Favorite Christmas Traditions + Christmas Movies | Inside The Bus

Summary

Bussin’ With The Boys — "Favorite Christmas Traditions + Christmas Movies" | Inside the Bus

Date: December 19, 2025
Hosts: Will Compton, Taylor Lewan, and the Boys
Summary By: Podcast Summarizer

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Episode Overview

The Boys get in the holiday spirit for Episode 30 of Inside The Bus, diving into their all-time favorite Christmas traditions, heartwarming family memories, and the absolute best (and wildest) Christmas movies. The episode turns into an energetic celebration of nostalgia, friendship, and all things holiday, filled with laughs, lively debates, and personal stories of gifts that made a lasting impact.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

Sports Jersey #30 Warm-Up (02:00–05:00)

• The Boys open with a lighthearted debate about famous athletes who wore the number 30, tossing around names like Steph Curry, Ken Griffey Jr., and Terrell Davis.
• Quote: “The fact that Ken Griffey Jr. and his dad got to play in the league together on the same team is so insane.” — Mitch (03:03)
• Banter comparing Griffeys vs. possible future father/son duos like LeBron and Bronny; playful Bronny slander.

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Deep Dive: The Epic Christmas Caroling Tradition (06:11–18:13)

• Cooper’s annual Christmas caroling in Hawthorne, NJ: A tradition that’s grown from a 10-person college friend gathering to a 100+ person, boozy ‘choir’.
• Process: Start at Dietrich's house, enjoy a pregame with Rumple Minze, then move en masse to a rented bar space with open food/drinks and a wagon full of beer or "Jungle Juice". End up knocking on doors and drunkenly serenading neighbors with packets of lyrics in hand.
• The importance of passing the caroling torch from older to younger siblings, and the wholesome chaos of including significant others, friends, and even community police in the gathering.
• Quote: “You're just spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear, but also you're just with your buddies that you see once or twice a year and you catch up.” — Cooper (10:53)
• Discussions about logistics, cold weather, and why the event deserves to be vlogged for the pod’s fans.
• Quote: “We don't accept tips because it's all for the love of the game.” — Cooper (11:55)
• The Boys debate how to document/vlog the big caroling night next year, envisioning interviews and meta content.

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Other Family Christmas Traditions (18:39–22:27)

• Mitch: Christmas morning Waffle House with siblings — “Smothered and covered. Chunked.” (19:03)
• Jay: Lamb chop birthday dinner tradition.
• Gary: Visiting the Gaylord Opryland's 'Ice' attraction and recalling childhood awe at family holiday outings.
• Cooper: Family’s toboggan run after Christmas—racing sleds down a snowy hill onto a frozen lake at 50 mph.
• The Boys reminisce about how traditions evolve but the core feeling remains: togetherness, fun, and collective nostalgia.

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Best Christmas Movies — The Great Debate (27:44–43:00)

The gang tackles the impossible: choose ONE favorite Christmas movie. Each takes a stand:

• Mitch: Jim Carrey’s The Grinch — “It will always be, forever will be.”
• Gary: The Santa Clause (Tim Allen) — “The first one is goat.”
• Cooper: The Polar Express — drawn by the “hot chocolate” sequence and Tom Hanks’ iconic (but uncanny) performance.
• Jay: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (OG Claymation) — adores Yukon Cornelius and the underdog energy.
• Uncanny Valley chat: The “creepy” animation in Polar Express, and the comfort of the old-school claymation style.
• James: Hot take: Santa Clause 2 > Santa Clause 1, and calls out Four Christmases for laughs.
• Rapid-fire Honorable Mentions: Fred Claus, Jack Frost, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, Elf, Jingle All The Way, Family Man (Nicholas Cage), Office Christmas Party, The Holiday, Spirited (Ryan Reynolds), Violent Night, Krampus, Harold and Kumar Christmas, and more.
• Quote: “The Grinch has given us so many great gifts for Christmas.” — Jay (28:57)
• Fun hypothetical: Which actor should star in the next Christmas movie? Hemsworth brothers, Ryan Gosling, Hugh Jackman, Timothy Chalamet, Owen Wilson all get votes.

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Most Memorable Christmas Gifts (43:35–64:59)

What was the greatest gift you ever received—or gave?

• Cooper & James: Both cherish the year they each got dirt bikes, complete with dramatic gift reveals (“one more gift in the garage…”). James’ dad even built a dirt track when a pool install stalled out!
  • “One of the best dad moves of all time.” — Jay (50:57)
• Jay: Gamecock jersey with ‘S. Rice’ on the back—core memory. Also, his infamous ‘Jesus in a Manger’ Christmas Eve story and the heartbreak of brothers’ pranks.
• Gary: 3-in-1 air hockey/ping pong/pool table and a gumball machine—“This is Christmas.”
• Derek: Getting the first Mario Game Boy game … and then, on purpose, being made to wait for the Game Boy. “Santa knew your grandma got the Game Boy.”
• Mitch: Helping his dad set up the gifts for younger siblings—“I took a lot of pride in it, just being the big bro.”
• Giving Gifts: Cooper’s favorite was gifting his dad the game ball from his last college football game, with stats hand-lettered on it in a glass case.
  • Quote: “He opened it, immediately started crying.”—Cooper (62:34)
• Other hilarious/favorite gifts: T-shirts with Mitch’s face, gift exchanges where one brother gives a signed childhood game ball after receiving a $300 umbrella, handing out cash, regifting stocking stuffers from spouse to spouse, and giving personalized cameos for dad/brother football debates.
• Quote: “Stocking gifts are sometimes low-key the best presents you get—they’re the ones you use the most.” — Jay (68:09)

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The Santa Question: Keep the Magic Alive (64:11–70:23)

• The Boys bemoan parents who refuse to let their kids believe in Santa (“I think those are actually the worst parents of all time, and they need to be investigated.” — Jay, 64:24)
• Derek describes how his mom gently broke the news with a heartwarming story of “real” Santa energy: giving to others makes you Santa.
• All agree: The magic is worth it, childhood wonder is sacred, and the creative energy parents bring to the holidays is incredible.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You’re just spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear, but also warmed up, but also you’re just with your buddies that you don’t… you see once or twice a year and you catch up.” — Cooper (10:53)
• “We don’t accept tips because it’s all for the love of the game.” — Cooper (11:55)
• “Stocking gifts are sometimes low-key the best presents you get—they’re the ones you use the most.” — Jay (68:09)
• “I think those are actually the worst parents of all time, and they need to be investigated.” — Jay, about parents who ditch Santa (64:24)
• “He opened it, immediately started crying... it was the last thing from the last game I played in.” — Cooper, on giving his dad the game ball (62:34)
• “The creativity that parents somehow come up with during Christmas is so impressive. And the fact that you guys don’t keep that up year-round is kind of bullshit!” — Mitch (59:17)

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Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Start Time | |-----------------------------------------------|:----------:| | Athlete Jersey #30 Banter | 02:00 | | Cooper’s Epic Caroling Tradition Story | 06:13 | | Christmas Traditions (Waffle House, Opryland, Sledding) | 18:39 | | Best Christmas Movies Debate | 27:44 | | Honorable Mentions & Hot Takes | 35:42 | | Most Memorable Gifts (Received & Given) | 43:35 | | The “Santa” Conversation | 64:11 |

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Holiday Vibes and Takeaways

• This episode is a goldmine of nostalgia, warmth, and classic Bussin' humor. The Boys celebrate the quirks and messy magic of family, friendship, and tradition.
• Wild stories—from 100-strong drunken caroling parades to surprise dirt bikes, prank gifts, and stocking stuffer debates—remind us that the true spirit of Christmas is about connection, effort, and laughter.

Closing Note:
The Boys wish the listeners a Merry Christmas, bring out the “play the hits” energy with some “Jingle Bells,” and tease bigger things to come in the new year.
“Merry Christmas!” — James (73:21)

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Ideal For:
Anyone wanting a festive, genuine, laugh-out-loud roundtable on what makes the holidays special among friends—and some Christmas movie recs for your next movie night.

Transcript

[Jay]

This is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed Human.

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[Cooper]

All.

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[Jay]

Ah.

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Crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passionate fans, school colors everywhere. And in ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo. No matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

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[Matt Rogers]

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[Gary]

Welcome back to Inside the Bus. This is the Christmas episode, episode 30. Steph Curry, Todd Gurley.

[Mitch]

You said Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey or senior. Or junior Price.

[Gary]

I think Senior.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Dang. What? Jalen Warren, Derek, Seth Curry, Julius Randall.

[Derek]

Dang.

[Mitch]

30 is such a goofy sports number to me.

[Cooper]

I know. I'm trying to think of other running backs that were number 30.

[Mitch]

Like, why did feel like there's a.

[Jay]

Lot of basketball players that were at 30?

[Mitch]

Okay, so it's a family. It's a family affair. Family thing.

[Gary]

Sam Houser.

[Mitch]

Who's that?

[Jay]

What are we talking about today?

[Cooper]

What we got Coop? We got on the docket Nolan Ryan.

[Gary]

Yeah, not for the Rangers though. So it don't matter. It don't count.

[Jay]

Ken Griffey Jr. Was 30 on the Reds.

[Gary]

That's what it was.

[Mitch]

Terrell Davis. Oh, Terrell Davis.

[Gary]

I forgot about Terrell Davis.

[Mitch]

The fact that Ken Griffey Jr. And his dad got to play in the league together on the same team is so insane.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

To this day, it will. It'll always be the probably the coolest sports.

[Cooper]

That's a better moment. That's better than LeBron and Bronnie.

[James]

Debatable.

[Jay]

Debatable.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Because Junior Mitch.

[Gary]

Because Junior Griffey was good.

[Jay]

Whoa, dude.

[James]

Oh, no. Bronnie Slander on the spot.

[Jay]

We'd love to have Bronnie on.

[Mitch]

We would love to have Bronnie on.

[Cooper]

Dude.

[Jay]

You still think Luke Adoncic is better than Cooper Flag?

[Gary]

I still do think that. I'm right.

[Jay]

I don't think. I didn't see luka doncic break LeBron's record.

[Mitch]

Damn.

[IBM Announcer]

Welcome back.

[Gary]

I can't get into this right now.

[Mitch]

Welcome back.

[Gary]

I miss Luca.

[Jay]

Rashid Wallace. Also number 30.

[Gary]

Oh.

[Jay]

One of my most hated NBA players of all time, Rasheed Wallace. I hated him.

[Mitch]

I weirdly used to love Ben Wallace.

[Jay]

Loved Ben Wallace. Hated Rasheed Wallace.

[Cooper]

Dumb question. They related.

[Jay]

No, no one's cool. One's not. They're both on the Pistons. Hated that Pistons team.

[Mitch]

Really? I thought they were kind of cool.

[Jay]

I think I actually just hated Rashid.

[Mitch]

Yeah. Rip was on there.

[Cooper]

Fun fact. Rip Hamilton is actually from Reading, pa. Really?

[Jay]

Oh, love Rip Hamilton.

[Mitch]

Redding, Rip.

[Gary]

Henry Ludquist.

[Cooper]

That's where.

[Mitch]

Who?

[Gary]

Henrik Ludquist.

[Jay]

Seth Curry was 30.

[Gary]

Goalie.

[Mitch]

Yeah, yeah. No, I know who he is. He's an awesome guitar player, too.

[Gary]

Maglio Ordonez.

[Cooper]

Tuka Rask was six.

[Mitch]

I don't know. All I know is my one and true goalie, which is the brick wall. Pecorini35.

[Cooper]

I thought it was. That's my bad. I was thinking of that guy.

[Jay]

One day we're gonna have to figure out the. The best number.

[Cooper]

I was thinking, but I feel like.

[Gary]

The best sports number.

[Cooper]

We got so many numbers to go.

[Jay]

I know, but we were doing this.

[Gary]

In 1, 2, and 3.

[Cooper]

I know.

[Jay]

Like, Like, I wonder which number has the most hall of Famers across all sports.

[Mitch]

We probably should do an episode. Like a trivia episode. Sports trivia episode, definitely.

[Cooper]

Episode 100. So far away.

[Jay]

Not if we start doing four a week.

[Matt Rogers]

Dang.

[Mitch]

A live show. We should just do a live show. Daily Show.

[Jay]

True.

[Cooper]

Should we? Are we gonna be opening up for Jared? Are we?

[Jay]

I heard you might be five minutes singing.

[Mitch]

You're singing.

[Cooper]

Not want me to open up for Jared because Everybody. I would be extremely well yet me saying I don't want to is going to make everybody, like, never have to so much.

[Mitch]

Where did this idea even come from?

[Cooper]

I don't know.

[Mitch]

But like, you just like, put yourself in the spot.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

It would suck, right?

[Cooper]

No, I mean, because what would be your opening joke? How about that? Airline food.

[Jay]

How about it?

[James]

Tomato, tomato, tomato.

[Cooper]

I don't even have one.

[Mitch]

What's that joke? What's the airplane?

[Cooper]

I saw it in a Phineas and Ferb episode one time.

[Jay]

How about airline food these days, huh?

[Mitch]

All right.

[Cooper]

And it slapped. I mean, everybody was laughing.

[Gary]

Hey, play the hits.

[Jay]

Play the hits. But yeah, I think what Gary was saying too. You could sing. You got Carolyn coming up. You're self proclaimed great singer.

[Cooper]

We heard.

[Mitch]

This point for Jan6.

[Cooper]

Yeah. I mean, do you have caroling this, this, this weekend? Definitely. Will have the pipes all warmed up. Looking forward to it. This is the first year that Dietrich is not like my Dietrich is not like the overseer and planner of it all. It is his younger brother, Adam.

[Mitch]

Pass the torch.

[Cooper]

He's now a state trooper, which is awesome.

[Jay]

Oh, wow.

[James]

So y' all can like drink and drive and you'd be good.

[Mitch]

No, like rob people.

[Cooper]

I wouldn't go that far. But like, don't rat.

[Mitch]

Don't screw him over.

[Cooper]

I'm not gonna say, I'm not gonna say nothing.

[Mitch]

Okay.

[Cooper]

Say something like, you could be like.

[Mitch]

A little drunk and drive.

[Cooper]

No, but yeah, we, we like have. I have no clue what's going on. Just because Dietrich's not. Hasn't been the one planning it. It's him, it's Adam and one of Dietrich's buddy, Ryan, who I'm really good friends with as well. But yeah, we're looking forward to it. Will is going to be in New.

[Mitch]

York and will not be there, but I will give.

[Cooper]

Shoot him a text.

[Mitch]

Be like for. For the listener. For the listener. Give a quick background to explain what caroling is.

[Cooper]

Yeah. So caroling, it's. It's been going on for. I think this is our seventh or.

[Jay]

Eighth year coming up on a decade.

[Cooper]

Yeah, it's been a minute. Like at least my seventh or eighth year doing it. But I guess apparently it was going on for a couple years beforehand. But it's all of my buddies from college and then Dietrich's hometown friends. He's from Hawthorne, New Jersey. And yeah, we literally just go. He's in a small little community where it's just blocks of houses and then there's a bar at the end of the street. So the last three or four years, we rent out the back of the bar for three or four hours, and it's like, open drink, open food. And then we have a wagon full of. Whether it's Jungle Juice or beer or, like, a keg. Yeah.

[Jay]

What do you go to? The beer. The Jungle Juice.

[Cooper]

Probably the beer. Because Jungle Juice. We all. We've all been there. Yeah.

[Gary]

Jungle Juice.

[Jay]

It's like pj, you know, pj.

[James]

It's just. It's like cheap liquor mixed with, like, any kind of.

[Cooper]

It's like fruit juice. It's just all juices with, like, an absurd amount of alcohol in it. And it's like.

[Mitch]

Like in the movies when they just make the worst looking drink of all time.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

And then in the movie, everyone goes nuts.

[Cooper]

What do you call that?

[Gary]

I didn't even know how to name.

[Cooper]

Oh, okay.

[Mitch]

That's called Saturday Night. Yeah.

[Jay]

But pregame.

[Cooper]

Yeah. So we're. We. There's. I mean, it has grown exponentially. The first year we did, I think there was, like, 10 to 15 people. And it was just at Dietrich's house because we weren't 21 yet. And then each year it's gone. Went from, like, then to 20 and then 30. Then last year, I think we had over 100 people.

[Mitch]

They got the whole choir.

[Cooper]

It's. It's insane, and it's an absolute shit show. But last year, kind of was it just, like, everyone.

[Mitch]

And then, like, now they're little brothers and, like, how are you collecting new people?

[Cooper]

It's also. It's like, now that Adam is of age, like, he has all of his college buddies come in, and then, like, their significant others and whatnot. And then.

[Jay]

Is Brooke going?

[Cooper]

Yeah, this will be Brook's second year. Like, we all have our significant others, and, like, then it's all, like. Like, their hometown friends and some of their coaches and then their kids and stuff like that. But, yeah, last year was just so, so cold. I think it was, like 10 to 15 degrees outside that we were. We were literally, I think, caroling for 30 to 45 minutes.

[Mitch]

What's the group's best song?

[Cooper]

Probably Deck the Halls.

[Mitch]

Can you give us a little.

[Gary]

Did you.

[Cooper]

Well, I mean, I'm not in the mode.

[Jay]

Can we get a little follow singer?

[Cooper]

No, but it's like, it's. It's better because we're all on. Like, we're all drunk. And it's just also, someone get this.

[Jay]

Man to be here when y' all go up to the door. Break it down. Like, I'VE never been caroling in neighborhoods.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Jay]

You literally just knock. They open, you start singing. Or do you like. You mind if we play a few songs for you guys?

[Cooper]

So, yeah, so it's exactly. Who's gonna be you. You typically. You have a designated knocker. I have been that once or twice. You go up there, be like, you knock on the door. You kind of wait if the lights are. If. Geez, if there's no lights on, you don't go up to that house because they're like. They don't want to be bothered. But if you see a light on in the living room, knock on the door.

[Mitch]

Respectful.

[Cooper]

They come out and like, normally 100 people, and then they just open up.

[Mitch]

And it's like, oh, dick my balls with or. Sorry.

[Cooper]

Yeah. And then you. As soon as the door opens, it's.

[Mitch]

What's the first song? What's the first song?

[Cooper]

First song. Like, first song at the first house. I think it's typically either Jingle Bells or Frosty the Snowman. Play the hits. And then the longer we go, the. I feel like the more. The more ballsy we get with some of our songs where it's like, not everybody knows the words. However, we do have packets of lyrics, and you just get around. So, like, we won't have packets for. We don't have 100 packets, but, like, we'll have one. Like, the five of us will just get around. Yep. Choir, it's. It is something that I look forward to every single year. Because 1. It's awesome. Like, you're just spreading Christmas cheer for all to hear, but also warmed up, but also you just, like, you're just with your buddies that you don't. You see once or twice a year, and you catch up. And, like, I think last year, for the 30 to 45 minutes we were outside, I ended up talking to somebody that I don't even think I really knew. But, you know, like, juices are flowing usually. What's going on, brother? Nice to see you.

[Gary]

You'll get tips.

[Mitch]

Hey, how are you?

[Gary]

Anyone ever just.

[Cooper]

We don't accept tips because it's all for the love of the game.

[Mitch]

You gotta pay for the bar tab.

[Cooper]

Yes. But, like, it's like 75, 80 to go to rent out the back of the bar. Then we get, like, we buy keg with that extra money, and then that's.

[Gary]

Where so people try to tip y'.

[Bowen Yang]

All.

[Cooper]

I feel like we have at least once or twice, but we're like, maybe thrice. Yeah, but it's all. It's all fun and it's all fun. We're just. And like, what's funny is like Chris Dietrich's dad is like buddies with like the. Some of the police department. Like, hey, this is what's going on tonight.

[James]

They're gonna be driving.

[Cooper]

Like, if you. If you hear stuff like that, it's just us. But then I feel like we kind like low key, have a curfew kind of thing in the sense of like.

[Mitch]

It'S like a noise ordinance. Yeah.

[Cooper]

Eventually they'll come over like, hey, guys. Yeah.

[James]

It'd be like 7 to 9. Almost like give a little range.

[Cooper]

Yeah. And then they're like, time to head back. Time to head back to the. To the bar. Because, I mean, haunted drunk people just walking around is never 100 is crazy.

[Jay]

Would be. I know it won't happen this year, but caroling would be a sweet place to propose. It would get everybody singing.

[Cooper]

It would. That is a great idea.

[Jay]

Everybody's already there.

[Cooper]

Yeah. But. Yeah, it's. Last year we had somebody get picked up by a cop. She was just banging on everybody's. I need to go home. She was hammered uninvited. No, she was. But like we starts is we started Dietrich's house and broke. No, last year it's the Penn State SMU game was like the early slate game. So we got there and like every year we just start with a bottle of Rumple Rumpelman's and you're just passing it around and you ever had Rumple bit scoop? No. Majority of the people meet us at the bar.

[James]

Gotcha. Oh, this is. This is the Pre. Before the Pre.

[Cooper]

Yes, this is. This is the. At Dietrich's house kind of all like you're catching up. All like the. The main college buddies are coming over saying what's up to the family and whatnot. But it is the most fun every. This is my. This will be my third year doing it here. Third or fourth year doing it while I'm here. Every year, Dietrich is like, we need the boys to come. We need the boys to come. So. And it has been an open invite, but I think there needs to be a year where the fellows need to come out.

[Mitch]

And this falls.

[Jay]

Basically, it's tight.

[Derek]

This falls.

[Mitch]

When. When is this event is Saturday, December 20th.

[Cooper]

Is that what the date is? Yeah, Saturday, December 20th. I understand logistically.

[Mitch]

And where is it?

[Cooper]

Hawthorne. It's in New Jersey. Northern New Jersey.

[Derek]

Huh?

[Jay]

Because like, we. So people were like, me and Coop, we would have to fly to New Jersey, go do it for the weekend. Fly back here and then go home for the holidays.

[Cooper]

So my thought process is, I have the solution. Because next year, what is Christmas going to be on a Thursday or Friday?

[James]

It's a good question.

[Mitch]

It's Thursday this year, so.

[Cooper]

So it'll be Friday next year.

[Mitch]

I don't know if that works, but I have no idea if that's how that works.

[Cooper]

Like if it is on a Friday.

[Mitch]

Let us know in the comments.

[James]

It is on a Friday next year. Next. Find out when.

[Cooper]

Chris.

[James]

Next year, it was JP's birthday on a Friday.

[Jay]

Oh, dang.

[Mitch]

Dang. I appreciate y' all tuning in the auction.

[Cooper]

Next year it'll be on a Friday. So I'm assuming we would have like that we would have to go home that Wednesday where we would get to go home, have off for work. So I'm thinking next year I would fly up to Jersey, have Dietrich pick me up or somebody pick me up, and then do it, and then fly home Sunday.

[Jay]

So next year's the year is what you're saying.

[Cooper]

If there. If there's a year, there's a year. Next year would be the year Inside the Bus vlog. I feel like it would be incredible.

[James]

I think a good way to get us involved is you got to put something on paper. This year we need some videos.

[Cooper]

Yeah, I know. That's like. I want to bring up my camera to like vlog it and whatnot.

[James]

I mean, you got to bring your big camera. You can just go horizontal with the phone.

[Mitch]

Right?

[James]

Just give us a taste.

[Mitch]

Get the meta glasses.

[Jay]

Because right now it is all talk. We've never seen anything.

[Gary]

Let us zoom in.

[Mitch]

And have we ever actually seen one thing?

[Jay]

We don't know if he really goes.

[Cooper]

Any of it. I mean, I got the video.

[Mitch]

Can you just sing really quick?

[Cooper]

Deck the halls with Mouth. I forget. See, I don't.

[Jay]

That sounded good though.

[Cooper]

That's what the. That's what the lyrics are for.

[James]

Tis the season to be jolly. After that, I would accept not knowing the lyrics, but you gotta at least know that second line.

[Cooper]

Yeah. I didn't know if it was like this.

[Mitch]

Mitch hits it so hard at the beginning and then falls back.

[Cooper]

But like the knocker is typically the maestro. Like 1, 2, 3.

[Jay]

The composer.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Cooper]

But it is the most fun.

[Mitch]

Gotta see it to believe it.

[Cooper]

So next year if I. So let me put this out there. If I make a mini vlog of.

[Mitch]

It, I need it.

[Derek]

We.

[James]

We're not even expecting like a full on production, but we would like to see at least a few stops 4.

[Jay]

Minute vlog would go hard on the phone.

[James]

That would.

[Mitch]

It would be great for our channel.

[James]

The pre. Before the pre. The bar, you know, maybe an interview with, like, a couple random guys. An interview with Dietrich's little brother and Dietrich, how's the, you know, passing of the torch going? And then maybe. I feel like there's probably got to be a straggler at some point during the night if you guys are drinking pretty hard, get, you know, up close and personal with him. Maybe throwing up something fun, something for maybe when y'.

[Cooper]

All.

[Mitch]

Maybe when y' all are driving around.

[Cooper]

Yeah, I. I'm gonna. Are you guys taking the. The phone mics this weekend?

[James]

I don't think so. Probably not.

[Cooper]

I might bring those with me, and then we'll. Well, I promise you guys, there will be some content.

[Jay]

Let's go from this. Because it is cool when you do talk about it. It's cool. Like, it's the biggest Christmas tradition of all of my friends that I have ever heard of. Hundreds of people showing up to do caroling. It does sound like a something you'd see in a movie.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Cooper]

I mean, it is.

[Jay]

It is all love to the caroling.

[Cooper]

It is really so much fun. And I'm like, I look forward to it every year. I mean, I start talking about it in the summer.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Cooper]

The same way I'm start talking about, like, Supercross.

[Mitch]

Right.

[Jay]

Which we do need to get that booked.

[Mitch]

Yeah. Where are we on that?

[Cooper]

I've been scared to bring it up, but I've had people reach out. Maybe we could. There's a chance we could have an interview on Inside the Bus.

[James]

Wow.

[Gary]

Dang.

[Mitch]

Does it bikes for everybody?

[Cooper]

I don't know if I can make that.

[James]

Does anyone here have any Christmas traditions of the same vein? I. I agree with you. Like, this is the biggest kind of Christmas tradition I hear of. But does anyone have anything else? It's like, once holidays here, you're doing.

[Mitch]

XYZ with your family every Christmas Day morning. Me, Jeff, Aim, Mary, Haley, Maddie, Coleman. We all go to waffles.

[Cooper]

That's pretty cool.

[Jay]

Smothered and covered.

[Mitch]

Chunked.

[Jay]

Chunk.

[Cooper]

Still never. Still never been.

[Mitch]

Actually, I don't really get chunked. Yeah, I don't want him in my hash browns. Just smothered.

[Jay]

That's a good one. For my birthday dinner, we didn't do this all the time growing up, but ever since I've probably been a senior in high school, my dad will make lamb chops, and it's my favorite meal. And my dad is an amazing Cook. And every single year, I look forward to it. And it's, you know, a. It's a bone friendly meal, so you can pick it up, chomp down. And I look forward to those lamb chops every year.

[Mitch]

Pork chops. So underrated.

[Gary]

Our, like, tradition. And it's, like, so different than Mitch's is going to. Y' all know the Opry, like, the Gaylord Opryland here. And they. They do ice here. They do that in Texas, too, at the Gaylord Texan. And we would, like. My favorite memory was just we'd always carve out a night. We go get dinner, and then we go see Santa and then go to, like, ice and the sledding and all that there's. And, like, I have not done that in a few years, just, you know, because I've been away from home. And so me and Addie went to the one at the Aubry Land. And so, like, I felt like a kid again, walking through ice, like, doing that whole thing.

[Mitch]

I'll do the slide.

[Gary]

I did not. We didn't do. So there's, like, a sledding thing that you pay for separately that's, like, separate of ice, but it's part of it that makes sense. And then there's, like, the ice slides in there. And I did not go because it was. It was kind of, you know, Addie went. I filmed her. And then I didn't go because I was scared. I was cold, man.

[Mitch]

They give you, like, the big, like, thermal jackets, though, right, to walk through?

[Gary]

Yeah. And a lot of people bring babies.

[Mitch]

In there, and that is crazy.

[Gary]

There's like, 50 strollers. I'm like, dude, these babies are.

[Jay]

Babies are indestructible.

[Cooper]

You. You saying this letting remind me of something that my family sometimes does. But it's typically after Christmas because it's colder. We have, like, a mountain house where my dad and brother go hunting. And up there, they have a toboggan run where, like, the. Like, it's like a massive hill, and it goes out onto a lake, and the lake has to be, like, 2ft thick of ice, and it gets, like, really cold up there. So, like, that's not a crazy thing to happen, but we've gone, like, four or five times, and, bro, you get launched out onto the lake, you're going at least like, 50 by the time you. Yes, 50.

[Gary]

Bro. It's a long sitting on top of a sled.

[Cooper]

No, like, you know, there's a. It's a toboggan.

[Mitch]

So, like, how big is this lake?

[Cooper]

Huge.

[Mitch]

Like going across the lake, you're going.

[Cooper]

Out to like the middle of it.

[Jay]

No.

[Mitch]

And then what you got? I just get back.

[Cooper]

And then you just walk it back.

[James]

Is it toboggan? The rail sled?

[Cooper]

Yeah. So you like.

[Jay]

I got one on the porch right.

[Cooper]

Now of us would be on it. Like I think it is hooked up each other in the. A lot of like that much weight going out there. And then you just got to walk. Walk your ass all the way back up. But it is. It's so much fun.

[Gary]

You're feel sketched out like on the eyes.

[Cooper]

Oh, bro. When you get out there, when you know. Because like, it has to be thick enough so you know you're straight.

[Gary]

But like, still.

[Jay]

How do you know it's thick?

[Mitch]

Sure.

[Gary]

There's still that.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Who's the one that's like, we're good.

[Cooper]

The scary part is when you're out there, it's so dark because, like, there's only like a couple spotlights at the top of the hill. So then you just have to like walk all the way back and then you have to walk up the hill. Like it's a. It's in a whole ordeal, but it is. It's really cool to do.

[Jay]

Dude, that's like whenever I hear people really.

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[Cooper]

All.

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[Matt Rogers]

This is Matt Rogers from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Bowen Yang from Los Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Matt Rogers]

Hey, Bowen. It's gift season.

[Bowen Yang]

Ugh. Stressing me out. Why are all the people I love so hard to shop for like me. Exactly, honey.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm easy.

[Cooper]

But you're right.

[Matt Rogers]

Holiday gifting is stressful.

[Bowen Yang]

And all the gift guides out there are boring and uninspired.

[Matt Rogers]

Wait, what about the guide we made.

[Bowen Yang]

In partnership with Marshalls where premium gifts mean incredible value?

[Matt Rogers]

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[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, because if I see one more for the dad who likes golf list, I'm out.

[Cooper]

Right?

[Matt Rogers]

How about something for the people who.

[Bowen Yang]

Actually surprise you with categories? Like best gifts for the mom whose idea of a sensible walking shoe is a stiletto.

[Gary]

Psst.

[Bowen Yang]

She wants a pair of stilettos.

[Matt Rogers]

Or best gifts for me that were so thoughtful I really shouldn't have dying.

[Bowen Yang]

To see what those are.

[Matt Rogers]

And you won't believe their prices.

[Bowen Yang]

Just wait till you see what else is in there. It's basically a one stop shop for everyone.

[Matt Rogers]

You know, I started bookmarking half the list for myself.

[Bowen Yang]

Honestly, this is the guy for the 2025 holiday gifting season.

[Matt Rogers]

Check out the guide on marshalls.com it's.

[Bowen Yang]

Giving gifts Gift the good stuff at Marshalls here, people.

[Jay]

Really? Whenever we see Steve Rinella and he's talking about ice fishing. Yeah, dude, ice fishing sketches me out so much. And I was watching Secret Life of Walter Mitty on the plane and when he movie, when he jumps from the helicopter into the ocean, they're like, you got about, you know, three minutes before you go into hypothermia. I immediately thought about, man, if Will and Taylor ever went ice fishing with Steve Rinella. I don't think I'm going because what if it does crack? And Steve would just be there probably laughing.

[Mitch]

I think you're out there for a long time too.

[Jay]

I know you got a camp.

[Mitch]

People like build campfires. Yeah, One of my. My old next door neighbor, Tanner Elmore. Shout out. Tanner lives in Minnesota and he does that in the winter.

[Cooper]

All right. I have a buddy, a couple buddies in New Jersey that'll do that. Like drill the hole. And then it's like, you should basically build a hut.

[Jay]

Yeah, I used to crush that game on Club Penguin too. I'll be catching that mondo fish.

[Mitch]

The Megalodon played them.

[Jay]

Who else had the. Who hasn't said one? Derek, you got one.

[Derek]

We, I mean, I just go back to Pittsburgh with my parents now that I moved here, and it's fun. We don't really have too many traditions. We'll always go over. We have like two high school buddies. We're Best friends with. We'll always go over the one dude's house because he's like the Weasleys. He has seven brothers and sisters. His parents were substitute teachers at the school. Like they live in the middle of nowhere and it's like woods surrounded. So we'll always go there for it. And then last year I started one where I just. I just cook for my parents now. So I had my two high school best friends over and I just cook like a big meal. Steak, chicken, potatoes, a bunch of sides. And so that's the first Christmas tradition I've like developed in night. That is cool. But now there's not. I mean ever since I moved, there's not too much. I. I just want to go home and be at my parents house and like enjoy it, which is kind of nice.

[Cooper]

But I love that.

[Mitch]

For sure.

[Cooper]

For sure. There's nothing better. Going home, seeing your childhood dog.

[Jay]

Yeah, my mind's getting older.

[Mitch]

I got to meet JP's, got to meet Kai. What a legend.

[Jay]

You're getting old, man.

[Cooper]

My dog Koda is. I think he's like nine or ten now. Chocolate lab. Oh boy.

[Mitch]

Does he go caroling?

[Cooper]

No, he would be.

[Gary]

Does your brother go make the cut?

[Cooper]

No, my brother doesn't.

[Jay]

This could be the year we talk about on the bus. Y' all want to get the relationship going out there.

[Cooper]

I know. I think my.

[Jay]

I guess you don't live in New Jersey.

[Cooper]

He like, he knows a couple of my buddies, but I feel like he'd be out of place. But I mean Nate loves drinking, so I mean he could do. He would, he'd fit right in. It's not like nobody knows who he is, but I feel like he's always got planned with his buddies back home.

[Mitch]

Yeah, you can make 100, 200.

[Cooper]

Yeah, that'd be crazy. I don't know what you think about it.

[Jay]

This is the first year I'm actually the neighborhood.

[Cooper]

This is the first year I'm not staying at Dietrick's house, which kind of sucks.

[Jay]

You're in the hotel?

[Cooper]

Yeah. Got to get a hotel money, man. Mitch, it was for one night. It's like 300 bucks.

[Jay]

That's nothing, bro.

[Cooper]

But there nothing here.

[Mitch]

Charge it to the game.

[Jay]

We want to do best Christmas. Everybody says their favorite Christmas movie and then we talk our favorite gift or.

[Cooper]

Yeah, that works.

[James]

Should we do it to where you have to say one singular movie? Cuz I think it's really hard to pinpoint one. But you have to lay down for.

[Mitch]

I feel like I have One. And I like, have always felt very strongly about this. And it's Jim Carrey's the Grinch.

[Jay]

Love it.

[Mitch]

Now is just. It will always be. Forever will be. I know I'm only allowed to say one, but I did just recently watch the animated one. And if you haven't seen that one, it's amazing.

[Jay]

I need to watch it.

[Mitch]

I haven't seen it. One of my favorite animation styles too. The colors are so vibrant. It's just a very fun watch. And yeah, it's fantastic for them to try and redo a Grinch movie that is so good with Jim Carrey. But Jim Carrey, Grinch, he. That that character might be in one of the top movie characters for me of all time.

[Jay]

The Grinch is just. Dude. Even the people that dress up as the Grinch at the amusement parks and mess with the kids.

[Cooper]

So funny.

[Jay]

The parents that put on the Grinch outfit and scare their kids or friends kids.

[Gary]

Those videos are funny.

[Jay]

The Grinch has given us so many great gifts for Christmas.

[Cooper]

One of the greatest on the characters of all time.

[Mitch]

Which is kind of ironic.

[Jay]

I know, right? Little does he know he makes the holiday season.

[Gary]

His heart grew three sizes.

[Jay]

I bet he's sick hearing this. I got you, Grinch.

[Mitch]

Who wants to go?

[Gary]

I'll go. Mine. I mean, you said Stanford one. I guess it is one. There's three of them. But my best memories. The movie I feel like I watched every year and just like loved it was Santa Claus. Like Tim Allen ones you love. I mean, the first one is goat.

[Derek]

Right.

[Gary]

The other two I still love. But that first one. Yeah. When I think of Christmas movies, like, first one I go to is that one every single time.

[Jay]

It's a great one.

[Gary]

It's my favorite.

[Cooper]

Yeah, it's a good one.

[Mitch]

Great movie.

[Cooper]

Mine. I feel like this is like an. I don't know if it's an unpopular opinion, but for whatever reason, I love the Polar Express.

[Jay]

Great one.

[Gary]

It's good.

[Cooper]

Just the movie, the hot chocolate song. The like Tim or not Tom Hanks.

[James]

Being the conductor and looking so much like him.

[Mitch]

So cool. Talk about a wild animation style.

[Gary]

That's what I remember. Like going to see that in theaters. And I must have been. It might be my first theater memory. I remember I was maybe seven and I just. I do have a soft spot for that movie because of that.

[Cooper]

That's how I am with the elf.

[Jay]

I wish I could remember my first movie theater.

[Gary]

I remember my first one is. But I think that might be it because I have a funny Story about that, actually.

[Cooper]

But yeah, the elf. Like Polar Express. Like the hot chocolate. And then also the caribou scene where he's pulling his beard. I just love that scene for whatever reason. And it's right.

[Matt Rogers]

Left.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Just love that it's a good movie.

[James]

If you could be one character in that movie, like, who do you think relates to your personality the most?

[Mitch]

I wish I knew their names.

[Gary]

I'd be the homeless guy.

[Cooper]

I was gonna be the homeless guy.

[James]

On top of the trailer.

[Gary]

I'm looking for a girl. Hey, we all.

[Cooper]

Probably. Probably the homeless guy. Because I wouldn't be the. I forget the main character's name. And I wouldn't be that annoying nerd who. I'm sure you.

[James]

I'm not. I wasn't coming at you for that one. That kid is so annoying though.

[Cooper]

The like. I also love like even ticket punched. Yeah. Tom Hanks character. Like, I think we can make that happen. He's like doing it. Yeah.

[Mitch]

You be Tom Hanks.

[Cooper]

That guy. Or the homeless man.

[James]

I will say Will Compton had a tweet the other night about it. There is something a little unsettling about the Polar Express. The way a train just pulls up in the front yard, has a bunch of kids, takes them away. I'm not gonna like destroy the value of Christmas.

[Cooper]

You don't have to think about it that way.

[James]

But what Cooper or someone was saying earlier. The. There's like a whole debate about animation styles and how if it can get too realistic to the human eye. It feels very unsettling. Express. They've done these studies to where it is the closest you can get two set of animation style. Because I feel that a little bit. Where. When you watch it like the uncanny Hyper realism. Say what?

[Gary]

Like the Uncanny Valley thing.

[James]

I think that's. Is that what it is?

[Gary]

Maybe. I feel like that's what you're describing.

[James]

Yeah.

[Derek]

Where something's like Angelina Jolie and Beowulf.

[James]

Yeah.

[Derek]

How she looks. Exactly how she looked. There is a categorized, like fear of that.

[James]

Just unsettling something about it that just makes you feel a little fishy. But yeah, I still like the movie a lot. I think it's great.

[Gary]

That scary scene and the. That one box car. I haven't seen that movie in a long time.

[Cooper]

Like when they're.

[Gary]

When I was little. That did scare.

[Cooper]

When they went down like the back alleyway or whatever they were doing on that trolley. Like that part always with the. With the puppets and like the. The song where it gets stuck on repeat like that always creeped me out. But then what were they cooking in that scene?

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Cooper]

But overall, great movie.

[Gary]

Yeah, yeah.

[Cooper]

And hearing the bell because he believed in it, like.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

It's got a good story.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Yeah. Mine has gotta be the OG Rudolph movie.

[Mitch]

Okay.

[Jay]

I love claymation. Yukon Cornelius, one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Silver and gold. One of my favorite songs of all time. And then I remember. I forget when I learned it, but when I learned that in the real OG Rudolph, he wasn't looking for silver or gold, he's looking for peppermint. And that's why he's always licking his pickaxe to see if he could taste something sweet. One of the greatest adventures, explorers, most brave men ever. Story of Rudolph, the ultimate underdog. And yeah, Rudolph, my number one.

[Gary]

Those are good ones. Like Frosty too.

[Jay]

Yeah, Those are the narration of it.

[Mitch]

Like, I mean, the cartoon Grinch one is great too.

[Gary]

Yeah, yeah.

[Cooper]

They like the One Foot in Front of the Other song.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Cooper]

Banger.

[Gary]

Heat Miser.

[Cooper]

Heat Miser. That's what we call Dietrich.

[Mitch]

This is just so epic.

[Gary]

What's a. What's. What's the little elf's name on Misfit Island? You know what I'm talking about, though.

[Jay]

Yeah, I know what you're talking about.

[Gary]

Those are good. That's good.

[Mitch]

Some pretty weird characters in that movie.

[Jay]

Though, that work with Santa. Yeah, I know, but I love to think of something. It's one of my earliest movie memories. Like watching that one.

[Mitch]

Yeah, yeah, that's a good one. That is a good one.

[Gary]

There's another one I gotta watch again. Like, those are other ones I gotta watch again because I haven't seen those in a long time.

[James]

I probably would have stuck with the Santa Claus, but since you've taken that, I'll switch directions. But I do have a hot take after. And this just occurred to me in the last two weeks because I watched the first one, I was putting my Christmas trip, I put the Santa Claus on. Love that movie. Means a lot to my family. We always watch it on Christmas. I now believe that the Santa Claus too, I think is better than Santa Claus, which is not a very popular take. But I think there's a lot more that happens at the North Pole than. Because if you go re. Watch the Santa Claus, really, there's about 10 minutes of the hour and 30 minute movie that are in the North Pole and the rest is in it. Realistically, you can't beat the OG Santa Claus. But I really liked it. I love how Charlie becomes just like punk, like he's like, anti establishment because their public high school won't support, like, a Christian.

[Jay]

Okay, that's that one. Yeah.

[Gary]

Is. Is Jack Frost the third one?

[James]

Yeah, that one I won't even.

[Mitch]

Yeah, that was about.

[James]

Because, yeah, I think it's Martin T.R. short is like Jack Frost.

[Jay]

But Tim Allen was sliding in the second one too.

[James]

But if I had to pick another one, that's not like your typical Christmas one. Four Christmases is just such a great laugh.

[Jay]

Love that one.

[James]

Can't go wrong with Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau. They crush it. And Tim McGraw. Yeah, Tim McGraw.

[Jay]

The whole cast is crazy.

[James]

There's just so many good moments and funny stuff that transpire. So if I need a good laugh, I'm gonna throw. Throw four Christmases on. So, yeah, I think that's where I'm.

[Mitch]

Gonna say I feel like there's a, like a couple dark horse ones that I enjoy. And one would be Fred Claus. I think that one's hilarious. That's also another van.

[James]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

And then Chris is in like, Jack Frost.

[Gary]

Honorable mention.

[James]

Jack Frost is depressing.

[Mitch]

It is, bro.

[Gary]

Honorable mention. Christmas vacation.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Gary]

I mean, that's one of the funniest ones. I just re watched that. I'm like, everyone's seen it.

[Mitch]

That movie will make my dad laugh harder than anything.

[Derek]

So to this day still, I know.

[Cooper]

We'Ll probably get a lot of hate for not saying, like, home Alone or Elf or.

[Mitch]

Yeah, Elf is fantastic. There's so many, like, I'm still trying to think of.

[Jay]

It's a great genre of movie. Yeah. So many good movies.

[Cooper]

Derek.

[Jay]

What?

[Derek]

You got honorable mention for me? I know we weren't supposed to say too. I watched for the first time the night before. Have you guys seen that? Yeah, that's Seth Rogen. Anthony Johnson.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Jay]

Oh, yeah.

[James]

Where he's like, Jewish.

[Derek]

Yeah.

[James]

They all trying to do a bunch of drugs.

[Mitch]

Isn't he, like, trying to impress the. The new. His, like, new in laws kind of.

[Derek]

It's about. They always go out on the same night. Except Anthony gets super famous. Seth has a relationship. Joseph Gordon Levit's like, parents passed away, so they do that to help him. And it's basically about them trying to find this party. And then on the last time they're doing it, they find tickets to the party. And Seth Rogen's wife is basically like, hey, we're having a kid. You've been my rock star. Here's a bucket full of drugs. Take them all. And then he ends up going to church with his f. In laws. So funny. But my pick is Jingle all the Way.

[Gary]

Turbo man we were talking about is.

[James]

So good in that movie.

[Mitch]

Too good, dude.

[James]

I'm due to watch that still.

[Gary]

This.

[James]

This year I have a huge soft spot for Jingle all the Way.

[Derek]

I forgot how crazy the jetpack scene was.

[James]

Oh, my God.

[Derek]

Everything's realistic. Up until he's flying around the skyline of the city on a jetpack. I was like, oh, never mind, Cat. This isn't real.

[James]

This is Turbotan.

[Cooper]

What's the movie with Miles To Teller, Zac Efron and Michael B. Jordan.

[Jay]

I don't know that one.

[Mitch]

Neighbors?

[Cooper]

No, it's like the three friends.

[James]

No, that's 21 and up.

[Cooper]

Is it?

[James]

Yeah, but it's Miles Teller, an Asian guy, and that's the thing in a.

[Derek]

Relationship and they're all living together. That one.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Have you guys ever seen the Harold and Kumar Christmas one? That one's.

[Jay]

I've only seen the one Harold and Kumar, the White Castle dude. Also, we're all Nicolas Cage fans, right?

[Gary]

Love Nick Cage, dude.

[Jay]

Maybe you've already seen this, but I just watched for the first time. He's got a Christmas Christmas movie. It's called the Family Man. And this is one of the best Christmas movies I've seen. And I was so shocked. Don Cheadle is in it. He. He's living this big millionaire life. And the whole premise is as he got on the plane to go to London to go chase this dream, he had to break up with his girlfriend. So then you fast forward, he's doing great. He has the big corner office in New York. He's going to the convenience store one day. Don Cheadle is robbing somebody. Nicholas Cage steps in and is like, hey, don't do this. Here's the money. Yada, yada. Don Cheadle says something cryptic. The next day, Nicholas Cage wakes up in the reality in which he stays and didn't get on that plane. So he has his. His wife, he has two kids, but he has no idea how to be a dad, how to be a husband. And then you probably see where it goes.

[Mitch]

But like, he basically just like a Nick Cage.

[Jay]

Yeah. Has to come. Come to a decision of like, I.

[James]

Gotta watch this, dude.

[Gary]

It's great.

[Mitch]

Dude.

[Gary]

Nick Cage has a great movie.

[Mitch]

Is she the model?

[Jay]

She's the wife. Yeah.

[Mitch]

She's also awesome, dude.

[Jay]

It is a good movie.

[James]

Also on the thread of like, well, that's. This isn't like a movie. I would assume. It seems like it's like from 2000 yeah, the new movies. I was mentioning this to someone the other day, but Red one with the Rock and Chris Evans.

[Jay]

I gotta watch.

[Gary]

Recent, right?

[James]

Say what?

[Gary]

It's like a recent.

[James]

It came out last year in 2024. It is so worth.

[Mitch]

I thought that was a superhero movie.

[James]

It's just an action Christmas movie that is. I. I like take what you want about the Rock and like cheesy this, cheesy that. That's what Christmas movies are about. Like being cheesy. It's not like over the top cheesy. It is very entertaining. It's got a lot of good laughs, like a pretty solid storyline. And then if you like more violent movies. Violent night. Yeah, it's incredible.

[Cooper]

That's with Hopper from.

[James]

Yeah. David Bow or what? I can't remember his name.

[Mitch]

That movie Rock.

[James]

It's awesome. And they have some brutal killings in that really will scratch an itch if you're into that kind of thing.

[Cooper]

But movie I was thinking of was that Awkward moment. Sorry.

[Derek]

You guys seen Krampus?

[Cooper]

Yes, I've heard of.

[Derek]

This is another one that's kind of like Violent Night that rips.

[James]

Actually, I. I have. I saw a clip of that, I think on Twitter a couple weeks ago. I have not. I need to see that as well.

[Cooper]

There's like. There's a bunch of different Krampuses though. The one I saw, like it was my senior year or it was my freshman year of college and we all watched it right before, like we went home for Christmas and I'm like, yo, that was actually an insane movie. It was actually like really good. Like a CR. Back then. But I like. It was great. It was wild.

[Mitch]

Office Christmas Party is another just.

[James]

That is very fun.

[Mitch]

Except for what's his name apparently Sucks.

[Cooper]

No, Yeah, I. But his.

[James]

Ehrlich Bachman, the guy who. That is.

[Jay]

Dude, yeah, he's.

[Cooper]

He's awesome.

[Mitch]

Have you not seen that movie?

[Jay]

No, no, I've seen the movie.

[Mitch]

Okay. Yeah.

[Jay]

In real life though, you should watch it.

[Mitch]

What's it called again?

[James]

Office Christmas party.

[Mitch]

Jason Bateman, T.J. miller, Jennifer Aniston, Ike. How you say Ike's last name?

[Jay]

Family Stone will get the tears going.

[Mitch]

If you haven't seen that one, what's the other one with Jack Black and Dude.

[Jay]

Crap.

[Mitch]

What is that one?

[Jay]

The Holidays.

[Mitch]

The Holiday. That's what it is.

[James]

Holiday is a great movie.

[Derek]

Speaking of new ones, have you guys seen Spirited?

[Cooper]

No.

[Jay]

I need to watch it.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Yeah. Taylor loves that one.

[Gary]

My mom in 2022, whenever that came out when I was Home for Christmas. Played that movie on repeat. I'm. I kid you not. She might be the biggest fan of that movie on repeat. I know all the songs.

[Jay]

We have to get Tiff on the podcast.

[Gary]

We'd go for two hours.

[Jay]

She's first form, apparently. She spirited Ryan Reynolds.

[Gary]

Tiff rocks. She'd be a good listen.

[Jay]

She would be awesome.

[Gary]

But that movie, like, yeah, she. We watched it on Thanksgiving when we went like, she made like Addie me and like, everybody watched like, let's watch this movie.

[Jay]

You gotta love mom. Rallying people around a movie at night in the holidays.

[Gary]

They also rallied my sister and her. My mom and they rallied and watched the Jonas Brothers movies. Worst five minutes of television I've ever seen in my life. I went straight upstairs.

[Jay]

Camp Rocks coming.

[Cooper]

They're coming out for real. I saw something about like they were doing the and coming back out.

[Mitch]

If you had to make a new Christmas movie today, who would you want the lead actor to be?

[Gary]

Jared Bean.

[Jay]

You already know my answer.

[Mitch]

Chris Hemsworth.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[James]

He'd be a good Christmas actor.

[Jay]

You could get him and Liam involved. Honestly, all of them. And Luked they could they that they'd be a fun, goofy Christmas cat.

[Mitch]

Like a family.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

It'd be funny if, like Chris had a girl he was bringing home and his brothers at home were his actual brothers.

[Jay]

Right.

[Mitch]

In the movie.

[Jay]

They're just going nuts and they're yo.

[Mitch]

Wait, this is for Christmases.

[Jay]

It is, but who cares?

[Mitch]

Dude.

[Gary]

Trying to see Ryan Gosling Christmas movie.

[Jay]

Ryan Gosling.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Jay]

I feel like he could Hugh Jackman.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

It's a matter of time before Timothy Chalamet has a curses.

[Jay]

He's got to be.

[Mitch]

He's had to have been one Owen Wilson.

[Cooper]

Owen Wilson. I feel like just his.

[Jay]

He's the perfect Christmas character.

[Cooper]

Yeah. Just from it like watching Stick like and how funny he can be. Like, I feel like he would price Cahill Christmas movie.

[Mitch]

I asked that question and I don't know who mine would be, but new Christmas movies. We gotta. We gotta. We gotta make that happen. Yeah.

[Jay]

Do we wanna do gifts?

[Gary]

We film one inside the buzz Christmas.

[Cooper]

This is one of the best. The best gift recency bias right now that I feel like we can all relate to is what Will is getting us right now.

[Jay]

Great gift.

[Cooper]

And I've never had my car detailed before, but it's one of those things that it's like, you know what? That actually be so sick. So thank you, Will.

[Gary]

Mm.

[Cooper]

For getting that for all the boys. It means a lot if you're a.

[Mitch]

Boss, like, they're listening.

[Cooper]

Yeah, get.

[Mitch]

Consider getting your employees car detailing. And if you're an employee out there, ask your boss.

[Gary]

Consider getting blessed with a good gift.

[Cooper]

For.

[Mitch]

Every single year. It's on my Christmas list. Every year I asked for it. That's the only thing I've never even.

[Cooper]

Like, thought I don't like, need.

[Mitch]

Like, if there's something that I want most of the time, like, I feel like I'll go get it. Yeah, but that's one of those. To your point, like, how many times are you gonna be like, let me go schedule to get this done. Yeah, let me take all this stuff out of my car. It sounds so lazy, but it just is.

[Jay]

It looks so nice too.

[Mitch]

Oh, dude, I can't wait. When I woke up this morning and it was clean, I was like, oh, I know.

[Cooper]

I was. I've been saying, I'm like, I'm obviously super grateful for getting it, but I'm like pissed because I'm gonna be driving up 12 hours up to PA just for it to get all dirty.

[Gary]

But at least that's just the outside. The inside.

[Mitch]

You're the first three minutes of my drive this morning. Some guys blowing a pile of leaves. I was like. So I just drove as fast as I could through that little spot. Week's still good though. Squeaky.

[Jay]

Squeaky.

[Gary]

Top five gift.

[James]

What's like the best gift that it doesn't necessarily have to be in your Santa days, but, like, when you were getting them on Christmas morning from your family? Like, what can you pinpoint from your childhood of a gift that really changed everything?

[Cooper]

One that sticks out to me and because it like introduced like a whole nother, I guess you could say sport into my life was when my brother and I got dirt bikes for Christmas.

[Jay]

That'll be epic.

[Cooper]

We were.

[Jay]

Was it a.

[Gary]

All right.

[Jay]

Yeah. Explain it. I was gonna ask where. Where'd your dad have them sitting?

[Cooper]

Yeah. So we were open up. We were opening up gifts. Like, we got like the little like dirt bike, like action figures. And then we opened up. Like one gift was like a. Like helmets, like motocross helmets. And we were like, this is sick. Like, because we were kids, like, you just kind of think it's super cool and then you just ride it when you're wearing your bike. So we finished up and then my dad was like, alright, there's one more. Like, come out here. When in like the bikes were in the garage and we were like, whoa, like, freaking out about it.

[Gary]

Yeah.

[Cooper]

And it was like, it was how old were you? I want to say I was like between 10 and 12.

[Jay]

That's awesome.

[Cooper]

And my brother was between 6 and 9. I feel like it had to be to the later part of it cuz my brother, I don't think he would have started riding around 6. So I think it was before. It was when we were still, I was still in middle school but like I couldn't for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to work the clutch on the big bike. And Nate learned how to do it instantly. I'm like, that's just not fair.

[Jay]

So that's how it's better.

[Cooper]

So that's how we got into like supercross and stuff. And it's like, I mean now you guys are hearing my obsession and stuff for it. So. Core Memory, one of the cool, one of the coolest gifts. I'm sure I'm missing some more out there, but yeah, that was probably one of my favorites.

[James]

I also got a dirt bike for Christmas one year. And I remember because my dad grew up riding super hard and wanted one. And this was still the time where my youngest brother Joey, the lore of Santa Claus was still like, hey, Joey believes in Santa. We're going to all operate in this capacity. So there was one room like full of toys. And then me and my two other older siblings, they, you know, we have like the whatever clothes or you know, a gift, something like that. And I'm like, damn, guess we're not getting one this year. And then the room directly next to it, my dad was like, hey, come outside. And so like oh my God. And he's like, he's like no, no, no. He's like, I think it might be somewhere else because Joey's kind of falling like maybe Santa. And there was three dirt bikes in the living room directly next to us. And so I got one. My younger brother James, my older sister Maddie got one. I, I got a 150cc with a couple clutch. But the following summer my parents built a pool. Steve was doing well for himself at this time. They had an issue with the construction people with the pool. The pool was held for six months. So they had, they had an entire pool of built, I mean dug but no concrete laid. So there's just sitting dirt. My dad.

[Coca Cola Announcer]

What a matchup we got y'.

[Derek]

All.

[Coca Cola Announcer]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echoing drum beat. Everybody showing that school pride game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing That's a game changer right there.

[James]

Mmm.

[Coca Cola Announcer]

Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that, we're back at it. Passion and fame, school colors everywhere, and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[IBM Announcer]

So you're telling me that the AI that's meant to make everyone's job easier to manage just adds more to manage? On top of the thousands of apps the IT department already manages? Funny how that works. Any business can add AI. IBM helps you scale and manage AI to change how you do business. Let's create Smile to Business IBM.

[Matt Rogers]

This is Matt Rogers from Los Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Bowen Yang]

This is Bowen Yang from Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang.

[Matt Rogers]

Hey, Bowen. It's gift season.

[Bowen Yang]

Ugh. Stressing me out. Why are all the people I love so hard to shop for like me?

[IBM Announcer]

Exactly.

[Bowen Yang]

Exactly, honey.

[Matt Rogers]

I'm easy.

[Cooper]

But you're right.

[Matt Rogers]

Holiday gifting is stressful.

[Bowen Yang]

And all the gift guides out there are boring and uninspired.

[Matt Rogers]

Wait, what about the guide we made.

[Bowen Yang]

In partnership with Marshalls where premium gifts mean incredible value?

[Matt Rogers]

It's Giving Gifts. A series of guides filled with premium gifts at great value for everyone on your list.

[Bowen Yang]

Yeah, because if I see one more for the dad who likes golf list, I'm out, right?

[Matt Rogers]

How about something for the people who.

[Bowen Yang]

Actually surprise you with categories, like best gifts for the mom whose idea of a sensible walking shoe is a stiletto.

[Gary]

Psst.

[Bowen Yang]

She wants a PA of stilettos.

[Matt Rogers]

Or best gifts for me that were so thoughtful.

[Bowen Yang]

I really shouldn't have dying to see what those are.

[Matt Rogers]

And you won't believe their prices.

[Bowen Yang]

Just wait till you see what else is in there. It's basically a one stop shop for everyone.

[Matt Rogers]

You know, I started bookmarking half the list for myself.

[Bowen Yang]

Honestly, this is the guide for the 2025 holiday gifting season.

[Matt Rogers]

Check out the guide on marshalls.com it's.

[Bowen Yang]

Giving gifts Gift the good stuff.

[James]

At Marshalls, I built a backyard dirt bike track.

[IBM Announcer]

What?

[Gary]

That is weak.

[James]

We have these home videos of us just ripp. I remember there's this one specific video. Of course, it's like the only one that ever gets showed me. My brother and my sister are racing. I dropped the clutch and stalls out immediately. And I'm so mad and I'm just like kickstarting it. But I remember Yeah. I was like, this is unbelievable, dude.

[Jay]

What a. Just. That has got to be one of the best dad moves of all time.

[James]

It's kind of your brand for freedom too, where you're like, man, maybe I can just take this thing and go wherever.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[James]

You realize quickly it's like, all right, you can go here. Here, we're going to take this out of town. Neighbors were not happy about the dirt bike track, I'll tell you that.

[Cooper]

But, yeah, it's one of the.

[Jay]

They just live in a normal neighborhood.

[Cooper]

One of those things like my dad's.

[James]

Like, come on, hit the turn quicker.

[Cooper]

We weren't allowed to ride unless my dad was home for the longest time.

[Jay]

Smart.

[Cooper]

And then, like, finally, like, we had to call him and get permission if he weren't home. But our neighbors, our next door neighbors literally built or literally bought like, an absorbent amount of trees just to, like, deafen the noise and so they couldn't see us riding around. And, like, if you look at my house and Google images, you can see our track.

[Mitch]

That's awesome.

[Jay]

I wish I had that.

[Derek]

I know.

[Mitch]

I always wanted one, but, like, my parents didn't grow up doing that, so same. It was just wasn't in the cards. But I've always wanted to know how to ride a bike.

[Cooper]

So fun, dude, now.

[Jay]

Because now I'm just too old and it's scary. I'm scared of it.

[Mitch]

Right?

[James]

You have that.

[Mitch]

I would write it like a little.

[James]

When you're riding, right, you don't care if you tip it over, fall, break an arm.

[Mitch]

The one that we have thing ever. The one that we have. Scary.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

But I would. I would try as hell. I would try a small.

[Cooper]

I have a little pit bike at home if y' all come up for caroling. I taught.

[Mitch]

I taught Brooke 10 years ago.

[Cooper]

I taught Brooke how to ride in, like 10 minutes.

[Jay]

Oh, really?

[Cooper]

Yeah. She probably forgets.

[Mitch]

I probably loved that.

[Cooper]

Yeah. It was so sick.

[Jay]

It would be.

[Mitch]

You know, Mitch was like, hey, just let me show you how to do this.

[Cooper]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Real quick. Whoa.

[Jay]

Yeah. My best gift. I have a funny Christmas story that y' all all know, but it could be good for the viewers, you know, Do y'.

[Mitch]

All.

[Jay]

Do you can open one Kresman on Christmas Eve? And so my uncle, he always got us the best presents, me and my two brothers. And usually it was always the newest video game or, you know, something new in the sports world, that it was Christmas Eve, you open Uncle Bob's present, and because you can play it all night and so they open theirs, they get two new video games. Then they're telling me, jay, do not open Uncle Bob's present. Open Mimi's gift. Mimi at the time was probably like 88 years old. Very religious woman. Sweet grandma, she lives with us, but she doesn't understand, you know, the three boys growing up in the 2000s. And they're like, you trust me, Jay, you're going to love it. You're going to be playing with it all night. This is the best gift you could possibly get. And it's like a smaller box. I'm like, all right, let's do it. Mimi's there also. So I'm fired up. Remember Christmas is my birthday too. So I have extra juice to me on this day. I open it up and in this small box is just this baby Jesus figurine just sitting in a manger. And that's it. And I look up and I'm just fighting back tears. And I'm like, x baby, go over.

[James]

And do the like the. Thank you.

[Jay]

Give her the hug. My parents, they, they looked at each other, they're like just praying for a.

[James]

New family all night.

[Jay]

They're like, jaden Earo, you can open, you could open another present. You could open another present. I'm going to put it in water.

[Mitch]

And watch it grow.

[Jay]

Chia Jesus, dude, my brothers are just dying laughing. I was so heartbroken.

[James]

An all time brother prank, man. I feel like you, you be lying if you wouldn't be in J shoes just like fighting, just like ugliest cry you've ever felt in your life.

[Jay]

Cuz I, you know, I'm probably like nine years old. Eight or nine. So Christmas peak when the magic of.

[Gary]

Christmas just comes crashing.

[Jay]

Cuz they're also the ones obviously that told me that Santa wasn't real. And that was so stupid.

[Mitch]

That's.

[Jay]

I had the most vivid dream of my life that one of the reindeer got hurt in our front yard. And I went out there and helped it and I saw the sled and I have, y' all know I have a great imagination and, or a vivid imagination. And I woke up the next morning. Tell the whole family. Y' all won't believe what happened last night. Santa, one of his reindeer got hurt in our front yard. I went out there, taped it up and then they went off and my brother, yeah. Taped the ankle and my brothers are like, jay, that didn't happen. How are you gonna tell me it didn't happen? I was there. Santa's not real.

[Gary]

What?

[Jay]

I just saw him last night.

[Cooper]

Literally, with him chopping it up.

[Jay]

Last night, mom and dad get all these presents. Why do you think Santa's handwriting is the same as theirs? Why you think, blah, blah, blah, blah, you know? Then I go to my parents, tell me it's not true. They're telling me this Santa, and they're like, we're pissing my brothers again.

[Mitch]

Dang.

[Jay]

All that to say. My favorite Christmas gift ever was a Sydney Rice Gamecock football jersey.

[Cooper]

Hell yeah.

[Jay]

And he was probably the first player I have, like, memory of. Of being an all time, like, great, actual, actual great college football player. Not just good at South Carolina. But the best part about it was my parents got the S. Rice custom on the back of the jersey. Just how he had it on his jersey. And I remember getting that. And it was my first one. And I'm just like, man, this. There's no way there's ever going to be a gift better than this one.

[Mitch]

Is that when you wrote cocky land? Probably.

[Jay]

That was probably real cocky land. When we got back from winter break.

[Cooper]

That's sick.

[Gary]

That is sick. My best gift was not like life changing, but it was after we had opened, like, all of our Christmas gifts from Santa and our parents. My parents were like, hey, y' all should. Y' all should go upstairs real quick, like in the media room, like another thing.

[Mitch]

And we're like, hey, go, go over there.

[Jay]

That anticipation.

[Gary]

You're like, wait, what?

[James]

Some.

[Gary]

What's upstairs? And we walk up and it is a. And I was maybe like 11, and this was like the biggest deal to me because I really wanted one of these things. But I got three of them. It was a three in one. Air hockey, ping pong, pool table.

[Mitch]

Oh, my God.

[Gary]

And it was like, like, look, like it was not perfect size for each.

[Jay]

Of them, but I got each of them.

[Gary]

And I just remember I was so high because I just wanted to play air hockey and ping pong all the time. And I. I remember, like, it was magical on Christmas. And maybe for like the next two years, I was like, always convinced. Hey, come on. Like, let's try to convince people. Let's go play ping pong. Yeah. No one wanted to. I was like, I was pissed, dude.

[Jay]

I know. Bob came to play proud.

[Gary]

It was. It was awesome. And then like on the same Christmas, they're like, oh, in. What's outside? We heard something hit the roof last night. Like, Santa must have dropped some toys. And we go outside. And for whatever reason, this was also, like, huge for me. I had this in my room, just gumball Machines on the, like, big ass. Like, those big gumball machines, like, on the ground. They're like, oh, he must have dropped those, like, on his way out. So I got a gumball machine. I got pool, air hockey, ping pong.

[Cooper]

Damn.

[Gary]

I was like, yeah, this is Christmas.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[James]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

I don't really know what my favorite would be. Derek, do you have one?

[Derek]

Yeah. We had so two things. I'll say. One, my parents had a similar, like, open the night before. But what they would do is because me and my brother would wake up at, like, 5am they would put a gift in our room that Santa put in the room. And so it's something that we could play with until they woke up.

[Jay]

Smart move by them, dude.

[Derek]

The best gift I ever got was. I remember. I mean, I was young. I got the first Game Boy game Mario game from Santa. And I'm sitting there and I'm looking at all the gifts. I opened everything. And my mom was like, that's so weird. He didn't get you the thing to play it. We go through her side of the family. Go. I'm holding it, like, as opening other people's gifts, like, holding it. Not being able to play it the whole day for eight hours. And we get to my dad's side. My grandma got me the Game Boy. My mom's like, thank goodness you kept it with you. Santa knew your grandma got the Game Boy. I'm like, santa's sick. Santa's the man. I don't know how he talked to my grandma, but this is dope. But I ripped that. The first Mario, like, cartridge on Game Boy was my favorite thing ever.

[Mitch]

Dude, that's electric.

[James]

Is there any. Is everyone. Everyone's.

[Mitch]

I don't. I don't know what my favorite would be, but I will shift it to. I remember, like, I'm the oldest sibling at one of. At my dad's house. And I remember the Christmas that he kind of looked at me and was like, hey, I'm gonna need your help with the younger siblings. Like, we gotta get it. Build everything in the garage.

[Jay]

They wait.

[Mitch]

Bring it in.

[Jay]

Build everything.

[Mitch]

I had, I had known, but now I was a part of.

[Jay]

You were an elf.

[Mitch]

Yeah.

[Gary]

I wish I had gotten that far. Because they didn't ask for my help.

[Mitch]

When my sister knew it was. I don't know. I took a lot of pride in it, obviously, like, being the big bro, you're just like, hell, yeah. Like, I know that they're about to enjoy tomorrow so much, but listening to all of that, like, the creativity that parents somehow come up with during Christmas is so impressive. And the fact that you guys don't keep that up year round is kind of bullshit. But it is very impressive that they're like, what can we do? How do we set up just enough inside that like, leads the trails to like. Wait, hold on. I need this though. Come outside. It's always been very impressive to me. And so getting to help my dad do that was a lot of fun. And then a couple years ago, maybe two years ago, my. On my mom's side, my stepdad's daughter, my. My sister Alyssa has my niece Goldie. And she was like, I need your help building stuff. And we built, you know, like on the playground, like the. I'm gonna really fuck up what it's called. But like, you would climb on it. It's like a metal piece on the playground. I will put a reference photo up. But we had to build this fucking thing in the freezing cold. Oh, hands not moving, not moving. And that's like. Of course the bolts are like this big.

[Jay]

Dad getting mad at you?

[Mitch]

She got. Goldie got like a, an airplane that you could sit in and like fly it. So we had to build all these things made of metal and like 7pm yeah, and like 20 something degree weather. But I feel like those stuck out to me the most just because it's like I'm getting to give this to my like, younger siblings or my nieces and nephews. And then yeah, just like the next day you're just kind of like, that's so sick that they believe this crazy thing that exists.

[Cooper]

Like, do you have a favorite gift that you've given somebody? Anybody have a favorite gift? I have one. And if I can get.

[Mitch]

Yeah, go ahead. I'll think.

[Cooper]

Favorite gift I gave somebody.

[Jay]

I got something I need to say later on to my.

[Cooper]

It was my senior year football. Like that Christmas, I think it's 2019 Christmas. It was 2019 Christmas. Just finished my senior year football. I got a game ball from my last game ever from like our bowl game. I went to the equipment man, like, hey, I need two balls from this game. I'm gonna give him to my dad and uncle for Christmas. So then I had my brother's girlfriend who had like, nice handwriting. I had her write down all of my stats, like my career stats and all, like punt return, wide receiver stats, putting her to work, all of that. I mean, it was like I wrote down everything that she needed to write. I wrote down everything I needed that she needed to write down on it. And like, got, like, a glass case for it and gave it to my dad. He opened it, immediately started crying. Like, my mom was crying, I was crying. But it was, like, just for whatever reason, a part, like, a gift that just stood out. And it was like, because, like, now I'm done playing football. Like, here's the last thing from the last ball. Like, the last game I played in with everything on it. Like, now it's sitting on his, like, dresser in his room, which is pretty cool.

[Mitch]

Cool. That's badass. I. Mine's gonna be quick because I feel like the anticipation of yours is amazing.

[Jay]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

But my. My favorite gift I gave my family, again, like, mom's side and dad's side. It's a lot of people, but I gave everyone a T shirt or sweatshirt with my face on it. That's probably my favorite gift.

[Jay]

Mine's not, like, a. A gift thing. Also, your thing just made me think of. I don't know if y' all saw the stage TikTok video of. There was this older brother. He was definitely an O lineman in high school, and he's, like, walking off the field for his last time to his younger brother. And this. The older brother is like a bigger, heavier set dude. Hopefully. He was a beast all region, but didn't really look like it. And he's walking off the field, and he has his helmet, and he hands it to his little brother and puts his hand on his shoulder, and they, like, say something, and then the little brother, like, runs out onto the field. And the song is, if today was your last day. And it was so serious. And I felt for those brothers in that moment. But the thing I was going to say, as we're talking about Santa and just the magic of Christmas, there's a group of people, a small population. Hopefully it's a small population that exists out there. And I think we're sending ice after the wrong people in this country. They need to be going after these people. And it is the people that refuse to tell their kids about Santa or they. They tell their kids.

[Gary]

Oh, they take, like, the moral high ground. Yes.

[Jay]

I never want to lie to my kid, so I'm not going to let them believe in Santa. I think those are actually the worst parents of all time, and they need to be investigated.

[Mitch]

I feel like there's somebody you're talking about.

[Cooper]

No, not really, because we're all almost 30 years old, and we're talking about, like, whoa, you're on. You're in your latter half.

[Gary]

I get.

[Mitch]

I get it.

[James]

You'll Be at the unction next year. Don't you worry.

[Gary]

Forgot I was 26.

[Cooper]

Like, we're all, like, old enough now. Older now. And we're like. We talk about, like, the magic of. Right, Santa. The magic of Christmas. And if that got ruined to me when I was five or six years.

[Mitch]

Old, I'd be like, what the are we doing here?

[Cooper]

Yeah. All these kids are so happy about saying and everything, and I'm like, I have to be the bearer of bad news, and I'm the. The grumpy, the Grinch. But, like, like, I'm with you, Child services.

[James]

I have one more thing, and it's. It wasn't the best gift I've ever given, but probably the funniest gift I've received. And it took me years to come to the conclusion that it is funny, and I'm not upset. But this was, I don't know, probably three or four years after my brother Jimmy had moved to Hawaii, his first Christmas home. So I. I'm making, like, big boy money at this time. So I'm like, I'm gonna get him something good, something practical. I got him this awesome beach umbrella that had a really cool design from a company that he liked. It was like 300 bucks, which is way too expensive to be buying when you have three siblings, a brother in law, parents. It's like, you got to keep, you know, financially responsible gifts flowing. So I give him that, and he's like, oh, dude, thanks. And you can just see it in his eyes. Opening it being like, oh, like, I didn't get this. Well, either he got me something of much lesser value or he didn' something at all. So James disappears upstairs, and it's not like he's up next to give me mine. So he comes down and, like, he kind of, like, runs into a different room. I'm like, dude, we're opening gifts. Like, what's this dude doing? He comes down. He's like, jack, here's your gift. He, like, toss it to me, and it's clearly in the shape of a ball. And I unwrap it to see my first ever game ball that I got in. T ball that was up in my room on a trophy. He took a sharpie and signed his name and gave it to me. My whole. My whole family lost their minds. And I am fuming, acting like the ball, like, still me, like, it does. But I was like. I was like. I was more pissed that I spent so much money on a gift. And he just went and defiled, like, one of my childhood Mementos. I was like. And then looking back on it, it's like, honestly, one of the funnier things that's ever been done.

[IBM Announcer]

But.

[James]

So I guess this is a lesson. Like, don't buy your family expense.

[Gary]

The ball might have more now.

[Mitch]

I thought. I thought you were gonna tell the story when you were just handing out bread to the.

[Jay]

To.

[Mitch]

To the family.

[James]

Oh, yeah, yeah. That was, like, two or three years ago. I think it was, like, after one of my first Vegas trips, and, like, I was just lacking on Christmas presents. And it just hit me with, like, four days. And I was like, dude, this. I let everyone give their gifts out, and I just pulled out $600, and I just go, here's a hundred for you. And then I gave a hundred to my niece, who wasn't. Had just turned one Liddy. And I was like, here you go. And, like, honestly, I feel like they were probably like, yeah, we love this.

[Mitch]

But, dude, cash is king.

[Gary]

Cash is king.

[Jay]

That did, like, two or three years ago, my dad, he got zero stocking stuffer gifts for my mom. And Christmas night, he went in my mom. He went in his stocking that my mom had packed, took everything out, put a different sticker on it that says, to mom from dad. We get there the next morning, he gets his stock, and he's like, you really didn't get me anything, Diane. She's like, what are you talking about? I filled this whole thing. And then she starts opening all these gifts. She's like, I got. I got this for you. He's like, well, I don't see anything in mine. Like, this is crazy. And then finally at the end, she's like, wait a second. These are all of my gifts. And it was so funny.

[Cooper]

I can see your dad doing that. That is so cool.

[IBM Announcer]

Yeah.

[Mitch]

Are we all in agreeance that stocking gifts are sometimes low key? The best presents you get, they're the.

[Jay]

Ones you use the most.

[James]

It's like toothpaste or gum. I don't know, gift card.

[Mitch]

Some sort of, like, little gag thing.

[Gary]

Yeah, I'd always get.

[Mitch]

I love my stocking.

[Gary]

Me and kid would always get, like, a pack of football cards in ours. And that was. I, like, look forward to opening that the most. I was like, all right, I'm gonna go back Christmas over.

[Mitch]

The stocking is the best. I. Growing up, it was like, okay, whatever. We're gonna cram these, the stockings as full as we can get them. So in my brain, I was like, I'm gonna go buy the biggest stocking I Can find. So I. Everyone has, like, matching stockings and I have this enormous stocking because I was like, I don't like. I love what goes in the stocking more than most of the other things. So let me just go and up my stocking game. It's, like, so funny. It's pretty epic, though.

[Jay]

I saw another video of the. Somebody had, like, one of these big balloon. It wasn't a pinata, but it was serving the same purpose. And it was going to get popped. And all the kids were standing underneath it. And at the last second, right before somebody pops it, one of the bigger kids comes in and just holds his shirt out. It pops almost all the candy falls into it, and he just takes off running.

[Mitch]

That is a heavy Grinch.

[Jay]

Grinch for sure.

[Cooper]

Derek, you got one gift I given.

[Derek]

Yeah, yeah. I'm trying to think through it because, like, I. I give some pretty intentional ones that are like. I can't think of one that I've given off the top. But one thing I will say that I was thinking about is how, like, my mom broke to me saying it wasn't real is. She made me watch a video. Like, she showed me this video of a. It was like a story. So it's just a video of a guy talking with, like, pictures. But it was basically about a kid going up to his grandpa, being like, grandpa, tell me, is Santa real or not? And the grandpa's like, come with me. And they go to the store and. And they bought, like, a pack of diapers and, like, kid stuff. And then they went to a house that the kid had no idea who it was, knocked on the door, left the basket and ran to the car and watched. And out walked a brand, like a pregnant woman and a husband. And they looked down and saw the basket, like, looking around and went away. And the grandpa's like, there might not be a bearded man, but that is Santa Claus. And so just like, I don't even know if a gift I got. But I've always held that close because I'm like, to your point, about, like, people that say, like, I'm making this about Jesus. I grew up thinking baby Jesus and Santa were homies. Like, I assumed Christianity and Santa were one in the same.

[Jay]

Jesus sent Santa.

[Derek]

That's what I thought. And so I'm the same. You can take those people out back.

[Mitch]

For what I think about.

[Derek]

But, yeah, that's giving a gift. No, I just. I like to give gifts. I think it's fun. But I try to make it personal.

[Jay]

Being like a VHS tape like, show to Derek when he's eight.

[Mitch]

Yeah, basically, I have a wrong tape. Wrong tape.

[Gary]

I have a funny one. It's not, like, the best gift I've given. I don't. I think it's funny. My brother and my dad are Cowboys fans. I'm a Cardinals fan. We always. Not really anymore, unfortunately for me. We used to, a few years ago, argue, like, Kyler Murray versus Dak Prescott. And I just thought it'd be so funny. For Christmas, I got them normal gifts. So, like, this was not their gift. But, like, after it's all done, I was like, hey, I'll look up on tv. I got a. What's it called when you can pay for someone to do a cameo? And I was not gonna shell out for this cameo, y'.

[Jay]

All.

[Gary]

This. This friend of the show cameo. I think I got Dean Blandino on my cameo to basically just eviscerate that argument, like, for me. And, like, just say, like, Kyler's so much better. Like Bobby and camp, y'. All.

[Jay]

Like, that's hilarious.

[Gary]

I still have the video on my phone, but I just. I was like, y' all heard it, like, funny. I was like, merry Christmas.

[Derek]

Did he do a good job at yours? Because he did a fantasy league for me once, and the guy, he had notes for everybody. And he goes, oh, it's six. That's Timmy. Timmy just got married. Well, I'm going through a divorce, Timmy, so good luck at yours. And went on for a 45 second rant about his divorce. And we were like this. Who's pick five?

[Mitch]

I kind of told.

[Gary]

I gave him a prompt. I remembered.

[Bowen Yang]

He.

[Gary]

He started it off. I can show. I can send it in. In the group chat, he starts it off watching, like, Larry Fitzgerald highlight, like, late career. Like Kyler through pasture. Larry Pitts, he's like, oh, sorry. Like, didn't see you there. And then he starts arguing about, like, why Kyler's better. And I was like, yeah, like, you.

[Cooper]

Heard it from me.

[Mitch]

Like, end of our.

[Gary]

This is the guy. This is the. This is the referee guy.

[Mitch]

Like, that's head official.

[Jay]

That's funny. Shout out.

[Mitch]

Dean Blandino, man, how long we been going?

[Derek]

Hour and six minutes right now.

[Cooper]

Damn. Damn.

[Jay]

Feel good, Feel great.

[Mitch]

You want to take us out on a song?

[Cooper]

Yeah. This will be our last episode of the year. As we're off the next semi, we're.

[Jay]

Moving to Netflix, guys.

[Cooper]

So I believe first episode of the new year, we have our big guest something. Schedules got conflicted this week, so unfortunately we were able to have them on. But I believe I'd like to think the next beginning of the year we will have a guest for you guys. But what song we want to sing?

[Mitch]

Just nuts roasting on it. Jack Frost snipping at your.

[Gary]

Holy all.

[Mitch]

Right, what do you want to sing dude?

[Cooper]

Just want to do keep it play the hits. Jingle Bells.

[Mitch]

Holy night.

[Cooper]

That's all we got for you.

[IBM Announcer]

Damn.

[James]

Merry Christmas.

[Coca Cola Announcer]

What a matchup we got y'.

[Gary]

All.

[Coca Cola Announcer]

This is that classic HBCU vibe. Non stop action. The band is rocking and the crowd lit. Chance echo drum beat everybody showing that school pride Game like this. Yeah, it calls for an ice cold Coca Cola. Ah, crisp and refreshing. That's a game changer right there. Yeah, that taste always hits the right note. Just like the band at halftime. And just like that we're back at it as you fans school colors everywhere and an ice cold Coca Cola. That's a winning combo no matter the sport, no matter the yard. Everybody knows fan work is thirsty work. So grab a Coca Cola and keep that HBCU pride going.

[Cooper]

This message comes from Greenlight. Ready to start talking to your kids about financial literacy? Meet Greenlight, the debit card and money app that teaches kids and teens how to earn, save, spend wisely and invest with your guardrails in place. With Greenlight, you can send money to kids quickly, set up chores automate allowance, and keep an eye on what your kids are spending with real time notifications. Join millions of parents and kids building healthy financial habits together on Greenlight. Get started risk [e-mail] iHeart with Venmo.

[Jay]

Stash A taco in one hand and.

[Coca Cola Announcer]

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[Jay]

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[Derek]

Nice.

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[Jay]

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[Jay]

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[Derek]

Max $100 cash back per month.

[Jay]

See terms@venmo me stashterms this is an iHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.