Episode Overview

Theme:
This episode of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness delves into an especially turbulent weekend for the show, local radio, and pop culture news. The crew—John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Brett Vesely, and Dick Toledo—react to the shocking headline of Rob Reiner and his wife’s murder, share candid stories from their "After Dark" live show, and address the fallout from significant staff layoffs at 98KUPD, including the departure of beloved team member Fitz. The conversation weaves between dark humor, raw industry insights, and bittersweet memories, capturing both the unpredictability of life and the cutthroat world of radio.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rob Reiner & Wife’s Tragic Murder (01:23–06:22)

• The show opens, stunned by the breaking news that legendary director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife were found murdered in their home.
• John Holmberg: “Everything’s abuzz about this Rob Reiner thing. It’s crazy. It’s weirdest. It’s a weird one...You just, my God, if you had just Rob Reiner movies in your collection, you’d have a hell of a collection of movies.” (01:25)
• The hosts note the sudden, violent nature of the crime—throat slashing, possibly by their own son Nick (age 32)—and react to how surreal it feels, even in the world of celebrity.
• They recall Reiner’s prolific filmography (When Harry Met Sally, Misery, Spinal Tap, A Few Good Men) and his part as “Meathead” from All in the Family, expressing both admiration and shock.
• Memorable Moment: “So I guess when you say, ‘Want to see a dead body?’ he had no idea that was going to be Stand by Me come true.” — John Holmberg, with his signature mix of dark humor and pop culture. (04:31)

2. Celebrity Deaths & Cultural Impact (06:22–06:30)

• Brief mention of other recent celebrity deaths (Peter Green, the actor from Pulp Fiction), reflecting on how rare and jarring such violent events are.
• Nostalgic appreciation for Reiner’s touch on so many classic films, with the crew lingering on how certain losses feel personal.

3. Recap: Friday’s After Dark/Happy Endings Show

(Transition begins at 06:30; story continues until about 13:09)

• John Holmberg praises the successful live event at Stand Up Live, featuring acts like Caliendo, John Lovitz, and Kato Kaelin.
• He describes the tremendous relief and “weight lifted” after organizing the “Happy Endings” show, marking the end of a stressful year.
  • “The show happens and it’s over and I realize I don’t have much to do for the rest of the year...It feels amazing.” (07:02)
• Story: After a late night, Holmberg describes a near-death car incident involving his friend Jordan and a runaway truck.
  • Quote: “It was choreographed. It was incredible. I don’t know how you make a car go 70 or 80 miles an hour with no front tire.” (10:17)
• Saturday lunch with John Lovitz and Kato Kaelin leads to a comedic mishap—Lovitz’s dog Jerry vomits on Kato’s pants just before his flight.
  • Quote: “Lovitz didn’t do a thing about it. Didn’t offer him a napkin or anything. I’m giving him like, here, Kato, clean up.” (14:15)
• The hosts laugh about Cato’s misfortune and the impressions it must have left on his Uber driver.

4. Station Layoffs and the Fitz Fallout (15:00–33:35)

a. Acknowledging Listener Reactions

• Holmberg addresses the spike of emails from fans confused and upset about Fitz’s absence after 20 years.
• The firings (including another staffer, Paul Sura) are explained as “money reasons,” echoing a corporate-wide push for cost savings—an impersonal gutting that’s common in radio.
  • John Holmberg: “It had nothing to do with... Was it performance-based? I don't know... It’s their bat and their ball, they get to do whatever they want.” (15:25)

b. Insider Perspective: Radio’s Firing Rituals

• The group discusses “walk of death” firings—HR showing up unexpectedly, locks removed from studios so hosts can’t do on-air rants, and the trauma such events inflict on a workplace.
  • “If the big wig at your building comes in to your office and he’s never been there and he drags in the HR later, you’re fired. You don’t even have to say it anymore.” (19:07)
• Anecdotes shared about seeing co-workers escorted out, with staff constantly on edge in such times.
• The crew jokes about the impermanence of radio jobs; being “gypsies” is the norm, but at KUPD, most have had rare longevity.
  • “Fitz was here for 20 years. He was the new guy.” (19:54)
  • “The station's an anomaly as far as that goes. Nobody leaves and we're not used to it.” — Brett Vesely (20:21)
• The ironic career path in radio: getting fired typically leads to a better job, “a business where everybody ascends through failure.”
  • “If you get fired, you get a better job. It's the craziest thing.” (22:54)

c. On-Air Goodbyes & Fitz’s Exit

• Trip, their manager, actually offered Fitz a chance to say goodbye on-air—rare in the industry.
  • Revelation: “Trip just said we offered Fitz the opportunity to go on the air, and he declined...That’s strange for me.” (25:13)
• The hosts reflect on the risk of letting departing staff have live mics (“We took the locks off the doors for a reason”), but are clear that Fitz would’ve been trustworthy.

d. Heartfelt Farewell and Acceptance

• Holmberg expresses sadness over losing Fitz (“Do I love Fitz? Do I miss them? Yes, absolutely. But it is part of this cruddy business...” (25:59)) and attempts to normalize the change after two decades.
• The reality: “Anyone who says this place will fall apart without them is wrong.... Everyone can be replaced, so we'll miss him though.” (46:11)
• The entire team extends best wishes, and encourages listeners to show support to Fitz personally.

5. Legendary Radio Firings & Lurid Tales (33:23–45:36)

• The crew exchange wild stories of radio colleagues’ departures:
  • A host who forgot his golf clubs and blamed everyone else.
  • The “scope drinker”—a DJ who drank mouthwash on the job, leading to loopy on-air behavior.
  • A production guy with a temper who threw a chair, leading to full-scale evacuations, and later walked the parking lot threatening coworkers after being terminated.
  • The infamous car in the staff parking lot (Henry’s) that was abandoned, then slowly destroyed by coworkers as a stress relief ritual, before the owner eventually came back years later, only to find it unrecognizable.
• These stories serve as both comic relief and commentary on the high-drama, low-security world of radio broadcasting.
  • Quote: “If you had a bad day, you just went out on the frustration car and beat up Henry’s car.” (43:10)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Sometimes those things just punch you right in the nuts and you’re like, what the hell was that?” — John Holmberg on shocking news (06:06)
• “Radio is an ugly bitch, and it’s usually run by people who don’t know what they’re doing.” (21:54)
• “If you get fired, you get a better job. It’s the craziest thing...I’ve seen people who can barely tie their shoes but they look nice in the suit...and the next thing you know...he was a terrible manager...Oh, he’s the Vice President of blah blah blah.” — John Holmberg (22:54)
• “It’s not personal. It’s business. Because, damn it all, when somebody tells you we don’t want you to work here anymore, it feels pretty personal.” (32:22)
• “Anyone who says this place will fall apart without them is wrong....Everyone can be replaced, so we’ll miss him though.” (46:11)

Important Timestamps

• 01:23 — Opening reactions to Rob Reiner’s murder
• 04:31 — Stand By Me dark joke (“Want to see a dead body?”)
• 06:30 — Recap of Stand Up Live show, event wrap-up
• 09:00–10:17 — Near-miss car accident after the show
• 13:09–15:02 — Lovitz, Cato Kaelin, and the “dog vomit on the pants” story
• 15:00–19:54 — Addressing Fitz and Paul’s layoffs; industry realities
• 19:54–22:54 — The radio “walk of death,” HR firings, insider perspectives
• 25:13 — Trip’s revelation about Fitz’s chance for an on-air farewell
• 33:23–46:19 — Wildest radio firing stories, catharsis, and absurdities

Tone & Style

• Conversational, irreverent, and unsparing with dark humor.
• Honest behind-the-scenes takes on the radio business.
• Blending empathy for lost colleagues with a “that’s radio” cynicism.
• Balancing storytelling, banter, and audience outreach.

For New Listeners

This episode is a perfect primer on the ethos of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness: candid, sometimes chaotic, and unafraid to discuss both the dark and absurd sides of the real world and the entertainment industry. If you want to understand the unpredictable life in local radio, the deep bonds of long-serving teams, or simply enjoy untold stories from behind the broadcast, this episode delivers with heart and humor.

Closing Thought

The episode encapsulates both the instability and the surprising camaraderie of radio—a world where shocking headlines and firings mingle with camaraderie, laughter, and a little bit of dog puke.