SmartLess

Jeremy Allen White

December 22, 2025

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  • Jeremy Allen White transitioned from a decade-long role on *Shameless* to *The Bear*, initially feeling anxious about the future after the former ended, but was reassured by the creator of *The Bear* who had promised him a role three years prior. 
  • Jeremy Allen White has a background in dance (ballet, tap, and jazz) and enjoys dancing, contrasting with Jason Bateman's self-professed aversion to dancing. 
  • The conversation touched upon the difficulty of maintaining privacy as a public figure, with Jeremy Allen White noting that his routine at a local farmer's market has been 'spoiled' by attention, and his older daughter is already sharp at spotting people taking sneaky photos. 
  • Jeremy Allen White prioritizes working with specific directors and writers over genre when choosing roles, citing admiration for filmmakers like Paolo Sorrentino and Paul Thomas Anderson. 
  • Sean expressed a strong desire to play an unexpected role, specifically a seemingly nice, affable person who is secretly a maniacal serial killer. 
  • The hosts, including Jeremy Allen White, share a common, surprising hobby of obsessively browsing real estate listings in places they visit as a way to feel a sense of control or belonging. 

Segments

Host Banter and Guest Introduction
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(00:01:40)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts opened the episode with light banter about the time of day listeners tune in before introducing the guest.
  • Summary: The hosts greeted the audience and briefly speculated on when listeners typically consume the podcast. This segment concluded with a transition back to the episode content. The guest, Jeremy Allen White, was formally introduced following this initial exchange.
Wife’s Affection for Guest
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(00:02:19)
  • Key Takeaway: Jason Bateman’s wife expressed strong admiration for Jeremy Allen White, leading to playful accusations of Will Arnett talking to her too often.
  • Summary: Jason Bateman relayed that his wife loves the guest, prompting a humorous confrontation with Will Arnett about the frequency of his communication with her. The hosts engaged in mock interrogation regarding the nature of Will’s relationship with Jason’s wife. This lighthearted exchange served as a brief distraction before returning to the guest.
Chicago Lunches and Cookie Talk
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(00:03:52)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White is currently in a New York rental, and the hosts immediately pivoted to discussing his eating habits, specifically a chicken wrap and Snickerdoodle cookie eaten at (11:30) AM.
  • Summary: The hosts inquired about Jeremy Allen White’s current location, confirming he was in a New York rental. The conversation quickly focused on food, with Jason Bateman revealing his early lunch choice included a Snickerdoodle. Will Arnett stated his favorite cookie remains the chocolate chip cookie, which he is constantly searching for the best version of.
Podcast Recognition and Crew Shoutouts
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(00:06:14)
  • Key Takeaway: The hosts celebrated recent recognition, including a Golden Globe nod, and gave significant thanks to their production team members Michael Terry, Bennett Barbicow, and Rob Armyara.
  • Summary: The hosts acknowledged receiving recognition, referencing a Golden Globe win. They emphasized that their success is heavily reliant on their team, specifically naming Michael Terry, Bennett Barbicow, and Rob Armyara as the ‘winds beneath our wings.’ They joked about the necessity of the production team showing up to accept awards in their stead.
Promotion for New Podcast ‘Crimeless’
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(00:07:23)
  • Key Takeaway: SmartLess Media launched a new podcast called ‘Crimeless,’ hosted by journalist Josh Dean and comedian Rory Scoville, which releases new episodes every Wednesday.
  • Summary: ‘Crimeless’ features stories about ridiculous, stranger-than-fiction crimes committed by incompetent individuals, likened to real-life Coen Brothers films. The show focuses on stories involving fake hitmen, insurance scams by ‘idiots,’ and other poorly executed criminal endeavors. New episodes are strategically released on Wednesdays to help listeners get through the middle of the week.
Guest’s Acclaim and Friendship Origin
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(00:08:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White is a Golden Globe nominee, known for playing Carmy on The Bear, and his friendship with Jason Bateman was facilitated by mutual friend Jamie Mizrahi.
  • Summary: The hosts congratulated Jeremy Allen White on his recent Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor. Jeremy confirmed that his friendship with Jason Bateman began through a mutual connection, Jamie Mizrahi. Their initial hangouts involved watching movies together before escalating to attending a Dodgers game.
Early Life in Brooklyn and Dance Background
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(00:15:56)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and his initial performance outlet was dance, including ballet, tap, and jazz, which he pursued seriously before switching to drama in middle school.
  • Summary: Jeremy Allen White clarified that he grew up in Brooklyn, dispelling the assumption that he was from Chicago due to his work on The Bear. He began performing early to manage high energy levels, focusing heavily on dance. He switched from the dance program to the drama program because he felt the dance teacher did not take the discipline seriously enough.
Finding Focus Through Acting
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(00:22:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Acting provides Jeremy Allen White with a sense of focus and mental simplicity that calms his often racing or anxious mind.
  • Summary: Jeremy Allen White described feeling a sense of focus and ease on stage that he lacks in daily life due to anxiety. He is currently preparing for a 40-page, one-man show, which he finds helps quiet his mind by giving him a singular point of concentration. Both hosts agreed they share a similar feeling of being scattered.
Early Professional Roles and Career Launch
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(00:27:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White’s first professional job was an off-Broadway play called The Present in middle school, secured after a supportive drama teacher connected him with casting opportunities.
  • Summary: A dedicated drama teacher encouraged Jeremy Allen White to audition at places like Backstage, leading to his first paid role. Casting director Cindy Tolan was instrumental, giving him a supportive letter to secure an agent after casting him in a small-budget film. This early support helped launch his career path toward Los Angeles.
Bruce Springsteen Biopic Preparation
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(00:28:54)
  • Key Takeaway: To prepare for portraying Bruce Springsteen, Jeremy Allen White learned to sing and play guitar, receiving a 1955 Gibson J200 guitar from Springsteen himself.
  • Summary: Jeremy Allen White learned guitar specifically for the role, though he notes his non-traditional learning method makes it hard to apply those skills elsewhere. Bruce Springsteen was highly supportive during the film’s production. Springsteen gifted him a valuable 1955 Gibson J200, the same model he used for recording.
Transitioning Off Shameless
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(00:36:03)
  • Key Takeaway: Finishing Shameless after 11 seasons caused Jeremy Allen White to have a panic attack due to the loss of comfort, security, and family-like relationships with his co-stars.
  • Summary: The end of the long-running series felt like leaving a comfortable cocoon, leading to significant anxiety about the unknown future. He relied on friends, therapy, and partying to cope with the transition. The creator of The Bear, Chris Storr, called him three years after meeting him on a different project to offer him the role of Carmy.
Dream Roles and Collaborators
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(00:52:41)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White’s career choices are primarily driven by the desire to collaborate with specific directors and writers, making genre secondary.
  • Summary: Jeremy Allen White stated he takes roles as they come, prioritizing collaborations with admired directors like Scott Cooper. He mentioned that working with figures like Paolo Sorrentino or Paul Thomas Anderson is a primary motivator for him. Genre or world-building excitement is almost secondary to the talent involved in the project.
Sean’s Maniacal Killer Role
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(00:53:44)
  • Key Takeaway: Sean desires to play a role contrasting his public persona: a super nice, affable man who secretly commits extreme violence using only his hands.
  • Summary: When asked about a dream genre, Sean specified wanting to play a complete maniacal serial killer, someone completely unexpected. This character would appear affable and kind but would violently rip people’s necks apart when alone. He specified the weapon of choice would be his bare hands, drawing a comparison to Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs.
Action Work and Physicality
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(00:54:57)
  • Key Takeaway: Will expressed interest in action work and stunt scenes, while Will and Jason cited the time commitment and physical toll as major deterrents for older actors.
  • Summary: Will mentioned wanting to do action work, specifically detailing a scene where he takes out Damon. Jeremy Allen White noted that stunt work seems exciting but acknowledged that for older actors, the required time away from family is a significant factor. Will joked about blowing out his hamstring just coming out of his dressing room.
Parenting and Work-Life Balance
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(00:56:36)
  • Key Takeaway: Having children forces actors to be completely present, which helps Jeremy Allen White shut off career anxieties when he is home.
  • Summary: The hosts agreed that having kids is a major factor in career decisions due to the required time commitment. Jeremy Allen White explained that being around his children forces him to be completely present, which provides real peace and focus away from agents and scripts. He has a five-year-old, a 15-year-old, and a 17-year-old.
Decompression and Real Estate Fantasies
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(00:59:30)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White’s primary method of decompression is obsessively browsing real estate listings on apps like Zillow, fantasizing about buying properties in small towns.
  • Summary: When not working or with family, Jeremy Allen White is obsessed with reality real estate shows and uses realtor apps to fantasize about buying homes. He noted that when traveling, he immediately checks local listings to feel like a local and gain control over the unfamiliar environment. Sean was confirmed by Jason to take this further by actively looking at property with local realtors, though he never commits to buying.
Small Town vs. City Life
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(01:04:59)
  • Key Takeaway: While the fantasy of living in a quaint, slow-moving town like Bisbee, Arizona, is appealing, the reality is that the energy of major cities like New York or LA keeps them feeling alive.
  • Summary: Jeremy Allen White seriously considered buying a place in Bisbee, Arizona, after a road trip, finding its pastel buildings and small-town feel sweet. However, he admitted that the isolation of a small town would likely be too much, preferring the constant challenges provided by major metropolitan areas. He mentioned liking the idea of having a slower place upstate or on Long Island while keeping a base in Brooklyn or LA.
Guest Meeting and Show Wrap-up
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(01:07:37)
  • Key Takeaway: Jeremy Allen White and Sean met via the dating/social app Grinder, a fact that Jason humorously tried to downplay.
  • Summary: The hosts concluded the interview by praising Jeremy Allen White’s consistent work ethic and success. It was revealed that Sean and Jeremy Allen White met on the app Grinder, which Jason initially tried to avoid confirming. The hosts then discussed rescheduling a potential live show at the Hollywood Bowl for the spring or summer.