Bill Burr slams Howie Mandel for podcast stunt with Billy Corgan
Comedian Bill Burr called out Howie Mandel after an unexpected appearance by Smashing Pumpkins' Billy Corgan during an episode of Howie Mandel Does Stuff.
The January 21 podcast featured a heated exchange after Mandel surprised Burr with Corgan, who shared an awkward story about being told they might be half-brothers.
'You're an a—hole,' Burr, 56, said to Mandel after Corgan, 57, joined mid-interview. Mandel admitted he thought it would be 'a good surprise,' but Burr clearly disagreed, asking if the segment could be edited out.
The controversy stems from a past comment by Corgan's stepmother, who suggested Burr might be one of her late husband's illegitimate children, based on their striking resemblance. During the podcast, Burr criticized Mandel's motives, accusing him of prioritizing ratings over respect. 'He's bringing you in here, not because he's trying to heal the bulls—t that we went through growing up,' Burr said.
Corgan, who initially believed Mandel was aware of the story, revealed that Mandel encouraged him to share it on air after a private conversation. 'He said, 'Oh, you've got to say this on the air,'' Corgan explained.
While Burr expressed no ill will toward Corgan, he admitted the incident brought back painful memories of his father. 'It's not that I don't like him; it reminds me of all of that s–t,' Burr said.
Corgan clarified that he does not believe they are related, adding, 'There are just people in the world that look alike.'
The ambush left Burr frustrated, with the comedian calling the situation a 'ratings stunt.' Mandel has yet to respond publicly.
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As unfair as it may seem to write about Bill Burr and not include any f-bombs, we can't. But let's push through, shall we? Burr released his latest standup comedy special Drop Dead Years on Hulu recently. In his signature hour-long rant, Burr meditates (possibly the loudest, public mediation loaded with expletives) on his mortality, mental health, marriage and politics. Watching Drop Dead Years, you realise that Burr has changed. He has used his craft to deal with generational trauma and the subsequent anger and has now relatively calmed down a bit. And as he admits early into the show, he has realised that he's been suffering from depression. Drop Dead Years is the 56-year-old comedian's exploration of his own depression in his, well, drop dead years. Old and still grumpy A less angry Burr is still extremely entertaining to watch. He is still grumpy about the world and his rants still hit the mark. 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He pauses and reflects more on his words as he goes. And overall, he feels more vulnerable as if his angry mask is slowly coming off. It's fascinating to see Burr's evolution not just as an artist but as a man coming to terms with his life and the world and his own messed up self as he grows old. The F is for Family creator addresses the title of the special too. He's aware of the fact that he's in his 'drop dead years' – years in which men suddenly drop dead. And he insists that "dropping dead is a uniquely male experience". It's different from dying of natural causes. He points at men not being able to cry as the main reason for dropping dead, be it while putting on pants one morning or in a golf cart. Men aren't allowed to be sad. We are allowed to be mad or fine," he says. But that we do feel other emotions and bag them inside for years leads us to dropping dead like flies. Broken man, broken world Burr also continues his tradition of picking on the right and the left, pointing out their hypocrisies, especially the idiocy of political correctness. His criticism of focusing more on the language rather than the attitudes and beliefs are always spot on. In Drop Dead Years, he uses the KKK, slurs, influencers, cancel culture, and gun laws to call out everyone. He maintains that the KKK would not exist if they attacked white people. It'd be over in five weeks. Burr's appeal is also in his self-awareness and how he boils down broad ideas and history into little zingers. Summing up the history of the United States, he says, "We came here, there were other people here, and then there weren't. And then there was work to be done. We didn't want to do it. We brought other people in and s*** happened." Basically, Burr is that kid in a classroom who slingshots chewed gums or stink-bombs at everyone, without any discrimination. 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