Secret Histories of Nerd Mysteries

In this rerun of episode 37, (and oldie but a goodie) Host Austin talks about the complicated creation of Sonic the Hedgehog.  

The hosts of SHONM are finally here to fulfill one of their promises from the max fun drive.  Austin and Brenda watch and review "The Flash" a troubled film with a convoluted plot, and too much Ezra Miller.  

What started as a method to simulate realistic war quickly turned into the defining activity of a generation.  While laser tag might seem like a product of the 90's, it has its origin a decade sooner.   This is a story that involves Star Trek the Motion Picture, the Republican National Convention, Fleetwood Mac, and of course, lots and lots of lasers, as well as some Lazers, with a Z. 

The Friendship 500, a floating McDonalds also known as the McBarge,  was one of many attractions at Expo '86 in Vancouver Canada.  But what happens to these attractions when the festivities are over?  Will the McBarge ever find a new home?  

In the early 2000's, Sega's Sonic Team was floundering to find a way to help their flagship game franchise survive a rapidly changing gaming landscape that didn't seem to include Sega at all.  The Saturn had failed.  The Dreamcast had flopped, and it was looking like the writing was on the wall for everyone's favorite blue blur.  That was until Sonic Adventure 2 released and introduced a new character:  Sonic's rival, Shadow the Hedgehog.  

Where does baby come from?   How about Cabbage Patch Baby?  Located in Cleveland Georgia, Babyland General Hospital has been the birthplace of Cabbage Patch Kid dolls since 1978.  Host Brenda went on location to learn all of Babyland's secrets and to also experience the miracle of life up close and personal by watching the Mother Cabbage give birth.  It's an adventure you won't soon forget!  

Cozy Games have taken over the internet, gaining rapid popularity as gamers search for chill experiences to counterbalance the action and violence of mainstream video games.  But what was the first cozy game ever to incorporate farmlike elements?   

The Summer Olympics is an event that brings together athletes from all over the globe to compete against one another and share in camaraderie and sportsmanship.  It's also an opportunity for a committee to get together to create a marketable mascot, a character that embodies all of the qualities of the host country, and also something to slap on t-shirts and pins.  The history of these mascots dates back to Los Angeles in 1932, and over the years there have been good mascots, great mascots, and ones that are maybe best forgotten. 

In a time where owning physical media is more important than ever, we turn our attention to the origins of physical media on VHS, and ask ourselves, what WAS the first VHS?  Was it an explicit adult movie?  Was it old classics most people had moved on from?  Or was it an obscure South Korean Sports film?  Will we ever truly know?  

In the late 80's, a small animation studio reached out to Robin Williams to get him to voice a character in their upcoming film:  Ferngully the Last Rainforest.  Not long after, the Walt Disney company did the same, signing Williams on to voice the Genie in Aladdin. These events led to corporate espionage, Jeffrey Katzenberg yelling, a desperate real estate search, and an unwanted painting by Pablo Picasso.  

Music Credits:  Money Dollar Bills by Lemon Demon