TBTL #4568: "Kicking And Streaming"

Hosts: Luke Burbank & Andrew Walsh
Date: October 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This Friday episode finds Luke and Andrew in classic TBTL form—riffing on everything from home repair gripes and Yelp reviews, to movie soundtracks and the labyrinthine lives of modern sports fans. With a Mariners playoff series looming, Andrew faces a streaming crisis, while Luke recounts his own recent drama with HVAC repairmen. Interwoven throughout are the hosts’ signature blend of nostalgia, self-deprecation, and good-natured griping, with regular musical and pop culture digressions. The pair also weigh in on the controversy surrounding the Riyadh Comedy Festival, closing the show on a thoughtful, if somewhat melancholy, note.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bag Hutch Goof (00:00–00:23)

• Luke and Andrew open with a tongue-in-cheek commercial for a "bag hutch," poking fun at the proliferation of unnecessary products.
• Sets the playful, irreverent tone of the episode.

2. Friday Check-In/Banter (00:24–02:11)

• The hosts celebrate Friday, riffing on “Friday” by Rebecca Black and referencing pop culture (e.g., AM radio vs. FM in the '80s).
• Luke references his ongoing saga with HVAC repairs at his home and promises more updates.

3. Yelp Reviews & Listener Connections (03:27–09:32)

• Andrew brings up Luke’s “journalism crank” tendencies and his recent turn toward policing local journalism and writing Yelp reviews.
• Listener Kate texts in to inform the hosts that TBTL is, in fact, on Yelp—complete with (mostly) five-star reviews and one notable one-star review from "guest producer Doug Schreckengast," a long-running inside joke.
• The pair reminisce about the history of the show, its transition from radio to podcasting, and their relationships with listeners.

Notable Quote:
“It's unfortunate this show has not taken more of my guest producer segment ideas. I have many guest producer Doug Schreckengos and they are good.”
– Luke, reading from the fake one-star review (06:51)

4. Movie Talk: Soundtracks & Pynchon (09:35–17:30)

• The hosts deep-dive into the use of Tom Petty’s “American Girl” in recent films, its connection to “Silence of the Lambs,” and personal associations with the song.
• They dissect the music choices in Paul Thomas Anderson films, link them to literary influences (notably Thomas Pynchon), and discuss the quirky character naming style endemic to Pynchon.
• The pair nerd out on musical cues and discuss their favorite moments of soundtracking in Magnolia and Inherent Vice.

Notable Quote:
“We always say the boring part first. That's a big part of this.”
– Andrew (03:49)

Timestamps:

• Silence of the Lambs & Tom Petty: 10:09
• PT Anderson’s song choices: 17:31
• Johnny Greenwood & Inherent Vice: 18:44

5. Andrew’s Sports Streaming Crisis (20:01–32:36)

• Andrew reveals that the illegal streaming websites he relies on for watching sports have been shut down by the FBI, leaving him bereft just as the Mariners enter the playoffs.
• Discussion about the fragmented nature of broadcast and streaming sports rights—even LeBron James has resorted to stream sites for convenience.
• Andrew debates whether to venture out to crowded bars to watch the games, weighing his “jostle aversion” against playoff FOMO.

Notable Quote:
“I don't know how I'm going to watch the game this weekend... This is the first time I've actually been panicking about this. I don't have that option anymore. I'm like a normal—”
– Andrew (25:41)

Timestamps:

• LeBron streaming story: 23:08
• Andrew’s site shut down: 21:18

6. Cutting the Cord: Streaming Service Debate (25:41–31:48)

• Luke offers practical solutions (“Just get a Fubo trial!”), sharing his own positive experience with cord-cutting and digital sports access.
• A humorous aside covers “Burbank Math”—the rationalization method for adding new expenses in life without actually cutting old ones.

Notable Quote:
“This is called Burbank Math. Okay? It's like, oh, you want to have something and it costs money. Well, you just tell yourself what you can eliminate that will net that out. And then you just don't eliminate the other thing.”
– Luke (31:16)

7. Mariners Playoff Mania, Bars vs. Home Viewing (32:49–38:17)

• Andrew and Luke discuss the unique pleasures and pains of watching playoff baseball in public, with “real fans” versus at home, and the anxiety about missing key moments.
• Luke gets excited about a rare chance to watch with his brother—someone who shares his obsessive fandom.

8. Luke’s HVAC Saga: Good Contractors vs. Bad (57:07–68:27)

• Luke finally gets professional, polite, and effective service on his “mini split” system after a disastrous experience with a previous heating & cooling company.
• The generational divide in tradesmanship comes up: younger contractors are more familiar with modern tech like mini splits, while the older ones (in this anecdote) seem surlier and less adept.
• Andrew encourages Luke to balance out his Yelp usage by posting positive reviews, too.

Notable Quote:
“They were trying to figure out the problem. By the way, again, they had all of the devices, Andrew, that they needed. ... They filled it all back up, and it has been working like a charm.”
– Luke (61:00+)

9. Local Journalism Rant: The Portland ‘Hellhole’ Narrative (41:01–53:35)

• Luke reads and reacts to local articles that quote rural Washington residents on Portland’s “troubles.” He criticizes the journalistic laziness of asking people with no direct experience rather than reporting from the site itself.
• Andrew agrees, noting parallels in Seattle’s reputational narratives.

Notable Quote:
“You might as well say Castle Rock residents weigh in on if the Mars rover is stuck on a particular... In a particular valley on Mars, it's like another place that they are not going to and have no insight as to.”
– Luke (48:51)

10. Riyadh Comedy Festival: Free Speech Hypocrisy in Stand-Up (92:00–103:32)

• Both hosts dissect the controversy over the “Riyadh Comedy Festival,” where major American comics (e.g., Chappelle, Bill Burr, Pete Davidson) are being paid large sums to perform in Saudi Arabia under contractually restricted speech.
• David Cross’s public statement is praised; Dave Chappelle’s claim that “it’s easier to talk here [Saudi Arabia] than it is in America” is sharply criticized.
• The contradiction between “First Amendment warrior” posturing and tacit acceptance of censorship for a check is explored.

Notable Quotes:
“That's just that, that might, that might have to end my, my relationship with Dave Chappelle's comedy. ... For some reason, I feel very let down that he said that in Saudi Arabia.”
– Luke (100:49–101:34)

“And it always irks me in Saudi Arabia, in this Saudi Arabia gig.”
– Andrew (98:29)

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• [06:51] “It's unfortunate this show has not taken more of my guest producer segment ideas.” – Luke (reading Yelp)
• [10:09] “There’s a powerful moment at the beginning of ‘Silence of the Lambs’ … Now we've got one of the most interesting closing scenes to a movie. And they're both using ‘American Girl’ by Tom Petty.” – Luke
• [17:31] “Dirty work suddenly showing up. It seems almost random. Like truly random. But it's not... Why does that work so well?” – Andrew
• [25:41] “I don't know how I'm going to watch the game this weekend ... This is the first time I've actually been panicking about this…” – Andrew
• [31:16] “This is called Burbank Math. ... You just don't eliminate the other thing.” – Luke
• [32:49] “I can't be watching it with people who are kind of like half plugged in and want to talk about anything unrelated to, you know, like if Spires change up is actually hitting tonight or not...” – Luke
• [48:51] “You might as well say Castle Rock residents weigh in on if the Mars rover is stuck in a particular valley on Mars...” – Luke
• [61:00+] “They were trying to figure out the problem... They filled it all back up, and it has been working like a charm.” – Luke
• [92:00+] “I don't want to make this out to be ageist, but I stand by my belief that the really grumpy guy ... does not enjoy dealing with the complex electronics of the mini split ...” – Luke
• [100:49] “In America, they say that if you talk about Charlie Kirk, you'll get canceled ... I don't know if that's true, but I'm gonna find out. ... It's easier to talk here [Saudi Arabia] than it is in America.” – Dave Chappelle (quoted by Luke)
• [101:34] “The hot air balloon that is Dave Chappelle is unmoored... and he's now floating in just complete bullshit land.” – Luke

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

| Time | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-------------------------------------------| | 00:00 | Opening Bag Hutch Skit | | 02:11 | HVAC Saga Intro | | 03:27 | Yelp & Listener Correspondence | | 09:35 | Movie Soundtrack Deep-Dive | | 18:44 | Inherent Vice, Magnolia Music Analysis | | 20:01 | Andrew’s Streaming Crisis | | 25:41 | Cord-Cutting Discussion | | 32:49 | Mariners Playoff Anticipation | | 41:01 | Local Journalism and Portland “Hellhole” | | 57:07 | HVAC Saga Resolution, Generational Divide | | 92:00 | Riyadh Comedy Festival Controversy | | 100:49 | Chappelle’s Controversial Statement | | 105:10 | Mariners Playoff Prophecy, Happy Dance | | 106:41 | End of Show |

Episode Tone & Dynamics

• Language & Tone: Playful, wry, at times indignant, with moments of earnest critique and nostalgia. The hosts tease each other, quote inside jokes, and blend serious media criticism with self-deprecating humor.
• Structure: Loosely structured but well-paced, with each major topic getting time to breathe and spiral naturally into related subjects.
• Memorable Moments: Andrew’s honest panic about being forced into “normie” viewing for the baseball playoffs; the hosts’ contemplation of the ethics of well-paid comics performing under censorship; their celebration of listeners’ ongoing role in the show’s ecosystem.

For New Listeners

This episode is quintessential TBTL: wide-ranging, funny, and heartfelt, combining personal stories (Luke’s HVAC woes, Andrew’s streaming setback) with broader cultural conversations (movie soundtracks, journalism, sports fanaticism, the ethical waters of celebrity). The show’s community focus shines in their engagement with listener feedback, even as the hosts poke fun at themselves and the very nature of their discourse.

If you missed it:
You’ll laugh at their tribulations but also get a sense of the quirky, supportive community TBTL has built—a blend of pop culture, local color, and relatable grown-up angst.

Power Out.