Like Father, Like Mess.com

We’re serving this one family-style—and it gets real, fast.

Bill is joined by comedian, bartender, Uber driver Doug Phelps and his 81-year-old father, David Phelps—and what starts as a fun generational hang turns into something unexpectedly raw, honest, and hilarious.

Bill opens by asking David for some old-school fatherly advice… and then proceeds to unload a story from the night before that is equal parts brutal, embarrassing, and (unfortunately) very relatable. This is Bill with the guard down—hurting, honest, and trying to make sense of it in real time. David meets him with kindness, perspective, and a perfectly timed gift: a legit Manhattan… which might be exactly what the doctor ordered.
From there, it’s off to the races.

David—former local Elvis performer—talks about life on stage, women getting a little too “handsy,” and whether he’s still got a jumpsuit in him at 81 (spoiler: don’t rule it out). Doug floats the idea that maybe Dad should step in and fix Bill’s heartbreak. Honestly… not the worst pitch.

The conversation shifts into a classic Billified lane:

• At what age do you officially become your father?
• What was it like being a divorced dad starting over?
• And how much trouble did Doug actually cause growing up (he disputes at least one charge)?

David shares stories from his days at Kodak, turning down an opportunity with the National Enquirer, and what it feels like to watch your son chase the same pull toward performing. There’s a proud father moment in here that hits.

Meanwhile, Bill connects some dots between his younger self and… well… the situation he’s currently in. Patterns, people. Patterns.
It’s funny, it’s messy, it’s a little painful—and it’s one of those episodes that sticks because it’s real.

Oh—and yes, there is singing.


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