Bill Burr knows exactly where his sense of humor comes from. He learned at an early age that if he could make people laugh, then they'd be less likely to hurt him. "I am a mess of a human being, still, this far into life. ... But it makes for good comedy," he says. His new Hulu stand-up special is called Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years. In 2012, three deep-sea divers were on a routine dive in the North Sea when one of the divers became trapped underwater. The harrowing story of that rescue is the plot of the movie Last Breath. Actor Simu Liu had to scuba dive in dark depths for his role, which was largely shot underwater.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy
Chapter 1: Who is Bill Burr and why is he featured?
Bercow created, co-wrote, and starred in the animated series F is for Family. Although he's known for comedy that's often contrarian and angry, the new comedy special, Drop Dead Years, opens like this.
It's kind of a weird thing to be over 50, really starting to realize how f***ed you are.
Like, I thought I did stand-up because I loved comedy. And then what I really figured out was like, no, that's not why I did it. I did stand up because that was the easiest way to walk into a room full of a bunch of people that I didn't know and make everybody like me.
Ladies and gentlemen, Bill Burr.
The way I've moved through the world has always been like, where's the place I have the least chance of being heard?
Bill Burr, welcome to Fresh Air. It's a pleasure to have you on the show.
What's going on? How are you?
I'm good. It seems unusual for you to start on a note of vulnerability like you do in this new special. Does this mark a change in your public or private self?
Something I've kind of been going towards. But also, I don't think, you know, like most people that get on a stage, they just sort of watch what you do and then think that this little sliver of you is what you are or whatever. Like that Rolling Stone thing saying that I was the king of rage. Comedy, you know, and it's in Rolling Stones. Everybody listens to it.
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Chapter 2: What are the highlights of Bill Burr's new comedy special?
You were born in Harbin, China, and you were raised there by your grandparents while your parents were trying to start a life in Canada. What do you remember about that time, those early years?
You know, I remember flashes and feelings, but I do remember... We had this tiny little ramshackle apartment in Harbin. There wasn't running water for many parts of the day. The water wasn't drinkable, so we had to boil everything that we drank. And there was no hot water, so anytime anyone had to take a bath, it was always kind of a bit of a thing. Although for me, I had no reference point.
I just thought that that was how people lived. But I also, more than all of that, I remember this overwhelming feeling sense of safety and belonging, you know, with my grandparents, my ye-ye and my nai-nai. I was very, very close with them you know, we just, they were my parents for, for all intents and purposes.
And they had always tried to tell me that I had a mom and a dad that were, you know, abroad and that one day I would join them. But, um, I don't think these words necessarily mean anything to like, like a three or a four year old. It was very difficult for me to grasp that. And when my dad did show up one day, I was about four and a half to, you know, bring me back to Canada with him. Um,
It was very uncomfortable for me and a lot for me to accept because, you know, I had my family and I loved my grandparents more than anything. And my dad at that point was a stranger. I very, very vividly remember watching him step through the door for the first time.
And, you know, when you're a kid and all these adults are looking at you like you're supposed to be reacting a certain way, I very clearly remember my grandparents looking at me and saying, this is your dad. Like, go to him. And I just remember being like, I don't want to.
Yes, you're picked up by your dad when you're almost five and you move to live with your parents in Canada. What do you remember about those early years, living with your parents who didn't really know and trying to acclimate yourself to this new country?
It is a couple of funny things. I remember not understanding English. Like I remember being brought to daycare my very first day and just crying my eyes out the entire time because nobody was speaking. I couldn't understand anybody. Yeah. And I remember that's what it was for the longest time. And I know I was learning English through flashcards and my parents were trying to teach me.
And then one day it just kind of clicked. And I'm sure that's not how it actually happened, right? Like we remember things very differently as children. But it honestly felt to me like one day I woke up and And, like, my brain had switched between thinking in Mandarin and thinking in English.
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