43. Weird Al, Spaceballs, Warner Bros T-Shirts (w/ Efrem Schulz)
Episode description
Phil and Jake are joined by Efrem Schulz, a friend of the pod-- and vocalist for Death By Stereo, Voodoo Glow Skulls and Manic Hispanic-- to stack the whack of the List of Every Damn Thing by ranking “Weird Al” Yankovic, the 1987 comedy film Spaceballs, and Warner Bros large-graphic cartoon t-shirts.
Find Efrem on Twitter (@Efbystereo) and Instagram (@efbystereo). Check the brand-new Voodoo Glow Skulls album Livin’ the Apocalypse! Also check out the Fight For Columbia bandcamp compilation.
VOTE HERE to help choose which item on the List of Every Damn Thing should be re-ranked in an upcoming episode (you can vote once a day).
If you have something to add to the list, email it to list@everydamnthing.net (or get at us on Twitter and Instagram).
SHOW NOTES:
- It doesn’t come up in our conversation, but Efrem recorded the episode from his shop Programme Skate & Sound in Fullerton, CA.
- Efrem also plays bass in the Danzig / Misfits tribute band Dirty Black Summer.
- Grammar authorities say both “champing at the bit” and “chomping at the bit” are fine to use.
- Jake was wrong about how to write Weird Al’s name. The quotes go around “Weird Al” not just “Weird”. Weird, right?
- Weird Al songs (and videos) discussed include “Eat It”, “White & Nerdy”, “Tacky”, “Amish Paradise”, “Fat” and “Lasagna”. And of course we couldn’t skip his polka medleys (including “The Hamilton Polka”).
- Efrem tells a story about bonding over Weird Al with George Rebelo from Hot Water Music. George is a great guy and amazing drummer. Hot Water Music is one of the best bands ever.
- Chamillionaire retired from rapping and is now a venture capitalist in Santa Monica. Here he is over a John Tesh sample and here he is on an extremely 2005 Scott Storch beat. People forget his breakout hit was about racial profiling.
- We couldn’t find footage online of the MTV show Death By Stereo did with Coolio, but here’s an old post on punknews.org that proves it happened.
- Roast battle champion Mike Lawrence has a take on Spaceballs similar to Phil's wife's.
- We discuss the works of Mel Brooks, including Young Frankenstein, Blazing Saddles and Robin Hood: Men In Tights.
- Rick Moranis is at his best in Ghostbusters.
- Bill Pullman is at his best in Independence Day. He belongs in the air.
- We name-check lots of cartoon characters that one might find on an oversized t-shirt, including Taz, Betty Boop, Tweety Bird, Elmer Fudd and Foghorn Leghorn. There’s also mention of Yosemite Sam mudflaps.
- Phil & Jake both looked for evidence of Michael Bivins wearing WB merchandise, and couldn't find it. That doesn't mean it doesn't exist. It might be that he was too grown-up by the time these shirts came about.
ALSO DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:
coffee * Red Bull * 5-Hour Energy * lyrics * Vincent Price in “Thriller” * Al TV * Dr. Demento * parody * Prince * Cheech & Chong * Pee-Wee Herman * Bill Paxton * Bruce Springsteen * sex * Star Wars * Joan Rivers * Hollywood Squares * Jim J. Bullock * Dick Van Patten * Eight Is Enough * Luke Skywalker * Han Solo * The Greatest American Hero * The Last Starfighter *
