Too Many Tabs with Pearlmania500

Episode 159: "Our REDACTED 2025 Tier List"

Release Date: December 21, 2025
Hosts: Pearlmania500 (Alex) & Mrs. P

Episode Overview

In this energetic, irreverent end-of-year episode, husband-wife duo Alex (Pearlmania500) and Mrs. P run through the biggest, weirdest, and most memorable (and forgettable) moments of 2025 as logged in Mrs. P’s ever-growing browser tab collection. Employing a tongue-in-cheek “tier list” ranking system, they recap everything from viral pop culture phenomena to memes, scandals, and internet drama—largely sidestepping “serious politics” in favor of lighter fare and the absurd. The distinct flavor: snark, cultural critique, fond exasperation, and mutual ribbing.

The 2025 Tiers Explained

[07:05] Alex: "I'm gonna start at the bottom. The worst thing possible is redacted."

• Redacted: The absolute worst—never speak of it again.
• Not Invited to 2026: Please, let’s leave this in the past.
• That's So Great For You: Indifferent, tinged with passive aggression.
• Core Memory: Unforgettable, formative—for better or (usually) worse.
• Again, Again: The top tier—let’s have more of this energy!

Memorable Quote:
“Remember to smile. Welcome to Too Many Tabs, a podcast where a husband and wife duo sit next to each other at a table. And this table is set in the year 2025, which is a year that we are set to say goodbye to.”
—Alex [01:41]

Key Segments and Highlights

January: TikTok Goes Dark & Inauguration Mishaps

• [04:24] TikTok Goes Dark for 12 Hours

  • Viral panic, mass “confession” trend as creators subliminally assumed the app’s demise.
  • Fitness influencers and others cop to secrets (Ozempic, “I don’t really drink this protein shake”).
  • Platform resurrected, crediting Trump with its return, and sold to shady tech overlords.

  "The death and resurrection of TikTok was a terrifying time. I remember sitting there, Tell Williams was on TikTok Live … and then the whole screen just died."
  —Alex [05:13]

  • Tier: Core Memory

• [09:00] Carrie Underwood’s Inauguration Performance

  • Disaster—bad sound, no monitor, “sounded like dog shit.”
  • Hosts note how “everything Trump touches dies” referencing Underwood’s rough year following the event.
  • Melania Trump’s “Dune hat” and Trump’s refusal to put hand on Bible.
  • Tier: That's So Great For You

Reality TV, Memes, and Virality

• Gabby Wendy’s Rise [11:00]

  • From The Traitors to TikTok darling, Gabby and her “iconic” wedding.
  • Traitors finale: several winners, not all beloved.
  • Tier: Again, Again

• Gulf of Mexico Renamed “Gulf of America” [12:44]

  • Pointless nationalism; becomes “redacted.”
  • Tier: Redacted

• Leslie Bibb Smile/White Lotus Meme [14:00]

  • Botoxed squint becomes viral reaction image, “face you make so much nowadays.”
  • Tier: Core Memory

• Kendrick Lamar Roasts Drake at the Super Bowl [15:16]

  • Shared with Eagles defeating Chiefs—hosts celebrate dunking on rivals and “keep receipts” attitude.
  • Tier: Again, Again

Political Memes & Miscellany

• JD Vance “Big Ugly Fat Head” Meme [19:07]
  • Lost luster over time, but successfully made Vance into a clown in public discourse.
  • Tier: That’s So Great For You

Viral Trends and Pop Culture Phenomena

• Labubus Rise & Blind Box Craze (March–April) [23:27, 24:02]

  • Pop Mart toys gain cult following; Vanilla Mace’s viral unboxing rant: “I just hope I don’t get that ass Christmas tree.”
  • Clip played on episode.
  • Tier: Labubus—Core Memory; Vanilla Mace—Again, Again

• Katy Perry Goes to Space [27:25]

  • Space trip with Jeff Bezos’ circle, “hated that moment so much,” contributes to Perry’s public image issues.
  • Perry’s subsequent pairing with Justin Trudeau is “not invited to 2026.”
  • Tier: Redacted / Not Invited

• 100 Men vs. Gorilla Meme [28:52]

  • Viral argument; dismissed as pointless distraction.
  • Tier: Not Invited to 2026

May–June: Church, Hats, TV

• Death of the Pope / Rise of “Woke Pope” from Chicago [29:50, 30:03]

  • Fun segment about Alex’s experience in Italy when new Pope elected, “Pope Leo.”
  • “Pope Chicago” is “pushing back” and “beating archdiocese butt.”
  • Tier: Core Memory

• Sex and the City Hat Debacle (“That Ass Hat”) [34:43]

  • Carrie Bradshaw’s “picnic tablecloth meets Rasta hat” fashion horror.
  • Tier: Redacted

Summer: Celebrity, Music, and Workplace Drama

• Sydney Sweeney’s Good Genes Jeans Ad Backlash [36:13]

  • Ongoing PR disaster over tone-deaf ad/discourse.
  • “She doesn’t have a hairdresser that likes her because her bob looked bad.”
  • Mrs. P steers Alex off “work mode” at the beach:

    “You need to shut the fuck up. I don’t want you looking at your phone for 40… We paid a lot of money for you to not look at your phone.”
    —Mrs. P [39:28]

  • Tier: That’s So Great For You

• Haley Williams’ Surprise Album Drops [46:00]

  • Secret tracks, password hunts, “Ego Death at the Bachelorette Party.”
  • Alex’s #1 replayed album.
  • Family car playlist now ruined until further notice by child’s obsession with "Who Let the Dogs Out."
  • Tier: Again, Again

• Coldplay Kiss Cam CEO Scandal [50:51]

  • Viral kiss cam at concert reveals CEO & head of HR; meme unites internet, CEO tries to sue Coldplay.
  • Tier: Core Memory

AI Realities and Engagements

• Bunnies on Trampoline AI Video [53:59]

  • Cutesy animal video goes viral; realization it’s AI-made prompts existential dread/social commentary on deepfakes.
  • Tier: Core Memory

• Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift Engagement [58:54]

  • “Foregone conclusion,” likened to American royalty; Mrs. P tells Alex not to “yuck” pop culture joy.
  • Tier: That’s So Great For You

Fall: Heists, Albums, and Elections

• Louvre Crown Jewels Heist [65:54]

  • Chainsaws, ladders, mayhem. More meme than calamity for the hosts.
  • Tier: Not Invited to 2026

• Taylor Swift Drops a “Bad Album” [69:24]

  • Praised for heartbreak anthems, but happy, “dickmatized” Taylor yields tepid pop.
  • Tier: That’s So Great For You

• Crashing Out with Phil DeFranco Launches [72:09]

  • Alex’s new podcast collab, positive for “podcasting world.”
  • Tier: Again, Again

• Zoran Mom’s Local Election Victory (November) [82:57]

  • Movements to “primary some dinosaurs,” urge listeners to create “good trouble” at the local level.
  • Tier: Again, Again

Winter: End of Year Ironies

• Sabrina Carpenter Beats the US Government [84:36]

  • Celebrating pop star’s legal victory against overzealous censorship.
  • Tier: Again, Again

• Golden Globes Announce Podcast Category [86:43]

  • New award roundly mocked for including Dax Shepard over Mark Maron; “white list, talk showification” of podcasts.
  • Tier: That’s So Great For You

Notable Quotes

• "Remember to smile. Welcome to Too Many Tabs, a podcast where a husband and wife duo sit next to each other at a table. And this table is set in the year 2025, which is a year that we are set to say goodbye to."
  —Alex [01:41]

• "The death and resurrection of TikTok was a terrifying time."
  —Alex [05:13]

• "Everything Trump touches dies."
  —Alex [09:46]

• "You need to shut the fuck up. I don’t want you looking at your phone for 40… We paid a lot of money for you to not look at your phone."
  —Mrs. P [39:28]

• "I was the lady walking. No, you're gonna give me your phone."
  —Mrs. P [39:51]

• "In general, the vanguard that has been pushing back against the Trump administration this entire year have not only been women, it's also been women of color because they know. And we've seen a lot of very cowardly, especially white men watching how these women will get attacked and pushed back on to then see where the maximum punishment will live."
  —Alex [85:42]

Other Memorable Segments (with Timestamps)

• [23:27] – La Boo Boos: Rise of K-Pop blind box collectibles, meme-unboxed by Vanilla Mace.
• [29:50] – Death of the Pope, Chicago Woke Pope rises.
• [34:43] – Carrie Bradshaw wears “ass hat” on And Just Like That.
• [50:51] – CEO Kiss Cam at Coldplay concert, HR scandal.
• [53:59] – AI-generated “bunnies on trampoline” blows up social trust.
• [58:54] – Travis Kelce & Taylor Swift engagement.
• [65:54] – Paris-style jewel heist at the Louvre.
• [69:24] – Taylor Swift’s “bad” happy album, compared to heartbreak-fueled classics.
• [72:09] – Alex’s new show with Phil DeFranco, Crashing Out.
• [76:04] – Hayley Williams’ full album melts Alex’s brain in a good way.
• [82:57] – Zoran Mom’s local election win, energizing progressive activism.
• [86:43] – Golden Globes announce “Podcast of the Year” category.

Closing Thoughts & Outlook

[92:25] Alex: "It's just another year. And I hope, my hope for all the listeners out there ... may your 2026 be better ... Let's start looking to 2030, 2032, 2040 ... we've spent the last few years especially looking way too close to now ... we need to start planning out further what are the things we're really trying to aim for."

[94:16] Mrs. P: "Have a great holiday week ... or any holiday you celebrate, any time of year. Thank you so much for listening. I hope this was as fun for you as it was for me."

Episode Flow & Tone

• Typical Segment Positions:

  • Year recaps are chronological, but detours are frequent and self-aware.
  • Rankings after each story complete with quick debate.
  • Banter and asides, plus running gags about Alex’s impulsivity and Mrs. P’s pop culture expertise.
  • Periodic mentions of politics, but mostly in the context of internet memes, pop, and cultural fallout.

• Language & Tone:

  • Conversational, quick-witted, sometimes brash or saucy. Postmodern, reference-laden, and reliably self-deprecating.

Summary Table: 2025 Tier List

| Moment/Event | Tier | Timestamp | |---------------------------------|-----------------------|-------------| | TikTok Goes Dark | Core Memory | [04:24] | | Carrie Underwood Inauguration | That's So Great For You | [09:00] | | Gabby Wendy's Rise | Again, Again | [11:00] | | Gulf of America Renaming | Redacted | [12:44] | | Leslie Bibb White Lotus Meme | Core Memory | [14:00] | | Kendrick Lamar Super Bowl | Again, Again | [15:26] | | JD Vance Big Head Meme | That’s So Great For You | [19:07] | | Labubus/Vanilla Mace | Core Memory / Again Again | [23:27], [24:02] | | Katy Perry in Space | Redacted / Not Invited| [27:25] | | 100 Men vs Gorilla | Not Invited to 2026 | [28:52] | | Pope dies, Woke Pope rises | Core Memory | [29:50] | | "Ass Hat" SATC | Redacted | [34:43] | | Sydney Sweeney Jeans Ad | That’s So Great For You | [36:13] | | Haley Williams Album | Again, Again | [46:00] | | Coldplay CEO Kiss Cam Scandal | Core Memory | [50:51] | | Bunnies on Trampoline AI Video | Core Memory | [53:59] | | Kelce-Swift Engagement | That’s So Great For You | [58:54] | | Louvre Jewel Heist | Not Invited to 2026 | [65:54] | | Taylor Swift's "Bad Album" | That’s So Great For You | [69:24] | | Crashing Out (with Phil D) | Again, Again | [72:09] | | Zoran Mom Victory | Again, Again | [82:57] | | Sabrina Carpenter v Gov | Again, Again | [84:36] | | Golden Globes Podcast Category | That’s So Great For You | [86:43] |

For New Listeners: Why Listen?

This episode encapsulates the zany, surreal, meme-driven energy of surviving the 2020s, with running commentary on celebrity, tech, internet culture, music, and the ever-blurring lines between them. It’s a pop culture fever dream filtered through two snarky, passionate millennial nerds, delivering both catharsis and comic relief to anyone who spent the year online.

Skip:

• Ad breaks and sponsor chats
• Extended listing of Cameo and Patreon promotions (unless you’re interested)

Listen for:

• Pop culture history in real-time
• Roasts, memes, and solid partner banter
• Timely, relatable, and surprisingly sharp social commentary

Too Many Tabs: “Remember to smile.”