We Might Be Drunk – Ep 250: Rainn Wilson – Code 3

Air date: September 22, 2025
Hosts: Mark Normand & Sam Morril
Guest: Rainn Wilson (actor, author, “The Office”, “Code 3”)

Overview

This milestone 250th episode features Rainn Wilson, best known for playing Dwight Schrute on The Office, discussing his latest movie Code 3, reflections on enduring fame, hot takes on classic films, comedy’s challenges in the streaming era, mental health, and the weird world of modern life. The trio mix deep insights with trademark irreverence, riffing on culture, nostalgia, and what keeps them sane.

Episode Breakdown

Setting Up with Rainn (00:06–03:38)

• The hosts welcome Rainn Wilson, mentioning run-ins at events like the US Open.
• Banter about celebrity status—Rainn jokes about getting into the Rolex box with Trump and the complications of being “B-list.”
  • “You guys are very scruffy. Is that kind of your look?” – Rainn (00:23)
  • On the US Open crowd: “30,000 people booing. That's all I heard.” – Rainn (01:12)

Celebrity Privileges & Perks (03:39–06:32)

• Rainn shares about once getting VIP treatment everywhere and now “whoring” himself with media appearances to score event tickets.
• He name-drops Martha Stewart, Mindy Kaling, Ben Stiller, and Hugh Jackman in the President’s Box.
• On his enduring fame:
  • “The Office is crazy. It's the gift that keeps on giving…there's still so many 12 and 13-year-olds or college kids…they're like, ‘Oh my God, my favorite character.’” – Rainn (06:11)
  • The group jokes about iconic characters like Dwight Schrute and racist meltdowns (“I haven't had a racist meltdown yet. The day is young.” – Rainn, 06:40)

Pitching Code 3 (07:10–07:59)

• Rainn plugs his new movie Code 3, out September 12th, starring Lil Rel Howery.
  • “Action comedy, but it's got some dramatic elements...about EMS workers and ambulance drivers, paramedics, kind of on a night from hell.” – Rainn (07:10)
  • Discusses theatrical and streaming release plans.

Movie & Nostalgia Hot Takes (08:01–09:50)

• The trio riff on compulsive rewatchability (e.g., Pulp Fiction, Godfather) and debate the merits of Shawshank Redemption and Goonies.
  • “Shawshank Redemption sucks.” – Rainn (09:47)
  • Goonies: “All it is is 12 year olds screaming at each other.” – Rainn (10:33)

Fame, Attraction & Fan Encounters (11:08–13:44)

• Mark reveals his wife finds Dwight hot—Rainn muses on “weird appeal” and sloth comparisons.
• Rainn and his wife recently celebrated 30 years together.
  • “We've been married longer than you guys have been alive.” – Rainn (13:10)
• Mark reflects on having kids late vs. early in life: “Now their kids are out the house and I'm deep in baby shit and screaming…” (13:45)

Comedy World: Political Tensions & “Podcast Bros” (14:16–15:36)

• Discussion of being lumped in with “podcast bros” and pressure on comedians to comment politically.
  • “Every comic thinks they're a geopolitical expert now.” – Sam (14:52)
  • On offensive terms: “You can't say midgets. See, sorry just showed your card…” – Rainn (15:11)

Dark News in Standup & Entertainment (16:12–19:12)

• The hosts cover a dark comedy news story (child pornography charges) and lament how comics get unfairly associated by the public.
• Sidebar on MTV, culture shifts, and entertainer run-ins (e.g., Entourage episode with real porn stars—“Speaking of porn…” – Rainn, 19:17).

Porn, Technology, and Self-Control (20:08–24:29)

• Rainn gets candid on quitting porn for mental health, explores generational differences:
  • “With the advent of Internet porn I was like, this is not good for my mental health.” – Rainn (20:31)
  • Memories of “squiggle porn,” communal porn stashes, and the VHS era.

Movie Takes & Scriptwriting Frustrations (26:34–36:49)

• Riffs on movies (Scarface, Body Double, Seven Samurai, Kurosawa’s influence).
• Rainn reveals a comedy script he wrote for Will Ferrell that never got made—Banzai Shadowhands (35:12).
  • “We did the budget at like $6 million...they're like, we're gonna need, like, Mark Wahlberg to get this financed…” – Rainn (35:46)
• Frustrations with Hollywood gatekeeping and funding cycles: “Hollywood will use any excuse to shut offices down.” – Rainn (36:50)

Calamity & Recovery: Rainn’s House Fire (36:53–39:40)

• Rainn recounts a devastating wildfire that burned half his house, and the slow insurance recovery.
  • “Half my house burned down. We moved back into the guest room...” – Rainn (37:13)
  • “There’s a lot…you can do…but especially mitigating like trees and foliage around the house is the number one thing.” – Rainn (38:12)

TV Royalties, Streaming & The Office’s Lasting Power (43:15–45:38)

• The Office’s syndication boom, streaming royalties, and its unprecedented COVID-era resurgence.
  • “Viewers spent 57 billion minutes watching The Office on Netflix in 2020.” – Rainn (44:22)
  • “The problem is people keep watching The Office…so they're not ordering new comedies.” – Rainn (45:01)
  • Mark: “Rainn Wilson says stop watching The Office.” (45:24)

Origins & Survival of The Office (46:14–48:14)

• Rarity of the show’s success recounted: almost got canceled several times, tiny renewal orders in early seasons.
  • “We were almost…by the skin of our teeth.” – Rainn (46:39)
• The show’s eventual embrace by high-value demos (college kids, rich people).

Comedy’s Changing Landscape & Writers’ Plight (49:11–50:40)

• Paucity of new comedies, comparison with the overabundance of “comfort” sitcom rewatches.
• Stand-up versus writing as a more viable "middle class" comedy career today.

Road Gigs, Corporates, and PA/Appearance Work (50:41–52:26)

• Discuss corporate gigs (brutal but lucrative), and Rainn’s random branding gigs (“I got to go open the Delta Airlines first class Lounge in Seattle…” – Rainn, 51:45).
• His “Soul Boom” podcast focuses on mental health, meaning, and less “drunkenness” than their current show.

Deep Dive: Mental Health, Meaning, and Phones (52:38–57:53)

• Rainn discusses battling anxiety and depression in the 90s, finding solace in therapy, spirituality, 12-step programs:
  • “I was dirt broke…living in an abandoned warehouse in Brooklyn.” (53:36)
  • “Service to others…that's it. When you serve others, you become happier and you're making the world a better place.” (55:27)
• Smartphones & AI’s impact on kids and society, digital overload:
  • “We’re just gonna plunk one of these [smartphones] into everyone’s pockets, circa 2015 or whatever.” (57:43)
  • On boredom: “Boredom's good for creativity...You need to be bored.” (57:56)

Tennis, Class, and American Culture (60:58–64:25)

• Rainn's passion for tennis, accessibility versus elitism, and need for more edge/personality in the sport.
  • “It sucks because tennis doesn't have to be that…public courts…greatest tennis players come not out of the clubs.” (61:32)
• The odd ritual of the loser giving a speech at tennis finals:
  • “There's no other sport where the loser has to talk first…” – Rainn (62:25)
• The gang riffs on bringing “trash talk” or “Happy Gilmore” energy to tennis.

Peeves & Hot Takes (64:55–74:15)

• Rainn’s “pet peeve” segment turns philosophical and controversial:
  • On mourning pets: “If you get a pet, it's going to die…can you be appropriately sad for the loss of a pet, knowing your pet is going to be around for 8 to 14 years?” – Rainn (65:16)
  • On “welcome in”: “Everywhere you go, they say ‘welcome in’...I don't...don't welcome me in here.” – Rainn (69:06)
  • On speakerphone culture: “The number of conversations happening on speakerphone…phones also work like this, right?” (71:03)
  • Mark tells a story of noticing hospitality workers with “robotic” customer service—“enjoy...enjoy...enjoy…”

Light Wrap-Up (74:15–77:32)

• Rainn plugs his Soul Boom podcast and Code 3 (“September 21st!”), and recommends several guest episodes (Rick Glassman, Pete Holmes, Berbiglia).
• The hosts express admiration for Rainn’s career, and the need for more great comedies.
  • “Literally one of the most iconic TV characters ever.” – Sam (75:41)

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• “The Office is crazy. It's the gift that keeps on giving.” – Rainn Wilson (06:11)
• “Shawshank Redemption sucks.” – Rainn Wilson (09:47)
• “I degraded myself...I went on Seth Meyers and…talked about tickets for the US Open. And sure enough, the next day…we got you tickets to the President's Box.” – Rainn Wilson (04:12)
• “When you serve others, you become happier and you're making the world a better place.” – Rainn Wilson (55:27)
• “The problem is, is that people keep watching The Office over and over again…so they're not ordering new comedies.” – Rainn Wilson (45:01)
• “We used to work on farms and animals just die. ... Now people can't get their lives back on track because their dog died.” – Rainn Wilson (65:23)
• “Boredom is good. You need to be bored.” – Rainn Wilson (57:56)
• “I haven't had a racist meltdown yet. The day is young. This could be the place to do it.” – Rainn Wilson (06:40)

Timestamps: Important Segments

• (00:06–03:38) – Opening banter, US Open stories, celebrity perks
• (07:10–07:59) – Rainn discusses Code 3
• (09:47) – Rainn’s first hot take: “Shawshank Redemption sucks”
• (15:11) – On offensive language in comedy
• (20:31) – Rainn opens up on porn and mental health
• (35:27) – Scriptwriting struggles in Hollywood
• (37:13) – Rainn’s house fire & recovery
• (44:22) – The Office’s streaming dominance: 57 billion minutes watched
• (46:39) – The shaky early days of The Office
• (55:27) – Rainn expounds on “service to others” as life’s meaning
• (62:25) – Tennis “runner-up speech” ritual
• (64:55–68:48) – Rainn’s hot takes on “mourning pets”
• (69:06) – Peeve: “Welcome in” as an annoying new greeting
• (71:03) – Speakerphone rants and public etiquette

Tone & Style

The conversation is loose, fast, self-deprecating, and playful with the irreverence typical of Mark and Sam, yet Rainn brings surprising earnestness especially around questions of mental health, service, and American culture. Plenty of raunch and sarcasm are offset with introspection and out-of-left-field opinions on beloved pop culture staples.

Takeaways & Recap

• Rainn Wilson’s blend of humility and longevity: He's aware of his place as an “iconic” yet at times “B-list” celebrity, pragmatic about a career with peaks and quirks.
• Concern for comedy’s future: The nostalgia boom for comfort sitcoms may be stifling a new generation of scripted TV comedies.
• Service-driven mindset: After personal struggles, Rainn prioritizes meaning and happiness via serving others—his “Soul Boom” podcast amplifies that mission.
• Cultural satire: From hot takes on Shawshank to mocking pet obsessions, Rainn isn’t afraid to stir the pot.
• Nostalgia and change: The gang ruminates on everything from VHS tapes and MTV to the effects of smart tech and AI on authenticity and learning.
• Still, it’s funny: The episode is full of quick jokes, running gags, and moments (including extended riffs on masturbation, porn in childhood, hospitality etiquette, and celebrity meetups).

Episode Links

• Code 3 – In theaters and streaming soon (as of Sept. 2025)
• Soul Boom Podcast – Hosted by Rainn Wilson
• Bodega Cat Whiskey – Mark & Sam’s spirits brand

For anyone who missed this special episode, it’s a perfect blend of honest talk, comedy nerdiness, cultural commentary, and unpredictable tangents—with Rainn Wilson both fitting in and standing out in the best possible way.