The BOB & TOM Show Free Podcast

Episode: B&T Extra: Comedian/Game Show Host Marc Summers

Date: October 17, 2025
Guest: Marc Summers, TV host, comedian, author
Theme: Nostalgia, behind-the-scenes television stories, game shows, wrestling legends, OCD, and quirky life anecdotes

Overview

This episode features Marc Summers, the beloved television personality and host famous for Nickelodeon’s Double Dare and Food Network's Unwrapped. The conversation is a mix of nostalgia, personal struggles with OCD, amusing showbiz moments, and a deep dive into Marc’s experiences with celebrity conventions, wacky game show situations, and the unexpected complexities of life as a TV host.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Marc Summers’ OCD Adventures and Personal Stories

• Book and OCD Experiences
  • The co-host recalls reading Marc’s book about his OCD struggles, marveling at how detailed his routines were, such as reading every item in a shop window before boarding a plane ([02:33]).
  • Marc explains: “You have to do these things, intrusive thoughts that if you don’t read something in a particular way, you’ll say, well, the plane’s gonna go down or something bad’s gonna happen.” ([03:09])
  • Airplane rituals: Both the hosts and Marc share their own superstitions around plane boarding, laughing about touching the outside of the plane with different hands ([03:20]).
• Cooking for His Daughter
  • Marc shares a heartfelt and humorous story about spending nearly $1,000 just to cook hot dogs for his daughter because he didn’t own any pots and pans ([03:45]).

2. Game Shows, Celebrity Encounters, and the Glory Days of 'Double Dare'

• Conventions and Celebrity Stories
  • Marc talks about the fascinating people he meets at conventions—mentions encounters with Martin Sheen, Priscilla Presley, and Weird Al Yankovic ([05:04]).
  • Reminisces about a Double Dare episode pitting Lou Ferrigno against Weird Al, noting, “He answered every question... and he said, ‘It’s my gig. I remember.’” ([05:52])
• Favorite Episodes and Outrageous On-Set Moments
  • Marc’s classic episode: Super Slopomania with wrestlers Gorilla Monsoon and Bobby “The Brain” Heenan, culminating in him being dumped into a pool of chocolate ([06:17]).
    • “Bobby the Brain had the best sense of humor and remembered every joke he had ever heard...” ([06:28])
  • Stories about regional wrestling legends like Dick the Bruiser and Bobo Brazil; anecdotes about broadcasting and sharing dinners with these unique characters ([07:04], [07:21]).

3. Behind the Scenes of 'Double Dare'

• Slime, Stunts, and Logistics
  • Details how the show used to make 100 pounds of whipped cream every day and once had £5,000 of baked beans that turned rancid; ultimately, a septic tank company had to vacuum them out ([09:17]).
  • Offers an anecdote about a physical challenge that seemed impossible (landing a paper plane in a distant mailbox)—a kid nails it on the first try, to Marc’s comedic chagrin ([11:46], [12:39]):
    • “If you do, I’ll give you my house. Okay. On your mark, get set, go! And the first damn airplane went right into the mailbox.” ([12:32])
• Prospects of a Reunion or Adult ‘Double Dare’
  • Marc expresses doubt about Nickelodeon reviving the show but says “the people who grew up on it... would go out of their mind” for an adult version ([10:24]).

4. Conventions, Autograph Culture & Nostalgia Merch

• Discusses the economics and enjoyment of doing autograph conventions, meeting fans, and personalizing memorabilia ([14:22]–[14:57]).
• Laughs about the strangest merch seen at other celeb booths and how ventriloquist Jeff Dunham has built a merch empire ([15:19]–[15:27]).

5. Comedy, Magicians, and Celebrity Crossovers

• Marc talks about his childhood as an amateur magician and having dinner with legendary ventriloquist Paul Winchell (“that was quite fascinating” ([15:49])).
• Reflects on the rise of ventriloquism thanks to America’s Got Talent ([15:31]).

6. Hygiene, OCD, and Everyday Gross-Outs

• Entertaining banter about public restroom etiquette, elevator buttons, and escalator railings—everyone sharing their methods for avoiding germs ([17:52]–[19:59]).
  • “The worst is on going up on an escalator, though, they say, and touching the...” ([18:04])
• Discusses the myth about flight attendants washing their hosiery in hotel coffee makers ([20:38]), which gets laughs for its absurdity.
• Marc remains adamant: “I don’t drink coffee, number one... but no, I wouldn’t touch it because God knows that thing probably hasn’t been cleaned.” ([20:34])

7. Marc on Broadcasting and Professionalism

• Marc expresses appreciation for the professionalism of the BOB & TOM show crew, comparing them favorably to others in the industry ([17:26]).
  • “You guys are the most professional. I do two shows on a fairly regular basis... and just the professionalism, it’s hard to find these days.” ([17:26])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On OCD Rituals
  “You have to do these things, intrusive thoughts... if you don’t read something in a particular way, you’ll say, well, the plane’s gonna go down or something bad’s gonna happen.”
  — Marc Summers ([03:09])

• About Buying Pots for His Daughter
  “That hot dog cost me, you know, almost $1,000. But yeah, I did it because she wanted it.”
  — Marc Summers ([03:45])

• On Weird Al’s Brilliance
  “It’s my gig. I remember.”
  — Weird Al (as remembered by Marc Summers) ([05:52])

• Legendary Double Dare Episode
  “They picked me up and dumped me into this thing of chocolate. I mean, you would not have believed it, but it was an honor...”
  — Marc Summers ([06:28])

• Nostalgia for ‘Double Dare’
  “The people who grew up on it who are in their 40s now would go out of their mind to do a grown up version of it, but Nickelodeon seems to have no interest in that.”
  — Marc Summers ([10:29])

• On Conventions and Personal Impact
  “You can’t believe you had that much of an impact on a particular, you know, group of humans. And it is flattering, I will say.”
  — Marc Summers ([13:42])

• On the Absurdities of Cleanliness
  “I don’t drink coffee, number one... but no, I wouldn’t touch it because God knows that thing probably hasn’t been cleaned.”
  — Marc Summers ([20:34])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Marc’s OCD and Airplane Rituals: [02:33]–[03:29]
• Parenting and the $1,000 Hot Dog: [03:45]–[04:24]
• Celebrity Conventions & Double Dare War Stories: [05:04]–[08:29]
• The Science of Slime and Leftover Beans: [09:17]–[10:10]
• Would You Do an Adult ‘Double Dare’?: [10:14]–[10:53]
• Paper Plane Challenge & On-Set Ad Libs: [11:46]–[12:39]
• Conventions, Merch, and Autograph Stories: [14:22]–[15:04]
• Hygiene Banter: Escalators, Doors, and Elevators: [17:52]–[19:59]
• Hotel Coffee Maker Urban Legends: [20:27]–[20:53]
• Reflection on Broadcasting, Professionalism: [17:26]

Conclusion

This episode is a whirlwind of nostalgia, behind-the-curtain showbiz hilarity, and candid talk about mental health from an icon of children's television. Marc Summers is funny, heartfelt, and honest, giving listeners an insider’s view of TV, the peculiarities of OCD, and the joy—and awkwardness—of fame. Fans of comedy, 80s/90s pop culture, and television history will find it especially engaging.