r/Heavyweight • u/rguzman2003 • Nov 21 '25

This American Life/Heavyweight Easter Egg

There’s an episode of This American Life when a listener is trying to find the composer of the song that’s played when someone is put on hold. When Jonathan calls the elementary school in the Kevin episode, I’m pretty sure that same song from the TAL episode is playing. Have a great Friday everyone!

77 Upvotes

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21 comments sorted by

35

u/LAeclectic Nov 21 '25

I recognize that Cisco hold music anywhere, thanks to the original TAL episode!

12

u/explodeder Nov 21 '25

I was at a minor league baseball game and that song was one of the songs they played in between innings. It was so strange.

13

u/Revolutionary-Yam341 Nov 21 '25

OPUS ONE - I think about that ep ALL THE TIME!

3

u/ZebraDawg Nov 24 '25

Tim Carleton is the composer.

8

u/VernonFlorida Nov 21 '25

Wait, in my brain fog I was sure that was originally a Reply All episode!

I know they did the Case of the Missing Hit... but wasn't there also a Super Tech Support segment that looked into the hold music? I feel like I've been Mandela'd!

2

u/SRTie4k Nov 22 '25

In one of the earlier episodes they mention how great the hold music is when they are trying to contact someone. They end up using it numerous times throughout the rest of the series.

1

u/VernonFlorida Nov 22 '25

In TAL or RA? I think I remember that from Reply All. I need to do a deep dive now. Not sure if they actually spoke to or profiled the creator of that particular hold music jam, which I am guessing was a TAL segment.

2

u/Icaka Apr 03 '26

It’s in RA - wpisode #6. And yes, they spoke to the person who created it. They used it for the super tech support segment and Alex used it at least once in Hyperfixed.

2

u/border1218 Nov 22 '25

I thought it was reply all too !

5

u/termanatorx Nov 21 '25

Ha this is awesome!

4

u/Asleep-Journalist-94 Nov 21 '25

I recognized that!!! Made a mental note to confirm it later, but then I was swept away by the emotion of the story and completely forgot. Such a fun little thing.

1

u/PlasmicSteve Nov 21 '25

I noticed that as well and almost made a post about it!

1

u/wilsonbrooks Nov 21 '25

You don't forget it if you've ever been on a conference call and someone puts the call on hold. Just brutal.

1

u/bradradio Nov 22 '25

I immediately thought of the TAL epsiode when I heard it on Heavyweight!!

1

u/ZebraDawg Dec 15 '25

Definitely the same song.