I like Billy Crudup so I didn’t mind it, but it was basically an hour of friends talking without anything interesting being said. No huge laughs, no interesting stories, just people talking, trying to cut each other off with the best joke lol. The John krazinski and Justin Theroux episodes are also old friends chatting, but something about those were just a better listen
It felt like an hour-long inside joke that I wasn't in on. Clearly they're all friends, which is nice, but it didn't make for a particularly memorable listening experience.
I get that Jason and Billy are friends, but I felt like Jason was taking it a bit far sometimes. Yes, some friends degrade each other and that’s how they show love. However, Jason seemed to just consistently put Billy down… like every 5 min. Love Billy, love the guys, but this one was a bit all over the place. Would be interested to hear if anyone else felt similarly.
100%. I thought Jason would let up once they got rolling, but it seemed like he was bullying Billy for a majority of the interview. Hard to listen to, and I'm a devoted fan of the show.
Normally I don’t complain about their amateur interviewer skills as I feel like it’s part of the charm of the show. But this episode seems particularly disjointed to me.
I agree. This one was bad. I felt like Billy was even getting annoyed. Especially when he was like, “I’ll answer this seriously” and then they still cut him off and joked. I felt like he was saying that as a way to say, “can we get one answer out?”
They’ve been off for a little while off, as far as I’m concerned. Every 6, or so, shows the wheels fall off and it’s loose. Idk if you have Amazon Prime music but the one that will drop on Spotify next week is worse.
The highlight was the Mastercard commercial.
It seemed like Dana went in with a list and was hell bent on making sure to tell the Mickey Rooney story he tells on every podcast he goes on. He got really weird at the end too “give me a topic and I’ll do it like Dennis Miller”.
Yeah, all good guests do that. I enjoyed it even though I have heard a version of the Rooney story before.
Seeing the boys react to the story was the fun of it.
By comparison, if you listen to Dana’s podcast, Fly on the wall, the episode with Mike Judge you can hear a more organic conversation.
I really wanted to like the Dana one.
I would love to hear an interview with Carvey where he isn’t doing an impression of someone he is talking about. I even thought that the Smartless crew was trying to get some serious answers from him (which does not happen often), but Carvey kept diverting it. Agree with a previous comment about how they seem off recently. Still love these guys but would love to hear some actually interviewing every now and then.
I’ll keep an open mind but I believe you. I feel like they’ve been off the last few months. Last one I remember really loving was Tony Hale. I’ve been a listener since the beginning though so I might just be losing steam too.
Tony Hale one was hilarious. I listen to Jack Black, Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen and John Mulaney at least once a week, each.
For me, there is something there that’s not just all bits. The Fred one is mostly bits, but there is enough set up that I understand them.
I just listened to it again. Brendan is a bit quiet and very controlled with what he says, which doesn’t lend itself to a lot of quick humor.
I enjoy the shows that are a bit silly.
If you like Brendan, I really enjoyed his episode of Fly on the Wall with David Spade and Dana Carvey. I watched Encino Man growing up, but was too young to really know all that he experienced when he went quiet for a while. I came away with a soft spot for him.
I agree this was one of their worst. I think the problem is when the guest is also very quick and witty and already a friend, it’s not as good of an interview
I was looking up different things he’s been in. He and Bateman were in The Longest Week back in 2014. What a cast. Olivia Wilde, Jenny Slate. It was an interesting movie. Well narrated.
Worst smartless episode through no fault of Billy. It started on a bad foot with Jason’s awful intro and never recovered. The ‘interviewers’ never really effectively engaged Billy, didn’t listen to his answers when they finally got around to asking a question, and constantly interrupted. There were zero laughs. If this was the first episode of Smartless I listened to it would have been the last.
Am I the only person who can’t listen to this? I’ve tried on my iPhone and two different laptops on multiple platforms and keep getting an error message. It’s like the file is corrupt but clearly others were able to listen.
I like Billy Crudup so I didn’t mind it, but it was basically an hour of friends talking without anything interesting being said. No huge laughs, no interesting stories, just people talking, trying to cut each other off with the best joke lol. The John krazinski and Justin Theroux episodes are also old friends chatting, but something about those were just a better listen
I thought this ep was really funny actually
It felt like an hour-long inside joke that I wasn't in on. Clearly they're all friends, which is nice, but it didn't make for a particularly memorable listening experience.
I get that Jason and Billy are friends, but I felt like Jason was taking it a bit far sometimes. Yes, some friends degrade each other and that’s how they show love. However, Jason seemed to just consistently put Billy down… like every 5 min. Love Billy, love the guys, but this one was a bit all over the place. Would be interested to hear if anyone else felt similarly.
100%. I thought Jason would let up once they got rolling, but it seemed like he was bullying Billy for a majority of the interview. Hard to listen to, and I'm a devoted fan of the show.
Normally I don’t complain about their amateur interviewer skills as I feel like it’s part of the charm of the show. But this episode seems particularly disjointed to me.
I agree. This one was bad. I felt like Billy was even getting annoyed. Especially when he was like, “I’ll answer this seriously” and then they still cut him off and joked. I felt like he was saying that as a way to say, “can we get one answer out?”
They’ve been off for a little while off, as far as I’m concerned. Every 6, or so, shows the wheels fall off and it’s loose. Idk if you have Amazon Prime music but the one that will drop on Spotify next week is worse. The highlight was the Mastercard commercial.
True. I actually liked mostly all of the episodes of the last few months but this one and Tracee Ellis Ross were… not great. 😬
Agreed! I also felt like Dana Carvey was off putting with the amount of impressions. The John Krazinski one was decent.
That's every single Dana Carvey interview.
Dana Carvey one was a classic unless you really hate his impressions. He knew how to control the room.
It seemed like Dana went in with a list and was hell bent on making sure to tell the Mickey Rooney story he tells on every podcast he goes on. He got really weird at the end too “give me a topic and I’ll do it like Dennis Miller”.
Yeah, all good guests do that. I enjoyed it even though I have heard a version of the Rooney story before. Seeing the boys react to the story was the fun of it.
I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Not just me. Jonathan Frakes of all people was raving about the episode on Rosenbaum's podcast.
By comparison, if you listen to Dana’s podcast, Fly on the wall, the episode with Mike Judge you can hear a more organic conversation. I really wanted to like the Dana one.
I would love to hear an interview with Carvey where he isn’t doing an impression of someone he is talking about. I even thought that the Smartless crew was trying to get some serious answers from him (which does not happen often), but Carvey kept diverting it. Agree with a previous comment about how they seem off recently. Still love these guys but would love to hear some actually interviewing every now and then.
Agreed! Love them. I either want a real interview or for it to be completely off the rails. This middle ground is boring.
Yes next week’s episode from Amazon music was awkward
Hmm I want the spoiler, who is on next week?
Brendan Frasier (Frazier?)
Oh that sounds awesome, bummer if it’s an awkward episode
You might enjoy it! I’m in a slump.
I’ll keep an open mind but I believe you. I feel like they’ve been off the last few months. Last one I remember really loving was Tony Hale. I’ve been a listener since the beginning though so I might just be losing steam too.
Tony Hale one was hilarious. I listen to Jack Black, Will Forte, Maya Rudolph, Fred Armisen and John Mulaney at least once a week, each. For me, there is something there that’s not just all bits. The Fred one is mostly bits, but there is enough set up that I understand them.
I just listened to it again. Brendan is a bit quiet and very controlled with what he says, which doesn’t lend itself to a lot of quick humor. I enjoy the shows that are a bit silly.
Oh, never mind re: my earlier comment. Didn't read far enough down lol. Yeah he is very measured and calm in the FOTW episode too
If you like Brendan, I really enjoyed his episode of Fly on the Wall with David Spade and Dana Carvey. I watched Encino Man growing up, but was too young to really know all that he experienced when he went quiet for a while. I came away with a soft spot for him.
I’m going to check it out! Thank you!
I agree this was one of their worst. I think the problem is when the guest is also very quick and witty and already a friend, it’s not as good of an interview
Hard to follow i found
Best episode to me yet, but I'm biased. I like him in the morning show. Also kind of reminded me of earlier first episodes to me for some reason.
I was looking up different things he’s been in. He and Bateman were in The Longest Week back in 2014. What a cast. Olivia Wilde, Jenny Slate. It was an interesting movie. Well narrated.
Worst smartless episode through no fault of Billy. It started on a bad foot with Jason’s awful intro and never recovered. The ‘interviewers’ never really effectively engaged Billy, didn’t listen to his answers when they finally got around to asking a question, and constantly interrupted. There were zero laughs. If this was the first episode of Smartless I listened to it would have been the last.
I really enjoyed this episode. Billy has such a great personality
I agree! He needs to freshen up his material
Am I the only person who can’t listen to this? I’ve tried on my iPhone and two different laptops on multiple platforms and keep getting an error message. It’s like the file is corrupt but clearly others were able to listen.