Jono, Ben & Megan - The Podcast - FULL SHOW: Jono's superstar cameos! Are they AI?

Episode Date: June 19, 2024

ON THE SHOW TODAY Explaining fax machines to a Gen Z... Throwback to developing photos Posters we had on our wall! Shortland Street legend Angela Bloomfield Devastating school lunches! Jono still hates Hector's dolphin...  Facebook: The Hits Breakfast with Jono and Ben Instagram: TheHitsBreakfastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Hits, with the Jono and Ben podcast. Cheers to Dilma, making the world a better tea. It's been a really fun week this week and tomorrow we play nothing but either 90s music or early 2000s music. The 90s versus the noughties, that's what we're looking at this week. So far it seems to be, according to all our polls we've been running online, that the 90s may take it out, but we'll find out later on today. I was thinking that, you know, it was like that election where, you know, Labour and National a couple of elections ago. You're like, is there any point?

But the 90s obviously live, for we were talking, it's your formative years, isn't it? That's what they say when you're, you know, teenagers. No, life not weighing you down. Fond memories. Yeah. Favourable. Yeah, of course you can have favourable memories.

Yeah, you're right. And we've been sort of informing Producer Grace, who's 23 years old, about some of the stuff we used to do, reflecting on some of these things and also going, well, wow, that was weird. Even for an hour, reflecting back on some of these things. When you start to explain it, you're like, yeah, no, it doesn't make sense to me either. Actually, the thing we're going to talk about now, we're going to bring in.

We've got one. Oh, okay. Grace is very confused. Because we explained things like three-way calling and call waiting yesterday. Well, have a look at this, Grace. This is a wonderful piece of technology Jono's got. Have you seen one of these in real life before? No.

Have you not? Are you joking? A fax machine. What do you think that does? She said, I don't know what it is. It looks like a mix between a printer and a phone. You pretty much have nailed it. Yeah, in a lot of ways.

So what you do is, if you wanted to send them, just think of email and text messaging, but make it 158 more times excruciating. Yeah. So you're like, oh, Grace,8 more times excruciating. Yeah. So you're like, oh, Grace, I want to send Grace a message. And then I'd have to write out the message, wouldn't I? Or you could print it out from your computer. Yeah, you might have a document. Or Grace really needs this document, to see this document.

You could send it through on the fax. Yeah, and then you'd put a piece of paper in this slot here. Okay. And you'd dial their fax number, beep, boop, beep, boop, boop, boop. And over about a 20 minute period eventually grace and pick up oh it's a fax going through there trying to accept it take a while they try to resend it yeah and they would then get it and they would come through the effects machine on very flimsy paper yeah uh and then they would get the message glossy sort of so that thing

would like scan it and then it would send it to the other fax machine and then they would get the message. Glossy sort of flimsy paper. So that thing would like scan it and then it would send it to the other fax machine and then that would print it out. That just seems like a lot of ad work. It was. I don't know if this was the case for everyone's house, but in my house the phone would ring and you'd pick it up and it would go, and you're like, oh, okay, it's a fax. So you'd press start and put the phone down and then it would print off.

What a wonderful impression of a fax machine. You're like, what? Either a robot's calling me or it's a fax. It's basically the great grandparent of texting. Yeah. Fax. Yeah, Hollywood still uses fax a lot. Really?

Yeah. Why? Because it's secure and if they're sending a script or sensitive contract information, it can be hacked online, obviously. And so pretty much a lot of the big film studios, Hollywood's keeping it alive. So yeah, the fax machine is... Remember we got them to hook that up. That's why we've got that.

That doesn't even look that old. We want to do a segment called the facts of life where people would fax in. I think someone sent us a fax. Yeah. Eventually through it. We started at like six o'clock one day. We're like, send us a fax. Maybe we should try and do it tomorrow.

And then it took about two and a half hours for us to eventually get a fax through. The trouble is, though, you're relying on people to still have fax machines. There's some people still out there. To be honest, it was a huge waste of time and resource getting this fax machine hooked up. Let's try and do it tomorrow. Let's try and do it tomorrow. We'll try and hook it up again. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast.

It's here next month, actually. Teddy Swims, it is The Hits, Jono and Ben. We're in the middle of the 90s versus the noughties, trying to decide which is the best decade as voted by you, because tomorrow we're going to play nothing but non-stop music from that particular decade. And you can head along to The Hits Breakfast on social media, Instagram, Facebook, and vote for the different categories

that are on there. You know, best celebrities, best scandals, best TV shows, movies. The list goes on. And at the moment, the 90s. Pretty clear lead. Yeah. Fair enough, too. It's great.

It's great. So tomorrow we might be playing nothing but 90s music. No, it's been a fun week. But it's soured. It's soured on the second to last day of this enjoyable. We've had a competition between the three of us, Megan, myself, Jono, to see if we could each track down a celebrity

from the 90s or the noughties and the best celebrity possible to get a message for the show. You started, you got a really great start too, Megan. Thank you, Ben. I went legit. Genuine start, real start. Yeah, real person.

David Arquette from the Scream franchise. Hello, John Owen Ben. Your friend Megan says you're celebrating the 90s. Well, count me in. It's Deputy Dewey and David Arquette. The 90s were the

greatest. So that was nice. That was lovely. And I didn't question your message. I was like, thank you for getting that. Appreciate your effort, friend. Anyway, we'll get to your one in a second. That was lovely I didn't question your message I was like Thank you for getting that Appreciate your effort Friend Well yeah Anyway we'll get to your one In a second Just to give a back story

Of my one From the Baja man I got Dyson They had the big single Who let the dogs out And I got a message For you guys from him Hey Juno

What's up Megan It's Dyson Nate From the Baja man Yo You know the time Who let the dogs out Who Who Who Who What is the time actually 8 let the doors out? Who? Who?

Who? What is the time actually? 8.12. 8.12. And so then I've come in and I'm like... Like a complex backstory behind the scenes

between you and Taylor. Oh, has it come through? We're trying to get, we're trying to waggle some things. On the group chat, oh my God, John, oh, it's come through. Oh, you guys are going to be

blown away by this. Come in here, Taylor. Taylor, you come in here. Taylor gets on the defensive though. As soon as we start questioning her, this. Come on here, Taylor. Taylor, you come on here. Taylor gets on the defensive, though. As soon as we start questioning her, she starts aggressively attacking us. Taylor. Like a honeybeard.

It's not your integrity we're questioning, Taylor. No, you've just been roped into this. No, but you're questioning my hard work. If you were to see who I've had to liaise with this week and the amount of emails, and they're on different time zones, but it's Jono's face. Yeah. His wide--eyed cheeky grin obsessed with ai he didn't do any of the work so he can't

sit here he's obsessed with ai we talk about all the time i've made when we sent this competition i said no you guys have gone way too big when we started this we were like okay the closer you can get to a friend because that like a friend character, because that feels like the epitome of the 90s. Correct. So I got David Arquette, who was married to Monica, Courtney Cox. I was like, one degree of separation from a friend. He's touched her. He's touched Courtney Cox.

And more. And I was like, okay, well, I'll shoot for the stars. And so this is, you know, this is Taylor. Welcome to New Zealand too from Australia. This is what you're watching now is New Zealand tall poppy chopping syndrome. This is just when you know someone. Yeah. A history of like lying and a history of a love of AI all plays into this.

He's been about to do it without smiling the whole morning. The whole morning. Oh, sorry for smiling. The whole way through it's morning. Sorry for smiling. Sorry for smiling. Jennifer Anderson of all people apparently has sent you a message. I've got you a message and Ben's in come through this morning.

Big performance behind this. Oh it's come through. He's going to be blown away. This wasn't on cameo. The back story was that we could only get them through a charity angle. Now I need to explain to you that Jennifer Anderson may believe that you were wrongly imprisoned. Okay? What?

While pregnant, because that was the only angle that we could get. And the judge, you appealed your case, and the judge has let you out. You are full of it. No. This is so AI. It's not AI. Just to give us a backstory. Here we go. Hey, Megan. It's Jennifer of it. No. This is so AI. AI. It's not AI. Just to give us a back story. Here we go.

Hey, Megan. It's Jennifer Aniston here. Jono tells me you are a huge fan of Friends and you are going to name your baby after me. Wow, what an absolute honor. And yes, I would be honored to be godmother. Only kidding. But good luck with the birth

and I am glad the judge finally saw sense and granted you your appeal and you are going to be released in time for the birth. Lots of love. There you go. AI. Why is it AI? Why?

Because definitely you made a bit of backstory just to try it. That is so not. That was how we could pull the heartstrings. Oh, in three days you got Jennifer Aniston. Not three days. We were talking about this a week ago. You couldn't even get the briskest oh and three days you got Jennifer Aniston we couldn't even get not three days we were talking about this a week ago we couldn't even get

the briskest lady in three days and it's not every day you get like a request from a girl who's pregnant in jail in prison wrongly in prison

so don't believe it absolutely 100% do not believe it okay 0800 the hits do you believe that's AI I haven't even played Ben's yet

we might not play it no that's huge we might not deserve it sometimes when they play AI you can hear like a little digital aspect to it but to me

that kind of sounded if you're going to go to bed thinking that's AI then that's on you we know what we're doing can't wait for the video because we can put it

on social media it's going up on my LinkedIn and everything because this is probably the biggest no there's no video

oh there's no video oh there's no video Jennifer Addison we don't have 10 grand to pay for a video I thought the video was what we wanted anyway there's no video. Jennifer Addison, we don't have 10 grand to pay for a video. I thought the video was what we wanted. Anyway, okay. Next, we'll play yours.

Okay, 0800 HITS. If you think that's legit or not, chime in. Help me out. Are you Team Ben and Megan? Or Team Taylor and Jono? The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Celebrating the 90s and the noughties this week, trying to get to the bottom of which was the best decade. Tomorrow, we're going to play nothing but non-stop 90s the noughties this week Trying to get to the bottom of which was the best decade

Tomorrow we're going to play nothing but non-stop 90s or noughties songs Yeah, and we thought we'd do something fun Just get some celebrities from yesterday to give us personal messages And it's turned sour Because you're so obsessed with AI You talk about it all the time And we've got one of the world's biggest stars In a busy schedule was sent through a video

With a complex backstory about some charity thing. Well, the thing is, we've got Nicole, who's our entertainment reporter in New York. She knows people, put Taylor in touch with PR people, who's tied her in with a charity, and they're like, well, she's not going to do anything if it's not for charity. So the charity was Megan, pregnant, loves Jennifer Aniston, blah, blah, blah, and might have been wrongly accused, coming out of prison so I can have my baby. So have a listen.

Yeah, yeah, have a listen. Hey, Megan, it's Jennifer Aniston here. Jono tells me you are a huge fan of Friends and you are going to name your baby after me. Wow, what an absolute honor. And yes, I would be honored to be godmother. Only kidding. But good luck with the birth and I am glad the judge finally saw sense

and granted you your appeal and you are going to be released in time for the birth. Lots of love. Now, no part of me is questioning if that's Jennifer Aniston. No part. Lots of love.

No part. There's not a single percentage that I believe that is Jennifer Aniston. Lots of love, artificial intelligence. Exactly. You know, they seem to be so wary of getting duped too. You'd think they would have done their research into your name and your backstory before they did a video too.

Someone is texting Team Vegan. Well, they're on the phone now. Emma, you want to chime in? Are you Team Vegan? I don't believe it for a minute. This is what's wrong with the world. You wouldn't believe it either. That's what's wrong with your reputation.

Producer Taylor. If it came from Beegan, I'd believe it. But it came from Jono. Producer Taylor. Are you not team, what are we, Tono? Team Tono all the way. Or Jayla. Jayla.

Oh, Jayla's good. You like Jayla? Yeah, Jayla's better actually. Someone else is going, definitely AIailor's good. Do you like Jailor? Yeah, Jailor's better actually. Someone else has gone, definitely AI. You can't hear her taking a breath. What? She's an actress as well. So she's got great vocal range.

When do you hear people taking breaths? What a wonderful performance from both of you guys. Maybe not Jono. Jono's been smiling the whole time. I'm smiling because this is ludicrous. Okay, do you want to hear yours? I just heard you take a breath. He's not an actor. No. Do you want to hear yours? I just heard you take a breath. He's not an actor.

No. Do you want to hear yours? Well, yeah. Now, again, charity angle, it was the same organisation. Will Smith. Oh, Will Smith. He's huge. He's in the middle of a bad boy's...

Exactly. He's doing a promo tour. That's why we could get him on press. Oh, right. Now, Will Smith. Will Smith. Jailer. You guys are full of it. Will Smith, we're too big on this.

Will Smith may believe you're a 10-year-old boy with a serious health complication. You've definitely made these up. What up, Ben? It's your boy, Will Smith. Jono just wanted me to wish you happy 10th birthday. And I really hope you get better after the operation. Hemorrhoids can be nasty and a real pain in the butt. Anyway, have a

great birthday and thanks for being you and best of luck with the recovery. That's definitely not Will Smith. He's terrible at doing videos or that's just not Will Smith. He's reading the script. He wouldn't say hemorrhoids. Hemorrhoids are a health problem.

You can believe what you want to believe. Finlay, what do you think? hey finley team vegan or team jailer oh oh team megan definitely yeah haters haters taylor now chris you're joining into this debate ai or not team, Team Vegan or Team Jailer? It's definitely fake, man. There's no one in New Zealand who's believing this. Because also, I thought we were getting video as well, and you've said there's no video. You can get video when you go

low-hanging fruit, guys. I did a message thing, but he didn't record it. No, he just put it on there. Oh, wow, he conveniently did that it was easier to send you're telling me that will smith can't read a script and make it sound more casual than what he just did he hasn't pre-read it he's just looking at it anyway well if you guys go to be tonight thinking there was ai then can you play wait will smith one more time one more time it doesn't sound like it's your boy will sm Your boy. Jono just wanted me to wish you happy 10th birthday.

Yeah, boy. And I really hope you get better after the operation. Which one? Hemorrhoids can be nasty and a real pain in the butt. They can. Anyway, have a great birthday and thanks for being you and best of luck with the recovery. Hemorrhoids can be nasty and a real pain in the butt.

The hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. A super rugby final this Saturday night. The Blues taking on the Chiefs. Sold out by the sounds of it, which is amazing. Now, Producer Grace, we've been kind of through this whole 90s and noughties campaign, bringing you up to speed. It wasn't planned to do so, but there have been moments where we've mentioned things,

fax machines. I've been struggling. Yeah. Sending letters. We feel it's our duty to do a lot of explaining to you, in particular when it comes to photos. Nowadays, you just fang up a phone, you've got your.5s. You've got your burst of photos.

You've got 32 photos of the same thing clogging up your stream. Then it's on social media in seconds. We had one shot pretty much back in the day and you didn't know if you got the shot one you'd won you had you buy a roll of film and you put it in the camera you're like 22 or 24 or something it would be on there yeah take the photos and then you would go and get them developed and then you'd work out like it's like sometimes they do it in an hour they develop usually it would take a couple of developed and then you'd work out sometimes they'd do it in an hour they'd develop usually it would take a couple of days and then you'd get your photos

look at them and you'd go eyes are shut everyone had red eyes so you don't take more than one well you could but that was using up a lot of your film

and you didn't know how they were until you got them processed you didn't know the quality of them is there any photo printing laboratories or not labs

but like those Kodak places around I imagine there'd be a couple around. Surely. Not many. I found one of a lovely photo of my mum Annie wrapping her arm around me.

They took me over to Sydney for a holiday, I remember it, and we're in front of the opera house. Yeah. And she's wanting a lovely family photo. Oh, fair enough. As a parent,

I'm like, that's what I would want too. Yeah. You put yourself in your parents' position in this photo. 100%. Let's capture a memory. And mum's looking beautiful and she's looking well-dressed and stuff. She's got her arm around me and I

am about 11, 12 years old. I'm sitting there just pulling the fingers. Sneakily so your mum can't see, but at camera. At camera. She can't see. And then the repercussions of that, she wouldn't have known Until four weeks Six weeks later

She paid for that film To be developed Just smiling And flipping the bird And I'm like Look at this Little twit You know

I know it was a big Bugbear for your mum She was like Can I just Have one Lovely photo Of everyone I had a stage

Where I had a long fringe It used to cover A lot of my face Get it off your face for the photo. But emo. But that wasn't emo. I just was definitely rocking a long fringe that you'd sort of flick back and stuff. And then in the photo, I'd just have it down.

Mum would be like, just with me, please. Just put it off. We need to see your eyes, Benjamin. That's all mums wanted. They just wanted a lovely photo. I say it now to the kids. Just with me. Just with me.

Just one nice one. No sticking your tongue out with a peace sign. I say it now to the kids. Just with me. Just one nice one. No sticking your tongue out with a peace sign. Just smile at the camera, please. So if it's any consolation, we feel your pain now, parents. Exactly. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. We're trying to decide the best decade, the 90s or the noughties. And looking back at some nostalgic moments from our lives and your lives as well,

we wanted to throw something out there this morning on 0800THEHITS. The posters that you had on your wall when you were growing up, whether it was in the 90s, whether it was the 2000s. Who were the iconic posters? Who were the celebrity crushes that you had on your walls? Megan, for you. It was Hanson. It was a lot of Hanson.

I had not, there was no real estate left. Oh, so it was all. It was the roof too. The roof. Well, a shrine of Hanson. I had not, there was no real estate left. Oh, so it was all. It was the roof too. The roof. Wow, a shrine to Hanson. So if Hanson turned up, they'd be like, oh, wow. Are you okay? Yeah.

My parents, when they finally took them down, I think it ripped the paint off the walls. But like to the point where my duchesses had like, so when I was in bed at night, if I rolled over to the side, I could see them on the side of my duchess too. Boy, you... Okay. I know there's other groups, eh?

It was a lot. I mean, they're great, but you know. Yeah. I mean, it started where I had like Backstreet Boys and other ones, but then I'd keep getting handsome posters, so I'd rip the Backstreet Boys down and replace them. Yeah.

And then you moved out of the house and your poor parents had this weird Hanson Museum. Shrine, yeah. Because there was boxes and boxes of posters. My mum was like, do you want these back? And so would their friends come over and say, oh, you're going to have to stay in the Hanson room. In the Hanson room.

I always feel like someone's watching me. All these pubescent boys on posters just staring down on their guests. So what did you have in your posters? Mine was a real mix. I was thinking about last night. A real mix of like cricket players, warriors,

NBA basketballers. Then I had a distinctive Michael Jackson poster as well. Okay. And Anna Kournikova, the tennis player. I had an Anna Kournikova one.

Yeah. It was for like every teenage boy at the time, Anna Kournikova. It was just basically a wall of people you either A,

wanted to be or B, you wanted to pash. That was the basically a wall of people you either A, wanted to be or B, you wanted to pash. That was the issue. I remember my dad, John, would get very frustrated because you put it on

with Blu-Tack but the Blu-Tack would harden and then when you were to move it, yeah, it would rip off the wallpaper.

It would go like glue. I mean, initially it's soft and pliable. And then we found a little hack, me and my friends, you could go to like

United Video or something or Video Easy. Yeah. And kind of be like, you guys got any posters? And then some snotty teenager from behind the counter would come out with like, you know, boys in the hood posters. And then your room turned into a video shop. Yeah. Movies that had kind of gone past the sort of like these are new rentals or anything. Do you remember like TV Hits magazine?

TV Hits? There were just things. And Dolly. Yeah, there was a bunch of them. They have a lot of posters and stuff in it. And lyrics to songs as well. You're like,

I'm going to learn all the lyrics of the song because I can't Google it. Jeez, we sound old, don't we? We do. Sometimes they had poster magazines. The whole magazines

were just posters of hot boy bands with frosted tips, weren't they? Yeah. Okay, so what embarrassing posters did you have on your wall? I used to buy the Truth. Do you remember the Truth?

Oh, yeah. It was just like... It's a bit of a smutty read, isn't it? Yeah, but because they had superstars of wrestling posters, like, everywhere. Oh, yeah, that's why you bought it. Mum was like, why are you buying this? I'm like, for the wrestling poster. It had a lot of adult adverts.

Page Three was like, Mum was like, do not look at Page Three on the way through. On the way through. I'm here for the ultimate warrior, Mum. That's all not look at page 3 on the way through. I'm here for the ultimate warrior, mum. That's all I care about. I'll Hulk Hogan. Eventually he started chucking page 3 up on the wall too. We want to know 100 of the hits because we're celebrating the 90s and the noughties this week. We want to know your posters you had on your wall.

We've had a lot of fun trying to describe to producer Grace,'s 23 who these people are and so what's and what a poster is yeah well that as well right did you put posters on your wall grace yeah yeah yeah totally it's still a thing okay it's still a thing no great so we haven't lost we didn't get posters from these days because i got them from like old like tv hits magazines and stuff oh you just like buy you can buy them? You can buy them, yeah. Oh, yeah, right. Okay. Yeah, my kids buy them. Buy specific posters. Cool. Weird. Cool.

Yeah, they do them in those anime shops and stuff. You can flick through them. Maybe they're paper plus or something like that. But not as easy as back in the day. You had magazines of them. Heart throbs. Exactly. So we want to know,

I've got 100 of the hits and we've got some accompanied music that Grace may play and it may be correct, it may not. We'll find out. Let's go. Let's kick things off with Paul in Hamilton. Welcome. We're talking the posters that were

gracing your walls, Paul. Oh, hi guys. How are you? Yeah, we're good, mate. Paul. Sorry, Paolo, was it? Nah, well, it's Paul. Yeah. Okay, did you say Paolo to sound more exotic? Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's my challenge. No, I hate cardboard cutouts. I used to grow up in a motel, and the bend-on rep gave us cardboard cutouts the life-size of Albert Pearson and Claudia Shippers.

Wow. How old? How old were you? About 14, 15. Supermodels in life-size form in your bedroom. Where did you keep them? Oh, no. I was just hanging them in the bedroom somewhere. It was keep them? Oh, no, I was just hanging

in the bedroom somewhere. It was like, Albert Ferson was banging though. Did you ever give the cardboard cutout a kiss on the mouth?

No. Oh, nuts. He's not going to say that on the radio, mate. It's actually how he lost his virginity. On the line, mate, we're going to give you

some hell pizza. We really appreciate you sharing that with us. Let's get Producer Taylor in here. Your mum was obsessed with who growing up? Bon Jovi. She still is, and she still has also a life-size cutout of him. And John Farnham as well, too, right?

Yep, and also George Clooney sipping a beautiful Nespresso cup. Where does she keep her cardboard cutouts? I think the George Clooney one was from an old workplace she worked at. He was an ambassador. I don't know where the Bon Jovi one came from.

Yeah. But it's there. How does Angelo, your dad, feel about this? Oh, he knows he can't compete with him. He can't compete with John Bon Jovi.

You had Hanson and you also had the request to play their second single right now. Where's the love? Yeah. Do you guys know this song? I didn't even know they had a second single. their second single right now. Where's the love? Yeah. Do you guys know this song?

I didn't even know they had a second single. I thought they only recorded one song. They had like millions of albums. They respected artists. The third album was weird. Then there was I Will Come To You. Don't get me started. The third album?

They still talk. They're lovely people. But Mbop was it for a lot of people. Let's get Steph on. We're talking posters in your room from yesteryear. Steph, which was it? Embarrassingly, it was New Kids on the Block. Ooh, baby.

I want to get together. Did you have a favourite out of the New Kids? Or you'll say a name and I'll be like, oh, yeah, because I probably won't remember who's who. Jordan. Jordan. Jordan. Jordan. Jordan. Wasn't Mark Wahlberg's brother in that?

Donnie, yeah. Donnie Wahlberg, I think, was in it. Yes, Donnie Wahlberg was in it, yeah, yeah. I think there was always the rumours that Mark tried out for it. He never made it. And then he made it his own pop star. Marky Mark. What happened to that guy?

It was Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch. And the Funky Bunch. And then he had that good vibration song. Yeah, that was huge. Yeah, yeah. Actually, when you change the lyrics on Step by Step, you have sinister undertones, can't it? Step by Step, I'm going to get to you, girl.

Get away from me, freak. Thank you for sharing with us this morning. There's some great text coming through on 4487 as well. Beverly Hills 90210. That was... That was a great show, wasn't it? Brandon and Dylan. Who was the guy who was a bit of the...

Brian Austin Green, who was... Oh, he was, yeah. Who did he play? There was also Steve as well. They had a lot of characters. Everything was so dramatic. It's like, face the facts, Donna. He's a drug addict now.

He's like, he's tried weed once. We've lost him of characters. Everything was so dramatic. It's like, face the facts, Dinah, he's a drug addict now. He's like, he's tried weed once. We've lost him, Dinah. Suddenly, yeah. Everything was really over the top. The peach pip as well,

but it was he. It certainly had undertones, didn't it? The peach pip. There we go. But that was the local diner.

The hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. Trying to decide the best decade, the 90s or the noughties, and someone that was on our screens through both of those decades for many years on Shortland Street. She played the part of Rachel McKenna, her real name Angela Bloomfield,

and she joins us right now. Good morning. Good morning. Really nice to talk to you. We were talking about iconic times through the 90s and 2000s, and was it 1993 where you started on Shortland Street? Was that correct? I think so.

It's something like that. I started filming in 1992, but yeah. I was watching something last night, and your first scene, you said, was you in a towel in front of like 40 crew. I know. It's so strange. And it's usually your first day of filming

that you do these dramatic entrances. And I knew no one. And I was young. And I had not been trained as an actor. I was like, where am I? What is happening? How old were you when you were just like hanging out? I was 19.

And they're like, let's get this girl into town. Yeah. It feels weird. Well, now, it was a different time, wasn't it? Shortland Street, you were on there for how many years?

It was about 16 years on screen and then I kind of slipped behind the scenes and did some directing in that time and over my sort of 25 years there

so it was good. Well, your character too, I mean, Rachel McKenna went from, you know, like you were at school at the start of it and then you went to university then you end up being an employee then you end up running the hospital. I mean, Rachel McKenna went from, you know, like you were at school at the start of it and then you went to university, then you end up being an employee, then you end up running the hospital. I mean, a huge character arc over those years.

I know. I think it's quite cool if I think that that was the plan all along. And I think her dad ran the clinic and then it was a hospital and then she sort of became that person. I think that's really cool, but I don't think it was by design. I mean, Shore Street, I mean, it's always been huge. But back then, it felt like it was the biggest thing. New Zealand had its own drama on weeknights. Was it amazing to be part of? Yeah, absolutely.

And, you know, we have all these kind of urban myths and legends about what it was like to be on the show in those years. But I think when you take away streamers and we weren't making as much of our own content, it made kind of sense that it was so important and that it became so big. And we'd never had like TV stars. And there's these stories about Martin Henderson being chased down the road and having to hide in shops and things. Because he was like New Zealand's first heartthrob.

And I think that's so cute. And so for you, like some instances, like Ben said, it was, that was the peak of it then. Were you able to go out shopping and not be hassled or harassed? Oh, yeah. I mean, not that I have that now, but that's just, it's always I had those kind of like, had to do the eating disorders, had to do the sexual transmitters, you know, there were just all those storylines.

So I remember being yelled at in a car park once, like, you've got an STD. Oh my God. I mean, you never want to be yelling and walking through the car park going, you've got an STD. Awful. Not favourable. And so what was the most memorable storyline in your career? Jeez, I always say, and I think it probably was definitely in the 90s,

I think Rachel being struck by lightning and falling in love with Nick Harrison has got to be the best writing in the world. I'm so sad for him. Like, someone had to be struck by lightning to fall in love. He's a wonderful guy, Nick. He is wonderful. And I learnt so much

about the fact that you can be struck by lightning and survive. It'll also change your outlook on who you're attracted to. Rachel McKenna, Angela Bloomfield, we're going to put you on the spot here. 90s or early 2000s, what is the best decade? Bearing in mind you went through Shortland Street, Frighteners in the 90s, you were voted, I don't know if this is cancelable now, the nation's best breasts in 2006. Oh my god!

I don't know how that happened or what that was about, but that's on your Wikipedia page. My boobs. I think it was on my boobs. Were you stoked about that or were you like, hey, hang on a second? It was a bit of a misdirect. I mean, it was great. I just had two babies and when I looked back at the photo that they were using, I'm like,

well, that's not a recent photo. This is a little bit. Yeah, right. I think it was like up against other people that were amazing and had great boobs than I was, and I was like, yeah. Well, you'll be happy to know I've taken out the nation's best boobs this year, mate. Oh, yeah.

Okay, so taking all that into account, what was the best decade for you? I mean, I got married and had my children in the Nordic. Don't factor in personal stuff, mate. No, you can do whatever. Not personal milestones. No, you can do whatever. Oh, God, it's so hard, so hard. Nation's best boobies.

I'm so naughty. Lovely to catch up with you, Anja Bloomfield. You too. Always fun. And, hey, thank you for being a part of this. The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. Looking at the best decade, the 90s or the noughties. And tomorrow we're going to play nothing but songs from that particular decade. Looks like it might be the 90s, but we'll find out later on today.

Now, school lunches from back in the day, such memories. You know, sometimes it's food that's there every day of your life. Then all of a sudden it just disappears as soon as you leave school. You know, the Chelsea buns and things from the tuck shops. Yeah. And, you know, the common stress of, Giz 20 cents, giz 20 cents, don't be sad, giz 20 cents. You know, that was always a big bugbear for me.

Because you could get an 80 cent sausage roll, but you really wanted to extend it with a 20 cent tomato sauce. Yeah. Gives 20 cents. Don't be sad. Gives 20 cents. You know, that was always a big bugbear for me. Because you could get an 80 cent sausage roll, but you really wanted to extend it with a 20 cent tomato sauce. Yeah, trying to get money off your friends, trying to get a bite, get a sip of someone's drink. No lips, no lips. I won't put any lips on it. Small sips, no lips.

Last 30% was always backwash too. Oh yeah, everyone left a little bit of coke at the end because it's backwash. Oh, it's always backwash but health rating you know health star ratings they weren't a concern to anyone at the tuck shop

were they some great great memories you just mentioned juices yeah before the song you can still get those

you can boxes at the supermarket you can buy them frozen juices Ben still gets them but they still got they had very sharp edges they'd always cut the corner

of my mouth you just need to push them out that's the thing as soon as you start yeah just push the ice block out, you're fine. Yeah. You're right. Your neighbours started it. Yeah, that was a Robinson Brothers company in Nelson.

It's very impressive. And then they sold it. But yeah, our next door neighbour started Juicy. Did you get a whole lot of it? Yeah. No, I don't remember getting free Juicy's. Can I come to yours? Yeah, that would have been the draw card for their house.

Yeah. Yeah. What's the one food that takes you back? Oh, luncheon sausage probably for me. Oh, you had luncheon sandwiches? Well, sometimes, yeah. Now, not all the time, but I remember luncheon. Came in a big old dog roll, didn't it?

Yeah, or you could get a slice from the supermarket as well. You could sometimes put, you know, tomato sauce and luncheon sausage and bread. And you're like, what is this lunch I'm eating? Don't overthink it. Don't know, what is this meat? You're right, what is it? It's not worry. Yeah, you can still get luncheon sausage and bread and you're like what is this lunch I'm eating don't start to think it what is this meat you're right what is it it's not a worry

you can still get lunch and sausage around I was the one who had like fancy sandwiches like mum would make me like beef and salad sandwiches with like salt and pepper

and all I wanted was someone's roll up or like a peanut butter sandwich we're talking about the sense that you're doing you're doing the same to your kids I know

you're making them stuff from scratch they're so ungrateful sorry mum beef ta-ta bastia take this to kindergarten You're doing the same to your bits. I know. You're making them stuff from scratch. They're so ungrateful. Sorry, Mum. Beef ta-ta, Bastia. Take this to kindergarten. All he wants is a cherry on a sausage roll.

No, fruit roll-ups are a classic. They're still out in the game, too. And you wrap them around your finger, and then your finger becomes the lollipop. Featuring actual real bits of fruit as well. It does. I looked, and I was like, surely they didn't have any fruit, but they did. I guess they can't call them fruit roll-ups otherwise.

Do you remember those cheese spaghetti square things? Oh, yes. I don't even know if they had a name for them. But cheese, every day I was into those. And then again, I left school and I've never seen one since. Wait, cheese spaghetti squares?

It's sort of like a bread sort of thing, like on top and spaghetti and cheese on top. It was kind of pie-y, but not, I don't even know if they had a name. Probably still have them in bakeries around here. You don't eat lunch, you go to bakeries. So probably that's where you can get them.

Hopefully. Hopefully they're still out on the market. Very fond memories. So this is what we're going to do. We're going to take it back to your old school lunches. What have you got there? Are there any triggering foods that you can't go back to? Yeah, definitely.

The Hits, the Jono and Ben podcast. We play nothing but either the 90s or the noughties. It's up to you to decide, Anne. We're reflecting on those times now with the school lunch chat. Yeah, and geez, someone just mentions a product and you're like, oh, K-bars. Like chewing on a car tyre. Do you know what Whittakers make them?

They're still doing them. Yeah. They're pretty hard to find, though. Aztec corn chips made the natural way. Sing the song. It's in your head. I feel like that song is accessible. Don't let the accent.

Aztec corn chips made the natural way. Okay. Okay. I'm pretty sure that guy wasn't Mexican who was singing the song. Yeah. Yeah, but they were great. Carla, what was it for you? Lettuce and Marmite sandwiches was a hit.

Oh, were they? That's so weird, yeah. Why was that a thing? The lettuce and that yeasty spread, what a combo too. I haven't seen lettuce comboed with that. Sometimes you put chips in with it too, like chips and Marmite in a sandwich. That was good. That was back in the day.

Cal, the spaghetti with the cheese, they're called Wombles. Oh, Wombles. We've had a few come through. There's someone saying it's the pizza pie. They were called Mousetraps. I used to call them Wombles. I don't know. Wombles is what we used to call them.

Depends what region you came from too. Someone's texted as well. You can't forget Mooseys. Oh, Mooseys. Yummy. You can still find those occasionally. Yeah, that'sy's. Oh, Moosey's. Yummy. You can still find those occasionally. Yeah, that's all right. Yeah, that's all right.

Zap. Remember Zap Milk? Zap Milk. Flavoured milk. It was like Primo before. And then you'd blow up the cardboard container and jump on it like a bloody gunshot ringing out in the Auckland CBD. Those were good times. Hey, thank you.

Catherine. Hello. How are you? How are you? The old school lunches. Yeah, so we used to get the fruit jelly squeezies. Fruit jelly squeezies? What would they look like?

They're shaped like little triangles and they're filled with a certain flavoured fruit jelly. I actually started buying them for my one-year-old. I found them at the supermarket recently. Oh, they're still in the game. Yep, they're still in the game. Yeah, that's great. And leaf snacks. Oh, yes.

Yum. They're good old reliable processed cheese and terrible crackers. Yep, they're still in the game. And Lee's Snacks. Oh yes. Good old reliable processed cheese and terrible crackers. They were good, I used to like, but never enough cheese for the crackers. I know right? The ratio was off. I've got five flavoured cheese now for the kids. Oh fancy. They're upping the game.

Lee's Snacks, they were good and then you'd have to sort of finger the rest of the cheese out. Put your tongue in there earlier. Yeah, lick it out. Use my little finger, stick all the cracker of the cheese in there. I think I got to third base with a liss snack. Absolutely delicious. Thanks, Catherine.

Now, Grace has tracked down the Aztec corn chip song. Here we go. Apologies if this is going to get us cancelled. The hits. The Jono and Ben podcast. Quickly, Cell GP. Not going to be happening in Christchurch.

Well, it didn't really happen last year, did it? Don't get him started. It's not going to not happen again thanks to the dolphins. Thanks, dolphins. Now it's gone. Where's it going now? I don't know if it's happening in New Zealand yet or not, but they're pulling out of Christchurch.

Because last year, if you remember, was it this year actually? I think it was this year, yeah. Yeah, they went to race and then obviously it's a place where dolphins live and breed. Hector's Dolphins, endangered. Yeah, and so yeah, they probably shouldn't have put it at a place where they couldn't race if dolphins were in the area and unfortunately that's it. So it looked like a great event. That no one saw it.

Listen, I'm going to be a monster for saying this. There's 15,000 hectare dolphins. How many were disrupting the racing? It's not good viewing to mow over endangered dolphins. You turn away, you turn the camera, you could have a jog screen. Oh, no. You don't even mean that. No, I say a lot of stuff

I don't mean But now what's happened Thanks to these dolphins Is stimulation of the Christchurch economy Now gone Thanks to a few dolphins Eh