The BOB & TOM Show – December 19, 2025 Episode Summary

Main Theme / Purpose This lively episode of The BOB & TOM Show delivers a holiday-infused mix of comedy, lighthearted banter, viewer letters, gift exchanges, pop culture references, and special surprise guests. The spirit is festive and sometimes irreverent, with the entire crew reflecting on Christmas traditions, the chaos of gift shopping, listener stories, and notable moments from the year. The tone is energetic, self-deprecating, and quick-witted, as the team navigates mail, music, and meandering tangents about everything from pancakes to blimps to monkeys.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Holiday Spirit, Gift-Giving & Shipping Woes

• The team compares experiences with last-minute shopping and shipping, poking fun at delays and modern conveniences. Christy Lee brags about her efficient small-town post office, while Tom Griswold laments the unpredictable arrival of gifts ("What a world we live in." - Tom, 04:56).
• On air, they exchange holiday gifts ranging from personalized yo-yos to mini replica guitars, DoorDash cards, towel warmers, and joke candles (Tom’s face on it).
• Memorable Line: “You know, I was gonna ask if something was up your ass today, but you get mad at me.” – Chick McGee, [21:25]
• Timestamps:
  • Christmas song: “You Ain’t Getting Diddly Squat” [01:29–03:13]
  • Gift Exchange Banter: [70:19–73:58, 146:31–149:00]

2. Mailbag: Listener Letters & Stories

• Numerous listener letters spark tangents:
  • A man remembers seeing Led Zeppelin for $4 and losing touch with a girl he met at the concert.
  • A gym-goer’s tale of nearly falling off a treadmill after hearing the “Bi-curious George” gay monkey joke.
  • Anecdotes about rescuing people from public toilet paper mishaps, and airline/holiday travel adventures.
• Notable Quote: “I could do a better job.” – Bob, relating to subpar restroom experiences [33:04]
• Timestamps:
  • Zeppelin story: [11:14–12:52]
  • Mailbag highlights and gym mishap: [26:09–27:13]

3. Christmas Traditions & Unusual Customs

• The crew discusses global Christmas customs:
  • Caracas: Roller-skating to church on Christmas Eve.
  • Greenland: Whale blubber and fermented seabirds for Christmas dinner.
  • Ukraine: Decorating Christmas trees with spiders for good luck.
  • Iceland: Giant cats that eat children without new clothes for Christmas.
  • Japan: KFC on Christmas Eve, thanks to a 1970s ad campaign.
  • Sweden: Families watch a Donald Duck special at 3pm Christmas Eve.
• Memorable Moment: Pat Godwin debuts his perfect Donald Duck sneeze sound [154:35–154:44]
• Timestamps:
  • Christmas traditions segment: [150:22–154:35]

4. Music & Notable Musicians

• Mention of the holiday “Crypto for Christmas” parody song, riffing on new-age gifts (NFTs, bitcoin).
• Discussion about Wham’s “Last Christmas” dethroning Mariah Carey for most popular modern Christmas song, with the team riffing on the “Whamageddon” viral challenge [[28:22–29:51]].
• Listener letter about David Hasselhoff’s music stardom in Germany [53:04]
• Special surprise interviews:
  • Jan Griswold (Tom’s sister) and her partner Andy Newmark: Reminiscing about Christmases past, Andy’s career as a session drummer with artists like John Lennon and Roxy Music [99:28–109:13].
  • Peter Frampton: Dog Bixby makes an appearance; Peter talks about his 2026 album, his band’s camaraderie, his role in “Almost Famous”, and tributes to Tom Petty [128:03–143:22].
• Quote: “If it weren’t for the crew and the band... it’s the Frampton road crew family.” – Peter Frampton, [132:05]

5. Comedy Highlights: Sports, Animals, and World Records

• NFL: Story of booger-flicking touchdown celebrations being banned [79:09–80:51]. “It’s his world of sports, just bear with us!” – Chick McGee [10:47]
• Animals: Tales of moose in Alaska, discussions about gay monkeys, and a Guinness World Record for a donkey with the world’s largest ears [84:21–85:37].
• World Records: Man sings Christmas songs for 42 hours straight to set a marathon record [82:21–83:44].
• Memorable Quote: “Opinions are like Athol, everybody’s got one.” – Unanimous riff, on a town called Athol [31:49]

6. Vanity License Plates & Censored Words

• The crew gleefully reads state-by-state lists of banned custom license plates, cackling over those denied for spelling “boobies”, “fart car,” “moist,” “pimp juice,” “we befkn,” and “taco slt.” [91:02–96:14]
• Quote: “I don’t want to live in a country where I can’t have PIMP JUICE on my license plate.” – Bob Kevoian [94:03]

7. Year-in-Review Highlights

• The show pulls faux “memorable clips” from 2025, mostly in-jokes, non-sequiturs, or callbacks to favorite bits (“Dancing! I hate this show.” “I love blimps!”) [27:41, 46:20, 152:17]

8. The Crew’s Signature Bickering & Running Gags

• Sarcasm overload: Meta discussion of sarcasm “knobs” on the show [20:13]
• Chick McGee’s “retirement”: Ongoing fan letter gag congratulating Chick on his annual “last show”
• Tom’s font preferences: “If it’s not in Helvetica, I probably won’t read it.” [25:03]
• Reflections on ATMs and cash mishaps, and the virtue of wadding up money to keep it from blowing away [69:23–69:57]
• Heated pancakes vs. waffles debate: “Waffles are too organized.” – Tom, [44:49–45:56]
• Christmas kitten story: Chick shares a “holiday” tale about a kitten and Christmas lights gone tragically wrong [55:23–55:41]

9. Surveys, Resolutions & Pop Psychology

• New Year’s Resolutions trends: Most common goals are to lose weight, exercise, save money, spend more time outside
• Noted differences between generations in what holds them back: “No willpower” vs. “not enough money” [163:02]
• Discussion of “Santa-File” (Santa fetish) in pop psychology [159:24–162:01]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “You ain’t getting diddly squat ‘cause you really screwed up this year!” – Christmas song parody, Tom & crew ([01:29–03:13])
• “I love blimps.” – Tom, a classic memory revisit ([46:20])
• “I found a place to recycle all your electronics!” – Christy, initiating chaotic drawer-cleaning jokes ([06:35])
• “Isn't maple syrup the only substance on earth that lasts forever?” – Tom, on syrup and eternal foodstuffs ([49:21])
• "I've never grabbed bills and crunched them so fast in my life." – Tom, recounting an ATM moment ([69:48])
• “Bi-curious George.” – Tom, describing a potentially gay monkey joke ([26:48])
• “You play any instruments? I play a little guitar.” – Bob, on getting a mini guitar for Christmas ([72:24])
• "Who's the nicest guy to ever walk in here? Peter Frampton." – Tom, introducing the surprise guest ([133:12])
• "Now, when you get a new shirt, he gets rid of an old shirt." – Christy, on Andy Newmark’s minimalist habits ([108:21])
• “Opinions are like Athol, everybody's got one.” – Bob, riffing on Idaho town names ([31:49])
• “Waffles are too organized. They're selfish.” – Tom, on food architecture ([44:56])
• “If you want to be great and make history, never chase reality.” – US soccer ad, recurring theme ([145:52])
• “You have the parking lot, the lights are on, license plate is POOPY.” – Tom, on banned plates ([74:50])
• “It smells like a…almost too clean whorehouse.” – Chick, on Tom’s candle gift ([148:38])
• “I heard ‘I quit!’ and now it’s my ringtone. Everyone at work loves it.” – Listener Dan, on Josh’s comedic exit ([122:49])
• “I’m gonna fit this wiener in your sister!” – Tom, mock-resolution closer ([166:40])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Funny Christmas Song Parody: 01:29–03:13
• Mailbag & Listener Letters: 11:14–12:52, 26:09–27:13, 31:07–33:41
• Pop Culture/Traditions: 150:22–154:35, 155:08–156:04
• Year-End Recap Bits: 27:41, 46:20, 152:17, 158:09
• Pancake/Waffle Debate: 44:35–45:56, 48:43–49:15
• License Plate List: 91:02–96:14
• Gift Exchanges: 70:19–73:58, 146:31–149:00
• Peter Frampton Interview: 128:03–143:22
• Vanity Plate Bans: 91:02–96:14
• Christmas Traditions from Around the World: 150:22–154:41

The Show’s Language & Tone

The episode is a blend of warmth and snark, with self-deprecating in-jokes, sarcasm (sometimes meta-commented upon), and a rhythm of playful interruptions. Much time is devoted to letters from listeners, offbeat news items, sports, and the rituals/trials of the season. Banter is often improvisational, derailing into comic asides about nostalgia, bodily functions, and pop culture. The presence of surprise guests and ongoing callbacks to favorite running gags (yo-yos, Blimps, Chick’s faux retirement, bickering about fonts) create an “anything goes,” family reunion atmosphere.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This installment encapsulates all that is trademark BOB & TOM: a cavalcade of comic personalities riffing on Christmas, modern life, pop culture, and absurd listener stories, with generous helpings of affectionate ribbing, holiday cheer, and celebrity surprise. If you want a show with as much Christmas chaos and laughter as comradery, this festive episode with mini guitars, “crypto for Christmas,” and tales of pancake pancake, gay monkeys, and Swedes glued to Donald Duck will leave you grinning (and perhaps rethinking your vanity plate application).