Mt. Rushmore Podcast

Not too long ago, we discussed all of the many annoying things that can happen when you go to a "rock & roll" concert. But yet we still keep going to shows! That's because when things go just right and everything clicks it can truly be magic.

This week, we discuss some of the best concerts we've ever been to - for a variety of reasons.

SHOW NOTES

Michael's Choices

The Cure - Festivalgelande (Wiessen, Austria) - July 19, 1998

Death Cab for Cutie - The Showbox (Seattle) - November 21-22, 2003

The Drums - El Rey Theatre (Los Angeles) - March 15, 2012

St. Vincent & David Byrne - Greek Theatre (Los Angeles) - October 13, 2012

Richard's Choices

Rush - Selland Arena (Fresno) - January 25, 1992

Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Cadillac Club (Fresno) - April 20, 1993

Poorfest 2 - Whiskey a Go-Go (Los Angeles) - November 18, 1993

Buck Owens - Buck Owens' Crystal Palace - February 2005 (est.)

Let's face it: 2016's been a nightmare. We're sure it's just a coincidence that the worst year in recent memory happened at the same time we launched the first year of the podcast. Hopefully, we were able to provide you with a little light entertainment to give you a few hours of respite from the never ending drum beat of suck that this year became.

It's a VERY SPECIAL EPISODE this week as we look back at our personal Rushmores of things that happened in the show over the past 12 months (roughly). Take a listen to find out if your favorite moment made the cut.

There's no joy like waking up on Christmas morning to find out that Santa had brought you the perfect present; similarly, nothing is more disappointing than getting Go-Bots when all of your other friends got kick-ass Transformers, or being told that Santa "ran out" of Cabbage Patch Kids so you'll have to settle for a Raggedy Ann.

With Christmas right around the corner, we look back at some of the hottest Must Have Christmas Toys of All-Time. Jeff's made a list, he's checking it twice...and yeah, Michael and Richard have been both naughty and nice.

Joint Pick

Cabbage Patch Kids

• "Black Friday Origins: The 1983 Cabbage Patch Kids Riots" - Rediscover the 80s

Michael's Picks

Tickle Me Elmo

• "How Tickle Me Elmo Caused Holiday Hysteria Back in 1996" - Uproxx

Hatchimals

• "Hatchimals Are the Catch of the Season" - USA Today

Red Ryder BB Gun

• "Red Ryder BB Gun" - Time Magazine

Richard's Picks

Transformers

• "Black Friday Origins: The Transformers and GoBots Craze of 1984" - Rediscover the 80s

Pet Rocks

• "How Did the Pet Rock Fad Start Out" - Today I Found Out

Rubik's Cube

• "The People Who Are Still Addicted to the Rubik's Cube" - BBC

Sure, everyone remembers R2-D2 and C3PO, but what about the lost souls of the Star Wars universe? OK, they are droids, so technically they don't have souls, but they are still important, damn it!

Richard knows next to nothing about the world of secondary Star Wars droids. Which makes him the perfect judge as Michael and Jeff showcase their nerdery and argue about the merits of some of the lesser but still important robots in the Star Wars world.

SHOW NOTES

Jeff's Choices

Gonk Droid

• GNK Power Droid - Wookiepedia

5D6-RA-7 Protocol Droid

• 5D6-RA-7 - Wookiepedia

2-1B Medical Droid

• 2-1B - Wookiepedia

Treadwell

WED Treadwell Repair Droid - Wookiepedia

Michael's Choices

Mouse Droid

• MSE-6-Series Repair Droid - Wookiepedia

IG-88

• IG-88 - Wookiepedia

BT-16 Spider Droid

• BT-16 Perimeter Droid - Wookiepedia

WA7 (FLO) Waitress Droid

• FLO - Wookiepedia

A TV show doesn't have to have a memorable theme song to be known as great - but it sure helps. The right theme song makes an immediate connection with the show. From the first notes of the song, you know what to expect and, over time, it creates a Pavlovian reaction as you instinctively are ready to watch.

SHOW NOTES

Michael's Choices

Gilligan's Island

• "The Gilligan's Island Theme" - Hash House Harrier Songbook

Olympic Fanfare and Theme

• "The Fascinating Origin of the Olympic Anthem" - Variety

X-Files

• "How the 'X Files' Composer Made TV's Creepiest Theme Song, Partially By Accident" - Motherboard

Married...With Children

• "19 Fun Facts About 'Married...With Children'" - Mental Floss

Richard's Choices

Sanford and Son

• "Sanford and Son Theme (The Streetbeater)" - Song Facts

Hawaii Five-O

• "Is Hawaii Five-O the Most Enduring Theme Song Ever?" - Entertainment Weekly

ABC'S Wide World of Sports

• "The Award Winning Composer Behind the 'Wide World of Sports' Theme and Other 'Songs of Our Lives'" - Emmy Online

Tonight Show with Johnny Carson

"'Tonight Show' Theme: Evolution" - JazzWax

Holy switcheroo, Batman! Usually, it's Michael and Richard debating the merits of their choices for a certain topic with Jeff serving as judge. But not this week as Jeff has some HOT TAKES that demand to be heard - even if the subjects aren't.

In an unprecedented move, Jeff and Michael switch places. Now it's Richard vs. Jeff giving their Rushmore of Nonverbal Sidekicks. Who will win? Only Michael knows for sure.

SHOW NOTES

Joint Choice:

Harpo Marx (Marx Brothers)

• "Harpo Marx - 10 Things You Might Not Know" - The Telegraph
• "The Silent Marx Brother" - Neatorama.com

Jeff's Choices:

Groot (Guardians of the Galaxy)

• "Vin Diesel Isn't Just Saying 'I Am Groot' in 'Guardians of the Galaxy'" - Radio Times
• "Vin Diesel Said 'I Am Groot' Over a Thousand Times for 'Guardians of the Galaxy'" - ComicBook.com

R2-D2 (Star Wars)

• "Why Do We Love R2-D2 and Not C-3P0?" - Smithsonian Magazine
• "R2-D2's Sound Design Secrets" - Synthtopia

Snoopy (Peanuts)

• "The Snoopy 'Bleah' Collection" - Mike Lynch Cartoons
• "The Sounds of Woodstock and Snoopy" - CNN Video

Richard's Choices:

Gromit (Wallace & Gromit)

• "Gromit" - Wallace & Gromit Wiki
• "8 Cracking Facts About Wallace and Gromit" - Mental Floss

Wilson (Cast Away)

• "Science Explains Wilson the Volleyball" - New York Times
• "Tom Hanks Was Reunited With Wilson From 'Cast Away'" - Huffington Post

Beaker (The Muppets)

• "The Top Ten Songs of Beaker" - The Muppet Mindset
• "Beaker" - Muppet Wiki

For 38 episodes, we've heard Michael and Richard do battle against in other in trying to come up with the perfect Mt. Rushmore for many topics. Now something unthinkable has happened. Like Hulk Hogan and the Macho Man, the Superpowers have teamed up to fight a common enemy - Disney Channel producer/minor Kansas City celebrity Scott Jones, a noted expert in all things Lego.

Except the topic isn't Legos! In fact, it's every other type of building toy. Will Michael and Richard's tag team be enough to construct a win, or will it fall apart? Listen to find out.

SHOW NOTES

Joint Pick:

Lincoln Logs

• Vintage Lincoln Logs - Collector's Weekly

Michael & Richard's Picks:

K'NEX

• The World's Largest K'NEX Ball Contraption Was Built From Over 126,000 Pieces - Gizmodo

BRIO Train Tracks

• Vintage BRIO Train Collecting - ToysPeriod.com

Marble Runs

• This Marble Race Is More Thrilling Than It Has Any Right To Be - Deadspin

Scott's Picks:

Wooden Blocks

• Alphabet Blocks - National Toy Hall of Fame

Pixelblocks

• Pixelblocks Translucent Building Blocks Review - The Gadgeteer

Minecraft

• The Minecraft Generation - The New York Times

Happy Thanksgiving! Unless you're Canadian, then Happy About a Month After Thanksgiving! As a bonus treat to get you ready for Turkey Day, Michael, Richard and Jeff discuss their favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Fill up your plate with plenty of aural fixings and get ready to stuff your ears with podcast goodness.

One of the things we often remember about our favorite games is the Power-Ups. These are the moments when something truly special happens. Suddenly, you have the upper hand, whether you are fighting masked ninjas or trying to kick your friend's ass in NBA Jam.

This week we put our quarters on the machine and take our turn going over some of the best Power-Ups of arcade and console games. A special shout out to Richard's RBI Baseball nerds for suggesting this topic and coming up with some great choices.

SHOW NOTES

Joint Pick:

• Power Pellets (Pac-Man)
• "On Fire" (NBA Jam)

Michael's Picks:

• Magic Mushroom (Super Mario Bros.)
• Spirit Orbs (Altered Beast)

Richard's Picks:

• MEAT (Gauntlet)
• Steroids (Duke Nukem)

Are you stuck in a rut? Feeling trapped by life? Well, it's better than being stuck in a well or trapped in a cave. Cleithrophobia is the "fear of being trapped" and honestly, it doesn't seem like it's that unreasonable. Having to hack off your own arm to free yourself from a massive boulder? Doesn't sound like a lot of fun.

This week we shine our searchlight on real and fictional people who have been trapped - both in a physical space or somewhere more metaphysical.

SHOW NOTES

Michael's Choices

Baby Jessica

• "Baby Jessica Rescued from a Well As the World Watches" - History.com
• "Baby Jessica: 25 Years Later" - Texas Magazine

The Donner Party

• "10 Things You Should Know About the Donner Party" - History.com
• "The Donner Party" - PBS' The American Experience

Paul Sheldon from "Misery"

• "The Gruesome Inside Story of Misery's Terrifying Ankle-Bashing Scene" - Yahoo
• "The Blunt Reason Misery Had To Change Its Most Gruesome Scene" - Cinema Blend

Winnie-the-Pooh

• "Winnie-the-Pooh and the Honey Tree" - The Disney Wikia

Richard's Choices

Phil Connors from "Groundhog Day"

• "Groundhog Day: The Perfect Comedy, For Ever" - The Guardian
• "8 Creative Interpretations of Groundhog Day" - Mental Floss

Sam Beckett from "Quantum Leap"

• "The Series Finale That Helped Us Cope With Lost and Every Other Disappointing Finale Since" - Uproxx

Shin Sang-ok and Choi Eun-hee

• "The Producer from Hell" - The Guardian
• "Acting for Film or Acting for Life?" - NPR

Sailors of the USS Indianapolis

• "The Worst Shark Attack in History" - Smithsonian Magazine
• "Captain McVay" - USSIndianapolis.org