The Bert Show: Vault – Taylor Lautner Joins The Show

Original Air Date: March 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this special "vault" episode, The Bert Show hosts chat with actor Taylor Lautner as the Twilight movie premiere sparks nationwide excitement. Taylor discusses his journey landing the role of Jacob Black, the shocking intensity of Twilight fandom, and how the experience has impacted his life and family. The show maintains its signature informal, humorous tone throughout, offering listeners an inside look at pre-premiere anticipation and a young star on the cusp of mega-fame.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Twilight Hysteria Hits Its Peak

• Massive Fan Craze:

  • The hosts open by marveling at the scale of Twilight mania, with 2,000 theaters showing midnight screenings and 600 already sold out.
  • Quote: “It’s nuts. I mean, the hysteria behind this movie. This weekend, 2,000 movie theaters around the country are showing Twilight at midnight. 600 of them are sold out already.” — Radio Host 1 (00:59)

• No Casual Fans:

  • “There is nothing stronger or more excited than a 14 or teenage Twilight.” — Taylor Lautner (03:12)
  • Taylor and the hosts agree that fans are deeply dedicated, with little dabbling or half-hearted enthusiasm.

2. Taylor Lautner’s Path to Jacob Black

• Unfamiliar with Twilight At First:

  • Taylor confesses he hadn’t read or even heard of the Twilight series before being cast.
  • “Absolutely not. No. I hadn't read any of the books. I hadn't even heard of the series.” — Taylor Lautner (02:15)

• Discovering the Fandom:

  • Taylor only realized the magnitude of Twilight’s popularity after being cast, when he began reading the books and attending the promotional tour.
  • “So after I got cast is when I found out the popularity of the book series. But still, I had no idea it was gonna be like this. So it's mind blowing and I'm just so excited to be a part of it.” — Taylor Lautner (02:00)
  • Attending fan events in multiple cities, Taylor was surprised at the turnout: “We had like 3,000 fans at each city we were in, jam-packed in a mall, and it was just unique.” — Taylor Lautner (02:39)

3. Life on the Verge of Change

• Handling the Fame:

  • The hosts tease Taylor about the upcoming “target” of fame, paparazzi, and loss of anonymity.
  • “Do you have any fear at all that now...your career is going to be propelled, and you’re going to be so in the spotlight?” — Radio Host 1 (03:55)
  • Taylor (laughing): “Really. You put that in a scary way, man...that definitely would be scary.” (04:09)

• Family Support:

  • Taylor’s family moved from Michigan to California to support his acting ambitions; now they’re experiencing Twilight fever too.
  • “My whole family moved from Michigan to California for this, for me to pursue my dream. And now it's coming true and it's absolutely amazing.” — Taylor Lautner (04:39)
  • He jokes about family members suddenly reading all the Twilight books: “All of my family members have read Twilight now, the whole series.” (04:56)

4. Future of the Franchise & Jacob’s Evolution

• Sequels Hinging on Twilight’s Success:

  • Taylor is excited at the prospect of sequels but cautions that nothing is official yet.
  • "I'm trying to manage my expectations because no sequels are confirmed. ... I'm telling all the fans, including you, see [the movie] a minimum of three times." — Taylor Lautner (05:26)
  • He expresses enthusiasm about potentially playing Jacob’s werewolf side: “I definitely love Jacob’s werewolf side. So that would be very cool to bring to life.” (05:44)

• Relating to Jacob the Character:

  • Taylor became "uber focused" on the character while reading the book after being cast.
  • “I'm not a big book reader, but this thing is amazing.” — Taylor Lautner (06:02)

5. Celebrity Encounters and Memorable Moments

• A Surreal Premier Moment:

  • Taylor recounts being recognized at the premiere—not by a fan, but by Jamie Foxx looking for a photo for his daughter.
  • “I hear Jamie Foxx. 'My daughter's a huge fan. Can I get a picture?' And I was like, are you kidding me? Can I get a picture with you?” — Taylor Lautner (06:44)
  • He describes it as a “dreaming” moment. (07:19)

• On-Air Ticket Giveaways:

  • Taylor records promotional spots for the show’s Twilight ticket giveaways, obliging to playful banter and minor confusion about the station’s name.
  • “[in character] Hey, what’s up? It’s Taylor Lautner playing Jacob Black in Twilight. Call right now to get Twilight tickets.” (07:38 – 08:03)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Twilight fandom:
  • “There is nothing stronger or more excited than a 14 or teenage twilight.” — Taylor Lautner (03:12)
• On his family's support:
  • “My whole family moved from Michigan to California for this, for me to pursue my dream.” — Taylor Lautner (04:39)
• Surreal celebrity moment:
  • “Jamie Foxx. ‘My daughter's a huge fan. Can I get a picture?’ And I was like, are you kidding me? Can I get a picture with you?” — Taylor Lautner (06:44)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Twilight hysteria & ticket demand: 00:59 – 01:27
• Taylor’s reaction to landing the role & his introduction to Twilight: 01:33 – 02:37
• On tour with Twilight & fan events: 02:39 – 03:12
• Discussing the coming change and fame: 03:55 – 04:09
• Family’s support & new-found Twilight fandom: 04:29 – 05:06
• Sequels and Jacob’s werewolf transformation hopes: 05:15 – 05:51
• Celebrity encounter with Jamie Foxx: 06:44 – 07:19
• Taylor's ticket giveaway promo recording: 07:38 – 08:14

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode blends excitement, candidness, and playful humor. Taylor’s sincerity and amazement at the Twilight phenomenon shine through, while the hosts keep things light, friendly, and a little mischievous. Their style makes for a breezy and engaging listen for both longtime fans and newcomers.

This summary captures the full essence of Taylor Lautner’s guest appearance, highlighting how Twilight mania was not only sweeping audiences, but also impacting the lives of those at its center.