Story Warz – Episode 069: Thanksgiving
Date: November 28, 2025
Host: GaS Digital Network
Panel: Big Jay Oakerson, Luis J. Gomez, Mike Finoia, Geo Perez, Giannis Pappas
Location: The Stand Comedy Club, NYC
Episode Overview
This rollicking Thanksgiving episode of Story Warz pits comedians Big Jay Oakerson and Luis J. Gomez against Mike Finoia, Geo Perez, and Giannis Pappas in the signature comedy game of lies and storytelling, live before a raucous New York crowd. Each comic submits stories on the week’s theme — Thanksgiving — trying to deceive the others while guessing who the real storyteller is. High-stakes points, wild personal tales, and aggressive ball-busting ensue, with double points in the second half and a nail-biting tiebreaker to cap off the episode.
Key Discussion Points and Stories
Show Introduction & Rules of Story Warz
(03:13-05:43)
- Five comedians each submit 3–5 stories on the theme (Thanksgiving).
- Stories are read anonymously. If it’s yours, try to fool the others; if it’s not, guess the author.
- Points: 2 for a correct guess, 1 per person fooled.
- Winner gets the coveted book-of-the-week: Girl Wars: 12 Strategies that Will End Female Bullying.
- "We don’t play for fun. We play for blood." — Big Jay (06:30)
Contestant Introductions & Banter
(03:20–05:13)
- Jay and Luis are joined by Mike Finoia (Impractical Jokers writer), Gio Perez (On the Gate podcast), and Giannis Pappas (History Hyenas).
- Good-natured roasting about prison time (Geo) and washed-up 90s rapper vibes.
- “The three of you look like a Beastie Boys cover band.” — Jay (04:53)
- “I'd be thrilled with, like, former rappers from the 90s who now had to get day jobs.” — Giannis (04:59)
Stories & Panel Reactions
Story 1: Vomiting Deer Sausage at Thanksgiving
(08:38-16:39)
- Story: Vomiting into a napkin at an ex’s rural family dinner but pretending it was a cough, then hiding it.
- Panel suspects: Mike and Giannis.
- Jay and Luis needle Giannis about being Greek and Mike about dating woodsy girls.
- Reveal: Giannis Pappas
- “That was Jesse Mae Peluso. Syracuse, New York... deer meat’s just gamey.” — Giannis (15:25)
Story 2: Excluded from Family Photos
(17:20-25:07)
- Story: Told to wake up for professional family photos only to be asked to sit out of them.
- Panel suspects: Mike for his youthful Deadhead look, Jay’s divided family background.
- Reveal: Big Jay Okerson
- “I stood up and my stepmother goes, ‘Oh. I thought it was going to be like, our family.’” — Jay (25:07)
- “Pictures are gay anyway. Humiliating.” — Jay (25:22)
Story 3: Smoking with Cousin, Beatdown by Aunt
(29:43-37:44)
- Story: Caught smoking with cousin in car; aunt snatches cousin and beats him up.
- Panel suspects: Geo or Luis, with Geo “too shaky”.
- Reveal: Geo Perez
- “I use criminal terminology because that's what cops do. They snatch you up.” — Geo (37:29)
- “I was probably, like, young 20s. And he was, like, 17.” — Geo (37:57)
Story 4: Family Debates Warning New Guy About Crazy Girlfriend
(40:12-51:57)
- Story: Family fights, post-Thanksgiving, about whether to warn storyteller about their crazy daughter/sister.
- Panel suspects: Overwhelmingly Luis, but misdirection from multiple panelists.
- Reveal: Luis J. Gomez
- “This was the craziest girl that I’ve ever dated in my entire life.” — Luis (50:04)
- "You will never get her out of your life for as long as you live." — Luis, quoting the sister (51:21)
Halfway Standings
(53:15-56:00)
- Lead: Mike Finoia
- Luis & Giannis close behind
- Geo and Big Jay trailing but within reach
- Double points for remaining stories
Story 5: Spilled Gravy on Toddler — Hospitalization
(57:31-65:34)
- Story: Ended Thanksgiving abruptly after spilling hot gravy on toddler, child hospitalized.
- Panel suspects: Heavy speculation on Geo ("unattended toddlers"), but see suspicious details in Mike's demeanor.
- Reveal: Mike Finoia
- “I spilled a gravy boat... I fumbled and it went all over my little sister... She screamed so loud, and I felt terrible.” — Mike (64:38, 65:08)
Story 6: Thanksgiving with Two Alcoholics, a Trans, and a Young Boy
(67:10-73:29)
- Story: Thanksgiving spent with a wild cast of characters. Panel instantly suspects Geo (jail), then pivots to Big Jay.
- Reveal: Big Jay Okerson
- “Two alcoholics, Bobby Kelly, Jim Norton; a trans, Jim Norton’s wife; and a young boy, Bobby Kelly’s son.” — Big Jay (73:56)
Story 7: Pre-Thanksgiving Football Injury
(79:19–86:28)
- Story: Annual friends’ tackle football leads to a broken collarbone.
- Panel suspects: Mike (playing to Connecticut stereotypes), then Lewis (strange wording "tackle football"), then Geo.
- Reveal: Luis J. Gomez
- “Every year I was like, I don’t know what the f**k is going on out here, guys!” — Luis (86:28)
Story 8: Chased Out of Friendsgiving After Girlfriend Checks Phone
(89:04–101:21)
- Story: Girlfriend snoops at Friendsgiving, leading to a blow-up and storyteller being chased out.
- Panel: Most suspect Luis or Giannis; confusion over “Friendsgiving” as a white thing.
- Reveal: Geo Perez
- “So when I came out... she asked me the girl’s name, and then I walked out to avoid the fight, and then she just chased me and ended up trying to run me off the road…” — Geo (101:05)
Tiebreaker: Grandma Has a Stroke at Thanksgiving Table
(103:37–107:13)
- Tie: 15 points each for Luis J. Gomez and Geo Perez.
- Tiebreaker story: When I was a kid, my grandmother had a stroke at Thanksgiving.
- Both guess wrong (Luis for Giannis, Geo for Jay).
- Reveal: Mike Finoia
- “I was nine. My grandmother sat across from me and she went like this. And part of her went dead... brought her to the hospital.” — Mike (106:44)
Final Standings
(101:41–107:56)
- 1st Place / Story Warrior Winner: Geo Perez (8 tiebreaker points)
- Luis J. Gomez: 0 (wagered all points)
- Mike Finoia & Big Jay Okerson: tied for third
- Giannis Pappas: last place (again)
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “Yeah, deer meat’s just gamey... It’s for idiots only.” — Giannis (16:33)
- “I stood up and my stepmother goes, ‘Oh. I thought it was going to be like, our family.’” — Jay (25:07)
- “I use criminal terminology because that’s what cops do. They snatch you up.” — Geo (37:29)
- “This was the craziest girl that I’ve ever dated in my entire life.” — Luis (50:04)
- “Double points! This is anybody’s game!” — Luis (56:03)
- “Two alcoholics, Bobby Kelly, Jim Norton; a trans, Jim Norton’s wife; and a young boy, Bobby Kelly’s son.” — Jay (73:56)
- “You promises you’ll never stop having sex with me?” — Jay, faking a teary moment (97:50)
- “So when I came out the bathroom, she asked me the girl's name... tried to run me off the road, keyed my car, woke up my abuela. ...We stayed together for like, six months after that.” — Geo (101:05)
- “That means... Geo Perez, you are the new Story Warrior!” — Jay (107:56)
Episode Highlights
- Panel chemistry: Relentless roasting, authentic camaraderie, sharp observational jokes, and off-color humor, yet also real heart and vulnerability in true story moments.
- Witty misdirection: Story authors often lean into or away from ethnic and personal stereotypes to throw off the group, making for hilarious cross-examinations.
- Diversity of Thanksgiving experiences: From jail stories to white family photo exclusions, to Latinx and Greek family mayhem, and drunken comedy Thanksgivings.
- Dramatic double-point finish: The entire game remains close until the end, with a thrilling tiebreaker round.
- Memorable crowd energy: The live audience at The Stand, thoroughly engaged and audible, amplifies every reveal and punchline.
Timestamps for Key Segments
- How to play / Panel Intro: 03:13–06:31
- First story read: 08:38
- First big reveal (Giannis): 15:00
- Jay’s family photo story reveal: 24:59
- Geo’s cousin beatdown story reveal: 37:17
- Luis’s ‘crazy girlfriend’ story: 49:36–51:57
- Double points explanation / Standings update: 56:03–57:18
- Mike’s gravy boat disaster: 64:09
- Jay’s “two alcoholics, a trans, and a young boy” Thanksgiving: 73:29
- Friendsgiving phone fight (Geo): 99:27
- Tiebreaker and winner declared: 103:37–107:56
Conclusion
This episode is a showcase of the unique, razor-sharp dynamic of the Story Warz crew. Each story delivers side-splitting jokes, personal stakes, and unpredictable twists, ultimately crowning Geo Perez as the evening’s master storyteller. It’s a can’t-miss comedy roundtable that proves everyone’s Thanksgiving is a little dysfunctional — and hilarious, in the right company.