So Joe Exotic has taken the Quarantine World by storm. The number one doc streamed on Netflix right now, its the tale of a self proclaimed Tiger King running a bootleg television/entertainment channel making renegade zoo content by acquiring young boys who are wayward souls to do his work, all while feuding with other makeshift zoos. Does that sound familiar at all?

I mean its Barstool Sports to a fucking T.

The GW Zoo is Barstool Sports. Its a non traditional zoo where the people get to see the REAL stuff they want to see. Both the GW Zoo and Barstool Sports tout their main attraction as "BIG CAT." The traditional zoos - i.e. newspapers and the ESPN's and Fox Sports of the world - let you pet the llamas and feed fucking goats or whatever. But The GW Zoo...thats where the people get the REAL shit. Barstool can say "fuck" and talk about sex and whatever else the people wanna hear the same way you can go and borderline illegally pet exotic animals. We both give the people what the truly want by bending the rules and not complying with the traditional rules of engagement.

And its all made possible by Joe Exotic/Dave Portnoy. A self proclaimed king with a flair for the dramatic. An extreme narcissist who believes he is the center of the universe. And the reason why he thinks that, is because within his small bubble, he IS the center of that universe. The patrons of his zoo, i.e. the readers, and average joes who represent the extreme stereotypes of their region. The Zoo patrons being the extreme redneck hillbillies from the South who love guns and animals and hunting and probably illegal fireworks - the Stoolies being extreme Massholes obsessed with Boston sports and all things New England culture. Both groups praise their leader and thank him from bringing them the form of entertainment they so desperately want. They feel seen and heard by Joe Exotic and Dave Portnoy standing up for them.

And the way the zoo is powered? The people doing the grunt work and making that zoo run? Is by Joe Exotic collecting a Whack Pack of lost souls with no other options in life. A bunch of weird personalities with an affinity for exotic animals / sports & entertainment who dont have the skills to work for the San Diego Zoo/ESPN, but the desire to do so is there. Joe Exotic and Dave Portnoy both target young boys who are wayward souls, and, effectively, marries them:

John Finlay = Henry "Handsome Hank" Lockwood

Joe took in John Finlay, turned him gay I guess, and showed him the good life. As much coke, and meth, and exotic animals as the eyes could see. Thats like Davey Pageviews and Hen Easy. Hank was basically a juvenile delinquent who spent his time breaking into places with a butter knife and playing around with a camcorder. Then El Presidente swooped in and next thing you know, Hank is doing wine tasting and filming a reality show for a living:

Both Hank and John Finlay are the main husband. The First Wife in this polyamorous relationship. But just like all relationships, eventually something new comes along and tests the strength of that couple. Both Joe Exotic and Dave Portnoy like them young, dumb, and full of...self doubt with a natural instinct to be subservient. Joe Exotic and John Finley were as happy as could be. Aside, of course, from the fact that John had been straight his whole life and Joe was forcing him to live a lifestyle that was most convenient to Joe Exotic...just like Hank essentially living 24/7 doing whatever Dave Portnoy asked him to do. But it worked. Both relationships worked, and both zoos were growing. But as zoos grow, new people enter your lives. New, younger, shinier toys come along to play with.

Enter, Travis Maldonado.

Travis Maldonado is a young Frankie Borrelli:

Both young men were wooed by the fancy lifestyle of their King. Both Travis and Joe loved animals...Frankie and Dave, Pizza. For a brief period of time, the trio coexisted, in some sort of three way marriage. Multiple people involved in one relationship. Which, we all know is untenable. Eventually both John Finlay and Hank drifted from their King, both choosing to spend more time with Big Cats.

And so that left Travis and Frankie alone with their boss. Both wooed by the Good Life. For Travis, a never ending supply of weed and meth. Frankie, a glamorous life of models, private jets, front row seats to the Islanders, and endless pizza

But Joe Exotic and Travis began to drift apart, just as Frankie grew distant from Dave. Both Travis and Frankie both had one desire - the GREEN. For Travis, it was the green grass he smoked. For Frankie, the soft greens of the golf course. Eventually Travis couldnt take the pressure and he took a gun and shot himself in the head. For Frankie, if his stomach ulcers and anxiety attacks dont kill him, he'll eventually shoot himself too.

But as we know, neither Joe Exotic The Tiger King, nor Davey Pageviews, the Blogfather, can be alone. He needs a young boy by his side. Enter, Dillon Passage aka Tommy Smokes:

Both Tommy Smokes and Dillon Passage went on ONE date with their boss, and next thing you know, they were married. Inseparable. They went out on one date, and it went so well, they moved in together! Both Dillon and Tommy Smokes were the luckiest boys in the world. Joe and Dave were both on the rebound from the tragic end to the relationships with Travis and Frankie, so Dillon and Tommy were there to slide right in.

And all the while, Joe Exotic and Dave Portnoy reigned supreme over their zoo. They battled rival zoos, including one run by an evil, manipulative, bitch of a woman:

EDIT: Hank pointed out the better comparison is Wags, because both Dave and Wags feed off each other for content the way Carole and Joe's feud grew their business

And another Zoo owner from SEC Country who wishes he had the same sort of panache and pizzazz as Joe Exotic:

Both made preposterous campaign runs for local government:

Both had employees who were so brainwashed when they get maimed on the job in the line of duty, their only concern was getting back to work and making sure Joe/Dave was happy:

Both are absolutely dripping with sex:

Hell, both of them got into business in the later years with guys named Jeff Lowe:

And both of them are currently trapped inside and going through bad financial troubles.

I'm telling you, folks. Its right in front of our faces. Joe Exotic: The Tiger King is Dave Portnoy: The Blogfather. For all we know, Dave might have a Prince Albert. Exotic is Portnoy. Portnoy is Exotic.