Holmberg’s Morning Sickness – Entertainment Drill: Classic Albums With Enduring Billboard Power (09-19-25)
Episode Overview
This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness centers on the enduring popularity of classic rock albums—specifically, those with the longest runs on the Billboard 200 chart. The hosts also treat listeners to lively banter about canceled concerts, actors who turned down iconic movie roles, and SNL's upcoming musical guests. Their signature mix of pop culture trivia and irreverent commentary makes for a fast-paced and engaging segment.
Key Segments & Insights
1. Local Events & Concerts at the Fair
- The hosts open with a casual chat about Arizona’s state fair and upcoming concerts, highlighting nostalgia for “bigger” acts in the past.
- [01:31] John Holmberg: “The cult’s the one to go to. That’s October 25th. I haven’t really looked at the lineup. That used to be like every day there was somebody huge.”
- D4VD show cancellation briefly mentioned, with a dark, humorous spin.
2. Entertainment Drill: Actors Who Turned Down Big Roles
- A rundown of major roles that famous actors declined, often for surprisingly trivial reasons.
- [04:41] Brady: “Tom Cruise could have been Edward Scissorhands, but he had too many questions about how Edward could do everyday things.”
- [04:54] John Holmberg (joking): “Go to the bath, wipe his ass.”
- Pierce Brosnan skipped Batman because of the suit; Will Smith wanted Django Unchained to be a love story; Sean Connery “didn’t understand” the Lord of the Rings script.
- [05:46] John Holmberg (as Connery): “This is a bunch of sh-t on paper. I say no and enjoy your flops. And the Oscar goes to. Ah.”
- Russell Crowe worried about “too many wolf-related roles.”
- Eddie Murphy turned down Ghostbusters (“thought the movie sounded like a crock”) and did Best Defense instead.
- Jason Momoa passed on Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy because he didn’t want to be “a shirtless painted guy”—to which the hosts tease about his near-constant shirtlessness anyway.
3. SNL Season 51 Announcements & Banter
- SNL’s returning with musical guests like Bad Bunny and Doja Cat. Amy Poehler and Sabrina Carpenter noted as hosts.
- In-show banter includes references to eating habits in the studio, with humorous attention to one host eating a banana.
- [07:11] John Holmberg: “It’s literally just out of bread. Like, what’s going on over there? And there’s a… strange dude who looks like Lee Harvey Oswald.”
- [08:12] Brady: "Check out the video." (refers to a video of raw ground beef being eaten in the studio)
- The hosts keep their signature sardonic tone throughout.
4. The Main Drill: Albums With Longest Billboard Runs
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[08:56] Brady: “About 10% of the current Billboard 200 chart is made up of classic rock albums.”
- Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (1977): 650 weeks on the chart.
- [09:14] John Holmberg: “That’s pretty good.”
- Elton John’s Diamonds (2017): 409 weeks.
- Hall & Oates’ greatest hits (2001): 308 weeks.
- [09:44] Brady: “A lot of them are greatest hits. Dark Side of the Moon, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.”
- Journey’s Greatest Hits: 874 weeks.
- [10:35] Host: “Dark Side of the Moon was 989 total weeks. 741 consecutive.”
- [10:40] John Holmberg: “Man.”
- [10:44] Host: “So from '73 to '88 it was on the charts.”
- [10:44] John Holmberg: “That's incredible.”
- They clarify the difference between total and consecutive runs, noting some albums resurge when events (like band drama) recur.
- Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours (1977): 650 weeks on the chart.
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Cumulative impact emphasized:
- [10:13] John Holmberg: “Think about that. 200 albums a week. …After a while, it's just a few every week that keeps the top 200 going.”
5. Clarifying Chart Statistics
- Delve into the detail that many albums re-enter the chart decades after release.
- [11:09] Host: “Oh, well then that’s not consecutive.”
- [11:12] Brady: “It didn’t say consecutive. It just said still on the Billboard 200 list.”
6. Live Giveaway Tease & Wrapup
- Marilyn Manson tickets teased for the next contest segment, “Guadalupe Squares.”
Notable Quotes
- John Holmberg, [09:33]: “It’s incredible. Am I right? 650 weeks. Like, 12 years. …Holy cow, man.”
- Brady, [08:56]: “About 10% of the current Billboard 200 chart is made up of classic rock albums.”
- John Holmberg, [06:12]: “Too many wolf sidekicks for him. That was a good choice, I guess. Don’t want to overwolf and get typecast. This guy who owns wolves.”
- John Holmberg, [05:46]: (As Sean Connery) “This is a bunch of sh-t on paper. I say no and enjoy your flops. And the Oscar goes to. Ah.”
- Host, [10:35]: “Dark Side of the Moon was 989 total weeks. 741 consecutive.”
- John Holmberg, [10:44]: “That's incredible.”
Segment Timestamps
| Time | Segment | Highlights | |-----------|---------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:31 | State Fair and Concerts | Talking about local concerts, the fair, and nostalgia for past lineups | | 04:40 | Actors Who Turned Down Roles | Hilarious breakdown of missed Hollywood opportunities | | 07:15 | SNL Season 51 Musical Guests | Announcements and studio snacking banter | | 08:56 | Billboard 200 Classic Albums | Discussion of albums’ record-breaking chart runs | | 10:35 | Chart Facts Explained | “Dark Side of the Moon” and what counts as consecutive weeks | | 12:10 | Contest Teaser | Giveaways for Marilyn Manson tickets, setup for “Guadalupe Squares” |
Summary
With playful ribbing, deep-cut trivia, and chart geekery, this episode is a celebration of classic rock’s unstoppable appeal. Whether you tune in for the detours into actor what-ifs or the meaty numbers of chart history, Holmberg and crew keep things energetic, funny, and informative. Perfect for both music buffs and those who simply love the irreverent chemistry of Arizona’s #1 morning crew.