Bad Friends Podcast
Bad Friends Podcast
March 23, 2026

Steve Red Curry & Blake Griffin | Ep 313 | Bad Friends

Quick Read

NBA legend Blake Griffin joins Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino for a wild, unscripted conversation covering fan encounters, AI's impact on Hollywood, Japan travel plans, and the absurdities of professional sports culture.
AI is causing internal panic at major tech companies due to its realistic video generation capabilities, threatening traditional film production.
NBA players travel with elaborate gaming setups to combat boredom on team planes, highlighting the demanding and often monotonous travel schedule.
The hosts and Blake Griffin make a series of outrageous bets, including funding a hair transplant and leg-lengthening surgery based on NBA Finals predictions.

Summary

NBA star Blake Griffin joins Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino for a free-wheeling discussion that careens from awkward fan interactions and the perceived threat of AI in film production to plans for a 'Bad Friends' trip to Japan. The hosts and guest share humorous anecdotes, including a driver mistaking Tone Lōc for Tupac and a bizarre preference for hanging as a form of public execution. Griffin offers insights into NBA travel, player dynamics, and the physical demands of the game, while Bobby Lee and Santino muse on aging, celebrity encounters, and the unique challenges of their comedic careers.
This episode offers a candid, behind-the-scenes look at the lives of entertainers and athletes, highlighting the often-comical disconnect between public perception and personal reality. It explores the evolving landscape of media (AI in film, podcasting culture) and the unique pressures of celebrity, all while delivering signature 'Bad Friends' humor.

Takeaways

  • AI-generated film is a serious concern for major tech companies like Apple, fearing widespread amateur film production.
  • NBA team planes are luxurious, but players still combat boredom with portable gaming setups.
  • There's a noticeable age difference in how actors looked in the past versus today, attributed to lifestyle and self-care.
  • Blake Griffin's mixed-race background (white mother, black father) is a point of humorous discussion regarding cultural identity.
  • The hosts and Blake Griffin engage in a series of outlandish bets, including funding a hair transplant and leg-lengthening surgery based on NBA Finals predictions.

Insights

1AI's Threat to Hollywood and Netflix's Future

Apple held internal meetings discussing the 'detriment' of AI-generated videos, like the viral Tom Cruise/Brad Pitt deepfakes, to the film business. The concern is that people will start making full films using AI, potentially leading to a future where Netflix users simply 'prompt' a movie and it's generated on demand, bypassing traditional production.

Bobby Lee's cousin, who works at Apple, reported an internal meeting about the viral deepfakes and their 'detriment to the business'. The hosts speculate Netflix will eventually adopt a prompt-based movie generation model.

2The Evolution of Actor Appearance and Lifestyle

Actors from past eras, like Wilford Brimley at 49 in 'Cocoon', appeared significantly older than modern actors of the same age (e.g., Paul Rudd at 52). This is attributed to a historical lack of self-care, prevalent smoking and drinking, and absence of modern wellness practices like Korean facial creams, suggesting a shift in societal expectations and health awareness.

Comparison of Wilford Brimley at 49 (looking elderly) to Paul Rudd at 52 (looking youthful), with hosts attributing the difference to past lifestyles and lack of self-care.

3NBA Player Travel and In-Flight Entertainment

NBA players spend extensive time traveling on luxurious, modified team planes. Despite the comfort, boredom is common, leading many players to travel with elaborate, portable video game setups (briefcases containing consoles and TVs) to play on flights.

Blake Griffin describes team planes as 'modified giant seven somethings' with card tables, and mentions that 'all' NBA players travel with video game briefcases due to boredom on flights.

4The 'Pick-On League' Nature of NBA Defense

The NBA is fundamentally a 'pick-on league' defensively. Even highly skilled offensive players cannot succeed if they cannot guard opponents. Teams exploit defensive weaknesses through pick-and-rolls, forcing switches that put weaker defenders against star players like Luka Dončić, making defensive capability paramount.

Blake Griffin explains that 'the NBA is not about going to get a basket. It's about who can you guard.' He details how teams use pick-and-rolls to isolate and 'pick on' weaker defenders.

Bottom Line

The original line for Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic 'I'll be back' in 'Terminator' was 'I'll come back', but Schwarzenegger reportedly argued it sounded unnatural for a machine, leading to the change.

So What?

This anecdote highlights how small, seemingly insignificant creative decisions, even from an actor's personal interpretation, can lead to globally recognized cultural touchstones.

Impact

Filmmakers and writers should consider the actor's natural cadence and character interpretation during script development, as it can sometimes improve dialogue and create more memorable moments than strict adherence to original text.

Key Concepts

The Celebrity Paradox

Celebrities, despite their fame, often face awkward social situations, such as fans not remembering past encounters or making inappropriate jokes. This highlights the disconnect between a fan's intense, often one-sided, relationship with a celebrity and the celebrity's reality of interacting with countless people.

Technological Disruption Anxiety

The internal panic at major tech companies regarding AI's ability to generate realistic videos (e.g., Brad Pitt/Tom Cruise deepfakes) illustrates the fear within established industries that new technologies can rapidly devalue existing skill sets and business models, leading to calls for regulation or new strategies.

Lessons

  • When encountering a celebrity, avoid awkward questions like 'Do you remember me?' or 'Are you a podcaster?' Opt for a simple 'Hi' to maintain a respectful and less intrusive interaction.
  • Consider using online therapy platforms like Talkspace for mental health support, as it offers flexible, accessible, and affordable options from anywhere, which can significantly improve mood and productivity.
  • For those considering cosmetic procedures, thoroughly research the long-term health implications and recovery processes, as procedures like leg-lengthening surgery can be extremely painful and debilitating for extended periods.

Notable Moments

Bobby Lee's awkward fan encounters, including a fan asking 'Am I mistaken or are you a podcaster?' and another claiming to remember him from a 2008 show.

Illustrates the often-uncomfortable and sometimes absurd nature of celebrity interactions with fans, highlighting the challenges of maintaining privacy and genuine connection.

Andrew Santino and Bobby Lee propose a new film genre: 'Doomsday is Over', where they fix the world after an apocalypse, contrasting with the prevalent dystopian films.

Showcases creative thinking within the entertainment industry, identifying a potential market gap for optimistic, problem-solving narratives amidst a sea of dark, end-of-the-world themes.

A tour driver in Oregon mistakenly believes he drove Tupac (who actually sang 'Funky Cold Medina' and was Tone Lōc) and later expresses a preference for 'hanging' as a form of public execution.

A highly comedic and bizarre anecdote that underscores the varied and often eccentric personalities encountered in service industries, particularly when dealing with celebrities.

Blake Griffin agrees to fund Carlos's hair transplant in Turkey or Spain if Carlos correctly predicts the NBA Finals matchup, and Bobby Lee bets on leg-lengthening surgery if his long-shot prediction (Wizards vs. Kings) comes true.

A memorable and humorous segment that exemplifies the lighthearted, betting-driven culture often found in sports and entertainment circles, creating high stakes for trivial predictions.

Bobby Lee asks Blake Griffin if his mixed-race parents' house 'smells more black or white,' leading to a detailed, humorous description of 'white people's candles' (fresh linen, beachwood).

A bold, comedic moment that delves into cultural stereotypes and sensory experiences, highlighting the unique perspectives of individuals from mixed backgrounds.

Bobby Lee describes Blake Griffin's iconic dunk over Timothy Mosgov, emphasizing how Griffin used Mosgov's head as a 'rest for his balls,' to the amusement of his teammates.

Illustrates the aggressive, showmanship aspect of professional basketball, where humiliating an opponent with a powerful dunk is celebrated as a peak athletic and psychological triumph.

Quotes

"

"People are panicked about it because it's so good and so real. People are now like freaking out. So internally they're like what's going on? What are we going to how are we going to stop this? Because people at home are going to start just making full films using AI."

Andrew Santino
"

"I don't think I'll ever do another special again. I really believe that. I think I'm done doing them. I think they're fun, but I'm like I I think something else is going to happen in the world of standup. Like I think something is on the move. AI."

Bobby Lee
"

"The NBA is not about going to get a basket. It's about who can you guard?"

Blake Griffin
"

"It's just too much scoring for me. Right. I'm going to take you to a game. We'll get we'll get really good seats and I think you'll love it. I promise you. If I'm not up front, I don't want to go."

Bobby Lee

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