VH-1's Pop-Up Video aired "No Myth" recently (5/98), and someone kindly sent me a typed list of all the bubbles that appear during the video. The featured factoids range from common knowledge to pretty amusing tidbits. I was just glad to know that this video was still being played. :-) -TL

The words in brackets are comments put in by the person who sent this info to me. (Thanks to TheMallKat.)

• This video was shot over two days in a commercial stage in Los Angeles.
• Video concept: different lives "coexisting" in a single building
• Michael and keyboardist Patrick Warren have coexisted since forming a band in 1981.
• This is Michael's first video--he wanted it to be an "anti-video."
• Michael's anti-video guarantee:
  • No breaking glass
  • No cleavage
  • No cars
• Romeo did not wear black jeans--they weren't invented until 1848.
• Elvis did--he started his own jeans line in 1957.
• It was rumored he "stuffed" his.
• Crossing legs [Michael is crossing his legs] for long periods of time can cramp "stuffing" and reduce sperm count.
• Number of children Michael has: 1
• He also has two younger brothers--actors Sean and Chris Penn.
• Sean is known as the "anti-press" Penn.
• Michael Penn
  Born: August 1, 1958
  Place: New York, NY
• Michael says most celebrity families are "freakish celebrations of dysfunction."
• The numbers [in the video] are intended to count off the lines in the song's chorus.
• Water scenes [in the video] were taken from one of Michael's favorite films--1954's Victory at Sea.
• The director saw 100 actresses before casting this one for her "wide-set eyes."
• Michael did not want to lipsynch in this video.
• His label insisted.
• [Michael drops his pick]
• Michael's response:
• [Michael backs away from the microphone and mumbles]
• To emphasize his lipsynching
• [Arrow pointing to enlarged pick on floor] Actual size: 8"
• Michael appeared in 1997's "Boogie Nights"--a film about the porn industry.
• He had a small part.
• He first appeared as a lab technician on a 1985 episode of "St. Elsewhere."
• His first gig was at a junior high school talent show.
• Some of these scenes were shot "secretly"--the actress didn't know the camera was rolling.
• ['Don't Tread On Me' flag appears on-screen] Michael's flag
• He strapped it on his car and drove around to "age" it for the video.
• This actor didn't know he was auditioning for a music video.
• The label suggested they cast actors who were "more video."
• They also suggested Michael change the name of this song to "Romeo In Black Jeans."
• He refused.
• But their suggestions did prompt one change.
• He stopped wearing black jeans.
• It's no myth that Michael involved himself in every aspect of this anti-video. He has admitted to being a "pest" during its shooting, but the video made a Romeo out of Michael--it won him MTV's Best New Artist award in 1989. He wore black slacks to accept.