Creatives Are The Worst

RuPaul Andre Charles was born in San Diego, California, before moving to Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 15 to study in the performing arts. After contributing to several smaller creative projects over the years, he finally broke through to the mainstream with the dance hit “Supermodel (You Better Work)” in 1993. RuPaul would go on to become the most famous drag queen in the world, an Emmy award-winning host of multiple hit television shows, and a bonafide household name. This week, we're asking the question: Is RuPaul the worst?

Fleetwood Mac was formed in London in 1967; the brainchild of guitarist Peter Green and drummer Mick Fleetwood. They would record several albums and endure countless personnel changes before guitarist Lindsey Buckingham and singer Stevie Nicks would eventually join in 1974. This lineup would lead the band to worldwide success and widespread acclaim, but their creative environment was anything but healthy. Addiction, drama, infidelity, and “rumours” seemed to follow them wherever they went. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Fleetwood Mac the worst?

Salvador Domingo Felipe Jacinto Dalí i Domènech was born in Figueres, Spain in 1904. He began painting at a young age, but after embracing the surreal, he would become one of the most famous artists of the 20th century, known simply as Salvador Dalí. His bizarre paintings made him a global phenomenon, but his eccentric behavior and wild personality would leave an even stranger legacy long after his death. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Salvador Dalí the worst?

When Walt Disney first approached designer John Hench in 1964 with the idea for a futuristic thrill ride, they had no idea that they would be creating one of the most popular and enduring theme park attractions of all time. After 9 years of development, Space Mountain would finally open in 1975, and it continues to amaze guests around the world to this day. This week's episode is an in-depth look at the development and legacy of one of the most magical theme park attractions in history; Space Mountain.

John Wilden Hughes Jr. was a quiet kid from a Midwestern town, who would become one of the most prolific filmmakers in American history. He began his career at an ad agency before he got his first creative break as a writer for National Lampoon magazine. Hughes would go on to create a string of films that defined American cinema including Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Home Alone, and many more. He would retire from the public eye before his untimely death in 2009, but questions about his legacy still linger today. This week, we’re asking the question: Is John Hughes the worst?

“Who you gonna call?” In 1984, a Hollywood studio took a massive risk, spending millions of dollars on an ambitious science-fiction comedy film. Ghostbusters was the brainchild of Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, who starred in the film alongside SNL alumni Bill Murray. Director Ivan Reitman would bring the script to life, filming iconic scenes throughout New York City, on an extremely tight production schedule. The result was unlike any comedy created before or since and is widely considered to be one of the greatest films of all time. This week’s episode is all about how “lightning in a bottle” was captured in the 1984 film, Ghostbusters.

In the late 1990s, boy bands ruled the world, and one band, in particular, was tearin’ up our hearts. Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Fatone, and Lance Bass collectively formed NSYNC, one of the top selling artists of the 20th century. After years of chart-topping success, they said “Bye Bye Bye” to their manager Lou Pearlman in a highly publicized legal battle before breaking up and going their separate ways. This week, we’re asking the question: Is NSYNC the worst?

We’re doing something a little bit different on today’s podcast. We’ve talked about a lot of unique creative people on this show in the past, but we thought it would be fun to take a deeper look into the process and history behind some of our favorite artists’ most iconic creations. This week, we are purifying ourselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka once again, as we take another glimpse into the life of the mystifying purple one, Prince. This episode is all about his most ambitious project, the groundbreaking 1984 song, album, and film of the same name; Purple Rain.

John Edward "Skip" Bayless is a larger-than-life sports personality and the kind of guy that you love to hate. He first rose to prominence as a sportswriter in the Dallas area, and gained notoriety for penning salacious tell-all books about one of America's most popular sports teams; the Dallas Cowboys. It wasn't long before his controversial opinions made their way to television, where his outlandish "hot takes" would turn into a ratings gold mine and make him one of the highest-paid media personalities in the world. This week, we're asking the question: Is Skip Bayless the worst?

Oprah Gail Winfrey is the undisputed “Queen of All Media”, a talk show host, actress, and media mogul. Despite her tumultuous upbringing in rural Mississippi, she rose through the ranks of daytime TV, and for 25 years, she hosted The Oprah Winfrey Show, one of the most popular and critically-acclaimed talk shows in history. The success of her show, as well as her production company Harpo Studios, would make her one of the most influential women in the world, and the first black multi-billionaire. With great influence, comes great responsibility, and Oprah has rightly been criticized for giving a platform to questionable ideas and contributing to the rise of pseudoscience. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Oprah Winfrey the worst?

Gordon James Ramsay was once a promising young soccer player before a serious injury forced him to give up on the sport that he loved. Soon, he would shift his focus to the kitchen, and a meteoric rise to the top of the culinary world would begin. Ramsay would become one of the most recognizable chefs in history, launching critically acclaimed restaurants around the world and a slew of hit television shows including Hell’s Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef, and more. He would also gain a reputation for his hair-trigger temper, coarse language, and appetite for confrontation. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Gordon Ramsay the worst?

Norma Jean Baker was living as a mild-mannered housewife in Southern California before a chance encounter would propel her to superstardom. A successful career as a fashion model would give way to an opportunity to star in films, and a new stage name: Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn would become a bonafide icon: a slice of Americana, a scandalous sex symbol, and the face of Hollywood’s golden age. Her personal life was turbulent, with multiple failed marriages and high-profile love affairs. She eventually spiraled into addiction, before her untimely death at the age of 36. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Marilyn Monroe the worst?

We put a lot of time and energy into researching and producing every one of our episodes, and unfortunately the historic winter storm that rocked the state of Texas has impacted our ability to create a new episode this week. We'll be back next week with a brand new episode, and until then we can confidently say that power outages are the WORST.

Carrie Frances Fisher was born into Hollywood royalty, the daughter of actress Debbie Reynolds and singer Eddie Fisher. It was no surprise then when she was cast in the iconic role of Princess Leia in the 1977 film Star Wars, a performance that would define her for the rest of her life. In the decades that followed, she openly battled addiction and mental illness, while simultaneously carving out a unique career path as a writer and “script doctor” before her untimely death in 2016. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Carrie Fisher the worst?

Harvey Phillip Spector was widely considered to be the first true auteur record producer. His trademark “Wall of Sound” can be heard on albums by The Beatles, The Ramones, The Righteous Brothers, The Ronettes, and so many more. Artists like Brian Wilson and John Lennon have called him “the greatest record producer of all time”, but a chaotic personal life and penchant for violence were simmering beneath the surface. It would all culminate in 2003, when actress Lana Clarkson was found dead from a single gunshot wound in Spector’s home. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Phil Spector the worst? Content warning: This episode contains graphic depictions of violence and domestic abuse.

Johnny Cash was “The Man in Black”, a trailblazing country musician, who famously penned songs of outlaws and redemption. He is one of the best-selling songwriters of all-time, and his songs have earned him a place in the country, rock & roll, and gospel halls of fame. His personal life was not without its own tribulations, though. His outlaw image was well-substantiated through years of hard drug use, marital woes, and run-ins with the law. This week, we’re asking the question: Is Johnny Cash the worst?

Martha Stewart is one of the most recognizable media figures in American history. Following a successful modeling career in her teenage years, and a brief stint as a stockbroker, Martha would rise to fame in the 1980s to become the face of homemaking in the United States and around the world. From there, a true media empire was born, with bestselling books, magazines, television shows, and merchandise all bearing her name. Her image as the perfect homemaker would come unraveled in 2004 when she was convicted of insider trading and sentenced to five months in federal prison. This week, we’re asking the question: is Martha Stewart the worst?

Howard Allan Stern is the self-proclaimed “King of All Media”. Not only is he the highest-paid radio personality of all time, but he is also a bestselling author and television host, with a cult-like audience of millions. His penchant for pushing the envelope has drawn people to tune into his show for decades to find out what he was going to say next. The success has not come without controversy, though. His offensive and lowbrow material, along with a history of public feuds and burnt bridges have us asking the question: is Howard Stern the worst?

Edward Murphy is without a doubt one of the most successful comics in history. Despite his turbulent upbringing in Brooklyn, NY, his rise to superstardom was positively meteoric. After joining the cast of Saturday Night Live at the age of 19, he would become one of America's biggest box office attractions, starring in films and stand-up specials that remain among the highest grossing of all time. His material at the time was provocative and controversial, though, and in many cases, it has not aged particularly well. This week, we're asking the question: Is Eddie Murphy the worst?

There are few creatives in the history of the world who have a legacy as enduring as Walter Elias Disney. His name has become synonymous with animation, entertainment, imagination, and magic, and it remains attached to what is arguably the most popular entertainment brand in the entire world. From iconic animated characters like Mickey Mouse to theme parks, films, and so much more, his creations have become a cornerstone of American culture. Many people view his public persona as a sort of kind and generous uncle, but accusations of antisemitism and racial insensitivity in his work have us asking the question: Is Walt Disney the worst?

William James Murray is one of the most recognizable faces in American cinema. His roots in the Chicago improv scene would lead to scene-stealing performances in iconic comedies like Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and the holiday classic Scrooged. While his career would take a dramatic turn in later years, his alcoholic exploits, including multiple physical confrontations behind the scenes, would earn him the nickname “The Murricane”. Despite his brilliance, his enigmatic behavior and reputation for being difficult to work with have us asking the question: Is Bill Murray the worst?

Madonna Louise Ciccone is the undisputed “Queen of Pop”, and arguably the most influential female songwriter of all time. Her body of work includes countless hit songs, iconic music videos, award-winning acting performances, bestselling books, and more. She is the best-selling female artist of all time, and the highest-grossing solo touring artist in history. She is also no stranger to controversy. Her tumultuous public relationships and her history of pushing the envelope have us asking the question: Is Madonna the worst?

Vincent William Van Gogh is one of the most influential painters in the history of Western art. Known for his vivid use of colors and his dramatic brushstrokes, Van Gogh’s works are among the most expensive paintings to have ever sold. He would not get to appreciate the fruits of that success during his lifetime, though. Van Gogh would suffer from severe mental health issues, and ultimately wind up institutionalized at the age of 35. At the time of his suicide in 1890, he was widely considered “a madman and a failure.” This week, we are asking the question: is Vincent Van Gogh the worst?

Quentin Tarantino is one of the most renowned figures in the history of American cinema. The auteur director, actor, and screenwriter was the first indie filmmaker to break through with mainstream audiences, and has long been heralded as a creative genius. His films are known for their trademark style and memorable dialogue, and often leave fans searching for clues or formulating theories about the cinematic universe that he’s created. But criticisms about his creative methods and the violence in his movies have us asking the question: is Quentin Tarantino the worst?

Phineas Taylor Barnum has long been heralded as “The Greatest Showman on Earth”. Although the circus that bears his name shut down in 2017, his legacy as an entertainer and promoter spans more than a century. That legacy is fraught with shady business practices, exploitation of performers, and a horrendous track record with animals. This week, we’re asking the question: Is P.T. Barnum the worst? Content Warning: This episode includes graphic descriptions of animal abuse. Listener discretion is advised.

In the fashion world, few brands are as synonymous with high society or as enduring as Chanel. Coco Chanel was an innovative fashionista whose vision and designs would completely change the way that women dressed around the world. Her rise to fame from an orphanage in France to the top of the fashion world is a true rags-to-riches story, but her strict ideas about how women should look and her questionable ties to Nazi Germany have us asking the question: is Coco Chanel the worst?

Jerry Springer was once the mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, a promising young politician whose career was cut short in the wake of a sex scandal. Today, he is best known for creating The Jerry Springer Show, a daytime talk show that pushed the boundaries of decency on cable television and was famously marketed as “Too Hot for TV”. His role as “Ringmaster” would eventually lead to a starring role in a feature-length film and even an opera inspired by his chaotic television circus. This week, we're asking the question: is Jerry Springer the worst?

In the world of stand-up comedy, Lenny Bruce was undoubtedly a trailblazer. The list of comedians that have cited his work as an influence is longer than his rap sheet, which is riddled with obscenity charges. Despite his comedic brilliance, his outspoken attitude and penchant for pushing the envelope would end up getting him blacklisted from television and banned from performing in nearly every comedy club in America. This week, we're asking the question: is Lenny Bruce the worst?

God Only Knows what's going on in the head of Brian Wilson, the creative mind behind the iconic surf rock sounds of The Beach Boys. Though his songs were full of Good Vibrations, heavy drug use and struggles with mental illness would nearly bring him under at the height of his career. This week, we're asking the question: Is Brian Wilson the worst?

WWE founder and chairman Vincent McMahon is one of the most innovative and successful figures in the history of American sports and entertainment, but steroid allegations, tasteless promotional tactics, and the untimely deaths of many WWE wrestlers have us asking the question: Is Vince McMahon the worst?

After penning the infamous novel "The Catcher in the Rye," author Jerome David Salinger was once lauded as "the most important American writer to emerge since World War II," but his later years are marred by reclusive behavior and tumultuous litigation. This week, we're asking the question: is J.D. Salinger really the worst?

We're seeing purple. Is it a sign o' the times? Let's go crazy as we take a deeper look into the life of one of the most talented musicians in modern history, the enigmatic Prince Rogers Nelson a.k.a Prince a.k.a. The Artist Formerly Known as Prince. This week, we're asking the question: Is Prince the worst?

This episode serves as an introduction to our mild-mannered hosts, the effervescent Kate Rooney and the erudite Jess Guffey, as they share their own personal reasons for chasing the creative dragon, so to speak. You'll hear about the origins of this show, as well as a taste of what's to come on future episodes of Creatives Are The Worst.