12-15-25 - TMZ Reporting Billy Crystal And Larry David Seen At Rob Reiner Home Prompting Frank's Idea Of Detective Duo Jewman And Thrifty

Summary

Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Episode 12-15-25

Date: December 15, 2025
Special Guest: Frank Caliendo
Main Theme: Absurdity of Celebrity Crime Scene Visits + Comedic Improvisation
Listen: 98KUPD

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Episode Overview

In this episode, John Holmberg and the HMS crew (Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, Dick Toledo) are joined by comedian Frank Caliendo. The show quickly pivots from local banter to deep dive into the bizarre news story: TMZ reports that comedy legends Billy Crystal and Larry David were seen at the alleged crime scene of Rob Reiner's murder. This prompts a comedic riff about crime, celebrity culture, and the birth of a parody detective duo, "Jewman & Thrifty." The episode is rich in improv, cultural satire, and showcases Caliendo's wit and impersonations.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Frank Caliendo’s Improv and Upcoming Show

• [01:07] The episode announces Frank Caliendo’s New Year’s Eve shows at the Tempe Improv, with humorous banter about how people decide on holiday plans.
• Regular playful ribbing about comedy club logistics and comedian interactions.

2. The Rob Reiner Crime Scene – Media Absurdity

• [02:46] John Holmberg introduces the story: “They just arrested Rob Reiner's son. … The son is doing it. … more focused on the fact that Billy Crystal and Larry David went over to the house. Why?”
• The hosts and Frank mock the TMZ-style coverage and question why celebrities are allowed at active crime scenes.
• [03:47] Running gag: celebrity pacts about cleaning up embarrassing personal info if one dies.

3. Comic Reenactments – Larry David & Billy Crystal at the Scene

• [04:01–05:16] The team ad-libs possible Larry David/Billy Crystal reactions at the scene, with Frank channeling their voices:
  • "Pretty dead." – Joel, as Larry David, multiple times around [04:13]
  • “Let's go grab something.” – (implying a bagel, continuing their Jewish-American banter)
• They lampoon the Hollywood tendency to turn even tragic moments into potential TV content.
• [05:16]: “We could probably get some good ink.” & “We can just look distraught as we're leaving.”

4. Hatching ‘Jewman & Thrifty’: Satirical Crime-Fighter Duo

• [08:32] The group spontaneously invent a parody: “I'm Jew man.” (Larry David) “My little partner, thrifty.” (Billy Crystal)
• Riff on Jewish stereotypes lovingly: the frugal sidekick, guilt as a weapon, and Jewish mothers as their version of “Alfred.”
  • [09:17] “That’s thrifty’s catch... let's save some money.” – “My belt is just a change purse. Just making change and throwing wooden nickels.” – [09:22] Joel.
  • “Instead of pepper spray, we have guilt powder.” – [09:42] Unknown Male Guest.
  • “We don't really stop a crime. We just leave you neurotic.” – [09:45] Joel.

5. Reflections and Recaps

• Caliendo and the crew recap a successful recent show and tease more upcoming comedy.
• [10:29–11:42] Lighter banter about how life and the year have been like “Groundhog Day, but a month.”
• They close with more riffs on the “Jewman & Thrifty” concept, musing about future adventures and possible scripts.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On crime scene absurdity:
  • [02:46] John Holmberg: "They're more focused on the fact that Billy Crystal and Larry David went over to the house. Why? ... Why would you want Larry David?"
  • [05:11] Joel (as Larry): “I like this. A good idea. It’s a great...a lot of attention. I mean, Rob doesn’t need it anymore.”
• On forming the detective duo:
  • [08:34] Joel: “I’m Jewman.”
  • [08:35] John Holmberg: “My little partner, Thrifty.”
  • [09:45] Joel: “We don’t really stop a crime. We just leave you neurotic.”
  • [09:54] Joel: “My mother. This is mother. She caused this… berate the mother. Make them feel terrible.”
• On comedy and career:
  • [10:24] John Holmberg: “They’re always asking how much we got to get this guy and this guy. And I’m like, yeah, I’ll do it.”
  • [11:17] Frank Caliendo: “Meeting today are your islands...that story you brought back from Vegas that had no middle or ending…”

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Segment Timestamps & Highlights

• [01:07–01:54] – Frank’s Tempe Improv plug and comedic banter about club staff.
• [02:46–06:12] – In-depth satirical breakdown of the Rob Reiner news story, celebrity crime scene critique, and mockery of Hollywood culture.
• [08:32–09:54] – Invention and improvisation on “Jewman & Thrifty”; character building and gags about Jewish superheroes.
• [10:29–11:42] – Quick fire reflections on comedy, the repetitive nature of time, and wrapping up with more “Jewman & Thrifty.”

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Flow and Tone

• The tone is irreverent, quick-witted, and blends genuine amazement at celebrity culture with sharp Jewish humor.
• The group lets rapid-fire jokes and impersonations build on each other, especially during the creation of “Jewman & Thrifty.”
• The humor is affectionate, poking fun at both the news cycle and classic Jewish archetypes.

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Conclusion

This episode delivers classic “Morning Sickness” energy—with timely pop culture satire, improv-driven comedy, and surprisingly sharp commentary on the spectacle of celebrity news coverage. The spontaneous birth of “Jewman & Thrifty” offers a highlight in both creativity and comic timing, displaying the chemistry between Frank Caliendo and the HMS team.

Listeners get not only a digest of the bizarre Reiner story but also a masterclass in live comedic riffing. If you want to hear how comics turn headlines into hilarity, this episode is a must.

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Special Recommendation:

• Catch Frank Caliendo at Tempe Improv (New Year’s Eve shows) for more of the comedy fans love here.
• For more content: 98KUPD Morning Sickness

Transcript

[Brett Vesely]

You're listening to the HMS Podcast, brought to you by MMP Guns.com, your most trusted online marketplace for firearms, ammunition and accessories. Hey, it's Brett Vesely and I'm here with Byron from MMP Guns. Look, Byron, I have a friend wanting to sell some guns he inherited. What's the best way for him to do that?

[Byron]

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[Brett Vesely]

Okay, but what if he lives out of state?

[Byron]

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[Brett Vesely]

There you have it. MMP Guns or legalgunbuyer.com the safe and legal way to sell your firearms. It's Brett Vesely from Homewards. Morning sickness. Now, I've always been the kind of guy that takes care of my own lawn. That's until I found Divine Design Landscaping. These guys aren't your typical mow and blow landscaping company. They do amazing work. And it's just what I needed to finally throw in the towel and let the experts take over. If you've been unhappy with your landscaping or sick of trying to do it yourself, well, it's time to get a hold of Divine Design Landscaping. These guys handle everything. Lawn care, irrigation, tree work, low voltage lighting, 3D designs. Get free quote@divinedesign lawn care.com that's DivineDesign.

[John Holmberg]

Lawn care.com still streaming Homberg's Morning Sickness online at 98kupd.com Frank Caliendo is hanging out with us this morning and he's got his shows over at the Tempe Improv on New Year's Eve. A New Year's Eve celebration with Frank and all the people he brings to the party. And that can be a blast for you. Six o', clock, 8:30, you got two shows. You can get them@10p improv.com if. If you want to grab tickets. And Frank has been plugged.

[Joel]

Yeah.

[John Holmberg]

In such a way that. Yeah, that's a good night. And people do try to figure out what to do with. That's a good thing. Go early. I talked to the guy, Joel. Who? One of the guys who runs the clubs. I got Frank early on New Year's. Like, I know.

[Joel]

Yeah, I see.

[John Holmberg]

Coming in on Wednesday, he's gonna be. I don't know when he's Coming in, maybe right then he just kind of wandered off. He was trying to dodge me. You ever see somebody walk by you and you make eye contact? You're like, hey. And you see them drop their heads?

[Frank Gando]

Constantly.

[John Holmberg]

And I. Yeah, I know. That's how I felt. I'm like, joel, why didn't you want to say hi?

[Joel]

I was. I go to the bathroom.

[John Holmberg]

But he didn't go to the bathroom. He just stayed and talking. I thought you had to go to the bathroom. Have you met my wife? Your friends are coming anyway. So, Frank, that just sounds exactly like. Ah.

[Frank Gando]

I was trying to figure out what that accent is.

[Brett Vesely]

What.

[John Holmberg]

That's made up. It's made up. It's Joel.

[Frank Gando]

There's not his. There's a couple people. There's. I don't know if it's in Florida or what.

[John Holmberg]

Maybe it is Florida. I wouldn't know that one. But I swear it's getting worse as he talks. Like you're making less. Like all your words are running into each other.

[Frank Gando]

Yeah.

[John Holmberg]

Have you met my wife? He said that three times more. They just arrested Rob Reiner's son. Officially. Like it is official. You know what I don't understand? Rob Reiner gets found. His throat's been slit. His wife's throat's been slit. The. The son is doing it. And for some reason, as I'm looking at the news feeds and things just trying to keep up with this, they're more focused on the fact that Billy Crystal and Larry David went over to the house. Why? That wouldn't happen with anything. If Brady's throat got slit, like, the last thing Brett and I are going to be. Brett and John were seen wandering into. Why would we be allowed in there? Why would you want Larry David?

[Frank Gando]

Let's ask Kato.

[John Holmberg]

Well, Kato wasn't allowed at the scene either. I mean, why in the world would it matter that celebrity friends showed up, nobody shows up to the crime scene?

[Brady]

Maybe they had that pact that, you know, something happened. It was very embarrassing. They want you to go over there. But it was too late, you're saying?

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, we have that. Like, if you ever find me. If you ever find me dead, put some pants on me and clear my phone.

[Brett Vesely]

We already have that deal.

[John Holmberg]

But that's if you find me. If someone else finds me, I don't say, all right, now come over and clean up the mess. I don't want to go over to your house and see you that way. So Larry David went over there.

[Brady]

Pretty.

[Joel]

Pretty dad. Pretty dad.

[John Holmberg]

Like he's the coroner.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Yeah, it doesn't look like he's coming back. Yeah, Billy.

[Joel]

I think maybe Billy and I should go over. We take a look at him, see if he's dead.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Listen, I'll get Goodman to come over. We'll do a whole Monsters Inc. Thing.

[Joel]

He looks pretty dead to me.

[Unknown Male Guest]

He looks very dead.

[Joel]

It's pretty dead, Billy.

[Unknown Male Guest]

He's not coming back.

[Joel]

Pretty. Pretty dead. Pretty dead. You hungry?

[Unknown Male Guest]

Yeah. Let's go grab something.

[John Holmberg]

It's weird.

[Unknown Male Guest]

You wanna get a bagel?

[John Holmberg]

They've got pictures of him walking into the house. I'm like, why are they allowed in there?

[Unknown Male Guest]

I was thinking of redoing Colombo. Where?

[John Holmberg]

Billy Crystal.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I play Colombo. Excuse me. Pardon me. Sorry to, but I could do the voice, but I want to do it myself.

[Joel]

It can't be Colombo. That's stupid. There's already a Colombo. Be Billy Crystal.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Yeah, I think that's right. Billy Crystal Ball. And I can see in the future. I should have known Rob was gonna die.

[Joel]

That's pretty good. I like that.

[Brady]

Where did that come in as Kojak?

[Joel]

A ball joke. That's hacky, but okay.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, it's. It's very strange, though. They're like. And then we let celebrities walk around the crime scene. Isn't that great? TMZ was there.

[Frank Gando]

It's so Holly.

[John Holmberg]

It is so Hollywood to go, you know. And actually written. It says, friends and collaborators Billy Crist and Larry David were seen leaving the couple's home. They looked very distraught because they just saw a good friend's head lobbed off. And you let him walk around the scene. Nobody's allowed to do that. If Frank got killed, you think it'd be like, I'm friends with him. Please. We'll let him in.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Larry, My publicist called.

[Brett Vesely]

Yeah.

[Joel]

What do you say?

[Unknown Male Guest]

We could probably get some good ink.

[Joel]

I'll get a little good ink on this. I haven't had a good show for a little while. It's been a bit. Okay.

[John Holmberg]

You know what?

[Joel]

I'm gonna call him up. Get to the table.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I think we do it. I think we go for it.

[Joel]

Get out of my face.

[Unknown Male Guest]

We don't have to go in. We can just look distraught as we're leaving.

[Joel]

I like this. I like this. A good idea.

[Unknown Male Guest]

It's a great.

[Joel]

A lot of attention. I mean, Rob doesn't need it anymore.

[Unknown Male Guest]

And then we write a show about.

[Joel]

It at a tire show about how a friend got killed. I like it.

[Unknown Male Guest]

It's a season and a half of suspense.

[Brady]

So TMZ reported. Do they have the curb music playing as you walk out.

[Joel]

Anyway, my friend's dead. So what are you going to do? It's not like we can save him now.

[John Holmberg]

But why do they allow that? I just don't understand that. And that should be like.

[Frank Gando]

Because it's hot.

[Byron]

It's.

[Joel]

I know that.

[John Holmberg]

Still human beings. And they let Larry David and Billy. How did they have the balls to wander over and go, let me see. And the police let them in.

[Brady]

Matter if, like, I don't know if, like, they're the executor of the estate?

[John Holmberg]

You're not allowed right there.

[Frank Gando]

I mean, there's gotta be time, right?

[John Holmberg]

Yeah.

[Byron]

Yes.

[John Holmberg]

And you go to a lawyer's office for that. You don't go to the crime scene.

[Brett Vesely]

And why would you want to go there?

[Joel]

Exactly.

[Brett Vesely]

That's ridiculous.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I gotta see this. I gotta see this.

[Joel]

I gotta go with you. You need a ride? I think we get over. Take the 405. We'll get over there together. I get a quicker route.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Larry, fake the orgasm. Fake the orgasm.

[Joel]

Oh, should we stuff us some snacks? I mean, he's. He's not going anymore.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I'll have what he's having. Yeah.

[Joel]

Let's go.

[Brady]

Sir, Crystal and David are out front. Should we let him in?

[Unknown Male Guest]

Yeah, that's fine.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. Oh, definitely gotta let them in. There were friends. They should see them with their heads locked off.

[Joel]

I mean, who did this? The sun? I always said, Billy, you were right. There's a kid was a mess.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I had a premonition.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah. I don't understand it, but there it is. And you're allowed to do it. And I just don't think that's right. It's a crime scene. It's a murder investigation. And Larry David and Billy Crystal can walk around. I'm not reading that.

[Brett Vesely]

I didn't think so, but yeah.

[John Holmberg]

Anyway, Frank, I hope you never get murdered because I'm not going to go over to your house to take a look at that ever.

[Unknown Male Guest]

All right.

[John Holmberg]

Which celebrities?

[Frank Gando]

That was like.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, worse than normal.

[Unknown Male Guest]

That's probably true.

[Frank Gando]

I mean, it would take a while to cut this head off.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, that guy would be hacking for a long time. He won't die. Yeah. Anyway, it's just weird, but I'm trying to keep an eye on it and I just can't. This one's weird to me. Like, I can't get my hands around it. Like my brain isn't grasping that anyone would want to kill Rob Reiner.

[Brady]

It just seems like out of the blue because you never knew, you know, but that's they kept pretty private on that. I didn't know much about the son, I guess, you know, having a. A problem with the family.

[John Holmberg]

$4 million bail they got the son for.

[Frank Gando]

Why do you have any bail?

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, I don't understand that. Well, because he's not technically guilty.

[Brady]

Due process.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, you got to go through that. But $4 million, pretty good idea. These might be a flight risk and that's crazy. Anyway. Well, at least celebrities got to tour the crime scene the day of. And then they left looking distraught. Wouldn't it be better if it was like Larry David and Billy Crystal left laughing.

[Joel]

So. Billy Crystal's very funny, does that. But he found it was a great moment. That was a good line.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Probably a good idea to wear my Batman suit.

[Joel]

Although I was going to wear a crime fighter suit too. We should have come together as crime fighting Jews.

[Brady]

We left in the Prius.

[Joel]

I'm Jew man.

[John Holmberg]

My little partner, thrifty.

[Joel]

Jew man and thrifty. This is a good.

[John Holmberg]

We're at the doorstep of the merse.

[Joel]

This is a good idea. We should, you know what? Pitch me. We're going to pitch that.

[Unknown Male Guest]

We're going to pitch it. I think we got it. I think we got it.

[Joel]

I think we've got it. It's pretty good. Pretty good.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Anyway, it's so sad that something this big and bad has to happen. There's something good to happen to us.

[Joel]

I think it's going to be good too. Bad and thrifty are going to go.

[Byron]

Greatest.

[John Holmberg]

The greatest idea. Larry David is Jew man. Billy Crystal is his sidekick, Thrifty.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I don't know if we should do that. Let's just save the money.

[Joel]

See, that's what thrifty would say. Yeah, that's exactly. That's exactly.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I was being thrifty.

[Joel]

That's thrifty's catch. Like, let's save some money.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Not only was I being thrifty, I was being thrifty.

[Joel]

Yeah. My belt is just a change purse. Just making change and throwing wooden nickels.

[John Holmberg]

Anyway, I like the idea, but I just don't understand why they were there. So his utility.

[Brady]

Guilt.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, I like that. Yeah. Two minute thrifty is a real thing. Frank. Congratulations.

[Unknown Male Guest]

You throw the guilt powder.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Instead of pepper spray, we have guilt powder.

[Joel]

Yeah. We don't really stop a crime. We just leave you neurotic. Ah, you shouldn't have done that. Who raised you, really?

[John Holmberg]

They just make you feel terrible.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Mom, come here.

[Brady]

That's Alfred.

[Joel]

My mother. This is mother. She caused this. This whole thing about Jew Men and thrift. This is her fault. Go ahead, berate the mother. Make them feel terrible.

[John Holmberg]

Anyway. Well, there's that. That's how you're gonna walk out on us today, Jew. Men and thrifty. Our new creation. It's brilliant. It's crushing. Thank you for coming in this morning unexpectedly.

[Frank Gando]

Thank you for not knowing that I was coming, so I was allowed to be here.

[John Holmberg]

And thank you again for Friday night. And.

[Frank Gando]

No, that was fun.

[Brett Vesely]

That was.

[John Holmberg]

I'm glad you did it.

[Frank Gando]

You know, people don't realize this. We don't do it for free. But, no, we do it for almost.

[John Holmberg]

I do. You do? Bastards. They're always asking how much we got to get this guy and this guy. And I'm like, yeah, I'll do it. And then Joel told me we killed the other night, Friday night. How many people? How many takes you think we sold? I'm like, I don't know. What's it hold? He goes like, 5, 10? I'm like, ahead of time. Yeah, it was sold out.

[Brett Vesely]

Yeah.

[John Holmberg]

But we had to close the curtain on that one sex we were storing for Christmas stuff. And I'm like, All right.

[Joel]

488.

[John Holmberg]

Like, that's pretty good.

[Brett Vesely]

Yeah. It's the whole room.

[John Holmberg]

I'm like, okay.

[Joel]

I got so. It's like, Kel.

[Brett Vesely]

It was packed.

[Joel]

Killed at Cald.

[John Holmberg]

Well, that line outside was crazy. But Calda.

[Joel]

A cow like Calda. Have you met my wife Cal? That.

[John Holmberg]

Anyway, so thank you for that highlights on 2025. Anything you want to tell people for the New year? What's your. What's.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Today?

[John Holmberg]

Today?

[Frank Gando]

Yeah. Right now. Us.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, that's it.

[Joel]

Yeah.

[Frank Gando]

No, this was big. Friday was really big.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah.

[Frank Gando]

Meeting today are your islands. Santino in the story that didn't have.

[Brady]

A ones he could remember.

[John Holmberg]

That story you brought back from Vegas that had no middle or ending will.

[Frank Gando]

Be December 31st at the Tempe Improv. Going to be a memory.

[John Holmberg]

Wow. So your year started Friday night.

[Frank Gando]

Another highlight.

[John Holmberg]

And the rest of it, it's like.

[Frank Gando]

Groundhog's Day, but a month.

[John Holmberg]

Yeah, okay. It's a month. It's a Groundhog's Month. Yeah, that's okay. All right, well, good. Make more. Create more memories.

[Frank Gando]

You know, make it an X ray. It'd be the Hedgehog month.

[John Holmberg]

Oh, yeah.

[Joel]

Yeah, let's keep that. Let's keep that on June Edit Thrifty.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I think. I think we did better with that one. I think that's much better.

[Joel]

I was pleased, but I still come.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Out on from under the bed.

[Joel]

Of course.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Coming out of the closet.

[Joel]

Would it be great if two met at Thrifty? You were under the bed and you witnessed the crime.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I have an idea for a crime.

[Joel]

I think it's a good idea, Ivan.

[Unknown Male Guest]

I think you know what I'm talking about.

[Joel]

We can get RER to direct.

[Unknown Male Guest]

Oh, wait, wait. You son of a.

[John Holmberg]

That's enough of us. There you go. Thanks, Frankie. Frank. Happy?

[Unknown Male Guest]

Frank, Sit down in the car.

[John Holmberg]

You need help with your legs? Yeah, I might.

[Frank Gando]

Yeah, it's rough.

[John Holmberg]

Happy holidays to you and yours.

[Frank Gando]

And also with you father.

[John Holmberg]

I know. I'll see you another time. Frank Gando, everybody. Arizona's most powerful rock radio station. He said fully erect. It's John Holmberg here from the morning sickness. And it's time to talk about TVs Doug Hopkins of My Home Group and Doug Hopkins dot com. Have you ever thought to yourself, I'm going to sell my house? Of course you have. And one reason or another, you just didn't do it. Probably because it's a hassle when you try to make a real estate deal. What if I could say, you can sell that house the day after you say the words, I want to sell my house. Doug's been at this for over 25 years, and that's why he's still on top of the Hill. TVs Doug Hopkins can handle everything. Won't move the price or you get $5,000. What do you do? Start the process right now@doug hopkins.com or grab the phone and sing.

[Brady]

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