Too Much Information

Come on down! Jordan and Alex are diving into the beloved daytime TV juggernaut, which turns 50 years old this very month. You'll learn about the surprising role that Bob Barker’s gray hair played in ratings, the Plinko accident that cost the producers $30,000, the incident where a woman nearly gave birth in the audience, and the time the mom from the Brady Bunch had a car accident live on stage. They'll also discuss the troubling legal squabbles between Bob Barker and the show's models, the scandal that nearly shut down the production, and the potential kinda-sorta-maybe mini feud between Barker and his successor, Drew Carey. 

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Alex and Jordan go deep on the ‘90s one hit wonder with an incredibly colorful origin story, spanning nearly half a century of British social and pop cultural history. Penned by a band of deeply principled anarchist punks squatting in a decaying Victorian manor home, the track’s goofy drinking-song style masked a surprisingly serious political message. Learn how the band became the most unlikely of pop stars and hear about the controversial stunts they staged — from soaking the Deputy Prime Minister to encouraging fans to steal their album, and advocating for a death row inmate while performing on The Tonight Show. You’ll also find out about the true meaning of “Chumbawamba,” the drunk who inspired the lyrics, why the band never scored another hit, and how they weaponized their fame to support social causes. Trust us, there is MUCH more to this  song than you ever realized. Buckle up, because it’s a wild ride.

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Jordan and Alex mark the (unofficial) end of summer with one of the greatest summer flicks of all time. You'll hear the heartbreaking story that inspired the script, learn which cast member blackmailed the crew for porn, and discover why the fake chewing tobacco was gross enough to make the kids puke for real. They'll also delve into the precedent-setting lawsuit sparked by the character of Squints, the gargantuan puppet used to create The Beast, the time the guy who played Smalls headbutted a cop, and the mystery of the missing trout cap. 

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Fresh out the box. Stop, look, and watch. Ready yet, get set, because Jordan and Alex are tackling Nickelodeon’s answer to Saturday Night Live! They’ll discuss the Oscar winner who was passed over for a spot on the show, the historic natural disaster that nearly wrecked the pilot, the time Chris Farley destroyed the entire set in a single take, and Danny Tamberelli’s awkward incident with Britney Spears. They’ll also delve into the unusual origins of Good Burger, the mild backstage drama with the cast, and the slightly-less-than-mild drama behind Kenan and Kel’s temporary split — and a surprisingly touching story about the big ear of corn. 

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Alex and Jordan go deep on the idiosyncratic hip hop mainstay, often cited as one of the best songs of the 21st century. They get into the deceptively heartbreaking lyrics, the unexpected musical inspirations, the brain-crushingly complex music video, and the science of why it’s simultaneously an earworm, a wedding reception staple, and a dangerous song to listen to while driving. They’ll also explore how the song inadvertently set the stage for the infamous “Wardrobe Malfunction” at the 2004 Super Bowl, juiced sales for Polaroid, and sparked Andre 3000’s apparent exile from music in recent years. 

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Jordan and Alex celebrate the Patron Saint of PBS, the Buddha of the brush, the Confucius of the canvas: Mr. Bob freakin’ Ross! They’ll get into the origins of his famous perm (and why he grew to hate it), the time he raised a baby alligator in the family bathtub, and the neurological reasons why his show is guarenteed to bliss you out — plus a deep dive into the ASMR phenomenon. But Bob wasn’t always the King of Chill. You’ll hear about his rough and ready days as a loudmouthed sergeant in the Air Force, his brutal rivalry with his painting mentor, his bizarre connection to the CIA, the mysterious reason you can’t actually buy one of his paintings, and the vicious legal battle that continued in the wake of his death. 

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Alex and Jordan get emotional over appliances as they explore the movie that laid the groundwork for the Toy Story franchise and sparked a debate about the nature of consumer AI products. You'll hear about the eccentric misunderstood sci-fi genius who wrote the book on which the film was based, the Disney-related drama that kept it from reaching a wider audience, the insane lengths the creators went to in order to figure out the personality and psychology of a vacuum cleaner,  and the adorable friendship between castmates Phil Hartman and Jon Lovitz.

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Jordan and Alex talk about the breakups, the beefs, and even the bindis at the heart of No Doubt’s breakthrough record. In a sense, it's the '90s equivalent of Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' — not just because of the glut of radio hits like "Just a Girl,” “Spiderwebs,” and, of course, “Don’t Speak,” but also because of the DRAMA. There's inter-band romances, bitter jealousy, teenage tragedy, family squabbles, and…ska! You’ll hear about Gwen Stefani’s phone stalker, the mystery of the missing cover photo dress, the band’s weird-but-deep connection with 'The Simpsons,' and how a stomach bug inspired a standout album cut — plus, be prepared to learn about Walt Disney’s cryogenically frozen head!

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Jordan and Alex dive into the kinder, gentler 1990s outer space movie, which turned 25 in July. They take a look at the romance and creative partnership between Carl Sagan and Ann Druyan that birthed the narrative -- along with detours into Sagan's favorite sci-fi authors and a number of adorable anecdotes about the pair's love story -- and the torturous time the project spent kicking around Hollywood development hell. Gasp at the astonishing number of screenwriters and directors the film went through; thrill at Jodie Foster behind-the-scene stories; ponder at why Matthew McConaughey wanted to play his character with an enormous lumberjack beard! All together now: They should have sent a poet.

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Jordan and Alex dive into this beloved '90s hit, which was recently resurrected at President Biden's inauguration ceremony. They'll explore the colorful story of Gregg Alexander, the reclusive pop genius who retreated from music stardom as soon as the song broke around the world, yet continued to pen chart-toppers under pseudonyms. They'll also get into the beef between Alexander and Marilyn Manson as a result of this song, and why it's earned praise from the likes of Bono, Joni Mitchell and Ice-T, and how they ripped apart a mall food court for the song's iconic music video. 

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