The Tony Kornheiser Show

Episode: “The circle of trust”
Date: October 29, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser, with Michael Wilbon and Nigel
Guests: Chuck Todd, Mark Feinsand

Episode Overview

This episode delivers Tony's signature blend of sports analysis, humorous anecdotes, pop culture tangents, and personal stories. The main themes revolve around recent World Series developments, in-depth NFL picks with Chuck Todd and Reginald the Monkey, and an extended, warm look at Halloween traditions with Tony and Michael Wilbon. And as always, the episode is peppered with friendly banter and memorable one-liners.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Baseball and the World Series (w/ Mark Feinsand)

• Tony and Mark recap the dramatic extra innings World Series game, notable pitching performances, and clutch moments.
• Discussions about individual stars—especially Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman—and their outsized impact and likability.

Notable Discussion:

• Mark describes how he spent game 3 at the Kansas City Chiefs game with his sons and only caught part of the baseball marathon postgame (34:58–37:06).
• Extra-innings drama: "We were listening on the way home and got back to the hotel and it was, I think, the 10th inning just ended... I watched eight more innings until we got to the 18th and I dozed off right before Freddie Freeman hit the home run." —Mark Feinsand (36:04)
• Tony marvels at Ohtani: "Getting on base nine times—he was never out at first. Isn't that unbelievable? It's unbelievable." (42:36)

Insights:

• Gutty pitching: Both Mark and Tony praise bullpen arms stepping up, especially Will Klein's unexpected heroics (38:14).
• The "circle of trust": Ongoing theme about managers relying on certain relievers—Tony bemoans the continued use of Blake Trinen: "He shouldn't be in the circle of trust. He should be outside the circle. Yes. Way out." (03:01)
• The Freddie Freeman effect: Tony and Mark agree he's beloved even by rivals ("Every single person who stops on first base, whether they speak English or not, converses with Freddie Freeman." —Tony, 41:08).

2. NFL Picks with Chuck Todd & Reginald the Monkey

• Chuck Todd reviews his previous week’s record and tackles a slate heavy with home underdogs.
• Conversation covers betting strategy nuances, player assessment, and gentle ribbing about quirky show tradition “La Cheeserie.”
• Reginald the Monkey, in his Halloween regalia, offers his own picks with playful celebrity cameos and fantasy narratives.

Segment Flow (17:16–29:32):

• Chuck’s record: "You were five and two last week... That's not bad. Five and two." —Tony (17:39)
• Philosophy of home dogs: "One of the great early gambling lessons I remember learning was from listening to your program way back in the 90s... weeks like this when there are six or more home dogs... Bet them all." —Chuck (20:27)
• Pick highlights & fun banter:
  • Miami vs. Baltimore: “You gotta bet on Lamar.” —Chuck (19:49)
  • "Do you trust Caleb Williams? That's me. Yeah.” —Tony (22:05)
• Reginald the Monkey’s cameo (29:38–32:28): Costume party vignettes, celebrity monkey friends, and wild sports analogies.

3. Halloween Preparations and Traditions

• Tony and Michael discuss carving pumpkins, trick-or-treating logistics, and seasonal rituals as parents.
• Humorous takes on candy hierarchy and Halloween signals ('the pumpkin out front').
• Tips and nostalgia blend with parental exasperation and suburban commentary.

Memorable Exchanges:

• "We have a fine system where dad carves the top of the pumpkin, then the boys try and help scoop out the scoop..." —Michael Wilbon (09:31)
• Tony’s pragmatic approach: "I put a pumpkin outside to indicate I am participating in this holiday for a while. Yes. Until I turn my light off." (12:12)
• Candy tiers and leftovers: "By the end of the evening... I will have taken out the candies I like and put the candies I don't like in a jar or a tray or whatever that is, a bucket and tell you to take one. You know, take one, don't take four." —Tony (12:45)

Parenting & Pumpkin Highlights:

• Best pumpkin type: “A medium pumpkin that does not have the skin that's too thick... We have all the special tools. I used to just go at this with a steak knife...” —Michael (10:26)
• On pumpkin seeds: "They certainly are littered all over our front yard. So we'll see if they naturally grow." —Michael (10:48)
• The importance of using fake tea lights instead of candles for safety (11:28–11:43).

4. Golf Tales and Swing Advice

• Tony recounts struggling with fast greens at Caves Valley and the wisdom of his playing partners (03:27–08:18).
• Golf swing mechanics: Tony and Michael exchange technique tips, referencing professionals like Justin Rose, and share humorous failures ("I went shank Epotamus on my second shot on 17," Tony, 07:16).

5. Washington Sports Check-in

• Briefly discusses the Wizards’ collapse vs. the 76ers and tanking culture (09:01–10:09).
• Monday Night Football disappointment for Washington fans—"Kept it close for half, 7-7 going into the third quarter, but then gave up...I don't want to talk about that." —Tony (03:27)

6. Community, Jingles, and Listener Interaction

• The show closes with a classic mailbag and music submissions, nods to familiar “Littles,” and playful extensions of show traditions.

“Tony’s mailbag...Gonna read it for all of you folks. That’s tremendous.” —Chris Brinkley jingle (47:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:01 | Tony | "He shouldn't be in the circle of trust. He should be outside the circle. Yes. Way out." | | 09:31 | Michael | "We have a fine system where dad carves the top of the pumpkin, then the boys try and help scoop out the scoop..."| | 17:39 | Tony | "You were five and two last week...That's not bad. Five and two." | | 20:27 | Chuck | "One of the great early gambling lessons I remember learning was from listening to your program way back in the 90s."| | 41:08 | Tony | "Every single person who stops on first base, whether they speak English or not, converses with Freddie Freeman." | | 42:36 | Tony | "Getting on base nine times—he was never out at first. Isn't that unbelievable? It's unbelievable." | | 30:57 | Nigel | "Reginald, as you know, always loves to dress up as a former US President. This year, he picked James K. Polk." |

Timestamps for Main Segments

• Start / Banter / Halloween & Golf: 00:00–14:23
• NFL Picks w/ Chuck Todd: 17:16–29:32
• Reginald the Monkey's Picks: 29:38–32:28
• World Series Deep Dive w/ Mark Feinsand: 34:58–46:54
• Mailbag and Listener Interaction: 47:00–51:56

Episode Takeaways

• This episode blends sports expertise, relatable domestic life, and sharp wit, perfectly encapsulating why Tony Kornheiser and his crew remain so beloved.
• Listeners get detailed sporting breakdowns, especially of the World Series and NFL, but also join Tony and friends as they muse about pumpkins and Halloween candy, sparking a sense of nostalgia and community.
• The guest segments with Chuck Todd and Mark Feinsand are insightful and fun, weaving in listener in-jokes and personal stories that make the analysis accessible and lively.
• The playful inclusion of Reginald the Monkey is a reminder that sports can be both serious and deeply silly.

This summary captures the energy, wit, and depth of conversation typical of "The Tony Kornheiser Show"—equally rewarding for diehards and casual listeners alike.