Long Island Based Influencer and Comedian Tom Kelly was complaining about the growth of people doing videos and similar to his. Brittany Stigliano – ThatMom_Brittany on Instagram suggested Tom meet Peter Romanelli of Pizzaiola . . . owner of the Long Island pizza shop that lays claim to the first ever Buffalo Chicken slice. – Was the first Buffalo Chicken pizza slice invented at Pizziola of North Babylon, Long Island? Does every pizza shop owner now also have to be a TikTok comedian? What can comedians and creatives learn from pizza owners? Are pizza shop owners jerks? –
Tom Kelly goes from celebrity culture to Long Island problems and then ends with a tribute to one of the people who helped shape his life. Tom reacts to the troubling news surrounding Perez Hilton and reflects on fame, career reinvention, getting older, and the difficulty of trying to recreate an earlier high point in your career. It leads Tom to an important realization: sometimes the people who matter most aren’t in show business — they’re simply the people who love you. Then, a neighborhood debate: Is it wrong to put your dog’s poop in somebody else’s garbage can? Tom has a definite opinion. Next, we’re going to Lindenhurst, Long Island. Tom asked Lindenhurst residents what they hate about their own town. Parking apps, fishing permits, disappearing landmarks, confusing streets, yard-sale rules, the town’s legendary reputation for bars — and why Tom actually loves Lindenhurst. Finally, Tom remembers Gary Proce, his former Long Island Lutheran High School athletic director and mentor. Gary helped a shy teenage Tom come out of his shell, nominated him for a Christian Service Award, encouraged his sense of humor and helped give him some of his earliest opportunities. Tom reflects on Gary’s life, his many careers, and the importance of telling people they made a difference while you still have the chance.
Does the Massapequa School District have a bullying problem? On this episode of **The Tom Kelly Show**, Tom talks honestly — and still somehow comedically — about bullying in Massapequa, his own experience being bullied, and why communities need to do better. Then Tom pivots into the life lessons he learned on his very recent “40th” birthday. Don’t argue with the number. From friendship and gratitude to getting older in entertainment, health, relationships, faith, money, and the fear of not being enough, this episode goes from local Long Island frustration to personal reflection… with sponsors, jokes, and belly slaps along the way. **Content note:** This episode includes discussion of bullying and suicide. Like, comment, subscribe, and share if you’re part of the little Tom Kelly Show community. And please comment: **Happy 40th Birthday, Tom Kelly.**
Comedian and longtime TV warm-up performer Tom Kelly reacts to the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and what it means for the future of late-night television, comedy, and New York City entertainment culture. From performing warm-up comedy inside the historic Ed Sullivan Theater to reflecting on the collapse of traditional broadcast television, Tom shares personal stories, industry insight, and emotional memories about working with Stephen Colbert and his staff over the years.
Comedian and podcast host Tom Kelly continues his Massapequa School Board interview series with current board member and candidate Cheryl Lepre. – Recorded at Paradise Studios in Massapequa, Long Island, this long-form conversation covers: – The “Save the Chief” lawsuit Taxpayer money and school budgets COVID and mask policy fallout Anonymous Facebook politics Transgender locker room controversy Universal Pre-K Education, AI & vocational training Why Massapequa has become a national political flashpoint And whether local politics has become too mean This episode focuses heavily on tone, community identity, and what Cheryl Lepre believes keeps Massapequa schools successful.
Current Massapequa school board member and candidate Danielle Ocuto joins Tom at Paradise Studios in Massapequa for a wide-ranging discussion about: The “Save the Chief” mascot controversy Lawsuits and taxpayer money COVID-era mask debates Parent rights in schools Transgender bathroom and locker room policies Public comment at school board meetings Universal Pre-K And why local school board politics have become national news ⚠️ This episode is presented as a conversation and not an endorsement of any candidate or position.
Tom Kelly runs into Bobby Bonett a magazine publisher running for school board in Massapequa, Long Island. – What follows is a raw, unscripted conversation about: Local politics The “Save the Chief” controversy Lawsuits vs taxpayer money Transgender policies in schools And why school boards shouldn’t be this dramatic in the first place ⚠️ This is NOT an endorsement — it’s a conversation. Candidates Danielle Ocuto and Cheryl LePre have been invited to do individual interviews via Facebook and their campaign Instagram.
Tonight on The Tom Kelly Show — comedian and author Al Isaacs shares the unbelievable true story behind his book Finding Mary Smith… a journey that starts with his parents’ dementia and leads to a life-changing discovery: 👉 He was adopted — and had no idea.
What follows is a wild, emotional, and often funny ride through identity, family secrets, DNA searches, and one of the most incredible reunion stories you’ll ever hear — including a live surprise ending you won’t see coming.
👇 WATCH UNTIL THE END for the twist.
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Opening chaos & crowd energy 0:20 – What this episode is about (and why you should stick around) 1:04 – Tom introduces himself & Al Isaacs 2:27 – The book that reveals everything 3:08 – “Guy finds out he’s adopted…” (the premise) 3:53 – The moment Al learns the truth (from a doctor!) 4:30 – The message that confirms it’s real 5:02 – A Christmas hospital story (Tom Kelly moment ❤️) 7:22 – Identity crisis: “What if I wasn’t me?” 8:16 – Growing up in a family that didn’t quite fit 9:35 – 53 years… no clue he was adopted 10:46 – Why he never told his father 11:10 – Telling his mother (and dementia complicates everything) 12:44 – Realizing something is wrong 14:26 – The search begins during COVID 15:45 – The emotional first reaction: “I’m not me” 16:48 – What actually changes about identity 18:23 – The voice in your head returns (imposter syndrome) 19:29 – DNA tests, Ancestry, and the search begins 20:32 – “Gray market” adoption explained 21:55 – Losing two fathers at once 23:05 – The first major breakthrough 24:46 – The moment everything clicks 26:31 – Reaching out to a possible sister 27:34 – “I’ve been looking for you for 20 years” 28:47 – The truth about his birth parents 30:52 – Discovering he comes from musicians 32:30 – His mother was basically an early American Idol winner 33:33 – The internet rabbit hole that finds his mom 34:25 – The message that changes everything 36:23 – Fear of reaching out… and what happens next 37:27 – How his life changed after finding her 39:32 – Why he wrote the book 40:20 – Others discovering family secrets through DNA 41:30 – Audience Q&A begins 48:38 – 🚨 LIVE SURPRISE: His sister walks in 49:25 – Emotional reunion on stage 53:11 – Sister reveals her side of the story 54:35 – Advice for anyone afraid to reach out
🎙️ ABOUT THE EPISODE
This episode covers:
Adoption secrets and identity
Dementia and family memory
DNA testing & ancestry surprises
Emotional reunions
Comedy, trauma, and storytelling
It’s funny, raw, and deeply human — exactly what The Tom Kelly Show does best.
👍 LIKE • COMMENT • SUBSCRIBE
If this story moved you, drop a comment — especially if you’ve ever taken an ancestry test or discovered something unexpected about your family.
Trevor DeBlase from the legendary Keller Williams real estate team in Franklin Square, Long Island and comedian Tom Kelly dig into the real stuff nobody tells you about moving from NYC to Long Island — the language, the roads, the neighborhoods, the sirens that sound like the zombie apocalypse, and why Long Islanders give directions like you’re supposed to know every street name. Trevor DeBlase on Instagram: @TrevorDeBlase
The first in-studio podcast of 2026 kicks off with reflection, rebellion, and one perfectly unhinged act of digital chaos. In this episode of The Tom Kelly Show, Tom talks about: *Turning five years of podcasting into joy again *How success can quietly kill creativity *Why doing things just for fun works better than chasing virality *His most viral subway moment (and why it happened by accident) *Gently rebelling against authority, tradition, and himself *And finally… hitting “Reply All” on a stranger’s holiday email newsletter
