“Making ‘Bros’ looked and felt like all those romantic comedies I grew up watching. When Harry Met Sally and Annie Hall and Working Girl and Moonstruck. But it was me, and we’re a gay male couple. It just hit me that I got here somehow, and I was able to do it on my own terms.”
-Billy Eichner, episode 291 of Talk Easy with Sam Fragoso
Today we’re joined by Billy Eichner! We discuss the release of his groundbreaking rom-com Bros (4:22), how the film drew inspiration from James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News (6:30), and the power of working with an all LGBTQ+ cast (10:30). Then, we walk through Billy’s childhood in NYC: discovering the joy of film and live performance (16:23), watching ‘80s romantic comedies with his parents (17:10), and picturing himself in Tom Hanks’ roles in Big and Sleepless in Seattle (18:27).
Then, Billy discusses the challenges of entering Hollywood as a gay man (23:05), finding his footing through his live show Creation Nation (24:50), and how he navigated deep, personal loss as Billy On The Street finally landed on television (25:33). As we leave, he shares the importance of creating three-dimensional LGBTQ+ characters (36:28), a memory from filming Bros (36:28), and what matters to him in the chapter ahead (43:05).
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Show-notes:
- Purchase tickets to see Bros in theaters, out September 30th.
- Watch Billy On The Street. See his first video from 2006.
- Follow Billy on Instagram and Twitter.
- For more conversations, hear our talks with Ts Madison, Ethan Hawke, Abbi Jacobson, John Early, Pedro Pascal, Jenny Slate, and Cate Blanchett.
- Order your Talk Easy mug in cream and navy or our vinyl record with Fran Lebowitz.
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Original illustration by Krishna Shenoi.
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