02-20-26 - Stephen Hawking Super Genius - 2009 - BO

Summary

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Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode Summary: "Stephen Hawking Super Genius" (Originally aired in 2009, Best Of)

Date: February 20, 2026
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Guest (portrayed): Stephen Hawking

Episode Overview

In this playful "Best Of" episode, the HMS crew brings back one of their most memorable comedy segments: a fictional, comedic appearance by Stephen Hawking, pitting his "super genius" intellect (portrayed with a robotic voice) against callers in a rapid-fire pop culture and trivia quiz. The segment is all about subverting expectations, poking fun at the Hawking persona, riffing on motor and science stereotypes, and delivering irreverent radio banter—classic HMS.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introducing the Stephen Hawking Segment

• The hosts hype up "Stephen Hawking" as the smartest man ever—“the highest IQ ever…resting comfortably now in the hospital” (01:37).
• Running jokes about how Hawking (portrayed in the studio) would knock, despite his condition: “How is he knocking? That's what I want to know!” (01:54).

2. The Quiz Competition: Listeners vs. "Hawking"

• Listeners call in to challenge "Stephen" on a wide range of movie, music, and pop culture trivia.
• The format: Contestants buzz in with their names; Hawking delivers his answers using drawn-out, intentionally slow computer voice, mixing insults and comic arrogance.

Notable Rounds & Exchanges

(All times approximate and refer to main content after sponsors/ads)

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[02:17] First Round – Making Introductions

• Hawking (portrayed): “Hello, all. I want to thank you for allowing me here.”
• Co-Host: “It's good to have Stephen Hawking here. Shall we get directly to the game, Mr. Hawking?”

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[03:07–04:21] Pop Culture Quiz Highlights

• Q1: Which actor died during "Shrek" production, forcing recasting?

  • Hawking: “Is Chris Farley correct?” [03:24]
  • Co-Host: “Beat by the smartest man in the world.”

• Q2: 7up commercial actor, “Make Seven Up Yours”

  • Hawking: “Orlando something. The black guy from Mad TV?” [04:05]
  • Host: “Orlando Jones.”
  • Hawking: “Damn it, I knew that one.” (Shows fallibility and comic tone.)

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[04:27–05:00] Movie Trivia: "Executive Decision"

• Q: Name the film where Steven Seagal’s character dies trying to board a 747.
  • Hawking: "Executive Decision." [04:58]
  • Host/Panel: “Correct. Nailed it.”

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[05:25–06:24] Callers Get the Upper Hand

• Callers occasionally beat "Hawking" to the answer:

  • Q: Forrest Gump's university?
    • Caller: "Alabama." [05:33]
  • Q: NFL player Lyle Alzado on Sports Illustrated after brain cancer?
    • Caller: “Lyle Alzado.” [05:58]

• Hawking (jokingly justifying missed answers):

  • “I was busy banging your mom. I didn't hear the question.” [06:24]

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[07:34–08:22] More Trivia & Banter

• Q: Foo Fighters song, “There Goes My Hero”—a tribute to Kurt Cobain.

  • Hawking: “There goes my hero.” [07:52]
  • Co-Host: “Correct. Yes. I didn't know he was a big Foo Fighters fan.”
  • Panelist: “Huge Foo fan too, but I can't play the drums.”

• Q: First film where Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon star together?

  • Hawking: “A Few Good Men.” [08:20]
  • Co-Host: “Yes.”

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[08:34–10:16] Mixed Trivia & "Hawking" Roasts

• Q: Who shot Gianni Versace & committed suicide eight days later?

  • Hawking: “Andrew Cunanan.” [09:02] While jabbing at caller: “Steve is a gay parrot. Andrew Cunanan.”

• Q: 45-year-old boxer becomes oldest champion?

  • Hawking: “God damn Foreman.” [09:31] (George Foreman)

• Q: "King of the Hill"—what does Hank Hill sell?

  • Hawking: “God damn propane and propane accessories.” [10:10]
  • Panelist: “Big King of the Hill fan.”

• Banter references Hawking's "brilliance," the hosts' typing speed, and poking fun at the Hawking persona's blend of arrogance and social cluelessness:

  • “If you're so brilliant you could get a voice box that works instantaneously…” [10:06]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hawking’s "genius" persona:

  • “The effing brilliant yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking to answer the question.” — Hawking (portrayed), recurring self-intro [03:15, throughout]

• On his failed answer:

  • “Damn it, I knew that one.” — Hawking (portrayed) [04:21]

• On losing a round:

  • “I was busy banging your mom. I didn't hear the question.” — Hawking (portrayed), irreverent quip [06:24]

• Banter after a zinger:

  • “I thought space was the biggest, most infinite space in existence. Then I saw between Eric's memoirs, his legs.” — Hawking (portrayed) [06:55]
  • Host: “Zinger. Good one.” [07:10]

• Playful panelist jabs:

  • “If you're so brilliant you could get a voice box that works instantaneously for God’s God damn propane and propane accessories.” — Panelist riffing on Hawking's slow responses [10:06]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:08 – Segment introduction, set-up for Stephen Hawking appearance
• 02:02 – "Stephen Hawking" greets the panel
• 03:07–04:21 – 1st round of trivia (Chris Farley, Orlando Jones)
• 04:27–05:00 – Movie trivia (Executive Decision)
• 05:25–06:24 – Callers beat Hawking (Alabama, Lyle Alzado), comedic insults
• 06:55–07:10 – "Space" joke & banter
• 07:34–08:22 – Foo Fighters, A Few Good Men
• 08:34–10:16 – Andrew Cunanan, George Foreman, King of the Hill, more pop culture, and panel banter

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Tone & Style

The tone is irreverent, fast-paced, and comedy-centric. The "Stephen Hawking" impression is used to lampoon both "genius" stereotypes and radio show trivia antics, with a heavy dose of sarcastic, adult humor and frequent roast-style one-liners. The panel's energy is punchy, and the rapid-fire format keeps the exchange lively for listeners.

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Conclusion

This "Best Of" HMS episode delivers exactly what fans expect: quick-witted banter, edgy humor, and a memorable parody segment that uses the Stephen Hawking "character" as a vessel for pop culture showdowns and off-the-wall jokes. Even for first-time listeners, it’s a showcase of the hosts’ signature blend of irreverence and radio fun.

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Transcript

[Host]

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[Sponsor Announcer]

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[Host]

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[Co-Host]

This is the best of Homburg's morning sickness. 98 KUPD. This should be a treat. This is going to be next to impossible, by the way. It is a treat. We've never had this person, I don't think, on the show since he's well. Actually, we did. We had him in the squares a long time ago.

[Guest Speaker]

What?

[Co-Host]

The strong bear's old music.

[Panelist 1]

Was he an alien chaser?

[Co-Host]

God knows how that's happening.

[Host]

He's a cosmonic.

[Co-Host]

How in the world is he knocking on the door?

[Panelist 2]

It is hair and makeup.

[Co-Host]

He's a cop? No, he's a cosmologist. He's outside right now. He's the smartest man on the planet. That has been proven the highest IQ ever. And he's in the news because he's resting comfortably now in the hospital. How do you know when something's wrong? When you're Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

Hey, open the door. Okay.

[Co-Host]

Get the door.

[Panelist 1]

How is he knocking? That's what I want to know.

[Co-Host]

No one knows. Let's get him on over here. Wheel ourself on over here, Stephen, and I'll get out of your way. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

Good morning, Professor.

[Panelist 1]

The new super genius. There's going to be brief pauses after questions because he's Working on stage.

[Host]

You look good.

[Panelist 1]

It's an amazing computer you have there.

[Host]

Fast recovery.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Hello, all. I want to thank you for allowing me here.

[Co-Host]

Oh, that's very nice. It's good to have Stephen Hawking here. Shall we get directly to the game, Mr. Hawking?

[Host]

That'd be a good idea.

[Co-Host]

He's nodding yes. Okay. This is too far away. It's too far away.

[Host]

His eyes are moving.

[Co-Host]

We've come up with our first in the studio. It's too far away for Stephen to get to the microphone. Let's go to the phones. Hi there. Who is this?

[Caller]

This is Mark.

[Co-Host]

Mark, how are you this morning? How are you? Oh, you know, I'm doing all right. Things are cooking right along. You know how it is. Yeah, I like to eat, huh?

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

You like to eat?

[Caller]

No, like the heat, the summer heat.

[Co-Host]

Oh, it's going to be warm.

[Host]

Did you gold bond up?

[Caller]

Yes, I did.

[Co-Host]

Mark, do you honestly think you can beat Stephen Hawking at anything? I don't know.

[Caller]

I'll give it a try.

[Co-Host]

All right, Brady, it's up to you. You will be the quiz master. Stephen, I leave it to you. Go ahead.

[Host]

All right. You chime in with your name. This actor dies during the production of the movie Shrek, forcing producers to hire

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Michael the effing brilliant yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking to answer the question.

[Panelist 1]

Okay, fix your volume on that thing.

[Host]

I don't know your answers.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Is Chris Farley correct?

[Co-Host]

It's Chris Farley. That is correct. Gonna buzz in with your name. You just get quicker there, Mark. Beat by the smartest man in the world.

[Panelist 2]

He's typing with a pencil. Mark, you gotta beat this gu.

[Host]

Okay, 7up launches TV commercials that feature an African American actor saying the slogan make seven up yours.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

Okay, Professor.

[Panelist 1]

Oh, he's thinking. I don't know. We may have stumped him on this one.

[Host]

We'll give him three.

[Panelist 2]

He's having a seizure.

[Co-Host]

We can't.

[Panelist 1]

We can't tell.

[Host]

Time is up. Professor, do you have an answer?

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Orlando something. The black guy from Med tv?

[Host]

Close, but I can't accept that answer, Mark.

[Caller]

You know I can. I can picture his face, but I just can't put the name to it.

[Host]

Orlando Jones.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Damn it, I knew that one.

[Panelist 1]

Come on, Steven, you're better than that. You're a cosmetologist, for God's sakes.

[Host]

Okay, here we go. This movie premieres and features a scene where Steven Seagal's character is killed when he unsuccessfully tries to board a 747. Airplane in midair. The movie came out in 1996. Anyone?

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

All right,

[Panelist 1]

Hold on.

[Host]

Professor, your answer.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Executive decision.

[Host]

Correct.

[Co-Host]

Yes.

[Panelist 1]

Nailed it.

[Co-Host]

I don't know why I'm so happy with Steven's win. Sorry about that. The first guy down. Who's next? Line two. Hi, there. Who's this?

[Caller]

Hello, Matt.

[Co-Host]

Matt, do you really think you can beat Stephen Hawking and push ups?

[Host]

Maybe that's true.

[Co-Host]

It's not a push up contest, man. I don't know. I don't know.

[Panelist 1]

If you want to piss him off, though, I'd be careful talking crap to Stephen Hawking.

[Co-Host]

Sorry. All right, Freddy.

[Host]

All right, here we go. And this. In the movie, Forrest Gump Force is an all American football player at this university.

[Co-Host]

Go ahead, Alabama.

[Host]

Correct.

[Co-Host]

Wow. Damn it.

[Panelist 1]

Steven's in trouble.

[Caller]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

After that. Is a homosexual.

[Host]

All right, here we go. After being diagnosed with brain cancer, this former NFL player appears on the COVID of Sports Illustrated.

[Caller]

Matt Lyle Alzado.

[Host]

Correct.

[Co-Host]

He's devastated. Steven.

[Panelist 2]

Awesome.

[Co-Host]

Oh, that's a brutal. You guys just sit and watch me type.

[Panelist 2]

What were you supposed to do?

[Host]

That was a crushing.

[Panelist 2]

I can't help him type any faster.

[Panelist 1]

That was amazing. Matt. Good job. Hold on. Okay.

[Caller]

All right.

[Co-Host]

Poor Stephen Hawking got killed.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

I was busy banging your mom. I didn't hear the question.

[Co-Host]

Stephen's got mouth on him. Yeah, he does. You know, you guys could fill a little instead of just staring at me, type.

[Sponsor Announcer]

We are filling, but doing a lot

[Host]

of filling over there.

[Co-Host]

Oh, really?

[Host]

Professor Hawking.

[Co-Host]

I see how it works. The brilliant Stephen Hawking who is visiting.

[Panelist 1]

Is he really that brilliant? I mean, what has he done?

[Co-Host]

Quite a lot, actually.

[Host]

A lot of math problems.

[Co-Host]

He says he has something he wants to say to Eric.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

I thought space was the biggest, most infinite space in existence. Then I saw between Eric's memoirs, his legs.

[Host]

Wow.

[Co-Host]

Took a mama shot. He just took a shot at your mama.

[Panelist 1]

I knew.

[Co-Host]

Wow.

[Host]

Zinger. Good one.

[Co-Host]

That is a good one. Who do we have? Professor, line two or three? Don't give him high fives. Ryan Seacrest. Don't do that. What's the matter with you? Brady, who do you have on there? Who's on there?

[Panelist 1]

We got Mike on line two.

[Co-Host]

Line two. All right. Line two is Mike. Mike, are you there?

[Caller]

Oh, yeah.

[Co-Host]

Are you ready? I think so. Why is your phone so quiet? You talking in the right end?

[Host]

Yeah, I am.

[Co-Host]

All right, Mike is on the line. We're ready to go. Brady will ask the questions. Mike buzzing with your name.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Good luck.

[Host]

Here we go. The Foo Fighters released this song, which is reportedly a tribute to Kurt Cobain. Also contains the lyrics. Watch him as he goes.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant, yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

Go ahead, Professor. Professor chimed in. Mike, hang on. His answer.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

There goes my hero.

[Co-Host]

Correct. Yes.

[Panelist 1]

Nailed it. I didn't know he was a big Foo Fighters fan.

[Co-Host]

Huge Foo fan. You didn't know that about hockey?

[Panelist 1]

Huge Foo fan too, but I can't play the drums.

[Host]

All right, here we go. Question number two. This movie premieres in 1992, becomes it's the first movie to ever star both Tom Cruise and Kevin Bacon.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant, yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Panelist 1]

He's in.

[Host]

Go ahead, Professor.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

A Few Good Men, correct.

[Co-Host]

Yes. You're done. Steve's on the line. Steve, are you there?

[Panelist 2]

Well, he is here.

[Co-Host]

Steve, you did not like losing last time. Do you think you can beat the great Stephen Hawking?

[Caller]

I will try.

[Host]

Okay, here we go. In South Beach, Florida, this man commits suicide eight days after allegedly shooting Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace.

[Panelist 1]

Oh, I think Stephen might be stumped on this one.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant, yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

All right, Professor's answer. He's working on it. He gets the drill spinning.

[Co-Host]

See, you're not that smart.

[Panelist 2]

Here, get a towel, somebody. He's drooling.

[Co-Host]

Very good.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

Steve is a gay parrot. Andrew Cunanan.

[Panelist 1]

Correct. And he's

[Co-Host]

throwing in a jab there.

[Panelist 1]

That is pretty amazing. I'm going to give you that one.

[Host]

This 45 year old boxer becomes the oldest fighter in boxing.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant, yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Host]

Go ahead, Professor. Should be able to get this one. You have three. George.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

God damn Foreman. Nice.

[Co-Host]

Another guy's out. So long Eric is on the axle

[Panelist 2]

typer in the world.

[Co-Host]

Eric, what's going on?

[Caller]

Not much. How are you?

[Co-Host]

You think you can beat Stephen Hawking? Maybe.

[Caller]

A movie trivia, probably not much else.

[Co-Host]

All right.

[Host]

Good luck on King of the Hill. Hank Hill takes a job at Mega lomart selling this type of product.

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

The effing brilliant, yet wheelchair bound Stephen Hawking.

[Panelist 1]

You gotta be quicker than that.

[Host]

Go ahead, Professor.

[Panelist 1]

Any day now, Professor.

[Panelist 2]

He's typing up his snaps now.

[Panelist 1]

Yeah, if you're so brilliant you could get a voice box that works instantaneously

[Stephen Hawking (portrayed)]

for God's God damn propane and propane accessor.

[Host]

That right? That is correct.

[Co-Host]

It is.

[Panelist 1]

Big King of the Hill fan.

[Panelist 2]

What's with the gd? I thought you were a religious guy? Yeah, man, you're gonna upset Brady here.

[Panelist 1]

In a minute.

[Co-Host]

Is he religious? What?

[Host]

Oh,

[Panelist 1]

usually science. Usually science.

[Co-Host]

Watch your mouth.

[Panelist 2]

Try typing commas, Steven.

[Co-Host]

It's out of control.

[Guest Speaker]

Record sales have not exactly been stellar.

[Host]

Look, I need this tour. It's the only place I feel like

[Co-Host]

I can breathe again.

[Guest Speaker]

Based on the Incredible True Story I'm Tim.

[Host]

I'm Mark's Warm up.

[Co-Host]

It's my first tour. Now I just want to write something that helps people.

[Host]

You will never understand what I'm going through.

[Guest Speaker]

Imagine what God can do again.

[Co-Host]

Whatever you're going through, you're never alone. God is in fire and it is beautiful.

[Guest Speaker]

I can only imagine. Two now playing only in theaters. Rated pg.