Holmberg’s Morning Sickness - Arizona

August 26, 2025 | Episode Summary

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This episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness features the crew riffing on a wild email about paternity drama, a rundown of the greatest medical TV shows, fresh entertainment gossip, and their signature blend of dark humor and candid takes on pop culture and relationships.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Wild Paternity Email: A Listener Named Marcus Drops a Bombshell

(Starts at 01:48)

• Marcus writes in: He discovered through a DNA test that his 9-month-old son is actually his wife's old college boyfriend’s child.

  • The college ex had been around the friend group for a while, unbeknownst to Marcus that he was more than just a friend.
  • Marcus had suspicions because he was in a leg cast during the time of conception, and sexual activity was limited, making the timing questionable.

• Marcus’s reaction:

  • He broke things off with his wife immediately:

    "Good luck with your bills now, bitch. This gravy train is gone and I know people will think I'm cold hearted but I'm out completely." (03:13, Marcus's email read by Host)

  • Added a dig at DNA tests, usually not liking them, but admits, "in this case, it saved the day."
  • He signs off: "Happy 9/11, Marcus." (Hosts joke about the "Happy 9/11" sign off).

• Hosts Weigh In:

  • Applaud Marcus for catching it early, joking about the lack of emotional attachment to a baby under one year.
  • John Holmberg:

    "He caught it in under a year. Which means the love for the child hadn't kicked in yet. He could walk away. Good for you, Marcus." (04:25)

  • Lively speculation: At what age is it too late to walk away after learning a child isn't yours?
    • Consensus: It's easier the younger the child. Nine months is "walkable." Six years gets complicated.
    • Holmberg:

      "Six years old, you'd kiss the kid, ‘That was fun while it lasted!’” (06:33)

    • Cautions against dating single mothers: "You're gonna fall for the kid too, and when you break up, you gotta dump the whole family." (06:36, Holmberg)

• Signature Dark Humor:

  • "Just kiss the baby on the forehead, tell him goodbye, and tell him your mom’s a whore." (05:32, Holmberg)
  • “Make a little tape for him. ‘You are the baby that grew in her loins... your real father's name is Gavin and he's fat. Poor.’” (05:48, Holmberg)
  • The panel riffs on what age would make it morally difficult to leave: consensus is it gets more painful as the child gets older, but their advice is always delivered with comedic detachment.

2. Entertainment Drill: Top Medical TV Shows of All Time

(Starts at 08:40)

• Entertainment Weekly’s List:
  • Top shows include “ER” (#1), “Grey’s Anatomy” (#3), “St. Elsewhere” (#4), “MAS*H” (#6), “Scrubs” (#5), “Dr. Kildare” (#2), “Nurse Jackie” (#10), and “House” (not top ten, but mentioned).
  • Brief, humorous rundown of why some shows deserve their ranks, reminiscence about classic TV, and shout-outs to DC legends (Denzel, Ed Begley Jr., Howie Mandel).
  • "St. Elsewhere is number four." (08:58, Entertainment contributor)

3. South Park Delays: Writers Burned Out by Political Season

(Starts at 11:07)

• The creators are delaying the next season due to fatigue over U.S. presidential politics.
• Holmberg agrees:

  “That’s kind of how I feel about this... We have to talk about politics sometimes. I don’t want to become political. It’s draining.” (11:55)

• Humor about “crap sandwich vs douche” election choices, and how politics overwhelms pop culture.

4. Diddy Lawsuit: Prisoner Awarded $100 Million Default Judgment

(Starts at 12:36)

• Derek Lee Cardello Smith, a prisoner and serial offender, sued Diddy for alleged sexual assault at a 1997 party.
• Diddy’s lawyers deny knowing the man, claim he committed court fraud from prison.
• Hosts joke darkly about the absurdity of the $100 million figure:

  “100 million for a single rape... 1997, I can go back. I didn’t rape anybody, but I’m sure I owe a few girls, like, eight or nine thousand bucks, if that’s the going rate for an awkward exchange.” (15:00, Holmberg)

• The group finds the late justice claim and huge payout darkly amusing.

5. Chester Bennington’s Son Criticizes Band’s Replacement Singer

(Starts at 16:04)

• Chester’s son unhappy with Linkin Park choosing Emily Armstrong as lead, partially because of her support for Danny Masterson after conviction.
• Holmberg skeptical about the son’s influence:

  “Unfortunately, your dad killed himself and left that band high and dry. You don’t have a say." (16:30, Holmberg)

  • Panel explains “rake” (band royalties) and note: “You want this to be successful, son, because you’re still going to get your rake.” (17:22, co-host)

6. Running Commentary, Side Riffs, and More

• Frequent meta-commentary about the state of pop culture, the saturation of politics in media, and tongue-in-cheek takes on difficult subjects.
• Lively banter about the implications of DNA testing in relationships, the pain of breakups when kids are involved, and the moral gray areas of headline-grabbing lawsuits.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• "He caught it in under a year. Which means the love for the child hadn't kicked in yet."
  (04:25, Holmberg on Marcus walking away from a non-biological child)

• "Just kiss the baby on the forehead, tell him goodbye, and tell him your mom’s a whore."
  (05:32, Holmberg; signature no-holds-barred humor)

• "Six years old, you’d kiss the kid, ‘That was fun while it lasted!’”
  (06:33, Holmberg; on the emotional consequences as children get older)

• "That's kind of how I feel about this... We have to talk about politics sometimes. I don't want to become political. It's draining."
  (11:55, Holmberg agrees with South Park’s Matt Stone)

• “100 million for a single rape... I didn’t rape anybody, but I’m sure I owe a few girls, like, eight or nine thousand bucks, if that’s the going rate for an awkward exchange.”
  (15:00, Holmberg, riffing on absurd lawsuit damages)

• "Unfortunately, your dad killed himself and left that band high and dry. You don’t have a say."
  (16:30, Holmberg on Chester Bennington’s son criticizing Linkin Park)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Paternity Bombshell/Marcus Email: 01:48 – 07:47
• Top Medical TV Shows: 08:40 – 11:00
• South Park Politics Fatigue: 11:07 – 12:36
• Diddy Lawsuit: 12:36 – 16:04
• Chester Bennington’s Son & Band Drama: 16:04 – 17:50

Overall Tone and Style

• Irreverent, dark humor with unfiltered takes on sensitive personal and public issues.
• Candid camaraderie; panelists lean into sarcasm and blunt honesty, often making light of heavy situations.
• Shows a mix of pop culture commentary, personal advice (with a clear comedic edge), and the latest in entertainment gossip.