The Netflix is a Joke festival took a strange turn during Bill Simmons live show.
Tires Season 3. (L to R) Steve Gerben as Will (Executive Producer) and Shane Gillis as Shane (Executive Producer) on the set of Episode 309 of Tires Season 3. Cr. Jessica Kourkounis/ Netflix © 2026
“Go fuck yourself,” Shane Gillis said.
Gillis wasn’t speaking to Bill Simmons, who managed to podcast his way through some choppy waters at Netflix Is a Joke Festival. At the 95-year-old Wiltern Theater in Koreatown, Simmons was joined on stage by Tires creators Gillis, John McKeever, and Steve Gerben. A not-so-welcome guest: a heckler.
Gillis was speaking to that one belligerent audience member in particular, who McKeever also asked, “Could you shut the fuck up?” The heckling began toward the end. “Enough sports,” they yelled. Yes, at a taping with Bill Simmons – one of the biggest sports podcasters alive – an attendee wanted less sports.
More jokes. More Kill Tony-style. Do some roasts. Gillis, come on, do your Donald Trump impression…
After maybe five minutes, maybe even ten minutes of this, Gillis noted that he loved the security.
Before that, Simmons and the Tires creators didn’t exactly get on like a house on fire, but it didn’t help them that there were so many empty seats at a “sold out” show. Simmons commented on it. It’s a common problem, thanks to the resale market.
Someone who probably wouldn’t have attended anyway is former NHL star Sean Avery, who allegedly wants to “kill” the Tires creators. The former New York Ranger was up for a role in the half-hour comedy show. Allegedly his audition went just fine, but he didn’t get the part and didn’t take the L very well. According to Gillis, Avery DM’d him: “I see you’re going to be at Madison Square Garden this week. I’m going to be there, screaming during your show that you suck.’”
McKeever added: “He DM’d me, ‘I’m going to Shane’s show. I’ll make my way to the green room and fucking kill you.’ I was like, this will be so easy. This will be the easiest kill for you.” Gillis and McKeever then enjoyed imagining a fight between Steve Gerben and Sean Avery. It wouldn’t end well for Gerben either, they argued.
Soon enough, Gerben will be the butt of jokes again in season three of Tires, which will premiere on August 13th with 12 episodes. The loose comedy started well and only improved in season two. It was more polished, but scrappiness still remains a part of Tires’ rough-around-the-edges charm. Gillis, Gerben, and McKeever wrote season one in 12 days, then shot it in less time than that. Quibi bought it, then Quibi died before microdramas gained popularity.
“Fuck Quibi,” Gillis joked.
While Gillis might not actually feel that way about the short-lived streaming service, he definitely looked and sounded like he meant it for the heckler. The unwanted audience participation ended the night on a sour note, raising questions about audience behavior, entitlement, and main character syndrome. Professionals like Bill Simmons, comics, or any other artist performing at Netflix Is a Joke or elsewhere in the world shouldn’t have to deal with disruptions and directions from a crowd. Netflix Is a Joke is good times. It’s a week of laughter when laughs are very much needed. Bill Simmons and guests deserved a better time.
