SmartLess Presents ClueLess – Episode 139: "Word Centipede" (Featuring Scotty Icenogle)
Release Date: March 27, 2025

Introduction

In Episode 139 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess, host Elliott Kaelin teams up once again with the ever-charming Sean Hayes and introduces special guest Scott Icenogle. This episode dives deep into a series of engaging word puzzles, challenging the trio's wit and collaborative skills in a bid to outsmart the season's contestant, Sean Hayes.

Recap of the Previous Episode's Cliffhanger

Elliott begins by revisiting the previous episode's cliffhanger, presenting listeners with a cryptic sentence:

"Elliot Kaelin doesn't not not not dislike disco. So does he like disco?"
— [06:30] Elliott Kaelin

The challenge is to decipher the multiple negatives to determine Elliott's true feelings about disco—a classic brain teaser that sets the stage for today's puzzle-solving adventure.

Main Game: Word Centipede

The heart of the episode revolves around the Word Centipede game, a five-round challenge where Elliott provides sets of words, and Sean and Scotty must identify a common word that can precede or follow each to form new compound words.

Round 1: "Over," "For," "Seeing"

• Elliott's Prompt:
  "What word can you add to each of these words to make three new compound words?"
  — [07:01] Elliott Kaelin

• Discussion & Answer:
  Sean deciphers the clue by breaking down the words:

  "Oversight, foresight, and sightseeing."
  — [08:35] Sean Hayes
  The answer is "sight."

Round 2: "Bed," "Day," "Share"

• Elliott's Prompt:
  "Bed, day, and share."
  — [08:40] Elliott Kaelin

• Discussion & Answer:
  Sean quickly identifies:

  "Bedtime, daytime, and timeshare."
  — [09:03] Sean Hayes
  The correct word is "time."

Round 3: "Air," "Fan," "Well"

• Elliott's Prompt:
  "Air, fan, and well."
  — [09:21] Elliott Kaelin

• Discussion & Answer:
  Sean and Scotty work through the possibilities, leading to:

  "Airfare, fanfare, and farewell."
  — [09:46] Sean Hayes
  The solution is "fare."

Round 4: "Bud," "Tar," "Away"

• Elliott's Prompt:
  "Bud, tar, and away."
  — [10:38] Elliott Kaelin

• Discussion & Answer:
  This round proves challenging. Sean puzzles over the options before Elliott reveals:

  "Budget and getaway."
  — [11:14] Elliott Kaelin
  The answer is "get."

Round 5: "Round," "Let," "Films"

• Elliott's Prompt:
  "Round, let, and films."
  — [11:22] Elliot Kaelin

• Discussion & Answer:
  After some hints, Sean successfully concludes:

  "Round trip and film strip."
  — [13:12] Sean Hayes
  The final word is "trip."

Mega Clue Challenge

Combining the answers from the five rounds—sight, time, fare, get, and trip—Elliott presents the Mega Clue:

"Sightseeing, timeshare, airfare, getaway, and round trip. What theme unites these words?"
— [13:48] Elliott Kaelin

Sean quickly identifies the common theme: "Vacation."

— [14:12] Sean Hayes

Scotty concurs, reinforcing the connection:

— [14:13] Scott Icenogle

Cliffhanger Puzzle

As the episode draws to a close, Elliott introduces the cliffhanger puzzle for listeners to ponder until the next episode:

"Elliot Kaelin doesn't not not not dislike disco. So does he like disco?"
— [14:18] Elliott Kaelin

This linguistic twist invites fans to engage and speculate on Elliott's true feelings about disco—a playful nod to classic double negatives.

Conclusion

Elliott wraps up the episode by thanking Sean and Scotty for their stellar participation and engaging listeners to stay tuned for the next installment filled with more intriguing puzzles.

Notable Quotes

• "Carrot cake with all that fresh roadrunner and cactus in it. Sounds wonderful."
  — [03:47] Elliott Kaelin

• "Vacation. Pack your bags. You're going on a vacation."
  — [14:18] Elliott Kaelin

• "The answer is trip, round trip, triplet in film strip."
  — [13:17] Sean Hayes

• "Elliot Kaelin doesn't not not not dislike disco. So does he like disco?"
  — [06:30] Elliott Kaelin

Final Thoughts

Episode 139 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess showcases the delightful interplay between host Elliott Kaelin and guests Sean Hayes and Scotty Icenogle. Through a series of cleverly crafted word puzzles and engaging banter, the trio demonstrates quick thinking and collaborative problem-solving, offering listeners an entertaining and intellectually stimulating experience.

For those keen on testing their puzzle-solving skills and enjoying the dynamic chemistry between the hosts and guests, this episode is a must-listen!