Full Breakdown
Will Arnett Reveals Comedian Kicked Off 'SmartLess' Podcast After 10 Minutes
2/3/2026, 9:06:12 PM
Incident on the 'SmartLess' Podcast
Will Arnett, co-host of the popular podcast "SmartLess," disclosed a recent incident involving a "very famous comedian" who was removed from the show after just ten minutes due to inappropriate behavior. During his January 26 appearance on "The Romesh Ranganathan Show," Arnett described the unnamed comedian as a “f–king rank a–hole,” leading to the decision to cut the guest off and end the recording prematurely. Arnett humorously hinted that the audience would be surprised by the comedian's identity, jokingly suggesting, “You’ll be blown away by who it is. Because you’ll be like, ‘How did you get Bill Cosby!’”
Additional Scrapped Episodes
This incident was not isolated. Arnett also mentioned a separate episode that had to be scrapped entirely at the request of a female comedian guest. She expressed concerns about her career and feared that her comments could be misinterpreted, which led the hosts to honor her request despite the financial implications of producing the episode. Arnett noted, “It costs us money, you guys. We all have to do it,” indicating the challenges faced by the podcast team when dealing with such situations.
Background on 'SmartLess'
"SmartLess," co-hosted by Arnett, Jason Bateman, and Sean Hayes since 2020, has gained significant popularity and was recently acquired by SiriusXM in a multi-year deal valued at over $100 million. The podcast features a variety of celebrity guests, including Macaulay Culkin and Ricky Gervais, and has been recognized with a nomination for the inaugural Golden Globes' best podcast category, although it lost to Amy Poehler's podcast, "Good Hang With Amy Poehler."
Official Statements & Responses
In discussing the podcast's success, Arnett remarked, “It doesn’t feel like that long... You might be exhausted by listening to us, but we’re not tired of doing it yet.” Bateman added that the freshness of each episode comes from the diverse range of guests, while Hayes reflected on their long-standing friendship that began in the late 1990s.
Criticism & Opposition
While the hosts have not faced significant public backlash regarding the incident, the decision to cut guests can be contentious within the entertainment industry. Critics may argue that such actions could reflect poorly on the podcast's inclusivity and willingness to engage with diverse perspectives.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We cut him off after ten minutes and said, ‘thanks so much,’ and ditched him,'” — Will Arnett, Co-host of 'SmartLess'
- “You’ll be blown away by who it is. Because you’ll be like, ‘How did you get Bill Cosby!'” — Will Arnett, Co-host of 'SmartLess'
- “It’s fresh each week because the guests are always new and they’re always at the top of the zeitgeist, and it’s really interesting for us to be able to talk to these people, most of whom we didn’t know before.” — Jason Bateman, Co-host of 'SmartLess'
What's Next
As the podcast continues to grow in popularity, it remains to be seen how the hosts will navigate similar situations in the future and whether they will disclose the identities of the comedians involved in these incidents.
