Podcast Summary: My Brother, My Brother And Me – MBMBaM 738: My Unfinished Business is Mr. Holland's Opus

Release Date: November 18, 2024

In episode 738 of My Brother, My Brother And Me (MBMBaM), The McElroy brothers—Justin, Travis, and Griffin—delve into a variety of entertaining topics, blending humor with insightful advice. This detailed summary captures the essence of their discussions, notable quotes, and key insights from the episode titled "My Unfinished Business is Mr. Holland's Opus."

1. Introduction and Initial Banter (00:00 – 01:38)

The episode kicks off with the brothers playfully disclaiming their expertise in giving advice, setting a lighthearted tone.

• Justin McElroy (00:00): "The McElroy brothers are not experts and their advice should never be followed."
• Travis McElroy (00:08): "Travis insists he's a sexpert..."
• Griffin McElroy (00:11): "...there's a degree on his wall, I haven't seen it."

They engage in humorous exchanges about gravity and Newton, showcasing their signature comedic style.

• Justin McElroy (02:08): "I would love to be there. The day that dude was like, someone drops something, he's like, oop, you newtoned it? Like what?"

2. Wicked Movie Release and Merchandise Overload (03:15 – 11:38)

The brothers discuss the overwhelming merchandise and marketing surrounding the release of the Wicked movie, expressing playful frustration over market saturation.

• Justin McElroy (03:15): "Wicked fever is sweeping the nation."
• Travis McElroy (04:21): "Wizard of Oz is Theresa's favorite movie and she has read Wicked."

They humorously critique the flood of Wicked-themed products in stores, from barrettes to McDonald's mac and cheese.

• Justin McElroy (09:07): "Wicked mix to reveal cupcake... That’s the most safe thing we could say."
• Travis McElroy (09:33): "I've never seen the idea of one... If it's not yellow, it's not going to eat it."

3. Advice Segment (11:38 – 29:25)

Listeners send in questions seeking advice, which the brothers tackle with their trademark wit and unconventional perspectives.

a. Singing and the Empathetic Neighbor (11:38 – 16:09)

A listener from Columbus, Ohio, grapples with a neighbor appreciating his singing despite initial embarrassment.

• Justin McElroy (12:25): "What >

Issue: A parent feels uneasy about a neighbor approvingly commenting on his singing.

• Question (12:25): "Is packing my bags and moving away enough to cure my shame, or do I need to go into witness protection?"

• Griffin McElroy (13:24): "I bought a house specifically to never have to deal with this scenario."

• Travis McElroy (15:50): "If they were saying this in a passive aggressive way to make you feel bad about singing, just keep singing."

b. Thanking a Generous Co-worker (16:09 – 23:17)

A middle school teacher seeks advice on how to reciprocate a co-worker’s handmade cloak.

• Question (18:52): "How do I thank my co-worker for this very cool and generous gift?"

• Griffin McElroy (21:37): "Bake him some limbus bread and you give it to him in a little cloth."

• Justin McElroy (22:39): "They made... that's not a funny joke if you think about that."

c. Sneaker Spotter: Dealing with Identical Shoes (23:26 – 29:25)

Justin shares an experience of spotting someone with the same distinctive shoes and seeks advice on whether to compliment them.

• Question (24:00): "I have brightly colored striped sneakers, and someone else has the exact same. What do I do?"

• Griffin McElroy (25:01): "We should keep a fucking record of all the ones we've done."

• Travis McElroy (25:37): "There's a specific here though, that I want to talk about, which is if you have got shoes from not one of the big name brands..."

• Justin McElroy (27:00): "I was in the elevator... Can you see?"

4. Gym TV Preferences and Suggestions (36:21 – 40:23)

A listener expresses dissatisfaction with the TV shows playing at their gym, seeking ways to introduce more engaging content like Pirates of the Caribbean.

• Question (36:21): "How do I convince the people working the gym to have at least one TV play some Pirates of the Caribbean or something all the time?"

• Griffin McElroy (37:41): "Maybe your friends are encouraging. It's a rivalry, a healthy rivalry, man."

• Travis McElroy (39:07): "Imagine eating a burger and it's not a Whopper. Fuck."

5. Mr. Holland's Opus: Travis's Unfinished Business (38:11 – 43:53)

Travis shares his long-standing desire to finish watching Mr. Holland's Opus, revealing it as his "unfinished business."

• Travis McElroy (38:22): "That is my unfinished business. I would hate to die right now and be a ghost."

• Griffin McElroy (38:55): "Travis, I'm gonna formally request that you finish watching Mr. Holland's Opus 1 day someday."

• Justin McElroy (40:39): "Tell me anything about how a computer works. Just move forward."

The brothers humorously debate the importance of finishing the movie, intertwining personal anecdotes and jokes about life and unfinished tasks.

6. Munch Squad: Burger King's New Whopper Variants (46:01 – 53:28)

In the Munch Squad segment, the brothers explore Burger King's innovative Whopper creations, analyzing their unique flavors and market strategies.

• Justin McElroy (46:01): "Burger King was looking to hand out a million dollars to somebody that is going to make a new Whopper..."

• Travis McElroy (47:55): "The Mexican Street Corn Whopper representing Nebraska."

• Griffin McElroy (48:25): "There's a fascinated process about how they got to these guys."

They break down each Whopper variant:

1. Fried Pickle Ranch Whopper

   • Description: "Flame grilled beef with fried pickles, bacon, and a creamy pickle ranch sauce complimented by Swiss cheese."
   • Justin McElroy (47:55): "That's wild that if in your design you were like, it's got pickle ranch sauce."

2. Maple Bourbon BBQ Whopper

   • Description: "Maple barbecue sauce, candied bacon, crispied onions, and jalapenos."
   • Travis McElroy (48:14): "When I think tortilla crisps, my mind does not oft float to Nebraska."

3. Mexican Street Corn Whopper

   • Description: "Creamy corn spread, spicy queso, and crunchy tortilla crisps."
   • Griffin McElroy (48:25): "They had to be on brand for the Whopper."

The brothers critique the balance between innovative flavors and maintaining the traditional Whopper identity.

• Justin McElroy (50:14): "We have an amazing burger and we know that because of the size, the flame grill taste and the quality ingredients."

7. Conclusion and Final Remarks (54:07 – 56:46)

As the episode wraps up, the brothers briefly mention upcoming events and promotions, maintaining the playful and humorous atmosphere.

• Travis McElroy (55:53): "I wish I'd looked cool when I broke my elbow."

• Justin McElroy (56:19): "This has been my brother. My brother may kiss your dad square on the lips."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Justin McElroy (02:08): "What do you mean, like? Yeah, I call it newtoning."

• Travis McElroy (03:11): "Weard sentencing is what's being demonstrated right now inside the podcast box."

• Justin McElroy (12:25): "Is packing my bags and moving away enough to cure my shame, or do I need to go into witness protection?"

• Griffin McElroy (21:37): "Bake him some limbus bread and you give it to him in a little cloth."

• Justin McElroy (24:00): "I'm wearing them today in coffee shop and another person walked in who I'm 100% confident is wearing the exact same shoes as me. What do I do about this?"

• Travis McElroy (38:22): "That is my unfinished business. I would hate to die right now and be a ghost."

• Justin McElroy (46:01): "We built several and then really relied on the culinary expertise of the team on which ones were the best."

Conclusion:

Episode 738 of My Brother, My Brother And Me masterfully blends humorous banter with genuine advice, all while engaging with current pop culture topics like the Wicked movie release and innovative fast-food trends. The McElroy brothers' unique approach to answering listener questions provides both entertainment and relatable insights, making this episode a standout for both regular fans and newcomers alike.