The BOB & TOM Show Free Podcast – B&T Extra: Letters, Hit by a Penguin, & Dominic the Donkey

Date: January 27, 2026
Hosts: Tom Griswold, Bob Kevoian, Kristi Lee, Chick McGee, Pat Godwin, and special appearances by Mr. Obvious character

Episode Overview

This episode of The BOB & TOM Show “Extra” features a signature mix of comedy, offbeat listener letters, playful banter, and a deep dive into quirky topics. Today, the crew answers humorous listener mail, cracks wise about being hit by a penguin, and goes on a spirited riff about the oddball Christmas song “Dominic the Donkey.” All of this is sprinkled with their trademark irreverence and camaraderie.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The “Mr. Obvious” Segment: Allergies and Allegations (01:55–06:03)

• Longtime favorite character “Mr. Obvious” takes a call from a confused listener worried about his wife’s sneezing at the neighbor’s house.
• The segment expertly satirizes obliviousness and layered misunderstandings, leading to a classic Bob & Tom double entendre-laden exchange.
  • Memorable exchange:
    • Caller suspects his wife’s sneezing is due to a cat at the (attractive, lesbian) neighbor’s house, missing all other signals.
    • “I think my wife likes to play with it. Cause I can hear her yelling about it, talking about how great it is.” – Caller [04:52]
  • Mr. Obvious sardonically suggests he buy Claritin for his wife and earplugs for himself.

Notable Quotes

• “I bet you thought it was a person from Lebanon.” – Caller to Mr. Obvious [03:45]
• “If you have to do something, buy your wife some Claritin and yourself some earplugs. Go on with your wonderfully oblivious life.” – Mr. Obvious [05:01]

2. Mailbag: Hit by a Penguin (06:10–09:02)

• The crew reads a letter from Mark in Wichita, whose son works at a zoo and “got hit by a penguin.”
  • They riff on possible meanings: Did the penguin hit with beak, flipper, or “get launched”?
  • Tom expresses childhood confusion over penguin size, believing for years that penguins were as big as humans due to misleading photos.
  • The team veers off into daydreams of penguin ownership, referencing “Mr. Popper's Penguins” and the logistics of owning a penguin.
  • Side conversation about animal birthday parties at the zoo and the surreal idea of penguins “dressing up.”
  • “Penguin years and dog years. Exactly the same.” – Bob [08:26]
    (delivered with mock authority in the show’s “fact-free” tone)

3. The “Dominic the Donkey” Deep Dive (09:02–13:02)

• Listener letters gush and groan about “Dominic the Donkey,” a 1960 novelty Christmas song rediscovered by the show.
  • Dustin from Quincy, IL expresses joy that the song finally made show rotation.
  • Dean from South Carolina shares his granddaughter’s Christmas mashup: “Away in a Manger” → “Dominic the Donkey” → “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” [11:04]
  • Another listener of Italian heritage “tries to avoid” the song every Christmas, only for the show to ruin his streak. [12:28]
  • Discuss the song’s regional fame (East Coast, New Jersey) and its late popularity surge in England.
  • Debate follows on the “most annoying” Christmas songs, with “Dominic the Donkey,” Paul McCartney’s “Wonderful Christmastime” and Elton John’s “Step into Christmas” all in the running.
  • Defending McCartney: “I will defend that song. I like it very much.” – Tom Griswold [13:25]

Notable Quotes

• “It’s Dominic the Donkey!” – Listener letter [09:25, 10:08]
• “Because the reindeer cannot climb the hills of Italy… that’s where Dominic came from.” – Bob Kevoian [12:19]
• “…My friends and family now promise to make it the most played song in my presence until the new year. So as sarcastically as I can write it…thanks a lot and Merry friggin’ Christmas.” – Italian heritage listener [12:34]

4. Christmas Songs: Love and Loathing (13:03–14:27)

• Spirited debate on which Christmas songs are the “worst.”
  • Pat Godwin and others nominate “Step into Christmas” by Elton John.
  • Discussion of Elton John’s social media humor about the song and his affinity for Gucci tracksuits and wigs.
  • Quick pop culture tangent on celebrity impersonations—SNL’s Aidy Bryant as Elton John, John Belushi as Elizabeth Taylor, and associated fallout.

5. Sloppy Joe Innovations (15:31–17:24)

• Chick McGee reminisces about a birthday party at the show featuring “sloppy joes” and now fields recipe hacks from listeners.
  • A fan’s wife creates an over-the-top grilled cheese sloppy joe: “essentially two grilled cheese sandwiches with sloppy joe mix in between.” [16:18]
  • Stanley’s version suggests compound butter and fresh herbs—a step too fancy for the hosts.
  • Quick tutorial on Manwich: it’s just sauce—add your own meat!
  • Bob pokes fun at expectation vs. reality with product pictures: “I expect the bun to be in there too.” [17:51]

6. Dog Pictures and Running Gags (18:09–18:39)

• The show complains about a new trend—listeners sending questionable dog photos (“mommy parts” and “daddy parts”).
• Bob jokes: “I find it strangely erotic.” [18:33], met with the crew’s mock horror.

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Best Letter:
  “My son volunteers at the zoo… came home the other day, asked how it went… He said, I got hit by a penguin.” – Mark in Wichita [06:36]
• Musical Misunderstanding:
  “Lately, she’s been listening to a lot of CDs from… Kenny Lang. You know him?”
  “I think it’s KD Lang, and she is a woman.” – Mr. Obvious [05:40–05:47]
• Recipe Innovation:
  “His wife makes essentially two grilled cheese and puts the sloppy joe mix in between the two.” – Chick reading listener Stanley’s tip [16:18]

Important Segment Timestamps

• Mr. Obvious segment: 01:55–06:03
• Penguin Letter: 06:10–09:02
• Dominic the Donkey Letters and Discussion: 09:02–13:02
• Christmas Songs Riff: 13:03–14:27
• Sloppy Joe Variations: 15:31–17:24
• Dog Photos, Listener Antics: 18:09–18:39

Tone and Style

The episode blends sharp, playful banter, classic Bob & Tom double-entendres, and a gentle roasting of pop culture and listeners alike. The hosts trade off with tongue-in-cheek authority, mock arguments, and a familiar warmth that rewards both longtime fans and new listeners. The humor is fast-paced, a bit irreverent, but ultimately rooted in camaraderie.

Summary prepared for listeners who want the laughter and highlights—no ads, no fluff, just the best and weirdest from Bob & Tom’s mailbag!