he's got stage envy

[Alexey86]

Hello! John Oliver in his latest program (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElIf2DBrWzU, 16.12-16.28) said: "No one is thinking about you. These guidelines did not revolve around you. For once something has come along that is more toxic and more threatening than this president. And somehow he's got f***g stage envy!"

Is my transcription correct? I guess he means Trump envies the attention COVID-19 gets, but the expression is unfamiliar to me. Is "to get stage + feeling" a fix expression or structure?

 

[GoesStation]

Your transcription is accurate. That term stood out to me when I saw the segment, too. I thought about it at the time and decided it must be something that's used in theater and the performing arts. Oliver has occupied these contexts for years and may have forgotten the phrase isn't used in the wider world.

 

[SoothingDave]

Probably a reference to "penis envy" because that is how "comedians" are.

 

[Tdol]

The only one I can think of at the moment is stage fright.

 

[jutfrank]

It seems to be a creative mix of stage fright and penis envy.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Probably a reference to "penis envy" because that is how "comedians" are.

Right. People (including comedians) sometimes use envy that way to riff on the expression penis envy.

 

[Tdol]

Especially when they're not getting the audience going. :shocked!: