Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! #643: Daddy Tom (July 7, 2025)
Main Theme & Purpose
This episode of Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! reunites Walt Flanagan, Bryan Johnson, and Brian "Q" Quinn for an uncensored, meandering hangout blending comic book nostalgia, pop culture hot takes, and their signature brand of self-deprecating friendship. The core of the episode explores aging, avoiding obligations, the changing comic/fandom landscape, and plenty of humorous hypotheticals—including their signature "Flanny's Choice" scenario game—culminating in offbeat discussions about marriage, health, adaptation, and friendship.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Life Changes, Boundaries & Aging
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Letting Go of Obligations: Q opens up about a new philosophy—turning down offers and events for the sake of his own happiness.
"I've been enjoying life a lot more lately because I have been taking everything off my plate. It's all gone. It's all gone. Yeah, it's great."
— Q (01:25)The guys riff on saying no, compensation, reps pushing work, and the resulting cranky or supportive reactions from friends/agents.
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Aging & Memory: They reminisce about their comic-reading past and how time erodes memory.
"I gotta remember 57 years worth of stuff."
— Bryan (08:16)The realities of their physical limitations (pain, surgery, 'liver spots', joint replacements) and the existential shift that comes with approaching 70 come up, with humor but also real candor.
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Generation Gaps & Technology: The guys discuss becoming out of touch as tech evolves.
"Do you see yourself giving up at some point on technology?"
— Walt (15:42)Despite being "almost 50," they're still in touch, but unsure how long that will last.
2. Pop Culture: Comics, Movies & Fan Response
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Dark Tower, Sandman, Berni Wrightson: Q shares his reading (and re-reading) list, segues into creator controversies, and the value he’s gotten from long, immersive series.
"I started tearing up a little bit... these characters that I have been with since I was a little kid..."
— Q on Dark Tower (06:48) -
Comic Artists & Early Convention Stories: A vintage story about meeting Bernie Wrightson at a church basement con (09:00-11:00) becomes a running joke (“gay for Bernie”), hilariously recounted in their natural, riff-heavy style.
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Punisher Oddities & Changing Times: Marvel’s more questionable past "blackface" storylines, movie adaptations, and cult films like "Soul Man" and "White Chicks" spark a talk on shifting societal boundaries.
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Superman Movie Anticipation: The upcoming Superman film, leaks, controversies (the “12 year old in India” gaffe), and fan negativity are dissected.
"It is absolutely like fatiguing, the millions and millions of people shitting on it before it's even released. It's just staggering."
— Walt (18:03)The “Superman robots” and Krypto scene, Supergirl’s cameo, and overall hope for quality over origin rehashes are discussed.
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Fantastic Four & Insider Screenings: More speculations about upcoming comic movies, insight from friends who work on films or get screeners, and a lament over the loss of physical Marvel Masterworks.
3. Relationships & Marriage
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Marriage Anxiety & Prenups: Bryan marks five years married and dives into doubts about prenups, hypothetical divorce anxieties, and aging in relationships.
"I knew her then. I don't know her five years from then and I certainly don't know her ten years from then..."
— Bryan (34:18) -
Aging & Appearance: Jokes about scars vs. liver spots, and the desire to show physical “battle damage” versus simply looking old.
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Health & Weight Loss: The trio swaps battle stories about surgeries, joint replacements, and aches. Bryan details joining a group weight loss effort (“Daddy Tom” is referenced here as his support buddy).
"So far, I lost five and a half [pounds]."
— Bryan (41:39)Discussion of Ozempic’s rise in popularity and cultural stigma, with commentary on high-profile cases like Lizzo.
4. Flanny's Choice: Scenario Game [47:33–89:08]
A signature segment where Walt poses "Would You Rather"-style hypotheticals for the group to guess how he would respond.
Memorable Scenarios:
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Godzilla Cameo: Would Walt play “God Shitta,” a janitor who slips on kaiju poop in the American Godzilla movie for viral infamy?
Answer: No; not for no pay or in the American version (50:29). -
Choosing Comics Over Friendships: Would Walt give up contact with Sunday Jeff in exchange for unlimited future Marvel Masterworks?
Answer: No; he values the friendship more (57:17). -
Family Sacrifice for Free Rent: Would Walt have his wife tattoo 'Get 'Em's face' on her lower back for a decade of free storefront rent?
Answer: No (59:17). -
Erasing Worst Memory at the Price of Losing Wedding Day Memories:
Answer: No, memories, even painful, shape who you are (67:07). -
Neighborly Obligations for a Free Roof: Would Walt commit to daily beers and weekly hangouts with a neighbor for a free roof?
Answer: Yes! (72:10) — shock to the others, but he couldn’t imagine being so rude as to turn down such generosity. -
Comic Book Men Docu-Series With Mike as Star: Would Walt sign on if Mike was the featured star and Walt was minimized?
Answer: Yes, for same pay and less work (76:12). -
Lifetime Devils Tickets: Which 'Work Son' Would Walt Bring?:
Answer: Tom, because his wife would limit his attendance, freeing the extra seat for others (81:54). -
Tom Brady as Guest, But Walt Must Call Him ‘Daddy’: Would Walt do it?
Answer: Yes, for the comedy (84:07). -
Alternate Universe With Ming, Candle Shop, and a Grim Choice:
Must kill alternate reality wives to return.
Answer: Walt outsmarts the scenario—lets Ming do the deed and then stays, ready to "mingle" (89:08).
Notable Quotes & Moments
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Comic Nostalgia/Tears:
"I'm not ashamed to say it, like, I started tearing up a little bit because like, you know, these characters that I have been with since I was a little kid..." (06:48) — Q -
On Bitterness in Online Fandom:
"It is absolutely like fatiguing the millions and millions of people shitting on it before it's even released. It's just staggering." (18:03) — Walt -
Self-Awareness of Aging:
"All I'm doing is reminding everyone else how long I've stood the test of time. Like, that's an old guy." (37:52) — Bryan -
Body Reality:
"I mean, I don't feel great now... my shoulder always hurts, my wrist always hurts..." (38:24) — Q -
On "BlueChew" Ad Copy:
"The guys using Blue Chew are of the age where their wives and girlfriends are not in group chats talking about how they got dicked up last night." (31:02) — Q -
On Ozempic & Weight Stigma:
"So many people I know are on it and, and it works. It works." (44:01) — Q -
On Flanny's Choice Game:
"Not enough BlueChew in the world to overcome that fucking issue." (57:58) — Q, about the tattoo scenario -
On Morality & Parallel Families:
"I let Ming go first and then find a new hub." (89:08) — Walt, on the alternate universe scenario
Timestamps for Important Segments
- Introduction/Life Philosophy Shift: 01:04–03:09
- Q’s Deep Reading Habits/Dark Tower: 03:15–06:48
- Aging & Memory Lane/Bernie Wrightson Story: 08:01–11:41
- On “Soul Man”/Times Changing: 13:07–15:16
- Superman Movie/Fandom Negativity & Leaks: 17:22–22:40
- On Movie Screeners & Marvel Masterworks: 25:06–26:27 / 52:02–56:00
- Marriage Discussion/Prenup Anxiety: 33:50–36:04
- Health & Aging/Knee Replacement: 39:25–41:41
- Weight Loss, Ozempic, and Cultural Attitudes: 41:13–45:46
- Scenario Game ‘Flanny’s Choice’ Begins: 47:33–89:08
Conclusion
This episode encapsulates why Tell 'Em Steve-Dave! maintains such a devoted following: irreverent but sincere explorations of comic books, movies, marriage, and mortality. The chemistry between the hosts keeps the banter sharp, the self-deprecation relatable, and the pop culture discussions both nostalgic and current. Fans get everything: inside jokes, aged wisdom, and the wry games and hypothetical debates that define the show’s spirit.