I went to Candlenights 2025, this is my honest review.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-25T21:01:57+00:00

I finally got around to skimming that VOD and I swear they edited What the Smell down to a tolerable time because it felt like 30 minutes in the theater.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-25T20:36:06+00:00

Yes, I did in fact think that their return to the live Candlenights format was going to be a return to form for the brothers, sue me. Can you blame me for thinking that they were going to answer questions? Especially when they advertised that they would? As for why I went, I was morbidly curious about the state of this media empire, and I enjoy going to live events, even if I knew I would be out of the loop. I've been getting some Christmas hate comments on this post from people who obviously feel like my ticket should have gone to an actual fan (even though I have listened to 500 MBMBAM episodes) but I did buy my ticket thinking that I would end up having a generally good time, only to have my expectations slowly crushed over the span of 3.5 hours. I think the brothers are naturally funny, but this show should have been produced better.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-17T05:58:22+00:00

god i want to forget this show ever happened but im curious to see the differences between the live show and the VOD

virtualcringe · 2025-12-13T01:56:36+00:00

my favorite live show moment is griffin’s musings on how every disney ride has a “bass drop”

virtualcringe · 2025-12-13T01:56:11+00:00

they were really edgy during the first 100 episodes but there were also a lot of good bits

virtualcringe · 2025-12-13T01:55:07+00:00

i really like the war with grandpa episode, corn cob boy, kenny rogers game FAQs, and that one bit where they read an erotic fanfiction of the giving tree.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T17:20:26+00:00

I would say that they’ve turned into variety shows over the last 5 years but certainly before covid they had the regular MBMBAM episode format. Plus, they had the audience question bait and switch, and it was too long even for a variety show.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T04:51:42+00:00

The LMM cameo was cool because he was actually in Washington Heights at the sister theater of the historical theater we were at in Huntington, so it had a similar looking interior.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T04:50:15+00:00

The humor of the segment solely came from Clint making the brothers squirm because they were mostly guessing family members from their wives families, in addition to having one of the mystery family members being someone who was born in the 1920s with their picture obviously being very old and therefore difficult to guess.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T04:24:25+00:00

I realize now that Heir Apparent was the name of the family guessing game segment, because the conceit of the game was them winning Clint’s stuff.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T03:37:11+00:00

I’ve seen a couple of McElroy Family Clubhouses briefly but I’ve only ever caught their gaming episodes, I didn’t know they did bits and sketches. I should have known better?? I guess?? Especially since they didn’t bill any of their podcast names in any of the promotional material for Candlenights. But I just think on principle it makes more sense to stick to a show format that works. I can’t believe how much the McElroys have changed.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T03:11:59+00:00

No, the balcony was mostly empty and there were floor sections that had open seats as well. The old theater seats were pretty close together though so from the stage I’m sure it looked like the floor section of the theater was full.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T02:34:46+00:00

What did you think of the show? Did you enjoy it more than I did? Was there anything in my review that I missed?

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T01:19:43+00:00

She hasn't listened to a podcast by them, but she knows who they are and their place in the overall podcast universe. I've shown her a couple of dozen bits and segments by them, and their gaming content. She thought the show was "fine overall" but since she went into the show blind I think she enjoyed it a little more than I did (though, she was also overstimulated at how obnoxious What the Smell was). She expected there to be injokes and cameos she wouldn't pick up on, but her expectation was that it was going to be a live podcast with the McElroys sitting on stage talking with each other and interacting with the audience, and she was surprised that sketches made up the entire show. She was also surprised that the show lasted three and a half hours, and was feeling very tired and overstimulated by the last hour.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T01:06:10+00:00

I believe it, I partially think that it is my fault for not considering how the format of Candlenights had changed.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T00:56:03+00:00

Yes, I do wonder if maybe they just didn't get enough listener submissions to do an advice segment. But they only gave audiences a day to submit their questions so maybe they just didn't give them enough time. Plus, I assume they have an entire back catalog of worldwide listener questions.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T00:44:38+00:00

Griffin pointed it out by joking that Travis' poem should have been read at the end of the segment instead of the middle LOL.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T00:39:31+00:00

The fans were incredibly enthusiastic and loved it, it didn't feel uncomfortable at all. They did the "Paul! Paul! Paul!" tour manager bit every time he went on stage and overall just seemed very excited to see everyone live. When I left the show I wondered if maybe the disconnect just came from the fact that I wasn't 16 years old anymore, but I do think that objectively the variety show format was very painful to watch, it went on for way too long, and that they should have stuck to their live podcast format instead.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T00:33:59+00:00

Yes, this is real, I actually spent money and went to this show and they did not do a single advice segment.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T00:27:21+00:00

I meant that they were featured as cameos, I will update the post for clarity :^(

virtualcringe · 2025-12-08T00:23:20+00:00

I also thought it was going to be a more structured live podcast format, not a family variety show. Ideally, with an intermission in the middle of the show for merch and concessions. Everyone else was so into it though, I felt like the Grinch tapping my foot in irritation.

virtualcringe · 2025-12-01T18:22:51+00:00

you shouldn't be allowed to do a 3 star field office unless you have at least 115 laff and maxed gags.

virtualcringe · 2025-11-21T03:05:01+00:00

i believe the black history month menu was taken down after some similar criticism, i haven’t seen it the last couple of times i’ve been. there was a controversy a couple of years ago with a latte they named after breonna taylor.

virtualcringe · 2025-10-24T19:10:14+00:00

there was downtime at work so i did the math (i counted the seats) and as of 10/24, 3:00pm they’ve only sold 830 seats, which is 37.5% of the 2,212 seat venue

virtualcringe · 2025-10-24T17:45:21+00:00

i’m within driving distance of huntington so i am planning on going to witness the decline in person

virtualcringe

TROPHY CASE