Sixteenth Minute (of Fame)

Twenty years ago, William Hung of "She Bangs" American Idol fame became one of the earliest people to straddle traditional media and the internet to become an overnight sensation. A notorious "bad audition" on one of the world's most famous shows, William built a whole career on a mix of positivity and negative attention, remaining firmly himself every step of the way. Warning: this episode contains severe 2004, from Angelfire fan sites to successful prime time TV to early-aughts xenophobia. Buckle in, we're going deep, from William's college days to his TED talks and everywhere in between. This week, Jamie recounts William's story and speaks to the man himself. In part two, we take a closer look at what William's fame meant to Asian Americans, and what it said about the state of reality TV. Follow William here: https://williamhung.net/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Of course the graverobbing episode couldn’t be one part! In part two of the Tmblr bone witch story, Jamie speaks with the leading voice in American human remains law, a New Orleans cemetery preservationist and of course, a real-life witch. Follow Tanya Marsh here: https://x.com/tmar22  Follow JV Hampton-Van Sant’s work and socials here: https://linktr.ee/RedBlaqueGolden  Learn more about Save Our Cemeteries here: https://www.saveourcemeteries.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join Ender Darling, the infamous "Tumblr Bone Witch," alongside TikToker John's Bones, and former morgue manager Cedric Lodge as they dissect the gripping tale of online human remains trading. They discuss the ethical quandaries surrounding bone collecting and how it connects to colonial exploitation. Caitlin Doughty offers her insights on death rituals, while the group unpacks the chaotic fallout from Ender's controversial actions and the strange intersection of social media and spiritual practices. It's a spooky dive into bone theft and cultural complexities!

She's, with apologies to the Hawk Tuah lobby, the queen of the internet in 2024 -- baby pygmy hippo Moo Deng.  Her fifteenth minute is far from over, but this week Jamie dives into the world of the viral zoo animal. She's far from the first, joining a legacy of viral animals whose life is flattened to a static image, without wondering why we're looking at them in the first place. We go into the ordeal that is becoming famous while captive, and Jamie speaks with zoologist Oliver, aka Dr. Wildlife, about the ethics of zoos and how we can better protect the animals that become a part of our digital language. Follow Dr. Wildlife here: https://linktr.ee/drwildlife  See Jamie in LA on November 1st & 20th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-tiny-man-is-trying-to-kill-me-tickets-1039733048537See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FIELD TRIP! Jamie heads to Las Vegas to see the closing moments of the Kobi-Chestnut sixteenth minute -- and watches them face off live on Netflix after fifteen years without competing in a broadcast called Unfinished Beef. We talk more with documentarian Nicole Lucas-Haimes, and take a look at what the greatest hot dog and sports rivalry of all time looks like at the highest level. Watch 30 for 30: The Good, The Bad, The Hungry on Netflix here: https://www.netflix.com/title/81752194 Watch Unfinished Beef: https://www.netflix.com/title/81743617 Read Jodi Walker's terrific coverage of the event on The Ringer: https://www.theringer.com/tv/2024/9/19/24248057/joey-chestnut-takeru-kobayashi-netflix-unfinished-beef-hot-dog-eating Buy Jamie's book Raw Dog here: https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250847768/rawdogSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Once a year, Joey Chestnut becomes the main character of the internet -- but it wasn't always that way. This week, we're talking about the greatest hot dog rivalry of all time, and the media ringmaster that made it possible. Before Joey's annual stint as a main character, the hot dog eating champion of the world was one Takeru Kobayashi, a Japanese eater who turned a novelty event in the U.S. into a full-blown sensation in the early 2000s. Then, contractual issues and a huge wave of xenophobia pushed Kobi out of the professional scene in America, until Labor Day 2024 when he faced off with Chestnut for the first time in 15 years. A lot has changed since their last meeting... more than anything, the way stories are told using the internet. Jamie speaks with documentarian Nicole Lucas-Haimes, director of the 30 for 30 about the Kobi and Chestnut rivalry: The Good, The Bad, The Hungry. She's also the executive producer of the Netflix rematch, Unfinished Beef. This Thursday, Jamie ventures to Las Vegas to see the Kobi-Chestnut Netflix rematch in person. Watch The Good, The Bad, The Hungry: https://www.netflix.com/title/81752194Watch Unfinished Beef: https://www.netflix.com/title/81743617Buy Raw Dog (now in paperback): https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250847768/rawdogNowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken Bone, an internet sensation born from a question at the 2016 presidential debate, shares his journey eight years later. He discusses how viral fame significantly altered his life and perspectives on politics. Ken reflects on the toll of sudden fame and its fleeting nature while emphasizing personal identity and civic engagement. He also shares insights about navigating family dynamics and career changes, ultimately revealing how these experiences shaped his evolving political beliefs and community involvement.

Ken Bone, an undecided voter who unexpectedly became a media sensation during the 2016 presidential debate, shares his unique story. He discusses the whirlwind of fame that followed his iconic red sweater moment and how he became a symbol of voter sentiment during a turbulent election. The conversation dives into the oddity of internet fame, the scrutiny he faced after controversial comments, and the challenges of navigating public perception in a digital age. Bone's reflections provide a fascinating look at the collision of politics and pop culture.

In this engaging chat, Laina Morris, famously known as the Overly Attached Girlfriend, reflects on her unexpected rise to fame from a viral video in 2012. She shares her experience filming a Delta Airlines safety video and opens up about the struggles of maintaining mental health while navigating the pressures of online fame. Laina discusses the importance of self-worth and safe self-expression in the chaotic world of social media, all while providing a humorous take on modern dating and the meme culture that branded her iconic.

Laina Morris became a viral sensation in 2012 as the Overly Attached Girlfriend, a hilarious parody of Justin Bieber fans. In this discussion, she reflects on her swift rise to internet fame and the tough decision of possibly dropping out of college for a budding career in YouTube. The conversation dives into societal perceptions of clinginess, the dynamics of fandom, and the evolution of YouTube fame, highlighting the complexities faced by content creators in a rapidly changing digital landscape.