Podcast Summary
Podcast: Zac Amico's Morning Zoo
Episode: 0085: Shane Torres and Brandon Collins
Date: February 6, 2026
Host: Zac Amico
Guests: Shane Torres (Coastal Idiots), Brandon Collins (Medium Popcorn)
Episode Overview
This episode of Zac Amico's Morning Zoo brings together comics Shane Torres and Brandon Collins for a hilarious, rant-filled morning show. They riff on weird news (including exotic animals on the loose), swap Hollywood rumors and B-movie takes, reminisce about awkward childhood fame, dissect the perils of social media oversharing, and spiral into in-depth, irreverent movie talk. The vibe is chaotic but always funny, with Zac steering his lovable “degenerates” through rapid-fire tangents on pop culture, urban legends, dysfunctional families, celebrity cameos, and more.
Key Discussion Points
1. Groundhog Day & Local Weird News
[01:31–07:14]
- The show opens with banter about Groundhog Day, with Zac and Shane quoting “Groundhog Day” and joking about Punxsutawney Phil’s weather-predicting powers.
- Zac Amico: “It’s nothing. It’s a rodent pees on a man.” [01:41]
- They discuss a recent news story of a man pulled over in Oyster Bay transporting a “menagerie” of exotic animals, including sloths and kangaroos, which is illegal in the area.
- Reaction to “kangaroo in Oyster Bay”: general disbelief and jokes about local cryptids mistaking loose kangaroos for the Jersey Devil.
- Quick discussion on whether kangaroos and sloths could survive New York winters.
2. The Jersey Devil, Urban Myths & Rumors
[06:35–08:41]
- Zac gives a quick history of the Jersey Devil, comparing it to the Chupacabra and noting its roots as a colonial-era smear campaign possibly orchestrated by Ben Franklin.
- Shane Torres: “God, what a time. People were even dumber than they are now. To just be a little bit smarter than everyone back then.” [07:57]
- The crew shares infamous celebrity rumors and urban legends: Richard Gere’s gerbil, Rod Stewart’s stomach pump, Marilyn Manson’s ribs, and Michael Jackson being an alien.
3. Donald Trump in Movies & The Power of Cameos
[09:08–14:30]
- Discussion about Trump’s cameo demands when movies filmed at his properties, and a riff on Donald Trump’s many brief film and TV appearances.
- Zac shares how producers were required to film a cameo with Trump (“Mr. Trump”), even if they didn’t use it.
- Watch and react to a compilation of Trump movie cameos, noting his obsession with models and self-presentation.
- Zac Amico: “He wanted to be on the call sheet. He wanted the hullabalo.” [10:15]
4. Early Fame & Schoolyard Teasing
[13:33–16:40]
- The trio reminisce about childhood fame, with Zac sharing his experience shooting a Nickelodeon commercial and how it haunted him at school.
- Zac Amico: “...kids just would do it to me in the hallway. People be like, hey, somebody told me to do this to you… it just became part of the zeitgeist.” [15:04]
- They compare notes on how celebrity and infamy haunt people from a young age, referencing Leonardo DiCaprio’s “Growing Pains” era and viral red-carpet moments.
5. Social Media Dysfunction & Family Drama
[17:13–24:44]
- Conversation shifts to dysfunctional relatives airing dirty laundry online, family scams (like faking a Disney trip for cash), and Facebook as “therapy” or diary for chaotic people.
- Shane Torres: “It’s always disgusting on social media when people give … like, fucking cap this. Well, this is like an emotional BP spill.” [23:39]
- Zac Amico: “Dude, hood, like Spanish Harlem, Bronx dudes. Post on Facebook like they are 12 year old girls…” [23:56]
6. Movie Cheating, Game Shows & Outliers
[24:31–33:34]
- A deep dive into hacking and beating systems—vending machines, The Price is Right, and 1980s game show exploits.
- Discussion of the famous “Price is Right” superfan who meticulously tracked prices and helped people win, leading to debates about game show fairness.
- Shane Torres shares the story of comedian Josh Androsky going on Price is Right high on mushrooms.
7. Gambling Stories, Addiction, and Cautionary Tales
[34:40–39:08]
- The hosts talk about sports betting, gambling addiction in families, and chasing big wins only to lose it all.
- Zac Amico: “I was coming out on the other end of it pretty good with little bets. And then I just start… I lost some cache the night Connor broke his leg.” [35:39]
- Cautionary tales about big windfalls gone awry; mention of comic Tim McLaughlin’s rollercoaster life stories.
8. Movie & Comedy Sequels: Why Are They Always Worse?
[39:19–47:57]
- Spirited discussion on the pitfalls of movie sequels, especially comedies like Happy Gilmore 2 and Anchorman 2.
- Brandon Collins: “It not only followed the same beats from the first one, it also integrated, like, Talladega Nights shit…” [44:07]
- Deconstruction of the “bring me the same thing, but different” Hollywood mentality.
- Nostalgia for early 2000s comedies, critique of Adam Sandler’s output, and potential for “Billy Madison 2”.
9. Underrated & Overrated Films, Acting Method Madness
[52:09–56:38]
- The group debates Scorsese’s most underrated works (“After Hours,” “Bringing Out the Dead”) and what makes “Cape Fear” so creepy.
- Dive into De Niro’s extreme method acting—filing his teeth down for a role—and aging actors trying to play young (De Niro in “The Irishman”).
- “Nobody fixes [the old man ears], and it drives me nuts.” – Zac Amico [55:28]
10. Travolta’s Bizarre Movie Choices & The Fanatic
[56:42–66:51]
- Zac and Brandon spiral through John Travolta’s later career, mocking “Gotti,” “Speed Kills,” and especially the Fred Durst-directed “The Fanatic.”
- Zac Amico: “Imagine one of the guys from Entourage made a John Gotti movie. And now imagine one of the guys from Entourage made a John Gotti movie.” [57:55]
- Watch and react to “The Fanatic” trailer, with Zac suggesting Travolta’s character is inspired by his late, special-needs son Jet.
- Shane Torres: “Your theories are fucking crazy…” [66:05]
11. Viral Clips: Boxer Loses Wig, Rodeo Mayhem
[67:06–70:26]
- Final laughs over viral videos: a boxer’s wig falling off during a match (with admiration for his confidence) and a group of women on a terrifying rodeo seesaw facing a bull.
- “I give—you got to give him credit for owning it.” – Shane Torres [69:19]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “It’s nothing. It’s a rodent pees on a man.” — Zac Amico, on Groundhog Day [01:41]
- “God, what a time. People were even dumber than they are now. To just be a little bit smarter than everyone back then.” — Shane Torres, on colonial legends [07:57]
- “He wanted to be on the call sheet. He wanted the hullabalo.” — Zac Amico, on Trump’s Hollywood cameos [10:15]
- “Kids just would do it to me in the hallway. It just became part of the zeitgeist.” — Zac Amico, on childhood Nickelodeon fame [15:04]
- “Dude, hood, like Spanish Harlem, Bronx dudes. Post on Facebook like they are 12 year old girls…” — Zac Amico [23:56]
- “Imagine one of the guys from Entourage made a John Gotti movie. And now imagine one of the guys from Entourage made a John Gotti movie.” — Zac Amico [57:55]
- “He’s just tripping out right now.” — Brandon Collins, on comic Josh Androsky’s Price is Right appearance [32:57]
- “Your theories are fucking crazy…” — Shane Torres, in response to Zac’s Fanatic/Travolta connection [66:05]
- “I give—you got to give him credit for owning it.” — Shane Torres, on the boxer losing his wig [69:19]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Groundhog Day banter & exotic animal news: [00:53–07:14]
- Jersey Devil myth & celebrity rumors: [06:35–08:41]
- Trump movie cameos: [09:08–14:30]
- Nickelodeon ad story: [13:33–16:40]
- Family drama/social media dysfunction: [17:13–24:44]
- Game shows & “Price is Right” superfan: [24:31–33:34]
- Gambling stories & addiction talk: [34:40–39:08]
- Movie sequels/debates on Sandler & comedy: [39:19–47:57]
- Underrated movies/acting method: [52:09–56:38]
- Travolta, The Fanatic, and conspiracy theories: [56:42–66:51]
- Boxer’s wig & rodeo mayhem: [67:06–70:26]
Tone, Style, and Final Notes
The episode is uproariously irreverent, packed with ball-busting, random callbacks, and raunchy asides. Zac’s rapport with Shane and Brandon keeps the pace rapid but authentic; their deep bench of pop culture references and behind-the-scenes comedy stories will delight fans of alt-comedy and B-movie lore. There’s real insight in between the wild bits, especially on topics like social media, urban myth, and the ups and downs of comedy fame.
For fans of: Alt-morning shows, stand-up comics riffing, pop culture deep cuts, and podcasts that feel like hanging at a filthy comic hangout.