Overview of Stavvy Called Us Out | 2 Bears, 1 Cave
This episode is a mix of comedy-industry gossip, self-aware career talk, listener-driven ad brainstorming, and a few strong entertainment recommendations. Bert kicks things off by celebrating his latest Guinness World Record tied to “The Machine” story, which leads into a broader conversation about how comedians chase records, what those records mean, and how much of it is really driven by agents and publicity. From there, Tom and Bert get into Stavvy’s criticism of private jets and luxury-comic lifestyles, debate how fame and venue size change a comedian’s act, and then pivot into reviews of movies and documentaries they’re loving right now.
Guinness World Records and Comedy Bragging Rights
Bert’s record and the comedy-record arms race
- Bert’s Guinness recognition is for how many times he’s performed “The Machine” live:
- Over 1,600 performances
- Heard live by 2 million+ people
- The guys compare this to other comedy records and joke that Guinness can pop up anywhere to certify a record.
- They discuss how comedians love “records” because they become a new way to get attention in a crowded comedy landscape.
Shane Gillis and Nate Bargatze’s records
- Shane Gillis is credited with:
- Selling the most tickets for a show
- Largest attendance for a comedy show
- Nate Bargatze is discussed as having a massive tour attendance record over a long run.
- The conversation highlights how these records are often about scale, publicity, and who can make the biggest splash.
The history of stand-up “records”
- They trace the origin of comedy-record flexing back to:
- “Longest time on stage” records
- The rivalry era of Dane Cook vs. Dave Chappelle
- The main point: once comedians started publicizing attendance/time records online, it became a game.
Stavi’s Critique: Private Jets, Luxury, and Comedy Authenticity
The core argument
- Stavvy’s comments about private jets and wealth spark a bigger discussion:
- Adversity makes comedy more relatable
- A life of luxury doesn’t automatically make someone funnier
- Bert and Tom mostly agree that:
- Flying private is great, but it’s not inherently funny material
- Air travel misery, clubs, and normal life experiences generate better comedy
“Real” vs. performative
- They call out comics who present themselves as humble “working-class” guys while actually living like millionaires.
- Tom says he prefers honesty about who he is and how he’s changed over time.
- The bigger takeaway: audiences can tell when a comic is being authentic versus playing a costume.
How Venue Size Changes a Comedian
Clubs, theaters, and arenas are different art forms
- They discuss how a set that kills in a club can land differently in a theater or arena.
- Key differences:
- Club: intimate, raw, most demanding
- Theater: bigger structure, more distance
- Arena: requires broad, loud, high-energy material
- They emphasize that comics should keep doing clubs to stay sharp, even after getting huge.
Audience familiarity matters
- A comedian who is known by the crowd can do subtler material.
- A crowd that doesn’t know the comic needs more direct setup and bigger energy.
- They note that some bits that destroy for fans may not work for a general audience.
Entertainment Recommendations and Reactions
Busboys review
- Bert gives a glowing, very specific review of David Spade and Theo Von’s movie Busboys.
- He loves that it:
- Has almost no traditional structure
- Feels chaotic, weird, and original
- Plays like a stoner comedy with no rules
- He especially enjoys absurd scenes and says the movie should be watched with low expectations and ideally not sober.
The Odyssey
- They talk about The Odyssey as a major box-office success and praise its scope and visuals.
- Bert is impressed that it translates a huge epic into a coherent three-hour movie.
- He also says too many recognizable stars can become distracting, even if the film is good.
- Overall, the movie is framed as a big cultural event that audiences are showing up for.
Chimp Empire
- Tom strongly recommends Netflix’s Chimp Empire.
- He describes it as one of the best reality-style shows he’s ever seen.
- Why it works:
- Real animal behavior mirrors human social dynamics
- It has conflict, romance, power struggles, and violence
- His enthusiasm makes it sound like a must-watch documentary series.
Mick Jagger/New York Times interview
- They briefly mention a New York Times interview with Mick Jagger.
- Tom likes how candid and insightful it is about fame and life at that level.
Mountain Dew Commercial Brainstorm
Listener submissions
- The hosts read several listener submissions for a hypothetical Mountain Dew campaign.
- The ideas are intentionally over-the-top, but they end up preferring the simplest one.
The winning concept
- Best pitch: a low-key scene where someone asks if the guys are drinking beer, and they reply:
- “No, this is Mountain Dew.”
- A cop or authority figure briefly checks them out, realizes it’s Dew, and just walks away.
- The humor comes from:
- The anticlimax
- How “normal” the exchange is
- The complete lack of a big twist
What they liked about it
- It feels easy to produce.
- It’s funny because nothing really happens.
- They joke that they could make an entire series of these deadpan Mountain Dew spots.
Other Notes and Personal Updates
- Bert mentions his Porosos drink now being available at Frenchy’s in Clearwater Beach.
- They also shout out their visit to MacDill Air Force Base and how fun it was performing there.
- There’s some light personal talk about:
- Leanne’s birthday
- Bert’s drinking being “back to regular”
- An upcoming Mount Joy concert
Main Takeaways
- Comedy “records” are partly real achievements and partly marketing theater.
- Stavvy’s point about adversity making comedy stronger lands with both hosts.
- Big venues change the craft of stand-up; the best comics can still work clubs.
- The episode’s strongest entertainment recommendations are:
- Busboys
- Chimp Empire
- The Odyssey
- The Mick Jagger interview
- The most successful Mountain Dew ad idea was the simplest one: “No, this is Mountain Dew.”