The Bert Show – Full Show PT 1: Monday, November 17, 2025

Podcast by Pionaire Podcasting | Aired November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode brings a healthy blend of fun and real-life drama—true to the Bert Show’s signature format. Major segments include a hilarious "Phone Scam" prank, a lighthearted yet revealing "Battle of the Bridesmaids" decision for a listener’s wedding, and an engaging celebrity interview with The OC’s Rachel Bilson. The conversation flows with lots of laughs, honest listener engagement, and the cast’s signature chemistry.

Key Segments & Discussion Points

1. Phone Scam – The Graduate School Prank

[01:33 - 07:36]

• Premise: Jeff and the team prank call Carolyn, who recently applied for graduate school in education, pretending to be the admissions department concerned about her not following instructions on an application.
• Highlights:
  • The host pretends to be a stern official, questioning Carolyn’s qualifications to teach since she missed minor application details (e.g., not writing a "G" on an envelope or including a memo on a check).
  • The prank escalates humorously, threatening to prevent her from attending classes and even calling security.
  • Carolyn defends herself, stating, “I'm also a human being and I make mistakes.” (05:03)
  • The reveal at the end leaves Carolyn both relieved and slightly mortified.
• Notable Quote:
  • Radio Show Producer (as prankster): “If you can’t learn, how can you teach, you know?” (04:55)
  • Carolyn: “People make mistakes all the time writing checks and filling out forms, and they don’t have problems.” (05:38)
• Memorable Moment: The prankster’s demand, “Is it hard to write a G on an envelope? Is that difficult?” (05:46)

2. Listener Drama: The Battle of the Bridesmaids

[07:42 - 27:48]

• Premise: Listener Jessica is torn between two best friends—Jenny and Andrea—for her maid of honor. The Bert Show turns it into "Battle of the Bridesmaids" with interviews, listener votes, and plenty of banter.
• Process:
  • Both friends are asked identical questions about Jessica, her fiancé, and hypothetical wedding scenarios.
  • Jessica listens to audio clips of their answers on air and discusses them with the cast.
  • Issues discussed range from relationship dynamics ("Why did Jessica choose her fiancé?") to wedding party experience, bachelorette party plans, and the couple’s first fight.
• Standout Answers:
  • Jenny opts for an upbeat approach and classic bachelorette ideas (shopping, clubs, strippers).
  • Andrea is more practical and nurturing, suggesting spa weekends and discussing how she’d reassure Jessica if she got cold feet.
• Revealing Personal Moment:
  • Jessica candidly admits the likely cause of future marriage arguments would be “our sex life, actually. I tend to be a little more adventurous than Doug.” (12:59)
  • The cast reacts playfully, and the topic is handled with open humor.
• Listener Involvement:
  • Majority of listener emails vote for Jenny, citing her sincerity, fun attitude, and the “never-been-maid-of-honor” factor.
  • One listener reports that Andrea seemed more prepared—possibly "cheating" by knowing the questions ahead due to her more specific answers. (20:52)
• Decision:
  • Jessica, swayed by listener and host opinions, ultimately names Jenny as her maid of honor, but ensures Andrea remains a bridesmaid.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Jessica: “I just want whatever's gonna make them dance [for the wedding playlist]” (17:17)
  • Melissa: “To me, it—I mean, that’s the perfect choice. Jenny’s never been maid of honor, and she’s your oldest, oldest friend.” (25:09)
• Memorable Moment: Playful takes on “The Price Is Right,” with the cast joking about game shows and spinning the wheel, injecting levity as Jessica makes her choice.
• Timestamps for Key Segments:
  • Introductions and setup: [07:42–08:27]
  • Plays of critical bridesmaid Q&As: [08:27–18:19]
  • Listener & cast decision: [19:09–26:43]
  • Price Is Right/levity: [23:39–27:01]
  • Jessica names her maid of honor: [26:22–26:43]

3. Celebrity Interview: Rachel Bilson

[29:27 - 36:54]

• Premise: The cast interviews Rachel Bilson, famed for her role as Summer on The OC and starring alongside Zach Braff in the upcoming film The Last Kiss.
• Key Discussion Points:
  • Early career memories—Melissa shares having been an extra on The OC, which amuses Bilson.
  • Fan Encounters: Rachel explains people often approach her as “Summer,” sometimes unable to distinguish between character and actress.
    • Rachel Bilson: “Sometimes now people are like, Summer. I just don’t respond because that’s not my name. You know what I mean?” (31:55)
  • Paparazzi Culture: She discusses the mixed feelings about getting recognized and the invasiveness of paparazzi.
    • Rachel Bilson: “My grandmother got to see me—a paparazzi shot in a magazine… Other than that, they’re very, very cruel. Can be anyway. And it’s sort of like they go after the negative and try to put you in a bad light. So that kind of sucks.” (33:47)
  • Hollywood “fame hotspots” and how some celebrities court paparazzi attention by going to certain places.
  • Discusses debut film The Last Kiss, confirming a sex scene exists but no nudity:
    • Rachel Bilson: “I just didn’t want to show nudity because I felt confident about, you know, not having to do that. And we still got the point across without it. So it was my first movie, and it wasn’t comfortable doing that.” (36:03)
• Morale: Cast wishes Rachel well, and the segment wraps on friendly, jokey terms.
• Notable Quotes:
  • Rachel Bilson: “They made a clock with my face on it. And it’s always weird.” (32:21)
  • Jeff: “There must be something about [the first paparazzi encounter], though… the first time is, ‘Oh hey, that’s cool.’ And then the second time is, ‘Oh hey, that sucks.’” (33:40)
• Timestamps for Key Segments:
  • Celebrity interview setup and intro: [29:27–30:30]
  • Fan encounters and "Summer" identity: [31:19–32:13]
  • Paparazzi talk: [32:53–34:50]
  • The Last Kiss discussion: [35:01–36:21]
  • Wrap up and closing jokes: [36:27–36:54]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Phone Scam Realization
  • Radio Show Producer/Co-host (as prankster): “Call me back. I’m over at Q100.”
  • Carolyn: “The radio station? What? … Are you kidding me?” (06:54–07:08)
• Sex Life Honesty in Bridesmaid Segment
  • Jessica: “I tend to be a little more adventurous than Doug.” (12:59)
• Bachelorette Party Planning
  • Jessica: “I want the whole shebang, you know, I want to go and, you know, just whoop it up and flirt and, you know, have a good time.” (16:13)
• Rachel Bilson on Celebrity Obsession
  • Rachel Bilson: “Yeah, they scare me.” (32:13—referring to fans who believe Summer is real)

Additional Highlights

• Running "Price Is Right" Gags: Amidst serious decisions, the cast spices up the tone with mock game show banter, poking fun at each other’s pop culture obsessions.
• Listener Engagement: The listener vote is robust and referenced as a major factor in Jessica’s final decision for her maid of honor.
• Chemistry & Tone: True to the show’s tagline, the cast keeps the atmosphere fun, funny, and genuinely relatable, blending real feelings with laughter.

Overall Takeaways

This Bert Show episode shines as a microcosm of the show’s enduring appeal: real-life dilemmas, interactive entertainment, and candid celeb interviews all layered with good-natured humor and authentic camaraderie. Listeners are brought deeply into the cast’s world—whether it’s a prank call gone sideways, the pressures of choosing between friends, or the glitz (and weirdness) of Hollywood fame.

Perfect for listeners seeking laughter, relatability, honest conversations—plus a dash of celebrity insight.