139 - Word Centipede (w/ Scotty Icenogle)

Thu Mar 27 2025

On this episode of ClueLess, host Elliott Kalan and constant contestant Sean Hayes invite Sean’s husband Scotty Icenogle back to tangle with the many limbs of the Word Centipede! What word can you put before or after the three words we give you to make three new compound words, and can you do it faster than Sean and Scotty? One word per round will point you towards a connection for today’s MegaClue! New episodes every Monday and Thursday. Puzzles in this episode are by Kevin Leman. Script by Elliott Kalan, additional material by Maddie McCann. Music and sound effects by Devon Torrey Bryant.

Summary

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!

Transcript

Elliot Kaelin (0:00)

Today's episode of Clueless is sponsored by Monopoly. And their three brand new expansions get faster gameplay and fresh twists with free parking. Jackpot. Go to jail and buy everything available now. Monopoly is a trademark of Hasbro Smart Voice Media. Clueless listeners are asked to be on the lookout for an electric blue Mustang convertible with a picture of a Tyrannosaurus Rex airbrushed on the side. The this vehicle has not been involved with any crime. It's just probably the coolest car you'll ever see. And you'll be real disappointed if you miss it. This is Clueless. Clueless. Clueless. Welcome to Smartless presents. Clueless, the only puzzle podcast brave enough to put its Sean Hayes where its mouth is. I'm your host, Elliot Kaelin. And yes, I've heard the rumors, but Tilda Swinton and I are just good friends. Now. Please welcome the man who appears when you say his name three times. Sean Hayes. Sean Hayes. Sean Hayes. And there he is.

Sean Hayes (1:07)

And then it was just silent. Hi, everybody. Elliot, thank you for having me on the show again. This is so fun.

Elliot Kaelin (1:15)

Sean, thank you for being here. Who with you today?

Sean Hayes (1:17)

Well, I'm gonna tell you right now, his name is Scott Eisenogle. I met him 18 years ago. And what a ride it's been for 18 years. Scott. He doesn't speak until I allow it. What an incredible journey we've been on, and it's just beautiful. Go ahead, speak.

Scott Eisenogle (1:37)

Hi, everybody. And what a journey it's been with no exit ramps. Thank you.

Elliot Kaelin (1:43)

That's the best kind of journey. There's no end and you can't get out of it. Yeah.

Sean Hayes (1:47)

Yeah. And we're waiting for it to begin.

Scott Eisenogle (1:49)

That's right.

Elliot Kaelin (1:50)

You're actually on the line to get on the journey.

Sean Hayes (1:53)

Yeah.

Elliot Kaelin (1:54)

Sean, as always, wonderful to have you with us. Scotty, as always, wonderful to have you with us as well. Both. Wonderful to have both of you with us. And now that I've used the art of chitchat to lull you both into a false sense of security, it's time to pull the rug out from under you and reveal we're actually here to solve some puzzles. So let's start with last episode's Cliffhanger, which went based on these ingredients. What kind of cake is this a recipe for 2 parts cactus, 1 parts rattlesnake, 2 parts roadrunner, and 1 part turmeric. I'll tell you again, 2 parts cactus, 1 parts Rattlesnake, 2 parts Roadrunner, 1 parts turmeric. What cake is this a recipe for?