The Tony Kornheiser Show: “It’s All About the Residuals”

Date: November 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this dynamic episode, Tony Kornheiser and his regulars weave through a broad tapestry of topics—starting with a hilarious and oddly profound discussion about self-driving cars in the D.C. area, Tony’s firsthand encounter with a fox, an in-depth sports rundown with Michael Wilbon, and a fascinating conversation with writer/musician Dave Sheinin about the iconic world of sports theme songs (and how they pay residuals). The show is filled with Tony’s trademark neuroticism, playful banter, and signature mix of sports and pop culture commentary.

Segment Breakdowns & Key Insights

1. Self-Driving Cars: Would Tony Ride in a Waymo?

[01:04–05:56]

• Tony opens with disbelief at people riding in Waymo self-driving cars.

• Guest recounts being in a driverless Lyft in Arizona, causing Tony great alarm.

• Tony quips:

  “What does Waymo stand for? Way more dangerous than you thought. That’s what I would think.” (Tony, 02:51)

• The crew discusses trust, technology, and D.C.’s challenging road conditions:

  • Michael: Would maybe try version 2 or 3 in the future.
  • Tony: Strongly distrusts the idea, citing chaotic D.C. roads and “dopey bike lanes.”

• Notable Quote:

  “I would not do this. Okay, I got enough. I got a note from Melman. Melman says they're great. Really? Melman believes in them.” (Tony, 03:25)

2. Golf and Food—The Contentment of Simple Pleasures

[05:56–06:14]

• Tony describes a rare positive day golfing:

  “Played well for me. I shot 90, which is par for me. ... Oh, with the fries. It's just the good fries. All I wanted, just, just all I wanted. I was so happy.” (Tony, 05:18–05:28)

3. Wildlife Encounters: Tony, Jesse, and the Barking Fox

[06:14–13:19]

• Tony recounts a nighttime dog walk and hearing a fox bark for the first time:

  • Reveals he thought foxes were felines, not canines.
  • Describes foxes as “magnificent … their tails are much longer than you think that body should support…”

• The fox encounter:

  • Jesse (Tony's dog) spots the fox, and the fox makes a high-pitched “call,”

    “It sounded like a bird call. And it was repetitive, as if it was indeed reaching out to another fox for confirmation…” (Tony, 09:19)

• The group speculates: Was it a territorial claim, a call for help, or something else?

• Tony invites audience feedback:

  “I'm sure there are people out there who can tell me about this. ... Maybe they know about this fox." (Tony, 13:19)

4. Northwestern Sports Glory & Chicago Bears: Conversation with Michael Wilbon

[16:39–29:59]

A. Northwestern’s Field Hockey Triumph

• Wilbon shares pride for Northwestern’s women’s field hockey NCAA championship:

  “Tracy Fuchs and that team, back-to-back championships … the sports that our women's sports are just on fire. ... A thrill no matter how big your school is, how small your school is.” (Wilbon, 17:06)

• Tony confesses he “never seen one second of field hockey,” highlighting most people’s unfamiliarity with the sport.

B. Chicago Bears’ Surprising Success

• The Bears, under a first-year coach, keep defying odds and winning close:

  “It's astonishing where the Bears are. ... It's amazing to. They keep winning and they keep winning. Close...” (Tony, 20:07)

• Deep-dive stats:

  • Bears are only outscoring opponents in the first quarter.
  • Caleb Williams: lowest completion % but low turnovers.

• The NFL this year is “upside down”:

  “Right now the two leading teams in the NFC are the Rams and the Seahawks. ... And none of us ... would have had that. Wouldn't have had it.” (Tony, 25:26)

C. Coach of the Year and MVP Talk

• Tony runs through mid-season candidates; Wilbon makes a case for defensive players.
• On NFL themes:

  “Every time we proclaim somebody is great, they're not. ... The league is weird in this way, but I find it much more enjoyable that way.” (Wilbon, 26:46; 29:59)

5. The Greatest Sports Theme Songs: Dave Sheinin Interview

[32:00–44:42]

• Kornheiser is effusive about Sheinin’s Washington Post project on iconic sports themes—combining interviews, musical analysis, and videos.

  “In this story ... [Sheinin] sits at a piano and plays ... talks about the notes and he talks about the chords ... The story is great. I love this story.” (Tony, 32:41)

A. Behind the Music

• Idea started as a piece on John Tesh’s “Roundball Rock” (NBA on NBC), expanded into a month-long deep-dive.
• Sheinin describes calling composers, learning and playing themes on piano for video annotation.
• On music similarities:

  “All of the football themes almost to a single one are minor key and very aggressive. Almost violent. ... Baseball ... was very pastoral and beautiful.” (Sheinin, 38:21)

B. Residuals – The Episode’s “Theme”

• Do composers get paid every time?

  “Oh yeah. ... If you really listen to a broadcast of a game ... that guy gets paid every time for those. John Tesh told me that his theme put one of his kids through college.” (Sheinin, 40:34)

• Some themes (like “This Week in Baseball”) come from music libraries, not direct commissions.

C. Why These Melodies Stick

• Discussion of musical structure, cultural imprint, and Tony’s fascination with the details.

• Notable exchanges:

  “You’re Gershwin to me.” (Tony to Sheinin, 35:25)
  “[Tesh]’s just so lovely. ... what really stood out ... the way he described his influences ... prog rock of the 70s ... and then classical, like, late Romantic, Shostakovich and Stravinsky.” (Sheinin, 42:36)

6. Notable Quotes & Moments

• On microwave bacon and bacon hacks in the postshow mailbag.
• “If you live in Manhattan ... you probably don't have foxes.” (Tony, 07:31)
• “Just because I want it, doesn't make it mine.” (From featured artist Sydney Sprigg's song, played in episode, 56:25)
• “If you're out on your bike Tiny, everyone is always, always do wear white.” (Kornheiser’s show sign-off)

Timestamps for Core Segments

• 00:00–01:04: Show preview and sponsor reads
• 01:04–05:56: Self-driving Waymo cars debate
• 05:56–06:14: Tony’s golf outing highlights
• 06:14–13:19: Jesse and the “barking” fox encounter
• 16:39–29:59: Michael Wilbon on Northwestern, Bears, and NFL chaos
• 32:00–44:42: Dave Sheinin on sports themes and the business of residuals
• 45:35–56:25: Mailbag, listener shout-outs, and episode close

Podcast Tone & Experience

Tony’s congenial grumpiness and self-deprecating humor set the tone, with recurring sidekick banter from Michael, Nigel, and others. The mailbag at episode’s end, chock full of listener wit and callback jokes, adds a communal, celebratory feel for long-time fans.

Quick Episode Takeaways

• Kornheiser remains risk-averse (especially regarding new tech), but full of curiosity about the world—even the nighttime habits of local wildlife!
• Wilbon’s deep roots in college sports and Chicago fandom stand in contrast to Tony’s outsider (and sometimes clueless) perspective.
• The business side of culture—theme song residuals, in particular—can be surprisingly lucrative and intricate.
• Listeners contribute engaging emails, often poking gentle fun at the show and Tony’s idiosyncrasies.

For the full sports themes deep dive, check out Dave Sheinin’s feature (with piano demos) on the Washington Post’s digital platform.