Podcast Summary: B&T Extra – Ukulele Song & Naked Christmas Trees

The BOB & TOM Show Free Podcast
Episode Date: January 8, 2026

Overview

This episode of "B&T Extra" features the Bob & Tom crew in classic form, blending quick-witted banter, musical parody, and offbeat takes on recent trends. The focus: the saga of the ukulele Salvation Army bell-ringer, Pat Godwin's humorous music, the divisive “naked Christmas tree” trend, and a dose of classic BOB & TOM humor about holiday traditions and social fads.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Post-Holiday Recovery & Sponsor Segment

(Skip — Ad content, light banter)

2. Bass-Only Christmas Album Parody

[01:48-03:39]

• Pat Godwin introduces "Amazing Bass," a fictional Christmas album featuring only basslines.
• Crew pokes fun at the absurdity ("It's back to the basics"), with jokes about children preferring bass over "guitars and drums for losers."
• Notable for Godwin’s musical parody talent and group’s playful mock infomercial.
• Memorable Moment:

  Pat Godwin (02:58): “Oh yeah, turn up the bass.”

3. The Ukulele Salvation Army Story

[03:45-07:01]

• The crew discusses an email from "Rich in Iowa" about ringing the bell for the Salvation Army with his ukulele, until a passerby’s blunt feedback led him to stop:

  Tom Griswold (05:13): “About 10 minutes into playing, a man walked up to me and in a low, gruff voice said, ‘A little ukulele goes a long, long way.’”

• Ukulele Song:
  Pat Godwin’s humorous ukulele song about a wife who gets fed up with his playing—and ultimately throws the instrument off a balcony.
  • Josh Arnold’s lyric highlights:
    (06:00) “All she has to say is, a little ukulele goes a long, long way...My wife’s got quite an arm, I have to say. A little ukulele goes a long, long way.”
• Laughter about failed first takes, and group reflects on the challenges of ukulele vs. guitar playing.

4. Holiday Songs & Musical Diversions

[07:28-08:46]

• Albert King’s “Santa Claus Wants Some Lovin’” — crew appreciates the song's bluesy feel, jokes about its suggestive tone.
• Tom Griswold (08:11): “Nice bass lyrics. Oh, there it is.”
• Jeff Oskay sings and the team banters about risqué Christmas music.

5. Social Media: Elf on the Shelf Antics & Holiday Humor

[08:46-10:00]

• Kristi Lee describes a viral image: a naked Barbie on a mixer (“not a blender!”), surrounded by Monopoly money and elves—cracking up the group.
• Jokes about mischievous "Elf on the Shelf" tableaus—drunken elves, passed out with booze bottles.
• The team swaps stories about holiday treats left for Santa and reindeer, and bakeshop bragging rights:

  Tom Griswold (10:15): “Kelly won the award at the recent cookie, like, best cookies cookie exchange. Oh, yeah.”

6. On-Air Goofs: Tom’s Loud Phone Call

[10:22-11:12]

• In a comedic slip, Tom’s phone (plugged into the radio system) rings loudly on air.
• Confusion and teasing ensue about the technical flub.

  Tom Griswold (10:44): “That was loud as f—. What’s scary? It’s my d—. My doctor. Really?”

• Tom and Bob riff about medical checkups and the odd chance to play the doctor’s call live.

7. Minimalistic (Naked) Christmas Trees

[13:48-18:09]

• Discussion of the latest trend: celebrity “naked” trees (bare branches lit with only lights, no ornaments).
  • Dave: “Celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Khloe Kardashian have been opting to put only lights on their trees and no ornaments.” (13:54)
  • Mixed reactions: elegant minimalism vs. “joyless” and “unfinished” looks.
• Hilarious impressions of Victoria Beckham’s seriousness (“push your lips together,” “I have anus lips”), and mock documentary voices.
• Bob proposes his version of a brutalist tree: “just cinder blocks stacked rectangle.” (15:45)
• Suggestion: post their own Christmas trees online and match them to staff personalities.
• Reflection on the “Charlie Brown tree” as the original minimalist tree.
• Kristi Lee admits she doesn’t put a tree up (“I don’t celebrate [Christmas].” 17:17), with jabs about being Buddhist or Aztec and settling for a poinsettia instead.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pat Godwin (02:58): “Turn up the bass.”
• Letter from Rich (05:13): “A little ukulele goes a long, long way.”
• Josh Arnold’s lyric (06:00): “My wife got up, took my ukulele, and went out to the hotel balcony...from the 14th floor to the Manalua Bay.”
• Bob Kevoian (15:45): “I have a brutalist Christmas tree. It's just cinder blocks stacked rectangle.”
• Kristi Lee (17:17): "I don't celebrate [Christmas]."
• Tom Griswold (10:44): “That was loud as f—. What’s scary? It’s my d—. My doctor. Really?”

Key Segment Timestamps

• Bass album parody: 01:48–03:39
• Ukulele Salvation Army story & song: 03:45–07:01
• Albert King holiday music discussion: 07:28–08:46
• Elf on the Shelf/Barbie viral photo: 08:46–10:00
• Tom’s on-air doctor call: 10:22–11:12
• Minimalist Christmas Trees discussion: 13:48–18:09

Tone & Style

Irrepressibly playful, loaded with good-natured ribbing, musical spoofing, and quick comic asides. The crew keeps their banter brisk, often digressing into funny personal stories and mockery of cultural trends.

For New Listeners

This episode provides a quintessential taste of Bob & Tom’s blend of musical comedy, social satire, and loose, lively group dynamics. Between tales of Christmas mishaps and conversations about decorating trends, it’s a rapid-fire, laughter-heavy slice of post-holiday Americana.