Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98KUPD)

Episode: 01-22-26 – Win Mike Tyson’s Money – Both Rounds – Feb 2004-BO
Date: January 22, 2026

Brief Overview

This episode features a wild, no-holds-barred edition of “Win Mike Tyson’s Money,” a parody game show segment where one of the hosts (doing a raucously over-the-top Mike Tyson impression) leads contestants and fellow hosts through irreverent trivia and musical guessing games. The crew (John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo) churn out edgy banter, mock-threats, and chaotic humor in true Morning Sickness style, pushing both content and comedic boundaries.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The “Win Mike Tyson’s Money” Parody Game Show

[01:34–08:44, 11:08–19:12]

• Setup:
  The episode’s core is a recurring game show bit, “Win Mike Tyson’s Money,” spoofing both Mike Tyson’s persona and TV game show formats. The show host, channeling a hyperbolic version of Mike Tyson, delivers absurd introductions, outrageous threats, and asks trivia/music questions tied to a fake pyramid of cash ($5.68 in total).

• Gameplay Mechanics:

  • Contestants climb a pyramid, answering themed questions or naming bands and songs.
  • Incorrect answers lead to over-the-top threats from "Mike Tyson," frequently involving his notorious reputation or absurd scenarios.
  • Even partial success is dismissed—Tyson’s rules insist on “all or nothing.”

• Escalating Hostility:
  The Tyson impression becomes increasingly belligerent and explicit. The humor relies heavily on shock value, rapidly shifting between surreal threats, sexual innuendo, and riffing on Tyson’s real-life controversies.

2. Banter & Performer Interplay

• The hosts react to "Tyson’s" outbursts with deadpan, mock-shocked responses and call attention to the routine’s excesses—frequently breaking character.
• Brady, in particular, becomes the butt of many jokes and threats—usually responding with a bemused “Sorry” or by attempting to redirect.

3. Music Trivia Twist

[11:22, 12:11, 14:08, 15:36]

• In the second round, the format changes: “Tyson” sings or recites song lyrics for callers to guess the band or performer (Korn, Outkast, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Metallica, Thousand Foot Krutch, etc.).
• Contestants struggle; hosts mock their lack of music knowledge, often splitting prizes among themselves due to poor contestant performance.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Comedic Introductions & Mock Hostility

• [01:50] John Holmberg ("Tyson"):
  “Standing 5ft 9 inches tall and weighing 224 pounds, with a record of 44 and 4, including 34 knockouts and one rape..."
• [02:26] “Tyson” Greets Brady:
  “Asalam Alikum Brady. It’s good to be here. Welcome to my goddamn show. Prick ass, whitey.”

Absurd Threats & Banter

• [03:19] "Tyson" to Brady (pets?):
  “I will eat them first. And then I will reach up either your mother or father. Pull their asses out. Make you watch. Yes. And then I will pull up your ass as well. You know that. That’s my MO.”
• [03:44] “Tyson” on his motives:
  “It’s not as impressive unless I can reach into your ass, find something that I can grab onto and pull out your entire ass cavity.”

Call-in Games: Frustration and Outrage

• [04:52] "Tyson" after a contestant’s answer:
  “Pyromania. Unbelievable. Dustin. Dustin. I'm not even gonna go on with you…”
• [05:32] “Tyson” corrects a caller:
  “No, it’s salakum salaam, you ass prick. Liar.”

Music Trivia Antics

• [13:00] “Tyson” to contestant:
  “I’ve got $5 and 68 cents says you’re getting an ice cream cone and a giant unit stuffed in something you don’t want it stuffed in. Interested?”
• [13:39] Sings to the tune of ‘Would?’ by Alice in Chains:
  “Know me broken by my master. Teach me child of your after... If I would. Could you?”
• [15:38] Song guesser:
  “My baby don’t mess around because she loves the song unless I know for sure hey, yeah.”
  “Outkast is correct.”

Recurring Gag: Nobody Wins the Money

• [07:11] “Tyson” on fairness:
  “So they get all of my money and I’m broke or nothing.”
• [19:04] Brady, summarizing the bit:
  “That game show didn’t quite...”
  Holmberg: “No, he’s not very good at game show hosting. Who would have guessed it?”

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [01:09] – Game show setup, “Tyson” enters
• [01:34-08:44] – First round of “Win Mike Tyson’s Money”
• [11:08] – Return of the game, “Tyson” tries a musical twist
• [13:00-19:04] – Second round, band/song lyric questions
• [19:19] – Wrap-up/joking about Tyson as a host

Tone and Atmosphere

• Outrageous, boundary-pushing, and intentionally irreverent
• Regular use of dark humor, controversial jokes, and impersonation
• High-energy banter—sometimes teetering between uncomfortable and hilarious, depending on listener taste
• Tongue-in-cheek self-deprecation by the hosts regarding the outlandishness of the segment

Final Thoughts

This episode exemplifies “Holmberg’s Morning Sickness” at its most unfiltered: leveraging parody, performance, and boundary-pushing humor to elicit big laughs—or big groans. The Mike Tyson game show bit is intentionally chaotic, blending over-the-top threats, wild non-sequiturs, and recurring in-jokes about the hosts’ personas and area music scenes. Throughout, the crew acknowledges (and amplifies) the mayhem, ensuring the audience is always in on the joke, even as the content veers into the absurd.

Note: Portions of this episode contain explicit joking and edgy language; listener discretion is advised.