More To Do in Tucson & Sitcom Convention

Summary

---

The Nightly Podcast

Episode: More To Do in Tucson & Sitcom Convention
Date: May 19, 2026
Hosts: Matt Bragg & KP Parker

---

Episode Overview

This cozy, comedic episode of The Nightly features hosts Matt and KP diving into the lingering details of KP’s much-anticipated Tucson trip and Matt’s unexpected adventure at a classic British sitcom convention. The tone is warm, self-deprecating, and filled with playful teasing—the hosts recount travel misadventures, everyday oddities, and the comforting world of nostalgic television.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. KP’s Tucson Trip: The Best-Laid Plans Go Astray

(01:12–12:34)

• Old West Town Fiasco (01:31)
  • KP laments missing out on the much-discussed Tucson Old West “pioneer town”—a kids’ theme park with actual accounting and medical offices on-site, open only from 5 p.m.:

    "There was like a tax firm in there and like a medical office. So I was like, what is this place?" (02:00, KP)

• Business Hours Shenanigans (02:44)
  • The hosts riff on the bizarre idea of professional services operating inside a faux Old West town—Matt jokes about “vampire tax hours,” adding to the episode's playful surrealism.

    "You're, like, opening up like a chiropractor in the middle of Disneyland. Why would you do that?" (03:22, Matt)

• Museum of Miniatures — Also a Miss (03:43)
  • KP confesses she skipped the miniature museum due to the searing Arizona heat and the impracticality of focusing on tiny objects while tired.

    “If I had to focus up on small visual items, I was going to fall asleep...my boyfriend said, that doesn’t make sense. And I said, well, let's just accept it.” (04:07, KP)

• Alternative Activities (04:52)
  • Church in the desert and catching a horror movie, “Hokum,” at the cinema took their place.
  • KP reviews "Hokum" (a fictional scary movie), describing it as surprisingly tense with Adam Scott in a standout role.

    “I was gripping the chair quite hard in fear, really.” (06:13, KP)

• Horror Films & Bedtime Anxiety (07:15)
  • Both hosts agree horror is not ideal before bed; KP admits she "kept myself up a bit" after the movie, leading to a poor night's sleep, tying back to the show’s ethos of cozy, sleep-friendly content.
• Missed Experiences & Imaginary Spooks (07:37)
  • Playful speculation on whether the miniature museum could be haunted (“little haunted miniatures that got in your head and caused havoc”), blending comic relief with comforting bedtime babble.

---

2. The Case of the Tucson Waiter: A Dining Adventure

(08:41–12:34)

• Dinner Oddities (08:41)
  • KP describes a perplexing interaction with a Tucson waiter—odd drink orders (her glass comically smaller than her boyfriend’s), lack of eye contact, and a failed attempt to orchestrate a surprise birthday dessert.
• Cakegate (09:48)
  • The waiter delivers slices of cake to every table except KP’s, despite her request for a birthday treat—leading to good-natured speculation about a personal vendetta.

    "I think that this was just a coordinated attack on me to say, not only will I not bring you the cake you asked for, I’m gonna give everyone else in this room cake." (11:15, KP)

  • KP’s final verdict: It was an “excellent prank,” and still her favorite restaurant of the trip.

    “I started off with, what I would say a good attitude. And I left with a great attitude. I think it’s a funny joke.” (11:35, KP)

  • Matt doubles down:

    “It is the funniest thing that he could have done in that situation.” (11:48, Matt)

---

3. Matt’s Weekend: ‘Only Fools and Horses’ Sitcom Convention

(12:34–17:55)

• Introducing Milton Keynes – The “Tucson of the UK” (12:37)
  • Matt attended a sitcom convention in Milton Keynes, a British “new town” with an American grid system—hosts playfully debate grid systems versus winding roads.
• Sitcom Fandom (13:55)
  • Matt attended a convention celebrating "Only Fools and Horses," a beloved British sitcom (1981–2003) with deep family ties.
  • Describes hundreds (if not thousands) of enthusiasts, nostalgic memorabilia, actor meet-and-greets, and production Q&As:

    “There was like all the old like people that have been in like one episode and they’ve got like a trestle table in front of them and they’re signing stuff.” (14:31, Matt)

• Props & Missed Opportunities (15:22)
  • Matt barely resists the urge to purchase a full-size reproduction Robin Reliant back door (the sitcom’s iconic vehicle), priced at £400—he blames the bar’s hours for missing out.

    “If I’d have had one beer that afternoon, I’d have done it. But by the time the bar was open ... the shop was shut and I didn’t do it.” (16:06, Matt)

• Comedy Conventions as Comfort (16:18)
  • KP marvels at comedy sitcom conventions—usually reserved for sci-fi and fantasy—emphasizing how cozy comedies like “Friends” or “Gilmore Girls” provide emotional regulation and nostalgia:

    “People really identify with it. It’s a big part of calming regulation for people. I think it’s nice.” (17:32, KP)

  • Both hosts agree: this nostalgia and familiarity are deeply comforting.

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Old West “Business Park”:

  “I just can't get my head around that. You’re, like, opening up like a chiropractor in the middle of Disneyland. Why would you do that?”
  — Matt, 03:22

• On Miniature Museums & Arizona Heat:

  “If I had to focus up on small visual items, I was going to fall asleep...let’s just accept it.”
  — KP, 04:07

• On ‘Hokum’:

  “I was gripping the chair quite hard in fear, really ... I was really terrified.”
  — KP, 06:13

• On Being Pranked by a Waiter:

  “I think that this was just a coordinated attack on me ... I’m gonna give everyone else in this room cake.”
  — KP, 11:15

• On Sitcom Nostalgia:

  “People really identify with it. It’s a big part of calming regulation for people. I think it’s nice.”
  — KP, 17:32

• On ‘Only Fools and Horses’:

  “There was like all the old like people that have been in like one episode...and they’re signing stuff ... It was great.”
  — Matt, 14:31 & 17:55

---

Important Timestamps

• 01:12: Start of Tucson trip recap
• 02:44: Old West Town business hours discussion
• 03:43: Missing the Museum of Miniatures
• 04:52: Review of horror movie “Hokum”
• 08:41: Learning the meaning of “hokum”
• 08:49: Tucson dinner & the waiter cake prank
• 12:34: Matt introduces his sitcom convention trip
• 15:22: Sitcom props & memorabilia
• 16:41: Nostalgia and cozy comedies
• 17:55: Emotional impact of meeting childhood icons

---

Tone & Takeaways

Witty, lightly sardonic, and self-aware, the conversation drifts with late-night energy from travel fails and minor indignities to the warmth of shared nostalgia. Both hosts underscore the joy and humor in life’s small disappointments—and the comfort of fan communities and beloved, familiar stories.

---

For Next Time:
KP resolves to finally watch "Only Fools and Horses," and both hosts bid a comic “good night” to KP’s mysterious Tucson waiter—cementing a running joke and the show’s cozy, cheeky spirit.

Transcript

[A]

Audio for sleep by Hatch. You know how you finish a romantasy and you just need the next thing immediately? Hatch made that thing. It's called Ophelia. An original audio drama inspired by Hamlet where Ophelia finally gets to be the main character. Forbidden magic, a crumbling kingdom, a slow burn love triangle with a prince and his very guarded, very intriguing best friend. The kind of love triangle where you will absolutely pick a side and you will not be quiet about it. Book one of the three part series is now available for free wherever you stream with new chapters dropping every Tuesday. For books two and three, check out Hatch co Ophelia.

[B]

All right, I'm Matt.

[A]

And I'm kp. Welcome to the nightly from Hatch, where your late night thoughts go to rest.

[B]

Now, last night we got into your trip to Tucson, Arizona. Kp.

[A]

I know. I can't believe that I had a weekend trip that's spanning two episodes in excitement.

[B]

I know. There's just so much to get through.

[A]

There really is. So I will just keep going. I mean, we're on the last big

[B]

day of stuff and this is really what I was desperate to ask about is what you did on this day.

[A]

Yes. Well, I have bad news. I'm already gonna let you down because I know that when we were planning this trip on this podcast, we decided some things. One of them was this Old west to town that opens at 5pm which

[B]

was really interesting to us for two to three hours. Crazy business model.

[A]

Which is also interesting because I wanted to go to that. I looked it up. But there's also like inside of this little Old west town. And I can't emphasize enough, this is like a children's like pioneer town. It's like a kids theme park. It's not like an actual town. There's also like shops, like accounting firms in this, in this town.

[B]

So people like work there.

[A]

Yes. There was like a tax firm in there and like a medical office. So I was like, what is this place? But unfortunately, and I'm sure this has. I'm not the only one this has happened to. The hours were really hard to make work. 5:00pm we had to go to dinner. So we did not go to the Old West Ham.

[B]

We knew that would be a risk going into it, didn't we?

[A]

Yeah. But I am starting to understand maybe why it's open at 5. Because as I said, Arizona heat. I mean, I was tired and sweaty the entire time.

[B]

Yeah, that does make a lot of sense. Also the fact that there's actual businesses there. Weirdly, I guess that Is odd, though,

[A]

because I'm like, surely the tax guy doesn't start working at 5. It's vampire tax hours. I don't know.

[B]

I assume he probably works normal hours, doesn't he? And then you open it to the public.

[A]

I would assume. I would assume. How is he getting in? What if I to go get my taxes done? Am I allowed to enter early?

[B]

I just can't get my head around that. You're, like, opening up like a chiropractor in the middle of Disneyland. Why would you do that? Why would you have picked somewhere else?

[A]

I don't know. This will have to be for a future trip. Because I'm not giving up on seeing it eventually. It just didn't happen this weekend.

[B]

All right, I'll hold you to that. Because we've still got a lot of questions, and people want them answered.

[A]

And then my other bad news. The other place that I know you wanted me to go to.

[B]

This better not be.

[A]

Was the Museum of Miniatures. And it did not happen.

[B]

This trip was an absolute washout, wasn't it?

[A]

I'm really sorry to let you down.

[B]

I don't know why I bother sometimes.

[A]

You really helped me plan the perfect trip. And then I zigged and I zagged.

[B]

What's your excuse then? How did you miss the miniatures?

[A]

Okay, the excuse was. And it wasn't a good excuse at the time. And I was able to get away with it then. And it's not a good excuse now. The excuse was, as I've said time and time again, it was really hot. I was feeling a way that if I had to focus up on small visual items, I was going to fall asleep. It was hot out. It was. I just couldn't imagine focusing on a small little chair. And I said it at the time. And my boyfriend said, that doesn't make sense. And I said, well, let's just accept it. And I'm saying it now fully with

[B]

your boyfriend on this one.

[A]

Yeah, I'm saying it now. And I also know that it doesn't make sense now.

[B]

This is absolute nonsense. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to see the miniatures.

[A]

I went to that cool church in the desert instead. And also then I went to the movies.

[B]

What did you see in the movies?

[A]

I saw Hokum. Scary movie.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Well, did you see it?

[B]

No. It's far too scary for me.

[A]

It's really scary. I was really terrified.

[B]

I bet that just the poster alone. I don't like that poster was enough for me.

[A]

That poster's really not good.

[B]

Give me a loose background here. What's the story?

[A]

Okay, I'll do it without scary things because we're cozy. Of course.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

But it's kind of a writer with a bad attitude played by Adam Scott, who I think did really well in this role. He goes to a hotel that his parents honeymooned at and he's going to spread their ashes. And he does so, but encounters some dark forces, both real and in his head that wreak some havoc. All right, it's a hotel based horror which a lot of people have been likening it to the Shining, which I think is a great movie. Of course. Have you seen that one?

[B]

I feel like I have because I've seen enough clips of it, but I don't think I've ever actually watched it all the way through. It's not. If you look back at it now, it's not actually that scary, is it?

[A]

Definitely no. This one, what the hokum was actually like. I was gripping the chair quite hard in fear really. And Shining is more. I was, I was really. I was really terrified. Wow, it was scary.

[B]

So is that like a roller coaster? Does that mean you enjoy it because it was scary and you got a rush?

[A]

Yeah, because it's a genre I really like. So I don't expect to get new thrills. But this was a little thrilling to me. I didn't rate it like my highest movie of the whole year, but I thought it was. If you like, if you like the genre, I'd say it's worth a go.

[B]

I'm probably going to give it a miss, but I appreciate the review.

[A]

You don't like a horror?

[B]

No, no. The last thing I kind of wanted to see at the cinema was Zootropolis 2.

[A]

Yes, that's. That's a horror.

[B]

Yeah, that's as thrilling as I, as I like to go, really in the cinema. I just feel I can watch a horror film, but the cinema is too big. Too big and too loud.

[A]

And I do have a problem these days. It keeps me up a bit. And you know, here on the nightly. The last thing we want is to keep people up.

[B]

That's the opposite of what we want.

[A]

So I did a bad thing. I kept myself up a bit.

[B]

How did you wind down after that?

[A]

Suffered through really bad dreams and then went the next day with my cortisol levels all high. I just ruined my next day and my evening.

[B]

Perfect. So now we're starting to get to the bottom of why you didn't do all the things that you were supposed to do on this trip.

[A]

But what if the miniatures were. I mean, who knows what could have happened if I went there? Maybe they would have been really scary.

[B]

Maybe they would have been haunted. Little haunted miniatures that got in your head and caused havoc.

[A]

Uh huh. If any museum might be, it could be the tiny museum of miniatures.

[B]

What is the meaning of hokum?

[A]

I asked the same question, but I guess it's a word that means like hogwash. Like a load of baloney.

[B]

Okay, well, I've just checked in the pillow fort encyclopedia. It's a noun meaning nonsense.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Buncombe, Hokum, Buncombe, Hokum, buncombe. Two fairly interchangeable words there. I don't feel. I think you need one or the other, don't you?

[A]

We didn't need another one. Hokum. Bun gum. Balderdash.

[B]

Would it have been as scare if it was called buncombe?

[A]

I kind of. Because I was like, I don't even. He says the word one time in the whole movie.

[B]

Oh, he actually says the word?

[A]

He says it once. Yeah. But I was like, I don't know what that is. I thought it was the name of some like, evil presence.

[B]

But no, it's just what, as in this is all hokum?

[A]

Yeah. Nonsense.

[B]

Well, there we go.

[A]

Not too bad.

[B]

Hokum, buncombe. Or pretentious insincere talk, apparently.

[A]

Now I'd like to talk about a maybe just as frightening scenario which was.

[B]

Poppycock. Sorry, carry on.

[A]

I believe that a waiter hated me. I went to dinner in Tucson for our last evening and I think I just automatically add beef with this waiter. If he's listening, I want to say I really respect the way he handles things because it was shocking to me in a really interesting and fun way. I ordered a Diet Coke. He only has Diet Pepsi. No worries. I said, that's fine. And I said, can I get a lemon? He comes back. My boyfriend also ordered the same. No lemon, no worries, that's fine. My boyfriend gets a huge glass, I get a tiny little thimble. And we both ordered the same drink.

[B]

Interesting.

[A]

I go, okay, I suppose that's fine.

[B]

Closest thing you got to see in a miniature.

[A]

In a lot of ways, that's exactly it. See, I got a little of everything. So then I go, all right, that's fine. There's a little. That's an odd choice to have such two different glasses. And then later on, I pretend to go to the bathroom and I go up to the waiter. I say, hey, it's my person I'm with's birthday. Is there any chance, like, you have a little dessert with a candle thing that you guys bring out? No worries. If not, just check. And he goes, yeah, I can do that. There's a few more little interactions where he doesn't look at me. He only looks at my boyfriend. I go, that's fine. No worries. Here's where it gets interesting. I see him walk through with cake in his hands, and I go, ah, perfect. Here we go. And he delivers the cake to the table next to me. I go, oh, okay. No worries. Because it's Mother's Day, so he's giving out cake. I go, okay, no worries. That was just a separate thing. Comes in more cake, gives it to the other table next to me.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

By now my boyfriend's going, oh, everybody's getting cake. And I go, well, this sort of ruins what is to come, which is that I assume my boyfriend's cake will have a candle on it. There'll be some singing. Everyone else in the room gets cake for free, and we're not offered cake. And I'm trying to stall because we finished our meal at this point. And I'm trying to stall and be like, well, surely the cake is coming with the candle on it, right? So I'm drinking my drink really slow. I'm trying to slow everything down just for. I assume a cake is coming. I took as long as I could. I just had to leave with no cake established.

[B]

And everyone else got cake, presumably not even asking for it. They just got it.

[A]

No, no. And this was like, you know, for Mother's Day, I suppose it makes sense. But these were giving to tables that were, you know, all young people, all male. I mean, I was like, I think that this was just a coordinated attack on me to say, not only will I not bring you the cake you asked for, I'm gonna give everyone else in this room cake.

[B]

Right? Yeah. So this is fascinating. This is a real personal vendetta that this guy's got against you.

[A]

I know. It was. I mean, ultimately, I go, it was very funny. I think it was a really hilarious. I have no ill will. I started off with, what I would say a good attitude. And I left with a great attitude. I think it's a funny joke.

[B]

It is the funniest thing that he could have done in that situation.

[A]

Cause I was trying to be really sneaky and be like, is there any way you have this? And maybe, you know, just trying to slip it in. He totally forgot and brought everyone else a cake.

[B]

I do love that as well. Just the thought of him sort of tapping his nose, going, yeah, don't worry, I'll sort you out. Yeah, no worries.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And then just nothing. Great.

[A]

And nothing would have been fine, but this was. Everyone else got something.

[B]

Doesn't get much better than that.

[A]

It's really good. I loved it. I thought it was a great prank. I thought the food was also perfect. It was my favorite restaurant we went to the whole time and my favorite service.

[B]

Did you tip?

[A]

Absolutely. A ton.

[B]

Yeah, of course. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

I've been a waiter before. Sometimes things just slip your mind. Or sometimes you gotta just prank some people.

[B]

Well, I had a nice little weekend.

[A]

Oh, please.

[B]

In a place called Milton Keynes.

[A]

Mm. The Tucson of the uk.

[B]

That's what they call it. Yeah. The Tucson of Bedfordshire, England.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Which is an interesting place in itself. Milton Keynes. It's a new town, which means it was just built after the war.

[A]

Okay, okay.

[B]

There was nothing there before. And they built a city. It's actually got like an American grid system to it. It's the only place in the country that has. Yeah, it's a real pain in the ass to get around. I don't know how you manage, really.

[A]

Don't you think the other ways are worse? You're always turning left and right.

[B]

This one's the grid system. I can't abide it. Yeah.

[A]

Wow. I guess, you know what? You know, you know, everyone comes in thinking their ways of life is best, but one of us is right.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

And I think we both know who.

[B]

We certainly do. And we'll leave it there. But I was there at the Hilton Hotel.

[A]

The Hilton on Milton.

[B]

What?

[A]

Isn't it Milton on keys?

[B]

Is that where you went, oh, sorry, Milton Keynes.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, the Hilton on Milton.

[B]

But you're right. Yeah. Hilton on Milton. I've never put that together before. Hilton Keynes.

[A]

That's free. Hilton. If you're listening, that one's free.

[B]

Not free. I've never been to anything like this before. It was a convention for a sitcom.

[A]

Oh, oh, like an old sitcom.

[B]

Fans of it was on. It started in like, 1981, I want to say, and finished in about 2003, 2004. Probably the best British sitcom of all time.

[A]

Is this the one you almost bought the bar from?

[B]

Yes. Only Fools and Horses.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

Very, very long story short, my dad worked on it, so I got a history with it anyway, like, I sort of grew up with it as a kid, going to the shows and stuff. So me and my mate went. It's unbelievable.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

There's still it finished such a Long time ago. Hundreds, if not thousands of people over two days.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And there's like all the old like people that have been in like one episode and they've got like a trestle table in front of them and they're signing stuff. Wow.

[A]

What is the, what is the draw? If you're a fan, you get to meet the actors and then was there other like panel discussions? Was there props? Like what other things were part of it.

[B]

Yeah. So you got to meet all the actors, different actors on each day.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

There was props, there was panel. Yeah. Sort of discussions with. They had some of the actors, even some like the production manager.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

From 1986 to 1994 or whatever, there was a Q and A with him. So basically it's about two brothers called Derek Trotter and Rodney Trotter. And they're sort of wheeler dealers, market traders. And they drive this Robin Reliant three wheeled van.

[A]

Oh.

[B]

It's like a yellow three wheeled van. And there's a company that do reproduction back doors of it. So like full size metal back doors.

[A]

Ah.

[B]

And they were about 400 quid.

[A]

That's. That's really not. That price isn't crazy. No.

[B]

And Sir David Jason, who is a national treasure.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I sort of know him and I thought I could get this door, get it signed and then that'll be a good sort of thing to. I mean, I just want it because it was a cool thing to have.

[A]

Definitely.

[B]

I don't think. I mean, there's so many of them floating around. That's the problem. So I don't know how much it'd be worth, but.

[A]

Sure. But sentimental.

[B]

Yeah. And it's one of those where if I'd have had one beer that afternoon, I'd have done it.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

But by the time the bar was open, I had one pint and I was like, I'm gonna do it. And then the shop was shut and I didn't do it. And I really regret not doing it.

[A]

And this is a comedy show. Right. It's not like a sci fi or anything.

[B]

This is a comedy, proper studio based comedy sitcom.

[A]

It's cool to have a convention for a comedy because I feel like so often, at least over here, it's like the conventions for shows are very sci fi and fantasy and anime based. Like, you know, there's Star Trek, Star Wars. But this is cool to have a convention for an old comedy series. That's nice.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

I went on a studio tour of wb, Warner Brothers and it is fun because that's like Friends, they have that and then they have Gilmore Girls. And it is funny to see the set of these really quintessential east coast productions because Gilmore Girls is supposed to be in Connecticut, which is where I'm from. And it's supposed to be very all fall, all the time, and cozy and really east coast and pretty. And it's just sitting in the middle of a concrete LA studio and just blazing sun, no leaves of any kind around it. So it is. That was a fun one. Because on those sets they're playing old episodes of Gilmore Girls and Friends all the time. And the gift shop is bopping of tons of people. So it is nice. People these cozy comedies and stuff. People really identify with it. It's a big part of calming regulation for people. I think it's nice.

[B]

I think you're right. Yeah. It's a lot of nostalgia.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It is that sort of comfort of what you know, isn't it? You can watch it a million times because you know what's coming. Yeah. I loved it so much. There was people dressed up and there was something so kind of sweet about the whole thing.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Brought back a lot of happy memories. Yeah, it was great.

[A]

And then this sir person, he played one of the characters. I assume so.

[B]

He played Derek Trotter.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

He was the guy Del Boy got it. Yeah. He is national treasure level. It's like him in Attenborough. People like that. They're up there.

[A]

I'll have to try. Now say the name of the show one more time that you went to

[B]

Only Fools and Horses.

[A]

Only Fools and Horses. I'm gonna try and watch Nep for next time I see you.

[B]

The whole premise of it is they're two brothers. They live in a sort of rubbish council flat in Peckham in London and they're always scheming. Like the Delboy's catchphrase is, this time next year will be millionaires. But you should watch an episode, see what you think.

[A]

Great. Great. I'm gonna say goodnight then, to the waiter. I really think you gave me a good laugh, whether you meant to or not. I thought you had a really. I thought we were vibing and I think if you didn't, I hope you enjoyed the tip. I don't regret a thing.

[B]

I'd actually also like to join you on that and just double down good night to the waiter. I think if intentional, it's great. It really is great. I'm a big fan. So good night and keep doing what you're doing.

[A]

Yeah. Really stick it to me.

[B]

Yeah. Specifically just kp.

[A]

I love it. And good night to you Matt. And good night to everyone listening.

[B]

Good night. Kp. Foreign. To learn more about our phone free light and audio experience, head to Hatch co. You can also follow us at HatchPodcasts.