Imagine this. You're sitting on a bus, sipping your coffee, minding your business, when suddenly you burst out laughing at two grown men arguing over who would survive longer on a desert island, while dressed as pirates. You’ve just entered the chaotic world of Bad Friends, a podcast that’s part comedy show, part therapy session, and part fever dream.
Hosted by the unpredictable Bobby Lee and the brilliantly sarcastic Andrew Santino, Bad Friends isn’t your typical comedy podcast. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s borderline inappropriate at times, and that’s exactly why millions of people keep coming back for more.
Since it launched in 2020, Bad Friends has become a major force in the comedy podcast world. The premise? Two long-time friends (and sometimes frenemies) sit down once a week to talk, tease, and go completely off the rails.
There’s no script, no rules, and certainly no filters. Just Bobby and Andrew riffing on everything from childhood trauma to bizarre hypotheticals, all while barely staying on topic.
But here’s the thing: It works. Really, really well.
We'll cover:
- What Bad Friends is all about and why it works
- Who Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino are, and how their dynamic fuels the show
- Why the podcast blew up, including numbers, live shows, and cult status
- What we know about the Hulu animated series deal
- Where to listen and what fans and critics really think of the show
What Is Bad Friends About, Exactly?
At its core, Bad Friends is a comedy podcast that thrives on chemistry. Episodes usually feature Bobby and Andrew bouncing between unfiltered rants, improvised characters, bizarre listener questions, and roast-style banter that sometimes makes you laugh so hard it hurts.
Recurring bits like Unhelpful Advice and Scissor Bros. give a bit of structure to the chaos, but the magic really happens when the hosts go completely off-script. One moment, Bobby’s impersonating a baby bird. The next, Andrew’s giving life advice that absolutely no one should follow. And somehow, it all adds up to one of the funniest hours of your week.
What makes it different? For one, the level of improvisation is top-tier. These guys don’t just tell jokes: they live in them. Entire episodes feel like improv theater fueled by Red Bull and unresolved childhood issues. Add in a few fictional characters, some mental health tangents, and the occasional celebrity guest, and you've got a podcast that’s not just funny, it’s unpredictable in the best way.
Why Listen to Bad Friends?
Here’s the truth: If you're easily offended or prefer your podcasts polished and polite, Bad Friends is probably not for you. This show is proudly messy, proudly R-rated, and sometimes proudly problematic. And that's kind of the point.
But if you love off-the-cuff comedy, real friendship dynamics, and a healthy dose of WTF moments, Bad Friends is an absolute gem. It’s that perfect mix of chaos and charm that makes you feel like you're eavesdropping on the most unhinged dinner party of all time.
Beyond the laughs, there’s something surprisingly heartfelt about the podcast. Bobby and Andrew clearly love each other, even when they’re roasting each other to filth. That connection makes the show feel intimate, like you're part of their weird little universe. It’s this balance, between wild comedy and genuine connection, that keeps people hooked.
Also, it’s just incredibly bingeable. With over 200 episodes and counting, you can go from zero to obsessed in about a weekend. Whether you’re commuting, cleaning, or spiraling through a late-night existential crisis, Bad Friends has an episode for that.
Who’s It For?
Bad Friends is for the kind of people who rewatch blooper reels just to hear someone break character. It’s for fans of unfiltered humor, chaotic storytelling, and inside jokes that somehow start making sense the more you listen.
The core audience is mostly made up of Millennials and Gen Z, but honestly, if you’ve got a decent tolerance for dark humor and zero interest in small talk, you’ll fit right in.
The show also draws in fans from other comedy scenes. Listeners of TigerBelly (Bobby’s other podcast), Whiskey Ginger (Andrew’s solo show), Kill Tony, and even Your Mom’s House tend to find themselves pulled into the Bad Friends vortex.
And if you’re someone who loves live comedy, you’re in luck. Bad Friends doesn’t just live online. Their live shows, which blend stand-up, podcasting, and complete chaos, have sold out theaters across the US, Canada, Australia, and even Asia.
So, in short? Bad Friends is for people who like their comedy just a little bit deranged, a little bit heartwarming, and a lot bit addictive.
Meet the Hosts: Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino
Who is Bobby Lee?
Bobby Lee is a comedic genius, albeit a bit chaotic. He’s best known for his time on MADtv, but if you ask his fans, it’s his podcasting that really lets his freak flag fly.
Bobby is raw, vulnerable, unpredictable, and a master of turning deeply personal moments into gut-busting punchlines. His background in sketch comedy and improv shines through in every episode, sometimes literally, when he suddenly stands up mid-recording to do a bit no one asked for.
Outside of Bad Friends, Bobby also co-hosts TigerBelly with his partner Khalyla Kuhn, a more personal but equally hilarious deep-dive into his life, identity, and trauma (with lots of poop jokes sprinkled in, of course).
Who is Andrew Santino?
Andrew Santino is a skilled comedian with acting credits in Dave, This Is Us, and I’m Dying Up Here. His podcast Whiskey Ginger leans more into long-form interviews, but when he’s with Bobby, his improv skills and roast instincts are fully unleashed.
Together, they balance each other perfectly. Bobby is chaotic-good, Andrew is chaotic-neutral, and their dynamic is equal parts bestie banter and sibling rivalry. They interrupt each other constantly. They call each other out on-air. They laugh, cry, and bicker like it’s nobody’s business, and that’s exactly why it works.
By the Numbers: Just How Big Is Bad Friends?
Bad Friends isn’t just a cult favorite anymore. It’s a viral podcast, loved by millions across the globe.
Here’s a snapshot of their numbers, according to Social Blade:
- Over 2.06 million YouTube subscribers
- 609 million total views across 640+ video uploads
- 19 million views in the last 30 days alone
- Estimated monthly earnings: $4.8K to $76K
- Estimated annual earnings: $61K to $980K
On podcast charts, they’ve consistently stayed in the top comedy rankings, with a global audience that spans across Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. They’re also killing it on Patreon, with additional earnings reported in the $26,000 to $65,000 per year range from subscriber support.
The show’s success also earned them a B+ grade from Social Blade, ranking them among the top 1,200 channels globally in subscriber count, and among the top 540 comedy channels overall.
Not bad for a podcast that started with two friends roasting each other in a basement.
The Hulu Deal: Taking Bad Friends to Animation
If you needed any more proof that Bad Friends has officially gone mainstream, here it is: Hulu has picked up an animated series based on the podcast.
Announced in May 2024, the streaming giant signed an exclusive development deal with Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino to create an adult animated show inspired by the characters, sketches, and general mayhem of Bad Friends. Several major studios were reportedly in the running, but Hulu snagged the rights after a competitive bidding war.
So what can we expect? Based on the duo’s track record, probably something gloriously unhinged, irreverent, and completely unlike anything else in the animation space. Think: adult Swim meets podcast energy, with a little chaos sprinkled on top.
No premiere date has been announced yet, but fans are already hyped,and we are too.
Where Can You Listen to Bad Friends?
Every Monday, a new episode drops across all major platforms. You can find Bad Friends on:
- YouTube (with video episodes and bonus clips)
- Spotify
- Apple Podcasts
- Google Podcasts
- Patreon (for exclusive content)
Whether you want to watch the madness unfold on screen or just hear it in your headphones while hiding your laughter in public, there’s no shortage of ways to tune in.
Bad Friends Reviews
Like any comedy that dares to toe the line (and occasionally leap over it), Bad Friends gets a mix of glowing praise and sharp criticism,and that’s part of what makes it such a talking point.
For some listeners, it’s their favorite podcast of all time. The chemistry between Bobby and Andrew is unmatched, and the chaotic humor keeps them coming back episode after episode. For others, the show’s boundary-pushing tone can be too much, especially when it veers into controversial territory.
Here’s a mix of real reviews from fans and critics alike that paint a picture of just how divided (and devoted) the audience can be:
“Podcasting is gonna be a huge part of future entertainment and I'm slightly worried Bobby & Andrew may have already caused this type of platform to peak! Now whereas I still enjoy 2 Bears & YMH, TFATK, King & The Sting and many others.... Nothing even comes close to the chemistry that Santino and Bobby Lee have created! I have watched every episode from start to finish at least twice each, lost count how many compilations and clips I've watched in between and I'm still in love with Bad Friends!” - danjjackson
“Ew. Honestly couldn't finish the first episode because of all of the blatant racism from Andrew Santino. You can hear Bobby Lee getting annoyed with him so many times. Santino is just so ignorant. So uncomfortable…”- kathryn_oliver
“My favorite podcast. I haven't missed a single second of content from these guys. But don't worry new viewers! This show is completely bingeable and rewatchable.”- exzachery
Final Thoughts
Bad Friends is the kind of podcast that shouldn’t work on paper. It’s chaotic, crude, and half the time it sounds like an argument between two cousins at Thanksgiving dinner. But that’s exactly why it does work.
There’s something magnetic about watching Bobby Lee and Andrew Santino bounce off each other like human pinballs, equal parts hilarious and heartwarming. Their unfiltered honesty, their ability to improvise entire skits in seconds, and their refusal to take anything too seriously have carved out a space in podcasting that no one else quite fills.
