The Dan Patrick Show — Hour 3: Celebrating Shawshank, CFP Preview

Date: September 23, 2025
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts/Dan Patrick Podcast Network
Hosts: Dan Patrick + Danettes (Paulie, Seaton, Marvin, Todd Fritz)

Episode Overview

In this eclectic episode, Dan Patrick and the Danettes blend NFL talk, pop culture reflections, and humor-filled banter. They celebrate the 31st anniversary of “The Shawshank Redemption,” sharing behind-the-scenes tidbits and personal connections to the film, while weaving in the week’s biggest NFL storylines, MVP odds, and a preview of upcoming college football matchups. Callers weigh in with stories about sports and Shawshank, while the crew riffs on sports stats, odd trades, and the quirks of office life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

NFL Storylines and MVP Race

• Super Bowl Odds & MVP Favorites (03:30–05:15)

  • According to DraftKings, the Bills and Ravens are Super Bowl favorites, closely followed by the Eagles and Packers.
  • MVP favorites: Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert.
  • Dan points out Jalen Hurts won’t win MVP because his value to the Eagles isn’t reflected only in stats.
    • “He's a guy that you have to watch him play a game because if you're watching for highlights... he's not meant for the highlight generation.” — Dan (04:50)
  • Discussion of how QBs like Troy Aikman embodied value without gaudy statistics (05:29).

• Jalen Hurts & Team Value

  • Hurts’ leadership is compared to Aikman's steady presence and win-at-all-costs mentality.
  • Paulie notes Hurts was a second-place MVP-story in 2022 because he was the “fresh face” (05:56).

• Ravens vs. Lions Recap

  • Lions rushed for 224 yards—a rarity against a historically stout Ravens D (06:14–07:45).
  • Ravens now face a tough trip to Kansas City.

Celebrating “The Shawshank Redemption” — 31 Years Later

• Lasting Impact & Cultural Influence (07:45–16:26)

  • Movie was not a box-office hit but triumphed in home video, becoming Blockbuster’s #1 rental in 1995 (08:24–08:53).
  • Tim Robbins’ insights:
    • “Tim Robbins talked about how little money he makes on Shawshank Redemption residuals...when it was sold in syndication...there’s really not much [residuals].” — Dan (08:53).
    • Robbins took home a collection of rocks made by extras, real inmates from the filming location (09:54).

• Reshot Ending & Casting What-Ifs

  • The original ending (Red on a bus) was redone so audiences could see Red’s reunion with Andy in St. Lucia (10:15–11:07).
  • Big names were considered before Tim Robbins & Morgan Freeman: Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Kevin Costner, Johnny Depp, and more (11:07).
  • Red was originally written as a white Irish man before Freeman was cast; James Gandolfini almost played the villainous prisoner.

• Reflections on the Film’s Themes

  • Not a prison movie, but a relationship movie. Seaton notes its humanizing portrayal of prisoners, pointing to the “bucket of beers” rooftop scene (12:28).
  • Title tested poorly; studio wanted to rebrand as “Breakout”—an idea the crew ridicules for spoiling the ending (14:19–14:42).

Notable Quotes & Funny Moments

• “You don’t want to have sunshine and great days when you’re showing a prison movie... but it’s not really a prison movie.” — Dan (11:56)
• “Guess what movie they opened against that blew their doors off?” — Paulie (13:00) “Pulp Fiction.” (13:34)
• “I don’t know anyone who’s never seen it.” — Marvin on Shawshank’s reach (13:47)
• “People floated names like 'Breakout,' like Die Hard to make it seem more like an action film. And they pooh-poohed that.” — Paulie (14:19)

NFL Callers, Cowboys' Struggles & Defensive Rankings

• Cowboys Talk & Defensive Woes (23:10–27:55)
  • Cowboys’ defense ranked near-worst in league (27th in points, 30th in yards given up). Ravens officially worst in defense this year (23:19–23:31).
    • “Are they the worst defense in football right now?” — Dan (23:14)
    • “I got them winning five games.” — Marvin betting on Dallas under (28:09)
  • CD Lamb injury assessment and its impact on offensive shootouts (24:16).
  • Cowboys’ remaining schedule dissected—open questions about whether they finish bottom five in the league.

Wider NFL Landscape — Trades, Historical Tidbits

• Discussion of players traded for all-time greats, with anecdotes about Oscar Robertson and Wilt Chamberlain swaps (29:20–31:36).
  • Flynn Robinson’s nickname “Electric Eye” was due to his pure shooting (31:21).

Listener/Caller Interactions: Sports & Shawshank Stories

• Listener Stories:

  • Tim Robbins’ hockey fandom (15:09).
  • Young football player names Shawshank as favorite film, showing its timelessness (16:17).
  • Former inmate shares how reading the Shawshank novella and later watching the film was uniquely meaningful:
    • “That’s the only movie and book that actually match up...very similar.” — Fidel (31:59)
  • Tribute caller honors father on what would’ve been his 75th birthday by sharing their bond over the film (32:49).

• Cliffs Notes Origin Story (33:55–36:05)

  • Cliffs Notes invented by Clifton Hillegass, ex-employee of Nebraska Book Company.
  • Crew riffs on “Cliffs Notes versions” of everything—meals and even marital intimacy, in their classic playful style.

Pop Culture & Danette Banter

• Running jokes: Dan threatens to post daily staff grades, sparking playful HR skits (36:14–38:46).
• “Breaking Bad” reference:
  • "I'm the one who knocks. God, I love that scene." — Dan (39:27)
• Observances about Rosh Hashanah and Yiddish in the crew (40:02–40:38).

Looking Ahead: College Football and Guest Teasers

• Dan’s CFB Saturday TV Lineup (44:53):
  • Ryder Cup, USC vs. Illinois, LSU-Ole Miss, Ohio State-Washington, Oregon-Penn State, Alabama-Georgia.
• Discussion about “Shawshank 2” (45:13).
• Teaser for guest Dan Hurley (UConn coach) and his upcoming memoir (51:06).
  • “How old should you have to be to put out a memoir? He’s 52. That’s early.” — Dan

Memorable Quotes

• “He's a guy that you have to watch him play a game...he's not meant for the highlight generation.” — Dan, on Jalen Hurts (04:50)
• “Shawshank's one of those movies, if you recommend it to somebody, no one’s going to say, ‘Man, you oversold that.’” — Marvin (13:47)
• “Not a prison movie, but a relationship movie.” — Dan (11:56)
• “Guess what movie they opened against that blew their doors off? ...Pulp Fiction.” — Paulie (13:34)
• “And the very first NFL game I went to, my dad took me, and Jim Harbaugh beat the Packers 35–31. Thanks again.” — JC caller (32:49)
• “That’s the only movie and book that actually match up or are very similar.” — Fidel (31:59)
• “How old should you have to be to put out a memoir? He’s 52. That’s early.” — Dan (51:20)

Timestamps for Notable Segments

• NFL MVP Odds & Jalen Hurts Discussion: 03:30–06:14
• Ravens vs. Lions & Defensive Weaknesses: 06:14–07:45
• All About Shawshank Redemption (Film History, Endings, Cast): 07:45–16:26
• Listener Shawshank & NFL Stories: 15:09–34:35
• Cowboys Defense Breakdown & Bet: 23:10–28:54
• Cliffs Notes Backstory & Crew Banter: 33:55–36:05
• Grading Staff, HR Jokes: 36:14–40:02
• Dan’s CFB Saturday Lineup: 44:53
• Teaser: UConn's Dan Hurley Memoir: 51:06

Summary Takeaway

Hour 3 epitomizes “The Dan Patrick Show” at its best: a seamless blend of sharp sports analysis (NFL MVP discussion, Cowboys’ misfortune), pop culture nostalgia (“Shawshank” deep-dive), and open phone lines for fans to share both heartfelt and humorous stories. Whether talking football trends or the unlikely afterlife of a beloved film, Dan and the Danettes keep things insightful, relatable, and always entertaining.