Too Much 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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Jordan and Alex smear their best mascara across their tear-stained eyes for an episode on My Chemical Romance's "Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge" and the brief moment when the innacurate catchall genre of "emo" dominated rock radio. They'll explore how 9/11 -- and the DIY music scene of New Brunswick, New Jersey -- spurred a young illustrator and Cartoon Network intern named Gerard Way into transforming himself into a messianic rock frontman; how the band's early trio of videos cemented them as MTV darlings, and how the band's early rise was nearly derailed by Way's heroic intake of alcohol. They'll also trace the roots of "emo" from the D.C. hardcore scene of the '80s as it sprouted and transformed in the Midwest and Northeast, pine for the days of major-label interest in niche bands, marvel at some of Way's more hilariously youthful soundbites, and learn how "I'm Not Okay" came together from an a cappella recording at the tail end of a demo tape. Too Much Information: They are also not okay, but in different, more adult ways! Support your friendly neighborhood TMI Guys here! https://ko-fi.com/toomuchinformationpodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The TMI guys ring in the holidays — and Jordan's birthday! – by going deep into 10 of their favorite (or, in some cases, least favorite) Christmas songs. You'll learn how that mind-melting David Bowie-Bing Crosby duet came to be (as well as the morbid events that followed) as well as the hilariously drunken shenanigans that unfolded on the set of Wham!'s "Last Christmas" video — plus the saga of George Michael's hair. Heigl shares his passion for jazz through the Vince Guaraldi 'Charlie Brown Christmas' soundtrack, in addition to the hilariously fast genesis of "Feliz Navidad" and the precocious brilliance of Brenda Lee and her deathless "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." And whatever you do, don't miss out on Jordan and Alex's battle over whether or not Paul McCartney's "Wonderful Christmastime" actually sucks. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good fight! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.