Every year during the naming of the year, the McElroy brothers guide their flock towards a better, more fulfilled life by deciding upon a theme for each calendar year. Whether it's a guide to self-actualization, an aspiration for the coming year, a vibe to be embodied, a fun dude who's also a mushroom, or a colossal screwup that they need to retcon halfway through the year, each is a waypoint for us, their wayward listeners, who would be lost without their infinite wisdom.
The theme for each year, and the episode in which the brothers declared the theme, is listed below.
The Yearly Themes[]
Year names poster by Samara Jethwa
2010 – ZOLO[]
This one isn't particularly deep - it was mentioned offhandedly by Griffin during Episode 36 due to the numerals 2010 looking like the letters "ZOLO," and wasn't even invented by the McElroys. This year name was retroactively given official status in Episode 283. In subsequent years, it has conveniently served as the very, very low bar that year names have to clear in order to be selected.
More 2010 Stuff[]
2011 – Two-Thousand-and-Heaven: Get Right with Christ[]
2011 was kind of named Two Thousand-and-Heaven (with no subtitle) by Griffin, who referred to it thusly in Episode 37. It had no real naming of the year segment or episode. (It may have also been called ZOLL a few times during 2011.)
The subtitle seems to have been added by Griffin as the brothers were recounting past year names during the naming of 2019. It was then added to this wiki and, when the brothers used the wiki to recount old year names in subsequent years, the subtitle stuck. In fact, the brothers sometimes forget that the subtitle was not from 2011, and express confusion that ensuing year names are not nearly as good.
More 2011 Stuff[]
2012 – Twenty-Doz: Gettin' It[]
2012 was named in Episode 86, in which Justin introduced the episode by saying "Welcome to Twenty-Doz".
- “I have resolved to make Twenty-Doz the year that I just get it.”
- — Griffin
In 2022, Griffin called this year name "rudimentary, before our palate expanded." This was the first assigned year name to have a subtitle.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- The Dirty Dozen
- The My Brother, My Brother and Me Year
More 2012 Stuff[]
2013 – Twenty-Dirt: Dig It up, Get It Out[]
2013 was named in Episode 135. It is sometimes also called Twenty-Dirt-Teen, which is how Justin originally proposed it; Travis proposed lopping off the "teen." The subtitle's message was in the zeitgeist of the conversation, but it's unclear who first said it exactly.
- “We were all about getting it and now you've got it, what do you do with it? You gotta get the dirt out.”
- — Justin
During the naming of 2017, Griffin opines that they didn't Dirt It very well during 2013.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Seriously Though, Kony 2013
- Twenty-Did
- Twenty-Baker's-Doz
- Twenty-Flirt-Teen[Note 2]
More 2013 Stuff[]
2014 – Twenty-Forward[]
2014 was named in Episode 181. Other than ZOLO, it is the only year name without a subtitle. Travis proposed the year name.
When naming 2015, it took the brothers a good 15-20 seconds to remember what the heck 2014 was called. During the naming of 2021, Justin called it their weakest year name.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Sport-Teen
- Twenty-Forte: What's Your Specialty?
- Twenty-Fortify
- Twenty-Fart-Teen
- Twenty-Forts
- Twenty-Vore-Teen[Note 3]
More 2014 Stuff[]
2015 – Twenty-Grift-Teen: The Con is On[]
The official naming of 2015 occurred in Episode 232, though Twenty Grift-Teen (or, alternatively, Twenty Griff-Teen) was proposed by Justin a year prior in Episode 181. The subtitle was also proposed by Justin (amidst lots of vore discussion) in the outro of Episode 232.
A year later during the naming of 2016 the brothers reviewed the various grifts and cons they pulled in 2015, such as convincing people to come to live shows and convincing Totino's to sponsor an entire episode of the podcast. Griffin also revealed during the naming of 2017 that he married an old person and conned them out of all their rubies and emeralds - his most successful heist to date.
The brothers frequently regard this year name as one of their better ones, and the one in which they first mastered the art of the subtitle. Justin stated during the naming of 2017, 2022, and 2024 that this was his favorite of their year names.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Whiff-Teen
- Twenty-Miffed-Teen
- Twenty-Swift-Teen
- Twenty-Shift-Teen
- Twenty-Bliss-Teen
- Twenty-MILF-Teen: Never Stop Gettin' It
- Twenty-Lift-Teen: Raise Someone's Spirits
- Twenty-What-If-Teen: Imagine the Possibilities
- Twenty-Gift-Teen: Share the Wealth
- Twenty-Spliff-Teen
- Twenty-Thrift-Teen
More 2015 Stuff[]
2016 – Twenty-Fix-Teen: Building Bridges[]
2016 was named in Episode 283, which was the first time the brothers set aside a specific segment of the show in order to contemplate year names. Travis proposed the full name early on. Justin was so inspired by the year theme that he suggested making amends with jugglers. This idea did not take off.
- “I like this idea of coming back and helping other people after this past year of self-satisfaction at the expense of other people. Like Totino's.”
- — Griffin, Episode 283
- “[2016's theme] was a fuckin' disaster. Building Bridges - I think it was too esoteric, it was too abstract, and so people didn't know how the fuck to do it, even though I thought it was pretty clear: Just like, be cool for ONCE.”
- — Griffin, Episode 336
Given a certain American election during this year, the brothers consistently regard this year name as their biggest whiff - even after 2020's renaming. During the naming of 2017, the brothers wondered if it failed because it encouraged an action you can't complete on your own. During the re-naming of 2020 in Episode 513, Justin openly wondered if they should have renamed 2016 too (to Twenty-Sucks-Teen).
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Flix-Teen: Catch up on the Queue
- Twenty-Sucks-Teen: Let's Just Get Through It
- Twenty-Sex-Teen: Build a Sex Dummy of Jeff/Todd Bridges
- Twenty-Mix-Teen: Get Up In It
- Twenty-Dicks-Teen: Just Saying, "Dicks" Rhymes with "Six"
- Twenty-Ricks-Teen: Where's All My Ricks At?
- Twenty-Twix-Teen: Get Those Caramelly Sons-of-Bitches
- Twenty-Hicks-Teen: Back to Your Roots
- Twenty-Chicks-Teen: Score Lots of Babes. Come on Ladies, Pile in This Lamborghini
- Twenty-Pics-Teen: Or It Didn't Count
- Twenty-Fricks-Teen: Back in the Picture. Hey Hollywood, It's Time to Let Brenda Fricker Back into Movies
- Twenty-Nix-Teen: Cut It Out
- Twenty-Knicks-Teen
- Twenty-(Stevie)-Nicks-Teen
- Twenty-Mick-(Fleetwood)-Teen
- Twenty-Quicks-Teen:
- Don't Wait Up
- Stop Putting It Off
- Twenty-Quix(otic)-Teen
- Twenty-Styx-Teen: Appreciating the Music of the World's Greatest Rock Band
- Twenty-Thickesteen: It's Time We Forgave Thicke
- Twenty-Licks-Teen
More 2016 Stuff[]
2017 – Twenty-Serpentine: Keep 'em Guessing (Zag on 'em)[]
The naming of 2017 occurred in Episode 336. Griffin proposed the year name and both subtitles all by himself about 8 minutes into the year naming, but the brothers kept groping about for another 21 unnecessary minutes, reaching a new high-water mark in naming of the year duration (or low-water mark, depending on how you think about it).
- “It's about trying new things because maybe you'll be into it. Keep 'em guessing! Go left when they think you're going to go right, because they're gonna try to fuck you again!”
- — Griffin
- “You tried to meet them halfway last year. This year they're gonna expect that again, and they're not gonna get it.”
- — Justin
This year name is well-regarded by the boys, with Travis stating during the naming of 2024 that this is his favorite of all their year names. During Twenty-Serpentine, the brothers kept 'em guessing and zagged on 'em by setting up a contact juggling slush fund. Justin also first took up taekwondo during this year specifically to zag on 'em.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Even-Teen: Restoring Balance
- Twenty-Givin-Teen: Helping When You Can
- Twenty-Heaven-Teen
- Twenty-Kevin-Teen
- Twenty-Devin-Teen
- Twenty-Revvin-Teen: Kick It into High Gear
- Twenty-Sweatin-Teen: Getting Fit
- Joseph-Gordon-Levitt-Teen: Celebrating the Works of JGL (Officially named one of 2017's unofficial year names)
- Twenty-Raven-Teen: We've All Got Ravens
- Twenty-Bevvin-Teen: Stayin' 'drated
- Twenty-Riven-Teen: Let's All Appreciate the Excellent Sequel to Myst (Officially named one of 2017's unofficial year names)
- Twenty-Sexin-Teen: Time to Bust One
- Twenty-Sextant-Teen: Navigating by the Stars
- Twenty-Servin-Teen: Go Serve Your Community or Diss Someone out on the Playground
- Twenty-Slevin-Teen: It Was a Good Flick
- Twenty-Elven-Teen: Embrace Nature, Live Forever, Sweet Bow Tricks
- Twenty-Seven-Clean: Cleanse Us, Wash Away the Trash Year
- DUST OFF THEM OLD BOOTS
- Twenty-Never-Teen: No Teens Allowed
- Twenty-Leaven-Teen: The Year of Baking
- Twenty-Estefan-Teen: Rhythm Is Gonna Get You
- Twenty-Schleppin-Teen: Get out There, Move Around
- 2016 II
- Twenty-Kevin-Clean: Scrub 'em All Down
- Twenty-Jepsen-Teen
- Twenty-Shaven-Teen
- Twenty-Seventeen-Magazine
- Twenty-Seven-Bees
More 2017 Stuff[]
2018 – Collaborate-Teen: Stronger Together[]
The naming of 2018 took place in Episode 387. It was first proposed by Griffin but still took 15 minutes to exhaust other ideas and reach a full consensus.
- “You don't gotta do this right now. I feel like that's the problem with our mottos, people hear them and think, like, 'It's January 2, I need to start zagging right now.' And then you get burned out and you don't follow through. Just think about it - think about what you do that could be improved with the help of another person, and how you can help them! That's what it's all about.”
- — Griffin
- “I think this is something that when you find yourself in a situation where you would normally say no or do something by yourself, I want you to hear in your head 'Collaborate-Teen,' and say 'No, you know what? I could use some help, thank you for asking.' I want this to be that little pebble in the stream that just changes the current a little bit for you. That's how this is most actionable: as a gentle guide to your year.”
- — Travis
The brothers quite liked this name during the naming of 2019, but by the naming of 2021 were less enthusiastic about it.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Two-Thousand-and-Late-Teen
- Twenty-Trampoline:
- Time to Bounce Back
- Higher and Higher
- Twenty-Bait-Teen: We're Going Fishing
- Twenty-Masturbate-Teen
- Twenty-Gay-Teen
- Twenty-Blade-Teen: The Year of Wesley Snipes
- Twenty-Slay-Teen
- Twenty-Skate-Teen:
- Bringing Back Rollerblades
- Back from the Brink
- Twenty-Regulate-Teen: Mount Up
- Twenty-Mate-Teen: Stronger Together
- Validate-Teen
- Navigate-Teen: All Hands on Deck
- Twenty-Slates-Clean
- Blank-Slate-Teen: All About the Movie Blank Slate
- Captivate-Teen: Can't Look Away
- Aspirate-Teen: Just Breathe
- Don't-Aspirate-Teen
- Fluoridate-Teen: Keep Those Teeth
- Germinate-Teen: Watch It Grow
- Lubricate-Teen: Get It Wet
- Machinate-Teen: Watch the Gears Turn
- Elucidate-Teen: Becoming Clear
- Relocate-Teen
- Twenty-Fate-Teen: Time to Audit
- Illuminate-Teen: Something About Illuminati
More 2018 Stuff[]
2019 – Frankenstein-Teen: Become the Monster[]
The naming of 2019 took place in Episode 440: The Naming of 2019, which was the first naming of the year episode to follow that name format. Both the title and subtitle of the year name were first proposed by Griffin. It was adopted instantly after the subtitle was finally proposed, and marked the third straight year that Griffin came up with the entire year name. Naming took about 32 minutes, their longest to date.
- “I said it but I don't know what it means! We may need to spend a year unpacking it!”
- — Griffin
- “It doesn't mean to do bad stuff-”
“No no no! If you can't beat the monster, become the monster.” - — Griffin & Travis
Travis' first proposal, Twenty Equine-Teen: This Year We Buy a Horse, was first proposed in Episode 428 and re-pitched here. Although it was not selected for the year name, the brothers did indeed buy a horse, Worldwide Webster.
In Episode 492, Justin confesses the closest he got to becoming the monster was when his wife bought him a bidet. Travis claims victory, since a horse was in fact procured, while none of them actually became monsters. Frankenstein-Teen is consistently rated in the brothers' own year name reviews as one of their best; Griffin stated during the naming of 2023 that this was his favorite year name, despite Justin describing it as "our clumsiest portmanteau."
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Equine-Teen:
- This Year We Buy a Horse (first proposed in Episode 428)
- This Year We Acquire, Through Some Sort of Means, a Horse
- Twenty-Vaccine
- Twenty-Vine-Teen: A Six-Second Celebration
- Twenty-Sign-Teen: What's Ace of Base up To?
- Twenty-Signs-Teen: Revisiting a Shyamalan Classic
- Twenty-Brine-Teen:
- The Sea is Calling
- Make Meat a Treat
- Are You Going to Eat Your Pickle?
- Build a Boat in Your Tub
- Build an Ark. We Command It
- Siri is Calling
- Twenty-Spine-Teen: Check Your Posture
- Kevin-Kline-Teen
- Chris-Klein-Teen
- Twenty-Wine-Teen: Better with Age
- Twenty-Whine-Teen: Complain About it
- $-Teen: Get the Money
- Frankenstein-Teen:
- Befriend a Monster
- Use What You Got
- Fire Bad
- Twenty-Mine-Teen: There's Gold in Them Hills (Those Lovely Lumps)
- Refine(d)-Teen:
- The Champagne of Years (suggested by the ethereal Teresa McElroy)
- Get Fancy with It
- Twenty-Fine-Teen: Fine. Okay. Fine. I Get It
- Undermine-Teen: Destroy it from Within
- Twenty-Pine-Teen: Man, That Smells Good
- Realign-Teen: New Priorities, New You
- Twenty-Shine-Teen: Un-bushel your Candle
- Bloodline-Teen: There's Power in Your Ancestry
- Twenty-Twine-Teen: We All Get Really Good at Indie Game Development
- Twenty-Online-Teen: The Web is Waiting
- Offline-Teen: Unplug, Renew (Except for All of Our Podcasts)
- Twenty-Nal-Gene: Moisturize it
- Twenty-Loveline-Teen: Bring It Back with Us in It
- Pearls-Before-Swine-Teen
- Strychnine-Teen
- Tagline-Teen: That's the Tagline
- Clandestine-Teen: Keep it Quiet
- Genuine-Teen: Keep it Real
- Divine-Teen: The Magic's in You
- Asinine-Teen: Get Silly with It
- Powerline-Teen: Eye to Eye (song from A Goofy Movie)
More 2019 Stuff[]
2020[]
The initial naming of 2020 took place in Episode 492, when the brothers decided to name the year Twenty-Funny: Fill Your Life with Laughter and Love. Naming the year took about 27 minutes. In an unprecedented move, the brothers decided in early June (in the intro to Episode 513) that the originally-chosen name was not suitable for 2020, and changed the official year name to Twenty-Hunny: Down to Beesness.
Twenty-Funny: Fill Your Life with Laughter and Love[]
The original year name, Twenty-Funny: Fill Your Life with Laughter and Love, was proposed by Griffin midway through the naming of the year. It grew on both Justin and Travis throughout the course of deciding on the year name, and ultimately prevailed, marking Griffin's fourth straight time naming the year. It lasted for five months.
- “That one's so wholesome! It's so attainable!”
- — Griffin, Episode 492
- “It fulfills the goal right there, just by saying it aloud!”
- — Travis, Episode 492
Twenty-Hunny: Down to Beesness[]
The final year name, Twenty-Hunny: Down to Beesness, was first proposed by Travis early on in the original Naming of the Year episode. Although Travis agreed on Twenty-Funny, he did expect a "shadow contingent" would continue to support the hybrid nonsense year name Funny Hunny: Fill Your Life with Laughter and Bees, something Justin called "the Weird Al version of our year theme" and Griffin called "bullshit." Travis has continued using this name for 2020 in later retrospectives, likely with the goal of annoying his brothers.
The brothers' switcheroo in Episode 513 took place during Covid-19 lockdown and also the George Floyd protests, and was inspired by the brothers (especially Griffin) becoming increasingly uncomfortable saying "Fill Your Life with Laughter and Love" during a difficult and "revolutionary" period. Justin was reluctant to change the year name, fearing the precedent it would set (since they never renamed 2016's inaccurate year name, for instance), but ultimately relented.
- “It's about getting down to business ― which is important ― and also, bees.”
- — Travis, Episode 492
- “Beesness has to do with both the individual and the hive.”
- — Travis, Episode 513
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Twenty: See Clearly / A Look Back[Note 4]
- Twenty-Bunny: Hop to It
- Twenty-Hunty: Go Get It
- Twenty-Venti:
- Livin' Large
- Don't Be a Drip
- Don't Talk to Me Before I've Had My Coffee
- Twenty-Hunny: Down to Beesness
- Twenty-Bunty:
- Just Get on Base
- Advance the Runners
- Twenty-Funny:
- Maybe This Year
- Fill Your Life With Laughter and Love
- Twenty-Penny:
- Get Rid of It
- Cent to Heaven/Hell
- Twenty-Money: Get That Paper
- Money-Money: Papa Wants It, Papa Gets it
- Hunny-Munny: Down to Beesness
- Bunny-Munny: Get Some Carrots
- Funny-Hunny:
- Fill Your Life With Laughter and Bees
- Fill Your Bees With Laughter and Love
- Twenty-Jenny: It's Your Year, Jennifer
- Twenty-The-Knee: Lift With Your Back, Just This Year, and We're Not Doctors and You Shouldn't Listen to the Shit We Say, but like, Maybe Give the Knees a Break, Your Back's Been Living the Fucking High Life for Too Long
- Twenty-Palmintari: Chazz's to the Front, Party in the Back
- Twenty-Minty: Freshen It Up
- Twenty: Efficiency Above All
- Twenty-Twice:
- One Mo' 'gain
- Second Chances
- Feels So Nice
- Roll the Dice
- Sugar and Spice
- Twice as Nice
- Let's All Be Nice
- A Second Look
- Two for the Money
More 2020 Stuff[]
2021 – Twenty-Big-Dog-Run: No Bones About It[]
The naming of 2021 took place in Episode 542. Naming took about an hour exactly, by far their longest year naming session to date and the first that occupied the entire episode.
The tagline "Twenty-Big-Dog-Run" was proposed by Travis very late in the recording (around 55 minutes in), with Griffin providing the subtitle just afterwards. The brothers loved the sound of it, but had trouble figuring out in what way it provided actionable advice.
- “Twenty-Big-Dog-Run is meaningless! ... [wheezing] We cannot go wrong with a year that's called Twenty-Big-Dog-[wheezes]”
- — Justin
- “Big dog run! It sounds fucking great to say it!”
- — Griffin
This year, hot on the heels of their second time being burned coming up with a fun and inspiring year theme, marks a turn in year naming away from a call to action and towards more of a mindset. Justin refers to this turn during the naming of 2024 as setting the bar lower for themselves.
The brothers have difficulty remembering this year theme even during the naming of 2023, less than a full year afterwards. They do remember it fondly, however, once they finally manage to remember it.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- ZOZI
- Twenty-Good-Clean-Fun: Let's Get Silly
- Twenty-Bunny-Fun
- Twenty-Woebegone
- Twenty-Marathon
- Twenty-Laser-Gun: Pew Pew, Motherfucker*
Twenty-Tommy-Gun: Braap BraapTwenty-Buy-a-Gun: Let's Just Do It8- Twenty-On-a-Bun: Eat a Hot Dog (At Some Point)
- Twenty-Thanks-a-Ton: Gratitude Attitude
- Twenty-On-the-Run:
- Let's Lay Low
- Hasty Getaway
- Twenty-"Born to Run": What's Bruce's Deal?
- Twenty-Chase-the-Sun:
- Live That Beach Life
- Get/Grab/Grasp/Catch/Clutch That/the/This Orb
- Twenty-Chase-The-Sun/Son: Soular Power
- Twenty-Everyone: You're All Invited
Twenty-Come-Undone: Let's Take Apart This Cage We Made for Ourselves- Twenty-One-on-One:
- Prove Yourself
- Disconnect to Reconnect
- Do it, You Fucking Chicken
- Twenty-Chicken-Run
- Twenty-Twenty-Dune: Work on Rhyming
- Twenty-Jamie's Got a Gun
- Twenty-Twenty-Won
- Twenty-Twenty-Done: We're Not Gonna Take It
- Twenty-Twenty-Shun: A Year of Removing the Toxic People from Our Lives
- Twenty-Twenty-Stun: Looking So Good
- Twenty-Overcome
- Twenty-Sauvignon:
- Let's Get Drunk
- Savor the Grape
- Twenty-Chase-the-Sun: Solar Power
Twenty-Chase-the-Son: Soular Power
- Twenty-Megaton
- Twenty-It's-Begun
- Twenty-Never-Done: Keep the Fire Goin'
- Twenty-Octagon: Let's All Do MMA
- Twenty-Tons-of-Fun: The Sequel to Twenty-Funny
- Twenty-Saskatchewan
- Twenty-Twenty-Nun: Cloister Up!
- Twenty-Big-Home-Run:
- Knock It out the Park
- This One's for the Game
- Slam It
- Angels in the Outfield
- Thanks, Angel
- Seventh Inning Stretch
- Bases Loaded
- We All Believe in You
- We're All Behind You
- Be Your Own Angel
- We're All Angels Now
- Be the Angel
- It's Outta Here
- Slamma Jamma
- Knock the Skin off the Dang Thing
- Greasy Cheddar
- Eye on the Ball
- Shoot the Moon
- Call Your Shot
More 2021 Stuff[]
2022 – Twenty-Rendezvous: Fancy Takes Flight[]
The naming of 2022 took place in Episode 592. It again ran for the length of the entire episode, a full 71 minutes (minus the Money Zone) of naming. Twenty-Rendezvous was first proposed by Griffin (with an assist from RhymeZone), after which the brothers fumbled about for the exact classy vibe they wanted to go for, considering prom nights, romantic getaways, and clandestine spies before ultimately arriving at Fancy Takes Flight. Justin ultimately provided the subtitle, his first time getting a hand on the year naming ball since 2015.
- “Fancy takes flight is nothing!”
- — Griffin, admiringly
Griffin and Justin both called it "tremendous" during the naming of 2024. They also reflect that Twenty-Rendezvous became a major component of their live shows, leading fans to dress up for the occasion - something that continued during Twenty-Sun-and-Sea.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
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- Twenty-Didgeridoo
- 2222: Deuces Wild
- Twenty-Hoo-Hoo: Let’s Learn About Owls
- Twenty-Hootie-Hoo: Let’s Learn About Outkast
- Twenty-Boppity-Boo: Be the Magic
- Carl Daniels: Become the Magic
- Carl Daniels’ Kick-Ass Year
- TBD: A Good Year for Carls
- Twenty-Cummies-Two
- Twenty-Whoop-De-Doo:
- Who Cares?
- Who Gives a Shit
- Twenty-Yummy-Stew:
- Sumpin’s Cookin’!
- What’s Cookin?
- What’s Cookin’ Good Lookin’?
- Toss An Onion In
- Toss Your Stuff In
- Mix It Up
- Put It in The Pot
- Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty-Twenty:
- Try That Out
- Try That on For Size
- Twenty-Funny-Shoes: An Odd Pairing
- Twenty-Venti-Brew: Ohhh That Java!
- Twenty-Skies-Of-Blue: Anything’s Possible
- Twenty-Coming-Through:
- Clear The Way
- Emerge
Into Your Power
- Twenty-Runny-Goo
- Twenty-Sun-Tea-View: Porch Life
- Banjo-Twenty-Kazoo: Yurup
- Twenty-Scooby-Doo
- Twenty-Something-New
- Twenty-Lookie-Loo: On the Horizon
- Twenty-Mummy-Crew:
- Back from The Dead
- Rise Again
- Straight Out the Tomb
- Arise My Love
- Sarcopha-Get-It
- Lying in Wait
- Something’s Cookin’
- Together We Rise
- Pyramid Dreams
- Under Wraps
- Wrap It Up
- Bring Back Brendan Fraser’s The Mummy Series
- Anck-Su-Namun
- Disrupt the Tomb
- Buried with Cats
- Emerge
- Escape The Grave
- Shave The Grave
- Death is only the Beginning
- Strength in Numbers
- The Ties that Bind
- Weigh Your Heart
- Twenty-Mummy-Stew:
- Put It in The Pot
- Do What Thou Wilt
- People Used to Eat Mummies
- Twenty-View-Askew: Listen to Me, Kevin Smith
- Twenty-Running-Crew
- Twenty-Running-Shoe
- Twenty-Cunning-Shrew
- Twenty-Do-The-Dew (brought to you by Mountain Dew Baja Blast)
- Twenty-Long-John-Silvers (enjoy our crispy fish)
- Twenty-Barbeque
- Twenty-Black-And-Blue
- Twenty-Brunswick-Stew
- Twenty-Cordon-Bleu: Cookin’ Fancy
- Twenty-Something-Blue: Tie the Knot
- Twenty-Deja-Vu: One Mo’ Gain
- Twenty-Broader-View
- Twenty-Point-Of-View
- Twenty-Twenty-Deux: Second Chances
- Twenty-Depardieu
- Twenty-Twenty-Two: A Year of Sequels
- Twenty-Peekaboo
- Twenty-Pikachu:
- Electric Mouse
- Don’t Evolve
- Twenty-Electric-Boogaloo
- Twenty-Rendezvous: Good Evening
- Hello There
- On The Veranda
- I See You There
- To The Veranda
- A Nighttime Affair
- A Night to Remember
- A Walk to Remember
- Enchantment In the Evening
- Enchanté
- Meeting-In-Person
- Trading-Secrets
- There’s been a murder
- Get Organized
- Seize the Means of Production
- Strength in Numbers
- A Night in Paradise
- Have a Ball
- Time to Conspire
- Meet me in the Dark Place
- Adults Only
- Clandestine Moments
- A Secret Kiss
- Stolen moments
- A Kiss for Us
- If A Kiss Was a Gift
- A Kiss in the Shadows
StolenHidden Passions- Save Tonight
- Making Memories
- Fight the Break of Dawn
- Till the Sun Comes Up
- All Night Long
- Slappin’ Bodies Together
- The Night is Young
- Twilight Passion
- Meet me in Vienna
- We’ll always have Vienna
- Remember Fiji
- Fancy Night
- A Night for Fancy Folk
- I haven’t seen Marcus in Years
- There’s only tonight
- A Fancy Fantasy
- Twenty-Ginny-Sue:
- You get on out to that corn patch and feed them piggies
- Ooh you I look just like Buddy Holly
- Twenty-Ooh-Ooh-Ooh:
- A Spicy One
- Doo-Wop’s back
- Twenty-Switcheroo
- Twenty-Trie-And-True
- Twenty-Dr-Drew: He Sucks Now
- Twenty-You-Should-Sue: Get Justic
- Twenty-More-Bamboo: It’s Sustainable
- Twenty-Kangaroo:
- Put it in the pouch
- Jump On it
- Twenty-Star-To-Do
- Twenty-Revenue: Maximize Your Earning Potential
- Twenty-Racing-Crew: It’s About Family
- Twenty-More-Fondue: Make It Cheesy
- Twenty-Sudoku: Line ‘Em Up
- Twenty-Pay-Per-View: All of Our Episodes Cost $1 Now
- Twenty-Misconstrue
- Twenty-More-For-Me-And-You
- Twenty-Just-For-You
- Twenty-Not-For-You
- Twenty-New-Tattoo
- Twenty-Moneys-Through: Time To Become a Crypto Lord
- Twenty-Sun-Tea-View
- Twenty-Rise-Of-Gru (coming this July)
- Twenty-Baby-Shoe: For Sale (Never Worn)
- Twenty-IOU:
- We Will Give the Next Year a Much Better Name
- One Good Year Name
- One Hour of your Life
- Twenty-Up-To-You:
- The Power is Yours
- What are your ideas
- Fill In the Blank
- Twenty-Its-In-You:
- The Magics been in you all along
- The Magic, Is
- Yummy-Mummy-Brew (from Budweiser)
- Twenty-New-Shampoo
- Gotta Try Something
- Something’s Gotta Change
- Something’s Gotta Give
- Twenty-Tummy-Goo: What’s that on your tummy
- The-Upset-Tummy-Crew
- Twenty-Old-U2
- Twenty-No-Taboo
- Twenty-In-Review
- The Deuce
- The Double Duece
- MMXXII: Mix it up
- Twenty-Big-League-Chew
- Twenty-Breakin’-Through: Emerge
- Twenty-Talking-To:
- Sit Down – You Fucked Up
- Sit Down – We Need to Talk
- Twenty-Bustin’-Through: Oh Yeah
- Twenty-We’ve-Been-Sued (by the Cool-Aid corporation)
- Twenty-Whats-This-Do: Mysterious Buttons
- Twenty-Big-Debut
- Twenty-Twenty-Three:
- Off the Rails
- Take A Pass
- Looking Forward
More 2022 Stuff[]
2023 - Twenty-Sun-and-Sea: Surf the Vibe[]
The naming of 2023 took place in Episode 641. For the third consecutive year, naming occupied the entire episode, running for a record 82 minutes (interrupted only by The Money Zone). Twenty-Sun-and-Sea as a year name was first proposed by Travis fairly early on, and he himself hit on the subtitle at the end of their marathon recording.
- “That sounds like a tweet that Cheez-Its would put out to advertise their new pineapple flavored Cheez-Its.”
- — Griffin
- “Surf the Vibe! That kicks ass, actually.”
- — Griffin, like three seconds later
The brothers were quite happy with this year name during the naming of 2024, remarking it was a fun aesthetic for live shows and streaming (which the McElroys did much more of in 2023 than any year before). They lamented that it overlapped with the passing of noted sun and sea proponent and good friend Jimmy Buffett, however.
Year Name Runners-Up[]
(Click [Expand] to the right to display)
- Twenty Sunny D: All Right Mom! (Travis)
- Twenty Sunny D: The Good Year Kids Go For (Justin)
- Twenty Sunny D: Unleash the Power of the Sun (Griffin)
- Twenty Money Tree: Time to Sell Out (Travis)
- Twenty Honeybee: Don't Wait, Pollinate (Griffin)
- Twenty Honeybee: Unfinished Beesness (Travis)
- Twenty Blunty Tree: Life Finds a Weed (Justin)
- Twenty Kenny G: Deeper than Words (Justin)
- Twenty Wait and See: Check Back in October (Travis)
- Twenty Wait and See: Where's the Rush? (Griffin)
- Twenty Who's the 'Me'? (Travis, about who the 'Me' in 'My Brother, My Brother and Me' is)
- Twenty Mystery: Follow the Clues (Griffin)
- Twenty Mr. E: Pickup Artistry (Travis)
- Twenty Jubilee: A Special Celebration (Griffin, who disliked it even as he said it)
- Twenty Cup of Tea: Something's Brewing (Griffin)
- Twenty Chucky-Free: The Doll's Gotta Go (Justin)
- Twenty Manatee: Large and In Charge (Griffin)
- Twenty Manatee: Float On (Travis)
- Twenty Potpourri: Mix It Up (Griffin)
- Twenty Potpourri: That's Not Trail Mix! (Travis)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Surf's Up, Brah! (Travis)
- Twenty Undersea: Wetter and Better (Griffin)
- Twenty Hunt at Sea: The Beast Dies Today (Justin)
- Twenty Applebee's: Eating Good in the Neighborhood (Griffin, who realizes his suggestions are mostly brand-centric)
- Twenty Dungarees: Do the Dirty Work (Griffin)
- Twenty Runnin' Free: Wide Open Spaces (Travis, who says this is his way of saying "touch grass")
- Twenty Runnin' Free: Break the Chains (Travis)
- Twenty Wild and Free: Nature's Calling (Griffin)
- Twenty Plant a Tree: O2? Oh Yeah! (Justin)
- Twenty Funny Three: A Year of the McElroy Brothers (Travis) The others think this sucks. Griffin says it gives him hives.
- Twenty Rumpelteaz: Meowrvelous! (Griffin, who admits it was not a serious suggestion)
- Twenty MTV (Justin)
- Twenty You & Me: Deeper than Words (Griffin)
- Twenty Knowing Me: Get to to Know Yourself (Travis)
- Twenty Penny-Free: Round It Down (Justin)
- Twenty Penny-Free: Pound the Clown (Griffin)
- Twenty Take a Knee: Good Hustle Today (Justin) This was the brothers' final pre-prepared suggestion.
- Twenty Grunt With Me: Huhhh? (Justin, who does his grunt à la Tim Allen)
- Twenty Grunt With Me: Strength in Numbers (Griffin)
- Twenty Grunt With Me: HEAVE! (Travis)
- Twenty Stuntin' Spree (Justin)
- Honey Mystery: Solve the Beesness (Travis)
- Hunny Mystery: Who Killed Pooh? (Griffin)
- Hunny Mystery: Sticky Beesness (Travis)
- Twenty Cup of Tea: It's Not for Everyone (Justin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Crave the Wave (Griffin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Carve the Wave (Griffin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Go Get a Wave (Travis)
- Twenty Dungarees: Work Hard, Play Hard (Travis)
- Twenty Hunt with Flea (Justin)
- Twenty Hunting Flea (Griffin, who imagines the brothers at sea harpooning a bassist)
- Twenty Hunting Spree: Justin Has a List (Travis)
- Twenty Wild and Free: Pure Michigan (Travis)
- Deuteronomy: Dooter on-a You (Travis)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: A Day at the Beach (Travis)
- Twenty Fuck the Sea (Griffin)
- Twenty Hunt the Sea (Justin)
- Twenty Fuck the Sea: Let's Get Its Ass (Griffin)
- Twenty Fuck the Sea: Get the Ocean's Ass (Griffin)
- Twenty Hunting Spree: Let's See if We Can Find 'Em (Justin)
- Thunder Come to Me: Summon the Storm (Travis) Griffin says this has "big QAnon flavor."
- Thunderwalk With Me: Work With the Storm (Travis)
- Thunderwalk With Me: Ride the Lightning (Travis)
- 20-50 G's: Offer's on the Table (Travis)
- Twenty Sleepy Bees: So Tired... (Griffin)
- Twenty Monkey See (Travis)
- Funny Funky Three: A Year With the McElroys (Griffin)
- Funky Uncle Cheese (Justin)
- Funky Uncle Steve (Griffin)
- Twenty Man-v-Bee (Travis)
- Twenty Filled With Glee: Fill Your Life with Laughter and Love, Again (Griffin)
- Twenty Cross the Sea (Travis)
- Jumpy Funny Good (Griffin, mocking Justin)
- Blunty and Dupree (Griffin)
- Blunty Walk with Me (Travis)
- Footprints by the Sea: When Was Jesus Carrying You? (Travis)
- Funky Starts With Me (Griffin)
- Eat These Runts With Me (Justin)
- Yummy Tempting Me (Justin)
- Funky Funny Yummy Tempting Me (Griffin, mocking Justin)
- Uncles by the Sea (Travis)
- Funky by the Sea (Justin)
- Twenty Bump With Me (Justin)
- Party Funkily (Travis)
- Funny Luckily: Otherwise We Wouldn't Have Jobs (Travis)
- Mummies in the Sea (Travis)
- Mummy Uncle Steve (Justin)
- Mummy Running Free: Catch that Mummy! (Travis)
- Money Don't Come Free (Justin)
- Mummy by the Sea (Griffin)
- Dunk With 23: An Interactive Michael Jordan Experience (Griffin)
- Twenty Cummy- (Justin doesn't finish this one)
- Enchantment by the Sea (Griffin)
- Twenty Drain the Sea (Travis)
- Twenty Drink the Sea (Griffin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Sand Between Your Toes (Travis)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: The Beach Is in Your Heart (Justin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Bring the Weather With You (Justin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Coastal Connections (Justin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: My Love Is Like the Sea (Travis)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Deeper than Words (Griffin) They spend a long time mulling this over.
- Twenty Sun and Sea: The Heart Is a Beach (Justin)
- Twenty Sun and Sea: Surf the Vibe (Travis)
More 2023 Stuff[]
2024 – Twenty-Fungalore: He Heard Your Wish[]
The naming of 2024 took place in Episode 692. It is the fourth consecutive year in which naming ran for the entire episode (this year, about 74 minutes of naming, including the Money Zone). Justin took the unusual step of bringing in help from both Sydnee and Lin-Manuel Miranda in brainstorming year names ahead of the episode, but none of these were used. Griffin first proposes Twenty-Fun-Galore, as in "lots of fun," which then twists into a new type of year name: a character, Fungalore. Justin comes up with the subtitle.
- “'Fun Galore' sounds like the name of some kind of shiitake god.”
“A shiitake wizard that you have to seek out.”
“'I am Fungalore.' Oh that could be cool! Guys this is a different direction that we could go in entirely! We've done energies, we've done commands, we've done aesthetics; we've never done an OC. This is Fungalore, he's a mushroom wizard who's here to help you get through the year.” - — Griffin & Justin
Year Name Runners-Up[]
(Click [Expand] to the right to display)
- In Episode 542, "SOSA: Appreciating Sammy Sosa" was suggested as a future theme for 2024, but was not mentioned in Episode 692.
- Twenty Demi Moore: A Ghost of a Chance (Justin)
- Twenty Pauly Shore: Bring Him Home (Griffin)
- Twenty One Last Score: Getting the Gang Back Together (Travis)
- Twenty One Last Score: And then We Retire (Travis)
- Twenty Fart Butt Ass (Griffin, who was annoyed about "one" in a year name for 2024)
- Twenty Petit Four (Justin)
- Twenty Center Court: Game, Set, Match (Justin)
- Twenty Runny Sore: Get that Looked At (Justin)
- Twenty-Twenty Score: Take It to the Hoop (Griffin)
- Twenty Ancient Lore: The Prophecy Fulfilled (Travis)
- Twenty Baltimore: Wild Nights in Charm City (Griffin)
- Twenty Twenty FORE!: Getting Into Golf (Travis)
- Twenty Twenty FORE!: Hittin' the Links (Griffin)
- Twenty Twenty FORE!: A Good Walk Ruined (Travis, who stole a Mark Twain joke)
- Twenty Nevermore: Beware the Raven (Travis)
- Griffin then realizes the Baltimore Ravens football team was named after the Edgar Allan Poe poem. His bean is moderately freaked.
- Twenty Dinty Moore: Hot, Hearty, and Always Delicious (Justin, in yet another attempt to gaslight a corporation into sponsoring the show)
- Twenty Open Door: The World Is Waiting (Griffin)
- Twenty Scentsy Store: Hey Girlfriend, Sorry We Haven't Talked Since High School, Looks from the Pictures Like You're Killing It, Are You Ready to YOLO and Be Your Own Girlboss? (Justin)
- Anything's Pasta-ble (Travis, who says it's for Kraft Foods and not the year)
- Twenty Hear Me Roar: Make Your Power Known (Griffin)
- Twenty Hear Me Roar: The Heart of a Champion (Travis)
- Twenty Hear Me Roar: Unleash the Beast (Travis)
- Twenty Hear Me Roar: Prove 'Em Wrong (Griffin)
- Twenty Hunt the Boar: A Traitor in Our Midst (Travis)
- Twenty to the Core: Get to the Meat (Justin)
- Twenty to the Core: Embody the Power (Travis)
- Twenty Eagles Soar (Travis)
- Twenty Dinosaur: Glee-historic (Griffin, who tried to go a bit too far with a "prehistoric" pun)
- Twenty Dinosaur: Which One's Your Favorite? (Travis)
- Twenty Dinosaur: Shake the Earth (Griffin)
- Twenty Brontosaur (Griffin)
- Twenty Carnivore: Gobble Up the Meat (Griffin)
- Twenty Herbivore: Unleash the Meat (Griffin) or Protect Your Meat (Travis)
- Twenty Omnivore: Decide on Meat (Griffin)
- Twenty Omnivore: It's all Fair Game (Travis)
- Twenty Money Score: Time to Fix Your Credit (Justin McElroy, a 43 year old man)
- Twenty Plenty More (Justin)
- Twenty Paramore (Travis)
- Twenty Any Chore: Just Pitch In (Justin) or Clean Up Your Act (Griffin)
- Twenty Funny War: Us Against the World (Justin)
- Twenty Twenty Spore: Don't Wait, Germinate (Griffin)
- Twenty Twenty Spore: Spread Your Seed (Griffin, who insists this isn't sexual, it's just about spreading your essence)
- Twenty Connoisseur: See, Now that's Nice (Justin)
- Twenty Eat My Ass, Travis: I Hate Your Guts (Griffin, who can't spell "connoisseur")
- Twenty Fun Galore: The Party Don't Stop (Griffin)
- Twenty Fungalore: Spread Your Seed (Griffin)
- Twenty Fungalore: A Guy You Pray To (Justin)
- Twenty Fungalore: A Traitor in Our Midst (Travis)
- Twenty Hunt Fungalore: His Dark Machinations Must Be Stopped (Griffin)
- Twenty Fungalore: The Quest Begins (Griffin)
- Twenty Fungalore: This Far, No Farther (Justin)
- Twenty Fungalore: Cast Off Your Shackles (Justin)
- Twenty Candy Store: Keep it Sweet (Griffin)
- Twenty Hunny Store: Down to Beesness (Travis)
More 2024 Stuff[]
Proposals for Future Years[]
- During the naming of 2023, Travis (after his suggestion Twenty-Honeybee: Unfinished Beesness was shot down) suggests Twenty Honey Hive: Back in Beesness for 2025 and Twenty Honey Vine: Monkey Beesness for 2029, in an attempt to make a sort of honey-based year naming monopoly.
- During the naming of 2021, Griffin proposed using Twenty-Big-Home-Run for 2031, since they threw it out for 2021 at the last minute.
Notes[]
- ↑ Mentioned 4 years later in Episode 692. "...eventually, the 2020 morphed into..."
- ↑ Mentioned at the end of the year in Episode 181.
- ↑ Mentioned at the end of the year in Episode 232.
- ↑ Justin referred to this wiki page when the brothers discussed the previous years' themes.
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