When Frank Farian first laid eyes on Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, he saw everything he wasn’t. They were handsome, young, and Black. But Frank had something they didn’t. He had power.

So, Frank offered them a devil’s bargain. Almost overnight, Milli Vanilli’s debut album went five times platinum and scored a Grammy nomination. But when the lie at the center of their success started to unravel, Rob and Fab would discover the hard way the difference between star power and real power.

From Wondery, Blame It on the Fame is a story about the lie that shot to #1 and what it cost to tell the truth. Hosted by Amanda Seales.

Listen early and ad-free exclusively on Wondery+: Wondery.fm/BIOTF_MV

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This week we fly-in the amazing Sarah Paulson, with whom we explore and examine the nooks and crannies of an English Muffin, a shared fear of flying, and how to eat air. So get ready, put on your bee-sized boxing gloves, and join us… for an all-new SmartLess.

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Double the power, double the math; for our 200th episode, it’s double-trouble with Steve Martin and Martin Short. The talk-show anecdote, the best use of a time-machine, and have you ever heard of the word “combo?” Here come the smiles… on an all-new SmartLess.

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On our first triple-guest podisode, we let our pal President Biden bring along two friends, Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton. Let’s get a little less-SmartLess together… on an all new SmartLess.

This episode was recorded on March 28th, 2024.

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This week we host Mr. John Francis Bongiovi Jr, also occasionally known as Jon Bon Jovi. The chicken or the egg, a Golden Grahams commercial, and finding joy for the first time in a decade. And so, our dear listener: strum the tennis racket and think you can sing… on an all-new SmartLess.

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We go in the weeds with Larry David on critical items: dinner parties, romance novels, The Golden Rule, Halloween… and we unsuccessfully debut our new Speed Round format. “He’d rather be doing nothing than talking to us,” on an all-new SmartLess. We love you.

Also, our friends Johnny Knoxville and Elna Baker stop by to talk about their new SmartLess Media podcast, "Pretty Sure I Can Fly," celebrating unsung heroes who achieve incredible feats by “having more balls than a bowling alley.” Listen to Pretty Sure I Can Fly: Wondery.fm/PSICF

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Watch out, folks— it’s Don Cheadle, a.k.a. “Donchalant.” What is Jazz? Did Don have a good slumber last night? Get ready for some hard-hitters, like a deadly mignonette, the most rarified air, and both Kansas Cities. From our lips to pods’ ears, it’s an all-new SmartLess.

Must be 21+ and present in select states. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Vermont. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

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Take your beta blocker before chugging that milkshake: it’s Kristen Stewart. She dares to ask the question: “does anyone play golf?” What follows is an L-shaped couch, a Pomodoro with a bunch of butter, and a very meaningful tattoo. Welcome to SmartLess.

NATIONAL DISCLAIMER: Must be 21+ and present in select states. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Tennessee, and Virginia. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

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Ladies and germs, it’s Jake Gyllenhaal. The great Count Jakeula talks to us about bicycle Brazilians, a combo Bar Mitzvah/Quinceañera, and how to make ice cream in your mouth. Welcome to The Octagon: actually wait– it’s SmartLess.

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An unexamined life, a thirst for danger, and the Dalai Lama. In the words of John Oliver: “if I’ve got a microphone at the end of my arm and they’ve got a fist at the end of theirs, there’s definitely room to connect.” Welcome to SmartLess.

Must be 21+ and present in select states. First online real money wager only. $10 first deposit required. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable bonus bets that expire 7 days after receipt. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG in Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and Vermont. Call 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 in Arizona, 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat in Connecticut, 1-800-9-WITH-IT in Indiana, 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com in Kansas, 1-877-770-STOP in Louisiana, visit mdgamblinghelp.org in Maryland, visit 1800gambler.net in West Virginia, or call 1-800-522-4700 in Wyoming. Hope is here. Visit GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support in Massachusetts or call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY in New York.

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The talented and hilarious Amy Schumer joins us while color-coding her books. Some quick quests: peanut M&M’s, “the Process,” and a sad pile of stuffed animals. So take your Christmas growth hormone and start warming up… for another sizzling episode of SmartLess.

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