The BOB & TOM Show - October 17, 2025

Overview

This episode of The BOB & TOM Show delivers its signature blend of comedy, news, sports, pop culture, and banter. The cast tackles timely happenings—from quirky news stories and listener letters to spirited debates over cartoons and live-action movies—while leaning into their observational and irreverent humor. Notable features include discussions of sports upsets, pop culture nostalgia, bizarre news stories, recurring inside jokes, and live in-studio musical comedy by Haywood Banks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Halloween Comedy: The Haunted Radio Skit

• [01:21–05:07]
  The crew kicks off with an elaborate, multi-voice skit about a "haunted radio" that cycles through different Bob & Tom-themed genres—a parody of in-house detention, horror radio, and musical radio formats. The running gag is that no matter which station the protagonists tune to, they hear Bob, Tom, and associates, blending sports, music, and comedy in an escalating, absurd fashion.
  • Notable Quote:
    “Radio is so terrifying, you may be afraid to turn on your radio again.” – Tom Griswold (03:11)

2. Sports Recap and Old Guys Shine

• [06:19–08:05; 49:13–52:06]
  Chick McGee reviews football and baseball highlights, marveling that "old guys" like Joe Flacco (NFL) and Max Scherzer (MLB) had stellar performances. The show riffs on age in sports, with jokes about the "Icy Hot Bowl" and extended halftimes for napping.
  • Bob: “Did they extend halftime so they could both take a nap?” (06:19)
  • Tom: “And this is a country for old men. Even in baseball we had an old dude.” (07:16)
  • The episode coins the night's action as “a huge night for old men.”

3. Radio & Career Nostalgia

• [08:02–09:59] Tom and Bob reminisce about early radio days, technical quirks (Frankenstein switch, teletype machines), on-air pseudonyms, and classic songs that marked their debuts.
  • Tom: “The first song I ever played on the air? Rapper’s Delight.” (10:41)
  • Christy and Bob share their longevity in radio and on-air personas, setting off friendly ribbing over who “bosses people” best.

4. Cultural Debates: Cartoons to Live Action

• [18:18–25:10] The panel dives deep into the news that Jim Carrey is rumored to lead a live-action Jetsons film. The ensuing casting debate mixes nostalgia with celebrity impressions, proposing modern alternatives for George and Jane Jetson while lampooning Hollywood trends.
  • Chick: “I’m gonna have to lean in. I know you didn’t ask me, but I’m gonna lean into the Jetsons based purely on the theme song.” (18:41)
  • Tom: “I hope they don’t get all politically correct...or have it like, really gritty with George having an affair with Rosie.” (20:46)
  • The conversation morphs into a broader discussion of live-action adaptations, with love/hate takes on the Grinch and favorite Christmas movies.

5. Listener Mail & Letters (Including Trucker Pets)

• [29:33–34:45; 40:42–43:41] A hallmark of the show, listener mail covers everything from animals riding in big rigs to regional potato chips, absurd T-shirt memories, and dog treats. The team reads several heartfelt pet stories, injects tangential humor, and debates the practicality of truck-bound fish tanks.

6. Product & Food Nostalgia: Clark Bars & Candy

• [14:43–15:11; 44:08–46:08; 83:40–84:28] The cast samples Clark bars, debating the flavor and “chewiness” versus Butterfingers, and fondly recalls childhood candies like Mallow Cups and bottle caps. Tangents on deep-fried Uncrustables and gifting kids candy cigarettes spark generational reflections.
  • Christy: “This is exactly as I remember. It’s kind of almost like a Butterfinger.” (44:56)

7. Squeaky Shoes Lawsuit

• [66:51–82:11] The long-running in-joke of Tom’s obsession with On Cloud sneakers climaxes with news of a class-action lawsuit over the shoes’ notorious "squeak." The discussion plumbs quirky depths: from shoe branding to the childhood appeal of fart-sounding footwear.
  • Chick: “On Incorporated is facing a class-action lawsuit because the sneakers cause a noisy and embarrassing squeak.” (68:28)
  • Tom: “If they renamed them fart shoes, every junior high school boy would want a pair.” (71:15)

8. Science, Animals, and Coffee Mishaps

• [88:32–90:08] The team unpacks emails about birds’ lack of bowel control, dog ramps, and the difficulties of keeping fair-won goldfish alive. A hilarious break room incident unfolds: Christy discovers her black coffee mysteriously filled with milk and sugar, triggering a round of denials and suspicions.

9. Major Obits and Rock History

• [26:22–29:27] The death of KISS guitarist Ace Frehley prompts retrospectives on his solo hit and on-stage persona. Obituary humor flows into a macabre pitch for “Obits” cereal—a Halloween gag with “black cereal and crosses; little tombstones.”

10. World Records and Quirky News

• [133:03–135:11] A Guinness World Record for shearing lambs, the ongoing pickleball injury epidemic, and outlandish headlines (like an “aquarium toilet”) take center stage, with the hosts providing skeptical or amused color commentary.

11. Live Comedy: Haywood Banks

• [101:14–114:05; 128:08–130:57] Regular guest and musical comedian Haywood Banks performs an original, Halloween-inspired “Skeleton Bones” song live. The cast participates, stumbling through verses, harmonies, and punchlines, with laughs about skeletons, recycled plastic, and anatomical singalongs.
  • Entire group chorus:
    “Never scared by a skull, a sternum, or a scapula; metacarpoclavicle never scared the crapula..." (Repeated at 111:31 and 129:42)

12. Weird News Roundup

• [138:34–149:41] Stories covered include:
  • A man faking blindness for 50 years to collect disability (139:01)
  • A Brit undergoing a “partial penectomy” after misdiagnosing a spot as a wart (143:41)
  • A Peruvian bishop with 17 lovers and a scandalous cleaning lady (148:14)

13. AI, Erotica, and Futurist Paranoia

• [157:23–163:44] The show discusses OpenAI’s plan to allow adult content and whether there’s any real way to verify users' ages or control AI-generated “erotica.” Conversation veers into fake IDs, online privacy, and AI’s potential for real harm.
  • Tom: “Erotica is the French word for porno.” (157:58)
  • Bob: “Anything you can think of will be artificial intelligence.” (160:27)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Bob (sports recap): “Did they extend halftime so they could both take a nap?” (06:19)
• Tom (Jetsons debate): “I hope they don’t get all politically correct...or have it gritty with George having an affair with Rosie.” (20:46)
• Chick on shoes: “I had a New pair of Air Force ones just the other day. And I won’t wear them because they squeak.” (69:44)
• Christy (on candy): “This is exactly what I remember. It’s kind of almost like a Butterfinger.” (44:56)
• Josh on Clark bars: “I chewed it for a long time, and not because it didn’t taste good, but because I was tired of chewing.” (44:25)
• Pat Godwin (medley): “Torn between 17 lovers...Even having one lover is breaking the Vatican’s rules!” (151:26)

Engaging and Offbeat Segments (with Select Timestamps)

• Haunted Radio Comedy Skit – [01:21–05:07]
• Old Guys’ Big Sports Night – [06:19–08:05; 49:13–52:06]
• Cartoon Recasting Debate – [18:18–25:10]
• Sample Tasting: Clark Bars & Other Throwback Candy – [44:08–46:08]
• Live Song: “Skeleton Bones” by Haywood Banks – [111:00–113:50; reprise at 128:08–130:57]
• Penectomy News Story – [143:13–145:59]
• Bizarre Smell in Indianapolis – [155:16–156:58]
• Fake Disability News & Luigi Song – [138:34–142:00]
• Bishop’s 17 Lovers Scandal and Pat’s Medley – [148:35–151:30]

Tone & Style

The tone is irreverent, playful, often tangential, and full of mutual ball-busting. Even heavier topics (celebrity deaths, cancer, sex scandals) are addressed with classic BOB & TOM quips and musical parodies, keeping things light and rapid-fire.

Conclusion & Episode Flow

Across two hours, the episode weaves together sports, bizarre news, pop culture, nostalgic food reviews, spontaneous music, and audience mail. Segments flow naturally, often launched by listener letters or one-liners that spiral into larger comedic discussions. Featured guest Haywood Banks adds musical variety, reinforcing the show’s blend of spoken and performed comedy.

For newcomers and fans alike, this episode is a quintessential BOB & TOM Show experience: brisk, wide-ranging, weird-in-the-best-way—and never going more than 20 seconds without a laugh.