A Content Carol with Miserable Pablo Torre

51m
Pablo only understands the true meaning of making this show, not the holiday season. So the ghosts of Christmas break pay him a visit, to pay it forward with recommendations for reality shows and Christmas songs, plus an important investigation into the truth about Santa Claus. May bonus content bless you, everyone.
PTFO-approved xmas playlists:
Charlotte Wilder's Christmas-Song Christmas Songs
Cortes's Holiday Mix

Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DlGMJ4GO7Oo
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Listen and follow along

Transcript

Welcome to Pablo Torre finds out.

I am Pablo Torre and today we're going to find out what this sound is.

Probably you got interesting dancing skills.

Did you guys know?

You shut the f ⁇ up.

I just said interesting.

Whatever you're about to say next, shut up right after this ad.

You're listening to Giraffe Kings Network.

If you're looking to add something special to your next celebration, try Ramy Martin 1738 Accord Royale.

This smooth, flavorful cognac is crafted from the finest grapes and aged to perfection, giving you rich notes of oak and caramel with every sip.

Whether you're celebrating a big win or simply enjoying some cocktails with family and friends, Remy Martin 1738 is the perfect spirit to elevate any occasion.

So go ahead, treat yourself to a little luxury, and try Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royale.

Learn more at remymartin.com.

Remy Martin Cognac, Feen Champagne, Force and Alcoholic Volume recorded by Remy Control, USA Incorporated in Europe, New York, 1738.

Centaur Design.

Please print responsibly.

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through these mansions, not a creature was stirring, not even David Sampson.

But in the Metal Arc studio, where podcasts are made,

Pablo Torre is still up,

even though it is late.

He's not doing the things he usually does from his chair, talking about Harvard and how he went there.

No, this time it's quiet across all podcast land.

There's no Katie, no Dominique, no Mina or Dan.

So Pablo is worried.

That's why his huge calves are shaking.

How will he make content without resorting to hot taking?

You can see this, by the way, including each little smirk.

If you're watching on YouTube or the DraftKings network,

for one look reveals that Pablo is existentially stuck

as he deeply furrows his brow and screams the word,

f

He knows time's running out and he's got to get moving.

Because if you're not making more show,

then what are you even doing?

He looks for an answer.

He even starts praying.

God, am I really this miserable?

Like Larsa Pippin was saying?

Which reminds me, one sec, just a quick break from this all.

Now I must tell you about a spray for your balls.

Yes, this poem is sponsored by a proprietary tingle.

When your chestnuts are roasted, this will make your bells jingle.

Anyway, where was I?

Ah, yes, that whole existential thing.

Pablo's answer is always yes, for content is king.

But now two sources are saying,

That's not what the season's about.

So it looks like it's time for Pablo tore

to find out

Thursday night football is back and it's only on Prime Video.

This week, the Washington Commanders take on the Green Bay Packers with both teams determined to prove their worth.

Something's gotta give.

Coverage begins at 7 p.m.

Eastern with football's best party, TNF Tonight, presented by Verizon.

Not a Prime member, not a problem.

Simply sign up for a 30-day free trial.

It's the Commanders and the Packers Thursday at 7 p.m.

Eastern, only on Prime Video.

Restrictions apply.

See amazon.com slash Amazon Prime for details.

So I usually know what's happening on my own show.

You don't, this is a holiday.

Look at this.

It's clear what's happening.

What do you mean, don't know what's happening?

So if you are, in fact, not yet watching on YouTube or the DraftKings Network, you should know

that this studio looks like it has never looked before.

It is full of holiday cheer.

It looks incredible.

By that, I mean...

There's snow behind you there's snow behind me we're both i did consent to dressing festively i did as well but only under the premise that i could wear a heat culture hoodie i want to point out my favorite decoration which i'm just really noticing in full right now is that on my microphone there is an elf of ambiguous ethnic origin i think this is supposed to be me The calves are not nearly big enough.

Calves not big enough.

Way more vitamin D this this elf has.

But I've been told Cortez the reason that we're doing this is because apparently Christmas is coming up and I have been

nose to the podcast grindstone to the extent that people around this office are concerned that I don't understand the meaning of Christmas you don't and that you apparently

do

Christmas is different to every person though that's what you need to understand So I'm going to give you what my version of Christmas is.

What I'm about to find out today is Ryan Cortez's guide to Christmas.

That's right.

What is your Christmas like?

My Christmas is entirely about reality television.

It's all I care about.

I don't want to see your stupid gingerbread houses and all this bullshit Santa Claus and elves and I don't get on care.

I'll have the Miami Heat big screen, okay?

And then four other screens, potentially, reality TV.

That's what's going on.

It's like simultaneously.

Yeah, potentially, potentially.

Just like minority report.

Yeah, like game footage, just studying the tape, nose to the grindstone, just like you.

Which, by the way, what is your background with reality TV?

Okay, have you seen catfish?

Like, what have you seen?

I know virtually nothing about, I think, the reality television that you adore.

So my wife Liz will watch The Real Housewives.

That's her guilty pleasure.

When she does that.

What city does she watch?

What are the choices?

Wow, you don't even know?

What a terrible housewives of Salt Lake City, Potomac, Atlanta, Miami, Dallas, Dubai.

I can't tell if these are fake.

Not a single one of those is fake.

What are you talking about?

I didn't realize that there was

a global operation of housewives.

Well, look, the thing is, we need to get to what I'm going to change for you because what you're watching on TV is stupid.

Okay.

It's not good.

And I'm going to give you stuff to watch that is better.

So you're going to give me the top five reality TV shows that you must watch over Christmas break instead of indulging in stupid Christmas.

So you have five.

The thing is, I do not like rules.

You don't say.

I'm not giving you a top.

I'll give you however many I want.

So we're going to start with an OLI, the outside looking in.

These are shows that didn't make my cut of top five reality shows, but they're still good shows that you should check out.

So on the outside looking in are these reality programs.

That's right.

I'll give them to you quickly.

These Better Be Holiday Spirited.

Number one, Summer House and Winter House.

Okay.

Same type of show.

One's in the summer, one's in the winter.

They pack a bunch of people into a house for like two weeks they get drunk they hook up with each other they fight and they air it across like 10 episodes it's incredible

just trying to hang out my wing out oh my god

What is the difference between summer house and winter house?

I just told you, one's summer, one's winter.

That's it.

One time they go in the pool, one time they go in hot tub, and it's cold outside.

The only difference is that sometimes it's a hot tub and sometimes it's a pool.

It's a pool.

They're both excellent.

I recommend Summerhouse and Winter House.

Number two, Love is Blind.

People may have heard of Love is Blind.

Wow, that didn't make your top five.

I hear you talk about Love is Blind, a show I've never seen all of the time.

Which speaks to how much this OLI is still important.

And Love is Blind is a very interesting show.

It's been on Netflix.

The premise there: love is blind.

You can't see the person that you're talking to.

And it's, you know, you're supposed to see, do you really love the person?

If you take away physical attraction, that's the experiment.

I love buying clothes for girls.

What's their size?

What the f?

Would you like working out?

Yeah, not a huge fan.

Really?

Yep.

Ooh, I get along best with individuals that do work out.

How old are you?

33.

I prefer dating younger.

How old are you?

I'm 32.

There's a very bizarre sincerity.

To how much you are like into whether these people like have true feelings for each other.

Oh, I don't give a f f if they like each other.

I'm interested in

watching everything go haywire, which it always does.

You're not here for the love.

No, that's why I don't watch like Golden Bachelor.

It's too soft for me.

I want chaos.

That's what I'm looking for.

I want fights.

I want sadness and drama.

That's what I'm looking for because I'm sicko.

I agree with that part.

Okay.

Selling sunset is number three on the OLI.

OLIs are there?

As many as I feel like.

Selling Sunset is about these two short kings.

Shout out to the short kings.

And they're like dating these like giant women and they're like running all of LA real estate and the women are incredible.

They are the realtors and they're selling all the houses.

Just to be clear.

It's incredible.

Your lead story for selling Sunset is that they're short kings.

Is that short guys date tall?

Short kings roll short kings for life.

So Chris,

good luck with the Oppenheim group.

Thank you.

Cheers.

Cheers.

Thank you.

I don't want to say it, but you're going to need it.

Okay.

Dang, girl.

The show is excellent.

You get to see like these incredible houses.

Getting dumber, no, dude.

You get to see

70 million dollar houses.

It's absolutely incredible.

All right, last on the OLI list: Indian matchmaking.

Indian matchmaking.

Indian matchmaking goes hard.

And they'll go to like this oracle, this woman.

And what she does is she reads faces.

That's what she does.

She'll like look at your face and be like, nah, he's a liar.

He's a match for you.

Yada, yada.

She just looks at faces.

She never gets anything right.

At the end of the season, they're like, she went over four.

Season two, she went over five.

matchmaking has become a tough job but i'm trying my best

so far i am really love

and you love it and i am prophesizing that you're a moron

i have spent a lot of time watching morons i am not a moron number five on my list is love after lockup

Love after lock-up.

Which they also have a spin-off called Life After Lockup.

Now, the premise there is they're dating people in prison.

The show is person X is in jail and they're like talking to like a pen pal outside of jail.

And eventually they leave jail and go date this person.

And then, you know, they're not the same person that they think they might want to steal money from this person or whatever.

The show is incredible.

You don't even look at what I do here in the house with the kids and everything else as even anything.

But you're doing what you're supposed to do, no?

What I'm supposed to do.

And I'm doing what I'm supposed to do.

No, no.

So when I take $10,000 out of an account, you should just be like, well, damn, he's doing what he's supposed to do.

That's all I'm saying.

You're in a world, population one

by yourself.

Sometimes they go back to jail, sometimes they go on the run.

The show is like R-rated.

Hold on.

So just to be clear, again, I'm going to be waking up on Christmas morning and Violet, my three-year-old, is going to be like, dada, Christmas.

And I'm going to say,

come sit next to me on the couch.

We're watching Love After Lockup.

Number four, the Real Housewives entire series.

Wait, the entire series, meaning all of the cities?

Watch it all.

But I would start with Salt Lake City and Potomac.

That's where I would start, okay?

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City is exceptional because, like, one of the cast members, spoiler alert, goes to jail for defrauding the elderly.

Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Jen Shaw has been sentenced to six and a half years behind bars.

The reality TV star pleaded guilty last year in connection to a telemarketing scheme that allegedly scammed elderly people out of thousands of dollars.

Sometimes people need to get defrauded.

Okay.

Also, there is a

character that was pronounced a cheater just because of the shape of his head.

Square shape, you could tell.

You're not a cheater, I could tell.

Shape of your head.

Well, I'm intrigued by this theory.

So square, square heads.

Yeah, you know those people where it's just square, square head, like they look kind of, you know,

I mean, just the shape of his head.

You just can't tell it was up to no good.

You know, some men, they just have this shape that you just can tell.

Bald heads cheats a lot.

Oh, wait.

You have the crew with the bald head.

He's like, wait, don't you think?

You know you cheat.

Real Housewives is great.

Andy Cohen's the man.

You're welcome for the wreck.

Okay.

Number three, below deck, the entire franchise.

Below deck.

is about what?

A ship.

A giant.

A picture of a giant ship, okay?

Below deck.

What was that voice?

Don't worry about it.

Below deck.

Is that a nautical seafarer voice that you just tried?

Captain, dock the ship.

Who is that?

Don't worry about it.

Russell Crowe and Master and Commander.

There's Below Deck.

There's Below Deck Mediterranean.

There's Below Deck Sailing Yacht.

There's Below Deck Adventure.

Below Deck Sailing Not?

Sailing Yacht.

Oh, Sailing Yacht.

That's the best one.

Because...

Well, first of all, watching the boat as it is sailing is actually incredible because it's like, it's like dangerous.

I'm not tracking.

Anyway, I was listening to Andy Coyne's radio show the other other day he had on zach brath zach was talking about how his favorite show

is below deck this you help make this show and you're listening to andy cohen's podcast about a shaky

also watch yeah it's phenomenal because you like the boat being shaky

first of all you know there's a whole crew of people there's an interior there's an exterior people interior oh like an upstairs downstairs correct you know so you see at work a dynamic that goes on is it better to be exterior or interior depends what kind of stuff you like to do Would you rather, you know, clean beds and clean dishes and serve tables, or would you rather throw lines and do physical work and clean the boat?

That's the difference.

Okay.

That's your interior, exterior.

I don't like swabbing a deck.

You see people really working.

You see tips from the guests that they have.

You see the guests getting drunk and falling down.

The show is phenomenal.

Number two, 90-day fiancé.

So we worked on like a half dozen shows together, right?

High noon,

highly questionable, levitard show debatable this show

anyway the point is i've been in many sort of like workplaces with you and 90 day fiancé comes up a lot if i were to generate a word cloud of the things that you and i have talked about against my will wow obviously miami heat 1 million point font 999 000 point font is this

90 day fiancé yeah the premise

of it like a lot of these shows the premise is in the title.

If you're a smart person, you get it, okay?

What it is, somebody from another country and you from America want to marry.

How do you make that happen?

With a loophole in the legal system where you get married in 90 days or less.

And we film it and put it on television.

Hold on, I'm going to guess that

things go off the rails.

There's a Korean dude who came to America and he started calling his girlfriend piggy and he said that all Americans are fat.

You're lazy, so you always get your fast food for lunch.

No wonder you're piggy

Are you serious?

Look at this

I'm just saying the truth you always have fast food for lunch and the family from Iowa had to sit them down and be like

you can't say piggy

There's a woman who is from the Philippines, Rose.

She's a nice woman.

She decides to date a man named Ed, who also goes by Big Ed.

Big Ed washes his hair with mayonnaise.

This is the mayonnaise guy.

Yeah, the Mayo and the hair guy.

This is the rare short king.

You do not know.

No, he's not a short king.

He's just short.

Now, the mayo is something that he thinks makes his hair better, more luscious.

He does have good hair.

Give him that.

All right, we're going to put this on

YouTube of the DraftKings Network.

I don't know how to say this.

He's built like a Russian nesting doll.

In a few days, I'm getting ready to get on a plane and go meet Rose, the love of my life, for the very first time.

Since I've met Rose, I

want to look young for her.

So I have been dying my hair and it irritates my scalp.

So I found out that mayonnaise makes it smoother and less dry.

Big Ed is as if a cartoon character who got bopped on the head and had his head pushed down into his body, never

got his head out of his body again.

He has zero neck.

There's also another couple, Paul and Carini.

Okay, Carini's from Brazil.

Paul put a condom on because he did not want fish to swim up his pee-pee in Brazil.

So

he was swimming.

He was, yes, he was going to jump in this river and he was afraid of fish swimming up his pee-pee.

So he put on a condom.

Please stop saying that.

And pee-pee.

And that clip.

He's the son of a urologist.

That clip

has 3 million views.

What clip?

The clip of him putting on a condom to go down to the rip.

It's a clip.

We cannot, do not show this.

Do not call for this clip.

So, uh, I'm going to put this on first.

Taste that fish because he's waiter.

And I had this little penis, I guess, like a sheath protection bag.

I put a condom on, have that to hold that on.

Definitely don't want nothing swimming up my penis.

I cannot believe we we just showed that clip.

The clip was great.

This is a holiday episode, allegedly.

Number one, Vander Pump Rules.

Yeah,

let's go.

I've never heard Vander Pump Rules pronounced like a call to arms.

Shout out to DJ James Kennedy.

Shout out to Ariana.

It's a great show.

What a great show.

What a great show.

It's in season 11.

Okay, season 11 kicks off January 30th.

You have time to catch up.

January 30th, season 11.

It's the beginning of season 11.

That's right.

And if you were to summarize the previous 10 seasons,

the better.

Someone who has never seen, but has heard certainly of Lisa Vanderpump, who again seems like an auto-generated name,

you would say that I have missed what?

The premise is it's a bunch of young people that work at a restaurant.

Immediately you find out in season two and three and four and so forth, that's not what the show is about.

The show is just about these people fighting and having sex with each other and cheating on each other and punching each other and getting nose jobs.

There's a giant cheating scandal in this show.

I've made it.

I've almost made it, I should say, to the end.

I've almost made it to 2024 without knowing what the scam, Scam Deval.

Scandival.

Of course, Scanduval

is.

You get it?

Tom Sandoval scandal?

I don't actually get any of it.

What should I know?

About Scandival?

Yo, it's the most famous cheating scandal of all time, okay?

Of all time.

Of all time, bro.

Houston Astros.

Black Sox.

Doesn't hold a candle to this.

Tom Sandoval dead to me.

And he's dead to America.

Okay.

So Tom Sandoval cheated on his longtime girlfriend.

They were not married, but despicable acts because he did it with a friend, did it for months long while he was on camera.

The crazy thing is that you get to see it play out in season 10.

Like it's all, it's all, you get to see it all happen in real time.

We became really good friends.

Like I was seeking something that I wasn't getting here.

And that's selfish.

That's really selfish.

Selfish is the nicest word you could use.

It's horrible.

Me and Raquel became like really good friends.

I don't give a f about f ⁇ ing Raquel!

Your friendship is f ⁇ ing bullshit.

No, it's not.

Yes, it is.

No, it's f ⁇ ing not.

It's bullshit.

You know everything.

It's disgusting.

Hey, everybody.

You are disgusting.

Your friendship with Raquel.

You can discuss everything.

You cannot tell.

Well, guess what?

It's real because she treats me with fing respect.

Something I haven't gotten from you in a long time.

How much time would you say you've spent watching?

As soon as we're done here, I'm going to go watch some more reality TV.

I got Potomac and Real Houses of Miami on the mind.

You're telling me that the true meaning of Christmas

is that a dude without a neck who puts mayonnaise in his hair,

who got into a legal quote-unquote relationship with a woman from the Philippines.

Of course it's legal.

90 days.

The star in the north that I should be following

towards the manger of Christmas cheer.

Instead, Violet Ermos, you want to follow some fake old guy with a beard and pull out some stupid tree and drive it to fucking Rockefeller Center and pray to it and shit.

Like, that's more important to you than like real housewives and love after lockup?

Come on, man.

Prison love?

Come on.

The f ⁇ was that?

That was not a knock.

The sound that I am hearing right now is the producers telling us to stop talking about this?

Well, it's also the sound of someone knocking on the door.

Wow, someone's trying to barge in here and take over this?

And I cannot imagine how we could possibly improve on what it is that I've been finding out so far.

Let's find out who it is.

If you're looking to add something special to your next celebration, try Ramy Martin 1738 Accord Royale.

This smooth, flavorful cognac is crafted from the finest grapes and aged to perfection, giving you rich notes of oak and caramel with every sip.

Whether you're celebrating a big win or simply enjoying some cocktails with family and friends, Remy Martin 1738 is the perfect spirit to elevate any occasion.

So go ahead, treat yourself to a little luxury, and try Remy Martin 1738 Accord Royale.

Learn more at remymartin.com.

Remy Martin Cognac, Feen Champagne, Fortune Alcoholic Alcoholic Volume 40 by Remy Control, USA Incorporated in Europe, New York, 1738.

Centaur design.

Please drink responsibly.

We work in an office.

People can wander by and hear something that they vehemently object to.

Apparently, in the spirit of Christmas.

Yes.

Hi.

Hello, Charlotte.

It's me, Charlotte Wilder.

I have to talk to you, Ryan Cortez.

Hello.

My reality show, Brother in Arms.

Oh, God.

How could you leave off selling OC, even from an OLI and Perfect Match?

Two Netflix shows of maximum chaos.

I'll give you selling OC as a legitimate misfire by me, but not including selling OC is a spin-off.

Let me get it.

It's a show where a bunch of people who are insane do insane things.

That's right.

Perfect Match.

I still don't know if I would put it in my OLI, my OLI.

It's hard to make it.

It's hard to make my OLI.

Perfect Match is they take everybody from the Netflix reality family because it is a family.

They all love each other and care about each other very much, Pablo.

And then they put them on an island and then they all have to hook up with each other.

Sounds like all the shows I named.

So hold on though.

I should say that there is like a holiday

spectacular vibe to that.

It's like all the people that you've seen gather in one place to do something special.

We're going to do some non-reality stuff, right?

Yeah, well, I was like, is this supposed to be a Christmas episode?

And producers were like, yeah.

And I was like, I better come in and save this thing because why are we talking about below deck?

So my mom's Jewish.

My dad's

not.

So I grew up doing Christmas.

Did you guys, to what extent did your parents go through with Santa,

the performance of Santa?

So my parents didn't.

I would go to my cousin's house with my dad and my mom would meet us there later because she was like, I'm Jewish.

I don't.

love this.

I felt sort of cut out of this my whole life.

Like, why should I suddenly buy in?

And, like, when I asked my mom if Santa was real, she goes, You want me to tell you what you want to hear?

Do you want me to tell you the truth?

So, as I enjoyed Christmas, I as I got older and sort of realized how she felt about it.

I was like, I felt sort of guilty for liking Christmas.

Even though she was like, Great, go for it.

Like, love Christmas.

Who cares?

I got the whole thing of like cookies in the morning that had like bites taken out of them, a note with penmanship, like you know, curlicued calligraphy

of a Santa Clausian manner.

The whole deal, like milk, glass, my, my parents went through the whole thing.

See, I love that because I was also, I was best friends with the tooth fairy.

I would write her letters, like, even if I didn't lose a tooth, I'd be like, summon for the tooth fairy tonight, Mo.

I was like, oh, okay.

So, like, the Santa stuff, like, my aunt and uncle, they would take a bite out of a carrot that we would leave for the reindeer.

I was so all in.

Christmas is kind of stupid.

Like, I don't,

you know, when I was a kid, I was like an investigative journalist as like a four or five-year-old.

Like, I could smell the bull that this wasn't true.

So, I was always asking around, you know,

and I had some older friends, and they eventually told me, you know, it's not true.

And then I was going around telling people, you know, this shit's not real, right?

Of course you were.

Because people need to know the truth.

That's what we do now as journalists, right?

But if I do it as a kid, it's a bad thing with Santa.

Come on.

I just feel that you've been so consistent your whole life.

I agree.

That's really cool, Cortez.

Thank you.

You are bringing us your cataloging

of the songs of the most popular holiday.

Well, so you know how Cortez said that he was told to make a top five list and said, I'm going to do whatever I want.

I was not told to make any list, and I made a top five list.

And I made two of them because as I was trying to

tell you guys.

I'm going to do a main list.

No.

It's like a teacher's two separate top five lists.

I don't do homework.

She does too much homework.

Yeah, I was looking at Cortez's computer screen.

It was just

f ⁇ ing iTunes.

It was like 90-day Fiancé colon cheaters.

That's all I had.

Mine's like a multi-page Google Doc.

Oh my god, bro, that's a lot of work.

Okay, well, you know, I'm watching your face.

I'm an editor, so god damn it, Cortez.

So, like, I wanted to tell you guys why I hate Christmas songs, but then I realized I liked them, so I just made two lists of my favorite Christmas songs.

So, I failed to understand how this is not a top 10 list.

What part of it don't you understand?

It is two top five lists, two separate lists.

One is a list, Christmas song, Christmas songs, the other one is good good songs that aren't just Christmas songs, but that are Christmas songs.

It's a very confusing list.

So songs that have, okay, no, this makes sense.

Okay.

Songs that have the behavior of Christmas songs and Christmas songs.

It's a difference between being a racist and someone who's doing racist things.

I see.

It's like 90-day fiancé, 90-day fiancé, the other way.

Yeah,

yes.

Okay.

Okay, I'll agree on that.

The songs that aren't Christmas songs, but are Christmas songs are songs you can listen to all year round.

Okay.

Okay, number five.

New York, New York by Frank Sinatra.

I've heard of that guy.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

New York.

I can't do too much, but I don't get fined, but start spreading the news.

Is that it?

So big, or is that a different Frank Sinatra song?

They all sound the same.

This is confusing to me.

Fly me to the moon.

New York, New York, I have heard at the conclusion of every Yankee game I've ever been to.

I've never once thought this is the spirit of Christmas.

Really?

Frank Sinatra.

to me, Christmas is like dark and cozy.

And that's, I feel like Frank Sinatra should be played in a steakhouse with like a low ceiling and a lot of leather.

And that feels like Christmas to me.

If you ask me to describe Christmas, it'd be a steakhouse.

Number one has to be steak.

Keynes in New York City.

Number two has a low ceiling.

Number three,

we could all agree, lots of leather.

Yes.

Okay.

Four is a song Wintering by the 1975.

Did you just google

like Christmas-related words into like a song, into like lyrics A to Z?

Maybe.

Very good.

Okay, number three.

Tis a damn season by Taylor Swift.

Thank you.

Is this the most confident Christmas episode anybody's ever made?

This is

definitely a...

I can't even say it's definitely a Christmas episode at this rate.

So this song is about somebody who has left her hometown and goes to the big city to try and make it.

And then she goes back home.

And it's about, you know, she's staying at her parents' house.

And it's like the person she loved from home still lives there and drives a truck.

That's pretty much it.

But tis the damn season, which feels sort of Christmassy, right?

I think it's about Christmas.

So this feels like this is the Die Hard is a Christmas movie of Christmas songs.

Yeah, but like a little more Christmassy.

Okay.

I've also never seen Die Hard.

Wow.

This all makes sense.

I'm going to give a quick take.

Taylor Swift overrated.

Just throwing that out there.

Jesus, man.

Big thumbs down.

Never heard it, but like the hype is so high it can't be that good.

It just can't be.

I'm going to send you.

I'm going to make you a playlist of the best ones.

Is it Grunge?

I'm only listening to one thing though, and it's Grunge.

I'm not listening to Christmas music.

Okay.

He was listening to Alice in Chains before this recording started.

Does Alice in Chains have a Christmas song?

It's called Rooster.

Anyway, number two, The Day After Tomorrow by Phoebe Phoebe Bridgers.

Great movie.

Never seen it.

Which is a cover of a Tom Wait song.

Absolutely beautiful.

Highly recommend.

This is the song where the real villain is the weather.

Yes.

Ever seen that one?

Like the wolves show up?

Who's in that?

Is that Tom Cruise?

Dennis Quaid.

Dennis Quaid?

Dennis Quaid.

So, yes.

The Day After Tomorrow.

That's not what this song is about, is what you're saying.

The Day After Tomorrow is, or Day After Tomorrow, is one of the saddest songs.

You guys have heard like 2x speed on podcasts?

That's what I would do to that song.

It was slow.

It says it's beautiful.

There are feelings in that one.

There are real feelings that Charlotte clearly feels, and you're trying to just fast-forward through them like it's a like it's a ball spray ad.

The quicker I could get to reality TV, the better.

Okay.

Charlotte,

your number one

of

your list of songs that are not Christmas songs, but have the behavior of Christmas songs is.

Close enough, yes.

Number one, So Much Wine by Phoebe Bridgers.

Even sadder song,

even more beautiful song.

Double Phoebe Bridgers, which is a cover of The Handsome Family.

This is sad, this song.

Not your list.

Although.

When you burnt your hair and knocked over chairs, I just tried to stay out of your way.

But when you fell asleep with blood on your teeth, I just got in my car and drove away.

So I've been trying to like explain,

hopefully, at the end of this episode, what Christmas means to my three-year-old.

Oh.

So I don't know if Violet's going to necessarily appreciate the nuances.

See, it's a pretty song, and she probably won't listen to the words that close.

Or you could sing the tune and make up new words for her.

You know?

She's got to grow up quick.

Enough of this.

Cortez knew Santa wasn't real when he was four, Pablo.

Stop treating her like a three-year-old.

Tell her the truth.

Tell her the goddamn truth.

Okay, second list, actual Christmas songs?

Please.

Or, as I wrote down, Christmas song, Christmas songs?

Christmas song, Christmas songs.

All right, starting OLI.

Okay.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree.

I know that one.

Yeah, that's a fun one, right?

That's sort of like...

Rocking around.

Are we going to get sued if I sing that one?

I think I

think I've gotten better at singing.

I can't sing.

Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Is Rocking Around the Christmas Tree public domain?

Public domain.

Sing it.

Don't be a coward.

Let's go.

Rocking around

Christmas tree.

It is.

Keep going.

Dress so merrily

around

town.

Christmas won't be Christmas if we're flying in a car.

That's how it goes, right?

Yeah, so that's my OLI.

Number four, Santa Tell me by ariana grande

so this is number five no what do we

you didn't you didn't pick a fifth one no i have a fifth one i just i just it's after the page break of my google doc

so okay

so um i can make this four i can make this five and switch five to four.

Number five.

Number five, Santa Claus is coming to town, the Bruce Bringstein version.

The boss.

The boss.

I respect this choice.

Thank you.

It's an incredible song.

The way he sings it with that sandpaper voice.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

This is feeling Christmassier.

Are we getting somewhere?

We are getting somewhere.

Okay.

Number three, Fairy Tale of Philadelphia by the Kelsey Brothers.

You know how Jason Kelsey did a Christmas album with the Eagles?

You're putting this number three.

Philadelphia, horrible city.

It's a waste of time.

Stupid people, bad food.

I am mad that he's actually good at singing.

Deep in his

baritone.

Oops, that sounds good.

Okay, we can't keep talking about this because number two is Fairy Tale of New York by The Pope.

Which is a classic R.I.P.

Shane McGowan.

R.I.P.

That guy.

Which is the song.

This is the song that number three, Fairy Tale of Philadelphia, did.

Shane McGowan.

I watched a video of his funeral.

Me too.

And they played Fairy Tale of New York, and I legitimately teared up.

Me too.

I cried.

This is not number one?

Nope, it's number two.

Isn't the Pogues from Outer Banks, Netflix reality show?

I don't know what you're talking about, but I feel confident in saying the answer is no.

The answer is yes.

There's a family called the Pogues.

How do they spell it?

P-O-G-S.

Yeah.

That is not how they spell it here.

It's close.

It is, I guess, technically close.

What's number one?

Number one is All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey.

That is an absolute banger.

I

want to be cynical about this choice because in some ways it is the most obvious choice.

But listening to that song does make me

feel things.

Yeah, it's also the best choice.

Some things are popular for a reason, like this song in Taylor Swift.

Oh, God, enough with Taylor Swift.

Have you?

You know this song, though.

Yeah, of course.

How's it go?

What's the title again?

All I want for Christmas is you.

Sing it.

I know the genes.

All I want for Christmas is you.

And then the

character starts, actually.

I don't want

to stall up for Christmas.

There is this one thing I need.

The snow's coming down.

No.

Christmas.

What?

I'm watching.

Oh, is that not it?

That is not all I want.

What am I singing?

Oh, I'm feeling different feelings.

Did you just make up a Christmas song?

Oh, shit.

I was singing Christmas, Baby, Please Come Home, also by Riot Carrie.

Oh.

I feel like no one has ever mixed up what all I want for Christmas is you is before.

Yeah.

yeah, that was embarrassing for your boy.

We need to find a song we can play in full that we have the rights to.

You want me to Google rights-free Christmas songs?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

What about this?

Now we're talking.

Hey, hell yeah.

My My nuts roasting on an open fire,

Jack Frost snipping at my ass.

Jesus Christ.

You

can't roast.

This goes hard.

That's what's hard.

Quiet to stem the singing fast.

That's Cortez.

We all know a turkey and Greg's stuffing dry

help to make the season bright

beautiful tune.

Go on, Greg.

Heavy drinking adults

hammered on Jim Beam

won't find it hard at all to sleep tonight.

Greg Cody has a shockingly good voice.

He sounds incredible.

It gets drunker from there.

Spoiler alert.

Wipe out both my lists.

There was only one good Christmas song.

Greg Cody, whatever that was.

The Mariah Carey of Meadowlark Media.

Some might say.

Merry Christmas

to

me.

So, as I sit at my keyboard contemplating the meaning of Christmas, the meaning of the holiday season, I should say, even more specifically, as a buffet Catholic who does, I guess, consider the technical definition of Christmas an open and shut matter.

It's the birth of Jesus Christ.

I realize that the meaning of the season

isn't actually up to me.

I've sort of misinterpreted this whole exercise.

I realize now

because it's clear, having talked to Cortez and Charlotte, that Christmas is a social holiday.

What does this mean?

It means that it is up to the people around us to tell us what it means to them or to show us.

Because what we're about to do this holiday season, what we hopefully have already been doing, is enjoying other people enjoying something.

Which is such a rare treat in life these days, or maybe always, all days.

Because it's a sanctioned opportunity to enjoy other people enjoying something.

Whether it is the music, the break from work,

the reality television, the god-awful reality television they're about to watch.

Other people are what make this time of year so beautiful.

And also, for those of us who are alone, which is many of us, It makes it so tough as well.

Because it is a social holiday about enjoying other people, enjoying the holiday.

It's a bit tautological, but I think it's also the point.

And so, what does Christmas mean to me?

I should probably ask one more person, one more source,

to tell me what they think.

What's your name?

You have to introduce yourself.

How old are you?

Three.

Three.

And

what is the meaning of Christmas?

It's a holiday.

That's right.

And

Violet's favorite part of Christmas is

the trees.

The trees.

And garlands and wreaths.

And garlands and wreaths.

And so.

Do you want to sing it for everyone?

Yeah, I

loud this time.

Loud this time?

Yeah.

Okay.

Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way.

Oh, I see why the one who's up and sway.

Hey, jingle bells, jingle bells, angle all the way.

Oh,

I see one whole hose up and sway.

Hey, that's a great job.

And it likes poo-poo.

Okay.

Any other thoughts for everybody listening to the show about what they should hear from you before you go?

Don't say it.

Poo-poo.

Whispering it

still means you're saying it.

Merry Christmas.

And whatever holiday you are celebrating this time of year, thank you for enjoying it with us.

Thank you to Boo Shombi, the greatest voice in baseball, for being the voice at the top of the show for our Christmas poem.

Thank you to the staff of Pablo Torre Finds Out, the greatest staff in sports podcasting, because I could not do this without Michael Antonucci, Ryan Cortez, Sam Daywig, Juan Galindo, Patrick Kim, Neely Lohman, Rachel Miller-Howard, Ethan Schreier, Carl Scott, Matt Sullivan, Chris Tuminello, and Juliet Warren.

CDO Engineering, of course, by RG Systems.

Post-production by NGW Post.

Art theme song, as always, by John Bravo.

This has been Pablo Torre finds out a Metalark media production,

and I'll talk to you next time.

My most annoying friend growing up, her mom loved Michael Booblay, so I hate Michael Booblay.

Michael Buble is a basic b.

I just look at the name, it looks like Bubble.

That's all I think about.

Michael Bubble.

I don't even know what his music sounds.

Mikey Bubbs.

Mikey Bubbs.

Mikey Boobs.

I found out that Ryan Cortez's favorite TV shows make me feel the way that Phoebe bridgers songs sound the one from fleabag you learned that mayo is good for your hair like i did yeah have you well no i'm not trying i hate mayo mayo mayo's delicious i like it and i'm not gonna put it in my hair right i am off of uh i am like

not shampooing my hair anymore oh because it's great thank you you've always had good hair but that seems like not a complex

oils but oils you got to wash it like once a week or something right no it's called co-what co-wash is Is it called a co-wash?

Wait, what did you say you were doing with conditioner?

So I am washing it, but not shampooing it.

Not shampoo.

Not like putting soap in it.

Nah.

So you're just putting water in it?

Yeah.

No soap.

So you're not washing it.

You're just washing it.

You're getting your hair wet.

No, yeah.

I think we're not.

I think we're not.

Yeah.

We're not agreeing on what wash.

Yeah, I agree.

You're watering it like a plant.

Yeah.

Washing it involves soap.

Paula waters his hair.

You can't wash it.

Like a cheese.

It's a soap.

Absolutely.

I don't think that's good.

I think you need to wash it with soap at least like once a week.

And I think part of of it.

Dries it out.

Dries it out.

All right.

I'm going to Google this.

How often should

I put

on purpose?

Your hair.

But about it.

You know, I'm like, oh, I don't feel like washing my hair.

But I feel like today I was like, I should probably wash my hair before I'm on camera.

And I was like, no.

Your hair looks great.

Thank you.

It's shiny.

It looks healthy.

Yeah, because I haven't washed it.

That's what I'm saying.

Okay, it says that you should, you know, you don't have to wash it every day or every other day, but that's all it says.

It doesn't say like you should just not wash it ever again.

So far, if you say you don't have to wash it every day or every other day, what other days are left?

Okay, the day after that.

Like, you can't just go two weeks without washing it.

You know how bad that smells?

You're saying I should wash it the day after tomorrow.

You should probably wash it right now if you haven't washed it in a week.

How long has it been since you put soap on your head?

Soap?

Yeah.

Once a month.

Okay, so we've stumbled upon the answer.

You do it once per month is when you decide.

When do you start?

get it?

Because I get a haircut every day.

Oh, sorry, every three weeks.

I get a haircut every three weeks.

Why are you getting a haircut every three weeks?

Every three weeks.

God, men are wild.

How often do you get a haircut?

Oh, just, you know, twice a year, three times a year.

Whenever I feel like it.

Whenever I start to feel like a horse girl is when I get my haircut.

Wow.

Oh.

That's weird.

Yeah, I don't know what to do with that.

I mean, it's working for you.

Your hair is certainly better than mine, but I feel like that's not.

I didn't want to say anything.

I get it, you know.

But still,

I don't feel like not being able to do it.

Your beard looks great.

Thank you.

I mean,

anyway,

I would consider doing it maybe like every other week, maybe every week, even.

Probably not going to do that.

Probably do it less, just despite you know.

It's gross.

Most iconic haircuts go.

Meg Ryan.

Yep.

Jennifer Anniston Friends.

Yep.

Okay.

The Rock.

like the flat top

like the one with the chain

stand with Fanny Pack.

Barry Melrose.

Yo, let me tell you something.

Good hair?

Barry Melrose ain't shampooing shit.

Bro, he's doing it more than once a month.

That's not normal behavior.

We're going to find out how often Barry Melrose shampoos his hair.

The answer is zero times a year.

I get Barry Melrose and Barry Manilow confused.

I don't know if there are two more

Barry Manilow.

I've heard him.

I'm not even sure.

Who the hell is Barry Manilow?

I'm not even telling you.

Is it a musician or not?

I think he's like Michael Bimlake.

I'm going to tell you something.

I'm going to tell you something.

I just put into YouTube Barry Manilow.

Okay.

You know what the autocomplete was?

What?

For the next

race of this person now that I think about it.

What race do you think Barry Manilow is?

I don't know.

I'm guessing he's very old.

He doesn't look it.

He might be dead already.

He is alive.

Really?

I feel like that's an old name.

It is an old name, but we digress.

He is 80 years old.

Yo, he looks like a child.

He looks like a Martin Short character.

Martin Short and Bon Jovi.

That's actually pretty dead off.

I nailed it.

The words that come up when you auto-complete Barry Manilow,

Barry Manilow Christmas songs.

He's a singer.

This just came full circle.

I learned something something on the show.

Oh, he's saying Copa Cabana.

Cortez, you know that sound.

Is that like Casablanca?

Copa.

Oh, yeah.

Copa.

Cabana.

That's Barry Manilowo.

Is it like Casablanca?

It sounded similar.

Casablanca.

Like Barry Melrose and Barry Manilow.

Right.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Yeah, Barry Melrose loves

Copa Cabana.

Copa Cabana.

That's my favorite Christmas song.

Copa Cabana by Barry Manilow.

Probably you got interesting dancing skills.

Did you

shut the up?

I just said interesting.

Whatever you're about to say next, shut up.