Jokermen Podcast: Teaser – Brian Wilson: AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE
Date: January 29, 2026
Hosts: Jokermen (Hosts 1 & 2)
Episode Focus: Teaser discussion of the 2001 “Brian Wilson: An All-Star Tribute” TV special, reflections on early 2000s pop culture, and a critical look at the special's musical curation.
Episode Overview
This episode serves as a lively and irreverent preview of the "Brian Wilson: An All-Star Tribute" TV special from 2001. Jokermen dive into the odd mix of early-2000s pop nostalgia, dissect the television network’s motivation behind casting choices, and critique standout performances—both good and bad. The hosts' casual banter and pop culture digressions create an entertaining mix of nostalgia and critical commentary for Beach Boys and Brian Wilson fans.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Setting the Scene: 2001 Pop Landscape
- The hosts open by marveling at the times in which the tribute aired—populated by stars like Ricky Martin.
- Host 2: “One of the things that you can just take right off the bat about what world is this? In 2001, we've got Ricky Martin.” (00:39)
2. Ricky Martin and “California Girls”—A Dubious Choice
- Criticism of the special’s opening act:
- Host 1: “Boy, do we opening up this show. Noted heterosexual man, Ricky Martins singing California Girls.” (00:52)
- The hosts clarify: Ricky Martin was not publicly out in 2001, adding an extra layer of context.
- Host 2: “Is Ricky Martin gay?” (01:02)
- Host 1: “Yeah, he's like famously gay.” (01:03)
- Banter on living ‘La Vida Loca’ and 90s nostalgia—relating their own memories and highlighting Ricky's pop culture prominence.
3. Hit Clips: A Deep Dive Into Early 2000s Music Tech
- A tangent on “Hit Clips,” the tiny music players of the era:
- Host 2: “Do you remember hit clips?” (01:34)
- Host 1: “Is that like a little like keychain thing where you put like a little memory card into it and it plays like 30 seconds of a song?” (01:37)
- Host 2: “That's right.” (01:46)
- Reflection on nostalgia and the fleeting appeal of Hit Clips:
- Host 2: “Truly like only relevant. Only could have been interesting or marketable for like a period of about 18 months maybe.” (02:26)
4. Watching the Tribute—How to Follow Along
- Practical note:
- Host 1 reminds listeners the tribute is available on YouTube (low quality, but “good enough”), inviting fans to watch along.
- Host 1: “Hit that link, watch the whole thing. It's about 90 minutes and you can play along at home. It's an enjoyable document, the Brian Wilson All-Star tribute.” (03:09)
5. The “All-Star” Lineup: Misfires and Odd Fits
- Host 2’s withering review of Ricky Martin’s performance:
- Host 2: “I found it maybe the beginning with Ricky Martin is pretty bad. I'm going to say that what he does to California Girls is despicable. I mean, it's just like he's not the man for the job.” (03:35)
- Host 1 (deadpan): “He isn't? No. If it had been California Boys, that would have been another matter.” (03:53)
- Discussion of Ricky Martin’s unfamiliarity with the songs:
- Host 1: “There's several lines between that and Rhonda. He does both of them and he just like, you know, is vaguely familiar with both songs at best.” (04:08)
- Direct quote from Ricky Martin’s performance included (04:17-04:46)
6. Behind the Scenes—Why Ricky?
- Network pressure shapes the lineup:
- Host 1: “He was not chosen for this show. This should be noted. ... But David Leaf produced this thing. ... This was kind of his baby. ... They ponied up like half the cost for it. And so one of the network notes was we need a big chart topping pop star who is relevant to audiences today. And so that ended up being Ricky Martin because he does sort of, I would say, stick out. ... He doesn't necessarily fit into a lot of the mosaic that the rest of the artists who I think in general are pretty strong choices.” (04:46–06:19)
- Acknowledgement of industry context and producer intentions—adds a layer of understanding to the questionable booking.
7. Evan & Jaron—Who Are These Guys?
- Curiosity about obscure “all-stars”:
- Host 2: “Evan and Jaron, you know Evan and Jaron.” (06:19)
- Host 1 describes how label negotiation likely led to their inclusion as a package deal with Ricky Martin. (06:22)
- Attempt to recall their hit:
- Host 2: “They seem to be a one hit wonder.” (07:04)
- Host 1: “‘Crazy for this Girl.’” (07:11)
- Host 2: “It was apparently on Dawson's Creek or something. Is that what I'm reading?” (07:31)
- Host 1: “Evan and Jaren. What a great Jerren title. Jaren. That's right.” (07:50)
- Joking about the era’s pop naming conventions:
- Host 2: “That's like one of the, like an older example of like the Bradens of today. You know the cadence. The Graydons. The Jerren.” (07:56)
8. Pop Culture Digressions: Names, Memories, and Trends
- Continued playful riffing on names and trends of the late 90s/early 2000s
- (08:08–08:25)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
“He just completely butchers the lyrics on several [songs]. Like, I can't remember exactly what it is that he does...”
— Host 2, 03:57 -
“There's several lines between that and Rhonda. He does both of them and he just like, you know, is vaguely familiar with both songs at best.”
— Host 1, 04:08 -
“I found it maybe the beginning with Ricky Martin is pretty bad. I'm going to say that what he does to California Girls is despicable. I mean, it's just like he's not the man for the job.”
— Host 2, 03:35
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:39: Opening remarks on the 2001 tribute and Ricky Martin
- 01:34: Hit Clips nostalgia
- 03:09: Watch the tribute free on YouTube and play along
- 03:35: Ricky Martin’s performance and why it’s panned by the hosts
- 04:46: Behind-the-scenes industry decisions leading to the Ricky Martin booking
- 06:19: Introduction to Evan & Jaron and “Crazy for this Girl”
- 07:31: Remembering Evan & Jaron and Dawson’s Creek connection
Tone & Style
- Casual, irreverent, and nostalgic—the hosts blend personal anecdotes with sharp pop cultural critique
- Frequent asides, playful tangents, and tongue-in-cheek commentary
Summary
In this teaser, Jokermen dissect the incongruous mix of talent on the Brian Wilson tribute, especially the inclusion of Ricky Martin (“he just completely butchers the lyrics... he’s not the man for the job” – Host 2, 03:35), and reminisce about the turn-of-the-millennium pop landscape through both personal memory and wider cultural context. The episode balances affectionate nostalgia (be it for Ricky Martin or ephemeral music tech like Hit Clips) with pointed criticism and behind-the-scenes industry insight, making it an engaging listen for both die-hard fans and broader pop culture enthusiasts.