Too Much Information

Jordan and Alex welcome their first guest to the show — Vanity Fair editor Maggie Coughlan! Together they explore the agony and the ecstasy of grown men getting hit in the crotch by bulls, launched into orbit in Porta-Potties, snorting wasabi up their nose, and locking themselves in limos with bees. They’ll also discuss the collective medical bills of the 'Jackass' cast, the numerous childhood tra...

In this emergency episode of TMI, Jordan and Alex mourn the loss of this iconic frozen treat. In addition to providing a (brief) history of ice cream, Popsicles and the ice cream truck, they’ll explain how the Mexican food craze in the ‘80s lead to the creation of the Choco Taco, how it spread across the globe, and how it influenced ice cream products for years to come. They’ll also delve into an...

Alex and Jordan set their sights on GNR’s chart-busting metal opus, which turns 35 years old this month. Get ready for tons of sex (occasionally in the studio), drugs (pretty much everywhere) and rock ’n’ roll on the gritty Sunset Strip of the ‘80s. They’ll discuss the band’s rough pre-fame days sleeping in parking lots and splitting cheeseburgers five ways, and explore the ludicrous decadence of...

Jordan and Alex discuss the film that USA Today described as “‘Independence Day’ for smart people.” They’ll get into the finer points of (alleged) real life aliens, as well as Will Smith’s truly horrific farts, why Tommy Lee Jones was grumpy for the whole shoot, and how the movie helped pave the way for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Plus, they’ll touch on Vincent D’Onofrio’s insane makeup job, an...

Jordan and Alex dive into McLean's 1971 musical eulogy for both Buddy Holly and the '60s utopian dream. Learn about the secret choir of celebrities that sang on the chorus, the truly insane number of edits it took to stitch this 8-minute epic together, the non-Buddy Holly rock pioneer who inspired Don McLean to write it, plus the heartbreakingly tragic reason why Holly took that fatal flight in th...

Alex and Jordan discuss Lee's 1972 masterpiece. Find out why it made Chairman Mao cry, helped launch Jackie Chan's career, and influenced everyone from Quentin Tarantino to the Wu Tang Clan. They'll also delve into the mysterious death of the martial arts master, his fascinating connection to the Manson Family murders, his early years as a Hong Kong child star, and the hilarious reason he was reje...

Alex and Jordan revisit the groundbreaking, nightmare-inducing cinema classic that set the bar for blending animation with live action. They'll discuss the maddening production process that broke every rule in the cartoon handbook, and the performance challenges that drove star Bob Hoskins so crazy that he took a year off acting. They'll also delve into the hidden X-rated moments, the lost scene i...

Attention all Parrotheads! Jordan and Alex take a trip to Key West to explore one of the breeziest, booziest songs in existence — and uncover the secret darkness at its core. They’ll discuss the colorful cast of characters that helped inspire the track, the drug runners who saved Jimmy’s life, and how Elvis Presley nearly wound up recording the tune. They’ll also recount the time Jamaican police n...

In honor of the July 4th holiday, Jordan and Alex celebrate this flawless cinematic salute to America’s favorite pastime. They’ll discuss the grueling audition process and the rough and tumble shoot that resulted in some major injuries to the cast. They’ll also explore the romantic subplot left on the cutting room floor and the time Madonna pissed off an entire town. From live cow births to 53-sec...

Alex and Jordan celebrate the 25th anniversary of the diamond-selling country-crossover smash that spawned immortal hits like "Man! I Feel Like a Woman," "You're Still The One," and "That Don't Impress Me Much." They'll explore Twain's harrowing backstory in the Canadian wilderness, where she overcame abuse, poverty and the death of her parents, and also her unlikely musical (and romantic) partner...

Jordan and Alex dive into Nickelodeon's ultimate test of physical and mental fitness. They'll explain how the classic millennial gameshow was produced on a shoestring budget, why the prizes were so lame, and how Olmec was made from old disco balls from Radio Shack. They'll also explore the rigorous auditions, why many contestants still have PTSD from doing the Temple Run, and why everyone sucked a...

Jordan and Alex revisit Jim Carrey's inaugural dramatic role, released on the eve of the reality TV explosion. They'll discuss the gritty, violent first draft set in a faux-NYC (in which Truman abducts a stranger's baby!), the time Jim Carrey nearly died while filming the movie's climax, and why producers filmed at Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz's childhood home. Plus, they'll delve into the pract...

Jordan and Alex discuss the crown jewel of the PBS lineup, which turns 25 years old this year. They’ll talk about the biggest paydays, worst soul crushing disappointments, plus scams, shenanigans and prison sentences that resulted from the surprisingly cut-throat world of antiquing. There’s also the time one of the appraisers drank urine, another one pulled a severed dog head out of a suitcase, an...

Alex and Jordan delve into the infamous animated '90s flick that traumatized a generation of kids with its terrifying (yet oddly sexy) pollution monster, Hexxus. But it's not all nightmare fuel! They'll discuss the 14 hours of improvised dialogue that Robin Williams provided for filmmakers, Disney's ruthless attempts to crush the film before it made it to theaters, and how Elton John, Jimmy Buffet...

Given its recent rediscovery thanks its inclusion on ’Stranger Things,’ Alex and Jordan celebrate Kate Bush’s immortal “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God).” Join them as they explore the song’s genesis in a rural English barn, the pioneering piece of technology that lent the song its distinctive sound, and the emotional backstory behind the lyrics. They&rsqu...

In the conclusion of this two-part episode, Jordan and Alex explain how the Starman took flight, blasting Bowie into the upper echelon of the music world and setting a benchmark for rock ’n’ roll theatricality, physicality, and pure imagination — not to mention pure rock ’n’ roll excess. They’ll also take a look at Bowie’s complex relationship with both hi...

As Bowie’s boundary-shattering breakthrough turns 50, Jordan and Alex dive deep into his alien alter-ego with their first two-part episode. To kick things off, they dissect the many influences that went into Ziggy, from eccentric reclusive rockstars to David’s history with his tragic half-brother. They’ll also explain why the piano used on the sessions is one of the most imp...

Alex and Jordan take a Mach 5 look at Tom Cruise's beloved ‘80s fighter-plane flick, currently enjoying a new moment in the spotlight thanks to its long-in-the-making sequel. They dive into the tale of the maverick production team that took the story from the pages of a magazine to the big screen, explore Tom and Val Kilmer’s onset method-acting madness, and relive the time director To...

Alex and Jordan explore the genesis of Sir Mix’s salute to the glute, a wild saga that involves guns, nuns, and a 50-foot fiberglass butt. For the Seattle MC, it’s a surprisingly personal battle against racist beauty standards, as well as a fierce fight against censorship practices — and the vandals who keep popping his enormous inflatable ass during its promo tour of the co...

Jordan and Alex look back on the creation of one of rock’s most storied albums — from one of rock’s most cursed enterprises. They’ll discuss the band’s cocaine fueled pursuit of perfection, including the time Lindsey Buckingham strangled one of the engineers, as well as the saga of “Silver Springs,” and the mystery of Mick Fleetwood’s (wooden) balls....

Jordan and Alex talk about hilarious true story that inspired classic 2001 film, as well as Reese Witherspoon’s nature documentary-style trips to Southern California sororities, Bruiser the Dog’s connection with the Taco Bell dog, the drunken origin of the bend-and-snap (and its long lost musical number), exactly what became of all of Elle’s 60 outfits from the film, and how it&r...

Alex and Jordan trace the creation of Aretha Franklin’s 1967 empowerment anthem, diving into the mystery surrounding who actually wrote the song (possibly NOT Otis Redding) and the origin of “TCB.” They also talk about how the song’s catchphrase may have gotten Ricard Nixon elected, why an in-studio brawl with a drunken trumpeter nearly killed the song before it was ever re...

Jordan and Alex discuss the underdog of the ‘90s video game wars. They’ll explain why Bill Clinton inspired the speedy character, how Michael Jackson may (or may not) have composed the theme music, and how corporate chaos nearly sunk the beloved hedgehog before the game was ever released. They’ll also delve into the history of video game easter eggs, the strange subculture of vid...

With 'Top Gun' Fever in the air, Jordan and Alex take a look at a different kind of Tom Cruise classic. They talk about how Cuba Gooding Jr got naked during his audition, the true origin of the phrase "Show me the money," and why Cameron Crowe went through way more humiliation than anyone should endure in order to make this film. They'll also explore how adorable Ray grew up to become an MMA...

Jordan and Alex settle into their Thinking Chairs to delve into the beloved ‘90s children’s TV classic. They’ll discuss the time Steve crashed a toddler’s ‘Blue’s Clues’-themed birthday party accompanied by a swimsuit model, why the program got props from Malcolm Gladwell, and the show’s weird connection to both Ray Charles and the Flaming Lips. They...