The Big Flop

Some dreams end with a whimper, others with an impulsive and unhinged shriek. Way back in 2004, Howard Dean, the straight-talkin' governor of Vermont was making an improbable run for President. He was riling up the youth on a new thing called the internet, whipping them intro a frenzy with his anti-war rhetoric and eating sandwiches on live streams. Just when it seemed like Dean might actually hav...

HQ Trivia was the revolutionary gameshow app that briefly took over the world. Millions of people across the globe tuned in for the chance win money from host and resident "Quiz Daddy", Scott Rogowsky. However, not even celebrity guests like Dwayne Johnson could save HQ from its ultimate demise: a secretly twisted workplace environment full of lies, drugs, harassment and…salad controversies?! Come...

When you think of health and wellness, do you think…clear soda? One Pepsi executive in the 90s was determined to capitalize on the healthier soda trend by releasing Crystal Pepsi, a clear, caffeine-free, lower calorie soda with the same great taste of regular Pepsi. The only issue? It didn’t taste anything like regular Pepsi. Dulcé Sloan (The Daily Show) joins Misha to digest one of the most infam...

At New Jersey’s most dangerous water park, people of all ages broke bones, tore flesh, lost teeth, and yes, even lost their lives. For some, Action Park was a rite of passage. For others, it was a lawless wasteland that needed to be stopped. Shady business dealings, headless crash test dummies, and the most shocking rides you’ve ever heard of are just the tip of the Action Park iceberg. Guests Sas...

What do Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah have that you don’t have? A $700 juicer…and lots and lots of money to buy it with. The Juicero was supposed to revolutionize at-home juicing and make organic, cold pressed juice accessible to everyone. The main problem? It was only accessible to the super rich. It still became one of the buzziest products of 2016, but after a Bloomberg exposé of the machine went v...

YouTuber Tana Mongeau tries to take down VidCon by hosting a convention of her own on the exact same day: TanaCon. Unfortunately poor planning and hilariously bad gift bags lead to horrible sunburns and huge disappointment. TanaCon was over before you could say, “Like and subscribe”. Misha is joined by Milly Tamarez & Alisa Morales ( The Betches Sup Podcast ) to break down this bafflingly big...

The 2019 movie adaptation of Cats had all the makings of a huge hit: a beloved Broadway musical, an award-winning director, and a star-studded cast including: Taylor Swift, Idris Elba, and Dame Judi Dench! Instead, it crapped the (litter) box office. Find out how a race to the Oscars pushed the visual effects team to their limits, creating a total CAT-tastrophe complete with accidental animated fe...

At the height of his career, country music megastar Garth Brooks took a big swing by transforming himself into an alt-rock singer named Chris Gaines, complete with eye liner, tight pants, and a soul patch. Gaines was supposed to be Brooks' ticket to Hollywood, with a greatest hits album and major motion picture to follow... the only problem was, everyone hated him. On this episode of The Big Flop...

What happens when 40 children are sent out into the New Mexico desert and left to fend for themselves, all in the name of reality TV? Injuries, emotional trauma... and lawsuits. Lots and lots of lawsuits. Misha is joined by Chris Garcia, Kurt Braunohler & Megan Gailey ( I Love My Kid, But… ) to examine CBS's absolutely bonkers 2007 reality show, Kid Nation. Follow The Big Flop on the Wondery a...

Marvel’s attempt at bringing Spider-Man to Broadway didn’t go as planned. With high-flying action and music by U2, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark , was one of the most-hyped Broadway musicals of all-time... but by the time the final curtain closed, bones would be broken, lawsuits would be filed, friendships unraveled, careers destroyed, and millions of onlookers would be left wondering: “what the h...

What happens when you mix an energy drink... and beer? On this episode of The Big Flop , DJ EFN ( Drink Champs ) and Kenice Mobley ( Follow Up Question ) join Misha to relive the boom and the bust of the original Four Loko, aka the blackout-in-a-can. Created in a fraternity basement, Four Loko supposedly provided the equivalent of 4 glasses of wine and a couple of Red Bulls - a potent recipe which...

Remember Quibi? The app with short videos you could only watch on your phone? No?! That's because it only lasted SIX months before shutting down. On the first episode of The Big Flop , host Misha Brown is joined by Connor Ratliff ( Dead Eyes ) and Matt Bellassai ( Diss & Tell) to spin the tale of the little video platform that couldn't. Come for the rapid rise, stay for the even more rapid fal...

Follow The Big Flop wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to The Big Flop early and ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts. The most expensive musical in Broadway history goes belly up. A theme park turns deadly. And a country megastar goes emo... all with catastrophic results. Join us each week as we dissect the most deliciously disastrous flops in rec...