Podcast Summary: Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Hot Releases Special (12-16-25)

Main Theme / Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Holmberg's Morning Sickness (98KUPD), hosts John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, and Dick Toledo break down the latest "Hot Releases" in video games, TV, movies, and music as the holiday season approaches. The group delivers their signature mix of pop culture commentary, irreverent humor, and rapid-fire banter while previewing anticipated new content—including games like Highguard, TV series like The Abandons and Fallout Season 2, and a flurry of AI-generated holiday music oddities.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Gaming Hot Release: Highguard

• Release Info: Coming to PC, Xbox Series, PS5, and next-gen Nintendo Switch.
• Game Type: Battle royale/Fortnite-style, but with a medieval twist.
• Insight: The hosts note the industry shift away from PS4/older-gen releases.
• Commentary:
  • "No more games for PS4 or regular Xbox. They're moving on to the higher platforms." (Dick Toledo, 03:12)
  • "It looks medieval, but you got cool weapons. Bring the heat!" (Holmberg, 03:55)

Timestamp: 03:00–04:10

2. Remembering Jeff Garcia (Animator/Voice Actor)

• Jeff Garcia (voice of Sheen in Jimmy Neutron) passed away.
• Mixed recollections—while Toledo calls him a "legend," Holmberg disagrees, sharing a negative personal experience:
  • "I don't wish him dead or anything, but we just did not vibe well with Jeff Garcia at all." (Holmberg, 04:24)
  • "Didn't seem to have a lot of creativity." (Toledo, 04:46)
• Tone is unfiltered and conversational, moving quickly back to TV/film content.

Timestamp: 04:10–05:38

3. TV Show Releases

A) The Abandons (Netflix)

• Premise: Western drama, Lena Headey (Game of Thrones), and Gillian Anderson (X-Files).
• Hosts’ Reaction: Skeptical about historical accuracy and ‘girl power’ in Wild West context.
  • “It’s so historically inaccurate… For the sake of diversity.” (Holmberg, 06:32)
  • "That's why I don't like that one. And I don't like Bridgerton." (Holmberg, 06:32)
• Light banter mocking anachronisms.

Timestamp: 05:38–07:02

B) Percy Jackson & The Olympians – Season 2 (Disney+)

• Reaction: The hosts quickly lose interest; playfully mock the show's tone.
  • “I don’t want to watch another second.” (Holmberg, 07:32)
• Percy Jackson’s appeal: Dismissed as "child" fare; some wordplay and mythological asides.

Timestamp: 07:02–07:35

C) Fallout – Season 2 (Prime Video)

• Excitement: Hosts are notably more enthusiastic here.
  • “I love Fallout. This show was so good.” (Holmberg, 09:09)
  • “You don’t have to play the game to understand [the show].” (Toledo, 09:32)
• Content: Hints at Vegas storyline, Deathclaw’s appearance, “Christmas break viewing.”
• Discussion on release formats (binge vs. weekly drop).

Timestamp: 07:38–10:14

D) Wake Up Dead Man: Knives Out Mystery

• Summary: Quick take on the new Knives Out installment (Daniel Craig, Josh Brolin).
• Reaction: Reluctant interest, more for cast than premise.
  • “Josh Brolin’s pretty great. As Monsignor Wanks, he’s got a real problem with masturbating.” (Holmberg, 11:03)
  • “That was kind of fun. I’m sold.” (Holmberg, 11:07)
• Classic HMS humor keeps the review light and offbeat.

Timestamp: 10:14–11:09

E) Avatar: Fire and Ash

• Big Movie Release: Next in James Cameron’s Avatar saga.
• Panel Reaction:
  • “It's the best Avatar to date.” (Toledo, 12:13)
  • “Well, that’s a low bar.” (Holmberg, 12:16)
  • “I still want to have sex with Natiri… I like them big and blue.” (Holmberg, 12:35–13:22)
• Jokes about animation quality and Natiri’s appeal; banter about being "colorblind."

Timestamp: 12:10–13:22

4. AI-Generated Holiday Songs & Musical Oddities

A) Hanukkah Songs

• Highlights: Bohemian Rhapsody-style Hanukkah (“Bohemian Hanukkah”), “I light the candles with people who love me.”
  • "He lights the candles with his... that's fantastic." (Holmberg, 13:59)

Timestamp: 13:36–14:20

B) AI Dua Lipa (80s Funk Version of "Levitating")

• Host Commentary: Hilariously enthusiastic for the retro remix.
  • "I have a boner. I hope she does that—recreates that picture. Because 80s Dua Lipa’s great." (Holmberg, 14:27–14:42)

Timestamp: 14:24–15:19

C) AI Soul Cover of Stone Temple Pilots ("Sex Type Thing")

• Atmosphere: 70s Shaft-style soul, hosts riff about a ‘convertible Cadillac’ mood.
  • "Soulful. So. I am in a convertible Cadillac right now..." (Holmberg, 15:30–16:08)

Timestamp: 15:24–16:46

D) Naughty AI Christmas Songs

• Examples:
  • "Grandma Got a Dildo for Christmas"
  • “I'm Doing Mrs. Claus This Year” (Andy Felter Bush tribute)
  • “Santa’s Got a Fat Sack (and I’m Empty)”
  • “12 Inches of Christmas (by The Feel Me Sisters)”
• Endless double entendre, escalating innuendo.
  • "Why can't anybody just write an AI Christmas song without it being about PPs?" (Holmberg, 20:05)
• Crew laughs while joking about the inevitable raunchiness of AI-generated holiday music.

Timestamp: 17:14–21:19

5. “N word or F word” Game [Segment Closer]

• Premise: Guessing which word (N-word or F-bomb) will appear first in a sampled rap track (Tech 9ne, 2 Chainz).
• Winners: Brady wins with the F word.
  • “Brady was a big win. The final win of 2025. And Brady with a heavy F bomb. I didn't want to end the year on an N word anyway.” (Holmberg, 22:08)
• Final joke about ending the year on a positive (or at least less controversial?) note.

Timestamp: 21:21–22:38

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Bring the heat! I need that job. Just to say stupid video games. Bring the heat. Your life belongs to me! Oh, you know it's mine!" (Holmberg, 04:03)
• "I enjoy Fallout. This is my Christmas break. The way Squid Games was last year." (Holmberg, 10:02)
• “It’s so historically inaccurate… For the sake of diversity.” (Holmberg, 06:32)
• "I still want to have sex with Natiri... I like them big and blue." (Holmberg, 12:35–13:22)
• "He lights the candles with his... that's fantastic. Sharing the joy of a proud history." (Holmberg, 13:59)
• "I have a boner. I hope she does that...recreates that picture. Because 80s Dua Lipa's great." (Holmberg, 14:35)
• "Grandma got a dildo for Christmas. And Grandpa had the biggest smile in town." (AI song, 17:32)
• "Why can't anybody just write an AI Christmas song without it being about PPs?" (Holmberg, 20:05)
• “Brady was a big win… the final win of 2025. And Brady with a heavy F bomb. I didn't want to end the year on an N word anyway. That's my Christmas card.” (Holmberg, 22:08)

Detailed Timestamps for Segments

• Hot Releases Start: 03:00
• Highguard Video Game: 03:00–04:10
• Jeff Garcia Remembrance: 04:10–05:38
• The Abandons (Netflix): 05:38–07:02
• Percy Jackson S2 (Disney+): 07:02–07:35
• Fallout S2 (Prime): 07:38–10:14
• Wake Up Dead Man: Knives Out Mystery: 10:14–11:09
• Avatar: Fire and Ash: 12:10–13:22
• Hanukkah & AI Songs: 13:36–20:05
  • Bohemian Hanukkah: 13:36–14:20
  • AI Dua Lipa/Levitating: 14:24–15:19
  • AI Soul Stone Temple Pilots: 15:24–16:46
  • AI Naughty Christmas Songs: 17:14–21:19
• N word or F word Game: 21:21–22:38

Tone & Style

• Informal, irreverent, quick-witted, and occasionally “blue”.
• Panel chemistry drives the fun as much as the content.
• Segues between segments are accompanied by playful jabs and ongoing inside jokes.

Conclusion

This “Hot Releases” special delivers a whirlwind of pop culture previews with unfiltered humor, poking fun at both the entertainment industry and themselves. Standouts include the anticipation for Fallout S2, dueling opinions on Avatar, and a wild assortment of AI holiday songs—culminating in the group’s long-running “N word or F word” contest. If you like your recommendations roasted and your reviews spicy, this episode is a prime example of Holmberg’s Morning Sickness at its rambunctious best.