Topic: Michael

Dana Brunetti details how he secured the rights to produce the Fifty Shades of Grey film franchise. While filming Captain Phillips in London, he and producer Michael De Luca met with the author's manager. Despite being told producers were already chosen, they eventually landed the project, which became a massive commercial success.

Following the death of legendary producer Quincy Jones at age 91, the hosts reflect on his massive influence on American music, including his work on Michael Jackson's Thriller. Curry recalls a live radio interview with Jones where the producer brought a bottle of Chateau Latour wine to the studio.

Adam Curry explains how MTV was contractually obligated to refer to Michael Jackson as "The King of Pop" during every mention. This led to a grueling weekend where the VJs had to re-record days of programming because they had initially failed to use the specific title in their segments.

During the presentation of the Video Vanguard Award, Michael Jackson reportedly stood on an apple crate to appear closer in height to Adam Curry. Curry notes that photos of the event on the internet show Jackson appearing nearly as tall as him despite the actual height difference.

Larry describes a Billy Idol performance at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut, where the singer repeatedly mispronounced the town's name. Adam explains the technical reality of gold and platinum record awards from the 1980s. He notes that early awards were often playable metal "mothers" that had to be spun backward to hear the music.

Adam recounts a recent Uber ride in Oakland where the driver shared photos of himself having drinks with Frank Sinatra at the Stars restaurant. The driver's playlist, featuring George Michael and Aaron Neville, sparked a conversation about the "good old days" of celebrity culture. Larry jokes about this being his own eventual retirement path.

Radio host Michael Savage performed a satirical impression of Bernie Sanders calling for international cooperation with China on Artificial Intelligence. The parody suggests that Sanders' policy positions are a front for communist interests and space-based domination. The hosts compare Savage's performance to Dave Rubin's, noting the increasing difficulty in discerning truth within a polarized media landscape.

A discussion regarding a song parody idea based on Michael Jackson's "Blame it on the Boogie" titled "Blame it on the Glitch" transitions into a memory about alternative fuel sources. The conversation covers wood-burning gasification systems for trucks and generators, with one host expressing interest in dragging a burning system behind an old flatbed Ford to power a vehicle.

The filmography of George Clooney is reviewed, with high praise given to the 2007 film "Michael Clayton." The hosts describe it as a riveting "No Agenda movie" about a fixer in a large law firm and also mention "The American," "Syriana," and "The Men Who Stare at Goats."

Michael Cottrell, a Canadian producer, donated $288.88 and recalled a famous show incident where he sent an 18-pound box of pennies to the hosts. He reminded the audience that Adam Curry initially feared the heavy package was a bomb, while John C. Dvorak encouraged him to open it on air regardless. Cottrell was officially knighted during this segment.

Dame Francine Hardaway returns to the show with a donation. A producer named JC Garcia introduces the acronym "WWJCDD" (What Would John C. Dvorak Do?). Michael Straub and Alexander Marsh describe Dvorak as a grandfather figure who provided a window into a world of reason and humor.

Michael Hall discusses his background as an Orthodox Christian praying for Dvorak's soul. Matthew McCoy shares a classic memory from 1999 of watching Dvorak on Silicon Spin, where Dvorak famously asked why anyone would buy a laptop "shaped like a toilet seat" regarding the Bondi blue iBook.

Chad Larson renews his commitment to the show following Dvorak's passing. Sir Walkman, the Duke of Buckeye, recalls his email correspondence with Dvorak regarding Michael Savage and various spy show recommendations.

Sir Michael Dunn, Baron of Southern Kentucky, recalls watching Dvorak review CD-ROMs on CNET Central in the 1990s. He credits Dvorak and Adam for providing a healthy view of the world and hundreds of "belly laughs" over 15 years of listening.

Former Pfizer researcher Michael Yeadon claims that the COVID-19 pandemic was a fraudulent event exaggerated by inappropriate PCR testing. He argues that all-cause mortality did not increase significantly prior to the WHO declaration and that many deaths were caused by changed medical procedures, such as inappropriate ventilation and the denial of antibiotics.

The Freedom 250 celebration on the National Mall faced setbacks as artists including Martina McBride, Young MC, and Brett Michaels withdrew due to the event's perceived political nature. Performers like Vanilla Ice and Milli Vanilli's Fab Morvan remain on the bill, which is characterized as a "track act" lineup typical of state fairs. Donald Trump suggested he might perform himself if more musical acts drop out.

Newly declassified emails from 2016 reveal that then-NSA Director Michael Rogers raised concerns about the integrity of the intelligence product regarding Russian interference in the DNC hack. James Clapper reportedly pressured agencies to align on a "team sport" narrative despite Rogers' warnings about insufficient review time. These documents have been referred to the Justice Department for further investigation by Attorney General Pam Bondi.

Donald Trump concluded a state visit to China to meet with President Xi Jinping, drawing criticism from media figures like Jen Psaki and Ambassador Michael McFaul. While critics argue Trump appeared "cowed" by the Chinese leader and failed to use tough rhetoric regarding communism, the visit involved significant business delegations. Potential deals discussed include the sale of over 200 Boeing jets and agricultural agreements involving soybeans. Analysts debate whether Trump's policies are inadvertently benefiting China's global standing at the expense of American allies.

Dr. Michael Osterholm appeared on CBS to discuss recent Hantavirus concerns, emphasizing that it is not a coronavirus and has limited person-to-person transmission. He noted that while the "Andes strain" from South America can be more dangerous, the current risk is low, and standard monitoring of symptoms and temperature is sufficient for containment.

Lionsgate is producing a Michael Jackson biopic starring his nephew, Jafar Jackson, which reportedly glosses over child sex abuse allegations. The film focuses on Jackson's ascent to superstardom through 1984, leading to protests from survivors and criticism from the director of "Leaving Neverland." Jackson's daughter, Paris Jackson, has also condemned the film for perceived inaccuracies.