Comedy Bang Bang: Best of 2025 Pt. 4

Podcast: Comedy Bang Bang: The Podcast
Host: Scott Aukerman
Episode: Best of 2025 Part 4
Release Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

In the fourth and final installment of the Comedy Bang Bang “Best of 2025” series, Scott Aukerman and Paul F. Tompkins guide listeners through the top three episodes of the year as voted by fans. They celebrate the show’s 15th year, discuss the show’s enduring influence, and share their trademark banter, inside jokes, and meta-commentary on both the format of the podcast and the comedy world at large. Along the way, they revisit fan-favorite characters, dissect comedic traditions (like Wet Day), and hand out affectionate jabs to both themselves and their community. The tone is playful, self-deprecating, and collaborative, with an improvisational spirit running through both their discussions and the episode clips.

Key Discussion Points and Episode Segments

1. Banter & Meta-Humor about the “Best Of” Format

[01:54–06:22]

• In classic CBB style, Scott and Paul riff on the absurdity of multi-part year-end lists:

  "Normally, if you're seeing the top 100 albums of the year on a website, it'll just be one page? Yeah. These guys break something into four things." – Scott Aukerman ([03:00])

• They joke about the slow descent into madness of recording marathon best-of sessions.
• Discussion of TV show “Pluribus” and the trend of companion podcasts, riffing on their own industry:

  "As a professional podcaster, I go like, hey, you know, I don't come down to where you work and slap the dick out of your mouth." – Scott Aukerman ([06:14])

2. Introduction to the Comedy Bang Bang Format for Newcomers

[10:21–11:27]

• Scott explains the “improvised celebrity/character interviews” format for new listeners.
• Recounts how all he ever knows coming into a recording is a guest’s character name and job.

3. Warm-Up: Absurdist Riffs & Callbacks

[12:04–17:13]

• Paul and Scott riff about never lying, Paul’s non-existent marriage, and “The Truman Show” as an allegory.
• Barbra Streisand’s personal shopping mall, and historical digressions.
• Envisioning heaven as a parking lot:

  "If God really cared about us, He would pave heaven and put up a parking lot." – Scott Aukerman ([15:12])

Top 3 Episodes of the Year: Discussion & Clips

#3: “Who Done It?” (Ep. 912)

[17:13–46:56]

Participants

• Guest: Wayne Brady (celebrity guest, promoting his podcast)
• Characters:
  • Lily Sullivan as Krendle (Peloton Instructor)
  • Jacob Wysocki as Bugs Bunny

Highlights

• Krendle’s insane Peloton class:

  "I’m going to get you absolutely crumpled and crammed up… I have had some stomach issues all year long… diarrhea 15, 16 times a day." – Krendle, Lily Sullivan ([21:12])

• Running joke: everyone at Peloton is Krendle’s “son” — except for her neglected daughter.
• Discussion devolves into a “sperm check” staged live on air.
• Wayne Brady dives fully into the game, being delightfully game for the escalating absurdity.
• Bugs Bunny (Jacob Wysocki) calls out the racist history of Looney Tunes, as Paul/Wayne discuss their feelings about rabbits and "Watership Down".
• Recurring reference: Kushtopia, a fictional alternate universe made entirely of weed.
• Sketch brainstorming session including the "Night Lotus" idea and a song parody, “Like a Stove”.

  "You should be hitting 598 grams of protein every meal. Do you know how many meals you should be having? 35." – Krendle ([24:17])

• Cameo via phone: Tim Baltz as himself, agreeing to join their heroic sketch-writing efforts after other, more famous friends don’t pick up Scott’s calls.

Notable Quote

"Some people pay a lot of money for this, and we get to do it right now for free." – Paul F. Tompkins ([25:09])

Noteworthy Moment

• The “sperm check” and Krendle’s army of sons — a pitch-perfect absurdist CBB segment.

#2: “Wet Day Special 2025” (Ep. 910)

[60:00–94:51]

Participants

• Paul F. Tompkins and Scott Aukerman (Wet Day co-creators)
• Drew Tarver as Ike and Spike Mink Salmon (granddaughter-obsessed uncles)
• Ryan Gaul as Carolyn Parker (dental receptionist)

Highlights

• Full explanation of Wet Day, the CBB-invented holiday:

  "Wet Day is a day where you get as wet as you can possibly be. Because on April 1, you have gone through so many pranks... You’ve had nine days to dry off. And you want to be wet again." – Scott Aukerman ([64:16])

• Rituals: 45-minute showers, water balloon attacks, wet trees, wet day carols (“WAP”, “Fat Juicy and Wet”, “Bus Stop” by The Hollies).
• Banter about cults, awkward dental receptionist energy, and a deranged conversation about staying away from "our granddaughter".

  "We’re only gonna say it once: stay away from our granddaughter." – Paul F. Tompkins as the Mink Salmon twins ([75:25])

Notable Quotes

"Now on Wet Day, regardless of your gender identity or your age, you should tell people I’m an old man. Because your fingers will be pruny and wrinkled from being wet." – Scott Aukerman ([68:56])

"The official Wet Day after show is ‘Watch Wet Happens Live.’" – Scott Aukerman ([69:32])

Noteworthy Moment

• The Mink Salmon twins’ obsessive “stay away from our granddaughter” refrain, and dental receptionist improv.

#1: “What’s Up, Cool Cat?” (Ep. 900)

[106:07–144:44]

Participants

• Jason Mantzoukas as himself
• Andy Daly as August Lindt (pretzel maker), Cool Cat, Ernie Rocks
• Paul F. Tompkins as Mason Iclodge (little boy), Andrew Lloyd Webber
• Scott Aukerman as host

Highlights

• Discussion of Dread Zeppelin documentary and CBB “lore”—totemic for CBB milestone episodes.
• Introduction of “Cool Cat,” Andy Daly’s swiftly-improvised, 10-foot-tall, nerdy feline who yearns to be in the band Rockapella.
• Appearance of other running characters: Hot Dog, August Lindt, Ernie Rocks (lead singer of Rockapella), AND Andrew Lloyd Webber.
• Ongoing war between surfers and water skiers, the role of lizard people under the Denver airport, and a dire warning about poisoned German pretzels.
• Musical numbers (impromptu a cappella), callbacks to "Land of the Lost".
• Emotional coda: Mason’s search for his real parents, resulting in an unexpectedly sincere exchange.
• Show closes with a fake “Snowman Game” for good luck in 2026.

Notable Quotes

“Normally you come on the show and you are not promoting really anything.”
“Nope. Because I’m not here to sell myself or my wares. I’m here for you.” – Jason Mantzoukas & Scott Aukerman ([108:50])

“Stay away from our granddaughter.” – Paul F. Tompkins as the Mink Salmon twins ([75:25])

“You have feline acne. I keep buying sunglasses and the glass falls out and they look like nerd glasses.” – Cool Cat, Andy Daly ([121:16])

“Don’t tell me Pentatonix has finally summoned the dark lord!” – Andy Daly ([127:51])

“That like genuinely brought a tear to my eyes.” – Paul F. Tompkins, after Mason’s closing story ([139:03])

Noteworthy Moment

• The sheer improvisational “stack” of characters: Andy Daly seamlessly shifting from August Lindt to Cool Cat to Ernie Rocks to Andrew Lloyd Webber — with Paul and Jason keeping pace, layering references, looping in CBB deep lore, and crafting a wonderfully unhinged supergroup origin story.

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Scott on the show’s endurance:
  “Comedy Bang Bang. Unlike other podcasts, we won’t quit.” ([153:07])

• Paul’s gratitude:
  “I count the hours I spent in this room amongst the happiest of my life.” ([161:45])

• Classic CBB self-deprecation:
  “Occasionally I hear someone go like, oh, I think I’m aging out of listening to Comedy Bang Bang. Well, good luck dying because that’s what that is.” – Scott Aukerman ([58:03])

Additional Segments

CBB Stats (Year in Review)

[146:09–151:43]

• 30,000 votes tallied for this year’s best-of episodes.
• Paul F. Tompkins, Jason Mantzoukas, and Lily Sullivan all appeared in five countdown episodes.
• Acknowledgments for supporting team, ongoing listener engagement, and evidence of both show longevity and enthusiastic, loyal fandom.

The Future & CBB’s Philosophy

[152:39–153:49]

• Scott and Paul plan for next year, muse about show taglines, and reinforce the podcast’s commitment to continued fun—“We don’t quit.”

Useful Timestamps

• [01:54] Opening riff: golf, golf course etiquette, dislike of golf.
• [06:03] Pluribus TV show & podcast talk.
• [11:27] Explanation of CBB format for newcomers.
• [17:13] Introduction of 3rd best episode: “Who Done It?”
• [27:10] Krendle’s sperm check segment.
• [34:47] Bugs Bunny explains Kushtopia.
• [44:47] Wayne Brady’s post-show camaraderie.
• [60:00] Introduction of 2nd best episode: “Wet Day Special 2025.”
• [64:16] Explanation and origin story of Wet Day.
• [75:25] Mink Salmon twins and granddaughter obsession.
• [88:02] Recapping Wet Day traditions.
• [106:07] Introduction of #1 episode: “What’s Up, Cool Cat?”
• [121:16] Cool Cat monologue.
• [127:51] “Don’t tell me Pentatonix has finally summoned the dark lord!” – Andy Daly as August Lindt.
• [139:03] Emotional coda—Paul F. Tompkins remarks on Mason’s story.
• [153:07] Debut of new CBB tagline, "We won't quit."
• [161:45] Paul F. Tompkins expresses happiness and gratitude.

Summary

Comedy Bang Bang’s “Best of 2025 Pt. 4” encapsulates everything long-time fans prize about the series: a deep reservoir of recurring characters, shamelessly silly riffs, self-aware meta-comedy, and disarmingly sincere moments amid the chaos. Through the countdown of the year's three best episodes as selected by listeners, Scott Aukerman and Paul F. Tompkins banter and reminisce, setting the stage for marathon-length clips featuring guests like Wayne Brady, beloved recurring characters, and deeply layered improvisation.

Among the standout moments: Lily Sullivan’s deranged Peloton instructor leads a sperm-check, Wet Day traditions get ever more complex, Andy Daly transforms into Cool Cat (and then Ernie Rocks and Andrew Lloyd Webber), and a story about a lizard-raised boy searching for his parents tugs unexpectedly at the heartstrings.

The episode is a virtual masterclass in longform improv, deep sitcom world-building, and the transformative power of “Yes, and.” With self-aware jokes about the show’s longevity, its own fan culture, and the passage of time, it doubles as a warm invitation to new listeners and a valentine to the diehards.

Final Note

Paul sums up the episode’s tone and the series as a whole:

“I count the hours I’ve spent in this room among the happiest of my life.” ([161:45])

Comedy Bang Bang: We won’t quit.