Podcast Summary: Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – "Hot Releases" (09-02-25)

Podcast: Holmberg’s Morning Sickness on 98KUPD
Date: September 2, 2025
Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Episode Theme:
A rollicking, irreverent breakdown of the week’s hottest new entertainment releases, including movies, TV, rock and metal albums, plus the crew’s signature banter, comic takes, and a round of the now classic “N Word or F Word” game.

Episode Overview

This episode of HMS is all about the latest "hot releases" in streaming TV, film, and rock/metal music, featuring humorous reviews, skeptical takes on sequels/spinoffs, and plenty of the hosts' signature sarcasm. The group runs through upcoming shows and albums, sharing honest opinions, mining for comic moments, and closing with the ever-popular "N Word or F Word" music-guessing game.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Streaming TV and Movie Releases (02:55–09:51)

"Wednesday" Season 2, Part 2 (Netflix, 02:55)

• Brady: Highlights the much-anticipated return, outlining Wednesday’s struggle to avert a prophecy and save Enid.
• Holmberg: Wonders why Jenna Ortega hasn’t “started some sort of hot girl weirdo dark goth thing. I am your new spirit guide.” (03:24)
• Brady: Suggests there may have been too much gap between seasons for a real “goth” trend to take off.

"The Paper" – Office Spinoff (Peacock, 04:16)

• Brady: Introduces the show as an "offshoot of The Office," starring only Oscar.
• Holmberg: Jokes, “It’s like the least interesting person in the Office.” (04:23) and “I feel like I’m being punched in the face with a DEI program.” (04:56)

"The Runarounds" (Prime Video, 04:56)

• Brady: Describes it as a coming-of-age band series from the creator of Outer Banks.
• Holmberg: Lampoons the premise, “It’s Josie Pussycat,” joking about teen dramas. (05:14)

"Highest to Lowest" – Spike Lee/Denzel Joint (Apple TV & Theaters, 06:01)

• Brady: Announces the film as Denzel Washington’s fifth collaboration with Spike Lee, noting it features A$AP Rocky as the antagonist.
• Holmberg: Says, “Denzel gets my attention no matter what.” (06:37)

"Friendship" (07:00)

• Brady: Calls attention to the offbeat feel, starring Paul Rudd and Tim Robinson.
• Holmberg: “It was like a couple hours of just watching him [Robinson] be weird. Which is what he is. Dude’s a strange man.” (07:23)

"Ruby and Jody: The Cult of Sin and Influence" (Discovery ID, 07:37)

• Brady: Notes the documentary covers the notorious Ruby Frankie story.
• Holmberg: Cautions listeners, saying, “I don’t know if I’m gonna sit through that again, because I felt horrible when I saw that little emaciated kid escape to the neighbor’s house.” (08:06)

"Task and Mercy" (HBO, 08:29)

• Brady: New crime drama starring Mark Ruffalo.
• Holmberg: Jokes about Martha Plimpton’s age—“Wasn’t she in Goonies?... Even Brady, who just had part of his body sucked out, looks better than Martha Plimpton. My goodness.” (09:13)

2. New Rock & Metal Album Drops (10:52–17:43)

Glenn Hughes (10:52)

• Holmberg: “There’s a reason why you’re 60 and you’re still putting out albums. Singing for the first... the reason Deep Purple said, ‘Why don’t you just play the bass and sh…’” (11:23)

David Byrne – "Everybody Laughs" (11:45)

• Holmberg: “He looks like Martha Plimpton now. Looks better. Yeah, he does. I’d bang David first.” (11:46)
• Lyrics Parody: Mocks the universal themes — “It’s a menopause song for everybody. Even men. David must be going through some hot flashes.” (12:33)

Testament – (12:53)

• Holmberg: “You kind of know what you’re expecting with Testament.” (13:01)
• Brady: “Testament fans are gonna Love that.” (13:25)

Soulfly – "Storm the Gates" (14:03)

• Holmberg: Checks if Max Cavalera is still in the band: “As long as Max is there, sure.” (15:05)

AI Song "Lick It Till I’m Done" by Moonbeam Muffin (15:28)

• Holmberg: Notes she “looks like what I was talking about with Wednesday Adams.” Reads out lyrics with mock-seriousness: “Lick it till down real slow / Put those lips where the warm winds blow… I might lick my computer.” (15:29)

Soul Version of "Back in Black" (16:23)

• Holmberg: “This is so good. I just want Stevie to sing it. This would have been a smash hit, too.” (16:56)
• Brady: “There you go. I’m back in black.” (17:31)

3. Memorable Moments & Quotes

• On TikTok Gothic Trends:
  John Holmberg (03:24): "I am your new spirit guide."
• On "The Paper" Spinoff:
  John Holmberg (04:56): "I feel like I’m being punched in the face with a DEI program."
• On the Band Show Trope:
  John Holmberg (05:14): “It’s Josie Pussycat.”
• On Martha Plimpton’s Age:
  John Holmberg (09:13): “Even Brady, who just had part of his body sucked out, looks better than Martha Plimpton. My goodness.”
• On Testament & Metal:
  Brady (13:25): “Testament fans are gonna Love that.”
• On AI Music Trends:
  Holmberg (15:29): “I might lick my computer.”

4. Closing Game: N Word or F Word? (17:43–19:05)

The crew wraps up with their comedic “N Word or F Word” challenge, analyzing a King T song from the early ‘90s:

• Holmberg: “Boy, that was really a strong time for the N word in songs. I’ll say.”
• Debate on Lyrics: Everyone guesses whether the next lyric will be the N-word (angry/friendly) or the F-word, poking fun at late ‘80s/early ‘90s rap.

Timestamps – Segment Guide

• 02:55: TV/Streaming hot releases begin
• 04:16: "The Paper" Office spinoff
• 04:56: "The Runarounds"
• 06:01: "Highest to Lowest" (Spike Lee/Denzel)
• 07:00: "Friendship"
• 07:37: Ruby and Jody documentary
• 08:29: "Task and Mercy" crime drama
• 10:52: New rock/metal albums
• 11:45: David Byrne discussion
• 12:53: Testament
• 14:03: Soulfly
• 15:28: AI music novelty
• 16:23: Soul version of "Back in Black"
• 17:43: "N Word or F Word" game and episode wrap

Episode Tone and Takeaway

Holmberg and the crew approach “Hot Releases” with their trademark irreverence, critiquing “diversity for diversity’s sake,” poking fun at aging rock stars, mining laughs from dubious AI musical novelties, and lampooning the ever-churning world of TV spinoffs. For listeners, the episode is a raucous, unfiltered view of pop culture as only HMS delivers—balancing informed takes, deep cuts, and comic irreverence.

Best For: Fans who want genuine banter, skeptical reviews, and plenty of laughs at the expense of this week’s hottest entertainment trends.
Notable Vibe: Equal parts cranky, hilarious, and surprisingly on-point about what’s worth skipping and what gets the HMS stamp of approval.