The BOB & TOM Show Free Podcast

B&T Extra: Billy Gardell, Drew Powell, & Australia

Air Date: October 1, 2025

Episode Overview

This BOB & TOM Extra episode features a lively and comedic conversation with actors and comedians Billy Gardell (of "Mike & Molly" fame) and Drew Powell ("Gotham," "The Ponderosa"). Through a blend of personal stories, industry insight, and signature show banter, the group touches on the quirks of TV acting careers, filming in Australia, the randomness of residual payments, the formative impact of high school drama teachers, and memorable audition mishaps. The tone is humorous and candid throughout.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Drew Powell’s Audition and Filming “The Ponderosa” in Australia

• Audition Story: Drew recounts his unusual audition experience for playing young Hoss Cartwright.
  • “I walk into the audition room and… it was like a bunch of chubby 12 year olds and their moms… This is some Sesame Street. What is this nonsense?” (03:32)
  • He almost left but ended up getting the part, noting the surrealness of being cast after casting directors talked about him “like [he] wasn’t there.” (03:32–04:11)
• Shooting in Australia:
  • American Western with constant interruptions by local wildlife (cockatoos, wallabies):
    • “The number of times we had to stop for like cockatoos flying through or wallaby doing the scene...” (04:49)
• Encounter with Brad Dourif (voice of Chucky) playing didgeridoo:
  • “I said, you play the didger? Yeah, I learned it during my first divorce. Really helps me clear my mind.” (06:00)
  • Discussion about circular breathing and the never-ending drone of the didgeridoo. (06:55)

2. Randomness and Humor of Acting Careers

• Bonanza & Residual Paychecks:
  • The Ponderosa aired on PAX TV, described as "a wholesome family network" that eventually went under.
  • The phenomenon of tiny residual checks:
    • “Do you still get the occasional obscure, like, check for 17 cents?”
    • “Oh, I just got one the other day for one cent.” (08:51)
    • Jokes about bars in LA giving free drinks for checks less than $2. (08:36)
• Industry’s Unpredictability:
  • "When you're doing it, it's the greatest thing in the world… This is a dumb thing to do… but it's the greatest thing." (19:57)

3. Influence of High School Drama Teachers

• Billy Gardell:
  • The importance of his high school drama teacher, Kid Haskett, in Florida:
    • “I owe that guy because I would skip school ... and he would say… just come here, and we'll talk about theater ... he really changed my life.” (11:37–12:36)
• Drew Powell:
  • Similar experience thanks to Carol Bellis, his music/drama teacher in Indiana.
    • “She saw … that I had the thing… Like, our junior year, we did Fiddler on the Roof, which we had no business doing in Lebanon, Indiana.” (12:45–13:13)
    • On playing Tevye and the transformative effect of that performance. (13:14–13:44)

4. Performance Anecdotes & Role Preparation

• Singing on “Mike & Molly”:

  • Billy recounts singing “Lean on Me” for an episode and the delight in hearing Bill Withers himself enjoyed the show. (14:15)

• Role Memorization:

  • Billy finds memorization musical:
    • “I don't know where my keys are or where my glasses are, but for some reason... it's musical to me.” (14:58)

• Playing Colonel Tom Parker:

  • Billy on playing Elvis's notorious manager in CMT’s “Sun Records,” and his dad’s hardcore Elvis fandom.
    • “My dad was the only guy I ever knew who hated the Beatles because, and I quote, 'those hippies knocked Elvis off the throne.'” (16:38)

5. On-Set Etiquette and Work Ethic

• Cell Phones & Sides Ban:
  • Strict rules on TV drama sets:
    • “You are not allowed a phone on a set … you're not allowed sides on set.” (18:29–18:38)
    • Result: greater focus, no late nights, work often finished ahead of schedule. (18:52)
• Auditions and Industry Humility:
  • The ongoing hustle:
    • “It is amazing too how quickly you go right to the back of the line… I literally had a poster on the wall and now it's like, 'ID please. Who are you here to see?'” (21:34–21:44)

Memorable Quotes

Drew Powell (on his "Ponderosa" audition):
"I walk into the audition room and… it was like a bunch of chubby 12 year olds and their moms… This is some Sesame Street. What is this nonsense?" (03:32)

Billy Gardell (on his high school drama teacher):
"I owe that guy because I would skip school ... and he would say, 'just come here, and we'll talk about theater ...' he really changed my life." (12:28)

Drew Powell (on residuals):
"Do you still get the occasional obscure, like, check for 17 cents?"
Bob Kevoian: "Oh, I just got one the other day for one cent… Hell yeah, I earned that penny." (08:47–09:08)

Billy Gardell (on acting):
"This is a dumb thing to do... but when you're doing it, it's the greatest thing in the world." (19:57)

Billy Gardell (on playing Colonel Parker):
"My dad was the only guy I ever knew who hated the Beatles because, and I quote, 'those hippies knocked Elvis off the throne.'" (16:38)

Drew Powell (on Hollywood’s fleeting fame):
"It is amazing too how quickly you go right to the back of the line… I literally had a poster on the wall and now it's like, 'ID please. Who are you here to see?'" (21:34–21:44)

Noteworthy Segments & Timestamps

• 00:00–01:44 – Show banter, opening jokes, and spoof adverts (skip)
• 03:07–07:40 – Drew Powell's “Ponderosa” tales, Australia filming stories, didgeridoo anecdotes
• 08:13–09:32 – TV series syndication, residuals, and actor pay oddities
• 11:19–13:44 – Influence of high school drama teachers, life-changing theater roles
• 14:15–15:00 – Billy Gardell sings on “Mike & Molly,” Bill Withers anecdote
• 15:13–16:37 – Memorization quirks, contrasting good vs. bad writing for actors
• 16:00–18:18 – Playing Colonel Parker, Elvis stories, and Graceland’s reaction
• 18:29–19:04 – Cell phone bans and set discipline
• 20:34–21:44 – The fleeting nature of stardom, audition routines

Summary

This episode delivers a fun, behind-the-scenes peek into the lives of working actors and comedians. Billy Gardell and Drew Powell share personal anecdotes, from awkward auditions to behind-the-scenes mishaps with wildlife on an Aussie “Ponderosa” shoot. There’s warmth as they reflect on the teachers who shaped their ambitions, contrast the unpredictability and humility of TV careers, and joke about the randomness of “penny” royalty checks. Their stories reflect the camaraderie and grind of showbiz, offering inspiration and plenty of laughs for listeners and aspiring performers alike.