Podcasts about Demento

It's almost time to head back to Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival! And naturally that makes me think of the 24/7 racket made by the resident seagulls. And naturally that makes me think of Tom Lehrer. And it's featured on my 40th album, "Emotional Support Hamster" which you should totally buy at www.stevegoodie.com ! Music: Tom Lehrer Lyrics: SG and Niamh Bagnell Piano, vocal, arrangement, production: SG

Episode 786: From sci-fi parodies and comedy catchphrases to political satire and celebrity rap records, the '80s produced some truly unforgettable novelty hits. Steve and Chuck revisit songs that were silly, bizarre, occasionally controversial—and somehow impossible to forget. In this episode, they discuss: • "Star Trekkin'" by The Firm, the cult classic that became a No. 1 hit in the United Kingdom • "You Look Marvelous" by Billy Crystal, inspired by his legendary Saturday Night Live character Fernando • "Rappin' Rodney" by Rodney Dangerfield, one of the most unlikely rap records of the MTV era • "Bomb Iran" by Vince Vance & the Valiants, the political parody song inspired by the Iran hostage crisis Along the way, they explore the role of Dr. Demento, the rise of novelty records in the MTV era, memorable music videos, comedy albums, and why some of the weirdest songs of the decade continue to live rent-free in our heads decades later. Plus, Steve and Chuck share their memories of discovering these songs, discuss how novelty music fit into the larger pop culture landscape of the 1980s, and debate whether today's music world could ever produce anything quite like them again. This episode is brought to you by our friends at The 80s Cruise. Join your favorite artists, fellow fans, and the Stuck in the '80s crew aboard the ultimate floating celebration of the decade. Visit The 80s Cruise and use promo code STUCK when booking to receive a $250 cabin credit. We also thank our Patreon supporters, whose generosity helps keep the longest-running '80s pop culture podcast alive and thriving. To learn more about supporting the show, visit our Patreon page. If you grew up listening to Dr. Demento, watching MTV after school, quoting Saturday Night Live catchphrases, or laughing at records that somehow became radio hits, this episode is for you. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In which we discover we have way too much in common with...a dinosaur. What we learned about Stegosaurus: o The distance between Stegosaurus and T. Rex is much greater than the distance between T. Rex and us. (80+ million years vs. 66 million years.) o We're not sure what the back plates were for. Possibly to be cool; possibly just to look cool. o Stegosaurus ate rocks to help digest those prehistoric fern salads. o It's Colorado's official state fossil. You can even get Stegosaurus vanity plates, but you have to register a vehicle there. So...goals. o In The Far Side, Gary Larson named the spiked tail the thagomizer ("after the late Thag Simmons"). It is now the standard anatomical term. What we learned about "Desperado": o It's not The Eagles. It's just Eagles. o While considered one of their greatest hits (it's even on Their Greatest Hits), it was never a single and therefore not a hit. o Don Henley didn't like his vocals but wasn't given a chance to redo them. o The song plays a central role on Seinfeld (Season 8, Episode 7). Cold-blooded reptilians: o M. Spaff Sumsion: Lyrics o Robert Lund: All vocals, all instruments, all production, all everything else Oh and hey: Check out the music video (YouTube link below). It's our first one in years and represents Spaff's first attempt to harness AI. (To be clear: The lyrics are 100% human. The music and vocals are 100% human. But the images in the video are 100% AI (albeit with five tons of coaching from Spaff).)

It's our 200th show…!! Whoo!! Hoo!! Right? Yeah, okay. Tim tells us what Ireland is like. The end of Schlitz. Marilyn Monroe. Hockey. Waffles in the mail.Then a deadly amusement park. Trudy predicts your horoscope. The Emergency Podcast System. Preppers. And a rock classic about grammar.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Tofu comes in tofu cubes. Soy milk comes from tofu boobs....This song is my bean curd deathtrip.

TERROR! HYSTERIA! INCONVENIENCE! No one is safe from the WMV... and your town could be next!

Show 199: Tim looks forward to his trip to Ireland. The joy of gruel. The pros and cons of cannibalism. And robot monks.Plus: mixed-matched cops—a winning TV formula. A 70s rock and roller cashes-in. A new character named Mr. Character. Cops and coffee. And a bouncy house.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

You never know who you'll meet, when you're out and about. Features a special guest vocalist, who needs no introduction (yet gets one, anyway!). (C)2026 Box Office Poison Records Written, performed, produced, mixed by TRRJTH Donkey Hotay Music (BMI) Mastered by Michael Fossenkemper - TurtleTone Studio NYC Art by Rochelle Carr Studios

This month Devo Spice talks about booking a shoot, new acting classes, meeting DMC, his 40th anniversary release, a new music project, a new comedy video, a song commission, a website update, and more! Music in this episode: "I'm Joining ICE" by Goodbye Charlemagne, "Unearthing Desire" by The War Crhymes, "I Am Not A Robot" by Project Sisyphus, and "Whole Lotta Don't Wanna" by Worm Quartet

The Kennedy Curse set to music.

In a bit called Fowl Memories Dave, Jim, Tim, and Walt improv memories of that time Duck Logic formed an Emo band. Or did they? It's hard to tell, their memories aren't what they used to be.Then, the guys complain about that PBS genealogy show where famous people discover how much more famous they are. Jim, who always thought he was more “Irish” admits he's mostly British and Italian. And you know that “Native American” character from our old childhood public service announcements who sheds a single tear on the side of a highway? Turns out he was Sicilian!Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Episode: 275 I have a housecoat. I went to Dr. Demento's retirement party. I went to my old college comic book store. I put a podcast on hold. I wonder what to do with my YouTube Channel. To see a video of the recording of this episode, become a patron at patreon.com/saturdaymorningmedia Mentioned on the show: https://www.drdemento.com https://charochicken.com/delivery/ https://amazingcomics.com http://klamatharmory.com https://www.youtube.com/@MrGrant FOLLOW GRANT http://www.MrGrant.com https://instagram.com/throwingtoasters/ ©2026 Saturday Morning Media/Grant Baciocco  

If you ever had a bad roommate situation...

A song that describes the feeling of waking up and realising there are left overs in the fridge.

Show 198: The hantavirus. Big Chicago rats. Southern rodent hunters. A talking 'possum. 1960s westerns. Out of shape superheroes. The Met Gala. And a wrestling sloth. THEN: A sweaty bar for summer. Furniture for not sitting on. Needless investigations. Godzilla. Musicals with a “cheesy” slant. Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

We finally got around to recording our song about how much Erin hates online opinion pieces structured as if there is objective data to consult when creating listicles. You know, "Every Episode of Lower Decks, Definitively Ranked!" Via Bella is: Erin Bellavia: vocals Rand Bellavia: guitar, vocals MIke Brunacini: piano Mike Mallory: bass

The way Whatsisname incessantly "floods the zone" with all-new outrages, you can be forgiven for thinking all the ICE drama is in the distant past. Spoiler: It's not. Just days ago at the Border Security Expo (fun crowd, right?), border czar Tom Homan said, quote, "You ain't seen shit yet." And: "You will see more ICE agents than you've ever seen before." So that's nice. Meanwhile, "Die with a Smile" by Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars was Spotify's most-streamed song of 2025 and continues to do juuust fine. (Latest count: 3.7 billion plays.) So here ya go! Our parody of the song about the topic. M. Spaff Sumsion: Lyrics Mr. E. and Anna Nimmiti: Vocals Bob Emmet: Keyboards, bass, guitar, drum programming, production, and everything else.

Episode 197: Walt finds his dad's porn movie stash. Jim, too. Frisbee golf. Boomerang nerds. Weird sports. The guys get their own “walk-on music.” Walt explains the Terrible Twos. Then: cigs with something extra. Fun at theater camp. In praise of Drug Mules. Baseball cards teach a kid a sappy lesson. A quiz shows has all the answers, but no questions. Plus, a little bit more.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

This is a dumb song based on a dumb idea that's been rattling around in my head for many decades, probably since I first saw "Young Frankenstein. " And it's the closing track on my 40th album, "Emotional Support Hamster" which you should totally buy it at www.stevegoodie.com ! Words, guitar, bass, drums, vibes, piano, vocal: SG Music: Irving Berlin

I wanted to write a song that sounded like synth-heavy comedy band OCT. So I did. This is about my cat(s).

Episode 196: Jim disposes of a dead cat. Walter's dog dies. The dead old lady on the living room floor. Tim learns to “sidle.” Cinco de Mayo drink specials. And a one-eyed yoga guy. Then kid surgeons. Kooties. Chickens that go both ways. A one-hit wonder begs for attention. And “Walking Dead, the Musical.” Plus, a little bit more.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

Dr. Pinkerton and I are now united by a common threat. We've been increasing the security around our respective fortresses. We've added extra alligators to our moats. Our radio receivers are tuned to warehouses and farms. But these prowlers keep finding us, offering us lollies, and we can't pretend stranger-danger is a long awaited sale. So Dr. Pinkerton and I co-wrote this warning. We will resume our attempts to destroy each other (or the world) after we get these obsessive lurkers off of our vaporous trails! Red alert, red alert! This is an exercise in self indulgence. Never turn your back on a salesman! Bad Beth and Beyond: vocals, electric bouzouki, bass guitar, keyboard Dr. Milo T. Pinkerton III: vocals Drumbot: drums Fresh Rah D.: additional cymbals Marshall Trucker: telemarketer

This month Devo Spice talks about doctors, April Fools shenanigans, new acting classes, the Virtual Comedy Show, his 40th Anniversary release, a callback, randomizing his To Do list, Dr. Demento's retirement/birthday party, car troubles, RavenCon, and more! Music in this episode: "Mountains of the Deep by Alestorm, "P.A.R.T.Y." by Alestorm, "The Last Saskatchewan Pirate" by Alestorm, "Shit Boat" by Alestorm, and "Cock!" by Alestorm

It's a pretty old academic tradition for songs about pure scientific topics to lack any kind of taste or relatable humor, and we hope this song is no exception. PRODUCTION CREDITS: lead vocals - Dr. Milo T. Pinkerton III backing vocals - Bad Beth lead guitar - Prof. Glitch rhythm guitar - Filbert Snodgrass, (Jr. Scientist in Training) keyboards - Dr. Dylan W. Winchester harmonica - Benny Grunch bass - Dr. Z drums and percussion - Drumbot music and lyrics by the Consortium of Genius recorded, mixed and mastered by Lewis D'Aubin at C.O.G. Secret Lab, Harahan, LA

On this week's episode of The Catered Quiz, comedian Allen Strickland Williams joins the show to answer questions about Newsradio and Kurt Vonnegut. We also talk about Dr. Demento, Tom Lehrer and Franz Kafka. Allen's album Ran Through is available to stream or purchase on vinyl. Watch Allen's Comedy Central special The Intellectual Shocker. Listen to Allen's podcast Finding My Audience.

Episode 195: Jim deals with a squirrel. The nastiness of nature. The guys discover “splooting.” Cereal commercials. The Rock. Pooping at the all-you-can-eat buffet to “make more room.” Kids hiding in walls. Chicago steak joints. And Dave Matthew's tour bus dumps a load on tourists. THEN: A souped-up recliner. Scented candles for real men. Questionable Duck Logic merch. Talking through tubes. And it's about time for a new conspiracy. Plus, a little bit more.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

This is a song written from the perspective of a minor heel, getting away with a large number of small-but-decidedly-still-evil injustices. I went with the classic boots 'n cats beatboxing for some silliness. I think this song slaps, and I hope you enjoy it.

Hey, we're Toby Danger, and we wrote No Such Thing As Cool after realizing we spent most of my live trying to impress people who don't like the same snacks we do. This song is for the kids in the wrong jeans, the wrong scenes, and the wrong decade, or, you know, pretty much everyone. It's pop-rock with a shout-along chorus and a gentle reminder that nobody actually knows what they're doing, especially the people who look like they do. If "cool" exists, it's probably very tired of being chased.

Episode 194: Hitler gets his driver's license. Phlegm. Hitmen. And Tim eats moldy food. Then: party in sad bars. Make Your Kids Suffer at Your Job day. Humidity. Shoddy builders. Strange thoughts from Tim. And painfully soft toilet paper. Plus, a few more things.Drop us an email. We'd looove to hear from you!

I started working on this song last November. I was really hoping to get it done at some point before March, but given the subject matter it's somewhat appropriate that I just finished it. The title is something my wife occasionally says...I don't know how she managed to succintly summarize depression in four words with such catchy lyrical cadence when I'm the freakin' songwriter in the house, but she never thought to put it over organ-driven ska-punk, so as a great man once said: "Yoink!" I do in fact have a light therapy lamp. Its brand name is "Suxio," a fact that tends to cheer me up far more than its actual functionality because it sounds like the name of the least useful robot ever (*CRASH* "Dammit Suxio! That was the mayor's Victorian snail platter!") Music and Lyrics by Timothy F. Crist Vocals / Programming / Arrangement / Production / Keytar by Tim "Shoebox" Crist Mastered by Aaron Smith (who also suggested some EQ and leveling tweaks!)

Yes! It's the title track from my 40th album, "Emotional Support Hamster!" You should totally buy it at www.stevegoodie.com when it is officially released on Wednesday 4/15/26! Words: SG and Niamh Bagnell Music, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, mandolin, arrangement, production: SG Tuba: Timothy J Weber

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST: Jim does some wacky visual jokes on an audio-only podcast. The guys congratulate Dave on yet another “D-Day” or “Dave Day” mulling over various famous Dave's and the need to start a concert in support of Dave's: Dave-aid. Then they try and write new mottos and adages.  THEN: Dave, Tim, Jim, and Walt reveal the news that Ringling Brothers Circus, after removing their animal acts due to cruelty complaints, made their clowns go makeup-less! What kind of world would it be without clowns?! Plus there's Pagliacci and an old Rice Krispies commercial.

Is anyone else tired of getting a full-on inquisition as a punishment for attempting to order pizza? We prove over and over that we're not robots, but our Captcha victories are quickly forgotten and the tests just keep getting harder. Which made us wonder, what's so bad about being a robot anyway? Well, other than the fact that they're taking our jobs and slowly learning our human skills so they can take over the world and enslave us, so there's that. Rest assured, here at Sisyphus Labs, we make music the old-fashioned way: with drum machines, sequencing and sampled phrases stolen from other artists' recordings. But we agree that the difference between AI and humanity is becoming frightfully small. In fact, we concluded, at this point it basically comes down to bodily functions. Therefore, I can take comfort in the fact that as a human musician, while an artificial being might outplay me, there's no way it can consume two bean burritos during sound check and blow an entire horn section off the stage. All music composition, playing and mixing : Bob Emmet Vocals: some robots Special Guest: Devo Spice, as frustrated human rapper

So the Suffolk and Goode Players recently did a Simon and Garfunkel parody, and then Steve Goodie did a Simon and Garfunkel parody, and we thought, hey! We wanna play! So here's our repurposing of "El Condor Pasa (If I Could)," Paul and Artie's repurposing of a piece by Daniel Alomia Robles. Yes, we're parodying a 56-year-old version of a 113-year-old song. We like to keep things fresh. Like our meat. Robert Lund: Vocals, guitar, bass, mandolin, ocarina sampling, panpipe sampling, Roland S-50, sfx, production, what have you. Macy Lund: More vocals M. Spaff Sumsion: Lyrics

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST: Jim tells Tim, Dave, and Walt that the famous Chicago Rat Hole (an indentation of a rodent pushed into sidewalk cement) had been filled in!! Tim opens our eyes to the oppression squirrels go through. Walt tells the guys about his neighbor's pet wild squirrel. And, apparently, Jim had a pet squirrel, too!THEN: Dave, Tim, Jim, and Walt totally improvise their memories of that time they may or may not have had a giant duck head float in Chicago's 4th of July parade (which isn't a thing). And Dave walked the parade route on stilts. Or maybe he didn't. The memories are fuzzy. It could've happened. Maybe. Maybe not. They may not have remembered it correctly.

This Year is a song about finally making some changes.

Hey, a couple years ago we wrote a song about how awful things are in the world and, because we're lazy, we didn't record it until now. We worried that the song would no longer be relevant a couple years later, but... lucky us... things are even WORSE now! We really dodged a bullet there! Anyway, light yourself a dumpster fire and enjoy this tune.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Dave, Jim, Tim, and Walt explain how the group got its name: “Duck Logic” and Dave talks about the evolution of the duck of their logo. Then Jim abruptly changes the subject to the manly bag he bought online that turned out to be a woman's purse! And somehow the conversation turns to goiters versus boils. THEN: The guys wonder when a buddy becomes a pal and what you have to do to go from a pal to a cohort, chum, ally, or henchman. Then there are sidekicks. And how way too many superheroes were orphans.

This month Devo Spice talks about his birthday, a local film festival, prepping for MarsCon then gives a full rundown of his weekend at MarsCon, filming his first SAG project, FuMP 115, some upcoming travel, an animation workshop, and more! Music in this episode: "Don't Mess With Jim" by Toby Danger, "Bucket List" by Massively Offensive, "Even The Mooses" by Steve Goodie, and "Anything You Wanted" by Mikey Mason.

Robots, Robots Everywhere! And for everything! Well, almost everything.............. All vocals and Tuba: Drew Jacobs

Honestly, James K. Polk hasn't had this much attention in decades.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Did you know that bears plug up their butts to prepare for hibernation? Walt explains it all to Dave, Tim, and Jim. They go on to “explore” all sorts of bear, butt, and plug possibilities!THEN: The guys discuss getting a mentalist on the pod. They ask: if you can get debunked, can you get re-bunked? Then the guys get funky. Parliament Funkadelic. The Funky Winkerbean comic strip. The funky bunch.

This is another entry in the "I can't believe no one has done this already" category. Also in the "I can't believe I haven't thought of this before" category. And of course, the standard "wow this is stupid" category. Music: Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers Words, guitars, bass, drums, vocals, arrangement, production: SG Helpful help: Niamh Bagnell From my upcoming FORTIETH album, "Emotional Support Hamster." Have a look at www.stevegoodie.com why dontcha?

Just another song about a guy named Bob who inadvertantly sets off alarms in local businesses. No one knows why.

What'd you like? Send us a text.FIRST:Jim gets spammed with politically incorrect jokes. Naked old men at the gym. Prison myths. And we find out Jim used to call his penis Captain B.B. THEN: In honor of St. Paddy's Day, Tim, Jim, and Walt discuss the old classic Irish movie "The Quiet Man." And Tim professes his love for Ireland, not that he's ever been there, because of how it probably smells (like stale beer).

Sometimes it's nice when a famous person wishes you a very personal Happy Birthday! (from Christopher Walken) Music by Jonny May (PianoWithJonny.com) Vocals and concept by Joe J Thomas of Joe's Dump (.com) Copyright 2026, Joe J Thomas and Joe's Dump (.com) All Rights Reserved. Not A Quinn-Martin Production.

In August of 2014, "Weird Al" Yankovic's "Mandatory Fun" became the first comedy album to top the U.S. Billboard charts in over five decades. Several months later, Al joined Gilbert and Frank at the legendary New York Friars Club to talk about an assortment of fascinating topics, including Dr. Demento's influence on his career, the history of novelty and parody records and the reason he was forbidden to make eye contact with Prince. Also, Gilbert flashes Marge Simpson, prays to a statue of Red Buttons and loses a film role to 3′ 9″ Billy Barty. PLUS: Dueling Crazy Guggenheims! Irving Berlin vs. Mad magazine! “Disco” Art Fleming! And Weird Al's “Mount Rushmore of Comedy”! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This is a long-lost Power Salad recording, Craig's vocal demo discovered in 2025 and augmented by Chris resulting in a typically Salady dystopian mess. Sort of a cousin to "In My Driverless Car" thematically, it further delves into what might be happening 11 years on from that recording, with Tesla and Waymo troubles happening around us in real time. Lyrics and vocal (!) by Craig, "I'm Not In Love" choir vocal sample, editing and production by Chris.

This is about as political as I get, musically. (Also, I realize the irony in that pointing out someone else's biases inherantly states my own.)

A satirical song about the type of guy who joins ICE. I can't write a sincere song. I can't write a song that leads to any serious political change. But I can write a song that makes fun of these absolute dweebs. lyrics