Bert Kreischer on His Infamous Adam Sandler Incident

Episode Summary

Main Topics

This episode is centrally focused on Bert Kreischer's notoriously disastrous Zoom interview with Adam Sandler, orchestrated by Whitney Cummings for a "Comedy Gives Back" initiative during the early stages of the pandemic. Bert details his numerous blunders, from telling a lengthy, irrelevant personal anecdote to misremembering Sandler's Netflix deal and iconic movie titles. The conversation covers the immediate, humiliating aftermath, including a candid phone call from fellow comedian Big Jay Oakerson, offering a self-deprecating examination of a fan-meets-hero encounter gone terribly wrong.

Key Discussion Points

• The Catastrophic Adam Sandler Interview: Bert Kreischer vividly describes his ill-fated virtual interview with Adam Sandler, set up by Whitney Cummings for a charity event. He candidly admits monopolizing the conversation with a personal story about a former girlfriend's college encounter with Sandler and Allen Covert at Florida State. The Zoom interview was notably conducted under strict COVID-19 protocols, with Bert and Whitney positioned six feet apart.
• Blunders and Misconceptions: A major theme is Bert's series of embarrassing errors during the interview. He reveals asking Adam Sandler if he had Netflix, completely unaware of Sandler's massive $200 million deal with the streaming giant. Furthermore, Bert incorrectly referred to Sandler's classic films "Happy Gilmore" and "Billy Madison" as "Happy Madison," and mistakenly called the critically acclaimed movie "Uncut Gems" by the title "Precious Gems."
• Immediate Humiliation and Feedback: Immediately after the interview, Bert received a crucial call from Big Jay Oakerson, who informed him that he and other comedians had been "totally trashing" his performance from a virtual waiting room. Bert initially believed the interview went "great," and was shocked by Oakerson's blunt feedback, which highlighted his numerous gaffes and led to Bert's eventual "meltdown."
• The Pandemic Interview Environment: The episode touches upon the unique challenges of conducting interviews during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Bert details the physical setup, including the six-foot tape measure separating him and Whitney Cummings, and Whitney coloring her hair with "woke colors" during the recording. He also notes the inherent difficulties of a live Zoom interview without editing and the significant delays.
• Post-Interview Reflection and Appreciation: Despite the disastrous nature of the interview, Bert reiterates his genuine admiration for Adam Sandler's work, specifically praising "Uncut Gems." He describes it as a "fantastic" movie and a "two-hour panic attack," emphasizing its quality and Sandler's performance, contrasting it sharply with his own earlier misnaming of the film.

Notable Moments

• Interesting Story/Anecdote: Bert recounted a highly personal and somewhat awkward anecdote to Adam Sandler about his college days at Florida State. He detailed how a girl he was dating ended up hanging out and smoking pot with Sandler and Allen Covert, a story Bert felt compelled to share despite its clear irrelevance to the interview.
• Surprising Fact/Revelation: The most surprising revelation was Bert's complete ignorance regarding Adam Sandler's prominent $200 million Netflix deal. This was compounded by his misidentification of popular Sandler movies, calling "Happy Gilmore" and "Billy Madison" "Happy Madison," and "Uncut Gems" "Precious Gems."
• Memorable Exchange: A truly memorable moment occurred immediately post-interview when Big Jay Oakerson called Bert. Oakerson bluntly informed Bert that he and others had been mocking his performance from a virtual waiting room, clarifying Bert's numerous errors and shattering his initial belief that the interview had gone well.

Key Takeaways

Listeners will gain a humorous, cautionary tale about the pitfalls of celebrity interviews and the necessity of thorough preparation. The episode underscores how even genuine admiration can lead to embarrassing gaffes under pressure, especially in live, unedited virtual environments. It highlights Bert Kreischer's ability to openly discuss his most mortifying professional moments, offering a valuable lesson in humility and reminding us that even seasoned performers can spectacularly stumble when meeting their heroes.