immediate instinct is like, he doesn't even think twice. And the mom. I don't know why I say grandma, but, the mom is, Because he always has grandmas. I always kind of think of her as like a grandma to him. But yeah, she's just like, do you see, like, you know, I taught him all this and, you know, his instinct, like basically like he's a good person and you all just need to take a look at yourselves. Yeah. Like it was a therapy lesson even though it was a scary one.

Erin:

I've tried to have him stick up for himself and I've tried to let him know he shouldn't. stand for this, but even at the end, he still wants to make sure people are safe and feel like he's doing the right thing.

Tanya:

Yeah. And that makes him a pretty good person. And like, take a look at yourselves. Look at, you know, why you feel the need to constantly tear him down is because you, you feel so, so small. Yeah. Which is just like bullying 1 0 1. That's what we kind of teach kids, right? Like they're picking on you'cause they're mad at themselves kind of thing. But I think in that situation it was kind of,

Erin:

sometimes it is hard to Say or to listen. maybe they have something going on at home, or maybe it's not always about you, but when you are getting bullied, it's hard not to be like, how is it not about me? Right, right. how is it not about me? I'm the one getting yelled at. I'm the one no one is talking to, or they're starting rumors about the way it was, Explained, like while they're all tied up on their stakes, just, I have low self-esteem. Our marriage isn't good. I feel bad about myself. So it's like, oh, okay, who's the easy target? This person who doesn't have any friends?

Tanya:

And this person who cares about helping people.

Mm-hmm.

Tanya:

And who really is someone who is very susceptible to being picked on. Yeah. he kind of just continues to go towards things, like if there's a kid in need or something like that. Like easy ways of luring him towards, trying to help so that they can just set him up. Yeah, I mean, it really is telling about, how, and I know it's very cliche, we know that about bullies and everything, but it was a pretty, nice example and just really funny with all the cast of characters

Erin:

Yeah, I mean, It took me a minute to even recognize Rob Snyder, and I know he just had a stupid blonde wig on, but I just like, who is that? it really took me a minute and it was not like the costume was that great.

Tanya:

He kind of looks like a young James Spader, like in his blonde, snobby Beverly Hills eighties movies.

Erin:

yeah,'cause at first he had that look, you know, the blonde Bob haircut. you know? Then I was like, who is that? And it, it did, it did look like a young James badder.

Tanya:

I actually really, I love the interactions of that was like, one of my favorite parts was when they were in the police station and turned themselves in and they're just like, they were talking about how, you know, he's like, oh, so, you know, Steve Buscemi was like, what have you been doing since he got out? Because Rob Schneider. His character or whatever went out to come and get him because they were roommates in the werewolf Mental institution. and he was like, oh, I've been peeing on, I peed on a grave, I peed on this. You know, like everything was about peeing on things. And he was like, yeah, he loved to pee on things. And he is like, I'm peeing now, you know? and then he like, you know, kind of pets him. Rob Schneider pets him. And then Steve Chemy just like licks his, his hand like a dog. Like they're just like two dog friends. And I was just imagining the outtakes of that. they must have been cracking up. Oh my God. they're hilarious. So I love that scene. Just the two of them together. Yeah, it was funny. I loved Steve Emmy. Yeah, he is, he's hilarious. He's just always so creepy and, but like, not to the point where you hate him.

Erin:

You just wanna laugh and

Tanya:

it's, yeah. No,

Erin:

he's really good. I'm really loving him in Wednesday right now too.

Tanya:

He is very good in that. I don't think there's one character that he's ever been. I've seen a lot of his movies, probably not all of'em, but I've always liked him and them. But yeah, he's, he is good along with many of the other characters that are in there. and some other references from other movies. The, you know, Billy

Erin:

Madison o' Doyle.

Tanya:

Which will be

Erin:

record, which will be recording Billy Madison in a few weeks. it was funny'cause it was like, yeah, the O' Doyles and yeah, the P thing the mama, you know, like, there's a lot of different little dig and I guess a lot of the characters were homage to other characters in other movies too. Like the police officer was someone in Waterboy in the past? So it's funny.

Tanya:

that's, Kevin James. I think, another movie that made us happy. really funny. Some great elements and

Erin:

Yeah. no, it was positive and I think the reason why we're drawn to Adam Sandler, not because we're super immature, which we might be, but I think it's because most of his movies have. And you know, it's gonna end in a positive way.

Yeah.

Erin:

usually Adam's character figure something out or people around him figure something out and there usually is a lesson learned.

Tanya:

Huey learns that you have to stick up for yourself and go for what you want. you can still be a good person, in the way he wants to be and he ends up with the love of his life, violet. they, have the three kids that Violet has had, it looks like he's adopted them They got married

Erin:

and then he becomes mayor. So then all of a sudden, the whole town recognizes. His self-appointed monitor sash and being, the policing the whole town all the time actually could be helpful and maybe they needed someone like that as their mayor.

Tanya:

Yeah. He actually cares on, like, the former one who didn't even wanna shut down the Halloween festivities when like a kid was missing and a, couple was maybe missing. he didn't seem to care. But Huey obviously. Cares, and I think Adam sticks to that theme of a person who cares is going to serve best. that's utmost importance how kind you are, how much you care

Erin:

I think that could be used in many different circumstances.

Tanya:

Yeah, for sure. I think, there's probably not a lot of that going on, especially now in this world so maybe it is really good to just keep watching Adam Sandler movies. I'm sure there's a lot we could

Erin:

pro, we could probably talk about him for a very long time.

Tanya:

Yeah, for sure. And he is probably got more on the way. I mean, I don't, I don't know, but I'm sure he does. I'm sure he doesn't seem to stop too often. it was a really good movie. I like it as a Halloween movie. it's funny, he kind of talks in that voice he's not sure of himself. He mumbles, I find that really hilarious. it could be a Halloween favorite I think I could add.

Erin:

I think it could be, cause it's not super, super terrifying, but it does definitely make you want to get into the Halloween spirit.

Tanya:

Yeah. So should we go with our challenge question? Yes, I like those. It makes me think. Okay. So if you had to. Transform, and I mean literally transform, not in a costume like Steve Buscemi. Okay. Like Steve Buscemi? Yep. Like one one, like say on Halloween, one day a year and be a werewolf or a vampire. Which would you choose

Erin:

probably a vampire. I was always, I loved all the, and rice. Books when I was young, you know, younger and the Vampire Diaries and all the vampire shows. I think it would just be fun and cool to be a vampire. You don't always have to kill everybody. You just kind of suck their blood, I guess. And you still have your wits about you because with a werewolf you're like, it seems like your full dog. Full wolf and you don't really have any human aspects, so you're not really able to not kill,

Tanya:

you're not in control. So there's a little restraint

Erin:

and you seem more refined and fancy. There's a lot of velvet and cloaks and it just seems really fun it seems like it'd be just a lot more fun to dress up or just all of a sudden transform. Has a vampire.

Tanya:

It's fancier. I do like that. That's funny. Oh my gosh. I didn't think of it that way, but it is so much velvet.

Erin:

So much velvet.

Tanya:

velvet is in now, and I actually got a couple things in velvet, so I'm feeling that.

Erin:

I used to be a big velvet where like in high school, like, you know, like, it seemed like it's like a big, these thing like, you know, velvet and mm-hmm. in corduroy I love soft stuff, but in Florida it's not really practical. Yeah, it's not really practical to wear corduroy you might die of. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

Tanya:

For sure. That definitely could. Yeah. You gotta be careful with that. Yeah. Hard to wear

Erin:

velvet in corduroys here.

Tanya:

I do like the corduroy pants they have out sometimes. I do like that for fall. I love

Erin:

I like the sound of corduroy too, like when you're walking.

Tanya:

I like it now. I definitely didn't like it when I was younger. I did not at all. So that is a good outlook on it. And I share that I would rather be a vampire. I've always loved vampires. Same. I was into Vampire Diaries and rice. I just always liked the romanticism of vampires. I was never into twilight. that was like, to me no, I'm not into that. But no hate if you are, you know? Yeah. Like it's, you know, it's, I just, that wasn't my thing, but I really loved the historic, tie to vampires, like how far back it goes. the lore of it.

Mm-hmm.

Tanya:

Yeah, I guess the fanciness too, and yeah, that you kind of seem more refined. You're like more in control. You're not as feral as like if you're a Werewolf kind of thing. Yeah. Could probably fly or something. I don't know. I'd rather fly than like run on all fours, so.

Erin:

yeah. it is like the romanticism, even with interview with a Vampire, vampire Diaries, they both have, it make it seem very romanticizing. And then of course like Buffy the Vampire, it makes it seem very like,

okay,

Erin:

you kind of wanna be the Slayer, but not the vampire, you know? But it is very cool. Lost Boys made me always interested in vampires too. Love Lost Boys. So I've always been very, interested. Like, they just seem very cool in a

Tanya:

Yeah. They definitely have A mystery surrounding them. And like you said, they do have fancy digs. they are like, usually in some mansion, like they got their like little, casket, you know, that they Yeah. You know, get. Get done. And I mean, and some modern takes on vampires, in shows and movies I've seen that people can even have synthetic blood. So you may not even have to suck blood. Right. You know, because technology, I don't know. or series. But I think that would be, I would definitely rather, I would like to be a vampire. I think that would be cool. I would be a vampire if I could for A day outta the year? Probably not, Once a year. Yeah. Once a year I think would be good. I mean, I have the skin to match. Dark hair pale. Mm-hmm. I'm, I'm rocking it already. Mm-hmm. Couple of kids when I was growing up would say I looked like a vampire, and I took it as a compliment, but really it was an insult to them I'm okay with that. Didn't mind it. That's funny.

Erin:

we both kind of fall on the same thing. I think it would just be vampires. Being a werewolf. I did like that show, what was it Being human or something like that. where it was a werewolf. a vampire and a ghost all live together? I didn't see that one. It was pretty good.

Tanya:

cool.

Erin:

But yeah, I don't

Tanya:

is that the one where they're kind of fancy? funny. there's a series that's really funny. It's sarcastic and silly little parables, but it's really funny. That may have been where I heard about the synthetic blood stuff.

Erin:

Watch so many different things. It's hard to keep track.

Tanya:

And there's updates of shows And Wednesday they don't really focus so much on vampires but they do with the werewolf, with, Enid's character and the Wolf Pack and wolfing out and everything. that just doesn't sound appealing. you just go berserk and can't really control yourself. you run around you're dirty and you're. Eating things that are disgusting. You do have superhuman strength or whatever, but I'm good. I guess we made up our minds Vampires are it, Yes, vampires

Erin:

It is.

Tanya:

All right, so we hope you like this. Let us know what you think. We are on all the things, including YouTube, if you'd like to see the tea stain on my shirt Aaron pointed out we are wearing kind of similar style shirts with pleats on the shoulders.

Erin:

which is kind of vampirey, you know, the Victorian error, I guess.

Tanya:

So yeah, just subscribe, like, subscribe. a review of us always helps tell someone, we're always into new people, and if you have any ideas about what you would like for shows, we're open to that as well But yeah, so I think that's it.

Erin:

And don't forget, stay wicked. have a great week. We'll talk to you soon. Bye-bye bye.