Loading summary
Host
Best thing that's ever happened to you financially. Go easy.
Carvana Advertiser
Sold my car on Carvana. Amazing offer, really.
Host
I hit 200 on a scratcher.
Carvana Advertiser
Did the scratcher come to your house and hand you a check?
Carvana Representative
No.
Carvana Advertiser
How many scratchers did you hit to get that? I hit a button on Carvana.com once.
Host
Okay, that's fair.
Carvana Advertiser
It's like the lottery, except you always win.
Host
Not like the lottery at all, actually.
Carvana Advertiser
Exactly. Inexplicably good offers worth bragging about. Sell your car today on Carvana. Fees may apply.
Visory Health Advertiser
What if saving on your prescriptions was as easy as opening your front door? With Visory Health, there's a new way to save on your medications with discounts delivered right to you. No pharmacy lines, no overpaying, just savings made simple. Curious. Visit www.viseryhealth.com to learn more.
Burt
This is the Birch Show, I suppose. I think Jeff was saying that this used to just be a segment on abc. Right now it's a whole show.
Jeff
I think it started out, remember on Dateline, they used to Chris Hansen stuff, and it became the most popular thing. So then eventually they started promoting that. I think that's how this started a year or two ago. And now it's a regular show where they put people in uncomfortable situations to find out what the general public's response is. So they hire actors to play the role, like, as Bert will explain, of a girl in a bar and a guy trying to take advantage of her. The one I first saw that was fascinating was they got a couple of black people to play customers at a store where they were blatantly treated profile because of the race, treated disrespectfully by the store owner, who was also an actor, to find out what all the other people in the store would do. Fascinating to see because you can't help but put yourself in that situation and wonder, God, if I was in a store and there's a black person right there, and the owner of the store is saying, we don't want your kind in here. Do you speak up? Do you walk out? What do you do? It's an awesome show.
Burt
This is the setup from this weekend.
Narrator
You're sitting at a bar and can't help but notice.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
It's my birthday. Bartender, it's my birthday.
Narrator
This plastered young woman celebrating her 21st birthday.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
It's so pretty.
Actor (Sober Man)
There you go.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Thank you.
Host
For you.
Narrator
She's waiting for her girlfriends to return. When this stranger joins her.
Actor (Sober Man)
What kind of birthday shots are we taking?
Narrator
His intentions ever done a body shot quickly become questionable.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
What?
Narrator
And he can't seem to keep his hands off her.
Actor (Sober Man)
Are those birthday shots coming?
Narrator
People at this New Jersey bar seem concerned, but will anyone step up to protect this defenseless young woman?
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Touching my hair? I don't know who you are.
Narrator
Our hidden cameras are rolling.
Burt
Okay, so you have all sorts of dudes, all sorts of women. Right. That are in the bar with them, and they're watching this whole thing go down. So here's a little bit more of the setup. And now they're trying to get. And again, these are actors. The drunk woman and the sober guy. Sober guy trying to get her out of the bar.
Caller or Commentator
Oh, he's an actor too.
Burt
These are actors.
Host
Okay.
Burt
Okay. And there are hidden cameras that are. They're videoing the whole thing.
Caller or Commentator
Okay.
Bar Patron 1
Is she gonna be all right over there?
Bar Patron 2
Yeah.
Bar Patron 1
She came in here plastered, and we're trying to give her more shots.
Actor (Sober Man)
Wanna get out of here?
Narrator
What people don't know is that the young woman and her pursuer are both actors. Now watch as he tries to get her out the door.
Actor (Sober Man)
We'll get some air. We'll get some fresh air.
Bar Patron 3
Yeah.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Okay. Yeah, I should maybe.
Actor (Sober Man)
Oh, all right.
Bar Patron 1
I think that's the end of the birthday shot.
Actor (Sober Man)
My hotel is literally two blocks away.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Oh, I don't. I don't know you.
Actor (Sober Man)
I know. I know.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
I don't know who you are.
Narrator
I know.
Actor (Sober Man)
But I'll take care of you. We'll hang out.
Bar Patron 1
He's taking advantage.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Why are you touching me?
Narrator
Concerned or not, so far, no one is preventing him from taking her out of the bar.
Burt
All right, so you have some guys at the bar that are talking amongst each other. Each other. The mics are picking that up, but nobody's saying anything to her.
Bar Patron 3
She don't walk out with you because she don't know you.
Actor (Sober Man)
I'm gonna take care of her. I'm gonna get her back to the hotel.
Bar Patron 1
All right?
Narrator
Yeah. Near the door, a white knight appears just in the nick of time.
Bar Patron 3
She cannot do that because she don't know you.
Actor (Sober Man)
Yeah.
Bar Patron 3
Did she say she knows we had
Actor (Sober Man)
a couple drinks together?
Actress (Drunk Woman)
I don't.
Actor (Sober Man)
Yeah. Do I look like a nice guy?
Bar Patron 3
I don't care what your. Nice. It is. She don't want this place without you.
Narrator
And he won't let up.
Bar Patron 3
She don't walk. This freaking place is. She don't know you.
Narrator
Until the defeated young man walks out the door alone.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Yay.
Narrator
My name is John.
Bar Patron 1
Yes, sir.
Bar Patron 3
How are you?
Narrator
When we catch up with him afterwards, he's overcome with concern, thinking of his own daughter. Why did you get involved?
Bar Patron 3
I have my daughter, 25 year old, and they die. Every year they die. All these kids. I don't like it happens to any woman like that. I don't know why it happened. Wow.
Burt
He's got his own daughter. So he was totally feeling it, right?
Commentator 2
There's good men there.
Burt
So I think what they do is they. They go back in and they recreate it later on. And will people interfere or will they just let them go?
Narrator
How's that feel back at the bar? Will anyone stop our young woman from becoming a victim?
Woman Intervening
You know what? She doesn't want you to do that.
Commentator 2
Doesn't want to be touched back at all.
Woman Intervening
She doesn't want you to touch her.
Bar Patron 3
I beg.
Actor (Sober Man)
I beg.
Woman Intervening
Okay, well, leave her alone. She's not interested in you rubbing her. She doesn't know you.
Actor (Sober Man)
What are you, her mother?
Woman Intervening
Maybe I am. Yeah.
Narrator
And once women get involved, they often inspire others to join in. Just watch this tug of war.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Yeah, my friend, she's gonna come.
Actor (Sober Man)
I think they went to the hotel, right? They went to the hotel.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
They went to the hotel.
Actor (Sober Man)
Went to the hotel.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Well, maybe I should go outside and get tea.
Woman Intervening
Are you sure?
Narrator
And when he tries to carry her,
Actor (Sober Man)
I'm gonna make sure she gets back safe to her hotel. What should we do?
Caller (Cindy)
Not let him take her.
Woman Intervening
She doesn't want to go.
Burt
So the women are pretty much saying nothing. No, you're not allowed to take her anywhere right now. Here are some of the young guys in the bar.
Narrator
But there are some differences, especially when the bystanders are young men.
Actor (Sober Man)
You want a shot?
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Okay, wait.
Jeff
I want a couple.
Bar Patron 1
What?
Actress (Drunk Woman)
You only turned 21 once.
Narrator
While this guy does tell sleazy actor to settle down, just listen to the conversation. When our party girl goes off to the ladies room.
Actor (Sober Man)
You think I can get her out of here?
Bar Patron 1
You gotta go for a walk on the beach.
Actor (Sober Man)
A walk on the beach, I like that. Let's just go for a walk to the Hilton.
Burt
You might wind up at the Hilton.
Actor (Sober Man)
And when her friends come back, that's where you come in. That's fine with me. I like the brunette.
Caller (Cindy)
Cheers to my birthday.
Bar Patron 1
Cheers.
Burt
It's a young single dude.
Commentator 2
So he was making. I couldn't tell who was he?
Jeff
Who's helping him make plans as to how to get her out.
Caller 2
How to get her out.
Jeff
Don't say you're going to the hotel, say you're going for a walk.
Burt
Now here are a. I think these are a group of young married guys. How they Gonna handle it.
Narrator
And these young married men seem to wish they were in our actors shoes.
Bar Patron 2
I guess the rings, the rings give it away.
Burt
Can I get this thing over?
Narrator
And when our party girl's not around, they too offer up some advice.
Actor (Sober Man)
Do you think this is gonn.
Bar Patron 2
I don't think she knows where she is. So you want to just be a little nervous. She's gonna wait, she's gonna wake you up with a pants around the right.
Burt
It's a little hard to hear them because their voice disguised and their faces are blurry too. But they're basically saying go for it.
Narrator
They even appear amused when our actor lures our wasted party girl out the door.
Host
Let's get out of here.
Caller or Commentator
Well, I really.
Actor (Sober Man)
Get out of here.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
We should stay.
Actor (Sober Man)
Get out of here. Come on.
Bar Patron 2
I can't believe this guy. That guy just hit the mega million.
Narrator
But it's not so funny when you learn that this young man is an off duty cop. That's right, he's a cop. And he later tells us he didn't do more because intervening could get complicated for someone in law enforcement.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Wow.
Commentator 2
Exactly.
Caller 3
Why?
Caller 2
Wow, that's so disappointing.
Caller or Commentator
Especially with guys.
Jeff
Remember the first couple?
Burt
Shocking.
Jeff
The first couple helped her. There's a couple dudes.
Caller 2
First dude, one dude was a dad
Commentator 2
and then the second was a woman.
Bar Patron 3
What?
Burt
Melissa? That look?
Caller or Commentator
No, because it's disappointing. I'm curious what the guys think about it because of course the girls are disappointed.
Burt
I'm not surprised by the results, unfortunately.
Jeff
I think it's. I don't know what. I mean, honestly, I don't know what I would do. Like I would like to think that I would be like the first guy. But I can. I'm almost sure I would be influenced by the group of people I was with. Like it would have been a situation where like if I was there with like Jen, Melissa and Wendy and one of y' all said, hey, that guy can't take that girl out of here, then I think I would probably try to step up and be the hero and go, yeah, I'm gonna go get her. She can hang out with us, you know, and then go try to whatever and get her over here and whatever.
Caller or Commentator
I think most people though, but I
Jeff
think if it was a situation where I was with a bunch of dudes who were like ah, look at that. I think I'd probably play right along
Caller or Commentator
because the women, I think the women came together because one woman's stood up. Then the other women decided to band with her. So I don't think it's on. I don't. I think most people would react based on who they were with.
Burt
I think when you're, like, 21, 22, 23 years old, and you're single and you're a guy also, it's just you almost have this mentality that it's the dudes club, like, you're every single guy's wingman. So if a guy has an opportunity to get some, I think as. When you're young, you're like, go do what you got to do. Now, once you get older, I think that changes. But the truth, like Jeff is saying, if you're in a crowd of younger guys and you're young, you probably let it happen. Here's B. Good morning, b. You're on Q100.
Caller 3
Hey, guys. Hey, Bird. Good morning to all you guys. I've watched this show many, many times. It's a great show. I love it. But here's my only issue with the show. A lot of times, it's so over the top that I don't think it's as realistic. Like, in this case, I mean, it was so blatant. Hey, my hotel's just down the street. And I know obviously they're trying to get a reaction out of the folks. I understand that. But, you know, to Jeff's point, even with the ra. Racism. I've seen the one with the racism, and you don't usually hear people say, I don't want your kind here. You know, in my store. Go shop somewhere else. You know, it's usually a lot more subtle. So my only concern with the show is, while it is a great show, sometimes, you know, it's so over the top that it's kind of unrealistic, you know? So I think the key would be to find out how people will react when it's a lot more subtle. You follow me?
Caller 2
I didn't.
Actress (Drunk Woman)
Over the top, though.
Caller 2
They still wouldn't help her. I mean, it's blatant that he's trying to get out of there, and it's disappointing that these guys aren't even sticking up for. Even if it's over the top subtly, that's even more scary.
Commentator 2
Do you think that some guys feel like if she's that drunk and that young and by herself, maybe she deserves whatever she gets?
Burt
No, no, I don't think that's the thought process at all.
Jeff
I think it's. That's their business. And if she's, you know, like, she's. Even though she's drunk, she's still an adult. She's in a bar, she legally can drink. They served her.
Burt
So I'm trying to use my words carefully here because I know they're going to offend, but I just think when you're young and you're single, it's like every young guy's goal is to get sex. And if you can help another young single guy get sex, you probably don't stop that.
Commentator 2
Even if he's taking advantage of somebody who's drunk.
Caller (Cindy)
Yeah.
Burt
I gotta be honest with you.
Jeff
I don't, I don't know if the
Caller or Commentator
tactic is to try to get somebody drunk.
Jeff
I don't know if a group of young men or a young guy would look at it as taking advantage of like, I don't think that would be the thought process. I think it would be, yes, she's an adult, she's legally able to drink. The bartender served her like a guy would put the responsibility off on everyone else.
Burt
Now, let me ask Jeff this question. Let's see if it changes the game entirely. Okay, Jeff, so she's 22.
Jeff
Yes.
Burt
And there's a guy in the bar that's 45 or 50.
Jeff
Yes.
Burt
Do you intervene or not?
Jeff
I don't think it would make. It depends. Again, it's the same situation. It depends on the crowd I'm with.
Burt
Sadly, that would change for me.
Commentator 2
You'd be more likely to intervene.
Burt
Yes.
Commentator 2
Than if it was another 21 year old guy.
Burt
Yes.
Commentator 2
Got it.
Caller or Commentator
So, yeah, because the, the caller was talking about over the top, her reaction would still be the same, even though the guy, you know, let's say the guy wasn't. I, I get his point. The guy wasn't saying, let's go to a hotel. Let's just, you know, come on, let's go, let's go. And she was saying no. I think that her response would still be the same. If a woman is trying to fight a guy off. I think that's the issue is, would you. Because if she's obviously into him, then nobody's going to say anything. But if she's trying to fight him off and he's forced her out of the bar, you know.
Burt
Hey, Cindy, good morning. You're part of the Burt Show.
Caller (Cindy)
Hi, good morning. I just want to tell you I was in a similar situation. A girl was really, really drunk and these two guys, these two guys were kind of corralling her into a corner and she looked really uncomfortable and wanted to get away from us. I intervened and I went over my sister and I and said, hey, you know, leave her alone. And she got really mad at my sister and I and started screaming at us that she didn't know us and leave me alone. And it's none your business. And it was really awful. And she was falling down drunk. Yeah. So, I mean, it is. You don't know when you're going to intervene, what you're going to get. And we kind of sat around the bar for a while and waited to see what would happen because we were really concerned about her. She was obviously alone, and these guys were taking advantage. And by the way, Bert, I'm kind of disappointed that you said that. That's okay.
Burt
I didn't say it was okay. Don't mix my words. I never said it was okay.
Caller (Cindy)
Well, just that it's. That that's a guy's goal. I mean, I get that about being young, but where's your character? I mean, just because you can do something, you know, I mean, this is when girls wake up in the middle of the night and don't know where they are and call the police, you know, it's. It's not okay.
Burt
Yeah, I absolutely, absolutely agree.
Jeff
Here's the situation.
Expert or Analyst
Bert.
Jeff
Yeah. You gave me another scenario. Let me give you another scenario.
Burt
Well, if yours is too difficult, I'm just not going to answer it.
Jeff
Well, and guess what? When you do answer it, I'm going to misinterpret your words, and I'm going to say that you're encouraging this stu to happen. Okay, so it's a situation like that girl just described where you decide to intervene, right? You want to go out there and say something. So you go out there, maybe you're with a couple buddies, and you all go out there and say something, right? And the girl shoos you off.
Burt
She what?
Jeff
Shoos you away? She's like, no.
Burt
She says, shoo, shoo, shoo.
Caller or Commentator
Get out of here.
Jeff
Get away. Yeah, shoo, shoo, fly. She's like, no, no, no, no. I'm just getting to know this guy. He's really nice. Then what do you do?
Burt
Probably let it happen.
Caller or Commentator
I mean, I think that when somebody's really drunk, you have to expect one of them to get mean at you because the guy's gonna insult you. Like the woman said, well, you're a mom or something. I mean, that's a typical guy responding to somebody who's trying to break something up. But I think that if she's really sloppy, drunken, you know, that she is not. I mean, first of all, I fault her friends. I fault her. And having. I fault the women for not, you know, her friends not taking care of her. But I think that you still have to. You still have to interact and save her from a really. Could be a really horrible night, you know?
Burt
Here's Casey. Good morning, Casey. You're on Q100.
Caller (Cindy)
Hey, I just want to let you guys know y' all skipped over the worst part. The two cops, they suggested that the guy should take her somewhere secluded on the beach and then said, hey, maybe you should take her up under the pier.
Burt
Oh, those are the police officers that said that. Oh, wow.
Caller (Cindy)
Yeah, it was really scary.
Burt
That is disturbing. Here is Josh. Good morning, Josh, here on Q100.
Bar Patron 1
Hi.
Caller (Cindy)
Hey.
Expert or Analyst
How are you guys?
Burt
Okay.
Expert or Analyst
Hey, I just want to let you guys know, this is called the bystander effect. The more bystanders you have in a situation like this, the more. The less likely people can feel compelled to go intervene because they feel the weight is off their shoulders. Other people are watching. They shouldn't have to intervene because somebody else will.
Burt
That's how people end up being missing. Everybody's thinking somebody else is somebody else take care of.
Commentator 2
Right.
Burt
This is the bird show.
Carvana Representative
Evening. Buyer's remorse. Buy a new car. I'll be moving in. Let's get started.
Carvana Customer
Sorry, I think there's been a mistake. I bought it from Carvana.
Carvana Representative
You what?
Carvana Customer
Yeah. Great price. I even have seven days to love it or return it.
Carvana Representative
So there's no.
Woman Intervening
No.
Carvana Customer
No buyer's remorse. More like buyers rejoice.
Carvana Representative
I guess I'll let myself out. Congratulations. I mean it.
Carvana Customer
Buyers rejoice. Buy your car today. On Carvana.
Visory Health Advertiser
Limitations and exclusions may apply. See our seven day return policy@carvana.com.
Air Date: July 30, 2026
Hosts: Bert, Jeff, and the Bert Show Cast
Topic: Decency, Bystander Intervention & The Social Mirror on “What Would You Do?”
This episode dives into ABC’s controversial social experiment show, "What Would You Do?", analyzing its impact, authenticity, and the challenging moral dilemmas it evokes in public situations. The Bert Show team and callers dissect a recent episode in which actors stage a predatory bar encounter to see if bystanders will intervene, sparking an honest conversation about gender, age, group psychology, personal responsibility, and the limits of social courage.
Gender & Group Dynamics:
Young Single Men vs. Young Married Men:
Law Enforcement & Moral Abdication:
Disappointment & Group Influence:
Over-the-top Scenarios and Realism:
Caller Cindy’s Experience (12:52–13:50):
Bert’s Retort (13:45):
Jeff (00:59–01:53):
“It’s an awesome show…you can't help but put yourself in the situation and wonder...Do you speak up? Do you walk out? What do you do?”
Bar Patron 3 (04:17–04:51):
“She cannot do that because she don't know you… I have my daughter, 25 year old, and they die. Every year they die.”
Bert (09:39–10:03):
“When you're...young...every single guy's wingman...When you're young, you're like, go do what you got to do.”
Caller Cindy (12:52–13:50):
“She got really mad at my sister and I and started screaming...And it was really awful. She was falling down drunk...I'm disappointed that you said that. That's okay.”
Expert Caller (15:48–16:10):
“This is called the bystander effect. The more bystanders you have…the less likely people feel compelled to go intervene because they feel the weight is off their shoulders.”
This episode offers a raw, revealing conversation about the challenges of standing up for strangers, the social and gender dynamics at play, and the sobering realization that most people adapt their sense of duty according to group behavior and situational nuance. Both the show and the Bert Show cast highlight gaps between intention and action—and the uncomfortable truths about bystander apathy, especially among young men and in the presence of others. Listeners are left with a resounding call for stronger individual responsibility:
“That’s how people end up being missing. Everybody’s thinking somebody else will take care of it.” (Burt, 16:10)