Riot Fest is back, and apparently the surest sign we’re getting older is that the lineup suddenly looks pretty good, especially with Tom Skilling on the bill. Mark Wahlberg is taking on Pete Rose, John Travolta is wandering around Chicago for a JFK movie, and somehow this all leads to remembering a time when TMZ had credibility. Ron Lewis stops by to talk folk music and share in the familiar September misery of White Sox fandom.

Steve is getting ready for a couple of well-placed jolts of electricity, while Janet reports that he may be just a little grumpy about the whole situation. Pumpkins have mysteriously taken over the Dahl house as the Harvest Festival approaches, and a close call with a Dahl grandchild provides a pretty convincing argument for bike helmets. Meanwhile, Ed quietly reveals that his ‘flower game’ has always been top notch.

Steve is trying to piece together a decent night’s sleep 2 hours at a time, while Dag thinks some strategic toe and leg stretching might be the answer. Pizza takes over after Steve and Janet grab a pie during a screen repair and Dag makes the controversial claim that he ate several good ones in the UK. Brendan introduces everyone to the suddenly important world of “mouthfeel,” while Ed begins the day discovering that his technical workshop has chosen violence.

Dag is back from Europe just in time to join Tom Thayer for a victory lap after the Bears’ big win in Carolina. Tom breaks down the offensive explosion and what went right for the Bears, while Steve gets his TV perfectly synced with the radio broadcast so he can hear Tom call the action. Dag has some catching up to do after his European adventure, and Steve reports that he made it through the game with his heartbeat under control. A Bears win and a well-behaved heart. Not a bad Sunday.

Buzz is dealing with a full-blown catastrophe, and gas station bathrooms are a crapshoot of humanity. He’s also apparently purchased enough jackets for one lifetime, while Brendan feels personally violated by Big Country. Then a serious philosophical divide emerges when Brendan says books can make you ugly cry, while Ed and Buzz insist that particular humiliation belongs to the movies.

Ed and Brendan throw open the phone lines and discover that live callers fit surprisingly well into the ongoing technical workshop, especially once bourbon mixers enter the conversation. Dag checks in from Dublin with just 2 shows left on the European tour, Durty Nellie’s rides off into the sunset, and Guttenberg faces the reality of his 50th High School reunion. Brendan also meets a movie trivia question he can’t answer, so clearly anything can happen on ‘live’ radio.

Steve is enjoying his new role as 2nd guest on his own show, with Tom Thayer stopping by to preview the Bears opener and share some memories of former teammate Matt Suhey. Joe becomes an unlikely Lake Shore Drive bicycle mechanic, while Ed teases a new show feature that could make things interesting. For now, Steve seems perfectly happy being the guy who drops by whenever he feels like it.

Steve is back behind the wheel, and it doesn’t take long before some aggressive high-beaming nearly turns his return to the road into an altercation. Dag checks in from Edinburgh, where the band enjoys a fine Scottish meal without a single bite of haggis. Meanwhile, Ed witnesses what he considers one of the most egregious calls in his entire college football-watching life, leading to the only reasonable conclusion: Muck Fichigan.

Steve learns the hard way that technical workshop is best conducted with Ed somewhere in the vicinity. Buzz discovers what may be the greatest dog movie ever made and, naturally, walks everyone through the plot. Listeners weigh in on Buzz’s ongoing bat situation, and even without a winged roommate involved, Buzz still manages to find trouble by getting trapped in bridge traffic.

Steve continues working on the delicate art of keeping his inner monologue on the inside, and issues a retraction regarding the new wine shop in Western Springs. Meanwhile, Dag checks in from England, where he’s taking in the sights, playing shows and learning that international travel gets considerably more exciting when passports and visas enter the conversation. Despite the paperwork, Dag made it across the pond in one piece, which is really all anyone can ask.