Podcast Summary: SmartLess Presents ClueLess – Episode 155: Bot Bops (w/ Scotty Icenogle)
Release Date: May 22, 2025
Duration: 16:17 minutes

Introduction

In Episode 155 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess, hosted by Emmy-winning writer Elliott Kalan, listeners are treated to an engaging session featuring the perennial contestant Sean Hayes and special guest Scotty Icenogle. The episode, titled "Bot Bops," delves into the whimsical world of song lyric puzzles presented by an emotionless bot, testing the participants' knowledge and quick thinking.

Recap of Previous Episode's Puzzle

Elliott opens the episode by revisiting the cliffhanger puzzle from the last episode, which involved a math riddle about Gizmo and Billy Peltzer's piggy bank. The puzzle asked:

“For every Christmas since Gizmo came to live with him, his friend Billy Peltzer has deposited as many coins into that mogwise piggy bank. As he is old now, there are 21 coins in the bank. How old is Gizmo? If each year Billy Peltzer has put in the number of coins per year of Gizmo's age at that year.”

Sean promptly solves it:

Sean Hayes [02:44]: "He's six years old."

Elliott praises Sean's swift and accurate reasoning:

Elliott Kalan [03:04]: "Very good. It sounds so complicated and yet the answer was once you know it, the answer is very simple."

Guest Introduction and Banter

The dynamic duo continues with lighthearted banter. Elliott introduces Scotty Icenogle, highlighting his role humorously:

Elliott Kalan [01:13]: "So please welcome the eighth wonder of the world, or at the very least, one of the top 20 wonders of Los Angeles, Sean Hayes."

Sean jokes about charging for his appearance:

Sean Hayes [01:19]: "Yeah, I'm glad I made the list. And by the way, I charge for people to look at me as one of the wonders."

The camaraderie between Elliott, Sean, and Scotty sets an entertaining tone for the episode.

Main Game: Bot Bops

The core of the episode revolves around "Bot Bops," a game where an AI bot recites fragmented song lyrics, and the contestants must identify the song title and artist. Successfully identifying five songs contributes to solving the mega clue question.

Bop 1: "When Doves Cry" by Prince

Clueless Bot [05:54]: "Bop dream, if you can? A courtyard, an ocean of violets in bloom Animals strike curious poses I feel the heat, the heat between me and."

Sean swiftly identifies the song:

Sean Hayes [06:05]: "You when doves cry by Prince."

Elliott confirms Sean's answer:

Elliott Kalan [06:13]: "Yes. When doves cry by Prince."

Bop 2: "Where It's At" by Beck

Clueless Bot [06:33]: "There's a destination a little up the road from the habitations and the towns we know a place we saw the lights turn low the jigsaw jazz and the get fresh flow Pulling out jives and jamboree handouts Two turntables and a microphone Bottles and cans a. Just clap your hands. Just clap your hands."

After some deliberation, Sean and Scotty identify the artist:

Clueless Bot [07:41]: "By Beck."

Sean expresses his fondness for Beck:

Sean Hayes [07:44]: "Oh, I love it."

Bop 3: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" by Frankie Lymon & the Teenagers

Clueless Bot [07:56]: "Why does my heart skip a crazy beat For I know it will reach defeat Tell me why Tell me why."

Despite attempts to guess, Elliott intervenes with the correct answer:

Clueless Bot [08:55]: "Why Do Fools Fall In Love? By Frankie Lyman and the Teenagers. Or the Beach Boys Or Diana Ross or Joni Mitchell."

Elliott humorously acknowledges the difficulty:

Elliott Kalan [09:08]: "It was like, guys, everybody's done this song. You just name any performer and they've probably done it."

Bop 4: "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" by U2

Clueless Bot [09:48]: "I have climbed highest mountains I have run through the fields Only to be with you Only to be with you I have run, I have crawled I have scaled these city walls these city walls Only to be with you but."

Sean identifies the song:

Sean Hayes [10:10]: "I Still Haven't Found what I'm Looking for by U2."

Elliott commends the accuracy:

Elliott Kalan [10:17]: "Yes, John. Very good. I Still Haven't Found what I'm Looking for by U2."

Bop 5: "Who Let the Dogs Out" by Baha Men

Clueless Bot [10:41]: "I see the dance people had a ball. Cause she really want to skip town. Get back, Gruffy. Back, Scruffy. Get back, you flea infested mongrel. Gonna tell myself, hey man, no get angry. Hey yay, yippie, yay yo to any girls calling them canine. Hey, yippee yay yo. But they tell me, hey man, it's part of the party. Yippee I yo. You put a woman in front and her man behind. I heard a woman shout out blank."

After some playful frustration, Sean nails the answer:

Sean Hayes [12:06]: "Who Let the Dogs Out by the Baha Men."

Elliott praises their performance:

Elliott Kalan [12:19]: "Yes, that was who Let the Dogs Out. I'm gonna give you a point for that that you can share between the two of you."

Score Update: Sean has accumulated five points, while Scotty has one and a quarter points.

Mega Clue Question

With all five songs correctly identified, Elliott presents the mega clue:

Elliott Kalan [12:52]: "You see, the five songs in today's puzzle all have titles that are part of the same category. Often there is a sixth member of this category. Your job is to tell me what is the theme. And can you name a song that fits the sixth and missing member of this category?"

Sean and Scotty collaboratively deduce that the theme revolves around question words:

Scotty Icenogle [13:31]: "They sound like when, where, why? These sound like objects of a question. Who, what, where, why?"

Sean Hayes [13:44]: "Who? And how."

They identify "How Will I Know" by Erica Houston as the missing member, completing the category of question words in song titles.

Elliott awards them additional points, declaring both as winners:

Elliott Kalan [14:17]: "That megaclue was also worth 75 points, so you're both winners."

Cliffhanger Puzzle

Before wrapping up, Elliott introduces the cliffhanger puzzle to keep listeners engaged for the next episode:

Elliott Kalan [14:38]: "Today's puzzle is all about something that bots cannot do, and that's eat. So let's just take pride in the fact that we're all eating beings, and robots can't do that. You know, the puzzle goes, I'm at a buffet. If I've already had ham, eggs and fries, logically, which food should I eat next? I'm at a buffet. If I've already had ham, eggs and fries, logically, which food should I eat next?"

Sean humorously attempts an answer:

Sean Hayes [15:29]: "Well, clearly it's pizza, but maybe we'll wait."

Elliott hints that the answer will be revealed in the next episode, leaving listeners curious and eager.

Conclusion

Elliott wraps up the episode with witty analogies, thanking Scotty as the "perfect amuse bouche" and Sean as the "delicious but nutritious main course," while honoring the listeners as the "sweetest of desserts." He concludes with a humorous note about leaving the bill, maintaining the show’s signature lightheartedness.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Elliott Kalan [00:31]: "Smart less. They say a leopard can't change its spots, but just to be careful, the leopard should still change its wifi password every six months. This is Clueless. Clueless. Clueless."

• Sean Hayes [01:19]: "Yeah, I'm glad I made the list. And by the way, I charge for people to look at me as one of the wonders."

• Elliott Kalan [02:10]: "Speaking of math, why don't we take this moment to jump into last episode's cliffhanger puzzle."

• Sean Hayes [09:05]: "That was just to really stick it to us. How stupid we are."

• Elliott Kalan [12:17]: "Apparently, it's one of the songs where I feel like, yeah, knowledge of the lyrics is probably at a low point in America right now."

• Elliott Kalan [14:38]: "Cliffhanger puzzle is our way of grabbing your arm as you walk out the door and saying, wait, wait, don't go. We can change. But as a puzzle."

Final Thoughts

Episode 155 of SmartLess Presents ClueLess successfully blends humor, camaraderie, and challenging puzzles, making it a delightful listen for fans and newcomers alike. The introduction of Scotty Icenogle adds an extra layer of engagement, while the Bot Bops game showcases the contestants' quick wit and music knowledge. The cliffhanger puzzle ensures listeners return for more entertaining brain teasers in future episodes.