The Read My Lips Game

Summary

The Rod Ryan Show – "The Read My Lips Game"

Date: May 21, 2026
Podcast: The Rod Ryan Show, 94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM), Houston's Rock and Alternative

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Episode Overview

This episode centers around the beloved "Read My Lips" game, where hosts and listeners participate in a high-energy, fast-paced competition. Mo returns as the reigning champion, and the show is packed with playful banter, quirky word challenges, memorable moments, and a nail-biting finish. Fans of The Rod Ryan Show will enjoy the chemistry between the hosts and the interactive dynamic with the audience.

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Key Discussion Points & Gameplay Breakdown

1. Team Selections and Opening Banter

• [00:00–01:06]
  • Host Rod introduces today’s contestants: Eric picks Mo (the returning champion), and Shelby plays for Alex.
  • Mo decides to have Alex go first, switching up the typical strategy:

    "Everyone always messages me with, like, strategy. So I'm just trying to, like, try it out." – Mo [00:51]

2. Pre-Game Jokes and Show Chatter

• [01:07–01:35]
  • Light-hearted talk about Alex's love of music, the team's favorite shots, and teasing about upcoming show vote:

    "We need to come up with the top five names today. And then we'll put them on... to vote tomorrow online." – Unattributed [01:28]

3. First Game Round – Alex’s Turn

• [01:35–03:18]
  • Word 1: Texas tycoon – Alex struggles but doesn't get it.
    • Jokes referencing Mattress Mac as a "tycoon."
  • Word 2: Dark, drippy – Eventually solved after some confusion, leading to laughter about the phrase's meaning.
    • Banter about "dark and drippy," referencing inside jokes and local weather.

4. Playful Commentary and Running Gags

• [03:39–04:19]
  • Hosts riff on "Is a frog's ass watertight?" and tease Chili about "dark and drippy" preferences.
  • Introduction of cheeky and double-entendre phrase:
    • Word 3: Wrong hole – Everyone laughs at the suggestive nature.

    "These are Chili words. I mean, wrong hole. Stop, stop, Chili, stop." – Rod [03:47]

5. Second Game Round – Mo’s Turn

• [04:30–06:10]
  • Word 1: Grandma Smash – Mo nails it quickly. Banter about celebrity crushes over 80, especially Cher:

    "Then we started talking about all the 80 year olds that we’d smash." – Rod [05:14]

  • Word 2: Wizard Slushy – Another quick solve, featuring jokes about kids wanting slushy machines.

6. Tied Game and Sudden Death

• [06:10–07:14]
  • Mo and Alex are tied after their rounds, leading to a critical third word for Mo:
    • Tricky Phrase: Elvis, Tuggy, elephant, donkey – Mo struggles and fails to get it, resulting in an overtime tiebreaker.

      "Tough one here... Elephant, donkey... Oh, crap. Crap." – Rod [06:42]

7. Overtime Showdown

• [08:00–09:42]
  • The overtime word: Schlitz beer
    • Both Mo and Alex get the word, but their times are so close that suspense builds for the scoreboard reveal.
    • Play-by-play announcements and honest tension over the (tenths of a second) timing.
  • Scores:
    • Mo: 1.48 seconds [09:37]
    • Alex: 1.36 seconds [10:00]

    "Oh, boy. It's gonna be a photo finish." – Rod [09:15] "Shelby is the winner." – Rod [10:05]

8. Celebration and Wrap-Up

• [10:17–10:30]
  • Shelby wins Blue October tickets.
  • Hosts and contestants reflect on the tightest finish in Read My Lips history.

    "That's nuts. That... is the closest game ever." – Rod [10:29]

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Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• Mo on switching strategy:

  "Everyone always messages me with, like, strategy. So I'm just trying to, like, try it out." [00:51]

• Word confusion leads to laughter:

  "That seemed like a lot of words when you were saying tycoon." – Mo [02:35]

• Suggestive word play:

  "These are Chili words. I mean, wrong hole. Stop, stop, Chili, stop." – Rod [03:47]

• Celebrity discussion:

  "Then we started talking about all the 80 year olds that we'd smash." – Rod [05:14]

• Photo finish on Overtime:

  "It's gonna be a photo finish. Oh, no way. He got it quick. He got it quick." – Rod [09:15] "Shelby is the winner." – Rod [10:05]

• Game significance:

  "That's nuts. That's the closest game ever." – Rod [10:29]

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Important Segments & Timestamps

• Team Selection & Banter: [00:00–01:35]
• Alex’s Turn (Texas Tycoon, Dark Drippy, Wrong Hole): [01:35–04:30]
• Mo’s Turn (Grandma Smash, Wizard Slushy, Elephant Donkey): [04:30–07:14]
• Overtime Showdown (Schlitz Beer): [08:00–10:05]
• Winner & Closing Remarks: [10:17–10:30]

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Summary Takeaways

This episode highlights everything fans love about "Read My Lips": unpredictable competition, tongue-in-cheek wordplay, lightning-fast guessing, and the playful rivalry among hosts and listeners. The final seconds deliver true radio suspense, making it "the closest game ever," and cementing its place in Rod Ryan Show lore. Shelby emerges victorious by a razor-thin margin, earning praise and prizes, while all contestants and listeners revel in the fun, clever chaos that defines the segment.

Transcript

[A]

It's time to read my lips. Let's meet. Who's playing today? Eric. Good morning. Good morning, brother Rod. How you doing? Doing well. Who is playing for you? I'm gonna go with Mo. Gonna go with Mo. Returning champion Mo, right? Yeah. Okay, let's say hi to Shelby. Shelby, good morning. Good morning. All right, Shelby, you're on team Alex. Oh, ye.

[B]

He's like a backhand.

[A]

Sorry to let you down, Alex. Alex plays hard. He plays hard. Shelby, let's go. Okay. Let's go. I got Shelby. I got Eric. Mo, you the returning champion. What do you want to do?

[C]

I want Alex to go first.

[A]

What? What is this new switcheroo thing you got going on?

[C]

Everyone always messages me with, like, strategy.

[A]

Yeah.

[C]

So I'm just trying to, like, try it out.

[B]

That's your problem right there. You don't listen to them.

[C]

Oh, I think it's fun.

[B]

You're going to lose. That's what you get.

[A]

Went first.

[C]

I like to go first. I like to just get it over with.

[A]

Right.

[C]

Rip the band aid off.

[B]

Good luck, Alex.

[A]

Shuffle and shuffling.

[C]

Alex can't hear you. He's already got his headphones.

[A]

He doesn't waste any time.

[C]

He loves that music.

[B]

Yeah. I think that should be the shot of him.

[A]

What's the shot? What's your. What's your favorite run?

[B]

Front runner, Free bird.

[A]

The Free Bird. Free bird.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. I don't hate it. Tomorrow we're voting on shots. We got to. Yeah.

[B]

We need to come up with the top five names today.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And then we'll put them on the. To vote tomorrow online, and people can vote.

[A]

Oh. All right. All right. Here we go. Alex is sitting there with tunes blaring in his ears. 20 seconds on the clock, please. A lot of people like to watch us. We are on Facebook, and we are on YouTube. Right. Rod Ryan show.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Thumbs up. Yep.

[B]

And twitch.

[A]

Also Eli, Dallas, Daniel. Both two great minds thinking together on this one. Texas tycoon. Say it again. Texas tycoon. Texas salute. Texas tycoon. Saint salute. Texas tycoon. Ten salute. Texas tent. Texas tycoon. Boom. Did not get. Where's that buzzer? Where is that fuzzy? I think we were talking about that with mattress Mac. I asked him if he was comfortable being called a Texas tycoon. Mogul. A baron.

[C]

That seemed like a lot of words when you were saying tycoon.

[A]

Tycoon. He is a tycoon. All right, here we go.

[B]

When I think of a tycoon, I just think of, like, an oil tycoon.

[A]

Yeah, right. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But he's a tycoon. He's a mattress tycoon. All right, here we go. This one was sent in by a couple people as well. Sorry I didn't write down a name. Thumbs up. Yep. Dark, drippy. Dark, dripping. Dark, drippy. Dark, dripping, drippings. Dark drip. E. Dark, drippy. Dark, drippy. All right, got it, got it. Just want to make sure. Yeah, yeah. We said it was dark and drippy outside.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

Did that make it on the shot thing? Dark and drippy? No.

[C]

Not to be confused with leaky.

[A]

Alex, there's a leaky elf. Dark. You like the dark and drippy.

[B]

Known to have some chocolate every now and then.

[A]

Don't answer that, Chili. We know you like dark and drippy.

[C]

Set him up for that.

[B]

Yeah, I mean, the Milky Way, you know? Okay.

[A]

Is a frog's ass water tight? Yes.

[B]

How he do.

[A]

Does he like it dark and drippy? Yes. All right. Drew sent this one in. Here we go.

[B]

All right.

[A]

Thumbs up. Yep. Ron, Hole. What? Wrong hole. Wrong hole. Chili's like, hey, did people think. Did people think I was playing this week? These are Chili words. I mean, wrong hole. Wrong hole. Stop, Stop, Chili, stop. Don't get me. Don't get everybody wound up in here. Was that said on the show, or

[C]

is that Drew guy just a nicety?

[A]

You could be teeing off in the wrong direction at the golf course.

[C]

Oh, sorry.

[A]

And angled at the wrong hole.

[C]

Goodbye.

[A]

I don't think that's what it's. I think that's where he was going with that. I think that's it. Mo, headphones on. Three words coming your way. Two to tie, three to win.

[B]

Oh, man. Today's been. Those last couple words just made my week.

[A]

Well, it's about to get better. Oh, boy. All right, here we go. Thumbs up.

[C]

Thumbs up.

[A]

Kyle sent this one in. I immediately started laughing. I think it was Cher's birthday the other day. Oh, yeah. Here we go. Grandma smash.

[C]

Grandma Smash.

[A]

Yes. Cher's birthday.

[C]

Oh.

[A]

Then we started talking about it. We started talking about all the 80 year olds that we'd smash.

[C]

You definitely did.

[B]

Yeah, she's definitely up there.

[A]

All right, here we go. My daughter heard us talking about wizard. Six picks.

[B]

Oh, okay.

[A]

And wants me to make a purchase. Thumbs up.

[C]

Thumbs up.

[A]

Wizard. Slushy.

[C]

Wizard Slushy.

[A]

She's dialed in. Dialed in. London's like, can we get a slushy machine? I thought you was gonna say to get.

[B]

Get him to build one of those life survivors.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Can I get sc. Scuba gear. Dad, no. She wants. She's like, wait a minute. Chloe has a slushy machine. Like, why does this place. Why is. Why do I live in a prison on planet.

[C]

Same girl.

[A]

Same. Okay, that's two. They're tied up right now. Yeah. This is it. All right. Tough one.

[B]

I think they sent her the words. That's where she knows them.

[A]

Tough one here. All right, here we go. Thumbs up.

[C]

Thumbs up.

[A]

Elvis, Tuggy, elephant, doggy. Elvis, Tuggy, elephant, talking. Elvis, Tuggy, feet, stockings.

[C]

Elvis, Tuggy, elephant, ducky.

[A]

Elvis, Stucky. Elvis, Tuggy, elephant, donkey. Elvis, Tuggy, elephant, donkey. Oh, crap. Crap.

[B]

We haven't had one of those in a while. What was it your favor?

[A]

Elvis, Tuggy.

[C]

Oh, gross.

[A]

Sybil Shepherd. I asked her to lay her hand upon my head.

[C]

Yeah, you do.

[A]

Okay, you leave, I leave. Get out. Get out now. You wanted to go.

[B]

Get out and get. Think of that clubboard.

[A]

Tuggy, what was she saying? Okay, the elephant. You know the rules. Alex, I've got one word left for you.

[B]

Two.

[A]

Clock starts ticking as soon as I say the word. Keep guessing until you get it right. Alex, it's been a bit. You're right. We haven't had overtime in a while. All right, here we go. Adjusting the song. Elvis, what you need? Chili. All right, here we go. Over time. You good? Yeah. All right. You good to go? Yes. Soon as I say the word, start timing. Here we go. Schlitz beer. Schlitz beer. Boom. Oh, boy. Guys, I think today's the last day. I think that's it. To get an end of an era. Yeah, they're not. I mean, I think they might be stopping the line today.

[B]

Never had that beer. I think they sell them down here, right?

[A]

I don't know. I'm sure. All right, here we go. Mo.

[C]

Hi.

[A]

Welcome back to the station. Welcome back in the room with us. Put those headphones on. Keep guessing. I'm gonna give you a word. Keep guessing so you get it right. Chili's our timekeeper here. Honest, when I say that. You wrote it down. Yeah. His. Okay, this is. Thumbs up.

[C]

Thumbs up.

[A]

Schlitz beer.

[C]

Schlitz beer.

[A]

Oh, boy.

[C]

I saw Chicklet, but then I heard beer.

[A]

Schlitz beer.

[C]

Okay. Yes.

[A]

It's gonna be a photo finish. Oh, no way. He got it quick. He got it quick. Hang on a second.

[B]

Definitely.

[A]

Eric. Yes, sir. Shelby. Yes, sir. It's gonna be a decimal point.

[C]

Stop.

[A]

It's gonna be. It's gonna. I don't. I don't know. I haven't seen. I haven't seen the time. Chili, give me Moe's time.

[B]

1.48.

[A]

1.48 for Moe.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Eric, you think that's fast enough? I. I honestly don't know. This is wild. I honestly don't know either. I think they both got it. Yeah, right at this. I mean, you both guessed at the exact Same time, Alex.

[B]

1.36.

[A]

1.36. Shelby is the winner. Shelby. Yeah. Congratulations.

[C]

Blue October for you, sister. You'll be there on the third night, December 20th, at 713Music hall tickets, Ticketmaster.com Congrats.

[B]

Good day, Alex.

[A]

Thanks, Jay. That.

[C]

That's nuts.

[A]

Is the closest game ever. Yeah, maybe. Maybe. I don't. I. I don't think there's a maybe about it. 1 point. 1.36. Goodbye, Eric. Congratulations, Shelby, and great job, both of you.