SmartLess Podcast Episode Summary: "Bill Burr"
Release Date: February 24, 2025
Introduction to Bill Burr and Early Experiences
Timestamp: 00:05 – 09:00
The episode opens with Bill Burr humorously recounting his arrival at the SmartLess Podcast studio, highlighting a minor scheduling mix-up:
- Bill Burr (00:05): “It's funny, they told me to be here by 8:45 even though the podcast starts at 9:30.”
Jason Bateman shares a relatable story about unexpected buffalo chicken dumplings at a lunch spot, setting a light-hearted tone:
- Jason Bateman (00:24): “But you know, this is a temple, as JB would say.”
- Bill Burr (01:33): “I had two. They were delicious.”
The conversation shifts to Bill’s dog, Ricky, and a humorous yet concerning incident involving Prozac:
- Sean Hayes (02:15): “Ricky jumps up, knocks it over, and eats 10 of them.”
- Bill Burr (05:29): “When you're not there, we get along great. It's when I'm home.”
Bill Burr’s Stand-Up Comedy Journey
Timestamp: 09:01 – 21:00
Bill Burr delves into his experiences performing stand-up comedy, particularly a challenging show in Philadelphia where he faced a hostile audience:
- Bill Burr (14:12): “I thought the Curse of the Babe thing was just all bullshit.”
- Bill Burr (16:00): “It was like 10,000 people booing me. But then I just started trashing their sports teams.”
He shares a poignant moment when a heckler threw a shoe at him during a performance:
- Bill Burr (21:10): “I looked at this shoe, and then they all started laughing.”
- Bill Burr (23:03): “We gave a big hug. I gave her a shoe back.”
Bill discusses the evolution of his approach to negative feedback and online criticism:
- Bill Burr (24:15): “I don't give a what a hundred people on Twitter say, a bunch of losers.”
- Bill Burr (25:24): “If you make the decision to take what I said seriously, doesn't mean that I now meant it.”
Transition to Directing and Acting
Timestamp: 21:00 – 44:35
Shifting gears, Bill Burr talks about his foray into directing with his project "Old Dads":
- Bill Burr (43:25): “I knew I was in trouble directing.”
- Bill Burr (43:51): “I wasn't trying to be Stanley Kubrick, so I was just trying to make you laugh.”
He reflects on balancing his stand-up career with acting roles in popular series like "Breaking Bad" and "The Mandalorian":
- Bill Burr (44:13): “I absolutely love it. Like, I got a Gig coming up next year doing Broadway for the first time.”
- Sean Hayes (40:54): “Produced, directed, and starred in 'Old Dads.'”
Bill humorously critiques the complexity of directing while collaborating with Ben Tischler:
- Bill Burr (46:04): “We had a scene there. I wasn't trying to be Stanley Kubrick, so I was just trying to make you laugh.”
Personal Life and Family Insights
Timestamp: 44:35 – 55:34
Bill Burr opens up about his upbringing and the supportive yet artistic influence of his parents:
- Bill Burr (28:02): “My dad was a dentist, but he's a narcissist, so he thought he was a doctor.”
- Bill Burr (29:03): “She knew that that could be a thing or whatever.”
He shares touching anecdotes about his mother’s quick response to a medical emergency:
- Bill Burr (29:16): “She just knows that that could be a thing or whatever.”
- Bill Burr (30:00): “They were able to break up the clot.”
Discussing his children, Bill expresses the joys and surprises of fatherhood:
- Bill Burr (50:17): “My son is just three, and he's already referencing Kojak.”
- Bill Burr (50:21): “We both started cracking up.”
Reflections on Comedy and Social Media
Timestamp: 24:14 – 34:16
Bill Burr reflects on the impact of social movements and social media on comedy:
- Bill Burr (24:15): “There's that weird period in standup where it started with the MeToo movement.”
- Bill Burr (25:29): “I'm just trying to make you laugh.”
He criticizes the often superficial responses from mainstream media and institutions:
- Bill Burr (26:11): “I hate when we fucking do shit like that and we think, like, that stupid gesture is still about us.”
- Bill Burr (27:04): “I had to be on the right side of history.”
Closing Thoughts and Final Banter
Timestamp: 55:34 – End
As the episode wraps up, Bill Burr and the hosts engage in playful banter, discussing future projects and mutual respect:
- Jason Bateman (52:33): “We love you, Bill. Despite everything, we love you.”
- Bill Burr (52:58): “Thank you guys, for having me.”
Bill shares his experiences with podcasting, emphasizing its importance in his creative process:
- Bill Burr (47:21): “It started off with the MySpace page and you would post it.”
- Bill Burr (49:15): “I can go into flow mode.”
The hosts commend Bill Burr's multifaceted career, highlighting his prowess in both comedy and acting:
- Sean Hayes (40:51): “What a great actor you are.”
- Will Arnett (44:35): “I love you guys.”
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
- Bill Burr (00:05): “It's funny, they told me to be here by 8:45 even though the podcast starts at 9:30.”
- Bill Burr (14:12): “It was like 10,000 people booing me. But then I just started trashing their sports teams.”
- Bill Burr (21:10): “I looked at this shoe, and then they all started laughing.”
- Bill Burr (24:15): “I don't give a what a hundred people on Twitter say, a bunch of losers.”
- Bill Burr (25:29): “I'm just trying to make you laugh.”
- Bill Burr (29:03): “She knew that that could be a thing or whatever.”
- Bill Burr (50:17): “My son is just three, and he's already referencing Kojak.”
Conclusion
This episode of SmartLess offers an in-depth look into Bill Burr's life, blending humor with heartfelt reflections. From his challenging early stand-up experiences to his ventures into directing and acting, Burr provides listeners with a candid glimpse into the journey of a comedian navigating the complexities of fame, personal growth, and the evolving landscape of comedy in the digital age.