Too Much Information

Today Jordan and Alex set the sights on one of the most unique albums of the ‘90s, which turns 30 years old this summer. The record is a tantalizing glimpse at one of the great unfulfilled musical promises of the decade. Jeff Buckley was a one-of-a-kind talent who was at the start of what seemed like a long, and fascinating career when he drowned in Memphis at age 30. You’ll learn about the deeply fraught family saga at the heart of his music, the reason why label execs hated the cover, and the cruel comparison the Michael Bolton that nearly killed the album before it was ever completed. Alex goes deep on Buckley’s technical virtuosity and shares a fact about belly button rings that will haunt you forever, while Jordan delivers a comprehensive history of the MANY “Hallelujah” covers and tries to figure out the “Sex Funk” musical genre. It's an episode littered with minor falls and major lifts, at times poignant and perverse — that's the TMI promise, baby!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your titans of trivia are back for the ultimate showdown of nerdery as they quiz one another on their pet obsessions. Alex tests Jordan on everything related to the Titanic disaster, while Jordan asks Alex about all things punk rock. It's a smorgasbord of scatalogical, sentimental and stimulating anecdotes, with a (un)healthy dose of conversational diversions thrown in for good measure.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex get Presidential with their look at the ‘90s aero-thriller. They’ll uncover how Harrison Ford sweet-talked Bill Clinton into giving him a tour of the real Air Force One, how the prop plane nearly caused a scary real-life military incident, and how the movie delayed the release of James Cameron’s ‘Titanic.’ They’ll also dive into Donald Trump’s ardent passion for this film, the rejected score from Randy Newman (yes, the ‘Toy Story’ guy), and Harrison Ford's numerous piloting mishaps — including the time he caused mayhem on the runway of a major airport. Finally, they’ll explain all the ways this terrifying scenario could never happen in real life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your gurus of gameshows are back to reveal the inner workings of America’s favorite word puzzle-related wheel — and those who serve it. You’ll learn about Pat Sajak’s surprisingly storied background in Vietnam — which helped serve as the inspiration for the Robin Williams’ film ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ — and his days working at the Pentagon. You’ll also hear Vanna White’s Cinderella -esque origin story that saw her go from sleeping on floors to wearing over 8000 gowns, holding one of the most hilarious Guinness records of all time, and earning a shout-out from Nelly. Jordan and Alex also go over some of the most hilarious fails in ‘Wheel’ history, examine all the ways the production is not unlike Taylor Swift’s Eras tour (at least in terms of total tonnage of equipment) and delve deep into psychological reasons why game show hosts tend to fall on the right side of the political spectrum. So get ready to spin your wheels for an hour or two — the guys promise to keep their "vowel movement" jokes to a minimum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strap on your DJ headphones and don your best bald cap, because TMI is tackling one of the best-selling (and most "sold-out") albums of the Nineties: Moby's 'Play.' The pair will track down the source of all those haunting vocal samples, discuss the practice of "folk song collecting" and how it shaped music in the second half of the 20th century, and muse over the thorny racial and ethical implications of sampling! Along the way, they'll detour into how every single one of "Play"'s 18 tracks were licensed out to film, TV, and commercials -- some of them multiple times -- and how Moby gradually ascended to the top of the fin de siecle electronica heap, finding himself a lonely, whiny -- and possibly stingy -- king. It's Too Much Information: Downtempo/Chill/Ambient/Electronic/Dance edition!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your specters of specificity are back — and they see dead people. Jordan and Alex set their sights on M. Night Shyamalan's masterpiece that balances horror with deeply emotional storytelling. You'll learn all about the time we almost got a future Arrested Development star in the lead, why Bruce Willis was forced into his part, and the sting of clever clues sprinkled throughout the movie that point to its iconic twist ending. (Errr, spoiler alert?) Alex shares his own experience with ghosts, Jordan talks about the time he partied with Haley Joel Osment in college, and they also go long on all the ways Donnie Wahlberg put himself through hell for his brief (but important!) role. You'll definitely laugh, you'll possibly cry, but hopefully you won't vomit like Mischa Barton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex don their most severe clothing and geometric haircuts to dive in the Big Bang of post-punk and goth: Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures!” They’ll trace the band’s origins to a pre-fame Sex Pistols gig in Manchester attended by virtually every member of the city’s musical luminaries to the maddening conditions of recording with insane genius producer Martin Hannett, who maybe tried to suffocate and/or poison their drummer? They’ll also re-litigate 1980s Manchester’s most famous rock feud…among people who aren’t in the Smiths: Joy Division/ New Order’s Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner! Also get ready to be so sad hearing about Ian Curtis’ life! Too Much Information: Two men in their 30s struggling to delicately parse mental health issues via granular trivia!See 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.' See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your poets of pop culture podcasts stand on their desks and sound their barbaric yawps in salute to this uplifting classic of the twinkly-eyed cinema canon — which made Robin Williams into a dramatic star and an untold number of kids crack open 'Leaves of Grass.' You'll learn about the hilarious aborted start to the movie (which resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars of sets being torched after Robin Williams failed to show up) and the sweet bond that formed between Robin and Ethan Hawke. You'll also hear all about the lost ending that would have made this movie even more tear-inducing than it already is. Jordan recalls his less-than-pleasant days at a Welton Academy-like New England prep school, and he and Heigl debate the very nature of creativity and artistic instruction. It's a surprisingly soul-baring discussion for the TMI Guys, filled with their patented blend of conversational detours, earnest enthusiasm, and nihilism. So carpe that diem and give a listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

iHeart's resident Mogwais accidentally got splattered with water, and they've emerged from their cocoons all sticky and vicious -- and ready to talk about 1984's 'Gremlins.' They'll dive into the absolute murderer's row of 80s luminaries involved — Chris Columbus! Steven Spielberg! Joe Dante! — and the real stars of the film: the puppets! — and the man who nearly killed himself bringing them to life, SFX icon Chris Walas. Along the way they'll trace the aviation-related source of the word "gremlin," how this film forced Spielberg and the MPAA to invent the PG-13 rating, and touch briefly — and ecstatically — on the insane blank-check sequel Dante got to do with a different SFX god — Rick friggin' Baker — 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch!' Too Much Information: Just don't feed them after midnight!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your professors of pop culture embark on a three hour tour of trivia about this beloved monolith of mid-century sitcom kitsch. It's a ride as wild as the S.S. Minnow's doomed voyage as Jordan and Heigl somehow manage to link CIA mind control experiments, the JFK assassination, numerous tragic Hollywood deaths to talk of the seven castaways. You'll learn all about the hilarious feud among the cast, the ridiculously petty secret meaning behind the boat's name, all the ways Mary Anne was a real-life angel, and a story about the Skipper's final days that is guaranteed to make you sob. In addition to the stranger-than-fiction tales of naive good samaritans who tried to launch their own campaign to rescue Gilligan and Co., you'll also hear all about the truly insane made-for-TV reunions projects that somehow encompassed the Harlem Globetrotters, a nuclear apocalypse and murder. You're sure to get a smile from seven stranded castaways — and two crazy podcast hosts — here on Gilligan's Isle!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex close out APE-ril by traveling back in time -- or is it forward? -- to the original Planet of the Apes! No aspect of the original will be free of their dirty paws as they probe the original novel, written by the guy who wrote Bridge on the River Kwai and initially translated as "Monkey Planet!" No APE-spect of the film's torturous run-up to production will be missed, from the 30 drafts Rod Serling wrote to the revolutionary makeup that cost more than the actors! Oh, and there's a Sammy Davis, Jr story! Head into May-PE with Too Much Apes-formation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your Chairmen of the Bored are back with a deep dive into the life and times of Ol’ Blue Eyes and the twisted origins of his signature tune — which went from an obscure French pop song to an immortal karaoke anthem. It was all thanks to former teen star Paul Anka, who wrote the stirring lyrics at his idol’s request on the eve of his retirement. You’ll learn how a Beatle (maybe) witnessed the recording, and you’ll hear an early version of the lyrics written by a pre-fame David Bowie. You’ll discover why Las Vegas became the home base for the Rat Pack, and hear all about Frank’s risky dealings — and crazy love triangle — with the Kennedys and the Mob (and why some believe he maybe-kinda-sorta inadvertently triggered JFK’s assassination…). Jordan and Alex also go deep on the Sex Pistols’ punk-rock cover of the classic, sung by the doomed bassist Sid Vicious, and examine the shocking number of murders that have occurred as a direct result of this song. Regrets, we’ve all had a few — but listening to this episode will not be one of them.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex and Jordan don their finest sweaters and Buddy Holly glasses to explore one of the touchstones of '90s alternative rock. Together they discuss the enigma known as Rivers Cuomo, touching on how his tumultuous upbringing inspired tracks like "Say It Ain't So" and "My Name is Jonas," why he was disappointed that Weezer weren't heralded as the next Nirvana, and the time he replaced all of his newly-fired guitarist's parts in a single session. The TMI guys also share the (slightly corny) original lyrics to "Buddy Holly," explain how Henry Winkler saved Spike Jonze's famous 'Happy Days'-themed video, and the adorable bond between the band and their producer, Cars legend Ric Ocasek — plus the many reasons why Jordan's beloved Beach Boys are the secret MVPs of this record. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex explore the beloved (yet terrifying) classic of children’s cinema. You’ll learn the many ways the kid who played Atreyu nearly died on the set, the true fate of the horse that sank in the quicksand, the insane lengths they went to build Falkor the Luck Dragon, and Steven Spielberg's secret role in helping finish the movie. They’ll also discuss how the Oracles left some viewers scandalized, why the “Childlike Empress” wore dentures, the ingenious effects that helped create The Nothing, and why the author of ‘The NeverEnding Story’ book hated the movie so much that he sued the studio. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your list-living Lotharios are back with an episode that's just too good to be true. Get ready to dive deep into this crown jewel of the late '90s teen movie boom. You'll learn all about the alternate leads we nearly saw instead of Heath Ledger, the songs he nearly sang instead of Frankie Valli, what exactly was behind those tears when Julia Stiles recited the titular poem, and the on-set romance that will blow your minds. Jordan sounds off on why teen movies from this era are just so damn good, Alex opines on all the ways the band Letters to Cleo nearly died by performing on the roof, and together they speculate on the uncompleted sequel that's been tied up in legal hell for over a decade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jordan and Alex don their tightest PVC outfits to jack into this week's topic: 'The Matrix,' which turns 25 this month! They'll take this thing alllllll the way back to the Wachoswkis' roots writing Clive Barker comics for Marvel (really) and the early pitches that paved the way for their hit. They'll also get into the grueling training period that the film's leads had to go through, the insane process behind "bullet time," and the film's legacy as both trans allegory and eerie portent of the online hell in which he currently live! You'll also pick up facts about the classic sci-fi authors that inspired the film, the exact provenance of some of the sounds of the Matrix, and whether or not "the Matrix defense" is a real thing that works in court! Too Much Information: We're jacked in!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zoinks! The TMI twosome take a ride in the Mystery Machine as they explore 55 years of Scooby-Doo and his human pals. You'll learn how a misheard Frank Sinatra lyric inspired the name of the titular pooch, the '50s sitcom that helped shape the teen characters, and why Velma has been embraced by the LGBTQ+ community — plus discover the origins of the hated Scrappy Doo character, the behind-the-scenes studio battles that erupted as a result of the big screen version in 2002, and the show's bizarre connection to Charles Manson. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Your real estate novelists of real interesting facts take a trip down the Joel Hoel with a deep dive into the musical genius and dark underside of the idiosyncratic maestro — who's in the midst of an artistic comeback following three decades of self-imposed creative exile. Though spotlighting his breakthrough classic (which recently turned 50!) you'll also learn about his pre-fame heavy metal band, the recording snafu that nearly ruined his career before it began, the hidden heartbreak behind his greatest love songs, and all the reasons why his signature tune was an unlikely hit. Plus you'll hear all about his ongoing battle with critics, why he hasn't released a new album in 31 years, and why Jordan thinks he just might be the most fascinating Boomer Rock icon of all time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TMI guys are back with an episode you'll want to hear over and over and over again! They're diving deep into this beloved 1993 Bill Murray/Harold Ramis collaboration — a cinematic masterpiece disguised as a standard-fare early '90s rom com. Jordan and Heigl speak at length (and with an almost pathological intensity) about the startlingly deep themes of Groundhog Day, and argue why Danny Rubin's clever screenplay is a genius-level meditation on life, love and what it means to grow as a human being. You'll learn all about the EXTREMELY dark early version of the script that had the main character reliving the same day for 10,000 years, the philosophical and spiritual implications of the movie that touch seemingly every single religion, and the psychotic lengths that some fans have gone to calculate exactly how long Bill Murray spent stranded in Punxsutawney. You'll also hear how on-set drama sparked a heartbreaking feud that ended Ramis and Murray's unparalleled creative partnership (until a the deathbed reunion that rekindled their friendship), the even bloodier feud Murray had with an on-set groundhog, the bizarre origins of the titular holiday, and the perfect reason why that deathless Sonny & Cher song was featured so prominently. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.