‘F Is for Family’: 1 Scene From the Pilot Episode Actually Happened to Bill Burr as a Kid
The hilarious adult animated Netflix series F is for Family is very much inspired by real-life events, as it turns out. Comedian Bill Burr co-created the series, which critics often say is one of the funniest on television. It is loosely based on Burr’s childhood growing up in the 1970s—before anything was called “politically incorrect.”
The series’ writers were heavily influenced by Burr’s standup comedy, as well as some of their own experiences growing up in the ’70s. But there is one specific scene from the pilot episode that Burr loves because it actually happened to him as a kid. Read on.
The episode most special to Burr is the pilot because it happened IRL
Burr voices the character of Frank Murphy in F is for Family. Murphy lives with his wife, Sue, and their three children. Despite all the cursing and shouting, they are a loving family—in their own dysfunctional way. Netflix describes the series as a time when “kids roamed wild” and “beer flowed freely.”
A Reddit fan asked if there is one episode most special to Burr. In a video Netflix posted, he responds, saying, “Yeah, there’s a number of scenes in the pilot episode…” Burr could hardly contain his laughter when he starts talking about the scene where Bill is up in a tree, and bigger kids are throwing rocks at him.
“That happened to me and my best friend when I was a kid,” he said. “There were no fireworks, we exaggerated it—but we were up there hanging on, crying,” he says, smiling, before bursting out with a loud chuckle. “And that was just such a regular day back then,” he says, commenting on his experiences growing up in the ’70s in Canton, Massachusetts, which is just south of Boston.
How did F is for Family end? Spoiler alert.
F is for Family ended on November 25, 2021, after five seasons on Netflix—and some fans were surprised to find out what happened to some of the characters.
Major spoiler alert—skip over this next section if you haven’t streamed the final season yet.
Netflix Life reports that fans were surprised to see Ginny and Frank’s sister, Eileen, get together by the end of season five. There’s also another happy couple—Kevin eventually wins Alice back.
Viewers doubted whether Buster would make the jump, flying his motorcycle over an airplane—but somehow he managed to make a successful landing even after a night of drinking.
It wasn’t all good news for every character, though. Fans were rooting for Frank to get promoted, but he got demoted. And in a sentimental moment, Frank learns that his dad’s final words, “box 16,” were actually “Bach 16”, his favorite song. He was able to carry out his father’s final wishes by playing the song at the cemetery.
In another part of the fitting ending, Frank realizes his family means everything. He had been fighting with Sue, but he returns home from the bar and apologizes.
Burr is keeping his fans happy with several new projects in the works
Since F is for Family ended, Burr is keeping busy so his fans will have plenty of opportunities to keep laughing. He hosts his own comedy podcast, Monday Morning Podcast. He’s also in the Roku original series, Bill Burr Presents Immoral Compass, streaming for free on the Roku Channel since November 5, 2021.
If that’s not enough, Burr has also returned to standup comedy with a live show, Bill Burr the Tour. He will travel throughout the U.S., with show dates scheduled through August 2022.
Wait, there’s more. Burr will join a slew of other legendary comedians for the Netflix is a Joke comedy festival, which takes place in over 25 venues throughout Los Angeles from April 28 through May 8, 2022.
