The Fa La La La La Game

Summary

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The Rod Ryan Show — The Fa La La La La Game

Date: December 16, 2025
Podcast: 94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM), Houston's Rock and Alternative

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Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on the holiday-themed “Fa La La La La Game,” a real-time call-in challenge involving listeners singing classic holiday lyrics—sometimes in less-than-ideal locations, like drive-thrus. With signature humor and riffing from the show hosts, the segment celebrates listener participation, spontaneity, and a dose of holiday cheer. The episode culminates in a memorable prize giveaway for the game’s winner.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Game Introduction and Listener Participation

• Host & Team set up the "Fa La La La La Game," encouraging listeners to sing festive phrases while out and about.
• The challenge: Callers must sing "Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly" (or a humorous riff on it) in unexpected situations and share it live on-air.
• Two memorable listeners call in—Julie at a Jack in the Box and Christine at a McDonald's.

2. Julie at Jack in the Box (02:01–02:53)

• Julie joins the call while at the Jack in the Box drive-thru window, trying to sing "Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly."
• Fumbles lyrics humorously, exchanging “Jack falls with bows of holly three times for the win,” leading to laughter from the hosts.
• Host, playfully: “Poor kid. At Jack in the Box.” (02:39)
• Ultimately, Julie does not win but gets a shout-out for participating, with the announcer joking: “Enjoy your tiny tacos.” (02:54)

3. Christine at McDonald's — The Winning Moment (03:00–05:14)

• Christine calls in from outside a McDonald’s drive-thru, carefully following the host’s instructions to sing at the speaker.
• The team anticipates her performance with enthusiastic build-up:
  Host: “Here’s what I need you to do. I need you to put the cell phone all the way out as close to the speaker as you can. As soon as they say, ‘Can I take your order,’ you start singing the first part of the song.” (03:19)
• Christine masterfully times her order, manages a composed interaction with the McDonald’s staff, and stays in character, to the hosts’ delight.
• Alex: “She’s ordering. She’s ordering…” (04:18)
• Moment of fun as Christine orders “a large coffee with six cream and six sugar, please”—prompting giggles from the hosts:
  Host: “Did you really order six creams and six sugars with your coffee?” (05:01)

4. Victory and Prize Announcement (05:10–05:29)

• The hosts praise Christine’s commitment and creativity.
  Host: “We got a winner of the Fa la la la Game. Her name is Christine. That was insane. She’s awesome.” (05:10–05:12)
• Prize announcer awards Christine a pair of tickets to the Our Lady Peace 30th anniversary show:
  Prize Announcer: “You’ve earned a pair of tickets to see Our Lady Peace. They’re celebrating 30 years of music with the Verb5 on March 13th at White Oak Music Hall.” (05:14)

5. Signature Banter & Listener Appreciation

• The crew’s banter brings out festive, good-natured comedy:
  Host: “I love it when a plan comes together.” (05:26) Alex: “Christine, great job today. Thank you so much.” (05:32)
• The segment is capped with genuine thanks and admiration for listener participation.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Host (on Julie): “Poor kid. At Jack in the Box.” (02:39)
• Prize Announcer (jokingly to Julie): “Enjoy your tiny tacos.” (02:54)
• Host (instructing Christine): “As soon as they say, ‘Can I take your order,’ you start singing the first part of the song.” (03:19)
• Christine (with her order): “I want a large coffee with six cream and six sugar, please.” (04:12)
• Host (excited): “We got a winner of the Fa la la la Game. Her name is Christine. That was insane. She’s awesome.” (05:10)
• Host: “I love it when a plan comes together.” (05:26)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Setup & Call-In Start: 01:26–01:59
• Julie Plays at Jack in the Box: 02:01–02:54
• Christine Prepares at McDonald’s: 03:00–03:46
• Christine’s Big Moment/Order: 03:46–04:28
• Winning Announcement & Prize Reveal: 05:10–05:29

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Tone & Style

The episode maintains a light-hearted, festive, and slightly mischievous tone true to The Rod Ryan Show’s spirit. Hosts encourage a spirit of improvisation, laughter, and audience participation, creating an engaging and communal holiday vibe for listeners.

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Summary:
If you missed this episode, you missed out on a hilarious, heartwarming slice of morning radio—live drive-thru singing, audience camaraderie, and a genuine celebration of Houston’s rock and alternative community, all tied up with the season’s spirit.

Transcript

[Alex]

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[Host]

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[Co-host]

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[Advertiser Voice]

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[Alex]

All right.

[Host]

Oh, my God. A Christmas story that kills every time.

[Advertiser Voice]

All right.

[Host]

Should I check in with Chili? Chili, you got something for me?

[Co-host]

People will.

[Host]

People want to play today. What's he holding up?

[Alex]

2.

[Host]

I can't hear you. Okay. I can't hear Chili. I'm gonna go here. Good morning, Rod Ryan show. Who's this?

[Caller]

Hey, it's not a dude, Julie.

[Host]

Hey. Not a dude. Julie. How are you? You want to play this game?

[Caller]

Good.

[Host]

How are you? Yes. Where are you?

[Caller]

Jack in the Box.

[Host]

Jack in the box.

[Advertiser Voice 2]

Okay.

[Host]

Have they asked to take your order yet?

[Advertiser Voice]

Not yet.

[Host]

Okay.

[Caller]

I'm.

[Advertiser Voice]

Yes.

[Host]

I'm.

[Co-host]

I'm about to.

[Host]

Yes.

[Caller]

I'm at the window. Let me do it right now.

[Host]

You at the window or are you at a speaker?

[Co-host]

Oh. All right.

[Host]

You ready?

[Caller]

Dexahols with boughs of holly? Yeah, they're not having Jack Sols with boughs of holly.

[Host]

Poor kid. At Jack in the Box.

[Caller]

Jack falls with bows of holly three times for the win.

[Host]

Not happy.

[Alex]

Sorry.

[Host]

Julie.

[Prize Announcer]

Enjoy your tiny tacos.

[Host]

Okay. Let's see. Chili says maybe. Christine.

[Alex]

Hey, Christine.

[Host]

Good morning.

[Caller]

Good morning.

[Host]

Hi. How are you? Good. Where are you?

[Caller]

I'm at McDonald's.

[Host]

I don't know why we're whispering, but I feel like it's a whispering situation. All right, you're at McDonald's. Are you @ the speaker.

[Caller]

Yet? I'm, like, fixing the pull right up to it. There's nobody in front of me, but I didn't want to pull up, so I got on the.

[Host]

Line. Okay, fixing the pull up. Here's what I need you to do. I need you to put the cell phone all the way out as close to the speaker as you can. As soon as they say, can I take your order, you start singing the first part of the song.

[Caller]

Okay?

[Host]

Okay. Okay. Here we go. All right, this is gonna be good. Maybe Christine's gonna get it done. You got live radio. This is it. No paid actors on this show, obviously. All right, Christine, let me know when you're at the.

[Caller]

Speaker. I'm at the speaker. I'm waiting for.

[Host]

Him. Okay. Just maybe give him a little. Hey, I'm ready. Oh.

[Caller]

Man. Sausage.

[Co-host]

Biscuit. Excuse.

[Caller]

Me. I'm ready to order.

[Host]

Please. There you go. That was.

[Caller]

Polite. You can use the NOLA.

[Host]

Today. No.

[Co-host]

Ma'.

[Host]

Am. Come on, come on. Thank.

[Caller]

You. I want a large coffee with six cream and six sugar, please. Ordering six.

[Alex]

Cream. She's ordering. She's.

[Caller]

Ordering. No, ma'.

[Host]

Am. That'll be.

[Advertiser Voice 2]

All. Thank.

[Caller]

You. Yes, you, too. Oh, my.

[Alex]

Gosh.

[Co-host]

Christine. Oh.

[Host]

God. Christine. Christine. That was so great. Can you ask her her.

[Caller]

Name? I will, I will. There's a few cars ahead of me.

[Host]

Now. Oh, you already moved on. Listen, that was so.

[Alex]

Great. And then that was official because she got her order in, too, and they got going like, I love.

[Prize Announcer]

That. Didn't even mess.

[Host]

Around. Christine, that was a great job. What did you end up.

[Co-host]

Ordering? We.

[Prize Announcer]

Didn'T. We were so coffee with six creams and six.

[Advertiser Voice]

Sugars?

[Host]

No. Is that what you.

[Alex]

Ordered? Did.

[Host]

You. Did you really order six creams and six sugars with your.

[Co-host]

Coffee? I.

[Caller]

Did. Only at McDonald's.

[Prize Announcer]

Though. Okay.

[Caller]

Fair. She knows what she.

[Host]

Likes. Let's go. We got a winner of the FA la la la.

[Alex]

Game. Her name is Christine. That was.

[Host]

Insane. She's awesome. What are you giving her.

[Prize Announcer]

Sister? You've earned a pair of tickets to see Our lady peace. They're celebrating 30 years of music with the Verb5 on March 13th at White Oak Music Hall. Everybody else, you can buy your tickets. They're on sale now. Ticketmaster.com y.

[Host]

Yeah. Love it when a plan comes.

[Co-host]

Together. Thank.

[Caller]

You. Really.

[Host]

Good. I love it when a plan comes together. Alex, you're so right on.

[Alex]

That. Christine, great job.

[Host]

Today. Thank you so.

[Alex]

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[Host]

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[Co-host]

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