"Maybe he has his own washer and dryer now."
May 21, 2013 7:34 AM   Subscribe

Back in 1994, Mimi Haist was a volunteer at the BEST laundromat in Santa Monica. The then-struggling young comic Zach Galifianakis was a patron of that laundromat, and he and Mimi became friends. Flash-forward to 2011 when the now-successful Galifianakis learns that Mimi has become homeless. What does he do? Pays for her apartment and makes her his date at his movie premieres.
posted by jbickers (43 comments total) 24 users marked this as a favorite
 
Awesome.
posted by cjorgensen at 7:36 AM on May 21, 2013


This is a nice story. I don't want to hear one drop of fucking snark on this one. There is no downside to this, no angle worth ripping on. This is a Nice Thing.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 7:41 AM on May 21, 2013 [56 favorites]


Mensch.
posted by Iridic at 7:41 AM on May 21, 2013 [6 favorites]


Obviously a good dude. He hates hollywood so much. I hope the hangover makes him a lot of money and then disappears off the earth forever so he can do some great stuff without that haunting him.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 7:43 AM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


"Galifianakis introduced Haist to Renee Zellweger, who furnished the octogenarian's apartment."
posted by Tomorrowful at 7:43 AM on May 21, 2013 [5 favorites]


Galifianakis is such a dreamboat!
posted by QueerAngel28 at 7:55 AM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


That is terrific. Also, what makes you stand out on the red carpet more than the absolute perfect date?
posted by xingcat at 8:00 AM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


Galifinakis does seem to have a knack for breaking my "love of Galifianakis" barrier. I keep thinking we've topped out, but here we go again.

No snark on this situation, but Jesus Christ, could we do something so no people over 80 could ever be homeless?

(I'd prefer this to be universal, but we've got to start somewhere.)

On a more pleasant note, I bet drinking lemon drops with Ms. Haist would be a blast.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:02 AM on May 21, 2013 [14 favorites]


I'm scratching my head at the "laundromat volunteer" concept. Is that a thing?
posted by dr_dank at 8:12 AM on May 21, 2013 [6 favorites]


I bet that Ms. Haist is the perfect antidote to all the paparazzi and media circus. You finally get off the red carpet, the ceremony's over, you can plunk down and have some lemontinis with a kickass old lady. Hell yeah.
posted by WidgetAlley at 8:18 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


This is a nice story. I don't want to hear one drop of fucking snark on this one. There is no downside to this, no angle worth ripping on. This is a Nice Thing.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:41 on May 21 [7 favorites +] [!]


GET UR OWN BLOG I WILL HAVE MY LULZ
posted by resurrexit at 8:21 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


Sheesh, why aren't we taking care of 87 year old homeless people in this country?
posted by Soliloquy at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2013 [10 favorites]


I love this guy.
posted by wallabear at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


That's amazing. Great guy!
posted by zarq at 8:23 AM on May 21, 2013


I'm scratching my head at the "laundromat volunteer" concept. Is that a thing?

I had one at the laundromat I used to go to, before I got my own W&D. He was a retired firefighter, lived in his camper by choice and spent summers hanging around his friend's laundromat fixing the machines, stocking the coin-op thingies and just being helpful. I think he had a laundromat he adopted in Georgia for the winter.

So yeah, it's a thing.
posted by Floydd at 8:28 AM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


Our local laundromat has a "volunteer" as well, I think it's just a small job that pays cash (obviously) and lets the owner get away with hiring someone that's off the grid for sub-minimum wage.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:30 AM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


Sheesh, why aren't we taking care of 87 year old homeless people in this country?
posted by Soliloquy at 10:22 AM on May 21
Well, one guy is.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:47 AM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


"aaa-HAA-haa!"

I love her laugh so much! It reminds me of someone, and I can't remember if it's a departed family member I only knew as a small child and who only exists in the fuzzy fringes of my memory or if it reminds me of someone else I liked very very much. I suppose it doesn't matter. I love her laugh!

Good on ya, Zach! You, David Koechner, and chemicals were the reason I saw the truly execrable film "Out Cold" twice while it was in theatres. You have now repaid your debt.

Koechner, you bastard, you still owe me.
posted by barnacles at 8:54 AM on May 21, 2013 [2 favorites]


If they do Hangover IV, Mimi needs to have a part drinking lemon drops somewhere.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:59 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


His character in the Hangover just made me friggin' cringe, but it's nice to find Zach's an awesome person. World needs more awesome people.
posted by Mooski at 9:12 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


A good man, that Galifinakis. I hope I'd follow his course if I ever became as successful.
posted by Rustic Etruscan at 9:18 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


My daughter got me into "Between Two Ferns" a while ago and I've developed a puppylike devotion to Galifianakis ever since. He's so joyfully and blithely uninterested in Hollywood stars:

Brad Lee
Cooper Actor


and as Cooper is explaining his movie he replies, "Who gives a fuck? No one gives a fuck," and later, "You can't skate on your looks alone."

How great is he?
posted by kinetic at 9:22 AM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


A good man, that Galifinakis. I hope I'd follow his course if I ever became as successful.

I agree and am inspired to be more giving even though I'll never be as successful.
posted by kinetic at 9:29 AM on May 21, 2013


I'm scratching my head at the "laundromat volunteer" concept. Is that a thing?


Think of some financially hurting person who can't get a job but wants more than a handout.

Now imagine dropping your laundry off and returning eight hours later to find it all safely folded perfectly in your laundry basket. Wouldn't you be happy to "tip" said "volunteer"?
posted by notreally at 9:30 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


DirtyOldTown There is no downside to this, no angle worth ripping on.

Failure of imagination on your part.

“I drink lemon drop martinis with Grey Goose vodka.”

Mr. Galifianakis and Grey Goose are clearly exploiting this woman for a cynical marketing campaign.

Just kidding, this is really cool.
posted by history_denier at 9:31 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


I didn't mean to sound like Dad putting his foot down or anything. I just wanted to remind people strongly that we all like nice stories and this might not be the place for a critique of Galiafanakis's film career or scathing bon mots on rich celebs.

It's just really nice to have a story we can enjoy without equivocation and a little preemptive grar seemed worthwhile to keep the punchbowl safe.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:36 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


What, no mention of Bored to Death? Zach is the man!
posted by crepeMyrtle at 9:46 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Also, Visioneers was....weird.
posted by goethean at 9:48 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Sheesh, why aren't we taking care of 87 year old homeless people in this country?

Well, clearly because the market (in the form of successful comedy film stars) does that. Did you not RTFA? Next you will tell us that you did not know that Boise's school lunch program is funded entirely by Jack Black.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:00 AM on May 21, 2013 [11 favorites]


"Sheesh, why aren't we taking care of 87 year old homeless people in this country?
posted by Soliloquy

Because they are no longer useful to the engines of production.
posted by marienbad at 10:04 AM on May 21, 2013 [3 favorites]


I already loved Galiafanakis as the guy who still drove a '98 Subaru despite being in one of the highest-grossing comedies of all time, but this is a whole new level.
posted by Lorin at 10:06 AM on May 21, 2013 [4 favorites]


Iridic said it. What a mensch.
posted by zippy at 10:08 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Galifianakis introduced Haist to Renee Zellweger, who furnished the octogenarian's apartment. Haist was unfamiliar with the celebrated actress.

I just love that there are apparently people who haven't seen Jerry Maguire. This gives me hope for humanity.

And...uh...this article does, too.
posted by phunniemee at 10:29 AM on May 21, 2013 [8 favorites]


Mr. Galifianakis and Grey Goose are clearly exploiting this woman for a cynical marketing campaign.

I thought he was an Absolut man.
posted by Pruitt-Igoe at 10:42 AM on May 21, 2013


I love that guy. Total class.
And just when you think he's achieved MAXIMUM LEVEL, I tell you that I can show you something that takes his Rad rating even higher (in aggregate, Im not suggesting this is better than what he did for Mimi) with this: BEHOLD!
posted by Senor Cardgage at 10:58 AM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Respect.
posted by Uther Bentrazor at 11:16 AM on May 21, 2013


I think this is awesome that he helped this lady.
They have laundry attendants here. It's usually a low wage job. I did not know you tipped them. Some here are fairly young. What they do here is keep the laundromat clean, do drop off laundry, and call the police if there's any problems. Here I think it's the owner's family members who do it.
posted by Katjusa Roquette at 11:20 AM on May 21, 2013


"I just love that there are apparently people who haven't seen Jerry Maguire. This gives me hope for humanity."

I never saw it. It looked terrible.
posted by klangklangston at 11:21 AM on May 21, 2013


I've never been a fan of "cringe" comedy, so I'm not a big consumer of Zach's brand of comedy, but this is really awesome, and Mimi sounds amazing.
posted by dejah420 at 11:32 AM on May 21, 2013


It just simply destroys my soul that 87-year-olds can be homeless in the United Fucking States of Fucking America. Fuck.
posted by ORthey at 1:20 PM on May 21, 2013 [7 favorites]


Because they are no longer useful to the engines of production.

Neither is gay people!
posted by QueerAngel28 at 2:09 PM on May 21, 2013


Does anyone else remember when he used to occasionally guest star as the government hating racist separatist dad with lots of guns on Reno 911? He was always hilarious, and I have loved him ever since.
posted by a fiendish thingy at 4:55 PM on May 21, 2013 [1 favorite]


Visioneers suited Zach perfectly. Also, BRAIN CONTROL.

Also, this is awesome.

It was in her purse. It was in her naughty purse.
posted by ostranenie at 5:26 AM on May 22, 2013


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