Bill Burr’s a pretty funny guy. My girlfriend once laughed at a joke I made last year. Bill and I both have a great gift, as you can tell. He’s doing a tour in the Southeast called the Billy Bible Belt Tour, featuring all-new material in locations he doesn’t typically perform in. Bill talked with The Daily Beacon about his tour, why he doesn’t quite identify with the term “rant” and, as a hockey fan, his NHL Playoff predictions and hopes.
Daily Beacon: What’s different about the Billy Bible Belt tour versus past tours, other than the locations of the shows?
Bill Burr: “Every time I come out on tour, I have a new hour of material. We’re going deep into the South this time. I’ve gone a lot of places, we did a tour of Southeast Asia in the last year. My buddy gave me a good example of how nuts my schedule is – ‘in less than three months, you’re performing in Hong Kong, China and Huntsville, Alabama.’”
DB: If you could give one sentence that sells your Monday Morning Podcast on your website, what would it be?
BB: “Moron rambles about anything that pops into his head while wearing pajamas.”
DB: Where do you find inspiration for your rants, such as your famous Philadelphia rant?
BB: “You know, it’s funny, I never really heard the term ‘rant’ growing up. You just yelled at somebody in Massachusetts. Sometimes it just comes out. The way I grew up, you didn’t communicate (without yelling). Sometimes (feelings) build up and eight years of stuff comes out. To be honest, anger is hilarious. Watching someone completely lose it is one of the funniest things.”
DB: You’ve run a couple different standup specials through Netflix over the last few years. Are there any real differences about the production for those versus the production of any other performance of yours?
BB: “What happens is (if) Netflix wants me to do a special, they give me money, I spend it on the special. It’s my creative vision. I love stand-up, but I don’t love the way it’s been shot. It’s so much more of an interesting art than what it’s been presented as for a long time. I really think it’s hurt a lot of great material because they’re shooting someone the same as they would shoot someone who juggled or interacted with a seal. I want more cool shots. That’s a way to stick around. People are paying and they want a show, you know?”
DB: Can you tell me a bit more about “F Is For Family,” your original show on Netflix you’ve co-created with Michael Price?
BB: “It’s an animated show, and it’s basically my childhood stories animated. Childhood memories, all of a certain age. [Back then], we had helicopter parents and latchkey kids, it’s of that era. It’s sad, but when you look back at it it’s hilarious. There are very volatile types of characters, and we tried to be as funny as we could be.”
DB: You’re a big hockey fan, but your Boston Bruins missed this year’s NHL Playoffs. With them out, who are you expecting/who do you want to win the Stanley Cup this year?
BB: “Maybe the Blackhawks? I got a bad feeling that Montreal will make a lot of noise as a Boston fan, but I still think the winner comes out of the Western Conference. I want the Washington Capitals out of the East and the St. Louis Blues from the West, they both have great fans at my shows and they both deserve a championship.”
