My Brother, My Brother and Me (often abbreviated asMBMBaM, pronounced/məˈbɪmbæm/ⓘ) is a weekly comedy advicepodcast distributed by theMaximum Fun network and hosted by brothersJustin,Travis, andGriffin McElroy. Regular episodes of the podcast feature the brothers comedically providing answers to questions either submitted by listeners or found online.
The show was independently produced and released by the McElroy brothers from April 2010 until joining the Maximum Fun network of podcasts in January 2011.[a] In 2010, the show was consistently listed among the top 10comedy podcasts oniTunes.[1] Writing forThe A.V. Club, critics David Anthony and Colin Griffith both countedMBMBaM as one of their top 10 podcasts of 2012.[2] A TV series based on the podcast premiered onSeeso in February 2017 and was hosted onVRV until the service got absorbed intoCrunchyroll.
MBMBAM takes the format of an advice show, where the McElroy brothers answer questions with a combination of silly and practical suggestions in the form of a rapid-fire comedy discussion.[1] Early episodes used questions from various online sources, primarilyYahoo! Answers, as the podcast did not yet have an established audience to rely on for content.[3] As the show gained popularity, the McElroy brothers were able to alternate between questions from listeners and questions from theYahoo! Answers service. Each episode ended with Griffin reading a "Final Yahoo," which was left unanswered.
On May 4, 2021, the Yahoo! Answers service was shut down. This part of the show was replaced with content from other knowledge-exchange websites such asQuora andwikiHow, in a segment later named "Wizard of the Cloud" or "Wisdom of the Cloud." The "Final Yahoo" at the end of each episode has been replaced with a variety of different sign-offs.
For the first 37 episodes, the show's theme song was "Take a Chance on Me" byABBA, while "Root to This" byFear of Pop and later "Play Your Part (Pt. 2)" byGirl Talk were used as closing themes.[a] "(It's a) Departure" byJohn Roderick &The Long Winters (from the albumPutting the Days to Bed) served as the theme song forMy Brother, My Brother and Me from the January 17, 2011, episode "The Brain Wife" (the show's first with the Maximum Fun network) to the January 4, 2021, episode "The Naming of 2021."[b]
Due to Roderick's conduct surrounding thecontroversy over the musician's Twitter posting history, the show's official Twitter account announced that "(It's a) Departure" would no longer be used by the podcast as of January 3, 2021. From episodes 542 to 551, the show used the theme song fromRugrats, featuring lyrics sung by Griffin, as a placeholder for both the opening and ending theme.[4] This was replaced in episode 552 with "My Life Is Better with You", which was written and performed by Australian artistMontaigne for the show.[c]
In addition to the usual format of responding to questions sent in by listeners, the podcast also frequently includes recurring segments. Most live shows include at least one of these segments, such as Munch Squad or Haunted Doll Watch. Segments include:
"The Money Zone": A segment which occurs each episode, normally around the midpoint, including advertisements from corporate sponsors read by the hosts on air.[b] Additionally, they would read paid messages from listeners, called "Jumbotrons," before discontinuing them for both MBMBaM and theirDungeons & Dragons podcast, "The Adventure Zone," in episode 436.
"Minion Quotes": A segment wherein one brother reads quotes which he finds inimage macros onFacebook. The other two brothers attempt to guess which cartoon character is featured along with the quote. If they guess correctly, The challenging brother must post the image on his Facebook page without context, and cannot reply to the responses to the post. This has caused no small amount of distress to each of them. The segment was originally Justin's, with Griffin and Travis guessing, but they have since begun rotating which brother brings quotes and which attempt to guess.[d]
"Munch Squad": A "podcast within a podcast" in which Justin reads press releases from fast food companies.[e] The segment is typically introduced by Justin interrupting the podcast after a Money Zone segment, singing a parody of the chorus of theTwisted Sister song, "I Wanna Rock".[f] During 2019 the segment was largely focused on thechicken sandwich wars.[5]
"Haunted Doll Watch": A segment which features Justin reading and critiquingeBay listings of apparently cursed, possessed, orhaunted dolls.[g]
"Sad Libs": A segment in which Travis creates tragic stories with blank spaces and completes them with nonsensical or uncomfortable words, resemblingMad Libs. Performed largely at live shows, the segment is ridiculed and despised by Justin and Griffin.[h]
"That's a Christmas to Me": A segment in which Justin reads plot summaries of threeChristmas movies, two of which are real and one of which is fake. Griffin and Travis must guess which description is fake.[i]
"Riddle Me Piss": A segment in which Travis reads confusing and often nonsensical "riddles" from Riddles.com. While introducing the segment and reading the riddle, Travis will often adopt an exaggerated, high-pitched voice. Justin and Griffin tend to try to apply logic to otherwise illogical riddles, leaving both brothers exasperated and upset.[j]
"Celebrity Wines, Why Not?": A game show-style segment in which Justin provides the name of a wine made by a celebrity, and Travis and Griffin attempt to guess the celebrity that makes the wine. The segment is typically introduced via singing.[k]
"Reach for the Stars": A segment in which Travis readsAmazon reviews, along with their respective rating. Justin and Griffin's roles are to guess what products the reviews are for.[l]
"Play Along At Home": A game show-style segment in which Travis asks Justin and Griffin trivia questions, while inviting the audience to "play along at home," in the style of a children’s television host. The questions cover a wide range of topics, but often end with an anecdotal question that Justin and Griffin would have no way of knowing. Travis started this segment shortly after having his second baby, and his brothers make it clear how much they dislike it.[m]
"Under the Table and Phishing": A game show-style segment in which Travis reads lyrics from eitherPhish orDave Matthews Band. Griffin and Justin then attempt to guess which band the lyrics are from. Travis, doing animpersonation ofDave Matthews, makes "guest appearances" as the co-host of this segment.[n]
"Work of Fart": A game show-style segment with a format similar to that of Jeopardy. Travis provides Justin and Griffin with a statement that combines a description of a classic piece of film, literature or other work of art, with a reference to bathroom humour. Justin and Griffin then try to guess what pun Travis created to mashup the title of the work in question with the bathroom humor word.[o]
"Naming of the Year": A segment done at the beginning of each year where the brothers decide on a theme for the year (which vaguely rhymes with the year in question) which can act as a guiding principle for them and their listeners. Examples include "Twenty-Fix-Teen: Building Bridges" (2016) and "Frankenstein-Teen: Become the Monster" (2019).
"Wizard/Wisdom of the Cloud": A segment intended to replace Yahoo Answers following the website's shutdown in May 2021.[6] Within, Griffin presents awikiHow article which gives questionable advice on obscure topics.[p] Examples include "How to Mosh in a Mosh Pit", "How to Choose a Nickname For Your Car", and "How to Make It Look Like You Have Snow Powers".
Episodes of the show are occasionally performed and recorded in front of live audiences at venues in cities such as Los Angeles, New York City and Huntington; the format remains the same, including recurring segments such as Munch Squad, with the addition of a section where the brothers take questions from the audience. Occasionally there will be episodes titled "Bro's Better, Bro's Best", which act as highlight reels of the best and funniest moments of previous episodes.[7] A special episode called "The Adventure Zone" was released on August 18, 2014, shortly after Justin and his wifeSydnee had their first baby. It featured the brothers playing a game ofDungeons & Dragons with their father,Clint McElroy.[8]The Adventure Zone was later spun off into its own podcast on the Maximum Fun network.[9]
Over its history, the show has engaged its fans to support charities in their hometown ofHuntington, West Virginia. In 2014, the show spawned a campaign among fans called MBMBaM Angels, in which fans of the show would buy requested items from the "Empty Stockings" list published by Huntington'sHerald-Dispatch.[10] In 2020, the campaign raised over $23,000.[11]
In 2020, the brothers sold a sign from their short-lived television show online, raising $3,200 for the localHabitat for Humanity branch.[12][13]
The brothers also host an extravaganza every year for "Candlenights," a fictional holiday, which is also a major fundraiser. Past shows have supported Recovery Point, a local recovery center for those recovering from addiction, andBig Brothers Big Sisters of South Central West Virginia.[12] The 2019 show at theKeith-Albee Theatre in Huntington raised $46,000 forHarmony House (Huntington), a local organization helping the homeless inCabell County, West Virginia. The show was originally performed live in Huntington, but due to theCOVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Candlenights show was moved from in-person to an online on-demand event, and all subsequent shows have remained online. While the executive director of Harmony House expected the online show to raise half of the 2019 total, the show raised over $200,000 for the organization.[13] Additionally, Justin McElroy's wife and mother-in-law directly volunteer with the organization.[13]
The show occasionally features guest experts (referred to as "guestsperts") who help the McElroy brothers answer questions. Notable past guests include:
Dan Savage, advice columnist, podcast host, and author[am]
Episode 400 featured a number of celebrity guests, including Miranda, Buffett, Henner,Ethan Suplee,Corey Cott,Steve Kroft,Brenda Vaccaro, andAl Roker.[an] That episode also featuredMatt Doyle as part of a running joke about Justin's inability to recognize the actor, which was resurrected when he appeared onstage at the beginning of a live show in Brooklyn in 2019.[d]
A television series based on the podcast was ordered forNBC'sSeeso video streaming platform. Filming took place for three weeks during September 2016 in the McElroys' hometown ofHuntington, West Virginia, with most of the episodes featuring scenes with their father Clint McElroy and mayorStephen T. Williams. "(It's a) Departure" by John Roderick and the Long Winters was retained as the theme song for the television series. The show ran for six episodes, all of which were released via Seeso on February 23, 2017.[14][15]
In June 2017, the series was sold toOtter Media for its streaming serviceVRV, alongside other former Seeso programs includingHarmonQuest.[16][17]
The metal sign with the show's logo used in the primary set was auctioned off for charity in July 2020.[18]
A viewer asks for help living with several supposedly-haunted items owned by their roommate, leading the McElroys to call on a pair ofparanormal investigators and recreate the scenario by filling a dorm room with as many scary objects as possible, including ahaunted clown doll purchased by Justin.
To help a viewer looking to improve hisrésumé, the McElroys take on as many jobs in a short period as possible, including a minute-long honorary mayorship and a brief period in charge ofSafety Town. To prove their methods, Griffin tries to reapply for a job he was dismissed from in his youth, with his brothers also applying for the same position.
3
"Tarantulas & Travis Did a Hit"
February 23, 2017 (2017-02-23)
When a viewer asks the McElroys to convince his wife to let him have a pettarantula, Travis must confront hisarachnophobia as the brothers attempt to improve the reputation of tarantulas via a rebranding, an improved social media presence, and a pro-spider parade.
4
"Teens & Your Least Favorite Soda"
February 23, 2017 (2017-02-23)
To help a teacher better determine how to maintain her students' interests in class, the McElroys attempt to understand teenagers better by giving themselves "teen names" and practicing trends likedabbing andwater bottle flipping. Aided by Justin's teenage sister-in-law Rileigh and her classmates, each brother attempts a different teaching style to connect with the teens.
A viewer asks how to become a member of asecret society, so the McElroys begin an investigation in the hopes of discovering a hidden organization that holds all the power in Huntington. When their search goes cold, the brothers eventually decide to start their own secret society, "TheKnights Templar 2: Wacky Wizards".
6
"Candlenights & Vape Ape"
February 23, 2017 (2017-02-23)
An attempt to help a viewer with theirvaping problem is suddenly interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Candlenights. After telling the story of the holiday's origins, the McElroy brothers must band together to organize and prepare for a Candlenights live show in just three days.
^"MBMBaM 383: Fins Up".My Brother, My Brother, and Me. Maximum Fun. December 4, 2017.Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. RetrievedDecember 5, 2017.
^"MBMBaM 230: Chipocalypse".My Brother, My Brother and Me. Maximum Fun. December 15, 2014.Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. RetrievedDecember 22, 2014.
^"MBMBaM 204: Bait Kids".My Brother, My Brother and Me. Maximum Fun. June 9, 2014.Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 19, 2014.
^"MBMBaM 146: Kenan By Way of Kel".My Brother, My Brother and Me. Maximum Fun. April 1, 2013.Archived from the original on January 6, 2021. RetrievedSeptember 19, 2014.
