🎙️ First Hour Analysis 🎙️

Analysis of Matt & Bob Show 09-05-2023

Is it a Hot Dog Friday Show?

No, this is not a Hot Dog Friday show. The show aired on Tuesday, September 5th, 2023 (the day after Labor Day).

Food items/restaurants talked about during this portion:

• Texas Chili Parlor (00:08:43 – Matt went there after tailgating)
• Los Verdes (Austin Beerworks) – mentioned via Chewy’s hat (01:05)
• Blue crab/crabbing discussion (21:12 – 26:00)
• Turkey necks and chicken necks for crabbing bait (24:53)
• Waterloo Brew Pub (mentioned as formerly having dollar beer Wednesdays) (11:46)
• Landry’s restaurant (29:02)
• Olive Garden (mentioned via coupons at end) (47:21)

News stories talked about during this portion:

• City of Austin’s homeless strategy officer resigned (45:00) – This was the second strategy officer to quit; the previous one quit after six weeks. Discussion about homelessness being made illegal again in Austin and lack of resources to address the problem.
• Blue crabs invading Italy’s Mediterranean (21:43) – Due to warming waters, blue crabs from the Gulf of Mexico have multiplied in the Mediterranean, killing local fisheries. Italians are now creating new dishes with blue crab.
• Burning Man attendees stuck in desert (18:51) – Brief mention of exodus from Burning Man.

What was the “Click Click Boom” segment about? Clickbait news mentioned:

State Fair Traditions (12:20 – 19:17):

• Butter Cow – Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois state fairs feature giant cow sculptures made from hundreds of pounds of butter (sculpted over plastic frames)
• Giant Cabbage Weigh-Off – Alaska State Fair competition; 2012 record was 138-pound cabbage worth up to $2,000 in prizes
• Five-Story Giant Slide – Wisconsin State Fair since 1968; visitors slide down on carpet mats
• Hot Air Balloon Race – Indiana State Fair
• Big Tex burning down – Texas State Fair tradition of their giant icon occasionally catching fire

Funny moments or memorable quotes during this portion:

• Bob’s childhood nickname: “Dreamweaver” – his crane operator called him this on the oil rig because he had ADHD and would zone out (36:59)
• Crabbing description: Matt’s detailed explanation of crabbing with turkey necks, including “you make eye contact and you’re like, bitch, one of us” (25:26)
• Bob’s last name pronunciation debate: Fonseca vs. Fonsexa – kids used to call him “Fonsexa” in fourth grade (04:12)
• Power bottom comment: Matt accidentally calls Bob a “power bottom” then realizes what it means (03:47)
• Bob’s diverse background: Matt questioning Bob’s multiple identities – “Are you a tough from the streets Italian kid?” vs. wearing “knee-high knickers” (27:02)
• Rock and Roll News order criticism: Matt points out Bob did the death announcements in wrong order of importance (36:42)
• Bob’s nipple nicknames: Bob jokes his dogs Radar and Wilco are “nicknames for your nipples” (38:21)

Phone callers this portion:

No phone callers during this portion.

5 paragraph summary on Bob’s Rock and Roll News segment:

Bob’s Rock and Roll News segment on September 5th, 2023 was notably somber, as Bob had to report on three major deaths in the music industry over the Labor Day weekend. As “Rock’s last great reporter” and “Rock’s only reporter,” Bob acknowledged that deaths come in threes, and this weekend unfortunately proved that saying true. He presented the news with his typical theatrical flair, despite the tragic nature of the content.

The first death Bob reported was Jimmy Buffett, who passed away at age 76 after losing a battle with cancer. Bob credited Buffett with essentially inventing “yacht rock” and noted his success as a restaurateur with the Margaritaville chain of restaurants. Matt mentioned that Buffett wrote “Margaritaville” in Austin, specifically on Anderson Lane, and also wrote “Cheeseburger in Paradise” there. Bob paid tribute to Buffett by noting that his main contribution to the music industry was showing that “rock and roll could be played without shoes on,” which influenced many other performers.

The second death was Steve Harwell of Smash Mouth, who died at only 56 years old. Harwell had retired from the band two years prior and had a long history of alcohol abuse. Bob noted that Smash Mouth was famous for hits like “All Star” (featured in Shrek) and other songs from the late 1990s and early 2000s. There was some confusion during the segment about which exact songs Smash Mouth performed, with Matt initially confusing their hits with other bands’ songs.

The third and final death was Gary Wright, known as “Dream Weaver,” who died at age 80. Wright had been previously diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Bob explained that Wright was not just a solo artist but had been a member of the band Spooky Tooth and had collaborated with George Harrison on the “All Things Must Pass” album. His hits “Dream Weaver” and “My Love Is Alive” were ubiquitous songs that Bob claimed you hear “at least once a day somewhere” even today. Bob initially presented these deaths in reverse order of importance, which Matt called out, suggesting he should have built up to Jimmy Buffett as the biggest name.

To lighten the mood after the tragic news, Bob transitioned to a happy story about a dog named Storm who went missing and somehow snuck into a Metallica concert at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles. The dog was photographed sitting with fans enjoying the show, which also featured celebrity attendees like John Travolta, Tommy Lee, and Jason Momoa. Storm was eventually returned to owner Aresbeth Hurtado after Facebook posts helped identify the dog. Bob then moved into Rock and Roll News Jr., covering speculation about bad blood between Olivia Rodrigo and Taylor Swift, before ending with a Rock and Roll Salute to a student named Ryu at the Idea School in Round Rock, per a parent’s request at the tailgate event.

Did anyone get a rock and roll shoutout/salute?

Yes – Ryu (R-Y-U), a student at the Idea School in Round Rock (43:06). A parent at the KLBJFM tailgate requested the shoutout from Bob.

Bands talked about during Bob’s rock and roll news segment:

• Smash Mouth
• Metallica
• Spooky Tooth

3 paragraph summary of this portion of the show – excluding Bob’s Rock and Roll news:

The show opened with Matt and Bob returning from the Labor Day weekend, with elaborate introductions for each host including Chewy and Bob Fonseca. The hosts discussed their weekend activities, particularly focusing on the tailgate event they attended before a football game, where they were surprised by how many listeners approached Bob specifically to express their appreciation for the show and especially for Bob’s Rock and Roll News segment. Matt humorously recounted how one fan completely ignored him while gushing over Bob, repeatedly trying to redirect attention to Matt’s presence to no avail. The heat at the tailgate was mentioned as oppressive, though Smoky kept generators running for fans.

A significant portion of the show was devoted to a discussion about state fair traditions across America, presented as the “Click Click Boom” segment. Matt went through various unique state fair attractions including the famous Butter Cow (found in Iowa, Ohio, and Illinois), revealing the disappointing truth that these sculptures are actually butter molded over plastic frames rather than solid butter. Other traditions discussed included Alaska’s giant cabbage weigh-off with prizes up to $2,000 for cabbages weighing over 100 pounds, Wisconsin’s five-story giant slide that’s been operating since 1968, Indiana’s hot air balloon races, and Texas’s tradition of Big Tex occasionally catching fire and burning down. The conversation then pivoted to an extended discussion about the invasive blue crab problem in Italy’s Mediterranean, where warming waters have allowed Gulf of Mexico blue crabs to thrive and devastate local fisheries.

This led to a lengthy tangent about crabbing, where Matt revealed he used to go crabbing on military bases growing up, using turkey or chicken necks tied to string. Bob expressed complete unfamiliarity with this practice, leading to Matt questioning Bob’s diverse background and multiple identities—from military kid to oil rig worker to skater kid. The show wrapped this portion with Austin area headlines, focusing primarily on the resignation of Austin’s homeless strategy officer, the second to quit the position in short succession. Matt noted this was particularly significant given that Austin voters had made homelessness illegal again but seemingly without adequate resources or planning for implementation, leaving the problem “slightly insurmountable” for city officials trying to develop strategies.

⏰ Second Hour Analysis ⏰

Matt & Bob Show Analysis – September 5, 2023 (Second Third)

Food items/restaurants talked about:

• Olive Garden references (47:29) – Never ending pasta bowl, breadsticks, salad
• Capitol Grill (50:13) – Restaurant near the state capitol
• Bob’s Chop House (50:13) – Restaurant near the state capitol
• Vince Young’s Steakhouse (50:13) – Restaurant near the state capitol
• Texas Chili Parlor (50:13) – Restaurant near the state capitol
• The Cloakroom (50:13) – Restaurant near the state capitol
• Palacio (50:13) – Restaurant near the state capitol
• Breakfast tacos (1:03:13) – Referenced as one of three things that could be used to negotiate with listeners

News stories talked about during this portion:

• Homelessness official resignation (47:29-48:08) – Discussion about someone resigning over disagreements on how to solve the housing crisis in Austin, with focus on treating people without housing with dignity
• Ken Paxton Impeachment Trial (48:13-52:25) – First impeachment trial in Texas since 1917 (Pa Ferguson). Trial covers 16 of 20 articles including bribery, obstruction of justice, and abuse of public trust related to helping real estate developer Nate Paul
• AC unit ordinance proposal (52:27-54:27) – Austin wants to require AC units in all residences; currently not required. Over 200 people died in Texas last year from heat
• House Bill 1181 – Pornography restrictions (56:26-1:03:46) – New law requiring warnings on adult content sites accessed from Texas. Warnings state that porn is “biologically addictive” and harms brain development. Interim Attorney General Angela Cole Monero claims all adult content is obscene and outside First Amendment protection
• Abortion travel restrictions (1:02:12-1:02:39) – 50 municipalities in Texas making it illegal to transport pregnant women through their cities if suspected of seeking abortion in another state

Predictions made during this portion:

• Matt predicts (50:05-50:42) that the Ken Paxton impeachment trial will be “the most interesting drama this state has seen since Dallas went off the air”

Interesting facts shared during this portion:

• Last Texas impeachment (48:36) – The last impeachment trial in Texas was in 1917 for “Pa Ferguson” (related to Ma Ferguson who later ran the state)
• Gender reveals gone wrong (1:26:00-1:30:23) – Story about a plane crash during a gender reveal in San Pedro, Mexico where a crop duster’s wings came off, killing the pilot

Funny or memorable quotes this portion:

• “I understand math. I don’t do money.” (1:18:55-1:19:04) – Matt’s wife explaining to her headmaster why she didn’t understand her take-home pay after a raise
• On pornography law (1:01:47-1:02:05) – Chewie: “They just don’t want us to see how big it can get.”
• On returns (1:19:32-1:19:38) – “I feel like returns are shameful because you’re admitting to someone you made a mistake.”
• On gender reveals (1:26:40-1:27:02) – “I got a 50-50 shot of guessing it right” and “Gender reveal shouldn’t even happen until someone’s 18”
• On plane wings (58:58-59:00) – Matt: “Here’s the thing I do know about planes…I think when it comes to wings, you want two of them.”

Recurring jokes or gags:

• The Crushing of Dreams (1:08:47-1:09:10) – Bob and Chewie mock Matt about his expensive boot purchase. The show is “famous for this” – they once made Bob return two cars (an Aztec and a Stepside) due to humiliation
• Bob’s successful brother (1:28:43-1:28:52) – Running joke about Bob’s brother being the successful one in the family who owns a plane
• 3,000 mile rule (1:26:19-1:26:22) – Show rule that deaths don’t count if they happen more than 3,000 miles away
• Matt’s wife vs. expensive purchases (1:17:06-1:20:30) – Extended bit about Matt’s wife not being impressed with his boots and wanting red boots instead, plus her misunderstanding of her raise amount

Five Paragraph Summary:

This portion of the show opened with discussions of local Austin politics, including the resignation of a homelessness official over disagreements about solving the housing crisis, and the historic Ken Paxton impeachment trial beginning that day. Matt noted this was the first impeachment in Texas since 1917, covering 16 articles including bribery and abuse of public trust. The hosts discussed how lobby money influences Texas politics, with Matt describing the scene at restaurants near the Capitol during legislative sessions, complete with “ostrich skin boots underneath baggy suits.”

The conversation shifted to local ordinances, including a proposed requirement for AC units in all Austin residences. Matt was surprised to learn that currently, landlords can rent properties without AC, contributing to over 200 heat-related deaths in Texas the previous year. The discussion then moved to the newly enacted House Bill 1181, which requires warning labels on pornography sites accessed from Texas, claiming adult content is “biologically addictive.” Interim Attorney General Angela Cole Monero stated that all pornography is obscene and outside First Amendment protection, effectively beginning criminalization efforts.

A major segment focused on Matt’s ill-fated luxury boot purchase. After buying expensive Lucchese boots that didn’t fit quite right, Matt ordered a second pair in a different size to compare, essentially double-dipping on the purchase. However, his wife showed no enthusiasm for either pair and instead asked why he hadn’t bought her the red boots she wanted. Combined with his wife’s revelation that she had already spent what she thought her entire year’s raise would be (not understanding take-home pay versus gross), Matt decided to return both pairs of boots, facing the embarrassment of returning expensive items at the upscale Domain shopping area.

The hosts explored broader political issues, including new Texas laws allowing municipalities to criminalize transporting pregnant women through their cities if abortion is suspected. Matt criticized the state’s increasingly authoritarian bent, noting it differs from traditional Texas libertarian conservatism. The show maintained its characteristic humor while discussing serious topics, with the hosts joking about negotiating tactics using “breakfast tacos, weed, and porn” as leverage points for Texas voters, while simultaneously criticizing listener apathy about actually voting or taking action.

The segment concluded with lighter content, including a story about residents of Lake Chippewa, Wisconsin, using pontoon boats to move a floating island that had formed from peat bog material with trees growing on it. The show ended with a darkly comedic discussion of a gender reveal gone wrong in Mexico, where a crop duster pilot died when his plane’s wings snapped off during a low flyover. The hosts used this to critique the escalating absurdity of gender reveal parties, with Matt declaring “I got a 50-50 shot of guessing it right” and suggesting gender reveals shouldn’t happen until someone turns 18.

🕐 Third Hour Analysis 🕐

Analysis of Matt & Bob Show (09-05-2023) – Final Third

Food or restaurants talked about during this portion:

• Timestamp 01:40:40.283: Discussion about $13 burgers without sides
• Timestamp 01:44:28.764: Jim (caller) complains about restaurants charging $13 for burgers without included fries or sides
• Timestamp 01:45:02.513: Discussion about pickles being served with sandwiches and other foods
• Timestamp 01:45:35.696: Chuy mentions his family eating pickles with Mexican food and tortillas
• Timestamp 01:40:45.835: Matt mentions making marinara dinner the previous night
• Timestamp 01:40:50.770: Matt talks about making a chicken dish with blue crab, vinegar and hot peppers

News stories talked about during this portion:

• Timestamp 01:31:03.105: Delta flight story – A Delta flight from Atlanta to Barcelona had to turn around two hours into an eight-hour journey due to a passenger having diarrhea “all the way through the plane,” creating a biohazard situation. The pilot reported the issue to air traffic control. The plane was an Airbus 350. Crew used vanilla-scented disinfectant to cover the smell, which reportedly made it smell like “vanilla fudge.”

Interesting facts shared during this portion:

• Timestamp 01:32:16.713: Discussion that airplane bathrooms can’t be used during turbulence when seatbelt signs are on
• Timestamp 01:58:31.068: Summer of 1983 movie releases included National Lampoon’s Vacation, Risky Business, War Games, Trading Places, Valley Girl, Flash Dance, Mr. Mom, Tootsie, Cujo, Strange Brew, and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• Timestamp 02:03:20.270: MTV’s influence on music in 1983 – bands needed compelling videos to get hits, which caused some established acts like The Stones to temporarily disappear from charts until they adapted
• Timestamp 02:04:52.444: Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money” was about prostitution/strippers, though Matt didn’t realize this as a child
• Timestamp 02:08:52.250: Taco’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” was a cover of a 1920s song and the band’s only hit

Memorable moments during this portion:

• Timestamp 01:30:33.582 – 01:30:48.884: The hosts repeatedly insist they run a “grown-up show” and don’t do “cheap shots” right before discussing the diarrhea plane story
• Timestamp 01:34:01.237 – 01:34:11.027: Matt jokes that Delta only gave “half a can of diarrhea” referencing Delta’s reputation for being stingy with drinks
• Timestamp 01:47:06.609 – 01:49:05.456: Chuy reveals he got an automated warning from Xbox/Call of Duty for using an anti-gay slur during gameplay. The AI detected it instantly and issued a warning. He tested it again with a friend who also received an immediate warning. Discussion follows about AI monitoring language in video games versus the violent content of the games themselves.
• Timestamp 02:00:01.224 – 02:13:00.000: Extended segment counting down the Top 20 songs from this week in 1983, including songs by Rick Springfield, Air Supply, Stray Cats, Stevie Nicks, Culture Club, Men at Work, Billy Joel, The Police, and others

Callers this portion:

• Timestamp 01:41:01.804: Anthony – Called about modern refrigerator ice makers not working properly, especially Samsung. Also complained about card readers at convenience stores getting dirty like VCRs used to
• Timestamp 01:43:26.270: Jim – Called about confusing modern intersections (especially at Palmer and 35) and $13 burgers that don’t come with sides
• Timestamp 01:50:59.182: Pest Control Chris – Said he’s been “racist against AI” before it became popular and won’t let his granddaughter date an AI
• Timestamp 01:53:00.301: Uber Joe – Complained about Uber doing a background check that took four days over a holiday weekend, costing him $1,200 in lost wages
• Timestamp 01:54:10.539: Tiffany – Called to say unsolicited “dick pics” make her regressive/anti-progress
• Timestamp 01:56:20.230: Jacob – Said he hates cashless restaurants and bars, prefers places that accept cash

“Toxic Tuesday” segment details:

• Timestamp 01:36:27.380 – 01:57:12.000: Chuy hosted “Toxic Tuesday” asking what makes listeners turn “anti-progress” or “regressive”
• Examples given by hosts:
• Chuy: QR code menus at sit-down restaurants (fine at taco trucks)
• Chuy: Fancy/confusing intersections like the one at Palmer and 35
• Matt: Italian tourists cutting in line at the Changing of the Guard in London made him temporarily “racist against Southern Europeans”
• Bob: Modern refrigerator ice makers (especially Samsung)

Five-Paragraph Summary:

The final third of the Matt & Bob show from September 5, 2023 began with an extended discussion of a Delta Airlines flight that had to turn around mid-journey due to a passenger experiencing severe diarrhea throughout the entire plane. The hosts, while repeatedly insisting they run a “grown-up show,” spent considerable time making jokes about the biohazard incident, including Matt’s quip about Delta only providing “half a can of diarrhea.” The incident involved a flight from Atlanta to Barcelona that turned back two hours into what should have been an eight-hour journey, with the pilot reporting the biohazard to air traffic control.

The show then transitioned into Chuy’s “Toxic Tuesday” segment, which asked listeners what aspects of modern life or technology make them turn “regressive” or anti-progress. Chuy kicked off the segment with examples including QR code menus at sit-down restaurants and overly complicated modern intersections. Matt shared a story about becoming temporarily prejudiced against Italian tourists after they cut in line at the Changing of the Guard in London. Multiple callers participated, with complaints ranging from Samsung refrigerator ice makers to cashless businesses to unsolicited explicit photos.

A particularly memorable moment came when Chuy revealed he received an automated warning from Xbox/Call of Duty for using an anti-gay slur during gameplay. The AI-powered system detected the word instantly and issued a warning, which Chuy and his friends then tested again to confirm it was automated. This led to a discussion about the irony of policing language in games where players shoot and kill each other, with Matt noting that while he understands Chuy’s frustration, as a parent he appreciates that kids are being “mommed even when they’re hiding from us.”

The show took a nostalgic turn as Matt walked through the Top 20 songs from this week in 1983, exactly 40 years prior. The countdown included hits like “Every Breath You Take” by The Police, “Sweet Dreams” by Eurythmics, “Puttin’ on the Ritz” by Taco, and “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler. Matt provided context about how MTV was transforming the music industry at the time, forcing even established artists to create compelling videos to maintain chart success. The segment revealed interesting tidbits, such as Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money” being about prostitution, which Matt hadn’t realized as a child.

Throughout the show, callers continued to weigh in on the “Toxic Tuesday” topic with complaints about technology and modern conveniences. Uber driver Joe called to complain about losing $1,200 in earnings over a holiday weekend due to a delayed background check. The show maintained its characteristic blend of humor, nostalgia, and cultural commentary, with the hosts engaging both with serious topics and absurd tangents, from discussing the appeal of baseball players’ physiques to debating whether pickles should be served with all meals. The segment concluded with the #1 song from 1983, Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams,” as the hosts wrapped up another episode.