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SmartLess

"Bowen Yang"

01 Jun 2026

Transcription

Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.

Chapter 1: What unique insights does Bowen Yang share about his upbringing?

6.038 - 27.752 Jason Bateman

So I booted up today, and here's what I noticed. Okay. You know when you just start talking and you hope an interesting thought comes into your head? That's where I find myself right now. So I booted up, and what I noticed was— You thought talking about booting up was going to get you going? Yeah, it was just going to trigger something for the cold open.

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28.112 - 35.949 Jason Bateman

Anything ever funny ever happen for you guys when you boot up? Look at this. Oh, Sean's wearing a boot. Oh, he's still wearing his walking boot.

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36.029 - 42.627 Sean Hayes

Oh, now we're into Freestyle Association and it's improv and yes and and yes and to an all-new Smartless.

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61.186 - 70.282 Jason Bateman

I apologize for picking my teeth. I just got through a bunch of really leafy vegetables. Okay. So I might have to excuse myself mid-record here.

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Chapter 2: How does Bowen Yang describe his journey to becoming a comedian?

70.723 - 72.486 Jason Bateman

You think? Well, I mean, I don't know.

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72.526 - 72.746 Sean Hayes

To what?

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72.786 - 82.003 Jason Bateman

To go brush? Well, no. Why don't you get some floss? I've got the little pick right here that I apologize you're having to watch. You and whoever the surprise guest is, I apologize.

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82.023 - 84.546 Sean Hayes

That's right. You can't bear it until after? No.

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84.866 - 90.713 Jason Bateman

If I have something stuck between my teeth, everything stops. Yeah, yeah. I'm kind of the same way. I can't.

Chapter 3: What experiences shaped Bowen's perspective on identity and culture?

90.873 - 94.918 Jason Bateman

It's like a bee is stuck in my car. I've got to pull over.

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94.958 - 97.421 Sean Hayes

You've got a bee in your bonnet. Yeah, you've got a bee in your bonnet.

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97.441 - 99.423 Jason Bateman

Hey, there's a good saying. You should start that.

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99.623 - 105.33 Sean Hayes

You've got a bee in your bonnet. JB, now, how's your new setup? JB's in New York now. How's your setup? Pretty good?

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105.51 - 113.693 Jason Bateman

It's good. I'm in the hotel for a week, and then I get the keys on Friday. So then I'll go over to the— Apart to Monte.

Chapter 4: How does Bowen Yang navigate the challenges of working on SNL?

113.874 - 116.817 Jason Bateman

And you'll be there for three, four months. Yes.

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117.278 - 118.199 Unknown

Wow, isn't it wild?

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118.239 - 131.476 Jason Bateman

And I just got back. Wild. I know. I should be playing. I should be staying at your place. Yeah. By the way, why don't you? Too late, you dick. It's a real safe invite now that I'm obligated to a fucking long-term lease.

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131.856 - 135.201 Unknown

You know you could have done that. But it would have been too small for you.

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135.221 - 137.063 Sean Hayes

I'm going to be there soon, JB.

Chapter 5: What are Bowen's thoughts on the current state of comedy?

137.664 - 142.41 Sean Hayes

Why are you going there, Will? Because life... Because they're naive.

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143.793 - 148.521 Jason Bateman

Yeah, maybe. Yeah, so I guess that's why I couldn't stay at your place. You've got a nice new fancy spot here, don't you?

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148.942 - 151.967 Sean Hayes

I don't have keys yet. Why?

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152.027 - 164.073 Jason Bateman

Because you're making it fancier? You're in the middle of making it fancier? No, no, no, no, no. It's complicated, but I'm very excited. We're excited for you. I'm super jealous. You know how long I've wanted to live here.

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Chapter 6: How does Bowen Yang's background influence his comedic style?

164.494 - 165.658 Jason Bateman

I know.

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165.698 - 168.047 Unknown

Why don't you just get a little tiny something?

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168.107 - 177.746 Jason Bateman

Your second? How many times have you had a place in Manhattan, Will? Oh, God. Like a place, not like a hotel, but... Yeah, you and Amy used to live there.

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178.086 - 180.409 Sean Hayes

I lived there for over 20 years, full time.

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180.59 - 184.655 Jason Bateman

Yeah, but that was just one spot, right? I mean, how many different spots have you had here?

185.216 - 187.098 Sean Hayes

Different, oh my God, countless.

187.158 - 189.281 Jason Bateman

You have more or less than a dozen apartments.

189.301 - 189.502 Sean Hayes

How many?

189.522 - 189.982 Jason Bateman

Count them.

Chapter 7: What lessons does Bowen share about personal growth and self-acceptance?

194.228 - 197.814 Jason Bateman

Oh, really? Yeah, something like that.

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197.854 - 198.596 Sean Hayes

Close to it, if not.

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198.756 - 203.625 Jason Bateman

That sounds like he's not so jealous. You, Sean? In New York? The one you have now, Sean, is your first? Is that your first?

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203.805 - 205.969 Unknown

It's the first place I've owned, yeah, for now six years.

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206.169 - 219.511 Sean Hayes

You know, back in the day, I used to move around a lot. You know, like you'd live with roommates for a year, and then somebody would bail, and so you'd have to move across town. I used to be able to move in one taxi cab ride. Just kidding. a couple duffel bags for real. Really?

Chapter 8: What future projects are Bowen Yang excited about?

219.531 - 225.397 Sean Hayes

And stuff like a mattress, like a futon mattress in the trunk and then go cross town and then move back cross town and whatever.

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225.417 - 227.139 Jason Bateman

Oh, this is sad.

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227.159 - 244.043 Sean Hayes

Those are sad moves. I think fondly back, I used to live on 21st Street for years and I... What was that like? I remember having, I lived in this, basically a studio. This is such a boring story, but I'm going to do it anyway. And fold up... futon mattress. I didn't even have the frame. So in the day, I'd roll it up in the corner.

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244.203 - 245.406 Unknown

Just a cushion?

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245.706 - 246.087 Sean Hayes

On the floor.

246.147 - 248.232 Unknown

Like a swollen yoga mat.

248.252 - 259.86 Sean Hayes

Yeah. And then I'd have that. And then I had like two pairs of jeans and two t-shirts and whatever. And a dream. There was nothing.

259.88 - 272.056 Unknown

It was just, I got to say, it was incredible. But isn't one of the greatest things about getting older is you don't move around like that. It's just exhausting. You don't realize when you're younger how exhausting it is to keep moving and moving and moving.

272.297 - 277.844 Jason Bateman

Well, you also become attached to more, you get attached to more stuff as you get older too, right? Or do you get rid of it a bit?

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