The Tony Kornheiser Show – “I Do This Too”

Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Production: This Show Stinks Productions, LLC

Episode Overview

This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show blends classic Kornheiser banter with seasonal reflections and robust guest interviews. Tony, Michael, and Nigel open with talk about winter weather, old clothes, and memorabilia before launching into their regular sports picks segment with Chuck Todd (and Reginald the Monkey). The episode’s highlight is an in-depth conversation with New Yorker editor David Remnick, focusing on the Netflix documentary marking the magazine’s 100th anniversary and offering a behind-the-scenes look at journalism and publishing.

Table of Contents

• Opening Banter: Weather, Clothes, & Nostalgia
• Sports Talk: NBA Cup, Golf, & Memorabilia
• Football Picks with Chuck Todd & Reginald the Monkey
• Feature Interview: David Remnick on The New Yorker Documentary
• Mailbag, Listener Letters, and Holiday Reflections
• Notable Quotes & Moments
• Key Timestamps

Opening Banter: Weather, Clothes, & Nostalgia

Main Theme: The warmth of familiar routines.

• Tony, Michael, and Nigel express gratitude for caramels sent by Greg Garcia and reminisce about thinly-sliced roast beef from a classic Long Island deli (04:51).
• The weather gets top billing: Tony laments the sudden cold snaps and discusses his winter gear, contrasting his new “hipster” Patagonia jacket with his trusty but ugly 30-year-old Eddie Bauer "Lillehammer" coat.
  • “[My old jacket is] a sickening green... I've used it for over 30—I use it 10, 12, 20 days a year. It still works. It’s hideous. I know it’s hideous, but it works.” (07:17)
• They poke fun at high-end winter brands (Canada Goose) and chat about wearing “lined pants"—the best, if least fashionable, clothing Tony owns.

Nostalgia:
Tony reflects on collecting matchbooks from restaurants and hotels throughout his life—a tradition now nearly extinct. He wonders, “What do restaurants give out now as keepsakes? Matchbooks were a travelogue of my life.” (12:07)

• Michael compares it to collecting golf scorecards and concert ticket stubs, noting the shift from tangible memorabilia to digital receipts (13:53).
• Tony muses whether to throw out the collection or turn it into art, revealing a deep affection for old-school tokens of experience.

Sports Talk: NBA Cup, Golf, & Memorabilia

NBA Cup:
Tony lambasts the new NBA Cup, calling it a marketing ploy for global audiences rather than a real accomplishment:

“The NBA is chasing soccer, which has global dominance… But here, [basketball isn’t king].” (03:49)

Golf:

• Tony relishes a brisk December golf game—unaffected by frozen tee boxes and greens, but still enjoying the ritual.
• Discussion of golf’s relationship to weather and the treasured routine of getting out on the course even if it's 40 degrees, provided there’s no wind:
  • “Wind at 45 kills you. No wind this time of year – that’s the key.” (09:43)

Football Picks with Chuck Todd & Reginald the Monkey

Chuck Todd’s Weekly NFL & College Picks

[Starts ~19:38]

Tony welcomes Chuck Todd, who breaks down NFL lines and college bowl scenarios. Key points:

• Chuck laments his season record, chuckling about being “just under .500”—a running joke.
• On the playoffs: “Part of the road to the Super Bowl is who survives. You have to stay healthy.” (23:43)

Notable Picks:

• Seattle vs. Rams: Both lean Seattle for home-field and crowd noise (21:19).
• Commanders vs. Eagles: Chuck likes Washington with the points in a divisional matchup, recalling the unpredictability of such games (22:29).
• Chicago vs. Green Bay: Chuck laughs at the Packers being a road favorite, calling for the home dog (23:49).
• Denver vs. Jacksonville: Chuck takes Denver, wary of Jacksonville’s performance at Denver’s altitude (25:45).

Reginald the Monkey’s Segment
[Starts ~33:00]

• Humorous segment with an elaborately fictional monkey “making picks,” including fake sponsorships (“Jinko olive oil: Buy it or else.” 33:59).
• Reginald goes with Philly -6.5, Green Bay -1.5, and Baltimore -3, using whimsical “logic” rooted in photos and imaginary history.

Feature Interview: David Remnick on The New Yorker Documentary

[Interview starts ~38:16]

Main Theme: A candid, humorous examination of what it’s like to be the subject of journalism after decades being the one asking the questions.

• The Documentary Process:
  • Remnick shares how documentarian Marshall Curry employed classic interviewing techniques—like silence—to elicit revealing answers:
    • “He asked a question and then just sat there silent… Finally I said, Marshall, I do this too.” (39:43)
  • A.J. Liebling’s psychoanalyst-like method is cited as inspiration: “They don’t say a word and wait for the other person to fill the silence.” (39:58)
• Vulnerability & Vanity:
  • Remnick is candid about the discomfort of watching oneself age on screen:
    • “I looked at the movie and thought, God, you are so much older than I ever imagined. We all posture.” (42:15)
  • Discusses wardrobe and his lack of concern for fashion despite working at Conde Nast (“I wear jeans and a sweater... pandemic changed everything in the office.” 42:56).
• Behind the Scenes at The New Yorker:
  • Opens up about editorial challenges, the magazine’s place as a literary time capsule, and the forward-looking threat of AI and declining long-form reading:
    • “What I have to face... the work we’re doing is in complete defiance of every trend...” (50:04)
  • Tony notes the documentary’s nostalgic tone and worries about the future of print magazines; Remnick is realistic but hopeful.
  • On the New Yorker’s mission: “We're blessed with resources... and an ownership that wants us to be at our best and freest. There’s a great liberation in that.” (52:08)
• Personal Side:
  • Remnick describes keeping his family at arm’s length in the doc, devoting off-hours to guitar lessons as stress relief. He jokes about not being “good enough to torture anybody else” with his playing (46:50).
  • Ends with Tony’s admiration for the documentary: “It’s the best magazine, maybe the only magazine that can survive.” (53:05)

Mailbag, Listener Letters, and Holiday Reflections

Seasonal Vibes:
The show closes with a moving mailbag segment, spotlighting letters from listeners. Highlights include:

• A heartfelt note from a hockey referee about grieving his father and finding comfort in the show (55:08).
• Other listeners share memories of family, funny animal mishaps involving mice, and weather tales from around the country (including minus-30 degrees Alaska).
• The hosts reflect on community, tradition, and humor as sources of connection during the holidays.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• David Remnick on documentary interviews:
  “Marshall, I do this too.” (39:56)

• On aging and self-image:
  “God, you are so much older than I ever imagined… My God, you look like a stegosaurus on some sort of barbiturate.” — Remnick (42:15)

• Tony on the NBA Cup:
  “Don’t make this into the Final Four. It’s not. The winner will be forgotten by Friday.” (03:50)

• Nostalgia and memorabilia:
  “This is the travelogue of my life, these matchbooks.” — Tony (12:07)

• Remnick on creative outlets:
  “I’m good enough to enjoy it, but not to torture anyone else having to listen to me [play guitar].” (47:04)

Key Timestamps

• General Chatter, Roast Beef, & Greg Garcia Plug: 02:08–03:00
• NBA Cup & International Growth: 03:35–04:35
• Matchbook Nostalgia: 12:07–15:21
• Chuck Todd NFL Picks: 19:38–32:50
• Reginald the Monkey Picks: 33:00–36:14
• David Remnick Interview: 38:16–53:48
• Mailbag, Listener Tributes: 54:25–end

Tone & Takeaway

The episode is affectionate, witty, and rich in nostalgia—balancing Tony's signature curmudgeon humor with genuine warmth. The Remnick interview is a masterclass in how to talk about legacy media honestly without self-importance, offering listeners a rare inside look at the intersection of journalism, personality, and the enduring value of great storytelling.

If you didn’t listen: This episode is a quintessential Kornheiser blend: equal parts sports, humor, and life reflection, with an unusually thoughtful dive into what it means to document and be documented. Whether you care about the New Yorker, the NFL, or just like hearing funny people talk about old coats and matchbooks, “I Do This Too” hits the sweet spot.