Highlights
- Will Arnett and Jason Bateman formed a long-lasting friendship while acting together on “Arrested Development” and even opened a production company together.
- Will Arnett and Sean Hayes hit it off during Arnett’s guest appearance on “Will and Grace,” leading to a close friendship that eventually involved Jason Bateman as well.
- The three actors came together during the COVID pandemic to create the SmartLess podcast, where they interview guests with unplanned and spontaneous questions, resulting in engaging and humorous conversations.
When the NBC network launched its show Will and Grace, it was unlike any other on the air. Following the story of three friends, two of whom identified as gay, throughout their lives and love challenges, audiences everywhere fell in love with the characters and their quirks.
While the highly popular character of Jack McFarland, played by Sean Hayes, never occupied the role of podcast host, the actor went on to take on the challenge years after the show wrapped. Along with Will Arnett and Jason Bateman, the SmartLess podcast has continued to captivate listeners everywhere. The million-dollar question that many wonder about is how the three hosts came together to produce this podcast. Below, we outline the timeline of events and how SmartLess came to be.
Jason Bateman And Will Arnett Worked On A Show Together
Many years before Will Arnett would be known for throwing jokes about Jason Bateman’s diet his way on the SmartLess podcast, the two acted alongside each other in the show Arrested Development.
This role was Jason Bateman’s first job after an extended leave of absence to deal with issues surrounding addiction. The actor used that time to focus on himself and his family before re-launching his career.
Since Will Arnett has also struggled with a similar problem, the two immediately bonded and developed a long-lasting friendship that extended past the set.
Before its end in 2006, the show Arrested Development focused on the Bluth family and their struggles to stay composed as a family despite the obstacles that are sent their way. After the show ended, there was such a demand for it that it came back for a brief reboot.
Even though they didn’t see each other every day on the show’s set anymore, Will Arnett and Jason Bateman continued their close friendship and even opened up a production company together.
Will Arnett Guest Starred On Will And Grace
Many different stars cycled their way through guest spots on the hit series Will and Grace, including Will Arnett. During his time on the show, the actor engaged in a dance-off with Janet Jackson and Sean Hayes. The iconic character Sean Hayes played was Jack McFarland, who fans looked forward to seeing each week.
Throughout the many seasons, Jack would go on to participate in numerous shenanigans, including a self-made production of his play Gaybraham Twinkin’ and marrying the maid of his best friend Karen so that she could remain in the United States.
After taking part in the show, Arnett and Hayes hit it off. Their friendship grew off the set, and Will eventually introduced Sean to Jason Bateman. While Jason and Sean knew of each other through various industry events and seeing the work that the other had performed, they hadn’t spent a great deal of time together.
However, the two hit it off just as each had done with Will Arnett. Unfortunately, Bateman and Hayes didn’t have an opportunity to work together on Will and Grace, with Sean Hayes reporting that only two people hadn’t been guest stars on the show: Jason Bateman and Jesus Christ.
The Three Actors Formed SmartLess
During a time when the three were talking to one another during the COVID pandemic, they found themselves throwing around different ideas they had for podcasts. While each had different directions they wanted to take and topics they wanted to address, they ultimately decided that the best approach would be to join forces and create one production together instead of separately.
The premise of the SmartLess podcast is that one of the hosts selects a guest to interview, whereas the other two are left in the dark. During the interview, the hosts throw unplanned, spontaneous questions to the guest.
Because two of the hosts haven’t been able to prepare ahead of time due to not knowing the special guest, the questions are engaging and relatable.
Throughout the seasons, the podcast has seen politicians, comedians, sports stars, and scientists, among others. With a unique chemistry between the three, the conversation flows seamlessly and is chock-full of humor and laughs.
Although the three hosts hadn’t had an opportunity to work together on a project, the podcast offers the perfect chance to combine the comedic talent of three of the top stars in the entertainment industry. Each host brings something different to the table and can add a dimension to the production that a solo host could not.
Many wondered what the future would hold for Sean Hayes after he was no longer fulfilling the role of Jack McFarland on Will and Grace. He kept himself busy throughout the various projects he participated in on and off Broadway. However, the podcast allows him to be accessible to his devoted fans and get a front-row seat to his comedic wit.
Source: NewsFinale
