Tosh Show — "My Favorite Male NFL Cheerleader"

Guest: Quinton Peron
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Daniel Tosh

Overview

In this lively episode of Tosh Show, Daniel Tosh sits down with Quinton Peron, one of the first male NFL cheerleaders and a groundbreaking figure in professional dance. The conversation dives into Quinton’s journey from a basketball-playing teen to NFL history-maker, his experiences on and off the field, and the evolving world of cheer and dance. Along the way, Daniel and Quinton explore topics ranging from Super Bowl performances and locker room dynamics to coming out, reality TV escapades, fashion, and the business of choreography—with plenty of trademark Tosh humor throughout.

Episode Highlights & Key Discussion Points

1. Opening Banter & Setting the Tone (00:57–14:38)

• Daniel’s Dinner Antics & Family Humor

  • Daniel shares about his friend Eddie's bizarre dinner ritual:

    “He likes to start each meal by asking everybody to hold hands, and then he starts chanting, ‘I invite the devil into my body.’ Now, I don’t care what party you’re at. If everyone started holding hands and then that person started screaming, ‘I invite the devil into my body,’ I’m gonna laugh.” (01:51)

  • Family jokes and his father-in-law’s malapropism:

    “He goes… ‘Mother Time is undefeated.’ And I go, what did you fucking say? …Mother Time’s undefeated. I’m like, oh, brother.” (05:24)

• Merch Plug & Cheerleading Nostalgia

  • Discussion about the new Tosh Show merch store, prompting a spontaneous recitation of classic cheerleader chants and Daniel’s high school love for a cheerleader named Jessica.

2. Introducing Quinton Peron — Breaking Barriers in Dance and Cheer (14:39–22:04)

• Ghosts and SoCal Roots

  • Daniel’s signature opening question: “Do you believe in ghosts?” Quinton shares a spooky dance studio story:

    “I looked in the mirror and I saw this little dude in a boiler hat just sitting there. And I was like, oh, hell no. So I dipped after that.” (15:27)

  • Discusses being from Rancho Cucamonga and how “Next Friday” put the town on the map.

• Transition from Basketball to Dance

  • Quinton grew up in a family of basketball coaches but found inspiration in dance at age 16, thanks to “So You Think You Can Dance.”

  “I was 16… I saw these two black dudes—one hip hop dancer, one ballet—and was like, oh my gosh, I think I want to try that.” (18:08)

  • Tosh’s own struggles to keep his son engaged in hip hop dance, poking fun at the local Malibu scene.

3. The Unique World of Professional Cheerleading (21:05–26:27)

• College vs. Pro Cheerleading: Athleticism and Sex Appeal

  • Tosh: “College cheerleading—very athletic… Pro sports, just slutty and sexy.” (21:02)
  • Quinton corrects him:

    “Collegiate cheer is more stunt-based… NFL cheer, we’re a dance team, so it’s more choreography-based. Most people can’t do both. …The talent and caliber of dance has gone up, especially out here in LA.” (21:27)

• The Economics and Culture of Cheerleading

  • Cheerleaders are still underpaid—“some cheer for $7 an hour,” but Quinton earned $35/hr with the Rams.
  • On team dynamics and locker room arrangements:

    “There’s something about that locker room talk that you don’t want to miss out on. So the last two years we were all just in the same dressing room.” (24:04)

  • Daniel criticizes “bathroom anxiety” and anti-trans bathroom laws in his blunt style.

4. Breaking Norms and Facing Criticism (26:28–32:49)

• On-Field Haters and Super Bowl Experiences

  • Raiders fans were the only ones who heckled him, but “once they started seeing me dance, they were quiet.” (23:02)
  • Performing at Super Bowl 53:

    Tosh: “What made your job harder: the score being 3-0 at halftime or Maroon 5 doing the worst halftime show I’ve ever seen?” (25:45) Quinton: “Such a boring game… There’s nothing worse than having to smile in that nonsense when the Patriots confetti started raining down.” (26:12)

• Fraternization Policy and Coming Out

  • No explicit ban on cheerleader/player relationships during Quinton’s tenure.
  • Quinton talks candidly about coming out:

    “Technically 18… My parents are super supportive. I was just talking to my mom the other day about a date I went on last weekend.” (27:01, 28:04)

• Dating Life and Regrets

  • Humorous discussion on dating rules and introducing partners to family.

    Tosh: “If I could go back and redate people, I would night one, tell them I love them. …I’d bring them back to the parents right away.” (28:25)

5. Dance Industry, Pop Culture, and Awkward Moments (32:50–41:24)

• Media Portrayals of Cheer and Dance

  • Tosh and Quinton critique movies like “Bring It On” and “Save the Last Dance.”

    “Have you seen every single one [Bring It On]? … Do you think Cheer or Die set the franchise back? … I still watch it.” (38:36-38:50)

  • Quinton has worked with Mariah Carey, Megan Thee Stallion, and drag queen acts but never performed with Beyoncé (“They missed out.” 39:36)

• Dance Styles and Mishaps

  • Worst style to perform: tap.
  • Tosh laughs about Quinton admitting to pooping his pants mid-routine at World Championships:

    “The year is 2016… Outback. …In the routine, I had to do four toe touches back to back … the third one … Oh shit. Shit.” (34:13)

  • Quinton is candid about the physical realities of dance—and the products (like “dude wipes”) required to survive.

• Choreographing for Others

  • Differences between NFL and NBA cheer dance: NBA less restrictive (“no palms, no heels, can get down and dirty”), NFL more linear. (35:21)
  • Quinton often works with a majority of the country’s NBA and NFL teams as a choreographer.

6. Career Milestones, Reality TV, and Looking Ahead (41:25–54:26)

• Amazing Race Adventures

  • Quinton participated in The Amazing Race (Season 34, nearly eliminated before Rex Ryan), was regularly approached to join due to his profile as a Rams cheerleader.
  • Countries visited: Germany, Austria, Jordan, Italy, France (49:33)
  • Race was stressful: “I have gray hairs because of it.” (48:29)

• End of Cheerleading Career

  • Tosh: “When did you know you had cheered your last game?”

    “That was Super Bowl 56… I woke up, I don’t know what came over me but I think my body knew it was it… I was breaking down in the shower.” (50:02)

  • Career pivot to choreography:

    “Right now, it’s all choreography. I work with...the majority of the NBA and NFL teams, colleges, high schools, all-star teams around the world. I go to France next week.” (52:23)

  • Tosh name-drops choreographer Wade Robson:

    “Ever mess with you?” (52:49)
    Quinton: “No… He’s still active in the industry.” (52:52)

• New Projects

  • Quinton is launching a YouTube docuseries, Counting on Q, chronicling teams he coaches through competition.
  • On cultural authenticity:

    “I have been asked to do majorette work, but I don’t want to appropriate somebody… That’s not my style.” (53:57)

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Quote | Speaker | Timestamp | |-----------|-------------|--------------| | “He starts chanting, ‘I invite the devil into my body.’ …I’m gonna laugh.” | Daniel Tosh | 01:53 | | “College cheer is more stunt-based… NFL cheer, we’re a dance team, so we’re more choreography-based.” | Quinton Peron | 21:27 | | “Such a boring game. And there’s nothing worse than having to smile in that nonsense when the Patriots confetti started raining down.” | Quinton Peron | 26:12 | | “Technically 18… My parents are super supportive. …I love my son, but you don’t call me out of my name.” | Quinton Peron | 27:01, 28:04 | | “In the routine, I had to do four toe touches back to back… the third one… oh shit. Shit.” | Quinton Peron | 34:13 | | “Have you ever choreographed line dancing?” “No...I had to learn a Filipino line dance at a wedding. It was kind of fun.” | Tosh/Quinton | 41:05 |

8. Fun Exchanges & Pop Culture

• Banter about NFL cheer squads without cheerleaders (Steelers, Bills, Bears, Browns, Giants, Jets, Chargers) and musings on why the LA Chargers dropped their squad post-COVID. (25:19)
• Tosh getting real about fan interactions on the sidelines, new tech like COSM (“I can read what’s on your cell phones” 37:54), and the perils of high-def cameras.
• A goofy gifting segment: Tosh gives Quinton a prop microphone, a Michael Jackson poster, a Paul Smith tracksuit, and Bravo Sierra personal care products—all “re-gifted.”
• Running jokes about age, fashion trends, underwear choice, and Tosh's inability to pick up choreography.
• Sincere appreciation for Quinton as a trailblazer—for both dance and broader LGBTQ+ representation in pro sports.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 06:40 — Merch Store Plug & Classic Cheer Chants
• 14:39 — Guest Introduction: Quinton Peron
• 15:27 — Ghost Story
• 18:06 — Discovering Dance
• 21:27 — College vs. Pro Cheer Dynamics
• 25:45 — Super Bowl 53 & Handling Hecklers
• 27:01 — Coming Out Journey
• 34:13 — Dance Mishaps: The Infamous Routine
• 35:21 — NFL vs. NBA Dance Styles
• 41:05 — Choreographing Line and Cultural Dances
• 48:11 — Amazing Race Experience
• 50:02 — End of Cheerleading Career
• 52:23 — The Life of a Professional Choreographer
• 53:15 — Future Plans: Counting on Q Docuseries

Tone and Style

The episode brims with Daniel Tosh’s irreverent, playful humor and Quinton’s honest, relaxed storytelling. The conversation blends serious insights about representation, artistry, and personal growth with roasts, absurd hypotheticals, nostalgic pop references, and the perpetual joyous awkwardness of Daniel’s podcasting style.

Conclusion

This episode is a heartfelt and hilarious portrait of Quinton Peron’s singular journey as a male pioneering professional cheerleader—and a candid look inside the world of high-stakes dance, personal authenticity, and breaking down barriers in sports and entertainment. Quinton’s tales of Super Bowls, reality TV, coming out, and choreography offer substance and inspiration, while Daniel’s irreverence keeps the pace energetic and unfiltered. Whether you’re a dance fan or just in it for the laughs, this episode is a winning routine from start to finish.