Episode Overview
Podcast: Family Trips with the Meyers Brothers
Episode: "BILLY CRUDUP Drove to Texarkana In A Cadillac"
Date: December 2, 2025
Hosts: Seth Meyers, Josh Meyers
Guest: Billy Crudup
In this deeply nostalgic and hilarious episode, Seth and Josh welcome actor Billy Crudup for a lively conversation about unconventional family road trips, growing up with a larger-than-life, scheming father, the roots of his acting career, and the delicate art of family vacationing. The episode oscillates between heartfelt recollections and riotous anecdotes, painting a unique portrait of the Crudup family and the universal chaos of traveling with children and siblings.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Meyers Family Thanksgiving Recap
- Pittsburgh Family Adventure (02:18-11:10)
- Seth and Josh recount a recent generational family trip with their parents and Josh’s kids: “It was one of the most special weekends I've ever had...and I'm so tired.” (Josh, 02:27)
- Pittsburgh highlights included lunch at Mount Washington, a zoo visit, and attending a Steelers game—a rare family win, punctuated by the stadium tradition of playing “Renegade.”
- Emotional moment: Dad teaching grandson Axel to wave the “terrible towel.”
“Dad looked back and mom was like. You could see tears in your father's eyes.” (Seth, 04:55)
- Humorous chaos: Kids’ endless sports questions (“Who has the ball?”), foosball table hijinks, and farm visits that upstage city sights.
2. Introducing Billy Crudup & Shared Neighborhood Lore
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Apartment Connections & Birth Stories (13:07-15:20)
- Billy and Josh’s families have lived in the same New York apartment building; Josh’s son Axel was famously born in its lobby.
- Billy’s wife (Naomi Watts) filmed a movie (with a giant dog) outside the building, much to the kids’ delight.
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Crudup on Talk Shows: The Dad Story Origins (15:32-17:20)
- Billy reflects on a viral late-night story about his dad's dubious past:
“My dad should have been incarcerated for a number of different reasons. I don't know what the statute of limitations is.” (Billy, 15:55)
- Billy reflects on a viral late-night story about his dad's dubious past:
3. The Crudup Family Road Trips: Hobo Tours in a Cadillac
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Unplanned “Vacations” to Texarkana (16:55-19:48)
- Dad would impulsively load the boys into the car for mysterious trips, often ending at Holiday Inns, with little to no forethought or involvement from their mom.
- Brothers sat in back with a cooler, handing their dad Miller High Lifes as they drove.
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Dad’s Cons and Motel Antics (17:59-19:48)
- When lacking reservations, Billy's dad would charm or con hotel staff with intricate stories and nicknames (Quattro, Disco, Brooks).
“Tom Crude up here. I got a reservation. Got me my three boys...Call him Quattro...Disco. Do a little dance for him.” (Billy, 17:59)
- Reflections on being performers or “puppy dog eyes" in dad's schemes, and the hazy sense of adventure and impending chaos.
- When lacking reservations, Billy's dad would charm or con hotel staff with intricate stories and nicknames (Quattro, Disco, Brooks).
4. Nicknames, Dances, and Family Lore
- Family Nicknames & Game Show Memories (21:02-22:33)
- Billy’s childhood nickname: “Disco” (for his dancing), brother “Quattro”—but now feels outdated.
“No, definitely not. Especially the way that I dance at 57 is not disco.” (Billy, 21:18)
- Seth’s family: “Gene, Gene the Dancing Machine” and “Charleston.”
- Billy’s childhood nickname: “Disco” (for his dancing), brother “Quattro”—but now feels outdated.
- Game Show Nostalgia:
- Affection for The Gong Show and obscure vintage game show characters, blending their childhood pop culture with present laughs.
5. Growing up Crudup: Showbiz by Necessity
- Family Career Trajectories (26:55-29:22)
- All three Crudup brothers ended up in showbiz, which Billy attributes to “adaptivity” born from a “peripatetic” upbringing and necessity.
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“We know nothing else than show business...Part of having that kind of peripatetic life...is there's an adaptability that comes with it that ends up working really to your benefit in show business.” (Billy, 28:24)
- Finding Stability in The Morning Show (30:36-35:49)
- Billy describes how rare and valued his steady gig on Apple TV’s The Morning Show feels, especially after years as a “three month jobber.”
“But having had some time in the business, having a secure job with the morning show has been phenomenal...” (Billy, 34:21)
- Bonds formed on set during the COVID “hazmat” era.
- Billy describes how rare and valued his steady gig on Apple TV’s The Morning Show feels, especially after years as a “three month jobber.”
6. Crudup Family History: Textile Mills, Mobs, and Bookies
- Mob Ties & Booking Schemes (35:57-39:12)
- Early childhood on Long Island; dad’s brushes with mobsters in the garment district, and betting/bookmaking schemes.
- Dad’s failed “Coffee Elite” additive business—“a front for his booking operation.”
On Coffee Elite business: “It was a coffee additive that he would sell to, like, big institutions like prisons...a front for his booking operation.” (Billy, 38:05)
- Breakdancing Sidetrack (40:00-41:17)
- Billy’s brief stint in a breakdancing crew with his brother in Florida (“we did once...”)
7. Maternal Stability: Theater, Culture, and “Safe” Vacations
- Mom’s Influence & Love of Theater (41:23-44:09)
- Mom preferred structured, “safe” trips (Disney World, visits to grandma) and introduced the boys to theater, including the original production of Waiting for Godot.
“She has seen 99% of the shows that I've done, whether it was in high school, college, graduate school, or after.” (Billy, 43:32)
- Mom preferred structured, “safe” trips (Disney World, visits to grandma) and introduced the boys to theater, including the original production of Waiting for Godot.
- Favorite Roles, Maternal Preferences (44:24-45:16)
- Billy shares his mom’s favorite of his performances: classic romantic leads like “Arcadia,” less so the “drooling, PTSD” roles.
8. Relationship with Dad & Showbiz Ambitions
- Breaking the News on Acting (50:36-54:09)
- Billy’s dad was cool to the acting idea until the paychecks came; grandfather was supportive and a steady male presence.
“So my dad was pretty dubious of all of it until I started getting paychecks. And then it was like, wow. Yeah. I mean, this acting thing.” (Billy, 53:02)
- Billy’s dad was cool to the acting idea until the paychecks came; grandfather was supportive and a steady male presence.
- Dad’s Schemes: The Brocabella (54:14-56:12)
- Anecdotes about failed inventions (e.g., Brocabella, an umbrella hat endorsed by Lou Brock), side-of-the-road seafood sales, and hustling Farrah Fawcett posters.
“His idea was to get Lou Brock to endorse it...Turns out there was a very limited market for the Brocabella.” (Billy, 54:40)
- Anecdotes about failed inventions (e.g., Brocabella, an umbrella hat endorsed by Lou Brock), side-of-the-road seafood sales, and hustling Farrah Fawcett posters.
9. Family Beach Trips & “Forced Nap” Memories
- North Carolina Beach Timeshares (62:44-64:42)
- Extended family vacations at Atlantic Beach—screened porches, surf fishing, “romantic” forced midday naps (which Billy later realized were for adults to recover from all-night parties).
“There was something beautiful about it because we were in these kind of tiny rooms...Peaceful. Before the party started.” (Billy, 64:17)
- Extended family vacations at Atlantic Beach—screened porches, surf fishing, “romantic” forced midday naps (which Billy later realized were for adults to recover from all-night parties).
10. Sibling Mayhem & Respect for Mom
- Acknowledging Chaos (66:25-68:53)
- The Crudup brothers were “a train wreck”: home alone, constantly fighting, mom working hard with little support.
“Oh, my God. Oh, we were a train wreck.” (Billy, 66:38)
- Billy’s deep gratitude now as a parent:
“When my son was younger and my mom would come over...I’m so sorry. Everything we did. Tommy doesn’t know yet. Brooks doesn’t know yet. I know now. And I’m so, so, so very, so sorry.” (Billy, 68:25)
- The Crudup brothers were “a train wreck”: home alone, constantly fighting, mom working hard with little support.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Dad’s Road Trip Schemes:
"On the occasion that he would time it poorly and it would be a holiday weekend and all of the motels were full...he’d say, 'Hey, y’all, just keep it quiet. Just listen. Follow my lead.' ...We end up here, and the reservation is not confirmed. I got the three boys here again. Quattro, Disco, and Brooks down there. Disco. Do a little dance for him.”
— Billy Crudup (17:59) -
On Parental Tears at the Steelers Game:
"You could see tears in your father’s eyes. Cuz he, you know, he grew up going to those games with his dad. And now...with his grandkids. The through line runs deep.”
— Seth Meyers (04:55) -
On Showbiz Survival:
“Part of having that kind of peripatetic life...is there’s an adaptability that comes with it that ends up working really to your benefit in show business.”
— Billy Crudup (28:24) -
On Gradually Earning Dad’s Approval:
“So my dad was pretty dubious of all of it until I started getting paychecks. And then it was like, wow. Yeah. I mean, this acting thing.” — Billy Crudup (53:02)
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On Sibling Chaos:
“Oh, we were a train wreck. I broke my thumb on my brother's head because I was trying to hit him...my mom, she had to hold down jobs. We were latchkey kids...but essentially it was just me and my brothers fighting, you know, and so she'd come back to a train wreck each and every day.”
— Billy Crudup (66:38) -
Final Rapid Fire Questions:
- Ideal Vacation: “Relaxing.” (Billy, 71:13)
- Favorite Transportation: “The subway.” (Billy, 71:17)
- Best City Pitch: “Best fucking city on the planet.” (Billy, 72:23)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 02:18 – Thanksgiving Recap, Steelers Game Emotions
- 13:07 – Billy Joins: Neighborhood Crossovers, Axel’s Lobby Birth
- 15:32 – The Infamous Dad Story & Unsuspecting Family Trips
- 17:59 – Dad’s Hotel Con Artist Routine (& Nicknames)
- 21:02 – Nickname Origins, 70s/80s Childhood TV
- 26:55 – All Siblings in Showbiz: Adaptability from Upbringing
- 34:21 – The Morning Show: Stability and COVID Bonding
- 35:57 – Family Geography: From Long Island to North Carolina via Mobsters & Bookies
- 40:00 – Brief Breakdancing Crew Days
- 41:23 – Maternal “Safe” Vacations and Love of Theater
- 50:36 – Dad’s Reluctant Showbiz Approval
- 54:14 – Brocabella & Side Hustles
- 62:44 – Atlantic Beach Memories and “Forced Naps”
- 66:25 – Chaos with Three Boys; Respect for Mom
- 71:04 – Speed Round Finale
Episode Tone & Atmosphere
The episode is classic Meyers Brothers: loose, affectionate, self-deprecating, and full of sharp sibling banter. Billy Crudup matches their energy with vivid, wry, and frequently surreal family stories—never shying from the messier moments, but always returning to laughter, resilience, and appreciation for family bonds, no matter how odd or unconventional.
For Listeners Who Missed the Episode
This is a must-listen for fans of Billy Crudup, anyone who’s survived a weird family road trip, or those interested in the fine art of parenting and growing up under less-than-ordinary circumstances. You’ll laugh, you might choke up, and you’ll come away with a new appreciation for the creative chaos that forms a family’s deepest stories.