Top Eight (12/25)
1. higher standards
2. a fine garment
3. city sidewalks, busy sidewalks
4. Persian persuasion
5. music swapping
6. Chico Marx
7. JoJo's disposition
8. slap bets

Bottom Four
1. second-hand smoke
2. putting it "that way"
3. Graceland Too, Pt. II
4. the mortality perspective

Top Eight (12/18)
1. buffalo sauce
2. Grace Christmas service
3. trimming
4. Trombone Shorty
5. indie movies
6. my two front teeth
7. good humor
8. "why not?"

Bottom Four
1. regrettable impulsivity
2. icing the cake
3. playing dumb
4. "why bother?"

Top Eight (12/11)
1. getting back on my game
2. hoaxes
3. good answers to great questions
4. merriment
5. creative outlets
6. slow days, busy nights
7. ice
8. learning

Bottom Four
1. party fouls
2. the settling in of unsettlement
3. distance
4. the touchdown maker