Club Random with Bill Maher
Episode: John Stamos | Club Random with Bill Maher
Release date: December 29, 2025
Host: Bill Maher
Guest: John Stamos
Episode Overview
In this lively, freewheeling episode of Club Random, Bill Maher sits down with actor and musician John Stamos for a candid, often hilarious conversation traversing their Hollywood journeys, music obsessions, fleeting feuds, and musings on aging and pop culture. Eschewing politics almost entirely, the duo embrace the Club Random spirit: unscripted stories, mutual ribbing, entertainment nostalgia, and revelations that are as intimate as they are absurd.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Rekindling a Supposed Old Hollywood Feud
[02:07–05:00]
- Stamos and Maher reminisce about nearly getting into a fight at a Hollywood club in the 1990s — though neither seems to recall the exact reason.
- Both acknowledge drinking heavily in their younger days, chalking up the near-miss to "two drunks" and lingering club culture competitiveness.
- Stamos: “Hollywood white boys getting into a fight. What could be more glam?” [04:10]
Building Organic Relationships in Show Business
[05:00–06:10]
- Maher describes how showbiz friendships need to develop naturally, citing anecdote about being at dinner with Salman Rushdie.
- He resists forced networking, preferring organic connection: “The last thing you want to do as a talk show host is be the guy who, like, meets somebody once and, hey, let's hang out.” [05:14]
Geeking Out on Music and Musicianship
[06:14–10:00]
- Both Maher and Stamos geek out over musicians like Billy Joel and the interconnectedness of music and celebrities.
- Stamos admits failed attempts to learn guitar, while noting Howard Stern’s newfound guitar obsession.
- The conversation shifts to how certain stars, especially comics, prefer the company of their own kind.
The Beach Boys, Music History, and Infamous LA Lore
[08:06–13:54]
- They share stories about The Beach Boys, their fans’ protectiveness, and infamous incidents— including Dennis Wilson’s connection to Charles Manson and Terry Melcher, the Sharon Tate house, and classic LA music history.
- Maher: “They treat their stars, especially their musical stars. We don't want John and Paul fighting. Mommy and Daddy shouldn't be fighting.” [09:02]
- Stamos and Maher riff on classic songs, notably “God Only Knows,” and “Disney Girls.”
Aging, Drinking, and the Club Era
[14:02–15:16]
- Both reflect on their “douchey” younger days, fueled by nightlife, drinks, and chasing girls.
- Stamos describes not having a true drinking problem since work was never affected, but admits to heavy social drinking in his prime.
The Politics of Hollywood and Wokeness
[16:00–17:44]
- Maher and Stamos discuss the contradictions of being “old school liberal” in Hollywood and Maher’s “soft cancellation” for not being woke enough.
- Maher: “I get nothing but shit, really... it's just like... So I take a lot of shit, what I call a soft cancellation for not being woke, but still being a liberal.” [16:53]
- Recognition (“up for a Golden Globe”) but persistent sense of outsider status in the awards world.
On Memory, Intelligence, and Hosting
[19:06–20:13]
- Stamos expresses awe at Maher's quick recall and command of topics without notes.
- Maher humbly downplays his intelligence: “I'm not a genius, but I'm not dumb as a rock sick, insane, wacko, Very sad or a crazy man.” [20:17]
Broadway Memories & Iconic Entertainment Experiences
[20:53–21:41]
- Both share their Broadway experiences: Maher’s Tony-nominated play, O'Hurley as the emcee in “Cabaret.”
- Reflect on the excitement of theater life: “You walk out after the show and you see there's all the other people coming out and all the other shows.” [21:33]
Ageism & Hollywood’s Treatment of Veterans
[24:25–27:19]
- Maher laments Hollywood's ageism, referencing Rob Reiner's struggles as a celebrated but “older” director.
- O'Hurley recalls his mentorship under Jack Klugman as a young soap actor, being exposed to comedy legends’ creative process.
Behind-the-Scenes of Sitcom Casting
[30:14–33:30]
- Maher reveals he was once offered Bob Saget’s role on Full House but declined: “It was money and it was the lead on a show, but we just thought it wasn't right for me.” [30:23]
- Both discuss sitcom recasting and navigating early career choices.
Showbiz Power and Replaceability
[34:22–34:53]
- Maher offers cautionary tales from TV: even titular stars can be replaced, referencing “Rhoda,” “Roseanne,” and Full House.
- “You are not important and they can always get rid of you.” [34:44]
Beach Boys, Drumming, and Playing With Rock Legends
[36:33–38:29] & [64:08–68:42]
- Stamos recounts his decades staying connected with The Beach Boys, mainly as a drummer, and playing on “Kokomo.”
- Stories of sharing the stage with legends : “First time I played with [the Beach Boys] was in 85 at the Washington Monument... Kokomo was their comeback song.” [66:53–68:42]
- Tales of jamming with John Fogerty and Bruce Springsteen at personal parties.
The “Golden Bachelor Age Inappropriate” Pitch
[48:03–52:01]
- Maher pitches a Bachelor spinoff, “Golden Bachelor: Age Inappropriate,” in which he, as an older man, would give guidance (not just roses) to younger women. The segment is both a sincere proposal and tongue-in-cheek commentary on dating reality TV.
- “I want to be the Golden Bachelor, but none of this age-appropriate... That's a funny show. That's a great fucking show!” [48:18–48:32]
- Stamos asks Maher to share the straightforward “dad” advice he’d give Gen Z Instagram models.
Cultural and Generational Commentary
[60:35–66:08]
- They try on various bits, including riffing as a clueless 22-year-old girl and lamenting the lack of basic education and appreciation for culture among young people.
- Maher: “If any problem you want to identify in America as root, I would say it is education.” [83:39]
Music vs. Comedy—Chasing Women, the ick, and Aging Single
[45:50–47:48]; [88:05–91:00]
- Maher philosophizes on musicians’ easier access to romantic attention and how comics have to “go through their brain,” which he considers an advantage in the long run.
- The pair riff on the concept of “the ick”—how a single turn off can destroy sexual attraction.
Sex, Scandal, and Hollywood Gossip
[65:24–73:53]
- Wild tales involving Vanna White’s neighbors, Jimmy Page’s infamous groupie stories, and ribald speculation about sexuality in the industry.
- Maher: “Gay guys hit on you. You seem like the kind of guy gay guys would hit on. And I mean that as a compliment.” [71:37]
Evolving Attitudes Toward LGBTQ+
[74:16–75:10]
- Both observe huge cultural shifts: “Stop pretending. We live in America where it's just a nightmare to be gay. I mean, there was a time and it's not now.” [74:30]
- Stamos has officiated gay weddings, demonstrating allyship.
Parenting, Childhood, and Fame
[51:48–52:01]
- Maher reflects on his relationship with his mother amidst newfound fame; she kept him humble: “I'm kind of a big shot now. And she said, oh, yeah, I forget because I remember holding your little hand.” [51:56]
Comedy Icons: Don Rickles, Sinatra, and Showbiz Stories
[94:21–102:08]
- Stories of Don Rickles’ old-school insult comedy, friendship with Sinatra, and near-dangerous mob jokes.
- O’Hurley’s father famously refused a photo with Sinatra, which left an impression on Maher about humility.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On their infamous “almost-fight”:
- Maher: “Hollywood white boys getting into a fight. What could be more glam?” [04:10]
- Stamos: “I was a drunk and you were a drunk.” [03:45]
- On being organically famous:
- Maher: “When they happen organically ... it just happened organically.” [05:06]
- On aging in Hollywood:
- Maher: “This town is very ageist and very not very nice to people who have done amaz[ing things].” [24:29]
- On the Beach Boys:
- Maher: “The best 20 Beach Boy songs are as good as the best Beatle 20 songs.” [44:48]
- On cancel culture:
- Maher: “It’s just like ... I take a lot of shit, what I call a soft cancellation for not being woke, but still being a liberal. But that’s not enough for these folks.” [16:53]
- On the comedy-music divide:
- Maher: “Comics have to go through their brain — but in the long run, that’s good. It filters out people who you are not really going to vibe with.” [46:45]
- On “the ick”:
- Maher: “The ick is when you do something that makes a girl get the ick — she can never, ever look at you like she wants to fuck you again.” [88:06]
- On the Golden Bachelor pitch:
- Maher: “Golden Bachelor, Age Inappropriate. But you can't have ... that's super sleazy. I don't want to be sleazy ... If I'm with somebody who's younger than me, it's to make their life better, not to...” [81:59–84:36]
- On Don Rickles and Sinatra:
- Maher: “When he was on the Tonight Show with Sinatra and he would do mafia jokes at Frank. Nobody did any jokes at Frank. But to do mafia joke, two bullets in the head — if Thursday wasn’t been laughing, right, it would have been ... there's no in between of, like, getting the laugh and dying.” [103:21]
Segment Timestamps
- Old Hollywood feud, clubs, and drinking: [02:07–05:00]
- Organic friendships and talk show etiquette: [05:14–06:14]
- Obsessing over music and The Beach Boys: [06:14–13:54]
- Aging, addiction, and club culture: [14:02–15:16]
- Hollywood, awards, and “wokeness”: [16:00–17:44]
- Bill Maher’s memory and approach to hosting: [19:06–20:13]
- Broadway tales and theater community: [20:53–21:41]
- On ageism in the business: [24:25–27:19]
- Early TV casting and “Full House”: [30:14–33:30]
- Showbiz power dynamics: [34:22–34:53]
- Playing with rock legends: [64:08–68:42]
- The Golden Bachelor pitch: [48:03–52:01, revisited 80:50–84:10]
- Musings on education and Gen Z: [60:35–66:08]
- Riffing on “the ick,” dating, and masculinity: [88:05–91:00]
- Hollywood rumors and sexual politics: [65:24–73:53]
- LGBTQ+ progress: [74:16–75:10]
- Parenting, family, and stardom: [51:48–52:01]
- Don Rickles, Sinatra, and showbiz nostalgia: [94:21–102:08]
Closing Thoughts
This Club Random episode offers a delightful mix of nostalgia, music worship, sentimental mentoring, self-deprecating tales, and honest jabs at modern Hollywood's paradoxes. Maher and Stamos find new camaraderie in their shared past rather than their differences; peppering their stories with humor, candor, and a dash of wistfulness.
“It's real for me.”
– John Stamos, [109:48]
“I would feel the same about you. I mean, it looks weird now that the end of it, like how much we love each other... but, you know, it’s real.”
– Bill Maher, [109:44–109:49]