Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Entertainment Drill: "If You Could Eliminate One Song From Existence, What Would It Be?"

Episode Date: October 31, 2025
Main Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Main Theme:
This lively segment centers on a provocative and funny thought experiment: If you could eliminate one song from existence, what would it be? The show’s hosts, alongside regular guests, riff about annoying songs, the communal nature of entertainment in the streaming era, and some pop culture headlines.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stranger Things Season 5 & the Power of Commonality

• [04:21] Corey announces the new trailer for Stranger Things Season 5, noting its rapid popularity.
• Brady and Holmberg discuss how TV has changed, from "appointment viewing" to binge releases.
  • Brady: "I think the way TV works now... things are getting more interesting to people because of commonality rather than quality. Stranger Things is okay." – [04:34]
  • The hosts agree that shared pop culture used to unite people. Now, only a few shows (like Stranger Things or Netflix true-crime docs) catch collective attention.
  • Holmberg admits falling off Stranger Things after season two; Corey cites fatigue and feeling left behind by long-running shows.

2. Taylor Sheridan & the Call of Duty Movie

• [06:29] Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan is reportedly working on a live-action Call of Duty movie.
  • Brady jokes about how fast Sheridan writes scripts (“He'll pen that in 20 minutes.” – [06:37]) and the 'hit factory' reputation that now has become shorthand for "must-watch" TV.
  • The panel notes the tendency for entertainment hype to snowball around particular creators, even if the output isn't legendary.

3. Jesse Eisenberg's Altruism

• [07:01] News of actor Jesse Eisenberg donating a kidney to a stranger is met with surprise and some light ribbing.
  • Brady asks in disbelief, “You can just go to [the National Kidney Foundation] and say, I don't know who's getting it. Hack it out? That's bananas. Why would you do that?” – [07:31]
  • Corey adds levity about the family voucher program, while the group jokes about the logistics and motivations.

4. The Main Event: Which Song Should Be Erased Forever?

• [07:47] "If you could delete one song from existence, what would it be?" sparks intense, hilarious debate:

  • Immediate picks:

    • Holmberg: "Margaritaville." – [07:57]
    • Brady: "Lime in the Coconut" by Harry Nilsson – [08:10]
    • Corey: "Baby Shark" — “That’s number six.” – [08:14]
    • Mike King: Adds “Magic” by Pilot to the hate-list due to its ubiquitous use in commercials.

  • Clever complaints:

    • Brady: “Those are like songs for…hypnotic. Once you hear it, it's in your brain for days.” ([08:44] JG Wentworth/Jingle themes)
    • The group derides persistent ad jingles: "1-877-CARS FOR KIDS", JG Wentworth, etc.

  • Top 'Worst Song' List (from various internet sources):

    • #1: “The Christmas Shoes” ("Dead Mom Thriller" as they jokingly call it)
    • #2: “Last Christmas” – Wham!
    • "Hey, Soul Sister" – Train
    • “All Summer Long” – Kid Rock
    • “My Humps” – Black Eyed Peas
    • “Mambo Number 5” – Lou Bega
    • “Achy Breaky Heart” – Billy Ray Cyrus
    • “We Built This City” – Starship
    • “Moves Like Jagger” – Maroon 5
    • “Milkshake” – Kelis
    • “Tik Tok” – Kesha

  • Memorable banter:

    • Host, on “Christmas Shoes”: “So this is a dude’s mom dies and he has her shoes, and Christmas reminds him, so he dresses up like his mom, like Ed Gein, and wanders around the house—Christmas. Is that accurate?” – [09:42]
    • Brady jokes about the plot after it's clarified the song is about a sad kid whose mom is dying and who goes to buy her shoes with the help of a stranger. He quips: “What a selfish little prick.” – [10:21]

  • Comic parallels between Samaritans and Jesus:

    • “The narrator might be Jesus. They don’t really narrow it down.” – [10:33]
    • Brady cackles: “I've never heard Jesus actually sing before. This is interesting.” – [10:42]

5. Music & Show News Roundup

• [11:42] Alice Cooper & Criss Angel are teaming up for a 2026 Las Vegas show.
  • Corey: “Welcome to our Nightmare” to run as a limited engagement March 6–7, 2026.
• [12:30] Rock Hall Induction: 21 Pilots, Soundgarden, Taylor Momson, Brandy Carlisle, and Jerry Cantrell slated to perform in tribute sets.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brady, on TV's new role:
  • “We're dying to all have the same thing.” – [06:12]
• Group deriding persistent commercial jingle earworms:
  • Brady: “If that's on there, then JG Wentworth's thing. And mainly because it's hypnotic. Once you hear it, it's in your brain for days.” – [08:44]
• Host, mocking the “Christmas Shoes” plot:
  • “He goes in and goes, 'I'm gonna buy his kids...' Shouldn't he be there for the mom?” – [10:42]
• Brady, on the kid in “Christmas Shoes”:
  • “What a selfish little prick.” – [10:21]
• Riffing on the possibility of Jesus being the song's narrator:
  • “I've never heard Jesus actually sing before. This is interesting.” – [10:42]

Key Segment Timestamps

• [04:21] - Stranger Things S5 news, streaming culture discussion
• [06:29] - Call of Duty movie and creator conversation
• [07:01] - Jesse Eisenberg kidney donation story
• [07:47] - Main topic: Which song would you erase forever?
• [08:13] - Rundown of publicly beloved/hated songs
• [09:42–11:02] - Detailed (and hilarious) break down of “Christmas Shoes” and other 'worst' songs
• [11:42] - Alice Cooper/Criss Angel Vegas show news
• [12:30] - Upcoming Rock Hall performance details

Tone & Delivery

• The hosts mix sarcasm, skepticism, and sharp observational humor.
• Their chemistry drives the conversation, with plenty of running in-jokes and playful jabs at each other's expense.
• The show's informal and irreverent—offering both pop culture insight and a comedic feel, perfect for fans of cheeky morning radio.

Perfect for listeners who enjoy:
Pop culture banter, debates over bad music, and entertaining dives into why certain entertainment trends succeed or flop.