Episode 102 proves that civilization peaked when you could buy a salad bar day pass at Round Table Pizza and it's been downhill ever since.
We're drinking A-O American Light Whiskey from Astoria, Oregon, and somehow this episode still earns a Gold rating despite the absolute nonsense that follows. Oliver joins the podcast while in town testing to become a firefighter/EMS, and instead of easing him into our world, we pick him up from the airport and immediately drag him to a Vancouver dance competition. Welcome to the chaos, kid.
Oliver survives the shock thanks to Smokin Oak BBQ and gets a front-row seat to the endless shuffle between food, beer, and convention centers, which he finds hilarious while the rest of us question our choices. He's also relieved this isn't a high school competition, where food options are nonexistent and you're basically sentenced to Round Table Pizza. Again, RIP salad bar day passes. Society had it figured out.
It's a top-tier Sunday: NFL playoff football, whiskey pours, and chairs reclined just far enough to feel irresponsible. Alex roots for Indiana in the CFB championship purely out of spite because Michael Irvin exists, is deeply annoyed that Miami players get Lamborghinis, and assumes none of them could drive a manual if their lives depended on it.
Jenna has a flat tire on the way to the competition and is momentarily mesmerized by her dashboard lighting up like a Christmas tree until Kati tells her to pull the hell over. Her dad is on scene within 30 minutes, and we're honestly surprised there wasn't a jet hovering overhead.
We solve every problem the NFL has ever had (again), but shockingly nobody calls for our opinions. Mike dominates the dance comp scavenger hunt, finding items at lightning speed and discovering bonus chaos like an entire family wearing matching cat-print vests. We mentally prepare for the next round at a high school, discuss surviving the Oregon Convention Center while dodging tents, lunatics, and people with tails, and debate who Mike should write to about our continued Golden Globes snub.
Mike also invents a new breakfast item that could realistically save America: a twice-baked potato skin with an egg and salsa. And we all agree that if Seattle ever meets New England in the Super Bowl again, Marshawn Lynch needs to be signed to a one-day contract just to run the damn ball in and fix the timeline.
Gold whiskey. Loud opinions. Zero accountability.