Topic: Steamboat Willie

Steamboat Willie, the original version of Mickey Mouse, enters the public domain on January 1, 2024. The discussion transitions to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, noting snubs of artists like Cher, Sonny Bono, and Ted Nugent. The hosts contrast the modern HBO-produced ceremony with the private, unrehearsed jam sessions held at the Waldorf Astoria in the late 1980s.

The album art for episode 1451, titled "Texas Balls," is reviewed. Created by Capitalist Agenda, the piece features a "Steamboat Willie" style baby bottle holding a sign for formula. The hosts discuss the technical artistic merits of the submission and encourage listeners to use Podcasting 2.0 apps to view the art.

A "drunk" donation from Ellen Murray highlighted the upcoming Freedom Fest meetup at Murphy's Pub. The hosts also recognized Jacob Cougar and Sir Don Philip Chuck for their contributions. The segment includes a humorous impression of "Steamboat Willie" Mickey Mouse and a call for continued support through the value-for-value model.

The hosts discuss why they avoid using imagery from Disney or Paramount in show artwork due to aggressive legal departments. They note that while "Steamboat Willie" is entering the public domain, the legal costs of defending parodies against Disney make it an unattractive option for producers.

Adam Curry posits a theory that ABC's aggressive anti-Trump stance is motivated by Disney's fear of losing copyright protection for Mickey Mouse (Steamboat Willie) in 2018. He suggests the network is pressuring the administration to ensure further copyright extensions.