Classmates, welcome to 80's High, the podcast that revisits the memories and pop culture that made the 1980's one of the most radical decades in history.
The juice is loose once again, and this time, we're going back to the future for the return of one of the 80's most beloved horror comedies. Lydia, Delia, and the Ghost with the Most are joined by a fresh cast of characters--both alive and undead--as they rampage across the mortal plane and the Neitherworld for the sequel without equal, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. We'll get into a million ways to die, jilted lovers, surprise cameos, modern claymation, meet cutes, fabulous musical numbers, clever callbacks, and much more! While you're waiting on hold with a Bob, why not join us on this madcap caper to see how it holds up to the original movie because Dostoevksy put it best when he said... "I love the 80's!"
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Welcome back, classmates! You thought we were trapped in the podcast afterlife, but we survived the sandworms and checkered hallways to bring you another gem from that radical decade. Join us as we dive into the bonkers history of this classic movie, our memories of it hitting the big screen, and the strange twists as Beetlejuice goes animated, almost Hawaiian, then into the sequel waiting room for over 30 years. We talk ALMOST all things Beetlejuice in this episode, stopping short of this year's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice release. We save those juicy details for the next episode, so you can listen to this one without any worries of sequel spoilers. So grab your handbook, draw a chalk door, and walk with us into the glowing light for a dark comedy adventure with Burton, Keaton, Ryder, O'Hara, Davis, Baldwin, Elfman, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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In response to a once-in-a-century drought and famine in Ethiopia, Harry Belefonte, Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones assembled the ultimate cast of legendary musicians to come together one top-secret evening to record the best-selling single in America and pop music history, “We Are the World.”
Their passion, talent, and efforts not only brought short and long-term aid to struggling communities throughout Africa, but set an incredible precedent both for musicians from astoundingly different backgrounds to create art together and for music to strive to create real-world change on a global scale. So sing along with us as we revisit this incredible moment in pop culture and close the yearbook on our Senior Year of 80’s High.
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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In the 80’s, teenagers hustling for money was a tough racket. Robert Romanus was selling second-hand concert tickets and Phoebe Cates was scooping ice cream at the mall, while Judge Reinhold grilled hamburgers and Kevin Bacon got canoes ready at Camp Crystal Lake. But who would have imagined that babysitting would give the greatest teen job adventure of the decade?!
After Bradley Whitford insanely cancels his date with Elisabeth Shue, she’s locked into the wildest night of Chicago babysitting ever put on screen, encountering a gang fight, surviving a stolen car black market, meeting a legendary superhero, Die Hard-esque skyscraper antics, and an improv blues break-downs. Gather the family around and let us babysit you as we revisit the 1987 comedy classic, Adventures in Babysitting!
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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You've got the touch! You've got the power! 1984 was a radical pop culture year in the heart of the 80's, but one toy line demanded the hotness of Cabbage Patch dolls and Pound Puppies take a back seat and clear plenty of Toys 'R' Us shelf space as Transformers hit the US market and forever changed just how awesome action figures could be.
The intergalactic battle between Optimus Prime's Autobots and Megatron's Decepticons crash-landed with an iconic "transforming" sound effect in our televisions, toy boxes, comic book racks, and more, quickly becoming one of the most successful children's properties of the decade, and enduring in countless globe-spanning iterations in the decades beyond. Join us as we transform into space and time to rediscover the lasers and chrome that filled our TV sets and hearts. Autobots, roll out!
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the road and back again. Your heart is true, you're a pal and a confidant. If that theme song just flooded you with warm nostalgia, side-splitting laughter, and tearful moving moments, then you too must've been a fan of one of the most popular sitcoms in television history - The Golden Girls! We're sitting down for a slice of cheesecake at the kitchen table with Rose, Blanche, Sophia, and Dorothy to delve into this classic show featuring strong female leads with full lives and enduring friendships tackling every topic you can possibly imagine. Picture it, an episode filled with sass, support, and joy awaiting your listening ears. Won't you lounge on the lanai and listen for a spell?
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Never go alone. Never go with someone else. It could be any one of us. It could be you. It could be me. It could be all of us, or none of us! What do we do?! Why don’t we wait here, see what happens...
Paranoia and distrust settle in as co-host Mikey rejoins us to delve deep into the icy thrills of John Carpenter’s 1982 masterpiece, The Thing. When a horrifying being from another world thaws near remote Norwegian and American bases in Antarctica, the mimicking monster overtakes and assumes the form of each lost, terrified, and paranoid team member until there may be no one left to consume and assume. What originally horrified and grossed audiences out has grown into an icon of terror, suspense, and practical effects that rivals titanic 80's science fiction tentpoles like ALIEN and The Fly. Dawn your parka, keep track of your friends, and trust no one, as we try and suss out… The Thing!
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Gather round, dear listeners, as we tell a tale of dungeon crawling through the D&D-inspired 1989 board game revolution, HeroQuest! Taking on the roles of barbarian, dwarf, elf, and wizard, we’ll face off against Zargon's evil forces of orcs, goblins, fimirs, mummies, gargoyles, and more, as we search for traps, treasures, and the secret sauce that made this one of the greatest “game systems” to ever come out of the 1980s.
And most excitedly, we’re joined by The Bard, famous for his popular 2016 YouTube video, “Why HeroQuest is so Great,” to help us understand the best thing about HeroQuest.
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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You remind us of the podcast! What podcast? The podcast with the power! What power? The power of voodoo. Who do? You do. Do what? Remind us of the podcast! Meandering through this episode, Ben and Chris clumsily navigate the twisting corridors and puzzles of Jim Henson and David Bowie’s 1986 fantasy classic, Labyrinth. Spring boarding off the brilliant mind and artwork of Brian Froud, Henson and his team endeavored in the mid-80’s to produce a more comedic and light-hearted fantasy adventure than their 1982 The Dark Crystal. The result sent little-known Jennifer Connelly to team up with a misfit band in search of her stolen infant half-brother, knocking out pitfalls and puzzles with greater efficiency than Odysseus could ever muster. Come back with us and remember why no one could get enough of “Dance, Magic, Dance!”
Season 4 of 80's High is sponsored by Choose Your Own Adventure! Shop cyoa.com and use code 80sHigh for 20% off your first order of books, box sets, graphic novels, tabletop games, and more!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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As caped crusaders begin to disappear, a motley band of heroes must come out of retirement to crack the case and save the world. No, we’re not talking about Ben and Chris returning from summer break to kick 80’s High back into gear - we’re talking about Watchmen, the groundbreaking 1986 comic maxi-series by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins. Our dynamic duo is joined by co-host Corey to delve into the origins of what Damon Lindelof called “the greatest piece of popular fiction ever produced.” We’ll do our best to untangle the complex web of narratives across time, provide hot tips on superhero fashion, form, and function, and see how this eighties icon holds up in a hyper-saturated world of Avengers, X-Men, mutants, Boys, and more!
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Double surprise! It's a SECOND bonus summer episode of 80's High! And this time, we brought a comb! As summer winds down into fall, we're walking the tracks back to 1986 to revisit the magical film by director Rob Reiner with its amazing cast, including Wil Wheaton, River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, John Cusack, and Richard Dreyfuss... wow!
Like last time, we're featuring a full episode from our dear friend at Ding Dong Darkness Time, Allison Dickson. Last summer, Allison, Chris, and fellow guest host Kate Jenkins revisited the nostalgia-packed Stand By Me and the short story The Body that inspired it. And to make this an 80's High experience, we've captured Ben's memories, favorite moments, and final assessment from his rewatch. So join us for this look back in time on childhood friendship, summer adventure, growing up, and standing up to the hardships of life.
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Surprise, it's a bonus summer episode of 80's High! And WE. MADE IT. FOR. YOUUUUU! As the summer heatwave hits, we're downshifting back to 1986 with the first and only film director credit for the man of macabre himself, Mr. Stephen King. It's big trucks, lawnmowers, steamrollers, the Green Goblin, lots of guns and explosions, and a whole lotta campy fun!
This time, we're featuring a full episode from our dear friend at Ding Dong Darkness Time, Allison Dickson. Last summer, Allison and Chris took a spin back to Maximum Overdrive, the short story Trucks that inspired it, and the little-known second movie adaptation for television also called Trucks. And they are three wildly different takes. Speaking of takes, this wouldn't be 80's High without both hosts chiming in, so Ben and Chris kick off the episode and then come back at the end to get Ben's earliest memories, favorite moments, and hot final takes you won't wanna miss. So buckle up and sit back, we're going into overdrive!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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In the summer of 1989, the world came down with a Joker-induced case of Batmania as visionary director Tim Burton and leading man Michael Keaton put the "dark" in our Nocturnal Knight for the first time on the big screen. An iconic score mixed with an incredible set, costume, sound, and lighting design - as well as amazing performances by Jack Nicholson, Kim Basinger, and Michael Gough - transformed our understanding of this hero from pop-color comic book pages and spandex-wearing Adam West into something we couldn't know at first if we should love or fear. Strap on your utility belt, fuel up your Batmobile, and tell Alfred not to hold up dinner for you because we are traveling back to that magical summer where the Batman we knew changed forever.
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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"It may be Chicago’s equivalent of King Tut’s Tomb... Nobody knows what’s in it. Some say money. Some say bodies. Some say it’s booby trapped, and we’re gonna open it.” In the spring of 1986, Geraldo Rivera hyped what was to be the greatest television event of the century: uncovering the mystery of Al Capone’s vaults beneath the Lexington Hotel in Chicago, live on primetime. But as the subterranean crews dug deeper and Rivera grew more frantic, we witnessed something entirely different unfold that night... was it some of the greatest career-saving courage ever made by a “newsman” or the birth of trash television and the 24-hour news-cycle? Classmate Allison Dickson returns as we unearth the origins of the primetime spectacle that glued more than 30 million viewers to their televisions, eager for an answer to, “what was inside Al Capone’s vaults?”
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
Check out Allison's podcast, Ding Dong Darkness Time, wherever you listen to podcasts. Or follow her on Twitter @MsAllieD.
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When Ben and Chris lift their microphones into the air and shout “By the Power of the 80’s!” they magically transform into the two most radical podcasters on the planet, with the power of nostalgia, sass, and puns! Follow us back in time to when toymaker Mattel made potentially the biggest mistake in its history, but was rescued by the brilliant mind and creativity of designer Roger Sweet, who invented the most swoll, barbarian-inspired, deus ex machina magic-enabled cast of heroes and villains ever: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe! Learn how the very first cartoon created to sell toys came to be as we dungeon-dive into the Castle Grayskull labyrinth of comics, cartoons, action figures, playsets, Dolf Lundgren's movie catastrophe, Kevin Smith's animated double-return, and more. And remember classmates, always be a Battle Cat, never a Cringer!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Who would have guessed that in 1985, Hollywood not only created a movie based on a board game, but that it may have been one of the best game-based movies of all time?! That’s right, we're driving through the pouring rain to the eerie mansion on the hill to rewatch the movie Clue! And we're keeping our friends close and our enemies closer, because we’ve invited Classmate Aaron to help us explore the origins, secret passageways, and endless wise cracks that make this movie so memorable. From the knock-out cast to the quotable lines, this episode will leave our fans screaming, “let us in, let us in!” and the haters seething with “flam - flames, on the side of my face, breathing-breathl- heaving breaths…” Whoever knew podcasting was just a red herring!?
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Two 80's nostalgia podcasters take deep dive into the world's only reliable news! That's right listeners, we were lucky enough to snag an interview with Greg D'Alessandro, CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Weekly World News, to talk all things Elvis, Bat Boy, Manigator, Bigfoot Hooker, and the entire Marvel-esque cast of characters that bejeweled the supermarket checkout aisles of our childhoods with outrageous headlines and out of this world photos. Greg regales us with stories from WWN's past, present, and future as we thin-slice fact from fiction, uncover the paper's black and white origins, and have more fun than aliens skipping their saucer across Lake Erie. Tune into this episode because the more you listen, the more you get involved!
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi broke onto the rock scene with their debut album, producing a few modest hits, but not quite making a splash. Their second album also made some noise on the airwaves, but didn't bring the success they desired. The third time had to be the charm. And in August 1986, Slippery When Wet hit record store shelves, introducing INSTANT smash hits like "Livin' on a Prayer," "You Give Love a Bad Name," "Wanted Dead or Alive," and more. Spending an incredible 9 1/2 months in the top five on the Billboard 200, Slippery When Wet enjoyed two of those months at #1, was the best-selling album of 1987, and introduced 80's glam metal to the global stage. Tune in with Ben & Chris as we break down this iconic album and its addictive tracks, learn about the philtrum and Mixolydian mode, and even make connections to R2-D2 and the U.S.S.R.
Support the show by tossing us some lunch money at ko-fi.com/80shighpodcast. Write an 80's inspired note when you do, and we'll share it on the show!
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We swore we'd never do a movie about Toons again, not after our tragic past with that falling piano. But fate had a way of showing up at our doorstep... and making us laugh our butts off! Because we've strapped a rocket to our backs and Acme-d to the golden age of Hollywood to visit our cartoon pals Roger, Jessica, Benny, Baby Herman, a litany of Disney and Warner Brother favorites, and our favorite IRL noir detective, Eddie Valiant, on their zany journey into the seedy world of pattycake, murder, and the dreaded DIP! Can they outwit Judge Doom and the Weasels? Can we ever stop gushing over the endless talent packed into this movie? Take a listen, and smile-darn ya-smile!
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From Big Wheels to Power Wheels, tricycles to bicycles, getting your own set of wheels was a right of passage in childhood. Your new rims opened up a world of possibilities and autonomous freedom, rolling down the street to meet up with “the gang” in the woods, at a field, or at a friend’s house - a pile of bikes already strewn across the front yard. Ride back with us to the 1980s to explore the origins of some of the most popular children’s summer rides, and how these helped sculpt the summer culture of the most radically-rolling decade in history.
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In the midst of an oil crisis and collapse of the fledgling video game industry, Nintendo was challenged to reinvent an affordable way to keep fans glued to their home television sets. Step 1: Ensure the company’s champion, Mario, hopped right out of the box on Day 1. Step 2: Evolve everything they’d learned from arcades-turned-bowling alleys. And Step 3: Reposition the Famicom from a video game system to a toy, by plugging in the most iconic video game blaster of all time. Deck yourself out in camo and climb into your 80’s blind spot with us as we revisit the ingenious tech, addictive gameplay, and nostalgic soundtrack of Duck Hunt. Smug retriever dogs need not apply.
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"It’s here at last / a great podcast / on Reading Rainbowwww!" Fly back with Ben and Chris to the summer of 1983 to revisit the groundbreaking television show that brought literature to children beyond the school year and redefined what educational TV programming could achieve. The ever-wonderful LeVar Burton, and many other friends to know, showcased wonderful children’s books, gave kids an earnest voice, and took us behind the scenes to learn how the world worked around us. Thank you to Reading Rainbow for helping to inspire a lifelong love of storytelling, a respect for tough jobs, and the drive to read everything that we can get our hands on!
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Theorizing that we could time travel by researching and reminiscing, airwave personalities Ben and Chris entered their recording studio to develop a not-so-top-secret podcast, known as 80’s High. Pressured to achieve maximum edutainment and topical variety or risk losing listeners, Ben and Chris dove into the 1989 television sensation, “Quantum Leap,” and vanished. They awoke to find themselves in the past, surrounded by inexplicable Centurions, blue screen technology, and unfathomably good writing for a TV series. Fortunately, contact with their own time was maintained through brainwave transmissions with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell, the show’s stars, whose phenomenal acting and broad talents kept audiences captivated as they put right what once went wrong. Join Ben and Chris as they venture through time and space to unravel this lightning in a bottle; hoping that each episode of 80’s High will be the one that brings them nostalgic bliss.
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Musician Herbie Hancock has made a titanic career out of fusing together disparate sounds, and Rockit was the breakout song that put him on the pop culture map. By crossing jazz with synthesizers, hip hop, drum machines, and DJ scratching, this song became the breakdancer's anthem of 1983 in school cafeterias across the country. And always a man to say yes to the possibilities, Herbie unleashed upon an unsuspecting MTV crowd a music video that gave us future shock, filled with disembodied figures writhing to the beat, popping and locking, kicking and twitching, and haunting our minds with the specter of what we just witnessed long after the TV went cold. Where did this video come from? Who made those unsettling mannequins? And what does it all mean? Join us as we explore the fascinating stories and characters that brought this song and its music video to life.
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What happens when Pee-Wee Herman, Sarah Jessica Parker, and the director of “Grease” join forces in a NASA laboratory to prod a kid's brain and find the start button on a mercurial space ship? We unlock a movie that is part unsolved mystery, part government thriller, part zany comedy, and totally out of this world (even though we barely leave Earth)! Travel back - and forward again - in time with us aboard the technologically ground-breaking Trimaxion Drone Ship (Max) as we study this rare and bizarre specimen from the summer of 1986!
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It all started with a late night sketch meant to draw a few laughs, but little did Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird realize they had a wildly successful entertainment franchise at their fingertips. From the ink on the comic book page to the cartoon that launched a sprawling toy line, Turtlemania was everywhere in the late 80s and never really left us. They leapt to the movie screen, arcades, and video game consoles. Sometimes they were silly, other times dark and gritty. But every time, our heroes in a half shell delighted audiences with over-the-top action, sassy quips, helpful allies like Splinter and April, and dastardly plots to foil, thanks to The Shredder, Krang, and their rogue's gallery of baddies. So grab your signature weapon and headband and meet us at the party wagon because we're leaping from the sewers and into Dimension X with the cowabunga nostalgia of Turtle Power!
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Come along with the Snorks! Swim along with the Snorks! That's right, we're heading down to the ocean floor to revive the hidden animated gem that followed our plucky gang of thumb-sized creatures as they go on snorktastic adventures dodging oil drills, outwitting Dr. Strangesnork, and hiding from the ravenous Snork Eaters. Now you might be thinking this is an obvious Smurfs knockbuster, and well, you'd be totally right! Find out how spite led to this show's creation, along with the tantalizing tale of Captain Ortega and an impressive cast of grade A voice actors. Snorkiscopes down, it's time to dive in!
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Once upon a time, there was a boy who saw the world in stories, portrait, and sound. From his humble home movies of toy train wrecks and classmates at war, Steven Spielberg grew into the most commercially successful filmmaker of all time and a beloved creator of cherished movies from breakouts Jaws and Close Encounters, to E.T. and Indiana Jones in the 80s, then beyond to Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, and so many more. And those are only movies he directed. We also get into his brilliant list of writing and producing credits, movie studios he founded, and the personal stories that informed so much of his work. So find a comfy, familiar spot because we're leaping into the fantastical worlds brought to the silver screen by the one and only Steven Spielberg.
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Nothing says Halloween in the 80's quite like trick-or-treating late a night, running through a Jacycees haunted house, reading Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and bobbing for apples at school. But where did these traditions comes from? And why do we love them so much?
In this episode, we bring back classmate Mikey to explore the traditions that have made Halloween endure. From an ancient Celtic festival to the Catholic church, from the painful plastic of Ben Cooper masks to a haunted house with walls literally lined with guts. So grab a costume and pillow case and join us for a journey back to the 80’s, the ancient past, and up to today as we celebrate our favorite holiday.
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“Hey, snap out of it! Look around, or else you’re going to miss something incredible!” If Talking Heads frontman David Byrne could condense the wit, complexity, and ironic sensibility of their hit single off of 1980’s Remain in the Light into a 2022 Tweet, this would be it. Blending rock, synth, dance, Afrobeat, and even radio-broadcast preachers into a wholly unique New Wave sound, Once in a Lifetime - and its avant-garde music video - lit up the airwaves and video waves of radio, vinyl, and MTV in the early 80’s, inspiring a generation. One such muse-inspired author, Suzanne Mattaboni, joins us on this episode to co-host and share her perspective on the Talking Heads, as well as her new novel, Once in a Lifetime.
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Whether during indoor recess or a weekend with friends, we couldn't get enough of those fun, silly, amazing, frustrating board games of the 80's. Whether commanding troops or sliding chutes, using our brains or leaving it to chance, we tear through the games of yore like hungry hippos, exploring the good, the bad, and the ugly. Games like Mouse Trap, Pictionary, Connect Four, Risk, Clue, Life, Mall Madness, Crossfire, the dreaded Monopoly, and too many more to name, we explore our cherished memories and those of our listeners. We even uncover the oldest board game to ever exist, and it's way older than you think. Enough talk, let's play!
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When the bulldozers arrive and the goons start harassing, it seems all is lost for our group of tenants in their historic, lone apartment building in the Lower East Side. What they need is a miracle. And who should answer the call but two little sentient spaceships hungry for metal, dying for power, and eager to start a family. The Fix-Its bring joy not only to our downtrodden residents but to us as the audience. Can our alien pals foil the big bad's plans and repair everything that's been lost? Gather up your nuts-n-bolts, make room in your rooftop shack, and for everything holy, do NOT jam a shovel into a fuse box because we're revisiting the heartwarming classic film, * batteries not included.
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After taking his first accordion lesson at the age of six, "Weird Al" Yankovic catapulted from Lynnwood, CA to become one of the greatest parody (and accordion) artists of all time! Michael Jackson to Madonna, George Harrison to Nirvana, Weird Al flipped our perspective of cool on its head and gave us catchy, hilarious tunes that were sometimes better earworms than the originals. Just in time for this fall’s “Weird: The Al Yankovic Story” and his current 2022 tour, join us as we travel back to the 80’s to commentate on the Pop Culture Commentator himself!
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In the 1980's, we would do anything to convince our parents to roll through the drive-thru just for the chance to snag the latest toy from our favorite cartoon or movie. Whether you longed for Barbie or Hot Wheels, McRobots or Boo Buckets, cruise on back with us to discover the hotly debated origin of kids meals, unlock the memories of your favorite prizes, and find out how the fast food chains have fared amidst the legal battles, health concerns, and plastic waste.
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When Gordon Shumway smashed through the roof of the Tanner's home 36 years ago, his blunt, sarcastic, comedic quips made him our favorite Alien Life Form. Whether you saw yourself as an ALF mocking humanity’s strange behaviors and beliefs or as a Willie trying to kick out that annoying family member LONG after the party was over, these four seasons had an undeniable impact on pop culture. We peek behind the puppet and beneath the stage, uncovering the drama on set and figuring out if this show passes the Shumway Bechdel Test. So grab the popcorn and hide your cats, because we’re tuning back into ALF! HA!
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Join us as we set off on a globetrotting adventure, following a trail of discarded kettles, walking sticks, snorkels, and more in search of the most elusive champion of hide-and-seek to ever grace the pages of our childhoods. Whether you knew him as Wally or Waldo, Martin Handford’s incredibly detailed and delightful illustrations had us peering into rich scenes of Hollywood sets and epic pirate battles, magnifying glass in-hand, muttering to ourselves, “Where’s Waldo?”
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Only the cleverest SCUMM could solve these puzzles! Grab two of your iconic friends - Bernard, Jeff, Michael, Razor, Syd, or Wendy - and boldly enter the kooky Edison Mansion to save your ensnared girlfriend, Sandy Pantz! We’re headed back to 1987 to explore the cult classic video game from LucasFilm Games, Maniac Mansion. This game is full of iconic music, foundation-building game systems, and enough creative twists, turns, and cyphers to make you wonder, “did a dastardly meteor and two unlikely tentacles write this thing?!” Let's step inside and see the world of point-and-click adventures this game and many of its offspring have given us.
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When something strange goes bump in the night, who ya gonna call? The REAL Ghostbusters! That's right, we're dusting off the Ecto-1 and traveling back to the cartoon spinoff that expanded the franchise in a bid to sell us awesome toys... and it worked! And we get into all the ghoulish details, from the rivalry brewing with Filmation's Ghost Busters to the controversial decisions to change the cartoon, as well as the metaverse of Garfield and the coolest toilet toy ever. And as a bonus to you AMSR fans, Ben crinkles a lot of paper bags as he excitedly reveals his 80's toy collection!
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Every kid in the 80s remembers the craze that hit the schoolyards and drugstores overnight... the arrival of those colorful wax packs of Garbage Pail Kids. Adam Bomb, Nasty Nick, New Wave Dave, Phony Lisa... with misfits and mayhem on every card, the characters we came to love were reviled by parents, banned in schools, slapped with a lawsuit, and even turned into one of the worst movies ever. And it's no surprise with their depictions of murder, mutilation, drugs, guns, and gross-out humor... they said so much about counter culture and lampooning of the era. Classmate Aaron returns with his stack of well-worn cards in hand as we flip through the trashy collection of crass and creepy curios that was Garbage Pail Kids.
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Dust off your stereo and dig out those old cassette tapes, because in this episode we're going back to the lost art of making mix tapes (mixtapes). Whether crafting a message for your crush, mixing a sweet road trip playlist, or looking back on hip hop culture's influence on getting your DJ sets into the public, we reminisce on all the feels that made this phenomena so memorable and connect the dots to where we are today. Press play and record, listeners, you don't want to miss this one.
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If laughter is the best medicine, get ready for a triple dose of humor revisiting the stand-up comedy of Elayne Boosler. She broke through the industry to become the first female comedian to have a one-hour cable special, then went on to create two more in the 80's alone. With charisma and candor, Elayne works through her material effortlessly and seamlessly, weaving comedy gold from single life, double standards, dating, baseball, and so much more. So order your two drinks and give some love as Elayne Boosler takes the stage in her comedy specials Party of One, Broadway Baby, and Top Tomata.
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It was the dance fitness sensation that swept the nation--and the world! And we asked Jazzercise instructor Whitney to stop by and show us the moves that made Jazzercise a household name and a flourishing business, all thanks to the tireless energy of its founder Judi Sheppard Missett. And if you think this was an exercise craze of the past, think again! This episode is all about fun, community, empowering women, and of course, steamrolling a few dirtbags.
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Ben & Chris share a sneak peek of a typical day at 80's High, along with a handful of episode highlights from 2021.
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When it comes to quintessential Christmas movies, who can deny the nostalgic tale of Ralphie and his memories of that one particular Christmas when all he wanted was a Red Ryder carbine action, 200-shot, range model air rifle, with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. So let's take a fond look back at this holiday hallmark, chock full of brilliant scenes, witty dialogue and narration, and all the characters we know like our own family. You'll come for the leg lamp, decoder ring, and tongue on a flagpole, but stay for perhaps our wildest and darkest fan theory yet! Nadafinga!
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Come dream with us tonight, as we pop in our cassettes and tune into the magical world of Teddy Ruxpin, his pals Grubby and Newton Gimmick, and the world of Grundo. We learn all about Teddy's Disney origins, Nintendo connections, and spin-offs that include a cartoon, live-action show, Teddy 'n Chill, and a new doll design with eyes your nightmares won't soon forget. For extra credit, count how many times Ben gripes about animal species and Chris throws around the term janky.
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Buckle up traveling listeners, we're taking to sky, rail, and road to relive the three-day misadventures of Neal Page and Del Griffith in this delightful John Hughes film. Is it a buddy comedy, road trip movie, or a Thanksgiving classic? The answer is yes! We laugh through the litany of F-bombs, near misses, slapstick antics, and memorable cast. We cry at the heartfelt moments Steve Martin and John Candy beautifully bring to life. And most of all, we marvel at all the Bacon! So join us to revisit the great movie we know, the hidden gems you might have missed, and the nearly four hour cut it could have been... Planes, Trains, and Automobiles!
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Enter the magical world of Fraggles, Doozers, Gorgs, and Silly Creatures as we revisit one of the most beloved, charming kids series ever created that not only entertained your socks off but strove to achieve world peace and end war in the process. No, really! So grab your radish sticks, find a hole in the wall, and dance your cares away... we're going back down to Fraggle Rock.
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The foulest stench is in the air, so we're dusting off the funk of 40,000 years with the iconic 14-minute short film/music video that changed every game in entertainment. Classmate Reagen joins us for a howling discussion of MJ's legendary Thriller album, track, and video, as well as musings on moonwalking, Ola Ray, popcorn gifs, werecat dating tips, and so much more. Can you dig it?
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It was a genre that defined a generation of horror, from every hidden stalker trope to the teens who just wanted to have fun. Movie aficionado and classmate Mikey joins us as we talk through how slasher films came into existence, hit a fever pitch in the mid-80s, and gave way to 90's horror and beyond. We hit the highlights--and many lowlights--that made these movies the unstoppable monsters they were. So stay together, lock your doors, and don't you dare wander off alone... because we're talking Freddy, Jason, Michael, Leatherface, Chucky, and so many more villains ready to spoil our good time.
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Join us for a sprawling conversation of sewer clowns, the Losers Club, Lovecraftian horror, giant space turtles, and the "miasma of events" that brings this haunting tale to life! Author Allison Dickson, our resident Kingophile, sits with us to talk through the 1986 novel, as well as the 1990 miniseries, the 2017/2019 movies, the macroverse, and the man behind it all. Come down here with us, and you'll. float. too.
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In space, no one can hear you scream. But in this episode, you can hear us gush more than a chestburster wound as we revisit the classic sci-fi action thriller horror movie that set up a killer franchise of cosmic horror, nightmarish creatures, and our hero Ellen Ripley persevering through it all. So hop out of your sleep chambers and fire up those flamethrowers, we're going down to the surface to see what lurks on the exomoon LV-426.
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Bike rides, sleepovers, shooting stars, and ice cream melting down your wrist. Summer vacation was filled with the freedom and hope of endless possibilities (as long as you were home by supper). So we’re hopping in the backseat of the wood-paneled station wagon, arguing over the radio station, and getting truckers to honk their horns as we revisit the glory days of summer, the memorable trips, the sounds and smells that take us back, and all the little things that made summer break so special.
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When the bumps and slumps come at us in life, sometimes we need to hit the open road, breathe in the fresh air, and sink our hearts and hands into a new project. None of us have probably ever taken it as far as legendary folk musician Paul Simon; whom after several failed records, a marriage to Princess Leia Organa, and the loss of his Garfunkel partnership, packed it all up, violated international embargos by flying to South Africa during Apartheid, and created one of the most successful albums in the history of music. Buckle up, because we’re going to Graceland with our musical guest, Greg.
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You’ve just finished packing up the elaborate family camp site, you’re doing 60 MPH down a dirt road in a station wagon, completely blinded by sunlight, and you knock a Bigfoot unconscious. What’re you supposed to do!? Join John Lithgow, Melinda Dillon, and 6’ 9” Kevin Peter Hall as we take this 1987 family comedy back to class to find out how it holds up and dive into the world of cryptozoology, Patterson-Gimlin footage, and a slew of pop culture portrayals of our favorite elusive woodland ape. Let's get squatchy!
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It was the perfect triangle of awesome: people + riding dinosaurs + shooting lasers. With the power of our S.T.E.P. drive, we travel back to 1987 when the battle between the Valorians and Rulons first began, and when one of the most egregious - and awesome - examples of a cartoon series selling toys was born. Plus we venture into The Dinosaur Heresies, Bone Wars, Smithsonian gift shops, and the epic prehistoric "um, actually" of whether the brontosaurus ever existed. Get A.M.P.'d, you're a Dino-Rider now!
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Good librarians have introduced us to beautiful stories throughout our lives; but only one librarian brought us Henry Huggins, Ellen & Otis, Ramona & Beezus Quimby, Ralph S. Mouse, and many more delightful characters. So let's pay tribute to Beverly Cleary, one of the most influential children’s book authors of all time, who's touched millions of lives through the humor and sincerity of her everyday characters. Extra credit if you correctly guess how many times we say "clearly" and how many hallway citations Ben issues.
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Round up your rock biters, luck dragons, and depressed horses, because we’re getting a posse together to battle The Nothing (WHATEVER that is)! Let's revisit one of the most recognizable children’s fantasy films (and theme songs) of the 1980s, as Bastion discovers the thrill of literature, all while trying to give the Childlike Empress a name and save a doomed kingdom from two horrible movie sequels.
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Do you believe in miracles? Ben and Chris are actually talking sportball! And thankfully they have Coach Aaron, chief sports correspondent, to help discuss this momentous hockey game that shook the 1980 Olympics and went down in history as the greatest sports moment ever. This episode is packed with Cold War tension, an underdog tale fit for a movie, and some of our finest banter yet. So grab your goalie mask, pad up, and meet us on the rink!
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We’ve all been there: your boss doesn’t like you, despite your hard work-ethic and can-do attitude, so he blasts you into orbit and forces you to watch terrible B movies, all in a mad experiment to see what happens to your sanity. Next step, construct some robot friends and get to razzing these failed flicks! Join us on the Satellite of Love as we revisit this beloved TV series that keeps coming back and do our best to riff the riffers of MST3K!
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Retro gamers, grab your warp whistles, Goomba shoes, and finest Tanooki suits, cuz we're re-exploring the eight majestic worlds of Super Mario Bros. 3 in search of that next castle. We take to land, sea, and air, dodging hateful suns, annoying wrench weasels, hangry fish, and that jerk in a cloud, always one button press away from total meltdown. Plus we uncover so many magical secrets, cutting room floor concepts, and the head-scratching folklore of actual tanukis. So tune in, power up, and put a "DON'T TURN OFF!" sign on your NES... we're not stopping till we crush Bowser!
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Enter the imaginative world of alien planets, dinosaur-filled landscapes, and hoards of mutant snowmen, as we talk about a boy and his stuffed tiger. Classmate Matt joins us to flip through the inky pages, wonder at the creativity and philosophy, and examine the reclusive creator himself, Mr. Bill Watterson, who forever changed his fans and the artform itself. Let's go exploring!
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Who can take a sunrise, dip it in a dream? Apparently, the cartoon animals and grandparents can! Join us as we revisit the classic 80's sweet treats that warmed our hearts and destroyed our teeth. From sugary cereals and trick-or-treat candy, to vibrant fruity drinks and frozen confections, we explore all the goodies we loved and hated... and those that just might kill us. So flip on those Saturday morning cartoons, activate your pester power, and get ready to beg your folks for a "metric frigaton" of high-octane fuel.
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This episode has so much Patitude, we've given it a mild explicit tag. From her personal life to her professional career, we explore Pat's motto of living on your own terms, not taking any guff, and steamrolling dirtbags who stand in your way. So get your shoulder shimmy ready, don that black eyeliner, and prepare to dance off with the iconic rock sensation Pat Benatar.
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It's an oversized episode for a Big topic! But we promise there's so little filler because we get into the fascinating aspects of this movie, from its charm and iconic scenes, to the rejected actors, how this movie works from any other character's point of view, and what we think happens after the credits roll. And of course, we explore the terrifying object at its center, Zoltar Speaks.
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We had so much more delightful conversation with Deron McBee, that we had to share it with you. Beyond his time on American Gladiators, Deron reveals hilarious insights from projects such as Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, two Batman movies, Mortal Kombat: Annihilation, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Plus we get more of his philosophy of life, inspirations, and what exciting projects are in the works.
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Contenders, grab your spandex suits and sweat bands! It's time to face off against the toughest competitors in exciting games of athleticism to prove yourself the next American Gladiator! And who better to talk us through this iconic television show than one of the gladiators himself, the equally iconic surfer dude Deron "Malibu" McBee. Deron shares so many insights, including how he got cast, his best and worst events, and what impact the show had on him and on culture itself. Get ready to howl and have a ball.
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Tune into our first ever after school special episode, serving up bonus content we couldn't fit in the narrow corridors of our Battleship discussion. From board game to boardroom, we surmise what blockbuster sensations Hollywood has in mind. Could one of these board games shine on the big screen? Which ones would belly flop? And what concept is so outlandish it just might work?
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Put on your admiral's hat and arrange your fleets because we're launching a full salvo of Battleship nostalgia at you. From offensive box art to highly produced commercials, this game was in our faces and on our minds, right down to the iconic catchphrase, "you sunk my battleship!" With so many topics to target, we set our sights on all the action-packed hits until our red pegs are depleted.
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What 80's road trip would be complete without a classic Nintendo Game Boy in your tiny clutches? The beautiful green and black screen, the expansive battery life, and oh, the magical games. So join us as we snap in a cartridge, click the switch, and rejoice at the satisfying "ba-ding" because in this episode, we're playing with power... portable power!
-- See Me After Class --
Around 9:45, Chris says the Donkey Kong Jr. Game & Watch gives you control of Mario to jump over barrels. Wrong answer! Actually, you control Donkey Kong Jr. as he dodges creatures in an attempt to rescue an imprisoned Donkey Kong from Mario. Partial credit.
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Whether it's a cozy indoor fortress of blankets and pillows or a rustic lodge of outdoor found materials, kids the world over just need a place of their own. They are spaces of quiet solitude, play, and friendship. And this time, all adults are allowed! So grab your snacks and sharpen your problem-solving skills, because we're going back inside our childhood forts.
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No bright lights. Don't get them wet. Never feed them after midnight. Surely the Peltzer family can follow these three simple rules of pet ownership, right? Join us to explore the classic holiday tale of cute fuzzy Gizmo, the humans who fail him, and a batch of tiny green monsters who just want to have a good time.
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By putting the power of choice in the reader's hands, this expansive series of books presented readers with branching stories, often leading to more than 30 unique outcomes. Some of which we learn are more frightening than death itself. Join us as we determine our own fate and revisit this incredible series.
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With stop-motion animation, dancing chickens, and an onslaught of innuendo, all layered over an incredibly catchy tune, there's a reason Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer has gone down as one of the greatest music videos in history. Come explore its painstaking production and the ever-changing artistic landscape Peter created, all the way to it's terrifying end.
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The unexplained, lost loves, missing persons, legends, wanted criminals, and crytpo-zoological sightings. Come back with us to this true-mystery TV show that filled us with a gamut of emotions, from curious fascination to debilitating terror.
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Revisiting our past can fill us with warmth and joy; but like any time traveler, be sure to only brieflylinger, and touch nothing! We break down the history and psychology of nostalgia, so youdon't have to!
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Ben & Chris share a sneak peek at a typical day at 80's High, along with a tease of the first three episodes.
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