

Too Much Information
iHeartPodcasts
'Too Much Information' is a new iHeartRadio podcast that gives you the secret history, behind-the-scenes details and little-known fascinating facts about your favorite movies, music, TV shows and more. The series is brought to you by two trivia titans with too much free time. Jordan Runtagh and Alex Heigl are big-time pop culture nerds and longtime listicle writers who've worked at Rolling Stone, People, Entertainment Weekly, VH1, and Page Six. Now they're let off the leash and ready to dive deep into a different beloved entertainment classic three times a week. Get ready for everything you never knew about 'Rugrats,' 'Hook,' "Dancing Queen," Sonic the Hedgehog, 'Jeopardy,' 'Top Gun,' 'Jagged Little Pill'...The list goes on, and so will these guys. But in a good way. Promise.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jul 5, 2024 • 1h 19min
FROM THE VAULT: Air Force One: Everything You Didn't Know
Jordan and Alex get Presidential with their look at the ‘90s aero-thriller. They’ll uncover how Harrison Ford sweet-talked Bill Clinton into giving him a tour of the real Air Force One, how the prop plane nearly caused a scary real-life military incident, and how the movie delayed the release of James Cameron’s ‘Titanic.’ They’ll also dive into Donald Trump’s ardent passion for this film, the rejected score from Randy Newman (yes, the ‘Toy Story’ guy), and Harrison Ford's numerous piloting mishaps — including the time he caused mayhem on the runway of a major airport. Finally, they’ll explain all the ways this terrifying scenario could never happen in real life. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 30, 2024 • 1h 46min
Wheel of Fortune: Everything You Didn't Know
Your gurus of gameshows are back to reveal the inner workings of America’s favorite word puzzle-related wheel — and those who serve it. You’ll learn about Pat Sajak’s surprisingly storied background in Vietnam — which helped serve as the inspiration for the Robin Williams’ film ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ — and his days working at the Pentagon. You’ll also hear Vanna White’s Cinderella -esque origin story that saw her go from sleeping on floors to wearing over 8000 gowns, holding one of the most hilarious Guinness records of all time, and earning a shout-out from Nelly. Jordan and Alex also go over some of the most hilarious fails in ‘Wheel’ history, examine all the ways the production is not unlike Taylor Swift’s Eras tour (at least in terms of total tonnage of equipment) and delve deep into psychological reasons why game show hosts tend to fall on the right side of the political spectrum. So get ready to spin your wheels for an hour or two — the guys promise to keep their "vowel movement" jokes to a minimum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 20, 2024 • 1h 42min
Moby's 'Play': Everything You Didn't Know
Strap on your DJ headphones and don your best bald cap, because TMI is tackling one of the best-selling (and most "sold-out") albums of the Nineties: Moby's 'Play.' The pair will track down the source of all those haunting vocal samples, discuss the practice of "folk song collecting" and how it shaped music in the second half of the 20th century, and muse over the thorny racial and ethical implications of sampling! Along the way, they'll detour into how every single one of "Play"'s 18 tracks were licensed out to film, TV, and commercials -- some of them multiple times -- and how Moby gradually ascended to the top of the fin de siecle electronica heap, finding himself a lonely, whiny -- and possibly stingy -- king. It's Too Much Information: Downtempo/Chill/Ambient/Electronic/Dance edition!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 8, 2024 • 1h 34min
The Sixth Sense: Everything You Didn't Know
Your specters of specificity are back — and they see dead people. Jordan and Alex set their sights on M. Night Shyamalan's masterpiece that balances horror with deeply emotional storytelling. You'll learn all about the time we almost got a future Arrested Development star in the lead, why Bruce Willis was forced into his part, and the sting of clever clues sprinkled throughout the movie that point to its iconic twist ending. (Errr, spoiler alert?) Alex shares his own experience with ghosts, Jordan talks about the time he partied with Haley Joel Osment in college, and they also go long on all the ways Donnie Wahlberg put himself through hell for his brief (but important!) role. You'll definitely laugh, you'll possibly cry, but hopefully you won't vomit like Mischa Barton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jun 2, 2024 • 1h 57min
Joy Division's 'Unknown Pleasures': Everything You Didn't Know
Jordan and Alex don their most severe clothing and geometric haircuts to dive in the Big Bang of post-punk and goth: Joy Division’s “Unknown Pleasures!” They’ll trace the band’s origins to a pre-fame Sex Pistols gig in Manchester attended by virtually every member of the city’s musical luminaries to the maddening conditions of recording with insane genius producer Martin Hannett, who maybe tried to suffocate and/or poison their drummer? They’ll also re-litigate 1980s Manchester’s most famous rock feud…among people who aren’t in the Smiths: Joy Division/ New Order’s Peter Hook and Bernard Sumner! Also get ready to be so sad hearing about Ian Curtis’ life! Too Much Information: Two men in their 30s struggling to delicately parse mental health issues via granular trivia!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 20, 2024 • 2h 20min
Dead Poets Society: Everything You Didn't Know
Your poets of pop culture podcasts stand on their desks and sound their barbaric yawps in salute to this uplifting classic of the twinkly-eyed cinema canon — which made Robin Williams into a dramatic star and an untold number of kids crack open 'Leaves of Grass.' You'll learn about the hilarious aborted start to the movie (which resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars of sets being torched after Robin Williams failed to show up) and the sweet bond that formed between Robin and Ethan Hawke. You'll also hear all about the lost ending that would have made this movie even more tear-inducing than it already is. Jordan recalls his less-than-pleasant days at a Welton Academy-like New England prep school, and he and Heigl debate the very nature of creativity and artistic instruction. It's a surprisingly soul-baring discussion for the TMI Guys, filled with their patented blend of conversational detours, earnest enthusiasm, and nihilism. So carpe that diem and give a listen!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 10, 2024 • 1h 38min
Gremlins: Everything You Didn't Know
iHeart's resident Mogwais accidentally got splattered with water, and they've emerged from their cocoons all sticky and vicious -- and ready to talk about 1984's 'Gremlins.' They'll dive into the absolute murderer's row of 80s luminaries involved — Chris Columbus! Steven Spielberg! Joe Dante! — and the real stars of the film: the puppets! — and the man who nearly killed himself bringing them to life, SFX icon Chris Walas. Along the way they'll trace the aviation-related source of the word "gremlin," how this film forced Spielberg and the MPAA to invent the PG-13 rating, and touch briefly — and ecstatically — on the insane blank-check sequel Dante got to do with a different SFX god — Rick friggin' Baker — 'Gremlins 2: The New Batch!' Too Much Information: Just don't feed them after midnight!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 6, 2024 • 2h 31min
Gilligan's Island: Everything You Didn't Know
Your professors of pop culture embark on a three hour tour of trivia about this beloved monolith of mid-century sitcom kitsch. It's a ride as wild as the S.S. Minnow's doomed voyage as Jordan and Heigl somehow manage to link CIA mind control experiments, the JFK assassination, numerous tragic Hollywood deaths to talk of the seven castaways. You'll learn all about the hilarious feud among the cast, the ridiculously petty secret meaning behind the boat's name, all the ways Mary Anne was a real-life angel, and a story about the Skipper's final days that is guaranteed to make you sob. In addition to the stranger-than-fiction tales of naive good samaritans who tried to launch their own campaign to rescue Gilligan and Co., you'll also hear all about the truly insane made-for-TV reunions projects that somehow encompassed the Harlem Globetrotters, a nuclear apocalypse and murder. You're sure to get a smile from seven stranded castaways — and two crazy podcast hosts — here on Gilligan's Isle!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 27, 2024 • 1h 40min
The Planet of the Apes (1968): Everything You Didn't Know
Jordan and Alex close out APE-ril by traveling back in time -- or is it forward? -- to the original Planet of the Apes! No aspect of the original will be free of their dirty paws as they probe the original novel, written by the guy who wrote Bridge on the River Kwai and initially translated as "Monkey Planet!" No APE-spect of the film's torturous run-up to production will be missed, from the 30 drafts Rod Serling wrote to the revolutionary makeup that cost more than the actors! Oh, and there's a Sammy Davis, Jr story! Head into May-PE with Too Much Apes-formation!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 20, 2024 • 1h 34min
"My Way" by Frank Sinatra: Everything You Didn't Know
Your Chairmen of the Bored are back with a deep dive into the life and times of Ol’ Blue Eyes and the twisted origins of his signature tune — which went from an obscure French pop song to an immortal karaoke anthem. It was all thanks to former teen star Paul Anka, who wrote the stirring lyrics at his idol’s request on the eve of his retirement. You’ll learn how a Beatle (maybe) witnessed the recording, and you’ll hear an early version of the lyrics written by a pre-fame David Bowie. You’ll discover why Las Vegas became the home base for the Rat Pack, and hear all about Frank’s risky dealings — and crazy love triangle — with the Kennedys and the Mob (and why some believe he maybe-kinda-sorta inadvertently triggered JFK’s assassination…). Jordan and Alex also go deep on the Sex Pistols’ punk-rock cover of the classic, sung by the doomed bassist Sid Vicious, and examine the shocking number of murders that have occurred as a direct result of this song. Regrets, we’ve all had a few — but listening to this episode will not be one of them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.