In case you weren’t already aware, apparently people on the internet seem to think Billy Corgan and Bill Burr are related. And thanks to Howie Mandel the two actually met up and addressed whether the speculation is true or not.
LISTEN NOW: Family Reunion with Bill Burr & Billy Corgan | Howie Mandel Does Stuff #226
The curiosity about a connection between the pair’s lineage gained a bit of attention this past November after the Smashing Pumpkins frontman appeared on an episode of Mandel’s podcast, Howie Mandel Does Stuff.
During his appearance Mandel accidentally used an image of Burr instead of Corgan on the studio’s screen, prompting the rocker to reveal that there is an actual possibility he and the comedian could be half-brothers. “Most of my friends don’t even know this story,” he began. “About 10 years ago, one of my brothers was having a birthday party… and my stepmother said to me, 'Do you know who Bill Burr is?'”
“At that point, I had never heard of Bill Burr; I didn’t know who he was. I didn’t know he was a comedian or anything. He could have been the guy down the street,” he continued. “She goes, ‘I think it might be one of your father’s illegitimate children. Bill Burr might be one of the children that your father sired in his days being a traveling musician.’ This is a true story, I’m not making this up. There is no joke in this.”
Now, a couple months later, Burr made his own appearance on the latest episode of podcast, so obviously Howie couldn’t pass up the opportunity to set up a surprise visit from Corgan to connect the possible half-brothers.
“I got something special that I planned for you,” the host said 30 minutes into the interview, bringing out Corgan. “I thought you would be cool with me bringing the family together.”
Burr went on to jokingly confront Corgan for sharing the anecdote during his original appearance on the pod. “Did you ever think the fact that I never told that story, that maybe you shouldn’t?” he said. “It’s not that I don’t like [Corgan], it reminds me of all of that s***.”
“What was supposed to happen?” he went on to quip, “Are we gonna go play catch? We’re both in our 50s.”
At another point later on in the episode, Mandel left Bill and Billy alone to continue their conversation about "dad," when out of nowhere TV and Radio host Billy Bush randomly joined as another surprise guest. “The Billys are all here!” he exclaimed before asking the pair why they look so similar. “Because we have the same father, you idiot! Haven’t you been listening?” Burr (very on brand) responded.
To listen the entire interview, including every moment of the Bill/Billy meet up, click the episode link above. To watch, press play below.