The Bonfire with Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly

Episode: Pump Up The Volume
Date: September 18, 2025
Host: SiriusXM’s Faction Talk, Channel 103

Episode Overview

In this characteristically raucous episode, Big Jay Oakerson and Robert Kelly dive into their comedic observations on celebrity encounters, audience outbursts, generational divides, and the behind-the-scenes realities of comedy and podcast production. The episode is a classic “Bonfire” blend of insider anecdotes, vulgar wit, and candid discussions about both the absurdities of show business and everyday life. The hosts are joined, as always, by their producer Christine and occasional input from Paco, keeping the conversational energy loose and unpredictable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Celebrity Culture and Comedic Encounters

• Jewish Identity and Dave Smith (01:11–03:07)

  • Jay jokes about Dave Smith and Disturbed’s Dave Draiman, ribbing each other about Jewish identity and religious “practice” with typical irreverence.
  • Playful banter about what it means to be a practicing Jew or Christian.

• Handling Aggressive Audience Members (03:07–04:18)

  • Bobby and Jay riff on the dangers comedians face from unpredictable, sometimes militant, audience members (“It gets scary now, too, because people are... attacking comedians on stage.” – Bobby Kelly, 02:26).
  • Jay sarcastically exaggerates the kind of material that would really enrage a crowd, clearly satirizing offensive triggers.

2. Protest Hecklers and “Free Palestine”

• Onstage Activism and Jay’s Response (04:18–05:16)
  • Bobby praises Jay’s handling of a “Free Palestine” heckler, highlighting how Jay deflects with humor and apathy toward political grandstanding:
    • “She said, ‘She’s Free Palestine.’ I asked her, ‘Okay? Well, what’s the step? What do I do?’....I’ve been aggressively silent through this whole thing.” (Jay Oakerson, 04:51)

3. Generational Grievances, “Pump Up The Volume,” and Satire

• Mocking 90s Teen Tropes (06:09–10:17)
  • Jay impersonates angsty teen monologues from the film “Pump Up The Volume,” mocking their self-importance and adolescent melodrama.
  • Bobby roasts the look and appeal of 90s actresses like Samantha Mathis and Amy Smart, gently debating what constitutes “hot” in Hollywood.

4. Party Stories: The Brownstone, Chloe Sevigny, and Broderick

• Social Hierarchies & Awkwardness at Celebrity Parties (11:44–32:22)

  • Bobby launches a detailed, self-deprecating story about attending a party at Louis CK's old brownstone, mingling awkwardly with Steve Buscemi and Matthew Broderick—but botching a chance encounter with Chloe Sevigny (“She looked at me like, ‘Get the fuck out of my way.’... She looked at me like, back up, fatso. Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep.” – Bobby Kelly, 31:13).
  • The tale blends embarrassing social misfires with honest envy at celebrities’ gravitas.
  • Side riffs about difficulties maintaining famous connections, with Jay admitting he rarely pursues celebrity friendships.

• The “Queenus” Running Gag

  • Throughout the episode, Jay and Bobby riff on the made-up term “queenus” as a bawdy euphemism, using it for both comedic effect and satirical commentary on gender and language fads. (“And when a trans person has an operation on their queenus...I’ll be in the bibliography. Queenus.” – Jay Oakerson, 39:14)

5. Tech Talk: Cameras, Social Media, and Vanity

• Battles with Video Gear and Social Media Image (12:25–14:23)
  • Self-mocking discussion about how camera angles and editing affect perceived body image (“Paco doesn’t fucking edit the stomach out. Little Japanese.” – Bobby Kelly, 12:36).
  • Friendly hazing of Paco about camera choices, pricing everything in “Nintendo controllers” and seaweed chocolates.

6. “Name Dropping” Ethics in Comedy

• Debating Whether to Use Last Names for Famous People (34:10–35:45)
  • Jay and Bobby discuss whether referencing celebs by first or last names sounds less pretentious or more polite, shaping how stories are told in their circles.

7. Physical Appearance in Comedy/Self-Image

• Roasting Each Other on Looks (38:00–38:28)
  • Bobby insists Jay’s eyes are “probably the prettiest in comedy,” to which Jay responds with humble self-deprecation.

8. Embarrassing Moments & Social Mishaps

• City Bike Gaffe (40:25–42:28)
  • Bobby recounts accidentally shouting “Show dog!” at a complete stranger, thinking it was fellow comedian Sherrod Small, then having to awkwardly explain himself.

9. Dark Comedy & Touchy Subjects

• Child Pornography Allegations – Satirical Hypotheticals (43:40–44:33)
  • The pair dabble in very dark comedic territory, joking about disgraced comic John Reap, legal troubles, and the possibility of suicide in a way characteristic of their uncensored, boundary-pushing style.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Performative Activism:

  • “Nothing. I’ve been aggressively silent through this whole thing. I haven’t said anything about either side—whoever wins, that’s who I was rooting for. Like a chick with football.”
    (Jay Oakerson, 04:51)

• On 90’s Teen Angst:

  • “‘It’s like they don’t even see you. It’s like you’re a ghost in your own house...schools in my mind, man. It’s not out there.’”
    (Jay Oakerson, parodying "Pump Up The Volume", 07:01)

• Jay on the “Queenus” Coinage:

  • “I don’t have Body brain coffee to push. All I have is words into the world that I can say I coined. So the textbooks one day will read...and then I’ll be in the bibliography. Queenus.”
    (Jay Oakerson, 39:14)

• Bobby’s Awkward Star Encounter:

  • “She looked at me like, get the fuck out of my way...she backed me out to the back porch. I bumped into Matthew Broderick, ruined that.”
    (Bobby Kelly, 31:13)

• On Social Media and Vanity:

  • “Paco doesn’t fucking edit the stomach out...he won’t take the time to crop it to where it’s your tits up. He always leaves your fat hamburger belly out.”
    (Bobby Kelly, 12:36)

• Self Image and Deflection:

  • “You’re ridiculously stupid when you say you’re unattractive. You’re dumb because you have probably the prettiest eyes in show business. In comedy.”
    (Bobby Kelly to Jay, 38:00)

• City Bike Mistaken Identity:

  • “There’s a guy coming towards me, I lean in, as he's going by I go, 'Show dog!' It wasn’t him.”
    (Bobby Kelly, 41:34)

Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:11] – Jay and Bobby riff on Disturbed, Dave Smith, and religion
• [02:26] – Discussing dangers for comedians from hostile fans
• [04:18] – Bobby and Jay on anti-Palestine heckling and how Jay handled it
• [06:09–10:17] – Mocking “Pump Up The Volume,” criticism of 90s actress ‘hotness’
• [11:44–32:22] – Bobby’s Louis CK party story, social anxiety, and Chloe Sevigny confrontation
• [12:36] – Riffing on body image and camera angles
• [31:13] – Bobby’s comedic tale of being “fat-shamed” by Chloe Sevigny
• [34:10] – “Name dropping” etiquette among comics
• [38:00] – Jay and Bobby on each other’s looks and insecurities
• [40:25–42:28] – Bobby’s “Show dog” mistaken identity story on a Citi Bike
• [43:40–44:33] – Satirical speculation about John Reap’s legal fate

Tone & Style

The conversation is frank, fast-paced, and frequently explicit, combining inside-baseball comedy talk with brash social commentary. Jay and Bobby never shy from crossing lines, but continually undercut themselves with self-deprecation and honesty. Their chemistry is built on decades of friendship and an unwavering commitment to brutal punchlines, especially at each other’s expense.

Conclusion

This episode showcases “The Bonfire’s” signature: irreverent humor, honest (sometimes painfully so) anecdotes, celebrity war stories, and plenty of in-jokes for comedy aficionados. Whether riffing on celebrity awkwardness, parsing the etiquette of name-dropping or simply skewering their own insecurities, Big Jay and Bobby deliver an episode full of laughs, cringe, and total authenticity.

For full tour dates and more, visit bigjcomedy.com and robertkellylive.com. Crackle crackle!