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Burt
Hola.
Michelle
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Burt
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Burt
Hey, the Burt Show. All right, these movie and TV cliches, we are gonna start testing these out, and the one that we're focusing on this week is the spontaneous applause that always breaks out after a public wedding proposal. Just like the one that we saw on Survivor last week.
Justin
If you don't mind, I'd like to say something to her. Oh, everybody's gonna say I'm there in this crazy game. I've seen you at your highest high and your low.
Burt
Between it all.
Justin
We worked together as a team to accomplish so much. And in the end, I ended up falling in love with you.
Burt
Here it comes. Listen to the crowd.
Justin
I want to spend the rest of.
Burt
My life with you.
Phil
I love you with all my heart.
Justin
Will you marry me?
Burt
And everybody is applauding and they're starting to wave. And all the John 3:16 signs come out.
Justin
I love you with all my heart.
Burt
Yo. Wicked beautiful.
Justin
Seriously, we'll have a piss of life together.
Burt
I've been out in a lot of restaurants and a lot of bars and a lot of public places, and I have yet to see one of those. Have you seen?
Justin
I've seen more than one.
Burt
You have? Really?
Justin
Yeah.
Scott
Seriously.
Justin
And people. People do break into applause. I've seen one at a baseball game.
Burt
I don't believe it.
Justin
And I've seen. Where did I see? I saw.
Scott
What is ball game? It's up on the Jumbotron.
Justin
Oh, and I saw one just recently.
Burt
We were.
Justin
We were at the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas, and I think that was the hotel and they have like an indoor garden, like plants with the water show. So we were in the water show and there's this big, huge, like, marble staircase going up to maybe some. What do they call, conference rooms or something upstairs. And we saw a guy while we were in there, we saw the guy get down on the knee and propose to the girl on the steps of the think of Bellagio. And everybody broke into applause.
Burt
They were filming Ocean's twelve.
Phil
And they.
Justin
Need to get some better looking actors and actresses.
Burt
Hey, Laurie. You think you've seen this also?
Laurie
It happened to me.
Burt
Okay, tell me all about it.
Laurie
My husband took me out to dinner at Cafe Lily in Decatur. And we. He had it set up with. He knew, he knows the owner had everything set up. We ordered nothing off the menu. Everything. We had a seven course meal. Everything was absolutely wonderful. At the end of the dinner we had dessert and champagne. My ring was in the bottom of the champagne glass. And he got down on one knee, proposed to me. Everybody started clapping and cheering, taking our picture. It was absolutely wonderful. Strangers were coming over congratulating us.
Michelle
It was wonderful. It does happen.
Burt
Bert, how embarrassed would you be if like he gets up on a table or he gets up on a chair, which is what Philturan is going to do here in a couple of minutes, makes the proposal and everybody just keeps on eating.
Justin
They can't even see you.
Burt
No one even shut up.
Phil
You see that?
Burt
Hey, Phil, you see that?
Phil
Hey, what's going on, guys?
Burt
How you doing, man?
Phil
Real good. I'm really nervous.
Burt
Well, it's the first time you've ever proposed to a beautiful woman.
Announcer
Exactly.
Justin
Plus you're not used to talking to girls in general.
Phil
And I know her too. And that makes it even worse. You gotta be more comfortable.
Scott
I think Tracy looked visibly nervous when she left here.
Phil
She is. She is too. You know why?
Scott
Because she's like, oh my God, it's gonna jinx it. And then Scott's never gonna propose.
Justin
I don't want to make you more nervous or anything, but Scott, Kenny's waiting outside your office. He said he's gonna beat your ass.
Announcer
When you get back.
Phil
We had that discussion this weekend.
Burt
I think Tracy even said like last week her boyfriend Scott was like, I know this is all for the radio and stuff, but it's really kind of bumming me out that someone's gonna propose to you before I do.
Scott
Are you serious?
Burt
Totally serious.
Phil
I told Scott to make him feel better that when we kiss I won't use my tongue. So it'll just be a deep kiss.
Burt
Alright, so set the scene for me. Where are you guys? How many people are around?
Phil
Okay, actually where we're at right now is Caribou coffee. And there's actually. This is the most crowded place we found. There's about 15 people in here. And it's actually a pretty good crowd in here. And they've got some people doing some early morning business discussions. And you know, of course people are obviously getting their coffee and reading the paper and everything. So it's actually a good crowd. It's not a bad crowd at all.
Burt
Okay, now, is your game plan to stand up on a chair or something and publicly, you know, announce your love for Tracy and break off in a proposal at that point?
Phil
Well, that was my question, because, you know, they have that commercial. I think it's that jewelry commercial where we were talking about the guy standing out in the courtyard, and he's yelling.
Michelle
At the top of his lungs, I love this woman.
Burt
I love this woman. And then she whispers in his ear.
Justin
I love this man.
Scott
I love this man.
Burt
Come on.
Laurie
Yeah.
Justin
That's your next studies. I want you to go to a busy place where there's a lot of pigeons and yell out, and I want to see if they all fly off of you.
Phil
So do you want me to make a big scene and get everybody's attention?
Burt
Well, yes, I think you have to be on a chair and say something like, excuse me, excuse me, blah, blah, blah, and then profess your love for Tracy. You gotta say something sweet to get everybody on your side. And then you say, that's why I want to spend the rest of my life with you. And you get on a knee and blah, blah, blah. Does that sound right?
Scott
Yeah, sounds about right. Tell her she needs to look shocked, like it's a total surprise right now.
Phil
She's reading the paper. She has no interest in me whatsoever right now.
Justin
And at some point during the proposal, I want you to use the sentence, I know you're my sister.
Scott
And, Phil, don't, Don't. Don't break character. Like, don't start laughing in the middle of it.
Burt
Yeah, man, you gotta be serious.
Phil
Yeah, well, that's one thing I told her. I was like, as I'm doing this, I'm gonna try really hard to look you in the eye, but I might have to kind of stare over your head.
Scott
Just pretend it's intern Jen.
Burt
There you go. Put intern gens on Tracy's body.
Phil
You remember that? I retract that earlier tongue comment.
Burt
All right, the floor is yours, man. Go for it. All right, again, we are testing the movie and TV cliche that a public wedding proposal will always get a big round of applause.
Justin
Jen, you know it's not real, right?
Scott
I was just, like, all of a sudden got nervous for her. Did you hear what you just.
Michelle
Woo, woo.
Justin
She's tearing up over there.
Phil
Oh, God, I hope she says.
Justin
Yeah.
Burt
She was mouthing to Melissa. I'm really nervous.
Scott
Damn.
Burt
I don't know why.
Scott
I think I just got nervous for Phil that he's gonna have to be publicly Embarrassed in front of all these people. But go ahead, honey.
Justin
That's a stress for him.
Announcer
Yeah.
Phil
All right, y' all ready?
Announcer
Mm.
Phil
Hey, guys, if I can have yalls attention for just two seconds. Just give me just one second. I hate to bug you. I know you are in the middle of coffee and getting ready for work and everything, but this is my girlfriend, Tracy. I love her more than anything in the entire world, and it's kind of special. We had our first date here, and I just want you all to know how much I love this girl right now. And I'm so in love with her, I can't even see straight. And so I have a question I want to ask you. I'm shaking. I'm sorry. I'm shaking.
Laurie
Tracy.
Phil
The past four years have been the best four years of my entire life. And I love you so much. You are my everything. You are my best friend. When I go to bed at night, I love having you there beside me When I wake up in the morning. You start my day off great just by knowing you're beside me. You make me want to be a better person. And I love you so much. And I just want to know if you would marry me. Come here.
Laurie
Come here.
Phil
She said yes. She said yes.
Announcer
Thank you.
Justin
Thank you.
Phil
Appreciate it, guys.
Burt
Thank you. They're absolutely applauded.
Justin
Why did you think they wouldn't?
Burt
I just never saw anybody find. I just thought it was a movie cliche. Very nicely done.
Justin
There you go.
Burt
Hey, the bird show. Looking for the new J. Lo number. She just got married over the weekend Again.
Scott
Did for the third time. She married Marky Anthony in a secret ceremony in the back of her Los Angeles mansion this past Saturday. And, yeah, we're just talking about how is it possible that she's been married three times at 34 years old? And who's. Who's been married and divorced more times than J.
Announcer
Lo?
Burt
Good morning, Tamika. Hi.
Laurie
How are you guys doing?
Burt
I'm doing great. I was gonna tell you after I saw your number that it came up. You know, Phil actually puts up sometimes a brief description of the call. When I saw the number that you're about to tell us about, I thought this would be the greatest call that we were gonna take, but we have some that can actually beat you.
Laurie
Really?
Burt
Yes. Go ahead.
Laurie
My mom has been married seven times by the time she was 38 years.
Scott
Old and divorced seven times 38. You've got to go through the number just, like, what age and how long it. Like when she.
Laurie
Let's see. The first marriage, she was 17. Lasted for about a year. The second one, she was probably about 18, and it lasted for about a year. The third one was nine years. She was probably 22, I'm gonna say. The fourth one, I'm gonna say she was about 35. Lasted for about a week.
Burt
One week, seven days.
Scott
After nine years, then the next, less a week.
Justin
How long did she know the one week guy before she married him?
Laurie
Yeah, probably about three or four days.
Scott
Oh, come on now.
Burt
Really?
Laurie
I am dead serious.
Scott
Oh, man. Now I'm curious. Which one were you a part of?
Laurie
Actually, I was. She had me when she was 16, so she wasn't married when she had me. Okay, so. And then the one after the week lasted about a month, and then it lasted two years.
Scott
Have you ever divorced again?
Burt
And she divorced and she's divorced now, right?
Laurie
Yes. She hasn't been married in three years, so she's doing pretty good right now.
Scott
Now, that gets expensive, doesn't it? I mean, is it expensive?
Laurie
She's gotten to where she can do it herself.
Burt
She'd do it at a qt.
Scott
I'd like a lottery ticket, please. And a divorce. Thank you so much.
Burt
Now, have you ever talked to her about this?
Announcer
Yeah.
Burt
I'm just curious why she says she keeps falling in love with these guys. Cause when we heard about JLo and Marc Anthony this morning, my. My thought was, how many times do you really, truly fall in love in one lifetime? And for me, at least, my belief has gotta be. It's just once for me.
Laurie
Well, she'll sit there and tell you that she. She probably thought she was in love with him. But, you know, afterwards, she realized she wasn't. Yeah.
Burt
After day five, she realized.
Justin
Once the weekend rolled around, she realized.
Scott
It'S just for her, I think that we all got. I mean, I think that we all fall in love a lot. Like as a teenager and, you know, when you're younger, I mean, you've said the L word to somebody besides Stacy. You felt like you were before. And once you gain that experience and you decide to make the commitment, that's, you know, that's the marriage thing. But over and over and over again, right? You realize it's like, okay, everybody does that as a teenager, but it seems like some people just never grow out of that.
Burt
Yeah.
Scott
Oh, and I'm just looking at Bert and laughing because. Why did you say the L word at times?
Burt
Like, because I really felt it from the bottom of my. From the bottom of my.
Michelle
Something.
Burt
Yeah.
Laurie
Right.
Announcer
Yeah.
Scott
Because I was just wondering if some people. I really think, and I know I did it, I've. Where I mistake love for infatuation. Like that initial, just all about the person.
Burt
And it's not love, but there's some trigger that makes you realize that at some point, I'm not gonna marry this person. It could be after 20 minutes, if you know what I mean. But, yeah, I mean, there's gotta be some trigger that lets you know that this is infatuation and not the real thing. Morning, Ronnie. You're on all the hits Q100.
Announcer
Hey. Hey.
Laurie
I was just calling because my aunt. It's only. I'm sitting here trying to figure out everybody. There's seven that I know of for sure. I know there's faces that I don't know names of. And she's 36. The first time she was married, she was either 17 or 18. And I think the longest one was like six months. I think it's like a running joke in our family not to even get to know the guys at Christmas because they're not even gonna be there for you.
Scott
It's like any flashcards at the Christmas table.
Laurie
I'm telling you.
Justin
How many hyphens are in her last. This is my aunt, you know, Willoughby, Weiss, Carter Hobby$.
Burt
Yeah. Her business card would have to be a legal pad at this point. Seven times by the time she was 36.
Laurie
It's more than that. That's just what I know. And I'm only 21, so I hadn't.
Michelle
Even met all of them.
Scott
Oh, my God. Can't you just. I mean, I just. I'm fascinated. Women. Can't you just date the guy? That's how I always felt about JLo. Why can't you just date instead of having to worry yourself about getting engaged and getting married with JLo, we were going. Why can't you just be alone for more than five minutes?
Burt
Good morning, David. You're on all the Hits Q100.
Phil
Hey, guys. I've got. I dated a girl. We've got engaged. And then when it comes down to talking about how many times you've been engaged and stuff like that, she revealed she was married five different times.
Scott
How old was she at that point?
Phil
She was not even 30. I think she's about 28, 29.
Burt
Five times by the. By the time she was 28 years.
Phil
Old, the same guy twice between. With other people, between that.
Scott
Now. Now, did that. Was that a deal breaker? Did you break off the engagement?
Phil
Yes, we broke it off after she showed me what she calls her man ring. It was a ring that. With all the engagement stones in it.
Burt
Oh, no.
Phil
And it was almost like a. It was like a snake figured ring with gold leaves in between it. But it had five stones in it.
Scott
She took all.
Burt
This chick is like a movie, man.
Scott
She took all her engagement rings and merged them into one ring.
Phil
And when I left, I'm sure my stone got added to it.
Burt
I'm sure, man.
Scott
My man ring.
Burt
Unbelievable. Thanks, dude. I love that. Five times by the time she was 28 and has a man ring to show for it. Yes, the bird show.
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Justin
Stressing me out.
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Michelle
Knock knock.
Announcer
Ooh, who's there?
Scott
A Boost Mobile expert here to deliver and set up your all new iPhone 17 Pro designed to be the most powerful iPhone ever.
Announcer
You called that a knock knock joke?
Scott
This isn't a joke. Boost Mobile really sends experts to deliver and set up your phone at home or work.
Announcer
Okay. It's just that when people say knock knock there's usually a joke to go with it.
Scott
Like I said, this isn't a joke.
Announcer
So the knock knock was just you knocking?
Scott
Yeah, that's how doors work.
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Burt
With a price that never goes up.
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Burt
Stay alive and switch now at boost.
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Burt
In the meantime, brand new Birchill phone scam.
Justin
Calling up a woman who just can't seem to get the computers or the copiers or any of the electronic equipment in the office working, I call up with a solution. Maybe she should just stop using it.
Michelle
Good afternoon. You're sitting up with me. I may help you.
Justin
Hi, I'm looking to speak with Michelle, please.
Michelle
This is Michelle. How are you?
Justin
Hi, Michelle. How are you?
Michelle
I'm great.
Justin
Good. This is Justin with the central office.
Michelle
Oh, finally. I'm so glad you finally called.
Justin
And you've been having quite a few technical problems with the equipment down there, huh?
Michelle
Oh, my gosh. It has been a nightmare. Everyone in the office has been having so many problems. We're backed up on everything because the computer is breaking down a copier machine. The ink is not working. There's so many malfunctions. Are we getting new equipment?
Justin
The equipment that you have is fine. We were in there after hours about a week ago and we looked at the equipment. The equipment's fine.
Michelle
Yeah, it's fine for a day, but never consistently. It's always.
Justin
Well, we found out what the problem was. If I could come up right out and say this, then we'll discuss the solution. The problem with the equipment is you.
Michelle
Excuse me?
Justin
The problem with the equipment is you.
Michelle
Are you kidding? How could the. How could it be me? I mean, how could it possibly be me when everyone in the office is having the same complaints? We're calling all the companies, all the manufacturer to find out what the problem troubleshooting for Hours. I mean, I've been on the phone literally my whole shift trying to troubleshoot and find out what's wrong with the computer on particular days. How could it possibly be me?
Justin
Right, well, we've noticed that on days when you're not working, there aren't any problems with the computer copiers, with the computers, with any of the equipment, with the three hole punch, everything works fine.
Michelle
Oh, my gosh. I can't believe that you could actually even say something like that when everyone has complained.
Justin
Right, but they only have complaints when you're working.
Michelle
Oh, my gosh. But I'm not the only one using this equipment, so how could you pinpoint me as the culprit?
Justin
Well, we think you're the most technically inadequate. Have you ever worked with electronic equipment before?
Michelle
Yes, I have. Yes, I have. I'm very computer literate and I am. I do know my electronics. I mean, I'm not a wiz or a tech. You know, by the time I get through calling and troubleshooting, I automatically know more about the computer you have at home.
Justin
Do you have like a vcr, a microwave, an answering machine?
Michelle
Who doesn't? Excuse me. Who doesn't? Who doesn't have a computer and microwave? And who doesn't?
Justin
And you can handle those? Okay. Are you a good driver?
Michelle
Excuse me? I thought you were calling to actually help me solve this solution so that we could better work at this company than to call and accuse me. Now you're into my home and into my private appliances. What does that have to do with equipment that's at this job?
Justin
I'm not accusing you. I'm just trying to point out that the problem seems to be when you get on a computer, then it breaks. When you make a copy, then it breaks. When you use the electric stapler, it breaks.
Michelle
Do you have a camera in your office? Are you recording these? Do you have date and time that you actually see that when I use it, it actually breaks? Or are you listening to someone else in the office that may not want to take responsibility for actually using the equipment themselves?
Justin
Okay, here's what we're going to do. We have a solution for this, you know, for the time being, until we figure something else out. Maybe we can get some simpler equipment with some big colorful buttons that you can work, but.
Michelle
Big colorful buttons? Now you're insulting my intelligence.
Justin
Maybe what we could do is you could have other people make copies for you.
Michelle
So what is the point of me being at work? I have my own job. What I'm going to have someone I'M going to have Sarah next door to me or any other cubicle. Just get up and make copies for me. I can't use the machines now. Is that what you're trying to tell me?
Justin
Well, what we'll do is we'll assign you. Like, we were thinking maybe Nicole could be your buddy. Cause you guys have the same shift more often than not. So Nicole's like your copy buddy.
Michelle
Nicole? Nicole barely knows how to use the equipment herself. Nicole is barely at work herself. So when she calls off, what do I do then?
Justin
Well, then you'll have, like, a backup copy buddy.
Michelle
Oh, my gosh.
Justin
We have actually found. And please appreciate this because it wasn't easy to find a manual typewriter.
Michelle
I don't know how. Now, listen, listen. You are talking about 2004. And you keep claiming that you don't want to upset me or install my intelligence, but you've done all of those things and above, and now you're telling me that you want me to peck, peck, peck, and now that is a final straw. I mean, now that's something I actually don't know how to use. I don't know how to use a manual typewriter. I haven't used one in at least 20 years.
Justin
Okay, let me ask you this.
Announcer
How.
Justin
How much more upset would you be now if I told you that we're gonna ask you to use the stairs instead of the elevator?
Michelle
You know what? You don't even run the elevators. How could you tell me not to use the elevator?
Justin
We're just scared of having you around any sort of electronic equipment, you know?
Michelle
Oh, my gosh. I can't believe that you're actually telling me that I have to use the stairs now. Who are you?
Justin
Well, just, you know, I mean, if you get into work five minutes late, we're not gonna penalize you. We already spoke with Terry. She understands. She, you know, she sees the challenges that you have with. With. With complicated things, so she understands.
Michelle
I don't believe that Terry said anything like that because she's always complimenting me on how competent I am and how sufficient I am on the job as office manager, so.
Justin
Well, Terry, she's worried that if she upsets you that you'll break stuff more.
Michelle
Oh, my gosh.
Justin
All right, well, when you talk to Terry, tell her for me, if you would, please, that Jeff with the Burt show called at all the hits Q100, and you've just been phone scammed.
Michelle
What? Stop playing. Oh, my gosh. I knew this had to be possibly. I mean. Oh, my gosh so you actually call. Okay, this is a prank. This is not serious.
Laurie
Right?
Justin
And I think if you turn around and look through the window in Terry's office, everybody's standing in there and I think they're probably laughing at you.
Michelle
Oh, I see them now and they think it's really super, super funny. Ha ha ha. The joke's on me.
Burt
We will.
Announcer
We will scam you. Get it? The Bird Show.
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Date: December 17, 2025
Podcast: The Bert Show (Pionaire Podcasting)
Cast: Bert, Kristin, Abby, Cassie, Tommy, Michelle, Justin, Phil, Scott, Laurie, and others
This episode dives into the authenticity (or not) of classic movie and TV cliches, specifically the “spontaneous applause” trope during public wedding proposals, and transitions into a hilarious dive into notorious serial marriages—featuring both listener stories and celebrity banter. It also features one of the show's signature phone scams, delivering big laughs and outrageous reactions throughout.
The cast—anchored by Bert and his cohosts—recreate and analyze cultural moments in their usual lighthearted, witty style and welcome input from listeners who match or even outdo their celebrity reference points.
[01:02–08:22]
Premise:
Bert introduces a recurring segment, testing whether movie/TV cliches hold up in real life. This episode is all about public wedding proposals: do they actually receive spontaneous applause?
Reference Point:
The “Survivor” reality show wedding proposal, where audience applause erupts, is used as the spark for the discussion.
“These movie and TV cliches, we are gonna start testing these out, and the one that we're focusing on this week is the spontaneous applause... Just like the one we saw on Survivor last week.” – Bert [01:02]
Personal Experiences:
Justin and Laurie recall real-life moments witnessing this cliche fulfilled.
“My husband took me out to dinner at Cafe Lily in Decatur... At the end of the dinner we had dessert and champagne. My ring was in the bottom of the champagne glass. And he got down on one knee, proposed to me. Everybody started clapping and cheering, taking our picture. It was absolutely wonderful.” [03:03]
The Experiment:
Phil is tasked with carrying out a public marriage proposal at a bustling Caribou Coffee, with Tracy playing along. The cast offers “helpful” advice to hype up the drama and test if strangers react as movies suggest.
“Is your game plan to stand up on a chair or something and publicly, you know, announce your love for Tracy and break off in a proposal at that point?” – Bert [05:07]
Execution and Reaction:
Phil gives a heartfelt, staged proposal, and… the crowd responds as Hollywood predicts.
Phil: "Hey, guys, if I can have yalls attention for just two seconds...I love this girl right now. And I'm so in love with her, I can't even see straight...And I just want to know if you would marry me. Come here." [07:13–08:08] “They're absolutely applauded.” – Bert [08:16]
[08:31–14:40]
JLo Sets the Bar (or Not):
News of Jennifer Lopez’s third marriage at age 34 leads to incredulous commentary:
Listener Stories That Outdo the Celebs:
Tamika’s Mom:
“My mom has been married seven times by the time she was 38 years old and divorced seven times.” [09:16]
• Provides a breakdown, including one marriage lasted only a week.
• “She’s gotten to where she can do it herself [divorce].” [10:36]
• The show jokes about getting a “divorce at the QT” (convenience store) [10:40]
Ronnie’s Aunt:
“There's seven that I know of for sure. I know there's faces that I don't know names of. And she's 36.” [12:26]
“It's like a running joke in our family not to even get to know the guys at Christmas because they're not even gonna be there for you.” [12:45]
David’s Ex:
“She was not even 30...she's about 28, 29. Five times by the time she was 28 years old...the same guy twice, with other people between.” [13:34-14:04]
Reflections on Love vs. Infatuation:
The crew reflect on whether people are really “falling in love” multiple times, or just mistaking infatuation for something deeper.
“I really think, and I know I did it, where I mistake love for infatuation…” – Scott [11:54]
[17:32–23:22]
Setup:
Justin (posing as Jeff) calls Michelle, pretending to be from tech support, and implies she's the common factor behind broken office machines.
Escalating the Bit:
He delivers increasingly absurd solutions—including banning her from equipment, assigning her a “copy buddy,” and even suggesting manual typewriters and the use of stairs over elevators.
Revelation & Reaction:
Michelle gets frustrated but rolls with it; finally, she's told it’s a prank, and coworkers are revealed to be in on the joke.
“You’ve just been phone scammed!” – Justin [22:55]
“Oh, my gosh so you actually call. Okay, this is a prank. This is not serious.” – Michelle [23:06]
Movie Cliche Testing:
Listener Serial Marriers:
Phone Scam:
The episode is playful, high-energy, and rooted in the chemistry and banter between the hosts, with genuine listener stories adding authenticity and laughs. Their interaction blurs the line between earnest exploration of social phenomena and outright comedic riffing.
This Bert Show episode takes on movie marriage tropes, tests them in the wild, and invites listeners to top tabloid stories with their real-life antics. The show’s signature phone scam brings the episode to a raucous, funny close, proving that when it comes to love, public proposals, and office life, the drama and humor are all too real.