The Tony Kornheiser Show “I’m ready for my closeup”

Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser | Guests: Luke Russert, Chuck Todd, Reginald the Monkey, Booger McFarland

Overview

This episode of The Tony Kornheiser Show blends the host’s signature conversational style with unique guests, focusing on topical sports stories and a delightful detour into the world of Hallmark movies. Highlights include a cheerful, self-deprecating interview with Luke Russert about his acting debut, incisive NFL picks from Chuck Todd (with wild interjections from Reginald the Monkey), and a detailed discussion with Booger McFarland about Lane Kiffin’s coaching future and the college football coaching carousel.

1. Luke Russert’s Hallmark Movie Adventure

Segment Start: [02:03]

Main Focus

Tony welcomes Luke Russert to discuss his acting debut in the upcoming Hallmark Channel movie “Holiday Touchdown: A Bill's Love Story,” which is entwined with the Buffalo Bills and Hallmark’s signature “comfort TV” formula.

Key Discussion Points

• How Luke Landed the Role

  • Luke relays the surprising way he was cast: after joking about being in a Hallmark movie and engaging with a Hallmark-Bills social post, a casting director cold-called him.
    • “I was like, well, that’s really great … Thinking nothing of it. … I get a call, a cold call from this lady. … Do you want to be in Holiday Touchdown, A Buffalo Bill's Love Story? I go, ah, yes.” — Luke Russert [05:01]

• What it’s Like on Set

  • Set at the Buffalo Bills stadium with thousands of extras and weather that was “sideways freezing rain,” Luke had a small but pivotal speaking role as a halftime announcer.
    • “It all starts on me. Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying.” — Luke Russert [07:46]
  • He describes the nerves of acting versus live TV and working alongside seasoned actors:
    • “After doing roughly, you know, 20 years on television…acting, as you know, is a very different animal.” [05:59]

• The Hallmark Movie Formula

  • Tony and Luke joke about Hallmark’s universality, recurring tropes (like the ever-present gazebo), and the passionate, comfort-driven fanbase.
    • “The Hallmark Channel is a world unto itself…it is on 24 hours a day. Movies are constantly being made. They are essentially the same movie. Everyone is happy.” — Tony Kornheiser [02:47]
  • Luke on the “Hallmark Bubble” and why it resonates:
    • “People are so invested. It’s a familial conn…it’s uplifting…it leaves you smiling…these are very well-written things and they’re very talented.” [10:29]

• Parade, Premiere, Buffalo Love

  • Luke recounts a Hallmark parade in East Aurora, the fervor of fans, and being included in promotions, including meeting Hallmark executives who are TK Show fans.

• Reality of Being Around Hallmark Actors

  • Self-deprecating humor on being humbled by the physical beauty of Hallmark leads:
    • “They have incredible jawlines. They just sort of glow. … Walking with [Andrew Walker] among the female fanbase of Hallmark is like walking with John Lennon in 1964.” — Luke Russert [09:29]

• Buffalo Cred and Authenticity

  • Luke praises the production for nailing “the vibes, the lingo, the family dynamics” and involving legends like Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas.
    • “If I was not in this film, I would still very much love it. There’s a lot here for everybody.” [16:07]

Memorable Quotes

• “It’s the plague. … I’m out of pickleball.” — Tony Kornheiser on pickleball [02:03]
• “If you have an independent movie and you need, like, a cab driver an Irish bartender…I could give you about three minutes of dialogue, I think, at this point.” — Luke Russert [12:31]
• “What I found being among fans is that it brings so much joy to their lives and it’s something that’s constant.” — Luke Russert [10:59]

Important Timeline

• Movie Premiere: “Holiday Touchdown” airs Saturday, November 22nd, 8pm ET (7pm CT).

2. NFL Picks with Chuck Todd and Reginald the Monkey

Segment Start: [22:15]

Main Focus

Classic Kornheiser banter as Chuck Todd analyzes the week’s NFL betting lines, punctuated by comic interludes from the show’s signature “monkey picks” segment, featuring Reginald the Monkey.

Key Discussion Points

• State of the NFL

  • General consensus: parity and unpredictability reign this season; no true dominant teams.
    • “You tell me there’s no great team.” — Chuck Todd [23:08]

• Game-by-Game Breakdown

  • Buffalo (-6) at Houston:
    • Chuck leans Houston against the spread, despite Josh Allen’s heroics.
      • “All of those nice things about Josh Allen and now you’re going against Josh Allen.” — Tony [24:43]
      • “This might be a little artificially high, this line here.” — Chuck [24:53]
  • Pittsburgh (+3) at Chicago:
    • Both note Chicago’s overachievement, but Chuck bets against Bears’ luck continuing.
  • Minnesota at Green Bay (-6.5):
    • Puzzled by high spread, but Chuck expects Minnesota to fold after Bears loss.
    • Side discussion comparing JJ McCarthy and Sam Darnold’s prospects in the NFL [28:52]
  • Indianapolis (+3.5) at Kansas City:
    • The line and the teams’ viability examined; Chuck takes Indy with the points.
  • Philadelphia (-3.5) at Dallas:
    • Chuck picks Eagles, emphasizing their defense:
      • “I am tired of trying to bet against the Eagles. Yeah, that defense, they’re like a python. They just suffocate.” [31:49]
  • Tampa Bay at Rams (-7):
    • Seven points high for Chuck; he takes the “fightin’ Mayfields” (Bucs).
  • Carolina at San Francisco (-7):
    • Both dismiss Atlanta (“the biggest fraud in the States United universe”), with Chuck siding with 49ers.

Reginald the Monkey’s Picks

Reginald, with his fictional “adviser” team, goes the opposite on key picks (Buffalo, Kansas City, LA Rams) and reveals his training to swim the English Channel, in typical absurdist show-in-joke fashion.

Notable Quotes

• “I need an Atlanta intervention.” — Chuck Todd [33:33]
• “There's no shame in getting a bigger career backup, because you also will have a future in TV commercials.” — Chuck Todd, on NFL backup QBs [34:24]

3. Booger McFarland on Lane Kiffin and Coaching Carousel

Segment Start: [39:45]

Main Focus

Booger McFarland joins Tony for a focused segment on the massive churn of college football coaches, with special focus on Lane Kiffin and the dynamics at Ole Miss, LSU, and Florida.

Key Discussion Points

• Ole Miss and Lane Kiffin

  • Ole Miss values Kiffin and is willing to match any contract. They haven’t imposed an ultimatum, but would like clarity on his future.
  • Lane Kiffin’s own words on “no deadline” and family considerations noted.
  • “I think he’s earned the right…to benefit off of his success.” — Booger McFarland [42:14]
  • Tony jokes, “He’s basically got one foot in the transfer portal, doesn’t he?” — [42:49]
  • Booger: “You’re either in the portal or out of it. It’s like being pregnant.” [42:53]

• Comparing LSU, Florida, Ole Miss

  • LSU is a destination job but in today’s NIL era, Ole Miss can compete financially.
  • Proximity and access to recruits favor LSU and Florida, but Ole Miss’s early, robust NIL operation is a draw.
    • “Their NIL is as good as anybody in America.” — Booger [44:43]

• Is Kiffin a Fit for Top Jobs?

  • Despite his “northern” roots, Lane Kiffin has ample deep south credentials and history, making him a viable fit at LSU or Florida.
    • “He’s been at the Southeast. He coached at Tennessee. … He may not be from the South, but he’s been to four or five different SEC schools.” — Booger [47:07]

• Prediction:

  • “Where do you think Lane Kiffin will be coaching next year?”
    — “Ole Miss.” — Booger [48:45]

• James Franklin to Virginia Tech

  • Booger sees this as a great fit in a winnable conference; predicts statue-level success if Franklin wins at his previous Penn State rate.

Memorable Quotes

• “If he just goes, if he wins nine, ten games a year, they'll build a statue.” — Booger McFarland on James Franklin at Va Tech [50:10]
• “Virginia Tech’s going to think he's like a, like a runway model wearing a bikini every day.” — Booger [50:38]

4. Great Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tony on Pickleball: “It's the plague. … I'm out of pickleball.” [02:03]
• Luke describing Andrew Walker's Hallmark-fan fame: “[It’s like] Walking with John Lennon in 1964.” [09:41]
• Tony on the Hallmark Movie Formula: “Even when mean people are exposed in a Hallmark movie, by the end of the movie, they are nice people.” [02:47]
• Self-Referential TV Cameos: Tony and Luke bond over the surreal nature of being “background extras” in prestige and cable TV.
• Chuck Todd’s gambling agony: “I need an Atlanta intervention…Whatever it takes to keep me from betting on Atlanta.” [33:35]
• Booger’s Coaching Carousel Logic: “You’re either in the [transfer] portal or out of it. It’s like being pregnant.” [42:53]

5. Timestamps for Major Segments

| Segment | Start Time | Key Participants/Topics | |------------------------------- |-----------:|------------------------------------------| | Opening Banter | 00:00 | Tony, quick tease of segments | | Luke Russert Interview | 02:03 | Hallmark movie, Bills, acting stories | | NFL Picks (Chuck Todd) | 22:15 | NFL lines; Todd’s rationale, Reginald | | Reginald the Monkey | 35:09 | Reginald’s comic picks, asides | | Booger McFarland Interview | 39:45 | Lane Kiffin, coaching carousel, college football landscape | Mailbag, Listener Letters | 51:45 | Various: fact-checks, youth sports, haiku

6. Overall Tone & Takeaways

• The episode is sharp, self-effacing, and cozy — radiating signature Kornheiser warmth, inside jokes, and irreverence.
• Luke Russert’s Hallmark adventure becomes a lens for exploring audience comfort/fandom, Hollywood realities, and football culture.
• Chuck Todd and Reginald provide NFL talk that ranges from analytical to delightfully absurd.
• Booger McFarland deftly explains coaching drama, brings clarity to NIL’s impact, and offers strong, grounded predictions.
• The show, as usual, feels like a gathering of smart, witty friends and delivers both laughs and genuine sports insight — all in Tony’s unique register.

For listeners new and old, this episode is emblematic of why “The Tony Kornheiser Show” endures: great storytelling, playful banter, and true affection for the worlds of sports, entertainment, and the odd corners where they intersect.