The BOB & TOM Show – November 20, 2025

Overview

This episode of The BOB & TOM Show is packed with the trademark blend of comedy, conversational banter, and off-the-wall commentary that has defined the show for years. With a Thanksgiving theme running throughout, the cast delivers a mix of sketches, stories, sports, and riffing on everything from wiener-shaped cars to raccoon cuisine, workplace mishaps, and modern slang. Special guests include comedians Al Jackson and Mark Shalafu, and there are tie-ins to upcoming stand-up shows, listener contests, and some hilariously memorable moments. The show remains vibrant, self-referential, and never afraid to get a little weird.

Episode Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. "The Sounds of Thanksgiving" Sketch

• [01:29–03:36]
  The show kicks off with a parody audio collection—"The Sounds of Thanksgiving"—complete with family arguments, mishaps, and awkward moments.
  • Quotes:
    • “If you can’t make it home this Thanksgiving, we’ll bring the holiday home to you...” – Tom Griswold (02:01)
    • “My yams are burning!” – Tom Griswold (01:54)
    • “Uncle Clarence, you just pissed your pants again.” – Jessica Hooker (02:46)
    • “If I get the biggest part of the wishbone, I’m gonna wish that the girl next door keeps shaving with her curtains open.” – Chick McGee as dopey nephew (03:02)
• Tone: Playful, irreverent, and self-deprecating.

2. Food Mishaps & Health Scares

• [05:00–06:17]
  The cast recounts Pat Godwin’s “radish incident” — after eating a massive Daikon radish, Pat had to leave the previous day's show due to digestive distress.
  • Quotes:
    • “I took a huge bite. I loved it. Ate the whole thing.” – Tom Griswold (05:25)
    • “What happened? You know, I did have a sit down about three hours later.” – Tom Griswold (06:06)
    • “You have a very fast constitution.” – Chick McGee (06:10)

3. Listener Contests & Announcements

• [06:32–08:16]
  Announcing winners of listener contests (4K TV, Visa cards, “shoe-in of the week” picks), and Tee-ing up the NFL picks contest.
  • Quote:
    • “If your name is Cooper, your nickname is always Coop, right? If your name is Coop, then what’s your nickname? Coop.” – Tom Griswold (07:32)

4. Comedy: Tim Allen & Stand-Up Discussion

• [09:12–10:35]
  Tom shares about interviewing Tim Allen, reflecting on generational differences in knowing Tim as an actor vs. a comic.
  • Quote:
    • “A lot of whatever generation only knows him as the actor … We talked a little about Toy Story 5 which he’s in the studio working on right now.” – Tom Griswold (09:29)
  • Shout-outs to upcoming stand-up gigs for Tim Allen, Willie Griswold, and Pat Godwin.
  • Tone: Nostalgic and supportive of live comedy.

5. Rolling with Bananas: Vehicle Sketches & Listener Letters

• [13:59–30:59]
  Discussion about classic custom promotional vehicles (Wienermobile, Peanutmobile, Bananamobile, etc.) and Tom’s pitch for a tax break for car-shaped product vehicles.
  • Listeners suggest new ideas for vehicles (Viagra bus that “expands,” gigantic grocery carts, muffler cars, and more).
  • Photos and emails about roller skate cars and other offbeat promo vehicles flood in.
  • Quote:
    • “If you make an automobile or a truck that resembles the product your company makes, there should be some huge tax bonus.” – Tom Griswold (14:34)
    • “Tim is kind enough to suggest a vehicle for Dick’s Sporting Boats. It’s sort of a modified Wienermobile with a circumcision scar.” – Tom Griswold (24:21)
• Timestamps:
  • [22:10] — Listener segment about custom vehicles
  • [24:53] — Giant roller skate vehicle stories

6. Theme: Thanksgiving, Food, and Family Oddities

• Stories about Thanksgiving meals and memories, including actors eating raccoon for Thanksgiving ([47:44]).
• Quote:
  • “I eat raccoon. Like a raccoon you see in the trash can. I hunt it, kill it, skin them, cook them, eat them, all that.” – Xavier Leggette, Carolina Panthers player, referenced by Chick McGee (48:43)

7. Raccoon Lore and Presidential Trivia

• [48:24–53:40]
  Multiple raccoon stories, including President Calvin Coolidge’s famous raccoon pardon and the role of raccoons as evolving companions.
  • “According to Mental Floss, a woman in 1926 sent President Coolidge a raccoon for Thanksgiving ... the President, however, decided to pardon the animal instead.” – Jessica Hooker (49:49)
  • Anecdotes about the menagerie at the Coolidge White House and commentary on raccoons' domestication.

8. Sports: NFL, Gambling, Pickleball Drama & More

• [66:48–71:54]
  Chick McGee reports on betting scandals in baseball, NFL injuries, NFL picks, and light-hearted coverage of sports news.
  • Town in Carmel, CA bans pickleball due to noise complaints ([69:41])
  • “The council put a temporary ban … Their best idea was to require softer paddles and softer balls" – Chick McGee (70:13)
• Stupid World Record: 80-year-old woman is the oldest to complete the Ironman Triathlon ([70:47])
• Quote: “She completed her race in 16 hours 45 minutes 26 seconds. Kind of a badass.” – Chick McGee (71:46)

9. Tech Issues, Daily Life, and Banter

• [19:38–22:25]
  Tom complains about his computer’s mysterious updates and unwanted features.
  • “My main computer had some kind of update installed that I did not ask for … It’s showing me the temperature in Harbor Springs, Michigan!” – Tom Griswold (19:38)
• Friendly digs, computer noises, and Tom’s inability to manage technical glitches much to everyone’s ridicule.

10. Nudity, Chainsaw Safety & Kenny Loggins Fun Facts

• [76:10–82:04]
  Pat Godwin debuts a hilarious song about “playing pickleball naked,” and discussion veers into the dangers of nude chainsaw use, nude bowling, and Kenny Loggins' naked wedding ("He met his wife while getting a colonic!").
  • Notable Lyrics:
    • “Playing pickleball naked, pickleball—Gramps micro-dickel is mighty small...” – Pat Godwin (77:47)
  • Quote:
    • “Speaking of nudity … Kenny Loggins had a naked wedding. Yes, in the woods.” – Tom Griswold (81:08)

11. Comedy Guest Spotlight: Mark Shalafu

• [85:37–94:47]
  Mark joins the studio, reflects on coaching kids sports (with teams like the "Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Creams"), having three girls, New York to Cincinnati moves, and the perils of youth sports and neighborhood drama.
  • Stories about kids saying embarrassing things to teachers, learning parenting as a third child, and hometown Facebook group chaos.

12. “Shoe-in of the Week” Pick ‘Em with Audience Winner

• [117:42–122:15]
  NFL picks are made alongside contest winner "Coop," with a mixture of actual predictions and the usual round-robin riffing.
  • “If your name is Cooper, your nickname is always Coop, right? … But if your name is Coop, then what’s your nickname? Coop.” – Tom Griswold (117:58)
• Involving guests and listeners brings energy and involvement.

13. Al Jackson’s "Street-Lingo" Pop Quiz

• [130:05–135:12]
  Al Jackson brings in slang for Tom to decipher (“soft launch,” and the acronym “sybau” — “shut your ass up”).
  • “Soft launch: you don’t come out and say Willy’s my boyfriend. There’s just a picture of some food and his shoes are in the background.” – Al Jackson (131:05)
  • “Sybau means ‘shut your ass up’.” – Jessica Hooker (134:43)

14. Science & Health Oddities

• [101:48–105:52]
  Discovery: Viagra may reverse damage behind certain types of deafness.
  • “Study authors say the findings are a good example of our efforts to repurpose FDA approved drugs for treating rare diseases.” – Jessica Hooker (103:56)
• Discussion of repurposing drugs for surprising benefits.

15. Pop Culture Currents: Vehicles, Sandwiches, Taco Bell

• Taco Bell introduces new fan-invented menu items ([159:01–161:11])
  • The panel jokes about naming Taco Bell items after themselves.
  • They dissect the structural geometry of Crunchwrap folding—“In the shape of a pentagram… someone’s eaten the corner, that’s why!” – Tom Griswold (161:24)
• Reflections on the death of the “name-a-sandwich-after-you” era at classic New York delis.

16. History, Trivia & Absurdities

• Ongoing “Today in History” interludes:
  • Presidential assassination trivia, Garfield cat vs. Garfield the president ([53:40–54:33])
  • Richard Dawson’s birthday and old Family Feud stories.
  • Tim Allen’s car trivia stumps Tim Allen (Mannix's Oldsmobile Tornado).
  • The 1982 “The Play” at Cal–Stanford, where the band comes onto the field (157:35).

17. Offbeat News: Parrot in Café, Frozen’s Sven Reports, and Steve Irwin Snake

• Parrot at a Seoul café drinks patron’s coffee ([151:23–151:54])
• Police in Britain called for a “bully dog” find it’s a stuffed Sven reindeer ([153:12–153:29])
• Researchers name a snake after Steve Irwin ([139:32–140:28])
  • “Could have been worse, they could have named a stingray.” – Jessica Hooker (140:18)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The only thing dry and crusty around here is in your pants.” – Chick McGee (02:11)
• “My main computer here had some kind of update installed that I did not ask for ... it’s showing me the temperature in Harbor Springs, Michigan!” – Tom Griswold (19:38)
• “Soft launch: There’s just a picture of their shoes next to hers on the ‘gram.” – Al Jackson (131:05)
• “What do you think raccoon tastes like?” – Chick McGee … “Everybody says it’s like chicken, but raccoon has its own distinctive taste.” – Xavier Leggette, via Chick (48:53)
• “Tom is not an actual person. He's an alien sent here to study life.” – Chick McGee (73:41)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Thanksgiving Sketch: 01:29–03:36
• Radish Incident: 05:00–06:17
• Contest Announcements: 06:32–08:16
• Tim Allen Interview Reflection: 09:12–10:35
• Promo Car Discussion / Vehicles: 13:59–30:59
• Raccoon Stories (NFL + Coolidge): 47:44–53:40
• Sports & NFL Picks: 66:48–71:54 & 117:42–122:15
• Pickleball Naked Song: 76:10–78:06
• Al Jackson Slang Quiz: 130:05–135:12
• Mark Shalafu Comedy Guest: 85:37–94:47
• Parrot News: 151:23–151:54
• Steve Irwin Snake Story: 139:32–140:28
• Taco Bell Fan Menu: 159:01–161:11

Overall Tone & Vibe

The episode is lively, irreverent, and often delightfully absurd, with friendly ribbing between the hosts, goofy digressions, and genuine affection for the audience and one another. References range from deep-dive pop culture trivia to topical sports, Thanksgiving, and everyday life humor. Guests fit seamlessly into the banter, and the show maintains a careful balance of locally-flavored jokes and national appeal.

For new listeners: This episode is a strong representation of what makes The BOB & TOM Show a mainstay in American comedy/talk radio: a fast pace, real-time riffing, crowd and fan participation, and a hearty embrace of the weird and wonderful side of the human experience.