Too Much Information

Jordan and Alex do a little fandango, as a treat,  as they dive into the stygian depths and falsetto highs of Queen's immortal hit "Bohemian Rhapsody!" Thunderbolts and lightning are the least of their worries as they try to pronounce "Zoroastrian" to get to the bottom of Freddie Mercury's lyrics, dive deep into the literal pieces of trash that make up Brian May's iconic guitar sound and ponder a timeline in which Guns N' Roses soundtracked *that* scene in 'Wayne's World'! Along the way they'll get into the acoustic phenomena behind Freddie Mercury's voice, find out exactly how many vocal overdubs make up "Bohemian Rhapsody," and explore how the band sort-of pioneered the music video as an art form out of laziness! Too Much Information: Beelzebub has a podcast put aside for you!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your two camp counselors of crap that really doesn't matter are back to cover this cult comedy classic and say farewell to summer. You’ll hear how director David Wain and Michael Showalter scraped the film together from camp memories, half-baked funding promises, and an indie script so dark at one point it featured a silencer and two bullets to the brain. Shot on a shoestring at a real Pennsylvania camp, the production was less summer idyll and more soggy boot camp: freezing rain, muddy cabins, and craft services that amounted to pizza bagels every day until the cast staged a mutiny. And because Wet Hot American Summer is as much pop culture oddity as it is comedy, they'll tour its stranger corners: Bradley Cooper skipping his graduation to shoot, Elizabeth Banks shivering through bikini scenes in 40-degree weather, Alex's beloved Christopher Meloni method-acting his way into a “cuddly Rambo” character, and a post-production fart-only DVD commentary track that may be the film’s most enduring legacy. From box office disaster to cult-comedy ur-text, this is the story of how a little camp movie with no budget and no buzz wound up shaping the absurdist humor of a generation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Boardwalk barons of boredom are back after a brief hiatus to bring you the surprisingly drama-filled history behind this most American of games. You’ll learn about the wholesale theft at the heart of its creation, the murderers it sparked, the gigantic case of corporate fraud it inspired, and the prisons it sprung from German POW camps. And because Monopoly is as much pop culture as it is cardboard, they'll tour its stranger afterlives: the mascot who officially became “Mr. Monopoly” in 1999 (still no monocle—sorry, Mandela Effect), the ever-shifting lineup of tokens, the globe-trotting board swaps from Boardwalk to Rue de la Paix, a jewel-encrusted $2 million set, and world championships held in places fancy enough to make a hotel on Park Place blush. Even the late Queen reportedly banned it at Christmas—proof that nothing says “festive” like a property dispute. Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex descend into the druggy (and groundbreaking! but also druggy) world of 'There’s A Riot Goin’ On,' a monumental testament to the power of individual creative drive (and also drugs).  After literally conquering 1969 with the hat trick of Woodstock, the Harlem soul concerts, and [insert the third one here], Sly Stone and his Family (non-Manson edition) decamped from San Francisco to LA and began the dual processes of making an iconic album and dissolving into mess of ego, paranoia, and—we can’t stress this enough—drugs.  THRILL to the story of how Sly went from a preternaturally talented kid from Texas into the polymath musician who assembled the only band to actually exemplify the progressive ideals of The Sixties! CHILL to Alex’s unasked-for WOKE CORNER on how San Francisco hasn’t been super-cool to Black people! SPILL… like, tears? Kinda sucks about Sly. Jordan keeps bringing up Brian Wilson. It’s Too Much Information: Sixties Black Guy Being Overshadowed by Sixties White Guy Edition! Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex and Jordan turn their eyes to the pioneering First Family of reality TV. You’ll learn the truth behind the famous flying ham incident, discover all the ways the Osbournes tried to dodge the camera crew when they didn’t want to be filmed, and find out whether it’s medically possible for Ozzy to snort a line of ants. They’ll also explore the family feud with the sister who didn’t want to end up on camera and unpack the drama between Kelly and Christina Aguilera —who later bought the Osbourne family home and turned her old bedroom into a shoe closet. Jordan also shares his weirdly plausible theory of how Jay Leno could have fronted Black Sabbath….(really). (Recorded in 2022.) See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your two alien-slaying trivia nerds are back, and this time they’re firing up the VHS and saluting Independence Day — the film that blew up the White House, made Will Smith the King of July 4th, and gave us the only speech that rivals St. Crispin’s and “Four score.” The TMI guys explain how the movie was born at a press conference, written in a hotel room, and sold in 48 hours — all with the intent of crushing Tim Burton. You’ll learn why the Pentagon pulled support (spoiler: Area 51 drama), how Goldblum improvised his way through the movie and the cigar smoke, and why Randy Quaid nearly saved the world in a crop duster. Also covered: mass UFO panic in Orange County, Lebanese censorship courtesy of Hezbollah, and the moment Bill Clinton watched the White House explode from inside the White House. It’s a tale of German visionaries, binary code, K-Y jelly, patriotic pee scenes, and a sci-fi B-movie that accidentally rewrote the playbook for modern blockbusters. Today, we celebrate… Too Much Information.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex discuss the family blood feud that led to the beloved cookie's creation, as well as the physics behind dunking, psychology behind twisting, chemistry behind the cream, and the mystery behind its iconic name. They'll also go deep on the 50+ different varieties, the rumored hidden meanings in the wafer embossing, and some truly gross Oreo-related hazing rituals. (Recorded in 2022.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your two men on the internet telling you useless information supposed to fire your imagination are back with their 60th anniversary deep-dive into this deathless rock anthem. After a heated Beatles vs Stones debate, the TMI guys explain how the classic riff came to Keith Richards in a dream — and run down a list of other great art that came to people while they slept. They’ll explain the song’s unexpected connection to unexplained Scientology deaths, and the role it played in inadvertently breaking up the Beatles. You’ll also learn how the success of “Satisfaction” lead to a schism within the Stones themselves, which ultimately lead to the death of their founder and long-time leader, Brian Jones. Heigl delivers a stunning history of guitar distortion while Jordan explains how the Beatles delighted in trolling their friendly rivals. It’s a story of ego, electricity, obsession, and the song that turned the Rolling Stones into the most dangerous band in the world. For those interested in learning more about The Rolling Stones, here’s the podcast Jordan worked on about the sessions for ‘Exile on Main Street’ and their groundbreaking American tour in the summer of 1972: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/stones-touring-party/id1698938627 Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To kick off summer, Jordan and Heigl dive deep into the history of the controversial-yet-ubiquitous beachwear, from ancient times through to solar powered swimwear that can charge your cell phone — and one special bikini that costs $30 million! They'll explore the unexpected influence of the atom bomb, the competition between two Frenchmen to craft the tiniest two-piece, and the blowback from movie stars and religious leaders alike. Plus they'll also turn their attention to iconic bikini moments in pop culture, through James Bond, '60s Beach Party movies and Sisqo's 'Thong Song.' (Recorded in 2022.)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put on your latex head-cap and grab your Thermian translator — this week, your starfleet of snark is diving headfirst into the unlikely sci-fi cult classic that beamed itself into nerd hearts everywhere. Jordan and Heigl travel back to 1999 to explore how a fake show about fake space heroes somehow made real Trekkies weep with joy — and earned an honorary place alongside the actual Star Trek movies. You'll hear how Leonard Nimoy accidentally inspired the original script, why Kevin Kline (not Buzz Lightyear) was supposed to lead the crew, and how Alan Rickman — literal Shakespearean royalty — somehow found himself next to a farting Tim Allen...and hated every second of it. (So did everyone on the set.) Heigl delves deep into Allen’s pre-fame life as a coke mule with a prison stint under his belt, Jordan talks about psychologic effects of space travel and Orson Welles’ touching friendship with Winston Churchill (for some reason), and they both luxuriate in the decades-long feuds between Star Trek cast members. The pair go on to discuss the worst-dubbed F-bomb in cinematic history, why comedy legend Harold Ramis prematurely departed the project, and all the reasons why the producers were terrified they were going to get sued.  You’ll also discover how the film’s parody became prophecy, predicting not just the rise of fandom, but the emotional power of obsessive nerdery years before Comic-Con went corporate. So whether you’re a diehard fan or just here for the fart jokes, this one’s for you. By Grabthar’s Hammer — it’s podcast time! Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready for Gatsby 2: Gatz Harder! In the second installment of their deep dive into The Great Gatsby, the TMI guys follow the novel’s improbable rise from critical failure to cultural cornerstone. When it was first published in 1925, F. Scott Fitzgerald’s masterpiece was dismissed as a “literary lemon meringue” and sold fewer than 25,000 copies in his lifetime. He died thinking he'd been forgotten, but within a decade, the book was rediscovered — by soldiers, scholars, and eventually Hollywood. Jordan and Heigl unpack its long, often cursed journey to the screen, including the disastrous silent version that Fitzgerald and Zelda walked out of, and a 1949 remake plagued by moral censors and a suicidal director. But nothing beats the real-life drama of the 1974 adaptation, which was nearly derailed by a real-life love triangle: producer Robert Evans commissioned the film for his wife, Love Story star Ali MacGraw — only for her to leave him for co-star Steve McQueen before filming began. She was replaced by Mia Farrow, while a distracted Robert Redford spent much of the shoot glued to Watergate coverage. Jordan and Alex also look at Baz Luhrmann’s glittery 2013 remake, complete with 100,000 liters of fake rain, Jay-Z’s much-maligned soundtrack, and Tobey Maguire being weird. It’s a tale of art, obsession, reinvention — and a few of Heigl's rants.  Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Put on your pink suit and gas up the yellow car — in this episode, we’re partying like it’s 1925 as your beloved bootleggers of banality uncover the secret history behind The Great Gatsby, which turns 100 this year. In the first installment of their two-part Jazz Age jamboree, Jordan and Heigl trace the tangled roots of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s American fever dream: the heartbreaks, hangovers, high society snubs, and haunted summer nights that inspired Gatsby’s green-light longing. You’ll discover the excruciating real-life heartbreak that yielded Daisy, meet the mysterious New York bootlegger who planted the seeds for Gatsby, and learn all about the unsolved double-homicide that sparked the violent ending. You’ll also hear how Scott’s messy personal life blurred into his most famous novel. From the prep school poetry to the Princeton parties, to literary rivalries and even his rumored affair with Hemingway, they'll explore how a poor Midwestern boy wrote the book that defined a generation — and maybe doomed himself in the process. It’s a story of love, lies, reinvention, and ruin. Although you can’t repeat the past, these guys can podcast about it. Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Heigl dive into this beloved ‘80s adventure classic — and you don’t have to do the Truffle Shuffle to listen! They’ll tell you all about Spielberg’s secret role as unofficial co-director, the authentic blood and skulls used for props, and the real-life shipwreck that inspired the legend of One-Eyed Willy — plus Sloth’s nightmarish makeup prosthetics that nearly electrocuted him. They’ll also explain the crazy connections between The Goonies, Gremlins and Back to the Future, the onset feud between Corey Feldman and Martha Plimpton, the prank war between the Fratelli brothers, the time Michael Jackson visited the set (it got weird), and the lost subplot involving escaped gorillas. You’ll also learn how a bout of chickenpox almost cheated us out of Jeff Cohen’s hilarious performance as Chunk, how the production crew built — and destroyed — a full-sized pirate ship, and how Alice Cooper crashed the epic cast party. (Taped in 2022)See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex avoided showering for days to dive into one of the enduring artifacts of San Francisco’s heady heyday: Big Brother and the Holding Company’s 'Cheap Thrills,' or as everyone knows it, “Janis Joplin’s first album.” The pair swap places for once as Jordan passionately reels off hate for Big Brother, whom Alex allows are “fine.” Along the way they’ll digress into The Evil That Men Do (particularly Albert Grossman and Clive Davis), Alex’s favorite Lou Reed vocal ever, why Cannonball Adderley was the best foil Miles Davis ever had, and Paul McCartney's weird musical moment with Steve "The Joker" Miller during the final days of the Beatles. And of course, they’ll be waxing poetic about sweet Janis, one of the Sixties’ saddest (and most joyful) figureheads. Too Much Information: Let’s Full-Tilt Boogie away Dem Ol’ Kozmic Blues oh my god why did we start talking like that.  Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You didn’t ask for it, but it’s here. Jordan and Alex were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should, so it’s the first-ever TMI: Oops, All Digressions! With the attention span of an addled TikToker and the niche interests of a minorly urbane shut-in, your friendly hosts started this episode with but a few brief notes and then just let their precious little minds wander willy-nilly. For starters: did you know there was a horror subgenre called ‘Hagsploitation?’ Along the way they’ll get into the preposterous notion that Frank Sinatra was originally tapped to play Dirty Harry, along with Liz Taylor's marital issues, haunted recording sessions for David Bowie and Meat Loaf, Marlon Brando's hatred of Muppets, the rumors of Grace Kelly's premature death, and how Tippi Hendren moved on from her oppressive contract with Alfred Hitchcock by living with lions and starring in the most dangerous movie ever made. Too Much Information: They’re not locked in here with you, you’re locked in here with them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Heigl and Jordan channel the worst versions of their teenage selves as they dive deep into the awesomely irreverent animation juggernaut. In between swapping endless quotes from the show, they explore its surprising origins with comedy prodigy Seth MacFarlane, how he narrowly escaped a horrific fate on 9/11, and how his passion for rapid-fire gags about mid-century media inadvertently birthed the TikTok generation in the 21st Century. You'll learn all about the epic beef between the Family Guy creators and the team behind The Simpsons and South Park, not to mention their run-ins with celebrities and parental organizations — plus the eps that were so controversial that they never were broadcast. You'll also hear the inspiration behind some of these iconic cartoon voices, discover subtle pop culture references you probably missed, and the truth behind the show's premature cancelation and historic revival thanks to record-breaking DVD sales. Prepare to get nostalgic for the halcyon days of Adult Swim as the TMI Guys take a trip to Quahog! Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your favorite folk-rock duo of facts guide you through the troubled waters that lead to the creation of this beloved classic album and its iconic title track. They'll give you a rundown of Simon and Garfunkel's epic feud, which started in childhood and only intensified with stardom, and explain why this record marked the end of the road for the pair. (Basically, if the book 'Catch-22' had never been written, S&G might still be together today...) But it's not all doom and gloom! They'll discuss how "Cecilia" was quietly groundbreaking for its pioneering use of sampling, why its lyrics were a harbinger of social change, and also detail the bizarre connection it has to a Beatles classic. They'll get into Paul Simon's thorny relationship with cultural appropriation on "El Condor Pasa," his unexpected inspiration behind the title song, and how he got that god tier drum sound on "The Boxer." The guys try not to cry as they expose the hidden messages Paul included to his (increasingly estranged) old friend on "The Only Living Boy in New York" and "So Long, Frank Lloyd Wright," and unconcover the poignant secret meaning of the final album tracks — but you're welcome to shed a tear, if you want. It's TMI...now with BONUS BOOMER NOSTALGIA!  Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A tuxedo-clad Jordan and Heigl take you to Da Movies with their epic tangent-rich, name drop-y history of Hollywood's biggest night! They’ll dive deep into iconic Oscars moments, like the infamous streaker (and his shocking murder), the fallout from Marlon Brando’s politically-charged boycott, and Charlie Chaplin’s touching homecoming after years in exile — plus lots more lesser-known moments of award show insanity. You’ll learn all about Oscars gaffes that make “Envelope-Gate” look tame — including the time that an Oscar statuette was stolen right from the stage! — and the disasters that occasionally delayed the broadcast. There’s also the tragic tale of a veteran actor who was forced to sell his trophy to pay for his wife’d medical costs (or take a cruise…), the time Tom Hanks accidentally outed his teacher at the Oscars (or did he…?), and the Oscar nominee who was wanted by police for the theft of tens of thousands of library books!  Egyptian curses, David Bowie’s preferred cologne, and the sad death of Disney child star Bobby Driscoll also get a mention for some reason, as does Jordan’s office break-room photoshoot with Taylor Swift and his unholy hatred of Richard Gere. He also (briefly!) quizzes his beloved co-host about assorted Oscars milestones and discusses his dream-fulfilling trip to the ceremony a few years back — which was nowhere near as interesting as the time the 'South Park' creators went after donning drag and dropping acid. The jury’s still out on how the Academy Award received its better-known nickname of “Oscar,” but that’s pretty much the only fact they WEREN’T able to track down. Strap in, because these two are going until the wrap-it-up music finally drowns them out.  Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex rev up their clank-boom-skronk engine and clatter their way into the junkyard for a trip to the heart of Tom Waits’ asthmatic doomer trip 'Bone Machine'! After a brief discussion of Waits’ career up to that point, including his early association with LA’s Troubadour-based Mellow Mafia, they’ll jaws-of-life their way into the album’s rusted center, from figuring out exactly which field recording of Pygmy drumming inspired the opening cut to the precise nature of the chicken-ranch storage room the album was tracked in. They’ll run down every Easter egg in the lyrics, from Tony Franciosa to Oldsmobiles, and identify minutiae from the flea-market piece of music gear Waits got repaired at a TV shop to the details of how Tom met Keef (Richards, that is.) It’s Too Much Information: *incomprehensible gargling bellows*! Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Tin Men of trivia are back for round two of their epic deep dive into the making of the most watched movie in history. On this episode, you’ll learn about the hellish production, which ended up injuring, maiming (or, at very least, psychologically harming) at nearly every member of the cast. The Scarecrow was nearly set on fire — but he was saved from his costume made of asbestos. The Wicked Witch actually WAS set on fire, and the frantic crew had to scrub down her freshly-burned skin with alcohol. A “heavily medicated” Judy Garland was emotionally abused by everyone from the studio execs on down — all for the name of MOVIE MAGIC! The wildly-expensive lightening caused brown-outs all over LA, the tornado sequence nearly choked the SFX team, and then there were the poor prop masters who made fake glass out of liquid mercury. Between the accidentals, constantly revolving cast of writers and directors, and the outbreak of World War II, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ should have been a complete and utter disaster. How did it become a top tier classic, with special resonance within the LGBTQ community? Why does Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side of the Moon' sync up so well with the film? Did a distraught Munchkin actor really hang themselves in the middle of a scene? Take a listen, and all the answers will be revealed! Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.