Club Random with Bill Maher
Episode: Chris Pratt | Club Random
Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Bill Maher
Guest: Chris Pratt
Episode Overview
In this episode of Club Random, Bill Maher sits down with Hollywood megastar Chris Pratt for a sprawling, relaxed, and unguarded conversation covering everything from artificial intelligence paranoia and the evolution of acting, to the realities of parenting, the culture wars, the business of show business in California, and the intimate realities of family—including Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Kennedy clan. Pratt and Maher riff candidly on the political climate, masculinity, media cynicism, and the balance between public persona and private reality, all with Maher’s signature irreverence and dry wit. This episode is light on politics and heavy on personal anecdotes, industry insights, and generational perspective.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
Injury Talk, AI Anxieties & Tech Paranoia
- 00:55-02:50: Maher jokes about a recent basketball injury (“mallet finger”), while Pratt shares his own past injury, leading into a riff on self-diagnosis and technology’s role in medicine.
- 03:35-05:24 Bill raises concern over AI and ChatGPT “hallucination":
- Bill: “When it’s not fucking up humanity—which it definitely will do—it does things that, like, you take a picture of your finger, and it’s like, ‘Hey, it’s a mallet finger.’” (04:04)
- Chris: “At some point, it’s going to get funny, right? And how do you know it’s not already there?” (04:19)
- 05:24-06:31: They reference Terminator films—Maher points out Pratt’s connection to Schwarzenegger, musing on pop culture’s prescient anxieties about “hostile robots.”
- 06:39-07:04: Maher observes, “We are moving into a post-I have-no-idea-what-truth-is age.”
The Business & Challenge of Filming in California
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07:29-09:55: Maher discusses Pratt’s acting trajectory; praises “The Terminal List,” which Pratt produced and stars in.
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10:09-12:44: Pratt shares the production logistics of TV vs. movies, emphasizing his desire to work close to home as a father and producer, despite LA’s challenging business environment.
- Chris: “You can attract great talent... Maybe we can negotiate that you get paid slightly less than you would if you were on location, but you’re going to be close to home.” (12:10)
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13:15-15:31: They lament California’s overregulation and high taxes but confess neither wants to leave, given social and weather advantages.
- Bill: “If we’re selling sunshine, they’re not selling it in Indiana.” (11:51)
- Chris: “I’m not going anywhere.” (14:51)
On Family, Arnold Schwarzenegger & The Kennedy Clan
- 15:31-18:19: Maher dives into life with Arnold as a father-in-law:
- Chris: “[Arnold’s] a doting grandfather, which is pretty cool.” (16:54)
- Describes Arnold’s hands-on activities with the grandkids and his unique wisdom about global markets and stardom.
- 18:08-19:29: Maher and Pratt discuss Schwarzenegger’s “bad boy” Hollywood days versus his gentler, family-oriented present.
- Bill: “You… seem to be a guy who’s really on the straight and narrow... that kind of square-jawed Navy SEAL guy. Maybe that’s why you’re so convincing in those roles.” (17:27)
- Chris: “He’s a one of one. There’s no one like him. That’s the truth.” (18:19)
Politics, Governance & The Thermostat War
- 19:08-21:14: Both agree on the appeal of moderate governance, riffing on Schwarzenegger’s time as a Republican in a blue state.
- Bill: “Our whole political system now… reminds me of a thermostat war.” (20:08)
- Chris: “Maybe the thermostat breaks and the thermostat is broken.” (21:14)
Religion, Christianity & Upbringing
- 22:08-25:14: Maher quizzes Pratt on Catholicism and his spiritual journey.
- Chris: “I’d probably consider myself to be more Christian than Catholic. I don’t know that I’m necessarily, like, one or the other.” (24:01)
- They discuss the history of Protestantism, Martin Luther, and lightly debate the trauma and inspiration of religious upbringing.
- Bill: “You can believe in Jesus as a God—I don’t. But you can and still be critical of his minions on earth and the things they’ve done.” (25:57)
Portrayal and Real-life Consequences in Art
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29:25-32:28: Talk of “The Terminal List” and its hyper-real prescience regarding global politics (Russian invasion, Hamas attacks).
- Chris: “Jack Carr… predicted the invasion of Ukraine by Russians, and… a Hamas terror attack on kibbutzes in Israel.” (30:21)
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32:28-34:46: Quantum computing and AI become a centerpiece:
- Chris explains: “Quantum computers don’t [process] on [binary], they work on qubits… processing each bit [as] infinite possibilities.” (34:18)
- Bill: “What is the ramification?”
- Chris: “Much faster processing speeds... [which] could breach encrypted information, like our entire financial system, instantly.” (36:10)
Acting Philosophy, Emotional Toll & Shifting Norms
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37:33-40:26: Method acting, the emotional labor of modern actors, and the difference between old Hollywood and current standards
- Bill: “Spencer Tracy never had to do this. Clark Gable didn’t do that. Hit your mark and bark… There’s a certain revolution in acting in the 60s… method acting…” (38:39)
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40:26-45:55: Chris unpacks his transition from “schlubby” comic roles to action stardom.
- Chris: “I could only get the boyfriend-douchebag guy… But I wasn’t very good at playing that character because it’s just innately not really who I am.” (43:03)
- Shares the fun—and toll—of gaining weight for “Parks and Rec”: “It became like a challenge. How fat can I get?” (45:31)
- But admits, “It wasn’t healthy and I didn’t like it.” (45:55)
Showbiz, Success, and Being Funny
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46:21-48:09: The value of a leading man who can do comedy—Cary Grant, Burt Reynolds, Ryan O’Neal as models.
- Bill: “The best thing you can be is the hunky guy who also can be funny… You’re positioned greatly for it.” (46:22)
- Chris: “I think that’s where I feel the most comfortable.” (48:09)
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48:49-50:16: Set culture and leadership: no drama allowed.
- Chris: “If I’m gonna be number one on the call sheet, then usually the vibe and the tone is gonna be really good.” (50:02)
The Temporary Intensity of Filming & Real-Life Anchors
- 50:38-52:15: How filming is like summer camp or joining the circus—intense brief relationships, then sudden separation.
- Chris: “You make these temporary but really powerful and meaningful relationships. Some of them do last a very long time, a lot of them… you plug right back in.” (51:42)
- “That’s why it’s really important for me to make sure my wife, my children, my family, my roots here… are what I really foster…” (51:56)
On Parenting, Masculinity & “Bro Culture”
- 54:50-60:17: Maher jokes about not understanding kids, Pratt shares the awe of seeing the world through their eyes.
- Chris: “[Parenting is] tough, you know, it’s not easy to… being a good parent.” (56:53)
- They discuss toxic masculinity versus healthy masculinity and the importance of male role models.
- Chris: “There’s been this move toward… affirm[ing] a healthy masculine male… It’s important to step up and try to be a good influence.” (58:56)
- Bill: “We’re not a patriarchy anymore. No, I don’t care what Barbie says... Girls are doing good. It’s boys who are not doing good.” (59:35)
Free Speech, Media Cynicism & Personal Reputation
- 60:17-74:50: The pair rail against speech suppression and cancel culture; Pratt reflects on his own media treatment.
- Bill: “My cynicism… about the media comes from something most people don’t… We read things about ourselves.” (71:28)
- Chris: “You go, wow, that is pure fiction, and hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of people are being fed that…” (69:44)
- Both lament the distorting, rumor-driven nature of entertainment journalism and the way “show business minders” can toxically protect or misrepresent stars.
Life Before Fame: Door-to-Door Sales & Stand-up Comedy
- 88:05-93:52: Pratt shares his former life as a door-to-door coupon salesman in Seattle—winning “Salesman of the Year,” opening an office at 18, and hiring unlikely colleagues:
- Chris: “You just cold called the door… I was salesman of the year. Won a trip to Jamaica.” (90:52)
- Maher and Pratt compare notes on standup comedy.
- Chris: “I don’t know that I did it enough times to really get into a rhythm… but I liked it. I liked performing.” (87:44)
The Magic of Seattle & West Coast Living
- 88:19-96:05: Seattle’s mood, weather, and unique character (“politeness on the surface”), contrasted to East Coast cities and Maher’s affection for California’s open, nature-filled vibe.
On Cannabis, Regulation & California Governance
- 96:42-102:49: Maher reveals he smokes his own homegrown cannabis; both vent about the bureaucratic nightmare of establishing (legal) cannabis businesses in California.
- Bill: “If I told you all the hurdles that we had to try to get over to just establish a marijuana company in this state… It’s just ridiculous. They do not make it easy.” (98:42)
- Criticism of California’s heavy-handed regulation and red tape, even for benign projects.
The U.S. Military, Service, and American Idealism
- 103:01-105:31: Both praise the American military as a moral and stabilizing force in turbulent times.
- Bill (quoting Orwell): “Most people sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men are willing to do violence.” (62:04)
The Terminal List, Jack Carr, & the Kennedy Experience
- 104:37-106:32: Pratt discusses “The Terminal List” and its connections to real military culture (inspired by author Jack Carr, former SEAL).
- 105:19-106:32: Life with the Kennedy family, and Maher’s perspective as an East Coast Irish Catholic—how the Kennedys shaped American socio-political identity.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On AI Paranoia:
- Maher: “We are moving into a post-I have no idea what truth is–age.” (06:39)
- On California:
- Maher: "If we're selling sunshine, they're not selling it in Indiana." (11:51)
- Pratt: "You can attract great talent... but you're going to be close to home." (12:10)
- On Arnold Schwarzenegger:
- Pratt: "He's a one of one. There's no one like him. That's the truth." (18:19)
- On Parenting:
- Pratt: "It’s tough, you know, it’s not easy… being a good parent." (56:53)
- Maher: “We’re not a patriarchy anymore. …Girls are doing good. It’s boys who are not doing good.” (59:35)
- On The Media:
- Maher: "You go, if you got this much wrong about something where I know what the truth is, what are you getting wrong about the other thing?" (71:28)
- On Transformation:
- Pratt: "[My life now is] almost a photo negative of what it was then in terms of process…" (42:13)
- On American Military:
- Maher / Orwell: “Most people sleep peaceably in their beds at night because rough men are willing to do violence.” (62:04)
Other Highlights
- Pratt describing his early years: “I was the ‘fuck that guy’ guy for a long time. …I wasn’t very good at playing that character because it’s just innately not really who I am.” (43:03)
- On acting craft:
- Maher: “Older actors are better… In their 50s and 60s… you don’t see the acting.” (78:26)
- On standup:
- Maher: “To me, freedom in the arts is when you can have, like, structure and then the freedom to make it even better.” (82:12)
- Chris: “I didn’t have a great act, but I liked it. I liked performing. I was hungry to perform.” (87:44)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 03:35 – Discussion turns to AI, ChatGPT, and paranoia
- 07:29 – Bill praises “The Terminal List”
- 10:09 – Producing/acting in TV vs. movies and family priorities
- 12:44 – Why LA remains home despite challenges
- 16:54 – Pratt describes Arnold as grandfather
- 19:08 – Politics as a “thermostat war” metaphor
- 24:01 – Pratt discusses spirituality
- 29:25 – Jack Carr, Terminal List, and “predictive” fiction
- 34:18 – Quantum computing explained with “qubits”
- 38:39 – Maher on method acting revolution
- 43:03 – Pratt’s comic-to-action stardom transformation
- 54:50 – Pratt and Maher on the experience of parenting
- 60:17 – Free speech as remedy for “bad speech”
- 69:44 – Media, public perception, and misrepresentation
- 88:05 – Pratt’s door-to-door salesman story
- 96:42 – The reality of legal cannabis business in CA
- 103:17 – U.S. military as the public’s most trusted institution
- 104:37 – Authenticity of “The Terminal List” and SEAL culture
- 105:19 – Maher recalls Kennedy influence on American identity
Conclusion
Throughout this wide-ranging episode, Pratt reveals himself to be thoughtful, grounded, and somewhat old-fashioned in his values, committed to family and comfortable with the contradictions of fame. Maher is both needling and commiserating, finding plenty of common cause with Pratt as they both navigate the double-edged sword of celebrity, the headaches of bureaucracy, and a rapidly changing cultural landscape. The conversation is warm, digressive, and insight-rich, offering a rare, intimate look at one of Hollywood’s biggest stars.