Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - FULL SHOW: It's 90's vs 00's!

Episode Date: June 16, 2024

ON THE SHOW TODAY Is there a show more iconic than Friends? Miami wine coolers Ladies vs... Ladies? Infomercial Queen Suzanne Paul! Tv dating Our first concerts! The moment Shona won Live Free! Can you guess the meal? Facebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono and Ben Instagram: TheHitsBreakfastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This John O'Bent Podcast brought to you by HelloFresh, the experts and tastes that Kiwis love. Check it! The Hits, 90s vs. Naughties. That's right, we want to decide which was the best decade. Was it the 1990s or was it the Naughties? We're talking about basically the early 2000s up to about 2010. Throughout the week we're going to look at the best TV shows, movies, fashion, all those sorts of things. Music, celebrity.

And then on Friday, thanks to you, we'll decide which is the best, the 90s or the 2000s. And we'll play music nonstop, nothing from that era. Finally, we're going to settle the madness, this ongoing debate. Expert analysis, we'll have historians, teams of statisticians. Megan, you're leading the stats team, aren't you? Oh, yeah.'re leading the stats team aren't you Oh yeah We've got some great people From yesteryear as well joining us

Amazing guests I was going to say including that voice that you just heard He was the actual voice of the hits Back in the day Back in the early 2000s Suzanne Paul joining us too today Yeah which is exciting she is amazing The natural glow queen, Suzanne Clip.

She really, there wasn't a day that she wasn't on TV screens in the 90s. Suzanne Clip. Remember the Suzanne Clip? It was just a normal hair clip, but she put her name in front of it. I love it. There's going to be so much of that this week. Oh, yeah, I remember this. Okay, let's go.

Okay, just quickly. 90s, if you type into chat GPT, what's big about the 90s? Yeah. Just quickly, here you go. I mean, you've got TV shows, Friends, Fresh Prince, movies, Titanic, Jurassic Park, bands. You've got Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Britney Spears came on the scene, Spice Girls, flannel shirts. Flannel shirts, yeah. Baggy pants, overalls, bright colors and neon.

The internet became a thing in the 90s as well. Wow. So that's what's big about that decade. And then you go across to the year 2000, Sopranos, Lost, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Kanye West, Eminem, Beyonce, Lady Gaga. Yeah, so

many things. Von Dutch. Von Dutch. What was that other one? Ed Hardy. Low-rise jeans and crop tops. You know, you've got so much to look at. Some things we want to forget. Other things we want to remember. Ed Hardy. They were noisy. That was it. Low-rise jeans and crop tops. You know, you've got so much to look at. Some things we want to forget. Other things we want to remember. Yeah, to Hardy.

They were noisy. That was noisy clothing, wasn't it? It was a long go. You wouldn't have liked that. Sorry, I wasn't a big Hardy fan. Okay. And the 90s had its benefits too. I had all my hair.

Double O's lost all my hair. There's pros and cons to each decade. Okay, so it's going to be a fun week. We're really looking forward to it before 7 o'clock too. Do you remember the Come On Callers Join the Party jingle? Have you got that handy, Grace? We're going to be looking at Come On Callers Join the Party. Oh, 900.

Party, party, party. It was a line for horned up curves. Ben remembers it well. I'm still joining the party every week. It's a really exciting week this week because we're trying to decide which was the best decade, the 90s or the noughties. Then on Friday, depending on how you vote, we'll play songs only from that decade in our show. Yeah, some wonderful nostalgia.

Grassroots, up the guts nostalgia this week. It's quite nice, as you said earlier this morning, with a lot of pretty bad stuff going on in the world right now. And, you know, cost of living and all that sort of stuff. It's nice to kind of reflect on it a simpler time. It's a fiasco out there, mate. It's a war zone out there. Literally in some parts of the of reflect on a simpler time. It's a fiasco out there, mate. It's a war zone out there. Literally, in some parts of the world, it is a war zone. And so you wanted to chuck out a competition

where we try and find a better TV show than Friends. Can you name a better TV show than Friends? Because it feels like that's the one that's on top of TV Mountain. Yeah, we all know it. We know the theme song. We know the characters. We've watched it 55 million times thanks to TV2 playing nothing but Friends. They just pressed it on loop and they did that for 20 years.

Can anyone tell me why Friends F full stop, R full stop, I full stop? What was with the full stops in between the letters? I just saw the logo this morning. I don't know. It's just the logo. Don't bat me off with it's logo this morning. I don't know. It's just the logo. Don't bat me off with it's just the logo. I chose to do. I don't know. I don't know if the dots had any

significance. Did they mean anything? I've looked into that. It looks like there's a forum on that at the moment. So I'll see if I can find that out. Maybe I could have done my own research there. Not left it to Ben to have to do the heavy lifting. Can you name a better TV show than Friends? Megan? I quite like Breaking Bad.

Oh, yeah. With what's-his-face. What's-his-face. Walter White. Walter White. Who's the actor? Oh, what's-his-face. Was he from Malcolm in the Middle? Yeah, he was from Malcolm in the Middle. Brian Cranston. Brian Cranston. That was a great TV show. So you're saying that's better than Friends?

I think so. It has to be's better than Friends I think so I've watched All of it twice Whereas I haven't watched all of Friends twice What are we factoring in? Is it personal opinion or are we factoring in the success of the show? I reckon it's got to be your personal opinion This show is way better than Friends And I'm sure there are shows for everyone

That they find are better than Friends Just a quick bit of research on that. They reckon it was just a stylistic choice. The full stops in between Friends. They didn't actually it's not an acronym or anything like that. Megan was right in the first instance. Another article I was reading on

Friends 2. It was meant to be and this is a show that could have been better than Friends Seinfeld. It was meant to be a softer more broad appeal Seinfeld. Set in New York, based around friends. I guess it kind of is. Yeah. In a lot of ways.

And some would say Seinfeld was a better show. I'm going to lock in personally. And you can't argue with successive Friends. You're never going to beat it. But The Office. All right. The UK Office. And I decided to pull this audio off my VHS recorder

just for authenticity purposes. So UK or US? I'd say the UK one, although I have watched the US and it's hilarious as well. Took on a life of its own. The Cosby Show. Well, yeah. That was another huge show.

But yeah, thankfully probably more 80s than the 90s. Did they not spill over to the 90s? The Cosby Show well yeah that was another huge show but yeah thankfully probably more 80s than the 90s did they not spill over to the 90s it might have actually good theme tune let's kind of move on

for this one how about this one this one yeah now this is a story all about now I loved I just loved

Paul Smith and Fresh Prince I thought it was a great show you know and I'd happily watch that over Friends any day yeah Fresh Prince was a great show, you know, and I'd happily watch that over Friends any day. Yeah, Fresh Prince was a great show. Had some good gags in it, didn't it? We got to speak to Will Smith once, remember? Before he slapped Chris Rock in the face, didn't we? And you managed to seamlessly weave in a Fresh Prince question.

We heard you grew up in West Philadelphia. Born and raised on the playground. Where's my dad? Well, most of my dad's. Yeah, yeah. You're chilling out there? Yeah. But in the movie, there was a couple of guys, and they were up to no good. Yeah. After that, whack to the face. That was a dumb question, you born idiot.

Yeah. He played along with it. It was good. The Hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. Trying to decide which is the best decade, the 90s or the noughties. To celebrate, we're going to be playing songs from only that decade on Friday. And right now we're talking about TV shows.

One of the most famous, one of the most iconic seems to be Friends these days. So we're like, name a better TV show than Friends. Now here's a theory, because someone's called in, multiple people have called in, about bloody MASH. Oh yeah. Do you remember MASH? I remember MASH. I didn't really get it.

It was only five o'clock in the afternoon. But it was always on, and you'd have many choices and channels back then, didn't you? Yeah, and you'd have to sit through MASH to, what would you sit through MASH for? To get to the news or something, wouldn't you? Yeah, I feel like it came on after probably the sort of children's entertainment stuff.

I wanted to watch TV too. My dad was always like, I want to watch MASH. I just remember that guy going, I know nothing. Yeah. Oh, that was Hogan's Heroes. That's Hogan's Heroes. Oh, is it? Oh, I don't even know then.

Same era. That was another war, buddy. Oh, they look the same. They had Hot Lips Houlihan in MASH. Yeah. She had Hot Lips. That's what they called it. Yeah.

Wow. Yeah, that was her nickname. And then they had Corporal Clinger. That was Huggers Heroes. Oh, was it? I don't know. We were children watching this. That finished in 1983.

And they were still playing it in the 1990s. So here's my theory. Friends is in that slipstream at the moment. Yeah. Of that nostalgia for many people. But can you name a better show than Friends? We're going to kick it off with you, Wade. How are you?

Good to have you on, Wade. Yeah, we're doing well. What is it? Oh, I wouldn't say a TV show, but more like a series. I would find Shameless, eh? It was a really good series, eh? Shameless, better than Friends? Yeah, it's just a bunch of low-life people, you know,

trying to make it big enough, and it's got a lot of good characters in there. I've heard a lot of talk around Shameless. Never actually sat down to watch it myself. The guy from The Beer, he's on there as well. Jeremy Allen White. Yeah. Oh, yeah, OK.

Frank, that's what they call him, Frank. Well, thank you, Wade. Appreciate that. Let's get Natasha on. Better show than Friends, Natasha. Oh, I reckon thank you, Wade. Appreciate that. Let's get Natasha on. Better show than Friends, Natasha. What is it? I reckon the Big Bang Theory. That's the one.

That is another massive show. I never really got into it, not because I just never gave it a chance, but it's massive. I don't think it's better than Friends because I love Friends, but I think it's kind of on par with the next sort of generational sort of

very similar sort of set up with characters. Same as you, Ben. I never watched the episode, but it was always on. So I was like, good on you for being around. Consistency. Well, thank you very much, Natasha. Chris, a better show than Friends. What have you got?

I've got The Simpsons. Oh, yes. Probably is, actually. Iconic. Started in the 80s, but it still continues to go today. Unlike Friends, it's still going. Yeah, you're right. New episodes all the 80s But it still continues To go today Unlike Friends It's still going Yeah you're right

New episodes All the time They're still making Great episodes Great show Yeah As long as Politicians keep having

An affair The Simpsons will keep going Won't they Very clever show Hey Chrissy You're the Simpsons You're probably nailed it there You said The Sopranos

Megan The Sopranos is a great show Yeah No You guys Did you watch it I thought you were going to Reflect more on that one I was like Tell us why Sopranos, Megan? Sopranos is a great show. Yeah, no. You guys didn't watch it? I thought you were going to reflect more on that one. I was like, oh, well, tell us why. Actually, was that 90s?

I feel like I was quite young to be watching gangster stuff. Were you waiting for us to come in with some stuff there? I thought you were going to be like, yeah, I loved it. We thought you were going to roll on with why it was a good show. You just reflected and thought about it for a moment. It was nice. I was just thinking, yeah, I was very young to be watching that kind of action

happening on the TV but I remember it maybe we should just name show to go that was a good show and then nothing else Brooklyn Nine-Nine that was a good show

that was a good show Parks and Recreation that was a good show talking all week just reflecting nostalgia and before I die the hits the Jono and Ben podcast.

This week, we're trying to decide which was the best decade. With your help, the 90s or the noughties, we're running some polls. If you head to our social media as well, you can vote on that. And we're also giving ourselves a little bit of a competition between the three of us to see if we can get a message from someone from one of those eras, the best guest by the end of the week, all right? No one wanted this, Edmund. It's very stressful.

Tracking down celebrities. Hi, I'm from a radio station in New Zealand. Like, where's the bar set? Up to you. Just you need to get a better guest than me or Megan. The previous one. Okay. Okay, all right.

So you set the bar wherever you want to set the bar. It's fine. Someone from the 90s or the noughties. Well, as soon as we get any, we can start playing them throughout the week. Who's getting a friend? Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer. Man, imagine if you got them. Oh, that would be good.

Geez. Reminiscing this week, the 90s versus the noughties. And we were just talking off air about both our mothers, all of our mothers, probably Ray Ray got into these as well. Did she what? The Miami Wine Coolers. Boy, oh boy, that was a drink from yesteryear. The pals before pals, basically, wasn't it? There was basically just wine mixed with lemonade.

It was like a spritzer. It was a wine spritzer, yeah, like a bubbly, fruity. They don't do that now. I remember my dad used to give me shandies with, you know, that's just beer and lemonade and apparently if you add

lemonade to any alcohol it lessens the parental guilt of feeding children alcohol. It's a good gateway to get you into drinking too, you know. It's a good gateway. Bit of sweet,

bit of all, you know, develop a taste. I feel tingly, I feel funny. I like the feeling. Keep going with that, mate. You can get less and less lemonade.

But yeah, the Miami Wine Cooler was, I remember because mum would go to the alcohol shop and then the lovely gentleman behind the counter at the alcohol shop would give her the big giant cardboard cutouts of the Miami Wine Cooler bottles. Oh yeah. And we could slide down the stairs on the cardboard cutouts. That was entertaining. Do you think it was from Miami or not? Couldn't scream Miami.

It had a palm tree on it. Did your mums get the bottles? Because my mum got a cask. The cask would sit in the fridge and when she wasn't looking, I'd just like mouth to, I'd just like suck out of the cask. I would have been young. I love the empty cask too because you could blow them up

and use them as flotation devices in the pool. A pillow, yeah. Yeah. Exactly. Your mum used to dress you in Joseph Coots. Yeah, she played for

an indoor cricket team in Macedon. It was sponsored by Joseph Coots, the beer brand. It's not around anymore so I remember they used to have this Joseph Coots beer brand.

So could I wear the T-shirt again? Why, as a child, wearing a beer branded T-shirt? So you would play for the indooroor Cricket team now and again I get roped in and they dress you up in Joseph Cook I wouldn't be part of it

they used to get a dozen beer at the end of the Indoor Cricket game here you go Ben when did we get all high and mighty about alcohol and smoke sponsoring sport remember you had the Benson and Hedges tennis open I think after every set they had to stop for a singing break. Winfield Cup. Yeah.

Maybe when we got stats of how bad it is for you. Yeah. But some of our greatest sporting events were brought to you by lung cancer in the day. Weren't they? They really were. Well, Double Brown someone's just texted. Oh, yes. Mellow Yellow.

I know the text. You remember Mellow Yellow? It was like a... It was a fizzy drink. It was like a. Do you remember Mellow Yellow? It was like a... It was a fizzy drink. It was kind of like a mountain juice sort of thing. Yeah, it was like a... Yes. Yeah.

Google the can. It was Mellow Yellow. It lives up to its name. It's a yellow can. Certainly wasn't lying to you. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Now, we've got... Thank you to the wonderful team here at The Hits

who have scoured Trade Me and Facebook Marketplace The Wild West of Facebook Marketplace To source some old prizes from the 90s And early noughties actually To give away this week What have we got there Megan? This is, do you remember Etch-a-Sketch? Yeah the Etch-a-Sketch

It's like an original like Magna Doodle But this is like, how much did we pay for this? Before iPads that's one I bought from home yeah so we've got Etch to Sketch

What have you drawn on that thing mate? What's your greatest works? Well not much it's like you can't really draw circles as such the lines are all straight

because you control the things so you admire the people that can create some wonderful things on that I can imagine only all of the

low brow phallic it's very hard to draw a low brow phallic thing because you can't draw circles you can't do the three circles yeah Baliki's a square

it's a very square like we've got Furbies we've got Bratz dolls we've got all sorts of stuff we've got a Tamagotchi in there as well which was like a I think parents

who couldn't be arsed buying a pet would sort of fend their children off with digital Tamagotchis that they had to look after. So we want to play some old school radio games from the past. So 0800 the hits. Let's do a classic Battle of the Sexes.

Have we cancelled that in 2024? Oh, we're reflecting. Yeah, true. We're acknowledging the past. A bit different, yeah. You know, and what is the sex nowadays? Anyone can join us. So Battle of the Sexes, whatever, however you identify,

you can join us this morning, 0800 the hits, and we'll be playing for one of these magnificent prizes. Yeah, let's go to Tamagotchi. Let's give that away. Tamagotchi, wow. Still in its packaging. Yeah. Brand new.

Yeah, so actually I imagine that one will work. Yeah. Some of these things are from the 90s and don't work, but that'll work. I think that was, what, early 2000s, Tamagotchis? Yeah. Yeah. Is it Tamagotchi or Tamaguchi? I'm not sure.

Tamagotchi. Let's cover our bases then. Okay. 0800 The Hits. Next, we'll play Battle of the Sexes, and we'll give away a Tamagotchi. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. As we've mentioned already, we're looking back at what was the best decade, the 1990s or the noughties.

And on Friday, we get to play our nonstop songs from that decade. Megan, for you. Yes. What do you reckon? Like all over or music? It's very hard, eh? We look at different things. We were talking about that before and I was like,

I feel like for me The music's better But then In the 90s TV shows from the 90s Were really good No you like the music From the 2000s

Music was probably Beats there in some ways In the 2000s But I love the 90s Because it's just It's kind of cheesier And nostalgic A bit more basic

You're just like Oh I like it Doors were unlocked And it was a safer time Technology was definitely A lot better in the 2000s And TV theme songs were better in the 90s Yeah they were catchy

You don't have any iconic TV show theme songs Yeah well right now Thanks to the team here at The Hit Step Purchased a whole bunch of old prizes Off Trade Me And we've got a Tamagotchi up for grabs A digital pet still in the packet This is an OG Straight off the shelf Tamagotchi And for grabs. A digital pet still in the packet. This is an OG, straight off the shelf Tamagotchi.

And we're going to play an old school radio game. This is Battle of the Sexes. Not the Battle of the Sexes. I always wanted to do Battle of the Sexes. When we're on the rock and you get two misogynists. Oh no, I couldn't quite figure it out. Don't give them a platform. How the game worked from there.

But Battle of the Sexes, this was a game very popular on radio, wasn't it, back in the day? Has it stood the test of time? They kind of do versions of it now. It's more tradie versus lady now. Yeah, right. So what they are generally stereotyped questions. So Megan, I would ask you what would be cliched,

stereotyped male questions maybe. And then Ben, I would ask you what would be cliched, stereotyped male questions, maybe. And then Ben, I would ask you what would be the same stereotype female questions. Yeah, we've moved past that. Well, no, we haven't because we're playing it right now. But ironically, we have Sam on the phone. How are you? Good, thanks. How are you?

Good to have you here. We're doing really well. Lovely to have you on. And Caroline as well. Hello. Okay, so we've got two females, but we'll both ask you what would be cliched male questions, okay? So if you know the answer, just yell out your name. Okay.

Okay, before we get into it, Sam, what was the better period, 90s or noughties? Well, I'm going to make you feel old because I was born in the 90s, so the 2000s is what I remember. You didn't even make us feel old. You have. We were not born in the 90s. Caroline? Was it the 90s or noughties for you?

The 90s, I think. Okay, alright. Yell out your name if you know the answer. Who is the coach of the All Blacks? Sam. Yeah. Steve Hansen. Steve Hansen.

He's a couple of coaches ago. Oh, my bad. No, that's fine. Caroline, it's over to you if you can answer it. The current coach of the All Blacks. I have no idea. All right. We'll move on to the next question. Is scott scott razer robinson yeah yeah okay what does the company michelin make

tires oh caroline caroline tires there we go she's got one point on the board it's best of three name three teams in the nrl i just love the silence. Oh, you go. No, you go. I'm very polite here. That's league, right? Yeah, that's league.

Rugby league. Three teams in the NRL rugby league competition. There's a Kiwi team. Guys, I can't help you more than that. Name one team in the NRL. Warriors? Yeah! Question mark?

Warriors, question mark. That was Sam. Up to us. All right, we're tied at one apiece. This is Battle of the Sexes, fighting it out for a Tamagotchi in our 90s versus noughties week. Final question. What is the current pay gap between men and women in New Zealand?

Is it A? Sam? No, sorry, can I have? Sam? No, sorry. Can I have the A? No, no. You've locked in. You've taken out the multi-choice options. What do you think, Sam?

I would hope after having Jacinda Ardern as our Prime Minister, it would be equal. No, it's 10%. What? I know. I know. No one was more shocked than me. Not quite there yet, which means we're going to go round to a decider.

Final question. Conor McGregor competes in what sport? I'll tell you, sorry. Caroline. Yeah, Caroline. Cricket. Cricket. We're going to give it to you, Caroline.

Yeah, we'll give it to you. There you go. Caroline takes it. There's still some leagues in the middle. We're not to give it to you, Caroline. Yeah, we'll give it to you. There you go. Caroline takes it in part. There's still some leagues in the middle. We're not 40. Yeah, no, well done. They were hard. They were hard.

He's a great cricket. They're very sports heavy. Yeah. Very sports heavy. For the lads. For the lads. The sports questions for the lads. Stop having to go with the questionnaire.

The sex is back tomorrow. I don't know. Love it. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. It's going to be a real fun week this week because we're trying to decide which was the best decade, the 90s or the noughties. And then on Friday, we're going to celebrate the winner with nonstop songs, one after the other from that decade.

Now, you'll remember these infomercials from the 90s. Natural glow is made up of thousands of luminous spheres that reflect the light to give you a flawless-looking complexion in seconds. No idea what luminous spheres were. Still don't. Never figured that out. But the mastermind behind Natural Glow and many products on our screens in the 90s, Suzanne Paul, is with us now.

How are you? Yes, rushing, thank you. I'm all good. Now, do you want me on speakerphone or is it best if it's up my ear? Oh, that sounds fair. Did you say up your ear? Yes. That sounds all right, I think, at the moment.

What have you got on, if that works? Now, we've got Megan working with us now, too. She's here as well. Hello, Suzanne. Oh, lovely. Hi, Megan. Are you having fun? I am.

Thank you. Most days. Suzanne is most days. How many out of five? Oh, yeah. At least two out of five. That's a good average. Suzanne, lovely to hear your voice.

Always so positive and uplifting. And this week we're having a bit of a competition, the 90s v. the noughties. And which was the better period in history? And you came over here from the UK with a can-do attitude. And no money, right? You pretty much turned up here with nothing, right? That's right. Nothing's changed there.

It's all good. Were you selling vacuum cleaners door-to-door? Was that one of your original jobs? I did, yes. Kirby vacuum cleaners door- door? Was that one of your original jobs? I did, yes. Kirby vacuum cleaners door to door, I did, yeah. But then when I got here, I thought, oh, I think I could make something of myself here and the people are nice.

And it was all a bit, you know, behind the times in the 90s, I thought. Still is, mate. It's probably like 1997 now. So how did you make the jump from selling vacuums door to door to being on our screens? Well, I started with the vacuum cleaners and then I bought in my own products to sell from overseas. So it was products I'd sold before, vibrating massage pillows,

you know, choppers, slicers, dices. And I was a sales demonstrator. I have been since I was 18. So I started working at trade shows and exhibitions, you know, like the Poem Show and the Field Days, demonstrating products and gadgets. And then I had a business partner, and he said, if I film you doing these demonstrations

that you're doing in the shopping malls and at the shows, we can put them on TV, you know, like adverts, and then we wouldn't have to schlep all around these shows. We could just sit on our arses, you know, and rake all the money in. So Natural Glow, how did you stumble across Natural Glow? Yes, I made Natural Glow because I came here burnt to a frazzle in the sun and thought, oh, not having this.

Bronzing powders didn't exist then. I know it seems strange, but they didn't. So nobody had one. So I got it made and yeah. This was actually just your idea. You're like, I'm going to make a powder. Yes. Wait, did Suzanne Paul create bronzing powders?

Yes, I did. Oh my God. Wow. That's amazing. In New Zealand in particular, two-minute infomercials weren't really a thing until you sort of came along with Natural Glow, right? No.

Do you still, because Natural Glow, is Natural Glow still out there? No, no, because we sold the whole company and sold the whole shebang. Natural Glow went with it, and they never continued with it. Have you still got a pot of Natural Glow? I have, yeah.

I've still got a pot and a big blue brush that you get absolutely free if you call now. Blue Monkey as well. We can't forget about the song, your 1994 smash hit. I can't believe you did forget about it. I'm trying hard to forget about it. Take a boy into the ground. Loads of fun. Loads of about it Love the Blue Monkey Now how did the Blue Monkey eventuate

and what is a Blue Monkey? It sounds like some sort of initiation that I'd have to do at university It does, doesn't it? It was actually a nightclub a friend and I used to go to yeah called the blue monkey and uh this said friend was visiting me at the time for some reason the only alcohol we had in the house was port and we drank this whole bottle of port and by the end of

the night we'd come up with the idea of this song and this dance and called it the blue monkey um needless to say i I've never drank port since. Never will again. We've got Suzanne Paul with us. What I really admire about you is so many people have ideas and they never act on them. And you actually go and you get off your butt and you go and do them. Yes, I've no fear of failure whatsoever.

Good on you. If I think of something, I think, oh, yeah, I'll do that. And even if I don't know how to do it, I always think, well, I know how to take the first step, don't I? I could just do that and then see what happens, see where that leads. I think people get overwhelmed. They make plans and they think, oh my God, this plan is

so huge, I don't know what to do. So they don't do anything. And I just think of it and think, yeah, what's the first thing I could do? What's the first step I could take? Okay, take it. And away I go again. But wait, there's more. There's always first thing I could do? What's the first step I could take? Okay, take it. And away I go again. But wait, there's more. There's always more, as you say.

I love that. That is a great attitude in life. Susie and Paul, as always, it's a joy to chat with you on the phone and really appreciate you being on the show this morning. Thank you. Thanks, guys. Lovely to talk with you again.

The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Now, the 90s v. the noughties. Lovely to talk with you again. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Now, the 90s v. the noughties, that's the theme this week. Thanks to you, we're going to help decide which was the better period in life, in time, in history. You know, you look at the wild, the wild crap storm we're living in at the moment. Yeah, that's right. What have we done to the world? You know, we're just trying to reflect on a happier, simpler time.

Yeah. And there wasn't online dating in the 90s it wasn't a thing no was it no you're right yeah it was it was we didn't know about tinder all those sorts of things i mean mobile phones weren't even really a thing until like the 2000s here in new zealand i don't even know how you how did you show your genitals to strangers in the 90s supposed you to go down to the park and do it in real life, didn't you? You'd take a picture on a camera and get it developed. Print it out, yeah.

Kodak or something, take it down there. Why then hand deliver it? It feels very confronting. Also, dating, a lot of dating was written on a toilet wall, you know, for a good time, cool. Yes, true. You know, and they'd take you out to mini-parts or whatever they thought was a good time. These were

late night ads, right? So before dating apps and Tinder and all those sort of bumble, these would play late night on the telly. And you remember both of these, right? Hot Gossip Party Line. I never even called the Hot Gossip Party Line. I felt like it was there for teenagers

who were wanting to prank people and pervy old dudes. Have a listen to Hot Gossip Party line. I felt like it was there for teenagers who were wanting to prank people and pervy old dudes. Have a listen to Hot Gossip. We had a lot of parties on the beach last year in summer. Really? You were interested in that sort of stuff? If you love to chat, chat free on the Hot Gossip live chat line.

Girls call Wellington 499-3248. Guys call Wellington 499-3247. Find new friends. Make a date. Hot Gossip chat line. It's fun and free for a limited time. Call now.

There we go. And I got into a bit of a hole about hot gossip and just some feedback on a forum online. Some guy here met a lovely Vietnamese chick from Wellington. She said, can I live at your house for two weeks? Ten years later, we're still married. Because I didn't realise that was free listening back to it. But can we call

that number now? Should we try it? It's 04 Grace. I just wrote it down. 04 499 3248 3248 Sorry, someone's landline now or something, isn't it? No. The gossip's gone cold.

This one as well. Now, this one cost you about $3 a minute for this line, this particular line. This would play every night. You'll remember the jingle, Come on, callers, join the party. Come on, callers, join the party. Oh, 940, 40, 40.

Come on, callers, join the party. Woo! Oh, 940, 40, 40. Come on and call us, join the party. Woo! Oh, 900, 40, 40, 40, come and call us, join the party. And they just said that on repeat. Really stuck in your head, right? It was an earworm of a jingle, wasn't it? So that was $3 a minute, that one, whereas Hot Gossip, they were giving it for a limited time.

They were free. Yeah. What's 0900 40, 40, 40? Is that still going, Grace? Was that actually a party or you're just connecting with one person i'm not sure again i never write if you ever did write it 4487 love to hear from you this morning oh oh no it doesn't work either it just cut off i would have thought these things from the 90s don't exist

the hits the jonah and ben podcast we're looking this week, which was the best decade? The 90s or the noughties? And then on Friday, are we going to play music from that decade? Yeah, talking to some wonderful names from yesteryear too Throughout the week, just had Suzanne Paul, infomercial queen on the show And right now, your first concert This is what was the nostalgic trip down memory lane It's a lot of fun actually, reflecting on these things So that's what we want you to do this morning.

R800 the hits, 4487. What was the first concert you went along to? Now, Megan, you said what your first concert was. And then I was like, oh my goodness, that was my first concert as well. The same tour. The exact same concert. Yeah, and I don't know if it was. I went and saw, because we were visiting family in Christchurch.

I went along to Lancaster Park back in those days when that was around and saw it. Yeah, I saw it at Trafalgar Park in Nelson. Did she go to Nelson? Tina Turner went to Nelson and it was 1997. With Jimmy Barnes as well. Wow. Had they done the Simply the Best?

That was the thing as well. Jimmy Barnes opened, I remember Prime. That was the thing as well. So, yeah. Hell of a version. Jimmy Barnes opened, I remember. I remember him being a young kid going along and then she brought him back out for that. Had a hot saxophone guy. He was playing on stage. I don't know why I remember a hot saxophone guy. And I remember.

Especially how old were you? You're like, she's that saxophone guy. It was just sexual awakening. He was really hot. I do remember he was really hot. You know saxophone guys are all thrusting

long hair. How old are you though at this stage? I don't know. Did you go try and learn the sax? 11 years old. Jeez, that pelvis

is doing things to me. And I remember a smell. Did you say that out loud? A lot of smells too. And I was like, wow, what's that smell? And she was like, oh, that's just

a funny cigarette or something like that. Yeah. I was like, man that smell and she was like oh that's just a funny cigarette or something like that you know so Jenny Boyce was trying to put you down it stinks here so

did Ray Ray take you your mum my parents took me I remember it so well because I had as I was having a shower getting ready for the concert I got a bee sting

under my arm like in my armpit so the whole concert I'm like oh I love her oh my arm how did did you have your arm up and the bee sort of attacked you while your arm?

And the bee was on my towel, weirdly. And as I dried myself, it stung me. So I remember that the whole concert. It ruined my day. That's an inconvenient singing location. I remember seeing her in like a silver dress and her legs. She had the best legs. She really hit the bloody regions.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. So there we go. That was Megan and my one. Jono? Listen, I, looking back on it, was far too young to go to this concert. I would have been 13, 14. I think it was like 93, 94.

My mate was like, do you want to go to Cypress Hill? And this was Cypress Hill. Are you trying to get crazy with this thing? Don't you know I'm local it was it was a lot of concept for a 14 year old to be on

there would have been a lot of funny smelling cigarettes yeah the concept was inside but it was very overcast hazy conditions right and I remember I was like oh these guys are great and there was things like

Logan Campbell Center or something and I bought their cassette And I came home and played it And again I said another time my mother Annie Pryor was mortified I played the song she's like what is this I was like this is the concert I've just been to She's like throw that cassette tape out now I just stomp on it and chuck it in the rubbish bin

Alright that's Jono's one Producer Taylor interesting first concert for you Yep Avril Lavigne Tell me why How old were you. Yep, Avril Lavigne. How old were you when you did Avril Lavigne? I would have been like nine, I feel. My mum took me. Were you a skater girl?

I thought I was. Looking back, absolutely not. Tell me you wore a tie and a belt and eyeliner. Not a tie, but I wore that headband, the big wristband as well. Singlet tank top, you know. Was this 2000s? Yeah, early 2000s. Gotcha. She had a baggy jean sort of situation going on.

Yeah, she did in a tight tank. She's kind of in fashion again now. Yeah, I could say that for sure. You're the baggy jean. The hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. Getting nostalgic this morning. We're looking back and we want to know your first concert.

Which concert did you go along to? Because we're celebrating the 90s and the noughties this week, trying to find which was the best decade. Yeah, Ben, you also sang along to, and probably made you the showman you are today, Michael Jackson. Oh, yes. Jeez, that's a lot of concert for a boy from Astrid to go to. It's a lot of drive too.

You know, like from Astrid all the way up to Auckland to see Michael Jackson. But hey, it was worth it. But what you do there though, that's one of your first concerts. You've really set the bar high with Jackson. He would have had all the theatrics and everything, did he? Quite an entertainer, you're right. When you go to Christmas in the Park the next year, you're like, oh, that's good. Michael Jackson was on the high wire over Mount Smart Stadium.

So you were reminiscing about your first concert. Megan was Tina Turner as well as Ben. You guys would have been nine, ten years old. Yeah. Trapped along with your parents, bloody sucker back on the wine coolers. Yeah, that's right. The smell of weed in the air. Better times.

Kitty, you're welcome. First concert. Oh, mysterious. Oh, hi! You didn't say my name. Yeah, I thought you were just sitting there enjoying the memories. I was! What was the concert?

So, my dad took me to cymbal playing, a girlfriend and I. And here it goes! That screams early, early noughties, doesn't it? Yeah, was it good? It was good, the only thing was my, was it good? It was good. The only thing was my dad was like security guard around me and just kind of stood there behind me and I'm trying to bounce with everybody

and he's just standing there. Yeah, he doesn't want any boys bouncing up against you. No, no. I'm like, let me go. It's the part of the thing, you know? He had a simple plan to keep the boys away from you. Hey, thank you so much, Kitty. Have a great day.

Appreciate it. Joy, you're on in Hamilton. We're talking about your first concert. What was the year? Hello, Joy. Oh, hello. Actually, it was the late 80s. Right.

Because I'm that old. But it was Billy Joel. And I'm pretty sure that Johnny Farnham opened for him. Jeez. That's a lot of... He had the voice and the piano man. I imagine a bloody overdose of denim on stage too, I imagine. Billy Joel, John Farnham.

What a good first concert to go to. What memories have you got of it? Well, my dad wouldn't let me go. He wouldn't take me, and he wouldn't let me go until I found a responsible adult. So I ended up going with this guy from church called Keith, who was about 50,

and I was like 15. And I was never earned. Never earned by Keith as well. I get that last call when her dad's like, yeah. Did you go on a date with a 50-year-old? It wasn't a date. 50-year-old. Was your dad not a responsible adult?

He's like, my dad was not a concert goer. He's more responsible than me, mate. He can take you along. Take Keith from church. He won't do you wrong. Good on you. Let's take one more. Your first concert, Shannon.

Morning. Morning. I actually haven't been to one yet, but I'm going to Your first concert, Shannon. Morning. Morning. I actually haven't been to one yet, but I'm going to my first one next month. Oh, what concert? Teddy Swims. Awesome. That'd be incredible. He seems like a lovely guy.

We've met him once briefly, but amazing voice. Just be incredible. I know. I tried to get through. I got through for Alpha Quiz the day it was announced But I didn't quite win the money How old are you? I'm 30 You've never been to a concert

I know You're going to love it You're going to love it Like Ben said, there'll be some new smells for your nostrils Become accustomed with those And if you need anyone to take you I'm sure we can find Keith from the church You need a responsible adult.

Keith's now 90, but still loves concerts though, eh? And taking people much younger than him. No, Keith does a nice thing. Don't pay him to be something he's not. Leave Keith alone. Sorry, Keith. I don't mean to besmirch his good name. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast.

Live free thanks to OneRoof property, oneroof.co.nz. We've been doing this for a few weeks, getting you in the draw to get your rent or mortgage paid for an entire 12 months. And on Friday afternoon, we had the very exciting but nerve-wracking key ceremony where the five finalists each got a key and only one of them unlocked the door, an actual physical door that unlocked to that amazing prize. Yeah, and all

of these winners were just lovely human beings very supportive people who listen to this radio station uh and i did feel a large responsibility when doors weren't unlocked that a lot of consoling you do a lot of you feel so bad when the bloody lock doesn't open the door you're like oh i'm so sorry well people could travel from dunedin and other places yeah another bowl of rations or you're just trying to you know that'll do it yeah we're like there needs to be a good consolation it does you're right but the moment shona did unlock the door was monumental shona are you ready everybody make some noise for Shona! Shona! Shona! Shona! Shona! She's putting the key in. Oh, my God!

Shona! Oh, my God! Oh, no. So much. I don't know what to say. Thank you. And thanks to One Roof. I really appreciate it.

You guys, like, it's been amazing. It was very, very emotional. Yeah, we spoke to Shona, actually. She's from Christchurch. She travelled up for it. And we spoke to her just moments after she had won her entire mortgage paid off for an entire year. Well, not entire. A year's worth of mortgage.

Not the whole thing. Sorry. That's not the teaser. We're going to knock the whole thing off. The whole 30-year mortgage? Done in 12 months. Yeah, sorry. That's not the teaser piece. We're going to knock the whole thing off. The whole 30-year mortgage? Done in 12 months. Yeah, sorry. That's not the prize.

The prize is a year's worth of your mortgage paid off. And here was Shona. Very emotional. I can hold your shampoos, Shona. Okay, cool. Well done. And she drinks a glass of, what is that? Rosé.

Rosé. Congratulations. My drink of choice. Thank you. How amazing is this? Honestly, it's so amazing and I have to admit like I mentioned that both my parents have passed away and I did talk to them. I kind of was looking up to the stars and I was like look if you are out there please just give it to me you know like

never ask for anything and I really really your help. So I like to think that they have looked down on me and, yeah, it's still there. Jesus, getting me all watery. That's a beautiful manifestation. Exactly. You were saying, you know, before to us that you'd sadly lost your job a little bit, you know, a few weeks ago. So, you know, this means a lot to you and your family what you can do with this money over the next year. Oh, it does. It really, really does. It's a lot to you and your family, what you can do with this money over the next year. Oh, it does. It really, really does.

It's a really competitive market out there. You know, sadly, a lot of people have lost their jobs, and I really feel for everyone. This is just going to give me and my family the time. Just thinking out loud that I haven't spent much time with our wee girl. You know, I went back to work, you know, because of the mortgage, when she was only nine months old. So it's also going to give me time to be able to spend quality time with her as well. And she'll love that.

Yeah, well done. Well done. Well, you're a very humble winner. And like you said, all of the finalists deserve to take it in this competition. Oh, they so do. Yeah. And, you know, I don't know what they'll want. They drink their choice. But surely there's some shops, you know.

Yeah. Well, congratulations. Thank you. You're an amazing person, and this couldn't have gone to a better winner. Thank you so much. Lovely to meet you. Well done. Lovely to meet you guys too.

It was Shona, our winner of Live Free. Very, very emotional stuff. I think so everyone that entered the competition, and I'm sure Live Free will be back again on The Hits. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. On game to play right now. Jono and Ben's blind taste test with HelloFresh. Yeah, HelloFresh recipes designed for Kiwi taste

and everyday home cooks. You can head to hellofresh.co.nz slash menu to start dishing up delicious recipes at your house and meals. And we've got a bit of a blind taste test to do in the studio right now to win two weeks' worth of HelloFresh and $500 cash. Jono, today you're going to take on the challenge. You're going to put a blindfold on. We've got a delicious, you can even smell it.

Yeah, it does smell delicious. Poor Harriet, our boss here at The Hits, has been bestowed with the honour of cooking a HelloFresh meal every morning for us. Yeah, first thing in the morning she's got up. Feels like you don't need to add that to your morning routine. So you've got to be blindfolded and using your senses, obviously not sight, but smell, sounds, your taste

as well. You'll describe what you're eating from HelloFresh. If you can guess kind of the recipe for next week, we'll give you a bit of leeway on this one. You could win $500 and two weeks worth of hello fresh 500 bucks yeah now i feel very vulnerable right now because i put the blindfold on i can't see anything so the dish i'm gathering is it's right in front of you okay megan

if you could stop poking my face now this is why i don't trust anyone can you can you smell it first sense of smell describe what you're getting what are you getting what are you can you smell it first okay sense of smell describe what you're getting what are you getting what are you getting with smell what am i it smells i'd say cheesy cheesy okay yeah no can i put my fingers in it you can put it yeah it's maybe a little hot but you can put your fingers what you're getting for like it's your meal that's your meal now feels uh sort of sloppy but comforting oh yeah right like warm okay quite warm okay uh there's like any dinner would be warm yeah it's uh it feels like there's a crustacean on the top of whatever is beneath it okay so, so like a... Yeah, soft. Soft, warm, comfortable. It's a lot weird me putting my finger on this meal.

It does. Yeah, like Georgie Porgie for that. Or Jack Horner. Who was the one that was sticking his fingers in pies? Yeah, it could be a pie. Is it a pie? No, it's not a pie. It's not a pie.

It does feel pie-like. Okay, well you try and taste a little bit and see what you're getting if you're tasting it. Where's the... There is a fork there. Or you could use your fingers. It's all stuck on your fingers. All right. Oh, it's all on your fingers.

Okay. So, well, I can't see, Megan. Yeah. I don't know if you know this. You put a blindfold on me. Okay, have I got the food on me? Yeah, you do. You have done well.

There you go. In the mouth. There we go. Mmm. Okay. Would you say creamy? Would you say creamy? Yeah, I have done well. There you go. In the mouth. There we go. Mmm. Okay. Would you say creamy? Would you say creamy? Yeah, I would say creamy.

You're trying to lead me down a path here, aren't you? Yeah. Yeah. Okay, have we got a cooler? And like maybe the smell-wise. I can even smell quite a strong sort of garlicky smell. What would you say from here? I hadn't picked up the garlic, but if you're telling me there's garlic in there, I'll roll with it.

Is there bacon? Oh, yes. Is there? Yes. Yes. Okay, soft, warm, comforting. I hadn't picked up the garlic but if you're telling me there's garlic in there I'll roll with it is there bacon oh yeah is there yes okay soft warm comforting it's bacon well done

bacon-y and it feels like a crust on top that's all I've got okay that's very good good description alright I'll 100 the hits right now let's try and take a call Megan

you're going to have to bring in the caller because John I can't see anything Anna from Christchurch good morning how are you hello how are you? Yeah, I've just been jamming my fingers deep inside this HelloFresh meal for you, Anna. It looks delicious.

Was it delicious? It was very, very tasty. Do you have any idea what it could be with those vague clues? Well, if you think it's got a top on it, I'm wondering if it's something like an enchilada or a calzone or something? No, well, I don't know. What is it? I can't see it. No, it something like an enchilada or a calzone or something. No, I don't know. What is it? I can't see it. No, it's not an enchilada, but you're kind of...

I would have... Was I eating pasta? Was there pasta in my mouth? Yeah, yes. It's quite a big clue. In fact, a huge clue. How did you not know that that was pasta? Okay, let's take another call quickly.

And if not, it'll jackpot till tomorrow. Hello, The Hits. What's your name? Julie. Good morning. Oh, hello. Good morning. Julie.

Warm, soft, bacon-y, crusty stuff on top. Tasty. I know. And I love it. Hopefully it's the one that's my favourite. Lasagna. Is it beef lasagna? Is it beef lasagna?

No, it's not beef lasagna. No, it's not beef lasagna. No, it's not. Okay. Can I take my thing off? You can take it off. It's a creamy bacon and tomato orecchiette with leek and garlic breadcrumbs as well. Delicious. Yeah, Italian pasta today.

So, yeah, that hasn't been won today. So what happens? Jackpot still tomorrow. $1,000. $1,000. And two weeks' worth of HelloFresh. Thank you so much for HelloFresh. It's very hard to try to figure out what a meal is

without not being able to see it. Yeah. And you can check out all the recipes at hellofresh.co.nz slash menu. It really is a wonderful thing. It makes meals a whole lot easier at home too as well and delicious.