Will Arnett's birthday episode
The episode was recorded on Will Arnett's birthday; he received a two-wick Jenny Kane candle from Jason Bateman and a spa gift from Sean Hayes.
Where this was said
SmartLess Intro and Will Arnett's Birthday
At 1:57 · chapter starts 1:18
Sean Hayes kicks off the SmartLess welcome with characteristic bravado, but the first order of business is celebrating Will Arnett's birthday. Will's joke that he finally 'shit out' the lucky horseshoe that had been up his ass prompts Jason to add 'the horse is still up there.' The candle gift debate is unexpectedly substantive: Jason delivers a passionate defense of the two-wick burn, arguing that three-wick candles produce uneven melts and a 'weak side.' Will received books from friends Danny and Dottie, and Sean gave a spa experience so indulgent it apparently can't be described on air. The conversation drifts into gift-giving philosophy — Jason believes you always show up with something, even just a cookie — before pivoting to the birthday dinner, where Will invited the kids to weigh in on global events, producing surprisingly thoughtful responses that impressed all three hosts.
Similar snapshots
Only 42% of young men feel understood
Only 42% of young men think women understand their problems, and only 25% of young women say the same about men — a mutual comprehension deficit that previous generations largely closed as they aged.
Parents never mentioned marriage or parenthood
In focus groups across Philadelphia and Raleigh, every hand went up when asked if parents discussed financial stability and education, but no hands went up for marriage or parenthood.
1 in 5 children now only children
The share of American families with only children has risen dramatically, meaning more young people grow up without the negotiation, compromise, and friction that siblings naturally impose.
Young liberal women harassed most online
Young liberal women report experiencing sexual harassment online more frequently than conservative or moderate women, partly due to higher political posting activity drawing hostile responses.
Gen Z feminist identity gap: 15 points
Among Gen Z, a majority of women identify as feminist while only about 40% of men do — a 15-point gap that barely existed among Boomers, Gen X, or Millennials.
Third-space attendance dropped ~20 points post-COVID
A study conducted before and after the pandemic found that the share of Americans with a regular third space — a community gathering spot outside home and work — fell roughly 20 percentage points and has not recovered.
Majority under-50 feel parents saw them as special
Survey data shows a massive generational divide: most over-50s believe their parents viewed them as average, while a majority under-50 say their parents viewed them as special.
Women far less likely to condemn female cheating
When asked whether a woman cheating is morally wrong, young women were far less likely to take a hardline stance than older women or men, suggesting a shared-fate or experiential factor is shaping the judgment.
Men with more friends more likely to date
Survey data shows that men with more close friends are significantly more likely to have recently gone on a date or be in a committed relationship, highlighting the link between social integration and romantic success.
