Transcript

Sean Hayes (0:01)

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Sean Hayes (1:04)

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Jason Bateman (2:18)

Good day.

Will Arnett (2:19)

Good day. Guess my age.

Jason Bateman (2:21)

59. 59?

Sean Hayes (2:23)

62.

Will Arnett (2:24)

What the hell? No, but, but be real.

Jason Bateman (2:26)

Summary

SmartLess – "Nick Kroll" (April 27, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this lively episode of SmartLess, hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett welcome the endlessly creative Nick Kroll—comedian, writer, actor, and creator of Big Mouth and Kroll Show. Together, they delve into Nick’s eclectic career, his upbringing and family quirks, what drives his comedic ambitions, the blurred lines of voice acting, and what’s next in his ever-expanding universe. Unsurprisingly, the episode is rich in wit, masterful bits, industry banter, and honest reflection on privilege, comedy, and passion.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Introductions, Banter & Routines

Timestamps: 02:18–11:34

The hosts banter about their ages and morning routines—Jason’s obsession with baseball, Will’s word games, Sean’s “Wheel of Fortune” fast-forwarding, and accidental run-ins with bollards.
Will reflects on how reading the news first thing sets a negative tone, while Sean and Jason suggest switching to lighter, more positive content or meditative practices.
Quote:
“Why am I starting myself out in a rut? Now I gotta rally to die at this point, I’m so low because the news is, as we know, so much of it is so depressing.”
—Will Arnett (08:00)

Nick Kroll Joins: Beginnings and Serendipitous Connections

Timestamps: 11:34–17:36

Sean formally introduces Nick with a run-down of his bio, including voice credits and childhood friendships, setting the tone with, “It’s the insanely funny and super talented Nick Kroll.” (11:39)
The group reminisces about meeting at events and early LA treasure hunts—a ‘celebrity scavenger hunt’ idea is pitched for revival.
The hosts and Nick riff on voice acting and his prolific work, with the group marveling at his range.

Voice Work, Big Mouth Controversy, and Clearing the Air

Timestamps: 17:38–22:51

Nick demonstrates a few of his iconic voices, like Gunter from Sing and Douche from Sausage Party.
Will raises a recurring fan query: Did he voice “the Hormone Monster” on Big Mouth? Nick clarifies it’s him doing “sort of an Arnett-ish” voice and shares its origins in his character Nash Ricky from Kroll Show.
Quote:
“It’s me, Nick, doing Arnett… Immediately I was like, ‘Touch yourself, Andrew,’ and it was like, that was the voice.”
—Nick Kroll (19:36)
They mark Big Mouth's historic run and discuss Nick’s upcoming show, Mating Season.

Comedy Career Evolution: Roots, Risks & UCB

Timestamps: 26:20–36:31

The group recalls early days at the Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB) and formative moments seeing or participating in boundary-pushing comedy.
Nick recounts bombing his first stand-up at Georgetown, where Mike Birbiglia (future comedian) invited him to join sketch shows.
Quote:
“[After my first sketch] This is it. This is all I want to do.”
—Nick Kroll (31:53)

Navigating Privilege, Family & Industry

Timestamps: 36:31–45:50

Nick discusses the privilege of security in pursuing comedy, and the hosts reflect on their own career trajectories.
The conversation turns to Nick’s family: growing up in Rye, NY, with occasional limo pickups from school, and his father’s colorful career in risk mitigation and investigations (“tracking the hidden fortunes of dictators”).
Memorable exchange:
“Arms dealer, drug dealer. What is it?”
—Jason Bateman (43:58)
“Consultants. Deals drugs. He dealt drugs to arms dealers.”
—Nick Kroll (43:59)
Will and Jason highlight that Nick built his showbiz success independently from any family connections.

Writing, Collaboration, and Comedy’s Boundaries

Timestamps: 45:50–55:43

The hosts gush about Kroll’s creative partnerships (e.g., with John Mulaney), and discuss Sit Down, Shut Up, their animated sitcom with Mitch Hurwitz.
Nick reflects on shifting comic sensibilities and who should play which roles today.
Quote:
“If the intent is to injure or to sideline or to minimize, then there’s no room for it.”
—Will Arnett (29:36)
They revisit the evolution and impact of Kroll Show and other projects, and the chemistry among the East Coast/NYC comedy scene.

Family Ties, Sibling Success, and Puberty Education

Timestamps: 52:11–54:35

Nick’s sister Vanessa is a professional puberty educator—serendipitous with Big Mouth’s theme on adolescence.
Nick affirms humor ran in his family, but no one anticipated a comedy career.

Nick’s Creative Process & Looking Forward

Timestamps: 55:17–59:45

The hosts ask: Is Nick strategic or just following the fun? Nick candidly explains he “keeps a lot of balls in the air” and values flexibility as a creator and parent.
Mating Season is previewed as “animals dating and falling in love in the woods”—an animated Friends-like ensemble.
Nick describes his “ideal” setup: creative autonomy, trusted collaborators, and family time.

Food Habits, Hypnotherapy, and Harry Styles!

Timestamps: 60:15–64:44

Nick shares growing up kosher, with only one junk food day a year, and using hypnotherapy to curb snacking (with some hilarious, failed results).
The show takes a star-studded turn as Nick recounts Harry Styles helping him plan his marriage proposal during Don’t Worry Darling filming.
Quote:
“Harry and… then he checked in with me to be like, ‘How’d it go?’ I told him basically before I spoke to… our families to let them know we were married…”
—Nick Kroll (64:37)

Closing: Gratitude, Favorites & Enduring Admiration

Timestamps: 64:44–END

Sean and Will shower Nick with praise for his wide-ranging career (Little Big Boy, Cavemen, Kroll Show). The group laughs about past projects, prosthetic-laden pilots, and Nick’s infamous “Liz from Publicity”.
Nick—as Liz—improvises a classic publicist spiel hailing the “SmartLess” pod:
“Being on this podcast with you—one of the most coveted slots that any publicist could secure… Pure aside, Spotify top 20, Apple top 20. The history, the camaraderie, the friendship, the absolute money grab…” (66:40)
The hosts reflect on Nick’s tireless creativity and the lightning speed of the conversation—a sign of true chemistry.

Notable Quotes & Moments

“You can shoot for a B minus across the board. You can do so much!”
—Nick Kroll on his approach to creative output (27:17)
“It’s all about just staying right in the middle for as long as possible.”
—Nick Kroll (27:42)
“We gotta clear the air on this… There’s a character on your show that people thought was me... The hormone monster.”
—Will Arnett (19:05)

Timestamps for Important Segments

Morning routines, media habits: 02:18–09:45
Nick Kroll joins & introductions: 11:34–13:13
Voice acting & “Big Mouth” voice confusion: 17:38–22:51
Comedy origins, UCB & college days: 26:20–36:31
Family/privilege & Nick’s father: 41:46–45:50
Creative strategies & new projects: 55:17–59:45
Harry Styles proposal story: 63:17–64:47

Summary & Takeaways

Nick Kroll’s journey: From privileged roots to NYU & UCB discovery, Nick parlayed passion into a multifaceted career—animated voices, live-action, stage, collaboration.
Authenticity & humor: The episode is a testament to Kroll’s self-awareness, work ethic, and willingness to mine his own experiences—good and bad—for comedy.
Enduring collaboration: Across projects and performances, choosing the right “crew” and keeping the joy central to the work is clearly Kroll’s formula for longevity and happiness.
Family and humility: Nick balances reflecting on privilege with gratitude, openness, and a sense of humor about expectations.
What’s next: With Roommates and Mating Season launching, along with new collaborations, Nick is capitalizing on his creative groove while staying family-focused.

Fans and newcomers alike will find this episode a fast-paced, hilarious, and insightful window into Nick Kroll’s creative process, the realities of privilege, and the witty camaraderie at the heart of “SmartLess.”