Will Arnett spilled some behind-the-scenes tea about the “SmartLess” podcast he cohosts alongside Sean Hayes and Jason Bateman, revealing a “famous comedian” got the boot within minutes taping an episode.
Arnett didn’t offer up a name or mince words when describing the mystery comic as a “f***ing rank asshole” during a January 26 appearance on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, that has since gained traction online as fans try to decipher the star’s identity.
“I’ve been a fan since day one and I’m SO CURIOUS! 👀” one social media user wrote on Threads, while another pointed out “we will probably never know,” adding, “but we can at least fantasize about who those comedians might be.” A third echoed, “Dang! I want to know the details!”
According to Arnett, the unnamed celebrity was so offputting to him, Hayes, 55, and Bateman, 57, that they abruptly “cut him off after 10 minutes and said, ‘thanks so much,’ and ditched him.”
It seemed that host Romesh Ranganathan got the scoop, because Arnett noted that he’d “tell you” the star’s identity “after” they wrapped filming.
“You’ll be blown away by who it is,” he added. “Because you’ll be like, ‘How did you get Bill Cosby!’”
While chatting with Ranganathan, 47, Arnett said that another comedian’s episode was also nixed from the lineup — even after they completed the entire interview.
“We had a guest, a comedian, and she asked us to not air her episode,” Arnett said, noting they had to be convinced because doing so “costs us money.”
As for why the unnamed comedian wanted her episode pulled, he said she “was worried because she thought that she was up-and-coming” and was concerned about the ramifications her quotes could have on her career if they were misunderstood or taken out of context.
Arnett said he would keep his lips sealed on her identity, but quipped about her reputation. “We were like, ‘You’re good,’” he teased. “And turns out, we were right.”
The trio have been cohosting the “SmartLess” podcast, formerly run by Amazon’s Wondery until SiriusXM took over in a deal worth over $100 million, since 2020. Some of the show’s famous guests include Charli xcx, Macaulay Culkin, Jennifer Lawrence and Chelsea Handler.
Arnett, Hayes and Bateman recently earned a Golden Globe nomination for the inaugural Best Podcast award, although the prize ultimately went to Arnett’s ex-wife Amy Poehler for her “Good Hang” podcast.
“Amy’s gonna win for sure,” Arnett told Entertainment Tonight before the event. “Of course.”
Bateman agreed, adding, “I literally have a bet with John Krasinski — I’m betting on Amy.”
Luxury Handbag Shopping broke the news in September 2012 that Arnett and Poehler, 54, had parted ways after nine years of marriage, with a source telling Us at the time that their split was “amicable.” They settled their divorce in 2016. Before tying the knot with Poehler, the Arrested Development actor was first married to Along Came a Spider actress Penelope Ann Miller from 1994 to 1995.
