So There!: Recent Episodes
Gary Doyle and Tom Keramidas
Hosted by Gary Doyle and Tom Keramidas, two advertising executives from Chicago, “So There!” attempts to plumb the depths and solve the mysteries of the inexplicable human behaviors we witness every day – from elevator irritants to commuter misbehavers to men who loiter nude in locker rooms for hours on end for no apparent reason – with occasional forays into marketing and whatever other banalities come to our mind. It’s been called “the Seinfeld of podcasts” – by no one but us. So there!
Gary and Tom assess public-bathroom-stall behavior, people who like to be close to other people, nonsensical car taglines, places where you feel like a total schmuck, and their never-ending bafflement with advertisers that use nouns as verbs. Plus they plumb the depths (or lack thereof) of the Scott's "Scot" guy.
In a wide-ranging pod, Tom and Gary tackle months that only exist in advertisers' minds, song lyrics that are more meaningful than you think, inane tag lines for cars, disturbing waiter behavior, Tom's magical shoe-size-guessing ability and more.
Gary and Tom assess the Oscar best picture nominees, exploding fist bumps & other advertising tropes that need to die, TV weathercasters who fancy themselves God, and more.
Tom and Gary share a glowing review of the pod (and Tom) from a robot. Plus they assess the dreaded spinning iPad of tipping, company names formed from two words mashed into one, and odd Facebook-friend connections.
From the north woods of Minnesota, Tom and Gary tackle advertisers' ongoing usage of nouns as verbs, why Burger King ads in fact don't rule, excessive holiday light decorations, maudlin montages, why Snickers no longer satisfies, and more. Literally!
Gary and Tom assess nonsensical tag lines, the trend of consumers singing in commercials, Facebook humblebrags and various other annoyances. Plus some stellar mail from listeners, and a free ad idea for the nonexistent American Grape Board.
Tom and Gary plumb the depths of Mr. Pibb, why pirates talk the way they do, puzzling workplace-bathroom behaviors, and more adland-language tomfoolery.
We never thought we'd make it this far (and neither did you), but here we are. In this very special episode, Gary and Tom broadcast live from Party City in Vernon Hills, where they go on and on about advertisers' continued misuse of words, annoying songs that get stuck in your head, and much more. Plus special contributions from guest legends Pete Stacker, Chris Plansker and John Binder!
Tom and Gary assess AT&T's spokeswoman Lily, our Oscar picks and why people will do anything a parking sign says. Plus a disturbing interpretation of the Air BnB logo.
In this pre-Super Bowl episode, Gary and Tom assess the oddness of State Farm commercials, Big Game ad tropes, and words only used on football broadcasts. Plus Tom's befuddlement at graffiti (as well as Gary's fear of it), and actual evidence of people who enjoy our pod.
Gary & Tom deliver holiday cheer from the north woods of Minnesota in the form of million-dollar marketing ideas, advertising's odd use of nouns as verbs, irritating celebrities, and Christmas songs they decree to be bad or good, for goodness' sakes.
Gary and Tom ruminate on Thanksgiving, the Arby's "We have the meats" guy, and people who feel the need to light up their driveway, trees and home exterior at night. Plus a tribute to Gary's late father-in-law.
In the latest installment of Conversations With Legends, legendary karaoke performer and Philip Michael Thomas charmer Anne Ramsburg joins Gary and Tom in assessing men who wear sports bras, the oddness of airline neck pillows, the unwritten rules of karaoke and how people hyperbolize absolutely everything!!!!
Tom and Gary tackle the peculiarities of Olympic swimming, anthem television commercials, what life might be like at Gary's dream agency, and delusional little bike people who dress like Lance Armstrong.
Tom and Gary celebrate Father's Day by reflecting on their issues with PBS pledge drives, coworkers' odd compulsion to send all their emails at 5 pm, and why certain neighborhoods have no sidewalks. Plus an unusually thoughtful viewer mail submission.
Ad legend Bob Akers renders a verdict on whose solo-album podcast was better, Gary or Tom's. Neither emerge unscathed -- but there is one unanimous victor. So there.
In his solo episode of the pod, Gary talks about the many celebrities he has met and interacted with over the course of his lifetime, from Barack Obama to Bruce Springsteen to Jerry Seinfeld and many, many more. Plus stick around until the end to hear about Gary's epic humiliation by Florence Henderson of "The Brady Bunch".
Tom flies solo and ultimately crashes. But not before some quick stopovers to visit out-of-control tipping, golf course disc jockeys, and a giant fight he once had with...Gary Doyle.
Even though Gary Doyle is sick, he's very sick, he and Tom rise above to offer their thoughts on March Madness ads, various cyber irritations, and ad ideas they would graciously gift to Weight Watchers and Nissan if so asked. Plus: they tease their eagerly anticipated upcoming solo album project.
Tom and Gary tackle their neighbors' peculiar lawn decorations, the unwrittten rules for men who wear professional sports jerseys, the brilliant bafflement of Progressive commercials, and emasculating car experiences.
In a potty-mouthed episode of “So There!”, Tom and Gary gift a genius ad campaign to Dick’s Sporting Goods. We also tackle Steve Nicks (not literally), Q-Anon, people named F----, overcompensating bicyclist-avoiders, neighbors we do and don’t like, and recycling bafflement.
In a Christmas Day stocking stuffer for their 12 listeners, Gary and Tom volley "I Decrees" and "I Wonder Whys" back and forth like two aging tennis players. Plus viewer mail!
In their latest ramble-fest, Tom and Gary talk about their Covid-testing adventures, ad campaigns that flummox them, the tyranny of "right?", and useless things people spend money on.
Tom and Gary welcome advertising titans Ned Crowley, Global Chief Creative Officer at mcgarrybowen, and Bob Akers, Global Professor of Advertising at Loyola University. Ned and Bob tackle such topics as the whys of our declining listenership, celebrity humiliations, flossing, recycling, rectal bleeding, and whether a bug (unlike a man) has a soul.
Gary and Tom discuss the more pressing matters of our time, including the persistent use of nouns as verbs in ads, and the inexplicable popularity of signs on homes. Plus the return of I Decree, and a cry to help So There!
Gary and Tom double down about sign-language translators, the true meaning of Independence Day, and a reality TV show idea that will make someone very rich.
Gary and Tom tackle bathroom-stall fails, the apparent magnetism of Trident gum, our love theme if we had one, and the fact that, through it all, we are in this together. Plus: the triumphant return of "Meat Boat"!
In a misguided attempt to boost their listenership, Tom and Gary morosely tackle the most urgent issues of this strange time we're in, like what celebrity we wish we were friends with, what to say to a dead person on Facebook, and what the hell is an Acura. Plus mouth trumpet!
Tom and Gary return to enhance the place where you shelter and calm your Covid-19 nerves with an invitation to come bathe in the healing light of “So There!” The water’s warm – climb on in the tub.
Gary, Tom and a very special guest expert on the topic pontificate about everything involving restaurants, and what eats at them about the whole experience.
Tom and Gary talk about the things that slowly kill them, and all of us: insidious mobile-provider messages, the unpleasantness of grocery-store pleasantries, Super Bowl ads. Plus we offer flaming-hot Oscar takes, viewer mail and an intriguing preview for an upcoming episode.
Gary and Tom return to their rustic one-bedroom cabin deep in the Minnesota woods, with a very special guest: Jane from New Jersey. Jane treats us to some singing of hers, while we torture Jane with some (air quotes) “singing” of ours.
Tom and Gary test your patience and your endurance with a very special extended-play episode of the pod. We decree you will love it, unless you don’t.
On the eve of the 2019 NFL season, Gary and Tom tackle would-be player nicknames and tearjerker football movies. Plus: the intriguing relationship of the Sonic guys, and viewer mail.
In the most explicit "So There!" episode yet, Gary and Tom field mail from our small but witty and engaged listenership. Also: interstate observations, backpack women and how in the end, we all end up on the Mongolian side.
In which Tom and Gary discuss the maniacal branding of the Liberty Mutual advertising, people who spit on the street, puzzling TV-commercial tropes and the existential humiliation of outlet malls. Plus a teaser of a very special upcoming episode.
It’s been months since our last pod, but this will make it well worth the wait: awkward karaoke songs, whining about wine, pretentious city pronunciations and thoughts on those inane Matthew McConaughey Lincoln commercials.
Gary and Tom reveal trenchant truths about the Oscars, fake farms, Wisconsin, and gastro-intestinal distress at 40,000 feet.
Even with one of them in a diminished mental state, Tom and Gary still deliver the Super Bowl ad review against which all others shall be judged. Also, a loving “So There Redux”, and a bundled up “I Wonder Why”.
Tom and Gary return from their two month hiatus with trenchant, witty observations on the many inane advertisements populating the airwaves at this time. Also: I Wonder Why, a condor, and a particularly thoughtful and observational viewer mail.
In this, the 17th and most free-wheeling episode of the pod, Gary re-asserts his creative leadership, while Tom points out that Gary still uses a feces-fouled phone. Plus, the history of thermo-nuclear fusion, the truth about how women dress, and annoyingly truncated words.
In an episode filled to the brim with fascination, Tom, Gary and special guest and foremost global expert Sara Wolfson explore the influence of "So There" on China, Great Britain, France, Thailand, the Netherlands, Australia, Ireland, Mexico and Italy -- just a few of the countries where we have listeners. Plus, why we might or might not eat a cat, a piece of very special celebrity viewer mail, and a three-way version of "I Decree".
In typically disjointed fashion, Gary and Tom somehow link the non-existent sax solo in "My Sharona", belligerent Arby's cashiers, and asexual neck massages. Plus: uncontrollable, involuntary laughter!
In today's pod, Tom and Gary ruminate on those who deserve the sentence of death, and proven Metra ticket-paying-avoidance gambits. Plus "So There" redux!
Today, Gary and Tom delve into the insane price discrepancy between women's and men's haircuts, jowly automobile-dealer spokesmen, and bizarre names for pharmaceutical drugs. Plus viewer mail, a potential transgender-person social experiment, and a theremin!
In perhaps the most inane episode of the pod, Tom and Gary talk about the numerous competitions they’ve had over the years. Plus Tom’s fear and loathing of his neighbors, songs about directors, and viewer mail.
In the latest and perhaps shaggiest episode of the pod, Tom and Gary ruminate on their fear of artificial intelligence, intolerable exit-row behavior, and squirm-inducing elevator gambits. Plus listener mail!
What begins as a heartwarming Christmas edition of the pod goes off the rails into risqué territory, as Tom and Gary discuss reindeer sex, Sybaris and share provocative viewer mail. Plus: odd smells we like, the abject humiliation of Lexus “December to Remember” commercials, and signs you’re overdoing your Christmas lights.
As the end of the year approaches, Gary and Tom are inspired to pose the big questions: why are all the words people use to sound smart three syllables? When did sponsorships on sports broadcasts become so gratuitous? Are emery boards manly? And what should one never say when one says they’re sick? Also: more things we would decree if we were king.
In the latest episode of the pod, Gary and Tom babble aimlessly about showoff-y bilingual local newscasters, how Halloween became National Streetwalker Day, and why the yawn is the most benign expectoration of them all.
In this episode of the pod, Tom and Gary examine (not literally) poop molecules, Brett Favre's priorities, Mariachi humiliations, and the misuse of the word "literally". Plus: more decrees!
As Gary and Tom celebrate a half dozen episodes, they ruminate about odd names, herd-mentality behavior, and introduce a new feature: “I Decree”.
In this installment of the pod, Gary and Tom discuss things only people on television do, and peculiar elevator behavior. Plus: "So There! Redux", and another edition of "I Wonder Why".
Episode 4 is a very special (and very meaty) edition of So There!, as Tom and Gary welcome guest musicologist Chris Plansker to the pod. Listen as Chris struggles not to drown in the sonic majesty of our musical genius.
In this installment of the pod, Tom and Gary pontificate about lazy song lyrics, and work friends versus real friends. Plus: actual conversation!
Episode 2 of "So There!" features Tom and Gary waxing philosophical on health-club irritants, strangely compelling ad campaigns, and inexplicable human behavior.
In this, the inaugural episode of So There!, Tom and Gary ruminate on the oddly compelling origins of the pod and its name, as well as irritating commuter behavior.