Hardly Focused

Travel Well, Gilbert Gottfried

Jack Gill and Mike Tarara present this installment of Hardly Focused, mourning the loss of yet another comedian. Gilbert Gottfried has exited this mortal coil, leaving behind a (potentially fake) raspy voice and a history of “too soon” jokes.

From the Ashes of Soundgarden Rise 3rd Secret

In this segment, Jack introduces Mike to 3rd Secret, a supergroup featuring members of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Void, and Giants in the Trees. Jack and Mike wonder if some of 3rd Secret’s music was intended for the new Soundgarden album we never got. On a related note, Jack features for Mike the fantastic Record Store Day collaboration between Soundgarden and Brandi Carlile.

The Wrap-Up

Wrapping up this episode, Jack and Mike discuss Frank James, the perpetrator in a subway shooting in New York City. Jack features “clean” audio from James’ now-deleted YouTube channel, where he showcased for the world his extreme mental illness. At least The Kid From Brooklyn never killed anyone!

Jack Gill and Mike Tarara present this installment of Hardly Focused, mourning the loss of yet another comedian. Gilbert Gottfried has exited this mortal coil, leaving behind a (potentially fake) raspy voice and a history of “too soon” jokes.

In this segment, Jack introduces Mike to 3rd Secret, a supergroup featuring members of Nirvana, Soundgarden, Void, and Giants in the Trees. Jack and Mike wonder if some of 3rd Secret’s music was intended for the new Soundgarden album we never got. On a related note, Jack features for Mike the fantastic Record Store Day collaboration between Soundgarden and Brandi Carlile.

Welcome to a “niche” installment of Hardly Focused! Jack Gill and Nate Fillers come prepared with an array of topics for discussion… only to throw them out the window! Discussed in this episode:

See you Space Cowboy…

Jack, Mike, and Nate discuss the sudden and tragic loss of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. The group questions if Foo Fighters will continue on without Taylor, or disband a la Led Zeppelin. Also questioned – If Dave Grohl continued the band under a new name, would they achieve the same degree of fame based on name recognition?

In this segment, Jack, Mike, and Nate discuss “the slap heard ’round the world” at the 94th Academy Awards, where Will Smith publicly reacted to a joke uttered by presenter Chris Rock. A comedian himself, Nate has a lot of thoughts on how jokes and actions can affect one’s career.

The Warm-Up

Welcome to a new installment of Hardly Focused! Jack Gill, Mike Tarara, and Nate Fillers kick off this episode by discussing the 13th anniversary of this very podcast (and 2nd anniversary under the name “Hardly Focused.”) Nate also tells Jack and Mike about his encounter with up-and-coming comedian Glen “Big Baby” Davis, and how Davis’ performance almost didn’t happen.

Will Smith versus Chris Rock – Dissecting the “Slap ‘Heard Round the World”

In this segment, Jack, Mike, and Nate discuss “the slap heard ’round the world” at the 94th Academy Awards, where Will Smith publicly reacted to a joke uttered by presenter Chris Rock. A comedian himself, Nate has a lot of thoughts on how jokes and actions can affect one’s career.

Remembering Taylor Hawkins

Jack, Mike, and Nate discuss the sudden and tragic loss of Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins. The group questions if Foo Fighters will continue on without Taylor, or disband a la Led Zeppelin. Also questioned – If Dave Grohl continued the band under a new name, would they achieve the same degree of fame based on name recognition?

The Wrap-Up

Wrapping up this episode of Hardly Focused, Jack features for Mike and Nate audio and video from Paul Rudd’s guest appearance on Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend. “Eric!”

The Warm-Up

Welcome to a new installment of Hardly Focused, featuring Acc, Jack, and Mike! Citing a desire to maintain what little mental health he has left, Jack has finally deactivated his Facebook account. Acc himself is happy to finally return to working in his office, sparking a discussion about how COVID is now just an “elephant in the room.”

Just Fart!

In this segment, Jack tells Acc and Mike of a Brazilian singer named Pocah. Having recently gone viral, Pocah was admitted to the hospital for holding in her own gas, feeling “ashamed” to let it out in front of her boyfriend. So sparks a long but comical discussion about flatulence, for it’s a scientific fact that farts are funny.

Is It “GIF” or “JIF?”

Jack announces in this segment to Acc and Mike the death of Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the GIF. Being the creator, Mr. Wilhite confirmed that it’s pronounced “jif,” though its pronunciation has been infamously debated. As it was a breeding ground for GIF images, Acc and Jack discuss “chan” boards like 4chan, which they feel has lost its relevancy over the years.

Wrapping up this episode, Jack features for Acc and Mike audio of an old woman singing Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” at a karaoke bar. This sparks a discussion about fun old ladies like Shirley Curry, known as the “Skyrim Grandma.” Listen for her voice in The Elder Scrolls VI, hopefully launching sometime in the next 20 years!

In this segment, Jack tells Acc and Mike of a Brazilian singer named Pocah. Having recently gone viral, Pocah was admitted to the hospital for holding in her own gas, feeling “ashamed” to let it out in front of her boyfriend. So sparks a long but comical discussion about flatulence, for it’s a scientific fact that farts are funny.

Jack announces in this segment to Acc and Mike the death of Stephen Wilhite, the creator of the GIF. Being the creator, Mr. Wilhite confirmed that it’s pronounced “jif,” though its pronunciation has been infamously debated. As it was a breeding ground for GIF images, Acc and Jack discuss “chan” boards like 4chan, which they feel has lost its relevancy over the years.

Wrapping up this episode, Jack features for Acc and Mike audio of an old woman singing Rob Zombie’s “Dragula” at a karaoke bar. This sparks a discussion about fun old ladies like Shirley Curry, known as the “Skyrim Grandma.” Listen for her voice in The Elder Scrolls VI, hopefully launching sometime in the next 20 years!