New Episode on Patreon Today

Summary

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Bad Friends — "New Episode on Patreon Today"

Hosts: Bobby Lee & Andrew Santino
Date: April 17, 2026

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Overview

In this episode of Bad Friends, Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino dive into the unwritten rules and etiquette of the stand-up comedy world, using their trademark mix of vulnerability and razor-sharp wit. They share personal pet peeves, recount on-stage interactions with fellow comics, and gleefully roast each other and their peers. It’s a candid look behind the curtain at how stand-up works and why certain “rules” exist, sprinkled with stories about mic-stand jokes, walk-ons, and the unspoken pecking order among comics.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Mic Stand “Gag”: Who is the Joke For?

• The recurring practice: Comics (or hosts) adjust the mic stand’s height either too low or too high, often as a joke targeting the performer’s stature—especially someone shorter like Bobby.

  • Bobby (00:01): “I yelled at the host for putting the mic stand low.”
  • Andrew: Relates, admitting he’s done the same, but calls out how it’s often “their laugh—not my laugh. It’s their residue laugh.” (00:15–00:36)
  • Bobby: “Yes, leftover laugh. Well, they’re not even on stage. They try to get a laugh.” (00:37)

• Brad Williams example:

  • Andrew (00:47): “I do the opposite...I put it as high as I can.”
  • Bobby: “That’s the same thing.”
  • Recognizing it makes extra work for the next comic rather than adding to the show.

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The Unwelcome Stage Walk-on

• Bobby’s story (01:34): Recounts when Steve Byrne unexpectedly joined him on stage mid-set.

  • Bobby (01:34): “Walked up on stage and goes, ‘Let’s do a duo. Let’s play with the crowd.’”
  • Expressed his anger at being interrupted: “It made me so mad.” (01:57)

• Andrew’s experience (02:05): Steve Byrne did the same at a recent show, but Andrew “welcomed it with open arms”—highlighting different comfort levels with surprise collaborations.

• Cultural angle:

  • Andrew (02:14): “He’s half Korean.”
  • Bobby: “You gotta be a fully to pull that kind of stunt…It’s like I’m in the middle of a setup and all of a sudden, ‘What’s up?’ Without asking. And it’s just like, I don’t like that.” (02:19–02:21, 02:28)

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The “Feature Smile” and Other Green Room Etiquette

• Feature comics giving “the smile” after a killer set:

  • Bobby (02:51): Describes the “feature smile”—the opener giving the headliner a smug, satisfied smile after crushing it on stage.
  • Bobby: “If you do feature smiles again...I need a frown. I know how well you did. I heard it.” (03:12–03:15)

• Andrew’s advice (03:19): “I tell my features: no smiling at all, no comedy. I say go up there, say hello, tell people where you’re from, and that’s it. And then get off.”

  • Both jokingly advocate for an utterly joyless, humble approach from openers.

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"Needy Hosts" & Navigating Professional Friendliness

• Pet peeve:

  • Bobby (03:41): “I hate needy hosts.”
  • Explains resentment toward hosts who seek feedback: “Was that good? Funny?”
  • Highlights the awkwardness when comics are expected to reassure hosts after every set.

• Andrew’s concern: Critiques discussing local comics on-air, worried it will “ruminate feelings again,” but Bobby defends the honesty as a teachable moment. (03:59–04:08)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bobby Lee (regarding mic stand jokes):

  • "It’s not my laugh. It’s their laugh…It’s their residue laugh." [00:15–00:36]

• Andrew Santino (on following Brad Williams):

  • “I put it as high as I can. That’s the same thing.” [00:47–00:51]

• Bobby Lee (on Steve Byrne’s stage walk-on):

  • "You gotta be a fully [Korean] to pull that kind of stunt.” [02:16–02:19]

• Andrew Santino (on dealing with feature comics):

  • “I tell my features: no smiling at all, no comedy. Just get off.” [03:19–03:30]

• Bobby Lee (on needy hosts):

  • "I hate needy hosts." [03:41]

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Timestamps of Important Segments

• 00:01–00:37: Mic stand height jokes—why they bother Bobby and Andrew; who the joke is meant for.
• 01:34–02:21: Stories about uninvited comics crashing sets; the difference between being “fully” accepted to do it.
• 02:51–03:19: “Feature smile”—the green room aftermath of a killer opener set.
• 03:41–04:08: Bobby vents about needy hosts; Andrew questions airing grievances about local comics.

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Tone & Style

• Frank, irreverent, and playful.
• The hosts oscillate between roasting each other and venting sincerely about behind-the-scenes annoyances.
• Plenty of meta-commentary on comedy, and a willingness to break down personal boundaries for the audience’s benefit.

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Transcript

[A]

It smells like dog food in here.

[B]

Yep. Rook, Rook, Bobby. I just got here. I yelled at the host for putting the mic stand low. You know how they try to get a laugh?

[A]

Yeah, yeah.

[B]

Because I'm small.

[A]

I've done.

[B]

I do that. I know. And it makes me so angry. But I won't yell at you. But I went, if you ever do that again, I'll rip you. Oh, I've gotten that from you. Yeah, yeah. The low voice. Because it's. Because it's. It's. It's trying to get a laugh. That I'm sure. Right. But it's not my laugh. It's their laugh. You know what I mean? It's their residue laugh.

[A]

Yeah. Leftover laugh.

[B]

Yes, Leftover laugh. Well, they're not even on stage. They try to get a laugh. Yeah. And they're in the back going, but I made that mic store. You know, I bet you Brad gets that Williams.

[A]

Oh, dude, I do the opposite from when Brad follows me in the store. I put it as high as I can.

[B]

That's. See, that's the same thing. It's the same thing.

[A]

But it's funny for you, for all of us.

[B]

For Brad, it's. For Brad, it's a whole extra thing he has to do.

[A]

Funny, dude.

[B]

For me, it's. You know, I mean, I have. I get a laugh.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But then I have to go, I'm small. Do that face like, well, God made me. Right? And then Brad has to bring it down. Yeah.

[A]

It's funny.

[B]

It's for you, for the person before. But it's not our laugh.

[A]

All right, you know what?

[B]

We're not going to do any.

[A]

No more funny.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

No more comedy.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

I think we're done with comedy.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

All weekend long. All weekend long.

[B]

That's not what I'm saying. What I'm saying is.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Brad left his toothbrush here at the studio.

[B]

Yeah. And his. And his pen. Another thing is get it off your chest. When like, one time I was in the OR and Steve Byrne, halfway during myself, grabbed the mic from the side of the stage and walked. Walked up on stage and then goes, let's do a duo. Let's play with the crowd. And that made me so mad.

[A]

This is very funny. You know, he. At San Francisco, at the last time, I just played Punch. He showed up and he came on stage at the end of my.

[B]

Did you ask him to come up or did he just come up on stage?

[A]

He just came up.

[B]

No. Are you being real?

[A]

I'm being serious.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

But I welcomed it with open arms. I thought.

[B]

Yeah. I don't welcome with open arms.

[A]

You didn't want it.

[B]

He's half Korean.

[A]

Oh, he's not a full.

[B]

He's not full.

[A]

Yeah. You gotta be a fully to pull that kind of stunt.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. You gotta be a fool.

[A]

I actually totally agree. Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. It. No, because it's like I'm in the middle of a setup and all of a sudden, what's up? Without asking. And it's just like, I don't like that.

[A]

Also, from us, from a outsider's perspective, it looks like your Korean uncle who's got it together because he wears a suit is coming to like.

[B]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[A]

Talk you down a little bit.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Let me do comedy for you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Because he wear suits.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And we wear clothes.

[B]

Yeah. I also don't like this. I just realized. Right.

[A]

Give it to me. Give me the idol.

[B]

I want to give you that. The feature smile.

[A]

What is it?

[B]

So what happens is you're. You're backstage. I just played the San Jose improv and Ramsey Badali had a really good set before me. And so there's a curtain and he opens it and he has a smile right at you. Yeah. Like he knows he killed. Right?

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If you do feature smiles again.

[A]

No feature smiles.

[B]

No, no. I need a frown. I know how well you did. I heard it.

[A]

I tell my features. No smiling at all. No comedy. I say go up there, say hello. Yeah. Tell people where you're from.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Tell them the favorite foods you have.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And that's it. And then get off.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Bring up the headliner.

[B]

And then the last thing I want to just get off my chest.

[A]

I love stuff on your chest. Pause.

[B]

Yeah. Are you being real?

[A]

Yeah. I want you to get it off your chest.

[B]

Okay. So what? I hate needy hosts.

[A]

Was that good?

[B]

Funny? No. I had a local, you know, nice girl. She's already. I already brutally. You know, I mean, verbalize it to her.

[A]

Well, then. So should we be talking about it?

[B]

Yeah. Well, I could just be vague about it.

[A]

It's going to ruminate feelings again. Then for her, she's going to hear this 100 and be like, that's about me.

[B]

No. Maybe it's going to teach her a lesson.

[A]

Teach

[C]

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