The 80s Club

So, I was talking to my friend Jackie the other day. She made a snarky comment on one of my posts (soooo unlike her, yeah right), and I said, “Why I oughta…” Partly, I’m sure, because Jonic had said it to me the day before, and it was apparently still stuck in my head. Anyway, (I did have a point here, right?), it immediately made Jackie think of Peggy Sue Got Married. I told her I always thought of The Honeymooners, thinking it was one of Ralph Kramden’s (Jackie Gleason) famous lines. Research has proven me wrong again, though, darn it. Of course, as you probably already know, it was a famous line of Moe (of The Three Stooges). So, I’ve set the record straight, now.

Anyway, Peggy Sue is a fun, goofy movie that I have a blast watching, though I am a sucker for those high school dramas (even if they are in a “back in time” fashion). Kathleen Turner, Nicolas Cage, Helen Hunt, Jim Carrey and many others join to create a fun and dramatic cast for the “blast to the past,” movie.

I’ve heard, too, that Cage showed up for the role with the (initially poorly received) odd voice, without the knowledge of the rest of the cast (I don’t remember if it mentioned whether or not the director, his uncle Francis Ford Coppola, knew beforehand).

One of my favorite bits from the movie is when Peggy Sue laughs at her dad when he buys an Edsel. Another is when she warns her little sister (played by Sophia Coppola) not to eat the red m&ms because they would make her sick. At the time the movie was released (1986), there were no red m&ms, and it was weird to think of them in the mix with our greens, tans, yellows, etc. I wonder if kids seeing the movie now are confused with that line and worry about the current red m&ms! I do miss those tan ones, though.

I missed this Monday’s posting of the “Best of the Worst of the 80’s Movies,” but will return to it next week so you all can argue about each other’s bad taste, or something like that.

Today, I’ll just throw you back to the early 80’s with a clip from Mama’s Family. I was reminded of the show the other day while watching Carol Burnett in Annie. She cracks me up! And then I thought of her in “The Carol Burnett Show,” which I used to love as a kid, and of the family skits that she would perform with Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway and Harvey Korman. The best was always when they would get each other laughing and barely be able to pull it all back together. Those were my favorite moments!

So, anyway, somehow they were able to develop that into an actual sitcom. And, for some reason, my family and I would sit around watching it. Even in reruns. Which is odd, because it wasn’t that great. Maybe it was a nostalgia thing.

But, without further ado, here is the Jeopardy clip from Mama’s Family. I was going to share the theme song, but it’s a pretty bad video. It actually looks like someone held a video camera to their TV while the theme was playing. Oh well, this way you get to see a younger Alex Trebek. Very fun! Enjoy. ;)

And for more info on Mama’s Family, check out this site. :)

In honor of the Christmas Day passing of the late, great James Brown, I present to you (via my new addiction, YouTube) the legendary 1983 performance of Eddie Murphy in the legendary SNL sketch, James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party. I don’t think a week passes in our house with out someone shouting out, “Too hot in the hot tub!”

A fond farewell, Mr. James Brown.

I completely forgot to post my Best of the Worst of the 80’s Movies post! So, here we are, a day late. Who am I that I think I get a day off for Christmas? ;) Hope your holiday was great!

For this week’s best of the worst I’m sharing a pick from my totally awesome friend of 20+ years, Jackie. Of all the great things that she is, she is not a blogger. I know, I know, I’m working on her. She’d crack you up. Anyway, her bid is for Grease 2. Here are her thoughts:

My pick for best of “worst” 80’s movies is Grease 2. It is horrible, but I can’t help watching everytime it is on. Michelle Pfieffer singing with a great deal of electronic help. Cool Rider, Let’s Do It for Our Country, Reproduction. The crazy ending luau scene. It is horrible in the way that makes you love it.

So, hope that helps and bring on my critics!

Did you remember that the premise of the movie was that the character of Michael, played by Maxwell Caulfield (who I had a HUGE crush on in this role) was Sandy’s cousin? I completely missed that. Too busy being infatuated, I guess. ;)

What are your thoughts on the film?

And, don’t forget, the reality show, “You’re the One That I Want” premieres on NBC January 7th.

Ah yes, 1988’s Christmas gift to us was a return to the Brady household to catch up on our favorite blended family.
I remember anticipating this special coming on, and wondering who was going to play the role of Cindy, since the actress who played her had overdosed and died. A certain maternal figure in my life had told me that was the case and I believed her absolutely. She was never wrong, right? One of my friends kept saying it wasn’t true, but I was sticking to the story I’d heard first.

So, the special comes on and there’s my proof, no Susan Olsen. The role was being played by another actress, Jennifer Runyon. Surely the story I had was true then, right? Why else would there be a different actress in the role of Cindy? And yet, this friend kept insisting that she was right, and was practically screaming it at me (oh yes, you were, too).

Turns out she was right. Go figure. That “maternal figure” finally realized that she was thinking of the actress Anissa Jones who played Buffy in Family Affair. As far as we could tell, Susan Olsen was alive and well. And that wouldn’t be the first time that I’d look like a fool for taking a family member at their word and not doing my own research. Of course, I was pretty young, and it’s not like I had the internet at my fingertips with all its tubes and such. ;)

I’m starting to love YouTube, can you tell? ;)

This theme came to mind and, whaddya know, there it was for my viewing pleasure. I don’t even think that the VCR was all that popular yet when this show was on. Who knew a few decades later we could press a few keys on our laptop computers, access a website via our wireless connection, and conjure up just about any 80’s TV theme that we wanted? Would’ve sounded a bit like sci-fi back then (does still a little now to me!).

Anyway, here’s a good example of some classic 80’s fashion, graphics, and special effects. I don’t really remember the spaceship thing at the beginning, but all the bumbling around seems familiar. And the beetle ragtop rocks. My greatest memory of this is listening to the theme song on a record that my cousins had and belting it out in their living room. Strange what sticks with you, aye?

So, I went hunting for that Folgers commercial from the 80’s where Peter, I think is his name, comes home and surprises his mom for Christmas. Remember that one? Where he wakes up his mom with the smell of fresh Folgers brewing? Right. Well, I didn’t find it. BUT, all is not lost. Here’s an 80’s Folgers commercial featuring Scott Bakula. Who knew he was so sensitive to caffeine? Enjoy. :D

You knew we couldn’t get much closer to Christmas before I mentioned this 80’s classic movie, right? Watching A Christmas Story was one of the yearly winter traditions in our house. How could you not feel bad when Ralphie had to make his appearence in the giant pink bunny outfit? And when all the adults around him told him that he couldn’t get his Red Ryder BB gun because he would shoot his eye out, you could feel the injustice flowing. And then when he DID shoot his eye out?!? (Sorry, did I ruin it for you there?)

Anway, what a classic movie! Love it, love it. Share your favorite Christmas Story moments with us down there in the comments section. Then head on over to this site for some great trivia and facts from the movie. Want to visit the house used in the filming of the movie? Head over here to find out how (who knew I was living just down the highway from it? I SO want to go there!).

And, finally, if you’re still looking for the perfect gift for the child of the 80’s on your list, and you don’t think the Truffle Shuffle shirt is going to do the trick, how ’bout the Leg Lamp? Don’t forget to be careful with it though, it’s frah-gee-lay (that’s Italian, you know? ;) )

Don’t forget to mark your calendars for the 10th annual A Christmas Story marathon. It starts December 24th at 8 p.m.!

Generations of poets and composers have created some of the most beautiful songs of all time. Included among these are the traditional Christmas carols of Away in a Manger, What Child is This?, Silent Night, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentleman. And what did the great decade of the 1980’s contribute to this list of fine aural pleasures? That’s right, you guessed it (or you just looked at the picture, cheater), Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer.

Yep, that’s right, the song about, “the blue and silver candles that would just have matched the hair in grandma’s wig.” Classy. And yet, I still think I know all the words. Not that I have to remember them, the song, 20+ years later, still pops up in the stores while I’m shopping for those last few Christmas gifts. Must be why so many people are shopping on-line now. ;)

Still looking for the perfect gift for that child of the 80’s on your shopping list? You can’t go wrong with this Goonies inspired Truffle Shuffle t-shirt. Who wouldn’t be proud to show up in this for the office Christmas party?

Okay, so now you know that it’s best that I work from home in my pajamas. But still, I wonder how many images of the memories of our youth can be found plastered on the front of a $20 t-shirt. Odd. I shall begin the quest for the answer.

In the meantime, is someone going to get me this shirt for Christmas? Nothing says, “Happy Holidays” like a cheery, shirtless, chubby kid.