From: officialflagrant
Comedian Bobby Lee’s career in both acting and stand-up comedy is a recurring topic among his peers, who frequently discuss his unique approach to performance and his personal journey in the entertainment industry.
Acting Career
Bobby Lee has a self-proclaimed “weird fascination with old Hollywood” acting and securing deals [00:40:11]. Despite sometimes claiming he is “not a good actor” [02:28:16], others compliment his abilities, especially his dramatic acting [01:24:44], [02:26:01]. He can perform a crying scene on cue if given a high-stakes scenario [00:00:14], [00:45:56].
His acting career has provided him with numerous opportunities:
- He was on the sketch comedy show Mad TV early in his career, which was described as a “hit television show” just “five years into the game” [00:42:54].
- More recently, he plays a “Korean doctor” in the series Reservation Dogs, a role that peers acknowledge he is “very good” in [00:38:34], [00:40:51].
- He is also currently featured on And Just Like That…, where he portrays a podcast studio runner [02:26:01]. This role is considered “true acting” as he pretends to be on time and run things, a departure from his real-life habits [02:26:15].
Comparisons are sometimes made between Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino regarding their acting prowess, with some suggesting Santino might have “another gear” in dramatic roles [00:37:09].
Comedy Style and Performance
Bobby Lee is known for his willingness to do “anything for the laugh” or “for the show,” even if it means self-deprecating humor [01:04:58], [00:40:40].
A notable part of his past stand-up routine involved showing his penis on stage [01:05:07]. While he no longer performs this bit, he now does a “fake takeout” where he reveals only “half of my pubes” before pulling back [01:05:16], [01:05:18]. The act was described as “playful” and not threatening to the audience, often boosting their confidence [01:05:53]. However, he has recounted instances where this bit led to him being “beat up twice” by audience members, with one instance resulting in him being “slammed on the ground” and another causing a bleeding injury from a nail [01:06:14]. He no longer performs the full reveal in public [01:06:44].
Bobby Lee’s unique brand of humor is linked to his personal history. His therapist suggested that his “weird sense of humor” developed as a “defense mechanism” due to significant trauma in his life [02:07:07]. He has channeled this into a successful career in comedy [02:07:31].
He, alongside Andrew Santino, hosts the Bad Friends podcast, which is highly praised for its humor and dynamic. They plan a future “movie theater tour” that will combine stand-up with a live podcast, utilizing their “improv” and “impromptu” comedic abilities that make their live show effective [01:30:47], [01:31:30].