The Tony Kornheiser Show — “The Thanksgiving Show”
Date: November 27, 2025
Host: Tony Kornheiser
Guests: Michael Kornheiser (son/co-host), Jason La Canfora, James Carville, Jeff Ma
Episode Overview
This special Thanksgiving episode blends sports talk, holiday reflections, family banter, and expert analysis. Tony Kornheiser and his regular guests discuss NFL and college football, share personal stories, give betting picks, and reflect on traditions, all interwoven with characteristic warmth and humor. Familiar voices like Michael Kornheiser, Jason La Canfora, James Carville, and Jeff Ma contribute to the lively atmosphere. While the show anchors itself on sports, much of its charm stems from personal anecdotes and relatable Thanksgiving moments.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Thanksgiving Reflections & Kornheiser Family Updates
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Tony’s Holiday Routine:
- Used to working on holidays and comfortable with it.
- Contemplates a vacation, admitting, “I haven’t been on a vacation in a long time where I went somewhere.”
- Misses PTI during its holiday break, feeling out of sorts without it as part of his daily structure.
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Thanksgiving Golf “Shotgun” at Columbia Country Club:
- Setup: Michael arranged a family/friends golf round for Thanksgiving week.
- Guests: Mark Chalaba (baseball insider) and Dan Kolko (sports broadcaster) join the Kornheisers.
- Michael tries to build a fun group: “It’s like trying to create a dinner seating… you’re together for four hours.” [08:55]
- Highlights:
- Tony, self-deprecating about his golf skills, gets encouragement from Michael.
- Mark’s athletic prowess impresses everyone—“There were times when Mark’s drive went 30 yards past Michael.” [11:15]
- Fun group dynamic: everyone has “highlight holes, low lights.” [10:48]
- Michael’s hosting instincts kick in: “I want to make sure you’re comfortable. I want to make sure my friends have a good time with you.” [10:35]
- Positive note about the club and community: “Columbia’s done such a good job of creating these events, and it’s so fun to introduce the club to friends.” [13:53]
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Thanksgiving Dinner Logistics:
- Tony jokes about negotiating arrival time, mindful of his dog, Chessy, and banters about attending only briefly: “I know who’s there. I know the names. I don’t really have to be there for any length of time.” [13:33]
2. NBA Observations & Farewell to Anthony Rendon
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NBA Officiating and the State of Basketball:
- Tony watches Celtics vs. Pistons and criticizes NBA referees:
- “Nobody calls walking…they don’t call offensive fouls anymore. Every contact’s a defensive foul, even when it’s not.” [04:29]
- Outcome decided on a contentious foul call; Tony disputes it.
- Tony watches Celtics vs. Pistons and criticizes NBA referees:
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Anthony Rendon’s Expected Retirement:
- Tony reflects on Rendon’s time in Washington and subsequent struggles in LA.
- Saddened that “nobody cares about Anthony Rendon outside of Washington. He never had any impact with the Angels.” [07:14]
- Rendon’s lack of passion for the game is noted: “He would repeatedly say out loud, ‘I’m good at it, I don’t really care about it.’” [07:40]
- Michael contextualizes the fans’ perspective: “We still view that through the eyes of childhood.” [08:14]
3. Baltimore’s Turkey Bowl Tradition [18:10]
- Jason La Canfora explains:
- The annual Loyola vs. Calvert Hall high school football rivalry, dating back over 100 years, “the longest running consecutively played Catholic high school football rivalry in the country.”
- Pays tribute to the late Joe Brune, legendary coach and mentor.
4. NFL Week—Game Breakdowns & Playoff Implications
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Kansas City Chiefs & Detroit Lions:
- Tony and Jason discuss whether their thrilling overtime wins were “season-savers.” [19:25]
- Jason notes KC’s must-win scenarios and the importance of stringing together wins:
- “Kansas City needs to, you know, probably…try to get to 10 wins. Anything other than that…you’re really looking at tiebreakers and math.” [21:15]
- Both agree Dallas/KC game could be “a mutual elimination game from the playoffs.”
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Thanksgiving Football Ratings:
- Tony predicts, “This is going to get the highest rating in years.” [21:52] Jason agrees and adds that KC, thanks to Taylor Swift, “has kind of become the AFC's America’s Team.” [22:20]
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Burrow & Chase Return to Bengals:
- Discussion on Jamar Chase’s controversial spitting incident and Joe Burrow’s return from injury.
- On spitting, Jason: “I just don’t get it. It’s an indefensible, shameful thing to do.” [24:18]
- On the Bengals: “Joe Burrow…is wired a little different…he believes until we’re mathematically eliminated, we’ve got plenty to play for.” [25:00]
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Ravens-Bengals Matchup:
- Preview of Thursday night game.
- Jason notes: “Jamar Chase’s last two games against the Ravens—21 catches, 457 yards, 5 touchdowns.” [27:03]
5. Jason La Canfora’s “Plug” & Betting Content [28:24]
- Jason promotes his handicapping show—covering NFL, college sports, NBA, international soccer, and more. “We’re trying to make people money and doing a pretty decent job of it.”
6. James Carville & Jeff Ma: Betting Picks and Banter
James Carville’s Picks
- Candid about a recent rough patch: “I always feel bad if he had a bad week. He had a bad week. He was 1-3-1…But now we want to sprint right now.” [31:59]
- Picks:
- Georgia -13.5 vs. Georgia Tech [32:28]
- UTSA -7 vs. Army: “Army is not…Army is looking forward to Army/Navy. They’d rather go 1-11 and beat Navy.” [33:10]
- Washington +7 vs. Oregon (“Washington is a pretty good team.”) [33:36]
- Penn State -13 vs. Rutgers: “As much as I love Rutgers, you’re not gonna make any money there.” [33:55]
- NFL: Lions -2.5 vs. Packers; Steelers +3.5 (opponent not specified). [34:11-34:44]
Jeff Ma’s Insights & Picks
- Explains why betting college is easier than the NFL: “College, there’s still a lot more information asymmetry…there are teams that are better than you think.” [36:53]
- Betting Regulation & Insider Trading:
- Discusses gray areas in college athletes betting with insider info and urges the need for clearer regulations. “There probably needs to be much more of a concept around it.” [37:30-38:48]
- He predicts eventual federal regulation, especially to curtail micro-bets like “betting on every pitch.” [39:10]
- Picks:
- Penn State -13 vs. Rutgers [40:12]
- Virginia Tech +9.5 vs. Virginia (“Just a big number in a rivalry game.”) [40:47]
- Louisiana Monroe +8.5 vs. Louisiana Lafayette (“Ode to Carville, the Battle of Louisiana not named LSU.”) [41:24]
- Bears +7 vs. Philly (“Seven points is a lot… Philly has some struggles offensively.”) [42:07]
- Texans +4.5 vs. Indy [43:05]
- Tony, learning the nuances of point spreads: “The threes and the sevens are the ones you want the hook on, right?” [43:12]
- Jeff: “I love it. You’re learning, Tony.” [43:23]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Self-Deprecation on Golfing:
- Tony: “I stink.”
- Michael: “No, you played well. You drove the ball well.” [10:14]
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On Pro Sports and Passion:
- Tony: “Those of us who are not athletes think, wow, if I could be a pro athlete, I would love it.” [08:16]
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On Refereeing:
- Tony: “Nobody calls walking…they don’t call offensive fouls anymore. Every contact’s a defensive foul, even when it’s not…” [04:29]
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On Thanksgiving Family Dynamics:
- Tony: “I know who’s there. I know the names. I don’t really have to be there for any length of time.” [13:33]
- Michael’s “host mode”—catering to everyone during golf [10:35]
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On Spitting in Football:
- Jason La Canfora: “I just don’t get it. It’s an indefensible, shameful thing to do. You cost yourself $500,000 and a chance to play a game...” [24:18]
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On the Grind of Sports Betting:
- Jeff Ma: “The NFL is a very efficient market… it’s almost like flipping a coin, generally.” [36:16]
Timestamps for Major Segments
- Thanksgiving Show Introduction & Scheduling: [01:50–03:00]
- NBA Thoughts (Celtics/Pistons, NBA officiating): [03:45–06:25]
- Anthony Rendon Retirement Reflection: [06:28–08:16]
- Golf Story at Columbia Country Club: [08:40–14:10]
- Baltimore Turkey Bowl Tradition (La Canfora): [18:10–19:10]
- NFL Deep Dives (KC, Dallas, Detroit, Ravens/Bengals): [19:25–28:24]
- La Canfora’s Betting Show Plug: [28:24–29:33]
- James Carville’s Picks: [31:59–34:44]
- Jeff Ma’s Picks & Betting Analysis: [36:16–43:30]
Tone and Style
Richly conversational, candid, humorous, and occasionally wistful. Tony’s blend of acerbic observation and sentimental storytelling creates a show that feels both like an insider’s club and a family living room on the holidays. Regulars bring expert opinion with a friendly, approachable style, and even the betting segments have warmth and levity.
Summary for New Listeners
If you missed this episode, you missed an inviting mix of sports chat, expert analysis, Thanksgiving family color, and a window into how traditions and routines shape Tony Kornheiser’s world. You’ll hear thoughtful gambling insight, gripes about NBA officiating, nostalgia about baseball, and a celebration of community—reflecting all the reasons The Tony Kornheiser Show is both singularly enjoyable and powerfully relatable to sports fans and non-fans alike.