The BOB & TOM Show Extra: Comedian Dave Dyer

Date: November 28, 2025
Guest: Dave Dyer, Comedian & Firefighter
Hosts: The BOB & TOM Show

Episode Overview

This B&T Extra features comedian and professional firefighter Dave Dyer in a lively conversation mixing his dual careers, life experiences, and plenty of trademark Bob and Tom banter. The episode stands out for its blend of humor, behind-the-scenes anecdotes from firefighting, and lighthearted digs about family life, aging, and the realities of comedy road gigs. Listeners are treated to playful camaraderie, oddball hypotheticals, and the unique perspective Dave brings as a firefighter who moonlights in standup comedy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dave Dyer’s Comedy and Firefighting Life

• Road Gig Shout-Out

  • The hosts read a complimentary letter from a fan who saw Dave at Boot Jack Tavern, MI.
    • "You guys killed it. Great." – Letter from Jeffrey in Manitou Beach, MI (06:45)
  • Dave jokes about mingling with “the commoners” post-show.
    • "I like to mingle with the commoners for a little bit… take the temperature, the environment I’m in." – Dave Dyer (07:08)

• Firehouse Routine & Small-Town Reality

  • Dave explains his 24-hour shifts and small department structure.
    • "We are a very small department… You kind of have to be a jack of all trades. You have to do everything." – Dave (08:07–08:51)
  • On sharing driving and officer duties based on shift schedules.

• Excitement (or Lack Thereof) on the Job

  • He confesses to a quiet night and discusses the superstition of not “jinxing” things. (08:51–09:05)

2. Firefighter Challenges & Priorities

• When NOT to Fight the Fire

  • Dave lays out priorities: rescue first, then preventing other structures from igniting, not always rushing in.
    • "There are situations where it's simply too dangerous to send somebody in… At a certain point, something is a total loss..." – Dave (09:15–10:11)
  • Terms like "hit it hard from the yard," "surround and drown" mentioned.

• Holiday Fire Hazards

  • Halloween isn’t too bad, but Thanksgiving and turkey fryers are the big fire danger.
    • "What's a potential bigger day is Thanksgiving with all these people trying to deep fry their turkeys." – Dave (10:16–10:45)
  • Explains Detroit’s “Devil’s Night” tradition (October 30) and associated house fires, though less severe today.

3. Firefighting Logistics & Humor

• Fire Truck Maintenance

  • Jokes fly about getting the ladder truck serviced at Jiffy Lube. Dave details in-house and contracted maintenance.
    • "They won't fit in Jiffy Lube, first of all." – Dave (11:06)
    • Another company often comes onsite for repairs unless it’s a major job. (11:13)

• Firehouse Birthday & Age Limits

  • Dave just turned 57—not near mandatory retirement (which he jokes about, as do the hosts).
    • "I can still lift a sack of potatoes…" – Dave (12:22)
    • On being able to defend himself: "If an 80 year old guy takes a swing at me, I’m swinging back… let's test those reflexes, Albert." (13:12–13:41)

4. Family & The Perils of “Empty Nesting”

• Kids’ Stuff Lingers

  • Now an “empty nester,” but the house is anything but empty.
    • "We live in a storage garage with two less people. People come to our house; they’re like, you’re hoarders. None of this is our stuff." – Dave (14:38–14:49)
  • Jokes about the daughters’ abandoned belongings and the possibility of living in the garage after a sale.

• Marriage Gags

  • After 32 years, Dave quips that he sleeps "in the closet,” wife in the bed, technically still the same bedroom.
    • "We've been married 32 years. She doesn't ask a whole lot." – Dave (16:56–17:04)

5. Firefighting Gear & Traditions

• Fire Helmets Explained

  • Dave details rank by helmet color:
    • "Black helmets… are worn by the firefighters… Red for officers… White for chiefs. So… you can kind of tell the hierarchy." – Dave (15:36–16:08)
  • Lighter banter follows about yellow helmets, “chicken” firefighters, and helmet branding.

• Gear & Spare Sets

  • Dave keeps a spare set of fire gear in his car for emergencies.
    • "When I’m not on duty… I will go to those things while I’m off duty if it’s a major incident… so I have a spare set of gear in my car with me." – Dave (17:08–17:31)

• Underwear & Protective Gear

  • Spiraling jokes about what one wears under turnout gear and Nomex undergarments.
    • "You wouldn’t want to wear just your underwear under those things. It’s very abrasive. You’d be a disaster." – Dave (17:48–18:10)
    • Followed by a riff on Nomex underwear and not wanting "a weenie roast." (18:10–18:33)

6. Notable Comedy Skit: "The Haunted Restaurant Line" (01:38–06:04)

• The cast performs a sketch lampooning the pain of long waits at popular restaurants, complete with Halloween-style dramatics (e.g., “Lucifer’s” as the restaurant name).
  • “The haunted restaurant line. Bon appetit, if you can get a seat!” (06:04)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "I like to mingle with the commoners for a little bit… take the temperature, the environment I’m in."
  – Dave Dyer (07:08)

• "We are a very small department… you have to be a jack of all trades. You have to do everything."
  – Dave (08:07)

• "There are situations where it’s simply too dangerous to send somebody in… At a certain point, something is a total loss..."
  – Dave (09:15–10:11)

• "What's a potential bigger day is Thanksgiving with all these people trying to deep fry their turkeys."
  – Dave (10:16)

• "If an 80 year old guy takes a swing at me, I'm swinging back… let's test those reflexes, Albert."
  – Dave (13:12–13:41)

• "We live in a storage garage with two less people… None of this is our stuff."
  – Dave (14:38–14:49)

• "Black helmets… are worn by the firefighters… red for officers… white for chiefs."
  – Dave (15:36–16:08)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [06:20] Dave Dyer joins the show
• [07:08] Discussing post-show fan interactions
• [08:07] Firehouse routines and small department life
• [09:15] Priorities at a fire scene (“Let it burn?”)
• [10:16] Holiday fire hazards (Thanksgiving vs. Halloween)
• [11:06] Fire truck maintenance logistics
• [12:10] Birthday jokes and retirement age
• [13:12] Aging, fighting back, and comedian philosophy
• [14:36] Problems with “empty-nesting”
• [15:06] Framed certificates and firefighter ranks
• [16:08] Helmet color meanings
• [17:08] Firefighting gear: spare sets, underwear, and Nomex debate

Tone & Style

The conversation is friendly, irreverently funny, and peppered with insider anecdotes. The hosts riff off Dave’s every response in classic Bob and Tom style, never shying away from a (bad) pun or running gag about aging, marriage, and awkward personal questions.

Conclusion

This B&T Extra delivers what fans love: an easygoing, witty chat that swings between Midwestern firehouse reality and stand-up comedy self-deprecation. Dave Dyer’s dual life provides unique fodder for both earnest questions and absurd hypothetical scenarios, all wrapped in Bob and Tom’s playful humor.