4 min read
Jan 18, 2025
By FreeWire
When wildfires, corporate greed, and a murder trial collide, leave it to Bill Burr to make sense of it all (or at least make us laugh about it).
Bill Burr Brings the Heat: Hollywood Fires, Helicopter Dreams, and Burnt Toast
When wildfires blaze through Los Angeles, the internet is full of “experts” claiming to know better than trained professionals. Enter Bill Burr, who appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this week to do what he does best — call out the absurdity of it all while making us laugh.
From roasting armchair critics to sharing why his helicopter escape plan didn’t pan out, Burr’s hilariously candid take on the Hollywood fires gave viewers a much-needed comedic break from disaster fatigue.
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Wildfires and Armchair Firefighters
Like many Angelenos, Burr and his family had to evacuate their home due to the recent wildfires threatening the Hollywood Hills. Fortunately, the winds shifted, sparing their property. But that didn’t stop Burr from tearing into online commentators who think they know better than the pros.
“All these fire experts sitting in their underwear online,” he joked. “Why didn’t they just fly a helicopter into the ocean and bring back water? Oh, I don’t know, maybe because it was 100-knot winds at night, you lunatic!”
His frustration with internet “managers of the unmanageable” was as hilarious as it was relatable. He made sure to credit the actual firefighters and workers for their tireless efforts, calling them heroes amid impossible conditions.
Helicopter Escape? Sophie’s Choice
Burr also reflected on a long-abandoned idea of learning to fly helicopters as a disaster escape plan. While he earned his pilot’s license, reality soon set in when he realized how expensive helicopters are — and that his two-seater aircraft wasn’t ideal for family evacuations.
“All I have is a two-seater,” Burr said. “And I didn’t want to make Sophie’s Choice with my family, so we piled into the SUV like everyone else.”
Big Flames, Big Insurance, and Luigi Mangione
Burr didn’t hold back when it came to calling out insurance companies, highlighting their habit of profiting off policyholders while denying claims.
“They’re just going to keep everybody’s premiums and then give themselves bonuses,” he said, mocking the way companies deflect responsibility during disasters. “They’ll take your money for 20 years, and then when your house burns down, they’re like, ‘Oh yeah, we don’t cover fire caused by air.’”
This critique provided the perfect segue to Luigi Mangione — a name Burr couldn’t resist bringing up during his interview.
Mangione stands accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, using bullets inscribed with words like “deny” and “depose” — a chilling nod to the insurance industry’s jargon. Burr, of course, had plenty to say about the case.
“I’m not saying what Luigi did was right,” Burr joked, “but if the bullets you use to kill someone are engraved with corporate buzzwords, maybe it’s time for that industry to look in the mirror.”
Burr’s dark humor hit home for anyone who’s ever felt let down by the system, and while his comments sparked laughs, they also underscored the public frustration with an industry that often puts profits above people.
Mangione Case: Where Things Stand
As of now, Luigi Mangione has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder and terrorism-related offenses. His defense attorney, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, has raised concerns about media coverage compromising his right to a fair trial, but Burr was quick to point out one undeniable fact:
“Look, the guy wrote why he did it on the bullets. How is this even a mystery?”
While Mangione’s case continues to unfold, Burr’s remarks have brought a surprising blend of comedy and critique to a trial that has everyone talking.
Luigi Mangione: The Catalyst America Didn’t See Coming
How One Man’s Alleged Crime Sparked a National Conversation on Healthcare Reform
The Perfect Mix of Humor and Insight
Bill Burr’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! appearance was a masterclass in blending humor with heavy topics. From skewering insurance companies to offering darkly funny insights into the Mangione trial, Burr once again proved why he’s one of comedy’s sharpest voices.
For more laughs and thought-provoking takes, catch his new special Drop Dead Years, streaming March 14 on Hulu.
