From: officialflagrant
The relationships between comedians, particularly Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino, are characterized by a blend of genuine affection, playful antagonism, and mutual support, especially in challenging times. The podcast environment, with co-host Akash, often serves as a stage for these complex friendship dynamics and trust among comedians.
Core Friendships
Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino
The relationship between Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino is marked by deep affection, despite their frequent on-air jabs and competitive banter. Bobby Lee considers Andrew Santino one of his best friends [00:22:56]. This sentiment is mutual, with Andrew Santino acknowledging Bobby Lee’s love [00:27:21]. Their bond is described as akin to “army veterans” in a shared “war” [00:23:43].
Their dynamic is often comedic, featuring:
- Improvised Scenarios: They frequently engage in hypothetical acting scenes, often with comedic twists. For instance, a dramatic scene involving a heart transplant for Bobby Lee’s son quickly devolves into jokes about buying other Koreans for hearts [00:00:14]. Similarly, a serious scene about an asteroid turns into listing favorite movies [00:49:13].
- Playful Jealousy: There’s a running gag about Andrew Santino’s annoyance if Bobby Lee gets recognized more or vice versa [00:11:18]. Bobby Lee claims Andrew Santino “hates it” when people recognize him and not Bobby Lee [00:11:27]. This also extends to acting opportunities, with Bobby Lee joking about Andrew Santino having more opportunities early in his career [00:42:16].
- Physical Comedy: They often incorporate physical bits, like mock-kissing or fake wrestling, for laughs [01:04:46]. Bobby Lee is known for doing “literally anything for the laughs,” including showing his penis on stage, though he now does a “fake takeout” [01:04:58].
Support and Sobriety
Andrew Santino has been a significant support for Bobby Lee in his journey towards sobriety. During a trip to Mexico, when people advised against giving Bobby Lee alcohol, Andrew Santino intentionally gave him a non-alcoholic drink despite Bobby Lee’s desire for liquor [00:18:25]. This act, while initially causing Bobby Lee to get angry, was an attempt to save him from relapse [00:18:57]. Bobby Lee later relapsed on his own in the hotel room, leading to a memorable, messy incident [00:20:34].
Bobby Lee is currently seven months sober [00:09:29]. This new chapter in his life is described as being “free” and filled with “joy and fun and responsibility and connection” [01:28:30]. Andrew Santino’s patience and long leash [00:22:47] have been instrumental in Bobby Lee’s progress.
Dynamics with Others
Akash
Akash, the podcast’s co-host, often finds himself at the receiving end of the comedians’ jokes and playful aggression [00:04:37]. He sometimes feels like an “ethnic sidekick” or “wacky neighbor” [00:36:09]. Despite the teasing, there’s an underlying respect, with Bobby Lee acknowledging Akash’s efforts to reach out via text [00:29:11].
Circles of Friendship
Bobby Lee describes his “inner circle” as himself and “God,” followed by an intimate second circle including his mom, brother, and ex-girlfriend Kalila [00:16:56]. Andrew Santino is placed in a “third circle,” though Bobby Lee clarifies he is in the “intimate” second circle [00:17:33].
Bobby Lee’s Relationship with Ex-Girlfriend Kalila
Bobby Lee maintains a very close relationship between bobby_lee_and_his_ex_kalila, referring to her as his “best friend” [01:00:00]. They were not married, and California does not recognize common-law marriage, but she does have certain rights if she contributed to mortgage payments [01:15:37]. Bobby Lee says he will always help her [01:00:00].
Professional Dynamics
Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino acknowledge each other’s talents in comedy and acting. Bobby Lee praises Andrew Santino’s acting, while Andrew Santino asserts that Bobby Lee is unique and “nobody is better at his thing than him” [00:44:50]. They even discuss potential future projects together, hoping for a serious drama that would become comedic due to their dynamic [00:54:08]. They are planning a “Bad Friends” theater tour for next year, combining stand-up and a live podcast [01:30:47].