Too Much Information

The TMI gang is back when their second installment exploring the work of everyone's favorite besuited eccentric. Today they're looking at Paul Reuben's gift to TV — the trippy Saturday morning show that made an entire generation yearn for a talking chair. You'll learn about the insane lengths that Reubens went to preserve the illusion that Pee Wee was a real person, the insane lengths he went to achieve his creative vision of the perfect Googie Playhouse, and the insane lengths he went to create an all-natural breakfast cereal for kids that looked like dog food. You'll also hear about the time Imelda Marcos signed his marriage license, and... *checks notes​* something about a porn theater.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Heigl kick off the first in their two-part tribute to Paul Reubens and his beloved besuited character by examining his early years on the LA comedy scene and 1985 big screen breakthrough. You'll learn about the strange blend of influences that went into this offbeat comic creation, his surprising debut on The Dating Game, Reubens' early brushes with children's TV greatness, his rivalry with SNL, his friendship (and falling out) with Phil Hartman, the absurd price someone once paid for one of those famous bikes, and how we almost got a Pollyanna remake starring Pee Wee. Along the way, the TMI guys also somehow touch on Greek mythology, the murderous past of boxing promoter Don King, the wit and wisdom of Tom Waits, Michael Caine's fear of blinking, The Goonies star-studded set, Batman and....*shudder* Large Marge. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the record-breaking album turns 25 — and Ms. Hill announces an upcoming anniversary tour — Alex and Jordan educate you on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. You'll learn all about the intense relationship drama that went into its creation, the controversy surrounding the proper credit for the album's songs, and how the stress of making and then living up to the masterpiece ultimately led Hill to retreat from public life. Plus, they also do a lengthy sidebar on the surprising genesis of "Killing Me Softly With His Song," and a rundown of celebrities who (reportedly) don't let non-famous people look them in the eye.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Jordan reveals his true colors as an ardent aughts pop stan, the TMI gang celebrates Ms. Britney Jean Spears. While revisiting her much-maligned feature film debut — written by Shonda Rhimes!? — they somehow manage to touch on the work of Frank Zappa, the origin of the word "yikes," the specifics of the Lunchables product line, and MTV's aborted plans for a musical version of Alice in Wonderland featuring a who's who of TRL-era pop stars. (Plus, they fantasy-cast other epic road movies with Britney and her '02-era associates.) You'll learn about the surprising origins of the Crossroads script, the admirably hands-on role Britney had while working on the plot; her adorably humble culinary demands during the shoot, and the surprising role that Robert De Niro had in rounding out the cast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex commemorate the recent loss of Robbie Robertson by taking a load off, Fanny, and revisiting The Band's iconic 1968 debut, 'Music from Big Pink.' They trace the group's path from Canadian bar-band hellraisers to woodsy Woodstock balladeers and the album that launched 1,000 Americana bands. Also featuring patented TMI detours that include Alex getting way too excited about Rick Danko's use of the fretless bass and a meditation on the very nature of what collaborative music making means in a capitalist society that demands having the least amount of people on the paperwork. And hey, why not let Alex get a little too angry at a recently deceased icon whose creative output he'd never be able to surpass if he worked ten lifetimes...as a treat? Also, Jordan brings up the Beach Boys at least twice! It's Too Much Information: Tears of Rage edition!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get ready for an all-new iteration on the classic Too Much Information: Crystal TMI™!  No, just kidding, it's a game we stole from Tim Heidecker called Stump the Buff, in which a series of increasingly byzantine trivia questions in the buff's chosen field threaten to, well, stump them. And your two hosts couldn't have a more cognitively-dissonant spread for you: Heigl's answering questions about god's chosen movie genre, horror; Jordan's going HAM on his beloved Beatles. Along the way there will be the patented digressions spurred by each question, and Alex will slightly infuriate Jordan with his off-the-cuff question selection. It's Too Much Information: Stump the Buff: BLOOD AND BEATLES!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your two bio-exorcists of big-ticket trivia dive into one of the most idiosyncratic movies of all time. This early Tim Burton joint gave Jordan nightmare as a kid, so they brought in a guest expert — the third member of the TMI triumvirate, beloved producer Mykal Alder June! You’ll learn all about the much darker original script, the perils of building a bridge in Vermont for the film, the gross look they landed on for the titular character and an update on its long-delayed sequel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TMI gang are on summer vacation this week, so they dug through the vaults to present one of their favorite episodes — a story of life, love, and that frozen concoction that helps them hang on. Take a trip to Key West to explore one of the breeziest, booziest songs in existence — and uncover the secret darkness at its core. Jordan and Alex discuss the colorful cast of characters that helped inspire the track, the drug runners who saved Jimmy’s life, and how Elvis Presley nearly wound up recording the tune. They’ll also recount the time Jamaican police nearly killed Buffett and Bono, the unproduced Harrison Ford/Robert Redford buddy movie inspired by the lyrics, and how the song birthed a multi-billion-dollar empire that’s made Buffett one of the richest celebrities in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Mexican Pizzas of minutiae make a run for the border this week, covering the history of the perennial late night fast food option, Taco Bell. From its origins in unabashed caucasian theft, the hilarious corporate pettiness that has kept the chain running for decades, the life and legacy of America's favorite ad campaign-affiliated Chihuahua, just where the hell Baja Blast came from (spoiler: not Baja, that's for damn sure), Alex and Jordan serve us a Deluxe Cravings Box of facts. Listen Más, my friends!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barbie Fever has swept TMI thanks to Greta Gerwig's upcoming film, and Jordan forces Alex to discuss the making of one of the most polarizing hits of the '90s. You'll learn all about the doll's surprisingly scandalous backstory in the German red-light district, the band Aqua’s confounding fixation on Rick Astley, and the lengthy lawsuit that resulted from the hit song, and why it won't appear in the new movie. Alex's hatred of "Barbie Girl" leads to an expansive sidebar on the history of pop music as a method of torture, while Alex ponders his revenge on Jordan for making him talk about this song in the first place. It's a wild and shockingly dark journey through the world of Europop, feminism, toy manufacturing and the War on Terror — so let's go party! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a new Indiana Jones movie allegedly out, Alex and Jordan prepare to likewise desecrate a sacred artifact in the spirit of scholarship and/or greed: 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'! They'll leave no stone — or idol — unturned as they comb through the minutiae of the film's genesis in a sandcastle-building session between Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, marvel at the myriad ways in which Harrison Ford could have been killed while performing most of his own stunts, and reveal just how they exploded those Nazis' heads so good. They'll also uncover the species of animal Indy's whip is made from, investigate how many snakes is too many snakes, and laugh about the time Karen Allen punched Harrison Ford in the face. Too Much Information: It ain't the podcasts, honey, it's the mileage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex delve into the coming-of-age classic that dares to ask, "Do you guys wanna see a dead body?" You'll learn about the deeply autobiographical Stephen King short story that spawned the script, discover which of the four leads had sex for the first time on the set, and find out which star married a 'Stand By Me' superfan. You'll also hear how River Phoenix's experiences in a cult informed his performance, how the production team pulled off all the grossness with the leeches, corpses and pie eating contests, and all about the weird role Michael Jackson nearly played in the film's soundtrack. Alex shares his theory that Stand By Me was just a dry run for Stephen King's 'It,' and Jordan shares the one line in the movie he can't hear without sobbing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex and Jordan take a wide-ranging look at the life and deeply troubled legacy of '90s television's answer to PT Barnum — and how he made the jump from Cincinnati Mayor to giving a platform to individuals who fetishize Spam and date livestock. (Hint: it involves at least one very public sex scandal.) You'll learn about his Forrest Gump-ish early days at the center of a truly bizarre number of historical events and discover how his first-hand encounters with the London Blitz, RFK's assassination and the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots helped plant the seeds for his trademark televisual mayhem. In addition to covering the rise and fall of his show — and all the controversies and even murders it caused — the TMI guys touch on ghost ships, a woman married to the Eiffel Tower, Oprah, Austin Powers and a 70-pound baby.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex cruise through the making of a comedy classic that salutes the uniquely American phenomenon of taking a long, arduous road trip to a place that sucks. They'll explore the film's genesis as a John Hughes-penned short story in National Lampoon Magazine all the way up through the multi-million-dollar movie franchise it spawned — including some questionable sequels that mercifully went unproduced. You'll learn all about the epic cross-country shoot that nearly killed several members of the cast and learn how the Griswold's hideous car killed off the station wagon. Plus, you'll hear all sorts of tales of Chevy Chase behaving badly. So give a listen: you'll have so much f-cking fun, you'll need plastic surgery to remove your goddamn smiles!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex and Jordan throw on their skinny jeans, vintage Ts and leather jackets to discuss one of the turn-of-the-century masterpieces of modern rock and roll — a dirtbag opus that taught us that rich kids could, with the right tunes and production, convincingly cosplay as legitimate scuzzbags. You'll learn about the band's privileged beginnings among the upper Manhattan elite (Sean Lennon introduced them at a Swiss prep school!) and then head downtown to the gritty recording sessions for "Last Nite" and "Someday" done in the basement of a methadone clinic. In addition to lots of drugs, sex and fist-fights — plus a surprisingly comprehensive overview of all the artists who've ripped off Tom Petty — you'll get a fascinating overview of the Meet Me in the Bathroom-era indie-rock scene of the early '00s — NYC's last gasp of punk. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex take a trip to Bluffington to pay tribute to everyone's favorite sweater-vest clad diarist. You'll learn all about the real-life love story behind Doug Funnie and Patti Mayonnaise, the behind-the-scenes drama stemming from the show’s transition from Nick to the House of Mouse, and the controversies that continue to rage concerning Skeeter Valentine's blue skin tone. Plus you'll discover how the creation of Doug was fueled by endless margaritas and a passion for the Peanuts gang, and all the influences that went into the greatest rock band of our time — The Beets! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex put the podcast in the basket to talk about one of the all-time masterpieces of horror cinema. Join your well-scrubbed, hustling hosts as they debunk the oft-repeated theory that Anthony Hopkins doesn't blink during this film, celebrate the determination Jodie Foster brought to campaigning for her role, and marvel at all the creepy touches that make the film so great, from its sound design to the Guy Who Handled the Moths. They'll also explore its checkered legacy in the trans community and the mostly unfortunate series of cash-in sequels that followed. Even under threat of getting the hose again, Alex is unable to stop doing Hannibal Lecter lines in a Sean Connery voice after learning Connery was initially considered for the role!  Too Much Information: You will tell us when the pods stop casting, won't you, Clarice?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex discuss one of the best-selling singles of all time. It's a song that boasts more top tier talent than perhaps any other. It's also a song that brings new meaning to the phrase: “Well, it’s the thought that counts..." They'll give you the backstory and behind the scenes drama of that one night in January 1985 when 40-something of the biggest stars in music crammed into a single studio, checked their egos at the door and worked through the night to record a sub-part tune by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie that raised some $80 million for African famine relief. You'll find out why a terrified Michael Jackson was reduced to curling up in the fetal position in the bathroom, why mega-talents like Prince and Madonna blew off the session, and why the proceedings were nearly torpedoed by Cyndi Lauper's earrings and a buffet. You'll also learn about Bob Dylan's intense stage fright, the surprising reason why Huey Lewis was given a solo when Smokey Robinson was NOT — plus all the reasons why Ray Charles and Bruce Springsteen were the MVPs of the session. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex explore the beloved early Aughts comedy that taught a generation important facial expressions like Blue Steel and Magnum, dared to ask the question “But why male models?”and showed us that sometimes all you need to sort through important issues is an orange mocha Frappuccino. You'll learn all about the VH1 sketch that birthed the character of Zoolander, how Ben Stiller got David Bowie to judge the "walk off," and the long-lost original ending to the film — which was kind of a downer! You'll also discover which '90s pop punk band nearly provided the soundtrack to the gasoline fight, which legendary American author sued the production for plagiarism, and which controversial actor who nearly played the villainous Mugatu. So take a listen — it's so hot right now. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex and Jordan salute the 25th anniversary of the biggest, dumbest, most ass-kickin'-est '90s action blockbuster. It's a film that taught us all that oil rig workers can (with the right montage) make successful astronauts, the leathery glam Muppets in Aerosmith still had hits in 'em, and there's no problem that Uncle Sam can't blow up real good. They'll get into all the messy reasons why Bruce Willis was forced to do this movie, why Ben Affleck was forced to get new teeth, and Michael Bay forced NASA to let the production sit in on a shuttle launch. You'll also learn about how Armageddon and less-good end-of-days asteroid movie Deep Impact caused an inter-studio feud, the film's soundtrack helped heal a rift between Liv Tyler and her Aerosmith front man father, the time Ben Affleck nearly died in a space suit, and all the ways that humanity would be screwed if a big rock was headed our way in real life. Hit play and enjoy! Trust us, you don't want to miss a thing. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.