8 episodes
Blame it on the Fame: Milli Vanilli Wondery
-
- Society & Culture
-
-
3.8 • 138 Ratings
-
When Frank Farian first laid eyes on Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan, he saw everything he wasn’t. They were handsome, young, and Black. But Frank had something they didn’t. He had power.
So, Frank offered them a devil’s bargain. Almost overnight, Milli Vanilli’s debut album went five times platinum and scored a Grammy nomination. But when the lie at the center of their success started to unravel, Rob and Fab would discover the hard way the difference between star power and real power.
From Wondery, Blame It on the Fame is a story about the lie that shot to #1 and what it cost to tell the truth. Hosted by Amanda Seales.
Listen to Blame It on the Fame on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes ad-free on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/blame-it-on-the-fame/ now.
-
I Can Make Something Out of That
When Frank Farian comes across a song with hit potential, he hires Rob Pilatus and Fab Morvan. But the opportunity comes with a very big catch.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Listen With Your Eyes
After Milli Vanilli rockets to the top of the charts, Frank devises a plan to keep them there, but it all depends on Rob and Fab staying on script.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Sync or Swim
Milli Vanilli’s fake singers head to America for a very real tour.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
Best New Artist
Rob and Fab win a Grammy for Best New Artist — but winning one of music’s top honors means they risk losing it all.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse disorder, reach out for help. In the U.S. you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration by calling 1-800-662-HELP.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
For the Record
After Frank exposes them as frauds, Rob and Fab fight to tell their side of the story.
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse disorder, reach out for help. In the U.S. you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration by calling 1-800-662-HELP.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. -
I Can Still Make Something Out of That
As Rob’s life spirals out of control, he gets a surprising offer…but is it another deal with the devil or is it for real?
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse disorder, reach out for help. In the U.S. you can contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration by calling 1-800-662-HELP.
Special thanks to Wiedemann & Berg Film, creators of the Milli Vanilli biopic “Girl You Know It’s True.”
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Customer Reviews
Would give it a 5 BUT
Really enjoyed this podcast MINUS the narrator. Narrator sounded so unprofessional. Story telling was off. I always loved Milli Vanilli and supported them throughout the horrible debacle they endured. I always said there was more to it. Anyone young and with ambition would've done the EXACT same thing these young men did. Unfortunately no one advocated for them. May Fab forever RIP
Well Told Story
I enjoyed this podcast a lot. The story was very interesting, and the narrator did a fantastic job guiding us through it; her own notes were funny and right on point. Definitely recommend listening to it.
Ignore the bad reviews
The review-bombing on this podcast is strange, and seems racially motivated. The show is well produced, impeccably researched, and the narrator is charming.
Top Podcasts In Society & Culture