The 80s Club

We loved Forest Whitaker as the giggling Pfc. Garlick in Good Morning, Vietnam, and were moved by him as Cuffey in the epic drama, North and South. And now, two decades later, Forest Whitaker is honored with the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in The Last King of Scotland.

Congratulations, Forest! We are so proud and excited for you!

By the way, did you see all the 80’s looking dresses on the red carpet? From the big bows, to the metallic brightly colored dresses, to the short in front/long in back gowns, the 80’s seemed alive and well tonight.

I usually don’t catch Medium, for some reason I always forget when it’s on. It’s a pretty good show, but my main motivation for watching it is so that I know what the heck’s going on when I head over to read Sheila’s b5 blog, Medium Dreams, which is about the show. She cracks me up, and it’s a good reason to check her out over there. And I did happen to catch it tonight. :)

What the heck does this have to do with The 80’s Club, you ask? Well, this episode featured one of my favorite 80’s moody/confused/frustrated/angst-filled teens, Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Alan Ruck was perfect in the role of Cameron, I thought, and cracked me up in Spin City. The promo for next week’s Medium showed a clip with Eric Stoltz. He did star in one of my favorite 80s movies of all time. I take it he’s been a visitor to Patricia Arquette before?

If they keep throwing all my favorite 80’s movies stars in the show I may just become a regular!

I don’t often watch The Today Show anymore, my mornings these days are filled with cartoons on PBS or homeschooling. The other morning, though, I was able to catch a few minutes of the show and caught John Mellencamp performing songs from his recent album, Freedom’s Road. You can watch the YouTube video below to see and hear Mellencamp chatting with Today Show host, Matt Lauer.

I think the bit that stole the hour, though, was the cameraman’s capture of Richard Simmons working out while watching Mellencamp perform. You’ve gotta watch it just to check out the glittery tank and the striped shorts, so very 80’s. I can’t say too much, though, the man does have better legs than me. Simmons was there to promote his upcoming hearing to try to get more mandatory Phys.Ed. in the schools as an attachment to the No Child Left Behind Act. The fact that he adjusted himself while they were taping kinda stole the show, but I think it’s no more scandalous than what you’d experience sitting around with guys watching the big game, ya know?

You can check out that video below…

If you just can’t get enough of John Mellencamp, click on over to his site and you can listen to AM (all Mellencamp) streaming radio. Enjoy.

The Police are slated to reunite for a performance at this year’s Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 11th, and that will be my reason for watching the awards show. I’m not usually one to sit through these types of programs, but you can bet my butt will be planted to watch The Police! Or maybe I’ll just pretend to jam with them. I’ve been playing Message in a Bottle a bit on Guitar Hero II; it’s like I’m part of the band already. ;)

There’s even a rumor of them going on tour a bit this year. How much would you pay for a ticket to see this classic band, in what possibly is a once in a lifetime opportunity?

I LOVE Back to the Future. LOVE it! And so I’m so sad to see it being pimped now for a Direct TV commercial. Christopher Lloyd even reprised his Doc Brown role for the commercial. So sad to me. Now I’ll just have to stick to enjoying his character as The Hacker while my kids are watching Cyberchase.

Here’s the video. What do you think? Do you feel so nostalgic towards BTTF that the very suggestion of it being linked to Direct TV would sway you toward their company? Are you that easy? ;)

I can’t remember the first time I saw Blair Underwood in something, but I’m sure it must’ve been in the 80’s. Based on his IMDB listings, it was probably in The Cosby Show as Denise’s (Lisa Bonet) friend.

It’s been fun to see him back on TV recently in episodes of The New Adventures of Old Christine as the object of a huge crush of Christine’s (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the older more mature older Christine. And then, in the same week (maybe it was the same night?) that he was very worthily playing the object of said crush, he shows up on an epidsode of Law and Order: SVU in what ended up being a very creepy and disturbing ending for his character.

What are some of your favorite Blair Underwood moments?

There’s speculation that Morrissey (of The Smiths) may be asked to contribute to Eurovision on behalf of the UK.

What’s Eurovision, you ask? From Wikipedia:

So, there you go. It’s like an American Idol, but European, and you only get one song, and the participants are already famous. Okay, maybe not at all like Idol then, except that it’s a contest. Nevermind. Shall we move on? Okay.

I only know of Morrissey, I think I’ve said before, because my brother (hey, there) loooooved Morrissey (still does) and used to make me listen to things like, “Hairdresser on Fire” and “Piccadilly Palare.” I’m sure I’m better for it. ;)

Anyway, here is the info on the possibility of Morrissey at Eurovision from Sound Generator:

I’m sure my brother will be thrilled. Do the rest of you know Morrissey?

Okay, I must have my finger on the pulse of the American culture, or something like that. I’d just written the title of this post when Terry Moran (I really like him) came on Nightline talking about action heroes coming back to relive their roles of decades past. Weird.

I’ve already mentioned that Sylvester Stallone is currently in theatres reprising his role as Rocky Balboa, and that Harrison Ford is filming another Indiana Jones (did you vote in that poll in the pink sidebar on the right? :D ). Apparently, Stallone will also return to the big screen as Rambo next year.

Really, didn’t we think that we’d seen the last of these characters? At least, with their original actors portraying them? I did. I wonder what pulls them in. The memories? The “last chance” to play their characters? The money? What do you think?

According to Nightline, Bruce Willisis filming a new Die Hard (Live Free or Die Hard). Never did get into those.

I’m sitting here watching King of Queens, and it’s the episode where Doug’s (Kevin James) friend Spence (Patton Oswalt) becomes the houseboy for Doug’s other friend, Deacon (Victor Williams). And, all of the sudden, they do a bit where Spence is very Mr. Belevedere-like and play they theme song to the show. Very fun for me. :D

I was sad to hear that King of Queens will be ending this May. It’s had a good run, and has cracked me up for years. In a world dominated by reality shows, though, the sitcom seems to be having a hard time keeping the attention of Americans in the prime time spots. I’m gonna miss this one.

I remember when it first came on and I kept looking at the main character, Carrie Heffernan (Leah Remini), trying to figure out why she seemed familiar to me. I finally realized that she was Samantha’s (Alyssa Milano) friend from the old neighborhood on Who’s the Boss. Man, I loved that show!

btw: Have you voted in the Harrison Ford/Indiana Jones poll in the pink sidebar on the right? Please do! Thanks. :)

The word out is that Indiana JonesPart 4, will begin filming in 2007. And you’re wondering, aren’t you, who will play the lead role? None other than……Harrison Ford!

Yep, Harrison Ford will reprise the role he last played in the 1980’s. It’ll be interesting to see the plot of the new film, and whether or not it is catered to an older, more mature Ford. The working title, according to IMDb, is Indiana Jones and the Ravages of Time, and it is also rumored that Sean Connery and Natalie Portman will be appearing in the film.

A bit of info from the Pantagraph:

The fourth chapter of the “Indiana Jones” saga, which will hit theaters in May 2008, has been in development for over a decade with several screenwriters taking a crack at the script, but it only recently gained momentum.

Lucas kept mum about the plot, but said that the latest action flick will be a “character piece” that will include “very interesting mysteries.”

“I think it’s going to be really cool,” Lucas said.

I really had no desire to watch any of them when I was younger. Then I worked with a guy who thought they were the best films ever recorded, and he lent them all to me so that I would watch them. And I did. And I liked them. And I don’t think I ever got his copy of the third one back to him. That was about 15 years ago.

A tip just for you: Don’t ever lend me anything. I’ll break it, or lose it, or just forget that I have it…..or where I put it. Yeah, just don’t.

So, I’m gonna use this little bit of news to inspire my first poll here at The 80’s Club. So, Please Please Please vote over in the pink sidebar on the right! I hate to beg, but…..oh yeah right. I’m begging! Please join me in a vote. Thanks!

ht: My friend Jackie who needs a blog so that I can link to her.