Getting Through This with Tom and Scott

In a historic first, Tom and Scott are joined by a very special guest. Tom’s sister Betsy, an indispensable part of the show is actually on the show from Libertyville with Tom, and Scott is in San Antonio.

Tom’s in Boise and Scott’s in the Palm Springs area, where they come up with the $3 trillion idea to make customized sounds for electric cars. Even some that make pedestrians and fellow drivers laugh.

The first episode where both Tom and Scott are not at their homes. Tom goes to Mecca, which in this case is a nearly empty diner in Seattle. And Scott is in Los Angle Less, the way it’s pronounced in 1953 travelogues.

Tommy is on Day 3 of his epic road trip and he regales Scott with his on the road experiences, live from Eugene, Oregon. Plus, why DWE(Driving While Eating is legal, and may be praised when a cop pulls you over. And we hope those same policemen will use their loudspeaker to praise Tommy for observing the speed limit.

We’d like to see more government mandates, like Dressed to the Nines Saturday, when formal wear produced by our finest manufacturers will be provided to every American. Which would fit in perfectly with our vision of “Resortism”, where everyone works two weeks a year, and spends the rest of their time in government paid all inclusive luxury resorts.

As we begin to travel again, our focus is on earning miles and points in airline and hotel loyalty programs. But what we also need is a National Points System, a WPA-like way to earn points for worthy everyday activities as well as for bad things that you don’t do.

Tommy’s leisurely road trip through several cities from LA to NYC, is now a race against time as he must get to his niece’s graduation from Boise High School on May 27. Scott’s breakthrough travel planning prepares Tommy for various scenarios that can be turned into a major motion picture.

The best way for us to feel optimistic about the future is to have uplifting voiceover announcers speaking in the stentorian tones and cadence of a 1950’s travelogue. Plus, now that anyone can get a license to marry people, let’s do the same for bestowing doctorates.

Broadway is coming back and will be better than ever, even with its comically uncomfortable seating. But at least we don’t have to stand as they did in the days of the Old Globe Theatre. And let’s bring back the live entertainment from decades ago too, like vaudeville, supper clubs and burlesque.

Tommy prepares for his cross country journey, by borrowing a page from Kerouac’s On The Road. Fortunately it’s his own paperback copy, so no library fines will be assessed.

Dirt is fertile ground for a celebration of this unappreciated force of nature. Most people scorn dirt and criticize you for tracking it into the house. We exalt the many positive uses of dirt, and think that dirt shouldn’t be considered a dirty word.

We don’t regret jumping at the chance to get vaccinated as soon as we could. But perhaps, we early adopters can also receive the rewards and perks that the vaccine laggards are being offered.

We introduce the philosophy of “Resortism”, where every man, woman and child, regardless of income, is guaranteed 50 weeks a year at an all expenses paid, all inclusive luxury resort

We introduce “Which Is Better?”, a new game show that judges the merits of Florida vs. California, and other things you can compare, like apples and oranges.

A day at the beach gives Scott an even greater appreciation of Florida, as does the kindness and thoughtfulness of a waitress. Plus Tom and Scott create a screwball style 1960’s film with Scott impersonating a restaurant owner to impress a woman he sees at another table.

For the first time in our 370 episodes, one of us is on location as Scott reports live from Clearwater Beach. Tom thrills to Scott’s tales of flying on an airplane, and experiencing in person what we watched from afar on the news the past year. Plus, an exclusive investigation into the world of the “so-called expert”.

In a very special Look Back and Cringe segment, Tom recalls, with embarrassment, a James Bond themed gala, where he was one of only two men not wearing a white tuxedo. Scott, in a real time therapy session, reassures Tom that his originality in choosing to dress as Goldfinger, was a positive thing that wasn’t cringeworthy at all.

Scott’s mesh office chair arrives in a much smaller box than expected, leading to anxiety about whether it’s inflatable. Plus, Tom and Scott propose using balloons and beach balls in law enforcement instead of weapons.

We discuss the merits of wind versus breeze, which of course leads to the Seals and Crofts hit Summer Breeze, and an appreciation of their Baha’i faith. Plus, Tom says “let’s hear it for the ear!”Soon to be a WPA-like poster, we discuss this often overlooked facial feature. And Scott recalls getting SAT prep from Stanley H. Kaplan himself in Brooklyn!

Scott goes maskless outdoors for the first time in a year, and finally gets to stop AND smell the roses. Will he need to wear a T-shirt that says he is fully vaccinated and followed the mask mandate until the day AFTER it was changed?

After watching two Sondheim documentaries in one evening, Scott discovers his inner musical theater nerd. Which Tom can relate to since he memorized Broadway musicals like The Music Man, as a teenager. Which naturally leads us to a discussion about a breakthrough in mathematics.

We think you should stop and smell the roses, but not for that long. We love museums, but always wind up way ahead of the person we came in with. Are we better than everyone else? No, just different.

Scott goes back to the office, The Comic Strip, to perform for the first time since last March. His exhilarating evening joins the pantheon of other era defining moments, like Judy at the Palace and The Beatles at Shea. Plus, why rare books should be sold at gas station food marts, and why libraries shouldn’t be built miles underneath the earth’s surface.

Tom considers cosmetic surgery to become The Most Handsome Man in North America. Scott implores Tom to save money and buy a turtleneck or dickie instead. Or simply chew Bazooka bubble gum to tighten his chin.

Tom and Scott propose a new day of the week. Yes, why not eight days a week? Our new day will fall between Saturday and Sunday, and it shall be called Fun Day!