SmartLess Presents ClueLess
Episode 207 - Christmas Mini! (December 22, 2025)
Episode Overview
In this festive “mini” episode, host Elliott Kalan welcomes listeners to a cozier, guest-free holiday special, joined only by producer Devin Tory Bryant. With their trademark playful banter, the duo deliver two themed puzzle games—one about quirky holiday traditions, the other weaving “peace,” “love,” and “joy” into every answer. In the spirit of gift-giving, they sneak in some self-promotion of their creative projects and share plenty of jokes along the way. This episode is all about puzzling fun, holiday weirdness, and bringing some seasonal cheer to the airwaves.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Holiday Traditions Game: Truth or Bogus?
[03:02 – 05:45]
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Premise: Elliott describes four holiday traditions from different countries—three are real, one is fabricated. Listeners must guess the fake.
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Traditions Presented:
- Morocco: Pastries baked with money inside for prosperity.
- Guatemala: Burning a pile of trash with a devil effigy on top.
- Japan: Christmas dinner is KFC fried chicken.
- Norway: Families hide their brooms on Christmas Eve to thwart witches.
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Revealed Answers/Explanations:
- Norway’s broom-hiding? True.
- Japan’s KFC Christmas dinner? True.
- Guatemala’s burning of the devil (La Quema del Diablo)? True.
- Morocco’s monetary pastries? False.
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Insight:
“Someone else’s holiday traditions always sound a little weird. Like if I told you that during Christmas, many people take a tree from the forest and bring it inside their house and dress it up with shiny baubles like a brazen hussy.” — Elliott Kaelin [04:07]
2. Peace, Love, or Joy Game
[07:50 – 12:50]
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Game Structure: Every answer contains either “peace,” “love,” or “joy.” Elliott poses 10 questions; Devin plays along.
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Sample Questions & Answers:
- Candy with the jingle “Sometimes you feel like a nut”?
Answer: Almond Joy [08:44] - Award received by Obama, Al Gore, Mother Teresa, and Roosevelt?
Answer: Nobel Peace Prize [08:57] - Setting of Gopher, Isaac, Dr. Bricker, Vicki, Captain Stubing?
Answer: The Love Boat [09:34] - What’s it called when you steal your parents’ car?
Answer: Joyriding [09:51] - English band with “Love Will Tear Us Apart”?
Answer: Joy Division [10:20] - DC Comics character played by John Cena?
Answer: Peacemaker [10:41] - Beyoncé 2003 mega hit?
Answer: Crazy in Love [10:54] - A way to leave abruptly, especially in the 90s?
Answer: Peace out [11:29] - Star of “Furiosa,” “The Queen’s Gambit,” “Super Mario Bros.”?
Answer: Anya Taylor Joy [11:39] - “The Simpsons” minister’s name?
Answer: Reverend Lovejoy [11:56]
- Candy with the jingle “Sometimes you feel like a nut”?
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Memorable Banter:
- “Mounds don’t [have nuts]. I don’t know what mounds have in them. Frankly, I don’t want to know.” — Elliott Kaelin [08:48]
- “If only he was named Peacemaker Lovejoy, we would have had every word in one answer. We almost got there.” — Elliott Kaelin [12:01]
- “Now, this is normally when I’d ask if you did as well as our contestants, but today you are the contestant, so you automatically did as well as the contestant. Nice job.” — Elliott Kaelin [12:13]
3. Festive Banter, Recurring Jokes & Self-Promotion
[01:34 – 02:42] & [13:10 – 13:23]
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Gift-List Joke-athon:
Elliott and Devin exchange humorous holiday gift plugs:- Devin’s new album: “Blame it on My Zodiac” by Painkiller the Pigeon ([01:47], [13:10])
- Elliott’s book: “Joke: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense” ([02:12], [13:23])
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Playful Jabs:
- “I think Xmas is Spanish for more Xs, please.” — Elliott Kaelin [01:34]
- “All the children on the list. I assume [the album] is all-ages appropriate.” — Elliott Kaelin [02:03]
- “Much better than January 17, a day which is in no way Hollywood.” — Elliott Kaelin [03:00]
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Warm, Irreverent Tone:
Elliott and Devin keep the mood light, embrace the inherent weirdness of holidays, and riff on seasonal tropes.
4. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Absurd Traditions:
“If I told you that during Christmas, many people take a tree from the forest and bring it inside their house and then dress it up with shiny baubles like a brazen hussy…”
— Elliott Kaelin [04:07] -
Holiday Takeaway:
“I want to thank you, the listener, for being the greatest holiday gift of all. Although actually, I think there’s a greater holiday gift…”
— Elliott Kaelin [12:51] -
On Christmas Planning:
“…I don’t know where I’m gonna find three French hens or eight maids of milking this time of night. I really should have planned better.”
— Elliott Kaelin [12:31]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Timestamp | Segment | |---------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:34 | Album plug: “Blame it on My Zodiac” | | 02:12 | Book plug: “Joke: How to Write Comedy and Other Nonsense” | | 03:02 | Holiday traditions game begins | | 04:25 | Traditions revealed—“Morocco” is the false one | | 07:50 | “Peace, Love, Joy” game introduction | | 08:44 | Almond Joy, the candy question | | 08:57 | Nobel Peace Prize question | | 09:34 | Love Boat question | | 10:20 | Joy Division question | | 10:41 | Peacemaker/DC Comics question | | 11:29 | “Peace out” as a 90s phrase question | | 11:39 | Anya Taylor Joy question | | 11:56 | Reverend Lovejoy (“Simpsons” reference) | | 12:51 | Thanking the listener as “greatest holiday gift of all” | | 13:10 | Final album and book plug reminders |
Summary of the Episode’s Tone
The episode is playful, affectionate, and irreverent—full of quick-witted humor and cozy holiday camaraderie. Elliott’s comedic sensibility shines through in his quirky digressions and asides, and the duo’s easy rapport keeps even the trivia segments feeling lively and accessible. The mini-episode is a treat for fans seeking a quick, flavorful dose of seasonal laughs and brain teasers.
In Short:
This Christmas Mini! episode condenses everything fans love about “ClueLess”—clever puzzles, cultural oddities, gentle roasting, and contagious holiday spirit—into twelve brisk, merry minutes. Perfect for laughing along with the holiday weirdness and testing your own trivia chops!