Cool Punnings

The TBTL newsletter doesn’t have a lot of annual traditions. In fact, it may only have one. But it falls exactly at this time of year.

Hello, everybody! Andrew, here, from the TBTL podcast. I hope this email finds you well.

Old black and white photo of a man passed out at a party with an empty champagne glass in his hand and a banner behind him that says HAPPY NEW YEAR

The tradition of which I speak is not necessarily a proud one. In fact, it’s really just an excuse for me to go through the archives and laugh at a lot of my own jokes. That’s right: It’s time for my roundup of favorite episode titles of 2024!

I’m pleased to announce that we had a lot of good entries again last year. And, as always, it’s hard to narrow my list down. So here’s how we’re going to handle it this year: I’ve put together my official top ten list below. But before I share it with you, let’s take some time to honor the shows that didn’t quite make the cut.

I’m talking about titles like It’s A Shame About Rey, in which Luke and I presumably discuss the Star Wars character Rey Skywalker. Other movie-inspired names include Dune It And Dune It And Dune It Well, The Wolf Of LensCrafters, Wristy Business and Jingles All The Way.

I’m also a fan of the March 19th episode called Staring Into The VOIP, a show apparently dedicated to old communication technologies. In Male Pattern Bulbing, I finally addressed the overly complicated world of modern lightbulb shopping.

Photo of two boxes of light bulbs with handwritten scrawls that say "Warmer" on one and "Bright cold (kitchen bathroom)" on the other.

I talked a lot last winter about the door that my neighbor Seth installed in our garage. You can hear more about that in an episode titled At Seth’s Door. Luke and I traded notes about going to confession at church as a kid. That episode is called Penance Race. Luke spent some time in California wine country this spring, but his accommodations weren’t exactly top notch. We titled that show Napa No How, No Way.

It was on January 19th that I realized I’ve been confusing Sally Struthers and Suzanne Summers my whole life. We named that show A Man For Struthers in honor of my Jesuit education. Luke’ s ongoing war with wild tansy in his yard was addressed in an episode called Tansy Division. And we reacted to the news that the U.S. government might kill Tiktok in a show titled Don’t Tread On Memes.

But none of those titles made the top ten! So, without further ado or further commentary, here is my official Top Ten List of Episode Titles From 2024 As Chosen By Andrew (With Some Help From Genevieve):

10. Prism Diaries
9. Dome Do Me Like That
8. The Berts And The Bees
7. A System Of Down
6. Full Gruntle
5. Dr. Dracula’s Vampire
4. Aaron On The Side Of Caution
3. Don’t Tell MALM The Babysitter’s Dead
2. Holla At Sheboygan

And the #1 top show title of 2024, in my not-so-humble estimation, is:

1. I’m Not Mad Max, I’m Just Disappointed Max

There you have it! If you look at this list and think I’m off my rocker, feel free to let me know. Maybe your favorite title isn’t even mentioned in this email? If so, tell me what I missed!

In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderful first weekend of 2025. Luke and I will chat at ya on Monday!

--Andrew

Hey Dummies

Music For Your Weekend

Illustrated animated gif of a woman flamenco dancing

Andrew: Heaven by Warrant

I wouldn’t describe myself as a hair-metal kind of guy, although I definitely went through my Mötley Crüe phase in the eighth grade. I also had a copy of Warrant’s Cherry Pie back then, although this specific song isn’t on that record. In fact, I have no idea why this song popped into my head last weekend. But it did. And it’s been living there ever since. And now it can live in your head, too. It’s kind of a jam!

Listener Ken In Downers Grove, IL: Générique by Miles Davis

I would recommend the Miles Davis song Générique (gen-er-eek) from Louis Malle’s film noire movie “Elevator to the Gallows” (French title: Acenseur Pour L’Echafaud). Miles Davis is a premiere jazz musician and I feel Générique captures the musical skills that makes him a jazz icon.

This Week On TBTL

Image of the Muppets Waldorf and Stattler talking into a microphone in what appears to be a podcast studio.

#4369 Good To The Last Drop
Monday, December 30
Luke and Andrew use data and a spreadshee to analyze TBTL’s opening tape over the past four years. Plus, Luke discovers a new skill that’s perfect for the digital age.

#4370 You Got Campbelled!
Tuesday, December 31
Luke and Andrew delve into listener Kristen’s list of TBTL vocabulary words that stood out to her in 2024. They also celebrate the life of Andre Braugher and explore the stand-up comedy roots of Richard Belzer.

#4371 Words By Dumbs
Wednesday, January 1
Luke and Andrew assume they have a bunch of new listeners, since it’s a brand new year. So they try to catch everyone up on what’s been happening on TBTL for the past 17 years or so. They also revisit some of the fanciest words they employed in 2024.

#4372 Blessca This Fresca
Thursday, January 2
Luke and Andrew have a serious conversation about Fresca that they should have had a long time ago. Luke also lets Andrew in on some of the soda scams his family ran in the 90s.

#4373 Blockin’ Out The Naders
Friday, January 3
Andrew shares one of the cringiest memories of his broadcasting career. He and Luke also go over some of the Top Stories that they accidentally skipped last year, including a story of a stinky milk pond, new rules for Costco hot dogs, and Ralph Nader’s campaign to restore his favorite pens to their previous splendor.

Ten Of The Week

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You can check out prior Tens of the Week in our archives.