The Commercial Break Podcast Episode: 12 Days Of TCB: Not The Totem Pole!
Date: December 20, 2024
Hosts: Bryan Green & Krissy Hoadley, with producer Christina

Episode Overview

This episode, part of TCB’s “12 Days Of TCB” holiday marathon, blends the show’s signature irreverent friendship banter with a deep-dive parody and reaction to an episode of Mountain Monsters—focusing on the saga of the “Cherokee Devil” and a mysteriously vanishing totem pole. The episode also discusses the world of paid podcast promotion via influencers, reflects on Dr. Phil's transformation from straight-talking TV therapist to sensationalist, and detours hilariously through pop culture, reality TV, and alleged New Jersey UFO sightings. A strong thread of support for domestic violence charities underscores the episode’s holiday spirit.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. 12 Days Of TCB: Podcast Marathons, Diapers & Chaos

Bryan and Krissy riff on the exhaustion of marathon podcasting

• They joke about podcasting being a marathon and consider wearing “rock diapers” to avoid leaving the mic (00:44).
  • “You know those marathoners…they just shit on themselves.” – Bryan (00:53)
• Discussion of “concert diapers,” a real product for not missing your favorite song while drinking at shows (01:30–02:07).

2. Dr. Phil: Paid Promotion & TV Downfall

Deep-dive into a paid Dr. Phil podcast promo for TCB

• The hosts recount paying Dr. Phil for a podcast endorsement and analyze his reading style (“our new paid friends,” “they have paid us”) with playful jabs about his “thick tongue” and possible dentures (06:01–08:01).
• “But just listen to the enthusiasm of Dr. Phil… ‘our new paid friends over at The Commercial Break’” – Bryan (07:13)
• Reflection on how influencer ads are mostly soulless unless the host genuinely loves the product (08:26).
• Dr. Phil’s career arc:
  • From Oprah protégé and “daytime TV king” to tabloid TV (10:10–10:51).
  • Dr. Phil goes from “straight-talking dad figure” to Jerry Springer-esque spectacle by season 3.
    • “Then it went to Jerry… it went to Jerry Springer level craziness.” – Bryan (10:30)
  • Discussion of “Cash Me Outside” girl (Bhad Bhabie) becoming a meme and successful musician:
    • “The reason why is because she literally told Dr. Phil, ‘Catch me outside…’” (10:54)
• Reflection on the audience’s appetite for drama and voyeurism in TV (14:20).

3. Pop Culture, Naming Oddities & Reality TV

Tangents on wild pop culture phenomena and reality TV consumption

• Joking about celebrities with symbols/dollar signs in their names and the bizarre outcomes (12:44–13:00).
  • “Unless you are super rich…you are absolutely dooming your child…if you put a dollar sign and an asterisk in their name.” – Bryan (13:00)
• Laughter about how shows like 90 Day Fiance and Maury are “distant cousins” in their trainwreck appeal,
  • “90 Day Fiance is just one step removed from Who’s The Father.” – Bryan (15:19)
• “We love to see other people’s train wrecks because it makes our train wreck not feel so damaging. And we like tits and ass. That’s it.” – Bryan (15:51)

4. Mountain Monsters: The Cherokee Devil and the Notorious Totem Pole

Full comedic, play-by-play reaction to the cryptid-hunting show

• Bryan & Krissy recap and lampoon Mountain Monsters:
  • The structureless chaos of the show (“They change the guy’s title every episode!”), endless night hunts, dubious monster calls, and exaggerated claims (22:11–22:45).
• Standout moments in the Mountain Monsters segment:
  • Mystical powers of the “Cherokee Devil”—“sounds like the last woman I dated” (22:04)
  • Buck’s haunting by a “little Indian girl” who disappears (24:12–24:54).
  • Parody of the monster-hunting team’s incompetence—“these aren’t the people” you want hunting Bigfoot (26:26).
  • Extended, escalating farce: Huckleberry is found naked, covered in mud, clutching the missing totem pole, requiring a cold-water group intervention (38:10–39:42).
    • “Huckleberry is covered in mud…he’s holding the totem pole. He’s got two poles he’s carrying around, if the blur is any indication. Wow.” – Bryan (39:08)
    • “Did they say ‘Get him’?…Get him before he orgasms. No one wants to see that.” – Bryan (39:42)
  • Gentle teasing about group’s affection for Huckleberry and the wisdom of returning after such mental trauma (43:47–44:03).
    • “If you’re really going through all this psychological torture…it requires some vacation time?” – Bryan (44:03)
• Krissy & Christina point out the “formula” of the show: wild action only described in past tense, never on camera (35:49).
• Jokes about the wild, episodic resets and the gang’s unwavering mission to (never) catch Bigfoot or its regional variants (45:27).

5. Charity Spotlight & Personal Stories

Focus on the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence

• Bryan discusses support for local women’s shelters and the importance of helping survivors during the holidays, mixing personal backstory with trademark dark humor (19:08–21:34).
  • “My father really instilled this into us…he had four boys...by hitting me, my father made me realize that hitting was not good.” – Bryan (20:45)
• Listeners are encouraged to donate, send donor screenshots, and get TCB swag (19:59).

6. Real-World UFOs: New Jersey Drone Panic

Quick report on social media excitement about mysterious lights

• Bryan debunks claims of New Jersey UFO sightings as likely drones—“just dickheads in their mom’s garage…flying drones around New Jersey” (49:15–50:53).
• Reflection on the absence of convincing evidence, the viral urge to believe, and how genuine alien tech would behave if it existed (51:04–51:40).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Dr. Phil's Paid Ad:

  • “Listen to the enthusiasm…‘our new paid friends over at The Commercial Break…’” – Bryan, 07:13
  • “By the way, are those dentures? Is that what I’m hearing?” – Bryan, 07:41

• On Mountain Monsters Formula:

  • “A lot of the most intense action is only described. It’s not seen.” – Bryan, 35:49

• On the Naked Huckleberry Reveal:

  • “Huckleberry is covered in mud. He looks like a huckleberry. Now he’s officially Huckleberry…He’s naked as a baby.” – Bryan, 38:29
  • “Get him before he orgasms. No one wants to see that!” – Bryan, 39:42

• On pop culture's obsession with spectacle:

  • “We love to see other people’s train wrecks because it makes our train wreck not feel so damaging…” – Bryan, 15:51

Important Timestamps

• 00:44–01:30: Marathon podcasting and the concept of “rock diapers”
• 06:01–08:01: Dr. Phil reads TCB’s paid promo; hosts analyze the read
• 10:10–11:40: Dr. Phil’s cultural impact and “Cash Me Outside” phenomenon
• 15:00–16:00: Reality TV voyeurism and comparison to Maury
• 21:34–34:05: Mountain Monsters – Full reaction to Cherokee Devil, the haunted hut, and disappearing ghost girl
• 38:10–44:03: Huckleberry’s “totem pole” incident, team intervention, and affectionate group chaos
• 49:15–51:40: New Jersey UFOs debunked as drone hysteria
• 19:08–21:34: Charitable cause highlight (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence) and Bryan’s backstory

Closing & Upcoming Content

Bryan and Krissy tease upcoming TCB holiday content (MTV dating shows, “Love Connection,” and more). Casual gratitude and community reminders close out the episode, encouraging listeners to follow TCB on social, text in, or check the website for free swag and charity donation links.

Summary Tone: Chaotic, self-aware, gleefully crude, and warmly irreverent—capturing the open-mic energy and comedic chemistry that defines The Commercial Break.

Recommended For: Fans of improvisational comedy, reality TV satire, and unfiltered podcasts, as well as those seeking lighthearted takes on pop culture and the oddities of modern life.

[12 Days Of TCB: Not The Totem Pole!]

Find the full video and daily TCB on YouTube.com/TheCommercialBreak
Donate to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (link in episode notes).

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• Text/Voicemail: 212-433-3822
• Instagram: @thecommercialbreak
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• Website: tcbpodcast.com