SmartLess Presents ClueLess

Episode 169 – "Odd One Out" (w/ Scotty Icenogle)

Date: August 18, 2025
Host: Elliott Kalan
Contestants: Sean Hayes (Season Contestant), Scotty Icenogle (Guest)
Duration: ~10–12 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode marks the season finale of ClueLess, with Sean Hayes playing his last round as the constant contestant. Elliott Kalan guides Sean and guest Scotty Icenogle (Sean’s husband and the original guest contestant) through a series of playful puzzles, culminating in a collaborative goodbye filled with gratitude, highlights, and, of course, clever wordplay.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening & Season Reflections

• The tone is celebratory and slightly emotional as the team acknowledges Sean Hayes's final episode this season.

• Sean thanks the entire team and Elliott for their work, humor, and collaboration.

  • Sean Hayes: “I'm very, very fortunate and lucky and honored to have shared these episodes with you…You are brilliant, you are funny, you are kind, you are thoughtful. I appreciate you.” [01:47]

• Scotty joins in, and there’s playful confusion and reminiscing about past recordings.

2. Cliffhanger Puzzle Resolution

• The hosts resolve last episode’s cliffhanger:
  • Puzzle: What makes these words the samesies: "Fires," "Melon," "Lump," "Coat"?
  • Contestants puzzle out the connections through wordplay (anagrams of foods).
  • Solution: Fires – Fries, Melon – Lemon, Lump – Plum, Coat – Taco.
  • Elliott Kalan: “All of these are anagrams of food…You did great. That's fantastic.” [05:40]

3. Main Game: “Odd One Out”

• Game Setup: Pearl Jam members each brought items on holiday; three have something in common, one is different—determine the outlier and reason.
• The puzzle is a favorite of Elliott’s son; playful family anecdote shared.

Puzzle Rounds

| Question & Items | Solution (Speaker, Explanation) | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|---------------| | Sleeping bag, wetsuit, backpack, sled | Sled (Scotty, “The others have zippers.”) | [10:12] | | Spoon, garbage, treats, meatloaf | Treats (Sean, “The others are band names.”) | [11:13] | | Strainer, walker, scarf, bust | Walker (Sean/Scotty, “The rest hide vehicles: train, car, bus.”) | [12:28]| | German Deutschmark, Greek drachma, Belgian franc, British pound | Pound (Elliott, “The others switched to euro.”) | [14:02] | | Paddle, harmonica, thermometer, vape pen | Paddle (Scotty, “The others go in your mouth.”) | [15:08] |

• Notable Exchange:

  • Elliott Kalan: “That was one, I was worried that you guys…”
  • Sean Hayes: “That we…That we would get.” [12:38]

• Consistent teamwork and creative (often humorous) thinking; Elliott encourages their thought process, even when off the mark.

4. Mega Clue

• Prompt: What links the left-behind items—sled, treats, walker, pound, paddle?
• Solution: Each forms a familiar phrase with “dog” (dog sled, dog treats, dog walker, dog pound, dog paddle).
  • Sean Hayes: “Oh, a dog. Dog.”
  • Elliott Kalan: “Exactly right. Dog sled, dog treats, dog walker, dog pound, dog paddle…You did it. Great job.” [16:03]

5. Cliffhanger Puzzle Finale

• For the first time, ClueLess gives the cliffhanger answer immediately:
  • Puzzle Prompt: “I am a turtle. A nerd. I'm definitely a dud, but also a smartie. What am I?”
  • Sean Hayes: “You are candy.” [17:29]
  • Elliott Kalan: “Exactly right, John. Candy is candy...such a weight off me, it's been lifted.” [17:31]
  • Lighthearted acknowledgment of the answer and an insulin joke from Sean.

6. Season Closing & Banter

• Heartfelt thanks to listeners, Scotty, Sean, and the production team.
• Playful threats (“I might just kill you by looking at you.” – Sean, [18:29]) and inside jokes (the “Hayes gaze”).
• Elliott bids farewell with poetic exaggeration and a final quip about ending the season on a fart joke.
• Elliott Kalan: “...though the stars may fall, though the oceans may rise, though the mountains may crumble, Clueless will always be here for you with a puzzle, a joke, and a few minutes of simple joy and delight. Guys, who messed with my script? We were supposed to end the season with a big fart joke.” [18:37]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Sean’s Season Goodbye:
  “You are brilliant, you are funny, you are kind, you are thoughtful. I appreciate you.” [01:47]

• Elliott’s Summation of Odd One Out:
  “The sled is the odd one out. The others have zippers.” [10:16]

• On Band-Themed Items:
  “The others, all names of bands or musicians. Spoon and Garbage were bands and Meatloaf was a singer person.” [11:13]

• On Vehicles Hidden in Words:
  “Train and strain. Car and scarf. Bus and bust.” [12:28]

• On Euro Transition:
  “The others were all absorbed by the euro, but the pound...you got to buy everything with pounds.” [14:02]

• Sean’s Lighthearted Threat:
  “I might just kill you by looking at you.” [18:29]

• Elliott’s Fart Joke Fake-Out:
  “We were supposed to end the season with a big fart joke.” [19:10]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Episode Start/Season Reflection: 01:08
• Cliffhanger Puzzle Resolution: 04:21 – 05:48
• Odd One Out Game Introduction: 08:01
• Game Questions: 09:10 – 15:15
• Mega Clue: 16:00 – 16:19
• Cliffhanger "Candy" Answer: 17:29 – 17:44
• Season Farewell & Banter: 18:03 – 19:10

Episode Tone and Language

• Playful, humorous, and affectionate.
• Friendly ribbing, self-deprecation (Sean), and clever wordplay throughout.
• Emphasis on camaraderie, gratitude, and fun.

Summary

The season finale of ClueLess delivers a tightly paced, puzzle-packed episode with Sean Hayes and guest Scotty Icenogle teaming up for one last round. The show features a retrospective warmth, games rooted in wordplay (“Odd One Out”), and a rare immediate answer for the traditional "cliffhanger" puzzle. The hosts close with heartfelt thanks, self-aware humor, and a promise of more brainteasers in future seasons.

If you love banter, puzzles, and quick wit, this episode is a sendoff worth savoring—just don't forget to bring your own fart joke.